You guys are so great, giving me all those nice reviews! I'm so happy
Status report: Still don't own bleach, it sucks.
Reviews:
Azure blue Espeon- thank you reviews make me so happy!
Sweet and deadly- yay! People like me! Wow I sound like a loser, never mind, any way thanks!
TheBeginingsEnd- my parents have just given up on trying to get an explanation, they think I'm a head case.
Nizuna Fujieda- Thanks, I'm glad it was worth it!
KillerNinjaz- yes, I have an evil, not to mention dirty, mind. It was very late when I wrote that, so my morals were low.
Bleachlover121212- imagine how they're going to react to Shuhei! Well you don't have to, it's in this chapter.
Alex274- trick Aizen, all you have to do is pretend you don't think he can, then he will to prove you wrong, just don't let him kill you, oh and get me Grimmjow's autograph! Just have him sign it to Broken flame, love Grimmjow!
Sparkling crescent flame- well, can you ever really know how far Gin will go?
Every shadow has its twin- yes Gin does indeed rock.
Moonlight Phoenix- I also like messing with Tousen, I mean, I just don't believe he's really blind, he's faking it for attention, and man, has he ever heard of a hair brush? As for Kyo, yes, he gets some ass kicking scenes later. Weirdly enough, I have written the chapter with the final battle, but not the next one after this, weird…
Kitkat18- I'll have to check that one out. thanks for the review, I feel really iffy about this chapter!
Rangiku, I don't know about this.'' Kumiko fidgeted looking at the full length mirror in Rangiku's room. She was wearing a deep purple yukata, it had black butterflies for the pattern, the obi was black as well. Her silver hair was up in a high bun, her bangs were loose. On each side of her face Rangiku had left some longer hair loose, trailing down to her collar bone. Adorning the high bun was a black painted hair comb she had been given years ago; it had a carved dragon fly as the decoration. She looked beautiful.
''Kumi, you look great, here, could you help me get my obi?'' Kumiko smiled, she didn't look half as beautiful as Rangiku, she was wearing a yukata the exact same blue as her eyes, and it had sakura blossoms for the pattern and a pink obi. Her bangs were loose, the top half of her hair was pulled back and secured in a fancy knot with two chopsticks, while the rest hung freely down her back, she looked beautiful.
Kumiko crossed Rangiku's room, which was currently strewn with beauty products, and helped the busty woman fasten her obi; luckily she had gotten the Yukata slightly altered, so it at least covered more of her ample cleavage than her uniform did. Kumiko was grateful for that, Ichiro and Izumi were little children, and they really didn't need to hear all the lewd things men would say to Rangiku in her normal style of dress.
''There all done! Now, let's go meet up with the guys.'' Kumiko said stepping away from Rangiku, the blonde smiled and nodded, the pair set out.
Kyo stood out in front of the 8th division gates, along with Shuhei, and Kira, it was where they had all agreed to meet up. The men all still wore their soul reaper uniforms rather than dressing up for the festival. Kira and Shuhei were talking about some guy they both knew who was getting promoted, his thoughts were wandering.
'Shuhei has been keeping his distance…it started the day Mistress Kumiko returned.' A whispery voice called out to him, even after all these years that voice still sent a shiver up his spine, it was like the hiss of a snake more than a voice.
'I think I scared him when I hurt that guy.' Kyo admitted. He had seen Hisagi's face when he had brutally kicked that man then spun the dial to increase his pain.
'They could never understand us, why don't you show them what you're truly capable of, Kyo? ' there was no kindness in the voice, only a malicious mocking tone Kyo tried very hard to control his reitsu and his expression.
'Shut up Teino.' He mentally growled. He hated his zanpactou so much.
'You're so hateful, why did you tell mistress Kumiko I was a pervert? We both know I have no interest in the lewd thoughts that plague the minds of some men. So why did you lie to her?'
'Because I don't want anyone to know what a freak show you are.' He had been cursing himself all week for letting his anger get the better of him in that room, now Hisagi was weary of him.
'Perhaps, it's because you fear it. You live set in the fear that if they saw your true nature, what we together are truly capable of, that they would all leave you. Just as you fear what you are, they fear what they cannot control.'
'Shut the hell up you don't know anything!' his hands unconsciously clenched into fist. All the spirit in his mind did was chuckle. There was no humor in it; it was dark, menacing sound.
