A Shinigami Valentine

Zaraki and Akina walked slowly towards the East Gate. Yachiru was perched in her usual spot on his shoulder. No one spoke but the mood was grim. Akina could see the other members of her Division grouped together near the gate. They were talking and laughing, generally excited about the prospect of the patrol. News of the sporadic arrancar attacks had spread through the Sereitei. Most were hoping to see some action. Some were fearful. Tetsuzaemon Iba walked over to her. He acknowledged Zaraki with a nod then spoke directly to her,

"I wasn't sure you were gonna show. I'm glad I didn't have to come looking for you."

"Captain Komamura ordered me to be here. You knew damn well that I'd show." she snapped. He grunted, glancing back at Zaraki. His dark eye was fixed on Tetsuzaemon.

"You in charge of the patrol?" he asked the shorter man.

"Yes, sir. I'll be leading the group." he replied quickly.

"How many?" Zaraki demanded.

"Twelve total. We're working in tandem with patrols from Divisions 3,5 and 10 to cover a larger area. We should be able to find them if they're hiding out there." Tetsuzaemon explained. Zaraki sneered,

"They ain't hanging 'round here, Tetsuzaemon. They're coming and going. Hitting quick and hard then running back to Aizen. You better keep your fuckin' eyes open cause they're gonna come at you fast."

"Yes, sir." Tetsuzaemon replied quickly. Akina noted that he treated Zaraki with a tremendous amount of respect. She knew that he'd served under him years back but she didn't realize how highly he still thought of his former captain.

"You keep an eye on her too. If anything happens to her, I'm holding you personally responsible." Zaraki added darkly, his eye locked on Tetsuzaemon.

"Kenpachi!" she objected.

"Yes, sir. I'll do my best. Akina's stubborn. She doesn't always take orders well but I'll keep a close eye on her, Captain." Tetsuzaemon replied without hesitation.

"You guys, I'm standing right here." she snapped as Zaraki continued coldly,

"I know. She don't listen to me either but you'd best bring her back in one piece."

"Yes, sir." he snapped. He glanced briefly at Akina. His eyes were guarded. He turned and walked back to the other members of her Division.

"That wasn't necessary." she insisted, glaring at him. He shrugged, unconcerned by her anger.

"Tetsuzaemon understands even if you don't."

Akina took a slow, deep breath, preparing to walk away. It was much harder than she thought it would be. She didn't want to leave him.

"Akina!" a familiar voice called out. She glanced behind them. Nanao came running up with Captain Kyoraku hurrying behind her.

"I'm glad we caught you." she said breathlessly as she stopped in front of them.

"What are you doing here?" Akina asked as Captain Kyoraku arrived beside Nanao.

"We wanted to see you off." He explained, smiling warmly at her. He glanced up at Zaraki.

"You're looking uncharacteristically grim today, Kenpachi." he said to him. Zaraki grunted, ignoring the other man.

"Be careful, Akina. These attacks worry me." Nanao said, pushing her glasses back up on the bridge of her nose.

"It's just a patrol. We've all been out on them. Stop worrying." Akina ordered her, glancing up at Zaraki and Yachiru. She didn't need Nanao worrying them more.

"Keep your eyes open. I've heard what a strong fighter you are so you should be fine." Shunsui Kyoraku assured her. He stepped forward, hugging her suddenly. Akina tried to pull free but he held her close, whispering in her ear,

"I know that you are largely responsible for Nanao's confession. Thank you." Akina managed to loosen his tight grip slightly. She met his warm eyes.

"I didn't do anything." she insisted. He shook his head.

"You've become a friend to Nanao. Something she has been sorely lacking. Your friendship has made all the difference. For that, I will always be in your debt." he whispered, gracing her with a sweet smile then hugging her tightly again.

"Get your paws off her." Zaraki growled, yanking him back. He glared darkly at Kyoraku as he staggered back away from Akina.

"I admire your restraint, Kenpachi. I feared that hug might cost me dearly." he said easily. Nanao grabbed him, yanking him further away.

