"Hiei! Shippo! Get your fiery selves inside before those clouds decide you look too dry!"

Kagome Higarashi in the Yu Yu Hakusho and Inuyasha crossover fanfiction 'as time goes by'

oxo…oxo

"She's alive?"

Squad four was in uproar the next day, but it was a relieved yet confused uproar. Nanao had indeed spent the night with her Taicho, sleeping curled up next to him in the hospital bed where they had been found the next morning by Hanataro; him having been the shinigami set to look after Shunsui that day. His startled cries of 'ghosts are possessing Kyoraku-Taicho' had woken most of the people in the vicinity including Shunsui and Nanao themselves and Nanao had tried her hardest to calm the poor boy down, only helping aggravate the young healers nerves.

It hadn't been long after that, that Unohana had arrived, her eyes narrowed slightly in annoyance at what was disturbing her patients slumber. After listening to her seventh seat's terrified spluttering, she had eventually resorted to gently knocking the boy out and placing him on the other bed in the room. She had then asked for a full explanation which had been given to her by Nanao, her voice taking on her Fukutaicho quality as she ran through the report.

Ukatake had come in about half an hour after and it had been no surprise to the couple in the room when the man had been unable to say anything for several minutes after arriving. 'She's alive?' had been the first thing the white haired captain had managed to say and it caused Shunsui to give him an amused sigh. Nanao smiled.

"Yes Ukatake-Taicho, I'm alive." She told her Taicho's best friend. Even though he was primarily been Shunsui's companion, Nanao had grown a close friendship with the man and was pleased to see he was well. Apparently he hadn't taken her supposed death well though, if the bags under his eyes were anything to go by. A smile split the Taicho's face and he drew the bespectacled Fukutaicho into a warm hug which she gladly returned.

"But what about the Taicho and Fukutaicho meeting that's supposed to be happening this afternoon?" he white haired man asked as he pulled back, looking at Shunsui with wide eyes as his friends expression darkened.

"Meeting? What meeting?" Nanao asked, thoroughly confused. Ukatake looked back down at her with a sad smile.

"It was arranged so that there could be some discussion as to who might replace you as the Soutaicho knew very well Shunsui wouldn't do it on his own."

Shunsui snorted, effectively gaining the attention of the other pair in the room. "As if I would willingly replace my Nanao-chan." He sniffed indignantly, his arms crossed and his nose stuck in the air. Nanao's eyes narrowed slightly but she couldn't stop the small blush that touched her cheeks. Shunsui smirked slightly before continuing, his eyes becoming calculating as he planned his next move. "I'll just take her with me. She is the perfect candidate after all."

xxx…xxx

Soutaicho Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto stood at the end of the long meeting room, his eyes watching as the Taicho's and Fukutaicho's aligned themselves in their proper positions in the hall. Everyone was sober, no smiles anywhere, and although it was usually that way in the meeting rooms it seemed so much more depressed than before. Resisting the urge to sigh, he waited for them all to file in, the last being a lone, yet surprisingly calm Shunsui.

"This meeting will be to place proposals for the position of Fukutaicho of the eighth squad." He began, his voice loud and commanding as it reached the shinigami in the room. He paused in his words for a moment as Shunsui met his eyes. There was no depression there; or resentment as he had expected. It surprised him. Hadn't he felt deeply for his previous Fukutaicho? Or had that all been an act? He continued all the same. "As you all know the previous squad eight fukutaicho, Ise Nanao, has passed away in unknown circumstances. Would anyone like to recommend a shinigami who are skilled enough to take the job?"

Shunsui cleared his throat and all eyes turned to him with either curious or surprised eyes. The man smiled at his mentor's raised eyebrows before speaking, his voice crisp with no sense of grief or torment.

"I believe I already have an appropriate person for the job," he told the hall, causing a small whisper to go through the Fukutaicho's in the hall. Ukitake, Unohana and Isane were all smiling at the man and Yamamoto was frowning.

"What is the meaning of this Kyoraku-Taicho?" came his gruff voice, confusion and annoyance being the main emotions in the old man's voice. Shunsui's face split into a wide smile and he turned towards the door.

"Oh, Nanao-Chan! You can come in now!" he said, his voice raised and a hand cupped around his mouth. There were gasps and loud whispers at his words and even more when the large door opened to reveal Nanao, her uniform back in place and her glasses glazed over her eyes. There was a slight frown on her face as she walked into the room, walking straight past the Taicho's before stopping in front of Yamamoto and dipping her body into a low bow.

"What is the meaning of this?" Yamamoto repeated and Nanao straightened before pushing her glasses further up upon her nose.

"I am sorry for all the trouble I have caused Soutaicho. It was merely an effect of my Zampakuto that made me seem like I was dead." She informed him, loud enough that everyone could hear her words. It caused a stir to go among the group and she could hear several voices talking, the loudest being Matsumoto who was finding it hard to keep her voice below a whisper. She ignored them, focusing on the old man in front of her as he studied her petite form.

"Explain." He commanded and she nodded before throwing herself into a detailed account of what her Shikai could do and why she was forced to use it. She also told the story of how she got back, omitting her night with Shunsui from the report. The old man's expression didn't waver as she told her story, staying constant through out and also when she had finished. There was a moment of silence before Yamamoto nodded and she felt herself relax. "Ok. This will be called a misunderstanding and no actions will be taken against you, though I advise that you do not leave your body unguarded again."

She bowed again before backing up then turning to stand behind her Taicho as all the other Fukutaicho's were doing. There were a few whispers before the Soutaicho's voice cut through the air again.

"Silence! Now that this matter has been resolved there is no further need for council. You are dismissed."

It didn't take long for the group to disperse and Nanao soon found herself walking down the corridor towards the eighth, her Taicho grinning beside her, his hands in the sleeves of his haori and his usual wicker had resting on his head. She gave him a sideways glance before frowning.

"Shouldn't you be getting back to squad four; you haven't been released yet." She asked him and he looked down at her with a wink.

"Unohana said to could spend the day at the office. You can't get rid of me that easily Nanao-Chan." He told her cheekily and she sighed, pushing her glasses up as she continued down the hallway.

"I suppose not," she replied with a small smile. He chuckled slightly before grabbing her, clasping his arms around her waist and resting his head on her shoulder, his warm breath tickling her neck. She shivered slightly at the touch before attempting to pull away. He wouldn't let her go, growling slightly when she tried to free herself. "Taicho!" she protested, trying her best not to surcome to his touch.

"What's wrong my lovely Nanao-chan?"

"Were in the hallways of the barracks, its not proper!" she insisted, finally whacking him over the head with the fan she always kept handy in her pocket. He pulled back slightly with a soft smile before scratching the back of his head.

"Yare, yare Nanao-chan; always so uptight."

Nanao bristled, turning away from him before continuing down the corridor, not allowing him to see the small smile that graced her face at his antics.

oxo…oxo

Dear reader,

Well, I hope you like it folks! I decided that, since it was such a popular idea, I would do the whole meeting thing. I want to thank everyone who reviewed, it means allot to me when people do, especially when I see the same name reviewing each chapter. It's so nice! I wasn't sure about the ending though…what do you guys think?

Animeloveramy

Im sure I speak for you all when I thank Amy for finishing this one off in such a sweet way ^_^ and we would really like to hear your feedback about the strong and the ending in particular watch out and with enough encouragement you never know-a sequel may be possible...

AnimeAiedail