Reaching Out
Kenpachi & Yachiru
I am absolutely sure that most of you know how Kenpachi found Yachiru. The tragic story of a sort-of anti-hero who, after a fierce battle, finds a pink haired child. A tiny thing, just able to move under her own steam. With the innocence of a child, she reached out to touch a sword. How that scarred, battle hardened, and deeply world-weary man saw a baby playing in the blood at his feet, and picked her up. Spoke to her, told her that since they each had no one, they could be each other's someone.
You know, I suppose, that that was not the end of it. Yachiru did not just walk and speak, and learn to love candy the very next day. Kenpachi, the self-named man had a little girl to raise. This is the story of when Zaraki felt like a dad for the very first time.
He carried the child in his arms for the better part of the day after he'd found her. He didn't rally have a place to call home, and the money he had wouldn't last too much longer. That was what he had been doing out there on that lonely road. Looking for work, not bandits, unfortunate tourists, and one very lucky baby. He figured though, that he might be able to collect a fee from the local police for dispatching the bandits that had been plaguing the countryside.
When he reached town, the girl was crying. Not just those silent little tears that say 'I've lost my third favorite doll,' but the loud 'my life is ending' kind that made strangers take too much notice. Kenpachi tried to shush the child when he noticed something else. She was wet. His nose crinkled, he had no knowledge of children in general. What he knew about babies could be summed up with the fact that he enjoyed trying to make them.
After realizing that the crying and wetness was accompanied with smells, he began to rethink this whole parenthood idea. Abandoned and orphaned children were actually somewhat normal in the sixty-eighth district. The least a person could do was offer to help anyone who would help a child. He knew he would have to pay for it. With a weary sigh, he trudged back to the boarding house where he'd been staying.
The front of the establishment was noisy, and full of people. Men were drinking, and women standing around waiting for them to stop. There were fights and games of chance running all around the common area, with a lone female playing a battered old piano. Kenpachi smiled in the face of the clamor and approached the only prostitute in the place that smiled warmly for him. Her name, when she admitted to one, was Hanako.
"Evenin' Hanako, you got some time?"
"For you? Of…" she paused, her neck craning toward the sound of Yachiru's whimpers, "You pickin' up strays, big guy? She's a little young yet, but just a few more years you can sell her. Why, I think she'll fetch a pretty…"
Kenpachi grabbed the front of her threadbare kimono, and pulled her close. "I wouldn't dream of paying you to think, Hanako. The kid needs help. You know how to take care of them?"
The woman's eyes skittered away from his angry look, "Sure, yes, I can help. But, Jun-sama won't let me go even for my own children."
Kenpachi released the woman, "I'll pay for you like always." She nodded and motioned the large man up to her room. Kenpachi grumbled, it looked like he would need to lay out some more money to rent another private room. Opening the door, he gestured at the bed; it was the only surface in the room large enough to sit on. "What do I need to know to take care of her?"
The painted lady smiled at Yachiru's crying face, "First, what's her name?"
"I'm calling her Yachiru. She was the only survivor after I killed the bandits."
She smiled at the child who was gradually quieting, as if she had realized she wasn't going to be undergoing slow torture much longer. "That's a pretty name. You figure out your name yet?" The woman pulled Yachiru's clothing apart, revealing a very soggy diaper.
"Kenpachi, it's the name given to the strongest Soul Reapers of their time. I've decided that's what I want to do, earn the name Kenpachi."
"That's a good goal, especially if you want to continue to support a child," Hanako tickled Yachiru's ribs, eliciting a tired giggle. "This is a diaper," she pointed at the cloth wound around the baby's middle, "and this one is very wet. Babies don't like to be wet. You're going to have to buy some more of them. This kimono is ruined; she'll need new clothes as well." She took off the offensive diaper, and rolled it tightly to drop on the floor. "I can use her kimono to make a diaper for now, but you'll need more, and soon."
A frown formed on Kenpachi's face, "Who's here tonight? I need to make some easy coin."
"Kuroma-san is here, he loves to watch you fight."
He counted out a stack of coins, "Can I buy you for a few hours?"
"I'll watch the little one, Kenpachi-san." Hanako lifted the now sleepily blinking child to her shoulder, "Make sure you bring back food. And milk, if you can find some. She'll thrive if you can keep her healthy."
Kenpachi nodded, and with a smile looked down into his new daughter's sweet little face. He stood and walked out of the room, he had work to do if he was going to be a good father to the kid.
It is a fantastic story. If I hadn't seen the truth of it, I would be hard pressed to believe it, too.
AN/ Ahh, we finally hit the finish line. Again, my thanks go out to my very patient beta, Hasty. And to eelgirl who asked for this. Finally, to my own son, who inspired this story. Not that he was adopted or anything, but I think any new parent is filled with the same feeling of helplessness Kenpachi was feeling. Reviews are nice. Be nice.