Kumiko sat on the stone floor of the hospitals entrance hall, knees brought up to her chest, hugging them gently. Back leaning against the cool wall behind her, kumikos eyes stared out at nothing, not seeing the worried glances from passing shinigami. Not hearing any of the ones to stop and ask if she was ok
the sun had long since set, lights had been turned on, giving the place a cold clinical feel. Renji had sat with her in silence for hours, offering his silent support. Sending her concerned glances as she remained silently waiting . She didn't realise when he left.
"Kumiko?" A quiet voice pulled her unseeing eyes up the the man who called her "I can bring you too see captain Urahara now"
Kumiko pushed herself up slowly, body feeling heavy. The shinigami gave her a concerned look as she swayed in her steps "are you ok? " he asked her, hand coming out to steady her.
"I'm fine" she said, voice lacking any real emotion, following behind the shinigami leading her through the halls in a daze
stopping outside of a door. The man turned to look at her"captain Urahara is in here. Captain Unohana will be back soon to check on him. Please feel free to stay as long as you like, I'm only down the hall if you need anything" he told her kindly, opening the door at her nod
Kumiko walked into the room, gasping at the sight of her friend. Kumiko walked over slowly, not hearing the door closing behind her. Urahara laid still on the bed, blanket pulled up half way up his chest. Stark white bandages were wrapped around his chest, angry red lines peaking out, spreading up to his shoulder. Small bandage on the side of his neck
His eyes were closed, face looking remarkably peaceful, no sign of his smirk or playful eyes. Another bandage wrapped around his head, bits of messy blond hair poking through. Looking foreign on his head, Kumiko was used to seeing his green stripy hat hiding his messy hair.
A needle was in his arm, long tube attaching it to a machine, beeping softly.
Kumiko sat on the chair next to his bed, pulling it closer. Gently she grabbed hold of his hand, squeezing it softly. It laid unresponsive in her grasp, cool to the touch. Bringing it up to her lips, Kumiko kissed his hand, salty taste entering her lips. Kumiko felt the wetness on her cheeks for the first time. A sob escaping her chest. Kumiko closed her eyes against his hand, holding it to her tightly
"Kiske?" She called him gently, willing him to open his grey eyes. Wanting him to smirk at her, tease her for being so worried.
"he won't wake for some time Kumiko" a soft voice came from behind her, Kumiko jumped up suddenly, startled
"Captain Unohana " Kumiko said, quickly wiping at her face. The calm woman smiled gently at her
"he's on a lot of medication " she continued to explain " he probably won't wake until the afternoon, even then he'll likely be groggy"
"what happened?" Kumiko asked her, looking back to her friend
"he has deep wounds on his chest, I've managed to close them mostly, but because we don't know what he was cut with, I've had to leave them open slightly. This will enable us to flush and clean the wound, so it'll heal without infection " she explained as easily as she could to Kumiko,
"what about his head?" Kumiko mumbled
"we believe he was hit from behind, they fractured his skull" Kumiko whipped round at that, eyes wide
"fractured his?" She trailed off, eyes darting back to her friend. Unable to stop looking at him for long, fearing he'll disappear if she does
unohana took a step forward, resting her hand on Kumikos shoulder, making her look at her again "he's out of danger now kumiko, his wounds will heal"
"who did this? Was it a hidoi?"
Unohana a face became worried, before quickly changing it to a reassuring smile "we aren't sure yet, when lieutenants Kira and rejni found him. He was alone and unconscious "
"he was alone?" Kumiko repeated her "idiot" she said softly, moving to sit back down to hold his hand
of all the times he had worried about me getting hurt because I was alone, and he goes and does the same damn thing she scolded him gently
"can I stay?" Kumiko asked out loud for Unohana
"you can stay, I'll be back later to check on him". She told her before leaving quietly
Kumiko sighed. Head coming down to rest on their joined hands. A sob ripped through her, shoulders shaking with her uncontrollable tears. Her stomach twisted and knotted inside her. Kumiko held his hand tightly until the sobs turned to whimpers, turning into exhausted silent tears. The rhythmic beeping from the nearby machines softly lulling her to sleep
kumikos eyes fluttered open, the sun had risen again, stinging her tired eyes. Sitting back up straight in the chair, back protesting how she had slept leaning forward onto the bed.
