I do not own anything bleach, only my OC.
This story takes place before TYBW, but after the end of the original anime.
Chapter 5 – Castle in the Sky
Previously
"Ah. Tell me is he still the serious stick in the mud he used to be?" Kimiko asked, catching Rukia off guard, as Ichigo laughed.
"You bet he is! It's like he's never smiled a day in his life" Ichigo continued to laugh even as Rukia turned to glare at him and smack him in the back of his head. Kimiko laughed at the three of their interactions, it reminded her of Kisuke, Yoruichi, and herself.
Kimiko was down in the training room watching the three soul reapers train. She didn't know how long they had been down there, but those three did not look like they were going to quit anytime soon. She suddenly felt spiritual pressure behind her, and she smiled.
"Welcome back. I've been watching your friend's train." She said without looking back.
"I'm glad to see some of your old talents coming back to you." She heard Kisuke say.
Kimiko felt Kisuke move to sit next to her, watching the three spars.
"Beings back old memories." He muttered to her. She smiled at his words, nodding her head. They sat there for a few moments, Kisuke watched as she played with the necklace absentmindedly. He suddenly stood drawing her attention to him.
"I'll be in my lab; I have something I want to work on." He kissed her forehead.
Kimiko grabbed his hand before he walked away.
"I need to go to my apartment Kisuke." She said to him, he looked confused.
"I need clothes Kisuke, remember before I merged our souls, this version of me had a life." Kimiko reminded him, he closed his eyes thinking before opening his eyes.
"Fine but take Ururu with you."
"Ok." Kimiko said smiling at him watching him walk up the stairs.
She turned back and watched the fighting trio for a few more moments before standing and heading upstairs to find Ururu.
"Ururu" Kimiko said as the girl looked up at her and smiled. "Would you mind coming with me to my apartment, I have to get some things and Kisuke said that you would enjoy the outing."
The girl beamed and said yes as she ran to the front door, Kimiko laughed as she followed behind her slowly*
Ururu was walking next to Kimiko down the street, but she kept looking up at her shyly.
"Something on your mind Ururu?" Kimiko asked smiling down at the girl.
"Well… I was wondering…. Have you known Kisuke for a long time?" she asked shyly causing Kimiko to chuckle.
"Yes, a very long time. I met him when he first became Captain of squad twelve." She said fondly remembering the first time they met.
FLASHBACK
Kimiko was walking into her Captains office and watched as he lifted his head to her.
"Ah, there's my other favorite girl." Captain Shunsui said while smiling at her drawing a laugh from her as she rolled her eyes at him.
"You must clearly want something if you are being this flattering so early in the morning."
"Can't a captain just be happy to see his third seat?" he asked innocently.
"Not you… and I'm not getting you more sake…" Kimiko glared at him watching as he chuckled waving his hands at her shaking his head.
"No! I won't make that mistake again…. I was wondering though if you would take these documents to the new captain of squad twelve for me. Tell him I need them back as soon as possible." Shunsui said, handing her a stack of papers.
"Of course. Who's the new captain?" Kimiko asked.
"Kisuke Urahara, promoted from Squad two." Shunsui replied casually.
"Interesting…" Kimiko turned and walked out of the office before flash stepping to squad twelves barracks. She walked towards the captain's office and saw the door open. She slowly glanced in and saw a blonde man with his hands in his hair staring at paperwork on his desk. Kimiko grinned at him before knocking on the door frame.
She noticed his head pop up with a shocked look on his face, she knew he was trying to figure out how he couldn't feel her spiritual pressure.
"Captain Urahara?" she asked.
Kisuke stood and looked at the woman who just walked into his new office. His mind was racing at how he didn't feel her approach.
'That's impossible, no one can hide their spiritual pressure that well except for Yoruichi and myself.' Kisuke thought to himself, keeping his eyes locked on her. He inspected her quickly, she stood tall but was no more than five foot three. He noticed how her Shihakusho was different than others, it wrapped around her neck and was backless and sleeveless, allowing it to expose the flowing tattoo that cascaded from her lower neck, her back he assumed and down her arms to her elbows. Her obi was purple and seemed to hold the sheath of her zanpakuto.
"Have I passed you inspection?" she asked him sarcastically bringing his gaze back to her eyes which narrowed at him, before she approached his desk holding out a stack of papers to him.
Kisuke slowly lifted his hand to take them as he smiled. "Yes, I believe you do."
Kimiko noticed that his smile didn't reach his eyes, which looked clouded almost. She tilted her head to the side, seeing right through the persona he was using.
"Do I pass your inspection?" He questioned repeating her sentence to him. His gray eyes seemed to uncloud slightly with mirth.
"We shall see, once I meet the real you." She whispered causing him to gasp almost inaudibly.
