Chapter 51 (Kumiko)
"But she gets to stay in Squad Six?"
"Yes but Byakuya hasn't left her side since the whole debacle with the Elders! I can't get a moment alone with her other than when she comes over to train with Squad Eleven!" I exclaimed and handed Kisuke the vile of ammonia.
He glanced up at me before he added the chemical to his concoction, "But she gets to stay in Squad Six."
"So?" I groaned, "What does it matter if I can't see her, Kisuke?"
He smirked like I wasn't getting it, "I thought you were rooting for her and Byakuya."
"I am…but I'm still nervous of the whole thing," I slumped against the table next to his workspace, "He's hurt her a lot in the past. Maybe he's finally realized that it's not on…but what if he hasn't? I can't let her get hurt again…not after Jirou and Renji."
"It's her choice for her to make," He patted my thigh, "But I think Byakuya's come to. He's a reasonable boy—sometimes we need to mess up royally to realize what's right in front of us."
I leant over and kissed his cheek, "Very cute, Kisuke."
He finished what he was experimenting with, or at the very least letting it sit, and stood between my legs. I slipped his safety glasses onto the top of head, and ran a hand over his stubbled jawline. He gave me quick, sloppy kiss.
"What will you do if he wants to marry Shizuko?" He asked.
I shrugged, "It depends all if Shizuko wants to marry him…he's done a lot that he'll have to make up for. But if it's what she wants…well, I've learnt my lesson. I won't stand in her way."
Kisuke cupped my face and smiled, "The little girl is all grown up, huh?"
"She is," I smiled, but tears welled up in my eyes. They were happy tears…but I still needed Kisuke to pull me in close. Which is exactly what he did. "I'm so happy…but I'm so sad."
"I know," He murmured and rubbed my back, "She's been a huge part of your life. And she still will be."
I wiped my eyes and pat his cheek, "I know. I'm being silly."
"You're being her Mom," He smiled.
I smiled and then peer over at the vile, "Uh…is that supposed to be bubbling like that?"
He glanced down and suddenly yelped, "No! No it is not!"
I grinned in excitement as Kisuke ran around desperately looking for whatever he needed to extinguish the chemical reaction-gone-wrong. He was yelling while I laughed loudly, and eventually gave up on what he was looking for.
To my amazement, he picked up the vile with his hands and sprinted outside. I followed him, half-expecting his hair to be on fire. But he had managed to place it safely in the backyard. We watched as smoke and bubbles erupted from the vile.
Kisuke sighed loudly and I squeezed his shoulder, "I just hope it doesn't explode. Let's back inside just in case it does—"
"Hado Number Thirty-One," I threw a ball of red reiatsu at the bubbly inferno, "Shakkaho!"
Kisuke only gaped as I demolished his science experiment. Rather proud of myself for fixing the problem, I turned my grin to him.
"Problem solved."
He slowly shook his head and burst out laughing. I yelped as he wrapped his arms around me and ruffled up my hair.
"Only you would stop an explosion with another explosion."
