Well, when they said my workload would double in the upper sixth they really mean it! Mu apologies about the very long delay between chapters, but I've only just about settled down into the new year, and I struggled with this chapter a lot, and I mean a lot! So I'm sorry in advance for any OOC-ness. ^_^

That said...I hope you enjoy this, and you have my solemn word that the next chapter will come quicker! XD


Although he half expected to get an angry phone call from the school informing him of some terrible prank pulled, or even that they had managed to escape, it was an uneventful morning for Kenpachi. He tidied, remembering the mess he had discovered down the side of Yachiru's bed, enjoyed a quiet and long awaited breakfast and after putting it off for as long as possible resigned himself to the task he least enjoyed: shopping. On his own it was a dull chore and with the children it was an expensive, tiring chore (although certainly not dull). There was just no way he could win.

It took him a few minutes to search through the rapidly increasing pile of coats and jackets in the hall before he found his much beloved jacket, but finally he was ready to go out. Habit dictated he wandered to the phone to connect the answer machine, until he remembered that it had been eviscerated by Yachiru, and then he was out of the door, noting the worrying noise the doorbell made as the door shut.

He never bothered with lists or anything like that, if he really needed it, he would remember it, and if he didn't then he cant have needed it that badly. Yumichika seemed to like lists, to he always humoured the boy when they had shopped as a family, but now he had the freedom to wander the isles, avoiding the few fellow shoppers out in the early afternoon, and picking and choosing the contents of his trolley.

He had just reached the frozen food isle and was contemplating the expensive Ketchup display (who in their right mind puts sauces with frozen food?) when he felt a light touch on his arm. Training in fighting, despite years of disuse, kicked in and without thinking he span and grabbed the hand on his arm, dropping it again quickly when he saw the rather alarmed face of Unohana before him.

"Uh...sorry. You surprised me."

Unohana smiled. "Its quite alright. I should have said something first." She looked at his trolley, piled precariously with whatever had taken his fancy as he walked. "I see you're using your child free time to effect. Do you mind if I go round with you? I only have a few items."

Surprised and a little unsure how to react, Kenpachi nodded. "Sure. Don't see why not." Grabbing the first bottle that he saw he dropped it on top of the pile and moved on, Unohana beside him. "You got a day off or something then?"

She nodded. "Not long, but appreciated nonetheless. Especially as I seem to have developed a bit of a cold. With luck it should be gone soon. Before our next official visit anyway." She smiled again, her eyes crinkling in what struck Kenpachi as a rather attractive way.

Then her words sunk in. "Next visit?" Thoughts of tidying, fixing the doorbell and phone, amongst other things began to run through his head.

"Oh, its not for another week or so." She chuckled, his expression presumably having become slightly panicked. "Plenty of time to tidy up. I know messy things can get at the start of school." She paused, thoughtfully scanning rows of soups before delicately selecting tomato. "I would have called tomorrow to check if the dates alright if I hadn't seen you today."

"Oh." Kenpachi had nothing to say to that, so he busied himself with the shopping, wishing that he had made a list, if only to look like he was doing something. He could deal with Unohana in the professional sense, but this was leaving him floundering, just like the conversation appeared to be.

Unohana saved him by bringing up one of the topics they had in common. "How was the school run today?"

He grinned slightly. "There wasn't too much trouble. Less than I expected; I was a little disappointed, I expected to have to drag them through the school doors."

That drew one of her soft, gentle laughs. "You would be the first who actually dared. From the stories I heard they were all afraid of Ikkaku, and Yumichika was a terrible wriggler."

Kenpachi snorted derisively. "You just have to keep a tight grip."

More soft laughter. "I sense you speak from experience." She didn't seem put out that he had almost admitted to using physical force against the children. In fact it was this practicality and gentle understanding, along with what Kenpachi saw as a rare devotion to her work that meant he had grown to like her in the time she had been visiting him.

