Chapter 2: Say It Clearly
What would happen when Yachiru became a woman?
It had taken her awhile to figure it out, but Yachiru finally understood that there was absolutely no one she'd wish to spend her life with other than Ken-chan. He had known her for the majority of her life, named her, saved her, and given her a place to belong. Since then, they had never been apart for long. But after some time, Yachiru began to feel nervous around Ken-chan. Especially after realizing her feelings for him. It had to end. She had to tell him so things could go back to normal.
Zaraki had also been acting strange around Yachiru. He wouldn't let her ride on his shoulder anymore. He hardly ever came into physical contact with her. And, to her great irritation, he often referred to her as a child. His actions had no more meaning to him other than the realization that Yachiru was growing into a woman and he, as her father figure, needed to ensure that she turned out proper. Hanging around a bunch of sweaty men all day was not the best thing for a young woman, at least, that's what Kyoraku had said one day while they were enjoying a drink.
"She needs time to blossom, to come into her own," the slightly tipsy captain explained. "If you're around her too much, she'll get confused."
Kenpachi didn't know much about women, but he did know Yachiru. Although she was very perceptive, she easily misunderstood the things she perceived. So he decided to take a few steps back just as Kyoraku had advised. Bad idea.
It was this distance Kenpachi created that led Yachiru to realizing her feelings. Her so called "path to womanhood" led her straight into his arms, so to speak. There was only one woman Yachiru could think of that could give advice on men. Vice Captain Nemu.
In Yachiru's mind, Nemu and Mayuri had a relationship very similar to she and Ken-chan. They were both stoically loyal to their captains and would do anything for them. They also had feelings for their captains who created and named them, Nemu in a more literal sense than Yachiru.
"Nemu-chan," Yachiru leaned over the table and pouted when the two lieutenants had a moment alone. "How do you get Mayu to notice you as woman?"
If Nemu had been a normal human with normal emotions, she would have choked on the tea she sipped. Such was not the case. She simply gazed at the clear steaming liquid with her dark sleepy look.
"I don't think Mayuri-sama has ever not seen me as female," she said blankly.
"Well…that's true," Yachiru mused. "But I mean more than just that. I mean..." she leaned in closely and whispered conspiratorially.
"Oh that. Mayuri-sama gave me life, so I would do anything he asked. Whenever he calls me to his room I *xoxo* and *this and that* then we *bleep*." She sipped her tea calmly as she explained with no expression.
Yachiru's eyes widened and she felt heat rise to her face. Is that what love was like? Very well. As long as it got Ken-chan to accept her as a woman.
"But Yachiru-san, why are you interested?"
Yachiru shook her head. "Oh nothing. I just wanted to know." She chuckled and skipped off.
If there was one thing she clearly understood from Nemu was that a woman had to look appealing. Yachiru never really thought about her appearance, but when she compared it to Nemu, she did seem rather childish. The best person to consult to look like a woman, only one came to mind.
"Jiggles!" Yachiru called to Rangiku. Just her luck. The 10th squad's vice captain was skipping duties again. That meant she had all day.
"Oh Yachiru-chan. What can I do for you?" the busty Matsumoto approached.
Yachiru stared with a tinge of admiration. She glanced her own chest. It had developed quite a bit, but was still nowhere near as full as Rangiku's.
Rangiku followed the young girl's gaze and understood immediately. "Oh Yachiru-chan!" she embraced her in a full bosom hug. "I knew this day would come! I'm so happy! Let's go shopping. We're going to have so much fun just like sisters!"
Rangiku explained as they raided every clothing department on the west side of Rukongai. "First you'll need to show as much cleavage as possible if you want to attract a man. You're still growing, but you're coming along nicely. Then it's always good to show some leg too. Oh and your hair should have a more mature look as well. Now we'll add some makeup. Nothing says 'I'm a woman' like long lashes and red lips."
Before the day was out, Yachiru hardly recognized herself. She was indeed sexy, she thought as she posed in the mirror. "Ah Jiggles, thank you so much," she hugged the vice captain.
"No problem at all. I'm always happy to help a young girl in love. So, who's the lucky guy?"
"Hm? Oh no one really…I was just curious."
She hummed and skipped away, leaving Rangiku to stare after her in confusion.
Night fell and Yachiru approached Kenpachi's room like she always did to say good night. He would have just finished his shower by now and would be preparing to for bed.
"Um…Ken-chan?" Yachiru called from the other side of the door.
"Hm? Come in," she heard his deep reply.
She slid his door aside. Zaraki lay with his back to the door in his sleepwear, his head propped on one elbow. His hair hung damp and loose from his shower. Yachiru was always amazed at how different he looked when his hair was down. Even though when she had first met him it was the same. She liked it down, but when it was up it was always funny. It also made him look more ferocious. Down he was…
Yachiru blushed.
"What is it Yachiru?" Zaraki looked over his shoulder to see his uncharacteristically silent lieutenant.
Not event the dim light in the room could hide her change in appearance. Kenpachi fell off his elbow in shock. Yachiru wore a pale rose colored yukata Rangiku had chose just for her, with a deep purple obi tied in the front. Her bobbed hair hung in loose curls around are oval face. But what was perhaps more unsettling was how her yukata hung open, generously revealing her gently sloped shoulders and smooth legs.
"Where are you doing dressed like that?" Kenpachi tried to keep his voice level. Was this what Kyoraku had meant? Her path to womanhood?
"Do you think I look good Ken-chan?" she chuckled as she turned around so he could get a better look.
