Kumiko entered her home, shunsui and jushiro following her closely. Kumiko went straight to her bedroom, opening up the draw in her bedside table. Rummaging through, her fingers finally brushed against what she was searching for. Closing the draw she handed it to shunsui
"I will see you soon " he read the card "why didn't you tell anyone about this?" Kumiko ignored the tone, she knew he wasn't mad at her, just concerned
"it was the night before our first date. What was supposed to be our first date" she amended "it was on my bed with a rose. I thought it was from you" Kumiko sat on the end of her bed looking up at them, teeth unknowingly teasing her bottom lip "then all that happened with Kurotsuchi. I had forgotten about it"
"has anything else happened Kumiko?" Jushiro asked her calmly, sensing her holding back
"I've been feeling like someone is watching me" she admitted quietly, averting her eyes to the floor
"what! When? " shunsui asked her, not believing this is the first time he's been told
"the shopping district , twice. And once on a mission with Kira." She told them, feeling like a child getting scolded
"why the hell have you not told anyone?" Shunsui asked her exasperated , emotions getting the better of him
"shunsui, calm yourself " jushiro told him quietly , shunsui huffed and crossed his arms
"I wasn't trying to hide it." Kumiko said meekly with a shrug of her shoulders "The first time, I just brushed it off as someone in the market looking at me and the girls. The second ,I kinda thought I was just being paranoid, it wasn't until renji felt it too that I.." she was cut off by shunsui loosing his cool
"renji knew about it? And he didn't think to come to a captain? You should have told me, you should have told Urahara!" He raised his voice at her, half expecting her to fight back
"is it my fault Kiske got targeted?" She whispered to no one in particular, tear rolling down her cheek
"no Kumiko" jushiro told her kindly, sitting next to her on the bed, sending his friend a look "it not you're fault. That lays with the person who is doing all this. Don't cry now" he wrapped an arm around her soothingly
shunsui sighed, he hadn't ment to make her upset. Kneeling in front of her he held her hands "im sorry love, I didn't mean to make you cry. I wasn't trying to say it was your fault" he said, cupping her face and wiping away the tears "im just worried , I can't stand the idea of someone following you. Being in your home "
Kumiko nodded, wrapping her arms around his neck and hugging him close
"we need to bring this to the other captains and Genryusai-sensei" ukitake told Kyoraku as he comforted the woman
"will you sort that juu?" Shunsui asked him softly, holding kumiko close to him "might be worth finding renji and Kira. They can explain what they experienced both with Kumiko and finding Urahara "
ukitake nodded, standing up. Looking to the clock, just being past lunch time " I'll set the meeting for 4. Should give me enough time to track everyone down. That long enough for you to get things in order?" He asked his friend, nodding at the upset woman in his arms
"yeah, I'll be there" shunsui told him, smoothing his hand over her hair
after ukitake left the room, shunsui kissed her head. "I'm sorry love".
Kumiko pulled away, wiping her eyes "it's fine. I should have said something. I never expected anything like this"
"it's not your fault love. I honestly wasn't trying to say it was. I just let my concern for you cloud my mind" he told her, catching her eye as he rose from the floor "pack a bag Kumiko , you're not staying here"
"where am I going?" She asked him as he held his hand out for her to take
"home with me," he kissed her forehead "you can't stay here until we know who's behind all this"
"Shouldn't you be going to the captains meeting?" Kumiko smiled at shunsui as he started taking his clothes off
"I've got time" he grinned at her, pulling his top over his head before starting to undress her. They stood in shunsui bathroom, steam rising from his larger than average bath. Bubbles floating on the top, sweet flowery smell filling the room
"I need to make sure you're taken care of" he said kissing her lips, hand pushing down his own trousers. Quickly throwing his hair into a bun, he gently spun Kumiko around, fixing her hair in the same manor.
Both fully naked shunsui climbed into the bath, sitting down, leaning his back into the side before holding a hand out for Kumiko to hold as she climbed in, guiding her to sit between his open legs.
