Walking into Uraharas room, Kumiko first noticed captain Unohana changing out Uraharas pain relief. Lieutenant Kotetsu was opening the window at the bottom of Uraharas bed to let in a cooling breeze.

Looking over at the sound of the door, lieutenant kotetsu laughed gently. "Has my sister got anything to do with all those flowers captain?" She asked captain ukitake with an amused smile

"half of them" he offered her with a wry grin. Isane laughed softly, shaking her head at his sisters antics "I apologise for my sister captain"

"no need" he told her with a smile, before holding out a bouquet of flowers towards her "here. I hope they brighten up your day"

Isane blushed slightly as she took them from him "thank you sir" she said smelling them "they're beautiful "

Captain Unohana who had finished tending to Urahara , tuned to watch the exchange, smiling sweetly. "That's very kind of you ukitake san"

"I brought one for you too retsu san" he said, reaching over Kyoraku and handing her the biggest bunch he had

Unohana took them from him, closing her eyes to smell the flowers deeply, a sweet smile on her face

Kyoraku looked at his friend, sending him a devious grin at the exchange, wriggling his eyebrows suggestively before Grunting slightly at the not so soft kick ukitake delivered to his shin

Kumiko bit the inside of her cheeks to stop her laugh, shoulders shaking silently with the effort

captain Unohana opened her eyes too look at him, missing the silent exchange "are you ok shunsui san?"

shunsui looked at her worriedly, making Jushiro smirk "yes retsu san. Just clearing my throat" he lied to the smiling woman

"thank you Jushiro, they're wonderful" Unohana said, returning her gaze to ukitake "would you like me to fetch some vases for the rest?"

"just two would be wonderful please" he asked her. Watching as she left with her lieutenant following

Kumiko looked down at the flowers confused "two ?" She asked as the door closed. Counting three bunches

"one is for you"he explained. Smiling at her wide grin

"thank you" she laughed "and Urahara gets two?"

ukitake shrugged his shoulders lightly, looking at a sleeping urahara "im sure the staff coming in and out will like them"

"don't I get one?" Kyoraku joked playfully

"you're lucky you only had a kick" Jushiro told him sternly before walking to the table at the end of the bed to put down the flowers and to hide his smile, before gently taking one off Kumiko

Kumiko sat on the bed next to urahara, resting her flowers on the machine next to him

"hey kisuke" she spoke to him gently, his familiar snoring making her smile "ukitake brought you flowers"

Kyoraku and jushiro sat in the two chairs by the bed, watching as she talked at their sleeping friend

"your lucky you didn't have ten bunches " she laughed easily, eyes shining with mischief"you should have seen it. There was tea and flowers everywhere"

Kumiko looked up smiling as the door opened. Unohana returning with two glass vases half filled with water, as ukitake jumped up to take one from her. Each arranging flowers in their own vase, stood close by eachother

shunsui caught kumikos eyes and gave her a wink, making her giggle. Jushiro flashed them a look in warning

"how has he been ,captain Unohana?" Kumiko addressed the captain

"he's been responding very well. He's been waking up more, being able to stay awake for longer. I've changed his pain medication, he's a lot less loopy now" she smiled at Kumiko, bringing her vase over to the small table next to the machine by Uraharas bed

"I'll give you some privacy" she bowed gently before taking her leave

"thank you retsu san" ukitake called after her sweetly

"that's a shame " shunsui said grinning "I was enjoying his high ramblings"

"so was I" Kumiko laughed, brushing the stubborn hair from Urahara face "he's never going to believe us when we tell him what he's been saying"

"how was working with juu today?" He asked her, patting his friend in questions shoulder

"great. We had a lot of fun" she said smiling at ukitake

"Kumiko was a tremendous help. Thank you" he told her kindly

"it won't be so bad when you get yourself a decent lieutenant " shunsui nudged his friend

"I'll continue my search" he answered him, eyes flicking to Kumiko, wondering again if she would consider being a lieutenant

Uraharas snore stopping pulled all their attention, Kumiko grabbed his hand and squeezed gently

"Kiske?"she asked him softly

"hmm?" He answered her, eyes still closed

"you going to wake up to see us?" She gently asked him. Smiling wide as his grey eyes fluttered open

"miko?" He asked her confused, eyes squinting at the bright lights

"who else?" She laughed, watching as he rubbed his eyes, wincing as he brushed his head

"ow" he muttered, looking around "hi"

"nice to see you awake urahara" ukitake smiled at him gently as shunsui grinned

"why are there flowers everywhere?" Urahara mumbled confused, they weren't there earlier

Kumiko laughed, pulling his attention "ukitake brought them for you. His third seats ended up buying ten bunches earlier"

Urahara gave her a quizzical look, before turning to ukitake "thanks?"

