Shunsui was sure Nanoe knew that something was different when he arrived back at 8th division's barracks. After all, he didn't add any flowery adjectives to her name, and more importantly to her, he did not mention napping at all. Not that he could with the situation he was in. He couldn't consider rest - shouldn't even think about the word at a time a time like this - at least not until he had seen Gramps.

Yama-jii had to know about Juushiro, and since the bastard Sousuke hadn’t been as cruel as to mention it, that task had fallen onto his shoulders. In addition, with Kisuke still not pardoned by Central, someone needed to testify on the behalf of the seraph, Kita, before her sentencing. Scratching the back of his neck and sighing, Shunsui set off. His favored pink kimono lay draped across his shoulders once more to distract from the heavy weight of his responsibilities and serious glint in his shadowed eyes.

....

The guards at the gate of First Division let him pass through without him needing to speak up. Mind still occupied on how to go about telling the Captain Commander, Shunsui didn't turn back around and playfully criticize their automatic trust in him. He let his feet lead the way towards the Zen gardens in the back.

He found Yama-jii sitting in the shade of a bamboo grove, eyes closed, yet Shunsui knew his old teacher knew his peace was being disturbed.

He took a deep breath and waited to be acknowledged.