Chapter 7
Kisuke woke up from a dreamless sleep, in a bed he recognized wasn't his own. His body was aching all over, as if he had been running for decades. The last thing he remembered was the appearance of the menos during the field exercise. Where were the others? Were they safe? Kisuke did not know. Come to think of it, he wasn't in a room he was familiar with. He groggily stood up, pain shot through his entire body. He limply walked towards the window and looked outside… he was in the main building of the academy. He sighed in relief, so he was back in Soul Society. Kisuke pushed himself to walk towards the door, only to trip and fall… but amazingly, someone caught him.
"Y-yorouichi?" mumbled Kisuke. He tried to stand on his own but Yorouichi held him in place. Kisuke's arm was draped across her shoulders and she was supporting him by holding onto his waist. Kisuke suddenly felt his cheeks burn. He has never been this close (distance-wise) to Yorouichi before. He unknowingly blushed at the sudden contact.
"Kisuke! You shouldn't be moving around yet! The doctor said you needed to get more rest since you lost a lot of reiatsu!" scolded Yorouichi. Kisuke noticed that she too, was a little red in the face.
"Err… Sorry…" muttered Kisuke. Yorouichi smelled like flowers, freshly picked flowers from a field. Wait, why did he smell her anyway? And why did he think of flowers?! Kisuke snapped out of his delusions and lunged forward and landed painfully on the bed.
"Seriously! I go out for a few seconds and already you're making a fuss! Lie still why don't you?" said Yorouichi. She was in a rather foul mood, Kisuke noticed.
"Yorouichi, what happened during the field exercise?" asked Kisuke. Yorouichi took a seat at the stool next to Kisuke's bed.
"You almost got your ass erased by a menos! That's what happened!"
"The menos was about to fire a cero at Kyouraku and I went in front if him… I'm alive… How did that happen?" asked a very puzzled Kisuke
"Before the Cero even hit you, you were suddenly surrounded by a bright red light and the cero bounced off and hit the menos. The menos was severely injured, it escaped and you passed out soon afterwards." Explained Yorouichi.
"Oh… I see…"
"'Oh I see?' that's the only thing you're going to say?!!"
"What's with you huh? Why are you so pissed at me? What did I do to you?"
"I was so worried about you! You jerk! I thought you were going to die… I…" Tears were beginning to form around the edge of Yorouichi's eyes. Kisuke sighed. He didn't want to see her like this. He reached out and closed his hand on hers as she looked back at him.
"No need to worry. I'm here aren't I? I'm tougher than I look, see?" Kisuke stared directly into her eyes and felt himself leaning closer towards her face.
"Kisuke…" Yorouichi closed her eyes and sensed Kisuke's warm breath closing in on her lips.
"Oi Kisuke! You're awake!" yelled Isshin, Kisuke and Yorouichi instantly broke away from their current position and both of them blushed like crazy.
"Isshin! It's rude to suddenly bust in!" Unohana Retsu smacked on the Isshin on the head and the poor guy clutched his aching head tightly.
"Ow that hurt Retsu!" whined Isshin
"Serves you right for not knocking! Sorry about that you guys…" said Retsu as she winked at the two.
"So! How are the others?" said Kisuke, brushing off Retsu's knowing look.
"They're fine. Those two fifth year girls are in the room next to yours. They've already been healed." Said Isshin.
"What about Ukitake and Kyouraku?"
"They're in the headmaster's office explaining. What was that red light thingy you did back there Kisuke? A destructive art? That was really cool!"
"I… don't know what that was… I sorta blanked out after that… I couldn't even remember what happened…"
"But it's a good thing you're okay though… We were really worried about you." Said Retsu. There was a short knock on the door as it opened and revealed Ukitake, Kyouraku following behind him.
"Do you mind if we come in?" asked Ukitake.
"Sure…" said Kisuke. Ukitake entered the room with a smile on his face while Kyouraku looked intently on the floor.
"Urahara, Shunsui has something he wants to tell you…"
"No I don't! You're the one who dragged me here!"