Kenpachi grunted non-committally. They had strayed into the confectionery isle, and he knew that all hell would break loose of Yachiru discovered he had been shopping and had got her nothing. He started when a multi-pack of Mars Bars was held up in front of him.

"He would never let it on, but Ikkaku is rather fond of these." Unohana told him.

"Heh." Kenpachi stored the useful titbit away for later reference, accepting the packet. "Thanks." As they passed he took a similar back of Buttons, which would probably appease Yachiru. The rest of the trip passes quickly, they chose drinks and then queued to pay, still talking, and to Kenpachi's surprise, the conversation flowing easier than it had before.

They paused when they got outside the shop, the air fresh with a gentle breeze, taking the edge off the heat. "Well," Unohana murmured. "I suppose this is where we part ways."

Kenpachi was taken aback. "You're walking?" He looked at the bags she was carrying. They contained milk and other bottles and he could see them digging into her hands.

"Yes. I don't live far from here."

It came out before he could think. It just seemed the natural thing to do in the circumstances, even if he wouldn't normally have extended such an offer. "Would you like a lift? It wouldn't take long."

Slowly she put her head to one side, obviously thinking. "That would be lovely. It would be nice to not have to carry this lot. Are you sure its no trouble?"

Kenpachi nodded firmly, striding towards his little hatchback purposefully before he could change his mind. They piled in, Unohana in the passenger seat, her shopping on the back seats so it didn't become mixed up in his. They passed the journey in silence only broken by soft directions from Unohana, and now he was in the quiet (relative anyway) of the car he could her the slight nasal inflection to her voice indicating a blocked nose.

Unohana had been accurate when she said it wasn't far, and they were outside the generous terrace within five minutes. He helped her get her bags out and then found himself standing awkwardly by the car as she gathered herself up. "Thank you for this. You didn't need to." She said.

Kenpachi grunted softly. "It weren't any bother."

"Well, I wont keep you any longer. Its almost three." She gave gave him an awkward wave, her hands restricted but the bags, and turned towards the house, letting herself in. "Oh. I just remembered. The Thursday after next, about four O'clock, is that alright for a visit?"

"Uh..." The question threw him, he had no idea what he was doing in two weeks time. "Yeah, yeah its fine." It would have to be now.

He just had time to get home and put the food away before he had to be out to pick up Yachiru and the boys. Until he was certain they weren't about to wander off he wasn't going to let them wander to and from school, especially in the mornings.

Yachiru's reaction to his return was a welcome surprise, and a nice cushion to the reaction he got from Ikkaku and Yumichika, who looked horrified that he had actually turned up, in a car, to pick them up. The horror.

With some relief he noted that they were both unscathed as they slipped into the car to a raucous welcome from Yachiru, although Ikkaku's thunderous expression warned of difficulties to come.

"So. How was your day?" He glanced behind him briefly,

Ikkaku opened his mouth to speak but Yumichika spoke over him. "It was fine. Just the first day so nothing much happened." Kenpachi didn't fail to notice the glares exchanged between the two boys, but any further question he had were driven out of his mind when Yachiru began her account of her day, which didn't stop until they got back home.

The treats, which had been left out on the table were well received; even Ikkaku's expression softened at the sight of so many miniature Mars Bars and Yachiru had to be stopped from eating them all at once.

As Kenpachi watched the two of them tuck into the chocolate, the fuzzy warm feeling of victory washing over him, he noticed a pair of violet eyes on him. Yumichika was still standing in the middle of the kitchen, watching him thoughtfully. "How did you know about the Mars Bars?"

Kenpachi grinned and scooped up a packet of buttons from the pile on the table, offering it to the slight boy, who took it cautiously. "What you don't know can't hurt you."

The highly suspicious expression on Yumichika's face as the ambiguous statement began to work its magic in his mind was well worth it.


This is becoming something of a mantra "please-review-they-are-much-appreciaaaaateeed..." Like something medieval monks chanted! ^_^ But nonethless I must ask it of you, its very encouraging to know that people think.