Kumikos fast retreat had slowed down the further away from the 8th she had gotten. Anger subsiding, Kumiko began feeling guilty for what had just happened . So clouded by the anger she didn't even let Shunsui explain, never gave him the chance.
Hugging herself gently as she aimlessly walked around, Kumiko suppressed the sob threatening to erupt. The idea of Shunsui flirting, unknowingly or not, with another woman felt like a dagger to the heart. The sad look he gave her when she pulled away from his touch kept playing on her mind. She felt awful.
I shouldn't have shouted at him she thought miserably, wanting to go back and fall into his arms. Longing to feel him wrap himself around her, whisper words of love in her ear Not knowing if she would be welcome yet, stopped her from turning around.
Kumiko looked up at her surroundings, trying to figure out where she had wondered to. Her blurry eyes had been fixed to the floor, aimlessly following different streets. Trying to find something she recognised, Kumiko noticed the familiar form of Renji a little way ahead of her, what looked to be Kira next to him. Jogging to catch up, Kumiko shouted out to them
"Renji! Kira!" Kumiko called, making them spin around, looking for who had called them
"Kumiko! Are you ok?" Renji asked concerned, reaching out to hold her shoulder. Signs Kumiko had been crying evident on her cheeks
"where are you going?" Kumiko asked, ignoring his question, not wanting to talk about it
"we've been called to the 47th" Kira explained, eyes darting between her and Renji "there's more hollows"
"great. I'll help" Kumiko said, setting off walking the direction they were headed, the idea of getting all her frustration out cheering her up slightly
"wait, I don't think that's a good idea" Kira pulled her attention back to him, stopping her walk. "You're not supposed to be going out there"
"please?" Kumiko asked them, a little desperately "I need to let off some steam. I'll be fine with you guys there"
Kira looked uncertainly to Renji, hoping he would talk Kumiko out of it, being the more authoritative of the pair
"please don't send me away" Kumiko begged softly, misty eyes threatening to spill "I need some time away"
Renji sighed, hanging his head unable to look at her sad face. As a man, he found it difficult to say no to a woman, especially one on the verge of tears "fine" Kiras head shot to his friend in disbelief
"Abari!" He breathed out shocked, looking at his friend as if he had grown another head
Renji turned a serious gaze to Kumiko, pointing a finger at her"you stay near Kira. Do not go off by yourself, do you hear me?"
Kumiko nodded eagerly, hardly believing she had gotten away with it "I swear, I wont do anything reckless"
"let's go" Renji said, leading them to their mission. Kumiko followed quickly behind him, leaving Kira to stare at them in disbelief
we're going to get into so much trouble. He thought exasperated, following to catch up
Shunsui had paced his office since Kumiko left, letting his frustration fade away. He was disappointed in himself, reacting the way he had. It was understandable Kumiko would be upset, hearing what she did, even if it wasn't the truth.
He shouldn't have gotten annoyed. He didn't mean to give the wrong impression to that girl, but he had, and he needed to apologise for it. Needed to reassure Kumiko that he hadn't so much as looked at another woman since her. She was all he saw, all he cared about. A gentle knock came at his door, pulling him from his relentless pacing
"come in Nanao chan" he called softly, waiting for her to enter the room near his desk
"are you ok?" She asked him softly, slipping in the room silently
"fine, Nanao chan. I'm sorry you had to see that" he sent her a genuine smile, knowing how much she appreciated professionalism in the office. Shouting with your girlfriend wasn't professional by anyone's standards
"I've never seen you raise your voice before" she told him uncertainly, uncomfortable with prying into her uncles private life
"I've never been so madly in love before" he offered back, sitting heavily in his chair, rubbing a hand down his tired face
"I might have just messed up the best thing to ever happen to me, Nanao chan" Shunsui said softly, resting his elbow on his seat to support his head
"don't be dramatic" she told him shortly, rolling her eyes at his theatrics. "All couples fight." She added nicer, Nanao chose her next words carefully, they didn't often have conversations like this one"I don't think she would've been that upset if she didn't love you."
Shunsui looked up to meet her gaze, fighting the grin that was threatening to appear
"my Nanao chan does care about me" his smile slipped, getting a huff from his lieutenant
"you should go after her"
"Nanao?" He questioned her softly
"go find her." She repeated, smiling gently at him "I'll finish your paperwork"
Shunsui stood from his desk, walking over and pulled nanao into his chest "thank you" he muttered, kissing her on the top of her head before walking from the office
Nanao watched as he disappeared, shaking her head softly, careful to hide her amusement until he was out of sight
"idiot" she smiled to herself affectionately, before pushing her glasses up her nose. Sighing at the abysmal state he had left his desk in, she hurriedly began making it look more presentable
Kumikos hand instinctively went to the hilt of her zanpakuto at the sound of a hollows cry nearby. Feet hitting the ground roughly as she pushed to keep up with renji and Kira, rushing to where the sounds of hollows were coming from.
