Kumiko flirted with the edge of conciseness. She floated in the warm dark void of sleep, her mind thoughtless, body relaxed. Muffled noises filtered through the peace from the waking world, foreign and implacable. A light buzz softening the silent world of sleep. Kumiko slowly became aware, the muddy thick fog slowly hazing away, letting more sounds and sensations filter through.
She became aware of her mortal body, uncomfortable pain filtering through the comfort, shooting jabs in her stomach, aching throbbing in her head. She groaned, out loud or silently she didn't know. Warmth encased her hand, slight pressure guiding her from her unconscious slumber. The sounds sharpened first, dull incoherent noises becoming clearer.
A rhythmic beeping, reminiscent of a distant memory she couldn't quite grasp, fleeting around the edge of her mind, unable to take full form. A deep, soothing voice she would place anywhere, anytime, Shunsui
"come on love, open those pretty eyes for me".
Kumiko tried, her body felt heavy and uncooperative, not listening to her silent commands. She could feel soothing circles being drawn into her hand, the weight of the blanket covering her body.
"please Kumiko" He sounded so sad, why was Shunsui sad? And why wouldn't her eyes open! "Come back to me"
Im here Kumiko tried to shout, tried to call out Im here
"She just needs time, Shunsui san"
Unohana? She was in the 4th? Kumiko struggled to think back, what had happened? Why was she hurt?
Soft lips pressing against her hair, the familiar smell of faded sake and mint. Kumiko commanded her eyes to open, her hand to respond to her desire to squeeze the warm hand holding her own. The heavy cloak of darkness pulled her under once more
"Oi! Stop ignoring me baldy! Can you even hear me?!" Hiyori screamed at an unresponsive Urahara, sat unseeing in his home, nursing a bottle of sake in his hand. Hiyori was pissed. First day back as Captain from his injuries and she had to stomp her ass half way through the division to look for him. She had knocked on his door, six times, before loosing her temper and kicking the thing off it's hinges.
He hadn't moved since the time she had arrived, save for lifting the bottle to his lips and drinking deeply. She hasn't yet found anything she could say to get a reaction of him.. it was a little unsettling. She was beginning to wonder if she should start pounding on him or go in search for another captain.
He didn't look good, dark circles evident of his lack of sleep sat under his far away eyes. His hair was disheveled, more so that usual, hanging limply on his head, lost the fluffiness to it that usually made Hiyori scoff. His hands were tinted pink, strong smell of iron coming from him, his clothing. The smell of blood
Not his blood though, from what she could see, he look relatively unharmed, if not exhausted. She had gotten the news early this morning. Kumiko had been rescued and was in the 4th, expected a full recovery. All the captains and lieutenants who were sent on the rescue mission (and those who snuck away against orders) had all returned unharmed save for a few cuts and bruises. The enemy was dead, remaining Hidoi exterminated.
This Buffon should be over the moon, enemy dead, friend saved and on the road to recovery.. so why did he have such a tortured look behind those unresponsive eyes.."hey. This isn't funny.. get your ass up" Hiyori said, the edge in her voice softening somewhat. She attempted to take the sake bottle from his hand, scowling when with his lightening fast reflexes moved it just beyond reach. She darted for it again, growling when it disappeared from within reach, held on his other side further away "right" she growled, ready to leap over him and wrestle the bottle from his hand when a gentle knock came from the entrance of the home stopped her,
"this isn't over" Hiyori threatened over her shoulder, ready to shoo away what every nosy person had came to investigate the door broken off the hinges.
"Urahara?" Ukitake stepped carefully over the door on the floor, looking around the area with worried furrowed brows "ah, lieutenant Sarugaki, is everything ok?"
Thank heavens. Ukitake will talk some sense into that fool she thought relived at seeing the old captain "the door was my fault, kicked it in when he wouldn't open the door" she admitted with a shrug, no point in lying, she would kick it in again if she had to. "He's through there, he's.." her face must have betrayed some flash of emotion, because Ukitake cut her off with a comforting squeeze to the shoulder
"thank you for checking on him, Sarugaki san. I shall take it from here." He reassured, smiling sweetly at the flash of relief on her face before it got pushed away with a scowl "let me know if you need me to come back and kick his ass" she ignored his light chuckle, stomping over the broken door and returning to work. Ukitake watched her leave, letting out the sigh he was holding once she disappeared from view.
