Log; Complete

[1hatwonder.livejournal.com]

When; September 3rd, night
Rating; PG-13 for swearing
Characters; Urahara Kisuke 1hatwonder Shihouin Yoruichigoddes_of_flash
Summary; After being ambushed by Arrancar, healed, and feeling rather disappointed, Yoruichi oh so kindly reminds Kisuke how much of a fool he is.

Log;

It was foolish, stupid, idiotic, and every associated word that went along with those that described today's event. Urahara was angry at Ichigo for being so rash as to run into a fight, and what does he go off and do? The same thing, making him feel rather hypocritical of himself. Well, that and other things.



It shouldn't have gone so badly, they were three captains - CAPTAINS! But the Arrancar had ambushed them, caught them off guard, and handicapped them by not allowing Inoue Orihime far from the battle site, so using full force was out of the question.



Urahara growled in both frusteration for not being able to do more, and at the still sore/tender skin. That Luppi fellow sure knew how to make a nasty rugburn with so many "tenticles" for lack of better terms. Isane had come and healed them, nearly passing out after healing Shunsui, yet his body still ached and screamed. It was almost pointless of her healing him, really.



He was lying in bed with only boxers on, and even that felt too much, as his skin acted so delicate. Pressing palms to his eyelids, he pushed back the scream of frusteration of the whole situation.



Wincing slightly on her own, Yoruichi paused outside the door, palm resting softly against the polished wood of the screen. Thankfully Kisuke seemed to have bought her excuse that she had been conspicuously absent from the fight due to the need for control over Ichigo's hollow -- despite the fact that said other problem had been regrettably dealt with by Rukia -- so she hadn't needed to explain away her absence. And in a rather felicitous turn of events, that said excuse also served as an easy palm-off for any lingering soreness or tenderness from the results of her deal.



Pushing the door open, she stepped into the room, eyes drifting over the reclining form of her companion. Trained gaze picked out reddened areas that had recently been wounds, narrowing at the number and spanse of them, concern overriding the typical urge to let eyes wander over toned muscles and pale skin.



But admiring the rather tasty sight of a mostly-naked Kisuke who for whatever reason was fairly confined to his bed was rather farther down on her to-do list than it might otherwise have been. Balancing the laquered wooden tray on her other hand, she stopped in the doorway, one hand resting lightly on her hips, and regarded him with a gaze that plainly said she was not amused.



"Oh say it already! You know you want to." He managed to sit up, posture in a heavy slouch as lazy eyes looked at her. "We just... Oh, I don't know anymore what the hell we were thinking!"



Her eyes bore into his, and he quickly broke the gaze by falling back to the pillow, releasing a hiss for the quick actions. It felt like he was sunburned all over his body, it truly stung now that hours had passed by and the pain had settled in. Yet he was still stubborn enough to not take any pain medication.



"Oh I don't think I need to say it, Kisuke. If nothing else, you've always been able to tell for yourself when you've been a collossal idiot. YOu don't need me to point that out."



Sighing, she settled down beside the futon, popping the legs out of the bottom of the tray and resting it on the tatami beside her. Crossing arms over her chest, she studied him, catching and holding blue-gray eyes with her own, displeasure even more evident. "Though I'm happy to rub your face in that fact if you feel that might get it through your thick skull."



Reaching over, eyes never leaving his, she adjusted the pillow behind his head, fingertips grazing softly across his forehead in a momentary caress before the arm returned to it's prior place. "What the hell is the matter with you, Kisuke? After everything you said, after the way you chided Ichigo for being reckless?! You know better than that!"



With a sigh, he rolled on his side, trying to avoid her angry gaze. She had every right to be, and he was too, yet he didn't want to deal with the intensity it at the moment. "Can I say it was Shunsui and Jyuushirou's idea?" It was partially true, yet he didn't really try stopping them.



