A/N: The second chapter. I noticed the ending looks like this would be the final chapter of this story but there will be a third chapter still... I just wanted to tell that. :) Thanks for the comments! :)
Warnings: english is not my mother language, so grammar mistakes, wrong/missing words etc. ar every possible. I always do my best, but please, try to understand...
Disclaimer: I don't own anything. Bleach and the characters belongs to Tite Kubo. I get no profit from doing this. This is just a pure fanfiction!
Hope you like! :) Thanks!
Chapter 2 – Impatient time
"Ken-chan, you're going to be late!" Yachiru said when Kenpachi was still at home. "The meeting will start in thirty minutes and it takes that time when you walk there!"
"I'll run the whole way there", Kenpachi shrugged: he had been late before, that would not kill anyone. He had just finished his hair. "How do I look?"
"You're so handsome, Ken-chan", Yachiru smiled widely.
"Thanks", Kenpachi made sure that all his bells were on right places. Then he patted his pocket and made sure his Ichigo's blackmail evidence was in there. "Right then, I'm off now."
"Bye, Ken-chan! Don't be too rough on Ichi!"
…
One thing was certain. Ichigo could never understand how there could possibly be so much paperwork for captains. He could not even understand some things that were on those papers. Sometimes he was sure he was something between a plumber and a president because the ranges of subjects on those papers were so wide…
"Captain Kurosaki", Hinamori said.
Ichigo looked up. He still jolted every time someone addressed him like that.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your work", Hinamori bowed slightly, "but you're going to be late from the meeting today."
"Oh, shit, that one!" Ichigo cursed. He had totally forgotten it. He stood up so quickly he almost tripped over. Hinamori smiled at him when he literally jumped away.
Ichigo was nervous. It was his first meeting as a captain in the captains meeting. He had once asked from Kenpachi what they actually did in those meetings. Kenpachi had said that they usually drank sake and dance...
Ichigo knew it had been only a joke. Kenpachi had shrugged and had said that they usually just talked about boring things. Knowing Kenpachi, Ichigo knew that boring meant important.
Along the way, Ichigo tried to remember where he supposed to stand. He had also asked this from Kenpachi. He now tried to remember what he had told him: if there were only one line, he would stand between captain Retsu Unohana and captain Byuakuya Kuchiki so that captain Unohana would be on his right side. However, if there would be two lines he would have to stand between captain Soi Fon and captain Sajin Komamura in the right sided line.
"Why this has to be so complicated…?" Ichigo whined when he ran trough the gates, which led to the 1st Division's Barrack's meeting hall. Ichigo was the last on who arrived. The rest of the captains were obviously waiting for him because they were chattering and were not standing in line.
Ichigo cursed himself: what a good thing to start this first meeting of his…
"Oi, Ichigo Kurosaki!"
Ichigo froze. He had somehow totally managed to forget that Kenpachi would also be here. He did not want to see him yet – not after the fight they had had earlier… But there he now was. He even waved his hand when he saw Ichigo and smiled happily.
Or so it seemed. Ichigo knew that smile: he was plotting something.
"Ken – pachi…" Ichigo was pale now. "Don't… please…"
Kenpachi grinned maliciously. Ichigo knew, he knew that everyone was now watching them. Everyone! All captains and their lieutenants, even Captain Commander Yamamoto himself was looking curiously at them.
Countless horror pictures were running a circle and screaming inside Ichigo's mind.
Kenpachi came close. If the situation would not have been what it was Ichigo would have just turned around – and ran away! But he could not, not now, when everyone was looking at them.
And that smile… Ichigo knew that smile! He was sure that Kenpachi had to be still angry about what had happened at breakfast – and now he wanted revenge. Knowing Kenpachi his revenge would be humiliating. He hated secrets, Ichigo knew that but – what would he do? Ichigo saw how the tall man touched his pocket with his long fingers.
Oh God! Ichigo's eyes widened. He could not be -! Yes, he did! That idiot! Fucking imbecile, he brought something here! He wants to release our relationship to everyone – and what could be better and WORSE place to do that!
"Don't", Ichigo formed mute words with his lips. "Idiot, stop!"
"You forgot this", Kenpachi smirked and pulled something from his pocket. It was small and the first thing, which crossed Ichigo's mind, was: condoms! He brought condoms here!
However, when he looked more carefully he saw it was no condoms. It was a piece of paper. A letter…? Ichigo frowned and took the paper carefully from Kenpachi. He noticed it was not actually a letter, just a piece of paper – which he noticed had been ripped off from his notebook. He recognized those lines on the paper.
