Shunsui sighed, captains walking past him to leave the captains meeting, talking among themselves about what they've been told. Shunsui glared at at back of Kurotsuchis head, unknowingly stepping forward to go after the man.
Renji and Kira approached the captain,getting in the way of his angry pursuit, the worried looks on their faces stopping him
"captain, is Kumiko alright?" Renji said, pulling his attention
"she's ok" he soothed their worries "upset over urahara more than anything"
"I felt awful having to leave her this morning. Not that I think she noticed I was there anyway" renji said unhappily. He had felt absolutely useless all night, not knowing how to comfort her.
"she knew. She asked me to apologise on her behalf. She said she shoved you?" Shunsui told him with a small smile. She was a little firecracker
"I don't blame her: I would've done the same if someone tried to stop me going to see someone I cared about" renji told them, Kumiko completely forgiven the moment it had happened
"does she have any idea who's behind it?" Kira interjected
"no, she hasn't had any suspicions yet." Shunsui said with a huff. He wasn't angry with Kumiko, just at the situation. Struggling with the fact someone was after her, that they cut down a captain to do it. His heart felt like it was in a Vice
Shunsui eyes caught jushiro behind the lieutenants , hugging Yoruichi, who was visibly upset "excuse me" he muttered before walking over
"he has already woken up Yoruichi, he's going to be ok" jushiro was soothing her, patting her back gently
Yoruichi pulled away from him looking to the side. Quickly wiping away a stay tear, that the two men pretended not to notice. Yoruichi hated being vulnerable in front of others. The only person she ever really let her self feel exposed to was Urahara
laying a hand on her shoulder shunsui asked her gently "im going back there now to see Kumiko, why don't you walk with me?"
Yoruichi just nodded. Standing up straighter and walking towards the door, not looking back to see if he would follow
"you coming?" Shunsui asked his long time friend, watching the woman's quick retreat
"I'll pop in later, im going to take the research to Kurotsuchi " ukitake told him, ignoring the angry look flashing on Kyorakus face.
Shunsui nodded to him, quickly hurrying after Yoruichi.
Shunsui opened the door to Uraharas room, gently guiding Yoruichi in, hand resting on her back
looking to the bed, shunsui had a small smile on his face, seeing Kumiko fast asleep, curled into Uraharas side. The soft beeping of the machines went of In sync with the rise and fall of her chest.
Shunsui steered Yoruichi to one of the two chairs by his bedside, before gently resting a hand on Kumikos shoulder, tapping it gently
"Kumiko, wake up love" he told her, carful not to disturb Urahara
Kumiko breathed in deep before opening her eyes. Catching shunsui looking down at her, she gently removed herself from Urahara, perching on the end of the bed
"sorry" she mumbled rubbing her tired eyes "I didn't mean to fall asleep"
"no need to apologise, you needed the rest"
"how is he?" Yoruichi interjected. Eyes fixed on urahara sleeping soundly
Kumiko looked at his face with a small smile before getting off the bed. Shunsui wrapped an arm around her.
"good. He woke up when I arrived. " she told her before looking up an shunsui "he saw me crying, so asked me to get on the bed with him. He fell asleep shortly after. He's still in a lot of pain"
"im sure Unohana will be by shortly." He I told her, kissing the top of her head. Shunsui noted Yoruichi, staring at her friend. Her eyes were getting glassy. It seemed as though she was holding her breath
"let's go for a short walk." He told Kumiko, guiding her out of the room "we will be back soon Yoruichi "
Yoruichi nodded her head, moving to sit in the seat closer to her friend, grabbing his hand
closing the door behind them, shunsui explained to a confused looking Kumiko "I think she needed to be alone with him for a while. She doesn't like to get emotional in front of others" he grabbed kumikos hand and led them down the hall, walking slowly with no real destination in mind
"how was the captains meeting?" Kumiko asked looking up at him, seeing his back stiffen slightly "what? What happened?"
