Authors note: THE LEMON IS HERE. I REPEAT THE LEMON IS HERE (starts in 28, absolute filth in 29).

It turned out waaaaaaaaaay longer than anticipated so I ended up splitting the chapters into 3 (soon to be 4 just so things round things off nicely :) )

Chapter 27. Three Things.

Jin walked up to him closely, looking directly into his eye.

"You wouldn't know what to do with me if you had me."

Kenpachi grinned back, "Oh no...I'd know EXACTLY what to do with you."

"..."

"You're blushing."

"I blush at anything! You know that!" She defended.

"You want me-"

"Oh would you FUCK OFF?!" She cursed flustered.

He chuckled, "Got balls to tell me that…In fact, I think I like you just a little bit more."

"Uuuuuurgh…"

She groaned, banging her head against the wall. Kenpachi watched her, shuffling a little awkwardly at her response.

"Sooo eeerr...You really want me to leave?"

Jin spoke begrudgingly, her head still against the wall, "No, it's fine...Would you like some tea?"

"Sure, why not?"

As Kenpachi gazed into the darkness of her home, he couldn't help but reminisce the many times he invaded it. And how she always welcomed him regardless. Offering him some sort of tea usually, with maybe one or two of any sweet treats she'd made. He still wasn't all that fond of sweets, but he always liked hers…though not so much for the taste itself. Recalling the memories, he realised just how much he missed her. He missed her warmth and he missed her kindness, something he thought he'd never appreciate. Kenpachi felt his stomach churn slightly, as he caught sight of her zanpakuto left behind.

I got a bad feeling about this…

He rushed out to look through all her usual haunts, ignoring his soaked skin thanks to the rain that was lashing down violently. He couldn't find her. The Captain eventually found himself on the borders to Rukongai, staring out into the black night.

She wouldn't-

A faint presence of spiritual pressure interrupted his thinking, and without a moment to lose he was enveloped by the darkness ahead of him.

—

Flashback – First Meeting

His bare worn feet wandered aimlessly through the forest. Originally from the dangerous and lawless Zaraki, he travelled from one district to the next, searching desperately for another opponent to test his sword on. The small girl he carried on his back was pulling at his worn tattered rags.

A woman's scream?

"Ken-chan-" Yachiru whispered.

"Yeah." He smirked, "Sounds like fun."

Kenpachi ran grasping the hilt of his sword, heading towards the commotion in the hopes of a decent fight. It had been ages, too long, since he last had a good battle. He hoped this would be it. But instead, after diving through the overgrowth of bushes and trees he only found a man…he was clutching at the robes of a young woman, threatening her with a knife in hand. Obviously trying to get her to do something. As he turned to find Kenpachi staring back, he shook with fear. The vagrant warrior only growled in frustration as he cut the fearful man down without a moment's hesitation.

Just another fucking ant.

His blood sprayed across the floor, as his lifeless body fell with a thud. Kenpachi turned slowly to look at the woman behind the man, as the moonlight glinted off his dripping blade. The blood had partially sprayed onto her face, huddled against a tree, wide-eyed and shaking.

Their eyes met. She looked so helpless.

"The hell you think you're doing?" Kenpachi scolded.

The woman steadied her breathing as she analysed the new arrival. For some reason, her instinct was telling her to trust him.

"This ain't a place for a weak woman like you. Specially at this hour." He continued.

"I...I...thank you." She stuttered.

"Idiot." He scoffed.

"What's your name?" She asked.

He frowned in suspicion at her. Is she not scared?

"Kenpachi. Kenpachi of Zaraki."

"Did you say...of Zaraki?" She asked, a little bewildered.

It was quite some way from her district.

"Yeah-"

"Ken-chan! You saved the Princess Ken-chan!" Yachiru beamed, popping over his shoulder.

"Oh! And who might you be?" The lady asked politely.

"My names Yachiru! What's yours?~"

"Jin...Jin Shika."

End of Flashback.

—

Making his way blindly through the dark, his clothes heavy from the rain, Kenpachi remembered his first meeting with Jin. How pathetic she looked and how she even had the friggin' nerve to ask him to walk her home…and how she asked about him and his life. About what he wanted and desired, about who he was. He didn't really know why, but he liked that. And although at the time he thought her wish to be a Soul Reaper was some sort of bad fucking joke, she proved him wrong.

I'm glad she did…

Fuck.

The hell are you Jin?

"JIN?"

He kept calling out her name, he could feel her getting closer despite barely being able to see a thing. The further out into Rukongai he went, the less lights there were about to guide him. Only the stars in the sky and the faint glow of the moon could try and help. He shook his head in a weak attempt to get the water that was pouring down from the sky off his face. Seems the weather didn't show much hope for getting any better either.

In a small moment of hopelessness his eye caught sight of a distant faint glow. A small white orb of some kind. Kenpachi walked a little nearer to it curiously, finding a familiar huddled figure sat under a decrepit porch. She lifted her head a little in disbelief, staring out at the drowned man coming closer. As she stood up leaning against the beam, she attempted to make her kido ball of light a little larger. Their eyes met.

"The hell you doin'?" Kenpachi called in the distance.

He spoke as he neared in closer and closer.

"You're scaring me Jin...and I don't scare easily."

He met her gaze at the edge sympathetically, his face inches from hers. For once they were the same height, thanks to the porch steps.

"Do you really think so little of yourself?" He asked softly.

Her eyes began to water again, as she grasped at his robes weakly. Letting the kido orb of light disappear.

He continued, "Cause you're worth it, you know."