Jushiro laughed gently at him. "How are you feeling?"

"tired" he mumbled, leaning back into his pillow "my head is killing me"

"do you remember what happened?" Shunsui asked him leaning forward, elbows resting on his knees

"not really?" Urahara said, trying to think back "I was dealing with the hidoi. Started taking some readings." He recalled, face scrunching up trying to remember "I got hurt" he said slowly "then it's all just black"

"you don't remember seeing who attacked you?" Ukitake asked him, also leaning forward in his chair as if it would help him hear better

urahara shook his head gently "no, nothing. Are they still out there searching?"

His three visitors shared a look between them "what?"

"kisuke, that was four days ago" Kumiko told him gently, holding his hand in hers

"four?" Urahara asked surprised "I've been here four days? I don't remember "

"you've been pretty drugged up. It's not surprising " shunsui offered, pulling the injured man's gaze "they couldn't find who did it. But we now know who it was". His eyes darted to Kumiko, not wanting to upset her

Kiske caught the look, and pulled his eyes to Kumiko "tell me miko" he asked her softly

"it was kage, the one who killed my friends, who tried to kill me" she told him softly, biting her lip gently, guilt washing over her

"not your fault" he told her closing his tired eyes, knowing she would be blaming herself.

Urahara squeezed her hand. Letting her know he was still awake "they found him yet?"

"not yet, Yama-jii is sorting it" Kyoraku told him, something in his voice made Urahara open an eye again, looking at him

"what are you not telling me?"

"you don't need to hear about it all now, you're exhausted " Kumiko tried to sway him "we can fill you in when your better"

"miko, what are you hiding from me?" he asked her. Opening both his eyes at the silence. Huffing at the silence he asked ukitake

"ukitake. What's going on?" He tried the third man.

"we believe he's after Kumiko" he said softly

"WHAT?" Urahara shouted, sitting up in bed suddenly, regretting it instantly. Gasping at the pain shooting through his chest and head, he fell back into his bed with a loud groan, face scrunching up in pain

"urahara!" Both men exclaimed, getting to their feet quickly, too late to stop his sudden movements

kumikos arms went out to try and stop him, panicked at him hurting himself

"you mustn't move like that!" She scolded him gently, tear escaping her eye. "That's why I didn't want to tell you"

"don't hide things from me. I need to know". He said through clenched teeth. Struggling with the pain his eyes closed tightly trying to fight through it

"I'll go get Unohana" ukitake said walking to the door, concerned for his friend

"you're still hurt" Kumiko said through the tears "you shouldn't be worrying about any of this until you're better" she finished around a sob

Urahara caught it. Opening his eyes too look at her sadly. "Come here" he told her. Moving his arm to make space for her next to him

Kumiko shook her head gently, not wanting to hurt him any more than he already was. He was breathing heavily, trying to push through the pain and it broke her heart

"impossible woman" he grumbled at her, tugging her arm toward him"come here miko"

Kumiko relented. Tucking herself into his side and crying silently. Urahara wrapped his arm around her as tightly as he could manage

"stop crying. He won't get to you. " he soothed her the best he could, head thumping dramatically

"im not crying about that" she mumbled into his side

"she's been blaming herself for you getting hurt" shunsui told him, meeting his gaze over her head "thinks it's her fault he targeted you"

urahara sighed, rubbing her arm gently "idiot" he told her softly making her giggle

"it's not your fault. Have you been crying this whole time?" He asked her gently, rubbing her arm soothingly

"no" she mumbled, missing Kyorakus shrug behind her, she had not not been crying

"no more tears. It's bad enough im stuck in here without you being miserable too" he told her softly but sternly

"I've missed you" she told him. Wrapping her arm around him loosely

"of course you have. Im wonderful to be around" he grinned, getting the intended laugh

"didn't damage your ego then?" She teased him back

"apparently not" he smiled at her, as she rose to sit back up no longer crying

the door opened, all three turning to see who was there. Ukitake walked in looking concerned, Unohana quickly behind him. Holding something in her hand

"I hear you're in a lot of pain Kiske san" Unohana addressed him walking over, Kumiko jumped out the way, standing by ukitake