Coming to a clearing, Renji pulled out his zanpakuto, prompting Kumiko to do the same "stay with Kira" he ordered her again, waiting for her nod before he disappeared, flash stepping into a battle, shouting out his zanpakutos release
Kira looked unhappily at Kumiko, wishing she had stayed home, "come on" he told her softly, directing them away from Renji, mindful of his spiritual pressure
Kumiko cleared her mind, focusing solely on the hollows running to meet them. Pushing off roughly from the ground, Kumiko gained a considerable amount of height, bringing her zanpakuto down smoothly, slicing through the wailing hollow as it disintegrated before her.
Landing back on her feet, Kumiko looked to Kira, having dispatched his own. Nodding once Kumiko darted off to her next opponent, easily dancing through the clumsy attacks coming her way. Ducking and jumping over slow limbs, easily evading the hollow, Kumiko didn't notice it slowly pushing her further away from Kira, concentrating on his own
Shunsui lightly tapped on Ukitakes open door, peeking his head through to see him sat at his desk alone
"Shunsui? Back so soon?" He lightly greeted his friend, attention slipping back to the report he was writing
"sorry Juu, I just need to speak to Kumiko a moment" Shunsui told him, surprised she wasn't sat opposite
"she's probably still having lunch" Jushiro responded distracted "she's not arrived back yet"
"she's not here?"
the worried tone pulled Ukitakes attention back up " what's happened?" He asked, seeing Shunsui looking worried
"she came to see me. We argued and she stormed off. I thought she would've come back here" he said quickly, racking his brain thinking where she could have ended up
Jushiro stood from his desk, hiding his concern "she probably went to see Urahara" the logical thought came to mind as he walked to his friend
"come on, you can tell me what you argued about on the way" Jushiro said soothingly, guiding his friend from his office
Kumiko panted heavily, the onslaught of hollows surrounding her increasing. Kumikos eyes darted between them, trying to catch a glimpse of Kira through them.
"Shit" she muttered, jumping back to create some distance, unhappily going further away from where she could feel Kiras spiritual pressure pulsating.
Kumiko skidded out the way from a long arm, tempting to grab hold of her, pushing up off the ground, Kumikos eyes scanned the open area quickly, hoping to see her friend. Her heart sank suddenly, seeing Kira battling two hollows, three more making their way up behind him
Kumiko held back from calling him as she landed, not wanting to distract him. Zanpakuto coming up quickly, slicing off the arm easily making another grab for her. The hollow wailed in protest, another barging past to charge at her.
Kumiko ran backwards, thankful to her friend for teaching her to do so it easily, Kumiko raised her hand quickly
"hado #31 Shakkahō!" Kumiko called out, directing the vibrating red ball of power towards the hollows, which exploited on impact, a thick dark smoke billowing up around them. Kumiko used the cover to quickly retreat, looking for Renji, hoping he was closer
spotting him further away than she expected, Kumiko cupped a hand over her mouth, shouting as loudly as she could
"Renji!" The call echoed across the field, pulling his attention. Renjis eyes went wide at seeing Kumiko. A dark shadow appearing behind her. Twisting in shape, raising up to cover her entire back
"KUMIKO. RUN!" Renji screamed at her, jumping over a hollow to race to her. Renji spotted Kira making his way to her also, getting suddenly cut off by three hollows blocking his path, pushing him further backwards
"KUMIKO!" Renji screamed, heart jumping to his throat as she quickly turned at his warning, stumbling back as someone he had never seen before step out of the shadow. Fist coming out quickly, hitting Kumiko square in the face with the hilt of his zanpakuto, her limp body falling the the floor heavily.
Seeing the tall, dark haired stranger stand over her body, Renji growled deep in his chest, covering distances bigger than he had previously been able to do in a desperate attempt to reach her. A hidoi suddenly appeared, swiping at him viciously, slicing his arm open. Renji jumped back with a hiss, blood wetting his arm, dripping to the floor beneath him
Renji roared as he ran through the hidoi, zanpakuto easily stabbing through its heart. Not waiting to watch it vanish, Renji threw himself around it, eyes desperately locating Kumiko.
"Kumiko, no!" He screamed, her limp body thrown over the strangers shoulder, her zanpakuto held in his hand. Renji knew who this was. The man that had attacked Urahara, the convict Evading capture. Renji raced to catch them, hearing Kiras own pursuit join his
"Miko" he called, "let her go!" The steely voice was not something Renji had ever heard Kira use before
The stranger stepped back into the shadow, not looking back as it slowly closed behind him, the lieutenants screams disappearing along with the rest of soul society
Renji reached his arm out just as the shadow disappeared, grabbing at nothing. Renji stared wide eyed at the place he last saw Kumiko. Breathing hard as adrenaline raced through his body. His stomach twisting painfully
"Renji" Kira tried to get his attention, hands tightening around his zanpakuto once more
"she's gone" Renji muttered softly in disbelief, staring at where she last was "she,. I"
"RENJI" Kira shouted at him, "we're not finished"
Renji tuned to look, his friend holding his zanpakuto ready. The remaining hollows making their way to them, thundering across the ground.
