as years pass | kyoraku shunsui

three - 'just two friends'

Snow had begun to fall outside of the Soul Reaper Academy as Shuriken stood in Shunsui and Jushiro's dorm room. The two males were packing their bags for the winter break, which would carry on into the new year. It wasn't often that the academy gave its students time to truly rest and relax, but the time did come every now and then. This break would be the first for Shuriken and her friends since they had begun their training.

Of course, this also meant that it would be the first time since classes began that Shuriken would be truly alone. Only a limited number of faculty would remain on campus over the break, as well as only a few students. Shuriken, naturally, was one of the students that would remain at school; she had no interest in returning to the empty Natazaki home, assuming that it even still stood. The only person that she could even think of to talk to about such a thing would be Lieutenant Sasakibe, but, not only did Shuriken have no way of contacting him, she had no interest in doing so.

Until she graduated, the Soul Reaper Academy dorms would be Shuriken's home.

"Are you sure that you wouldn't like to go with one of us, Shuri?" Jushiro asked as he finished packing his last bag. "I'm positive that my younger siblings would love you. I don't doubt that mother and father would be fond of you as well."

Neither Shunsui nor Jushiro knew exactly why Shuriken wouldn't be leaving for the break, but they had both taken her answer of, 'I don't really have anyone waiting for me back home' without question. Maybe she had a bad relationship with her family, like Shunsui did? Or perhaps some sort of conflict between them had arisen before she'd left for the academy?

The possibility that Shuriken's family didn't exist anymore had crossed both Shunsui and Jushiro's minds, but they had agreed to never ask her about it. From the way she had spoken about not having anyone waiting for her, they had realized that it was her family that was the burden that weighed so heavily on her shoulders. The last thing that either of the males wanted to do was make that subject worse on Shuriken.

"Hey now, we don't want your folks getting the idea that the two of you are together," Shunsui's voice was playful as he spoke. "Knowing your luck they'd be planning a wedding before either of you could say 'no.'"

Although Jushiro didn't want to admit it, he knew that Shunsui was probably right. Jushiro loved his family more than anything else, but he had to admit that they could be a bit overbearing at times.

"You're probably right about that," Jushiro muttered. He then looked over to Shuriken with a sympathetic smile. "You'd probably have more luck with the Kyorakus."

"Eh, I wouldn't necessarily say that," Shunsui shook his head. "My family's no walk in the park. In fact, I really don't want to go back for the break, but I don't have much of a choice in the matter."

Shunsui's typical care-free expression had been replaced by a disgusted scowl. It seemed as though the mere mention of his family could flip his mood entirely.

"Ditch them for Jushiro's family," Shuriken suggested. "It'd probably be a lot more fun that way."

"Ah, but then they might think that we're together," Shunsui objected, pointing between Jushiro and himself.

"I'm sure they know that I have better taste than that," Jushiro's blunt, teasing response made Shunsui whine. "Besides Shunsui, you're not even my type."

Of course, the Ukitake family knew nothing about Jushiro's homosexuality, and the odds of it even having crossed any of their minds was slim to none.

"Ouch," Shunsui whined.

Shuriken reached towards the tall brunette and placed a comforting hand on his back. "If it makes you feel any better, you're not my type either."

Before Jushiro and Shuriken could blink, Shunsui had fallen dramatically on the floor. He lied facedown with his arms and legs sprawled out at the sides.