This chapter gave me so much trouble! I finally pushed through though and made something that I hope you all will like. It was mostly getting it going that had me tripped p. Initially there was a lot of dialogue that didn't do much but take up space and so I started taking it out. Things got a lot better from there and I continued in that way, resulting in a chapter sparse on dialogue and heavy in character thought. I hope you all don't mind and enjoy what I wrote.
As always I don't own Bleach, just So, Do, and Ko. Yoru of course belongs to my friend~ And these people are amazing!
Sushii-Kun, gnarly, lisamariem, Kira Carmen, Chocoholics Unite, Insanity-Red, Sou desu ka. Meh. Kami korosu, Inspired Kid, eternalwings15, LuCkY-StAr69, ISgrl15, Nightshade's Deadly Beauty, Goldensaurus, WiseDragonQueen5, Silverveign, TalonNight, Devious Cherub, Alix117, suney, ShyxSkater, Aku Tora, wolfjerawr, XxFlizanxX, , XxDarkAngel1127xX, Chocoholics Unite, Koinu-sama, RyokoSon, CrimsonLaurana, Ducky the Insomniac Panda, Ryanarima, RayC736, BloodieReader, and hapezibah. Along with anonymous reviewers Doop and Lee who I am sorry to say I forgot and other reviewers funny-kitty, Queen-of-Twilights, and NIGHTSCREAM. I'm so sorry I almost forgot you guys but here's the shout out you rightfully deserve. You're all amazing and I thank you from the bottom of my heart~
Also thanks to those of you who just read, you're wonderful too!
Chapter 25 Firework Heart
It took So three hours to get ready.
Two of those hours were used on her hair. Aided by both Do and Ko she managed one of her more difficult braid jobs. The other hour was getting dressed and worrying that she didn't look okay, which was unusual because she was mostly very confident in her appearance.
"Ya look fine wifey!" Ko stated for what seemed to be the thousandth time as So stood before the mirror, looking herself over.
They were about to get going and she just wanted to make sure.
She did like how she looked over all. Her hair was braided in a way most people would never be able to manage. It started out as two separate pigtails, the braid beginning low at her shoulder. It continued that way till her lower back where the two braids came together, making a loop. The excess hair was also braided and fell to her knees, tied off by a red ribbon. Her hair was peppered everywhere with red and white poppy shaped kanzashi. In the front her bangs were swept back, a row of three white clips running along the right side of her head. It had taken her forever to get them just right and even now she was tapping at them lightly, wondering if they looked okay.
She stopped fussing with them though and focused in on her yukata, brushing her fingers gently across the smooth fabric to check for wrinkles. It wasn't the one she'd brought from home, this one was new, bought yesterday because she liked it. The color was a fade from red to white, the shade deep around the collar, bottom, and the ends of the sleeves leaving the center white. Where the color was darkest the shapes of poppies were lined in white and in the middle a few were lined in red. The obi was red too and tied nice and tight around her waist. She wondered for a moment if the bow was crooked and wished she could see behind her a little better.
"Come on So" Do chirped, breaking her thoughts with a gentle hand to her back. "You look fine, I'm sure Zaraki will be quite pleased."
"Neh!" So fussed, turning her head sharply to frown at the other woman, never minding the blush on her face.
They left the room along with Ko and took a short ride down on the elevator and to the main lobby. Just like yesterday their friends and comrades were gathered together, some in yukata some in regular street clothes. Everyone was talking excitedly about their plans for the day, it was only noon but that was when a lot of the booths opened up and different contests and events started. Everyone standing around looked ready to go and So hoped they hadn't held anything up.
They entered the little group quietly, Ko branching off quickly to go to Mayuri's side. At the same time Do stepped a little nearer to Byakuya, her tan cheeks blushing burgundy. So wanted to laugh at both of them, so eager and nervous for the day, but couldn't because she was feeling the exact same way.
She came up behind Kenpachi and reached out to gently tug at his sleeve. He was wearing a deep blue yukata to her surprise, and had left his hair down. When he turned to regard her she took note of the way it fell and framed his face and decided that she very much preferred this to his usual style.
"There ye are" he said, looking her over slowly. She looked… good, pretty. It was different, not to say that she wasn't usually pretty but it was understated. She was actually wearing something that fit and was dressy and… why was he even thinking about this?
