Kumikos eyes stared out into Uraharas training room, taking in the vastness. There was an uncomfortable heavy feeling, like entering someone's home when they're not there, a subtle undercurrent of uncertainty of your presence. The feeling had stopped Kumiko in her tracks, as she tried to work through the feeling. Ukitakes hand rested gently on her shoulder, pulling her gaze to his small smile
"sorry" Kumiko returned his smile, shaking her head, looking back out into the vast room "it just feels weird"
"understandable " he told her nodding, his hand slipping to her back to encourage her further into the room "do you need more time?"
Kumiko shook her head, stopping herself from thinking of her friend laid up in a hospital bed. She didn't need to dwell on it, she needed to train to get stronger. "I'm good, we can start" she affirmed, turning to face him, now that they were in a decent clearing
"im going to raise my spiritual pressure. I want you to try and step away" he reminded her, readying himself as he watched her gather her resolve
Kumiko nodded, determination flashing in her lavender eyes. Being a burden had taken its toll, one she no longer wished to carry. Kumiko wanted to be able to protect herself, her friends. She was the only one able to get herself to that point.
"ready" she told him, her tightened muscles beginning to relax at his increased spiritual pressure. The familiar comforting pull wrapped around her, guiding her gently towards the captain.
Fighting the pull, Kumiko took a step back, the small smile appearing on her face was quickly wiped off by ukitake taking a step forward, increasing the flow of his Reiatsu. Stumbling with the contradicting pulls of force, Kumiko bumped into ukitake, grabbing his captains coat for stability, not wanting to fall over so soon into the training
"keep moving away Kumiko" ukitake said as he helped guide her up right. Understanding the new way he wanted to train her, Kumiko planted her feet and began walking away from him, one heavy step at a time
"you're doing well" ukitake praised her, following her footsteps with his own graceful ones. Slowly letting his Reiatsu climb, ukitake concentrated on not letting it increase suddenly.
kumikos steps slowed down, the force bringing her back to ukitake weighing more heavily around her. Teeth clenching in concentration, Kumiko battled with herself, forcing herself to move her feet backwards. Managing half a step backwards before suddenly being pulled forward. Kumiko breathed heavily into ukitakes chest, conscious of the sweat on her brow dampening the captains clothing
"try and fight it Kumiko " he told her softly. Kumiko grunted, clenching her teeth at the effort, moving her head off his chest. Sweat started to drip on her forehead from the effort she was giving.
Pushing herself further, Kumiko forced her heavy legs to move, willing her feet backward, trying to create space. Ukitake following her like a shadow. Getting too overbearing, Kumiko fell forward, landing harshly on her knees. Ukitake quickly dampened his Reiatsu before resting his hand on the top her head
"that was excellent Kumiko" he proudly told her "I wasn't holding back by much"
Kumiko panted below him, using her arm to wipe at her forehead "it's still not good enough" she breathed, peaking up at him "I need to get better"
"why the sudden need to push yourself ?" He asked her, perching on a near by rock to meet her eyes
"I can't keep being a burden " she proclaimed before turning her head to look out at the landscape "I can't keep letting others get hurt because I can't defend myself"
"Kumiko " he said softly, troubled by her words "urahara getting hurt wasn't your fault" he told her as she she kept her head turned "and you are not a burden, not to him. Not to me"
Kumiko looked back at him defeated, body sagging tiredly
"your reaction to spiritual pressure, it's completely unique." He carried on, pleased she was looking at him again "there's going to be many ups and downs while you learn to get past it. I greatly admire how you are handling it. With such determination and strength."
Kumiko looked to the ground, blush rising on her cheeks at his honest admiration. "You're doing exceptionally well" he added, lifting her face to meet his "and we're all incredibly proud of you"
Kumiko smiled at him softly, hand going to the ground to push herself up into a stand. "Let's go again"
Urahara blinked his eyes open, gently sweeping the empty room. Soft beeping nearby the only sound he could hear. Sighing gently, he turned his head to the side of the bed, looking for the remote that changes the bed's position. Finding it near his pillow, Kiske pressed as button, gentry raising himself into a more seated position.
stopping a few times to let his body adjust the the change in angles causing twinges of pain, Urahara finally got himself somewhat sitting up. Urahara was completely fed up of looking at the ceiling. Now that he was no longer laying down, he could peer out the window, soft sun resting on his tired face. He closed his eyes briefly at the warmth
Turning to the table to try and find the call button, needing a cool drink to sooth his scratchy throat, his eyes laid on a green folder. His name written across it in thick black ink.
