It was the next day when she felt well enough to walk shakily around the room and she was cleared to go back to her squad the next day. Kenpachi gave her the next few days off to fully recover and visited her after lunch when he would normally train. The second day when he visited he found her at her table working on the caduceus. The shape had become much more refined and the holes where the snakes didn't touch each other or the staff had been hollowed out
"You look like you're feeling better today." He said as he walked in. As he had been doing, he had brought her something to eat. Most of yesterday she had stayed in bed, so it was good to see her up.
"I tried to go to the weight room today, but Ikkaku shooed me out."
"Tomorrow will be soon enough. He's just worried about you." Suzume nodded and set aside her tools and took the plate he was holding out to her. She dug in, giving him her thanks around a mouthful of food. "Are you still sore?" He asked her as he watched her eat.
Her mouth was too full to answer so she held up her fingers to indicate a little and then rubbed her ribs to show him where. The bruises had faded and would likely be gone by tomorrow he was glad to see. The end of the tentacle had crossed her torso and had stopped around her left collarbone. They had been the only bruises he had seen on her and her top was just open enough to show that they were almost gone.
"I don't think I ever thanked you for saving Yachiru. I don't know that her little body would have been able to take the punishment."
"Don't worry about it. Any of you would have done the same if you'd known." She replied, leaning over and putting one of her hands on one of his. "Please don't beat yourself up about it."
He smiled and picked up the piece she had been working on for something to distract him, "I still have no idea how you saw this in that post." They both laughed.
Looking pensive, Suzume looked up at her lover, "Did you tell me that I couldn't die until I'd sung for you? Or was that one of my weird dreams?"
"I was trying to keep you conscious. But yes, that is one of the things I said while I ran with you in my arms." He raised an eyebrow ridge at her. She just smiled and nodded. "Thoughts?"
"Just that maybe I shouldn't sing for you then."
"Where you planning on it?"
"Nope. Just thought I'd tease you a bit." He sighed in exasperation. Such a strange woman.
The next day had them back in their normal routines. Mornings were spent in paperwork and afternoons were dedicated to training. That afternoon found Suzume in the weight room. Kenpachi decided to go as well to ensure she didn't overdo herself. She was still recuperating and, he was worried about her. Maybe he shouldn't, but he did all the same. Was this love?
Suzume moved from machine to machine, stopping if something hurt too much to continue or continuing if she could muscle through the pain. She had lied a little bit to her captain and lover. The muscles around her ribs and arm were still in a bit of pain. It was as if someone had used them for a punching bag, but she really didn't want Kenpachi to continue worrying about her. She knew that's why he was here in the weight room. She saw him flinch every time she drew in a sharp breath. At least he wasn't stopping her. After a few hours she had worked up a pleasant sweat and decided she had pushed herself enough, she got up and as she walked by her captain, she ran a hand across his shoulders and left for her room to get her toiletries and then to the bathhouse to soak and scrub.
Kenpachi was happy that she was trying to get back to normal and wasn't mad at him for monitoring her while she weight trained. He upped the amount of weight on the bar and enjoyed the strain against his muscles.