A Shinigami Valentine

Akina opened her eyes. The room was bathed in the pale pink and gold light of dawn. Yachiru slept peacefully by her side. Zaraki dozed in the chair next to the bed. His feet were propped on the side of the bed and he was slumped down in the chair comfortably. She stared down at his hand. He had reached out to hold hers sometime in the night. Their fingers were interlaced tightly.
A noise to her right captured her attention. A shinigami had entered the room and was adjusting the fluid running intravenously into her arm. The man glanced at Yachiru and frowned.

"So this is where you snuck off to, Lt. Kusajishi." he said sternly, reaching for Yachiru.

"Leave her alone." Zaraki spoke in a low but threatening tone.

"But Captain Zaraki, sir...she should be in her bed. She needs her rest. She is still recovering."

Zaraki raised his head slightly, glaring darkly at the man as he quietly said,

"She's in a fuckin' bed and if you keep your damn voice down, she'll keep on resting."

"Yes, sir." the man said stiffly, turning to go. Zaraki shook his head. He glanced over at Akina.

"Sorry he woke you." he said quietly.

"It's okay. It seems like all I do is sleep." she replied with a yawn.

"That's exactly what you should be doing. You said you hadn't gotten much sleep on patrol. Besides, that arrancar kicked your ass. You gotta heal." he snapped. She smiled. He remembered that she hadn't been sleeping well. The news surprised her. A comfortable silence unfolded between them. He hadn't released her hand. She had no desire to release his. Finally, after several minutes, he asked,

"How can you say it so easily?"

"What are you talking about it?" she questioned, half-asleep.

"That...you love me. How can you say it so...just like that?" he growled, shifting uncomfortably. She sighed then explained,

"I don't know. It's how I feel. I didn't say it when I should have. When it would have made a difference. But I didn't want you to never know. I tried so hard to tell you when I was hurt...on the battlefield. I thought I was dying. Well, hell! I guess I was after what Captain Unohana told me. I needed you to know but I couldn't get it out. Now, I can."

He didn't reply. He stared silently at the wall, lost to his own thoughts. Akina could feel that a tenuous bond between them had reformed. She didn't want to damage it.

"I'm not trying to trick you or anything. Or trap you or whatever you wanna call it. I just needed you to know. I don't expect you to do or say anything differently. You've made your feelings about me very clear." she said softly.

He released his hold on her hand suddenly, rubbing his face wearily. He looked over at her. Uncertainty shone in his eyes.

"Before you left...before all that crap, all the fuckin' rumors, all the shit you said...I knew how I felt. I wanted you. It was simple. It wasn't love. It was...just you and me."

"You didn't love me?" she asked softly.

"I don't know!" he growled, suddenly on his feet. "What the hell is love, Akina? Fuck if I know. I ain't never been in love before. I don't even fuckin' believe in it. And the shit you did behind my back. I can't just forget that."

"But I didn't do anything." she cried out. "I didn't go behind your back with anyone, Kenpachi. I swear! Chizu made it all up. All I've thought about...all I've fantasized about...the only man I can see is you. Why don't you believe me?"

"I talked to that bitch. And she told me the way you really are. She proved to me what you had done. I don't wanna talk about it, Akina. I get around you and my head gets all messed up. I can't think straight when I'm close to you." he snapped, his anger rising.

"What did she tell you?" Akina demanded. "Because whatever it was...it was a lie. I never..."

Akina's voice broke. She could see it in his eyes as he glared at her. He was convinced. He believed whatever Chizu had told him. Akina closed her eyes and whispered,

"It doesn't matter. It doesn't change how I feel about you."

"Stop fighting!" Yachiru complained, pressing her hands over her ears. Zaraki looked down at Yachiru then back up at Akina.

"I wanted to believe you, sugar. She just...it made sense...after she showed me...no, she told me...fuck! I can't explain it. Forget it! I don't wanna talk about this shit anymore. Yachiru, you're coming back to your own bed with me." he snapped, picking her up before she could argue.

"Can I come see Aka-chan again later? Please, Ken-chan! I miss her." she begged. Zaraki faltered under her wide-eyed, pleading stare. He glanced back at Akina briefly.

"Yeah, I guess so. As long as you stay in bed." he grumbled, carrying her out of the room.