"Oh come on don't be like that! That's not what we talked about!" said Ukitake
"I-I don't know what you're talking about!" stuttered Kyouraku. Kisuke watched the two bicker with each other with confused looks in their faces.
"Err… Sempai?"
"E-ehem… Oh right. Shunsui! Just say it. You do owe him…"
"Him? Who?" Isshin's question was answered when Shunsui stepped closer to Kisuke and bowed to him.
"Thankyouforsavingme!" he said hurriedly.
"What? I didn't quite catch that."
"T-thanks, for what you did earlier. If it wasn't for you I would have been dead by now." Said Shunsui, this time sounding more sincere.
"Oh that? No biggie. As long as everyone's safe and sound, that's all that matters." Said Kisuke as he smiled at him.
"So does that mean you're pranking days are over? To me at least…"
"Sure… Maybe… Heehee…"
"Kisuke, why don't you guys shake on it or something? To make your truce official." Suggested Yorouichi. Kisuke sighed and extended his hand to Shunsui. He hesitantly shook it. At first he thought Urahara was this bratty kid who lacked attention and who thought he was better than everyone else. But now his opinion of him has changed. For the better of course!
A week after the menos incident, Kisuke was back to his feet, with his reiatsu back and all. Kisuke and his friends find themselves spending more and more time with the two fifth years, Ukitake Jushiro and Kyouraku Shunsui. Turns out, the two were really fun to hang out with. Although Shunsui and Kisuke did argue most of the time, but at least Kisuke wasn't pulling pranks on him anymore. It was a normal Monday afternoon; the group was having their lunch on their usual spot, the sakura tree situated in the cliff behind the academy's old building.
"I envy you Jushiro-sempai… In a year you'll be graduating!" said Retsu as she took a bite from her sandwich.
"Yeah I'm really excited! Next year, we'll have the zanpakutou training!" said Jushiro
"Hey can I ask you something Jushiro-sempai?" asked Kisuke. Kuukaku who sat beside him, was holding unto his arm.
"Hey! How come when you call Jushiro 'sempai' and not me?" Kyouraku addressed Kisuke.
"It's because he's a respectable guy."
"Why I oughta…"
"What is it Kisuke-kun?" Jushiro placed a hand on Kyouraku's shoulder to prevent him from jumping at Kisuke.
"Is it possible… To materialize your zanpakutou without proper training?" asked Kisuke as he wore a serious expression.
"There hasn't been anything like that from what I recall. But I think it's a possibility. Why do you ask?"
"Oh uhh…nothing… Hehe…" Kisuke had been meaning to ask someone about it… ever since that day.
"I think we're missing someone… Hmm…" Isshin's question was answered by a painful smack to his head.
"You forgot about me again! Kisuke darling! How could you just leave me like that???" complained Kuukaku as she jumped to Kisuke's unwilling arms. Yorouichi's eyebrows twitched.
"Oh I forgot something!" said Ukitake suddenly. Everyone's eyes turned to him.
"What did you forget Jushiro-sempai?" asked Retsu
"Oh yeah… the class…" said Kyouraku
"Kyouraku and I are supposed to handle an advanced freshmen class and I need some volunteers to help me… So I was wondering if any of you guys would be interested?" The group turned silent. When no one seemed to volunteer he added, "You'll be given allowance?"
"Me!" a flurry of 'me's' and hand raisings erupted. Money is indeed a truly powerful object.
"I only need two though…" said Jushiro
"How about me and Retsu then? We're great with kids! Right, Retsu?" Isshin put a hand around her shoulder, which she painfully slapped away.
"I can't… I'm part of the library committee remember?"
"Then I'll do it! Me and my darling Kisuke! Is there a closet nearby where I can lock Kisuke in?" said Kuukaku as she winked at Kisuke. Chills ran down Kisuke's spine. Kuukaku almost raped him when they were accidentally locked in a storage room. He could still remember the look of anger spread on Yorouichi's face.
"Err I'm sorry to say this Kuukaku but this is an advanced freshman class and no offense, but you're grades are really low…" said Jushiro in the most polite way possible.
