It had been five days. Five days since the young captain, Kisuke Urahara fled Soul Society. Five days since the disappearance of the eight victims of the monstrous hollow experiments, and five days since Captain Kyoraku had sunk into a deep anguish. Yoruichi Shihoin and captain of the Kido Corps, Tessai Tsukabishi, had also vanished. Anyone with any sense at all knew where they'd gone. A blind man could see how fiercely loyal Yoruichi was to the young scientist, and Shunsui had seen the look Tessai gave the twelfth squad captain before leaving that night, even if no one else had.

'That night'. Shunsui sighed, bringing the jug of Jushiro's finest sake' to his lips. It was amazing really, to gain that type of devotion from a man like Tessai. In comparison, the twelfth squad captain…or the former twelfth squad captain seemed an immature slacker. His odd ways often made him a target for criticism. Yet, one of most powerful men in the Soul Society, the quiet, level-headed Tessai Tsukabishi was willing to put his life on the line for him. He had to have known the consequences of doing such a thing. It made Shunsui wonder what the rest of them had missed. He finished off the bottle and gently placed it on the table, finally meeting his friend's eyes. Jushiro gave him a wary smile.

"She came to me," he said finally breaking the silence.

Shunsui averted his eyes. He was being selfish and he knew it, but it couldn't be helped. Jushiro had suffered a loss as well. His best friend was hurting, and all he could think about was himself, or more accurately, the blonde fugitive… of the accusations that just had to be false…of his lieutenant Lisa and the others.

"She didn't tell me where she was going, and I didn't ask. I didn't need to."

The hazy-eyed captain did not reply. Instead, he stood, heading straight for the sake' cabinet, returning with an extra cup for his friend. He poured some for Jushiro and kept the bottle for himself.

It was his coping mechanism, had been for a very long time. Ukitake silently watched his friend from across the table. He was used to the drinking, but tonight was different. Usually he would at least pretend to be happy. Smiling and joking was second nature to the noble now. Sure, sometimes the smiles were sincere, but more often than not they were all just an act…a performance with a never ending encore, but he understood.

The captain of the thirteenth recalled a time when his friend had never had a drink. That was before the attack. The worst one he ever remembered having. In the course of three days his hair had gone from a raven black to snow white. That was when Kyoraku decided he needed a friend that would always be there, even if Jushiro left him. After that, there wasn't a day that passed when he didn't indulge. The sickly man stared into Kyoraku's glazed over grey eyes as he gazed out into the night. He hadn't spoken for hours, but it didn't matter. They had long passed the stage of friendship where they needed to talk to know what the other was thinking.

Jushiro sighed and sipped his tea. He wasn't drinking tonight. For once he wasn't the one who needed to be taken care of so he reclined back on his pillows and waited.

Hours passed. "He doesn't blame you. How could he," Jushiro said when the silence became deafening.

Kyoraku stood, letting his flowered kimono fall to the floor. His sakkat was absent from his head and his usually bound waist length hair hung wild and lose. It hadn't been combed in days.

When they heard the news, Jushiro had watched the lazy smile drop from his friend's face. He quickly tugged the front of his hat down to hide the storm that immediately began brewing in his gunmetal grey eyes. His beloved lieutenant, along with all the others that had been sent, had apparently been the victims of a terrible experiment, and were now to be exterminated. In a matter of hours they'd gone from comrades, elite members of the Gotei 13, to nothing more than trash for disposal. When the meeting concluded, Kyoraku stormed out of assembly hall closely followed by the white-haired captain. To an outsider, it appeared just a captain grieving the loss of his subordinate and a sympathetic friend, but Jushiro knew better. Shunsui and the young captain had grown close over the past ten years, and although it was just a friendship on the younger mans part. For Shunsui it had grown into something more.

He shunpoed, not to his own home, but to Jushiro's. The whole house vibrated with Shunsui's reiatsu. The hairpins were torn from his hair, along with a few chocolate strands before he headed straight for the sake cabinet. Since then, they had sparred three times at full strength. Ukitake had been forced to place barriers up for fear of destroying half the Soul Society.

Shunsui began to move slowly towards the garden, pulling his friend from his reverie. He paused when he reached the doorway. "I told him not to worry."

Jushiro sat up as soon as he heard his friend's gravelly voice. He wanted to tell him not to blame his self. That there was no way he could have known what would happen, but he kept quiet. If Shun wanted to talk, he would let him.

"I said everything would be fine." The brunette chuckled at that, but it was probably to keep from completely snapping. He stepped down onto the grass and disappeared into the garden.

"Don't do anything rash old friend," Jushiro said to himself, lying back on his pillows.

