"You wouldn't have a chance."
"Neither would you. Your kido is weaker than your mother's."
"What? Are you an idiot? Oh wait, I forgot. Yes you are."
"You two shut up. Look, all the squads are in shake-up mode. Spots are available all over the place. You'll find a position."
"He doesn't stand a chance to get into eleven."
"...squad 11? Are you crazed?"
"You don't stand a chance either."
"They are brutal over there! Why would you even consider that squad?"
"Great training. If you can make it over there, any other squad will take you seriously as a fighter. I heard it from my cousin."
"Yeah? Well, if you want that squad don't bother with kido at all. You just have to be a savage fighter. Being crazy would help too."
...
Retsu drank her tea slowly in the open-air cafe, pretending not to listen to the ever present Seireitei gossip. It irked her that she'd had to leave her home to keep thoughts of Zaraki at bay, only to find his squad being at the center of gossip this morning.
She picked up a rice ball, nibbling genteelly and hoping the herbs she'd used to settle her stomach were working.
Five days. Five days since she'd woken up in her own bed with him gone. That hadn't been unusual. Kenpachi never stayed the full night, waking up with her. Theirs was not strictly a romantic liaison.
Retsu put down her meager breakfast and stared out over the busy square in the middle of the Seireitei. Shinigami everywhere. All those people, moving back and forth following duty, pleasure, or whatever.
And they all knew who they were.
Knowing you were feeling sorry for yourself and actually doing something about it were two different things. Retsu sighed. Where was he? Had she scared him off?
Five days. Not that unusual. Especially with their own duties as squad captains. But ...but that last night had been so intense. And she ...
Retsu blushed slightly.
She had been so needy. Having found out her entire existence was a lie.
This small break had made her realize something incredibly important. And wrong. Kenpachi Zaraki was her closest friend. Of course she had female friends, and work friends, and shinigami friendships that had lasted centuries longer than she'd known the big warrior. But none had gone beneath the surface like he had, none knew her like he did.
Maybe they should end their quasi-relationship and just become friends.
The thought brought a smile to her lips and her tension eased. Friends? Zaraki? Hell no. He wasn't built for anything so genteel. And the picture of her trying to explain to him why he couldn't touch her anymore? Priceless. Never happen.
Whatever they had together, was the best they could manage between them. They were both so private. Both had walls. Damaged by their pasts. Retsu nibbled some more of her rice ball as she realized that perhaps, surface differences aside, just perhaps she and the wild man of the Zaraki district weren't so very opposite after all.
"Good morning, Captain Unohana."
Retsu smiled, having recognized her lieutenant's voice. "Isane."
"I'm sorry, captain, but we need to speak about Yamada."
Retsu blinked. Her fiance? The dead one. It was a good thing she didn't say anything, however, as her squad lieutenant continued.
"He just has no backbone! Lets all the other squad members walk all over him. I just caught him in the barracks working a third double shift in four days! That kind of exhaustion can lead to difficulties."
The pieces clicked and Retsu nodded. Hanataro Yamada. Medic. Not her dead former-fiance. "Yes, he is far too trusting and timid. Yet he has great potential as a healer."
Isane nodded lightly to a chair and Retsu smiled and waved a hand graciously, letting her lieutenant join her. "I'm sorry that you had to work on the duty rosters without me this week."
Isane Kotetsu just smiled and shrugged. "You were tied up with all the evaluations and recommendation paperwork, I understand."
"Still, I thank you for your assistance."
o.O.o.O.o.O
Kenpachi cracked open the one eye not covered by his eyepatch. He gave a jaw-cracking yawn and then stared at the 9th seat in his squad. The man had a fake smile pasted on his wan face and was holding a stack of reports.
The warrior's dark gaze lowered to the reports and then back up to his subordinate's face. The man paled even further. Kenpachi sighed. "I just did those."
"L ...Last year, sir."
The Zaraki groaned and nodded toward his cleared desk. He watched as his 9th seat gratefully deposited this years recommendations and evaluation forms. He reached for a pen, ready to sign off on them all, since they had already been filled out for him.
