Linake awoke to the feel of Kenpachi's rough hand running down the sensitive skin of her bare back. The two of them had finally collapsed onto their futon after the marathon session of lovemaking around midnight. Linake smiled and let out a soft moan as she felt Kenpachi's weight on the side of the bed, his hand gently caressing a line down her spine.

"You awake?" Kenpachi asked, not sure if her moan was a reaction to his touch in sleep or if Linake had actually stirred.

"I am…What time is it?" She asked as she let out a yawn.

Kenpachi turned his head, glancing at the clock.

"It's almost eight, seems like Ikkaku didn't bother to wake me for drills today." Kenpachi answered.

Linake chuckled softly.

"He probably wanted to let everyone sleep in after celebrating so hard last night." Linake offered.

"Yeah…" Kenpachi replied as he stood from the side of the futon bending his body low, he pulled the blanket from his wife's naked body and in one swift motion he lifted her from the mattress.

Linake let out a low sound of alarm as she felt herself being lifted unexpectedly.

"Where are we going?" Linake asked as she reached her arms up around Kenpachi's neck and met his gaze—he still hadn't put his eye patch back on yet.

"To the bath, don't want you walking around sore after last night." Kenpachi answered as he walked them through the bathroom doorway.

Linake rested her head against his large shoulder as he lifted his leg and climbed over the side of the already filled bathtub and then lowered them both down into the hot water. Linake closed her eyes as she felt the soothing heat envelope her body as Kenpachi adjusted her on his lap, he laid her back against his chest, both of his large hands splayed across her lower abdomen.

"I do feel a bit sore…" Linake admitted.

Kenpachi frowned at her admission, but he figured she would be, he'd pushed her harder than he ever had last night, making love to her over and over like a man consumed.

"What's sore?" Kenpachi asked, hoping he hadn't ended up pushing her too far.

"It's just some of my muscles." Linake answered honestly.

"Nothing major or anything, just feels like I've used some new ones." Linake laughed.

Kenpachi allowed himself to smirk as understanding filled him, he had put her in some new creative positions last night…

Linake felt him lower his left hand from her abdomen and slide it between her thighs to cup her sex with his palm. Linake's breath hitched—he can't possibly want more of me so soon!

"As long as I didn't hurt you here…" Kenpachi whispered lowly as he pressed his lips against her neck sending shivers throughout her body.

"You didn't." Linake answered, wondering if he planned on making love to her again in the tub before she left.

Kenpachi pulled his hand back and Linake realized his touch had been more along the lines of intimate then sexual as he lifted his arms and began to lightly massage the tension in her shoulders.

"Tell me where to rub." Kenpachi demanded.

"Everywhere!" Linake breathed as she melted into him allowing her eyes to close as Kenpachi ran his strong rough hands over her biceps gently massaging her all the way down to her forearms. Kenpachi placed his hands over hers and lifted both of her arms up, guiding her hands to the back of his neck.

Linake sighed contently as she clasped her hands together, bracing them on the back of Kenpachi's neck. The position forced her body to stretch out the sore muscles on her sides. Kenpachi lowered his hands pressing his fingertips down into the tender muscles along her ribcage, making her moan as his skilled hands went to work easing the stiffness.

Linake smiled as her husband took it upon himself to take care of her after the intense night he'd given her; something that felt a bit strange coming from such a man as he, but lately he had been full of surprises—I still can't believe I'm his wife…

"When did you say you needed to meet Rukia and Amaya?" Kenpachi asked, bringing Linake back to the present.

"Ten. Rukia had a message sent to me saying we would all meet at the Senkaimon then." Linake answered.

"We've got some time to kill then." Kenpachi stated as he lowered his hands pressing his thumbs into the sides of Linake's hips, he dug into the muscle making her moan even more.

Kenpachi chuckled.

"You keep makin' sounds like that you might not make it there…" Kenpachi growled against her ear.

"It feels good." Linake whispered as she turned her head towards his and took it upon herself to steal a kiss from her man using the grip on the back of his neck to make him lean forward for her.