Almost a whole twenty four hours passed before Jushiro saw his friend again. He'd talked himself out of going to look for him more than once, telling himself that he would be back…he just needed time to think. So when he reappeared in the garden looking worse than when he left, Jushiro couldn't help but feel relieved. The skirt chasing captain was never one to act drastically, but he'd made it abundantly clear that these were not normal circumstances. He couldn't help but worry.

He rose from his seat and watched as the tall muscular man, his friend of countless years, approached him. His wavy brown hair was reminiscent of a lion's mane and his grey, usually hazy eyes were bloodshot. Jushiro shook his head not bothering to hide his frustration.

He walked out, meeting him halfway. "You need to bathe." He placed a hand on his friends shoulder. It hadn't been what he planned to say, but the sake smell coming off of Shunsui was quadruple what it usually was. Kyoraku grunted a response and moved past his notably exhausted looking partner, making the pale hand slip from his shoulder. The white-haired captain gazed off into the horizon a moment before turning to follow the larger man inside.

Jushiro returned to his tea and a few moments later he heard the water running. He smirked. At least he listened to him when it really counted. The water stopped but, Shunsui never returned. 'Hopefully he's getting some much needed rest.'

Now that he didn't have to worry about his drunken friend his own fatigue hit him like a ton of bricks. He slumped over as his body was suddenly racked by a series of coughs. Quickly reaching for his handkerchief, he tried to muffle the sound, not wanting to worry his friend who already had enough on his mind.

"You don't sound good," said a familiar voice.

Jushiro turned, recognizing the voice immediately

"Yoruichi chan," Jushiro managed to get out between coughs. He unsteadily got to his feet to greet her properly, but before he could utter another word a small hand landed on his shoulder.

"Sit down."

Worried golden eyes met green.

"When's the last time you slept?" she said in a compassionate tone, that only a select few were privileged enough to hear.

She sat and easily pulled him down on the pillows beside her. Slender fingers ran through snow white locks. Jushiro's eyes closed, allowing himself to relax for the first time in days. She guided his head into her lap and continued to stroke his head lovingly. His coughing subsided and his breathing began to even out. Yoruichi rested back on one arm, as she twisting a lock of his hair around her finger.

"How is he," she asked barely above a whisper, already knowing the answer. If the empty sake bottles lying around were any indication, he wasn't doing too good.

"He blames himself for something he had no control over," Jushiro said in a voice so weak it made Yoruichi frown.

"In that, they are the same," was her reply.

"You stood by your friend when he needed you. I have to do something for mine." He sat up slowly and turned his pleading eyes on her. "You did everything in your power to help him. I have to do the same, but I'll need your help."

He could barely hold himself, but his gaze was intense. How could she say no? "Okay," she said gently pushing his head back into her lap. "But first, you sleep."

That was the way Shunsui found them. Jushiro sleeping peacefully on Yoruichi's lap, as she stared out into the night and stroked his head. They were an unlikely pair to be sure. Not even he could say that he knew exactly how it had happened, but he was glad it did…for Jushiro's sake. He stared at the two and contemplated turning back, but the call of his liquid lover was too strong. Walking as quietly as he could, he made his way to the sake cabinet and retrieved a jug.

"Is this your big plan? Mope around like a love sick schoolgirl, and slowly drink yourself into a coma."

Shunsui stopped where he stood and looked back over his shoulder, eyebrow slightly raised.

"Love sick?" he coughed out a terse laugh.

Yoruichi looked at the eighth squad Captain. It was one of the few times she'd seen him out of uniform...or what he always wore as a uniform. His damp hair hung in loose waves around his broad shoulders and cascaded down his back. He obviously hadn't expected anyone but his friend to see him because he wore only his uniform pants, giving Yoruichi an eyeful of his perfect physique. His facial hair had grown out quite a bit, but surprisingly it suited him. The bastard was handsome that was for sure. She thought of her blond friend, who at that moment was in a smelly, rundown shack they'd found in the human world, and shook her head.

"Play dumb if you want to. You're not hurting me," she said with an indifferent tone as she looked down at the man sleeping in her lap. "I'm leaving at dawn. I'll wait for exactly five minutes and if you're not there…well, you're an ass." The silence that followed signaled the end of their very one sided conversation.

Shunsui grunted bitterly, leaving the two in each other's company. He made his way back to the spare bedroom, cradling his bottle like a newborn babe, and closed the door behind him. He laid on the futon and stared at the ceiling, studying it as if it had the answers to all his questions. Maybe he was overacting. No, he knew he was overreacting. Jushiro was probably right…he usually was. There was no way Kisuke blamed him for what happened, but knowing that didn't make him feel any better. Everything had happened so fast…too fast.