Kenpachi scrawled his name on one then reached for the second when he stopped. There was a short pause, and then he pulled the first report back toward him.
His 9th seat stiffened.
The squad leader frowned as he read what was written. "Lacking discipline? Yachiru?"
"Er ...she bites, sir. And she made me do the reports you were making her do. For you, sir. Which of course I'm happy to do." The man blanched further under his leader's stare. "Sir."
o.O.o.O.o.O
The room full of people fell quiet as he entered. Kenpachi Zaraki looked around at the social gathering of the other captains and several lieutenants and grinned full out. "Hey, I bathed." He announced to the curious looks.
"You spend more time in the baths than you do your desk." Quipped Captain Kurotsuchi, the new leader of squad 12.
"And how do you know that?" Drawled Captain Kyoraku, tipping back his straw hat with one finger while smiling lazily.
The strange new leader for Research and Development simply smiled and moved away, leaving the conversation. But not retreating. He shot a glance at those around him and smiled.
"I swear that man is up to something." Shunsui murmured.
Captain Ukitake shrugged and handed Kenpachi a cup of sake. "He's good at his job, so far."
"That's not reassuring, actually." Shunsui Kyoraku shrugged and looked down balefully at his own cup. "Empty. Now that is a shame."
"If you would choose another lieutenant, then you could use them inappropriately to fetch more for you." The words from his long time friend were not ungentle.
Shunsui frowned. "No one can take Lisa's place."
Captain Aizen joined them with a soft smile. "This is Captain Unohana's birthday. Perhaps not the best time to discuss changes in our squad rosters."
All four men looked up as Head Captain Yamamoto joined them. "Captain Zaraki. Your evaluations and reports were hours late." He spoke gruffly.
Kenpachi scowled. Why did the old fart have to bring that up? And in front of others.
"Yet they were in a different handwriting." The Head Captain's voice was quite droll. "Yours, I believe. Though I'm not used to seeing it."
Shunsui dipped his head to hide his amusement, Jushiro Ukitake merely smiled. Captain Aizen's eyes widened slightly. Still, it was enough to make Kenpachi want to growl and hurt someone.
"And it seems your 9th seat is in the medical barracks. Requesting an immediate transfer." The Head Captain continued. "So a spot just opened up in your squad, I believe?"
Captain Aizen's ears would have stood up if they could and he had to force himself not to smile. See, this was why he needed to be on hand for social events such as this. "Actually, I may have the perfect person for you in my squad. He's young and a new graduate. Strong fighter, but needs discipline. I'd train him myself, but coming into the leadership of my squad through tragedy, I don't have the time to devote as I should."
Anything to end this conversation. "Send over the paperwork." Kenpachi growled. "I'll take him."
Aizen nodded and backed away from the grouping. How wonderful.
Sending young Renji Abarai to squad 11 was perfect. The young man was not suitable for Aizen's future plans. And while he was good, he was also observant and asked questions, all in efforts to get stronger. Aizen had been contemplating 'an accident' but something so soon after the events with the Hollowfied Seven? No, too suspicious. Simply transferring him out to any other squad would have been awkward, but sending him to Zaraki? That would be seen as a way of strengthening his fighting potential. Perfect.
Aizen's retreat went unnoticed by the others. Head Captain Yamamoto gave Kenpachi the once-over. "No present for the party?"
The last thing the large warrior was going to admit was having already given Retsu a birthday present. "My presence isn't enough?"
"Your presence is certainly a surprise." Retsu Unohana moved gracefully into their circle, having overheard the last comment at least.
Zaraki gave her a mocking smile and a nod of his head, making the small bells attached to his hair spikes jingle slightly. "A pleasant one?"
Retsu gave him her usual calm smile. "Remains to be seen."
"Now, play nice children." Shunsui shook his head slightly while smiling in his normal lazy manner. "I don't know why you two never hit it off."
Retsu gave the squad 8 leader a look, had there been a tone in his voice? He had the grace to drop his eyes and hold out one hand as if asking forgiveness. "None of my business, of course."
