Chapter 18. The Bar.

Jin was sat at a bar sometime later that week. She sat calmly with her bottle of sake, wearing her shorter dress robe this time. The top lace of her stockings would show ever so slightly at times, just teasing the eye. It was a little flirty and cute she thought. It had been a long day of hard training with some of the guys and she felt in need of a little liquor to soothe her. She brought the cup of strong liquid to her freshly glossed lips, drinking it slowly.

A conversation a little out of earshot to her, was taking place. It was a group of guys from various other squads.

"You mean her?" The first guy gestured.

"Yeah that's her I'm sure of it..." The second confirmed, taking a swig of sake.

"Of Squad 11? Isn't she meant to be a little…you know crazy?" The third questioned.

"Pffft, no way! She looks way too sweet." The first started to get up from his seat.

"Are you, NUTS?" The second warned, "You know the rumours about her and Zaraki right!?"

"There's no way that's her…I'm going over!" He declared confidently, making his way over to the bar.

The several guys left could only watch in horror. Hoping their friend would remain in one piece by the end of the evening…

"Hey, how's it going?"

The guy walked up to the bar casually, to strike up conversation whilst ordering. He smiled at Jin, trying his best to play it cool. Jin looked over to him, quickly realising his motives. He seems ok, she thought, but a little boring.

"…Good, I guess." She said, smiling politely.

He gestured to her cup, "What you drinking?"

"Sake…?" Jin replied, trying to hold back her sarcasm.

It was pretty obvious with the kind of bottle and cup she had.

"Ha, of course…" He started to look awkward, "You know, you look kind of similar to that lady from Squad 11…"

Jin blinked up in surprise.

"But…you seem too nice to be her. I can tell." He shrugged.

Nah, he's an ass. Jin thought, rolling her eyes.

Still she thought she'd play along, she was curious of the gossip.

"Oh? Who do you mean?" She asked sweetly, pushing a lock of hair behind her ear.

The guy smiled brighter, he thought he was right, "There's this lone woman from Squad 11, supposedly she's a bit of a wild one!"

"Oh my, wild? How?"

He laughed a little, "Ha, you know Squad 11…just crazy about chopping people up!" He then lowered his voice slightly, "It also seems like she's the Captain's…mistress…if you see what I'm saying."

Jin was a little taken aback, she hadn't really thought too much about the gossip and rumours that could be spreading about her and Kenpachi. She wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. It was kind of fun being a little 'famous' but also anxiety inducing.

Kenpachi at this moment in time, coincidentally, had decided to drop off at the same bar to quench his thirst. He strolled in through the door, and to his surprise he saw Jin.

Huh? She with a guy?

He caught her eye sitting at the bar…and felt a little relieved. She looked in need of saving. Jin felt a wave of joy upon seeing Kenpachi, he really did make her feel happy. She smiled at her Captain knowingly, trying to signal him to help her out. He grinned back, laughing to himself.

"Hey."

The random guy turned, looking white as a sheet. Kenpachi's one-eye stare burned into him, his gruff voice self-assured and intimidating…

"You're in my way."

The guy began to realise his error, "AAH! Captain Z…Z...Zaraki! Sorry! Forgive me please! I…I…I didn't mean to…I didn't know! Goodbye sir!"

He quickly scuttled out the bar, along with his fellow drinking buddies. Kenpachi watched him escape, making sure he had left.

He then turned to Jin, "Who was that guy?"

"Pfft, dunno…just tried to hit on me." She scoffed, pouring herself another drink, "He was failing miserably."

Kenpachi raised a brow, "Happen often?"

"Meh…When I'm at a bar I guess…" Jin shrugged, "You scared the shit out of him! Haha!"

Kenpachi chuckled as he took a seat beside her. Jin offered him some of her own sake for him to drink, signaling the barman for another cup. They sat together a little while, simply catching up on what they did that day.

"Kenpachi…" Jin whispered.

"Hmm?"

"You heard the rumours…" She paused, "…about us?"

Kenpachi looked puzzled, "What? Us? What do ya mean?"

Jin spoke quietly, "They're saying I'm like…your mistress."

He grinned, "That so? Shame it ain't true."

The Captain leaned down on his elbow, as he looked into Jin's eyes. She then copied, looking back right at him.

"You bored?" he asked, lowering his tone.

"A little..." Jin admitted, "I have some wine back at my place, it's grape wine, you get it from the west side of the world."