"it's faded a little. I moved a bit too vigorously " he admitted with a sheepish smile

Unohana brought up a syringe with a clear liquid in it to his mouth "open" she commanded softly. Emptying the liquid into his mouth when he did

"that'll stop any pain. It'll likely knock you out in a few moments" she told him, before looking at him sternly "if you move again, I shall inject you with something that'll keep you asleep until you are healed" she warned him quietly, before standing with a Sweet smile on her face

Uraharas eyes went wide as he nodded "I won't move" he promised quietly

"thank you Unohana san" jushiro told her as she exited the room

Kumiko sat back down next to urahara, smiling at his expression

"you see why she scares me now?" He asked her making her laugh

"she just wants you to get better " Kumiko told him, seeing his eyes start to get heavy

"you're going to pass out in a minute" she told him as he snuggled back into his pillow, yawning loudly

"you'll come back tomorrow?" He mumbled at her, drug quickly taking effect

"I'll be here" she promised him

"Kumiko?" He slurred, eyes bearly open

"yeah?"

"why is there a giant cat looking at me?" He mumbled looking at shunsui quizzingly before closing his eyes, drug finally pulling him under

Kumiko laughed loudly looking to shunsui who was grinning widely. Jushiros soft laugh joined hers

" come on" shunsui said standing up "let's get home before he starts trying to scratch me behind the ears" holding his hand out to Kumiko who laughed harder at that.

Kumiko leaned into urahara kissing him on the cheek "night" she whispered to him before taking Shunsuis hand and leaving with the two men, flowers held gently in her arms

arriving home, Kumiko had made dinner for her and shunsui. Insisting he could help, Kumiko had him chopping salad as she cooked some fish.

"you doing ok over there?" She asked him teasingly, adding seasoning to her pan

"im pretty sure I've got it" he laughed, throwing the tomatoes into the salad bowl "anything else I can do?"

"nah I've got it" she said distractedly, flipping the fillets over "how was your day?"

Kyoraku laughed, going to the fridge to get a bottle of sake. "Nanao was shocked to see me so early this morning" he told her, gathering some cups "she kept coming to check on me assuming I was unwell" he grinned at her, before taking a drink.

"I'm not surprised " she smiled "I've not been here that long and I've already heard about how difficult she has it trying to get you to do any paperwork"

"I've never been one for hard work" he grinned

"paperwork isn't my favourite either" she admitted, starting to dish up their dinner, giving shunsui the larger fish. "I'm used to only writing one report a month"

"that sounds like heaven" he dreamily sighed, following Kumiko to the table. Large hands managing to hold the salad bowl, two cups and a sake bottle

sitting down next to Kumiko, he leaned over to kiss her cheek "thank you for dinner"

"you bought it, I just cooked" she laughed, placing salad on their plates

"yes but without you it would still all be raw in my fridge" he grinned, pouring her a drink

"ukitake cooked me lunch today, we ate in his garden. " she told him, smiling as he dug into his dinner "he's a decent cook"

"better than me" he grinned at her

"we're going to train again tomorrow. Try to fight his spiritual pressure"

"yeah?" He questioned her, noting her face "you not happy about that?"

"no, I am. I've missed working with him. It's just a little weird, going to Uraharas training room when he's not there" she admitted

"it won't be long until he's throwing you around again". He laughed "he seems to be healing quickly"

"I'm so happy he was awake today. I needed to see that"

shunsui grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently. "You need to stop feeling guilty love" he told her "none of this was your fault"

"I know," she said softly "it's just hard"

"we're going to get him" he reminded her, "until then I'll just have to keep you safe in my bed " he added, trying to lighten the mood

Kumiko laughed, taking a drink before looking at him slyly "and what happens after he's been caught? You don't want me in your bed anymore?"

"who knows? I might take up Uraharas offer and sleep with him" he said, loving the way she laughed

"I wish you both the best" she giggled putting her cutlery down. Shunsui frowned slightly at what she hadn't eaten

"you not hungry?"

"not really. I had a filling lunch with jushiro. Plus I haven't been eating much with urahara, and then getting sick. I just need to work my way back up to it" she smiled at his concern

shunsui, after almost inhaling his food. Grabbed both their plates and put them in the sink before coming to stand behind Kumiko to kiss her neck

"how about I take you to bed and work up your appetite?" He said lowly in her ear, grinning at the way her knees clenched together under the table