A Shinigami Valentine

Akina was laying in Zaraki's arms, his strong chest under her head. She could feel the comforting warmth of his body and the steady rise and fall of his chest. She could smell the woodsy scent that was his alone. She was safe and warm, surrounded by him. She could feel him lean close, whispering into her ear,

"You're mine, sugar. I can feel it when I touch you...when I kiss you...when you say my name.."

She sighed, turning towards him, seeking out his mouth...

"Aka-chan!" Yachiru's high-pitched voice rang out suddenly. Akina jerked awake, the dream disappearing suddenly.

"Sorry." Ikkaku said, standing next to the bed. She stared at him blankly, trying to figure out why he was standing there.

"Aka-chan, Baldy-chan says I can stay with you. I brought my pillow and my crayons and my paper and my candy..." Yachiru chatted happily as she pulled from Ikkaku's arms to climb into bed next Akina.

"Hey, squirt." Akina said with a smile, hugging Yachiru as she settled in beside her. She looked over at Ikkaku. He looked embarrassed as he said,

"I hate to do this, Akina, but could you keep an eye on Yachiru for a little while? Captain Zaraki went out a couple hours ago with Yumichika. I figured they'd be back before now but I promised Nemu that I'd meet her after supper. We don't get much time together so if you wouldn't mind..."

"It's no problem. I love spending time with Yachiru. So you and Nemu are getting along pretty well?" she asked with a smile. He squirmed slightly, his cheeks growing pink.

"She's really sweet. I've never known anyone so...goodhearted. She never thinks of herself. She...she's always trying to look after me...take care of me. It's kinda nice." he admitted quietly.

"She likes you a lot." Akina said quietly. "Don't hurt her, Ikkaku. This is all new to her. Everything she's feeling...it's new and very intense. Nemu's known so little love in her life. If you just treat her well, she'll be happy."

"Her father doesn't like me." he said coldly. Akina smiled as she laughed,

"Yeah, but she does. That's what matters most. Just don't break her heart, okay?"

"The last thing I ever wanna do is hurt her." he said in a low, fierce voice. Akina's eyebrow shot up. Was he in love with Nemu, she wondered. Judging by his reaction, he had developed strong feelings for her already.

"Baldy-chan, you're gonna be late." Yachiru commented softly without looking up from her coloring book.

"Shit!" Ikkaku exclaimed, running from the room. Yachiru leaned her head back against her pillow, grinning up at Akina.

"Baldy-chan loves Shy-chan!" she announced happily. Akina laughed.

"You think so?" she asked her. Yachiru nodded.

"I saw them kissin' in my room yesterday when Ken-chan was gone. It was yucky!" she cried out, returning her attention to her coloring. Akina grinned. That was good news. She wanted them to be happy, especially Nemu.

"Aka-chan, do you love Ken-chan like Baldy-chan loves Shy-chan?" she asked softly, without looking up. Akina's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't expected that.

"Yeah, I do, squirt. I really do." she said in a low voice. Yachiru looked up at her with a big, happy smile.

"I knew you did. And he loves you!" she said happily. Akina only smiled, hugging her gently. She hoped Yachiru was right.

"What the hell are you doin' in here, brat?" Zaraki asked as he busted into the room, his arms full. In one hand he carried a wooden bucket overflowing with every imaginable type of daffodil.

"Oh my god!" Akina cried out in surprise. He grinned broadly, obviously enjoying her reaction.

"You like 'em?" he asked as he sat them on her bedside table.

"Pretty!" Yachiru cried out, reaching for them. Akina stared at the gorgeous white and yellow flowers.

"They're beautiful." she whispered, overwhelmed. He bent down, kissing her lightly. The move shocked and pleased her. As he lifted his head slowly, she met his eye. She could see the surprise there.

"You didn't even think before you did that, did you?" she whispered. She could see the answer in his eye.

"I know exactly what I'm doing." he insisted, kissing her again quickly as if for good measure before stepping away from her bed. Akina smiled warmly. Kissing her had been an almost automatic response for him. That was a wonderful feeling.

"Please hand me the flowers, Kenpachi. I want to smell them." she said happily, noticing him drape a large pink cloth, that he held in his other hand, over the chair on the other side of the room. He grinned as he lifted the bucket, placing it in her lap. The scent was heavenly sweet. Akina buried her face in the mass of flowers.

"I like this one!" Yachiru announced, pointing to a yellow and white trumpet shaped flower.

"That's a lily. Where did you get these, Kenpachi?" Akina laughed happily.

"Best not to ask." he chuckled, walking over to the chair.

"What did you do?" she laughed, trying to imagine where he had obtained the huge collection of flowers.

"I told you that I'd bring you some more. Those are daffodils, right?" he asked, his back to her.