Urahara was dozing on his sofa, lightly humming to himself, hat pulled over his eyes. Tilting it up slightly at the unexpected knock at his door. Heaving himself up, he glanced to to clock as he walked to the door, wondering who was skipping work to come knocking
"hey" he said surprised, seeing Ukitake and Kyoraku outside his home
"is Kumiko here?" Shunsui asked him, foregoing a greeting
"no?" Urahara answered confused, as shunsui walked passed him, checking the house for her himself "she's supposed to be with you?". He added at Ukitake as they entered his home
"damn it" Shunsui muttered as Ukitake explained "it appears Kumiko got into an argument while out with the lieutenants. She had confronted Shunsui before storming off. We've not heard off her since"
"the hell did you do?" Urahara asked Kyoraku exasperated "how long has she been missing?"
"it was a misunderstanding" Shunsui told him, bad mood evident in his voice, not wanting to waste time talking
"she had left Shunsui about an hour ago. We were hoping she had come here" Jushiro added, sending his friend a concerned look as he began pacing Uraharas kitchen
"I've not seen her all day" Urahara said, wondering where she could've gone, walking past them to grab his keys from the table "I'll go check the office. See if she's hiding there"
"can you check her watch? Find where she is?" Kyoraku asked him, getting increasingly more worried the longer they've been unable to find her
"no, not unless she activates it" Urahara shook his head "I'll be changing that tomorrow " he added, not enjoying, for the second time, not being able to find her
"we will come with you" Ukitake told him, nodding for Kyoraku to follow as Urahara headed for his door
Urahara opened his office door, taking a moment to appreciate the familiarity of it. Having not been there since the day of the attack. Nostalgia having to wait, Kisuke continued into his lab, looking for his spare device linked to all his trackers. His usual one still in the hands of Kurotsuchi.
Turning it on as he walked back to the other captains, Urahara shared a look with Ukitake. Kyoraku wasn't looking too stable. His pacing had continued upon entering the office. He began absentmindedly chewing on the skin of his thumb, something Jushiro hadn't seen him do since they were at school, usually as a result of a disagreement with his parents
"anything?" Shunsui asked him impatiently
"no" Urahara muttered tapping on the screen "she's not activated it"
"damn it" Shunsui growled, kicking Uraharas table, flipping it over noisily "where the hell is she?!"
"Shunsui! Calm yourself" ukitake scolded him gently "there's nothing to suggest we should be worrying yet" he reminded him "think. Where could she have gone?"
"Yoruichis?" Urahara offered, sighing heavily "if Yoruichi bumped into her, she would have taken her somewhere "
"then there's the lieutenants. She might have gone back to them" Ukitake added, keeping an eye on his friend
"have you checked your house? Maybe she went home?" Urahara suggested, running out of places Kumiko could be
"no, I've not gone home yet" Shunsui muttered around his thumb
"see? There's no need to panic. We will find her" Jushiro told him, hoping to calm his nerves
"im going to kick her ass when we do" Urahara grumbled, attaching his device to his belt. Just to be on the safe side "I'll head over to Yoruichis. See if she's there" he told them, moving to his door "I'll meet you back at yours?" He began, stopping at a knock at the door. Hoping it was Kumiko, Urahara threw it open, not sure if he wanted to hug her or kick her ass. Shunsui stopped his pacing, looking to the door holding his breath
"Renji?" Urahara greeted confused "what the hell happened to you?"
The lieutenant looked beaten up. His sleeve was ripped off his top, tightly wrapped around his arm, as a make shift bandage. His uniform was dirtied, holes torn in several areas. Bruises beginning to form on his face. He walked in the office, dark look on his face
Renji lowered his eyes to the floor, too ashamed to look any of the captains in the face. His stomach twisted and pulled, swirl of emotions making him feel sick
"im sorry" he choked out, bowing low "im so sorry"
"what are you sorry for Renji?" Ukitake asked him softly
Renji stood up straight, looking the captain in the eye, guilt consuming his features
"Kumikos been.." he started, Shunsuis head snapped up at the sound of her name "Kumikos been captured by Kage" he choked out the words, eyes going wide as he was suddenly slammed up against the wall, pinned there viciously
Captain Kyorakus hands fisted tightly in his clothing, pinning him to the wall roughly. His eyes were wild and desperate, a cold chill ran though Renjis body at the sight. Making no move to free himself, Renji stood loose in his grasp, accepting anything that may happen at the hands of the desperate man
The grief twisted and pulled in his stomach, waves of nausea consuming him as the guilt took over. Renji had firmly been blaming himself for Kumikos capture, having allowed her to join himself and Kira.
"where the hell is she?" Kyoraku roared into the man's face, sudden and consuming rage fuelling him.