Title: The Stray Dog, the Lioness and the Lion: A Love Story Part 1

Pairing: Renji/older!Yachiru, (one-sided) Kenpachi/older!Yachiru

Rating: R (for later parts)

Warnings: language, mild violence, sex

Spoilers: None. This is set long after all the stuff with Hueco Mundo/Aizen

Summary: Yachiru takes a liking to a certain redhaired Shinigami, that makes Kenpachi more than a little jealous.

Disclaimer: Bleach and its characters, their likeness, and the settings they inhabit are owned by Tite Kubo. This is completely for fun not profit.

Author's Note: If you don't like the romantic aspect of the Kenpachi/Yachiru pairing then please scoot along. I prefer both aspects myself and don't give a damn if you don't. You're entitled to your opinion but I don't really want to hear it.

Due to contrary belief, Kenpachi was not a dense man. He was not unsuspectible to change; he witnessed it on a daily basis and went with the flow. No, Kenpachi was observant and listened. He knew what was going on when most thought he was too stupid to realize.

Take for instance the day he noticed Yachiru was no longer a tiny little squealing pink-haired devil but a curvaceous young woman with long dark rose-colored hair. He had noticed all the phases up to it but had tried to ignore it. That was hard to do especially since she still demanded that he carry her on his back like he did when she was younger. It was hard only because her breasts were that of a 20-year-old woman and when they pressed into his back Kenpachi had to remind himself that he had raised the girl, that she was like a daughter to him.

He also noticed that the other male shinigami had started gawking at her. That didn't go over well and in one week 4th Division reported a record number of injuries. Afterwards most of the guys who Kenpachi had sent groaning and broken to Unohana avoided Yachiru as if she were a Hollow, which didn't bother the young woman because she was too busy tending to her assistant captain duties. Boys could wait and that pleased Kenpachi to no end.

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Yumichika watched as Kenpachi paced the floor of the 11th Division common room, muttering and cursing under his breath.

"Captain, you're going to wear a hole into the floor," he said airily.

Kenpachi shot him a glare that silenced him quickly. Yet he had stopped pacing the floor and stood with his back to Yumichika. "Have you noticed anything different about Yachiru?" He knew it was safe to ask Yumichika. While the strange one may have paid attention to women he was more interested in males so he posed no immediate threat to Yachiru.

"Why yes I have. She's turned into quite the beautiful young woman." Yumichika positively beamed as he spoke. Kenpachi looked at him and was reminded of how the female shinigami would make that face when given something cute. It scared him.

"The other males in the Seireitei apparently have too."

"Oh, yes. I heard about you sending some of those poor boys to the 4th Division in a pile of beautifully broken bones and freely bleeding wounds." Yumichika gave a wistful sigh. He wished he had been there to help his captain. He shook his head, turning serious. "But you knew this would happen. She was always a gorgeous little girl. You knew she'd become a gorgeous woman."

Kenpachi grunted. "Yeah, I just didn't want anyone else to know that. Damnit, Yumichika, what the hell should I do?"

Yumichika rubbed his chin for a moment, thinking what course of action should be taken and spoke when he think he found the right path. "Nothing."

"Nothing!" Kenpachi roared. "Nothing! Are you out of your fucking mind! If I do nothing then..."

"But it's a part of growing up. The stares and the whispers and the flirtation. It's all a part of growing older, Captain. Don't deny Yachiru that. Please. She deserves that kind of happiness." Yumichika shut his mouth quickly. It had surprised him that he had spoken the way he had as much as what he had spoken of.

Kenpachi glared at him, murderous intent written all over his face. Yumichika tried to sink into his seat and brace himself for an attack. Instead no attack followed. He heard his captain release a loud sigh and mutter, "I won't but I won't let those assholes touch her either."

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Yachiru had grown quite fond of spending time with the other female shinigami. This meant during the Shinigami Women's Association meetings instead of gorging on candy, she'd actually talk to them about their daily lives, their loves, their heartaches, and so on and so forth. It was interesting mingling with other women seeing as she was the only female in the 11th Division. They offered her a fresher perspective on the men that she had grown to call her "family".

