Author's Note: Here we are with the concluding chapter of The Cherry Blossom Bet! This story was a joy to write, and I had such, such fun! I can't think of much else to say, since I'm incredibly tired, other than the obvious: thank you for reading and I'm so happy you were along for the ride! If you enjoyed this story (or are just a fan of Shunsui/Nanao or my writing), it'd serve you well to take the following poll! Again, thank you so much for reading and an even bigger thanks for your kind comments!

Yes, I do love writing cliché corny sweet situations.

Important Poll: Do you want a sequel involving Rangiku's kinky suggestion? You know the one. (HINTCELIBACYHINT)

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, nor any of its respective characters, settings, etc. If I did, it would be much more Shunsui/Nanao-centric.

Chapter Three:
My Dearest Diamond

When the morning after rolled around, Shunsui wasn't the least bit surprised that Nanao was late for work. It did, however, come as a shock when she arrived at ten o'clock in the morning – he'd expected her to miss the entire day. He certainly would have, had he drunk as much the previous night.

"Good morning, Nanao-chan!" Shunsui sang, finishing up the last of the documents.

"What are you doing?" she asked. While she tried to sound regal, she squinted, and he didn't envy the migraine she undoubtedly had.

"Oh, just doing the paperwork," he told her airily. "You know, us sober people feel a responsibility to our occupations."

Nanao rolled her eyes. "You sound like Matsumoto-san."

Shunsui laughed, topping off the pile of paper and rising from his desk. "You should lie down, Nanao-chan. You had quite a bit to drink yesterday."

"Shut up," she spat, and he was a bit taken aback. "I did not."

Shunsui frowned. "It's not like you to be so sour."

"Really?" she asked. "I thought that's exactly what I'm like."

He was about to protest but decided that silence was the best reply. Despite herself, Nanao made her way to the sofa and lay down, draping a hand over her eyes as the sun assaulted them.

"I got you something," he told her, ignoring her grimace as he interrupted her peace. "Wouldn't you like to see?"

"Not especially," she droned, rolling onto her side in an effort to ignore him.

"But it will make your day so much better!"

"I very much doubt it, Captain," she grumbled into the cushions.

Pouting, Shunsui crossed the room and returned in seconds. Nanao winced, the heavy sound of his footsteps sending sharp pangs through her skull.

"What?"

"You can't expect me to open it for you," he scolded playfully. "That isn't proper!"

Rubbing an annoyed hand over her face, Nanao sat up and glared at him. He responded with a smile, thrusting a large but thin wrapped gift into her hands. "For you, Nanao-chan, in commemoration of our first drunken outing!"

"That was yesterday," she told him tartly, inspecting the present with distaste.

"You won't turn away my charity, will you?" he asked, raising a dramatic hand to his heart. "This old soul won't be able to bear the shame!"

"Fine." Groaning, Nanao turned the gift over and began undoing the tape at the back.

Shunsui rolled his eyes. "That is so like you, Nanao-chan."

Her hands froze and she gave him an obvious leer. "If you don't want me to open it, then I won't."

"Not at all!" he encouraged. "Please continue!"

Muttering something foul, Nanao continued unwrapping the present with disdain. When it was finally free of its bindings, Nanao stripped away the paper, folded it and placed it neatly on the couch beside her. Shunsui barely resisted rolling his eyes again and instead opted to watch with excitement as she turned it over.

He was pleased when her eyebrows rose in surprise as she scanned the gift from behind her glasses.

"A painting?"

"That's exactly right!" Shunsui affirmed, beside himself with glee.

"But… why?" she asked, looking up at him with a mixture of curiosity and befuddlement.

"Well," he began, "I noticed yesterday that you have no art in your home. How depressing!" He wondered if he ought to continue, and then devilishly decided to add (with a tinge of dejection), "Not even in your bedroom, Nanao-chan, where all true beauty culminates."

A red flush quickly rose to her cheeks, creeping beneath her frames. "M-my room?"

Shunsui nodded. "Don't you remember?"

"No!" she exclaimed, looking quite ill. Setting the painting at her feet, she covered her mouth with her hand, looking frantic.

"It's all right, Nanao-chan," he said, sounding sympathetic. "I won't tell anyone you fell."

Looking up, her eyes were wide with surprise as her hand fell listlessly onto her lap. "I fell?"

"Yes," he confirmed. "While I was walking you home. You stumbled and before I knew it, I had to carry you all the way back to Eighth Division!" Watching relief wash over her face, he lamented, "You'll put this old man's back out, Nanao-chan."

Her stern features suddenly changed from grateful to furious. "You… you insufferable… You… GUH!"

Shunsui watched her reaction innocently, mind dancing and reveling in the fact that he had made her speechless – with anger, but that was hardly the point. "Well, of course you fell, my soused Nanao-chan. Why else would you think I was in your room?"

Standing up indignantly and balling her fists, Nanao lifted up the painting menacingly. The artwork cast a shadow as it rose above her head; her eyes shone with resolve and rage. Shunsui only felt the tiniest smatterings of regret as the beautiful work came swinging down, and soon he was encircled by the wooden frame and torn canvas.

