Chapter 19: Training with Shunsui
It only after Rose sank her achy head onto the soft pillows on the bed in one of Shunsui's guest bedrooms did she begin to wonder if she had gone overboard with her apology backing. She had first started off by backing the cupcakes that were supposed to represent Shunsui. Her careful planning of the recipe with Midnight Dancer had really helped as the result was delicious. The cupcakes were not too rich flavour and the raspberry icing had not been to bitter. Overall it was one of the best cupcakes she had ever made. She had thought of Shunsui while baking and that had brought her onto the topic of Kagawa. The mere thought of that rude man made her clench her teeth. The nerve of him for insulting Shunsui like that! Rose had been too worked up to relax so she had released all her pent up anger by baking a large rainbow cake with thick cream cheese icing. But sadly by thinking about Kagawa, Rose started to think about what he said to her. Desperate to not focus on that, Rose started to bake lemon cupcakes and then decorated them with light blue, pink, purple, yellow and green icing. However, Kagawa's words did not leave her thoughts and soon the anger that she was feeling turned to sadness and feeling of self-loathing. Did people just assume she was a whore because she was sleeping with Shunsui? It was not like she was sleeping around. But Shunsui had a reputations of being a womanizer. Did people associate her with all the other women Shunsui had slept with? Hot tears started to run down Rose cheek as she finally allowed Kagawa's words to sink in. People had called her a whore before, but their words had not hurt because there was no power behind them. Kagawa had managed to say the perfect combination of words to break Rose's heart. All she wanted to do now was consume as much chocolate as possible and then bury herself in a bed and never leave.
So Rose made the two chocolatiest cupcakes she knew which comprised of a devil' food cupcake with thick chocolate icing with chocolate sprinkles, and the three chocolate explosion cupcake. The latter of the two was her own inventions and was a cupcake made with a chocolate base and then decorated with both dark chocolate and white chocolate icing. The entire thing was an intense chocolaty mess and Rose only made it when she was very upset. After baking the two cupcakes Rose sat down at Shunsui low table and consumed three of the chocolate cupcakes while sobbing loudly and uncontrollably.
When her tears had finally run out Rose stood up and then walked into one of Shunsui guest bedrooms before collapsing into the bed. She was unsure if she was still welcome in Shunsui's bed after the incident that afternoon hence the reason why she decided to sleep in one of the guest bedrooms.
All she needed now was sleep and hope that the next day would be better that the one that had just past.
The intense smell of melted chocolate greeted Shunsui noise as he opened the door to his quarters. Behind him he could here Ukitake and Rangiku inhaling the heavenly scent and sighing.
"Kyoraku-kun what is that heavenly smell?" Asked Rangiku as she removed her sandals.
Shunsui was not sure what had caused this heavenly smell but he knew who was responsible for it. Wordlessly he removed his sandals and then made his way towards that kitchen where he knew the heavenly smell was located. His assumptions were correct when he opened the door to his kitchen and saw four plates piled high with different styled chocolate cupcakes and one with multi-coloured icing, and a large white circular cake. It was clear that Rose had been baking but where did she get the idea that he needed so many cakes? Was she trying to feed the entire eighth division?
Ukitake let out a low whistle from behind Shunsui. "She really went overboard with the cooking." There really was no questioning who had made the cakes for there was only one person in the entire Souls Society who could bake as well as Rose.
For the first time since entering his quarters Shunsui noticed that it was silent. Apart from the shuffling of feet behind him coming from Ukitake and Rangiku there was not a sound. The kitchen counters were spotless and the only evidence that baking had occurred in the kitchen was the fact that there were five different types of cakes sitting on the counter.
"Darling Rose." Called out Shunsui. There was silence. Behind him he could hear the sound of Ukitake and Rangiku helping themselves to the cakes on the kitchen counter.