His arm was sprawled out in front of him, and his eyes drifted on the patches of pink that were once deep rugburns where he got a bit careless in his actions. Silence filled the air as tension mounted, "We thought there would only be a a couple, two at most; we thought they were all accounted for... but I guess not." He sighed and waited for the continued onslaught from Yoruichi.



"I don't care if it was Yamamoto's idea!" Yup, onslaught still going on. Snarling, she curled fingers around the small bottle she'd brought with her, hardly noticing she was clenching it hard enough for the glass to crack faintly. Pouring some of it into a cup, she thrust it at him with a glare that plainly said any pain he was in right now or had ever been in was nothing compared to what she'd do to him should he refuse it.



"Of all the- you could have been killed, Kisuke! Did that fucking register in that melon you call a brain?! At ALL?! Real heroic, acting like a goddamned idiot and not even bothering to find out all the facts before you run in like a fucking moron. You're just lucky you're already hurt, or I'd rip you a new one for it!" Heaving an angry sigh, she waggled the cup again. "Drink. It. NOW"



He winced at her words, the sharpness of her voice, the loudness not so often heard from her. The glass was practically thrown at his face, and he knew if he refused it, which he much rather do, there was a very good chance that he might die that night.



Hesitantly, he reached up and took it. "Aw, I really don't want to...." And being reminded with a intense glare, plugged his nose and downed he glass with a shudder. Yup, just like drinking cheap alcohol.



"R-really, Yoru, we're all captains..." He handed the glass back and had it practically ripped from his grasp, "So I wasn't too worried. But really..." Oh, that definately was the wrong thing to say, as he could practically see the steam come out of her ears.



"I did think about it - the consequences!" He sat up, defiantly, although slightly woozy from the soreness. She could be rather scary when she was angry, and yet he reminded himself how glad he was that her being angry was not often.



Good, at least he'd taken it. Which meant she didn't have to straddle his chest and prie his mouth open to physically pour the draught down him. Not that she would have hesitated, had the course of action presented itself. Kisuke was going to take that medicine if she had to force it down him. Fingers gripping around the glass tighter, she felt her anger simmer, bubbling up white-hot at his clumsy denials and with a loud snarl, she flung the dish sideways to shatter into dust against the wall.



"NO YOU OBVIOUSLY DIDN'T FUCKING THINK ABOUT IT, KISUKE! Otherwise I wouldn't be here babysitting your sorry ass because you were too stupid to use your goddamned brain for something useful!"



Eyes narrowing as he yet again attempted to sit up, she growled at him dangerously. "Lie DOWN. Bakudou no sanjuuichi." With a snap, the binding took effect, pinning him back to the futon as effectively as iron restraints.



He should've seen this coming - he saw the movements - kidou was practically his specialty; however, her anger and his situation dulled his reaction time. With that said snap, he was flung back to the bed, "S-SHIT, YORU!" His body screamed out with the violent movements.



Scruntching his eyes shut and pulling his head back, for that was about as much as he really could move, he fought all the curse words known to man begging to be released. "You could have just barely pushed me back! You didn't have to go to this length to get me to lie back down!"



He squirmed, trying to break the spell, and rather unappreciative of his prone position. "Undo me. Now." He calmed himself down as much as possible, "Yoruichi, I know you're angry with me, but I swear... undo this."



"Don't you "Yoru" me, Kisuke. And I'll undo the kidou when I'm good and ready."



Turning around, she closed her eyes to take a moment to just breathe, trying to allow the anger to dissipate. And really, it wasn't only anger. It was fear. Fear, worry.... the knowledge that he could have been killed, and because of the deal that she'd chosen to make, she couldn't be there beside him, fighting with him, watching his back like she always had.



Resting palms on bare knees, she felt fingers curl into tight fists, slight shaking in her shoulders the only evidence of how upset she really was. Leaning her head back, she simply counted breaths, waiting. It would pass. It always passed, even though she honestly couldn't remember ever being this upset or....scared over him. It was hardly the first time Kisuke had been hurt, and hardly the first time he'd been hurt badly, but something about the fact that she couldn't be there to physically make sure he was protected made it so much worse to deal with.



