Kumiko arrived at Uraharas office exactly at nine am. Walking into the office, and not seeing him, she called out
"Kiske?" She heard a bang, like something being dropped, coming from the lab, followed by a "shit"
Kumiko walked over to the lab opening the door to reveal Urahara sat on the floor holding his foot in his hand, a tool box laid on the floor with many tools spread out around him
"what happened?" she laughed, walking in to start tidying up all the tools. "Are you okay?"
"I knocked the bloody tool box off when I went to answer you,". He was rubbing his foot furiously trying to sooth the pain "it landed on top of my foot"
she tried to suppress her laughter, since he had hurt himself. But it was pretty funny
"broken?" Short questions were better to control the amusement in her voice
"no, it just really fucking hurts" he said letting go of his foot to look at her, he shoved her gently seeing her containing her laugher "it's not funny you ass" before laughing himself
Kumiko chucked in the last screwdriver and closed the tool box before standing up and putting it back on the messy work bench. She turned to Urahara and offered him her hand "it's a little funny" she said pulling him to his feet "what are you working on?"
"it was something for you. But since you're finding my pain so hilarious, I might just keep it to myself" he said jokingly sitting back at his worktop, grabbing a strange black Device, wires still sticking out of it
"im sorry" she said bumping him with her hip "what is it?" Leaning over his shoulder trying to look at it better
urahara connected the last wire and placed the black back cover over it, clicking it into place
"this is my Reiatsu tracker , I've made a bunch for my division to take out on missions, but they're all being used. So I made this one up last night. I was just making sure it works when I flattened my foot with the toolbox" he explained smiling at her laugh. Standing up he tied it gently on kumikos belt, giving it a tug to make sure it stays on her. She lifted it to look at it, it was black and circular, with a big red button on the front and a small blinking red light next to it
"what does it do?"
"it takes and stores a little bit of spiritual pressure of the person who is wearing it , if your spiritual pressure gets considerably lower, as if you're hurt or if you get into trouble and push the red button. It'll send a signal through to this". He said pulling out another Device from the draw and turning it on. Showing Kumiko a grid on the screens with a bunch of red dots on there. Typing on the screen a moment urahara shows her a specific Dot "this is you. If you get into trouble this thing will scream at me. Your dot will turn black and it'll give me coordinates to where you are"
"and you made this?" She asked in awe, she had never seen anything like it. Its amazing .
" yeah, it was pretty simple to do actually, I can make a new one in about five hours"
"you're scarily smart, you know that right?" She asked him making him blush slightly
"shut up, I just like putting things together and seeing what happens. Sometimes it works" he said, clipping the receiver to his own belt. "Now I can get you ready for the mission without worrying about you, follow me"
"aww, you worry about me?" She teased following behind him
"after I went to your apartment and saw your door kicked in and blood everywhere? I'm not taking any chances. Now I can see exactly where your ass is". He ended, trying to lighten the mood he just dampened
"you know I can hold my own in a fight right?" She asked him softly, stopping him to turn and face her " captain spiritual pressure aside. I'm a decent fighter, I'm not half bad at kido. I'm about the level of a lieutenant. I can handle myself"
"I know. I just worry"
"that's sweet, but stop. You'll turn your hair grey" she laughed at the look he shot her
"just because I can't kick your ass when we spar, doesn't mean I can't kick anyone else's. " she smiled at him "you forget my job in the special forces. My whole job was Defeating hollows. I'll be fine "
"i know. I didn't mean to question your strength. I just.." he trailed off with a shrug
"worry. I know." She said with a smile. " now come on. Tell me about the mission "
urahara sat down on the table waiting for him to join her. When he was seated he began "it's a small group today. There were more reports of a few hollows screaming in the Forrest last night. You and two others will join lieutenant Kira and two of their officers to go find and destroy them. One of my officers, Hiroshi, has another devise that tracks and stores hollows spiritual pressures. That he will return to me later to analyse"
Kumiko had a big smile on her face, she was so ready for this
Kumiko jogged up quickly to the group of 5 shinigami waiting at the edge of the 7ths divisions training field. The same field she had seen Hisagi and Hiyori training. Stopping as she reached them she bowed low "hello, I'm Kumiko Satsuki, " she stood up to full height offering them a smile. "Sorry I'm late, captain Urahara was just finishing a Reiatsu tracker for me for today"
lieutenant kira gave her a small smile "it's alright, we've not long got here." Speaking louder he said "aright everyone move out to the coordinates, stay in your pairs and keep your eyes peeled. Look out for eachother and speak up if you need help"
"yes Lieutenant " came four times before the rest of the team turned and headed off in the trees. Making their way to the 47th district. Kira turned to Kumiko "you're paired with me, let's go"
Walking through the thick trees Kumiko took a moment to take it all in. It felt so much like the base they had in the world of the living
huh, when did I stop thinking of that place as home? She briefly thought. Smile coming to her lips Sosaeti definitely feels like home now
she turned slightly to look At Lieutenant Kira. He hadn't spoken since they set off, Kumiko wondered if he was shy, or if he just didn't speak much. She decided to find out
"so, lieutenant? How is it working under captain amagai?" She asked him, assuming work would be the easiest subject to approach first
"he's a good man. Incredibly powerful, but just as kind. He's a good captin" he told her "you thinking of joining the third? I heard you're only temporarily with the seventh "
Kumiko laughed at that, surprising him.