"Un…" he grunted. "Well…I mean…if that's what you like then…"
Yachiru beamed. Now was her chance. "Ken-chan. I—there's something I want to tell you," she inched closer.
Kenpachi blinked. Still oblivious. Had he any inkling of how Kyoraku would have reacted in this situation he would have promptly turned the girl around and locked her out.
When he didn't reply, Yachiru drew even nearer. "Ken-chan I—I want you to see me as a woman now."
"Huh? Yeah I see you," Zaraki scratched his head not quite understanding her meaning. "But you didn't have to do all this if that was the problem."
Yachiru's eyes widened. "No? Ken-chan likes me the other way better?"
"Well, it's whatever you prefer I guess. I'm just sayin' don't outdo yourself just to prove something."
Yachiru nodded. Even though they were this close, she could still feel the distance between them. Time for Nemu's advice.
She leaned in close to Zaraki who instinctively scooted back.
"Yachiru what are you doing?"
"Ken-chan. I want to thank you for everything," she said, her voice much quieter than before.
"Oh? What did I do?" he asked suspiciously not sure where this was going.
"You saved me Ken-chan. In more ways than one. I can't save you but…I can at least do this," she was almost mumbling now and her body pressed dangerously close.
"Hold on!" Zaraki stood and took the girl by the shoulders. "You don't have to do anything."
Yachiru looked up innocently. "Does Ken-chan want to start?"
"What? No you idiot," he could feel heat rising to his face. He didn't know whether to be angry, embarrassed, or flattered. But he did know that this was going somewhere bad very fast. His brain may have taken awhile to put her words together, but his body didn't.
"Look, Yachiru," he breathed hard trying to calm himself. "You are a woman now. That's all the more reason you shouldn't be doing strange things like this."
Yachiru frowned. "I don't understand. This is what women do isn't it?"
Kenpachi shook his head furiously, still holding her away with great distance. "Not out of obligation or anything. You're better than that. You have to find someone you care about more than anything."
Yachiru softened. "Then that's easy enough Ken-chan. I love you," she said with a gentle smile.
Shit. "Damn it Yachiru that's not what I mean either," he let her go rubbed his temples. This was harder to do than he feared. He was a man that could take control of any battle, but when it came to something like this, Yachiru kept him on the defensive.
"There's different kinds of love ok. You and I…we're not like that," he tried to explain. "We're more like a family, at least that's how I always felt. That's why I've put some distance between us. I didn't want you getting confused. I wanted you to have your space."
She blinked. Her face cooled to an unreadable expression. "Oh. I see…" her voice was expressionless. She turned away and left.
Just as she closed the door, she muttered in a cold tone, "Goodnight Zaraki-san."
Kenpachi stared after her. She only called him that once before when he made her stop eating candy because of a cavity. She had been really pissed then too. It had taken him days to make her even look at him again after that. He knew this was going to be a much bigger deal than a sweet tooth.
Zaraki couldn't sleep that night. Nor could he nap in the afternoon as usual. Yachiru was nowhere to be found and, for the moment, he didn't mind. He needed some time to think. He could ask Kyoraku, but that man wasn't much good with women after all. He needed a woman's advice, but who did he know that he could trust not to blab to Yachiru?
Zaraki sat outside is room under the shade fanning himself. He gazed at the grass as it swayed gently in the light summer breeze. The sound of footsteps caused him to look up.
"Captain, you're troubled," Yumichika said bluntly.
Kenpachi stared at the 5th seat for a started moment. "That easy to tell huh?"
"Well you didn't eat today, you didn't try to jump in on Ikkaku's fight, you haven't taken your afternoon nap, and now you're staring at the grass like you want to write a haiku," Yumichika listed all of Zaraki's uncharacteristic actions.
Zaraki did not deny it.
"Does it have something to do with Yachiru?"
Bingo again.
"What makes you think that?" Kenpachi inquired.
"Well…whenever you're troubled—which is extremely rare—Yachiru is always by your side. However, no one as seen her all day." He flipped his hair back over an ear.
As Zaraki looked at the effeminate man he realized something.
"Yumichika. You're like a girl," he began.
The fifth seat's eyes widened with hurt. "If you're trying to say I'm pretty like a girl you forgot to say pretty."
Zaraki ignored the brainless comment. "If you had feelings for someone you were close to, what would you do if you found they didn't share those feelings?"
Yumichika wondered where this could be going. "Well…I wouldn't really worry about it. If the person is like a mentor to me, I guess if I was close to them, I'd always want to be. And I'd support them no matter what they felt."
Kenpachi nodded. "And what if things got awkward or something? How would you want that person to make it up to you?"
Yumichika blinked, his feathered eyelashes made a slow arc. "Before you go any further Captain, I just want to say I'm flattered, but I have no intention of pursuing anything more than a platonic relationship with you."
Zaraki blanched. "What? What the hell is wrong with you? Where'd you get that kind of meaning?"
"Oh that's not what you meant? You have to be more clear when you speak then," Yumichika countered. "When it comes to stuff like this, it's easy for people to get confused."
Oh. I see. Kenpachi thought as another epiphany hit him.
"So it's ok for everything to be the way it is? Just being a part of this squad with you people is enough huh? Like a family?"
Yumichika grinned slyly and nodded. "Yeah. It's enough for me. I think Yachiru would feel the same way if you said it like that."
"Yumichika…" Zaraki sighed. This guy was sneaky and weird, but he had a few good qualities too. "Thanks."
"No problem Captain. But you owe me. Next time Ikkaku or Yachiru slack off, I don't want to be assigned their chores. We have a fourth seat you know."
"Oh? Do we? Who is it?"