Kumiko moaned slightly, stretching out her back and neck, before slumping forward again to hold kiskes hand
"morning " she told him softly, eyes starting to sting slightly, tears threatening to escape "look at me" she laughed shaking her head at her still sleeping friend "I don't know how I could have anything left to cry"
Kumiko played with his hand gently, "I need you to wake up soon. Tease me about worrying so much, okay?" She asked him, knowing she wouldn't get a reply, but hoping he would. Just suddenly sit up in bed and laugh, tell her he's alright. Kumiko waited, when he didn't move though, she squeezed his hand tighter
"please be ok" she whispered "I can't loose you too" a tear escaped her eye, running gently down her cheek
the door opened suddenly, Kumiko turned around expecting to see Unohana. The sight of the two other important men in her life, broke down what ever little wall she had managed to build in her sleep
"shunsui" she cried, getting up to walking into his outstretched arms, one hand tightly grabbing his side, the other coming out to hold jushiros hand as she sobbed into his wide chest
shunsui wrapped her up tight in his arms, kissing the top of her head, eyes glancing to his friend laying unconscious on the bed behind her.
"it's alright love" he told her softly.
"we were only just told" ukitske said next to them , squeezing her hand "we came as soon as we knew"
"im glad you're here" she told him, turning her tear stained face to give him a watery smile
"have you been here all night?" Shunsui asked her, feeling her nod against his chest he sighed
"you should have got someone to come get me" he told her gently "you shouldn't have been alone "
"I didn't think" she answered honestly, pulling from his embrace slightly " I couldn't leave him" she finished looking back at Urahara.
Uraharas hand moved slightly, face contorting with pain
"Kiske!" Kumiko exclaimed, running over to his side, falling to her knees and grabbing his hand
Urahara groaned slightly, turning his head slightly towards her
"miko?" He questioned, his voice was weak and croaking, but the fact he was speaking at all made Kumiko cry again, happy, relieved tears
"yeah, I'm here" she told him softly, tears running down to her smile
"hurts" he mumbled, voice sounding slurred
"I'll go fetch Unohana" jushiro said before leaving the room. Shunsui had walked over to sit on the chair behind Kumiko, resting a hand on her shoulder
"I know, ukitake will go get Unohana, give you something to make it better" she told him
"the banana stole my hat" he mumbled
Kumiko gave a surprised laugh,not expecting that . seems the drugs still in his system were making him a bit loopy she thought amused
"I'll get it back for you" she giggled, looking up at shunsui who was smiling warmly at his high friend
"use the hammer" he mumbled, before his breathing evened out, the strong pull of sleep slipping him back under
Kumiko wiped at her face. Breathing deeply. Feeling for the first time since yesterday that her lungs were finally taking in that deep breath she had been needing
"you ok love?" Shunsui asked squeezing her shoulder
"I feel like I can breath again now" she told him softly "thank you for being here. I know you came to see Kiske. But I feel much better with you here"
"I came for you as well as him Kumiko" he told her, guiding her face to him. Getting her to look at him "you can send for me whenever you need me, you know that right? I'll drop everything and come to you as soon as I can"
"thank you" she said, leaning up to kiss him gently
"what was that about a banana stealing his hat?" He grinned at her, making her laugh. The sound tugging at his heart
"I have no idea." She laughed. Sending Urahara a loving look "he hates them, so we made it the activation word for my new watch tracker"
"your what?" He asked her confused
"I didn't tell you?" She asked, shaking his head no, Kumiko explained "after what happened with Kurotsuchi, he wanted to make me a new tracker, so that I could alert him alert him if I was in trouble". Kumiko brought her wrist up to show him, "I can press the panic button, or say banana, and it'll send him a signal with my location "
shunsui gently held her hand, looking at the watch, feeling it vibrate suddenly under his hand