"Grape?"

"Yeah it's red too, haven't tried it yet...Sasakibe gave me a few bottles." She smiled.

"A few bottles?" Kenpachi asked hopeful.

She nodded, feeling a tingle of excitement as she waited for his response.

"Sounds fun."

—

They walked back to Jin's place, and were now sitting on her veranda. Jin opened and poured a glass of red wine for both the Captain and her self. Sasakibe, Squad 1 Lieutenant, was a big enthusiast for western foods whilst Jin was just a fan of food itself. She heard about his obsession with both their food and culture, so decided to find out more about it too. Suppose you could say, they were friendly acquaintances.

Kenpachi sniffed at it curiously before taking a large gulp, "Not bad."

"Mmm…it tastes great if you ask me." Jin praised, savouring the taste.

After knocking back a few cups (well, a bottle for the Captain), both Kenpachi and Jin began to feel a warm glow.

"I'm glad you saw me tonight." Jin spoke warmly.

"Yeah, me too." He smiled softly.

Jin paused for a moment, then tilted her head to the side, "It's nice when you smile."

"Huh? I smile all the time!" He insisted.

"You grin Kenpachi, you don't smile." She stated.

"It's the same thing!"

"No. One is from causing mischief or mayhem." Jin argued, "The other is from being happy on it's own."

"Tch, same thing." He concluded.

Jin sighed hopelessly as she finished another cup of wine.

She then grinned, "Heehee, wanna go cause some mischief?"

He grinned back, "Sure. I'm up for that."

—

"How do you…?" Kenpachi cocked his head quizzically.

"Yachiru showed me." Jin smiled back.

"Yachiru? She what?"

"Yeah, she showed me all these tunnels when we were playing!"

There were many tunnels and secret doors surrounding Byakuya's mansion. Jin wasn't too sure how they gotten there, but Yachiru in her mischief showed her around one day. Jin persuaded Kenpachi to explore with her that evening. She shuffled her way through one tunnel on all fours (a wine bottle still in hand), whilst Kenpachi got a lovely view from following behind. Soon enough, they found a trap door.

"Oooooh...we're inside..." Jin exclaimed excitedly.

Kenpachi chuckled, "This'll really piss him off."

"Yeah, he might even want to fight you!"

The Captain's eye lit up, "Oh, I like the way you think!"

It was spacious and luxurious as it always was, with delicate brush paintings hung on the walls. Jin couldn't help but stop to admire them.

"Fancy..." She said beaming, as she looked around, "Aaaaah, they're so pretty!"

Kenpachi's ear then caught a disturbance, "What was that?"

The two froze, standing still trying to hear what was happening on the other side of the room. Jin then started to jump up and down a little.

"Hohohohoo! Ooooh shit! Kuchiki's coming!" She shrieked.

Jin burst into fits of laughter, wheezing, she grabbed and pulled at her Captain's arm, trying to scramble away to another room. Kenpachi laughed along with her. It only took a second to be caught by Byakuya Kuchiki's flash-step though…

"And just what are you two doing here?" He narrowed his eyes, "Aside from being noticeably intoxicated."

"Huh?" Kenpachi took great delight in annoying him, "We're just out for an evening stroll, what's it to you?"

"You're in my mansion." He replied in composed fury.

"Oh…is that so?" Kenpachi shrugged nonchalantly, "Didn't notice..."

Byakuya then turned his eyes towards Jin.

"You're a bad influence, Miss Shika." He said sternly.

Jin only burst into laughter more.

"Pfft! Me?" She snickered, "Did you hear that Captain?"

"Yeah, that wasn't very nice Kuchiki." Her Captain showed his shark toothed grin, "I might have to teach you a lesson..."

"Yeah, yeah, defend my honour!" Jin said waving her bottle of wine.

"I'm not going to insult myself by engaging with your foolish antics." Byakuya explained coolly, "Just leave."

Kenpachi had already drawn his sword at this point, "What? Hey!"

"Hey, hey...lets go Captain, he's not gonna budge." Jin started pulling at his robe again, persuading him to move on. Kenpachi looked into her pleading eyes, and sheathed his sword.

"Tch..." He rolled his eye, "Some other time then, eh Kuchiki?"

They stumbled and wobbled along the hall laughing as they ungracefully made their way out of the Kuchiki Mansion. Byakuya only stared on, a little in disbelief, but mostly in just annoyance.