Disclaimer: I don't own bleach

Written for the Muse Bunny's Contest, Unusual Pairings. Hope this Kenpachi/Izuru pairing meets the expectations :P

x.x.x.x.x

Kira slid the door open slowly, still feeling fatigue weighing on the edges of his mind. Another restless night, another early morning.

A few of the third squad members were gathered in the office, filling out reports. They all looked up as Kira walked in, almost looking nervous. It was something Kira was getting used to.

Kira sat down heavily at his desk, gaze falling upon the three large stacks of paper set on the wooden surface. Something like despondency clawed at his throat, but he refused to let it show. His squad didn't seem to trust him enough as it was.

If the 3rd Squad's former captain, Ichimaru Gin, hadn't abandoned them, none of this would be happening, Kira reflected. Gin would be there to share the paperwork – or run away from it and force Kira to do it for him –, he would be there to lead the division, to unite it. His leaving had torn any unity to shreds.

Kira slid one of the papers from the stack off, and set it before him as the members silently cleared out of the room. None of them trusted their exhausted-looking lieutenant any more, not after what Kira had done. Attacking his friends, breaking out of jail.

Following such an obvious traitor.

Kira's fingers dug into the paper he was holding, with so much force he found himself ripping holes through it. Ichimaru had ruined everything.

The door sliding open had Kira startling, loosening his grip on the paper. His gaze darted up to see the panting Shinigami holding the door open, chest heaving and face flushed.

"Eleventh seat..." Kira tried to recall a name, distressed when he found that he couldn't. He'd been honestly trying to keep in the loop with all his squad's members, learning the names of the new, continuing to talk with the old. But it seemed he wasn't doing enough.

However, the girl didn't seem to notice Kira's forgetfulness. "Lieutenant, come quick! Fifth seat Sohma is causing a disturbance with 11th Squad's Madarame!" she exclaimed. Kira shot to his feet at once, and was past the girl and hurrying towards the exit of the building before she'd even finished her sentence.

"Where?" he asked her hurriedly.

"Eleventh squad's district," she said quietly, as if knowing Kira's reaction. As predicted, he muttered something that sounded vaguely like a mild curse, unable to believe that a member of his squad would so foolishly go into the eleventh squads sector. They were highly territorial.

"Thank you," he told the girl, and then, leaping onto the roof of a nearby building, he flashed off as fast as he could, leaving the girl behind.

There was quite a distance separating third and eleventh, and Kira found himself panicking as he covered the space. He was already doubted enough, his whole division was already doubted enough by the rest of the Gotei 13- they were the squad of a traitor, just like Tousen's and Aizen's. If word got out that Kira couldn't control the division, those sarcastic comments, that whispered gossip, would only increase, and maybe turn into something more confrontational.

"Can't believe he's done this," Kira muttered, insanely mad at their fifth seat. He was certain the squad realised the dangers of starting anything at the moment- the members of other squad's wouldn't hesitate to begin a fight with the 'traitors' if so much as one comment was thrown around. Kira hated it, hated the injustice they were receiving, but couldn't find any way to stop it until they got a new captain, the chance to prove themselves.

When Kira arrived at Eleventh's district, he followed the yells and shouts, sure that that was where the fight was situated. Sure enough, he soon stumbled upon a large crowd of Eleventh and Third squad members, all crowded around two Shinigami.

Kira saw Madarame lift his zanpakuto, about to run at Sohma, and dropped in the middle of the two, unsheathing his own weapon. Madarame stopped himself, eyes widening.

"Ikkaku Madarame, what is the meaning of this?" Kira asked calmly, belying the gnawing apprehension in his gut. Ikkaku was far stronger than him, and probably of higher rank despite not being a lieutenant, if only because those in the 11th squad from seats 5th and higher were tough and competent.

"Don't ask me!" Madarame snapped, sheathing his zanpakuto. Kira straightened from his defensive position and did the same, lest Madarame take offence. "That crazy kid just attacked me for no reason!"

Madarame was gesturing to the Shinigami that stood behind Kira. Kira turned his eyes to Sohma, not turning his full body- he'd never show his back to anyone in the Gotei 13, with the way things stood. Even if the 11th squad were renowned for being honest fighters. Brutal, but honest.

