Naming a Soul Cutter
-Chapter I-
A/N: Because my bestfriend will soon turn 17 this June 3, she asked this as a bday present (though I personally think that this isn't worth) A KenxRetsu (?) fanfiction (she's a fan)...
Kadie- Advance Happy Bday? It's too early don't you think? I'm not familiar with the pairing (actually shocked that you love it) but I'll TRY okay? Just don't expect much.
Disclaimer: I do not own bleach. The zanpakutou (but I'll use the term soul cutter since I'm not used in combining Japanese terms with English ones) of Kenpachi here IS NOT the one that Taito/Tite Kubo created—and I have no idea if he intends giving Kenpachi a bankai... or even shikai... so the soul cutter here is just a product of my imagination.
Note: The scene and the lines bellow (italized) were excerpted/based from bleach episode... I don't know... but it was after the fight of Ichigo and Kenpachi. After the italized scene the plot will be—umm... after things are settled? Vague? Yes. I don't know too. (chucks nervously)
Clouds were floating gracefully at the blue sky—but Zaraki Kenpachi couldn't notice it for he was focusing on the pain—the pain the pain of being lost... thinking about it... when was the last time he lost?—or have he ever lost before a certain Kurosaki Ichigo came?
He noticed the child-like shinigami beside him. Kusajishi Yachiru was looking at him worryingly then she smiled when she perceived that her 'Ken-chan' was okay.
His eyes began to adjust with the light. Slowly but surely he tried to move this right arm to his side, picking up his broken soul cutter.
The child-like shinigami tried to say something but he hushed her. Hands shaking, he tried in vain to steady his arm as he held his soul cutter up in the sky.
Timing with the howling of the wind, he spoke, "I'd forgotten about it for a long time... the pain of not having a name." A picture of his 'younger years' came into his mind, "Everyone else would be call by their name... but I didn't have one..." he paused feeling the impact of every word he was saying, "What pain it was..." he raised higher his soul cutter, almost no light shine from it for it was tainted with blood and dirt, "I've made you wait for a hell lot of time. You might be thinking that: After all these years, what the hell made you do that!—but you think... you can tell me now? Your name?
Silence.
He smiled to hide his sadness and disappointment, "Just as I thought..."
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"I think you're being reckless as usual, Zaraki-kun." Unohana Retsu said, treating his wounds on his right arm. He was sitting on the 4th squad's cot, his arm resting on Unohana's lap.
"Pain is just a price of fighting." Kenpachi said, grinning at one side.
Unohana let out a restless sigh, "But still, you should take care of yourself. Good thing these are shallow wounds."
"Hn. I just gave the fool some freebies."
"Well I think if you're at least in shikai you..." she was cut short when she noticed that the facial expression of Kenpachi changed.
Silence.
"Can I ask you something?" Unohana tried again.
"Spit it out."
"Don't you have any intention of gaining bankai?—or at least shikai?"
Silence.
"I see... sorry if I—"
"I tried it once."
Unohana smiled, "For real?"
"...But... but it won't tell me its name."
"No Zaraki-kun!" Unohana scolded him meekly; sometimes he wondered how she stayed to be calm all the time, "You should not refer your soul cutter as 'it' because every soul cutter is alive."
He placed his arm at the back of his head as he averted his eyes away from her, "I guess you're right..."
Silence.
"Try it again." she said, focusing on bandaging his arm.
"Hun?"
"Try it again." she repeated, "If you really want to befriend someone, you should do all you can. If you fail, try it again. You can't just stay at a side doing nothing. It's like a quotation says: Try and try until you succeed."
He looked at Unohana warily, "You... do you really think..."
"Of course!" she chucked softly, ""You sound like you're not Zaraki Kenpachi at all." She tied the bandage into a knot, "There!" she declared.
He looked down at his bandages. He checked his arm by clenching and unclenching it. After confirming that he was all fine, he glanced at Unohana, who was still smiling then mumbled a 'thanks.'
"Do your best, Zaraki-kun!" she tapped his back, "If you succeed—which I am certain... I'll give you a present!"
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"Ken-chan!" Kusajishi Yachiru greeted him as soon as she saw him coming out from the 4th squad's relief station. She jumped at his back, "You look very lively today!"
He glanced at his back, "You think so?" he said, a nasty grin on his face.
"Ah!" she nodded cheerfully.
Silence.
"I want to get stronger..." he looked up the sky, for the first time, he noticed how the clouds are swimming on the sky and they helped him uplift his feelings.
"Let's get stronger together then!" she put her fist on air.
"Ah, definitely." he grinned, "Now, I think we need a wider and silence spot." He paused, unsure if he's really gonna let her—"Direct the way, Yachiru."
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Their search for a wide, silent place took them almost forever for they always end up on a dead end—as expected. After searching and running for hours, they have, at last found the place what they wanted—the place where Kenpachi and Yachiru first met...
Kenpachi cross-seated, his back leaning against the trunk of a big oak tree. He grasped his soul cutter then raised it, in level with his eyes. He gradually closed his eyes and began to pry himself to listen and feel everything around him. Yachiru ogled at the man she admired most. She was contented then she smiled as she mimicked whatever he was doing.
The wind howled whilst Kenpachi sighted. How he wished that the sound he was hearing was coming from his soul cutter—but he knew it wasn't.
He opened his eyes warily, "You're so obstinate, aren't ya?" Kenpachi laughed manically at that, "I like it! Keep being like that!" he paused, "But no matter what happens... you'll going to tell me your name. I Zaraki Kenpachi will be your master and become the strongest of all." He ogled at it one more time then he went off to dreamland.
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"Have you as my master?" an echoing and powerful voice said, "Aren't you talking big?"
"Who are you?" Kenpachi asked, seeing nothing but vacuum.
Silence.
"Who are you!" he said, louder this time.
"Who am I?" the voice laughed.
Silence.
"How can I tell you...?—if I don't have one!"
Silence.
"Get up, Zaraki Kenpachi! Face me!"
A/N: Hmm... the first chapter... actually I've never thought of any name for Kenpachi's soul cutter. If you have suggestions, please do tell me... I think I'll make it a fire type (oh how I love fire)
Kadie: How's it? I'm DEMANDING a review from you! I will not update till you review! Got it? If you don't like it then I'll delete it... TT