Kumiko walked next to Shunsui along the river bank, looking for somewhere to relax to watch the fireworks, now that the sun had fully set. The smile on her face hasn't ceased since they had first arrived at the festival. She couldn't remember a time she had been more happy, then enjoying spending time with the love of her life.

Kumiko smiled sweetly at the carnival prizes in her arms. Evidently, Shunsui was a pro at those games, winning nearly first time every time. Along with her dog, Shunsui had won her a cat teddy, a bottle of sake that she had already assumed he would break open the moment they sat down, A bracelet, a rubber duck and two keychains.

"are you sure you don't want me to carry them love?" He asked her again, offering a hand to accept her prizes. Kumiko shook her head, sneaking into the space provided by his outstretched hand.

"I'm fine " she smiled up at him as he wrapped his arm around her "where do you want to sit?"

"I normally meet Juu further up, see that tree?" He asked pointing in the distance. Kumiko followed his finger, nodding when she saw it "he should be around there somewhere"

Kumiko scanned the area with her eyes, looking for their friend. She had been keeping an eye out for Urahara too, but had no luck locating him yet.

"there he is" Shunsui pulled her attention, nodding towards Jushiro sat on a large blanket looking out over the water, gentle breeze blowing his hair from his face, revealing the soft smile that always seemed present

"Jushiro!" Kumiko called, the man's head snapping up at hearing his name. Kumiko ran over to him excitedly, as he stood to greet them with a level of grace Kumiko could only dream about having

"Im glad we found you" she greeted him with a wide smile

"You seem to be having fun " he said nodding to all her prizes nested into her arms. Her wide grin was infectious, causing his own to break out

Kumiko laughed lightly "Shunsui won them all."

"Been showing off have you Kyoraku?" He playfully asked his friend as he caught up, knowing how talented he was at those silly games.

With a big grin he answered "I had to remind the lieutenants how amazing I am"

Ukitake smiled patiently at his friend, as Kumiko placed all their prizes down near the blanket, as she straightened up, Ukitake noticed her yukata for the first time

"Kumiko, you look lovely" he told her, taking her hand to spin her around.

"thank you" Kumiko giggled through the spin, smoothing out the front of her dress when she stopped "have you enjoyed the festival?"

"Its been..eventful" he offered with a grim smile. Shunsui chuckled, deep and rumbling. The sound warmed through Kumiko

"third seats?" Shunsui guessed, correctly if the sigh Ukitake heaved was anything to go by

"I'll go get us some drinks". Kumiko laughed, the poor captain looked like he needed one.

"I'll go get them love" Shunsui tried, before Kumiko shut him down, hand gently resting on his chest

"I'll go" she insisted, kissing him gently before walking up to where she saw a drink stand.

Waiting in the queue, Kumiko enjoyed the cool breeze, slowly lowering the temperature around her. Shuffling up as the queue died down, Kumiko looked out over the crowd of people shuffling past

A loud bark of a laugh pulled her attention, looking to where she heard it, Kumiko scanned the area for the owner. Smiling widely, Kumiko left the stall to go say hello

Yoruichi had her back to her, long orange yukata hugging her figure perfectly. Another loud laugh made Kumiko smile, jogging to get there quicker. Yoruichi shuffled her feet, moving slightly to the left, letting Kumiko see who she was laughing with. Urahara stood next to her grinning, looking over his friends shoulder he noticed Kumiko

Sending her a Cheery wave "hey Miko! You look nice" he complimented her once she came to a stop next to Yoruichi

"you aren't supposed to be drinking!" Kumiko said exasperated as she joined them, spotting the sake cup in his hand

"Im not drinking" he grinned at her "im having a drink. There's a difference "

"There is literally no difference" Kumiko said, not believing what she was seeing. This man was literally breaking every condition captain Unohana had given him. She tired to figure out if he had always been this difficult or if it's was a recent development from his hospital visit

"There's loads of difference" he defended, taking a defiant sip as Yoruichi laughed between them

"Hey Kumiko" she spoke to the woman, pulling her attention with a nudge to the arm

"How much has this idiot had?" Kumiko asked her, nodding her head to Urahara

"hey!" His protest fell on deaf ears and Yoruichi laughed loudly

"A couple" she admitted, drinking from her own cup

"Snitch"

"Bite me Kisuke" Yoruichi challenged playfully, eyes happily darting between the pair