"Since when has that stopped you?" Captain Ukitake said with a small tilt to his mouth.
Shunsui gave an indolent shrug of his shoulders as if conceding the point. "One less present isn't going to be a problem, Zaraki." He nodded over towards a laden table holding several gaily wrapped packages. As if he had just considered a new point, he raised one finger toward their Head Captain. "Sir? You've never thrown a birthday party for me like this."
The Head Captain said nothing as he stood there quietly.
Captain Ukitake sighed. "We get parties every year, Shunsui."
But the captain of squad 8 just smiled and shook his head. "Not like this, Jushiro. And we have yet to attend one for Captain Zaraki."
The Head Captain didn't even bother to look at anyone, he simply spoke. "Zaraki? Do you want a birthday party?"
"Hell no." Kenpachi growled. "Parties are a waste of time."
The Head Captain nodded, and moved away to another grouping of captains. His words soft, yet understandable. "And yet, you're here."
Watching the old fart's back as he moved away, Kenpachi frowned sharply. "Just to keep things interesting." He muttered darkly, denying any other reason for attending the evening's festivities.
Captain Ukitake lightly clapped Zaraki on the shoulder before moving away himself, his tone friendly. "Don't worry, no one thinks you've gone soft by coming to a party."
"Especially late, and without a present." Shunsui laughed lightly and moved off purposefully. "Now, to see about my empty cup. Cups should not be empty, that is the nature of a cup."
"Incorrigible." Retsu gave a small smile.
Kenpachi shrugged, alone with her, and yet not. He frowned at the people around them. "Shunsui will never change."
"I meant you." Retsu said coolly.
Genuinely confused, the large warrior gave her a wary look. "What did I do?" He knew this wasn't about not arriving with a present, since he'd already given her one.
The little healer merely stared at him and Kenpachi fought the desire to shift his weight. He would not let her know she was making him uncomfortable. Finally she clucked her tongue softly. "If you're going to make a scene at my party, please do so before the cake is cut."
Kenpachi's visible eye narrowed on her. "So, you think the only reason I came here tonight was to needle you?" His voice dropped to a whisper. "To get you to fight me?"
"Isn't it?" Retsu's vocal level didn't change, but there was a hint of a challenge in her tone. "We are in public, after all. And that is how you have always treated me ...in public." The pause in her speech barely noticeable.
His gaze warmed, thinking about how he'd like to be treating her in private.
Her dark-gray eyes caught his expression and her lips thinned as a prickly heated sensation traveled over her skin.
"Do you want me to leave?" It was a real question, not a taunt.
Retsu looked at him, taking in his appearance and presence. A presence that soothed her jumpy nerves of the past few days. He wasn't distancing himself. Relief made her feel almost light-headed. To a truthful question, she gave a truthful answer. "No. I don't want you to leave."
"There you are, Captain Unohana!"
Kenpachi watched as Retsu was pulled away to speak to some other party goers. He looked around, and found himself alone. He looked down at his untouched sake and took a sip. Smooth, nice. Not a drink from a dive like he was more used to having.
"Ken-chan!" The name and bright, bubbly voice was a dead give-away.
"Yachiru." The large warrior didn't even look up, but waited for the light touch of her grabbing his haori and a tug, then her slight weight settling on his shoulder.
"You came! You came!" Yachiru sighed happily. "Re-chan's party is always good. The candies are the best!"
Come to think of it, Kenpachi thought he remembered his lieutenant saying something like that a while back. A long while back. He turned his head to look at her as a sudden thought struck him. "How long have you been coming to R ... Captain Unohana's birthday's?"
Yachiru grinned and pushed her pink hair back from her face. "Forever." She said.
Kenpachi chuckled as he settled back into the familiar chatter of his long-time companion. "Forever isn't actually a unit of time."
He sipped his sake as he watched the people around him and chose a chair to lounge in. It didn't matter that the chair was occupied. One glare from him and it emptied right up. He settled down and listened to his pink-haired lieutenant explaining how 'forever' was indeed a real answer, but more important ...she needed to try some more of the candied ginger before it all disappeared.