"But…!"
"I think I'll go with Kisuke and Yorouichi then!"
"Ehhh? But Yorouichi doesn't need the money! She's a noble!" exclaimed Isshin
"I wanna do it! Sounds interesting!" said a very excited Yorouichi. Kisuke turned to her in surprise.
"You? What do you need the money for?"
"Well you know… I just wanted to experience earning money on my own, Is that so wrong?"
"It's decided then! We'll meet later at the east building's training center." Isshin and Kuukaku both let out a deep sigh of frustration. Kisuke noticed behind them that a tall man wearing a cloak was making his way towards them.
"Hey… Who's that?" said Kyouraku as he too, noticed the man's presence.
"Yorouichi…" the man's voice was deep and cool. Yorouichi jumped in surprise at the mention of her name.
"I-is that you? Touya?" Yorouichi stood up and walked towards the cloaked man. He took of his cloak and everyone was stunned to see a young man, wearing clothes of such elegance. He had to be someone of high stature. He had shoulder length brown hair and brown eyes. Retsu and Kuukaku's eyes were focused on him as the boys glared at him.
"Yorouichi, I was told I'd find you here." The brown haired noble walked closer to Yorouichi, took her hand and gently kissed it. Everyone's eyes widened in shock. Kisuke looked the most shocked out of them.
"E-e-erm… Uhh…" Yorouichi was at a loss for words. She didn't think he'd come visit her at the academy. And not even once did it cross her mind that he would do something like that in front of her friends!
"Yorouichi, why not introduce me to your companions?"
"O-oh! R-right… Hehe… This is Nakatsu Touya." Stuttered Yorouichi. Touya bowed to the others.
"I am Yorouichi's betrothed." Spoke Touya.
"EEHHH?!!" exclaimed Retsu and Jushiro. Kuukaku, Isshin and Kyouraku had confused looks on their faces. Kisuke simply crossed his arms.
"What's a be-throat anyway?" said Isshin. "Yeah? What did he mean by that?" added Kuukaku and Kyouraku. Retsu and Jushiro sighed.
"It's betrothed! It means they're engaged!" explained Jushiro
"Oh… WHAT?!!!!"
"Yorouichi-chan, you never mentioned this to us before…" said Retsu.
"Our engagement was just made final last week. Yorouichi must have found it difficult to tell her friends about something, needless to say, embarrassing for someone of her age." Said Touya.
"Y-yeah… I was embarrassed to tell you guys… Sorry. Touya this is Unohana Retsu…" Yorouichi introduced everyone one by one, and they all shook hands with the handsome noble.
"a-and this is Urahara Kisuke…" Yorouichi spoke in such a low voice this time that it was barely audible.
"What was your name again?" asked Touya as he offered his hand.
"It's Urahara Kisuke, and don't ever forget it." Said Kisuke as he took his hand and crushed it, err…shook it.
"Kisuke-kun, thanks again for agreeing to do this…" said Jushiro. Classes were over and they were currently at the training center waiting for the freshmen for the advanced training sessions. The chosen freshmen, five in total, were eventually bound to be members of the student council and eventually, seated officers in the gotei 13. Kisuke himself was chosen in his freshman year, but the latter politely refused the offer because 1.) He had to stay for extra hours 2.) He wouldn't be able to devise ways on how to irritate Kyouraku 3.) His pranking moments with Yorouichi would be cut in half. And finally, 4.) He wasn't the type to attend such trivial things. He agreed to do this 'trivial' thing for the pure purpose of earning extra cash. He had been rather short on cash these past couple of weeks since he has been purchasing more materials for his inventions.
"It's no big deal Jushiro-sempai… Sharing my talents to these freshmen seems like a noble thing to do…"
"Yeah right…" snorted Yorouichi.
"I'm still not talking to you!" snapped Kisuke. Jushiro, who sat in between the two, found himself in the middle of trouble.
"Why are you mad at me anyways! You haven't told me the reason yet!"
"I'm not telling! You should figure that out on your own!"