Kenpachi leaned in allowing his lips to overlap with hers, the kiss was softer than usual, somehow during the night Kenpachi had gone from intense animal to comforting husband and Linake had to admit, she'd loved every minute of it.

Kenpachi slipped his tongue passed her lips rolling it against hers a little lazily, seeming to be more then content with just sitting with her, his strong hands moving across her silken skin like a soothing balm to her soul—I'll never get enough of this man!

Kenpachi pulled his tongue back and pressed his lips over hers once more before leaning away and looking into her eyes.

"Love you, Wife." Kenpachi stated.

Linake smiled fully, making him smile in return.

"I love you, Husband." Linake answered.

Kenpachi lifted his arms wrapping them around her middle under her breasts, he hugged her to him tightly.

"We could always cancel the ceremony, it seems kind of strange now that I think about it." Linake started.

Kenpachi's brow furrowed and she shook his head.

"No. I want you to be able to have one, besides, didn't you say other squads were askin' if they could come?" Kenpachi countered.

Linake nodded.

"Yeah, they did. Captain Iba seemed really happy for us and wanted to be there." Linake stated.

"Iba huh. It's been a while since I've talked to him, he used to be on my squad a long time ago." Kenpachi answered.

Linake nodded, a small smile spreading across her lips.

"He told me." Linake replied.

Kenpachi loosened his arms and reached out for the soap on the side of the tub then brought it down into the hot water. Linake turned her head forward and watched him lather his hands with the sandalwood scented soap.

Linake smirked when he brought his hands to her skin running them across her upper chest and up over her shoulders—his touch was gentle as he began to bathe her.

Kenpachi brought his hands up running them over her breasts, Linake's nipples tightened in response.

Kenpachi chuckled lowly next to her ear.

"Didn't get enough of me last night, Wife?" he teased her.

Linake raised her hands from the back of his neck threading her fingers through the long black strands of his hair that hung loosely down his back.

"I can't help how I respond to you…" Linake admitted.

"I get ya, you do the same thing to me." Kenpachi admitted, once again surprising Linake with his openness.

"Try not to take too long today…it makes me feel weird when you go back to the human world on your own." Kenpachi continued as he ran his soapy hands over Linake's stomach.

Linake's brow furrowed at yet another admission from the man, it seemed that their being married had proven something to Kenpachi, allowing him to be more forthright with her when it came to his own emotions—I've been waiting for this, this sense of comfort between us.

"I shouldn't be but a couple hours, I might not even find anything I like." Linake sighed.

In a way she was kind of dreading her request at having a ceremony, now that Yumichika had given her such a nice gift and the squad had already celebrated with them she felt strange, but on the other hand, she knew the men of her squad wouldn't complain about another opportunity to celebrate their captain.

"I'm sure you'll look good in whatever you pick." Kenpachi replied, feeling like he needed to say something encouraging, his woman's moods had been all over the place lately and he wasn't sure why, but some days it seemed like she second guessed herself a lot, she was becoming more emotional.

"I hope so…" Linake replied.

Kenpachi dropped his gaze to her lower abdomen as he ran his hands across with the soap, it was one of his favorite places to hold onto when they bathed together and he couldn't help but notice that even with all the training and her forgetting to eat, it looked like Linake had gained some weight, not that he was complaining about having more to hold onto—if I say something about it she'll probably elbow me in the gut, and cancel the trip to look for this dress she wants to wear so bad…

Deciding to keep his mouth shut and not ruin her day, Kenpachi reached his hands up and guided her arms back down from his neck before he covered them in soap. Linake leaned forward on his lap as he nudged her, indicating he wanted access to her back.

"You going to let me return the favor?" Linake asked him as she turned her body to face him.

Kenpachi grinned at her as he met her gaze.

"Once I'm finished with ya." He answered.

Linake smiled fully at her husband, her sapphire gaze filling with emotion as she looked back at him making Kenpachi's own chest ache a little—the woman doesn't hide shit from me anymore, I can see how much she loves me with just one look at those pretty blue eyes…


"She's late." Amaya smirked as she looked over at Rukia. Both of the women stood in front of the Senkaimon patiently waiting for Linake to show up. Rukia matched Amaya's grin, the squad 13 captain aware that she didn't need to speak aloud for Amaya to understand her train of thought—It really wasn't a surprise to Rukia that Linake was running behind schedule, considering she had just legally married Kenpachi Zaraki the night before.

