Its been absolutely ages since I last updated hasn't it? I am terribly sorry for those who might await this with some measure of anticipation, I've just not been terribly productive recently, hopefully things will pick up now, since I managed to produce this. I also noticed its been more than a year since I first started! My reaction was something along the lines of "The people who read this must be really patient...I'm so slow!" So yes, apologies to those who have waited and many thanks for your patience and enthusiasm...I hope it doesn't wane anytime soon. ^_^

Kenpachi rubbed his head and looked at the damage to the car. The back bumper was warped and dented, leaving a rather spectacular crater. Looking at the damage the boot probably wouldn't be opening any time soon either. Wonderful, just wonderful.

The death of his car was just the crux of a series of increasingly unfortunate events which had shaped the morning. The alarm had failed to go off, the toaster had destroyed the last of their bread, Yachiru had gotten up in a foul mood and had spent the morning on the verge of a screaming tantrum until Kenpachi's refusal to allow her to have a party had finally thrown her over the edge, he had burst into the bathroom to put an end to Yumichika's preening only to discover him leant over the toilet bowl throwing up and having finally sorted the whole damn mess out, put Yumichika to bed with a plastic bowl and strict instructions not to move an inch and piled the others into the car this had happened. It had only been a small cheap thing, but it was still his small cheap thing, and he couldn't afford another. To the other driver's credit, he did look horribly embarrassed and had made a terrible fuss of Yachiru and Ikkaku, checking they were OK and apologising profusely. Somehow the poor man had managed to miss both the red light and the rather visible backside of Kenpachi's car and run right into the back of it.

"So...does this mean we don't have to go to school?"

Kenpachi scowled at Ikkaku's hopeful expression, he had rather hoped that the boy had got over his aversion to school. "No way in hell. The car still works so you're still going. And if the car wasn't working, you would still go." He added, watching with a certain grim satisfaction as the boy's face fell.

Having exchanged details Kenpachi piled the two children into the car, fuming at the fifteen minute delay. The two of them were now quite definitely late and didn't seem to mind at all. That was all very well for Yachiru, but Ikkaku was still only in school by virtue of the headmaster's kind heart, and the less he came to the attention of the teachers the better.

"Yumichika's so lucky" Ikkaku grumbled as they waited in traffic, staring out of the window pensively.

"I think he might disagree with you."

Ikkaku snorted, "I told him not to get the chicken. 'It might not look like muck, but its dodgy' I said, but he wouldn't listen."

That was just wonderful...potential food poisoning. Kenpachi sighed and tapped the wheel impatiently. The day was still going downhill. "It isn't the chicken, even school wouldn't serve up bad food."

Ikkaku shrugged and didn't reply. The only conversation Kenpachi got out of him for the rest of the journey was a gruff goodbye when he was dropped off. He returned home to find Yumichika asleep, bowl empty by the bed. Reassured by the knowledge that if the teen was asleep then the chances were he wouldn't be required for any emergency Kenpachi sought out the number of the insurance company to make his claim and once that mess was sorted settled down in front of a film until lunch.

It had been about two weeks since the truancy incident, and the visit by Tousen, and apart from a call from Unohana nothing had seemed to come of it. The boys attended school without fail, although he couldn't vouch for what actually happened once they were in the building. They even did homework regularly, although he had to keep an eye on them to make sure it was done properly, and not just knocked off in five minutes so they could return to whatever far more interesting thing they had been doing previously. Recently as a reward for their good behaviour he had waived the rule about dropping off and collecting, allowing them to walk home alone.

All in all, things seemed to be turning around, and Kenpachi was pleased, not just because it was looking like he had been able to achieve the impossible in taming the two boys, but because they finally seemed to be warming to him. Even Ikkaku was less aggressive then he had been, and most things that had been treated with disdain or outright rebellion was only met with a scowl that seemed to be more tradition than anything before he caved.

Yumichika reappeared at about two o'clock looking decidedly green as he peered around the doorway. "What are you cooking?"

