"Captain! Captain! Where did you go!?" The enormous man shook his head, gazing at the small girl who was running around the bottom floor, dressed in pink. She carried a large bell in her hand. "Caaaaaaptain!?"

The man sighed and dropped to the floor behind her.

"Stop yelling, Yachiru. You'll wake the rest of the house." He rumbled, crossing his arms over the loose black tank-top covering his scarred chest.

"Sorry~!" The pink-clothed girl laughed, turning to hand him the large bell. "This is for you. So I can find you!"

"No."

Yachiru's eyes filled with tears and her bottom lip quivered. "W-why not?"

"If you can find me…that means your enemies can find me. That means you're not safe. And your safety is my first concern. I'm your bodyguard."

"Yes, Captain Zaraki."

"Let's head to breakfast." He placed a massive hand on the top of her straight blond hair. "I heard Chef Ayasegawa is making your favorite strawberry cake."

"Cake~! Yay!"

Zaraki placed himself across from the daughter of the mansion, carefully watching all of his surroundings through a pair of mirrored black shades. He was tired, oh so tired. He'd stayed up all night, worrying for the girl.

He'd received a threat the day before, and he was running on little to no sleep, constantly watching.

Zaraki sighed, closing his eyes.

A gunshot rang through the kitchen, and the captain bolted to his feet whipping out the gun and knife he kept holsters on either thigh.

"Don't move."

Yachiru gazed at him, eyes filled with tears, blood running from her shoulder. He stared down at her and then lifted his cold green eyes to that of the other man, who's face was covered in a ski-mask. The other man had his gun pressed to the little girl's head and Chef Ayasegawa was peering around the corner, his styled black hair in a disorganized array around his face.

Zaraki's eyes narrowed and he lifted a foot, pushing the table at the man holding his charge. The blond girl dropped under the table and bolted for the kitchen. The man with the gun was winded, and he'd been knocked back several feet, but he leveled his shaking hand at the blond and pulled the trigger.

"Yachiru!" Zaraki yelled, throwing his knife at the man and rushing for the girl. She was lying in a pool of her own blood, and her pristine blond hair was turning red. She gave her bodyguard a large smile and her grey eyes fluttered shut.

"Captain!" Ayasegawa yelped, ducking behind the wall to the kitchen. Zaraki spun, and shoved his gun slightly upward, pulling the trigger. The bullet in the gun burst through the man's brain and he crumpled to the ground.

Pain blossomed in the man's body and he looked down, grasping the knife that was sunk deep in his chest. He yanked, staring with numb eyes before he swayed and collapsed, his hand landing on Yachiru's.

Chef Ayasegawa peered back around the wall and grabbed the phone off the wall.

It was sunny.

Sunny and clear, with a slight breeze that smelled of summer.

The graveyard was very nearly empty, save for a small congregation of people standing over two freshly dug graves and two open caskets.

One of the caskets was made of black wood, gleaming with silver accents. The second was made of cherry-wood, and was filled with white and pink flowers.

There was a girl laying in the smaller cherry-wood casket, her hands folded on her stomach. A large grin was spread across her face, and slightly curled pink hair was twined with a wreath of white lilies.

The man beside her was more plain, wearing a simple but clean army uniform, a flag clasped in his hands, and a knife set on top. He was rugged and rough, his lanky raven hair fanned around his shoulders.

"It's time." One of the men said quietly and several men stepped forward to lower the caskets.

Captain Zaraki

Fierce Protector

I'll always be yours…..

.

.

Yachiru Kusajishi

Beloved Daughter

…and I'll trust you forever.