She buried her face into his shoulder, heaving into heavy sobs. It overwhelmed her, that maybe someone was willing to love her despite her obvious flaws. All the emotions and desires she tried to bury and mask with her antics, all the rumours and critics of her behaviours…felt lifted. With him, she felt at home. Able to be who she truly was. Whatever she was looking for, she found it in him, as he did in her too. Kenpachi hesitantly began to lift his arms to hold her closer, unsure of what he was supposed to be doing.

"Hey, don't...don't cry." He soothed, "I'm sorry, Jin."

They stood embraced for a while as she cried. He cradled her head tenderly as she clutched tightly onto his haori, not daring to let go. Quietly reviewing each other's feelings and what it all meant. Kenpachi felt a little confused, he was so pissed off before but finding her now he couldn't help but notice the wave of relief he felt…he was even more confused at the sympathy he was feeling. The fuck was he holding her for? She seems to need it he guessed, not that he really got what it was about, but it felt good…it felt comforting. Why did it feel comforting?

Why do I want to make her happy?

After letting his brain hurt for a bit, Kenpachi spoke again.

"Least let me under there, I'm drowning out here." He jested, "Tch, then again with you blubbering I might be dryer."

A little laugh escaped from Jin, between small sobs as she smiled.

"Ok…" She sniffed, whilst pulling away to look at him.

"Oh, a smile at last." He joked.

The Captain stepped up onto the porch to take his place at the back, sat leaning against the wall. He waved his arm a bit in signal to Jin.

"Come here, woman. You'll freeze to death over there."

Jin nodded as she wiped the tears from her face away. She nestled in front of him between his legs, leaning into his warm chest for comfort.

Before holding her with his arms again, he noticed the clasp of her necklace had moved to the front. So gently he moved it back to where it belonged, at the back of her neck. A small gesture, but it made Jin smile. Kenpachi sighed as he knocked the back of his head off the wall. He was glad to have found her, but her endless crying was grinding on him.

"Jeez woman, would ya get a hold of yourself?" He droned.

Still, he sat with her curled up, as she sobbed into his already drowned robes. Warming her icicle hands with his somehow still warm ones, whilst the thunder rumbled in the clouds.

"I didn't, I didn't see any-" She spoke quietly, as her tears began to subside.

"I know. Not that it matters." He acknowledged, "Just promise me-"

Jin looked up at him as he spoke sternly.

"You'll stop all that getting high shit."

"On one condition…" She said.

"What's that then?"

"You drink more tea and less sake." Jin told him.

"Che, you're joking right?" He scoffed.

"It's only fair."

"Fine."

She spoke sweetly, "Promise?"

"Promise…do you?" He probed.

"As long as you keep yours." She bargained.

Kenpachi sighed heavily, "Urgh, fine."

"Kenpachi..." Jin mumbled, "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry-"

"Hey, I told you to stop saying that."

"You feel so distant now, I don't want you to go." She mourned.

He rolled his eye, "I'm not going anywhere, relax would ya?"

Jin let out a small laugh, "That's good."

"Why do you put up with me?" She questioned shyly.

"Tch, well that's easy…" He spoke thoughtfully, "cause you put up with me, don't you?"

Jin felt her heart warm at that, she felt happy. In fact, she hadn't felt happier. When he was around, she felt calm and at peace…that feeling of wanting to escape just disappeared. She didn't want to self-destruct, instead she just found herself wanting to be with him. It was clear to her now, that he was good for her. That this could work…and that she needed him in the same way he needed her.

They were partners.

"Would you even know what to do with me?" Jin asked hushed.

Kenpachi cocked his head, "What do you mean by that?"

"I mean…would being with me scare you?"

"I told you, I don't scare easily."

Jin gulped slightly, "Yeah but…I want a relationship, you know? I don't expect something from you if you can't give it. It's not fair."

Kenpachi looked thoughtfully at her for a moment.

What's going on up there? Jin mused to herself.

His eye looked away in embarrassment, "Well, what is it? A relationship…to you?"

Jin looked at him in surprise, "Are you seriously asking?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" He groaned.

He's so cute sometimes.

Jin laughed softly to herself before becoming a little shy as she spoke.

"I suppose…what we were like already. Hanging out and doing stuff…talking, being there for each other…except with…you know-" She blushed.

"Sex?" Kenpachi said bluntly.

"Yeah…but just hugs and stuff too. I don't know, I think I'd smother you."

"It doesn't sound so bad." He admitted.

"Honestly? You're not just saying that are you-" She pestered.

He grumbled in annoyance, "Look, I already told you I like having you around and I want to bang you so…what? You just want a hug now and then too?"

"And kisses…" She requested sheepishly.

Kenpachi shifted his gaze, "I mean…might take a little getting used to but…I want to try it with you."

"Sure I won't bore you? I can be pretty clingy-"

He interrupted her worries, "I could never be bored of you."

"What makes you so sure?"

"Che, you really like making me repeat myself don't you?" he chided.

"…"

He growled looking at her, "I told you woman, you annoy me already! Although to be honest that's too kind, to put it more accurately…you drive me so insane I want to repeatedly smash my head against a wall!"

Jin looked up at him curiously.

He sighed, "But for some dumb reason I'm still here. So what does that say?"

"I suppose you make a violent point…" She mumbled jokingly.

His gaze suddenly grew softer as he smiled gently, "You know Jin, I didn't tell you this, but…I changed my mind."

Her eyes widened in confusion at him.

"You asked me what 3 things I valued most, you remember that?"

She nodded slightly as she looked out at the rain falling, waiting for him to continue speaking.

"It's not sake anymore...it's you."

Jin arched her neck back to look up at him again. His face was soft and a little confused, looking back down at hers. They could feel a familiar magnetic pull between them. Slowly edging closer, hesitating slightly until their lips met. His hair fell as he leaned down over her, concealing their kiss from any passerby's view.