Disclaimer Is In The First Chapter! XD

Wow! I'm glad you guys like this story! I hope it lives up to your expectations!! w Anyway! Here's chapter 2!

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The barracks had a hustling energy in the air as the captain entered, causing most of the members of squad four to forget what they were doing and run into things...some just froze all together. He didn't notice. It happened too often for him to waste time paying attention to it anyway. He needed to find Retsu. She'd know what to do. He was sure of it.

A young member of the squad hurried past him, doing his best not to look him in the eyes. He recognized him, he didn't remember his name, but he'd been with Ichigo when they'd met for the first time. Yeah, that was the one that passed out.

…Figures he'd be in this squad.

Reaching a quick arm out, he grabbed the small boy by the collar, lifting him off the ground. This was much to the boys alarm apparently, because he started quaking violently and saying things like 'I'm sorry!' and 'I'll watch where I'm going!'

Needless to say, the urge to smack the kid across the face and tell him to get a grip was very strong. But Kenpachi denied it by simply telling him to shut up, which he did immediately.

"Where's your captain?" He asked, glancing again around the barracks. The squad members were now all staring at him, wondering what would happen to their comrade. He could see some members of his squad in their cots, looking like they were egging him on to fight the boy, and other members of assorted squads trying to get a better view of the situation.

The terrified-looking boy responded by pointing behind him, causing a brow to lift on the captain.

"My my, Zaraki-taichou, I always thought you would be the last person in the world who had to be told to pick on someone your own size." A voice came from exactly where the shaky kid had pointed. Zaraki turned his head to see Unohana Retsu looking up at him with the same ever-present calm smile that she always wore. "Now, you didn't come all the way here just to bully Hanatarou-san, did you?" She asked as she looked from the captain to the poor shivering seventh chair that was caught in his grasp.

Zaraki lowered the boy to the ground, to the spectators' dismay, and turned to her completely. "We gotta talk." He said bluntly, getting yet another reaction from his 'audience'.

Unohana nodded and her face became more serious. "Yes….we do."

"So…your squad hasn't heard yet either then?" Retsu asked, closing the door behind them as they entered her office.

"Nah. No one from my squad witnessed it…But Yumichika has a way with hearing things. He tends to get news fast no matter where it happens. It's only a matter of time before they come to me about it." He said, leaning against the nearest wall.

"They?" She asked, offering him a cup of tea.

He declined, "Everything Yumichika knows, Ikkaku will know soon afterward. And directly after he knows, they both come to me. It's like a tag team."

"Ah. I see." She responded, taking a seat opposite him. "So…Yachiru-san will know soon then too, won't she…?"

Kenpachi clenched his jaw. "….Yeah…"

"How do you think she'll react?" Retsu asked in a bit of a solemn tone, seeing his reaction to her previous question.

"…I 'dunno..." He admitted with a bit of an annoyed sigh. "That's what I wanted to talk to you about, actually…"

"Oh?" She put her cup down on a small end table beside her seat. "You think she won't take it well..?"

"I know she won't take it well…not at first anyway…" He said, crossing his arms and looking down for a moment. "…I just don't know how bad it's gonna be…" He added, looking out the large window behind her desk. "…She'll probably completely hate you after this."

"Yes…but I'd understand." She said simply, following his gaze out the window.

"Really?" Kenpachi looked back at her, a bit surprised.

"Well think about it, Kenpachi-kun…You're her life. You mean everything to Yachiru. And it's going to seem like I'm trying to take you away from her." She answered in a calm voice. "To be honest, if I were in her position, I would hate me too."

There was really nothing he could say to respond to that. He just kind of thought about it and nodded.

"That's why you have to show her that she'll never be second place. Not to me or anyone else." She added, sharply reestablishing eye contact with him. "You have to make sure that she knows that she'll always be first in your heart."

That was a good point…and definitely true, they both knew that. But would Yachiru believe him? And how the hell was he supposed to explain that? He wasn't the 'heart-to-heart chat' kind of guy. It would just be weird and completely unusual…Plus that would only make it seem like more of a lie.

Unohana stood and made her way over to the other. She brought her hand to his face, pulling it to face her own, and smiled gently again. "She's a smart girl, Kenpachi-kun. She knows how much you care about her." She gave him a light kiss, causing her to stand on her tiptoes momentarily. "Don't worry." She said, returning her feet completely to the ground. "I'm sure she'll understand one day."

MM: Woo! Unohana's there now! It's a crappy ending, I know, but the next chapter is better I promise. Everyone's favorite dynamic duo gets to come in! XD