"It's ok to be upset." He spoke calmly, although still squirming through the binding. "I know you're just concerned about me. I expect nothing less."



It had been too long. He knew everything about her, how she reacted towards certain situations, how she often got angry as a defense mechanism for being anxious or worried. She covered it so well, and he knew whenever she got angry, there was no point in getting angry back. Well, unless pain is shooting throughout your body at the same time.



"Please, unbind me. I won't sit up." He hoped she'd listen to him this time, as his gaze softened. She was probably eating herself up inside, and really all he wanted to do now was to at least touch her.



"I'm not upset. I'm angry."



It was a lie and she knew it. Beyond that, she knew he knew she knew it. They'd been together for so long, so many years upon years, it would have been foolish to think that he didn't know how to read her. But in spite of that, she could still hope, to a degree. Hope that she'd finally managed to be successful in hiding her weaknesses from him.



"Fine, but if you move I'm breaking your arms and legs so you can't move." With a simple gesture and a spike of reiatsu, the kidou unwove itself. She didn't move, except to stir in the dark powder she'd dumped on top of the soup in the small bowl.



Leaning on an elbow, he reached over and stopped her hand from pouring the powder. "I'm fine, Yoruichi. Put too much in, I'll be out cold for the entire week!"



Watching her put the packet down, he quickly snaked his arms around her stomach, fingers gliding against the black cotton of her tank top, and pulled her down to the bed lying flush to him. The bridge of his nose rested against one of her shoulder blades as he inhaled her scent. "Yes it was stupid... It'll never happen again."



So many thoughts were going through his mind. The pain finally dulling a bit, the thoughts of how his battle should've gone - where he misjudged and miscalculated, Jyuushirou and Shunsui's fight, the regret of not getting Inoue-san, wondering if everything went alright between Rukia and Yoruichi. He squeezed her tighter, in any case of her thinking about escaping.



Yoruichi stiffened for a moment as he pulled her against him, momentarily considering pushing him away, still being angry. But the familiar, comforting warmth of his body spooned up against hers won out, and she relaxed, snuggling back into his embrace with a sigh and trying to quell the trembling that still wracked her form in spite of her resolve that no, she wasn't afraid for him.



He was alright, she should just content herself with that knowledge and take care of him, the way she'd always done in the past. And get over the fact that she couldn't fight beside him. It had been her doing, her choices that had done it, that had made it so. And she would just have to live with that. Leaning her head back, she sighed again, closing her eyes and trying to just focus on the feel of his arms around her. God, she loved him. It was getting easier to admit that to herself now, even if the thought of actually saying it still sent chills down her spine and increased the urge to run nearly to a feverish level. It wasnt much, but it was a step, right? Maybe that was what was different, that admitting it, even just to herself, changed something, shifted things around enough that the security she'd always felt in regards to his ability to take care of himself was becoming shaky when she herself couldn't see with her own eyes that he was alright.



Smiling against her skin, he couldn't help the comforted feeling of her softness and warmth. "Besides, I got the least amount of damage than the other two~" Well that was slightly untrue, Shunsui probably was the least damaged, even though he probably had the strongest opponent. "Jyuu-san got hit pretty badly..." He was worried for their mentor, one of the oldest captains around.



Doubts were still running through his head about the former captain - perhaps his illness has really wrecked it's ugly fate on him moreso since his departure from Soul Society. "Yoruichi, the Arrancar he fought... she's not even an Espada-rank." He knew he shouldn't be questioning such doubts about his collegues, people he knew and trusted so dearly, yet he knew he could confide to her. "I'm worried, the damage he took, at this rate it's back to there being no captains around."


There, he said it, and yet he wished he didn't. But there was something terribly beneficial to having your best friend rightly avaliable and willing to listen to one's doubts. Doubts indeed circled through his mind still, on their circumstances, about others, and even his own abilities. She took most of them away, though, as she gave him comfort without any effort put into it.