He caught her eye and she smiled, he allowed himself a grin and then a slight grunt when Yachiru, robed in pink and white, launched herself onto his shoulder and then into So's arms.
"Hi Tiny!" she cheered. "You look super pretty! I really like your yukata, do you like mine? Feather Brow got it for me for tanbata but I didn't get to wear it, now I can." She smiled big and hugged So around the shoulders while the small woman laughed.
She dislodged the pinket, making her stand still so she could get a good look at her. The yukata was the same bright bubblegum pink as Yachiru's hair and pattered with white roses. It was very pretty and So gave a smile of her own nodding.
"Isa very pretty 'Chiru."
The girl squealed her delight and hugged So again with a laugh.
The group quieted as Yamamoto spoke for a moment about the different things going on today, Sasakibe handing out even more of the little pamphlets.
So read through hers excitedly as Yamamoto dismissed them all to their day and Kenpachi, not willing to just stand around, grabbed her up and sat her on his shoulder. Yachiru took up her place on his other shoulder while Yumichika and Ikkaku fell into step just a bit behind him.
"Let's go here!" Yachiru shouted, looking into her pamphlet. She seemed fixated on theme parks.
"'N here!" So chirped excitedly, pointing at a restaurant she'd apparently missed the day previous.
He nodded, willing to appease their requests as long as they could show him the way and turned to look over his shoulder at the other two men present. He silently questioned whether there was anywhere they'd like to go and both shot back shrugs, meaning the girls had free choice of all activities for the day.
All around them the town was lively and festive, children and adults alike running about and enjoying themselves.
Their little group garnered a few glances, people amazed at his hugeness and at the two tiny persons on his shoulders, along with the somewhat effeminate man and the bald –not bald damn it!- barefoot man with the wooden sword.
They wandered from place to place, sitting down in a restaurant only once to appease So, and spent the bulk of their time playing stall games and eating street food. Sometimes the girls would walk, in more crowded areas they would ride. A few times they were stopped by random passersby who asked to take pictures with So. She allowed it but Kenpachi always made sure press his aura of killing intent upon any male that approached.
They usually got the hint and ran off right after, if not... He hadn't gotten any blood on his clothes yet.
It continued in this way for several hours and as seven o' clock approached, the sun going down, Kenpachi found himself sitting on a park bench just in front of a playground. He and So were watching Yachiru play while they took a break, Yumichika and Ikkaku busy in a sword shop across the street.
His lieutenant was having a good time it appeared, laughing and chasing with the other children. He hoped she wouldn't rip her yukata, Yumichika would have a fit, but if it happened he wouldn't be too mad.
Next to him was So, smiling softly, looking dreamy eyed. What was she thinking, he wondered. Why was she smiling like that?
Her expression changed quickly to one of worry as a child fell down and began to wail. Kenpachi scowled. Crying wasn't going to get him anywhere… except it did when his mother came rushing over and picked him, cooing to him and cuddling him as she assessed the little scrape on his knee.
How was he supposed to get any stronger if she did that for him? The kid needed to learn to pick himself up and stop being a damn cry baby.
Folding his arms over his chest Kenpachi nearly vocalized this thought but stopped when he realized that gentle smile was back on her face. His words might take it away and he didn't want to risk ruining something so pretty… What? Disregard that stray thought.
Instead he focused back on the pink wonder that was Yachiru. Moments ago she'd been lively but now she was taking a pause to watch the hurt child and his mother. Something that Kenpachi couldn't quite decipher, longing maybe, jealousy, was on her face and in her eyes.
It went away as soon as she took her eyes off the quieting boy and she went back to running about but he felt uncomfortable about it and tried not to think too hard on its implications. She had always been without a mother…
He pushed the thoughts away, rather easy when So was suddenly leaning against him, and continued to watch with not a thought in his head.
It was nice, but only lasted for a little while.
Probably only five minutes later Yachiru took a tumble. It wasn't anything too hard, he knew she was a durable little brat, and if anything she'd only scraped up her palms some but she just sat there, looking down at her knees and the rubbery false asphalt beneath them. She didn't cry or anything, just sat there looking and he wondered what in the hell was wrong with her.
