Lovers Come Together

She was beyond excited, but she didn’t have anything to wear, at least that she thought was good enough. And who was going to do her makeup now that Rangiku was gone? She had always been the one to doll them up before when it had been a little exciting to go.

Sighing, Yachiru found herself yet again walking through Seireitei with a wistful sigh. Normally she didn’t really care what she wore but this time she actually found herself wanting to impress her date.

Date. She had a date. Someone had actually asked her out and she felt those flutters in her chest once again. Somehow she found her way to the 5th and with a frown she looked at the gate.

Biting her lip nervously she made her way through, nodding at the salutes the guards gave her. Renji wasn’t in his office and his new Fukutaichou, Yachiru couldn’t remember the woman’s name, informed her he was doing his morning training regime.

She made her way to the training field she had been directed to and froze as the last tree moved out of her way to give her a clear view of her target.

He was stripped right down to his Hakama with sweat rolling down his bare chest and glistening in the morning sun. His tattoos stood out boldly against his tan skin and she found her eyes following the lines.

“Did they go all the way down?” She couldn’t help but to wonder. “And is he all red?” That thought brought a blush to her face before she quickly shook her head to clear the images.

It didn’t do much good because as soon as her eyes were open and her head quit shaking there he was in all of his sweet, sweat glistening, hair tossed, tattooed glory. Her throat felt suddenly dry and she found her body surprisingly paralyzed.

He finished up his kata and walked around the clearing six time to cool down before suddenly folding down in the centre of the clearing and resting his Zanpakuto across his knees.

She watched, wondering what he could possibly be doing. Renji wasn’t the kind of person she could picture mediating and reflecting. Suddenly another creature was in the clearing.

It didn’t take a genius to figure out it had to be his Zanpakuto’s spirit and she couldn’t help but to feel the awe the creature inspired in her. She had never seen one before and the white Nue before her was indeed impressive. She wondered if Renji got the idea for his tattoos from Zabimaru or if Zabimaru was copying his Shinigami’s half.

After a moment both of Zabimaru’s head turned to face her. The ape part chuckled and mentioned for her to come forward while Renji’s eyes darted towards her in surprise.

Feeling suddenly nervous she approached slowly, unconsciously afraid that if she moved too quickly Zabimaru would disappear like a skittish kitten.

“It is quiet all right Yachiru.” The ape assured her. “We don’t bite unless provoked.” The snake finished.

Renji just chuckled and made no move to get up.

“I am sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude.” She apologised.

“That’s okay. Would you like to join me?” Renji asked.

She silently accepted by sitting down cross legged in front of him, Zabimaru laying down beside them.

“Um… May I?” She asked hesitantly.

“Go ahead.” The ape part chuckled.

She reached out a hand to scratch him behind the ear, amazed at how soft the fur was.

“Share.” The snake part hissed.

Smiling she moved her hand down the Nue’s body along the spine and down the tail until she came to the snake head and let her hand fall under his chin and scratched there.

Renji just watched the interaction in silence with a small smile that reflected her own. He suddenly bit his lip and looked to the side, a clear sign of being nervous about something.

“How…” He cleared his throat. “How goes your own bonding?” He asked hesitantly.

Her hand fell away from Zabimaru and she sighed in frustration.

“I don’t really know what to do.” She admitted hesitantly. “I never went to the academy and Ken-chan isn’t really that interested in his Zanpakuto. I can sometimes hear a voice, but it’s always really faint.”

Great now she was feeling depressed again. A nudge to her hand brought her attention back to Zabimaru and with a soft smile she took the invitation, although it was really more a silent order, to stroke that soft fur. For some reason she felt she could trust the three of them with her problems.

After all it wasn’t just anyone who was permitted to see a persons Zanpakuto’s spirit. Her attention on stroking that white soft fur she haltingly told them of her fears and problems. How she wanted so much to be like Ken-chan but at the same time to make him as proud of her as he was of Ikkaku and Yumichika.