'Very well, master, but there is one thing you should be aware of.' He spat the word master like an insult.
'What? Make it quick.' Kyo was quickly growing tiered of this conversation.
'If you don't drop the mild mannered act and train to control my power you won't be able to. It will consume you, as is its nature. How many people will you kill by mistake this time? And more importantly, will they be the ones you hold close to your heart? Stop surrounding yourself with pathetic and useless emotions, if you don't, well you remember Kaori don't you?'
''Well what do you think?'' Rangiku asked the guys, they appraised her for a moment, Kira had a heavy blush.
''You look beautiful.'' Kyo commented stepping forward and wrapping an arm around her, Kumiko instantly noticed the tenseness around his shoulders, something had upset him. As she stepped past him she tapped two fingers against the back of his hand, it signaled him that she was aware he was tense, and that they would talk later. Kumiko gave the other guys a nod of greeting which they returned.
''A hell butterfly!'' Rangiku pointed, sure enough a black butterfly had flitted up to the group Kyo lifted a finger, but it ignored him, it began to fly insistently around Kira demanding his attention. The sad looking man raised his hand and allowed the insect to relay its message. A frown crossed his face.
''I have to go, squad three is being dispatched to deal with some hollows in district 64 apparently there are Menos class, excuse me.'' He gave a polite nod to each of them before flash stepping away.
''Oh, well, let's get going, I can't wait to meet your little brother and sister Kumi!'' Rangiku squealed. Kyo chuckled lightly, but Kumiko could tell it was forced; no one else seemed to notice the slight rupture in his calm demeanor.
''Yes, I can't wait to see Kumiko's mother, it's always nice to hear how lovely our children would be, eh Kumi?'' he joked, she hung her head.
''Let's just go, if we Shunpo, we'll get there in a little over half an hour.'' Kumiko smiled ruefully, it was always fun to see her family, but something was telling her this would be an interesting outing.
''But, I thought that getting to their house took all day, it should be longer to get there, even in flash step.'' Rangiku's lovely ice blue eyes held confusion; Kyo slipped his hand down into hers and explained.
''It takes about an hour and a half to flash to their house, but we're going to the village.'' He nodded at Kumiko and they began to flash forward, Rangiku held to Kyo's hand tightly, and Shuhei followed closely behind Kumiko, since neither of them knew the way.
''Oh it all looks so pretty!'' Rangiku exclaimed as the group entered the village, decorative lights were up, and vendors lined the streets.
''Yeah, now I just have to figure out how to find my family.'' Kumiko looked around trying to locate the group, Shuhei stood slightly to her left, while Kyo and Rangiku stood to her right. The others scanned the crowed as well, though Kyo was the only one who knew what to look for.
''Onee-Chan!'' they all looked shocked as the shout cut through the crowed, within seconds two children had their arms tightly wrapped around Kumiko's waist. Shuhei and Rangiku looked at the twins curiously. They both had brown hair, and black eyes, and both were hugging the life out of Kumiko.
''Onee-Chan, you look so pretty!'' the little girl exclaimed. For the first time Shuhei noticed she was right, Kumiko did look pretty. The deep purple yukata looked nice against her pale skin, the black obi and butterflies made her eyes look darker. Also the way Rangiku had done her hair made her features softer.
''Ok, Ok, here let me look at you.'' The pair obediently took a step backward, this allowed the group to examine them a little further.
They stood at exactly the same height. They had the same brown hair though the girl wore hers long; both had the same black eyes, though the boy had a black eye. The little girl's yukata was orange, and the boy's was green.
''Onee-Chan, the violets bloomed, I brought you one!'' the girl held out the bloom to Kumiko. The silver haired girl smiled, and allowed her little sister to tuck the bloom into her hair comb; it looked lovely tucked against her silver hair.
''Ichiro, what happened to your eye?'' Kumiko asked lowering herself to his level; Shuhei was surprised at the look of concern on Kumiko's face. But it was there plain as day, Ichiro only shrugged and looked away.
''Ichiro got in a fight.'' Izumi declared. Kumiko looked upset by that little proclamation.
''Why did you get in a fight?'' the boy mumbled a response that was too low to hear.
''Some boy said some mean things about you Onee-Chan, Ichiro said they were lying then they got in a fight. You should see that boy, he looks way worse than Ichiro does!'' the little girl smiled lightly.
