Lovers Come Together

Chapter 1

Yachiru sighed in boredom. Life was so much more dull without the girls to get into mischief with. Beating up the rest of the division was too easy now and ever since the tentative truce with Hueco Mundo, and the fact there were so few hollows left anyway, there wasn’t even anything to fight and missions in the living world were more or less just Konso practice.

Granted there were still the odd new hollow cropping up from the recently dead, but they were not worth even mentioning. So in short, life was boring as hell with the only excitement being to go to Hueco Mundo to visit Pantera-chan and Taka-chan.

With another sigh Yachiru somehow found her way to the 9th division. Yumichika-taichou and Hisagi-fukutaichou were both at their desks, the pile of done paper work far larger than the to do.

“Yachiru-chan, what brings you here?” Yumichika smiled at her as she entered.

“Boredom.” She admitted.

He chuckled and offered to pour her a cup of tea, which she declined.

“It’s just so dull without Pantera-chan and Taka-chan around.” She lamented. “If I knew I was going to be this bored I would have made Ken-chan fight against their assignment.” She declared.

Yumichika chuckled. “Well, I do have a small thing that needs to be done. It’s not exciting but it needs to be done.”

“Oh?”

It was a clear sign of how board she was that she actually seemed interested in whatever it was he had for her to do.

“Can you bring these files to the 5th?” He asked, handing her a stack of paper.

“Sure.” She shrugged, accepting the pile of papers.

“Will you be going to the dance this year?” Yumichika asked hesitantly.

She shook her head. She had of course been forced to go every year because her rank demanded it, but she was tired of seeing the others happily dancing about and sharing secret little kisses.

“You say the same thing every year.” Yumichika noted. “And every year you still go.” He smiled at her.

She gave a rather un-lady like grunt and stomped off. She paused at the door and turned to face the two of them.

“And who are you guys bringing?” She asked rather innocently.

Both of them looked sheepish.

“Yeah, thought so. And you wonder why the female population is depressed half the time.”

“It’s not my fault Kazeshini wont let me ask anyone. Every time I try he starts up a fuss and doesn’t let it up until I give up.” Hisagi grumbled.

“And you know Fuji…”

Yachiru ran over and slapped him over the back of the head.

“Ahem…. Ruri’iro Kujaku is too vain to be seen with just any plain old person.” He amended quickly.

“Have you thought about asking your Zanpkauto who THEY think you should ask?” She asked with a raised eye.

“Have you?” Yumichika was quick to counter.

“Of course.” She lied quickly before storming out to deliver the papers.

The truth was she still had a hard time hearing the voice of her Zanpakuto. She was so hesitant about it. She was her fathers daughter and she wasn’t sure on her feelings in the matter.

It wasn’t like the division looked down on communicating with their Zanpakuto’s. Hell three of the current Taichou came from the 11th and all three of them had long ago achieved Bankai. There were the pride of the division.

No, the problem was her father had yet to learn the name of his and she was hesitant to surpass her hero, the man who saved her from what most likely would have been a quick death.

Of course being older and in the age where boys were starting to look more interesting for things other than beating up, it was rather frustrating to know that they were all far too terrified to come anywhere near her in fear of what her father would do to them.

Not that Kenpachi had ever threatened a boy on her behalf, there was no need to giving the fact there had never been a boy to threaten. He trusted her to deal with anyone she wasn’t pleased with anyhow.

Grumbling at the unfairness of the universe she walked over to the 5th division, kicking a rock the entire way. She didn’t even acknowledge the others as she walked passed them towards the office.

“Yachiru-fukutaichou, what can I… uh… do for you?” Renji asked as she entered his office.

“Yumi-kun wanted me to give these to you.” She handed him over the paper.

He looked at her in confusion, his eyes darting from the papers back up to her.

“That’s it?” He asked slowly.

“Yeah. Why?” She asked in annoyance, her hand still out with the papers.

“Oh, no reason.” He cleared his throat and accepted the papers. “Ah, would you like some tea?” He asked uncertainly.

“YES!” A voice shouted in her head before she could say no.