"nothing love. We spoke about the attack on urahara. How we feel it may be connected to you somehow. All the divisions are making a team to help with the hollow/hidoi situation " he explained what had happened
"that's not all" she said, stopping them by an open window, breeze blowing her hair gently off her shoulders "what's gotten you upset?"
Shunsui sighed, he's never had been able to hide his emotions well. "Kurotsuchi mentioned wanting you to be brought to the 12th again, for experiments"
"I don't even have the energy to care right now" Kumiko said leaning into him, surprising Kyoraku slightly, he had expected more of a reaction
"you're being moved to the 13th division " Shunsui remembered to tell her
"what? " Kumiko asked him shocked, she didn't want to leave the 7th, leave urahara
"it's only temporary love," shunsui soothed her, grabbing her hand to continuing their walk "you'll be with juu until urahara can return to work. He's to take over your training and seeing the last of the captains"
Kumikos face showed relief before smiling sheepishly "not that I won't enjoy being with jushiro. " she laughed lightly, the first time that day she had really smiled "I just thought I would be with Urahara until we've finished everything we needed to do"
"have you thought about what division you want to be in? You could always join mine" he grinned at her
Kumiko laughed, walking through the door shunsui opened, heading to a nearby bench in the garden "you don't do any work now, how will you get anything done if you're following me around all day?"
"im sure there are some ways you could convince me to actually sit and do work" he grinned at her, raising his eyebrows suggestively.
Kumiko smiled, enjoying his silly teasing. It was desperately needed after the last two days she had spent crying "plus there's your spiritual pressure. You would never be able to take me out on missions"
"we can get around that"he teased kissing her neck
"you'll be sick of the sight of me" she laughed, pushing him away. This was not the place. "Seeing me all day in work, then in the evening? " Kumiko shook her head "you'll be begging urahara to take me back"
"I will never get enough of you" he told her honestly holding eye contact. Kumiko looked away at the intensity of it, heart fluttering madly in her chest
"I've not really given it much thought though, who's division I could join. Realistically I could probably stay with Urahara, if I get better with my training. Ukitake and Yoruichi are also something to think about" Kumiko continued, trying to take back control of her erratic chest
"wherever you think you'll be happiest love, you don't need to decide now" shunsui confirmed, wrapping an arm around Kumiko and keeping her close
"we need to go to your home soon, collect the rest of your things. Yama-jii wanted you out of there, and for some of the stealth force to move in, incase the person shows up again"
Kumiko looked up at him "I don't know how I feel about that. Someone else living there. I know it was only supposed to be temporary, but it kinda feels like home." The place was small, and she hadn't had time to decorate it to her tastes yet. But she already had wonderful memories there. It felt like home. Her home.
"it won't be forever love" he reminded her "we're going to get everything you need, and move you in with me"
"are you alright with that?" She asked him seriously "we've only been, us, for a short time. I don't want things to be awkward"
"you don't have to worry about that with me Kumiko " he told her honestly, knowing his heart, he could see himself spending the rest of his life with this woman "I also have a spare room, if you feel the need to be alone or have your own space. It's yours " he added. Silently hoping she wouldn't use it
Kumiko nodded, liking the offer. It's not that she didn't want to be with him, or share his bed every night. It was just too soon to move in together, they still had loads to learn about eachother . Living together was a huge step, one that normally happens months after dating, years even.
"can we go back to see urahara before we leave?" She pleaded with him
"yeah, let's go back and check on them" he said standing, holding kumikos hand in his own once more
Yoruichi had left not long after they had arrived back in the room. Promising an unconscious urahara an ass whooping when he's back on his feet.
Unohana had been and gone. Changing out Uraharas pain medication, and letting Kumiko know that she will be preforming more healing kido that evening, to try and heal his fractured skull a little more, now that some swelling should have gone down.
