Author's Note: Been a while since I wrote anything Bleach related. This popped into my head one late night when my sister and I were playing Sims 2. Kenpachi needed a girlfriend, so we picked Nel just as an experiment. Well, it was total success before my motherboard fried and I lost them all. Beside the point, it inspired this odd choice of pairing.

Things you should know before:

This will be written in a similar formula/style as some of my other stories, which would be like a Harlequin romance type novel, you know lots of angst and lusty type stuff with some plot thrown in :) Light-hearted and not to be taken very seriously.

Kenpachi being a butcher is from a friend of mine. I asked him for a job recommendation, this is what we agreed upon, which seems to fit to me.

Sorry if anyone is out of character. I've tried really hard to keep them so, but sometimes they change moving them from one world to another.

This will take place outside of the Bleach world, so they're pretty much just normal everyday people. I know the prologue is short and probably doesn't reveal much, but I have more written. I just wanted to see how it would go over first. Will be adding a first chapter soon enough.

Okay, that's about it.

Summary: AU. After an attack, Nel becomes nanny to Kenpachi's little girl. When friends from the past invite the makeshift family for a weekend of fun, bonds will be tested and feelings will be acknowledged, unless they are torn apart by outside forces.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or the associated characters. No money is made from this work of fiction.

Tough Lover

Prologue

It had been raining the night he encountered Nel. While returning from his job as a butcher, Kenpachi noticed what seemed to be a good fight. An average sized woman with unusual sea foam colored hair was holding her own against a lanky attacker.

He paused, watching from the shadows of the alleyway. The woman was blocking the man's blows effectively, analyzing where to strike for the most effectiveness. He had to envy her fighting style slightly. Instead of just overpowering her opponent, she aimed for the most debilitating parts to end the fight.

Her gangly oppressor chattered the whole time, while she never said a word unless it was necessary. It quickly became obvious that she was the clear victor. Kenpachi knew it from the sidelines; the woman knew it, heck probably even the hobo down the street knew gangly was going to lose. After another strike or two, the woman stopped fighting, watching her opponent with pity.

"I can't continue to fight you," she told him, her voice serious and quiet. "It would not be fair."

The young woman's opponent was badly wounded. Kenpachi was sure that he would need medical attention. He had warmed a little more to her, once he realized they had something in common. She was ending the fight when her opponent had clearly lost. It was pointless to further his injuries when she was the victor, a philosophy he lived by as well.

"I am sorry Nnoitra, for your humiliation," she told him, watching him with a mercy that was usually only wasted on sick and dying animals. It seemed the young man had learned his lesson well enough to know when it was time to give up. He lay panting on the sidewalk, head bowed in shame. "Goodbye."

Then the lanky young man did something Kenpachi despised. The gangly one managed to retrieve a hidden blade from somewhere on his person. Faster than Kenpachi would have thought, Nnoitra had pulled himself up off the sidewalk and was ambushed her from behind.

It took Kenpachi too long to warn the young woman who had turned to walk away. He managed a cry of "Hey!" as he stepped into the street with them. Both victim and attacker were so surprised to see him that what happened next ended up being something for which he took all the blame.

Kenpachi watched in horror as the blade came down on her face, splitting her forehead to her nose. Nnoitra also managed to swipe the knife across her abdomen. He rolled to a spot further away, laughing. He landed badly on an already injured shoulder, and did not rise again.

Before he knew it, Kenpachi's feet were carrying him swiftly to her aid. She was so surprised, but he had to admire the fact she didn't scream or cry. She didn't even collapse right away. Instead, she sunk to her knees, eyes wide.

Kenpachi had seen that look before, the devastating mix of shock and self-loathing for doing something stupid. He would have turned his back though, as it had seemed to be an honorable fight. Gangly was the one being a sore loser. Kenpachi wanted to knock his head in.

"Hey, girl, are you alive?" he asked her, gingerly scooping her into his strong arms. She was terribly pale, though Kenpachi hadn't been sure if it was from blood loss or dark surprise.

She moaned weakly, trying to flail around in his grip. The thin, jade green t-shirt she had been wearing was absorbing her blood faster, as it was already wet from the rain and her sweat. He could see the slice was not nearly as tragic as he had first imagined. The jagged wound on her face though, running from below her hairline to her nose, was worry some.

She shivered, keeping her eyes tightly closed before she finally answered, "Yes." Kenpachi had not tried to hide his surprise. Fine? Was this woman crazy? Then again, he had sustained injuries that looked worse than they actually were. Head wounds always bled a lot.

"Stand then," he told her, as he loosened his grip. He had to give her credit; she had actually attempted to stand. Her back was hunched, but she was sort of upright. As she tried to take a step, her knees gave way and she almost fell face-first onto the pavement. Kenpachi grabbed the exposed waistband of her black pants, pulling her backward so that she landed gently in his lap.

This time she groaned, allowing her damp head to fall against his shoulder. She was paler than before, which was significant given her already fair complexion.

"No, you're not," he told her gruffly. "We're going for help." He tore off the bottom half of her shirt, as well as a strip of his own, wrapping it tightly around the wound.

"No! No help," she mumbled. Ignoring her protests, he stood up, supporting her back and legs as he began walking swiftly in the direction of the nearest clinic.

"Hey, this fight isn't over yet," the thing on the sidewalk, insisted, as he tried to pull himself up.