"May I have the name of the one who seems to think she can see through me…" Kisuke said almost sarcastically but he was intrigued by her.
"Kimiko Hoshi, Captain Kyoraku's third seat." She turned to leave his office but paused before reaching the door, not turning around. "Captain Shunsui said he needs those back as soon as possible." She finally turned her head to look at Kisuke over her right shoulder. "Oh, and I don't see through you, I can just see into you. There is a difference." Suddenly she was gone, and he was rooted to the spot.
"Now, I'm really intrigued. Kimiko Hoshi huh…." He mumbled while sitting in his chair, then smiled looking forward to solving her puzzle.
END FLASHBACK
Kimiko looked down at Ururu who smiled and laughed.
"So, you confused Kisuke?" she asked laughing.
"I suppose so yes, I was a problem that he wanted to solve." They both continued to laugh as they reached her apartment.
Once inside Kimiko grabbed a back and started throwing clothes in it and shoes, she only needed the essentials really, once she had everything, she thought she needed she zipped up her back. Turning to Ururu who was staring out the window.
"Ready?" Kimiko asked but saw that Ururu had a far-off look in her eyes.
"Something is here…." She whispered.
"Ururu, I can't see them anymore, where is it?" Kimiko asked her right hand reaching to the necklace, but before Ururu could answer there was an explosion. Causing them both to fly out of the window. They landed on the ground below, Kimiko rising to her knees seeing Ururu not far from her.
She made her way over to the girl, covering her with her body, her eyes looking around wildly. Her right hand grabbing her necklace again.
"Kisuke" She whispered closing her eyes.
Kisuke was in his lab tinkering with a glowing jewel that was floating with him, he was almost finished and was confident with his theory. He sighed as he grabbed the jewel smiling to himself, before his head shot up.
"Kisuke" he heard the whisper shoot through his head, he quickly vanished upstairs, grabbing his cane as he passed the kitchen. Tessai sticking his head out watching him.
"Boss?" he asked.
"Put up two more barriers Tessai! I'll be back" he shouted as he disappeared out the door and flashed away searching for Ururu's spiritual pressure. Finding it he made his way there in a hurry. Once he arrived, he saw Kimiko covering Ururu with her body, and an Arrancar standing off to the side smiling evilly at her.
"Shit." Kisuke said before appearing between Kimiko and the Arrancar.
"Kisuke…" he heard her whisper. "You heard me." He turned his head and smiled at her.
"Of course, did you doubt me?" Kisuke turned back to the Arrancar narrowing his eyes at it from under his hat.
"You again…" he said to Kisuke.
"Yes, me again, but before we start what I am assuming is going to be a fascinating repertoire, give me just one second, kay?" The Arrancar looked confused and raised his eyebrow at the strange man in the hat.
Kisuke turned looking at Kimiko who was looking at him with a 'what the hell is wrong with you look' he smiled at her, pulling something out of his pocket as he kneeled in front of her.
"This might hurt for a minute." Kisuke told her as he smashed something into her chest before she could process what he said. Her eyes went wide, and she screamed. Kisuke jumped back from her watching as she was surrounded by spiritual pressure.
Turning back to the Arrancar he grinned.
"Now, where were we?"
"What did you do?" Kisuke heard it ask him, making him smirk even more.
"Why I leveled the playing field. You thought you could get her because she no longer could see or sense you, well I've changed that. I made something that gave her back her soul reaper abilities. Try hunting her now."
The Arrancar growled and lunged for Kisuke who just stood there unmoving. Once it was close enough be pulled out Benihime and swung at it slicing its arm as it dodged at the last minute. Kisuke watched as the Arrancar looked at his bleeding arm, before growling.
"This isn't over. I will get her powers and complete my mission." Kisuke narrowed his eyes as he watched it disappear into a garganta. He sheathed his zanpakuto turning back to Kimiko who was still screaming and clutching her stomach.
Kisuke flashed to her side, next to Ururu who had come to and was trying to help her.
"I have her Ururu, why don't you take her bag and run back to the shop. Tell Tessai to be ready, he'll know what it means." Kisuke told her smiling. She sniffed and nodded her head, grabbing Kimiko's bag and taking off towards the shop.
Kisuke turned his attention back to her watching her spiritual pressure spike and wane, mixing with what he figured was reborn within her. She was always special, aside from her soul reaper powers, she had her own innate abilities, and after hearing what that Arrancar said he now knew that was the reason they were hunting her, they want the powers that she can naturally wield.
Kimiko opened her eyes and saw Kisuke kneeling next to her, tears spilling down her face. The pain that was showing in his eyes was evident.