After all if he was happy with Yumi’s kidou based Zanpakuto then her learning her Zanpakuto’s name should make him proud. But at the same time she was worried it would be Kidou type and it took a long time for the 11th to get over the fact someone they had looked up to for so long had been lying to them.

She was admittedly worried that such a fate could befall her and the 11th was the only family she really had here now that Pantera-chan and Taka-chan were gone.

Renji and Zabimaru listened in silence while she recounted all of her problems and to her shame she found the corner of her eyes getting moist, but she stubbornly held back the tears.

When she ran out of words they sat in silence. Somehow Zabimaru’s main head had ended up in her lap during her speech and she found the weight somewhat comforting as her hands continued their petting.

“Well.” Renji stated awkwardly, one hand behind his head and scratching in clear nervousness. “We can help.” He finally offered. “I mean. You can train here with us. If you want. No one would know unless you want them to and you could stop at anytime.”

She thought over the offer and found it quickly acceptable, nodding her head in agreement to the terms.

“Great. We can start now if you want.” He smiled widely at her. “I can do the paper work later, I really don’t have that much. Want to give it a go?”

“I would like that.” She whispered.

“Alright.” He shuffled slightly closer. “Don’t expect immediate results, it does take time to make the first contact. First thing you are going to want to do is clear your mind so you can her his or her voice better. So close your eyes, take a deep breath, and keep doing so until you feel at peace.”

Closing his own eyes Renji followed his own advice. After a second Yachiru did the same, although her hand remained stroking Zabimaru’s soft fur. She found it very relaxing.

Eyes closed she let her mind clear and wander where it may. She could hear something in the background, but it was so distant. She tried to focus on it, but the harder she tried the more difficult it became.

Sighing in frustration she gave up and instead concentrated on the soft feel of Zabimaru’s fur as her hand ran through it. Once again she found herself relaxing and that noise was once more off in the distance.

Six times she tried to catch it and each time she focused on it she would lose it and she would have to start all over again. On the seventh try she didn’t bother trying to focus it, instead just accepting it as part of the background noise like one does to the sound of the tree rustling in the wind while talking to friends.

Soft fur beneath her hand. Soft silky fur with black marks on a brown background. Wait, Zabimaru was white and heavier.

Her eyes shot open in surprise, looking down to see the white head of Zabiamru laying contently in her lap. She sighed and only then seemed to notice that it was late in the evening and Renji was just in the middle of setting out a blanket and what appeared to be a basket of food.

“How long was I mediating for?” She wondered in surprise.

It had felt like minutes, not hours as it clearly had been.

“Welcome back.” He grinned at her. “I figured you would be hungry so I got us some Taiyaki. Hope you don’t mind.”

She was surprisingly starving and she told him Taiyaki was fine. One of the first things you learned in the Rukongai was to never say no to free food. She found it difficult to move as her legs were cramped from having been sitting for hours and Zabimaru seemed reluctant to give up his petting machine.

“Get off her already ya big ape.” Renji growled at his Zanpakuto.

Chuckling Yachiru pushed the Nue’s head off of her lap and joined Renji on the blanket, accepting a piece of Taiyaki and a bamboo cup of water.

“Anything?” He asked.

“I think a little.” She admitted reluctantly.

She was still new to all this and was worried she was going to sound silly.

“I could hear something on the edge but every time I tried to reach out it became distorted.”

Renji nodded in understanding.

“Try listening to two voices. I wasn’t sure if I was going crazy or if someone was messing with me.” He smiled. “One voice was saying one part of his name and the other one was saying the other part and it was damn confusing.”

She chuckled, thinking that yes, trying to listen to two voices would be frustrating. Somehow the divulgence of such personal information set her more at ease.

“For a brief moment there I thought something else other than Zabimaru was in my lap. It was lighter and was black and reddish brown instead of black and white.”

It sounded silly to her, but Renji again nodded in understanding and that made her feel even better.

“You are further along then I thought. Would you be willing to try again tomorrow morning.” He asked, that hesitance back in his voice.

She bit her lip as she thought about it. She wanted to but was still scared.