A few of the other children stopped playing, looking concerned, a few of the mothers looked at each other starting to rise, and Kenpachi frowned. What was she doing?
The warm weight of So leaning against his right side was abruptly gone and he saw her petite form moving towards the fallen child. The mothers settled down, the other children moving away a little to give her room.
"You okay Chiru?" So asked with a gentle smile and the little girl looked up.
She was very quiet, just looking at So for the longest time. Quietly she said "I never had a mommy to pick me up."
So smiled a little wider and grabbed the girl under her arms, lifting her onto her hip. She smoothed the girl's pink hair with a gentle hand and kissed her cheek softly.
Yachiru managed a little bit of her usual smile as So looked over her hands, a little scraped but nothing too bad. When she went to put her down the pinket held on tighter and So gave a small laugh, going to return to the bench.
Behind her a call of "you have a pretty mommy!" sounded and she laughed a little harder, taking her seat beside Kenpachi again.
He stiffened up just a little. That comment hadn't gone unheard to him; neither of them had given his particularly good sense of hearing and he felt guilty, not for the first time, about denying Yachiru the mother she obviously wanted. He had no qualms about raising her as he had, teaching her to stand on her own two feet, but he understood that she had been aware of that lack of tenderness her upbringing was filled with.
And it seemed So was willing to fill that gap, if only temporarily and it made him feel. What it was he felt he wasn't quite sure but he did feel something, something positive but, shaky? He just didn't know.
So knew what she felt though, very happy to comfort the child. She had a mother of her own, but the tender moments where her scrapes and scratches would be kissed and tended had passed in the blink of an eye. She had been left to lick her wounds in private once she'd turned five and understood the pain of having no one there to pick you up when you were down.
She was happy to help take that pain away, especially for such a sweet little girl.
For a while they all just sat there. Yachiru in So's lap, So leaning against Kenpachi again. At some point he'd draped his arm around her shoulders as seemed to be becoming habit and they watched the sunset over the playground.
Yumichika and Ikkaku hadn't been sure if they should bother the cozy looking trio but when they did everyone agreed to move on with no problem. Yachiru still wanted to go to the theme park after all and that was where all of the excitement was to happen now that the sun was down.
They rode a few rides when they got there, two spinning ones, a swinging one, something called a rollercoaster that So decided she would never ride again, and ate some more food that was probably terrible for them, laughing and joking and having a good time as they went along.
They ran into a few groups of friends: Ko and Mayuri, sharing a candy apple, Byakuya, Renji, Do, and Rukia, the ladies carrying a bear and Chappi plushie respectively, Matsumoto and Shuhei, both slightly buzzed, Yoru, Izuru, Isane, Unohana, Soi Fon, and Yoruichi oddly enough, the poor Captain looked like the ladies had run him ragged and Izuru was being used as a pack mule, and finally Toshiro and Momo each with a snow cone and water balloon yoyo's.
They all hung out for a while and Kenpachi laughed as So and Ko antagonized Do over the plushie in her hands and where she'd gotten it. The poor woman was a stuttering mess as she tried to slip under the table and he quirked a brow when Byakuya gave a faint smile and touched her arm.
Had Kuchiki made his move already? And Mayuri? The scientist, looking surprisingly normal without all that make up, was picking food off of the perky blonde's plate, a big deal for him since he was so anal about germs and all that shit.
Kenpachi's eyes trailed to So, sitting between her two friends and laughing. She caught his eye and smiled, a blush tinting her cheeks for no good reason.
She turned away, the loose hair of her bangs shielding her red face. What was he thinking? Something like… was this a date?
She hadn't thought of it really, she'd been nervous before they got out but once they were spending time together she forgot all about her anxieties but now… Her blush grew and Ko poked her in the side making her jump and squeal.
"What're ya thinkin' of wifey?" she asked grinning a wide grin full of implication.
"N-Nothin!" So insisted while the other two girls laughed at her steadily reddening face.
"I'm surprised" Do smiled. "I'd think you'd be thinking of the fireworks. They start in just a little while now."
"O-Oh" So blinked, she'd nearly forgotten about the fireworks! There was somewhere she wanted to go to watch them…
Suddenly Ko and Mayuri were up from their table, Mayuri holding tight to Ko's hand as he tugged her along muttering something while the blond laughed.