"Chicken soup. Want some?"

Yumichika looked greener if that was at all possible and shook his head cautiously. "No. Could you...make the smell go away?" He looked at little desperate as he added, "Please?"

Kenpachi looked from the pot of soup to Yumichika. Perhaps chicken soup had been a bad idea. "Yeah, sorry. I'll open some windows." Manners were still an issue with Yumichika, so for him to actually say please probably meant that his situation was quite dire, and Kenpachi hurried to open the windows. He really didn't want the boy throwing up in the middle of the kitchen.

"How are you feeling?" He asked eventually.

"Sick."

Kenpachi rolled his eyes. "You don't say. How do you feel apart from sick?"

"What difference does it make? I feel awful...I look awful." Yumichika pulled distastefully at his hair. "Look...its all lank and...icky. Not to mention I'm probably a lovely shade of green-grey right now."

Kenpachi knew he could hardly be surprised at the outburst, but the boy's vanity always managed to amaze him. "Well, its not like anyone's here to see you." He offered in consolation.

"You're here!"

"But," Kenpachi smiled crookedly, "I don't count do I?"

Yumichika looked exasperated. "Of course you do." he opened his mouth to continue but closed it quickly as a breeze wafted the smell of chicken past.

Foreseeing a mop and copious amounts of bleach in the near future Kenpachi took control. "Bed! You shouldn't be up if you feel that bad. And for God's sake use the bowl if you feel like you're gonna puke!" He called after the teenager's retreating back. Kenpachi allowed himself a smile as the pounding of feet faded; so he was now among the rare group of people for whom their perception of Yumichika's appearance was considered important by the teenager in question. Interesting.

The rest of the afternoon was, thankfully, uneventful. Yachiru was angelic when he picked her up, no doubt making up for her transgressions earlier, and while Yumichika didn't return from the safety of his room, Kenpachi could hear him moving about up there. All that remained was for Ikkaku to come home and the worst of the day would be over.

Half past three arrived in a timely manner; Ikkaku should be leaving school. Quarter to four, four o'clock, no sign of Ikkaku, but perhaps he was meandering or took a roundabout rout to walk with his friends. By the time half past four sailed past with no sign of the shaven headed teenager Kenpachi was beginning to worry. He could envisage all manner of things that could have happened to the teenager as he walked home, he wasn't known for being particularly careful or observant. Eventually he sought out Yumichika.

"D'you know where Ikkaku is?"

Yumichika looked up from his phone. "No."

"Well can't you call him?"

"I already did. There was no answer." Something in the boy's tone rang alarm bells in Kenpachi. The reply had been just a little to quick, too brief. Yumichika always knew where Ikkaku was, it was just one of those things that had always been and always would be, like the Pope being Catholic and bears...well, you know how it goes. Evidently Yumichika's loyalties still laid first and foremost with Ikkaku.

"You sure? You really don't know where he is?" Kenpachi narrowed his eyes. "You know what I think of liars, especially if he's getting into some sort of trouble and you're trying to cover it up."

Yumichika looked uncertain for a moment and seemed to be wavering but any confessions he might have been about to give were interrupted by the phone ringing downstairs. There was a pattering of feet in the hall and a click as Yachiru picked it up, as she had taken to recently in an attempt to be adult. In the resounding silence that followed he could hear Yumichika shifting on the bed and the high murmur of Yachiru's voice.

"Uh-huh...I'll get him..."

"Who is it Yachiru?" he called.

"I don't know. A woman wants you."

His hopes dashed that it might be Ikkaku and really, really hoping it wasn't Unohana Kenpachi hurried down the stairs to the phone, which Yachiru was helpfully holding out for him.

"She doesn't sound very nice..." The little girl whispered not so quietly to him as he took it and looked apologetic as he shushed her.

"Hello, Kenpachi speaking."

"Hello. This is Sergeant Soi Fon. I'm calling to let you know that your son, Ikkaku is at the station..."

As always, I'm a tart when it comes to reviews, the more the better...so get typing people! :P