“Come again.” Snake Zabimaru pressed.

“You have skilled hands.” Ape Zabimaru commented.

“Well I guess I could come, if only to make sure my hands are put to good use.“ She chuckled as she reached out to give both heads a pat.

“Perfect.” Renji grinned wide. “I’ll bring the food if you bring the drinks.”

They finished eating, Zabimaur returned to his own inner world, and they parted way for the evening.

She couldn’t help it, there was a definite skip in her step and she was humming as she made her way back to the 11th.

“Eyahhhh.” A high pitched, rather feminine voice screamed out.

Startled she ran towards the sound and stopped to stare in shock at the sight before her. It was a little girl, maybe six or seven, with purple hair done up into two pigtails with baby blue eyes that was latched onto the back, of all people, Kurotsuchi.

Yachiru just stared at the scene in pure shock for Kurotsuchi was completely frozen and not moving a centimetre while the little girl finished climbing up his back to hug him.

“Kagakun.” The little girl chirped. “Can we go make things go boom now?” She asked innocently.

“No you insolent pest.” Kurotsuchi tried to get a hold of her but she easily ducked under his hands while maintaining her place on his shoulders.

“Please.” She begged.

“No. I have important work to do. I do not have time to waste amusing a brat.”

Despite his harsh words the child seemed not in the least perturbed.

Yachiru was not sure what to make of the scene. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to laugh or cry as she watched Kurotsuchi try to get a hold of the small child latched onto his shoulders.

Eventually Kurotsuchi gave up trying to get a hold of the little demon and stomped his foot in irritation.

“Have your good for nothing parents taught you no respect. Get off of me this instance and be gone.”

“I’ll get down if we can blow something up.” The child promised. “Otouchan blows thing up all the time. He is good at it.”

“Oh is that so? I’ll show you how to blow things up the right way and then you will get down.”

“Yay. Let’s go Kagakun.”
Grumbling in irritation Kurotsuchi stormed off towards the 12th, the little girl cheering all the way and maintaining her position on his shoulders.

“Okay, that was the funniest thing I have ever seen and I can’t wait to tell everyone about the dreaded Kurotsuchi-taichou being out done by a six year old.” Yachiru chuckled as she finished her trek back to the 11th.

“Where you been runt?” Kenpachi demanded as she strolled into the main building that housed their quarters.

“You are never going to believe what I just witnessed Ken-chan.” She laughed as she told him what she had seen.

Her surrogate father looked at her in surprise before letting lose a loud roar of laughter. She didn’t tell him about spending the whole day with Renji and Zabimaru and he didn’t ask any further details on what she had been up to.

Checking to make sure they were alone she gave him a quick peck on the cheek and headed off to bed. Tomorrow she would have to see if Renji knew who the child was.

Renji. The dance. She still had nothing to wear. She had gotten so wrapped up with him she forgot to look for a kimono. She would have to do it after training and she still had to hunt down someone to help her with her makeup.

She had never actually put the stuff on herself as she only wore it during events and before this there had always been someone to help her. Make-up, make-up. Who was good with make-up?

She tried to think of the women she could ask.

Nanao? Possibly but she didn’t really wear make-up what with the glasses and all, although Yachiru was sure she recalled the woman commenting one time that the reason she didn’t wear it was because it was just one more thing for Shunsui to go off about how ‘lovely’ she was.

Isane? Again not someone who cared too much about her looks and never seemed to have a date either. Yachiru wasn’t really that close with her fellow Fukutaichou either. Isane was somewhat quite and didn’t stray too far from the 4th.

The rumours going around said that her son, Aizen’s child, was a traitor and her daughter was supposedly Gin’s and also suspected of treachery, although nothing had ever been proven for either claim and Gintsuki was the spitting image of her mother.

Nemu was in Hueco Mundo working on the realm stability equipment and there was word she would be staying there for a very long time. Either way Yachiru didn’t think Nemu even knew what make-up was outside of her fathers face paints.

