bakerstreet | when we were young

[ She had to smile at the idea of dumpling-Kisuke. She wanted to ask if he recalled what had happened, but making sure that he was alright was the priority at the moment. ]

Do you have a fridge down here or do we need to go back upstairs?

[ Nemuri stood, in case he needed her to get him anything. ]

The fridges down here just contain temperature specific medications. I don't think I need any of them unless I don't stop--

[The steam cleared up and he held his breath a moment for good luck.]

Oh. Good! Well, I'd rather go upstairs.

[He suddenly came to a clear realization of where he was and who he was with and he felt very, very self-conscious about it all.]

We need to get out of the completely unprepared and messy lab full of secrets gifts that hasn't been tidied up for guests at all. [He was trying not to glance at the statue he'd been using as a constant motivation for improvement in the past couple weeks.]

[ Smiling, she gave him a kiss to his cheek. So the cat was out of the bag. Well, he'd already told her about the costumes, the new skinsuit, and the kimonos, so she didn't mind seeing his progress. ]

Let's go, then.

[ She was itching to ask him what he could remember, but physical needs and his safety came first. Nemuri headed back up and out of his lab, checking where the cold water was, if he had any, as well as ice just in case they ran out.

She turned to Kisuke as he entered the kitchen, giving him a warm smile. ]

How are you feeling?

[Kisuke couldn't turn any redder but he did get his dopey little smile back where it belonged. He followed side by side with Nemuri just in case he suddenly felt like collapsing.]

Oh, just remembering little bits of the day, suddenly. Calibrating my body to advance in time with a specific blood test result was Part One and Part Two was letting the quirk itself wear off.

[Jinta and Ururu were eating lunch at the table, both saying 'Hello' to Nemuri politely, even if Jinta looked as sullen as he always did. When Kisuke stepped through the door, still beet-red and sweaty, the both of them jumped a little bit.

Ururu gaped, her jaw dropping and a little sparkle coming out of her eyes.]

Mr. Shopkeep is turning into an ogre!

[Jinta spat.] What're you, stupid!?

[Kisuke gave them a lengthly, tired look and then turned back to Nemuri, lifting a hand in his usual 'Here's some science facts!' tone of voice, albeit a little muted because his throat was dry.] Oh. Also, I'm sure everyone who recovers from it will figure it out but it's very uncomfortable having a whole day's memories shoved back into your head all at once. I feel sorry for the people who had to experience years of it in a few hours!

[ Nemuri poured Kisuke a full glass of cold water, ready to give him more as soon as he'd finished it.

Seeing the long, tired look that he gave the kids, she put her hands upon each of their heads. ]

Be nice to your father.

[ Ururu looked abashed while Jinta sputtered. ] I didn't do nothin'!

Be nice to your sister.

[ The two of them subsided into obedient silence, and Nemuri glanced back up at Kisuke with a sympathetic frown. ]

I imagine it's information overload. [ Like a year's worth of a classroom lecture shoved into one moment. ]

Edited (what is English, baby don't hurt me, don't hurt me no more) 2020-09-06 03:22 (UTC)

[Kisuke gave off a dumb little smile the moment Nemuri came to his defense. The fever would probably die off but he wanted it to die off before Tessai got a look at him and decided he'd need to fish out more of the awful medicine from the shed--]

Thanks~. [He promptly swallowed it all in one long gulp and set down the glass, reaching into his pocket for his wallet and holding out a bill for Nemuri.]

Can I have another coffee? I'll pay for the second round ♥! [Ururu and Jinta, reasonably confused, watched him carefully.]

--Oh. Wait, I think I'm catching up! We're definitely not in the coffee shop anymore.

Afraid I'm no barista, but I can pour an amazing glass of fresh, cold water.

[ Which she promptly did, passing it to Kisuke with a reassuring smile. (That actually gave her an idea of what to give him next...)

She looked at the two teens, deciding to explain the situation to them when she noted their confusion. ]

He was hit by an age-reversal Quirk earlier. He went back around a hundred years. It's alright now, though; he created a medicine that returned him to his usual age.