Rounding the corner, Jushiro could see why the lieutenant looked so worried. Urahara was slumped over on his sofa, looking in desperate need of a shower and a good nights rest. He's still wore the blood splattered clothing from the day before, the last thing on his clearly tortured mind. He appeared to have been tormenting himself the entire night of what had transpired, turning to the numbing effects of alcohol. Ukitake had been friends with Kyoraku for far too long to not know that Urahara wouldn't find all the answers to his problems at the bottom of a bottle.
"You look like I feel" Ukitake immediately regretted the choice of light hearted humour to begin the conversation when Urahara's eyes momentarily flashed to his hidden wrapped up shoulder. Guilt swimming in his dull eyes for a moment before retreating, taking another swallow of his sake. "Sorry, being funny was never my strong suit"
"How are you feeling?" The question was met with silence, not exactly what Jushiro had been hoping for. "I assume you've been informed that Kumiko is doing well, full recovery is expected"
Nothing, no acknowledgement that he had heard or understood his words. "How about we put down that bottle," he tried, hand reaching out to grab it from his hand. When dark grey eyes snapped to his own, hand tightening the grip on the bottle as though it were vital to be protected, Jushiro held up his hands in surrender, stepping back to give him some room. "Ok, I won't attempt to take it from you, how about we just sit here and chat?"
Ukitake pulled out a chair from the table, twisting it to be able to sit opposite Urahara, with some generous distance. When Urahara didn't engage, simply bringing the bottle back to his lips, Jushiro sighed. It was going to be a long morning.
Shunsui knelt awkwardly on the floor besides Kumiko's bed, resting his upper torso on the mattress, holding her hand in his. He really thought she would have woken up by now. She had showed signs of it this morning when Unohana had come by to check on her. A soft groan and eyes flickering under her lids, he had gently tried to coax her from her drug endured slumber to no avail, as she slumped back into a deep sleep.
He was tired. Having woken up not long after the sun had risen, he had snuck from Ukitake's home and made his way straight here. He knew Yama Jii wanted to speak with him, have a captains meeting and more importantly scold himself, Ukitake and Urahara for going against his orders and going to the world of the living anyway. The old man would just have to wait. Not that he feared the telling of he would get. He had endured many scoldings from the old man through this life, a few beatings too. He wasn't leaving Kumiko's side until she opened her eyes, not for Yama Jii, not for central 48. No one would tear him away from her now, not after being so close to loosing her.
He wasn't exaggerating when he told Ukitake he felt as though he aged a thousand years. The battle itself wasn't what had exhausted him. He had fought much longer, and more taxing battles. He hadn't even needed to use his bankai. The rush of overwhelming emotions he endured however, had left him feeling drained.
"You disappeared early" So focused on feeling Kumiko's pulse steadily beat under his palms, Shunsui hadn't even heard the door open
"I needed to be with her" he sent a tired smile over his shoulder, fading when he saw the concerned look on his closest friends face "What's happened?"
Ukitake sighed, leaning tiredly against the window at the bottom of Kumiko's bed so Kyoraku wouldn't have to strain to see him. "I have just been to see Urahara."
"how is he?" Shunsui asked. He hadn't seen head nor tail of the younger man since they had arrived back. He was actually surprised he wasn't here with Kumiko, now that he thought about it
"He's not doing too good. I don't believe he has slept, he was nursing a bottle of sake when I arrived. Wouldn't let me take it from him, wouldn't speak, just stared into the room"
Shunsui sighed. Guilt was a terrible emotion to drown in. While he could see why Urahara had taken that burden to his own shoulders, it wasn't his fault, none of it. He would go see him once Kumiko was stronger. He should be here, with everyone. Kumiko will want to see him when she's awake
"Just give him sone time,Juu. He'll come around. I'll go see him myself when Kumiko is better" at the mention of her name, a small groan left her lips, her fingers flexed in Shunsui's hold.
"Kumiko?" Shunsui straightened eagerly, leaning over the bed to caress her cheek softly, coaxing her awake "come on love, open your eyes" Shunsui felt as though he could cry when her eyes fluttered open, unique lavender colour peaking through her dark lashes to hazily focus on him. "There she is"he couldn't stop the big toothy grin from splitting his face as he watched her intently. His thumb stroked the softness of her cheek, waiting patiently for her to wake fully.
Kumiko stared into Shunsui's eyes as the thick fog of sleep dispersed, the images of recent events rushing through her mind. Arguing with Shunsui, getting abducted, Sota being alive, Kage getting hurt. The relief of seeing Shunsui, Jushiro and Kisuke, the searing pain of getting stabbed. Tears welled up in her eyes, bottom lip quivering with the rush of emotions it brought on.
