A Shinigami Valentine

Akina sank into the hot, sudsy water. It felt amazing. Immediately, she could feel some of the tension begin to ease from her aching muscles. She closed her eyes, lying back until only her face remained above the warm water. Her thoughts remained on Kenpachi Zaraki. A smile slipped across her lips. This was the kind of bathtub he would like. Big enough to fit his large frame comfortably. She wished he was there with her, soaking in the soapy water. She didn't think they'd be soaking long.

"God!" she groaned, the need for him rising just from thinking about him. He was an amazing lover. The best she had ever known. Her body ached for him. It was as if she was physically addicted to him.

A loud thumping next door followed by a sharp scream caught her attention. Akina frowned, straining to hear as she rose up out of the water. It was probably some of the men screwing with Mai. Being the only single woman amid all those men, she was very popular. Although Akina had refused to promise celibacy to Zaraki , she had no interest in other men. They all seemed to pale in comparison to the fiercely masculine Zaraki. She settled back down in the warm water as silence fell on the room next door. A sudden banging on the door to her room made her jump.

"What the hell?" she wondered aloud as she scrambled from the tub. Hastily wrapping a towel around her, Akina hurried to the door. She jerked it open, expecting Lt. Iba.

Kenpachi Zaraki rushed into the room. He froze when he saw her.

Akina stared at him, not sure whether or not he was real. Could she be so exhausted that she had begun to hallucinate?

"Kenpachi?" she whispered.

"Hey, sugar." he said softly, walking up to her and hugging her tightly. He squeezed her so hard that she couldn't breath. She squirmed against him, needing air.

"Let me go..." she whispered, breathlessly. He released her suddenly.

"You don't want me to hold you?" he growled. She smiled, reaching out to touch his cheek.

"No, I just couldn't breath. You were squeezing me just a little too tight." she explained, rubbing her eyes wearily. He was real. He was really here.

"What are you doing here, Kenpachi?" she asked softly, unable to keep the questions from her mind. Could he be the one who had betrayed them, she wondered briefly then quickly dismissed it. No, she decided, he wasn't that kind of man. She trusted him completely.

"You know, I think your neighbor was happier to see me than you are." he snapped sharply.

"Are you the reason Mai screamed?" she asked, suddenly laughing. He watched her, his expression slowly softening.

"Fuck, Akina. I see your smile and it's hard to stay mad at you." he said with a sigh, kissing her briefly. She lingered, kissing him back. The feel of him...the strength of him...she needed all of him. Zaraki released her, taking a step back as he said,

"I wanted to surprise you."

"Oh, you did." she laughed easily. "How did you know where we were?"

"I been waiting...waiting for word from Tetsuzaemon on your location. I'd have come before but we didn't know where the fuck you were." he said quietly. Her smile softened.

"You were worried about me?" she asked. His head jerked up, his eye dark as he gazed at her.

"Yeah, I been worried about you." he said quietly. Akina's smile faltered. There was something odd about the way he was acting. He seemed strangely cold to her. She shook her head slightly, trying to clear the feeling of cobwebs in her brain away.

"Is something wrong?" she asked softly.

"I don't know, Akina. You tell me." he snapped

"I'm sorry, Kenpachi. I'm really tired. I have been such a bitch today." she laughed softly, sitting down on the end of the bed. He watched her closely.

"You ain't been getting much sleep at night?" he asked, his tone distant. She nodded.

"I've been standing extra guard duty. The other guys are so young, so inexperienced...I don't want what happened to Kioshi to happen again." she whispered. "But Tetsuzaemon's got it worse. He's gotten less sleep than me."

"You two been together at night?" he asked quietly. She shrugged, laying back on the bed.

"Some. We've been alternating mostly. It's better if one of us is up and alert at all times."

"Akina..." he started, stepping closer to her. She smiled up at him, stretching out a hand to him.

"Come here, Kenpachi. I've missed you so much. I'm so happy you're here." she whispered longingly.

"Yeah?" he said with a sigh, taking her hand. "You're so damn beautiful, Akina. You're fuckin' hard to resist."

"Why resist?" she laughed softly. "I'm yours, right?"

"Right." he said as his eyes closed momentarily.

"I need you, Kenpachi." she begged, crawling up on the bed. She tossed her towel aside. His eyes moved slowly over her bare body.

"Damn, girl." he whispered, desire lacing his deep voice.

"Hey, I'm wet and naked. Isn't that how you like me?" she teased. He grinned for the first time as he slipped off his captain's coat.

"It is." he agreed, untying his hakama. "Akina, Have you been good?"

"I'm always good, Kenpachi." she said teasingly, moving up to her knees. She reached out, pulling his sash then his hakama loose.

