Chapter 29 (Kumiko)

He pushed me off before I could land a blow. I side-stepped him and narrowly dodged a jab as he appeared behind me. I could barely keep up with him, paying more attention on tracking his flash-step than predicting where he was going to be next. I knew this but Kisuke didn't let up. I didn't have the opportunity to change tactic, or he would get me.

Then, just as I was expecting him to appear, he didn't. He was gone. I turned around, frantically searching for him. He was trying to show me off.

I shut my eyes and tried to focus. If I listened closely then I would hear him. My fingers flexed by my sides, feeling the static energy of the training grounds. I waited for him. Waited for him. Waited—

My eyes opened wide as his arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me against him. His chuckle felt warm against my ear, and I grinned.

"What does make the score now?" His hand rang through the long tresses of my hair, "Kumiko—one. Me—thirty-two."

I turned around and wrapped my arms around his neck. His grin only widened as I whispered into his ear, "I can think of another game to play."

The training grounds. It was underneath Sogyoku Hill, where Rukia's execution was to take place. I took a step towards them, stretching my hands out and putting feelers out for Yoruichi.

As I walked through the massive underground chamber, my thoughts plagued me. Now that there was time to think, I couldn't keep from wondering about Shizuko. How had she come across Kisuke? I knew that she might have but I didn't think that they would have a heart-to-heart. She hadn't wanted to meet him!

I sighed because I knew that that wasn't the whole truth. She hadn't wanted to meet him because she thought he didn't want her. And I had easily let her believe that because it wasn't all that far from the truth. He had never come back for us. And if Yoruichi was here then it definitely could have been possible to send a message.

Yoruichi was crouched over Ichigo, and not surprised as I walked in. She was a cat again. I could only guess that it was in case someone like me came in, who recognized her face.

"I see that your daughter was unable to stop you," Even as a cat, her arrogance was as obvious as a bitch in heat. She looked up at me with a smarmy grin, "It's been a long time, Kumiko."

"You're the reason why my daughter got in my way?" I shuddered as I quickly lost my cool, "Do you know how close I was to blowing her and Ichigo to bits—"

"Don't be dramatic. You've always had more control over your Kido than you're making out. But to answer your question—yes, I involved your daughter in this—"

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you," I hissed, "Because I've worked very hard to keep her out of this mess you and that asshole made."

"I think we both know that Kisuke had nothing to do with this. And if you're as clever as he thought you were, you've gathered who is."

I was still contemplating slicing her in half. At that moment, I didn't give a rat's ass about the bigger picture or the fact that Kisuke would never forgive me. She had thrusted something on my daughter that would get her killed. If any of Aizen's rats found out, she was in danger. If Central Forty-Six found out, she would be imprisoned or exiled. If the Seireitei found out what she had done to aid Yoruichi, she would be executed.

My blood ran cold and I shut my eyes. I let my sword slide back into its sheathe and slumped against the wall. Yoruichi watched me carefully the entire time.

"Sosuke Aizen," I mumbled, "He's one of the ones behind this, isn't he?"

"He's the mastermind behind it all," She spoke calmly, "He's the one who wanted Kisuke's research."

"The one who murdered all those people back in the Rukon…the nobles…Takahashi's family…my sister and all those lieutenants and captains," I pressed the back of my hands into my eyes. This was a total shitshow.

"They're not dead," She murmured, "Your sister is very much alive. They all reside in the World of the Living—though none of us have seen them in years."

I didn't say anything—I couldn't. Instead of the truth lifting a weight off my shoulders, it only weighed them down more. I just…I couldn't deal with anymore of this. I was so tired of anticipating the world becoming scarier than it already had been.

"You look like hell, Kumiko…"

I looked up at the silly bitch. She looked like she was being sincere, and maybe she was. Maybe the Yoruichi I had know all those years ago wasn't the Yoruichi now. The same could be said for Kisuke—which was something I didn't want to think about.

She wasn't pleased when I began to clap, slowly and sarcastically, "Perceptive as always, Captain Shihōin."

Her eyes narrowed, hackles raised, and I only egged her on with my smug grin. She was the last person I wanted to feel sorry for me. I didn't want a relationship with the woman who probably tried getting into my husband's pants the moment they left the Soul Society.

Dangerous thinking. I stood up abruptly and watched her stiffen. I took a deep breath and made the decision to kill her later. Right now, we needed to figure out how to remedy the situation we found ourselves.

"Are you done being the emotional wreck you are?" She asked. I gave her the finger and she chuckled, "Alright. I'll you everything you want to know—under one condition."

"There's conditions now, huh?" I barked, "Wasn't putting my daughter in danger enough? What else do you want?"

"I want you to heal him," She looked down at Ichigo.

"Why the hell is everyone so busy saving this kid's ass?"

"Because he's the one who's going to save our asses."

With a heavy sigh, I rolled up my sleeves and knelt in front of Ichigo. She had stabilized him since I had left him, but he still needed a lot of work. Lifting my hands, I channelled my reiatsu to my palms and cast Ichigo in a green, hazy light.

Looking up at Yoruichi expectantly, she sat beside Ichigo and met my gaze, "Oh where to begin…"