'One day we're laughing and drinking and the next…' He squeezed his eyes shut in an attempt to block the memory.

"It looks like we're being stood up again," Shunsui joked.

The young blond captain laughed. "You're probably right, but I'm sure whatever they're doing is a lot more exciting than this." He wagged his eyebrows and snatched up the jug.

"I hope he takes it easy on her this time," Kisuke said between sips. "I'd hate to have to lie to Unohana taicho again about how Yoruichi got another one of her 'injuries'."

Shunsui let out a deep, raspy laugh. "Jushiro's a lot stronger than he looks."

Kisuke nodded.

Urahara and Kyoraku's easy going personalities, their love of sake and all things women, made them fast friends after the former was made Captain of the twelfth division. But, before long, Shunsui had become captivated by the young man's mind. It was easy to forget he was a genius through all his silliness. He was absolutely brilliant, but remained humble, never insulting other's intelligence.

Jushiro and Yoruichi were to meet their friends for drinks, as they often did if they didn't get 'side tracked' on the way. That seemed to be exactly what had happed, yet again. Shunsui couldn't blame them though. Not this time. Everyone was uneasy. No one knew what to make of the souls disappearing in Rukongai. Kisuke had sent his lieutenant to help assist the ninth division in the investigation and he was obviously more troubled over the situation than he was letting on. Honestly, the eight division captain thought it would end up being a big nothing, but he couldn't help but wonder. If Kisuke was worried, they should be terrified.

They sat comfortably, enjoying each other's company. Mindless banter soon turned into a comfortable drunken silence as the two sat watching the sun set. Shunsui reached for the flagon that sat between them, but instead of the cool smooth finish of the jug he was met with Kisuke's warm hand. He pulled back abruptly allowing his partner to take the bottle, and then glanced at the blonde who didn't seem to realize anything had happened. 'Perhaps because nothing had,' Shunsui silently berated himself, and quickly dismissed the feeling he got as their hands touched as a simple effect of the sake. He watched as Kisuke tilted his head back and drank from the jug, eyes slowly tracing over his bobbing Adam's apple, and down his slender neck.

Completely oblivious to the fact that he was being eye fucked by his older associate, the blond closed his eyes as the liquid ran down his throat, immediately warming him from the inside. Just as Shunsui turned away Kisuke's arm shot out offering him the jug, his eyes glued to the horizon. Kyoraku couldn't hold back the smile that slowly crept onto his face. Taking what was offered, he drank, noticing the blonde taking the opportunity to eye him curiously. Slowly placing the jug between them, he uncomfortably met his friends silvery stare.

"Is everything okay, Kyoraku taicho," Kisuke asked with a raised brow. "You seem a little…off."

"I could say the same of you," the brunette replied.

"You could…but that would be an understatement if I ever heard one."

The ancient captain had to laugh at that, but stopped when the blonde didn't. Kisuke could easily be labeled as crazy. He was a bastard...he liked to play dumb. Shunsui knew that, but honestly, it was one of the things he liked most about him. Now though, he felt like an idiot. It was quite possible that the young inventor was fully aware of his senior's feelings, and just wanted to see him squirm. Kisuke noticed everything, so either he was playing games or was genuinely worried about him. Shunsui figured the former was more likely, but he couldn't be sure. Kisuke's face betrayed nothing.

"I'm fine, it's just the sake." The elder captain hoped the answer was enough to appease his friend.

Kisuke smiled that goofy smile that Shunsui found irresistible. "I think we both know that it takes a lot more than what we've had to get you drunk, but you don't have to tell me." He leaned back on his elbows and closed his eyes, listening to a boisterous group of officers as they passed by below.

"I'm just tired. I haven't had my nap today." The brunette laughed nervously, and hoped that excuse was more believable than the last.

The twelfth squad leader cracked one eye open. "Then go to sleep. I understand. You're an old man. You need your rest. I can finish this off by myself." The blond grinned and lifted the jug, guzzling the contents.

Shunsui smirked. "Old man huh."

He snatched off his sakkat, spun around and laid back onto Kisuke's lap, quickly covering his grinning face with his hat. There was a moment of silence, neither man moving a muscle. He wished he could see the younger man's face. Resisting the urge to remove his hat from his eyes he relaxed, shifting slightly to make himself more comfortable, and closed his eyes. Just as he was drifting off the young captain finally spoke.

"I'll keep watch," he whispered. "I wouldn't want Sui-Feng to kill you in your sleep. She's the jealous type."