Frowning, she tried to hear the voice again, it was so rare she managed to catch anything from her Zanpakuto.

“Yachiru?” Renji asked again when she didn’t answer his question.

“Sorry. Um… sure. I would…. like that.” She agreed hesitantly.

“Right. I’ll just, uh, go put some water on.” He declared, stumbling a bit as he all but rushed out of the room.

“That was weird.” She muttered to herself as she made herself comfortable and looked around his office.

It was rather traditional she noted in surprise. It was more like what Byakuya’s office looked like and it would appear the Taichou from the 6th had a bigger impact on Renji’s life than anyone realized.

Hell even his Kanji were in perfect form instead of sloppy like Ikkaku’s was. She couldn’t help herself, she started to snoop around a bit, surprised at what she was finding.

There were small things of Renji in and about the room that differentiated his office from Byakuya’s. Instead of flowers his pictures were of red carp. Instead of a single picture of Rukia and her family there were many, as well as his friends.

“I am afraid I am not that good at making tea. Not like Kenpachi-taichou anyway.” He admitted nervously as he returned with the tea and cups on a tray.

“I am sure it well be fine.” She assured him.

He poured her a cup and handed it over before pouring himself one and sitting back down before his desk.

They sat in awkward silence for several minutes.

“I uh, like the paintings. I never noticed them before.” She said, trying to break the silence.

“Uh, thanks. That one there was a gift from Kuchiki-taichou for making taichou.” He offered, pointing out a beautiful piece that was probably worth more than either of them made in a year.

“It’s beautiful.” She agreed, and meant it, taking the time to study the amazing details of the picture.


The last person Renji expected to walk through his doors was Yachiru. He stared at her in disbelief that she was here and his eyes automatically darted to the schedule. Yep, the Annual Sakura Dance was coming up, instantly putting him on guard for he recalled all too well the last time she had paid him a visit.

She had been younger than, still barely a teenager when she had stormed into his office and quite frankly told him he would be attending her. Something about paper and names and he didn’t have the heart, or guts, to deny her.

The last person who had made Yachiru cry had never been found again and like hell was he going to give Kenpachi any reason whatsoever to come after his hide. Ichigo still had to make his visits as discrete as possible.

“Yachiru-fukutaichou, what can I… uh… do for you?” He asked nervously.

Rumour had it the girls had kept up their name pulling ways, although Taka and Kinomi hadn’t attended since their unofficial banishment and official mission assignment in Hueco Mundo.

He wasn’t sure what made him more nervous, the fact she could be here to try and order him to go again, or the fact he had actually enjoyed the dance and was almost hopping she was here to demand he go.

If she ask then it wouldn’t be his fault and thus there would be no reason for Kenpachi to plough his face in. After that first dance he had been wondering about asking her to go the next year, but she had already cornered someone by the time he worked up half the nerve to get within forty feet of her.

The same thing happened every year after that. He remembered hearing her explain why the girls had done the name pulling and asking and having been an outcaste himself for so long he understood the pain of being alone because others didn’t want to understand.

So lost in his thoughts was he that it took him a moment to realize she had spoken and was holding out some papers from Yumichika.

“That’s it?” He asked, wondering if perhaps she had been here to ask him to accompany her.

“Yeah. Why?” She asked in annoyance, her hand still out with the papers.

“Oh, no reason.” He cleared his throat and accepted the papers.

“Manners, ask her if she wants some tea.” Zabimaru admonished him. “Barbarian.” The other half finished.

He did so, silently berating himself for his poor manners. Byakuya would have skinned him alive had they treated a guest to the 6th like that while he was still working there.

She startled a bit and her eyes lost focus like all Shinigami did when communicating with their Zanpakuto.

“Yachiru?” He called softly.

“Sorry. Um… sure. I would…. like that.” She agreed hesitantly, here eyes refocusing upon him.

Well that was unexpected. He had expected her to decline and leave, not actually stay.

“Right. I’ll just, uh, go put some water on.” He declared, stumbling a bit as he tripped over the corner of his desk and rushed to the kitchen, both of Zabimaru’s voices chuckling in his mind.