"Oh wow look this cake is like a rainbow." Shunsui heard Rangiku call out. Shunsui walked out of the kitchen and down the corridor in search of his darling Rose. "Darling Rose…goddess of the kitchen where are you?" Shunsui opened the door to his bedroom and frowned. The sheets were straight and the pillows nice and fluffed indicating that nobody had slept in them. Still frowning Shunsui closed the door to his bedroom and moved down the corridor until he reached the first of the spare bedrooms. Silently he opened the door and walked in. This was the spare bedroom where Rose had slept in after she had confessed to Shunsui about her past. Shunsui was finding it hard to believe that the event had taken place only a few weeks ago, he felt like he had known Rose for longer. The room was pitched black but he could still see the outline of a figure curled up under the sheets. Even though it was dark Shunsui could still see the figure tense under the sheets. Wordlessly Shunsui closed the door and shuffled over to the futon and kneeled down next to it.
"Why are you here darling and not in my bedroom?" Asked Shunsui.
The figure rolled over and faced Shunsui. "I didn't think you would want me in your bed."
Shunsui stared down at Rose. "And why would you assume that. I love having you in my bed." the confusion was obvious in his tone.
"Because you were so angry at me before and stormed off…I didn't think that you would want me in your bed after that." Said Rose quietly.
Shunsui was silent for a moment. Was he angry at Rose…no he was not. He was not even disappointed with her. "No I am not angry with you…or disappointed with you. I guess you just shocked me with you love for bloody history. I just assumed that you of all people would want to stay away from bloody pasts."
Rose sat up and faced Shunsui. "But you were still angry with me. You walked away and did not stop when I ran after you. I know I hurt you in some way so please don't lie to me about your feeling for my sake." Rose took Shunsui's hands in hers. "I know a bit about your past. Well only the bits written in the history books and I know how bloody it is. I am not acting like I understand you. The truth is I will probably never truly understand how you feel and that is fine with me. But there is one thing that I want you to understand. I study history with a passion because there are lessons to be learned in it and stories that must never be forgotten. It is my duty as the next generation to learn these stories and lessons so that they can never be forgotten and then to pass them on to the next generation. Thus these stories and lessons will never be forgotten and hopefully not repeated because it would be even more disrespectful to the dead if we repeated the same mistakes we did in the past because it would have been like they died for nothing. And you Shunsui as a…relic…old person…" Rose stopped and tried to come up with a word to describe Shunsui. He was over two thousand years old so calling him old would be an understatement.
"Mature…experienced…seasoned person." Imputed Shunsui when Rose had fallen silent.
"Yeah one of those."
Shunsui chucked. "Relic…my lover thinks that I am a relic of the past…could you wound me more?" Even in the dark Rose could hear the mirth in his voice.
"Shunsui I am trying to be serious here…Anyway you as a matured person should know what I am talking about." Shunsui untwined his hands from Rose's only then to gently encase her hands in his and then bring them to his lips.
"I understand you…anyway what is done is done and now that we talked it over we can kiss and make up." Shunsui leaned forwards to kiss Rose on the lips but he saw her tense and shuffle uncomfortably. "Yare, but something is still bothering you Rose. Why are you suddenly scared of my affection?"
Rose pulled her hand out of Shunsui's and then moved away. "Yare." Muttered Shunsui before leaning over and turning on the bedside light. Suddenly the room was bathed in an orange glow that semi illuminated the room. Rose was kneeling facing away from Shunsui but he could still the faded outlines of tears stains on her cheek. "Rose." He whispered before pulling her into his lap and hugging her close to his chest. "Please tell me what made you so upset and I promise that I will try and make it better."
Rose snuggled closer to Shunsui and inhaled is magnificent scent. A delightful mixture of sake, sakura blossoms, grass, spice and something that could only be called Shunsui scent. In his arms Rose felt secure. She had always thought of herself as a slight feminist so it hurt her pride to admit that she needed a man to make her feel secure. But then that was the only way she could describe how she felt when she was in his arms. The heart always disobeys the brain.
