Lovers Come Together

Chapter 3
Unexpected Gifts

Her heart still pattered a bit as she made her way to the 5th division training ground, kettle, cups and tea leaves in hand. The gate guards bowed and admitted her with a smile, leading her to wonder if rumours were already spreading.

Renji was already at the training field, setting up a blanket and laying out the food. A small fire awaited the tea pot and she found herself pausing once more at the edge of the clearing in nervousness.

She, the most blood thirsty, dive into action, outgoing female in all of Soul Society was scared of a fellow Shinigami. She had faced hollows that were a million times his size and strength, in fact said hollow had ploughed him, Rukia and Chad into the ground, without a trace of fear.

She watched him finish setting up and plunk himself down, clearly awaiting her arrival. Zabimaru appeared a moment later and she felt that pitter-patter of her heat calm down just a bit at the sight of the Nue.

Zabimaru turned to face her shortly after appearing and she dared the last few steps into the clearing. Renji turned to face her, a smile lighting up his face that she found herself mirroring while she closed the distance between them.

“Good morning.” He greeted, just a tint of nervousness in his voice.

“Good Morning.” She returned, just as much nervousness in her voice as there had been in his.

She sat down on the blanket close to the fire and set about making the tea, finding the actions familiar and that awkwardness slowly faded away. They sat in silence for several minutes, she preparing the tea and he taking the lids off of the containers of food.

“Renji?”

“Hmm?” He turned his head to look at her.

“Do you know anything about a little girl, maybe six, with purple hair that would have Kurotsuchi terrified?” She asked.

Renji burst into laughter, a good indicator he did indeed know what she was talking about.

“Yeah, that would be Kisuke-san and Yourichi-san’s daughter, Hanabi-chan. For some strange reason beyond anyone’s ability to comprehend she is fascinated with Kurotsuchi. I figured she was in town with the display that lit up the sky last night.”

“Kisuke and Yourichi?” Yachiru laughed.

“Yeah. Should have seen the look on Soi Fon’s face when she found out her idol was knocked up. I don’t know what expression was winning, pure joy for Yourichi, who desperately wanted a child, or pure rage that Kisuke was the one to knock her up.” Renji chuckled.

“Would that be the day that for the first time in history more members from the 2nd were in the 4th than members from the 11th?” Yachiru laughed, clearly remembering that day for Hanataro had come up to her and requested the 11th cease training that day for the 4th was over flowing already with the injured.

“That would be it.” Renji agreed.

Breakfast done they both got up and stretched a bit before doing some light sparing. Once again she found Zabimaru being a tricky blade with his ability to snake around and that made the duel far more exciting since she had to think where the blade was going to be, not where it was.

Before long they were once again meditating. Somehow Zabimaru’s ape head found its way into her lap once again, and once again she found stroking the soft fur reassuring and calming as she tried to hear that ever illusive voice in her mind.

It was like trying to catch the words to a song you could hear being sung in the distance. The tune was clear but the words were garbled. The black behind her eyes flashed to something green for a second, taking her by surprise and causing her to open her eyes with a start, breaking her trance.

With a sigh of frustration she started all over again. The song was no more clearer but the flashes of green continued to dart before her vision until she was able to make a bit of detail out.

Trees. Like a forest in the living world. The music appeared to be the sound of cicada’s singing. There, a flash of reddish brown. She tried to spot it again, following where the singing was coming from and relegating the cicada’s to mere background noise.

She caught more flashes of the reddish brown fur but that was all. The trees eventually faded out and she once again found herself in the clearing. She opened her eyes to see Zabimaru had apparently falling asleep and Renji was removing his hand from her shoulder where he had gently shook her awake.

“Sorry, but its early afternoon and we both do have duties.” He apologised.

“That okay.” She stretched, waking the Nue as well. “Is that food?” She asked, eyeing the basket that hadn’t been their earlier.

“Yeah. I figured you would be hungry.” He scratched the back of his head in embarrassment.

“You figured right.” She smiled.

They ate in companionable silence before heading out to return to their duties. The peace made their work far easier, but there was still work. She wasn’t a little girl anymore and Yumichika was long gone to another division. She had responsibilities now.

“Hay brat.” Kenpachi greeted her as she entered the office.

“Hiya, Ken-chan.” She chirped as she sat down at her own desk, pulling forward the first piece of doom that was sitting ever so innocently on the top of the pile.

Humming to herself she worked her way through her papers, paying only half attention.