Do blinked at their sudden departure but smiled again when Byakuya stood too, much more slowly, and waited for her to come along and follow to wherever it was he wanted to take her. Not a word was spoken between them.
That left just So and Kenpachi sitting there in a mildly awkward silence. They'd lost Yachiru, Ikkaku, and Yumichika at some point quite a while ago.
After another long stretch of silence they both stood and moved to stand side by side.
Kenpachi looked down at her, shrugging one shoulder in silent questioning. Did she want a ride? Her small hand rested in his larger one and she tugged forward a little, taking a few steps as answer. Obediently he followed, curious to see where she was taking him.
They slipped through the buzzing crowd in a world of their own, filled with only the sound of their footsteps, breathing, and the soft breeze. People moved easily for them, though small So was the one leading, and soon there were no people to move past.
Dark and dingy walls closed in on both sides and they started up stone steps. The ally was dark, lit only by a few paper lanterns and the moon and stars shining bright on this clear night, despite the artificial light below. It was as if they were denying being snuffed out by the artificial beauty.
Soon even the paper lanterns were gone and she held his hand a little tighter, pulled a little harder as the passage seemed to narrow.
He wondered where they were going, what would be at the end of this crowded tunnel.
Ahead and above she could see the sky opening up and moved even faster, pushing away at the small inkling of fear that wanted to crawl into her conscious mind. Dark and cramped, so dark and cramped but at the end a light, a beauty, salvation and joy.
She let his hand go as they stepped up onto the plateau. It looked out over the entire city below and Kenpachi wondered if they were still inside the park as he looked down. How far had they gone as they walked in their little world?
She leaned against the railing that kept her from spilling over, unlike most of the other high places usually seen in this world there was no fencing.
Kenpachi liked this and rested his hands against the chilly bar, the only thing chilly in the humid night air. She scooted a little closer to him, letting one of her small hands drop over his and he glanced at her from the corner of his eye, thank goodness she was on his seeing side.
She was smiling, and blushing, and looking at the sky and the only thing he wondered was what she was thinking and why she was blushing like that.
Her hand moved from his and he thought foolishly that perhaps she'd read his mind. She hadn't. She just wasn't content with standing and hopped up onto the rail with all the agility and grace expected of someone so dainty and feminine and who was also so powerful. Unceremoniously she lowered herself to sit, a little too solidly as she made her bottom hurt, and swung her dangling legs to and fro in the open air.
Her hands braced themselves on the bars, the same one as before pressing against his now. He covered it with his own and her face darkened again.
Did she… His brow furrowed. Maybe.
He squeezed her hand gently but drew his gaze away as a loud pop sounded and a light shot into the sky. It bloomed into a brilliant blossom of blue and faded, replaced quickly by other blossoms of red and yellow and green.
The air was a symphony of explosive booms, the sky a dance floor for light.
She leaned against him as the show continued, eyes bright, smile wide, and he watched too, not as amazed but glad to see something so beautiful with good company.
He didn't know how much timed passed and she didn't either. It could have been five minutes or fifty but as the last round of fireworks exploded in the sky they turned to each other. She was smiling that easy, sweet smile that used to irk him so and he gave a grin harboring the ghost of an actual, kind smile.
He could see the fireworks reflected in her eyes, a dozen tiny lights dancing and jumping then fading into the crystalline blue.
"Akane" he breathed softly, watching those blue eyes, their surprise at the vocalization of her given name, their growing nearness as he leaned in.
"K-Kenpachi" his name passed from her lips to his and her eyes disappeared from view as they closed and his closed and they were left with nothing to do but feel.
She felt the slight roughness of his chapped lips against her own. He felt her softness and the initial curve of her lips as they made their signature 'o' of surprise. She felt the callouses on his hand rubbing against her flushed cheek and into her hair. He felt the warmth of her skin and smoothness of her hair. She felt the hand on her hand move to grasp her around the waist and turn her on the bar to better face him and he felt her relax in his arms.