Kumiko leaned back into his chest, sighing at the warmth of the water. Shunsui gently started to massage her shoulders, getting rid of the tension there.
"that feels amazing" Kumiko told him, gently rubbing his legs either side of her
shunsui leaned forward and kissed her head. Kumikos stomach growling loud made him chuckle into her hair "when did you last eat?"
Kumiko had to think back "breakfast with you yesterday" she realised "I bought lunch for me and Kiske, but then renji told me what happened. I stayed in the fourth all night. I didn't even think about eating"
"I'll make up some lunch after our bath" he told her softly, when she turned to give him a horrified look he laughed.
"I've got stuff for sandwiches, and fruit. Even I can't mess that up " he told her with a grin. Happy he wouldn't set his kitchen on fire, she turned back round and relaxed into him
"you're not going to be mad at renji are you?" She asked him around a groan, his fingers working out a knot in her shoulder " I wasn't nice to him yesterday, I shoved him out of the way. I need to apologise"
"no, I'm not mad at him" he soothed her "I saw him this morning, he's the one who told me about what happened to Urahara. He was concerned for you"
"please tell him I'm sorry, when you see him later" she asked him feeling guilty "you came to the 4th after you saw him?"
"I stopped to grab juu first, I didn't know how you would be. If you might need his spiritual pressure " he explained grabbing some body wash and pouring some on a cloth
gently he started to clean her. Her arms and shoulders, moving down to her neck and chest. Kumiko couldn't feel anything sexual from the act, just a gentle sweetness in how he cared for her
Kumiko turned slightly to look into his eyes
"thank you" she told him softly, kissing him deeply
"what are you thanking me for love?" He asked a little breathless when she pulled away
"for caring about me this much". She told him, slightly embarrassed having said it out loud
"you don't need to thank me for showing you how much you mean to me" he told her smiling, wrapping his arms around her
the three little words were dancing on the tip of his tongue. Shunsui stopped himself from saying them. Now wasn't the right time. Not when urahara was in hospital. When the person responsible was still out there
After they had their lunch, shunsui walked Kumiko back to the hospital to see urahara. Deciding it would be safe for Kumiko to stay while he was in the captains meeting.
Shunsui could feel the nerves coming off her, itching to be back at her friend side. She hadn't wanted to leave him in the first place. It was only at shunsui and jushiro saying they needed to see the note in her apartment did she start to waiver.
It wasn't until Unohana told her she should leave so they could deal with changing his bandages, did Kumiko finally agree to go.
Making their way to his room, shunsui stopped her from entering "you'll be ok love?" He asked her, holding her hips
"I'll be fine" she said looking over to Urahara, sleeping in his bed
"I'll come back as soon as I can" he told her, kissing her gently before walking back down the corridor. Kumiko walked into the room. Taking the chair next to his bed and holding his hand
"im so sorry". She told him gently "I think it's my fault you got hurt"
"Jushiro and Shunsui are going to a captains meeting now" she continued talking to him "hopefully they'll come up with something " Kumiko looked over at the machine, gently beeping away
Kumiko sighed, trying to shake the feeling of guilt bubbling up. Standing up Kumiko walked over to the window at the bottom of his bed, staring out at the Sosaeti, hugging herself gently
I told myself I would stop crying she scolded herself gently, making no move to stop the tears falling
a soft groan pulled her attention from the window. Looking over at urahara. She saw his grey eyes blink open for the first time
"hi" she told him gently
"miko?" He mumbled closing his eyes again "wassa matter"
"im just happy you're ok" she lied to him
"where ami?" He slurred
"in hospital. You're ok. Go back to sleep" she told him smiling, wiping the tears away, Urahara opened one eye to see her
"come here" he told her, when Kumiko didn't move he tried again "come here miko, I can't come to you" trying to move himself over in the bed to make room
"stay still! You'll hurt yourself " she told him worried, making her way over to him to stop him
"im ok" he told her, tapping the bed next to him
"I can't get on the bed with you" she told him gently "I'll hurt you"
Urahara closed his eyes, staying awake was exhausting him
"please" he mumbled, fighting to stay awake
Kumiko sighed before gently laying down next to him careful to not touch his chest or needle taped to his arm. Deciding to rest her head gently on his bicep, hand resting on his lower stomach
"my head hurts" he mumbled next to her
"I know. Go back to sleep. It'll help" she told him
his breathing evening out next to her, Kumiko looked up at his face. He looked so much younger asleep. Silently thanking Unohana for pumping him full of drugs so he could rest, Kumiko decided to close her eyes for a moment, needing to feel her friend close.