“You been humming since Renji asked you to the dance.” Kenpachi grunted.

“Have I?” She asked distractedly. “Sorry, I’ll stop.” She promised.

“It’s fine. Just unexpected.”

She tossed him a quick smile before returning her attention to her paper work.

Since Aizen, and later Akata, had used their Zanpakutos against their fellow Shinigami without anyone being the wiser all divisions were now required to keep a record of who’s Zanpakuto did what.

All those who had acquired Shikai were indeed combat based. To this day Yumichika was still the only one the division had turned out with a Kidou based one. Chewing on her lip she considered her own quest.

“A surprising number of the division has been achieving Shikai.” She commented.

“Well, we have pumped out more Taichou and Fukutaichou than any other division.” He noted.

Silence other than the sound of their brushes tapping ink or running along paper.

“How goes your quest?” He suddenly asked, causing her to drop her brush in shock at the question.

Her startled reaction earned a deep chuckled from her surrogate father.

“I raised you brat, I know you better than anyone. I approve.” He assured her.

“It’s been going slow,” she admitted, “but I think I have made progress.”

“That is good to hear.” He nodded in satisfaction.

It was her turn to get dinner and she returned with a large platter of beef stir-fry and a large bowl of rice. They paused in their work to eat before finishing the last few documents and heading out for some evening training.


It became a sort of habit to meet with Renji every morning, her bringing the tea and him bringing the food. They would train a bit and Zabimaru would curl up next to her while she meditated.

They would head their separate ways around noon, their duties pulling them away. Today, however, she had some spare time and was using it to try and find a kimono for the dance that was but a few days away, and she STILL hadn’t found anyone to help with her make up.

She was glancing through the kimono’s trying to find one she thought would look nice, but this really wasn’t her strong suite and she was actually kind of nervous. Girly things were not her strong points and she WANTED to look good for some reason.

The sales clerk had been trying to help her but the bell went off at the front of the store and she had disappeared to assist the new customer.

The woman re-appeared shortly and ducked her head into the storeroom, calling out what had to be an order to whoever was back there before turning her attention back to helping Yachiru look.

“How about this one?” The clerk asked, pulling out a kimono from somewhere hidden on a rack, holding it up for Yachiru to view.

She felt her interest pique.

“You should try this one on for sure, the change room is just over there.”

Not bothering to argue she did as instructed and came out a moment later, the clerk beaming at her and directing her to the standing semi circle of mirrors so she could view herself.

Black with a bright red obi and matching koi swimming about. It was perfect, at least until she caught sight of the price tag and cringed. She might be able to afford it, but she would probably have to ask to borrow from her friends and she couldn’t warrant putting this kind of cash out for something she was likely to only wear once and was so damn girly.

“You don’t like it?” The clerk asked.

“No I do, it just…” She sighed.

“I see age has not tampered your thirst for koi.” A new voice entered the conversation.

Yachiru snapped her gaze up to look at Byakuya in surprise, not even aware he had arrived. She felt a hint of embarrassment whenever she remembered the childish crush she had on the man when she was a child, and the fact she had eaten half the koi out of his pond.

“I was just trying it on.” She was quick to defend herself, retreating quickly back to the change room, coming out a moment later in her usual uniform.

Byakuya appeared to be talking to someone else, no doubt the person from the backroom, and the clerk was folding what appeared to be a very expensive kimono into a box. Yachiru paused only for a moment when she realized it was a woman’s Kimono.

For a relative maybe?” She wondered before shaking her head.

Hanging the kimono up Yachiru snuck out while they were distracted. She didn’t have the heart to tell the woman she wasn’t able to afford the Kimono.

Byakuya watched Yachiru leave out of the corner of his eye while the ladies put his and his dates order together.

He noticed Yachiru was moving in a kind of slump, something very unusual for the usually hyper girl, as she hung the Kimono back up and snuck out so as not to alert the two women assisting him that she had left.

He still maintained contact with Renji, the red head stopping by on occasion to talk about the latest news with Rukia and her family or to ask for advice about some matter or other he felt the older, more experienced man could answer.

Renji was one of the few who had not shown him any pity for what had happened during those six years Aizen had held them as his slaves, nor had the man even talked or asked about it, instead just treating him the way he had the last day they saw each other before that incident.

Thus Renji was one of the few he could stand being around so on the odd occasion he felt like company he invited his former fukutaichou out for a casual dinner so he could just sit and listen to the endless chatter Renji was always willing to spew forth to fill the silence.