"The Head of the Kido corp…Kagawa…he said some things which have proven to be more hurtful than previously thought." Said Rose after a pause.
Shunsui arms around Rose tightened. "What did he say?" He asked in a dark tone.
"He said that you were planning on using the Kido barrier to 'keep me in my place' so that I don't run away. And then he called me a whore…but unlike all the other people who have called me that he meant it. So I called him a disgusting man and said that I was surprised that he was ever made a leading officer and then I said that he was jealous of you." Whispered Rose. She decided to leave out the bit where they hit each other. She did not think Shunsui rage would be able to handle that.
Shunsui bent down and kissed Rose's cheek gently. "And you believed him?" Rose nodded. "Rose I want you to know that you are not a whore and never were. You were rapped which was not your fault so please stop thinking that it was. What Kagawa said was out of order. He is one of those people who think that they are better than anybody else. You just have to ignore them and they will eventually stop. But I must say I do like the way you dealt with him." Shunsui nuzzled his cheek into Rose neck making her sigh slightly in pleasure. "I am sorry that you had to face him alone."
Rose turned slightly and kissed Shunsui on the lips. "That is ok. I suppose all that really matters is how my friends perceive me."
"Yes." The two of them sat silently together, revelling in each other's presence. Rose felt totally at ease sitting in Shunsui lap and listening to his steady heartbeat.
"Why the baking?" asked Shunsui after a long and peaceful pause.
"Well I wanted to make a cupcake that best describe you and I did. However I could not get out of my head what Kagawa said to me so I baked the other cakes in the hopes of forgetting but that did not work. I hope that you are hungry because there is a lot of cake there." Rose mumbled with a guilty look on her face.
Shunsui laughed. "You made me my own personal batch of cupcakes…I feel honoured."
"They are the chocolate ones with the raspberry topping…go and try one." Said Rose.
Shunsui stood up with Rose still in his arms and started to walk out of the room. Rose gave a loud yawn and snuggled more into Shunsui hold. "Is my darling little Rose tired?" smiled Shunsui. Rose was really cute when she was tired.
"Yes…some idiot kept me up last night." Yawned Rose.
Shunsui chuckled. "Well I will make sure he does not do that again tonight but I cannot guarantee that. You see there is this very beautiful women lying next to him and he cannot help but admire her beauty."
"Well can you admire her beauty without bothering her because she is very tired."
Shunsui chuckled before balancing Rose in one arm and opening the door to his room. "I want you in my bed every night even when I am angry at you. Please remember that I can never stay angry at you for long darling Rose."
Rose nodded and smiled when Shunsui lay her down in his bed. Gently he kissed her on the head and then turned to leave. "Dream naughty dreams of me darling Rose."
"Don't worry I do that every night." Rose called after him.
Shunsui turned around and stared at Rose with a faux look of horror on his face. "Naughty Rose."
Rose giggled. "Good night Shunsui."
Shunsui smiled and closed the door behind him.
Shunsui found Rangiku and Ukitake sitting on his porch with a pot of tea, several bottles of sake and a plate piled high with Rose cakes.
"Well I can see that you found my sake Rangiku." Stated Shunsui as he sat down on a large pile of pillows next to Rangiku.
"Well you wondered off so I could not ask you if it was ok." Said Rangiku as she took a bite from the slice of rainbow cake she was eating. "This tastes amazing…you are so lucky Kyoraku-kun that Rose bakes for you."
"What can I say…I choose my lovers according to their cooking skills." Smiled Shunsui.
Rangiku and Ukitake laughed at his comment. "So the two of you are definitely seeing each other…and seriously for that matter." Said Rangiku once she had regained her composure.
Shunsui leaning forwards and picked up of the cupcakes that Rose told him to try and took a bite out of it. The taste was perfect and seemed to make his taste buds sing in ecstasy. Damn his woman could really bake.