Curiosity getting the better of the inventor, he grabbed it off the table and opened it to read its contents
the usual details were on the first page
name: Kisuke urahara
DOB: December 31
Height: 6ft
weight: 152lbs
division: captain of the 7th
allergies: unknown
the information wasn't anything new to him, his eyes skimmed over the page briefly, before turning to the next. A list of medications he had been given, and when they were given filled most of the page. Urahara had enough medical knowledge to help in most situations, the long medical words did nothing to feed his boredom
Flipping to the next he stopped at the heading, finally Intrigued
list of injuries
Uraharas eyes darted to the door, straining to hear if anyone was approaching. Not hearing anyone he settled back into his pillow before he began to read
head injury. Fractured skull on left back. Assumed blunt force. Noticeable swelling of the brain
chest to abdomen. Three large wounds. Cause unknown. Missed vital organs
unknown? Urahara thought reading the words. He as assumed it was done by a hollow or a zanpakuto. He knew first hand that the fourth took readings of any spiritual pressure around wounds. They should have been able to determine what had caused it
unless it's not something we have documented he thought, unsettled mind racing over multiple possibilities as he continued to read. Eyes scanned over some small wounds. Bruise here, cut there. All explained by his evident fall to the ground while being knocked out. Until one wound caught his attention
neck wound. Left side. Small cut, 3 inches. Missed vital arteries. Cause: zanpakuto
urahara slammed the folder shut, gripping it tightly in his hands. Dark mood falling over him as he stared unseeing out the window
"that's enough for today" ukitake smiled down at Kumiko, panting hard, laying flat on her back on the dusty floor
"I feel as tired as if I just went twenty rounds with Kisuke" she chuckled, eyes closing to the exhaustion as she felt her muscles twitch around her body
"you fought hard"he told her proudly , reaching a hand down to help her to her feet. Kumiko jumped up with his help, stretching out her back, hearing it crack multiple times she pulled a face
"I need a massage" she complained, rubbing the back of her neck as she followed ukitake from the large training room
"there's not much to do for the rest of the day. How about I drop you off at Uraharas room? Shunsui will come meet you once he's finished work?"
kumikos eyes lit up at that "you sure? You don't need my help with anything in the office?"
ukitake smiled at her softly "im sure I can manage. You've done enough for today"
Kumiko linked her arm with her friend, pep in her step knowing she was going to see urahara. "I can see why your third seats love you so much, you're a wonderful captain to have" she teased him gently
Jushiro laughed lightly, shaking his head at his rambunctious third seats "if only they would stop arguing long enough to actually help me get any work done"
Kumiko grinned widely at him
walking into Uraharas room alone, a wide smile spread on her face seeing him sat up in bed, awake, looking out the window
"you're up!" She greeted him happily as she closed the door behind her
"yeah" Kumiko turned to look at him confused, the tone in which he just spoke was usual for the man. He hadn't even turned to a knowledge her, eyes fixated on something in the distance.
Walking closer she tried to catch his face. His brows were furrowed, eyes lost in concentration "Kisuke? What's wrong?" She ask him softly, sitting on the end of the bed to look at his side profile.
"nothing. How was work?" He muttered back to her, none of the usual joy in his voice. The monotone hitting kumikos ears only confused her further. It wasn't matching his words, something was clearly eating at him
"good," she said slowly "me and ukitake trained today. We made more progress"
"that's good" he said, still not looking at her
"what's wrong?" She asked him again, moving herself closer to the window to try and get him to look at her
he sighed, hands tightening on something he was holding in his lap "what's that?"
"my medical record " he told her, handing it over for her to look at. Kumiko flicked through it, not seeing anything that would cause his mood. It looked pretty standard to her
"is there something wrong with it?" She asked him, not seeing anything out of the ordinary
"I should be dead" he told her, fists clenching in his lap, jaw tightening.
"I don't understand, what, will you look at me please?" She begged him, reaching for his hand
Urahara pulled his eyes away from the window. He looked bitter. Confused. Reaching over he took the file back, opening it to the injury page, before handing it back
"the was only one wound caused by a zanpakuto " he told her, watching as her eyes darted back down to the page to find it
"neck wound. Left side. Small cut, 3 inches. Missed vital arteries. Cause: zanpakuto " Kumiko read out loud, before looking to meet his eyes "I don't see why that's gotten you upset"
"he's taunting me" he told her, spitting out the words "he could have killed me. And chose to let me live."
"maybe he just got scared off by renji and Kira?" Kumiko offered him "they said they probably scared him off"
"no." He told her looking to the window again "it would take seconds to finish the job. He cut my throat as a warning. He's choosing who lives or dies"
"kisuke" Kumiko breathed, finally understanding what's gotten him upset
"I was knocked out. I couldn't defend myself. He could have easily killed me. He chose not to, letting me live knowing the fact"
Kumiko watched him silently. She didn't know what to say, what could she say? Facing your own mortality is powerful. Knowing you came so close to death, and couldn't do anything to prevent it. Kumiko couldn't imagine
"then make him regret it " she told him firmly, squeezing his hand. He looked at her at her words "I know you're probably the only one strong enough and smart enough to defeat him. now that we know it's him, and what he can do, I wouldn't be surprised if you were the one to finally bring him to justice" she told him, wholeheartedly believing it
Uraharas mood lightened slightly, Kumiko pulling him from his dark thoughts. Shoulders relaxed, letting go of the tension that had built up since reading his file.
Urahara gently tugged kumikos arm, shifting her closer to him. Gently resting his forehead on hers he closed his eyes "sorry" he told her softly
"idiot" she smiled at him
Shunsui gently knocked on the door before looking in. Kumiko sat on the end of the bed, watching a sleeping Urahara
"hey love" he greeted her softly, not wanting to disturb a still healing urahara. Kumiko smiled at him softly, getting off the bed and walking over to him. Wrapping her arms tightly around his middle, sighing when he wrapped her up in his arms, a little confused about her clinging to him but enjoying it nonetheless
"everything ok?" He asked her, kissing her hair
"it will be" she smiled against his chest, looking up at him she smiled warmly "take me home shunsui"
Kyoraku returned her smile, heart skipping a beat in his chest, she had just referred to his house as home. Leaning down he pressed his lips firmly to hers in a kiss, missing the feel of them all day. Breaking away, shunsui gently pushed the hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear
"let's go home" he agreed
Authors notes
I really struggled with this chapter, I felt it was needed to continue the story, but it felt a little mundane to me. I Will be coming back to change it, hopefully improve it