"Thank… you…" he said, trying to look calm. "Captain… Zaraki."
"You're welcome, Ichi", Kenpachi grinned widely.
Ichigo's heart dropped to his stomach. He felt how his cheeks turned violently red and almost crushed the small paper in his hands. Everyone was now looking very curiously at them.
Ichigo heard how someone murmured: "Ichi?" aloud.
"By the way, we're out of lube", Kenpachi said with very loud voice, grinning happily all the time, despite the fact that Ichigo was now full red and seemed to be shrinking. "Remember to buy some before you come back home!" he yelled with so loud voice, that everyone understood what was going on.
Ichigo was sure he would die. He looked at the rest of the captains. Everyone, every single one of them was looking at them. Captain Hitsugaya looked somehow sick, captain Unohana really smiled and the rest of them looked more or less shocked or surprised. Ichigo looked at the captain commander and saw a smile on his old face…
Before anyone knew what happened Ichigo turned around and ran away.
…
Kenpachi blinked when Ichigo ran away as fast as he just could run… He had expected somehow strong reaction but not anything like this. He frowned.
"Nice one", captain Hitsugaya hissed. "Idiot."
Kenpachi shot a glare towards the young captain. Captain Hitsugaya just sighed and looked away. Everyone had totally forgotten why they were here in the first place: that little, dramatic and unexpected show had confused everyone.
"My, my, my old friend Zaraki", captain Shunsui stepped closer and placed a hand on Kenpachi's bony and muscular shoulder. "What wonderful news! How come you haven't told me about this?"
"Because Ichi – go wanted to keep it as a secret", Kenpachi murmured: he was still quite confused about Ichigo's reaction. The hell, Ichi? Why did you run away like that? Is this really so difficult to you? Why…?
"After him."
Kenpachi blinked, not because of the words – but because he recognized the voice. He slowly looked over his shoulder and saw captain commander's old and wise eyes looking straight at him.
"Huh…?"
"Go after him", captain commander repeated.
"Do I have to bring him back here?"
"No", captain commander shook his head – and Kenpachi understood. He nodded, whispered and unheard thanks before he sprinted after Ichigo.
"My, my, my…" captain Shunsui smiled. "What a surprise. Really, those two together. My, my, my… Even if I already suspected that my old friend Zaraki might like men more than women, still this really is something…"
"Yew", captain Hitsugaya winced.
…
"Captain Kurosaki!" Hinamori looked shocked when Ichigo ran back to the barracks. "Why are you -? Did you forget something? W –what's wrong, captain?"
"Nothing!" Ichigo escaped into his office, closing and locking the door after him. "Leave me alone!"
His heart was pounding. He felt sick. He had run the whole way back here. He wanted to die. Crawl under a rock or something and just rot away… He hated Kenpachi, he hated him! That fucking idiot! Why he had to this something like this? Did he hate Ichigo or something? Why he had to humiliate him in front of everyone? Why?
While thinking Ichigo squeezed his hands – and noticed the small paper, which was still in his hand. He had totally forgotten it.
Ichigo opened the paper. His fingers were trembling while he did so. There was a short message:
"Hiya, Ichi! =)"
"I HATE HIM!" Ichigo shred the paper into million little pieces and yelled. When his mind slowly started to register what had really happened, his angry shout turned into a cry. He fell on his knees, hid his face into his hands - and just cried.
He knew Kenpachi had a point – but he was so embarrassed right now. He had only asked to have some time and then Kenpachi had been his impatient self and done something like this to him. Tricked him and now everyone knew about them.
A hand touched his shoulder. Ichigo had locked the door so he did not except anyone to be in his room. He jolted and looked over his shoulder – and saw the man he hated so much at that very moment.
"What do you still want?" Ichigo sniffled, stood up and wiped his eyes, even tears would not stop coming. "Do you perhaps want to yell everyone that we don't have any condoms either?"
Kenpachi shook his head slowly. His bells were ringing softly. He did not smile anymore.
"Why you had to do this to me?" Ichigo cried. "I would have needed just a little time, fucking bastard!"
"Sorry, Ichi…" Kenpachi spoke so quietly Ichigo almost did not hear him.
Ichigo cried desperately and pressed hands on his chest, because it hurt so much. He turned his back to Kenpachi and just cried. Kenpachi tried to come closer but Ichigo pushed him away, trying to tell him to fuck off, but could not speak.
