Sorry this is so long, but I tried to shorten it. The confrontation between Kenny and Yachiru can be found in a seperate story called "Confessions:Part 1". As Katsumi was not there to witness it, it will be shown in a separate story. I do not own Bleach or it's characters, Katsumi is mine.

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"Lady-shi! Lady-shi! Lady-shi!" Katsumi stopped as a small, pink haired tornado threw itself into her arms. She laughed as she held the squirming child, and only looked up as Ikkaku and Yumichicka stopped in front of her.

"Where are you all off to in such a rush?" She asked, laughing.

"I'm going to the Shinigami Woman's Association meeting. You wanna come with me?" Yachiru asked hopefully. "We have a really cool club house on the Kuchiki estate."

"I'm sorry, but I am not a member. Is that why Ikkaku and Yumi is with you? Do they belong?"

Yachiru giggled while both men vigorously shook their heads no. "Your silly. Ken-chan said they had to come with me for some reason." She thought back to the last meeting when she played a game of tag with Byu-chan, and looked forward to playing with him again. Both men remembered the rare site of Kuchiki Taichou chasing the child with his zanpakuto swinging at her back. That was the only time they had ever seen the normally unflappable Taichou loose his vaulted control.

"We are here to make sure she stays out of trouble. We were going to visit Renji while she was in the meeting." Ikkaku stated.

Katsumi considered a few minutes. "It just so happens that I need to speak to Kuchiki Taichou on one or two matters. Would you mind if I walked over with you?"

"That would be fun. But what do you mean that you are not a member? You are a shinigami and a woman, aren't you?" Yachiru asked with a small frown on her face.

"Yes, I am a female shinigami, but my job description prevents me from joining those types of clubs." An Adjudicator is suppose to exist outside the Division. She was assigned to squad 4 on paper only; and her tie to squad 2 was due to her ability, but she wasn't a true part of it either. Katsumi was an outside observer, both in her job and socially. And Adjudicators were the outside observers to all the different divisions they visit. This leads to a sense of alienation within their own peer groups, which is why she holds on so tightly to the few close friends she has. "We should be off then. You do not want to be late to your own meeting, Madame President." They all turned and headed in the direction of the Kuchiki estates.

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Byakuya looked up when he heard a knocking at his door. Seeing an old friend, he stood and came around the desk to give her a gentle hug. "Katsumi, it is wonderful to see you again. I had heard your were back from your assignment."

"My...haven't you grown up to be such a handsome man." She placed her hands on each side of his face. "A real lady killer." She then kissed each of his cheeks. He stiffened.

"I do not kill ladies." Byakuya sternly stated.

"It's American slang...women are find you very attractive." Katsumi stepped back. "You need to relax more. I can barely tell when you are joking or serious." Byakuya gestured for her to go out onto the terrace, where they both seated them selves by a small tea table. A servant appeared with a tray and proceeded to pour them tea.

"I am accompanying Yachiru to her SWA meeting. I must say I was rather surprised you let them meet here on your estate." Katsumi slid him a covert smile.

Byakuya's lips pursed. "I did not LET them, but it seems impossible to get rid of the pests." Katsumi had to laugh. "I try to hole up any secret entrances I find; but like vermin, they always seem to find another way in."

There was a long pause. "I am sorry to hear about Hisana. I never got to meet her; but for you to love her, she must have truly been a special person."

"She was perhaps the most gentle woman I have ever met. She will always hold a large part of my heart." He stopped talking and remembered their brief time together beneath these very same cherry trees.

Katsumi fell silent as well. Neither spoke until they finished their cups of tea. "I do hope you will not hate me for this, but I feel compelled to speak for Ginrei, your grandfather."

"I know what you are going to say.", he broke in.

"Yes, I know you do, but it needs to be said. The fact that you know what I am about to say shows that know what you should do." Katsumi leaned forward. "That a shinigami, a noble at that, has found such deep love is a wonderful thing; but you have spent the last few decades grieving. You need to move on and accept that you can form another relationship with someone else. Your grandfather had three wives...and he loved each of them dearly. It is not only for your own emotional welfare, but as head of the Kuchiki Clan you need an heir. If you do not want one of your own body; you need to find a niece or nephew that you can adopt, maybe outside the family there is a boy or girl the family will except?"

"I hear you and understand your concern. I also know it is time to let Hisana go, but knowing and doing are two different things. I am working on it. Now I do not wish to discuss the matter any further...thank you for showing concern. What else is on your "need to do" list." The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. "I remember grandfather talking about it whenever you were here at the seireitei."

Katsumi smiled, "I think your grandfather may have talked too much, you know me better than most of the shinigami here. Yes...I do have a couple of other things to disuse with you. The first is the state of Rukia's seating."

A guarded look appeared in Byakuya's eyes. "What about Rukia?"