Rangiku looked at Shunsui expectantly. "Well Shunsui?"
Shunsui cleared his throat. "Yes Rose and I are seeing each other although I don't know what you would class as a 'serious relationship'."
"Well whatever relationship you have she definitely has you whipped." Stated Rangiku.
Shunsui picked up one of the bottles of sake on the small table and took a large swig from it. "And what makes you say that?"
"You have not been out drinking ever since she came into your life." Stated Rangiku.
"And according to Nanao, Rose has the ability to make you do your paperwork without whining." Continued Ukitake.
Shunsui smiles. "What can I say? I love a feisty woman who can put me in line."
Ukitake chocked on his tea while Rangiku burst out laughing. "Shunsui could you please keep your private life private." Sighed Ukitake
Shunsui took a big swig from his bottle of sake. "Juu you wound me."
"I highly doubt it."
"So Kyoraku-kun can you be persuaded to come out drinking tonight. It has been a long time since we last saw you." Asked Rangiku after a pause. When she said 'we' she was referring to "Kira and Hisagi.
"As much as I hate to leave a young beautiful girt hanging I must decline." Said Shunsui as he finished the content of his sake bottle. Looking up, Shunsui saw that Ukitake and Rangiku were looking at him as if he had sprouted two heads. "What?"
"Are you declining going out drinking?" Asked Ukitake in a shell shocked voice.
"Yare, Juu why are you making a big deal out of it?"
"Because you have never ever declined going out drinking. Even when that hollow almost took your arm off ten years ago you still demanded that Nanao brought you sake.
"Well now I have a feisty young woman in my life with a thirst for sex that an old man like myself cannot rival. I am so tired right now". Ukitake and Rangiku looked at Shunsui like he had just told them that he was going to burn all of his pink kimonos.
"Damn Kyoraku-kun you really have it bad…nobody is going to believe me…"
"Sorry Ran-san." Yawned Shunsui. "But I never got my three naps this afternoon so I am beat."
Rangiku stood up. "Well I guess I will see you tomorrow night."
"Goodnight Ran-San."
"Goodnight Matsumoto-san." Rangiku waved goodnight and disappeared into the night with a gentle sway of her hips and a swish of her hair.
Ukitake and Shunsui watched her go for a moment. "I take it that whatever was bothering you before has been resolved?" Asked Ukitake when they were alone.
"Yes…we had a misunderstanding but now we cleared it up." Explained Shunsui as he started on his second bottle of sake. He gently brought the bottle down from his lips and placed it next to him all the while staring unseeingly out into the dark gardens.
"But that is not everything that is bothering you is it Shunsui?" inquired Ukitake while passing a critical eye over Shunsui sudden distant behaviour.
"Rose had a run in with Kagawa…he said a few things that really offended her." said Shunsui after a short pause.
"Well Kagawa is not known for his manners. I take it that you are not going to pursue this matter further?"
"No…Rose was not exactly polite in her reply to Kagawa." There was a hint of amusement in Shunsui voice.
"Oh really… well serves him right. Any way Shunsui I am going to head back because I have early morning drills tomorrow. Goodnight." Ukitake stood up and nodded at Shunsui who lifted his sake cup in acknowledgement before watching his friend walk away.
The moon was still out so Shunsui decided to drink outside for a bit longer, basking in the beautiful moon before retreating to his bed and cuddling up to his darling Rose. He could not help but be reminded of his darling Rose whenever he saw the moon. She was bright and warming but not in the same sense as the sun, that was often too bright and hot. Was a she softer more delicate form of light and was also mysterious and had the ability to make him catch his breath every time she did something. Yes his darling Rose was the moon on a dark cold night. She provided solace to the darkest of souls and was still able to hide the darkness within herself by shinning out brightly. For every moon had a dark side.