"you're unbelievable " Kumiko muttered unimpressed, pinch the bridge of her nose

"thanks!" He said happily, drinking some more, seemingly getting away with it

"that wasn't a compliment idiot" Kumiko muttered into her palm. An idea came to mind. lifting her head to give Urahara an unimpressed look, she pulled her eyes over his shoulder. Kumiko smiled widely and waved

"hello captain Unohana! How are you?" She asked, catching the way Uraharas eyes went wide before he jumped around, hiding his drink behind his back

Kumiko smiled as she reached forward and stole it from his hands. Catching on to what she was doing, after not seeing Unohana anywhere, he turned back to her, pout on his lips

"thief". He told her grumpily

"rule breaker" Kumiko laughed in return, drinking her stolen drink " Shunsui and Jushiro are sitting by the tree over there. Do you want to watch the fire works with us?"

Urahara turned to Yoruichi, waiting for her answer

"yeah sounds fun" she told Kumiko "I need another drink first though" she winked

"I was just going to get us some" Kumiko explained, "go see the guys Kisuke, we can get the drinks"

Urahara nodded before turning to Yoruichi, miming a drink and then pointing to himself. Yoruichi laughed loud at his antics as Kumiko shooed him away

"hes impossible " Kumiko grumbled as Yoruichi linked arms with her

"is that another hicky?" She asked, pointing at kumikos neck

Kumiko laughed loudly. Of corse she noticed


Kumiko carried two bottle of sake while Yoruichi carried the cups as they walked back to the men, all relaxing on the blanket.

Kumiko walked to stand between Shunsui, leaning back on the tree and Urahara who had laid down on his back, before sitting between them. Yoruichi choosing to sit opposite her, so to face everyone.

"sorry, the queue was massive" Kumiko told them, pouring sake into the cups Yoruichi was holding out before passing them around

Shunsuis hand came out to gently rub across her back "Urahara was just telling us you stole his drink" he remarked with a grin

"he's lucky I didn't dump it on his head" she smiled down at the cups she was filling

"be nice" he leaned forward to whisper in her ear "it's a day for celebration "

Kumiko sighed, knowing he was right. Picking up the cup she filled she turned to her friend

"here" she told him, making him sit up to pass him the cup. Shit eating grin on his face as he took it from her

"thank you Miko" he said happily, taking a drink "cheer up" he nudged her shoulder with his own "I won't get drunk. Promise"

Kumiko sighed, leaning her head on his shoulder. She really was trying to let go of the worry she had. She wasn't his mother, she shouldn't scold him like a child.

"you really do look beautiful " he told her, laying his head on hers, a smile broke out on her face at his words

"you can stop buttering me up now" she grinned"I've already given you a drink"

Urahara laughed next to her, his shaking shoulders jostling her "im offended, do I really only compliment you when I want something?"

"you don't really compliment me" Kumiko laughed "its strange. Go back to teasing me"

"tomorrow " he promised, slipping his hand though kumikos. He looked up to see Yoruichi grinning at him crazily "don't you start" he told her sternly

"Shunsui was just telling me about you feeling him up in his sleep" she laughed excitedly, Urahara closed his eyes and groaned. Kumikos light laugh joining hers, as she looked at Shunsui, massive grin on his face

"what happened to being nice?" She asked him playfully

"I was being nice" he said innocently "Yoruichi loves gossip like that" Kumikos retort was cut short by a high pitch scream followed by an echoing bang accompanied by colourful lights in the sky

"it's starting" she said excitedly, wriggling on the spot to get comfortable. Urahara leaned off Kumiko, hands staying conjoined as they looked up to the night sky

Shunsui leaned up off the tree, shuffling closer to Kumiko to wrap his arm around her shoulders. Looking down at her face, Shunsui saw the fireworks reflected in her eyes. beautiful colours appearing and melting into new ones, brightly interrupting the lavender that shone with joy

Feeling eyes on her, Kumiko pulled her gaze away to look at shunsui, happily showing her teeth at him. Gently putting his fingers under her chin, shunsui lifted her face slightly to kiss her sweetly. Bright colours flashed over their closed eyes, tongues gently caressing eachother. Sweet sake lingering on their breath, adding to the kiss.

A particularly large bang pulled them apart, turning just in time to see the biggest explosion yet. "I love you" Shunsui told her softly, squeezing her into him gently

"I love you" she echoed, transfixed to to the bright lights.