Shunsui's eyes shot open. How long had he been asleep? Propping himself up, he glanced sleepily around the room, taking note of the sake jug that still sat on the floor beside him. He pinched the bridge of his nose as he thought on his dream. He'd been awoken by Lisa, telling him that a mandatory captains meeting had been called. It was completely dark and Kisuke was gone. When he'd seen him at the meeting he realized something was very wrong. His friend's usual silly smile was replaced with a deep frown that set Kyoraku on edge, and when the Head Captain denied him the opportunity to help his lieutenant Shunsui was barely able to suppress his own anger.

As the captain's filed out of the hall he'd placed a gentle hand on the slightly slumped shoulder and said as much as he could with so many eyes on them. Shunsui returned to the roof of his office, knowing that if Kisuke wanted to talk he would come there. He never saw him again.

Shaking the thoughts from his head, he stood and stretched his arms to the ceiling. The conversation he'd had with the cat woman came to mind.

"What time is it," he said aloud, ignoring the panic that began bubbling up inside him.

He rushed out of the room and down the hall to where he'd left the couple earlier. The room was empty. It was still dark, but there was no telling how long he'd slept. He'd been exhausted. To be honest, he still felt like he could use another week of sleep. Perhaps they'd retired to Jushiro's room. He hated to interrupt, but he just needed to be sure. Halfway down the corridor that led to the master bedroom, he heard faint laughter coming from the garden…Jushiro's laughter. Breathing a sigh of relief he returned to the terrace. A moment later Yoruichi and his old friend appeared, arms linked.

"Back from the dead I see," Yoruichi joked.

"I was beginning to worry," Jushiro said seriously.

"You worry too much old friend. Where I'm concerned, a nap should never alarm you."

"That was some nap," the purple haired woman responded as they entered the house. "You slept a little more than a day."

"Whaaa…a day?"

"You can thank Jushiro for me still being here. I knew he was stalling for you." She glared at the white haired man on her arm.

"You can punish me when you get back," Jushiro said with a mischievous smile.

"Don't worry. I will." She pressed her body against the frail man.

'She's ruined him,' Shunsui thought, smiling sincerely for the first time in days.

"So now you have no choice but to go because you've made me wait." The intimidating look she threw him wasn't needed. He didn't have the energy to argue. He'd missed his chance once. It wouldn't happen again. He needed to see Kisuke…talk to him one last time. "I'll go get ready."

"For what?" the werecat questioned, hands on hips.

Shunsui said nothing, simply motioned to his topless frame and loose hair. The scruff on his face would just have to stay there.

"You look fine. I actually think you look better thit way." 'Kisuke needs some distraction,' she thought with a frown.

It had been hard to watch her friend over the past week. He and Tessai had been slaving non-stopped over Hirako and the others. He blamed himself for what happened and wouldn't sleep until he found a way to reverse the hollowfication, which was taking longer than expected. Yoruichi had complete faith in him though. Kisuke very rarely failed at anything.

"As much as I enjoy the idea of being eye candy, I don't really think it would be appropriate…this time." With that, he turned and went to get his robe, returning a couple minutes later. He hadn't bothered with his hair since he honestly had no idea where his hair tie was, but he did grab the jug of sake he'd left on the floor beside the futon. His crutch.

Jushiro and Yoruichi were right where he'd left them.

"Ready when you are," he said lazily, moving passed them and out into the garden, leaving them to say their goodbyes.

-o0o-

Shunsui immediately regretted his decision to get dressed. Something to tie his hair back with would have been nice as well. It was a hot and sticky night. The thick air made it difficult to breathe.

The surrounding area wasn't much to speak of. A few rundown buildings sat off to the right and a small shack was a ways in front of them. He stared down at the golden-eyed woman and waited for her to lead the way.

"This is it," she said finally, voice laced with sadness. Her attention stayed locked on the seemingly abandoned building before them. Kyoraku frowned.

He didn't sense any reiatsu, but he supposed he wasn't supposed to. As a precaution he had suppressed his own. Besides the fact that he had snuck out of Soul Society to visit an exile and wanted to fly under the radar, any human in the vicinity could be easily killed by it. Yoruichi began walking slowly towards the rundown little building and Shunsui followed warily. The closer they got the more sick he felt. The Shihoin princess pushed the door open with a loud creek and Shunsui's stomach dropped. His gunmetal eyes widened when they fell upon the masked faces of his former comrades. His mask of composure slipped completely.

Sitting on the floor in the far corner of room was a mildly perspiring Tessai, eyes closed and legs crossed. Kisuke was on his knees across from him, looking down at and unconscious..."Lisa chan," the eighth division captain choked out. Neither of them had noticed the two come in. "Who would do something like this?"

