Walking closely side by side, arms brushing lightly, Kumiko and shunsui were sharing stories, eating some street food they had picked up on the way to the 7ths divisions Baracks.
Laughing in between bites, Kumiko said "so you were asleep under your desk the whole time?"
Sending her a toothy grin he added "well I thought the best place to hide would be the one place, my nanao-chan wouldn't look too hard. In the office. I didn't mean to fall asleep for 6 hours " he said sheepishly "I woke up to a load of commotion out side. I went to investigate and ended up joining a search party, that was searching for me" he laughed loudly, enjoying her giggle next to him "Yama -jii was furious, old man is fast when he's pissed" he said rubbing the phantom pain he suddenly had on the top of his head where the old captain had hit him with his staff.
she threw her head back laughing " your poor lieutenant " she said "no wonder she keeps a close eye on you"
"I make up for it with my charm" he told her smiling.
Throwing their rubbish in the near by bin, they followed the wooden decking leading to Uraharas office.
Arriving at the door, Kyoraku threw it open with a "honey, I'm home!" Startling a conversing Urahara and ukitake inside. Laughing lightly, Kumiko said "how many doors do you plan on breaking today?"
"I have a two door limit a day" he grinned down at her
"where the hell have you been?!" A thump on the desk startled both Kyoraku and Kumiko. It was the first time urahara had raised his voice at the woman, her eyes went wide in shock " we've been looking for you for hours! "
"uh oh, kiskes mad" Shunsui mock whispered to Kumiko, getting a sharp elbow in the stomach for his efforts, catching his unamused look
"I went to your apartment. Your door was hanging off the hinges, there was blood stained towels in the bathroom . the guy fixing the door didn't know where you were or if you were ok, Unohana hadn't heard off you" Urahara angrily ranted, throwing his hands up in the air
"what the HELL happened?!"
He stood there, breathing heavily through his nose, waiting for an explanation from his friend. Kumiko could tell though,that his anger was a cover for the unintentional worry she had put her friend though that morning. She didn't take a second to think how her apartment might look to someone who wasn't aware of the situation. Walking slowly to him, she wrapped her arms around his stomach, squeezing him lightly in a hug
"I'm sorry". She said, trying to sooth the flustered man. "Im ok. There's an easy explanation. Im sorry for making you worry"
heaving a heavy sigh, letting go of his pent up worry over the woman hugging his middle, he let himself wrap his arms around her, bringing her into his embrace tightly
"you scared me half to death" he murmured into her hair "I thought something really bad had happened to you"
"I'm fine" she said pulling back slightly, to see him calmer than he was moments ago "see? Not a scratch"
"shunsui? Do you have a black eye?" Ukitake asked his friend suddenly
"that's my fault" Kumiko offered with a smile
"maybe you should start at the beginning?" Ukitake offered kindly, before shooting his friend an exasperated look. Shunsui at least had the decency to look slightly guilty.
"I was having a nightmare," Kumiko started, catching the concerned look urahara gave her "I must have screamed?" She trailed off, looking to shunsui to explain his end while she was still unconscious
"I turned up to kumikos this morning to ask about how yesterday went with Yoruichi. As I got to her door I could hear her screaming inside, so I kicked her door open" shunsui began
"booted it straight off its hinges, you mean" giving him a look
he threw her a wink before continuing " I found her in bed, having what seemed to be an awful nightmare, I tried to wake her up, but I guess I panicked her, and she punched me in the nose"
"I didn't know it was you!" She defend her self again, Urahara lightly grabbing her right hand to inspect her now very buried knuckles
" im fine," she reminded him "I made his nose bleed, which is why you found bloodied towels in the bathroom"
"and she was still upset about her nightmare. And the door " shunsui laughed. " so I took her to meet some friends of mine, I guess time kind of got away from us"
"see? Perfectly reasonable " Kumiko said to Urahara
"you couldn't have left a note?" He asked her, throwing a look over to shunsui" or a hells butterfly? "
they eyed eachother guiltily
lightly shoving Kumiko away he said "im still mad, I thought you had gotten kidnapped or something"
this made Kumiko grin " so you thought my would be kidnapper, let me clean up all the blood and arrange to have my door fixed before he whisked me away?"
"shut up," he laughed at the ridiculous notion "I just saw the blood and panicked"
"I'm sorry,". She said once more "I promise to leave a note if I disappear again, ok?"
"hey, didn't anyone worry about where I was all morning?!" Shunsui asked indignantly
"we just assumed you were asleep somewhere shunsui" ukitake said with a smile
"come here, Kyoraku, let me make sure fists of fury over there hasn't broken your nose" Urahara said, getting the talker man to walk over to the light. After gently running his thumbs over his nose a few times, checking for a break, he concluded that is was fine "you're going to get a nasty bruise under your eye though"
"I've had worse" he grinned
"your turn" Urahara said to Kumiko, offering his open hand out to hold her own. Placing it in his hand he gently started probing the knuckles. Feeling none he gently let her hand go.
"since you seem to be in good health, are you ready to start your training now, Kumiko-san?" Ukitake asked, reminding her what she was supposed to be doing today instead of out gallivanting with shunsui
"I'm so sorry! With the commotion this morningi completely forgot. I'm ready" she affirmed.
