Author's note: I'm going to upload the final 2 chapters together for the main story! There may or may not be a bit of a delay, a lot of it's written already so rest assured it shouldn't be too long a delay :)

Chapter 26. Love and Lust.

"So...you seem different from your usual self."

Shunsui had invited Kenpachi to have a drink with him on the veranda. Although he was mainly on the lookout for another drinking buddy, he was a good reader of people and he could tell something wasn't quite right with Captain Zaraki since the Old man's meeting. He did however, conclude that Zaraki's feelings for his subordinate went deeper than what one should expect from a Captain.

It was evening, and Jin still wasn't back from her mission in the World of the Living. Kenpachi wasn't really one to have good friends (aside from maybe Ikkaku and Yumichika) but he didn't mind Shunsui, he was always respectful and had good sake so…he was quite content in his company. That and he didn't have a stick up his ass like that Captain Tosen…

"Something on your mind?" Shunsui queried.

Kenpachi replied a little despondently, "No, not really."

"That Jin, she seems a nice girl." He prodded back.

The larger Captain scowled, "Tch, just what are you implying?"

Shunsui waved his hand in defence, "Oh nothing at all! Just making conversation."

Kenpachi sat thoughtfully for a moment, he had to admit Shunsui wouldn't be the sort to stab him in the back. Hell, he might even say something useful.

"Yeah she's nice, I guess." Kenpachi mumbled.

"You two close?"

"You trying to get my blessing or somethin'?"

Still, he was defensive and wanted to be sure. He couldn't help himself…the flamboyant Captain did have a bit of a reputation with the ladies after all.

Shunsui batted away his comment playfully, "Oh nono, was only curious. Never mind, it's your business."

He went back to sip at his sake casually, he'd have to tiptoe carefully around this guy if he wanted to help him out. Still, Shunsui knew exactly what he was doing.

Kenpachi broke his short silence again, "I guess you could say we are. I don't know."

Shunsui smiled kindly, "Well, she thinks a lot of you. That much I know."

They sat in a comfortable silence after Shunsui poured him another drink. Then seemingly out of nowhere Kenpachi speaks up again.

"Hey, Shunsui…" He spoke hesitantly, "What you suppose the difference is…between love and lust?"

The question took Shunsui by surprise, turns out he was more thoughtful than he originally gave him credit for.

"Ho! Now there's a question, what makes you ask?" He said cheerfully.

Kenpachi only avoided his gaze, "Does it matter?"

"Well no matter, of course you can always have both...or one without the other." Shunsui exclaimed happily, "It's what makes it difficult to detect the difference sometimes I suppose..."

Kenpachi only listened as he watched from the corner of his eye.

"But...someone told me love is when you can't imagine ever being tired talking to someone, even if it were for a thousand years." He continued, "I think I'd agree with that."

Kenpachi grunted, "Makes sense I guess…"

Shunsui looked over at him, whilst sipping at his sake. He could see he was trying to play it cool as if he wasn't already aware of his feelings towards her.

He spoke softly as he revealed, "Your Jin told me that."

Kenpachi looked toward him in surprise, "She did?"

"Yeah, didn't mention anyone though." He smiled knowingly, "He'd be a lucky guy, if you ask me."

—

Back in Karakura Town, Jin had found a local gym in the early hours of the morning. Sneaking her way in without a pass, she headed for the showers as she scrubbed her face, body and washed her hair with the various products she picked up at a local store nearby. She looked exhausted and she was exhausted, she hadn't slept at all. It had only been a full day and evening in the World of the Living, but there was so much to do she didn't want to stop. After drying herself off and brushing her teeth, she haphazardly applied the new makeup she bought…a bit of concealer here and there, a dusting of powder and blush, mascara and some gloss…no time for foundation. Mainly she wanted to cover the dark circles and move on, but she couldn't help preening herself with a little colour here and there too. She kept some of the new makeup in the pockets of her jacket, but left the other various bottles of shampoo and such behind. A last quick spray of some cheap perfume and her hair thrown up into a bun, she was out ready to explore again. Free as bird with only (more or less) the clothes on her back.

Some hours passed and it was approaching early afternoon. Jin knew she really should go back but she just couldn't quite face it yet…or rather him. Gorging herself on burgers, fries and fizzy drinks she found herself stumbling through the shopping district again.

"There you are! Just what do you think you're doing!?"

Jin froze. She knew that voice…she turned to face him with a friendly wave, attempting desperately to appear ignorant of her misbehaviour.

"Heeeeeeeeeeey-heeeeeyy!" She beamed.