Amaya laughed as she took in Rukia's thoughts.

"Early honeymoon before the ceremony?" Amaya asked aloud.

Rukia nodded as her smile widened, even though the thought of Kenpachi and Linake making love could seem a little odd and would baffle most who had known Captain Zaraki in the past, after seeing the way the giant man acted around his wife, Rukia had no doubt their personal relationship was anything but bland.

"You have no idea…" Amaya winked, having overheard Linake's internal reminiscing on many occasions.

"I'd cut them some slack, it's not like we were any better after we got married." Renji stated as he wrapped his arm around his wife's shoulders.

Sosuke Aizen stood behind Amaya, his features making him look as if he were deep in thought.

Rukia noticed the frown on Amaya's face when she turned and faced her lover. It hadn't been an easy road for the two of them, many of the soul reapers, including captains had shunned Amaya out of pure mistrust and many of them didn't even care that the young woman could hear their internal ramblings that usually ended with a foul insult in her direction.

Rukia would admit, it had been hard to understand Amaya's intentions at first, but the more time she spent around Sosuke it was apparent that the years spent in isolation had given him a new perspective. Rukia wouldn't go as to say she had forgiven him, but, she could at least understand he was no longer the same man from the past, in fact, he was no longer just a mere man—He's an immortal.

Rukia turned her gaze away from the couple, sensing that the internal conversation between the two of them was getting a little heated by the body language between them. Amaya's brow was furrowed as if in agitation, she had crossed her arms over her chest and was glaring up at him. Rukia couldn't believe it, but, for a minute she thought she saw sadness in Sosuke Aizen's gaze—what could they be talking about that would make the immortal man sad?

Renji bent down to speak in Rukia's ear then.

"Whatever their arguing over must be pretty important to Aizen." He whispered, feeling a little out of place himself. Renji wasn't sure if he should try and break the couple up or just let it be—kinda hard to break up an argument you can't hear.

Rukia nodded to her husband, deciding to turn away from the couple to give them privacy when she spotted Kenpachi and Linake walking down the pathway towards them. Linake was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a black v-neck t-shirt and some sneakers and her hair looked wet indicating that could have been the reason for her late arrival.

"Sorry I'm late. I lost track of time." Linake sighed as she walked over to her friends.

Amaya turned away from Sosuke then, her brow furrowed tightly as she stepped forward towards the Senkaimon.

"It's okay, let's just go." Amaya stated with apparent agitation.

"O…okay." Linake replied before turning to Kenpachi for a goodbye kiss, he didn't disappoint her, leaning down and covering her lips with his.

Rukia smiled, realizing that Captain Zaraki's dark hair was also wet, giving the squad 13 captain a good idea of what had been keeping them.

"Be careful, Wife." Kenpachi demanded before he let go of her hand.

Linake's lips parted as she heard Kenpachi verbalize his concern for her in front of the others, it seemed that the two of them had just hit another unspoken milestone.

"I will." Linake answered before turning to face the Senkaimon.

"You be careful too." Renji stated to Rukia before pressing a kiss to her lips.

Rukia kissed back and smiled up at her husband before she too stepped forward. Both Linake and Rukia stole a glance back at Sosuke Aizen, he met both women with a forlorn expression and for the first time since Amaya and Aizen had been together, it seemed there may be trouble in paradise.

The door's to the Senkaimon jerked forward opening up to a black space known as the precipice world. The three women each took four steps forward entering into the bridge between the human world and the soul society. With a loud clang the doors to the Senkaimon shut behind them and without another word the three women took off in a sprint heading for the other side.


Renji turned and faced Captain Zaraki with a grin.

"How about some Sake, Captain Zaraki?" Renji offered the newly married man.

Kenpachi smirked as he met the squad 6 lieutenant's gaze.

"Now you're speakin' my language." Kenpachi grinned as he turned to follow Renji but then paused when he noticed Aizen standing there looking like a lost puppy—the fuck's eating him?