"Fifth seat Sohma," Kira intoned calmly. The squad had to show a united front in public. "What happened?" Sohma looked down and scuffed his feet.

"I... he just... he was badmouthing you! Sir..." Sohma finished contritely. Kira forced down a small smile. He was not at all pleased at the fifth seat member, but the fact that he was defending his lieutenant made Kira inclined to go easier on him.

"And why were you in this district to begin with?" Kira asked, feeling rather curious. He understood why the members of the 3rd squad that had gathered were there- they'd heard all about the fight, and wanted to protect, or just cheer on, a member of their squad. But, as far as he was aware, Sohma had no reason to be there.

"Well, you see..." Sohma stuttered, still not looking at Kira. Kira frowned as the boy began to blush. However, a familiar voice cut across anything he might have said.

"I needed him to run an errand." Kira looked away from Sohma to see the unmistakable figure of Zaraki Kenpachi cutting through the crowd in front of him, his tall stature and equally tall hair causing him to stand out.

"Zaraki-taichou," Kira greeted, gut twisting uncomfortably. He always had this reaction around Zaraki, a mixture of terror – the man was huge – and a strange, flustered embarrassment. He'd no idea what that even meant although, on the few occasions he'd talked to Zaraki with Ichimaru around, the fox faced man would always smile slyly and knowingly as Kira flushed and gave one word answers to Zaraki's questions.

"Izuru Kira," Zaraki returned, staring at Kira with an unreadable stare through his one eye. Tension escalated as the crowd of 11th and 3rd (mixed with a few more) squad members held their breath, wondering what the violent Zaraki would do to the weedy lieutenant.

"I apologise for Sohma's behaviour," Kira said at last. Zaraki nodded stiffly, and Sohma also murmured an apology.

"Just make sure it don't happen again," Zaraki told him, gravelly voice oddly causing Kira to shiver. Kira nodded shyly, eyes dropping to the floor, unaware of how subservient this made him look to Zaraki.

"Y-yes, Captain," he murmured. There was more silence as people began to shift, uncomfortable.

The atmosphere, however, was completely ruined when a bubblegum pink head popped over Zaraki's shoulder and grinned broadly at Kira. Kira looked up and felt his face, drawn tight with fear and anxiousness, relax slightly, lips twitching in a smile.

"Izu-kun!" Yachiru called in greeting, waving. Kira waved back hesitantly. People often disregarded Yachiru, wondering why Zaraki would choose a kid for his lieutenant. Kira found that he liked her, though, and he had, long ago, gauged her power from her reiatsu.

"Weren't we going for food?" Yachiru asked Zaraki, confused. Zaraki nodded, seeming to collect himself from his strange silence. He gave Kira one last odd glance, and then turned around to leave, the crowd immediately parting for him.

However, before he could escape, Yachiru turned to Kira and beckoned him over. "Izu-kun! Want to come with?"

Kira's mouth immediately opened to shoot down the ridiculous request. Eat out with Zaraki Kenpachi, who wouldn't hesitate to kill them all in a heartbeat if they so much as looked at him strangely.

However, Zaraki turned to him, a thoughtful look on his face, and then nodded. "Yeah, come with us," he called, mouth splitting in a smirk. Kira was sure his jaw was dangling near the floor, and his wasn't the only one.

"N-no, I couldn't, I have paperwork-" Before he could even finish his mumbled excuse, Yachiru had grabbed a hold of his arm, forcing him to stoop over, and was dragging him to Zaraki. She was incredibly strong.

As Kira looked into the grinning face of Zaraki, he felt that simmering terror suddenly unleash a roar inside his chest.

x.x.x.x.x

The walk to their restaurant of choice was rather awkward, to say the least. Yachiru chatted to both of them about her usual happy topics, while Zaraki grunted and followed her inane directions of where their place-of-choice was, and Kira attempted to keep up with the conversation, failing miserably.

After half an hour, they arrived at a noodle bar which, as it turned out, had only been ten minutes from where they'd set off. Kira's lips twitched in amusement, but he said nothing, lest he set off the unpredictable mountain of a captain who was sat two spaces down, Yachiru situated in the middle and happily slurping her food.

Kira hesitantly ate the large portion that had been ordered for him – he wasn't feeling particularly hungry, his appetite having been waning ever since Ichimaru left, and then vanishing in the presence of Zaraki, but Zaraki's stern, one-eyed look had stopped any protest.