eleven captains stood in their rows, lieutenants Kira and renji kneeling behind their captains. Shunsui glanced to his right, the empty space normally filled by Urahara, effecting him more than he thought it would. The sound of a door opening pulled Kyoraku from his musings, watching the head commander take his seat at the head of the room
"the captains meeting shall begin" the old man said sitting down, commanding the attention of the captains
"yesterday evening Kiske Urahara was attacked while out defending the Sosaeti". He informed them, stopping at Yoruichis interruption
"urahara is hurt?" She asked, looking down the hall to his empty space next to Kyoraku "what happened? Why has no one told me?"
"myself and Kyoraku were only informed late this morning, Yoruichi. I did come to try and find you before the meeting". Jushiro apologised to her, understanding how long they've been friends
"how is he? Is he ok?" Yoruichi asked him, trying to hide the panic in her voice
"who attacked him?" Captain Hitsugayas voice crossed over her own
"silence " captain commander demanded "captain Unohana. What are his injuries?" He asked the woman
stepping forward, Urahara softly started to explain "he was brought in early evening last night. He has sustained deep jagged wounds across his chest,resulting in blood loss. We believe he was hit from behind, resulting in a fractured skull" she told the room, a stunned silence fell around the room and the level of injury "besides a few minor scrapes, these are the two main wounds. I had healed him the best I could. Urahara san is currently in and out of consciousness, but is stable. I expect a full recovery "
Yoruichi sighed hearing he was out of immediate danger.
"when he was discovered, a note lay on his body. Myself ukitake and Kyoraku discussed it, and believe the person who attacked Urahara, is after Kumiko Satsuki" she finished, standing back in line
renji and Kira both snapped their head up at that,
"some one is after kumiko?" Renji blurted out, bowing his head at the side eye his captain gave him
"what did the note say?" Shinji asked softly, for all his annoying habits, he considered urahara a friend. He was quite enjoying messing with Kumiko too
"it said "you can't keep her safe" " Jushiro told him "we thought it might be referring to Kumiko, so we asked her if it ment anything to her. We then discovered she had found a familiar note in her home, believing it to have been sent by someone else, she didn't think to mention it until now"
"what did that note say?" Captain amagai asked him, looking up the line to meet his eyes. The weight of Uraharas injuries falling heavily on his shoulders
"I will see you soon"
"does miss Satsuki know who had sent the note?" Captain commander asked him
"no, Genryusai-sensei. She was quite upset about urahara, we didn't want to push the questioning yet" jushiro explained
"the way that woman's feelings is taken into account is preposterous" captain Kurotsuchi joined in "had she been brought to me, Urahara may still have his head intact "
"watch it Kurotsuchi " Kyoraku snapped at the man, having no patience to hear his comments. His fist balled tightly as his side, catching ukitakes small head shake, he released it, gently shaking away the tension. Shunsui sent a worried look down to Yoruichi, nervously biting her fingernails
"enough! captain amagai, you were with captain Urahara when it happened, what are your thoughts?" Captain commander took control of the conversation again
stepping forward amagai sighed before speaking, having tremendous guilt over the fact urahara had been so injured and he didn't do anything to help "after we had disposed of the hollows and hidoi in district 47, Urahara asked me to tend to the wounded while he takes some readings and samples. A short while later we felt his spiritual pressure rise. I thought maybe he encountered another one in the Forrest, so I sent lieutenants Kira and renji to assist, I was unaware anything had happened to him until they shouted for help"
"step forward, lieutenants" captin Genryusai told them. Sharing a glance both men stood up and walked to the middle of the room, facing the old man "what did you witness?"