Noticed by neither, the Head Captain watched the whole room. And if his gaze lingered on either of them, no one seemed to notice. Almost no one.
"Lovely party." Captain Aizen said in a mild voice, having arrived with a slice of cake for his superior.
"Indeed." Yamamoto nodded, surmising the comment needed nothing further. He shook his head at the cake, not being one for sweets.
"A surprise to see the Zaraki attend. Attend and behave." Again, the mild tone. Was the man fishing for information? The Head Captain gave a dip to his head. The only answer he was willing to give.
Aizen sensed the subtle shift in mood and knew the conversation was going no where. The art of seduction wasn't limited to sexual pleasures. He needed to seduce the whole of the Seireitei into thinking of him as innocent, loyal, and non-threatening. That included knowing when to back off.
"Perhaps this is a turning point for Captain Zaraki. Now that he's doing his own reports and all." Aizen finished his drink and started to move away.
Yamamoto's voice stopped him. "I doubt it. A turning point yes, but I'd wager a lot that it will be another three decades at the very least before he does those reports himself. Perhaps longer."
Genuinely curious, Aizen turned toward the Head Captain. "Oh?"
Yamamoto gave the tiniest of smiles. "Oh, he'll read them more carefully I'm sure. And be more aware. But he'll still make someone else write them."
"Perhaps you're right." Aizen dipped his head slightly, in a deferential manner. His every innocuous movement a lie.
Yamamoto grunted slightly as he watched the goings on. Zaraki was becoming more aware of his position. Slowly. Terribly slowly. But it was there. Good.
o.O.o.O.o.O
Retsu Unohana thanked everyone and finished drinking to Shunsui's 'last toast, I promise'. Finally, she was able to close her door behind everyone and lean against it, finally home and alone. Not that she needed the door for support, though she was pleasantly floating on her slightly inebriated feet. But from relief. It had been a long night.
Her relief at seeing Kenpachi had turned quickly into a frustrating nightmare. Not because he did or said anything wrong. But because she could feel his presence, and it was across the room. Because for the first time she regretted that they weren't being together in public. Pretending she didn't know he was there. It felt ...wrong.
How often had she heard the small jingle of his bells tease her senses? She'd turn and he would be laughing at something Yachiru would say. Or he'd been joined by a few of the other captains and they were discussing ...something.
Retsu had never seen him relaxed and just enjoying himself. Except with her. It was odd to see him more at ease in polite company, and it had surprised her to feel a hint of jealousy. Still, she'd wondered what the men were laughing at tonight. Though from the look on Tosen's face at least, some of the jokes may have been on the raunchy side.
And she'd been forced to speak politely, move from guest to guest and play nice when all night long her tension had ratcheted up and up. And the more unsettled she'd felt, the more calm she'd appeared. It was a defense mechanism she'd built up over the years, starting in her own father's house.
Except ... Retsu frowned, still leaning against the door. He wasn't her father. And now she knew that her mother wasn't her mother. Was this really even her birthday?
"What's the take?" The gruff voice should have startled her, but instead she felt the tension drain from her body. "Get anything good?"
"You left early."
Kenpachi shrugged and moved into the moonlight shining through her window. His face was a study in shadows and lines. And it should have made him look menacing. She'd never been so happy to see him.
"I stayed for cake." He mentioned. "Yachiru would have killed me on the spot if I hadn't."
"You didn't eat any." Retsu mentioned, and straightened herself up, stepping away from the door. Yachiru had eaten two slices, plus Kenpachi's slice.
Unaccountably pleased that she'd noticed, despite the social whirl of the party, he nodded. "My lieutenant assures me it was delicious."
"There is some left over." It was an offer.
Kenpachi shook his head and reached for her hand, leading her back toward her private bath area behind her house. "Don't tell Yachiru, she'll rush right over. And I'm tired of sharing you."
"Sharing me?" She echoed him as he pulled the door to the bath closed and turned to look at her. Retsu said nothing as he picked up the tail of her braid and pulled the ties loose. Slowly he began unbraiding her hair.