"Most of them. But they're so exotic looking. I've never seen daffodils like some of these. Look at this one...it's tripled...and orange. It's so pretty." she said in an excited tone. Yachiru leaned over, smelling the flowers.

"I want this one. It smells best of all!" she announced, pointing to a large yellow rose.

"That's a rose. That shouldn't even be blooming now." Akina laughed. He glanced over his shoulder, grinning broadly.

"It's worth it to see you smile like that, sugar." he said softly, turning around. He tossed a small pink and black yukata on the bed in front of Yachiru.

"See it that'll fit, brat." he ordered. Yachiru's eyes widened in delight.

"For me? Yipee! It's so pretty!" she cried out, hugging the robe to her. It was deep pink embroidered with black and pink butterflies. The silk yukata looked expensive and very well made.

"You said you wanted one and I know Akina didn't have time to get one when she was on patrol. You can wear it to that dance tomorrow." he said, taking the flowers from Akina. He sat them back on the table then laid a pale pink yukata over her.

"What's this?" she asked in surprise. She lifted the soft, silk robe away from her for a closer look. It was pale pink embroidered with trailing green vines. Among the vines danced dark pink and blue dragonflies. It was a stunning robe.

"Kenpachi..." she whispered, overwhelmed by his generosity.

"I was thinking you'd need somethin' to wear to that dance tomorrow night. You ain't borrowing anything from that bitch this time." he said softly. She raised her eyes to his. Hope shined brightly in those dark grey depths.

"The dance?" she asked.

"That's what they're doin' for White Day. They're throwing a big dance. I wasn't gonna go but Yamamoto says I have to. So do you..." he explained. Yachiru yawned sleepily as she tried to pull the yukata on over the white kimono she wore. She couldn't do it. With a snort of frustration, she yanked it off.

"I don't know if Captain Unohana will allow me to go. She's still not even letting me get out of bed." Akina said quietly. He shrugged.

"If you don't go, just hold on to it." he said dismissively, pulling the chair close to the bed.

"I want to go with Whitey-chan again. He's so serious. He reminds me of Ken-chan." Yachiru cried out, hugging the yukata tightly to her chest. Akina laughed. Zaraki glared at her.

"You better stop that nonsense, brat. You're too young to be worrying about boys." he growled, leaning back to get comfortable.

"But he's my boyfriend, Ken-chan!" she argued in a low drowsy voice. Zaraki rolled his eyes. Akina smiled. She was growing sleepy but obviously fighting it.

"He's so cute...and smart...and funny...and..." Yachiru droned on about all the incredible attributes that were Toshiro Hitsugaya's alone. Akina turned to admire the flowers once again. They really were amazing. She wondered where he had managed to find so many rare and beautiful flowers so early in the spring. She couldn't stop smiling. It meant so much to her.

"You really like 'em?" he asked her softly, both of them ignoring Yachiru's litany.

"I really do...thank you, Kenpachi." she whispered, reaching out her hand to him. He took it, squeezing slightly.

"Well, I keep my promises." he said sternly, looking away.

"So do I." she reminded him.

"No, you don't." he growled, his head snapping back to face her. Oh no, she thought. This was going to be about those damn rumors.

"What promise didn't I keep?" she snapped.

"You died. You promised me that you wouldn't die...but you did." his voice started out cold and gruff but gradually grew softer as the words tumbled from his mouth. "You fuckin' died in my arms, Akina. I felt...I felt your heart stop. Your breath...it just slipped away. You were gone..."

Akina stared at him, tears welling in her eyes. She could see the pain in his eyes, the anguish in his face. She was at a loss for what to say.

"I keep thinkin' about it. Can't get the fuckin' memory outta my head." he continued quietly. He glanced down at Yachiru, who had fallen silent. She had laid back against her pillow for a moment then fallen asleep with the butterfly yukata clutched tightly in her arms.

"I know it was you or her. I ain't stupid." he said in the same low tone. "But when I thought I'd lost you...for good..."

He looked up at her. Akina knew that she should speak but she was so afraid to say the wrong thing. He was finally opening up to her. He frowned, obviously uncomfortable with the conversation. He snapped,

"Don't go gettin' that look in your eyes. I'm still pissed at you, Akina. Just thinking about all that shit they been saying about you makes my blood boil...but..."

"What? But what?" she snapped, unable to hold the words back.

"Forget it." he growled, looking away. Akina snorted in frustration. She had told him the truth about Chizu and it hadn't changed his mind. He was so damn frustrating.

"Kenpachi, did you even think about what I said...about Chizu?" she asked. He released her hand, waving a finger in front of her nose.

"Hush! You promised to shut the hell up about that." he growled, crossing his arms.

"I just thought...with the flowers and the dress..." she stammered.

