Kushira met up with Jushiro "Shiro-kun!" she cried, seeing him stagger towards her, the blood running down his chest and staining his haori "you're hurt" she hurried over to him and caught him as he fell. She gently removed his haori "it's nothing" he shrugged her off "how can you say that?" she cried "that's a huge wound…and you got it protecting me!" he shrugged again "like I said…it's nothing important"
Kushira's eyes blazed "idiot…you…you big idiot! Only me…like that…feeling…love…" she clenched her fists "I love you okay?" Jushiro's green eyes flew wide "you're acting like a child! Are you trying to impress me by throwing your life away? What were you thinking? If you had died…I don't know what I would do…I can't…I can't imagine my life without you. We've been friends for thousands of years, we've fought together, studied together and damn it…for all those years I've loved you"
Kushira was breathing heavily "I've loved you since we met, it started off as a sisterly love because I was too young to know any better but when I finally realized I loved you I fought it…I didn't think you reciprocated. When Sosuke betrayed me I was hurt and scared…I didn't want to open myself up to be betrayed again. When you told me you loved me it scared me but it didn't scare me as much as the thought of losing you without having the chance to tell you how I truly felt"
Jushiro was shocked "I…wasn't aware…if you say such an adorable thing..." he covered the distance between them in two steps and pulled her in his arms "if you say such an adorable thing I might fall even more in love" she clung to the front of his bloodstained shihakusho not caring that the still flowing blood was staining her haori "I couldn't imagine life without you either and I'm sorry for making you worry" he whispered pressing his nose against her cheek.
She gently put her hand to his face "just don't do it again okay?" she studied his face with worried green eyes. He brushed a strand of hair out of her face "I promise" he said gazing into her eyes "I love you" she rested her forehead against his "yes…I love you too" she whispered as he pulled her into a kiss before falling against her.
Later, as Captain Unohana finished patching him up Kushira studied him. He smiled warmly at her. Unohana left and he took her hand, tugging her towards him "see? It wasn't that bad" he whispered with a smile and she narrowed her eyes "oh really now?" she ran her fingers down the massive white bandage covering his chest and most of his stomach "not bad at all" she said dryly.
He smiled and noticed that underneath her sarcastic demeanor there lay a sliver of nervousness "are you scared?" he asked cupping her cheek in his hand "I can see it in your eyes…you're not completely sure about this" she looked away. He stood up and looked down at her "do you want to go back to where we were before?"
She took his hand and held it between hers and he held his breath afraid of what she was going to say "I'm scared that's true…it was hard for me to trust even before Sosuke broke my heart but now…now…" he squeezed her hand "now it's even harder and I doubt you need the added burden of trying to fix me" she laughed derisively
Jushiro hated the self-deprecating tone in her voice and he squeezed her hand "stop it" he said quietly "don't think of it that way" he said enfolding her against him "there is nothing to fix...you're just hurt not broken" she rested her head on his chest "and I can be patient" he tilted her chin up "trust is something that can be learned...and I'll be there every step of the way" he rested his forehead against hers "there's nothing but you and me and I promise I'll never hurt you"
She flung her arms around his neck and he felt a warm wetness on his skin. Jushiro realized she was crying. He tilted her chin up "please don't cry" he wiped the tears off her cheeks with his thumbs "it makes me sad"
She blinked several times and smiled softly at him "Shiro-kun…" she whispered resting her head on his chest "let's just stay like this" she murmured as he wrapped his arms around her.
Retsu Unohana leaned against the door outside, a content smile gracing her elegant features I'm glad they're finally happy she thought to herself it took them long enough though she shook her head, amusement playing across her face as she turned on her heel and walked down the hall.