Shunsui drained the last of his drink before standing up and cleaning up the leftover cakes on the plate before walking inside and closing the door. A few minutes later Shunsui slide open the door to his bedroom and saw the outline of Rose, nicely curled up into a tiny ball. He removed his clothes and slide under the covers next to Rose and then gently wrapped his arms around her. He smiled when she latched onto his chest and snuggled closer to his side before he too fell in a peaceful slumber.
"Please Shunsui." Shunsui looked up over the rim of his steaming cup of tea at Rose who was kneeling next to him pouting. They were sitting out on the porch drinking tea and watching the spring weather slowly transform into summer…well Shunsui was doing that. Rose was next to him trying to make him train with her.
"But you promised me." Pouted Rose.
Shunsui looked at Rose. "I said that I would be taking over your training but I never said when I would be training you." He was in a slightly bad mood having been denied his favourite activity in the morning. Shunsui had rolled over in his bed a few hours ago only to discover that Rose was not curled up next to him, like she should be, but that she had gotten up and dressed. He had found her sitting out on the porch reading her wretched history book. Shunsui had nothing against people reading history books, he just did not like it when they did it in their free time. For him history books were only to be consulted for academic purposes and that was it.
Rose frowned at him. "Well aren't we a old grumpy man this morning. Fine I will just train myself." She sprang to her feet and danced into the house. Her Zanpakuto was lying on the window seat, basking in the morning sun and sending a rainbow of colours across the room. With a smile Rose picked up Midnight Dancer and started to walk away from the window.
"Good Morning Midnight Dancer fancy a bit of training?" Asked Rose.
"Love to."
Rose danced happily around the room with her Zanpakuto in her hand but suddenly she stopped. Next to her was Shunsui Zanpakuto and Rose could have sworn that she heard it spit at her. Frowning she bent down until the Zanpakuto was at her eye level and stared at it. She could not hear the Zanpakuto but she could sense the anger and hatred emitted from it towards her. Rose pouted slightly before standing up and leaving the room. She did not want to allow the bad tempered sword to ruin the perfect morning.
Shunsui was nowhere on the porch when Rose returned so she assumed that he had gone to sun bath on the roof or to annoy poor Nanao in the office. With a slight frown Rose put on her shoes and walked out to the centre of Shunsui garden. She had never fully explored Shunsui garden's having only seen the piece outside his bedroom and living room. The section she was in now was the bit outside his living room and was considered to be the main part of the gardens. The grass was soft, even and green with no weeds present. A few cherry Blossom trees were scattered artfully around the garden with their blossoms blowing scenically around in the wind. This section of the garden was the most open and was used in the summer while entertaining guests at a garden party. It also provided the perfect location for Rose to train with Midnight Dancer as there were few obstacles in the way.
Rose looked up at the sky and squinted against the mid-morning glare. In the distance she saw a faint glimmer of pink on the roof top which singled to her that Shunsui was now lounging on the roof, basking in the sun. Rose smiled, Shunsui was grumpy after being denied a round of morning sex and she found that to be hilarious.
With as much grace as she could manage, Rose pulled out Midnight Dancer from her sheath and then started the move around in a slow, graceful manner. Her movements were a cross between tai chi and ballet. Rose closed her eyes and centred her reiatsu and then allowed it to flow round inside her like water. Only after that was done die she start to move. She was lost in her movement, her dance. Everything around her suddenly became irrelevant as there was only her and Midnight Dancer' graceful movements.
Shunsui sat on the roof and watched Rose practise with her Zanpakuto. He had heard her draw her sword so he moved so he could observe her. Her style of fighting was peculiar to say the least. It seemed more like a dance than zanjutsu training. Although he must say that her dance was graceful and captivating, but sadly her movements left her wide open on several occasions. Her movement were also too slow and seemed to focus more on beauty than the actual killing. Shunsui sighed and climbed of the roof. It seemed like he had a lot of work to do with Rose…did Maya teach her anything?