renji looked to Kira, nodding his head. Kira spoke first "at captain amagais order we hurried to captain Urahara, we felt him raise his spiritual pressure, so followed it to the Forrest"
"there was an explosion, we think captain Urahara used kido" renji added
"captain Uraharas spiritual pressure suddenly disappeared. when we found him, he was face down, unconscious " Kira picked it back up "there was a wound on his head, blood on the ground beneath him"
"he had his zanpakuto out"renji finished "I scouted the area while lieutenant Kira began healing kido. I couldn't find anything, or anyone. Neither of us could sense anything. I'm afraid our calls to captain Urahara may have scared them off "
"very well " captain commander began, eyes darting to Kyoraku who stepped forward
"one moment Yama-jii" he said, looking at the lieutenants "Kumiko said she had been experiencing feeling someone watching her, and that both of you were there when she did. What do you remember from that?"
both lieutenants looked at eachother, not knowing the other knew about it
"when Kumiko joined me on our scouting mission destroying hollows, a hidoi turned up for the first time" Kira explained turning to the questioning captain "I was knocked down. After the hidoi was destroyed, she came to aid me. All of a sudden she drew her zanpakuto and ran into the Forrest. When I caught up with her she was looking around the trees. She explained she felt something out there. Watching us. It seemed to have disappeared when I arrived. I myself didn't see or feel anything"
"me and Kumiko were out shopping, walking home I could sense something following us. I realised she could sense it too" renji began explaining when Kyoraku turned to him "it disappeared then also, I didn't see anything. She had said she had felt it there before, I didn't realise it happened again with Kira "
shunsui sighed, pulling his hat down over his eyes and stepping back in line
"the fact a captain was hurt this badly suggests the person behind it is very powerful. I want all captains on guard. Each division will assemble a team, train them to defeat the hidoi". The captain commander began giving his orders "until we know who it is, and why they're doing it, Kumiko Satsuki is to stay with a captain for for her protection "
"why would the woman's safety concern the 12?" Kurotsuchi interrupted annoyed. This woman held no importance to him, the idea of wasting time protecting her instead of studying her made his lip curl in disgust
"an attack on the soul society is an attack on all of us " he told him sternly
"if she were handed to me, I could run my own experiments. Determine if there's anything special about her that is causing this person to attack captains to get to her" Kurotsuchi tried his luck with the captain.
"it ain't happening mayuri "shunsui snapped at him, fist balling at his side again, body vibrating with anger
"the research urahara gathered at the 47ths Forrest will be turned over to the 12th. You are to investigate why they are being drawn here, and if anything else had been recorded" he told the scientist sternly "no experimentation is needed on Kumiko Satsuki"
"this is ridiculous " Kurotsuchi muttered unhappily not getting his way once again
"if anything is discovered by any division it is to be brought to me immediately. Captain Unohana, keep me updated on urahara condition " he added turning to the woman who bowed deeply
"ukitake" he started, causing the captain to step forward waiting "Kumiko Satsuki will be transferred to your division, until urahara is able to return to his duties"
"yes Genryusai-sensei" ukitake told him, sparing a glance at shunsui, who was still staring at Kurotsuchi angrily
"you will continue her training and the discovery's of how captains spiritual pressure effects her" he added
"Kumiko Satsuki can no longer stay in her temporary accommodation" Genryusai-sensei began to say, being interrupted by Kyoraku once More
"I've already moved her into my home" shunsui said seriously, catching his commanders eye "I will keep her safe yama-jii"
"very well. Captain Yoruichi. I want a small team from the stealth force to stay in her home, to ensure the perpetrator doesn't return. If they sense anything near they are to investigate"
"yes head captain " Yoruichi told him distracted . Body buzzing with unsettled energy. Wanting to go see her injured friend
"that is all for now. Dismissed " the head captain ended the meeting. Staff striking the floor once