"Mmm," Yachiru was mumbling as she speedily ate her foot, pausing at intervals to randomly comment on something. Zaraki didn't say much, staring broodily into the distance as he gobbled down his supremely large portion of food – he'd ordered three bowls for himself, which had the man serving him - and Kira - staring at him with wide eyed astonishment.

Then again, Zaraki didn't look like he lived on celery and lettuce.

"Thanks Ken-chan!" Yachiru said happily as she finished her noodles. Kira was only half-way through his, and Zaraki had nearly hoovered up his last bowl. When the man set it down, he levelled a look at Kira, before staring pointedly at his bowl.

Kira ate quicker, if only so that Zaraki's eyes would stop burning holes through him. His stomach clenched in protest to the large amount it was having to digest, but Kira didn't want to see what would happen if he irritated Zaraki.

"Ken-chan's so kind!" Yachiru exclaimed, leaning back in her seat and nearly falling off, if Zaraki hadn't steadied her in time. "Getting Izu-kun some food and then making sure he eats every last bit of it. Izu-kun's looking really hungry lately."

Kira choked on his food, wondering what on earth that meant. Did he regularly frequent restaurants and look in to them longingly or something?

A hand suddenly reached over and pounded Kira's back with enough force to crush his spine. His eyes watered from the impromptu choking, and the pain of Zaraki smacking any part of his body.

Finally, Zaraki eased off, and Kira took the opportunity to catch his breath, before looking to his two companions. Zaraki's smile was amused, and Yachiru's oblivious. Kira shook off her earlier comment- Yachiru blurted out the most random things sometimes, after all.

However, he did have to admit that it was the first proper meal he'd had in weeks and, by the time he'd finished three quarters of the bowl, he felt stuffed and content, pushing the bowl away despite Zaraki's stern glower. With proper food in his system, he was feeling that he was completely invincible.

Zaraki asked for the bill and, when they got it, Kira took out his money pouch, fully intending to pay for his part of the meal. However, a large hand on his stopped him from untying the pouch.

"I'll pay," Zaraki told him. Kira's hand seemed to burn from where Zaraki's was covering it, but not enough as his face, which was a flaming crimson.

"No, no, I insist," Kira said, removing his hand and taking out some money. Zaraki growled warningly, making Kira freeze, heart pounding. Was this where Zaraki rammed him through with his zanpakuto and called it a day?

However, Zaraki merely threw some coins on the counter, grabbed Yachiru and Kira, and dragged them away, before Kira even got the chance to pay.

Kira turned to Zaraki, fully intending to level a glare at the nuisance. He looked up, and up, and up, into Zaraki's face, and suddenly realised that scolding someone like Zaraki wasn't a good idea when he valued his life.

Which he still did, to some extent.

Zaraki grinned at him, showing his full set of teeth, incredibly sharp canines included. Kira wondered if Zaraki was trying to intimidate him, because it was certainly working.

Kira dropped his gaze to the ground, before turning to Zaraki, still not looking at him. He felt his body lightly trembling.

"Thank you, Zaraki-taichou, for lunch. I will repay you sometime," Kira said formally, bowed, and then speedily took off before Zaraki could reach out and grab onto his arm.

Zaraki stared after the blond, a scowl settling on his weathered face, while Yachiru huffed in annoyance.

"Don't worry Ken-chan, we'll get him!"

XxXxXxX

After that awkward lunch, Kira made sure to avoid Zaraki at all costs. In doing so, he buried himself more into his work, giving him an excuse not to stray too far from the 3rd's district, unless for meetings- where he steadfastly refused to make eye contact with Zaraki.

Howver, in throwing himself into his work, he began to notice more disturbances within his squad. The members seemed to be more on edge with him than ever, and more than once he'd found some of the lower ranking Shinigami following him around and writing notes.

Kira had no idea what to think.

He'd also began noticing Zaraki a lot more. Not that it was hard to pick the man out in a crowd to begin with, but it seemed that wherever Kira turned, he was there, lurking around a corner, watching him with his one eye and looking all the more menacing for it. It was very hard to avoid him.

Kira didn't even want to leave his office most days, lest he run into the captain and make a stuttering, blushing fool out of himself. Because he either ended up tongue-tied, or cowering in fear.
However, Abarai Renji, one of Kira's good friends who had stuck around even after Kira's despicable behaviour under Ichimaru, had noticed his reclusive behaviour, and took it upon himself to drag Kira out.