''Ichiro, that was very brave of you, but don't get into a fight on my account again, besides, it was probably true whatever they were saying.'' She shrugged and stood up. Shuhei found himself smiling, she really was different with her little brother and sister, it was written all over her face how much she cared about them, it was almost like a mother looking at her own children.
''It wasn't true! You're ugly not evil.'' The last part was mumbled under his breath, but everyone still heard it Kumiko raised her fist and took a step forward.
''Why you little,'' she started only to be interrupted by Izumi.
''Onee-Chan, who are those two people with Kyo?'' she asked sweetly. Kumiko looked confused at the question, but she quickly recovered and understood the girls meaning.
''Ichiro, Izumi, these are my friends, Rangiku Matsumoto.'' She gestured the busty woman. Both of the twins got wide eyed. Rangiku took a step forward giving them a friendly wave.
''The Princess,'' Ichiro breathed out, a look of awe had spread its way across his features.
''Onee-Chan, she's even prettier than you said!'' Izumi's eyes were wide and shinning.
''Princess?'' Rangiku questioned in surprise, she had no clue what the made the kids think she was a princess, not that she minded much either. Kumiko leaned over and whispered in her ear.
''They wanted a bedtime story.'' Was all she said, but Rangiku understood her meaning, she had told them some story, and used Rangiku as the princess, well, there are worse things.
''um…yeah, it's really nice to meet you two, just call me Rangiku!'' she said in her usual perky voice, that was when Ichiro took notice of Shuhei.
''Onee-Chan, whose that man?'' Shuhei wasn't sure, but he got the feeling the little boy didn't like him, beside him Kyo chuckled and shook his head, leaning over to whisper to him. Though Shuhei was uncomfortable to be so close to Kyo after what he had seen, he didn't lean away, he was curious as to what he would say.
''Ichiro hates you.'' He sounded amused.
''Why?'' Shuhei breathed back, locking eyes with the boy who was glaring at him full force. Kumiko was watching them with slight interest, but she seemed zoned out, Rangiku chuckled lightly.
''Because, he hates any man close to Kumiko, the only person he hates more than me is Gin.'' Kyo replied. Shuhei nodded then stepped forward to meet the twins, this seemed to snap Kumiko out of her dazed state.
''Hi, I'm Shuhei Hisagi, lieutenant of squad nine.''
''Onee-Chan, whose that man?'' Ichiro asked. There was a note in his voice that sounded angry. Kumiko watched as Kyo leaned over to whisper something to Shuhei.
'Koinu, Ichiro doesn't like him.' Tsuki said amused.
'Yeah, I don't see why, he hates Kyo and Gin too, it's weird.' She agreed.
'He's territorial, that's how dogs are.' The wolf chuckled.
'So we're back to your weird all people are animal's thing. Oh well, what is he territorial of?' she watched Shuhei reply to Kyo's whisper.
'You Koinu, Ichiro is a little snot, but he cares about you, just like he does the little rabbit.'
'So in this scenario, Ichiro is a dog, I'm still a wolf, Izumi is a bunny, am I right?' she asked exasperated, Tsuki was so confusing.
'Yes, while we're at it, Rangiku is a cat.' The wolf chuckled; Kumiko had to admit that it was pretty spot on with how lazy the woman was.
'What are Hisagi, and Kyo?'
'Kyo's a lizard, as for Hisagi, try and figure that one out for yourself Koinu. But remember, everyone can be more than one animal. Everyone is capable of cruelty, it's just naturally in you, it's true some have less than others, but it's still there, Just like everyone has kindness. Even Aizen has some kindness and mercy in him; and in the same way, Izumi still has cruelty in her. It just comes down to which animal is crueler by nature, a snake, or a bunny.'
'So in other words, Kyo is a snake with legs, which pretty much makes him like Aizen, you're not going to tell me what Hisagi is, only tell me a bunch of crap I don't understand. Thank you, any more confusing life theories for me?' Tsuki didn't respond to her, that was when Hisagi stepped forward.
'' hi, I'm Shuhei Hisagi, lieutenant of squad nine.'' Ichiro glared, but Izumi looked star struck, she began frantically tugging on Kumiko's sleeve, and pointing at the tattooed man.
''Onee- Chan, It's, it's him! Onee-Chan he's here!'' she cried out happily, Kumiko smiled softly at her, then stepped forward and whispered to Hisagi.
