2) As far as Shunsui is concerned, love doesn't come into it. His relationship with Ukitake is something that two friends do for (and to) each other. Love is what you declare for women.
3) As far as Ukitake is concerned, his wife will have to be someone Shunsui likes.
4) Shunsui really does love all the women. There is nothing more beautiful than a woman whose cheeks are red with a blush from anger or embarrassment, breasts heaving with fury, so absolutely alive, so vital, so vivid. He'd never hurt a woman in that way, but he does enjoy reaction.
5) Ukitake remembers squealing women stampeding through his room at the Academy, chased by Shunsui. He also remembers that the women weren't running that fast.
6) Centuries of experience can make you used to almost anything, but Ukitake still winces at wearing that shade of pink with that shade of green.
7) Shunsui sometimes brushes out Ukitake's hair as he would do a woman's, and winds his hands in it, and draws it through his fingers, while Ukitake looks away.
8) Shunsui writes love poetry to his beautiful Nanao-chan. Ukitake corrects it. Nanao does not reply to it, but keeps it.
9) Shunsui understands exactly why the two Thirteenth Division Third Seats squabble so much. However, Ukitake isn't that thrilled by Shunsui's "perfectly reasonable" suggested solution to the problem.
10) Ukitake blames his white hair on constantly running his hands through it when finding out the latest thing that Shunsui's done. People who point out that he had white hair when he was at the Academy have been referred to horrifyingly traumatic incidents from childhood which Ukitake declares he could not possibly scar them with.
11) Shunsui has plans to find out whether Kuchiki Rukia can drink as much as Shiba Kaien could. On the other hand, if that's not her cup of wine, then she can hang out with Nanao-chan and form a Mutual Vice-Captains Disapproval Of Captains Society. Frankly, either sounds good.
12) When life is worrisome, ryoka are attacking, and inter-Captain politics are frustrating, it is always good to know that there is someone else around who was in your Academy class and who also thinks that Kuchiki Byakuya needs to grow up a bit.
13) Ukitake does not waste his time imagining life without Shunsui as part of it. There is no point spending your life imagining what it would be like to be maimed.
14) Shunsui always wanted to be a hero. But he never had to surmount his own weaknesses in the way that Ukitake does daily, and for that reason, among many others, he admires his friend.
15) There has been speculation about which of them developed their shikai first, given the whole two-weapon thing. Both of them claim it was the other.
16) Both of them have had numerous lovers; this isn't the same thing as having friends.
17) Nanao truly and deeply regrets the time that Shunsui attempted to explain to her the difference between the "delicate scent of female sweat" and the "enticing musk of male sweat".
18) Ukitake has noticed that in Kaien's absence, the Vice-Captain of Eighth Division has been assisting (or rather, directing) his Third Seats in handling the paperwork. He is far too tactful to notice this.
19) At the Academy, Ukitake not only knew what Shunsui was intending to do, he was already working on the arguments he would use when Shunsui had pointed out the flaws in the first three sets of no-we-really-shouldn'ts, plus the escape plan for when it all went wrong. Nothing's changed since.
20) A Captain's duty; saving those who are under his command. An aristocrat's duty; saving those who don't deserve death. A shinigami's duty; answering for what he's done. A friend's duty; not letting him do it alone.
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