Oh man, did anyone see the OVA? It irritated the hell out of me for the most part. But I won't go into that. I loved the parts with Kenpachi and Yachiru, though! And it's worth downloading just to see the fanservice at the end. I'm serious. I loved that part, even with the credits running to the side.

This chapter is dedicated to yvie, since your comments make me smile. And to everyone else that's been sticking with me! I'm halfway through (nods.)

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Spoilers: SS arc, and planning on spoiling the arc after that

Warnings: Mmm... none that I can think of, I guess. Although I don't know if they play poker in Japan, I know they play Go and stuff, but... oh well. The image of Kenpachi, Yumichika, Ikkaku and Shunsui sitting around a poker table was too good to pass up!

Aloha, Kenpachi!

Chapter 4: Do Me a Favor

"And then we were attacked." Kenpachi said. He was sitting on Yachiru's bed, his legs sprawled, a beer in his hand. The little girl was curled under the blankets, her eyes drifting slowly shut.

"Tell the story right, Ken chan." She complained sleepily. "The way it's supposed to be told!"

"You know it better than I do." He said.

"Yeah, but Ken chan tells it better!" Yachiru replied, her burgundy red eyes turning on him.

"Ahh…" He muttered, taking a gulp of his beer before he started over again. "It was… hell… Twelve? Thirteen years ago? We were heading through the sixty fifth district. Into the classier hell holes. You were just a little bit, not that you're that big now. But you had finally gotten big enough to pick up my blade."

Yachiru giggled, already anticipating the joke. At least it was a joke now.

"You grabbed my blade, chasing after some damn rabbit or something, and you were so fast that I didn't notice you were gone until I heard the screams."

"Ken chan's just slow!"

"Listen to the story." He muttered, ruffling her hair in a familiar movement. "We're trying to put you to sleep, remember?"

"I'm not—" She yawned loudly. "Sleepy." She finished.

"That so?" He asked. "Well I found you in the middle of a group of bandits. Nothing too big. Hell, you had one down already and were about to pick off another. But they had friends."

"And Ken chan saved me."

"Yeah."

"Ken chan's always saved me." She said with complete and utter faith.

"Ah." He said, watching as her eyes finally drifted shut. Then he got off the bed, heading for the living room silently, only the tiny tinkle of bells showing his retreat. He looked back at her, just once before he gently shut the door to her room. He paused at the sight of Unohana sitting in the living room, curled up against one of the armrests of the couch and reading a book. For a moment he had forgotten that she was there.

He crossed the room, sitting in the chair next to the couch and taking another swig of beer. It was quiet, save for the tinkle of his bells and the soft creaking of the overhead fan. If he listened closely he could head the gentle roar of the sea outside the glass patio door.

"Back in Soul Society it would never be this peaceful." Unohana said as she closed her book and looked up.

"Boring." He replied. "Right now Ikkaku and Yumichika are fighting over the bathroom. The others are having a card game. Damn, I missed poker night." He muttered to himself.

"Poker night?" She asked.

"Yeah." He replied. "A couple of the boys and I get together Friday nights and play poker. Kyouraku shows up half the time."

"I'm not surprised. But I am surprised I've never heard of this poker night before."

"Last time we invited a female to the game she wiped out all our cash for the rest of the month." He muttered.

"Oh? Who was it?"

"Yachiru." He bit back a laugh. "That's why her bedtime's so damn early."

"Shall we play?" Unohana asked.

"Huh?" He glanced up at her. "You play poker?"

"I'm a very fast learner." Unohana said as she placed the book on the table next to her. "I'm sure there's a pack of cards here somewhere. And it is my fault that you're missing your male bonding time."

"I'm not gay." He muttered.

"That's not what—" She stopped, shaking her head. "Ah, here's a pack." She said as she reached under the table and pulled out the ragged, well used looking cards. "Will these do?"

He still hesitated. Then he shrugged. "Sure. That'll work." He said as he stood. "But we should probably do this on the patio. If Yachiru wakes up and finds us she'll get pissed."

"I take it that's happened before?"

"Too often to count." He said as he headed for the porch. There was a small glass and metal table there, surrounded by plastic chairs. He dropped down on one, placing his beer on the table and reaching for the cards as she sat across from him. "It's not so much the game that she likes, though."

"Oh?"

"Yeah. She likes the cash. Her damn candy addiction is terrifying."

"Then perhaps if we bet other things?" Unohana asked.

"Like what?" He asked.

"Favors?"