"Nanao-chan!" he scolded. "You've ruined my gift!"

Nanao looked as if she were about to say something: her mouth opened and closed several times, emitting fractions of words and phrases. Finally unable to voice her frustration (for such was its greatness), she gave the frame a hearty push and stalked away.

Lying on the floor, Shunsui blinked and grinned, even as he heard the rice paper door close, crack and clatter to the ground.

A few hours later, Shunsui decided it was time to test the waters. Shuffling through the petals on the ground, he gradually made his way to Nanao's quaint living quarters. Placing a few light raps on the door, he did not wait for a response before sliding it an inch or two open, peeking curiously through the sliver.

"Nanao-chan?" he chimed, slipping the door open a bit more. Light flooded into the room in one long beam, the luminescent pillar widening as he continued to slide the door open. "Nanao-chan?"

"What?" came a sharp voice.

Smiling, Shunsui opened the door the rest of the way. The sun illuminated what he'd been looking for: on the couch lay Nanao, back to him, clearly trying to sleep – with minimal success.

"There you are!" he announced merrily. "I've been looking all over for you!"

"I'm sure," she said, her voice barely an annoyed groan.

Inviting himself in and not bothering to close the door, he took a seat near her feet. "You seem angry, Nanao-chan."

"Really?" she wondered sarcastically.

He nodded, even though she couldn't see. "Perhaps some sake will heal your woes?"

Moaning painfully, she placed her hands over her ears and tried to ignore him.

"Tonight is the cherry blossom festival," he informed her, changing the subject and doing away with his teasing tone. "Would you like to go with me?"

For only the slightest moment, her breath hitched in surprise. Looking up at him, she traded an incredulous stare for a frank one. "Why don't you ask Matsumoto-san?"

Shunsui rolled his eyes. "Because I want to go with you."

Falling back onto the couch, she said, "I'm sure there are plenty of pretty shinigami that would love to go with you."

"But I don't want drunken, tittering girls," he complained. "I want to go with my Nanao-chan."

"Nanao-chan's going to sleep," she told him stately. "If you have any further requests, you may talk to her in the morning."

Sighing, Shunsui leaned back on the couch. "Well, if she's going to be so sarcastic, you may tell Nanao-chan that my resolve has only hardened in the wake of her stubbornness. I will sit here until she agrees to go with me."

Grumbling, Nanao disregarded him and buried her head in her pillows.

Three slow hours passed by as afternoon crawled ever closer to evening. Cherry blossoms fluttered in through Nanao's open door as the sky faded from pastel blue to pale violet. Chattering was heard outdoors as people began to gather for the night's festivities, airy giggles and excited murmuring floating alongside the petals.

Yawning, Shunsui stretched his arms and patted Nanao's ankle. "If you'll pardon me," he told her cheerily, "I'm going to get dressed for the evening's events. Shall I return for you in an hour?"

Lurching, Nanao sat up and glared. "I'm not going."

"Nonsense, Nanao-chan!" he said, scandalized. "Tonight is the most beautiful night of the year, but even so it will pale without your presence."

"No," she said flatly.

Shunsui grinned, having prepared a trump card. "But you must remember, Nanao-chan, your cruelty earlier today. Why, you didn't even thank me for that beautiful painting, and then you smashed it over my head! My heart might never recover from the utter rejection. Why, if you were to deny me only one more time, I might have to cast this weary soul into the river…"

Her expression soured further; she lowered her head and shut her eyes tightly. "Fine."

He visibly brightened up and perkily said, "I will return in one hour, my lovely Nanao-chan!" With that, he rose and sauntered out the door, humming happily.

Cursing, Nanao rose from her sofa and begrudgingly made her way to her bedroom.

Only forty-five minutes later, a light rapping was heard at her doorframe. Egregiously annoyed but trying desperately to make the better of it, Nanao emerged from her room to be greeted by a smiling Shunsui. He still wore his zanpakutous, but abandoned his captain's robe and shinigami hakama for a white yukata with pink petal patterns, overtop of which he wore his pink haori.

She felt her cheeks redden, thinking he looked only the slightest bit dashing.

"Nanao-chan," he said, sounding breathless. It wasn't the reaction she'd expected, but she didn't exactly dislike it. Shunsui took a moment of silence to revel in her appearance: her hair was up as usual and she had on only a hint of make-up, but she wore a dazzling purple silk kimono that kissed her ankles. It wasn't pink, but he decided that would have just looked odd on his Nanao-chan. "You look beautiful."

Nanao was about to reply indignantly but stopped when she realized he'd truly meant it. Ears burning, she dipped her head a bit. "Thank you."

"Shall we go?" he asked, still a bit in awe.

She nodded mutely, but did not accept when he offered his arm. He wasn't surprised, though; he only smiled and they mutually agreed to walking side by side. Making their way to the center of the festivities, they passed by many of their friends: Ukitake was staving off Kiyone and Sentarou; Kira, Matsumoto, Shuuhei, and Renji were already half drunk; Kenpachi, Yachiru, Ikkaku, and Yumichika were all squabbling about one thing or another; Unohana and Isane were observing everyone with knowing smiles; and Hitsugaya and Hinamori were talking beneath one of the largest sakura trees. The air was filled with bubbling laughter as the clusters of people gathered to talk about whatever came to mind.