Embarrassed he'd said anything of the sort, he ignored the comment. Kenpachi instead pulled her hair free and settled it behind her. His clever fingers made short work of her robes and sashes.
"No. I will just fall asleep in the bath." Retsu murmured, letting him strip her of her clothing.
"No, you won't." His voice was a heated promise, making her shiver.
"Wait." Retsu blinked rapidly, trying to push aside the sexual haze clouding her senses. "I need to put up my hair."
"No." He pulled her toward the bath, but she managed to twist her arm and release herself. "Retsu ..."
"It will take hours to dry." She complained, pushing in pins as she piled her hair on top of her head, twisting it into shape.
Kenpachi said nothing, his dark gaze trailing over her svelte figure with hot need. The way her arms were over her head did incredibly mouth-watering things to her breasts. He groaned.
The sound of his need, his desire for her made her catch her breath. She looked at him, frozen in a position with her arms up, totally exposed.
Her instinct was to cover herself, but the light in his gaze had her hesitating. She turned instead, showing him her backside as she looked at him over one shoulder. She dipped one foot into the water, though her eyes never left his face.
Kenpachi watched her watch him. He grinned, full out grinned. "Teasing me is not a good idea. I tend to pounce."
"I don't want my hair wet." Retsu protested, then smiled gently at him. "And you are overdressed for this party."
The large warrior's blood pressure shot up, as did certain interesting parts of his male anatomy. He was used to being the one to tease, to push, to take. This flirty side of Retsu was new to him, and from the look of it, new to her as well.
She turned and walked down the steps into the deep, heated spring that was the basis of her private bath. He would later be surprised that his clothing wasn't shredded, what with the speed in which he divested himself of them.
Tiny bells jingled with the speed of his movements and Retsu barely had time to adjust to the heat of the water before he was in the bath with her. Behind her.
Retsu hissed as his arms wrapped around her and his head bent down to nuzzle into the side of her neck, where it met her shoulder. She tilted her head, then sagged, lucky he was holding her up as the man bit her.
"Stop that." She moaned as he licked her abused skin, shivering despite the high temperature of the water.
"No." Kenpachi turned her and put his hands on either side of her face.
They stood there for a long moment, staring into each other's faces. She couldn't read him. Other than the desire for her, she still couldn't fathom why he was there. "You keep coming back." She whispered.
"I still want you." Came his hoarse response.
She wasn't without resources within the Gotei 13, nor the entire Seireitei. She'd been a captain here for two centuries already. "You don't visit anyone else." She knew it. She knew it to be true. But there was a need to have him say it, and say it to her.
He leaned his head down, their heights so uneven. His forehead touched hers. The world narrowed until there was nothing else, nothing outside of them. Nothing outside of the space between them. Her lips suddenly ached and she parted them slightly.
His gaze dropped to her mouth. "No one else for you either."
"No." She whispered the word, waiting for him to move. To take. He didn't. Retsu moaned deep in her throat. "Kiss me."
Kenpachi looked at her and then shook his head.
Confused, Retsu leaned back, looking up at him. "No?"
"You're engaged."
The words were like a bucket of cold water. Retsu's eyebrows furrowed and she pulled back, but he wasn't letting go. "What does that have to do with anything? You know I'm not with my fiance. Any of them."
Kenpachi was flying without a net, and he really couldn't explain himself because he didn't fully understand his own feelings on the matter.
"He gave you a present. I saw it on the table."
"So what?" Hissed Retsu, putting her hands on his chest and pushing. It did her no good whatsoever.
"Ochiai Rikiya." Kenpachi said in a chilly tone. "In case you've forgotten this fiance's name too."
"Why are you doing this?" Retsu glared up at him. "Why are you doing this now? Tonight?"
He didn't know. Kenpachi growled.
Retsu gave him a long look then she put her hands on his chest and without warning his nerves scrambled. He howled and she moved out of his reach, walking out of the bath nude. She grabbed her robes and tossed them on loosely. "You know your way out."