[ Nemuri looked back to Kisuke, concern wrinkling her brow. ] Are you alright now? You still look red... Perhaps you should lie down?

[Ururu whispered to Jinta, "Was he a baby?"

Jinta gaped, unsure how to answer until he finally replied, "...I dunno. He's gotta be pretty old, right?"

Kisuke was sipping at the water the second time around, his face slipping into the usual dumb little smile he had on when he was with Nemuri. The kids were whispering about Urahara being probably a thousand years old and that he was actually a grandpa.]

Oh, it's fine, Nemuri! It's just going to be like a really bad sunburn later, so I'll have to take a dip in the bath tonight~.

[He started walking out of the kitchen, looking for the living room where he could throw himself on the nice couch. With a happily dizzy hum in his voice, Kisuke shakily made his way over.] Come on, let's watch the news! I bet they're showing you working right now.

[ Nemuri caught wind of them whispering and said, ] So you're saying I'm dating a thousand-year-old grandpa? The age gap is scandalous - that makes me feel naughty.

[ Laughing, she left them with dumbfounded expressions on their faces as she headed off to the living room with Kisuke. ]

Do you need any help with topical medicines, anything like that?

[ When she passed by Tessai as she said that, she thought she saw a gleam shine the large man's eyes. ]

Does Tessai-san have some ointment we can put on you?

Hah! Well, that's definitely a hurtful thing for my adoring charges to say about me, isn't it! About a man who's already quite sensitive enough about his age, hmmm?

[There was some shuffling in the kitchen as he made an effort to raise his voice to say that. Shortly after, Kisuke's eyes bulged and fixed on Tessai. He was breaking into a sweat again.]

No. No, Tessai's bussy. He has to--He has to-- [Crap, what day was it--] He has to unload shipments and he's very busy!

Well, it's clearly not true, considering how full of vigor you are. Only a youthful, lively man could do the things that you've -

[ Tessai coughed loudly, and Nemuri's smile was just a tiny bit smug as she settled down beside Kisuke.

However, his nervousness was rolling off him in waves, and she glanced at Tessai, who looked... excited about something? ]

Alright, then...

[ That was a little odd.

Nemuri glanced as Kisuke, wondering if she could now ask about what had happened. ]

Are your memories of the day back now?

[Strangely enough, Kisuke was holding his cane between him and Tessai defensively, even as a little glimmer of light shined off of the giant's glasses.]

Y-yeah, let's talk about that! I'm feeling great after all, so we can definitely do some small talk!

[He was keeping Tessai in sight as he slid into the living room with Nemuri and closed the shoji with a solid thud. A slight calm washed over him, even if it was a little muted.]

But, yes, I think I'm back up to speed. I think I was the main target, whoever that... Uh, weird fellow was. He was very adamant about sending you a message and he claimed I was ruining his life?

[Wouldn't be the first time that would happen to him, he was sure.]

I was expecting fans of yours to harass me but I wasn't expecting it to be a grown man in a diaper.

[ Nemuri caught Tessai's look of disappointment as the shoji panels slammed shut. She had to ask about that.

Ugh. Remembering the Babymaker made her rub at her temples. ]

I'm so sorry he had to get you like that. He asked for my number and I wouldn't give it.

[ She cupped Kisuke's face to give him a kiss to his cheek. ]

So... is your past self happy now, looking at what you've made for yourself?

Edited 2020-09-07 08:40 (UTC)

...Is that really it?

[Having never had rabid fans before, Kisuke was left with a perplexed look on his face. He sat down with Nemuri as she planted a kiss on him and he was reluctant to kiss her back until he had a second to think about how strange that morning was.

He brushed it off and returned the kiss before taking off his haori and resting it on the back of the couch along with his hat. Even if he had some water to cool off, his remedy was very hastily prepared and a bit difficult on his body.

There was a pause in him as he thought about it.]