"Ukitake wants to name her as fukutaichou of the 13th squad, and she deserves it. He hasn't because you asked him not to name her to any of the upper seats. I understand you where just trying to protect her, but you can see that depriving her of the rank has not been kept safe. If anything it may have lead to some of the problems she has faced during this last year. Will you withdraw your objection? You know she deserves better, and she would grow to hate you should she find out it was you who was holding her back. Fukutaichou is an individual's choice...not her families, and you know that."

"I concede that she would have been better off as a higher seated officer than she was, she may have been spared from some of the turmoil she went through. It would behoove me to continue objecting to her promotion. If Ukitake approached me about this I will give my approval."

"Thank you, I know it is hard for you to let go of your promise to your late wife, but Rukia is a competent shinigami who needs to grow. The next issue is Abari Renji. You know they are looking for candidates to take the captain's exams, they are going to ask you about him."

Byakuya looked startled. "Renji? As Taichou? He is simple not ready. He has the power, or should I say the beginning of power, for that position, but intellectually...he is not fit for such a position yet. Hitsugaya needs to learn better control of his zanpakuto as well, but his maturity and sense of responsibility makes him more than suited for his duties. But Renji has not developed that level of maturity yet."

"I agree with you on that assessment, but maybe he can take a more active role in the running of one of the squads. To learn and hopefully develop that maturity, until someone more suited for that role can be found."

Byakuya turned a stern look on Katsumi. "That is a possibility, but it is something for us to decide. As Adjudicator you may only make suggest possible actions. Consider us advised."

Katsumi merely smiled at him. She was proud of how the little boy she knew had turned into such a mature, handsome, and responsible man. "That is all I am doing...suggesting. I know my place in this society, so you do not need to remind me of it. I was doing this when your grandfather was just a child. Haven't they taught you to respect your elders?"

A quiet snort escaped him. "I will respect you as an elder the day you start acting as one, at least you do not behave as childishly as Shunsui or others. Talking about the empty seats, you are now going to mention Hisagi Shuheu fukutaichou." One of his eyebrows lifted in curiosity.

"How well you know me." She smiled fondly. "And you would be correct. It is time he is Taichou in name, not just as "acting taichou". I know he has no banki, but he is more than qualified for the position, the exam should not even be necessary. When he is recommended as such, will you also recommend him? I am pretty sure of most of the votes, but I wanted to see how you felt about it?"

"Hisagi has done an admiral job these past few months, especially given the circumstances of Tosen's leaving. I will take it under advisement and consider how I will vote." He made sure to emphasize each of the I's in that statement. "If the Adjudicator has no other items on her list, I would like to spend the rest of the time with my friend...Katsumi." Byakuya looked at her from over the rim of his cup.

"I don't think the Adjudicator has anything more to say." Katsumi smiled. "So tell me...how goes the family? Any new children or marriages in the clan? Maybe you might know about any juicy gossip that is making the rounds here in the seireitei? I hear that you and Yachiru have a real love/hate relationship going."

They spent the rest of the hour drinking tea, looking out over the garden, and sharing Byakuya's secret vice...gossip. Around her, he felt same enough to share it.

Heading back to the 11th 's barracks for the second time that day, only this time Yachiru was swinging on her arm, Katsumi contemplated the issue of Kenpachi and his fukutaichou. She decided that it would probably be best to cone out and ask.

"When are you going to tell Kenny? He deserves to know. Maybe 10 years ago he wouldn't be able to handle it, but now that he is actively trying to talk to his zan...he can handle it."

"I know," a small frown crossed Yachiru's small face. "but Kenny is going to be really mad at me. And Kenny isn't very nice when he is mad." She looked up hopefully. "No one else knows either, maybe I shouldn't say anything."

"That is not fair to Kenny. You twp will always be together, no matter what. Give him a chance. If he yells at you, do what most women do to me...cry. Kenny can not deny you anything, and he will go out of his way to make you stop crying."

"Will you come with me when I tell him?" Yachiru looked up at the tall woman with puppy dog eyes.

"Crying will only work oh him...not me. Besides this is something between the two of you. I do not belong there. But I will do this for you...you may come and sleep in my room if he gets too mad at you."

"I guess." She kicked imaginary rocks at her feet. "But do I need to do it today? Cant I wait till tomorrow, or next week...or month." Yachiru took in the stern look on Katsumi's face. "OK...tonight.", she grumbled. "Remember you said I can stay in your room tonight."

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[see note at top of screen]

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Katsumi moved about her rooms, straightening it up for her visitor. The question is...who will it be? She wore a flowered kimono that Yumichika helped her pick out earlier that week. She bought out a bottle of saki, along with a collection of sweet cakes. She expected her visitor at anytime. She had heard the raised voice and Yachiru's secret weapon...crying. It had been quiet for the past half hour, so she was not surprised when her door rattled under the force of loud knocks.

She opened the door to see a harried looking Kenpachi. He was wearing only his fundoshi, but he seemed unaware of his lack of wardrobe. His hair fell about his face, disturbed from pulling it and running his hands through it from frustration. There was a most unsettled look in his eyes. Katsumi stepped back to allow him entrance to her rooms. He slumped down onto a couch that lined one wall. She walked to the desk, poured a large glass of saki, and handed it to the large, shell-shocked man.