Byakuya had known for years that ever since that ever so innocent dance years ago Renji had started to look at Yachiru a bit differently and rumours were already flying around that he had finally manned up enough to ask Yachiru to go.

Byakuya could think of no other reason the fukutaichou of the 11th would be doing something so ‘girly’ without her friends, all of whom were now gone, if the rumours were not true.

“Will this be all for you today, Kuchiki-sama?” The store owner asked, breaking him out of his thoughts.

“No.” He answered with the barest hint of a smile.


“Confound it child, will you spawn of the devil leave me to work in peace?” A voice rang out over the early evening, causing all to pause in their tasks as the frustrated yelling of Kurotsuchi-taichou washed over them.

“But I wanna see what you are doing.” Hanabi declared ever so innocently.

“This is no place for runt like you. Be gone. NEMU….curse that woman for not being here when I need her.” Kurtsuchi scowled, momentarily forgetting his daughter was now in Hueco Mundo assisting with the Realm Stabilization Project.

“I can help.” Hanabi insisted.

“Confound it, where is you sitter? Can’t that pathetic human woman keep a better eye on you?”

“This ‘pathetic human woman’ is one step away from kicking your ass.” Karin snapped as she appeared before turning her glare to Hanabi.

The child did a good job of looking abashed and sorry, but it didn’t work for a second on the fukutaichou of the 10th.

“And for a comment like that I should leave her here with you all day.” Karin threatened.

He gave her a look of pure horror, perhaps the first one ever to be seen on his face, and everyone froze around them in shock.

“Did I say pathetic? I meant platonic, naturally.” He quickly amended, babbling over his words. “Now why don’t you be a good little girl and run off with the wonderful Fukutaichou over there and leave me to my work?” He all but pleaded to Hanabi.

“But I want to help.” She pouted, plopping to the ground to sit cross-legged with her arms crossed. “Otousan lets me help.” She declared.

Karin held back a smile and Kurotsuchi’s back stiffened at the comment. His first major fault was his obsession with research, his second was trying to out do his predecessor, and Hanabi knew it. A simple ‘Otousan can’ or ‘Otousan does’ always let her get her way when it came to Kurotsuchi.

Karin was going to have a talk to Yourichi about her husband letting their daughter play near his experiments all the time. The child had develop an unhealthy appetite for the subject and there was only one place in all of Soul Society one could find experiments.

If it wasn’t for the fact Hanabi’s mother was the feared Yourichi, and the fact the kid was too damn cute for her own good, Karin suspected the child might have already found her way into one of Kurotsuchi’s experiments and never be seen again.

On reflection Karin was amused and ashamed to admit that the idea had sounded rather tempting a time or six.

“Fine.” Kurotsuchi tossed his hand up in the air in frustration, the others in attendance, minus Karin, looking at the man in shock that he had backed down to a mere child.

“Go wash you hands and get your coat on.” He grumbled.

Hanabi cheered and bolted, coming back quickly with sterilized hands and wearing a lab coat that fit her perfectly with her name stitched in. Karin just shook her head and retreated.

Kurotsuchi was already shouting out orders in his usual abusive, if somewhat softer, voice, to which Hanabi just answered with happy chirps of affirmative or negative values, taking the insults hurled her way as if they were compliments.

“Some days I wonder if remaining ‘human’ wouldn’t have been the better fate.” Karin chuckled to herself.

Her way back to the 10th, and her fiancée, brought her past the 11th. Day dreaming about her plans for her white haired partner now that they were guaranteed a few hours alone without Hanabi she failed to notice the other day dreaming woman until they ran into each other.

“Owe.” They both complained as they picked themselves up from the ground.

“Oh, Yachiru-chan, I am sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going.”

“Karin? Sorry, I wasn’t watching either.” Yachiru brushed the apology off.

“CONFOUND IT CHILD, I SAID 250 NOT 150 PUT ANOTHER 100 IN.” Kurotsuchi’s voice could be heard even from here.

Both girls shared a look before bursting into giggles and began to walk side by side to the 11th, Karin’s ‘something is wrong’ meter going off the charts. Yachiru was not one who was easily distracted to the point she didn‘t know her own surroundings.

“I heard Renji-kun asked you to the dance.” Karin broke the silence.

Yachiru nodded her head, seeming a bit down at the statement.

“I thought you were happy about it.”

“I am, it’s just.” Yachiru sighed. “I don’t have anything to wear and I do want to impress him, I don’t know why but I do.” She stammered a bit.