His eyes narrowed on her for a moment, then he grunted. "Yeah… I'll do that." Favors from another captain could come in handy. Especially the woman that healed people. He grinned. "I'll deal."

"Of course."

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The first favor she demanded of him was that he go shopping with her and Yachiru. And carry all of their bags. He knew that Yachiru bought a lot, but with two females, well, he had to crane his neck to see over his armful of bags and boxes.

"Ken chan! Ken chan! I want that!" Yachiru said as she hopped off of his shoulder again and raced to the next store.

"I think with my next favor…" Unohana said from beside him. "I want you to try that."

Kenpachi turned, following her line of vision for a moment. Out on the sea there was a man riding a strange board. "You're kidding me, right? How is that a favor?"

"You didn't say you would only do certain things." She replied. "I would think you'd be happy that I haven't asked… other things of you."

"Yet." He muttered as she patted his shoulder.

"Don't worry. I'll restrain from using you as a guinea pig. At least, unless you wish to be." She said cheerfully.

"I don't have one of those board things." He said.

"I'm sure we can find one!" She said. "There's a shop right there, see?"

"Well… great."

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He almost drowned. Three times. Kenpachi pulled himself up on the sand, spitting out the salty water before shoving himself to his feet. They had gotten Yachiru a little boogy board, or at least that's what the skinny tan blond bastard that sold it to them called it. She was having the time of her life. Too many years spent balancing on his shoulder, no doubt.

He grabbed his board and headed to where Unohana was sunbathing as she read. Then he sat down right next to her, making sure that he dripped on her dry towel. She looked up at him, peering over the top of her oversized dark glasses. "So?" She asked.

"I need sake." He muttered. "A bottle of it."

"Was it that bad?"

"Just the water part." He said. His hair was lying limply down his neck, clinging to his flesh. And he had lost some of his bells. But a grin pulled at his lips nonetheless. He loved a good challenge.

"But… isn't the water the main part?" She asked.

"Yeah. It is." He replied as he shoved himself to his feet again.

"So you're going back?" She asked.

"Like I could let something like water beat me." He replied.

"Ken chan! Look at me!" Yachiru shouted, waving at him from where she was riding the waves. "Come play with me!"

He waved and got back in. It took a lot more than drowning to stop Zaraki Kenpachi.

With a little smile Unohana turned back to her book. They would need sunblock again, soon. As pale as they all were it was necessary to avoid being burnt. Even if it was their gigai and not them. She sighed and flipped the page. Just not yet, though. Not when he was having fun.

She was surprised that she cared, actually. The rest was necessary, not just for his health, but for the health of several other shinigami. And by taking Kenpachi—Zaraki san out of the picture she was giving her team time to recuperate. It was also good experience for Isane. But she had gone out of her way the night before to make him feel comfortable. And she had hoped this pastime would appeal to him, as well. Ken—Zaraki san was a very physical being, after all.

It was becoming more and more apparent to her that Kenpachi was a very straightforward being. There was no guile or deception in him, and as harsh as it might come out, he always meant what he said. He valued his division, he loved his little girl. And he obsessed over a challenge.

Once again the question came to her… why had she chosen to come with them? Certainly she needed the break, and Hawaii was a very appealing island. But she could easily have come alone, or brought one of her subordinates. But the moment she had mentioned the vacation to Ken—Zaraki san she had known she would be going as well.

Could she be… possibly… attracted to him? The very idea startled her so much that she jerked slightly and her book fell from her hands. No. Of course not. If she was looking for a relationship, it would be based on mutual respect and understanding. And the man would be an intellectual who had a gentle hand and a kind word for those around him. Then she winced. That sounded suspiciously like the man Aizen had pretended to be.

"Oye! Unohana!" Kenpachi called as he walked up the beach. Yachiru was perched on his shoulder once again, although how she stayed there with no overcoat to cling to, Unohana had no idea. "We're hungry!" And he had forgotten the "san" again. But for some reason it didn't bother her too much.

"Unohana san, can we go out for dinner?" Yachiru asked.

"That sounds like a very good idea, actually." Unohana said as she got to her feet and picked up her things. "After we wash off, shall we see what restaurants they have in the area?"

"As long as it has food and sake I'm good."

"Then it's a date." Unohana replied, turning away before he could respond, if he even noticed the implications of her words.

He didn't, but Yachiru did. Her eyes went wide for a moment before she giggled and started swinging. "Let's go, Ken chan! Let's go!"

"Oye. Quit swinging like that. You'll fall off." He muttered even as they headed for the hotel.

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