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Life has been so crazy this year, so I hope these chapters can give you a little breather from the stress happening in the world right now!
Chapter 39 (Kumiko)
"Sign here."
I bit my tongue as I watched Shizuko lean over the table and sign the transfer papers. She passed the brush to Byakuya. He, too, signed the papers and then it was done. Shizuko wasn't no longer in Squad Eleven.
I shook hands with my cousin, "It's a pleasure doing business with you, Byakuya. I hope you enjoy your new fifth-seat."
"With Renji gone, Squad Six will need it," He glanced at Shizuko, "Hopefully, you'll work your way up to third-seat soon."
"I don't mind where I am right now," She smiled, "I'm just grateful that you took me in. Thank you—again."
He nodded stiffly before he sat back down. I took Shizuko's elbow and led her outside his office, "Walk me to the gate, my sweet."
She couldn't suppress the large grin on her face. It made me smile too.
"Are you happy because you're closer to Renji," I glanced at her, "Or because you're closer to Byakuya?"
She rolled her eyes, "This has nothing to do with men. I'm glad to transfer to a squad more to my liking."
"Ah, so this is about getting away from your old mom," I teased her. She laughed loudly.
"Speaking of getting away." I didn't like the tone of her voice or where she was going with this, "What about you and dad?"
"What about him?"
"Don't be coy—I know you two are fighting. You couldn't have gotten back to the Soul Society faster if your ass was on fire."
I smirked, "Mind yourself—you're beginning to sound like me. And then all hopes of Byakuya keeping you in Squad Six will be lost."
"I'll just flutter my eyelashes and wear one of my nice kimonos," She surprised me with the cheeky, hearty laugh she gave him.
"You're a sly one! You've known all along about him, haven't you?" She winced as I slapped her across the back.
Rubbing her shoulder, she raised an eyebrow at me, "You're forgetting that I trained and worked for decades charming and entertaining people—particularly men."
I stared at her but she didn't let up. My daughter really had absolutely no idea that Byakuya fancied her. Not that I blamed her. Byakuya used to be her closest companion when they were younger, and there had been plenty of feuding between them to last another generation.
But Byakuya was a strange one. As a child, I had always thought he was callous, as I'm sure most people did. But growing close to the Kuchiki's had showed me that Byakuya was extremely complex. The man could decompartmentalize like no one's business. I had seen it many of times before with Rukia, his family, Hisana, and Shizuko. His personal feelings were completely separate to his actions as Head Clansman and a Captain of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads. It was eerily fascinating.
Still, my daughter had yet to come to this realization. In some ways, I didn't want her to. I was wary of Byakuya, especially after the past century of the drama he had stirred up in his pursuit to not disobey the Elders.
"You should give him a chance," Shizuko broke my silence as we approached the Senkaimon, "Dad, I mean. He's trying…"
I was tempted to snap at her, because lord knew how touchy I got when it came to that blasted Kisuke Urahara. Instead, I cocked up an eyebrow and switched tact.
"Since when did you start calling him 'dad'?"
Her cheek blossomed and she looked away, "I don't know—it just kind of started happening. I wouldn't call him 'dad' to his face."
"You should. It would make him happy," I squeezed her hand as they readied the Senkaimon for me, "And of course, if it makes you happy too."
"And what about you? Would you be okay—"
"Stupid question. Of course I don't mind, Shizuko. He's your father. No point in calling him grandma."
She grabbed a Hell Butterfly and weaved it between her fingers. It danced and fluttered around her like one of the fans she used to make perform for her and her audiences. A cascade of dark, purple mist shrouded her hands and she looked like a sorceress.
I smiled and quietly admired my little creation.
She paused and glanced up at me, "There's only two reasons you and him would."
"Oh?" I smirked, "Well, come on. Let's hear them."
"Either it's me," She seemed to be entirely unaware of the guards in the distance that were completely under her spell, "Or it's Yoruichi."
I was tempted to fib but my daughter was far too clever. She was just as bad as Kisuke—trained to see someone lying through their teeth before they had even moved their lips.
"She's done too much for me to simply ignore, Shizuko. Maybe you and your father can sweep it under the rug but I can't. I'm not like you—I'm not like that."