''She thinks you're a hero who saved Rangiku from a terrible monster.'' Kumiko whispered to him, Shuhei went stiff, he could feel her breath tickling against the side of his face and neck, the sensation was far from unpleasant.
''You're Shuhei Hisagi!'' the little girl beamed at him. He gave a nervous grin and crouched down to her level.
''Nice to meet you Izumi, Kumiko talks about you a lot.'' He smiled at her. Izumi blushed madly; Ichiro stepped up beside her and glared even harder at Shuhei. Izumi took hold of Kumiko's sleeve again and beckoned her downward; she bent slightly so the little girl could talk to her.
''Onee-Chan he's so handsome!'' she whispered loud enough for Shuhei to hear.
''Well, who do we have here?'' A man's deep voice asked. Stepping out of the throng of people came a man, tall with straight brown hair, and hazel eyes. Beside the man stood a beautiful woman, her eyes and hair were black as coal. She smiled at Kumiko sweetly.
''How is my oldest child?'' the woman asked, Kumiko stepped away from the group to embrace the woman. Her mother looked just as beautiful as ever in a royal blue yukata with red flowers scattered across it for the pattern.
''Oka-San, it's good to see you. You to Oto-San'' Shuhei and Rangiku both looked on with wide eyes at the beautiful woman. Kumiko pulled away from the woman then hugged the man.
''I'm always glad to get to see my little butterfly.'' The large man answered putting his arms around Kumiko's small frame for a few moments.
''Kyo, it's been far too long.'' Haruo smiled at Kyo who nodded politely.
''Kumiko darling, introduce us to your new friends.'' Kumiko's mother said to her eldest child. Kumiko nodded and beckoned Shuhei and Rangiku forward.
''Oka-san Oto-san, these are my new friends, Rangiku Matsumoto, lieutenant of squad ten, and Shuhei Hisagi, lieutenant of squad nine.'' She said gesturing at them. Aika Ogawa looked Shuhei up and down, a slow smile made its way onto her lovely face.
''Kumiko didn't tell me she had such handsome young men for friends.'' The woman pulled Kumiko close to her. ''Kumiko, he's very handsome, you should date him.''
''No, we're friends.'' The silver haired girl hissed back. Shuhei smiled awkwardly, nervously reaching a hand up to rub the back of his neck. Kumiko smiled, but it was forced. Her mother looked back to Shuhei.
''So, tell me Shuhei, how are things going in squad nine? Your officers, division problems, girlfriend problems,'' Aika said giving him a charming smile. Shuhei still looked nervous, he glanced over his shoulder, but all he saw was Rangiku, hand in hand with Kyo heading for the main part of the festival, the view in front of him was overall not very inviting.
Aika Ogawa stood ready to question him about every aspect of his life, beside her stood her husband, who looked amused at the whole ordeal. His children stood to the right of him, the little girl still staring at him with admiration, while her twin glared.
Then there was Kumiko. She gave him a small smile of apology. Shuhei caught his breath. With dusk falling around them, the fading light glistening off her silver hair, and her pure black eyes looking apologetic like her smile, but still held that underlying emotion that made him want to find out what she was really feeling.. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.
''Oka-San, Shuhei and I are going to go enjoy the festival now, I'd like to see Sakumoto-san before the night is over.'' Kumiko stepped forward putting a hand on the older woman's shoulder. Akira reluctantly nodded.
Kumiko stepped over to Shuhei's side and grabbed his arm beginning to tug him in the direction of the crowd.
''Come on if you want to live.'' She said over his shoulder giving a laugh, Shuhei found himself laughing as well. And he had no idea what the fuck was funny, just that, her laugh made him want to laugh. She pulled him through the crowd till they reached a noodle stand, an old man stood at the counter, when he caught sight of them; he smiled and beckoned them over.
''Kumiko, how are you?'' he asked in cheery voice, but that did nothing to distract Shuhei from the way the man's eyes roved over Kumiko's face as if looking for something amiss.
''Sakumoto-San, how's your wife?'' Kumiko asked with a grin starting on her face, the man chuckled shaking his head.
''she's an old nag as always, but you already knew that, ne Ogawa?''
''her name is Ichimaru.'' Shuhei cut in without thinking.
''Not according to her brother, that was quite the brawl the other day.'' Sakumoto turned around to tend to a pot of noodles, Kumiko put her hands up on the counter, Shuhei glanced down at her, she was frowning deeply, he didn't like the way he immediately wanted to soothe her.
