Author's Note: This is my first Kenpachi/Unohana story. Feedback is welcomed as long as it is constructive and not rude.

Theme: "Tarnation" by Max Avery Lichtenstein

In the stillness of deep night when the sky was blue black and sprinkled with a thousand shimmering stars, Zaraki liked to take walks. He would announce he was going for one after having three bottles of sake and his division took this as his way of saying "Goodnight". His liutenant, Yachiru, would pat him on the arm and leave him be for this was his alone time. It was the only time he could go off and clear his head of memories of his past. Things haunted him that the others knew nothing about and he wanted to keep it that way. While most of them gave away themselves to a willing ear, Zaraki would not. He would keep his pain and his memories to himself.

"It's a fine night for a walk, Captain Zaraki," came a soft voice through the darkness.

Zaraki had felt the reiatsu but paid it no attention. It was soft, weak, not a threat to him at all. "What are you doing out so late, Unohana," Zaraki growled failing to be formal with the Captain of the 4th Division.

Unohana stepped into a patch of bright moonlight and smiled up at him. "Taking a walk just as you are. I could not sleep and when I cannot sleep I go for a walk. Why are you out, if you don't mind me asking?" She walked to where he stood and stared up at him with bright blue eyes.

Zaraki glared down at her, his reiatsu flaring in warning that if she got any closer she'd regret it. "None of your damn business, woman," he barked.

"I see." Unohana turned away from him and looked down at the dewy grass. "Well, I will leave you to your meditations. Good night, Captain." With that Unohana turned her back on him and walked away slowly.

Zaraki grunted. Why did women have to look so broken when you snapped at them? He was used to Yachiru, who didn't pay him any mind when he would get upset with her. She would just shrug and wander off to bother someone else. Unohana was different. He watched her walk away a slight sag in her shoulders as if he had hurt her shoulders.

"Unohana!" he called out, walking fast to catch up to her. "I...I'm...I'm...shit...I can't even say the damn word. I'm...fuck...sorry," he grumbled.

Unohana stopped where she was and turned to him. "Did you just apologize, Captain Zaraki."

"Yes, I did. I'm sorry." Zaraki gave a look that meant he was serious and she accepted it. "Come walk with me," he said after a few seconds of silence. "I could use the company."

In silence they passed under the trees, walking close and stopping to stare up at constellations. If anyone was nearby they would have found the sight strange to behold and would have called it a hallucination. For the two experiencing the moment it wasn't strange, it was as if two halves of the same soul had come together again. They were opposites but they were alike and Zaraki could feel her strength. He could feel it where others could not and had deemed it weakness. The words would never pass his lips, but Unohana could tell when he spoke to her outside of her room.

"Good night, Captain Unohana," he said in a tone that Unohana would have called "gentle" had it been anyone else.

She bowed and replied," Good night, Captain Zaraki. It was a pleasure to be in your company."

"We can do this again tomorrow night. I...I had a good evening also."

Unohana nodded. "It would be nice. Tomorrow then."

"Yeah, tomorrow."

Unohana watched as Zaraki walked away, smiling to herself. Her night with him had geniunely been a pleasant one. There was no posturing on his part, only the man as he was. It made her feel as if she had found a kindred soul in the person least likely to be hers.