"I don't like the idea of him being here alone" Kumiko said softly, at Kyoraku suggesting they leave
"Unohana will be back later love, he won't be alone" he told her softly "we can come back in the morning "
Kumiko sighed, knowing she couldn't spend another night at his bed side, but reluctant to leave
"we need to collect your things" shunsui reminded her gently "you also need a decent meal and good night sleep, you look exhausted love"
"I know. I know you're right . It's just hard" she told him. Squeezing Uraharas hand.
a gentle knock came from the door, pulling boths attention. Captain amagai popped his head in, small smile on his face
"sorry," he said walking in the room "I didn't mean to interrupt , I just wanted to check how he was doing"
"not at all amagai, we were just about to leave" shunsui told him. Kumiko stood up and leaned over Urahara
"I'll be back in the morning" she whispered to him, kissing him gently on his cheek. The stubble there grazed her cheek "you need a shave" she told him with a smile before standing up straight.
"I'm sure he'll enjoy your company captain" Kumiko told him, moving so he could sit down
"I'll keep him company for a while. You should head home , you look beat" he told her kindly
"thanks amagai, I'll get her home now" shunsui said, pulling Kumiko to his side
"thank you captain" Kumiko told him softly, turning to look once more at her friend before shunsui steered her from the room
"hey buddy" she heard him say to Urahara before the door closed behind them. Smiling to herself Kumiko let shunshi take her home
"It feels so strange, packing all my things up" Kumiko told shunsui, stuffing her clothes into a large bag
"you don't have a lot of things. A lot less than I was expecting a woman to have". He laughed sitting on her bed watching
"I've never been one for buying myself loads of stuff" she told him putting the full bag next to him on the bed. Besides her work uniforms, she didn't really have much in the way of clothing. The few she did were from the world of the living, for summer days that were too hot for the all black Shihakusho. A few jumpers for the cold winter months there.
"we will have to change that, you deserve nice things" shunsui told her, "when things are settled, I'd love to spoil you, take you shopping"
"again with the spoiling" she laughed "I don't need you to buy me things shunsui. Spend your money on things that make you happy"
"buying you things would make me happy" he countered grinning up at her, she shook her head at him lovingly . He's impossible
"I've just got to go get some things from the bathroom, then I'll be done" she told him smiling, grabbing the empty backpack on the floor
Kumiko entered her bathroom, throwing in her toothbrush into the bag before grabbing her hair things.
Catching herself in the mirror, Kumiko leaned in closer to see her face. She looked exhausted. Red cheeks and puffy eyes from all her crying. Dark circles forming under her eyes from lack of sleep. She felt gross. She hadn't washed her hair in three days, nor changed her clothes in two
thank god shunsui convinced me to have a bath earlier she thought, not wanting to consider how bad she might smell otherwise. Kumiko noticed Shunsuis reflection had appeared in the mirror behind her.
"you ok love?" He asked her, looking at the through the mirror.
"yeah, sorry" she said grabbing the few bottles on the sink and putting them in the bag "I got distracted with how rough I look, I'm all done now" she added zipping up the bag and turning to face him
"I still think you look beautiful " he told her sweetly "a nice meal and a good night sleep is all you need"
Kumiko smiled up at him. Leaning to kiss him gently. Bending down to grab the bag, she flung it over her shoulder. "Let's go"
shunsui held her hand following her out of the bathroom, stopping to grab the duffel bag he had brought to the door and putting it on his own wide shoulder. Walking towards the door, Kumiko quickly ran over to her fire place, grabbing the little glass wolf she had bought, wanting to take it with her. Holding it gently in her hand, she put her other in Shunsuis offered one, leaving kumikos home together.
For how long they didn't know
Kumiko walked into Shunsuis home. It was a strange feeling, knowing it was her home now, at least for the foreseeable future. She felt awkward, not really knowing how to behave. Kumiko didn't have the relaxing feeling she had in her own home.
