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Shunsui Kyōraku had been looking for the perfect spot for months now. Because of course it had to be perfect. He’d been convinced to have a vow renewal ceremony by Rukia, Rangiku, and Yumichika (one of the few times he’d seen Rangiku and Yumichika agree on anything). They were going to let him select the location, but they were handling everything else.It was an odd spot, he knew. One of the hills overlooking the memorial garden. But he liked the trees here, and it was quiet. Besides, he thought soberly, how many in the memorial garden were friends and family of his and Juu’s. Shinigami they once worked with. In a way, he wanted them to also bear witness. He detoured through the memorials, pausing at the one for his family and the one for the Ise. How many promises had he made that he hadn’t kept? That he struggled to keep?No, this was meant to be a happy occasion, so perhaps this place was a mistake? Then again, maybe it would be good to do it here, to remember those of the past. Those who had helped shaped both of them. Helped the two of them find each other and allowed their love for each other to flourish.His eyes fell on the Shiba graves. And those who continued to support us. Kaien’s loss had hit Jūshirō extremely hard. Juu had known he couldn’t have stopped his lieutenant after the Hollow had killed Miyako, but Juu still carried some of that weight. It hadn’t helped that the young Kuchiki girl had been the one to kill Kaien Shiba after Juu had nearly collapsed from his illness.Shunsui walked back to the empty spot next to the memorial garden. He was second guessing himself again. He did that often, didn’t he? Because he didn’t want to hurt anyone. No. This was the spot, he determined after another thorough examination. Time to let one of the lieutenants know.--Shunsui stopped in the Tenth on his way to the Thirteenth. “Ran-chan, I finally found the location,” he announced as he entered the office.Teal eyes darted up from the captain’s desk. “Haven’t you ever heard of knocking, Kyōraku?” Tōshirō Hitsugaya asked, annoyed.At the same time, Rangiku leapt up from her desk, knocking over a pile of papers. “Oh! Where?!” She clapped her hands together in excitement.“This is an office, Tōshirō-kun! I didn’t think I needed to knock to enter. Do you think I’m a spirit who needs an invitation? Besides I had to tell Rangiku-chan here something. Something very important!”Tōshirō sighed, exasperated. “Whatever. But she can’t go out drinking until her work is done, is that clear?”“But Captain,” Rangiku complained.“I wasn’t here for that either! So everything should be fine!” Shunsui returned, cheerfully. He then ignored the other captain as he told Rangiku the spot he’d selected.“There? By the memorial garden?” Rangiku questioned, surprised.“It’s one of the prettiest spots in the Seireitei, and we know a number of the Shinigami with stones there.”Rangiku paused, trying to find the right words. “And you’re sure that’s the location you want?” she reiterated.“Yes. I am. How go the preparations?” Shunsui asked, shifting the subject.“Now that we have a location, we can finally finish everything!” Rangiku prattled on about the various things they had planned out. “Oh, and Sasakibe-san wanted to be involved. So he and Head Captain Yamamoto will be there.”“Yama-jii will be there?” Things got a lot more serious.“It only makes sense! Since you’d need an officiant, and as you’re both captains, it’d have to be him or one of the Royal Guard.”“But we’re already married! We don’t need an officiant!”Rangiku brushed off his comment. “It’s not like we could stop the Head Captain from showing up. We did make sure to get permission for you two to be out of uniform for the event.” She picked up the sleeve of his pink kimono between a finger and thumb. “We’re planning something much better than this old thing.”“Don’t you dare insult this!” Shunsui snapped, annoyed by her action.Rangiku flinched. “Okay, sorry, sorry. But Yumichika says he’s got a pair of kimonos picked out for you both. Trust me, you’ll love them.”Shunsui calmed almost immediately. “When can I see them?” he asked, eagerly.“Yumichika will probably bring it to you to check the fit. But you won’t see the other one until the ceremony. Which, now that we have a location, hmm-mmm. Two weeks from now we can be ready. When is your anniversary anyways?”Shunsui was silent. “We don’t really remember the date… I guess the Tanbata Festival is as good a marker as any.”“That’s soon! But we’ll be ready. You and Captain Ukitake should just relax, and we’ll handle everything! Oh, Shuuhei says he wants to do a special coverage of your ceremony for the Bulletin!”“I’ll have to talk it over with Jūshirō-kun. He should be fine with that. With all of it.” Unless Jūshirō got sick. Shunsui didn’t mention that; better not to dampen the mood. “Is there anything else you needed?”“Nope!” Rangiku responded, happily. “This will be such a great celebration!”Shunsui returned her smile lazily. “Then you both have a good evening. And stop giving your lieutenant a hard time, Hitsugaya-kun. I’m sure she’ll get her work done.” That was a lie, and they all knew it. Before Tōshirō could correct him, Shunsui breezed out of the office.