Kenpachi didn't bother with robes at all.
Retsu was halfway to her house when she was swooped up and carried into her home. She screeched as he tossed her on the bed. But she didn't have time to bounce as his weight fell upon her.
Startled dark-grey eyes stared up into his furious face. "I told you, I pounce."
Retsu scowled. "That nerve block should have lasted longer."
Kenpachi rotated his left shoulder and winced. "Trust me, it's working. Hurts like a son-of-a-bitch."
That gave the healer pause. He was pushing through the pain? She knew what she'd done to his pain receptors had to be agonizing. Her hands went to his chest and he stiffened. But this time she eased the pain.
Kenpachi's body relaxed from the pain, pressing her down further into the bed. "If this is what I get for refusing to kiss you, I'd hate to see what happens if I forget any more birthday's."
His wry humor pulled a reluctant smile from her. But she was still feeling hurt. "Kenpachi?"
"Look, I can't explain." The warrior sighed and nudged aside her loosened robe, putting his hands on her breast, plumping it up for himself.
Retsu's breath caught as he leaned down and kissed the peak of her nipple. "Try." Her voice was breathy, but no less demanding.
"I don't like that he has a claim on you. You're not free." Kenpachi settled into feasting, moving on to the other breast as his fingers indulged themselves.
Retsu arched her back, giving him better access. "So, you won't kiss me until I'm not engaged? I've been engaged to men throughout my whole life. Ever since I was a child."
There was something wrong in that statement, but at the moment Kenpachi was otherwise engaged and let it pass over his head. His mouth moved down to her navel, stopping to taste and tease.
Kenpachi's hands moved down further, making her gasp, shake and moan as she arched toward his touch. Where his hands traveled, so did his mouth. Their conversation ceased as passion and need overrode all other thoughts.
o.O.o.O.o.O
Kenpachi groaned as he left a warm and sleepy Retsu in bed and headed for the bathhouse. Nude. Because that's where his clothes were.
It would have been nice to sleep in and breakfast here. But that felt too close for comfort.
Why was he reluctant to kiss Retsu? A reluctance he'd not even been aware of himself until that moment last night. He felt no problems about sleeping with her, taking and tasting and yes, even pouncing. Having great mind-blowing sex was not an issue.
With a small shake of his head, he realized he'd never kissed anyone. In all his life, he'd never done something so simple. It ...it represented something to him. Maybe?
Bah. Early morning and nude was not the time to be thinking deep thoughts and peering into his psyche.
Absently, Kenpachi reached down and scratched his thigh as he passed by the coffee table where Retsu had deposited all her birthday presents. He glanced at them and wondered what it was her stupid new fiance had given her. A veil to match his own perhaps?
He passed by, heading for the bathhouse out back when he stopped. Kenpachi turned and stared at the presents.
In her room, sleeping and sated Retsu yawned and stretched. But in mid-stretch she yelped as her door flew open and a very nude Kenpachi Zaraki was glaring balefully at her.
"What?" She stared as he tossed an unopened present at her. It landed on the comforter and she gave it a look, then glanced back up at him. "Another gift?"
"It was on your coffee table." He said between gritted teeth.
Retsu shook her head. "I opened all of my gifts last night, at the party."
"It was on your coffee table." Kenpachi pointed at the innocent looking box. "This morning, it was in your house."
Restu frowned sharply, pressing her lips together as the two of the stared at the unopened gift.
Where had it come from? When had it arrived? And ...did anyone know about the two of them? Had they been in the bedroom? "We had to be in the bathhouse at the time." She said weakly.
Kenpachi merely growled, looking murderous.
o.O.o.O.o.O
Sorry for the wait for the chapter. I started it and it wasn't going well. Had to think things over and let ideas simmer a bit. The gift started out very different than this final draft. As for Renji, he was in squad 11 for a while, that much is canon at least. Yes, I know my time-lines are off. Some of that is even on purpose.
Hope you are enjoying the story and as always, reviews and constructive comments are always welcome. Thank you!