"I somehow doubt that's true, knowing you." If he said he got the least amount of damage, it just meant he hadn't had the opportunity to get in enough good hits. Nodding slightly as he spoke of Jyuushirou's injuries, she felt her lips draw together into a harsh line. As much as she hated to admit it, Kisuke was right about one thing. Their mentor's strength was not what it once was.



"I know, Kisuke. But you can't blame yourself for not knowing they would be waiting like that. That's why they call it an ambush." Turning around in his arms to face him, she snuggled her head up under his chin with a sigh. "I should have been there..."



"Yes, I know... an ambush, but..." She had moved and he closed his eyes waiting for the dull pain to subside with her movements, "He shouldn't have had such a difficult time with her. If he had fought who I did..." He stopped there and didn't finish his sentence, knowing he shouldn't question the men who had been a captain far longer than he had, and far more training and fighting under their belts.



Her next statement surprised him. "What? No, don't say that." He managed to tighten his grip slightly around her, "We did our best. You were busy helping Rukia and Ichigo, so you were doing just as much good as we were." He quickly fixed his statement, "I mean, you were concerned about them so that was good you were trying to help them." Sometimes she carried so much turmoil, that he was unsure where she got it from at times.



"Where's the strong Yoruichi I know?" He managed to kiss her forehead to comfort her, although one could ask him the same thing. His fight was disgraceful - he shouldn't have managed that many hits on himself. Being out from the fighting circut for so long really had placed a handicap on him, which he noted must be change soon.



"Just... not feeling very strong today, I guess..."



It was a difficult, admitting when she wasn't feeling strong, didn't want to stand up and fight anymore. Everyone expected it of her, that she would be the strong one, the brave one, the one who never felt fear or doubt. Closing her eyes, she purred softly at the gentle press of his lips to hers, one hand reaching back behind her for the packet of painkiller, stealthily dumping part of it into the tea. Pulling the cup back around, she handed it to him.



"Here. Just enough to help with the pain. Drink it."



Shaking his head he smiled, "No, I don't need anymore. I'll be fine, Yoruichi. I've been hurt way more than this, and you know it." He touched her nose.



People often called him the motherly one, and seeing the roles reversed made him snicker slightly. "Honestly, I'm fine, just a bit sore!" With defiance once again, he took the glass from her hand and placed it back on the table.



Eyebrows furrowing in a frown, she stubbornly shook her head and picked the glass back up, handing it to him again. "And honestly, I don't give a damn what you say. Drink."



If he persisted in being difficult, Yoruichi was damned determined to pour the tea down his throat if she had to. And right now, with him injured, she was relatively certain that she'd be able to do so without a great deal of trouble. It would be fairly simple to just sit on his chest, pinning his arms down, and pry his mouth open to dump the entire contents of the mug down his gullet. Yes, fairly simple indeed. "You know I'll do it, Kisuke. So you'd be best to just stop fighting it."



"Yoru~ what's gotten into you?" He couldn't help to laugh at her determined, yet rather attractive expression. "If I take anymore, I'll be out cold for the night! Unless... you really want such a thing~." He pouted, and again, tried moving her arm back towards the table.



He couldn't figure out why all of a sudden she was so determined to "comfort" him, when, so to speak, he rather take the dull throb "like a man". He knew she wasn't afraid to shove the liquid down his throat, and he was treading dangerous waters here, but... it just wouldn't do!



"You just want to take advantage of me~!" He gasped dramatically.



Rolling her eyes, she resisted the urge to shove him back a few feet. "Please. I'm not interested in trying to paw you when things aren't even working properly because of the drugs."



He was trying to move her arm back, and for a moment she contemplated resisting, but decided against it, letting him replace the cup on the low table. Scowling, she glanced away, golden eyes refusing to meet his. "Nothing's "gotten into me", Kisuke. The hell makes you think that?"