“Ah, I see.” Karin smiled, remembering the willies Yuzu had gotten every time she went out on a date before finally getting married.

Married. The thought lodged in her brain. She had been engaged for years, for there was no law against that, but it was against the law to marry a human, and for the longest time that was exactly what she was.

Like her brother Karin was born with a decent amount of spiritual awareness, no where near her brothers level and likely never to be but it was enough to develop her own powers when she hit puberty and like her brother she had not only trained those powers, but in the process had ‘shed her mortal shell.’

The official story was she had ‘died’ from some incurable illness shortly after Kinomi and the other had been ‘banished’ before moving to Soul Society to be with her betrothed. Every time she tried to bring their wedding date up Toshiro would clamp down.

She let out a frustrated sigh, urging Yachiru to ask her what was wrong.

“You know what I think.” Karin said. “I think you and I need a girls alone time.”

“I would like that.” Yachiru answered a little too quickly, causing Karin to try and hold back her frown.

She had known Yachiru, Kinomi and Taka had been very close, but had the loss of her friends been that devastating? Had Yachiru no one else other then her small family, all of them male?

This was a problem and as a fellow Fukutaichou, a good neighbour, and an understanding tomboy of a young woman, Karin was not going to let this go. It wasn’t like Karin had a large number of friend here either.
Matsumoto was gone with her husband, Ichigo and Rukia were stationed in the living world, and Yuzu, her father, and all her other human friends were still in the living world and believed her to be dead with the exception of her family and her brothers friends.

Yep, they definitely needed some alone girl time. Yachiru led her to her room and disappeared for a moment before coming back with a big bottle of sake, a bucket of steaming water, and two saucers.

Bottle of sake was inserted into bucket and left to warm for a few minutes while the two girls caught up on the local gossip. Once warm and after their first drink they tackled the more painful and unpleasant issues.

“I mean, I love him, no doubt about that, but Toshi-chan just isn’t a coward so why is he so damn scared of getting married?” Karin complained. “Every time I bring the subject up he clamps down and starts acting like a kicked puppy.”

Yachiru nodded along with her rant until she ran out of steam.

“Maybe he feels he doesn’t deserve you.” Yachiru offered.

Karin looked at her in surprise.

“I mean, with all that went on and such.” Yachiru waved he hand vaguely, but Karin knew what she was trying to say without saying it.

“He still has the odd panic attack.” Karin admitted softly with a sigh. “Granted not very often, sometimes he can go months without one, but he still gets them. It does make sense, him thinking he doesn’t deserve me.

“I remember Rukia-neechan telling me about how after Ichi-nii failed to stop Orihime-chan from getting hurt he moped for ages, thinking he wasn’t worth anything until she beat some sense into him.

“Maybe that’s what I’ll do, drag his sorry ass out and beat the living crap out of him until he settles for a date and quits feeling sorry for himself.” Karin decided firmly.

“Now that’s a plan I can get behind.” Yachiru laughed. “Can I have a front row seat?”

“Oh, all of Soul Society will get a front row seat. He can’t deny setting a date later if we got everyone as witnesses.” Karin chuckled evilly. “Now than, we dealt with my problem, spill. What’s got you in a slump, Miss finally got a date with the man you been day dreaming about for a few years now?”

Yachiru actually blushed a bit before launching into her tale of woe; from not being able to think of anyone to do her makeup to not being able to afford a kimono on her salary. Karin listened and refilled her saucer when it was empty.

“I can see your problem. I can help with….”

She was interrupted by a knock at the door, causing both girls to frown at the intrusion before it was opened and Kenpachi framed the doorframe, a box in his hand.

“Oi brat, you ordering crap again?” He demanded, holding the box out.

“No, why?” Yachiru asked confused.

“This just arrived addressed to you.” He grunted.

Frowning Yachiru got up to take the box and set it down before opening it to see the contents. The frozen look that crossed the woman’s face caused Karin to rush to her side to see what it was.

It was a kimono, and judging by the name on the side of the box and the sheen of the silk a rather expensive one. It was black with red koi swimming on it, a very beautiful piece.

“Yachiru-chan.” Karin gave her a nudge.

“Brat.” Kenpachi added when Yachiru still hadn’t moved.

“Where did you get this from?” She demanded.

“The fukutaichou of the 4th dropped it off, said it was addressed to you.” Kenpachi shrugged.

“Isane-san?” Both girls shared a confused look.

Why in the seven hells would Isane drop off a kimono for Yachiru? It made about as much sense as Yamamoto suddenly declaring his love for Soi Fon.

