Ice is currently in a state of contempt with me. I had gone to 10th for lunch with Rangiku and some of the other SWA members met us there as well. Getting there was fine. But as the sun melted some of the less kempt paths, I found myself of some slippery ground. I would have caught myself if there wasn't a stone protruding from the melting ice. And it wasn't as though shunpoing would have helped with such awkward footing. I stuck out my hand and braced for impact.

A part of me was cursing at my oversight of the hazard. If I could have, I would have glared at myself. It's embarrassing that I was so immersed in impractical thoughts again that I let something like this pass my notice. I'm still frustrated at it, but regretting my lapse in observation didn't change the fact that my right ankle was throbbing and my left wrist was in pain.

Then I had the simply wonderful pleasure of having Taicho in the office when I returned. I felt his reiatsu far enough off so I could correct my pace and hopefully allay any suspicions he could generate. I hate worrying him about something so insignificant. But my efforts and hope were in vain. I couldn't completely mask the limp in my gait. Even though he always seems to be napping when I enter the office, Taicho's reaction belied his appearance.

"My lovely Nanao-chan, why are you limping?" At this he sat up on the couch and tilted his sakkat back to see me properly. I was clenching my jaw against the pain but had to release it to assuage his concern so I could resume working. I still had a significant amount to accomplish if I wanted to take a day off in the next week like I had been planning. I stopped without turning towards him to reply.

"It's nothing, sir. Don't worry yourself about it." I continued towards my desk.

"Yare, yare, Nanao-chan I can't have you walking like that. It'll get worse." Before I could react, Taicho had picked me up from behind my knees and back and went to deposit me on the couch. I instinctively pushed against his shoulder to release me and hissed in pain. He shared a meaningful look at me as he finally put me down on the couch.

"What am I going to do with you, Nanao-chan? 'Nothing,' indeed." He gently held my foot and gently probed my ankle, then took a look at my wrist. "Ah, while it doesn't look too bad, I'd feel better if someone at the 4th checked on you. I'm sure you'd feel better, too."

"Fine, Taicho. I'll be on my way then." I went to get up. I winced as I attempted to put weight on my wrist and foot.

"Not like that you won't, lovely one. I was planning on checking on Ukitake anyways, he wasn't feeling so grand today. So I'll just take you there." His smile was kind.

"Taicho, I'll be fine without assistance. Please don't bother yourself." I really didn't want to be paraded across Seireitei in his arms. I don't like rumors popping up from this. And I didn't want to have the physical contact to trigger any... emotional side effects. Having him in such close proximity is... intoxicating. And I prefer to stay sober in that manner.

"Of course it's no bother. Plus I need to make sure that my Nanao-chan gets fixed up! Well, up you go then!" And I found myself once again in his arms and on our way to the 4th.

"Taicho!" I was mortified when we entered into the 4th, with me still in his arms. Then he just had to make a scene.

"Unohana-sempai! I need you to fix my adorable little fukutaicho!" I covered my face in my hands. Why do I put up with such an insufferable superior? Well I have all sorts of reasons, but being put on display for another division is not one of them. I only mildly tolerate it in the 8th because they have a better understanding of Taicho.

"Kyouraku-Taicho, please lower your voice. Unohana-Taicho is busy for the moment. I can take care of things for now." A voice called from the ward near the front entrance. A newly familiar face walked around the corner to greet us.

"Ah thank you, ahhhh…" Taicho paused seeing if he recalled her name from anywhere. I'm sure he hadn't met the 4th's 5th seat. So I introduced them.

"Taicho, this is Isane Kotetsu, the 5th seat here. She joined the Shinigami Women's Association recently. Now, Kotetsu-san, could you please direct Kyouraku-Taicho," I turned to glare directly at him, not failing to notice how close his own face was from my own while I was still in his arms. "…where he can place me and desist in this inappropriate behavior!" My voice inadvertently rose with my irritation.

"Nanao-chan, you should be quiet in the 4th. Unohana-san wouldn't appreciate it." Hypocrite! Irritation burned into anger. I very much wished I had a large ledger with me at the moment. Taicho's face needed a new friend and quickly at that. I just gave him the best glare I could and held my tongue instead. Taicho may be teasing, but he's right that Unohana-Taicho would not tolerate that behavior in her ward. I didn't want to test her patience either. I've never experienced her anger myself, but the way Taicho has referenced it before, I never want to.

"Ise-fukutaicho, I just saw you, what happened?" I quickly explained while Taicho distracted himself with other patients in the ward since he didn't see Ukitake-Taicho.

While Kotetsu-san patched me up, I noticed two white haoris moving towards the main entrance. I recognized them as Unohana-Taicho and Ukitake-Taicho. The latter was looking well, actually, he looked a little flushed. I was more than curious, since he usually is pale when he's feeling under the weather. And I swore he looked nervous. Why on Earth would he be nervous and still laughing and smiling like that? I looked over to Unohana-Taicho's smile. It was bright. Then a memory hit me. Well, a memory of a memory.

Ayame had mentioned how Ukitake showed signs of a crush with a certain young woman in the 4th division. A woman with dark hair and blue eyes flustered him all those years ago. It must have been Unohana-Taicho. Shunsui tried to get them together a few times from what I read later on, but was never successful. Ukitake-Taicho still had romantic emotions for her then. I inwardly smiled at this revelation.

Ukitake-Taicho gave a final nod before he left her side. Unohana-Taicho stood there for a moment or two before she turned around. That smile was there for a few more seconds before she took a deep breath and her normal gentle smile took its place. Could that reaction mean that she might reciprocate those emotions?

I didn't get to dwell on it since Unohana-Taicho started towards me. Since I didn't want Taicho meddling with her assessment and treatment, I called over to him.

"Taicho? Ukitake-Taicho just left." He looked up from some flowers over by another patient's bed who currently wasn't there.

"Oh, he did? Thanks Nanao-chan~!" He hurried out. "Oh hi, Unohana-san! Bye Unohana-san!" I shook my head at his antics.

"Well now, Nanao-Fukutaicho, I see Isane-san already took care of you. Thank you Isane-san, Kyouraku-Taicho tends to get boisterous when someone in his care isn't getting treatment." She did her own examination before she let me return to my duties. "Isane-san did a good job, so you should be fine in a day or so, Nanao-Fukutaicho. Just try to keep off it as much as possible. And I would like you to return in a few days, just to make sure."

I gave her a polite nod before I made my way back to the 8th for the remainder of the day. I made it back to my own quarters without a problem, since the bit of treatment and binding helped. It still felt stiff but much better than before.

I finally was able to get back to reflecting upon that reaction from Unohana-Taicho. That smile wasn't her typical business-polite smile. That was a very genuine smile that was also directly correlated with the presence of Ukitake-Taicho. I wonder if Kyouraku-Taicho is aware of this. Even if he does, I'm sure confirmation from my observations would be welcome.

I'm surprised he hasn't put much effort into getting them together while I've been at the 8th. He could chat with Ukitake-Taicho on the matter during his visits. But this could be a sorely worn out topic between the two of them. Yet, if I mention their reactions to each other to Taicho, it may offer more motivation for stepping up his efforts. And since Taicho can't resist a good love story, it will preoccupy him from pointlessly flirting with me. This would be a much more productive course of action for him, infinitely less stressful for me and hopefully ends well for Ukitake-Taicho and Unohana-Taicho.