Authors note: I've wrote some basic stuff for the next few chapters, I think around 25 will be the last one for the story :)

Chapter 16. Mixed Signals.

Kenpachi was awake a little longer than Jin, thinking over what happened that night. He thought about how much he wanted her and how much he liked holding her. He thought about the small feeling of comfort and warmth he felt in his chest. That feeling reminded him of how he felt when he first met little Yachiru, took her in and gave her a name. How he felt happy finding someone he could relate to. It was similar but a little different…and he didn't want it to stop. They lay together embraced, as they drifted off to sleep for the night. Innocently.

—

Morning followed, and Kenpachi groaned as he slowly opened his one eye. He briefly forgot where he was and what he was doing, until he saw Jin's face.

Oh, yeah. She was wasted. He reminded himself, I'll just wait around I guess.

He took the time to look around her room whilst still holding her. His eye noticed the floral patterns on her bed sheets, the abundance of pillows and throws and the make-up she had placed by her mirror. The Captain then briefly saw his own reflection, and he couldn't help but wonder what she even saw in a guy like him. His gaze then diverted to her sleeping face. It looked so sweet and gentle in comparison to his harsh and rough visage.

Kenpachi shrugged the thought off, If she likes me she likes me, he concluded.

He then heard a small disturbance beside him. Jin was waking up, looking rather bleary-eyed.

"So, you finally awake huh?"

Jin blinked up at him, a little in surprise, "I...I didn't try anything last night did I?" She blushed, lifting herself up from his chest.

"What? No, no...you just wouldn't shut up." He remarked.

"Oh...sorry, what about...?"

Kenpachi shrugged, "Just nonsense mostly, nothing really."

The Captain could sense her embarrassment, so he decided to make a move.

"Do you want some tea or somethin'?"

He figured she'd need it.

"Oh yes, that's very kind, thank you." She said gratefully.

Kenpachi made his way out of the room so she could get herself dressed. As he made the tea, Jin was trying to recollect all that had happened that evening. She remembered making out with him...she didn't forget that. Her heart beat a little faster at the memory, as she was getting ready.

What happens now?

Jin had a few casual relationships and encounters, sure…but that's all they ever were. She liked making-love and the intimacy of it all, having casual flings was a way to not only have excitement but also protect herself emotionally.

Jin had such an admiration for her Captain; she developed a lot of feelings for him. She was afraid he would never feel the same, he didn't seem the kind of guy who would want the emotional intimacy she really, truly desired.

Ultimately, she was scared of having her heart broken by him.

Remaining good friends and staying in the Squad she loved seemed the best option, instead of having unrealistic expectations of 'forever love' then having to leave (out of being unable to face the Captain anymore). She always struggled to fit in, and being in Squad 11 was the happiest she'd ever been. It really was too much a risk to take for a silly flight of fantasy.

Ironically, Jin was a real romantic at heart and felt a little ashamed of her low-key promiscuity (it was still frowned upon by many after all). She swallowed nervously as she walked out of her room to see him again, sitting at the table with a pot of tea waiting. He seemed a little awkward too. They sat together in silence for a short while, sipping at their cups.

Kenpachi broke it, "We gonna talk about what happened before?"

He didn't waste time there. Jin thought to herself.

She grasped her cup a little tighter whilst saying, "You mean when you were still drunk too?"

"When you kissed me." He stated.

Jin glanced at him, "You mean when you grabbed my…?"

"Hey, my hands weren't the only ones wandering!" he barked back.

"Sorry."

"Stop saying...Look it's alright, just forget it if you want to." Kenpachi sighed, holding his hand underneath his chin.

Jin looked over to him. He seemed a little melancholy.

"I lost control...I dunno." He spoke seriously, "Can't say I regret it though."

She was relieved to hear that, but still...they crossed a line. What was their relationship now? They didn't know.

"It was nice I admit..." She replied shyly. "But still, I don't think it's a good idea."