"Shunsui " Kumikos voice was dry and raspy, croaking out his name as the first tears escaped her eyes. "I'm sorry"
Shunsui wrapped Kumiko in his arms, holding her close as she cried into his chest "nothing to be sorry for love" he whispered into her hair, kissing her sweetly "don't cry, your home. Your safe"
Kumiko shook her head, shuddering breaths leaving her " I shouldn't of shouted at you like that, I didn't even let you explain. Then I went and left and Kage and.." her almost hysterical rambling was cut off by a firm kiss. Shunsui held her softly, kissing away her sobs. So much had happened since then, it hardly seemed necessary to get upset over it now.
"no more apologies" he whispered against her lips, raising enough to be able to look each other in the eye. He dabbed away her tears with the back of his hand, "all that matters is that your home safe"
Kumiko's eyes widened slightly, weakly twisting her fingers in the open lapels of Shunsui's uniform for strength as a worrying thought pushed through to the forefront"Sota?"
"Dead. He can't hurt you anymore" Kumiko breathed a sigh of relief. Leaning into the hand cupping her face briefly, before a shooting pain made her gasp. Her hands flew to her stomach, holding the throbbing area. Determined to get through her questions before dealing with the pain , She sucked in a desperate breath to ask "Kisuke? Jushiro?"
Shunsui smiled, leaning from obstructing her view and standing up, revealing Jushiro standing at the end of the bed, relieved smile on his handsome face "Kumiko, welcome back"
"Jushiro, are you ok?"
"fine, my dear. Everyone made it back home." He reached over to squeeze her leg comfortingly, exceptionally pleased that she was awake. Kumiko seemed to relax at his words, sinking into the mattress with a relieved exhale. When her eyes drifted closed, he shared a smile with Shunsui, looking more himself than he had the past two days "I'll leave you to rest," Ukitake spoke softly to Kumiko, when she nodded softly, he turned to Kyoraku " I'll let Unohana know Kumiko is awake"
"Thanks Juu" Shunsui patted Ukitake on the arm as he slipped past, closing the door softly behind him. Kumiko peaked through one eye, reaching up her hand, Shunsui met her half way, holding it tight in his own "you should get some rest"
"lay with me?"Shunsui could hear the beginning of slur in her voice, adrenaline ebbing away, allowing the effects of pain relief to kick in. He wasn't strong enough to deny that request, he needed to hold her in his arms again. To avoid the arm with a needle taped into the vein, Shunsui crawled over Kumiko, careful not to jostle her and laid down near the wall. Kumiko turned slowly, wincing with pain as she did.
When she nuzzled into his chest, arm pushing it's way past his own to wrap around his waist, Shunsui wrapped his arms around her, a little tighter than he should have, subconsciously afraid he'd loose her if he didn't. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, keeping them connected to her skin as he whispered "I love you"
Kumiko smiled, a final tear rolling down her cheek as she whispered it back, succumbing to sleep the moment they left her lips
"I love you more"
When Kumiko woke for the second time later that day, it was because of a burning, shooting pain through he abdomen. Face screwed up in discomfort, she released a shaky breath, trying to breath through the pain
"Kumiko?"
Kumiko snapped her eyes open at the call of her name, eyes settling on an exhausted looking Renji sitting at her bedside. He looked paler than normal, dark circles under his eyes. Kumiko could see some wrappings poking out under his uniform over his shoulder
"Hey" Kumiko croaked out, struggling to try and sit herself up. Renji jumped to his feet, hands splayed out in front of him panicked to halt her movements
"You're in pain, I'll go get Unohana..." he babbled, attempting to walk backwards towards the door
"No" Kumiko said through clenched teeth, giving up on righting herself to lay back on the bed "I don't want any medication, it makes me tired. Just sit and talk with me"
Renji reluctantly sat back in his chair, fresh wave of guilt creeping through his stomach at her obvious pain. If only he hadn't let her go with him.. if he had just..
"Renji" Kumiko spoke softly, stretching her hand out towards him. Renji held her hand, squeezing it softly "It wasn't your fault, it was mine. Please don't feel guilty any more"
Renji closed his eyes at her words, hot tears stinging behind his eyes that he refused to let fall "Kumiko, I shouldn't.."
"I shouldn't have put you in that position. Nor Kira. It was my own fault, and I'm sorry" she smiled weakly when he opened his eyes, a traitorous tear escaping his eye "You helped save me, so please don't cry"
"I'm not crying" he gruffly answered, defiantly rubbing away the wet streak on his cheek
"sure you're not, tough guy"