"You were going to say that you're not like us…but I don't think that's true. I can't say I know Kisuke like you do, but I think I can understand the trauma he's gone through. He's a man who's lost his child and his wife—his whole world. He's lost his reputation and his position, and although he gained a freedom that you and I don't have…it came at a great cost." She finally stopped playing with the Hell Butterfly and cast that sharp, blue gaze onto me, "I think he can't lose anyone else. I don't think he can handle anymore loss."
Her words had me frozen. Once again, I was struck by the realization that Kisuke had gone through the same as I had in this past century apart from one another. He was just as lost as I had been.
I knew what it was like to be in that kind of situation—the kind that you're so desperate to have someone close. I had been like when Kisuke had come into my life, and I had been fortunate to find a companionship in him that gave me the courage to become a stronger
version of myself.
Kisuke had found that companionship in Yoruichi in my absence. It didn't excuse what she had done and I still hated her very existence…but who was I to take that kind of camaraderie from him? No one could take away the connection I shared with Kisuke—what made it any different between him and Yoruichi? The answer was nothing. When you're alone for that long, it's easy to turn a blind eye to the shitty things people do.
"Give him a chance," Shizuko repeated softly to me, "You and him…it's what everyone wants, Mom. And nothing— and no one—can get between that."
There was wistfulness in her demeaner as she spoke. I could see that she was thinking of Renji. She and him would never have that connection, because we both knew that was something he only shared with Rukia. The problem was that Shizuko had inherited my stubbornness and Renji was just too plain fucking stupid to realize his feelings for Rukia.
I touched her cheek gently, "I'll try talking to him when I get back."
Sweet girl. Your time will come. He's on his way to you. And you're on your way to him.
"I better be going. Are you going to be alright here?" I took a hold of the Hell Butterfly and hugged her tightly.
"I'll be fine. Byakuya will undoubtedly keep me busy, what with Renji being away in Hueco Mundo…I'll be fine," Her small hands clutched onto my uniform, just like she did when she was a little girl.
"I love you, my little Shizuko," I kissed her temple before pulling away. She lingered a little longer before finally taking a step back, "Goodbye."
"Goodbye," She smiled and waved me off as I crossed over to the World of The Living.
The next time I would be seeing her would be at the battle with Aizen in the fake Karakura Town. I could only hope that it wouldn't be any of our last battle together. Maybe if I was lucky, that stupid teenage mango would kill Aizen in Hueco Mundo while he was busy saving the other stupid teenage mango.
As I crossed over to the other side, I was met with night time and silence. But he was there, waiting for me. He sat there like a dork on the steps of his shop, hat beside him and face freshly shaven.
He looked very worried as he took in my brisk walk and set jaw, "Hey."
I stalked up to him and grabbed his kimono as soon as he was within my reach. He didn't react as I pulled him closer to me, only watched me with those mesmerizing, calculating eyes. I loosened my grip on him but he didn't back away. I didn't either.
Instead, I reached up and captured his lips. It was exploratory at first, but his hands pulled me against him and I melted completely. My hands buried in his hair and my lips parted for him, just as he tilted his head down towards and his arms pulled me closer and closer to him.
Once, Kisuke told me that there were tiny spaces between our molecules. No one really could figure out why. But I knew why. In this instant as he kissed me like this and I pulled at his hair like that, I knew that those small vacant spots between my molecules were being filled up by his. Like pieces to a puzzle or a lock to a key. There was no such thing as being too close to Kisuke.
"Kumiko," He murmured as he caught his breath, "I'm—"
"I know," I whispered and took his face in my hands, "Just don't…" I looked down as my voice thickened, because even though it was Kisuke, I still hated looking weak.
"She can't replace you," He knew me like the back of his hand. Sometimes I wandered if Kisuke knew me better than I knew myself. He lifted me up into his arms and I felt fragile, delicate in his large palms, "No one can, Kumiko."
"You're such a sap," I sniffled and let him take me inside.
There was a lot problems between us—I would the first to admit it. But with Aizen's war hanging over us like the sword of Damocles, all I could think about was time. I was angry with Yoruichi, and I felt angry with him too…but I couldn't spend what may be the last weeks of my life hating him.
All I wanted to do was try make up for the lifetime between us.