And so it was, with great reluctance, that Kira found himself at one of the regular parties held in the Gotei 13. Renji was a regular attender of said parties, and Kira occasionally joined when he was feeling particularly sociable.

That day he wasn't feeling particularly sociable. He had a bad feeling about going out.

"Relax, Izuru," Renji slurred, leaning against him and wrapping an arm around his shoulders. Matsumoto had made it her personal aim to stuff Renji with as much alcohol as possible, while having quite a bit for herself. Everyone was attacking the sake like it was water in a desert. Even Kira found himself pleasantly buzzed.

"I am relaxed," Kira replied, trying to shift away from Renji, who suddenly looked rather confused, before sitting up and looking down at his empty cup. Kira resisted the urge to roll his eyes at Renji's forlorn expression.

"Izururur... uh..." Renji squinted at him, giving up trying to pronounce his name, while Hisagi shook his head in fond exasperation, sharing a knowing smile with Kira. Kira flushed slightly, but returned the smile.

However, the moment was broken by the loud entrance of several new guests. Kira's gaze jerked to the doorway as what seemed like the whole of the 11th squad poured in, hollering and calling out to anyone they knew.

"Fuck," Renji grunted, snuggling into Kira's neck. "Who invited them?"

The 11th squad may have been rather popular among most of Seireitei , but they were known for their awful attitude while drunk. One serving of sake and they were screaming at people for fights, waving about their zanpakuto's. Especially those like Madarame who, Kira noted, had attended.

Madarame looked over at their table and seemed to spot something he liked, because he quickly made his way over to them and, without asking for permission, proceeded to park himself across from Kira.

"What you want?" Renji asked petulantly. Madarame snorted at him, shaking his head.

"Looks like someone can't hold their liquor," he noted. Renji shot him a glare and clung to Kira as a defence. Kira looked down at him uneasily and attempted to pry his friend off. Something about having Madarame there put him off-kilter, but he refused to acknowledge why.

Because the answer always managed to wind back to Madarame's captain.

"Think you might want to choose who to cling to carefully, Abarai," Madarame said, mouth quirking in a cocky smirk. Renji straightened, removing himself from Kira, and slapped his hands on the table, hard enough to make both Kira and Hisagi jump.

"And why's that, huh?" Renji shouted, vein on his forehead bulging. Something about mixing alcohol and the 11th squad never failed to enrage the redhead, and Kira turned back to his drink, deciding not to get mixed up in the inevitable fight between Renji and Madarame.

"Wouldn't want to be on Zaraki-taichou's bad side, now would ya?" Madarame shouted back, eyes flaming. Kira's head shot up at that, and both Renji and Hisagi tensed.

"What does that mean?" Kira asked sharply. Madarame turned to him and frowned, as if just realising that he was in the room. He made no attempt to answer, so Kira turned to both his friends, who were suddenly looking everywhere but at him. "What did he mean?"

"Nothing, all right? Madarame's just an ass," Renji said reassuringly, only it didn't sound reassuring, something to do with his muttered tone and his evasion of Kira's eyes. Kira grit his teeth and turned a venomous look on Hisagi, who looked surprised for a moment, before putting his hands up defensively.

Kira wasn't normally so quick to anger, but something about what Madarame had said rubbed him the wrong way. He was just so sick of the rumours about him, about his involvement with Gin, and now, apparently, rumours to do with Zaraki. And that his friends obviously knew and didn't say anything...

"Look, it's nothing," Madarame said after a minute of tense silence. "It was just me running my mouth, trying to get at Abarai."

Kira didn't believe the bald man for a second, and opened his mouth to argue with someone three times his strength, but a sudden hand on his forehead stopped him.

Kira's eyes widened. Renji seemed to be staring at something in horror, Madarame was looking at the ground shamefully, and Hisagi was frowning.

"Yeh're going to be assisting the fourth division for a month," a familiar, gravely voice snarled warningly. Madarame, apparently on the receiving end of the threat, merely looked away and grit his teeth.

"Zaraki-taichou," Kira gasped out, completely frozen. The hand on his forehead was removed, and he barely had time to blink before Zaraki's heavy body had sat down next to him, cross legged. Kira turned huge eyes on him.