"The Captain's seriously pissed off! Weren't you ordered to come back straight after the job? That hollow was destroyed HOURS AGO." Ikkaku raged.

He never was good at controlling his anger…

Jin blinked innocently, "Was it…? I thought I just got it a few minutes ago, I got a few others too you know…maybe the pager-"

Ikkaku exploded, "DON'T PLAY DUMB WITH ME-"

Yumichika was there too and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Easy Ikkaku, we found her so let's just go home now. It's not our place to enforce discipline." He exclaimed calmly.

"Wait, you were sent for me?" Jin asked puzzled.

"Well…"

Yumichika began as he explained what happened.

"You two! Go find Jin and bring her back." Kenpachi barked.

"Oh? Has she been there too long?" Ikkaku asked.

"She was meant to come back after the hollow was defeated Ikkaku..." Yumichika explained.

"Yeah, and that was yesterday! SO SHUTUP AND GO FIND HER ALREADY. OTHERWISE I'LL THROW BOTH YOUR CORPSES INTO THE RIVER!" He bellowed at them.

"…And so here we are." Yumichika sighed.

Jin spoke sheepishly, "Oops…sorry, I didn't mean to drag you guys into this."

"Look it's fine. We found you so let's just head back alright?" Ikkaku reassured.

Jin nodded as she drifted off, "Okay…"

"It'll be fine. You'll work things out, just talk to him." Ikkaku grumbled.

—

After making their way back through the Senkaimon gate, they headed back to Squad 11's barracks. Jin was tottering clumsily, leaning against the railing to support herself.

"Hey, are you ok?" Ikkaku asked.

Jin yawned, "I just really need to get to bed-"

"You mean you haven't even slept?" Yumichika gawped.

"No…I…well…" She said shyly, "Look, I'll see him later I promise, I just…I can barely stay awake at the moment. Just tell him I'm sorry and I'll see him after a nap ok?"

They exchanged nervous glances after watching Jin turn a corner to head back to her room.

"Dammit…the Captain's gonna kill us." Ikkaku groaned.

"It'll be okay, he'll probably calm down once we explain that we found her." Yumichika concluded.

—

"So you found her?" Kenpachi interrogated.

"Yes Captain, she's back at her quarter's sleeping. She was extremely tired." Ikkaku reported.

Kenpachi raised a brow, "Tired? Tired from what?"

"She said she hadn't slept the whole time she was there, Captain." Yumichika stated, "But that's all we know. She said she'd see you straight after her nap."

The Captain grunted in response. He supposed he'd just have to wait then. Yumichika breathed a small sigh of relief, their Captain seemed satisfied enough with their work. His eye then caught sight of a small plastic bag Ikkaku was fiddling with. It looked like a bit of white powder…? How strange…

"What's that?" Yumichika inquired.

"Huh? I don't know…it fell out of Jin's pocket when she was tired. Probably makeup or something, I forgot to give it back to her-"

Ikkaku was explaining until the Captain grabbed the suspicious item from his hand.

"Give me that." He demanded.

The Captain wasn't sure, but he had a pretty good idea. His eye narrowed furiously as he clenched the bag in his fist tightly. His spiritual pressure rose in anger. Making his two subordinates a little fearful.

He growled menacingly under his breath, "I fucking knew it…"

—

Several hours later (after her much needed nap and giving back her gigai) Jin wandered over to the room next to the Captain's office. She swallowed nervously, unsure of what was to come. As she opened the door she spotted both Ikkaku and Yumichika sat down at a table with some sake, a usual sight.

"Hey guys…w...where's the Captain?" Jin stuttered.

Both Ikkaku and Yumichika shuffled a little in their seats.

"He's…eeerr-"

Just as Yumichika spoke, Kenpachi slid open the door to the office.

"My office!" He fumed at Jin, "Now."

"Oooo, scary!" She said, attempting to keep things light-hearted.

"I AIN'T LAUGHING JIN." The Captain thundered, as he slammed the door shut again.

The three subordinates stared on in dismay.

Jin gulped. Shit. I didn't think he'd react this badly…

Ikkaku and Yumichika could only look at her with some sympathy.

Jin hesitated as she gingerly opened the door again, closing it after her once she entered. Waiting for her doom. The Captain was stood behind his desk with his back to her.

"Why'd you disappear like that?" He asked gruffly.

Jin tried to keep herself composed, "Hey, relax I was just-"

Her words were cut short by witnessing the Captain throw a small bag on the desk at her. Jin's eyes widened as her stomach churned.

