Kumiko and captain ukitake stood side by side, sorting out the nearly finished paperwork into their intended folders . Leaning across ukitake to slip some paper in the folder for the 10th, Kumiko looked at him with a smile
"nearly finished" she told him, looking to the last paper in her hand
"it would have taken much longer without your help, thank you" he told her placing his last into the folder in front of him, looking to the clock " im getting worried my 3rd seats haven't arrived back yet"
Kumiko giggled. They had been working together for three hours. "They must be searching every shop in the Seireitei"
ukitake gave her a guilty look "I hope they forgive me"
"I'm sure they will," she said with a smile. "You could just tell them you meant to say 'orange tea and tulips.' It would make a great gift for Urahara." She laughed, turning to face him now that they had both finished their piles
"that's not an awful idea" he smiled Gratefully at her "I had hoped to make your first day with the 13th more enjoyable "
"im enjoying spending time with you" she told him kindly, eyes flashing for a moment
"but?" He prompted with a smile
Kumiko smiled back at him, you couldn't hide anything from Jushiro Ukitake "I just miss Kiske" she admitted "I've not spent this long away from him since I arrived here"
"understandably " he told her, not at all being offended "he will be back on his feet in no time"
Kumiko smiled at him, appreciating how lovely he is
"how would you like to join me for lunch?" Ukitake asked her kindly "before my 3rd seats return"
Kumiko laughed "that sounds amazing" her stomach growled gently, having not eaten much the past few days "where would you like to go?"
"upstairs" he told her, guiding her from the office with a gentle hand on her back "I can prepare something for us to eat in my garden"
"you have a garden?" Kumiko asked, being led up the stairs that lead to jushiros home
"a roof garden" he laughed "it has a beautiful view" he promised
following ukitake into his home, Kumiko marvelled at how tidy the place was. Shunsuis place wasn't messy per say, but it definitely had a lived in feel. It seemed as though things were tidied and put away because he had to, not because he had any pride in his homes cleanliness.
"would you like me to cook?" She asked ukitake as he entered his kitchen, used to taking care of shunsui and urahara. Her friends in the world of the living before them.
"you take a seat and make yourself comfortable " he nodded to one of the bar stools tucked under the island in the kitchen. The same one she left her note on she had left for shunsui and Unohana that awful time she had found him unwell
"im happy to make us something" he told her, looking in his fridge. Kumikos jumped on the offered stool, watching him work. It was a nice change.
Getting out some beef, ukitake started slicing it thinly
"gyudon sound good to you?" He called over his shoulder
"perfect" she told him happily, "you sure I can't do anything?"
Ukitake laughed, Kumiko seemed to find it difficult having others do things for her "why don't you see what's in the fridge to drink" he offered throwing the beef in a pan to brown. Putting rice into his rice cooker, ukitake began cutting some onion ready to make the sauce
the smell in the kitchen was heavenly, Kumiko was impressed with how well ukitake seemed to be able to cook. Opening the fridge, Kumiko saw some lemonade, grabbing it thinking it would be refreshing in the sun. Peaking over at ukitake, watching him put sake, mirin, soy sauce, and sugar into the pan, creating a sticky sweet sauce.
Kumiko almost drooled at the smell"I can't remember the last time someone cooked for me" kumiKo told him. Sitting back at the island, watching the captain gracefully move around his kitchen.
Ukitake looked back at her "then it's about time someone did" he smiled, the rice cooker letting him know it was finished.
Taking the beef off the heat, jushiro spooned some out and walked it over to Kumiko, hand underneath incase some fell. "Does it need anything?" He asked her bringing it up to her face.
Kumiko leaned forward to blow on it gently before putting her mouth over it. Starting to chew Kumiko closed her eyes, shaking her head "it's perfect" she praised the captain.
"I'm glad" he said going back to dish them out a portion each "it's nice to ask someone who knows what they're on about" he laughed gently "last time I asked shunsui, he said it needed rice" ukitake rolled his eyes playfully
Kumiko laughed loudly at that, shaking her head. Kumiko stood up grabbing the lemonade as jushiro turned around with two steaming bowls
"if you could just open the big window over there" he nodded towards the doors near his bedroom. Kumiko lead the way, opening the door and stepping out into the garden.
It was beautiful. Light wooden flooring covered most of the floor. Beautiful flowers and trees planted all around the sides. Following the wooden path to the end, Kumiko spotted a table sat under a wooden gazebo. Making her way there Kumiko placed the drinks down looking around. There were so many plants she had never seen, all in full bloom. The smell was wonderful
"it's beautiful here" she told ukitake "you can tell you really care for the plants"
"if you want to see something beautiful " he told her laying the bowls and cutlery down "come over here" he beckoned her to follow him to the wall.
Kumiko gasped as she joined him. The view was breathtaking. The top of the Seireitei below her, Kumiko could make out some shinigami getting on with their day. Further out the Rukongai, surrounded by fields and trees as far as the eye could see . Clear blue sky seaming to stretch on forever
"woah" Kumiko breathed, taking in the beauty
"it's lovely at night too, you can see millions of stars" he told her, smiling at the awe on her face "come, let's have lunch before it gets cold" he told her, laying a hand on her shoulder and leading her back to the table
stomach growling, Kumiko picked up her chopsticks before thanking ukitake for the meal, and digging in
"this is amazing" she told him, making him smile
"thank you, it's one of my favourites to cook"he told her, eating his own meal "tomorrow I would like for us to practice you resisting my spiritual pressure. How do you feel about that?"