"I assume that because you are here that Yachiru talked to you." Katsumi tried to sound understanding and supportive, but all she wanted to do was laugh at the look on his face.

"You knew! You fucken knew! How the hell can Yachiru be my zanpakuto? I thought the sword I've been using all these years was it, but it is a little girl." He sounded shocked, confused, flabbergasted, and defeated.

"It is an unnamed zan, just like the one I use. Both of our zanpakutos are not meant to be used for outright fighting, but no one needs to know that. I like to think that I am a pretty good fighter with out Himitsu Soyokaze, and there is no better fighter than you. So there true forms don't really mater very much." She tried to console him.

"She never told me. All these years and distances we have traveled since the Zaraki District...and she never fucken told me." Kenpachi emptied his glass, so she filled it to the brim again.

Katsumi gently smiled, "She was afraid to, and apparently she had reason to be. You are really very lucky. Most shinigami who refuse to listen to their zans...never do. Yachiru was not only strong enough to force herself to materialize, which usually takes years of training, but she was able to force you to listen to her. She is really something special." She infused as much admiration into her voice as she could.

He looked up from his half-filled glass, "You said both and our; if that isn't your zan, where is she?"

She took on a resigned look. "I think I will tell you, but you have to swear that you are never going to tell another soul about it." He nodded gravely. "Only a handful of people know about her, but only 3 know what she even looks like. Though she is most visible, not many people associate these with a zanpakuto." Both of her hands reached up and covered the flower like earrings she always wore. "Your zan is a fukutaichou, and mine is a piece of jewelry. Not very useful...is she."

"Che, freaken weak if you ask me, but you fight very well, so it doesn't really matter." He paused, a curious expression on his face. "What do they do? Are they kido based or something?"

Katsumi sat on the couch next to him; she could not help but admire his muscular body, but made sure he did not notice. She quickly dragged her attention away. "Himitsu Soyokaze can talk to any other zanpakuto. In other words...she is a big gossip. Have you given any thought to what Yachiru does for you?"

"What you said...she can manifest herself. I would say that is pretty special." Kenpachi stated this with pride in his fukutaichou.

"That is special, but she does a lot more than that." She placed her hand on his bare thigh, "Think back to before you met her. I heard about your early life in the 80th district. You had no childhood...you only killed. That was all. It did not matter the time, the person, or how well they fought...you killed. You were truly the demon everyone called you. What happened after you met Yachiru?"

Kenpachi thought back to those blood soaked years, "I became bored with fighting just anyone. The only fights that interested me where with worthy opponents."

"You gained more control over yourself, you no longer lost yourself in the battle. You still loved fighting, but now it was only fights worth fighting that interested you. Merely staying in the district killing anyone was no longer enough for you, both of you left the district to find that better fight. Till you wound up here at the seireitei. Yachiru's concentration is on you when you are in a big fight, this is so you don't go back to your old ways...she makes you think about what you are doing. You are who you are today, due to her...Zaraki Kenpachi Taichou of Squad 11. If you ever loose her you will probably go back to killing indiscriminately like a hollow, and the shinigami would feel obligated to put you down like one too. So whatever happens do not loose her." She hesitated. "Can I ask just how did you leave her?"

Kenpachi looked disgusted with himself and said in embarrassment, "I held her while she cried, then put her to bed. Read her favorite fucken story too!"

She smiled. "I would have to say that Yachiru is one of the most important zanpakutos in all of Soul Society. Everyone else can survive without theirs, but she is crucial to you. I would suggest not telling anyone else about her; they will remove her as fukutaichou, and anyone targeting you will know to take her out first. She also shows another side of you. Never having a childhood, you never got to experience any of the joys it can bring. Yachiru is, simply put, your inner child. So don't get made when she eats a lot of sugar, plays pranks, or generally have fun...it is you doing all those things."

Kenpachi grinned with a mixture of pride and embarrassment. He finally started looking about Katsumi's rooms he had heard about from Yachiru and Yumi. His gaze settled on the far wall, several weapons were mounted on display. Some her recognized, but others he did not. They continued talking about weapons, their pros and cons, where they came from, and from which time frame. About an hour passed, and several glasses of saki, when Kenpachi let out a huge yawn.

"Must be later than I thought. I guess I ought to be heading back, thanks for listening to me. Your wall here is really something." His eyes continued to flit over the razor sharp blades, the spiked maces, and other deadly toys.

"Thank you for visiting me, but I really thought I would be putting Yachiru up for the night. You make a really good father, maybe a little strange, but she is a gem. Oh! I do not mind a great body... but maybe you might want to wear a bit more the next time you come for a visit." Zaraki looked down, finally realizing what, or rather what not, he was wearing. He refused to be embarrassed. He had worked hard for this body, and Katsumi didn't seem to mind it either. "I got to go. Need to check up on the runt before heading to bed myself. Thanks."

As he left her room, Katsumi just smiled and enjoyed the view.