"It is," Kenpachi had told him. He could see why she had looked at Nnoitra with such pity; he only operated on pure instinct, like some sort of beast. Nnoitra didn't fight because it was fun. He fought for an outdated survival. "You don't want to fight me."

He continued moving forward as if Nnoitra were nothing more than dirt. Nnoitra made a bad decision in grabbing the hem of his pants as he passed, but Kenpachi stepped on his arm until it broke with a crack like a gunshot. Nnoitra passed out.

The Kurosaki family ran the nearest clinic. It was late, but he had no problem rousing the father from bed to come and assist him. He wasn't saving Nel out of affection; he just wanted her well enough to fight her, learn her technique. It would have been a damn shame to leave her for the gangly Nnoitra to finish her off. At least, that's what he told himself for a long time.

"What's your name girl?" Kenpachi had asked as he walked along. It was been important that he kept her talking.

"Nel," she whispered.

"Just Nel?"

"No, Nelliel Tu O..." Her voice had drifted off. Deciding that it was time to hurry, he ran the remaining blocks and was able to get her the care she needed.

The family's only son, Ichigo, answered the door, his face set in its usual scowl. Kenpachi had seen him around the neighborhood; nice kid, always standing up for someone.

"What do you think you're-"Ichigo stopped his question as soon as his eyes fell on Nel. "What did you do to her?" he demanded as he opened the door wide enough for Kenpachi's large form to pass through comfortably.

"What do you mean, what I did? I saved her." Ichigo began flipping on lights as they headed for an examination room. "She was fighting some gawky guy in an alley."

"Nnoitra," Ichigo growled. Then he was familiar with Nel's attacker? It made Kenpachi wonder how often this happened. "Just put her on that table. I'll grab my father." Ichigo was looking green. Kid couldn't stomach injuries, which struck Kenpachi as odd considering his family's business.

He shrugged and set her down on the cool, clean surface. Her eyes flickered under the harsh light. Outside, in the dim lighting and rain, her wound had not appeared as bad. Now that he had her inside, it looked fairly serious.

"Woman," he said, shaking her shoulder, "Nel." She groaned and moved her arms around a bit. Kenpachi wasn't a medical man in the slightest, so he had no idea if he was helping or hurting. Warm hazel eyes opened slightly, before she shut them again and groaned.

"What happened?" She reached a slender hand up, scraped and bruised from her punches, to touch her face. There was blood on her fingers. It was a stark contrast to her fair skin.

Kenpachi grunted. "Your opponent had no idea what honorable means." To his surprise, she laughed, low and gently.

"He wouldn't. He's a sadist." Before either of them could say much else, Isshin Kurosaki made his presence known, albeit in a rather silly manner. Nel laughed at some of his antics, sounding more like a child than before. It reminded him a little of Yachiru's laugh.

"I guess if she is able to laugh at my jokes, she is not as bad off," Isshin smiled. Kenpachi wasn't sure he had the same faith. "But I would still prefer her to go to the hospital." Kenpachi agreed to accompany her, instead of Ichigo who had school in the morning.

Nel was eventually released that night with only stitches. The cut to her abdomen had been very superficial. The gash in her face looked frightening, but doctors had assured her that it would heal perfectly. They were surprised that she didn't have any other head trauma with a strike like that. Details were fuzzy, but it was difficult to tell if that was from the wound or the medication.

She found that she couldn't recall the exact details of Nnoitra's attack. It was blurry except for Kenpachi waking her up in the Kurosaki clinic. She felt that she owed him her life. If he had not been there, she would have probably died.

"Thank you," she told him as he carried her down the street on his back. They were heading to the bus stop. She didn't have any family or relatives to call at this hour. Her godparents, Pesche and Dondo, were probably worried. They were two corporate servants by day and two of the drag nightclub scene's most popular performers by night. She loved them like brothers, albeit strange ones.

He grunted, "It was nothing." To Kenpachi, it really had been nothing. If he had just left her, Nnoitra would have probably killed her, even though she was the clear champion.

"I want to do something for you."

"No. Just stay alive."

"Please, anything," Nel had insisted. She owed this man so much. She doubted most citizens would have helped her as he had. Accompanying her to the hospital had been above and beyond. Nel had not wanted to fight Nnoitra at all. Things had never come to physical blows before that night. If only she had figured out some clever way to get away from him.

"No."

"Please." She squeezed his neck slightly. It seemed that she was just as stubborn as he was. In that case, she would probably be more trouble if he denied her help. He rolled his eyes as he considered something she could help with, but not actually be in the way. Yachiru.

"How are you with kids?" He turned his head enough to glance at her hazel eyes. Her eyes were large and childlike, though an old shadow lurked behind them.

Yachiru wouldn't be afraid of Nel's face, just as she wasn't afraid of her adopted father's. Yachiru had more or less adopted Zaraki when he had found her crawling in the alley in a bad part of town. Though his face had looked like it had gone through a grinder, the little girl found him amusing. His friend Yumichka had found a way for him to adopt her legally. In fact, Yumi and another close friend were babysitting her tonight.

"I am good with kids," she nodded briefly.

"Since you're not going to let this go, I need a babysitter."

"I can do it. I won't let you down."

"We'll see." Kenpachi had no idea what he was getting himself into with that decision.

Author's End Note: Well, I feel awkward...as I can't think of anything to really say here tonight...so yeah...review?