"No, you went against my orders getting high or some shit. I told you to stop that. I also told you to come back as soon as you were done!" Kenpachi scolded.

Jin's eyes began to water, she could feel her heart in her throat.

I've really fucked up. Why did I-

"I'm…I'm sorry, look I didn't think-" she wobbled.

The Captain scoffed, "Probably getting off with some guy too right?"

The moment those words were uttered, Jin's eyes saw red.

"Excuse me?" She challenged.

"Yeah, well you get around don't you?" He hissed.

That hurt.

Did he always see her that way?

She could feel her emotions welling up and fighting against each other. Angry, hurt, devastated…

Jin wavered, "That's a real cheap shot...I haven't seen anyone else in months, I told you-"

"I'm starting to see why that bitch had you transferred."

The Captain was hurt, he felt betrayed. He felt a little humiliated. How could she ignore him like that? Maybe she really did string him along, she obviously didn't give a fuck about him, he thought-

"Oh, go FUCK YOURSELF!"

Ikkaku and Yumichika were still sat on the other side, hearing scraps of words here and there. They sat together bewildered.

Ikkaku spoke in dismay, "Did she...did she just tell the Captain to-?"

"She did." Yumichika confirmed.

"The hell you say?" Kenpachi glowered, daring her.

"I told you to go fuck your self." Jin said defiantly, "What? Did you make yourself half deaf too while I was gone? Don't go acting all virtuous with me! It's a fucking joke coming from someone like you!"

"Get out."

He said it so simply and without feeling. It was cold and it stabbed her deeply. She hated this. She wanted things to go back-

"Kenpa-" She whimpered.

"You still here?"

He had sat back down, turning himself away, not even looking at her. It was a clear order to leave.

Jin stood dazed for a moment before bolting out the door and barracks.

—

She ran.

She didn't know where to go, so she let her feet decide instead.

There was no way she could go back to her living quarters. He basically lived next door. Jin found herself running out to the wilds of Rukongai, to the edge of her favourite lake. She stood there, looking out to the water as the tears began to pour down her porcelain skin. Her face wrinkling as her eyes turned red and swollen. It was early evening, and as she gasped for her breath back, small drops of water came to fall from the sky instead.

Just my luck…

As the heavens were starting to open, Jin searched for the nearest shelter she could find. An abandoned shack of sorts was nearby, and she hurriedly ran to sit on its porch. Falling to the ground, she leaned her head helplessly against one of its supporting beams, clutching at her necklace. It was a small and silver heart pendant, her last necklace had broken and this one was a replacement. She knew he must've noticed her old one broke when he got her it for her birthday…

"Errr…here. I mean you got me something so…" Kenpachi blushed, "Look if you don't like it, it's fine, just do what you want."

Jin was surprised, "Oh! Thank you Ken-"

But he had already disappeared from embarrassment. He got to see her wear it everyday since though.

"Oh…so you like it?" He asked.

"Yeah! It's really pretty, just the sort of thing I love. Thank you." Jin smiled.

"…That's good." He replied simply.

"Why am I like this?" Jin muttered to herself, her head in her hands.

—

It was late evening now. And the Captain was having some troubles sleeping. He tossed and turned in irritation, trying desperately to switch his brain off. He never usually had this much trouble…if any.

"Urgh...dammit." he groaned, as he stood up to get dressed in his day robes again.

Yachiru who slept beside him in her own bed, woke up rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"It's still night Ken-chan…" She said sweetly, "Why you getting up?"

"Can't sleep, I'm going for a walk." He grumbled.

"Is it cause you and Jin-Jin had a fight?" She asked quietly, "You were really mean Ken-chan, you need to go say your sorr-"

"Where do you think I'm going? I know alright!?" He spoke loudly before calming instantaneously, "Look don't worry, I'll be back later ok?"

"Right!~" Yachiru beamed happily.

"See ya, kid. Get some sleep alright?"

—

He arrived at Jin's door with his hair still down, eye-patch still fixed on though. Kenpachi felt a little awkward calling so late but maybe he'd gone too far…even if she was acting like a massive pain in the ass.

"Hey, Jin." He said knocking, "You there? I know it's late but…look I'm sorry alright."

He stood patiently waiting for a moment.

"If you're not gonna answer, then I'll just break the door down instead. You know I'll do it." He spoke again with his arms folded in his robe.

"Jin...?" Kenpachi sounded a little worried, as he slowly opened her door to the side.

He gazed into the darkness of her home. Not a soul to be seen.

Something's not right.

"Shit. The hell she gone to now?"