"Bye Aka-chan." Yachiru called out.

"Goodbye...both of you." Akina said softly, watching them leave. What was he talking about, she wondered. What could Chizu have done to convince him so completely of her lies about Akina? None of it made any sense.

--

The sound of footsteps stirred Akina from a restless sleep. She opened her eyes to find Chizu standing at the foot of her bed. Anger flared hotly within her. She immediately wanted to hurt her. Chizu's smug smile did little to deter her lust for blood.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Akina growled, her voice low and scratchy.

"I just wanted to check on my poor, injured friend." Chizu said sweetly, her pale eyes shining. Akina glared at her. She realized that she had no warm feelings for the girl. She wanted her to die. The feeling was deep down and primitive. It was the same way she felt when she started the fire. She wanted to hurt this woman...bad.

"Go to hell, Chizu. And the get the fuck outta my room. You're not welcome here." Akina snapped. She really needed to leave or something bad was going to happen. Akina could feel the dark anger and hatred flowing hotly through her veins. Chizu's smile widened as she picked at the blanket.

"But I wanted to give you my deepest condolences on your breakup with Captain Zaraki. I heard all about it. His lack of trust...quite honestly, shocked me! I thought he cared more for you but to buy into those awful rumors about you and Takeshita..." her words hit a sore spot inside Akina.

Zaraki. She'd lost him because of her.

"You bitch!" she growled. Akina moved fast despite her injuries. She didn't feel the pain as she twisted and grabbed the large glass vase of daffodils. She threw them hard and fast. Chizu had time to flinch, drawing up her arm up towards her face slightly. The side of the vase hit her forearm and shattered, raining glass, water and yellow flowers over her face. Chizu's high-pitched scream echoed in the small room. Akina watched as small, red gashes appeared on her arm and face.

"My face!" Chizu cried out, raising her hands to her bleeding face.

"Don't fuck with me anymore, Chizu. You deserve a lot worse." Akina warned her.

"Abe-san, you're injured." Captain Byakuya Kuchiki's cool, calm voice carried across the room. He stood in the open doorway, observing them silently. Akina wondered how long he had been standing there.

"Captain Kuchiki!" Chizu sobbed, running towards him. "She attacked me! My face...she cut my face."

Kuchiki caught her by the arms, holding her an arms length away from him.

"Abe-san, in light of recent events, I would hardly call the attack unprovoked. Besides, in Ito-san's weakened state, throwing a flower vase that size would be an impossible feat. I suggest you seek out the assistance of Captain Unohana for your injuries." he told her quietly. Chizu stared at him in shock.

"But Captain Kuchiki..." Chizu faltered. Akina could see the confusion and pain on her face. She should have felt bad for her once-friend, but she didn't. She was beyond caring about her.

"Abe-san, you should hurry. You don't want those cuts to scar. And I need to speak with Ito-san...in private." he added quietly. Anger flared in Chizu's eyes. She glared at Akina before storming away from the room.

"What the hell's going on? I heard a scream." demanded Zaraki, eying Kuchiki suspiciously as he walked up behind him.

"Chizu was here." Akina snapped. Captain Kuchiki stepped into the room followed closely by Zaraki.

"What did she do?" Zaraki demanded, his lone eye wild with anger. Akina raised a hand to dismiss the question but the movement sent pain rocketing up into her damaged shoulder.

"Yes, a glass vase apparently levitated across the room and attacked her." Kuchiki said, his attention on the mess at the foot of her bed.

"What the hell does that mean?" Zaraki snapped.

"I threw it at her." Akina snapped, hurting from her sudden action. "She pissed me off and I threw it at her. I only wish I'd had something heavier to throw." Zaraki paused, a grin slowly inching across his face.

"You threw the vase at her?" he repeated. Akina rolled her eyes.

"Yes!" she hissed. "If I'd had my sword, I swear I would have killed her."

"Captain Zaraki, if you would be so kind as to lift Ito-san out of the bed, I will remove these wet linens. It would not do for her catch cold on top of her other injuries." Kuchiki suggested quietly. Zaraki glared at him as if he'd forgotten the man was even standing there.

"I don't believe either of you would want me to lay hands on Ito-san. If you would be so kind..." he added with the faintest of smiles.