"Err… Guys? This is going to be a one on one tutorial okay?" said Jushiro, although the two didn't seem to hear him. A geeky boy with dark brown wavy hair and glasses shyly entered the room and took a seat.
"Oh hey there Sou-kun. So you're going to be a tutor huh? That's a surprise…." Said Kyouraku as he waved at the boy. Yorouichi and Kisuke continued arguing.
"I need the extra money…" said the boy as he opened a book and covered his face with it.
"For your research?"
"Yeah… Those two over there, are they going to be tutors too?" asked the bespectacled boy as he looked up from his book and looked at Kisuke and Yorouichi's direction.
"Uh-huh… Oh you haven't met them yet. You two! This is Aizen Sousuke, he's a fifth year like us and these two are…"
"Urahara and Shihouin, I know them. They're quite popular in the academy…" said Aizen.
"We're popular? Really?"
"Of course you are you jerk! You're a troublemaker!" said Kyouraku.
"The freshmen are here!" and true enough the five freshmen entered the training room. Kisuke and Yorouichi glared at each other as they stood up and stayed as far away from each other as possible.
"Hey everyone! I'm Ukitake Jushiro, student council president. This training session is going to be one-on-one. We'll be teaching you advanced demon arts, zanjutsu, and history. The sessions will be conducted three times a week until the end of the school year. Next year though, all of you would be working under the junior council members. Yes any questions?" when Jushiro didn't see any raised hands, he continued; "Okay then! Today we'll begin with demon arts!" Kisuke yelled 'great!' inside his head. Demon arts were his expertise, but then again he was good at everything but demon arts interested him the most, aside from inventing of course. The tutors were paired up with their student. Jushiro with a loud, bouncy girl (who, Kisuke thought, had the biggest breasts he's ever seen.), Kyouraku with a bossy girl with glasses, Aizen and a boy with a fox-like grin and slits for eyes, Yorouichi with a handsome young man with black hair who exuded such noble grace. And Kisuke was paired with a boy with blue green hair, who seemed to be star-stricken the instant he saw Kisuke.
"You mind performing destructive art number 31 for me? Err…?" the boy was still staring at Kisuke, his mouth wide open.
"Oh s-sorry… it's just that… I'm a big fan of yours Sir!"
"No need to call me 'Sir'… And you're a fan of mine because…?" Even after three years in the academy, Kisuke still had no idea how popular he really was.
"You're a genius! You're an expert in demon arts and zanjutsu! I've seen your inventions in the science lab and they were really cool! Especially that reiatsu meter you made for the gotei 13 that was awesome! I want to be like you, sempai!" said the excited freshman.
"Really? Wow… Know what? I think you're my favorite fan! Hehe…"
"Kid… are you really sure you wanna be like this guy? Don't you know he's the biggest loser in the academy?" interrupted Yorouichi, who was leaning on a wall a few meters across Kisuke with her arms and legs crossed and watching her student perform a demon art before her.
"And I'm a loser because…?"
"Because you won't tell me why you're mad at me!!!" yelled Yorouichi. Everyone in the room turned silent and was now focused on the arguing duo. Jushiro sighed in defeat. Isshin and Retsu were right; Kisuke and Yorouichi were unstoppable when they argue.
"I'm still not telling!"
"Why the hell not?!!"
"Because! You should know the reason!"
"Damn it I don't! That's why I'm asking!" The screams and yells were now becoming intense. Jushiro and Kyouraku didn't know what to do.
"You really don't know??!"
"I don't!"
"Argh! You are too damn dense Shihouin!"
"Tell me already Urahara!"
"Because I was jealous okay?!" with that said Kisuke dashed out of the room and slammed the door on his way out.
"Jealous? Of what?"
next chapter… more of Kisuke's jealousy… and yorouichi's naiveté.
a/n: Sorry for the very long update… please don't hate me!!!! I'll make it up to you guys I pwomise! So can anyone guess who the five freshmen were? Whoever gets it right will receive… A smiley! Like this one "-". Reviews please? THANK YOU!