"Hey, Aizen. You commin'?" Kenpachi called out, deciding to cut the man a little slack and make the offer.

Aizen turned his head, his brow lifting in apparent surprise at the squad 11 captains invitation.

"I don't see why not." Aizen accepted, turning away from the Senkaimon and just like that, the unlikely trio of men walked down the pathway in the direction of one of the most popular restaurants. It was the first time Sosuke Aizen inwardly cursed his immortality—if there was ever a day I would like to be drunk, it would be today.


Linake slowed her pace as the three women made it to the end of the long tunnel between the worlds. As the door to the Senkaimon appeared and burst open the three women stepped forward and looked around at their surroundings. The gate had dropped them off next to a park right in the middle of downtown Karakura.

While Rukia had been placed inside her Gigai form before leaving, Amaya and Linake had the advantage of being human first and soul reapers second. Whenever they came back to their normal world they didn't require the shell that pure souls needed in order to be seen in the human world, but would require assistance on the way back, once again assisting in their conversion back into soul form.

Rukia turned her head to Linake and the two shared an uncomfortable glace back at Amaya, the younger woman was obviously going through something personal.

"Is there anything you want to talk about, Amaya?" Linake asked, keeping her voice light.

Amaya sighed as she turned to face the other two women but kept her brown gaze lowered as she played with the hem of her pink t-shirt.

"Sosuke keeps bringing up marriage ever since he found out about you and Kenpachi." Amaya admitted.

Linake and Rukia both shared an excited glance at one another hearing the news.

"I don't understand, why would that make you upset?" Rukia asked.

Amaya lifted her head then.

"The Head Captain denied us a ceremony." Amaya answered.

"What!?" Linake yelled as her brow furrowed.

"Why would he deny you one but give one to Linake?" Rukia asked, her own confusion apparent on her features.

"I…I agreed with him. It is Sosuke who wanted to argue about it, saying that since Linake was able to get recognition it should only be fair that I get the same. He won't listen to what I want, he thinks I need to have a ceremony in order to be happy." Amaya rolled her eyes.

"Well, why don't you want one?" Linake asked.

Amaya snorted.

"Who would show up, Linake. Sosuke and I haven't exactly been popular." Amaya countered.

"Besides, this isn't about me, today is about you and Kenpachi." Amaya continued before turning away from the two women and heading in the direction of Kurosaki Clinic.

"Is Orihime expecting us?" Amaya called out over her shoulder wanting to change the topic of conversation to something else.

"No, I never did send a message, I am sure she won't mind us stopping by though." Rukia replied.

Linake followed her two friends as they led the way down the busy sidewalks and as she walked she couldn't help but ponder Amaya's situation—Surly Shunsui could be reasonable about it and allow Amaya and Aizen the same treatment he bestowed on her and Kenpachi.

Rukia turned back noticing the way Linake was carrying herself as she walked; she looked guilty, and even though Rukia knew that was not Amaya's intention, it still left Rukia feeling a bit agitated on Linake's behalf—today was about Linake and Captain Zaraki she should be feeling happy and excited but now, she just looked a little melancholy.

Amaya stopped suddenly on the pathway and twirled her body around to face Linake.

"Will you stop that?!" Amaya snapped.

Rukia's brow shot up as she watched the two women come face to face with each other.

"I can't help it, there has to be a way that you can have the same thing as me!" Linake countered.

"I am not upset about it at all, Linake. Sosuke will get over it and if he really wants me to be his wife, a stupid ceremony shouldn't be standing in his way!" Amaya countered, releasing her frustrations.

"I get that, Amaya. You have to see it from Sosuke's point of view, he just wants it to be fair. I am sure he knows that not many people would show up, but, it's more along the lines of respecting you the same way I have been respected." Linake replied.

"I already knew what I was getting into when I decided to be with him, it's not that I don't understand why he is acting like this; I can read his mind as well, Linake. He's just being stubborn." Amaya sighed.

"Why don't we put this conversation on hold for now? We can all go and request a private meeting with the Head Captain when we get back in soul society." Rukia offered.