Quietly Shunsui retrieved his Zanpakuto and then walked out onto the grass to face Rose. He frowned when he noticed that her eyes were closed and that she did not seemed to have noticed his arrival at all.
Rose's eyes few open when her Zanpakuto collided with something hard and metallic. Slowly she opened her eyes and smiled when she saw that it was Shunsui's drawn Zanpakuto that she had just collided with. However her smiled melted from her face when she saw the look he was giving her, a mixture of exasperation and…disappointment?
"Rose what are you doing?" Asked Shunsui in an even voice.
"Training…why what is wrong?" Rose frowned when she could not make out Shunsui mood by his the tone of his voice.
"Nothing…it is just that you left yourself open several times, your movements are too slow…basically if I were an enemy or a hollow you would be dead now."
Rose relaxed her arm and brought her Zanpakuto down and away from Shunsui. "I don't understand what you are trying to tell me?"
Shunsui sighed and lowered Katen Kyokotsu. "Your fighting style needs improvement. It is too slow and leaves you open more often than not. Your fighting style is all wrong."
"Tell her that it sucks." Said Katen Kyokotsu.
Shunsui looked down at his Zanpakuto and frowned. "Behave."
Rose saw Shunsui shift his focus to his sword and wondered what it had just said to him. "Shunsui I am confused as to how my fighting style is wrong. It is the style that Midnight Dancer told me to use so how can it be wrong?"
Shunsui looked at Rose and then down at her Zanpakuto in her hands and grimaced. Was her Zanpakuto trying to get her master killed? He had heard of Zanpakuto openly rebelling against their master but that only happened when the bond between them was so bad that neither one trusted the other. He knew that in the past Rose's Zanpakuto had given her a hard time but he had assumed that they had resolved their differences. Had he been mistaken?
"No there connection is close…it is just her Zanpakuto acting all bohemian." Said Katen Kyokotsu.
Midnight Dancer hissed causing Rose to look down at her sword in confusion. "Midnight Dancer…is something wrong?"
"No, just Katen Kyokotsu being rude." Said Midnight Dancer with a frown on her face.
Rose grimaced and then looked up at Shunsui. "Is there a reason that you came to disturb me or did you just come to say that my fighting technique is wrong? Would now be the right time to tell you that the fighting style I use can only be used once I am in shikai form? I am sorry if my fighting style seems inadequate to you but if you wanted it to be done one way you should have trained me to begin with. Now if you don't mind I would like to get back to my training." And then she turned around and started to march away from Shunsui.
"Yare." Muttered Shunsui before he moved forwards and grabbed Rose hand.
"Please let go of my hand." Said Rose in a non-nonsense tone.
"Show me"
"What?"
"Show me your fighting style while in Shikai form."
"I don't understand one moment you said that I was doing everything wrong and now you want me to demonstrate what I have been doing?"
"Rose you said so yourself that your fighting style is best performed while in Shikai form and I am asking you to show me." Explained Shunsui. He released Rose's hand and stepped back a bit to allow her space in which to perform.
Rose looked unsure for a second but then she raised her Zanpakuto and released it. The long blue ribbon fell to the fall with a soft ruffle of silk. Shunsui stared down at the ribbon in surprise. It seemed so delicate and not the type of weapon one would use to fight hollows. In fact the ribbon looked like it could not cut anything at all. Gently Rose placed one foot forwards in a dancers pose before moving of into a slow and graceful dance. The ribbon in her hand flowed around her and seemed to compliment her dancing and made the whole spectacle simply breath-taking. The ribbon was long enough to block out all the opening that Shunsui had previously pointed out and it seemed to guard her back when she was not looking. The sheer length of the ribbon meant that Rose had to use big, exaggerated movements in order to keep the ribbon flowing away from her body. Every step she took, every twist she made was as graceful as water.