"Honestly, did Captain Zaraki have to send those men to the infirmary the way he did?" Rangiku asked after the meeting. "Those poor men." She shook her head, laughing.

Yachiru felt the blush creep across her face and lowered her head. "He said it was because they were looking at me."

"And why wouldn't they be? You're beautiful. Sounds like your captain has a case of jealousy. A nasty one at that. Be careful with that one." Rangiku patted Yachiru's shoulder as she left the room.

Yachiru looked around. She was alone and was glad for it. It gave her time to think. What had Rangiku meant by her captain being jealous? Ken-chan was not jealous. How could he be?

"Silly man," she murmured as she got up and left.

Yachiru reasoned that Rangiku might have had one to many bottles of sake before the meeting today. She chuckled to herself as she stepped out into the corridor. It was cut short when something solid and red collided with her. Correction. Something solid with red hair.

Yachiru rubbed her head and turned her gaze towards the person who had bulldozed her. It was Renji. She shook her head, grumbling and trying to get to her feet.

"Damn, Yachiru. I didn't see you. I'm sorry." Renji got up before her and held his hand out. She accepted it and Renji pulled her to her feet. "You okay? I really didn't see you."

Yachiru frowned. "Next time look before you go barreling around a corner, Renji. You nearly knocked me out."

Renji rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "Sorry about that. Look, how 'bout I treat you to lunch. On me."

Yachiru considered Renji's offer for a moment. "And this would be your way of fully apologizing?"

"Yeah."

"Sure. Since you're paying and all."

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After their lunch together Renji walked Yachiru back to the 11th Division barracks. They walked close to one another, elbows brushing occassionally. To those that passed them they looked like a happy young couple. They were chatting about everything and laughing at each other's jokes.

Yachiru had to admit Renji wasn't such a bad guy. She had only known him when he was a member of the 11th and even then she didn't really know him. She also had never noticed how handsome he was up close.

"So, I was telling Captain Kuchiki this joke and he actually got it. He also laughed, which scared the hell out of me," Renji said with a hearty laugh.

Yachiru smiled. "At least your captain doesn't send people to get stitches if they look at you funny. I don't know what's with him lately. He's been acting like everyone is trying to hit on me. He's so stupid."

Renji shrugged. "I can't fault him for being overprotective of you. I know I would be if you were...um...if...er..." Renji couldn't finish his sentence. He turned his gaze away from Yachiru's imploring one and stared straight ahead.

"If what? C'mon, Renji! Tell me. If what?"

Renji stopped walking and moved in front of Yachiru. "If you were my girl, I'd be protective too."

"But I'm not his girl. I'm his assistant captain."

Renji gave her a wolfish smile. "Yeah, you are but you're also a female and he's a male."

Yachiru crossed her arms over her chest and smirked. "And what's that supposed to mean? That my captain is in love with me? Don't make me laugh, Renji!"

Renji was about to say something when a bellow echoed through the vicinity. "YACHIRU! WHAT THE HELL? WHO IS THAT!"

Renji ducked behind Yachiru as Kenpachi appeared, pushing aside a group of shaking young shinigami. Yachiru gazed up at her captain, all smiles. "Hey, Ken-chan. You don't have to shout."

"I asked you a question. Who was that you were talking to?"

"Just Renji." At hearing his name Renji waved from behind Yachiru's back.

"And why is he behind you. Come on out, Renji. I won't punch you. At least not in front of Yachiru."

Yachiru giggled. "You won't punch him, Ken-chan. Renji was just walking me back. He was being a gentleman." She gave another girlish giggle that reminded both men of when she was just a sprog clinging to Kenpachi's back. "I'll see you later, Renji. Thanks for lunch."

Kenpachi whipped around and stared furiously down at Renji. "Lunch? You took her to fucking lunch?"

As Yachiru entered the 11th Division barracks she heard Kenpachi give out a deafening roar and heard the shouts of "Renji, run! Just run!"

She spotted Yumichika and Ikkaku sitting in the common room, Yumichika draped over Ikkaku's lap. "I can feel the captain is on a rampage. Who's the unlucky guy?" Ikkaku asked Yachiru as she flopped down on some cushions.

"Renji," she said softly. "Poor Renji."

end of part 1