Amaya paused as she gathered the internal thoughts of both women standing with her on the sidewalk; it seemed that Sosuke wasn't the only one who thought the head captain was being unreasonable.

"If that's what you guys really want. I didn't want to bring this up anyway, today isn't about me and what I can or cannot have; it's about you, Linake." Amaya answered.

Linake sighed as her earlier thoughts came rearing back.

"Will you stop being ridiculous! All I've heard people thinking about is the ceremony for you and Kenpachi, if you cancel it now they're all just going to blame me!" Amaya countered.

Linake's lips parted as she realized why her friend looked so angry.

"Okay! I'll stop second guessing it." Linake replied.

Amaya stepped forward wrapping her arms around Linake pulling her into a tight embrace. Rukia found herself smiling at the show of affection between the two women; so much had happened to them in such a short time and somehow it had only seemed to strengthen their bond.

"We'll figure it all out together, Amaya." Linake whispered as she hugged her best friend back.


Kenpachi Zaraki stepped inside the crowed restaurant expecting the looks he was getting from everyone as he entered inside. It was close to eleven in the morning but the thought of kicking back and enjoying some Sake appealed to the squad 11 Captain as he followed the squad 6 lieutenant to the back of the resturuant.

Renji paused at a door to one of the private rooms, making Kenpachi think the sneaky bastard may have had something up his sleeve with the invitation. As Kenpachi walked inside the room he was greeted by smirking faces of many male officers, captain's and Lieutenant's alike.

"Congratulations, Captain Zaraki!" came the wave of masculine voices.

Ikkaku and Yumichika stepped forward with grins as Kenpachi rolled his eyes and allowed himself to chuckle.

"Never pegged you assholes as the sentimental types!" Kenpachi stated as he took in everyone who was present.

It seemed like a lot of the other men had wanted to celebrate the upcoming ceremony, giving him something along the lines of a bachelor party.

"Well it's not everyday someone like you goes and finds himself a woman who will put up with him." Tetsuzaemon Iba replied with a smirk.

Kenpachi walked forward with a chuckle as the man who was once one of his subordinates walked forward and extended his hand to Kenpachi. Kenpachi clasped hands with Iba briefly accepting the man's congratulations before he took a seat at the table.

Renji and Aizen made their way in and took seats of their own at the crowded table. Izuru Kira and Shuhei Hisagi nodded to the 11th division captain as his gaze searched their features—didn't expect those two to show up for something like this…

"You're one lucky bastard, I'll give you that much." Kensei Muguruma stated while he started pouring shots of Sake into lined up ochoko's as he stole a glance in Sosuke Aizen's direction.

"You think he doesn't know that?" Shinji Hirako retorted with a grin deciding to ignore Aizen's presence entirely—it wouldn't be wise to start a fight in the middle of a celebration for the man who most enjoyed fighting.

Over the years some of the captain's had chosen to let go of the past, while others still felt it difficult when it came to the traitor of the soul society; it seemed that some things couldn't be buried fully, and that was the case when it came to Kensei Muguruma.

"If you'll excuse me, Captain Zaraki." Sosuke stated before standing from the bench, deciding it would be best to return to the squad 2 barracks.

Kenpachi gave the immortal a firm nod in understanding, it didn't take a genius to understand that many of the other captains still held animosity.

"Tch, good riddance." Kensei spat as he watched Aizen walk out of the room.

Kenpachi turned his head towards the captain of squad 9 and while Kenpachi did understand the reason for his anger, it had been so long ago Kenpachi didn't see the point in holding such a grudge.

"I don't even know why the Head Captain bothered to let him out…" Kensei continued as he began to pass the tray of ochoko's around the table.

Kenpachi lifted one of them to his lips just as Kensei met his gaze.

"Quit bitching, it ain't like you can kill him if you tried, might as well get used to it." Kenpachi countered causing the room to fall silent around him.

If there was one thing Kenpachi knew, it was that the other captain's wouldn't want to stir up shit when it came to him; and it just so happened that Kenpachi had been around Aizen a lot since his release, it wasn't that Kenpachi was sticking up for Sosuke's past, but it was about time everyone stopped pretending that Aizen's assistance in the last war meant nothing.