"What?" Zaraki grunted, turning to Madarame. "Get me some alcohol!"

Madarame scowled, but snatched the bottle away from a numb Renji and quickly poured some sake into a cup for Zaraki, who snatched it away and downed it in one gulp.

All memory of the previous argument left everyone's minds as a heavy silence fell upon them, brought on by Zaraki's appearance. Renji, drunk as he was, seemed to realise the situation and was keeping rather quiet, as Hisagi just looked confused.

Kira himself felt shocked. Zaraki was known to show up at parties, just as much as any other captain, but the fact that he'd come to this one, and then sat down next to Kira, was... inane. He was fairly certain everything he'd ever known just completely fell apart in front of him.

"Kira-fukutaichou," Zaraki finally said, breaking the silence. Kira jumped at having been addressed and shakily turned his gaze up to meet Zaraki's. Zaraki was looking at him with an unreadable expression, and it seemed that everyone was holding their breath. "I was thinkin' that our squad's should get together and do some trust building work, ya know?"

Renji snorted, glaring at Zaraki. "Hell no! That's some sick euphemism, aint it?" he yelled, and Kira was gob smacked at his sudden confidence- no one talked to Captain Zaraki like that.

Zaraki silenced him with an ominous glare and a sudden flare of extremely high reiatsu, that had them all gasping and nearly buckling under the pressure. "Don't think I'm going to forgive you twice, Abarai!"

Kira frowned as the spirit pressure lessened, wondering what on earth Zaraki meant. Renji, however, seemed to know exactly what he meant.

"I'll touch my friends all I want," the redhead snapped, opening his mouth to say even more. Hisagi, however, suddenly tackled Renji, clamping a hand over his mouth and dragging Renji up.

"We'll be going now," he announced, even as Renji drunkenly struggled against them, shooting Zaraki a look that promised pain. "For what it's worth, Kira, I think you should do it."

Hisagi then proceeded to manhandle the irate Renji out of the room, under the incredulous stares of the Shinigami gathered. Kira watched them go in complete confusion, and then was even more baffled when Madarame suddenly stood and, not saying anything, walked away to join another table that included many 11th squad men and, predictably, Matsumoto.

What just happened? Kira asked himself as Madarame sat down, seeming to shut off Kira's last hope of escape. Because it left Kira alone with Zaraki, a man thrice his weight that came from muscle mass alone, who wouldn't have any qualms about running Kira through with his own Wabisuke.

"Well," Kira started, clearing his throat awkwardly. Zaraki stirred, turning to face him. Kira nearly smiled at the sound of bells jingling, but pushed down the urge. "What- what were your plans, for..."

"For...?" Zaraki asked.

"For the joint training," Kira finished, blushing again. Zenpachi poured himself some more alcohol and drained it again. Kira got the feeling this man could handle his alcohol very well.

"Oh, that," Zaraki said, as if Kira could mean anything else. "How 'bout you bring your squad to meet mine on that open field by the fifth division, tomorrow at noon."

It wasn't a suggestion, and Kira knew he didn't have a choice. However, he couldn't let that stop him. "I'm sorry, captain, but I don't see how this idea could be at all beneficial-"

"It's completely beneficial," Zaraki told him sternly. Kira levelled him with an incredulous stare. Everyone knew the history between 3rd and 11th squad- they'd never got along. The 3rd squad were more peaceful and and the 11th squad were loud and argumentative. It had been the cause of many a fight when the 11th squad questioned the 3rd's abilities to fight.

The two squads would kill each other before the day was out.

"Your squad and my squad need to learn to work together. If there's anything I've learned in the past year, it's the importance of trust."

To say Kira was shocked would be an understatement. Zaraki had never believed in teamwork- every man for himself, don't let another hold you down or weaken you. Kira had to wonder if his new attitude was anything to do with that representative Shinigami who'd invaded Soul Society and won against Zaraki.

"I, um... I suppose you're right," Kira said after a few moment's thought. What Zaraki said was true, after all. "Only... I'm not sure everyone else will see it that way."

Zaraki turned a wide, menacing grin on him that had Kira's knees trembling, and his stomach squeezing itself tightly. Two very different reactions for two very different reasons.

"Don't worry, I'll keep my squad under control. If you promise the same."