What was he doing? Okay yes it was polite to offer tea, but he never expected she would say yes. For a moment it looked like she was about to say no.

“Maybe she is just lonely.” He guessed. “I mean Taka and Kinomi where her only real friends and they are both gone now.”

He remembered how lonely he had felt when Rukia had been adopted. His little sister had been torn away form him and he had just let her go. It had taken the others months to drag him out of his self imposed hell and beat something resembling a goal into his brain.

But what goal could Yachiru really have. There was no one she had a grudge against as she was already a Fukutaichou. She had never shown much interest in becoming a taichou and to do that not only would one have to die or retire, but other than killing one she would need to achieve bankai in the least.

Bankai. Zanpkauto. Her eyes glazing out as she had clearly tried to listen to hers. Common ground. Perfect. Now to muster up the guts to approach her about it. He was former 11th so he knew how tricky it could be, especially if it turned out hers was Kidou base.

Yumichika had gone through almost every layer of hell trying to train his up and keep it a secret from everyone. When he had finally been forced to reveal it there had been a lot of mixed reactions from the division.

Ikkaku had been furious his so called best friend had hidden it from him while at the same time not at all surprised and beating himself up for not figuring it out sooner. It had been a strained few weeks but the two had met in the middle again.

The event also helped to push the two of them to fly on their own wings, and Kenpachi had been surprisingly supportive of the two of them moving on to take over their own divisions.

The sound of the kettle whistling broke him out of his thoughts and anchored him back to the main problem. Ikkaku thought of Yachiru like an annoying niece, and he did owe the man a lot for training him and helping to focus him out of his self pity. It was time to return the favour.

Now, how to approach her with the offer of helping her with her Shikai. No doubt she would not only fear it would be Kidou base, but at the same time she would not want to stand her father up.

Setting the tray up he returned to his office, grimacing as he recalled he really didn’t compete when it came to Kenpachi and his tea brewing skills.

“I am afraid I am not that good at making tea. Not like Kenpachi-taichou anyway.” He admitted nervously.

“I am sure it well be fine.” She was quick to assured him.

He served them both and they once again sat in awkward silence while he tried to think up something to say.

“I uh, like the paintings. I never noticed them before.” Yachiru indicated the artwork on his office walls.

“Uh, thanks. That one there was a gift from Kuchiki-taichou for making taichou.” He indicated the piece that was worth his salary times three.

“It’s beautiful.” She agreed and he noticed she was actually studying it.

“Thank you. So, how are things at the 11th?” He asked, figuring that was a good question to start with.

“Boring.” She answered without hesitation, her focus back on him.

“The academy still turning out kids are they?” He asked with a chuckle.

“Indeed.” She sighed with real exasperation. “I have half a mind to go tell those teachers what real combat training is, but than Unohana-tiachou pointed out if all combat training was done to the 11th’s standards no one would graduate and the 4th would be full all the time.”

That earned an honest chuckle out of him.

“No one wants to train with me because they are either too chicken shit, or too busy…. I miss Pantera-chan and Taka-chan.” She sighed, looking out a window wistfully.

“I got a few spare moments.” He found himself offering before he could stop his mouth.

She looked at him in surprise, tea half raised to her mouth.

“I mean, if you want that is.” He added, scratching the back of his head nervously.

“I would like that.” She answered with a soft smile.

He answered it with one of his own and they set their tea cups aside before heading out to one of the training grounds. They squared off and no sooner had they bowed than Yachiru launched herself at him.

She was fast and agile, that was for sure. And while training with his former Taichou helped immensely with the speed department, her agility was something to be admired. And he could not help but to admire her body as she flowed.

“Good thing Soi Fon hasn’t seen this. She would be pounding on Kenpachi-taichou’s door and demanding a transfer before the minute was up.” He couldn’t help but to think.

Come to think of it not many people had ever seen Yachiru spar, let alone fight. This was a chance to see what the other could really do.


This was exactly what she needed and never in her days would she have figured Renji would be the one to give it to her. As the sweat began to run down her body her mind began to clear and all her problem seemed to just fade away.