"captain amagai seems wonderful, and I'm sure I would be happy in the third. However that would be impossible with how his Reiatsu effects me. I would be spending half my time on my ass " she laughed, recalling how she drunkenly tripped and fell in his office. Twice.
Actually, I can't think of the last time I drank where I didn't trip and fall on my ass she mused, looking up to See kiras confused face she asked
"did he not tell you how his Reiatsu effected me?"
"no, captain amagai is not one for sharing others secrets. You don't have to tell me" he said with a smile
ahh success, Kumiko thought seems like Kira is warming up to me
"that's really sweet of him. I've had some incredibly embarrassing reactions. Captain amagai made me feel drunk. The whole world was spinning and I fell over". She told him, making him laugh quietly
"if anyone's Reiatsu would make you feel drunk it's my captains. I can't tell you how many times men in my division has tried to get him to drink with them, only for him to pass out after a small cup" he told her, walking more next to her now, instead of trailing behind
"have you not tried to get him to drink with you often?"she asked him, jumping over a particularly large tree root
"no, I tend to try and keep work and personal time separate within my division. I just find it easier trying to lead people who haven't seen me repeatedly embarrass myself" he told her "which has been difficult since most of my friends are lieutenants"
"ive not met all the lieutenants yet," she admitted. "Are they all nice? "
Kira thought for a moment, trying to remember all the lieutenants in the goeti 13
" pretty much? Lieutenant Nemu doesn't really socialise. Neither does Sui-feng. Or yachiru They prefer the company of their captains. Lieutenant yachiru is the president of the woman's association. I imagine she'll try and recruit you eventually . nanao chan is lovely, but can be a bit strict. And Hiyori chan is . Well" Kumiko laughed hard at that
" the first time I met Lieutenant Hiyori she kicked urarhara in the face. The second time she kicked captain Hirako in the face"
Kira laughed gently at that, "it does seem to be her preferred way to greet people" he offered. "Everyone else is really quite close though. We all go out drinking together once a month"
"now that sounds fun". Kumiko grinned. "Who are the other lieutenants?"
"there's Hisagi,"
"I met him briefly" Kumiko interjected
"he's probably my closest friend " kira smiled at her " then there's Momo, Isane, renji and matsomoto " he said counting them off on his fingers
"I can't wait to meet them all" she offered kindly
"captain amagai told me you were at lieutenants level? Is that something you would want? Being a lieutenant?"
The question shocked kumuko. She hadn't even thought of that as an option
"yeah I'm about a lieutenant level strength. But honestly I've never given it a thought. It's not something I've ever worked for, you know? I'm just happy being part of the team" she said with a smile, watching as he ducked under a low hanging branch "do you enjoy being a lieutenant ?"
he pondered her question for a long time, Kumiko thought maybe she has said the wrong thing. But then he answered her softly
"I do. Most of the time . I enjoy the fact my captain can depend on me to help him. And I like being there to help my division. But honestly? I find it difficult to carry. The fact that my command could get someone hurt? Or killed? I find that difficult "
"i can't even begin to imagine how hard that must be" she told him softly "must take a special kind of person to be strong enough to be able to lead. I suppose that's why all the lieutenants are so well respected". She said. Hoping her words could encourage him and what he does. Even for a little while . The smile he sent her, she assumed that it did. Both their heads snapped up at the close call of a hollow, eyeing eachother for a moment, their hands went to the hilts of their zanpakutos, before darting forward through the forest
The cluttered Forrest was an ideal location to battle hollows. The hollows didn't have much room to move around, their long limbs or tails loosing their impact after hitting into a couple of trees before their intended target, giving them plenty of time to dodge. They could use the trees to momentarily hide from a projectile attack, and use their thick trunks and branches as an easy way to dart around the Forrest; kicking off the trees to gain momentum as they swing their zanpakutos down, to break the hollows mask. Which is exactly what Kumiko just did. The spider like hollow disappearing with its last scream.
kumikos body buzzed with adrenaline, her muscles coming alive, remembering what they used to do for so long. Kumiko wiped her brow with the back of her hand, turning around to see Kira destroy his own hollow. That makes 5 the pair had destroyed in total.
what is making them all gather here she questioned with a frown, walking up to Kira
"you good?" She asked him, getting a nod in reply
"if we walk in that direction, we should find the other two teams. I want to start heading back before we're all stuck here in the dark". He told her, pointing over her shoulder
"lets go"
Weaving their way through the trees, Kira and Kumiko could hear the other shinigami talking quietly.
"I've never seen anything like it"
"where are they all coming from, why are they coming here?"
"Hiroshi? Can you tell anything from that recording devise?"