Shunsui watched Rose for a moment transfixed by her beautiful. Sadly he still had to see if her fighting style was effective against an opponent. "Rose I want you to attack me now in your Shikai form. Don't worry you won't hurt me." He smiled when he saw her frown slightly at his words…especially the last few. Rose continued to dance gracefully around Shunsui and he was about to ask her if she was going to attack when her ribbon suddenly shot forwards. Shunsui only just had enough time to bring his Katana up to deflect the ribbon and he was startled when he heard the sound of metal clashing. Suddenly the ribbon was gone and so was Rose. Shunsui swivelled around and brought Katen Kyokotsu up just in time to deflect the ribbon again. But this time instead of the ribbon disappearing like the last time it stayed and clashed against his katana. Out of the corner of his eye, Shunsui saw Rose dancing around him, ribbon in hand. It seemed as if she was trying to encircle him with her long ribbon. And then it hit him. The dancing was used as a distraction in the hopes of distracting the opponent while Rose encircled them with her ribbon. Shunsui smiled at Rose's genius but there was still room for improvement.
"Stop Rose." Ordered Shunsui gently while bringing his Zanpakuto up to block yet another one of her attacks. Rose stopped and looked up at Shunsui quizzically. "I can now see what you were talking about Rose and I am sorry if I offended you. The design of your shikai means that you need the big movement in order to move your ribbon. But it is also long enough to protect you from behind, I must say it is a very impressive Zanpakuto. You use the dancing to distract your opponents while you attack them with the ribbon when they least expect it. Sneaky I must say. But there is still room for improvement. Firstly you are assuming that people would be distracted my your dancing but sadly that is not the case. Secondly your movement are too slow which means that I can see your movements. I can teach you to move faster in your actions and how to ensure the people remain distracted by your dancing." Explained Shunsui while walking towards Rose.
Rose gently nodded her head. "I know that I am too slow and I am trying to increase my speed but every time I try I trip and fall."
Shunsui placed his hand on Rose shoulder. "It is because you are not steady on your feet. I take it that Maya never taught you the proper fighting stance?"
Rose nodded.
Shunsui sighed. "You need to learn how to wield your Zanpakuto in its unsealed form before you move on to learning how to use it in its shikai form. You never learned how to fight with a Katana properly so there are gaps in your education. We need to fill those gaps so that you have a solid foundation for you to learn your shikai on."
Rose nodded her head slowly. "Ok I get what you are trying to say. You are saying that I need to finish learning the basics so then I can improve my shikai?"
"Yes."
"Alright! How do we do that?" Rose bounced up and down excitedly.
Shunsui smiled. "Every time we train you will do Katas for a bit and then we will spar with your shikai so that you can improve it at the same time."
Rose smiled and marched forwards and kissed Shunsui on the lips. The kiss was short and left Shunsui standing staring down at Rose for a moment speechless. "What?"
Rose giggled. "You said 'we' before which shows that you are taking my training seriously."
Shunsui smiled. "Well I did say that I would train you and I will always keep my promises to."
"I know." Rose kissed Shunsui again before dancing away from him. "Ok let's do some katas."
Shunsui chuckled at Rose's enthusiasm and wished that some of his division members showed the same kind of enthusiasm she had while doing early morning sword drills.
The rest of the morning was spent doing katas and by the end of the training Rose was panting deeply.
"That was tiring." Said Rose while exhaling deeply as she made her way over to the porch. Shunsui walked behind her without a single drop of sweat on his body. A feat which really annoyed Rose. Rose sank down on the porch and removed her sandals with a content sigh.
"Tired feet?" asked Shunsui innocently while coming to stand next to Rose on the porch.
"You should know" mumbled Rose causing Shunsui to chuckle. "I think I am going to go take a shower." Rose said after a pause. Shunsui extended his hand out to her and helped her to her feet. Rose smiled and walked into Shunsui house while still holding his hands. Shunsui smiled when he felt Rose tug him off the porch and down the corridor in the direction of his bathroom. It seemed he might get his morning sex after all.