--Several weeks later, Shunsui stood alone in a tent. Several had been put up for privacy. Apparently, a lot of ideas came from World of the Living weddings that Rukia had the others watch. It’s why he hadn’t seen Jūshirō all day. Something about how it would be bad luck. Even though this wasn’t a wedding. It was a simple vow renewal. Had they not understood that? Then again, he knew Rangiku and Rukia could both get carried away when they had an idea. Guess he was marrying his husband again.He looked out of the open tent flaps towards the memorial stones, momentarily lost in thought. He heard canvas moving as Rangiku entered the tent. “Glad I wasn’t still getting dressed,” he commented idly, turning to face her. “Since apparently you don’t knock either.” He was teasingly reminding her of her captain’s complaint.“Eh, figured you were already dressed. And if you weren’t, I was going to hurry you along. Besides, nakedness doesn’t bother me.” She looked over him critically. She reached up to adjust his ponytail and hairpins, then brushed imaginary dust off his silken shoulders. “It’s time.” She stuck her head out of the tent to call someone over.Lieutenant Sasakibe stepped in. “Apparently, I’m supposed to walk you down the aisle. Eijisai-san is walking with Jūshirō-chan.”“Aisle? Who else is here?” Shunsui asked, surprised. He’d expected something small and quiet.“The other captains, except Captain Kurotsuchi, and all of the other lieutenants. Along with a few seated officers.”“What? Why?”“A wedding is a time of celebration!” Rangiku exclaimed, as if that wasn’t obvious.“But we’re already married. This is just a renewal of vows.”“Close enough!” Rangiku grinned. “But it’s your time!” She held open the tent door to let the two men out.Shunsui noted the crowd, surprised by all who were present. But any thoughts or concerns were forgotten as he spotted Jūshirō at the front.His Jūshirō. Dressed in a dark blue kimono with emerald accents, he was simply radiant. Shunsui felt himself falling in love all over again. Distantly, he felt Sasakibe take his arm and guide him down the walkway between the seats. But Shunsui couldn’t tear his gaze away from Jūshirō.Finally, he was there at the front, and he took Jūshirō’s pale hands in his own. “Juu,” he breathed, worried that this might be some dream.Jūshirō gave him a smile. “Shunsui, love.”Yamamoto cleared his throat to get everyone’s attention. “We are gathered here today to witness the reaffirmation of love and unity between these two. Captain Jūshirō Ukitake, go ahead.”Jūshirō took a step back from Shunsui, green eyes searching out gray. “When we first met, you annoyed me. You didn’t take anything seriously, and despite constantly slacking off or chasing girls, you were still challenging me for the top spot of our class. Then Yamamoto-sensei took us on as his students, and I saw your other side. How gentle and sensitive you could be. I may still disagree with you on certain matters, but I don’t regret that you stopped chasing girls – mostly – and decided you wanted to spend your life with me. Even with my illness and frailty, you have been by my side. You have held my hand even through my darkest nights. You are my person, my inspiration, my love, and my everything. My heart is still yours as it has been since our first kiss. I love you, Shunsui Sakuranosuke Jirō Kyōraku.” Jūshirō stepped close, kissing his cheek.Shunsui felt his face warm. It took him a moment to realize that Yamamoto had told him that it was his turn. He took a deep breath and began.“Jūshirō. When I first saw you, I thought you were strange. I didn’t understand how someone so serious and diligent could also be kind and gentle enough to draw everyone to him. I enjoyed the look on your face each time my score was higher than yours on something, because I didn’t see a point in wasting time trying. After our first lesson under Yama-jii, I felt something click. As if I had found a missing piece of my soul that I hadn’t even known was gone. That was when I knew that I could never be happy with anyone else. That no one else could ever hope to understand me, to see through me, the way that you do. I made the promise once, and I’ll do it again. I promise that I will be by your side from now until eternity, until the night sky loses her last star. Even then, I will continue to love you, my other half. I cannot be complete without you.” Shunsui pulled Jūshirō close and kissed him. He could never have enough of this man.He was aware that some of their audience was applauding. Reluctantly, he released his husband from the kiss, though not from his embrace. They smiled to the audience, both the ones in the seat and the ones in the garden. Shunsui could almost feel their presence. For once, he didn’t feel weighed down by it.The celebration moved from the memorial gardens to the Kuchiki estate grounds. Shunsui wasn’t sure how they got Bya-kun to agree to this (he suspected Rukia managed it). Throughout the rest of the party, Shunsui kept Jūshirō close. He just wanted to dote on him. The vow renewals reminded Shunsui of how much he loved and adored his husband. Finally, he saw his chance for them to make their escape, and he swept Jūshirō up into his arms as he left. Soon enough, they were in bed together, wrapped in each other’s arms.Shunsui knew this might not last forever. But that could be a later problem. For now, he would enjoy this night with his newly married husband. He cuddled in closer, wanting to hold onto this moment for as long as he could.