Second to last chapter, I believe! Thank you all for the reviews so far! I've really enjoyed them.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Spoilers: SS arc, and the arc after that. (Manga)

Warnings: Can't think of any, actually.

Aloha, Kenpachi!

PART II

Chapter 8: Heightened Senses

"Maybe this was a bad idea." Kenpachi said as they looked up at the 4th division building.

"Ken chaaan! I want my sucker!" Yachiru said, hopping on his shoulder to get him to move.

"You and your damn candy." He muttered. It was funny to watch him, not that anyone would say that to his face. He did not want to go in there.

"Ken chan…" She said patiently. "If you don't go in there you won't get your bribe dinner. And Unohana san said something about a hot pot…"

"She did?"

"Uh huh." She hadn't, actually. But Yachiru would take care of that soon enough. She wanted that sucker!

"Che." He cursed before squaring his shoulders and walking inside. There was an arrogance to this walk, with his shoulders thrown back slightly, a stubborn look on his face. Damned if he would pass up good food. Lately Yachiru had been doing all the cooking in the 11th division. And he swore if he ate any more of that sweet tasting shit she was so fond of, he was going to be sick.

Yachiru waved happily as she caught sight of Unohana talking to one of her subordinates. "We're here, Unohana san!" She called.

Unohana glanced up with a slight smile before finishing her instructions. "Thank you for your hard work." She finished before letting the healer go. Then she turned to the pair that were sending her people fleeing in any direction possible with a welcoming smile. "Please, follow me." She said before turning and walking to one of the smaller rooms.

"Ken chan—"

"No."

"But Ken chan—"

"You're going first." He muttered. "And that's final."

"Okay!" Yachiru said, not bothering to mention that hadn't been the problem. Getting her sucker before dinner was a great idea! In fact she was so enamored with that idea she forgot entirely what she was going to tell him.

"I believe Yachiru chan will be going first?" Unohana said, not bothering to hide the fact that she had been listening. "If you'll wait out here, Kenpachi."

"Yeah." He grunted, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning back against the wall as the two females disappeared into the room. He gave the people passing by him cold looks, making them jump a foot off the ground and scurry away in fear. Damn but this was boring… What made it worse was that he had to wait to get prodded and poked. Normally the idea of being prodded and poked didn't bother him, toss in some blood and an adrenaline rush, and he was good to go.

But this wasn't normal.

The door opened and he jerked slightly as Yachiru walked out. "You're perfectly healthy, Yachiru chan… but you might consider brushing your teeth more often." Unohana said as she handed the little girl a sucker.

"Hai, hai." Yachiru said before sticking the sucker that was larger than her head into her mouth with an air of satisfaction.

"Kenpachi? You're next."

He shoved himself away from the wall and walked into the small, sterile smelling room. He hated that smell. His nose twitched and his expression showed his distaste as he dropped down on the table.

"Remove your eyepatch, please." Unohana said calmly. She didn't want to touch the thing… the monstrosity. She didn't even agree with him wearing it, no matter how those around them appreciated the cut back of his reiatsu.

"Don't think that's a very good idea." He replied.

"I need to see both eyes, Kenpachi."

"Don't say I didn't warn you." He muttered as he took off the patch. Unohana didn't let her reaction to the reiatsu flowing from his body show. Although she noticed that the sense of bloodlust that was usually found there had abated, just slightly. It was good to know he didn't desire to kill her this time.

Kenpachi flinched slightly as the light hit his right eye. When he wasn't completely focused on the fight, then he noticed the little things like how blinding light was to his usually sightless eye.

"By covering this eye you've put strain on your left one." She said calmly as she started to heal the left eye. "I wish you had found a different way of leeching off your reiatsu."

"This way makes fights more entertaining." He replied.

"Of course." She said dryly. The tiniest of smirks pulled at his lips as he glanced up at her. It made her smile slightly in return.

"It's getting harder and harder to find a good fight." He complained. "I'm going to have to try one of those Bankai bastards again. That was almost as entertaining as fighting Ichigo."

"I'm afraid we captains have more important things on our minds right now, Kenpachi. As should you." She said as she turned. "You can replace your eyepatch now."

"Ah… right." He said as he tugged the eyepatch back on.

"Remove your greatcoat, please." She said as she picked up her stethoscope. He reluctantly shrugged it off, letting it fall to the table behind him. Then his body went completely still as her hand brushed lightly over his chest, followed by the cold metal of her stethoscope. "I have to ask… how did you break Tousen's bankai?"

"The one where I couldn't see anything?" He asked.

"Yes, that one." She said, listening to his heart for just a moment. "Breathe in, please."

He breathed in, trying not to react to how it brought his chest in contact with her hand for a brief second. He didn't like this, dammit. Being this attuned to touch was supposed to be reserved for fighting. "I let him stab me." He replied. "And when I grabbed his blade I could see again."

"That could have gotten you killed."

"Nah. I felt the tip of his blade before it cut. Knew where it would wind up at." He said as she moved to his back.

"Breathe in, please."

He breathed in, wondering what this strange feeling was. It was almost the same as when he wanted a fight. But he didn't want to fight her. Sure her bankai was huge, but it was also boring. The only thing it did when it ate you was heal all your wounds. And make you have to take a bath. There was no sense in fighting something like that.

Then just what was this feeling? There was no chance in hell that it was lust… right? The only thing he lusted after was a good fight, not--

"Kenpachi?"

He jerked, distracted from all of his thinking. It was starting to give him a headache. "Yeah?"

"We're done here."

"Oh… right." He muttered as he shrugged his overcoat back on and stood. He went still again as she straightened it for him, looking down at her head. "Unohana…"

She stepped back, picking up her chart and jotting a few notes. "Yes, Zaraki Taichou?"

"I said not to call me that." He replied, completely distracted. "You're a captain too, you damn well don't have to call other people that."

"Yachiru chan is waiting for us… Kenpachi." She replied with a slight smile. "Something about… hot pots?"

"Ah… right. My bribe." The thought had him grinning again.

"Please don't tell the others that I used this method." She said with a sigh. "I don't have the time to go out and eat after every checkup." But she followed him out the door, calling to her fukutaichou. "Isane? I'll be back in an hour."

"Taichou?" Isane asked hesitantly.

"It's fine. I promise." Unohana said as Yachiru hopped onto Kenpachi's shoulder. "We're just going out for a meal." She added before the door closed behind them.

Isane stared in shock at the closed door, doubting what she had heard. Then she shook her head. Her captain was a grown woman. She could make her own decisions.

Isane just wished that it could have been anyone other than the most psychotic captain in the Gotei 13…

----------

(What did Yachiru forget? I have no idea, she got distracted before she could tell me. -sweatdrops- )