Chapter 1:

Dangerous Waters

For disclaimer, see prologue, for I am lazy!

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Bells jingled lightly in the crisp early breeze. Yachiru hadn't woken up yet, so Zaraki Kenpachi was up wandering around...and kind of enjoying the silence that he rarely seemed to experience anymore.

Well...at least with his squad being so damn loud about everything they did. But it added to their charm and gave reason as to why they were in his squad to begin with. They were insane, obnoxious, and very easily talked into a fight...

...Just like him.

Still, they had their downside. None of them were as strong as he'd have liked them to be, save Ikkaku, Yumichika and of course, his miniscule vice captain. But they were stronger than the rest of the squads...so that made it easier to bare. He shrugged it off and kept his steady pace. But then a thought struck him. A thought that made his blood run cold.

A thought about his vice captain.

How would she react when she found out about this...about her...about what happened? Yachiru was very territorial ...especially with him. He was the only thing she had...and she was really the only thing he had too for a long time. He had a feeling it would be messy...at least at first...until she really gripped the idea. She would probably get defensive and angry...and hate her...

...And hate him...

He sighed, annoyed. This was going to be hard to explain...but Yachiru was smart...she would understand in time. Though, it wasn't really her intelligence he was worried about...

It was her temper. Yachiru never really got emotional about anything, much like himself. But this...this was something she'd never experienced before...

...Also much like himself.

It had been going on for a while now, true. But it was still very tightly under wraps. Neither of them spoke of it...nothing had changed between them socially...

Not during the day anyway...

But last night may have been the red flag to the others...it was a stupid choice to make...

But at the time...it was beyond worth it.

Bells jingled again as the captain shook the reminiscence out of his head. That wasn't the point right now...that wasn't important. Not at the moment...

He ran a hand down his face, trying to figure out something to do...something to say to cover their tracks...something...anything.

Of course...there had been sake involved...

Dammit...Yachiru already knew he didn't get drunk easily.

But then...it was one of Shunsuei's little 'get togethers'...That meant lots and lots of sake...

...But everyone there knew that he hadn't had nearly enough...

Damn you body mass...

Damn you to hell...

It was a fact that Yachiru hadn't personally been there...He'd made sure Ikkaku and Yumichika looked after her. He couldn't have her getting into sake...that was like pulling a pin on a grenade and then swallowing the damn thing.

It was just plain stupid.

But the story would circulate, he was sure...They always do...especially since Matsumoto and Isane had seen them. Isane wasn't a threat...seeing as it was her captain as well...but Matsumoto now had gossip...and the women in soul society seemed to love gossip. He knew this because Yumichika would often come back to Squad Eleven with said gossip.

Some were funny he had to admit, but some were just...you just didn't want to hear them.

So there was no doubt in his mind that Yumichika would hear it, tell Ikkaku and, Ikkaku, being the good, loyal guy he is, will do his best to keep it from spreading, ask Kenpachi himself about the incident, and of course, either not realize that Yachiru is hiding somewhere in the room or is listening intently at the door.

He hung his head in defeat. There was no way to save them. He would never hear the end of it...Maybe he should go and see Retsu now...maybe she had an idea. She was smart...there had to be something brilliant hiding in that braid of hers...

With that, the captain lifted his head in the direction (he believed) would be Squad four's building, and headed that way. There had to be something they could do...

There had to be.

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MM: Oh wow that was written fast...And I'm really not happy with it...I'm sorry if it's wishwashy and strange...I'm getting used to my own writing style..I'm sorry --; Anyway, I hope you enjoyed another short chapter. I'll try to make them longer...and better... And more organized...

Please R&R! Critique welcome!