"Because the Yoruichi I know would snicker and say, 'oh, suck it up you cry-baby!'" He raised his voice an octave in a terrible impersonation of her voice.



Before she could answer, he placed a finger to her lips quieting her, "I know I was foolish, and I'm already kicking myself for it, but don't be..." His mind searched for words, yet was drawing up nothing, "nice? I suppose? No, more like 'motherly'. Well, that's not really it either, but the pain is dull - I'm just sore. I rather feel it, y'know?"



Growling softly, she contemplated biting the finger. He would have deserved it, after all the shit he'd put her through, not to mention the fact that he'd nearly been killed. Kisuke was right, of course -- but she'd be damned if she ever told him that -- though the righteous indignation she felt at his audacity -- how dare he go off and get fucking tore up without her, anyway -- was overshadowed by the lingering guilt over her own weakness.



She'd made the deal rashly, without thinking of the consequences, the farther-reaching ripples that would fan out from the actions. Knowing her own blood, her own strength would be forfeit, the dark-skinned shinigami had never even bothered pausing to consider the outcome of having to keep this secret. Unable to stand, to fight beside him, having to lie and sneak and deceive. That wasn't like her, she'd always hated lying. Especially to Kisuke -- honestly she couldn't remember the last time she had lied to him.



With a huff, she turned back to the tray, picking up the apple she'd brought -- for herself, she wasn't about to share a Yellow Delicious with him -- and took a chomp out of it. "Fine, you don't wanna take your pain meds, I don't want to hear a peep out of you, you big baby."




It bothered him, seeing her like this. Of course he wasn't willing to say anything, because she probably would deny it and leave, but... she was upset. He figured it was mostly for the fact she wasn't there to fight along side him, as she often perferred to do - and he as well, although he probably wouldn't really admit it - but the three just placed together a quick plan, and ran for it. He didn't even bother to inform her or anything, adrenaline was just pushing through him faster than logical thought.



With a sigh, he stretched out his limbs, and tucked his arms underneath his head. "Taste good?" She was pretty intent on eating the apple and not sharing, which he was fine with - he was feeling rather sleepy anyway, but the urge to just poke at her, or agitate her was a game he could never grow tired of. "Hope there isn't a worm~!"



"Just the one in your pants..." She mumbled it under her breath, knowing full well that the barb concerning the size or state of "things" was one that likely would only ilicit laughter. Kisuke was too confident, and too knowledgable in the fact that she was never dissatisfied with him to take anything like that to heart.



Taking another bite of the apple, she let herself lean back against the wall, golden eyes studying him. "I'm still gonna kick your ass for this, Kisuke. Or maybe I'll find a better way to punish you, hm?" With a slightly evil glint in her eye, she rummaged in the drawer to her left and dangled something red and black in the air. Red and black and rather small. With what looked like lace on it. Glancing at it herself, she frowned, pushing her lower lip out in a pout.



"And here I was gonna sleep in this tonight. Oh well, guess there's no point now~ I'll just stick to the tanktop and sweats."



He rolled over on his side, facing away from her, and burying his face in the pillow in the process. "Don't show me that!" He was too sore, too tired to even think of such things. Mentally, he was all a-go, all for it, but his body was more of, "damnit, let me sleep!".



With a whine, and muffled curses in the pillow, he finally looked back up, at the garments in her hand, then to her. "You are a very cruel woman."



That spoken, he used up what reflexes that would respond, rolled back over and tugged her to him. Holding her close, he couldn't help but laugh, "But I got you~ and no playing~ I'm an old, sore man tonight." She was soft, always so naturally soft, and warm, and all he wanted to do was hold her, "Be my heating pad to my old sore muscles~" Of course there was teasing involved.



"Who said I was going to play, Kisuke~?" Gently cradling his head in her hands, she leaned in to cover his mouth with hers in a deep, yet soft kiss, fingers sliding slowly down the side of his neck, kneading and rubbing the tenseness out of abused muscles with a practiced, steady rhythem, feeling the cords and knots slowly loosen under her ministrations.



