Author's Note: I love Kenpachi so this was quite hard to write. I really didn't want to kill off Ken-chan but I thought that seeing how Yachiru would react would be interesting and it made me want to carry on with this 'fic. I hope you enjoy it and please review.
Until The End~ Memoirs of the Captain
Yachiru was crying again, for the fifth time that morning.
She held Yumichika's hand tightly; he refused to cry and ruin his looks but she could tell that it was tearing him up inside. Ikkaku paced up and down, his normal shihakushÅ replaced by a black kimono. Renji entered the room, his face set in a sombre expression: "You guys ready?" Yachiru wiped her eyes then nodded.
They left, Yumichika checking his hair in the mirror before they left making Ikkaku push him out of the door so they wouldn't be late. Yachiru would have smiled at them, but in the current situation she couldn't do it. Her throat already hurt and her dark eyes were now red-rimmed and glazed with tears. She walked between Ikkaku and Yumichika and slipped her petite hands into their larger ones and gripping them as if they were physically supporting her as well as emotionally. She had to get through this; she had to be strong.
The 6th Division escorted them to the site, Kuchiki Byakuya leading the procession in a regal manner, just like a king would. Byakuya's face was calm as usual but everyone could see a hint of sorrow in his eyes. Who would have thought that he would feel upset in these circumstances?
They arrived at the gates and Yachiru swallowed, not wanting to enter and see Him. She couldn't take it; her worst nightmare had finally come true.
Taking a big breath a giving Ikkaku's hand a quick squeeze, she went through the gates apprehensively.
She didn't notice all the people sat there. She didn't notice the sorrowful birdsong in the air. She didn't even notice that one of the children was sucking a lollypop.
All she noticed was the coffin at the other end of the aisle, perched on a pedestal. She turned around quickly and crashed into the 3rd and 5th seats of the 11th division. "I don't wanna do this. I can't face it!" she panicked. They put their hands on her shoulders and turned her around. Yumichika opened his lips and whispered: "Come on, you gotta say goodbye..."
Guided by the people behind her and strengthened by the support of the 11th Squad, Yachiru stepped forward and made her way down the aisle. Sadness welled up in her chest but she tried hard not to cry.
She reached the coffin and she unwillingly looked inside, a fresh wave of tears flowing down her face.
"Kenny...Ken-chan" she sobbed whilst gazing down into the peaceful face of the now-deceased captain, his multiple battle scars more evident on his pallid skin. "You're everything I had and you left me. You lied to me- you said you'd be back, that it was only a small battle but you, never, did" she whispered, her tears punctuating her speech. The pain in her heart stabbed through her as she cried over the only man who'd taken care of her.
Kenpachi's hair was still in his beloved bells. Yachiru knew that their ringing was the last thing her saviour had heard; few had come close to killing the mighty Zaraki-taichou but those who did had made the bells ring. Remembering when Ichigo had fought Kenpachi all those years ago, she turned around, trying to spot the bright orange hair. Sure enough, she found him, sat on one side of Ikkaku.
Her vision blurred and Yachiru turned back around. They were burying Kenpachi in one of his captain's haoris to show respect but they'd given Yachiru his eyepatch which was retrieved from the battlefield.
She couldn't believe she was saying farewell so soon; he hadn't seen her fully grow up. A dull ache in her chest, she leant over and kissed the dead captain's forehead. Yachiru took one last look and whispered: "Ken-chan...Goodbye."