Renji wasn’t half bad either and his Shikai was a little tricky as he had become very proficient in the use of his whip like blade. It actually made her have to think since his blade was not straight and would curve about. She had to consider that in her parries and dodges.

Eventually they had to call a halt, for it was getting late and they both did have work to do. With a grin she brushed her long, pink hair out of her eyes and offered him a wide grin.

“Thank you, I needed that.” She said honestly.

“Anytime.” He smiled at her. “If you want…. You know…. To spar again.” He offered, a light blush on his cheeks.

“I would love that.” She said honestly. “But next time, no offence, I’ll make the tea.” She smirked at him.

He looked at her in disbelief for a second before roaring in laughter.

“Sure thing.” He agreed.

Feeling much better she headed back to her quarters in the 11th. She stopped by the cafeteria to grab some food and check up on the division, pleased to see every last one of them was covered in sweat, dirt and blood from their training during the day.

Her room was no longer girly pink, but it still did have pink highlights. She chuckled as she remembered her and Yumichika’s arguments on how to redecorate it a few years ago with Pantera playing referee. Good Times.

Plunking herself down at her desk she started to eat what passed as food for this joint. Unfortunately the 11th was known for their fighting skills, not their culinary skills and the meal left something to be desired which was why she seldom grabbed food from the cafeteria, but after the long day she had she didn’t feel like cooking or anything else.

A knock at her door startled her, causing her to drop her chopsticks onto the floor and get what was suppose to be teriyaki sauce all over her uniform. She let out a curse while yelling our permission for them to enter.

“Hay squirt.” Kenpachi grinned as he entered her room.

“Hiya, Ken-chan.” She smiled warmly up at him while trying to clean the sauce off.

“I thought I at least raised you how to eat right.” He grunted at her with a smirk.

She stuck her tongue out at him and gave up trying to clean anymore of the sauce off. She would have to change after she finished eating.

“What did you need?” She asked, tossing the napkins in the garbage.

“Do I need a reason to pester you?” He asked.

“No.” She smiled warmly. “You will always be welcomed, you know that.”

He sat down on her bed, the spring creaking under his weight.

“I heard you were feeling down today.” He offered tentatively.

“Yumi-kun you traitor. When I find you I will bleach your hair and dye it bright blue.” She promised.

“I am fine. Just board.” She shrugged.

“You sure?” He asked nervously.

She felt her heart swell at the concern he was showing for her well being. He may not be the prime example of a parent, but he did care in his own way and the fact he was trying despite how uncomfortable it definitely made him meant more to her than any perfect speech that could ever be written.

She got up and hugged him, giving his cheek a chaste kiss.

“Thank you, Otousan, but I am fine, really.” She promised.

He returned the embrace, all but crushing her ribs but she didn’t protest. It wasn’t often she called him father, but on the rare occasion that she did she knew it hit him right in the heart and always almost brought him to tears, which was why she so seldom did it.

What would the 11th think of their Taichou if they saw him as a weeping mess? These rare moments of intimacy were kept strictly between them

“I am just board now that Pantera-chan and Taka-chan are gone and there is no one to play with.” She assured him as they broke the embrace.

“I understand. I miss the brats to. Not many willing to play.” He agreed with a wide grin.

She chuckled and sat down beside him on her bed.

“Yeah. They definitely did the division proud.”

He nodded in agreement.

“Come on, let’s get you some real food instead of this crap. A growing warrior like you need substance.” He ordered as he stood up, causing the entire bed to creak and shift again.

“You paying?” She asked sceptically.

“Sure.”

“You’re on then, Ken-chan.” She smirked. “The 50lbs or the 75lbs challenge?”

“75lbs. Like I said, you need to get some meat on those bones.” He indicated one scrawny arm.

“Oh I’ll get meat on them. Right after I eat you under the table. No one can pack back the ribs like I can.”

“Bring it squirt.”

Dumping her plate in the garbage she followed him out of her quarters, after quickly changing, to their favourite rib house. She wasn’t lying when she said no one could beat her in a rib eating contest. Only Pantera had ever come close at 73lbs.