Now that was a disturbing image Karin was quick to shake from her head. Such a thought was appalling and didn’t answer the question.

“We could go ask her.” Karin suggested.

Yachiru seemed to nod her head.

“I can’t accept this. I couldn’t even afford it, I doubt she could. There is no reason for Isane-san to put herself out for me.”

Yachiru closed the box with a great show of reluctance. After a moments debate they decided to leave the kimono here to lower the chances of it getting dirty while they made their way to the 4th.

Isane was not there, having already gone home for the evening. The headed to her quarters and Yachiru knocked rather nervously. After a moment the door opened, revealing a rather surprised Isane.

“Karin-san, Yachiru-san, what brings you two here?” She asked surprised. “Would you like a cup of tea?” She offered a moment later, remembering her manners.

“No thank you, I just came to say I appreciate the gift, but I can’t accept it.” Yachiru said nervously.

Isane looked at her confused before her face lit up with understanding and a smile graced her lips.

“The gift wasn’t from me, I just dropped it off.” She clarified.

“Still, it is too expensive. Can you tell me who it was from so I can return it. I don’t deserve something this expensive. I would just ruin it.”

Isane’s smile widened just a bit further.

“I wouldn’t worry about that, Yachiru-san. Trust me when I say it is fine, and I do look forward to seeing you in it. Are you sure you wouldn’t like a cup of tea?” She asked again.

“No, we are fine, thank you Isane-san. I need to go collect Hanabi-chan before she gives Kurotsuchi-taichou another ulcer.” Karin excused them.

That got a chuckle out of the three woman.

“Alright, have a good evening than.”

“Good evening.” Yachiru and Karin returned as they headed back towards the 11th.

They were at passing the 9th when Karin paused, looking at the gates.

“What is it?” Yachiru asked.

“I’ve got an idea.” Karin smiled, diverting course and nodding at the gate guards before entering the 9th division.

The doors to the office were open so Karin strolled in, a confused Yachiru on her heels. Yumichika looked up startled at their entrance, but his face quickly lit up with a smile.

“What brings two beautiful young flowers to my office at this time of night?” He asked.

“A bit of a dilemma you could say.” Karin answered his question. “Normally it wouldn’t bother me but I have a little plan for my Toshi-chan and I need the help of an expert that will leave him speechless and willing to jump when I jump without even having enough brain processing power to think about asking how high.” She answered with a smirk.

“And you came to me?” He asked in awe.

“I can think of no other more qualified to turn a tom boy like me into shinning rose that will leave Toshi-chan a mindless bee wanting to do nothing more than drink from my nectar.” She related.

The flowery was about to make her sick, but she knew the man before her would appreciate the poetry and would be all over helping her with her little problem, which wasn’t really about seducing Toshiro, but more along the lines of dragging Yachiru in to doll her up to catch Renji’s eye.

And, even though Karin hated to admit it, the thought of getting all dolled up did leave her with a bit of a fluttery feeling in her stomach. When it came to the art of beauty Yumichika was the foremost expert in this town.

“I would be honoured to work with such potential. When?”

“The dance of course. Yachiru-chan, you coming to?” Karin asked nonchalantly.

“Of course.” Yachiru answered before she was able to stop and think.

The small blush that lit up her face was rather cute when the girl realized what she had agreed to.

“That is, of course, if you don’t mind, Yumi-taichou.” Karin asked with a grin.

“Of course not.” He was quick to agree.

Yachiru was quick to excuse herself after that, leaving the two of them alone.

“Thank you.” Karin smiled at him.

“Of course.” He smiled back. “You do want me to doll you up though right?” He asked with a bit of a pout.

“Of course.” Karin assured him. “I do have plans for Toshiro, but right now I am more worried about Yachiru-chan. Just wait until you see the Kimono someone got her. Isane wouldn’t tell us who but whoever it was had to have been well off for it looks damn expensive.”

That seemed to pique his interest.

“What’s it look like? I will need to know to plan my attack.”

“Black with bright red koi.” She answered.

“And you own?”

“Dark blue with silver clouds.” She answered.

“I see. Be here around noonish, it takes time to create perfection.”

“I’ll take your word for it.” She smiled as she left.



Stay Tuned for chapter 4: Preparation
The title says it all

As usual /love my reviewers and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please feel free to tell me your favourite part and remember you do not need to be signed in to leave a review. If you see any mistakes feel free to point those out as well.