Kasumi Seizonsha | Following Day After Kisuke Urahara's Exile

Chapter One | Past Promises

The salty tears ran like miniature waves down the smooth silk of my skin, I wiped them away though knowing they would only come following again. I've always been the kind of woman who rarely ever cried—I can no longer keep such a title. I have broken my promise as a shinigami—never show any sign of deep emotion, especially tears.

It's only been about twenty-four hours, but Kisuke's face—his face—already seems like a distant memory. We've been good friends for as long as I can remember, and I just cannot believe anything like this would happen.

I want to think of this as a devastating nightmare but I know this isn't a dream; it's pure, unadulterated reality.

I stared up at Kisuke; I was too lost in the pale hue of his irises to notice him grasping both my palms. I didn't want to believe what he had just told me, but I know he would never dare to lie in front of my face, "No…" I whispered softly, feeling a stub of liquid form in the corner of my eyes.

He looked defeated by my simple answer, I knew he was doing all he could to explain his situation as clear as possible, I just couldn't process the whole dramatic cry-fest all at once. I know Kisuke isn't someone that would betray the Soul Society.

"Come with us, Kasumi, leave this all behind and come with me and Tessai—"

"I can't..." I cut him off, seeing his melancholy expression deepen even more, "I can't leave the Soul Society, I don't even know if I can fully believe you, though we have so much trust in eachother… I don't know..." I took in a deep breath, trying to find my wording, "But, I will promise you this." Kisuke's grip tightened around my hands. I held those building tears in strongly, impressed with how well I was actually taking this.

"I will come back to you someday, if you have the patience to wait for me." I half smiled, hoping to cheer the mood of this pitiful hour. Kisuke seemed to agree with my proposition as he complimented my crooked smile and nodded.

I twisted my hands out of his grip before wrapping them right around him snugly. I stared back up at his broken face, vaguely familiar but also painfully distant, "Just tell me…" I murmured, "You won't forget who I am." I bit my lip, waiting for the reply that would most likely be the last thing I would hear from his voice.

"Kasumi."

I cocked my head to the side, digging my fingers into the cloth of his kimono.

"How could I forget?"

I shook my head at the vivid flashback; it's not healthy to be remembering the past, even if it was just a day ago. I could just barely make out his exact scent, the ring to his words, that crooked smile that always made my heart skip like a little school girl.

I loved him, no doubt about it, and I still do. Ever since that moment when we said our final goodbyes and flashed away, there was always a hint of doubt behind my answer to his offer.

My heart was telling me to go with him, but my mind was saying otherwise.