"That you are, sugar." he chuckled, leaning down to kiss her hard. Akina pulled him back onto the bed with her. They fell together in an urgent passionate kiss. It had been too long. Their need for each other was overwhelming. Zaraki pressed her down, kissing her roughly. Akina squirmed under him. She wanted him so much. Her body was aching for him. He spread her legs wide, holding her hips down tightly. He entered her immediately, impaling her with a growl. Akina cried out loudly. He didn't pause. He took her hard and fast. It was almost as if he wanted to hurt her. She pushed back against him, moving with his wild thrusts. Giving as good as she got, pouring out all the frustration and fear she'd felt the past few days. Her own passion spilled over as she scratched and bit at him. He leaned down, pumping wildly in her. She wrapped her legs around his hips, holding on tightly.

"You trying to break me, Kenpachi? You're gonna have to try harder." she panted, her breathing ragged. She suddenly screamed, her body convulsing under him.

“Damn you, Akina.” he grunted, his body tensing as he grew close to release. He thrust hard into her, jerking her hips up to him as he exploded inside her, crying out her name loudly.

Akina felt him collapse heavily against her, her legs still wrapped tightly around him, shaking with the occasional tremor. Her body felt weak, spent. She held him close, her hands moving slowly over his back. She'd missed him. Not just his body but him. Just being near him brought her a rare, sweet peace.

Zaraki rolled off her suddenly, falling back across the bed, his breathing hard. She moved over to him, needing to be close to him...as close as possible. She stretched out over his hard, muscular chest. Smiling, she looked up at him.

"God, I've missed you so much, Kenpachi." she whispered. He watched her closely. His eyes searching hers for something.

"Akina." he sighed, rolling her over onto her side. He leaned over her as he whispered,

"I could almost believe you. When you look at me like that...I wanna believe it's true."

"What do you mean?" she asked innocently. He looked away, his eyes following his hand as it moved over her bruised ribs.

"How'd you get hurt, sugar? Sex get a little rough for you?" he asked quietly. She laughed easily.

"No!"

"Nah, you're right. Tetsuzaemon was always a little soft. I can't see him being into rough sex." he continued, turning away from her. She stared at his stiff back as he sat on the side of the bed. Confusion filled her head.

"What are you talking about?" she snapped. He stood, reaching for his hakama.

"I know all about the two of you, Akina. You ain't gotta hide it. I knew it when I saw the two of you leave together." he spoke coldly as he pulled them on. Confusion quickly gave way to panic and fear. What was he talking about? Why was he being so cold towards her? He knew what about her and Tetsuzaemon? Did he believe the rumors?

"Kenpachi, I don't know what..." she started but he cut her off, harshly growling,

"I know you're fuckin' Tetsuzaemon. You don't gotta pretend anymore. I knew there had to be a reason you wouldn't give me your word."

"I'm not!" she cried out, climbing out of bed and approaching him cautiously. He spun around. His dark eyes were blazing with pain and anger. He bared his teeth as he roared,

"You think I'm fuckin' stupid? It's all they're talkin' about at the Sereitei. The two of you have been together for years. Why'd you lie to me? What was the point?"

"I didn't..." she said softly, her voice lowering as his raised.

"Bullshit!" he shouted, looming over her. "I know all about it, Akina. I know about the other men too. All of 'em. I know about you and that bastard from the Academy. And I heard all about how you set fire to the fuckin' school."

Akina flinched back from his angry words. They struck deep. He knew. He knew that she'd burned the Academy.

"How...how did you find out about the Aca..." she started but again he silenced her with his angry words,

"It's all true, ain't it? Dammit! I fuckin' trusted you." he roared. Tears filled her eyes. She tried to blink them away but they ran down her cheeks instead.

"Kenpachi, let me explain. I was really young and he..."

"Don't fuck with me anymore, Akina. Being young ain't no excuse for being a damn slut." he yelled.

"I'm not a slut!" she yelled back at him. "How can you say that?"

"You're fuckin' Tetsuzaemon behind my back. What the hell else you call it?" he growled, bearing down on her. Her anger flared hotly, washing away the shame she felt over the Academy fire. She shoved him hard, forcing him back away from her.

"I am not! We were together years ago. It's been seven or eight years now. I'm not sleeping with him." she shouted. He faltered, staring at her then his rage seemed to rise back up, squashing his momentary doubts.

"It ain't just him. You been fuckin' half the damn Sereitei." he growled darkly.

"Who told you that?" she whispered, staring at him. Did he trust her so little that he'd believe idle gossip over her.

"It's all over the damn Sereitei. I can't go two steps without hearing somebody talkin' about you and all the men you been with." he snapped, some of his ferocity wanning.

"You'd believe gossip over me? Thanks. Good to know how much you really trust me, asshole!" she shouted. "You came all this way just to tell me to go to hell? You're a fucking idiot, Kenpachi!"

"You watch your mouth, girl." He warned her in a low, dangerous tone. She shoved him again as he pressed close to her.

"Fuck you! I don't have to watch my mouth. I don't have to do shit you tell me. You think I'm a crazy ass slut! A whore sleeping with half the Sereitei. The fact that you'd believe that about me...get the hell out!" she shouted.

"You ain't denying it, now are you?" he sneered.