Kira stared at Zaraki for a moment, taking in the supposedly reassuring smile, and the honesty in his eye. 11th squad were ethical, more so than any other squad. As Kira nodded hesitantly and watched Zaraki stand, bid him goodbye and leave, he could only hope that the 11th lived up to their reputation.

x.x.x.x.x

"Fukutaichou, are you sure this is a good idea?" Sixth-seat whispered anxiously. Kira's eyes settled on the girl's pale face, and then he turned to look at the rest of the squad who looked equally as white.

"I want everyone to stay calm," Kira told them loudly. 11th had yet to arrive, but then again, Kira had been so anxious that he'd ended up early. It had worked to their advantage though- the 3rd squad were branching out to study their location, to discover escape routes and anything that could help. It seemed to abate their unease slightly.

A few of the 'tougher' Shinigami muttered amongst themselves, shooting Kira dirty glances that Kira had come to ignore. The respect the squad had for him had slowly died ever since Ichimaru's betrayal, and he was getting used to it, despite how desperation and hurt seemed to sometimes claw at his throat, attempting to strangle him.

"They're here!" a small boy suddenly squealed, looking like he was going to faint. Kira turned in the direction he was being pointed and gulped nervously. The whole of the 11th squad were appearing just at the horizon, and, lead by the massive Kenpachi, were a terrifying sight indeed.

"Kira-fukutaichou, we can still pull out," one of the lower seats hissed, seeming to resist the urge to tug on Kira's sleeve. Kira hushed him with a stern glance and turned wary eyes back on the approaching Shinigami.

They were closing in, and several of the 3rd squad reached for their soul slayers, hands tight on the hilts. The atmosphere was tense with unease.

However, Kenpachi Zaraki seemed able to completely ignore this as he lead his squad to them, and stopped barely inches from Kira.

The 3rd squad held their breath as Zaraki ran his eyes up and down Kira, causing the lieutenant to flush brightly. A few of the 11th members made faces at the 3rd, and Kira hoped that the 3rd weren't retaliating as childishly.

"Zaraki-taichou," Kira greeted, taking the initiative. Zaraki nodded, a slight smile lifting his lips, as if proud of Kira for not buckling. And boy, had Kira wanted to.

"Please, drop the formalities," Zaraki said, voice huskier than usual. Kira noticed he hadn't shaved, either, and his eyes seemed slightly bloodshot. Apparently, the 11th squad had kept their captain up all night with alcohol and rambunctiousness.

"Um, yes," Kira agreed, although he probably wouldn't – He couldn't even begin to think of disrespecting Zaraki, especially with his whole squad there. Not that Kira was much of a match for the man on his own in the first place.

"Squad's 3rd and 11, mingle! I want each of you to have a partner from the other squad," Zaraki suddenly barked, causing the 3rd squad to jump frightfully, while the 11th seemed all too used to it, and even rolled their eyes at the order.

When the 3rd hesitated, Kira turned back to them and offered them a reassuring smile. "Follow his orders, nothing will happen to you."

It seemed to be what they'd been waiting for, and the 3rd immediately scampered over to the 11th, and, hesitantly, the two squads began to talk and sort out partners. The 3rd looked terrified, while the 11th were merely irritated.

"What will this training involve?" Kira asked hesitantly. Zaraki's reputation was well known- violent and blood thirsty. Kira sincerely hoped that their training wouldn't involve fighting of any kind, because Zaraki's squad seemed to follow after him.

"Ooh, it's gonna be fun!" a high voice called, and then Yachiru was standing on Zaraki's shoulder, waving at Kira. Kira blinked in surprise, but waved back hesitantly. Yachiru looked satisfied and turned back to Zaraki.

"It's all set up!" she proclaimed. Zaraki nodded, and Kira suddenly began regretting ever agreeing. The satisfied look in Zaraki's eye, and the more hyper than usual demeanour of Yachiru could only lead to very bad things.

"Right, right," Zaraki said, and then turned to where the 3rd and 11th stood, the tension palpable. Kira winced in sympathy. "Everyone got a partner?" Zaraki called, voice promising pain for anyone who didn't. Thankfully, both squads had been clever enough not to fight Zaraki's orders.