“Oi, Renji, we are heading out to get a drink, want to come?” Ikkaku called, coming up behind him with Yumichika by his side.

“Gee, not even tossing you in divisions almost completely across town from each other can stop the two of you from being attached at the hip, eh?” Renji countered with a laugh. “And sure, I’ll head out for a drink with ya if Yumi’s buying for ditching Yachiru off on me.”

“Oh, this I didn’t hear about.” Ikkaku heckled his friend.
“I would never do such an unbeautiful thing.” Yumichika protested. “She was merely board and the papers needed to be delivered.”

“Uh huh. For a moment I feared she was going to ask me to the dance because she pulled my name.” He chuckled.

Ikkaku joined him but they quickly died down when they saw the frown on Yumichika’s face.

“What is it? Did she sucker you in again?” Ikkaku asked.

“No.” Yumichika was quick to answer, but his frown remained. “She said she wasn’t going this year. I don’t understand why she needs to ask at all. She is a beautiful young girl. Men should be lining up to ask her to go.”

Ikkaku frowned now to. It was true Yachiru had grown into a beautiful woman, granted one that could skin you alive before you could finish blinking, but for most men that just made it all the more exciting. Yourichi had a huge following before disappearing and even to this day Soi Fon had to put many a man in his place.

“Well yes, but you are still alive.” Renji spoke up slowly. “The problem isn’t Yachiru. It’s who she’s related to. Why do you think no one courted Rukia?”

“What does Rukia have to do with this?” Ikkaku asked confused.

“Oh.” Yumichika clearly understood, a look of sadness on his face now as well.

“Yeah. It’s not Yachiru that’s the problem, it’s Kenpachi-taichou. Everyone is terrified what he would do to the person who dared to ask her out.”

“He wouldn’t do anything. He trust her to make her own decisions, always has.” Ikkaku protested.

“Than why don’t you ask her to the dance?” Renji asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Because its like dating your own niece.” He shouted.

Renji turned his gaze to Yumichika.

“It’s true. We all but raised her. What young woman wants to go to a dance with her Otooji when they are this old?”

“Never thought of it that way.” Renji admitted reluctantly.

“No ones asked her yet.” Zabimaru’s ape side hissed in his mind. “It’s your chance.” The other part finished with a hiss.

Renji silently agreed. He had deeply enjoyed their sparing match and she had shown an interest in sparing with him again. She even offered to make the tea.

“So theoretically speaking, Kenpachi wouldn’t skin the person who asked Yachiru out alive?”

Both of the other men shrugged.

“Know someone interested?” Ikkaku asked with a smirk.

“Maybe.” He admitted reluctantly.

They arrived at one of their favourite drinking holes. No sooner were they in the door than they were being hailed by the subject of their discussion.

Renji froze when his eyes landed upon her.

She had changed from her uniform to a simple spring Kimono with cats on it. Her long pink hair was down instead of its usual braid and the light seemed to catch her eyes in a way that made them sparkle.

Then Ikkaku was crossing in front of him and broke the spell, thankfully before any more blood could flow to the wrong brain. Having no choice but to follow his two drinking buddies, and not really that much against the idea, they joined Kenpachi and Yachiru at their table. Somehow he ended up sitting beside her and Yumichika.

“So what bring you down here?” Yachiru asked him.

“Ah… a drink.” He answered jarringly. “Ikkaku asked me to come. You?”

In his inner world Zabimaru slapped both his faces in exasperation.

“Rib eating contest.” She shrugged.

“Ribs?” He asked.

Just then a heaping plate of ribs marinated in wine, soy sauce, garlic, and sugar garnished with sesame seeds was placed before her, another arriving before Kenpachi. Renji felt his eyes widen in shock.

‘No way she can eat all that.”

“Yumi-kun, will you do the honors?” Yachiru asked sweetly.
“
Or course.” He smiled. “San….Nee….Ichi….

“Itadakimasu.” Yachiru, Kenpachi and Yumichika cried at the same time.