"I shouldn't need to deny such utter bullshit!" she screamed. "Of course, it's not true. The only man I've been with in years is you. Yes, I was with Tetsuzaemon nearly a decade ago. We went out for a month or so. It didn't work out. I haven't been with anyone since you, dumbass. Is that what you want to hear? Why should I bother? It's not like you believe a thing I say."

"You're a lying bitch, Akina. To think I actually went to the Old Man and requested you be transfered to my Division. He's the one who told me you started that fuckin' fire. Maybe you're right...maybe I am an idiot." he growled.

"What the hell? Why would I ever want to transfer to your squad?" she laughed bitterly. His eyes narrowed.

"I was trying to keep us together. I wanted to keep you safe." he spat the words out as if they left a bad taste in his mouth.

"I don't need you keeping an eye on me and I'll be damned if I'm joining Division 11." she ranted. "It would be a demotion for me."

"So fuckin' what?" he laughed darkly. "That don't mean anything! You could be the fourth seat. The fourth seat in squad 11 means more than the third in squad 7. Hell, Ikkaku's strong enough to be a captain and he's my third. Being third seat in Division 7 don't mean squat."

"Excuse me?" she hissed, moving closer to him. "It means more because it's Division 11? So Division 11 is sooo much better than my squad? You son of a bitch! I've worked hard for everything I've got. How dare you trivialize it!"

"Truth hurts, don't it?" he growled in her face, leaning down close.

"Truth? You wouldn't know the truth if it bit you on the ass. How fuckin' stupid are you?" she yelled directly in his face. He tightened his fists in anger, his reiatsu flaring wildly around him.

"You callin' me stupid?" he roared, his voice dropping an octave to a low, dangerous growl.

"You're certainly acting stupid!" she fired back loudly. "You believe Chizu's gossip about me. You believe I'm a bat-shit crazy whore!"

"I never called you crazy." he drawled slowly.

"Fuck you, Kenpachi!" she screamed, slamming both hands against his chest hard. He didn't budge at all this time. It was like hitting a rock.

"You're the crazy one." she shouted in his face. "You think that I'd actually want to transfer to Division 11. It's the worst of the worst. The bottom of the barrel. Full of half wits and reprobates too weak to cut it in any of the other Divisions. Division 11 is a fuckin' joke led by a madman!"

The words were out of her mouth before she realized what she had said. His expression changed instantly. His jaw clenched and his gaze went cold. He looked as if he could kill her. She faltered, her anger fading slightly as she saw the hurt in his eyes. He turned away from her, grabbing his kimono. Hastily he dressed, ignoring her as she moved closer. She laid a hand on his shoulder as he pulled on his captain's coat.

"Get the fuck off me!" he growled, shrugging her hand off violently.

"Kenpachi, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that." she said quietly, immediately regretting her rash words. It wasn't even how she felt. She just wanted to hurt him the same way he'd hurt her. And she had. She could see the pain in his eyes.

"I didn't mean it. Kenpachi, you said such awful things about me...I...I'm sorry." she insisted as he quickly pulled on his socks and sandals.

"This is over! We're finished!" he said harshly, reaching for his sword. Akina stared at him, his words falling heavy upon her. A cold numbness shot through her chest, spreading down her body.

"What?" she whispered. He shot her a hard, angry look as he strode quickly towards the door.

"What?" she repeated louder. "Just like that? You think you're the only one in this? You think you're the only one who matters? Just who the fuck do you think you are?"

He stopped abruptly at the door. With his eyes blazing, he turned and rushed her. Zaraki grabbed her by the neck, raising her up into the air and slamming her against the far wall. He held her there as he hissed,

"Who the fuck am I? I'm the idiot who thought he was in love with you!"

She stared at him, trying to comprehend the meaning behind his words. She clawed at his hand, desperate to get free as her body screamed for air. His spiritual pressure pressed down on her, stealing what little breath she had. He squeezed tighter, pouring his anger out through his tightly clenched hand. Akina grabbed onto his arm, leveraging her legs up and around his neck. He tried to lurch back but she caught his neck in her strong legs, squeezing tight.

"Son of a bitch!" he growled, pulling at her legs with his free hand. Akina started to feel lightheaded, bright dots appearing before her eyes. She tightened the stranglehold she had on him. She felt his grip slip slightly. Desperately, she gasped, drawing in fresh air.

Suddenly, he released her. She let her legs go slack. He jumped back, letting her fall to the floor in a heap.

"Bastard!" she gasped, pressing a hand to her stinging neck as she panted. He stared down at her, shock on his face.

"I...I hurt you..." he whispered, squatting down beside her. Akina waved his hands away as he reached out for her.

"Don't touch me!" she snapped, rolling away from him as she struggled to her feet.

"Akina..." he started, his voice apologetic.

"Just get out!" she screamed. "Get the fuck out! You wanna end it? Fine! It's over! I don't ever wanna see you again!"

"Fine!" he said coldly. Zaraki threw open the door and walked out without a backwards glance.


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I hope you liked this chapter. It was surprisingly difficult to write. Please review and let me know what you think. And thank you all for your reviews so far. You guys rock!