Hey! I'm so sorry this took so long to get out, but I had to deal with university applications and the like *shudders*. I'm on holiday now so... (touch wood) hopefully they shouldn't be too few and far between! ^_^ Thank you again for all your lovely reviews, they really help to work up my enthusiasm. ^_^

"One, Two, Three..." Ikkaku swung the stick methodically, his brow furrowed in concentration. He hadn't yet been allowed to have a proper Shinai so had to make do with a relatively straight branch he had found in the garden and had cut to size, but it was more than good enough for now. After his first lesson his legs had been covered in bruises from where the mad old man had taken offence to something he had done and hit him, but for the first time in a while he felt proud of something. He had been told that he had talent and that if he continued he could do well, and his good mood was only slightly dampened when he came home to find that Yumichika had shut himself in his room and wouldn't come out until dinner, when Kenpachi insisted the four of them spend time together.

Inside, Kenpachi watched the teenager through the window proudly. The boy had poured all of his effort for the past two days into practising for his next lesson and Kenpachi could see that he was improving. But he also had another reason to be pleased. Through their common interest he had found a way to talk to Ikkaku without forcing a conversation, and Ikkaku as a result had become more chatty, and willing to take part in conversations, his sullen demeanour diminishing.

Conversely though, Yumichika had become more reclusive recently, which the large man found baffling, as the narcissistic teenager loved attention and never missed an opportunity to draw it to himself. It seemed that just as he got a handle on how to deal with the unruly pair they turned everything on its head to make life difficult for him. Communicating with a sullen and monosyllabic Ikkaku was one thing, but how did one deal with a worryingly reclusive Yumichika?

Beside him Yachiru put down her pen with a satisfied click. "Finished!"

Pulling his attention from Ikkaku, Kenpachi looked down at the pieces of paper on the table, framed with pens of all colours. They were typical child drawings, all stick limbs and large heads to a brightly coloured background, but they were clearly identifiable. There was him, drawn with a tiny Yachiru perched on his shoulders and on a separate sheet there was Ikkaku, eyebrows creased in a frown and, rather amusingly, rays on sunshine emanating from his hairless head like rays from a sun. They were even coloured in yellow.

But what really caught his attention was the drawing of Yumichika. It was perfectly ordinary, and accurate in a child's terms, except for strange yellow and red blobs on one side of his face. Kenpachi picked up the picture, a frown creasing his brow. "What's this?" he asked, pointing to the face.

Yachiru took the paper and examined it. "Its Featherbrow."

Kenpachi sighed. "I know, but what's this on his face?"

"That's how his face looks now." The little girl looked confused. "I came into his room one day and he was sitting dabbing all yellow-red stuff off his forehead. He was angry when he saw me, he chased me away." She looked up at Kenpachi, her face creased with worry. "Is something wrong with him?"

Again Kenpachi looked at the drawing, an uncomfortable thought working its way through his mind. Recently the teenager had been wearing a plaster over his piercing, insisting that the flamboyant bar he wore had been replaced with a more practical one because he continually caught it on his fingers, and the plaster was because it bled when he changed it. Now that he thought about it, this change coincided with him shutting himself away more frequently. As he thought Ikkaku came in, his forehead shining, and grabbed a glass of water, gulping it down. Staring contemplatively into space for a few moments Kenpachi made a decision and stood, startling Ikkaku.

"You know what's up with Yumichika?" He asked the boy, who looked at him confused. The lack of answer confirmed his suspicions, for he knew that the pair shared almost everything, and it would have to be something pretty serious for Yumichika not to confide in Ikkaku. Striding up the stairs, Yachiru close on his heels he stood outside the closed door of Yumichika's room. Without a word he opened it and marched in, finding Yumichika lying on his bed reading a book.

When the duo entered Yumichika looked up, confused, but it was obvious even to Kenpachi that he was making an obvious effort not to frown. "What's going on?"

"Take the plaster off" Yumichika blanched slightly at the command.

"Why? I told you why it's on."

Kenpachi growled. "One day is understandable; you shouldn't need it any more though. Take it off." In two steps he was beside the bed, and the boy scrambled away from him as he reached out to grab a slender shoulder. Kenpachi was quicker though, and cornered the wriggling teenager, tearing the plaster off in one fluid stroke. The sight he met with confirmed his suspicions. The pierced eyebrow was swollen and weeping around the silver bar and Yumichika flinched and whimpered when the plaster was removed and brushed against the inflamed area.

Even Yachiru stilled at the sight of the large man's expression as he glared at the dejected teen. "You… idiot! Look at yourself, do you want blood poisoning?"

"I-" Yumichika wasn't allowed to continue as Kenpachi continued.

"Your vanity is going to get you killed one of these days you bloody fool!" He straightened, towering even taller over the teenager. "Well. We will have to go to the doctor, no time to make an appointment, if they can't fit you in we'll have to go to the hospital."