"What were you thinking?" she snapped. He grinned happily at her.

"I was thinking how much I love you, my sweet." he said softly as he tenderly touched her cheek. His touch and words seemed to fluster Nanao completely. Her cheeks flushed bright red as she stammered,

"Well...but...why...Shunsui!"

Akina smiled. They were together. The love was practically radiating from them as they stared into each other's eyes. Shunsui sighed, his fingers lingering on her cheek.

"Gimme a fuckin' break." Zaraki growled, grabbing Akina by the arm and forcing her forward and away from the romantic pair.

"It's so wonderful." she whispered, looking back at them. She watched as Shunsui leaned forward, kissing Nanao sweetly.

"It's makin' me sick to my stomach!" Zaraki complained then added,

"Shit! Here comes the other one."

Akina turned to see Nemu walking quickly up to them.

"Captain Zaraki...Lt. Kusajishi...Ito-san." she said politely, tipping her head respectfully.

"Nemu! I thought you'd be on your picnic by now." Akina said, smiling. Nemu shook her head, keeping her head down.

"Madarame-san postponed our picnic. He said that he had something important to do for Captain Zaraki." she said softly. Akina's smile faded. She jerked her head up to Zaraki. He shook his head slightly. It wasn't his doing.

"I'm so sorry, Nemu." Akina whispered, reaching out to the girl.

"There is no need for sympathy, Ito-san. Work must come first. I understand that." she said but Akina could feel a slight tremor shake her as Akina hugged her.

"I'm sure that he'll make it up to you, Nemu. Ikkaku was really looking forward to spending the day with you." she assured Nemu.

"He said...he said that he would be in touch. Is that good or bad?" she asked Akina in a shaky voice. Akina struggled to keep her disappointment and anger from her face.

"I think it's good." she lied, squeezing Nemu's hands. "I know how much you like Ikkaku. Just be patient."

"Yes, I am quite fond of Madarame-san." Nemu whispered. She glanced back the way she had come then said,

"I can not linger, Ito-san. Captain Kurotsuchi is looking for me. I can not keep him waiting or there will be consequences. Please, have a safe patrol. You must remain viligent. The arrancar are unpredictable and very dangerous. I would be very unhappy if you did not return."

Akina felt tears welling up in her eyes. It felt strange to have people worrying about her. It felt strange to have people who cared. As if sensing her thoughts, Zaraki reached out to slowly rub her back. She looked up at him. He was watching her with a faint smile. She suddenly wanted to kiss him but held back. He had warned her before they left to control herself. That they had become the object of a great deal of gossip within the Sereitei. They had said their goodbyes before they left his home. She held his eye, longing to tell him all that she felt for him but unable to.

"Nemu," he said quietly. The dark-haired girl looked up at him.

"Ikkaku's probably in the training dojo. Go find him and tell him I ordered him to take you on a damn picnic." he added. Her eyes widened in surprise, a rare expression for Nemu.

"But...but Captain Zaraki, I must return to my Division...my father is waiting..."

"I don't give a shit about your father." he snapped. "You need to grow a fuckin' backbone, girl. Go live your own damn life. He mighta made you. I don't know but you're alive now. And you gotta a right to a little happiness. Now go find Ikkaku. I order you to go. If your father's got a problem with my orders, you send him to see me."

"Go on, Nemu. And have fun. You deserve it." Akina encouraged her.

"Yes, I will. Thank you. Goodbye, Akina." Nemu said quickly before hurrying her away.

"Thank you, Kenpachi." Akina whispered. He shrugged.

"Come on. They're getting ready to go." he said, pushing her gently forward.

"Yachiru, you still want me to bring you back a pink dress?" she asked, looking up at the small child who remained surprisingly quiet.

"No." Yachiru replied with a pout.

"Oh, what color do you want?" Akina asked curiously.

"I don't want a dress. I want you to stay home." she complained, pouting.

"She can't stay, brat." Zaraki snapped. "You want the dress or not?"

