Authors note: Cute little chapter for you, the whole story is getting slightly longer too. Haha…
Chapter 22. Pancakes.
"Ken-chan! Ken-chan! Let's go! Let's go!~"
The little pink-haired girl sang, tugging enthusiastically at her grumpy friend's clothes.
He gave in sighing, "Fine. Just don't go crazy ok?"
"Okaaaaayyy!~"
Several days had past since their time at the lake. Today Yachiru decided to drag Kenpachi to the candy store. It wasn't his favourite place, but it made Yachiru happy and that's what mattered to him. Yachiru happily bounced off his shoulder to gather the various colourful candies on offer (as a kid in a candy store would be expected to behave). As the Captain came through the door he spotted some familiar golden locks of hair. Jin was there too entranced by the treats, she really did have a sweet tooth. She appeared to be deep in thought, as she hadn't even noticed Yachiru bounding through the store.
"Should have guessed you'd be here." Kenpachi stated gruffly.
Jin turned around a little surprised, awoken from her usual daydreaming.
"Oh, hello Captain! Indulging yourself today are you?" She lightly joked.
"No. Yachiru wanted to come, obviously."
"No need for sarcasm now." She teased.
He attempted to make some conversation, "So what you getting then?"
Jin lifted up a small bag of chocolate hearts, "Caramels mostly, they're my favourite!"
"I see-"
An adorable ball of energy then interrupted him.
"Hiiiii Priiiincess!" Yachiru beamed, "Ken-chan! Carry these!"
Kenpachi looked down at the basket of sweets she gave him to hold, the delicious contents were beginning to spill over the edges.
"Hey! You don't need all that Yachiru!" He scolded.
"Yes I do!" She said joyfully, whilst going back to gather more.
The Captain grumbled in frustration as Jin giggled to herself. Their interactions were always so cute to watch.
After a long debate between Kenpachi and Yachiru about how much candy she was allowed to buy, the purchases were eventually made and the three began to head back to their barracks together. It wasn't long before Kenpachi soon heard a rustle next to his ear…
"Hey, save those for later Yachiru. You need lunch first." He snapped.
"But I'm hungry noooooooow!" She whined.
Kenpachi nagged back at her, "You can't just have candy all the time!"
"But Ken-chaaaaan!~"
Jin watched on in amusement, but also thought of a compromise to their bickering.
"We could go out for lunch?" Jin suggested, "I know somewhere that does the BIGGEST and most YUMMY stack of pancakes for dessert!"
Yachiru's eyes widened in excitement, "Wow! Really Jin-Jin? That sounds so yummy! Let's go! Ken-chan!"
She began to pull on his clothes pleadingly again. The Captain groaned, but it was a solution to Yachiru's sweet problem.
"Yeah, yeah, I hear ya kid." He looked down at his subordinate, "Lead the way Jin."
Jin squeaked a little in excitement too, "Oh great! But let's get these chocolates home first, I don't want them to melt in this summer heat!"
Yachiru nodded in agreement, "Oh! Good idea Jin-Jin!"
—
They stopped off at the Captain's living quarters first, dropping off a generous bag of delightful candy for the Lieutenant. Next were Jin's quarters, and Yachiru was already causing trouble while both their backs were turned.
"Eheeheehee!~" She giggled.
Kenpachi was sat on the couch in his usual place, waiting for Jin to finish in the bathroom.
Suddenly he felt a sharp sting on the back of his neck, "Ow! Hey, what was that for-"
His words trailed off as he saw his small friend holding a suspicious-looking whip.
"Yachiru! The hell you get that from!?" He yelled.
Yachiru only continued to giggle, "Jin has a box of all this weeeeeeird stuff!"
"Huh…?"
Kenpachi's eye glanced to a box she opened behind her…by Jin's bed.
"Give me that!" He said swiping the whip from her, "And go wash your hands." He ordered.
Yachiru tilted her head innocently, "Wash my hands? But why?"
"Just do it Yachiru." He growled.
"Okaaaayy!~"
Yachiru ran to the kitchen sink, her arms waving in the air like an airplane. Kenpachi went over to Jin's box to put the item back where it belonged. He intended to do it quickly and not to snoop, but once he caught a glance of it's contents he couldn't resist…
"Geez…" He peered in further, "The hell is all this?"
Jin then opened her bathroom door, her first sight being the Captain looking at her private things.
"WHAAA! What do you think you're doing!?" She yelped in alarm.
Kenpachi only sat calmly, continuing to eye over the various items. He pointed curiously at one in particular.
"Is that…what I think it is?" He then spoke in exasperation as he glared at her, "Dammit woman, I've got the real thing right here!"
"Do you vibrate?" She quipped.
"I should hope not, no." Kenpachi exclaimed humourlessly, "…So what does that thing do?"