As Kenpachi spoke Yumichika went white, looking past the hulking silluette of the man to Ikkaku, his eyes pleading. Noticing the boy's expression Kenpachi made an attempt to soften his voice and backed away a little, not knowing what he had said, but realising that whatever it was it had possibly not helped the situation.

"Listen" he said. "I'm responsible for you, and if you can't take care of yourself then I have to deal with it. It's just a trip to the doctors; no one's going to cut you open." He winced slightly as Yumichika went paler.

"Come on Yumichika, stop being stupid." Surprised at the unexpected support from Ikkaku, who had advanced into the room and was standing beside him, Kenpachi remained silent, waiting to see how the bald teenager dealt with his friend. "If you don't go now, then it'll get worse, and then you'll have to stay in hospital." The boy gave Yumichika a meaningful look and appeared to have won him over, as he pulled himself up from the bed and rearranged his clothes fussily.

Kenpachi took control again. "You two'll have to come too, can't leave you at home" He told Yachiru and Ikkaku, bundling the children out. He successfully got even the now dubious looking Yumichika into the car, glad that he was still cooperating.

And so they ended up in the doctor's waiting room, Yumichika trapped between Kenpachi and the wall, the silence of the empty room only broken by the soft chatter of the receptionist and Yachiru, who was making Ikkaku read medical leaflets to her on every subject, from meningitis to pregnancy. Kenpachi glanced at the boy beside him; they had got in without a fuss, simply having presented him at the reception, and had been given an emergency slot, possibly because Yumichika looked so stricken. He still looked bad, tense and pale and a little distasteful, as if there was a foul smell in the air. Gently he nudged the boy. "What's wrong with you?"

Complete silence fell at his question, and he could feel both Yachiru and Ikkaku watching them carefully as he waited for an answer. Eventually, Yumichika looked up at him. "I hate these places, they're so…horrible. Hospitals, surgeries, people who are dying go there."

Confused, Kenpachi pointed out: "That's a hospice"

Yumichika pulled a face. "That's not what I mean…Its…I-I don't know." He trailed off into silence, evidently frustrated that he couldn't express himself, but Kenpachi felt that he could understand what the teenager was getting at. There was something terrifying about going into a hospital and seeing people at their most frail and vulnerable, dying even. To Yumichika, whose appearance meant everything it would be even worse, because there is always that fear that you would become like them yourself.

Knowing what needed to be done, but unsure how to achieve it, Kenpachi patted his shoulder awkwardly. "It's only an infection, once you see the doctor then we cam be outta here and you won't have to come back again."

Yumichika shot him a grateful look as Yachiru detached herself from Ikkaku and ambled over to him, a worryingly helpful expression on her small face. She held out a leaflet to him. "Here, if you read it will take your mind off it!"

Glancing at the paper, entitled 'Coping with Cancer', Kenpachi hurriedly pulled Yachiru away and onto his lap, removing it from her grasp and putting it back on the shelf where it could do no harm. A few seconds later Yumichika's name was fuzzily announced over a speaker and he stood, with an encouraging shove from Kenpachi, and went out, looking to all the world like he was going to his execution.

While he was gone Kenpachi turned to Ikkaku. "Thanks for helping."

Ikkaku shrugged. "He's dumb sometimes, needs to be sorted out." Ikkaku looked at him, that rare thoughtful expression on his face. "His mum spent a lot of time in hospital…before he went into care." The teenager frowned at him, looking a little furtive "Don't tell him I told you. And that goes for you too" he growled at Yachiru "Keep yer big mouth shut."

Yachiru laughed as Kenpachi glared at Ikkaku warningly. "Don't worry Cue Ball…mouth zipped!" After a few seconds of silence she turned to Kenpachi, looking worried. "If he gets better, then I'll have to redo my picture! He won't want one that's all wrong."

More than a little bemused Kenpachi patted her on the head, trying not to smile at Ikkaku's incredulous expression. "I'm sure he'll like it, but do another if you want."

She smiled and they waited in silence until Yumichika came back again, clutching a prescription and looking a little happier. Kenpachi looked it over and nodded, it was just a two week course of antibiotics, they could pick it up on the way home. "Better now?" He asked the boy.

Yumichika looked a little shamefaced and nodded, following them out. As they got into the car he tugged at Kenpachi's arm, drawing the large man's attention from Yachiru. "I'm sorry…" he muttered. "I should-"

"Forget it" Kenpachi cut him off. "Just do it right next time."

Inside the car Ikkaku watched the two with an odd expression, his permanent half scowl gone, that is, until Yachiru, having escaped her seat, crawled over to him. "Why you smiling, Cue Ball?"

Ikkaku's scowl returned in full. "Shut up! I'm not smiling, and stop calling me that!"

The little girl turned to the open door, her mouth open wide to call Kenpachi until Ikkaku grabbed her, covering her mouth. Kenpachi turned around at the squeals of delight and growls coming from the car, sighing as he moved to separate the warring children. Things were back to their normal, chaotic self…and he would have it no other way.

I'm not sure this is the best chapter ever...but I hope you liked it. As always I love to hear what you think and any advice you might have to offer! XD