She kissed clumsily, not quite sure of what to do with herself, hands grasping for some sort of hold and he found it endearing. He was willing to teach her, show her, and he let the hand on her face move to grasp one of her own and guide it up his chest and to his shoulder. She grasped tight to him, pressed her mouth a little harder against his own and let it slip open as his tongue came prodding against her sealed lips.
He dominated her in the battle of tongues, she too inexperienced to match him in any way. She didn't seem to mind the submission that much and pulled herself a little closer to him as best she could. He pulled back, chuckling lightly as her nose bumped his and their lips dislodged.
She blushed hotly, looking away and he grinned down at her, kissing her warm cheeks, her nose, her chin, he brushed back her hair to nip at her ear and tugged her yukata loose around the shoulders to kiss at her neck making her gasp. That was quite a new sensation!
When he bit down on her shoulder, not hard enough to break the skin but enough to mark her, she made a noise somewhere between a mewl and a groan. He pulled back to admire the blooming red arch that his teeth made and enjoy her sounds of frustration at the suddenly gone contact, grinning at the red on white.
He made three more of these marks, an extra one on the left and two on the right making at least one visible on each side unless she took to wearing scarves or turtlenecks for the next few days. Each one he kissed lightly and then pulled back again to regard her, looking up at him with hazy, happy eyes.
He smiled, leaning down to kiss her lips again.
"Kenpachi" she sighed, hugging him about his shoulders when he released her again. She pressed a soft, almost shy kiss to his cheek and the tenderness of that gesture was almost a shock. Only almost though, and he was able to return the gesture with a hug and a lingering kiss on her forehead.
She smiled up at him, feeling wonderful and giddy, excited. Her heart was beating hard against her chest and swelling with… was it love? Could it be? Wasn't it maybe too soon? She didn't know but she liked it, it was warm and soft, a feeling of happiness inside and all around.
She wondered if he felt it too, gazing back down at her with a much softened grin, an almost smile, on his face.
She reached up for him, the new experience of kissing intoxicating and addicting, and got what she wanted in another kiss that was slightly less clumsy than the first and that had his hands roaming a little farther down than her shoulders.
"Tiny! Kenny!"
So jumped, he didn't, at the shrill and fast approaching voice of Yachiru. He laughed outright at her scramble to pull the yukata right again and was nice enough to help as he laughed.
Yachiru was on his shoulders by the time everything was set right and was beaming bright at them, though her eyes were a touch sleepy. Yumichika and Ikkaku were close behind, looking even more exhausted.
"Ready to go back Captain?" Ikkaku asked.
"I really do need my beauty sleep" Yumichika sighed.
Kenpachi nodded, stepping away from the railing, one hand holding So's tight to help her down. They stayed connected even after her feet touched the ground and Yumichika gave a slight, hidden smile at the sight, Ikkaku apparently unaware.
They all started on their walk back to civilization and as they went Yachiru piped up "Tiny, what's that on your neck?"
Yumichika's laugh wasn't nearly as hidden as his smile and the shades of red that So turned temporarily drowned out the bites.
Woot! Twenty five chapters, one hundred fifty pages and I dunno how many hours and they finally, finally kiss! I was so happy to be able to finish writing this and I did it right after the end of an amazing day with my bf, his sister, and her bf who are all some of my best friends. All of my happy lovey feelings were poured into this but I still tried to keep to Kenpachi's character somewhat. I mean, this is already kinda super out of character for him but I think for a fanfic I did okay, right? Eh, if I didn't I can always fix it. I've got a good feeling about it though.
Oh, and I wanna give a super duper extra thank you to those of you who reviewed. I don't like begging cause I figure, if you've got something to say you'll say it and begging will just force out hollow comments or compliments and I don't want that. The fact that you take the time to throw me a review, even if it's just a few words and an encouragement to update soon I feel really happy and it encourages me to write more. So yeah, super duper from the bottom of my heart thank you! I send you lots of love and happy wishes~
And to my followers, and faves, thanks a lot to you too. Seeing that my story's on your list of favorites or watches really makes my day =3.
And of course, to those who just read and go, that's for taking a look and sticking around if you have. If you just read a bit and didn't like, I'm sorry but I hope you find the fic that's perfect for you out there or can write your own.
Got comments, questions, or noticed a mistake? Drop a review~ Or not~ just glad you read ^^