"Lead the way Kiske" ukitake offered
Kumiko was sweating. Her legs and arms were shaking with the force she was using trying to pull her forehead away from resting on captain ukitakes chest. The gentle captain keeping his spiritual pressure pouring out at a constant level. grunting with the force she was using, Kumiko got her head off his chest a few inches, gritting her teeth, battling against the force trying to pull her back
"stop" she forced out of her mouth, collapsing to the ground the second ukitake withdrew his Reiatsu. Rolling onto her back, Kumiko was gasping for breath on the Rocky floor of Uraharas secret training room. She felt absolutely spent, each limb weighing 100lbs each. Uraharas face appeared above hers, bent over at the waist
"how you feeling?" He asked her
"like I could sleep for a week" she said, getting her breathing back under control
"I think that may be enough for one day urahara" ukitake said from behind him, concern for the young woman palpable.
"I can go again" Kumiko said, dragging herself up from the floor only to loose her footing on her weak legs and hitting the floor again
"you need to listen to your body Kumiko, you're done for the day. You done really well" ukitake told her, leaving no room for argument. She sighed angrily, thumping the floor with her closed fist. She was disappointed in herself, expecting to have made more progress in the last few hours than raising her head a mere two inches, she turned her head away
"hey, what's wrong?" Urahara asked sitting down next to her on the floor, shunsui coming over to stand next to ukitake. Kumiko turned her head away from him, knowing it was childish, but too angry to care
"Kumiko, " he said sternly, "talk to us "
"I'm just stressed. I'm exhausted, I'm sweaty and hungry. My legs are shaking , my arms feel weak. And I managed 2 fucking inches" she said through gritted teeth, punching the floor again to get out her frustration.
"stop,miko" Urahara told her, grabbing her hand "you worked really hard, you should be proud of yourself. It's only your first try, and you already managed accomplished something . I'm really proud of you " he added, leaning over to kiss her on the forehead. She sighed more calmly.
"I just expected better results"
"you'll get them" ukitake said calmly "let's get you home to rest hmm?"
Urahara jumped up offering Kumiko a hand, getting to her feet m, he quickly reached out to steady her, legs not yet supporting her weight
"here," shunsui said walking over and picking her up bridal style. "I'll get you home"
"put me down " Kumiko said weakly, "im too heavy"
laughing he pulled her closer into his chest
"what you trying to say? You don't think I'm strong enough?" Turning to Urahara and Kiske he added "she beats me up one time and I'm branded weak forever"
Kumiko dozed lazily in Shunsuis arms as they walked back to Uraharas office .
rubbing a tired hand down his face Urahara opens his office turning to the other two captains "im going to make a start on the report, I will bring it over to you tomorrow ukitike, if you don't mind going over it?"
"not at all, don't stay up all night urahara" he told the young man.
"ill try," he smiled, knowing that's exactly what he's going to end up doing "you'll get her home safely?" Nodding at the sleeping woman in Shunsuis arms
"ive got her" shunsui replied, tightening his grip on the worn out girl.
"goodnight, kiske" ukitake bid farewell
"night" he yawned, closing his office door behind him .
the two old friends started walking back to their own districts, chatting quietly
" she really wore herself out this evening " ukitake commented quietly, as not to wake her "she did better than I thought she would have for her first go"
"she's definitely a fighter" shunsui added, looking down again at her peaceful face.
Coming up to the cross roads where they would have to separate, they bid eachother farewell before walking their own separate ways.
Shunsui walked at a leisurely pace, not wanting to risk flash stepping and waking Kumiko up
she definitely needs the rest he thought she's had a tiring day
thinking back on their morning together. It didn't start quite the way shunsui would have chosen, sore nose throbbing slightly at the reminder. But seeing her joyful face playing with the children is worth a thousand punches to the nose.
And the kiss. He thought that came out of no where, not that I'm complaining
"where are we?" Came her sleepy voice, surprising him lightly, he hadn't noticed her waking up
"about 15 minutes away from your home,miko-san, you can go back to sleep if you like, I got you" he told her softly
"I can walk,". She insisted "you don't have to carry my heavy ass home"
"where did you get this ridiculous notion your ass is heavy?" He asked her playfully "I could let you walk, but then I would have to put you down, and I'm quite enjoying having you pressed up against me"
she laughed at him softly "just get me home please"
"as you command" he told her, tightening his hold and racing off in his flash step. Kumiko flung her hands up around his neck, not expecting the speed at which he was moving. They arrived at her door in under 2 minutes, back on its hinges.
Gently putting her down, and choosing to not laugh at her wind swept hair, his arm staying out to steady her should she start to fall again, but her legs held her this time.
"you can move quicker than I thought you could" she told him, Impressed by the captains flash step
"just don't tell anyone, I have a lazy reputation to uphold" he joked as she opened her door, turning to face him
"your secret is safe with me, I'll also keep it hidden that you got beat up by a girl" she smirked at him
"yare, you're a mean one when your sleepy. Good night Kumiko." He said reaching to hug the woman who happily returned it. Breaking apart slightly, he leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. He started to pull away when she Began to chase him. A groan rumbled in his chest, while body waking at her steadily increasing kiss.
Cupping the back of her head, he started walking her backwards into her home. Not getting enough of her sweet kisses. Her tongue carefully wiped against his, begging entry. Which he happily allowed, dominating her mouth with his tongue, a moan escaping her lips, shooting straight to his growing erection. Hands grabbing at her hips forcefully, pulling her flush against his front, breathing heavily as her hands start to wonder,
using every bit of self control he could muster, he pulled away from her. Her eyes were lust filled and her swollen lips were parted with gentle breaths. Kyoraku didn't just want this to be another senseless romp between the sheets, he wanted to do this right. Taking another step away, before his needy body aching for her own betrays him. He kissed her gently on the forehead before turning around and walking to the door, putting some much needed distance between them "I will see you tomorrow miko-san" he said, before disappearing behind the closing door
leaving kumiko standing in the middle of the room alone. confused with an aching need in the pit of her stomach