It was like a little dream added to the back of my mind--I barely remember it except a couple of nice things you said. [She was naturally gifted when it came to speaking to positive thinking and for that, he was grateful. He remembered one other thing.]

Unfortunately, as a particular type of scientist, I'll never be happy with any given thing I make, whether it's a complete failure or as close-to-perfect as one can get. What's made me happy is the process.

I was very happy to meet everyone again in that process and I'm pretty satisfied with other forms of progress I'm making. [He lifted his head up and leaned over, falling with his head on Nemuri's lap, looking up at her. He had one leg kicked over the couch's armrest.]

No. Very satisfied.

[ Nemuri nodded, making herself comfortable as Kisuke sprawled out across the couch, laying his head on her lap. She stroked her fingers through his wheat-colored hair, brushing away that persistent patch that fell across his face and touched his nose. Deja vu - she'd done that earlier this day and thought, his hair does the same thing when he's older. Now she had that thought process in reverse. ]

Mm. [ She gave him an affectionate smile. ] I'm glad.

[ She was gratified to know that her mindset aligned with his - that the journey was just as vital as the outcome, and that whoever he was in the past was instrumental in making him the man that she loved today. ]

[He never bothered to style it or do anything with it. For most other people, that kind of hair was a sign of laziness. He had split hairs and little knots in it but it never looked bad even if he left it alone. Somehow, the style always seemed to work even if just a little. It was one of the points of him that he knew was charming because it was effortless.]

Really? [He knew it was an understatement. In the moments when Nemuri calmed down and all she had for him was a smile, he knew she was completely satisfied. Kisuke looked up at Nemuri, reaching aside for the remote so he could turn on the T.V. and watch her twice at the same time.]

'Cause, I can hear the pitter-patter of your heart all the way from down here.

[ Kisuke was right about that. Nemuri liked him best when he was being himself - whether it was lounging around in his "getaboshi" outfit like he was now, or tinkering like a madman in his lab, or being wonderfully extra about mundane things. (So basically all the time?)

He was also right about when Nemuri calmed down enough just to sparkle and beam at him, it meant that she was completely satisfied. It was the equivalent of Sushi sleeping belly up, without a care in the world.

She grinned, continuing to stroke his hair. ]

Mm. I'm just really happy. [ Not just for herself, but for Kisuke too - because he'd come all this way and was now comfortable in his own skin. ]

[It was a bit of a shame. They were supposed to spend the day going out and walking and Nemuri ended up having to watch over him as he had a little mental breakdown and he nearly dehydrated himself.

He felt bad about it for just a moment until he realized she looked absolutely pleased with herself. The television began to hum and he reached up to flip it to the news. It wasn't often that non-violent villains made it into the news but the Babymaker's quirk was strange enough to--

Immediately, the camera was pointed at Nemuri, about to kiss a Kisuke in his 'mid 20s' as a reporter described the recovery phases the victims of the 'attack' were going through.]

...Oh. Well, I'm sure I'll have to look over my shoulder for a while.

Edited 2020-09-11 03:51 (UTC)

[ It was true that it hadn't been a typical date, but then again, what about their lives or their relationship was typical? Nemuri was just happy that she was able to spend time with him and that he was alright now - never mind what had transpired during the day. All's well that ends well, in her book.

Nemuri was just relaxing when she saw the freeze frame of her about to kiss Kisuke, and her jaw dropped. ]

Do they not have any respect for your privacy -

[ She sighed, once again rubbing at her temples. ]

We should probably stay away from the public for a while. I don't want any more rabid "fans" attacking you.

[ She knew that Kisuke could more than easily defend himself, but the idea that they'd go out only to spend it paranoid about every single person that they came across did not sound like Nemuri's idea of a good date. ]

Edited 2020-09-11 04:06 (UTC)

[Kisuke reached into his robes for his phone, looking at what appeared to be a dozen texts from Yoruichi. A number of them were angry and the rest were concerned when she realized he was one of the people affected.