At the resounding 'yes' from the group, Zaraki suddenly unsheathed his zanpakuto. Kira would have liked to say that he wasn't startled, but he couldn't deny the minute jump his body gave at such an action. He wasn't the only one.

Zaraki pointed his zanpakuto to the trees surrounding the field. Just as he did this, Yachiru clapped her hands together, index and middle finger of both hands pressing together. A flare of purple reiatsu caused Kira to gaze at her with wonder, and then at the spirit power when it exploded from her and into the trees.

A sudden deep screech met their ears, and Zaraki's mouth split into a wide, maniacal grin. Kira felt his body break out into sweat, and this time not because of Zaraki's smile.

That screech had sounded very much like...

"Hollows," Zaraki growled, and a few of the 3rd squad squeaked with terror. Kira would have felt slightly embarrassed on their behalf, were he not experiencing the same terror himself. Was Zaraki mad?! "Dunno how many. In your pairs, you will go into that forest and dispatch as many as you can find. When you hear this whistle- "Yachiru blew a white whistle she was holding. "-You will come back."

Everyone but Yachiru was staring at the captain, completely gob smacked. Zaraki nodded. "Good."

When no-one moved, Zaraki's gaze turned menacing, and caused a few of the 11th squad to stir from their Zaraki-induced stupor. "Go!" he barked, and this was followed by another unearthly yell from the woods.

The members of the 11th squad grabbed their 3rd's partner's arms and dragged them off to the trees, looking apprehensive, but unwilling to disobey Zaraki- he was far worse than any Hollow.

The moment the last of the squad members disappeared, Kira rounded on Zaraki, fear forgotten in momentary anger.

"Are you insane?" he hissed, jumping at another Hollow call. Zaraki silently regarded the flushed, furious captain. "When I thought you meant training together, I could never have even imaged this! This is stupid, and dangerous, and-"

No-one was more shocked than Kira when he felt himself being cut off by a pair of lips pressed against his own.

Kira froze in surprise and suspicion, trying to pull away from the kiss. Zaraki grabbed his wrists and pulled him closer, uncovered eye boring into his, as if assessing his worth. Kira found himself not putting up much of a struggle as Zaraki's chapped, scarred lips moved over his own, harshly, before pulling away.

"You talk too much," Zaraki grumbled, dislodging himself completely, turning his back on Kira, and beginning to talk to Yachiru while Kira stared, stunned, at the captain's back. Zaraki had just attacked him and then acted as if nothing had happened!

However, when Kira found himself looking closer, he discovered the tensed back, the rolling shoulder blades, the clenched hand on his zanpakuto and the set in his jaw as Zaraki completely and utterly refused to look at him, all his focus on Yachiru, even though he didn't seem to be paying attention to a word she blabbered.

Kira smiled- it was small, and soft, and barely there, but he couldn't help himself, as much as he couldn't help the slight lift in his stomach, the heat prickling his neck and face. Because, for once, it seemed Zaraki was flustered. Slightly, unnoticeably, flustered.

And then Zaraki turned to Kira, crazy gleam back in his eyes and grin adorning his face, and held up his zanpakuto. Kira's previously fluttering stomach clamped up in dread. "It's time to fight!"

And suddenly, all warmth Kira had ever felt towards the insane captain was doused.

x.x.x.x.x

They dashed through the trees, feet barely touching the floor, as the sounds of fighting, of Hollows dying echoed in their ears.

The forest around them was a mess, trees strewn everywhere, blood and even animal corpse's littering the path. Kira sighed, wondering why Zaraki had to choose such a murderous task for their training.

Zaraki was, of course, relishing in the atmosphere, light dancing in his eye, movements relaxed and fluid as if he were sitting at home. Kira shook his head.

They'd already encountered and dispatched two of the Hollows, but there seemed to be hundreds more. Kira had no idea where Zaraki got them from – he'd heard some rumours about the 12th squad using Hollow's for test subjects, but he doubted they'd ever be allowed to have so many, no matter now persuasive Kurotsuchi could be.

"I'm never trusting you again, " Kira mumbled as they came across another Hollow making a mockery of a pair of their Shinigami. Kira sighed as the 3rd division member cowered – compared to the 11th division, they looked rather wimpy.

"Apologize, Wabisuke!" Kira called on his zanpakuto – the Hollow was stronger than some of the others, and he knew he'd need it. When the Hollow abandoned the squad members and charged right for Kira and Zaraki, he raised his zanpakuto while jumping up into the air.