Matsumoto, her usual go to woman, was also in Hueco Mundo with her husband and children. No dice there. She wasn’t even a fukutaichou anymore having passed that position onto Toshiro’s fiancée, Kurosaki Karin.

Karin was much like she was, a tomboy and not all that great with make-up. She never wore the stuff either, not even to these events and Yachiru suspected Karin would come in a pair of jeans if she thought she could get away with it.

Soi Fon was out of the question. The woman was impossible to find anyway.

Unohana had potential and was always friendly and willing to help where she could. Granted much like Soi Fon she was usually really busy with her job and might not have the time but it wouldn’t hurt to ask.

Yachiru eventually drifted off before bolting awake as the sound of a large explosion rocked the sky. She rushed to her window and looked out to see what appeared to be fireworks going off in the sky, painting various images from beakers and Bunsen burners to cats and green hats. It was definitely a strange, and admittedly enjoyable, display.

“Well, I guess the strange little girl got her explosions.” Yachiru chuckled to herself before crawling back into bed.



Karin groaned at the large amount of noise coming from outside. Beside her Toshiro slept right through the noise of the fireworks going off, no doubt use to decades of living close to the noisy 12th and 11th division.

Hell even the 8th could get wild when the saki flowed in the barracks instead of the bars where it belonged.

“I am going to kill that kid, so help me god. This is the last time I agree to ‘watch‘ her.” She groaned as she dragged her ass out of the very warm and comfortable bed, pulled on her uniform and made her way to the 12 to retrieve the nuisance.

The fireworks came to an end as she approached the source.

“There, now get off demon.” Kurotsuchi’s voice was loud, clear, and full of, although he would deny it, affectionate irritation.

“More.” The little girl demanded.

“Urahara-Shihoin Hanabi.” Karin barked.

“Uh-oh.” The little girl cringed and turned to face her.

Karin stood their, hands on hip, foot tapping, and waited. Ever so slowly Hanabi slipped from Kurotsuchi’s back and walked up to her with her head down and doing her best to look remorseful.

Hanabi stopped before her, one foot digging into the dirt, head bowed, and her hands clasped behind her back in the classic ‘I am in trouble but aren’t I cute how could you possibly be mad at me?’ pose. It didn’t work on Karin.

“You, bed, now. And apologise for bothering Kurotsuchi-taichou.”

“Sorry Kagakun. The fireworks were very pretty.” Hanabi bowed and then scurried off.

Karin sighed, apologised as well and followed the little delinquent back to the home she shared with Toshiro and stayed on Hanabi’s heels until the girl was back in bed where she belonged.

Karin cast a quick kidou barrier to alert her if the delinquent tried to sneak out again before retuning to her own shared bed.

“Why the hell did I agree to look after her again?” She grumbled.

Toshiro didn’t even stir as she crawled back under the blankets and snuggled back up. A few second later his arm snaked around her and pulled her close, muttering something in his sleep she didn’t catch, but didn’t need to.

She felt him begin to shake and without a word began to gently stroke his mop of white hair while whispering that he was home with her while the panic attack worked its way through.

They were rare, but they still did happen and Unohana had prepared and trained her on what to expect and do. Karin never did ask what had happened during his years as Aizen’s slave, she just accepted it happened and left it at that, never prying or speaking of it.

She remembered the earlier days, when Panic attacks were a regular thing and he would wake up sobbing. She would just hold him, rub his back and make soothing noises until he got over them.

She never asked if he wanted to talk about it, never said anything about them and when they were over she would pull him back down to go back to sleep with her as if nothing had happened.

She felt him calm down quickly, less than three minutes actually, a very good record. He blinked his eyes open to see her smiling down at him.

“Karin?”

“Yeah, I am back already. The delinquent was pestering Kurotsuchi again and they lit up the entire sky with fireworks. Hopefully this time she will stay in bed.”

That earned a soft sigh out of him and he settled back down, quickly asleep. Karin followed him shortly after, pleased to get back to her own rest. She would skin the kid alive tomorrow.


Stay Tuned for Chapter 3:
More Kurotsuchi torture and Yachiru goes hunting for a kimono