Bleach, Urahara Kisuke/Shihouin Yoruichi; Emotions: Regret
Title: Umi Says
Author: scathachdhu
Theme: Regret
Rating: PG
Notes: Spoilerish for Soul Society Arc
Urahara sat in his room the evening before Ichigo and the others were to depart for Soul Society. A pot of tea sat steaming on a tray next to him, ignored. He would have been the very picture of a man relaxing for the evening, if not for the hard look in his eyes and the tight line of his shoulders.
Yoruichi silently padded to his room, having just finished eating dinner with the children. Not bothering to announce herself, she hooked a paw on the edge of his door and slid it just enough for her small body to squeeze through.
“Yoruichi-san,” he murmured in greeting, a bland, distracted smile on his lips.
She padded across the floor to him and climbed into his lap. “Don’t bother, Kisuke,” she said sourly. Bracing her forelegs on his chest, she butted his chin with her head.
He blinked, then looked down at her. “My apologies, Yoruichi-san. I don’t mean to be rude.”
“You know I can’t stand that fake smile,” she grumbled, settling on his lap.
“Mm,” he replied, beginning to pet her fur absently.
Despite herself, the stroking began to lull her and a contented purr rumbled through her body. She was just on the verge of drifting off to sleep when Urahara spoke softly.
“…they’re so young, Yoruichi.”
The unusual seriousness of Urahara’s voice shook her from her doze. She recognized that tone, and she didn’t like it.
Yoruichi grumbled as she leapt from her warm perch on his lap. Shifting light and shadow surrounded her as she transformed, and a moment later there was a naked women standing shivering where a cat had been. Still muttering to herself, she yanked one of his spare yukata from a large trunk and belted it around her waist.
Urahara watched her from across the room with a faint look of surprise, which only grew more pronounced as she walked over and slipped between him and the wall. After a moment’s pause, he leaned back against her, resting his head against her chest.
Tossing his hat to the side, Yoruichi draped her arms over his shoulders, letting one hand lie on his chest. She was curled around him with a sort of careless protectiveness; it was an unusual position for the two.
Despite her show of physical affection, her next words were blunt and her voice was firm.
“They are young, Kisuke. Furthermore, they don’t have enough training or experience. Ishida is a little too attached to his lone wolf act, Orihime doesn’t have it in her to hurt anyone and Chad’s control is spotty at best. Despite all their good intentions, they don’t know what they’re getting into. Not one of them is a match for a captain, and they have 13 of them to get through in Seireitei.”
She shook her head and sighed. “But they’re strong. You said yourself that boy has incredible potential…and they have each other to fall back on.”
He didn’t answer, picking a lock of hair from the violet spill over his shoulder and smoothing it between his fingers.
“Regret has no value, Kisuke,” she said softly. “Stand up and move forward with what you have.”
Yoruichi’s palm tingled as a chuckle rumbled through Urahara’s chest. “You’ve never had much use for that particular emotion, have you?”
“Regret, shame, modesty…all a waste of time,” she replied, waving a careless hand.
He gave a reluctant smile as he held up the lock of her hair, watching the way it shimmered as it caught the light. “I suppose you’re right.”
Yoruichi grunted, satisfied. The brooding in his voice was back down to acceptable levels. “Don’t you own anything that’s not green?” she asked, picking at the sleeve of her borrowed yukata.
Urahara smiled. “I happen to think your current look suits you.”
She snorted. “It suits you.”
“I can’t argue that...” He ran a hand up her bare leg.
She dug her nails into his chest and grinned fiercely as he flinched. “Don’t get used to it.” She hooked her chin over his shoulder. “Your moping was ruining my nap, that’s all.”
“I must have sounded rather miserable. It’s not like you to give up a warm lap in order to offer your own.”
“No, it’s not. So shut up and enjoy it while it lasts.”
Urahara closed his eyes. “Yes, yes.”
Author: scathachdhu
Theme: Regret
Rating: PG
Notes: Spoilerish for Soul Society Arc
Urahara sat in his room the evening before Ichigo and the others were to depart for Soul Society. A pot of tea sat steaming on a tray next to him, ignored. He would have been the very picture of a man relaxing for the evening, if not for the hard look in his eyes and the tight line of his shoulders.
Yoruichi silently padded to his room, having just finished eating dinner with the children. Not bothering to announce herself, she hooked a paw on the edge of his door and slid it just enough for her small body to squeeze through.
“Yoruichi-san,” he murmured in greeting, a bland, distracted smile on his lips.
She padded across the floor to him and climbed into his lap. “Don’t bother, Kisuke,” she said sourly. Bracing her forelegs on his chest, she butted his chin with her head.
He blinked, then looked down at her. “My apologies, Yoruichi-san. I don’t mean to be rude.”
“You know I can’t stand that fake smile,” she grumbled, settling on his lap.
“Mm,” he replied, beginning to pet her fur absently.
Despite herself, the stroking began to lull her and a contented purr rumbled through her body. She was just on the verge of drifting off to sleep when Urahara spoke softly.
“…they’re so young, Yoruichi.”
The unusual seriousness of Urahara’s voice shook her from her doze. She recognized that tone, and she didn’t like it.
Yoruichi grumbled as she leapt from her warm perch on his lap. Shifting light and shadow surrounded her as she transformed, and a moment later there was a naked women standing shivering where a cat had been. Still muttering to herself, she yanked one of his spare yukata from a large trunk and belted it around her waist.
Urahara watched her from across the room with a faint look of surprise, which only grew more pronounced as she walked over and slipped between him and the wall. After a moment’s pause, he leaned back against her, resting his head against her chest.
Tossing his hat to the side, Yoruichi draped her arms over his shoulders, letting one hand lie on his chest. She was curled around him with a sort of careless protectiveness; it was an unusual position for the two.
Despite her show of physical affection, her next words were blunt and her voice was firm.
“They are young, Kisuke. Furthermore, they don’t have enough training or experience. Ishida is a little too attached to his lone wolf act, Orihime doesn’t have it in her to hurt anyone and Chad’s control is spotty at best. Despite all their good intentions, they don’t know what they’re getting into. Not one of them is a match for a captain, and they have 13 of them to get through in Seireitei.”
She shook her head and sighed. “But they’re strong. You said yourself that boy has incredible potential…and they have each other to fall back on.”
He didn’t answer, picking a lock of hair from the violet spill over his shoulder and smoothing it between his fingers.
“Regret has no value, Kisuke,” she said softly. “Stand up and move forward with what you have.”
Yoruichi’s palm tingled as a chuckle rumbled through Urahara’s chest. “You’ve never had much use for that particular emotion, have you?”
“Regret, shame, modesty…all a waste of time,” she replied, waving a careless hand.
He gave a reluctant smile as he held up the lock of her hair, watching the way it shimmered as it caught the light. “I suppose you’re right.”
Yoruichi grunted, satisfied. The brooding in his voice was back down to acceptable levels. “Don’t you own anything that’s not green?” she asked, picking at the sleeve of her borrowed yukata.
Urahara smiled. “I happen to think your current look suits you.”
She snorted. “It suits you.”
“I can’t argue that...” He ran a hand up her bare leg.
She dug her nails into his chest and grinned fiercely as he flinched. “Don’t get used to it.” She hooked her chin over his shoulder. “Your moping was ruining my nap, that’s all.”
“I must have sounded rather miserable. It’s not like you to give up a warm lap in order to offer your own.”
“No, it’s not. So shut up and enjoy it while it lasts.”
Urahara closed his eyes. “Yes, yes.”