Like a gun gone off at the races the two competitors dived into the heaping plate of ribs. Renji stared wide eyed as Yachiru tore through them in such a manner that he had only ever witnessed once or twice when watching Yoruichi eat on an empty tank.

“Close your jaw, Renji-kun, it is rather unbecoming.” Yumichika chuckled.

Renji forced himself to take a sip of his saki from his saucer to regain his composure. As the pile slowly got a work out the two competitors began to slow down a bit. They were on their third bottle of Saki by now but he was just too stunned to have managed to down more than 3 servings and was working on his 4th.

“You ready to give up squirt?” Kenpachi asked.

“You wished Ken-chan. I got a record to maintain.” She shot back.

“You mean you do this often?” Renji asked surprised.

“Sometimes.” Yachiru shrugged.

“Only when she’s had a bad day.” Yumichika whispered in his ear while the two competitors started in on the home stretch.

His earlier thoughts came back to him. Other than the three other men at this table Yachiru had no real friends here anymore, and those three men were more family than anything else.

“Ask her.” Both parts of Zabimaru hissed.

“In front of everyone?” He shot back.

“Coward.” Zabimaru snorted in contempt.

Biting his lip and slamming back the rest of his drink for fortitude, he started his approach.

“So……. Anyone got their dates set for the dance yet?” He asked nervously.

“Nope.” Ikkaku shrugged.

“I am afraid I haven’t found a suitably beautiful partner yet.” Yumichika sighed.

Kenpachi grunted in the negative, busy with his ribs.

“Not going.” Yachiru declared between bites.

“Oh. Isn’t attendance mandatory though?” He asked confused.

Yachiru shrugged as if she didn’t care, but she did slow down her eating and he caught the hint of despair in her eyes.

“It is mandatory for the dinner part anyway.” Yumichika sighed.

“For the love of all, ASK HER.” Zabimaru, both voices, all but roared in his mind.

“You got a date yet?” Ikkaku asked him, his eyes gleaming mischievously.

“No. But….”

“Coward.” Zabimaru scoffed.

“I was kind of hoping….”

He had the entire tables attention now.

“Good by cruel world, it was nice knowing you.” He thought. “Would you like to go with me again Yachiru.” He asked in a rush and closed his eyes, waiting for his life to end.



“Why the hell did they have to bring up that stupid god awful dance after I finally managed to forget about it.” She fumed as she felt the despair she had been feeling earlier return full force. “Least the boys don’t have dates but that due to sheer laziness.”

She tried to tune out the conversation and get back into the heaven of rib hood but the conversation had really put a damper on the whole thing, and Renji’s sudden stuttering wasn’t helping any. Wait what was that he just said?

She froze as her brain processed the rush of words. Slowly she turned to look at him, noticing his eyes were closed and he had an expression on his face like he was expecting to die any second.

She turned her gaze to Kenpachi, who just shrugged at her and continued to eat. It was her choice if she wanted to go with him or not. Ribs now completely forgotten she waited until Renji slowly dared to open his eyes.

“Can you say that again, slower please?” She asked softly.

He licked his lips nervously, and repeated the question, panicked gaze flickering between her and Kenpachi as if Renji expected Kenpachi to kill him for asking a simple question.

She felt her heart swell for the first time in a very long time and a smile lit up her face like she hadn’t felt since her last sparing match with Pantera.

“I would be delighted.” She answered and gave him a soft kiss on his cheek. “Excuse me a moment.” She smiled.

With a devilish grin she turned back to her plate of ribs and tore through them in record time.

“Gochisou-sama.” She declared, every last rib gone.

She grabbed the saucer of saki and downed it in one swallow in victory of her win.

The four men cheered as the waiter came and took her plate away, shaking his head in amazement that such a small woman could devour such a large plate of ribs. The contest over Kenpachi shoved his plate into the middle of the table where the audience quickly helped to finish it off.

“You win again squirt.” Kenpachi chuckled, ruffling her hair to her protest.

“Oi, I aint a kid anymore.” She protested good-naturedly.