He took in Kisuke's appearance. He looked beyond tired. His pale blonde locks stood all over his head and huge bags hung under his red eyes. The black and white shinigami attire had been replaced with green…green everything. He looked tense, but there was a look in his eye that Shunsui spotted right away. The same look he'd seen when the younger man would tell him about one of his experiments or some new discovery. It was reassuring. It gave him hope.

The small space had been transformed into a sort of lab/hospital. Papers covered the floor, even some of the bodies, and machines were hooked up to each one of the masked shinigami. 'Where did they get all of this?' Kyoraku wondered.

Yoruichi's sudden movement startled Shunsui out of his trance. She stepped cautiously through the mess, making her way to her best friend. She gently placed a hand on his shoulder, bent down and whispered something in his ear. The man froze. Slowly…disbelievingly…he looked towards the door. His eyes rested on the man he thought he'd never see again. A lump formed in his throat as he watched the brunette shift uncomfortably on his feet. Urahara stood slowly, letting Yoruichi's hand fall from his shoulder.

Hours seemed to pass as they stood there in silence. Shunsui thought of all the things he wanted to say…all the things he should say. He said none of them.

"How was your nap?" the exile finally said.

Shunsui smirked. Leave it to Kisuke to pick up exactly where he left off, despite the world practically crumbling around him. At that moment, Kyoraku knew all was forgiven, if there even ever was anything to forgive.

"Best I've ever had."

The scientist nodded and then there was silence again. Not comfortable, but not quite uncomfortable. Yoruchi's eyes moved from her best friend, to Shunsui, then back again.

The older man sighed, taking in what would be Kisuke's new home. "So tell me, how are they really?"

He shrugged. "Alive."

Shunsui nodded. He wouldn't ask him what happened that night that had forever changed his life…both of their lives. When he was ready he would tell him, and if not he wouldn't worry about it.

"Why don't you take a break," Yoruichi suggested, placing a hand on Kisuke's back.

He turned and stared at her blankly, but she continued before he could protest.

"Tessai, they'll be fine right?"

The kido master cracked one eye open. "They are still frozen." He hadn't slept either, but Yoruichi was less worried about him. Tessai could stay awake for days at a time with no problem if he really had to. He would meditate or 'rest' as he called it a couple hours every other day or so and be fine.

"See. Now go. You need a break." Her tone left no room for argument.

She gently pushed Kisuke towards the eighth division captain and received a glare, which she ignored, in return.

"Let's get some fresh air, if you can even call it that," the former twelfth squad captain relented, gingerly moving past Shunsui and led the way outside.

"I guess we can go on the roof and pray it doesn't cave in." The exile didn't bother hiding his annoyance.

They hopped up and sat, Shunsui immediately producing the jug of sake and sitting it between them.

"Just like old times," the inventor quipped sarcastically, as if it were years and not a week ago that they had done that very thing on Shunsui's roof. The thing was…it wasn't the same as much as they both wished it were. Kisuke was an outlaw and if Shunsui was caught who knew what would happen. Everything felt strained.

Without hesitation, the blond snatched up the jug and drank like his life depended on it.

"When'd you start wearing you hair like that?"

Shunsui leaned back on his elbows. "I didn't. Lost my hair tie."

Kisuke grunted. "I like it."

He shrugged. "It's hot."

"As hell," the blonde agreed. "You should see how it is in the daytime. I might start wearing a stupid looking hat like you do. Old man." Then he smiled for the first time since that day on Shunsui's roof, returning the jug to its place between the two of them.

Kyoraku snorted and helped himself to some of the sake. 'Old man,' he thought. It really was like old times, at least for the moment. "You keep talking and I'll get you your own stupid looking hat."

The silver eyed man laughed outright. It felt good…normal. "I won't wear it. I'm too sexy for a hat."

They both laughed and inside the small shack Yoruichi smiled to herself. Everything would be fine, she knew it. The two men stayed on the roof for hours talking about nothing and everything just as they'd always done until Kisuke, who was no longer able to fight it, drifted off to sleep. Shunsui smiled and gently pulled the younger man close, laying his head in his lap to make him more comfortable. He stared down at him, brushing the hair that always rested on his nose, to the side.

"You would molest a sleeping man Kyoraku taicho," Kisuke said in a tired voice, startling the slightly buzzed captain.

He smirked down at the man whose eyes were still closed. "You're an ass." Kisuke smiled. "I would," Shunsui continued, "but not this time. I do have some restraint after all."

Kisuke's eyes blinked open. He reached up, grabbing a handful of Shunsui's flowing chocolate brown hair. "You're too much of a gentleman," he said as he sat up, meeting the elder man's eyes for a moment before crushing their lips together.