Kenpachi looked over feeling a mixture of joy and disappointment. At least she liked it. He supposed that was promising.

"Like I said it's alright to forget it." He got up from his seat as he drank the last drop of his tea.

Jin called out to him, "Thank you...for taking care of me."

"Don't mention it." He said simply, he was about to head out the door until she spoke again.

"Kenpachi..."

"What is it?"

Jin stumbled her words a little, "You...you don't think any less of me do you?"

"What? No, not that you should care anyway." He answered back, "Don't worry about it, I'll see you around Jin."

The Captain waved his hand behind him casually as he left. Jin sat hugging her knees to her chest, balancing on her seat.

She scolded herself, "I'm such an idiot."

As he made his way towards his own room, Kenpachi thought it'd be best to give her some space. Still, he wasn't gonna give up that easily.

—

It was late evening again. Kenpachi pondered over his recent interactions with Jin…and her confusing mixed signals. Thinking about it, maybe Yachiru was right. Maybe he just needed to continue the whole dating thing first, Jin did say they'd need to have at least '100 dates'. Why did Jin even suggest so many as 100? Why was she so carefree with other guys except for him?

I don't get it. She's obviously into me… Kenpachi frowned, Hmph, then again she's always been a bit weird.

He sighed and got up from his usual 'thinking spot' on the veranda, he decided to go pay a visit again.

The Captain took his usual route along the rooftops to her often opened backdoor. The light was on and he could hear some weird noises…music? Unsurprisingly, it wasn't something that ever really interested Kenpachi. Jin on the other hand, managed to pilfer some records from other soul reapers who happened to visit the world of the living. She enjoyed dabbling in the arts in all its forms, and the world of the living had so much to explore. It really fascinated her.

Kenpachi stood at the opening. He watched her dance...whilst she thought no one was watching, so care free and full of life. There was a simple joy in it that he found difficult to grasp. She was wearing one of her ornamental robes, her golden hair lazily tied up with locks hanging loose.

It was a little enticing…despite him thinking, What the hell she even doing.

He came in closer, until Jin bounced off his solid stance.

"AH!" She clumsily tripped from knocking into him, "Will you ever stop creeping up on me?"

Kenpachi only grinned his usual grin, "You should close your door then."

Jin got up from the floor to stop her music, looking a little ruffled.

The Captain cocked his head, "The hell you doing anyway?"

"I was only dancing, it's not that strange you know." She said embarrassed, "So what brings you here?"

He shrugged, "Bored."

Jin smiled a little, as much as she got a shock from his…unplanned visits…she felt happy that he decided to come here so often. Even if things were a little odd between them…

"I'll make us some tea." She said as she turned her back.

Kenpachi was about to sit down on her couch, but his eye caught sight of a small open book on her desk. Curious, he picked it up. It was a small green notebook, filled with small sketches and writings, like diary entries and badly written poems. He looked it over, rolling his eye at some of the emotional drivel she'd written.

Jin's heart jumped when she turned back again.

"Put that down." She ordered quietly, edging closer to him.

Kenpachi chuckled, "Hey, hey I want to read it-" he flipped through some more pages as he stepped away from her, "What's this…a poem about the birds?"

"Please don't..." She said in a whisper.

He looked back up to see her hand held out to him in desperation. She was obviously attached.

"Please don't read anymore. Give it back…"

He froze, suddenly feeling a little uncomfortable, "Does it mean that much to you?"

She nodded, "It's just…very personal."

Kenpachi looked over at her pleading expression, even he didn't have the heart to upset her like that. He closed the book with a satisfying snap, reaching it out to her. Jin's hands scrambled for it longingly as she hugged it close to her chest, breathing a sigh of relief.

"Che, how was someone like you, ever an assassin?" He snorted, "When you're all about feelings and shit."

Jin snapped back, "How did someone like you, ever find it in your heart to take in and look after a little girl?"

That comment took him by surprise, he never really thought much about how others might have viewed him because of Yachiru.

He couldn't answer, "Hmph..."