"I'm sorry, I know it hurts. I'm going to get you home." Kisuke said wiping her tears away. He picked her up bridal style and vanished towards the shop. He stopped at the front door as it slid open revealing Tessai. Kisuke quickly ran inside and upstairs to his bedroom, he gently laid her on his bed, pushing some of the hair that fell into her face.
"Shh…. It will be over soon, I promise." He whispered to her as Tessai walked in with tea and cold clothes.
"It's working?" he asked Kisuke.
"Seems like it." He glanced at her zanpakuto which was still leaning against the wall right next to the bed, he watched as it glowed, and its energy started to merge with Kimiko's.
"Come on…..." Kisuke whispered. After about thirty minutes Kimiko's screams started to subside and Kisuke watched her breathing begin to even out. Tessai started to wipe the sweat that formed on her forehead with the cloth and Kisuke turned to the door seeing a worried Jinta and Ururu.
He smiled at them, in the two days that she had been here those two became quite attached to her, Kisuke smiled knowing that she had that way about her. Everyone loved her.
"It's okay you two. She's going to be okay, better even." Kisuke told them. "Why don't you two go with Tessai and make something delicious for her to eat when she wakes up, I'm sure she's going to be starving.
"Sure, thing boss." Jinta said quietly glancing at Kimiko one more time before pulling Ururu away with him. Tessai stood and left the room also, leaving Kisuke alone with her.
He ran his hand down her face, slowly rubbing his thumb across her lips, as he sighed, his mind drifting back to old times.
FLASHBACK
Kisuke was pacing the east gate entrance impatiently. He felt Captain Shunsui appear behind him, but he ignored him.
"I'm sure they are fine Kisuke, it was a simple sample collection. Kimiko is a very skilled soul reaper." Shunsui said pushing his hat up with one finger watching the new squad twelve captain continue to pace. "I wouldn't have allowed you to request her if I thought she would be put into danger." He finished, causing Kisuke to finally stop and turn to him.
"They should have been back hours ago." He replied before looking back to the entrance.
Shunsui sighed crossing his arms. "I'm sure your new recruit Mayuri wanted to get more samples…." He started to say but his head suddenly shot up, narrowing his eyes to the horizon. Kisuke noticed it too and they both flashed to the figure that saw approaching.
They reached Mayuri who was trying to carry, but was half dragging an unconscious Kimiko.
"What the hell happened?" Kisuke shouted as Shunsui picked her up looking her over. Mayuri fell to his knee holding his side.
"We were ambushed by hollows." Mayuri said "It's like they were waiting for us. Kimiko fought until she had killed them all. I tried to help but I couldn't…" his sentence trailed off as he collapsed. Shunsui disappeared with Kimiko as Kisuke grabbed Mayuri and varnished squad four's medical wing.
Captain Unohana came rushing in with her lieutenant and pushed both Kisuke and Shunsui out of the way.
"Isane, you take Mayuri and work on him. I have Kimiko." She shouted, turning to Kisuke and Shunsui. "You too need to leave and give us room, feel free to wait outside." Her tone left no room for argument.
When Kisuke didn't move Shunsui grabbed him by his haori and dragged him out of the room telling him "She is not someone you want to piss off kid, trust me." Kisuke struggled but then let him pull him into a waiting area, his mind racing to try to figure out how they could have been ambushed.
END FLASHBACK
Kisuke closed his eyes, shaking his head. "I've failed you so many times." He whispered to himself, placing her hand in his.
He continued to stare off into nothingness when he felt her hand tighten around his. Kisuke lifted his head and saw her opening her eyes.
"Next time you have a bright idea to shove something into my body, maybe a little warning." She whispered through half closed eyes.
Kisuke smirked at her, "I thought you liked it when I shoved things into your body without warnings…." he said suggestively, enjoying how she blushed.
"You know what I meant you pervert." He laughed at her, before pulling his hat down to cover his eyes more. He was startled when her hand came up and pushed the brim up from his eyes, drawing his gaze to her.
"Don't do that, don't hide from me Kisuke." She mumbled, resting her hand on the side of his face.
"I couldn't hide from you even when I try, you see right into me all the time." He whispered. "I'm sorry I caused you pain, but I think my theory worked. Your soul reaper powers should be returning, if not already returned." He smiled at her when she gasped.
"How…." she started to ask.
"I'm a genius remember?" making her laugh but then flinched as the pain in her body spiked. "Take it easy, the transference is a painful process, it will be over soon." He whispered, kissing her forehead. "Rest." He went to get up, but she stopped him by grabbing his hand.
"Please stay." She whispered as her eyes started to close. Kisuke smiled, crawling into the bed with her and pulling her towards his chest.
"Always." He whispered into her hair.
A/N: Hope you guys are enjoying this one, please review with any thoughts