"Right." Zarkai said, looking back at Akina. He slipped his hands behind her back and under her knees. Akina tried not to wince painfully as he lifted her up into his arms but failed miserably. It hurt. He pulled her close, holding her tenderly as if she might break if he squeezed too hard.

"I'm trying not to hurt you, sugar." he said softly, looking down at her. Akina met his eyes. It was the first time since that they had been this close since that night at the inn. She felt the familiar rush of desire. She wanted him. It was only her weakened physical condition that kept her from showing him how much. He seemed to sense her desire or felt the rush of his own. His grip tightened, drawing her closer as he stared down at her hungrily. The look in his eye sent a thrill of excitement through her. Despite everything, he still seemed to want her physically. He leaned down. He's going to kiss me, she thought wildly.

"Captain Zaraki, if you would step back, please." Captain Kuchiki spoke, stepping in front of them to loosen the sheet from the head of the bed. Zaraki grunted, stepping back from the bed. He looked away from Akina, the moment lost. She dropped her head, leaning wearily against his chest. She was exhausted, frustrated and in pain but the comfort of being close to him again. Feeling his warmth, smelling his scent, simply being in his arms was indescribably wonderful. She would suffer the anguish of seeing Chizu a thousand times over for a single moment like this.

"You're bleeding." she heard him whisper, seeing him eye her bandages. She tried to shrug but immediately regretted the movement as pain spread across her shoulder blades.

"I'll be fine. It was worth it." she said simply. Akina's gaze moved to the foot of the bed where Captain Kuchiki was efficiently stripping the bed of it's wet linens and replacing them with dry ones from the closet. She watched him in amazement. He was the last person she would have imagined seeing doing such menial labor. He could have easily called for assistance from one of the Division 4 shinigami but instead he was quickly taking care of it himself.

"Never figured he knew how to make a bed." Zaraki chuckled. Akina smiled, leaning closer against him.

"The daffodils..." she whispered, realizing that the flowers were gone. Kuchiki had gathered them and the broken glass up in the wet linen and carried them out of the room. Carefully, Zaraki returned her to the now clean bed.

"It's just flowers. Forget it." he snapped, settling her back against her pillow.

"No, they were my favorite. They smelled so good. I almost forgot I was in the hospital with them next to my bed." Akina whispered sadly. Zaraki paused, watching her with a strange expression.

"You finally have a showdown with that stupid bitch Chizu, attack her with a huge glass vase, have Byakuya Kuchiki come to your fuckin' rescue and all you're worried about is a bunch of weeds?" he laughed.

"They're my favorite." Akina repeated, in an effort to explain. He surprised her, leaning forward and lightly kissing her on the forehead.

"I'll bring you some more, sugar. Just get some rest now." he said softly, his lips lingering for a brief, delicious moment against her skin.

"Ah! Excuse me." Captain Kuchiki said sharply, stepping back into the room. He looked away politely. Zaraki straightened up, watching the other captain closely.

"Why are you here, Kuchiki?" he asked coldly.

"I would like to speak to Ito-san...in private." he replied politely. Zaraki stiffened. What the hell, Akina thought. She had never said more than a passing hello to the man. Why would he want to talk to her?

"In private, eh?" Zaraki repeated, anger shining brightly in his lone eye.

"Kenpachi, I don't know what this about." she said softly. He glanced down at her, searching her eyes.

"I hope you'll forgive the intrusion, Ito-san, but I must speak with you regarding a mutual acquaintance. It is quite important." Captain Kuchiki offered, meeting Akina's questioning gaze.

"A mutual acquaintance?" she murmured. It had to be Chizu, she realized.

"Why don't I leave the two of you alone...to get better acquainted." he growled in a low, angry voice. He walked out the room without a backwards glance.

"I'm very sorry. I hope that my presence didn't upset Captain Zaraki." he said quietly, taking a seat near her bed. Akina sighed.

"It's complicated." she said simply. "What did you want to talk to me about, Captain Kuchiki?"

"Chizu Abe." he said quietly. "I believe she maybe a threat to the security of the Sereitei. No,” he corrected himself, “...the entire Soul Society."


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How's that for a dramatic ending? Things are about to be revealed. I hope you've enjoyed the story so far. Please, review and share your thoughts with me. Thank you all.