Shunsui noticed how Kumiko stood there awkwardly, gazing around the room, tightly clutching the little glass wolf to her chest
"I know it's different" he told her, making her jump slightly "but I want you to feel comfortable here. Help yourself to anything. Food, books. Anything you need. If there's something you need thats not here, let me know and I'll get it"Kumiko looked at him lovingly. She appreciated how kind he was, opening up his home to her this way "thank you. I just need to adjust" she told him with a smile
"shall we find your wolf a place to live?" He asked her, grinning at her smile
"you have any ideas?" She asked him
"how about on the fire place?" He gestured behind him, remembering seeing Kumiko grab it from her own. Kumiko walked past him and gently moved the clock on the fireplace to the left, placing her wolf gently to the right
"perfect" shunsui told her "it's getting late, how about some dinner?"
"sounds great, what have you got for me to cook?" Kumiko said walking to him with a tired smile
"I didn't mean you had to cook love" he chuckled "I can go grab us something, why don't you go jump in the shower? I'll be back by the time you've finished"
"I don't mind cooking, I've got to earn my keep somehow" she told him, not wanting shunsui to do even more for her than he already was
"you don't need to 'earn your keep' ". He laughed " I don't think I've got much in anyway, let's just have take out tonight. What do you fancy?"
Kumiko didn't really feel like eating. Her stomach was still in knots, wanting to go see urahara. Knowing she had to though, urahara would be unhappy if he knew she wasn't taking care of herself. Kumiko smiled softly, remembering the hang over meal he had brought her
"teriyaki chicken with noodles?" She asked him shyly
"sounds perfect" he smiled, kissing her forehead "I'll be back soon" he said before leaving the apartment.
Kumiko stood in the living room, looking around awkwardly. Shaking her head slightly she picked up her two bags and brought them to the sofa, digging out her shower things and a pair of sleep shorts and top, Kumiko made her way to the bathroom to have a shower
Kumiko exited the bathroom, rubbing a towel through her damp hair. Sleep clothes on, feeling so wonderfully clean, Kumiko walked to the living room. Stopping at the entrance Kumiko looked at the sight before her
shunsui had lit his fire. The gentle cracking of the flames reaching her ears. On the floor a small distance away from the fire, he had laid down a large grey blanket, couple of pillows from the sofa laid on it. Shunsui himself sat in the middle. Few cartons of take out food by his legs.
"perfect timing" he said seeing her walk over
"you didn't have to go through so much trouble" Kumiko said softly, sitting down next to him. Hand gently feeling the smoothness of the blanket under it
"no trouble love". He smiled handing her some food "how was your shower?"
"prefect. I definitely needed it" Kumiko said, placing the damp towel near the fire to dry while they ate "I just got to deal with this wet hair now" she chuckled, the smell of teriyaki chicken making its self known
"I'll brush it for you when we've finished eating" he told her, digging into his own meal
"the fire is amazing, I never got to light the one back at home" Kumiko said staring into the dancing flames "we used to have bonfires all the time. Back with my old friends in the world of the living. We would sit out and tell stories for hours. "
"that sounds nice. how come you came back?" Shunsui asked interested, not knowing the reason for her return
he could immediately see her body language change. Her eyes misted over, looking down into the meal she had stopped eating,
"love? What's wrong?" He worriedly said, placing down his meal to put a comforting hand on her leg
"they died" Kumiko spoke softly, telling the story for the first time since captain Yamamoto and Urahara "one of our members, he killed them all. Tried to kill me. I managed to escape, made it back here. I woke up in the 4th the next day"
shunsui sighed, heart going out to her. He couldn't imagine going through that. Loosing you're friends that way
"is that what you were dreaming about? That time I woke you from the nightmare?"
Kumiko nodded, looking up to him "I dream I'm still there. Finding their bodies. Running away"
"I'm sorry love." He told her sincerely "I didn't know "
"how could you? I've not told anyone other than captain Yamamoto and Urahara " Kumiko sighed "sorry, I didn't mean to ruin the mood"
"you didn't " he leaned over to kiss her gently "thank you for sharing with me"
Kumiko pushed away the nightmare inducing memories away. "Can you tell me a story of something you remember from being kids with jushiro?" She asked him, needing to change the subject so she could get through her meal
"I ever tell you about the time I walked in on him with a girl?" Shunsuis eyes lit up remembering the story. Kumikos giggle the exact reaction he was hoping for