"SHUT IT RIGHT NOW! YOU CAN'T GO THROUGH MY THINGS LIKE THAT!" Jin squealed at him as she slammed the box back shut.
He tried to explain, "It was Yachiru who found it-"
"That's not the point!" She protested.
—
After that horribly embarrassing scenario, Jin led the way to the restaurant she recommended. They sat down in a private room (as requested by the Captain) with Yachiru sitting happily in the middle as Kenpachi and Jin sat opposite each other. They were all sat cross-legged at the low table, sitting comfortably on pillows, waiting patiently for their food to arrive. Except Yachiru, who only decided to cause more trouble.
"You stare at Jin-Jin a lot Ken-chan!" Yachiru said boldly.
Kenpachi stared at his little Lieutenant in disbelief, unable to find the right words. Yachiru was a highly perceptive child; she rarely did miss a trick. It wasn't exactly hard to spot his staring either, since he barely paid attention to any other woman previously.
Do I really stare that much? He wondered to himself, a little self-conscious.
"Typical man." Jin scorned, rolling her eyes.
"But Jin-Jin! You stare at Ken-chan a lot too!" Yachiru declared.
"Oh! Look how the tables turn." Kenpachi gloated, "What was that about a typical man?"
"I do not!" Jin blurted.
"Yes you do!" Yachiru continued, "Specially when he's training or something."
Jin could feel herself turning red again. She really didn't think she was that obvious…
Kenpachi was starting to feel very amused by all of this now, "HA."
That is until the small girl said, "And you stare at Jin-Jin's jiggles!"
"EH? I do not you little brat!" He hissed.
"Jiggles…?" Jin asked, a little unsure.
Yachiru replied openly, "Mostly your bottom."
"Hey, hey, that's enough Yachiru! Stop causing trouble!" Kenpachi roared.
She banged her fists on the table in protest, "But it's the truth Ken-chan!"
"Yachiru!" He bellowed in frustration just as the waiter arrived.
"Your food sir?"
Just as the food was being served to them Jin whispered mockingly,
"Soooo…I take it your an ass man then?"
—
They sat quietly munching away at the tasty buffet of grilled foods served to them, meanwhile making sure Yachiru didn't hog too much at the same time. Which was always a difficult task with such an energetic girl. Next came the huge stack of pancakes for both Jin and Yachiru. Kenpachi on the other hand decided to pass, he really didn't care for sweets. As Yachiru piled on all the sugary extras and delved in, Kenpachi decided to go have a small break from the mayhem.
"Right, I'm gonna go take a leak. I'll be back soon."
"Ok Ken-chan! Don't complain when all the pancakes are gone!" Yachiru spoke muffled through mouthfuls of food.
"Don't talk with your mouth full squirt, you'll choke or somethin'." He grumbled on his way out.
Jin ate with slightly more grace than Yachiru. She took a moment to watch the child excitedly gobble up the sweet treats, there was a simple joy in watching her devour them so enthusiastically. It made her happy to know she appreciated her suggestion so much.
Yachiru then spoke out of the blue, "He likes you a lot you know."
Jin held her breath for a moment, waiting anxiously for what she was about to say next.
"In fact I'd even say he was in love with you!" Yachiru disclosed happily.
"Oh boy…" Jin gulped nervously, "What makes you say that?"
"I can tell! Besides he's never liked someone the way he likes you." Yachiru divulged, "Cause you're special to Ken-chan!"
"Special? Special how?" Jin asked eagerly.
"He's always hanging out with you, Ken-chan doesn't do that with many people at all except me…unless it's fighting of course!" She smiled back.
Even Jin had to admit, Yachiru knew Ken-chan better than anyone. If she said he had feelings for her then she was probably right. Still, she couldn't help but be a bit skeptical, after all Yachiru might be willing to say anything to try and push them together. But Jin didn't really suspect she would do that in this case, she found that the girl could be surprisingly mature for her age sometimes.
"Yachiru...?"
She looked up at Jin wide-eyed, "What is it Jin-Jin?"
"Do you remember when you first met Ken-chan?" Jin asked softly.
Yachiru's eyes lit up, "Of course! Ken-chan saved me and he gave me a name! There were a lot of meanies in Kusajishi." She pondered for moment, "If it weren't for him...I probably wouldn't be here now eating pancakes with you!"
Jin couldn't help but smile, she found Yachiru and Kenpachi's bond with each other so curious. They were so opposite in many ways, the big grumpy brute with a cute little girl on his shoulder. Even for someone like Jin who was never big on kids, she had to admit their relationship was precious.
"I'm glad you're here Yachiru." She said warmly, "You're too cute, you know that?"
"Heehee! You're so weird Jin-Jin!~"