Shuhei was becoming worried about why he felt the need to laugh when she did, and soothe her when she was upset, he convinced himself it was that he still felt guilty about allowing her to leave that bar alone.
''Sakumoto-san, what exactly happened, Izumi told me that some boy said something about me that set him off.'' Kumiko wrung her hands in front of her, without thinking, Shuhei slipped his left hand down and grabbed her right hand pulling it down and holding it in his own.
''Sakumoto-san, what exactly happened, Izumi told me that some boy said something about me that set him off.'' Kumiko said nervously wringing her hands. That was until Shuhei took hold of her hand and held it firmly in his own larger hand. Kumiko audibly caught her breath.
'SHIT! What the fuck is he doing?' she shrieked mentally.
'It's called hand holding, and it happens often between children, children and their parents, and couples.'
'I know that, but why is he holding my hand!' she fought to keep her expression under control, but in truth, Shuhei was confusing the fuck out of her.
'Well, you're not children, he's not your father or brother, well koinu, I would deduce that he likes you.' The wolf chuckled at his master's dismay.
'No, he doesn't, he hated me like, not even three weeks ago, he's barely my friend, he must just be a hand holder, nothing more to it. Some people are huggers, he's a hand holder.' She reassured herself. But still, Kumiko couldn't stop herself from noticing how warm his calloused hand was, and how well her own smaller paler hand fit with it.
'Koinu, you're so fucking clueless that it hurts me.' The spirit spoke, if she could have seen him, she would have seen the sad shake of his head, and the pity in his green eyes, Shuhei has no clue what he's gotten himself into, the spirit thought to himself.
''Well, Kumiko, it was more like five boys set him off.'' Sakumoto said interrupting her thoughts and brining her back to reality, the reality where she was holding Shuhei's large, warm hand. Her black eyes went wide, five, Ichiro was in a fight with five boys?
''What happened?'' she demanded, the old man only chuckled.
''Well, let's see. Oh yes, I was just closing up, Izumi came up to the counter, she asked where my wife was, your mother sent her some dumplings, so I sent her back. Then I noticed this group of walking down the street, Ichiro and five others. This one boy started saying 'My brothers a soul reaper and he says that, the Ichimaru bitch should just drop dead, since she's evil.' Well, Ichiro got pretty riled up, he got even angrier when the other boys started joining in. started shouting that your name was Ogawa not Ichimaru, they just laughed at him, till he slugged that little son of a bitch. I broke them up and sent the little shits home.'' The man finished.
''Thank you Sakumoto-san, it was nice speaking to you.'' Kumiko nodded and started to walk away, her hand was completely slack in Shuhei's but he still held on and followed her. Shuhei frowned, there was stiffness around her shoulders, he pulled her into and alley between two small buildings and let go of her hand standing in front of her so he could look her in the eyes.
''Kumi, what's wrong?'' he asked seeing the look on her face something was without a doubt bothering her.
''I don't want my brother to be getting in fights because of me.'' Her voice broke slightly at the end. That was when Shuhei realized she was close to tears, he had never seen Kumiko cry, he had never even heard of her crying.
''Kumiko, it's not your fault, you didn't do anything wrong. I know you care about your brother and sister; I can see it in your eyes when you look at them. But they care about you too. Your brother wanted to protect you, he's going to be a very brave man one day.'' She looked up at him.
Her black eyes which were starting to tear searched his, as though trying to find some hidden answer, something that would answer the longing in them. It was if his body and mind separated for a few moments, Shuhei was completely out of control of his actions, all he knew was that he would do anything to take that longing away.
Kumiko felt the warm hand that had previously be holding her own come up and touch the side of her face. His calloused thumb skimmed along her cheekbone. She stared at Shuhei, she had no idea what he was doing, but, she knew that it didn't bother her, that she wouldn't mind if he didn't stop.
Shuhei still had no fucking clue what the hell he was doing, but he felt a pull in his stomach, and it was tugging him straight toward the woman standing in front of him close to tears. Without a thought, he slipped his hand back to the back of her neck, then, he leaned forward.
Their lips met softly. Shuhei reveled in the feeling of her lips, so soft and warm under his. Kumiko was surprised, when Shuhei hand leaned in and placed his lips over hers, but she found that her eyes slipped closed, his lips were hard, but gentle moving over hers. Shuhei's free arm lifted, and his hand touched the strand of loose silver hair. It was even softer than his drunken memory had led him to believe.