"I don't want Aka-chan to go." she whined loudly. Zaraki snorted in frustration. It seemed that Yachiru's words were only aggravating his own feelings.

"I have to go." Akina said low, firm tone that left little room for argument. "Now, come down here and give me a hug. It's time for me to leave."

"Okay." Yachiru groaned, jumping down into Akina's waiting arms. She hugged her tightly.

"I'll miss you, Yachiru." Akina whispered, tears filling her eyes.

"I made you this. So you won't forget us." Yachiru said, pulling back slightly to slip a folded piece of paper from the front of her uniform. Akina shifted Yachiru to her hip and unfolded the paper. It was a colored drawing of Zaraki and Yachiru holding hands with a third figure. The figure was a woman with long, red hair. Near Zaraki, she had drawn two smaller figures. One had a bald head and the other had feathers attached to his brightly colored face. Across the top of the page, she had sloppily written the words MY FAMILY.

"That's you." Yachiru offered as she pointed to the third figure. Akina nodded, tears slipping down her cheeks.

"I see!" she whispered, hugging Yachiru tightly. How could this all happen so fast, Akina wondered wildly. It defied logic.

"Akina, we need to leave. We're burning daylight." Tetsuzaemon snapped as he stepped up to them again.

"Okay..." she whispered, looking back at Zaraki. He was watching Yachiru and her.

"Give her to me." he ordered her, reaching out for Yachiru. Akina passed the child to him. She immediately scrambled back up on to his shoulder.

"Kenpachi..." she started. He reached out, stroking her cheek and jaw and pressing his thumb against her lips.

"Shh!" he whispered. She closed her eyes, kissing his thumb. She tried to stem the tears that kept spilling from her eyes. Gently, he wiped her tears away.

"Go on. Do what you need to do and I'll be waiting. Stay away from other men and don't die." he said softly. She nodded.

"Don't worry." she said to him, giving him a faint smile. He looked up at the patrol group. Frowning suddenly he snapped,

"You're the only woman, Akina."

"What? Oh, I'm not surprised. There's only a couple of us in the whole Division." she explained.

"Akina!" he growled angrily.

"What? What do you want me to do?" she snapped. Tetsuzaemon took hold of her arm.

"We gotta go. I'm sorry, Captain but we have to reach District Five by nightfall." he explained.

"Goodbye Yachiru...goodbye Kenpachi." she said quickly.

"Bye bye, Aka-chan!" Yachiru cried out. Zaraki said nothing. Tetsuzaemon nudged her forward, holding onto her arm. Akina twisted around, desperate for another look at him. He stood stoically by, watching her walk away. She couldn't tell what he was feeling.

"No!" she growled suddenly, stopping abruptly. She couldn't do it. The emotion crashed down on her, seizing her chest and smothering her. She needed to kiss him...to hold him.

"Akina, come on." Tetsuzaemon insisted, pulling her forward.

"No, I can't...I have to go back..." she begged. He grabbed her firmly around the waist, propelling her forward. He leaned down, quietly hissing in her ear,

"Stop it. The rumors about you two are all over the Sereitei. You aren't doing him any favors by making it worse. He's a Captain, Akina. You don't wanna make trouble for him."

He looked down at her, his eyes hidden behind his dark glasses.

"Damn, Akina. You never looked at me like that when we were together." he said softly. She stared up at him. She and Tetsuzaemon had dated briefly years before. It had been a bad fit. They were better suited as friends, Akina had realized quickly. Tetsuzaemon smiled faintly, releasing her as they reached the front of the patrol group. She watched him walk away. Irresistibly, her gaze returned to Zaraki. His expression was dark and angry. What now, she wondered, wanting nothing more than to hold him and reassure him. She held his eyes, hoping to somehow transfer all she was feeling to him through a look. Slowly, his dark expression seemed to ease. She smiled, blew him a kiss then turned and fell in with her squad members as they marched through the gate.

"Don't forget my pink dress!" she heard Yachiru scream as they stepped out into the Rukongai.

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