Kumiko chewed her bite, nodding "yeah good, I've missed training with you." She admitted "it hurts less than training with urahara"she laughed before frowning slightly "where are we going to do it?"
Ukitake hesitated a moment. Not wanting to upset her "I believe it still be best to use Uraharas training room. It's private, you're comfortable there. And it safely hides my spiritual pressure from anyone outside of the room" he explained watching her face "are you ok with that?"
"yeah" she said softly "it makes sense "
"I don't want you to be uncomfortable Kumiko. If you feel it'll be too hard. Please let me know" he told her softly
"no, you're right. It's the best place to do it" she told him more sure, popping last of her meal into her mouth "thank you. That was delicious "
ukitake smiled at her happily, drinking his lemonade. Thinking softly to himself how wonderful it would be if only Kumiko would fill his free lieutenant seat
"Forgive me captain!" Third seat Kotsubaki had said, bowing lowly on the floor of the office
"I looked in every shop captain" Kotetsu said next to him feeling emotional
"I looked in every shop twice sir" Kotsubaki said over the woman, nudging her shoulder with his own "I could not find the tea you wanted! Please forgive me"
"I asked every shopkeeper captain! Please forgive me!" Kotetsu cried out at their captain, neither noticing the look on the pale man's face
ukitake and Kumiko had been talking lightly sat at his office, continuing the paperwork after lunch. Startled by the office door slamming open and the two third seats throwing themselves to the floor, heavy bags dropping to the floor behind them
ukitake sent Kumiko a glance, she was trying to control her laughing.
See what I have to deal with? The look said as he got up from his desk and walked over to his over emotional 3rd seats
"there there." He soothed them, kneeling down in front of them on the floor "I owe you both an apology " he told them, looking back at Kumiko exasperated
"I'm afraid I had misspoke earlier. I had ment to ask for orange tea AND tulips" he smiled patiently down at them. "I thought flowers would brighten up Captain Uraharas room" he offered weakly, eyes going wide as both Kotsubaki and Kotetsu shot up from their bows to rummage through their bags
"Ive got you orange tea sir!" The man said happily, digging through his bag, boxes of tea falling out in his haste
"no I bought you orange tea captain! It's the good one you like!" Kotetsu said happily, dumping the contents of her bags onto the floor searching.
"my, it seems you've bought all the tea in the shopping district" ukitake laughed, hand coming up to his head in disbelief
two boxes of tea were shoved into his face, happily smiling officers grinning at him. Ukitake grabbed them softly "thank you Sentarou, Kiyone. I believe all this tea will last us until next year" he smiled, looking at the dozens of boxes on the floor. Kumikos giggle reached his ears, glad she seemed to be enjoying herself
"I will go out now captain and get you your tulips!" Kotsubaki said happily, jumping to his feet Kotetsu quickly following
"no I'll get them! I know a great flower shop captain!"
kotsubaki turned to her annoyed "the captain asked me. I will get them"
"no our captain would like the ones I will get more!" She shouted back at him, bumping his head with her own. The soft protest of ukitake falling on deaf ears as they ran from the office, pushing and tripping each other to get them first
ukitake sat on the floor, surrounded by every type of tea you could imagine, twice. Looking down at the mess he heaved a sigh
"you know you're going to end up with 30 bunches of flowers right?" Kumiko laughed from behind him
"im aware" he said softly, wondering what he's going to do with that many flowers
Kumiko laughed harder, getting up to help ukitake pick up all the discarded tea
"I don't even like orange tea" he muttered defeated
Jushiro walked carrying three bunches of orange tulips next to Kumiko, who was carrying two.
Kumiko had almost cried laughing at the reappearance of his third seats, each carrying five big bouquets of orange tulips, each wrapped together with different coloured ribbons. Huge proud smiles on their faces at the shocked expression their captain gave them.
Not having enough room in his home and office for all the flowers, he had decided to bring some with them to visit urahara. It seemed he was getting flowers after all
Kumiko grinned wildly behind the flowers she was holding, amazed they had managed to find so many tulips of this particular colour. That couldn't have been easy
"urahara is going to be so confused " she told the man happily
"I wasn't going to force them all on him, kumiko" he smiled down at her "im sure some others would appreciate them" thinking back to his home and office, now covered in the sweet smelling flowers.
"I'm sure you'll make someone's day captain, you made mine. It must be hilarious having them around everyday " she laughed, walking up the steps to the hospital, giddy to see her friend
"they can be quite amusing" he told her with a smile "they care for me deeply, it's a little worrying". He laughed awkwardly
"who couldn't love you" Kumiko told him, standing outside Uraharas door. Unsure how they were supposed to open the door with both their hands full
"what have you done?" Came a loud laugh from behind them, Kyoraku walking up the hall had just about recognised them through all the flowers
"my third seats happened" Jushiro told him with a patient smile "you should see the amount of tea they had bought. can you get the door please shunsui?"
shunsui chuckled deeply at his explanation, enjoying how crazy the pair got trying to please their captain. Shunsui dropped a kiss onto a smiling Kumiko cheek before opening the door to Uraharas room.