Kumiko's arms came up and her hands held tightly to his own arms, her fingers clenched and unclenched as he kissed her, she was slow, and hesitant, but she was responding.
The sound of children running by the alley laughing snapped the pair out of it; they snapped apart and stared at each other. Shuhei opened his mouth but no words came out. Kumiko seemed to shell shocked to even attempt speech.
After a very long, very, very, extremely, completely, incontrovertibly awkward silence, Kumiko seemed to collect herself enough to ignore Tsuki laughing his fucking ass off in her inner world, and speak.
''Um…Shuhei?'' she questioned, it was almost like she was trying to establish he hadn't died of a shock induced stroke.
''Uh huh?'' he responded sounding nervous.
''What, why did, what the fuck?'' she questioned, she looked just as confused as he felt, and she had every right too, he had kissed her, where the hell had that come from. Sure Kumiko had been kissed before, not by a lot of guys, and it had never gotten to the point of full blown making out, but still.
''I really don't know, I just, I don't know.'' He tried to explain, but Shuhei just couldn't find words to describe what had pulled him to act as he had. He had seen the longing in her eyes, and he had felt the need to try and fill that gap, he had felt something pulling him toward her in that instant, even now, he couldn't seem to remove the feeling of her soft lips under his from his thoughts.
''So, do you want the play the 'the last five minutes never happened'game?'' Kumiko asked, the same confusion he felt seeped through her voice. Kumiko knew he was the one who had kissed her, but, the whole time he had been leaning toward her, she had felt a burning need, I didn't matter that he was the one who initiated the contact, she had wanted it badly she had wanted Shuhei Hisagi to kiss her, this night was so fucked up that there were just no words for it.
''Uh, yeah, let's do that.'' Shuhei agreed quickly, he was trying hard to ignore Kazeshini's manic laughter in the back of his head, but that was growing increasingly harder.
''Do you, I mean, do you want to go find Rangiku and Kyo?'' she asked. Really, the air was so thick between the two you couldn't have cut through it with senbonzakura. That is pretty damn thick.
''Sure, let's go.'' Kumiko nodded to his agreement and turned to walk out of the alley, a hand on her arm stopped her. She looked back to see Shuhei, she couldn't recognize the emotion in his eyes, but there was something pleading about it.
''Kumi, I'm sorry.'' Was all he said before releasing her arm. Kumiko nodded and turned back to the entrance of the alley walking out into the throng of people. Shuhei kept close to her, but didn't touch her, she tried to deny to herself how tight her throat felt.
'I'm sorry? Does that mean he wishes he didn't kiss me?' for once Tsuki had no reply for her.
'She's upset I kissed her.' Shuhei told himself sadly if kazeshini had any comment on this he kept it to himself.
'What the hell made me kiss her like that?' once again kazeshini seemed content not to answer, the one-time Shuhei would have like to hear from the bastard he was silent, well, that was just his fucking luck today. That was when a though came completely unwanted into Shuhei's mind.
The day he had seen her standing beaten front of the captains, he had felt the need to protect her. When he had carried her back to her room and felt how light she was, he had been worried. When he followed Rangiku to visit her that morning and saw how thin she was he had felt horrified and scared for her health. When she was gone that night to visit her family, he had constantly wondered if she had arrived safely, and what the people she was with were like. The way she had looked so lovingly at her brother and sister had made him feel warm. Her laugh mad him laugh. When he had seen her near tears for the first time, he had once again felt the urge to scoop up her small body and hide her away from anything that would ever hurt her.
Shuhei's revelation surprised him so much that for a second he merely stopped. Kumiko looked back over her shoulder at him shooting a questioning look; he shook his head and began to follow her. That didn't shed the thought from his mind. Shuhei had realized for the first time that he just might like Kumiko Ichimaru. He was so fucked.
Before you start your happy dance, I just want to let you know that Kumiko and Shuhei are not in love. He thinks he might like her at this point, and Kumiko bless her heart, is oblivious, she can't figure out why it hurts that she thinks he regrets kissing her. I just wanted to clarify that. Sorry for the lateness, but this chapter took a while to write, not to mention school is starting soon. I just don't have as much time. Sorry guys, please review, I'm feeling really iffy about this chappy.
Lots of love
Broken Flame.