Or, well, they were concern veiled by anger. She couldn't possibly worry about him without wanting to kick him in the face. He responded, 'No worries, I'm being comforted as we speak! Sorry about worrying you~.']

Oh, don't worry about that! It's not the first time a soul reaper ever got caught on camera in a gigai. I'll get scolded for being inattentive but it won't affect much.

[He knew that wasn't really Nemuri's concern but he had a solution, none-the-less. Kisuke reached over and rubbed Nemuri's knee, trying to ease a little of the stress she had built up watching the crass news story unfold.]

I can whip something up if you want to keep going out without the two of us being identified~.

[Kisuke smiled and shrugged.]

Besides, it's not the first stalker of yours I've encountered. The first two were a lot meaner, though.

[ That hadn't even crossed her mind, and she glanced down at him in concern, her brows knit. She didn't know that their gigai were meant to stay off the grid as well, and the fact that he was now dating a celebrity was bound to make that more difficult. ]

I hope no one's too angry with you.

[ Looks like they had to be more vigilant about stalkers. ]

Oh? What did you have in mind?

Wait - [ Her eyes grew wide. ] You've met others?

The meanest thing I read was that someone claimed that I begged you for a kiss.

[He scoffed, watching the repeat of the footage. If anything, his gigai looked goofy to the point of blind stupidity at the time though he supposed it was his own fault for programming a 'cute hunk' mode into it to lighten the mood if Nemuri ended up with it during a crisis.

Unfortunately, a much lighter situation just ended up making him look like an idiot... which wasn't too far off base but it seemed inappropriate in hindsight. Kisuke also kept quite on the obfuscation idea simply because he hadn't implemented something too subtle before. Usually, his concealment devices were just... invisibility.]

I can beg more convincingly than that.

[He paused and kept going, realizing Nemuri was a bit more shocked by the news than he expected.]

Oh. They were mostly just creepy and didn't buy anything. [He sounded a little hurt.]

But, I'd say the worst things they did had done was review-bombing my store online...

[ Nemuri watched in horror as the camera zoomed in even further to highlight Kisuke's gigai's expression. Quite honestly she did love it when he wore those dopey, happy smiles with abandon, but seeing it on the news practically painted a bull's eye on his forehead.

She was so distraught that she didn't even have the chance to turn his statement about begging into a risque joke. ]

They've even come here? Stalking me I can deal with, but bothering you and everyone else here - and going as far as review bombing your store -

It's not that you all need protecting because I know you're all formidable fighters - [ Tessai was the only one whose skills she hadn't heard about, but she was sure he was up there as well - ] but intruding on your personal lives like that! Hmph! The nerve of some people! How dare they bother innocent citizens like this -

[ Steam may have just been pouring out of her ears. ]

Edited 2020-09-12 03:35 (UTC)

[Kisuke stared at Nemuri the whole time she began fuming and ranting, barely hearing any of it. His eyes were wide and his jaw dropped just a little, stunned. He had his name dragged through the mud and his entire known culture turned against him for over a century and he had plenty of close friends to help him through it but no one had ever gotten that angry on his behalf.

He knew how he felt about her but he hadn't felt it shoved in his face quite so directly before that moment. Knowing it and being made to look it right in the face were two different things. Review bombs? Nothing. Rude customers? A cough in the wind. Television appearances? Nothing the visual department couldn't wipe off the face of the planet.

What he was looking at was--]

Oh. [He realized what he was saying a bit too late to hold it back, almost as if he had to issue some sort of counterpoint to Nemuri's anger.] I love you.

[ Nemuri hadn't known that her very vocal demonstration of being on his side had touched him that much.

In fact, she was mid-rant, hissing and spitting like an angry cat, going on and on about how they should respect Kisuke and shouldn't make him a target for more attacks by putting him on the news, when he suddenly surprised her with his declaration.

She abruptly cut herself off in the middle of whatever she was saying, because suddenly it didn't matter what she was saying. ]

I love you too.

[ Her anger washed away into giddy happiness, the rush of it making her almost lightheaded, and she let out a laugh. ]

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