"Ichi, I'm sorry. I knew this would be hard to you – but I didn't know it would hurt this much", Kenpachi said. "I'm sorry, Ichi."
"Go to hell!" Ichigo shouted. "Fucking imbecile!"
"Why you want to hide this, anyway?" Kenpachi demanded. "The only thing I ever hear from your mouth is that you need some time. Why? Why you need that fucking time? Is it too hard for you to accept your feelings?"
Ichigo grabbed the closest thing within his hand reach and tossed it towards Kenpachi. Unluckily it happened to be an inkbottle. It shattered into pieces when Kenpachi blocked it with his hand. Ink split all around him: on his clothes, hands and even face.
Ichigo gasped – but did not say anything. Kenpachi looked his now inked arm before turning his eyes towards Ichigo. He had disappointed look on his face. Ichigo excepted him to say or do something – but he just turned his back to Ichigo and left.
He jumped out of the window. Clearly, he had also come inside that same way.
Ichigo just stared after him. His mind was now completely empty. He sat down on the floor, pressed his forehead against his knees, and just sat there…
…
"Ken-chan!" Yachiru looked at Kenpachi eyes wide open when the tall shinigami came home. "What in the world happened to you? You are black! Is that ink? What happened? Where's Ichi?"
Kenpachi did not answer to any of Yachiru's questions. He pulled his captain jacket off and let it fall on the floor before heading to the bathroom. He pulled the rest of his ink stained clothes off during the way. Yachiru followed him, not saying anything. She just quietly picked up Kenpachi's clothes, which he dropped on the floor.
"Ken-chan…"
Kenpachi went to the bathroom and did not close the door behind him. He let hot water run over his body and rubbed dried ink away. When it did not fade he rubbed even harder - but the ink had dried.
Suddenly Kenpachi totally snapped. He yelled as hard as he could and hit his fists against the wall. The whole room – the whole house - shook and for a moment Yachiru was sure something would surely break. Luckily, that whoever had built that house had made it Kenpachi proof.
"Ken-chan", Yachiru looked how Kenpachi sat down on the floor, water still washing over his body, which had ink stains all over. Kenpachi breathed heavily, eyes closed.
Yachiru came in the bathroom, closed the water. She did not say anything, just hugged the naked, ink stained and wet man. Kenpachi wrapped his right arm around her small body.
"Sorry, Yachiru", he said quietly. "I was just little…" he could not find a fitting word for his feelings.
"It's okay, Ken-chan", Yachiru said. "I understand. Did you have a fight with Ichi?"
"Yeah", Kenpachi nodded.
"Is that's the reason why you have ink all over you clothes and body?"
"He threw an inkbottle on me", Kenpachi said, rubbing his forehead hard with his left hand. "I just… don't know what I'm doing wrong…"
"Are you angry to Ichi?"
"No", Kenpachi shook his head. "I… Maybe he really needs some time, I don't know… It's just…" Kenpachi sighed heavily. "Every time he tells me he needs more time it makes me feel like I'm just a toy or something. Does that sound stupid?"
"No, Ken-chan", Yachiru shook her head. "You really like him, don't you?"
"Yeah…" Kenpachi nodded quietly.
"That's why you're feeling like that", Yachiru smiled and petted Kenpachi's cheek. "You care much about him and wish he would feel the same. Right?"
"Yeah", Kenpachi nodded.
"I know Ichi feels the same."
"How?"
"I can see it. Every time he looks at you or even sees you there's that glint in his eyes. At first, I didn't understand what it was. Then I figured it out: it's love."
Kenpachi felt something in his heart. It made him smile, somewhat sadly, though.
"Really?"
"Yep", Yachiru smiled and hugged Kenpachi. "But you – we have to remember that he's still so young."
"Fragile…" Kenpachi whispered, remembering how much Ichigo had cried. It still made Kenpachi heart ache, because he knew he had caused that.
"Now, let's get that ink off your face! You look like a Dalmatian, Ken-chan", Yachiru giggled happily.
"Shut it, brat", Kenpachi hissed, even he smiled, and gave Yachiru one gentle kiss on her
forehead. Yachiru smiled. Kenpachi thought he was so lucky to have Yachiru: she was smarter than she looked.
"What do you think", Yachiru asked quietly. "Will Ichi still come back to us?"
Kenpachi shook his head. "Can't say. I don't know. Maybe… maybe we just really have to give some time to him. So, let's give him that, time…"
Yachiru looked really sad, but nodded anyway.
"I'll miss him."