"Isn't it nice?" Shunsui asked, sounding a bit wistful.

Nanao, smiling, nodded.

As they went around greeting the others, Nanao was surprised to find that she was actually enjoying herself. The last fragments of her migraine faded as she exchanged polite banter with Ukitake, Unohana, and a rather tipsy Renji. Occasionally she even found herself participating in games. She wasn't especially fond of things like races or quizzes, but with the encouragement of Shunsui, they took part as a team. Though they rarely won – how was Nanao supposed to know which cup the ball was under? – she often found herself smiling and having fun.

As the night wore on and her heart gradually lightened, both Shunsui and Nanao decided to take a break from the amicable banter and friendly competition. Sitting down in a nearby grove, they sipped tea in comfortable silence, both leaning against the bole of a large tree.

"You did quite well in the potato counting competition," Shunsui teased, stirring a mixture of chrysanthemum, chamomile and vanilla bean.

Nanao allowed herself a light laugh. "Photographic memory."

"Ah," he replied, chuckling.

They dipped in and out of pleasantly casual conversation, continuing long after their cups were empty. Eventually Shunsui decided to broach the subject. "Why do you think I make fun of you?"

As people bustled about, mumbling off and on about how the fireworks were about to begin, Nanao glanced up at the sapphire sky and sighed. Closing her eyes, she said, "Because it's simply what you do. That's almost like asking why the sky is blue."

Shunsui looked at her with a troubled expression. "It saddens me that you think I'm mocking you."

She shrugged. "It doesn't sadden me, so it shouldn't sadden you."

"Doesn't it?" he asked. "You seemed quite sad yesterday."

Ignoring the horribly nostalgic former comment, she asked, "If you aren't mocking me, then what is it you're doing? What is it you're doing when you're supposedly complimenting me, spouting nonsense about my so-called beauty?" She turned to him, regarding him both frankly and curiously. "Women like me aren't made out to be deities, Captain. So when people are worshipping us, it's more than a little suspicious."

He exhaled heavily, eyes pleading sincerity. "It is only women like you who would think like that, Nanao." When he saw she was surprised by the lack of a suffix to her name, he seized the moment and continued, "It is because you are not made to be a goddess that you are one. You are so special and unique that when someone finds you, he had better worship you. So many people don't know what they have until they've lost it. That's why I love you, Nanao. It is because I know how wonderful you are – and I am scared to death of losing you."

Blushing at his honesty, Nanao glanced down at her fingers – nervously kneading the fabric of her kimono – and could only mutter an, "Oh."

To her surprise, Shunsui chuckled. "Though cynical you may be, you are still a diamond in the rough, Nanao-chan."

She nodded, flustered, and desperately wished she could sip more tea even if only for something to do.

Enjoying the few minutes of comfortable silence that washed over them, Shunsui decided to lighten the mood by venturing, "Why is spring your favorite season?"

Looking at him again, she wondered, "You still want to know?"

"Naturally," he assured factually, yet happily. "I want to know everything about my Nanao-chan."

Nanao unfurled her hands from the silk, forcing them to be still, and turned to face him. She seemed about to tell him when four drunken people rushed by, colliding both with the tree and with Nanao.

"Hurry!" implored Rangiku. "We'll miss the fireworks!"

"Can't we see them from anywhere?" muttered Kira pitifully as he was pulled along by the buxom blonde.

"Shut up!" Renji shouted. "Rangiku knows the best place!"

Even though the tipsy quartet was gone in a flash, Nanao and a few disgruntled cherry blossoms were the evidence of their brief interruption. She, having been knocked first by Matusmoto's hip and then by Renji and Shuuhei's stumbling knees, was now in a rather compromising position: arms sprawled over Shunsui's waist, chest pressed against his abdomen, and ear just close enough to hear the beating of his heart.

She blushed and was about to remove herself when she felt warm arms encircle her, heaving her up a bit and pulling her closer.

"The fireworks are about to start," he said.

Staring unblinkingly ahead, she swallowed deeply and nodded. Shifting just enough in his embrace to look at the sky, her face burned with sudden inhibition.

He shook with goodhearted laughter. "No need to be so embarrassed, Nanao-chan."

With some effort, she relaxed slightly and allowed herself to lean comfortably back against his chest. Before she had the chance to say anything, an ear-splitting crackle was heard, and soon lights of every color streaked across the night sky. Blues, pinks, reds, whites, greens, yellows, and every other hue across the spectrum erupted in great clusters above their heads, greeted by hoots and jeers from the crowd.

As her eyes beheld the remarkable sight, Nanao smiled softly and nestled into the crook of his arms, leaning her head on his shoulder. "Because of you."

"Hmm?" asked Shunsui, looking down curiously.

"Spring is my favorite season," she whispered, closing her eyes and huddling closer into him, "because it reminds me of you."

The End