"Would you stop worrying so fuckin' much, Akina." he snapped darkly.

"How can I? I don't want to lose you." the words flew from her mouth before she realized. He cocked an eyebrow as he quietly offered,

"I'm sittin' right here next to you, ain't I?"

Akina stared at him. He was right. Despite everything; all the rumors, his own cruel words and harsh treatment; he had remained at her side.

"Are you gonna stay there...next to me, Kenpachi?" she whispered. He shrugged.

"I ain't got much choice. If Yachiru had her way, she'd be attached at your hip." he snapped, reaching out for her hand again. "Just quit makin' such a big fuckin' deal outta everything."

Zaraki squeezed her hand reassuringly but fell silent. Akina watched him for a moment, feeling strangely at peace.

"Did you get any sleep while I was gone?" he asked softly, looking over the drawings Yachiru had made.

"A little...not much." she admitted. He glanced over at her.

"You wanna go to that dance, you gotta rest, sugar." he commented, laying the colorful drawings aside. "Yachiru's getting outta here tomorrow. Unohana stopped by this morning. She said as long as she rested, she was okay to go home."

"You're...I mean...she's leaving?" Akina stammered. He nodded.

"I was thinking about askin' her if she wanted to stay with you some...here. I figured if you didn't mind, she'd get some rest and you'd have some company. If she's out in the Sereitei, she's gonna have us both runnin' all over the place." he suggested. Akina smiled as she said,

"I'd like that."

"I thought you might. I'll check with Unohana before I mention it to the brat." he said with a yawn. Akina watched as he stretched out his long legs, propping them on the edge of the bed then leaning back comfortably in the chair. He closed his eyes. She watched him longingly, remembering the comfort of curling up next to him and sleeping. It seemed like so long ago. Zaraki opened his one eye, staring at her.

"Whaddya doin'?" he snapped.

"Nothing." she replied, looking away quickly.

"What're you thinkin' about, girl? You're blushing." he snapped. Akina shook her head, laying back on the bed.

"Just remembering, Kenpachi." she whispered, trying to will sleep to come. Instead, images of his lean, muscular body danced through her mind. Dammit, she thought. This was not the time.

Akina felt the bed shift slightly. He must have moved his feet, she thought, refusing to open her eyes and look. One more look at him would be enough to push her over the edge. She wanted him. The desire was building slowly inside her. Just thinking about him was enough to get her started.

"You still want me, sugar?" he asked, his breath hot against the skin of her ear. Akina's eyes jerked open and she turned her head towards the sound of his voice. He was standing on the other side of the bed, leaning close to her. A sharp, hungry grin greeted her as she turned towards his face, only mere inches from hers.

"Even after all the things I said to you? The things I did? You still want me?" he asked quietly, his fingers moving over the exposed skin of her neck.

"Of course, I do. I don't know how to not want you, Kenpachi." she whispered, longing to kiss him again. His fingers lingered on her neck, tracing invisible scars as he quietly said,

“I didn't think you'd want me to touch you again. Not after I hurt you.”

"You frightened me." she admitted. "But I trust you. That may be stupid. I don't know. But it's how I feel. Should I be afraid that you'll do something like that again?"

"You trust me? Even though...I hurt you?" he asked unsurely.

"Yeah...pretty stupid, huh?" she said with a sigh. His hand moved up, stroking her cheek tenderly.

"Sugar, I give you my word that I'll never raise a hand to you again. I was wrong. I don't understand how you can forgive me so quick. I...honestly, I'm ashamed." he said, stepping back from her.

"I guess 'cause love makes you do stupid things. And we both said a lot of things that we didn't mean that night. It was an ugly, violent moment for both of us." she admitted quietly. "I'm not proud of what I said to you. I didn't mean a word of it. I just wanted to hurt you."

Her words seemed to give him pause. He didn't look as if he knew what to make of them. He returned to the chair, rubbing his eyes wearily.

"You'd better get some sleep, sugar." he said softly, glancing up at her.

"Okay." she said resignedly. "Are you going to take Yachiru back to her room?"

"Nah," he replied easily, stretching out again. "I ain't going nowhere."

Akina watched him for a moment then closed her eyes. He would be there when she woke up. She liked the sound of that. She laid back, listening to him breath. The sweet fragrance of the flowers filled the room. Yachiru stirred restlessly, snuggling close to her. Akina could feel the throb of Zaraki's reiatsu spreading through the room. She sighed, letting sleep carry her away. The sound of his occasional snore echoed distantly as she drifted off. It all felt so good, so comfortable...she felt like she had finally come home.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm not so sure about this chapter. I'd like to know what you think so reviews are always appreciated. And to those of you who have reviewed the previous chapters, THANK YOU!!