Kumiko reached over to pull the pin back and let it spring back in, vibration stopping
"that's how I turn it off if I set it off accidentally "
"it's amazing" shunsui said honestly, impressed by his friend's invention
the door opened, cutting off their conversation. Jushiro walked in just after Unohana, lieutenant Kotetsu following, pushing a large metal trolly with all sorts of medical supplies
"good morning, I hear Urahara san woke up?" Unohana smiled to the two sitting by his bed
"yeah, he said he was in pain" Kumiko told her a little sadly
"he seemed pretty loopy too" shunsui chuckled
"that's not surprising, given the drugs he has in his system. I can give him more now, that'll help with any pain he's having" she told them, grabbing something off the table
"do you need me to move captain?" Kumiko asked her as she made her way over
"you're fine for now. Later someone will be by to change his dressings and clean his wounds. You'll have to wait outside for that" she told her, moving to the machine housing the viles of medicine. Taking out the two empty ones, Unohana replaced them with the new ones, shutting the case and pressing a button, the gentle beeping coming from it once again
"captains, may I speak to you both outside?" Unohana said suddenly turning to face them
"y yeah" shunsui stuttered standing up, giving Kumiko a confused glance before following her to the hall
Kumiko turned back to Urahara, face relaxing in his sleep as the new medication began to kick in
"do you need anything? You've been here all night" lieutenant Kotetsu asked her softly,
"no, I'm good, thank you." She send sending her a smile "im not ready to leave him yet"
"I'm not hiding it from her!" Shunsuis heated voice carried from the hall, making both woman turn to look at the slightly open door
"shunsui, calm yourself. I wasn't suggesting hiding it from her, just that we should investigate it before causing her any unnecessary worry" jushiro had told him, not quite raising his voice, but getting his point across
" do you know what they're on about?" Kumiko asked the lieutenant, who shook her head confused
the three captains came back in, tension surrounding them, Kumiko stood up slowly, not sure what was going on
shunsui came to stand next to her, large hand grabbing hers, holding it protectively
"Kumiko, does this". Jushiro began, walking towards Kumiko and holding out a small card for her to take "mean anything to you?"
Kumiko grabbed the offered card, catching his concerned look before looking down at the card in her hand, it looked oddly familiar. Opening it up Kumiko spoke the words written down
"you can't keep her safe". Looking around confused she asked "keep who safe? What is this"
"when lieutenants renji and Kira found urahara. " Unohana stepped forward to explain "this was found on his body"
Kumiko looked down at the card again, re reading what was written. Looking up she saw all three of the captains looking at her worriedly "you can't keep her safe" she repeated "you don't think it's on about me do you?" Realising their worried glances
"it's a possibility we have to consider Kumiko. You're the closest to Urahara. He's quite protective over you" Jushiro told her, Kyoraku speaking quickly after
"nothing will happen to you love. " he told her seriously
"but it might have nothing to do with me? If this came from whoever hurt Kiske.. then it could have dropped on accident?" Kumiko heard how far she was reaching, but had to say it
"have you had any notes like this?" Ukitake asked her, taking it back from her hand
"no? " Kumiko thought back trying to remember "The only notes I've had is the one off you" she said nudging shunsui gently with her hip
he turned to look down at her confused "what note?"
"the one you left on my bed? With the rose?" She tried to remind him, his brows furrowing in confusion
"I've never left you a note love. " he told her seriously
realisation crashed down on her. The strange feeling she's been having, feeling someone's eyes on her. The note in her bedroom after shopping, the same night she felt eyes on her. They were all the same person. The person who had hurt her friend, fractured his skull.
"he was in my house "