A clean hit on the Hollow's back cut a deep wound, but didn't destroy it. The Hollow reached out for him, but never got the chance to even touch him as Zaraki suddenly cut in front of Kira, and slashed off the Hollow's hand.

The Hollow collapsed to the forest ground, Wabiksuke's feature of doubling weight taking a toll on the creature. Zaraki turned to the cowering squad members and pointed at the Hollow with his sword.

"I'm sure even you can handle it now," he snapped, voice full of disapproval. The 11th division member looked chagrined, while the 3rd didn't seem to even have the energy.

Zaaki cocked his head, gesturing for Kira to follow him onto the next Hollow. Kira cast a sympathetic glance towards the pair, who were hesitantly moving close to the Hollow, before he started after Zaraki, not wanting to lose the man in this labyrinth of Hollows.

x.x.x.x.x

"The good news," Zaraki started. Yachiru had blown her whistle fifteen minutes ago and, surprisingly, it had been heard by every Shinigami. They had all promptly returned to the field, and some of the higher seated members, enthused with the battle, had began to brag about how many Hollows they'd 'bagged', especially Madarame, who'd been partnered with Sohma.

"Those Hollow's were fake," Zaraki continued. Kira felt his jaw falling open as a heavy silence descended upon the incredulous group. Zaraki sneered, swinging his zanpakuto so it was slung over his shoulder. "The bad news. You were shit."

Instantly, dismayed calls rose from the Shinigami, as Madarame began counting exactly how many Hollows he'd destroyed, Yumichika sniffed and called Zaraki's techniques not at all beautiful, and even Kira had to add in his opinion.

"Captain, that's hardly fair, they've all done a great job, especially under the circumstances-" Zaraki rolled his eyes. Eye.

"'Under the circumstances'?" he repeated, and Kira immediately had the urge to look down and scuff his feet. He barely restrained himself. "You can't go 'round makin' those crap excuses forever. Ya don't get to fight with your best mate at your side when in a battle!"

Kira had never heard Zaraki say so many words, especially in a scolding, exasperated tone of voice. From the stories, Zaraki let his squad do whatever they liked, and didn't care how they trained, so long as they got tough, fast.

"The teamwork ya displayed was bollocks at best," Zaraki told them harshly. "Ya all acted like you were the only ones in the battle, when you shoulda been co-operatin' your teammate. I don't even want to mention your co-ordination, it's like you were all fucking drunk-"

As Zaraki went on to point out every last little detail that had gone wrong during the Hollow battles, Yachiru slid up to Kira, smiling.

"Ken-chan's really proud," she said, nodding as she watched her captain brandish a sword at one unsuspecting 3rd squad member. Kira was tempted to intervene, but Yachiru looked at him sternly. "Don't get in his way."

Kira stared at her for a moment, before nodding warily. Instead of watching Zaraki any further, lest he really jump in to stop Zaraki from poking someone's eye out, he asked the question niggling at his mind. "What did Zaraki-taichou mean, 'the Hollows were fake'?"

"Like that nasty old bearded man would actually let us free any Hollows around here, silly," Yachiru told him. "We had to go to the 12th squad, with that weird-looking guy, and he gave us some fakes, though only 'cause Ken-chan threatened him, first."

Kira nodded thoughtfully. It made sense now, because surely Hollows wouldn't have ever been allowed within fifty miles of Soul Society. It was surprisingly thoughtful of Zaraki to not drag them to the real world, leave some bait, and then let the Shinigami tackle real Hollows.

"How... surprising," Kira finally said. Yachiru turned to him with a confused frown. "For having a controlled and harmless plan, I mean."

Yachiru shook her head at him in exasperation. "Harmless? Ken-chan made sure everyone could get hurt. That's what makes Ken-chan such a cool guy!" she cheered happily, causing Zaraki to turn back to them for a moment. Kira's mouth had fallen open and he stared at Zaraki.

There went his rising opinion of Zaraki.

x.x.x.x.x

Hope you liked it, longest chapter of the story :P

This is probably going to be a two or three shot, and I'll put the chapters up soon. I have to get this up by the beginning of September, after all.

Read and review, leave criticism, I'm not fussed. I don't think I got everything right in this, so I could probably use some pointers :D