He was right, she was cruel sometimes. But that didn't mean she wasn't well aware that the last thing he needed was physical exertion. Or that she was above taking care of him at times like these. Working her way around from the back of his neck down the sides and to the front where neck met shoulders, she pressed in a little harder, feeling the tension unwinding itself slowly.



Even though he teased her and played off that she was nothing of the caring sort, he knew it was far from the truth, her kiss alone reminded him of that.



His eyes closed as he relaxed into her touch and nimble fingers traveling down around his shoulders, wanting more, he sat up, and turned his back towards her - might as well take advantage of the situation, he told himself. Although she knew he'd gladly do it in return for her if she were ever in this situation.



Pulling back to allow him enough space to sit up, her fingers were soon sliding back over pale skin, tracing scars and reddened patches of recently-healed skin with a soft, silken touch before digging in slightly, kneading the muscles beneath ridiculously soft skin, sliding up his neck and into thick blond hair before gliding back down to broad shoulders and muscled back.



It was a deliciously enjoyable thing, getting to touch him like this. Not that he normally had a problem with her touch -- quite the opposite. He craved it seemingly as much as she yearned for his -- but life had a way of getting in the way. Of distracting and interfering such that it was a chore to simply find time to just be together. Much less time to relax and just... enjoy each other like this. To trace and study each scar and imperfection, most of which she could identify and remember. They'd spent a long time fighting together, so many wounds given and taken over the years, and just as many hours spent caring for each other much the way she was doing for him now.



"I could get used to this..." He muttered softly under his breath. Her rhythmic touch, and gliding over his skin was relaxing and putting his mind in ease.



He'd hate to think they needed an incident such as this to have moments like these. As much as people liked to tease the two of them, and even make crude side remarks, it truly was few and far between to just be together. She was often training Rukia or doing something on her own accord, while he mostly spent the day tinkering around in thought and maybe playing around with what limited resources he had for experiments. There was truth to the teasing, as they usually were so wound up with stress that they often would just crash into the bed and fall asleep or distracted themselves, so to speak.



Looping her arms around his shoulders gently, she rested her chin against his shoulderblade with a soft contented sigh. "Yeah..."



He wasn't the only one who could get used to this sort of situation. As much as she prided herself on being free-spirited, on never tying herself down and never having to answer to anyone but herself, it was easy to get used to being close this way with Kisuke. Easy to fall into the familiar rhythem and comforting sense of home that she got whenever they were together.



Had anyone who knew her well -- with the exception of Kisuke, of course -- seen her right now, they probably would have teased her about being "soft". And.... maybe she was getting a little soft over the years. But she'd be damned if she'd ever admit it.



"Ne, Kisuke?..."



Reaching over to turn off the light, he lied down, feeling less worse for wear now that the pain killer she forced on him kicked in and her skilled fingers working ease back into him.



He moved to his side and lightly tugged at her arm to join him. "Don't be stubborn~"



"Oh for the..." With a sigh, she simply shook her head and lay back down, curling up against him and resting violet head gently on his shoulder. Yes, there were things she wanted to discuss with him, things he needed to know, that they both needed to deal with. But.... that could come later. Right now... she just wanted him.



Nuzzling her face against the hollow of his throat, she breathed in his scent, feeling the simple familiarity of the situation relax muscles she hadn't realized were tense. Pressing lips against skin, she whispered up to him. "Get some rest, Kisuke."



"Mmm." He nodded slightly while looping his arms loosely around her waist. He was worn out, and he knew it wouldn't take long for him to fall asleep. Part of him wish he didn't, just so he could stay like this... with her.



For the briefest second, he reminded himself he shouldn't get so attached, be so emotionally involved. He tried so hard, but she was the one to bring the most comfort and familiarity to him in such a strange world. Besides, these moments felt so nice, and eventually he'd try not to get too involved... but each day it grew harder and harder to say no.



With that thought, and the comfort and warmth, he drifted to sleep.