She was in far too good of a mood. For the first time ever someone had asked her to go, and not the other way around. She needed a dress. She needed makeup. And off all the curses Rangiku was no longer here, having moved with her husband to Hueco Mundo and passed her position off to Toshiro’s fiancé, Kurosaki Karin.




Renji couldn’t believe it. Not only was he still alive, but when he dared to open his eyes Yachiru was looking at him intently with such disbelief and hope that it took him completely by surprise.

She asked him to repeat himself, and this time he was able to ask with a coherent sentence.

Assured that he wasn’t going to die seeing as how Kenapchi was completely ignoring the proceedings, or at least doing a good job of pretending to ignore, he felt himself calm down. There was such hope in her eyes he couldn’t bring himself to do anything but repeat his question.

“Would you like to go to the dance with me?” He asked slower.

Her eyes lit up and there was such joy on her face he half expected her to tackle him to the ground. And he was still alive, that was the part he really couldn’t get over.

“I would be delighted.” She answered giving him a soft kiss on his cheek.

He blushed and was surprised at her daring.

“Excuse me a moment.” She smiled and turned back to her plate of ribs, demolishing them with a clear skill that showed her strengths in Rib Destruction.

Renji just looked on surprised as she declared her victory. Kenpachi shoved the rest of his plate into the centre of the table, making the rest free game for the spectators.

It might have seemed like nothing to most of the men and women in the bar, but to those who grew up going each day without knowing if they would find food it meant so much more.

It was his silent way of accepting Renji as part of the pack and with proper Rukongai manners Renji was quick to accept one and devour it. The leftovers were silently, evenly distributed between the three spectators and by the time they were done there was nothing left of the bones for the dogs to chew.

It was that silent offering that put him at complete ease. It had taken years to learn all of Byakuya’s little hints to his moods and desires and falling back on something so common to him was a relief.

“Told ya it would turn out.” Zabimaru’s ape half grunted in satisfaction. “Turns out ya ain’t a chicken after all.” The snake half hissed in amusement.

With the ice broken talking to Yachiru was surprisingly easy. It was almost like talking to Rukia before she was adopted and the common back ground assisted so much in easing their way through.

“So, how is your own training going?” He asked.

“It’s hard to train when everyone is too chicken shit to spar with you.” She grumbled.

“Well my offer still stands, provided you make the tea of course.” He smiled at her.

“Offer?” Yumichika asked with a sly grin.

Renji blushed a bit as he realized his statement could totally be taken the wrong way.

“I did find Zabimaru to be an intriguing opponent.” She admitted.

“I’ll bet.” Ikkaku chuckled.

Yachiru sighed and suddenly Ikkaku jumped a bit and yelped, glaring at her. Renji looked at him strangely before he realized Yachiru must have kicked him under the table.

The rest of the evening passed pleasantly and they all returned to their quarters around midnight. It wasn’t until he was in bed he realized he actually had a date to the dance and that he had better find appropriate clothing.

“I wonder what Byakuya is doing tomorrow.” He wondered as he drifted asleep.




Here it is at last, the start of the returning love for my faithful reviewers. The whole work isn't done yet and will probably be divided into two parts; Soul Society and Hueco Mundo since getting the two parts to fit together didn't feel right since there was no real reason for interaction between the two worlds with the love interest forming.

There are mentions of the HMKs but you wont really be seeing them in the Soul Society part on account of the whole being banished thing. My deepest hope is that I can keep everyone believably in character.

The Soul Society arc will focus mainly on Yachiru and Karin's POV's with background relationships between several of the other characters, including some surprise ones. This fict takes place about four or five years before Jigoku, so only Hanabi is actually born right now.

I hope my faithful reviewers enjoy this gift from me to you. Let me know what you think so far :)


ribs marinated in wine, soy sauce, garlic, and sugar. Actual recipe I use. You can do it two ways:

marinate before hand in the listed ingredients, I like to do a whole day, and then fry in a bit of peanut oil in a frying pan or wok

or the other way if you buy the ribs before dinner is to mix the the ingredients in a wok or frying pan and fry the ribs in that instead of oil

Both turn out more or less the same and which method I use depends on if I plan ahead or grab the ribs on my way home from work.