"no, captain Urahara will have to take a look, I can't make heads nor tails of it"
they could hear the conversations getting louder as they broke through the trees arriving in the little clearing they were talking in, the one facing them greeted them first, making the other turn around
"how did you get on?" Kira asked them
"we came across 6 hollows, we defeated them, and I took some readings" one man said
that one must be Hiroshi, Kumiko guessed
the only other woman on the team then spoke up "we got 3, but another one ran away before we could kill it"
"that makes 15 total with the 5 we got" Kumiko interjected
"I've never seen anything like it" another added
"let's head back and report to our captains, I can't feel any more hollows here, and I would rather not have to walk back in the dark, let's head out, but keep your wits about you" Kira gently commanded the group. Dividing into their pairs and started to make the journey back home
Kumiko turned to Kira
"when Kiske told me there was an increased amount of hollows, I didn't think he ment this many" she told him. "15, that's insane "
" there hasn't been that many" he told her walking next to her, "the most we encountered was 8"
"their number has nearly doubled?"
"it seems so, we will have to start bringing out bigger groups" He said distracted, clearly planning the next mission
"im free to help out again if you need the numbers" she told him. She actually had a lot of fun getting to use her zanpakuto again
"I appreciate that. You're good to have out here. After seeing you take on that first hollow, I realised quickly I didn't have to worry about you " he told her honestly
"is that why I was paired with you? To make sure I wouldn't get myself eaten?" She joked with him
he laughed quietly " no, captain urahara..". He immediately stoped talking clearly about to tell her something he wasn't supposed to
"Kiske asked you to keep an eye on me didnt he?" She laughed at his uncomfortable expression "it's fine. He's just being overprotective. " she said kindly. Idiot
walking back into the Sosaeti, Kira and Kumiko were talking easily, well. Easier than they had at the beginning of the day. Kira had been asking Kumiko about her time spent in the world of the living. Happily telling him about it. Living in the middle of nature. Experiencing the food and culture of the living world. Time spent with friends.
It really was a lovely experience. Kumiko thought to herself I'm glad I got to experience it
"im really enjoying being here in the Sosaeti though, I've not even seen everything yet. I can't wait to go to the shopping district" she told him wistfully " I need to make some girlfriends, otherwise I'll have to drag Urahara. Kicking and screaming probably". She laughed
"well, why don't you join us lieutenants for drinks tomorrow? I'm sure they won't mind. Momo and Matsumoto often go shopping together. Maybe you could join them?" Kira offered, stopping ready to head in the opposite direction to catch up with his own divisions members from the scouting party. They had slowed down their walk while talking, being left behind
"If you don't think I'll be imposing? " he shook his head no "then id love too. It would be nice to meet the other lieutenants for something other than just research " she accepted happily
"great, then I'll meet you here tomorrow? Say 7? It's my turn to "host" so we'll be going to a bar not far from here" he finalised their plans
"I'll see you then". Kumiko waved him off, continuing her walk back to Urahara
kumikos breezed into the office, feeling lighter than she had in days. Her training was going well. She hasn't had any bad reactions to any new spiritual pressure and she just had a very satisfying day out in the field.
that and her personal life is getting back on track. Ukitake was always very sweet, and things with Kyoraku are slowly getting back to normal. Some what normal. To top it off she had found a very dear friend. Said friend was currently sending her Big smile from his desk
"how was it?"
"amazing, it felt so good to get out and stretch my legs". She told him happily, coming to rest her bottom on the edge of his desk next to him "thank you for letting me go with them"
"any time". He offered happily "how did it go?"
"didn't the others make it back yet?" She asked him confused. They were at least 15 minutes behind them.
"no they are, I've had their report. I'm just interested in what you think" he told her, waiting
"Kira and I come across 5 hollows. Nothing out of the ordinary about them that we could see. We couldn't see or feel anything out of place either. I have no idea was is drawing them all there. There was 15 in total. ". She gave him the run down, him nodding along
"It is certainly strange" Urahara gave, leaning back in his seat and swivelling it side to side gently. " 15 is a big step up from what we have been dealing with previously. Hopefully I will find something in all the readings collected today" he added
"Kira invited me for drinks tomorrow. With the other lieutenants" Kumiko told him "I might be one step closer to finding myself a shopping buddy, that won't wish for death the whole time" she laughed at the sheepish look he shot her
"I hate shopping" shrugging, Kiske continued "that will be fun for you though, they're a fun bunch." He told her, before adding "everything went ok then? With Kira? You didn't get distracted by his spiritual pressure?"
"I didn't even feel it, I said it would be fine. You didn't have to ask Kira to BABYSIT me, you know?" Sending a smirk his way. Not even looking shocked at being found out , Urahara shrugged again
"just covering all my bases " he told her with a grin
"here" Kumiko said, taking off the Reiatsu tracker still tied around her belt "you can have this back. Thank you for making it for me"
"thank you for not needing to use it" he told her, putting his hand out to stop her "but you keep it. It's yours. Make sure you wear it whenever you go on a mission "
