Marrying Death

Note: Thanks to Lanier, Thas and Emo_Panda for reviewing! And thanks to any lurkers for reading! (I'm such a lurker, myself. lol)

~*~

Last time:

"How? How are you gonna help, Ken-chan?"

His grin widened impossibly and Jade shivered when he looked down at her again, but his answer was spoken to Yachiru.

"I'm gonna marry her."

~*~

Jade felt a shiver slide down her spine when she noticed the banked heat in Kenpachi's eye. Coupled with his animalistic grin and dark voice, she was rendered speechless. She opened her mouth to reply, then promptly fainted.

"Jade!"

~*~

Kenpachi frowned even as his arm swept out to catch her. He hadn't thought the girl was a fainter. Judging by her friend's reaction, he was right...So what...? Then he noticed something slick beneath his fingers; blood. Her loose, black shirt allowing her to hide her injury, she had passed off any blood on her as blood from their attackers. His gaze flicked, once more, to Dani's worried face. The girl was wringing her hands and biting her lip in quiet agitation.

"Is she okay?"

Kenpachi gave a non-commital grunt. Since she had hidden her injury, he wasn't going to mention it. She probably hadn't wanted her friend to worry about it.

"Probably just worn out from fightin' and all that shit. I'll take her to Division Four. Let them take care of her. Renji, you oughta report to your Captain. Get your name taken off the list of available bachelors. Tell 'em to cross my name off, too. Ikkaku, Yumichika, take Yachiru back to Division Eleven Headquarters. We'll be there once they finish with her at Division Four."

Renji nodded and took Dani's hand.

"Uh, sure. Meet ya there. C'mon Dani, Captain Zaraki'll take care of her."

"But I wanna come with you, Ken-chan! I wanna come with you!"

"You'd be bored. Go play with Ikkaku and Yumichika. I'll be back soon."

Yachiru suddenly jumped onto Ikkaku's shoulder.

"Okay! Let's go play, Pachinko-head!"

"I told ya not to call me that!!OWWWW!!!"

He howled in pain when Yachiru bit him. Dani hesitantly smiled. Even though the Eleventh Captain looked scary, that cute little girl, Yachiru, trusted him completely. He couldn't be as bad as he looked.

~*~

Jade opened her eyes and sat up with a start. Her head reeling with the sudden movement, she reached out to steady herself and felt cloth beneath her fingers. Dumbly, she stared at the sleeve she was grabbing before her eyes trailed upwards and met a single dark eye beneath a raised eyebrow. She snatched her hand back as if she'd been burnt and blushed.

"Er...s-sorry...I didn't mean to, that is, well, um...w-what's your name?"

Kenpachi chuckled, the dark sound sending shivers sliding down her spine once more, only this time, she remained painfully conscious.

"Zaraki. Kenpachi Zaraki. Captain of the Eleventh Division."

He looked at her expectantly and she started when she realized she hadn't introduced herself yet.

"I'm, uh, Reilly-Jade Connors. Umm...but, everyone calls me Jade, on account of my eyes...some people think I'm blind because of the milky colour, but I've got actually 20/20 vision...don't even need glasses...not that there's anything wrong with glasses! ...er...did you seriously say you were gonna m-marry me? Or did I just imagine that? Not that I'd mind! Well,I mean, it sure saves me a lot of trouble...and you--"

Her rambling words were silenced by his mouth on hers. Her eyes widened in shock and then widened further when she felt his tongue against her lips, coaxing them open, sweeping into her mouth. Kenpachi Zaraki did not do things by halves. Startled by his intensity, she gasped into his mouth, the movement sending her tongue sliding against his own. Growling his approval he pulled her closer, seemingly bent on tasting every inch of her warm mouth. Her eyes slid closed only to snap open when he bit down on her lower lip, causing her to meet his eye. With a groan of mingled desire and despair, she found herself drowning in the depths of his dark gaze. When he finally broke the kiss, she was gasping for air and he smirked.

"You taste good."

She blushed and turned her face away from him.

"Uh...t-thank you...?.."

He laughed and her body shuddered, though she tried to hide his effect on her. They'd practically just met for Christ's sake!

"It's been a while since a woman's responded to me like that."

Jade looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Like what?"

He ran a calloused hand along her arm and watched her shiver beneath his touch.

"Like that."

With a smirk and a matching glint in his eye, he leaned in, his breath ghosting along her collarbone. She gasped and he chuckled darkly, before licking a wet path up the side of her neck to her ear. His lips brushed her earlobe and she couldn't supress the shiver of pleasure that tore through her.

"Like this."

She let out a shuddering breath. Oh God...

"R-really?"

She winced when her voice cracked and licked her suddenly dry lips. He grinned savagely against her skin, his breath hot in her ear. Oh God...!

"Are you nervous?"

She stiffened against him and his grin turned into a feral smile. She opened her mouth to answer, then jumped when the door slid open. His low chuckle echoed in her mind even as she stared at the slight young man who had entered the room.

"A-ah! Gomen! S-sorry! I didn't mean to interrupt--"

Kenpachi threw his head back and roared with laughter. Jade blushed furiously and glared daggers at Kenpachi.

"You weren't interrupting anything! ...?"

The young man started.

"O-oh! Gom-- Sorry! H-hanataro Yamada! Seventh Seat of the Fourth Division..."

"I'm Jade. It's nice to meet you."

Hanataro smiled before glancing over at the Eleventh Captain.

"Jade-san's injury has been taken care of. She can leave Forth Division at any time, but--"

Kenpachi stood, cutting him off, and she looked up at him warily.

"So...I guess..."

"I'm taking you to the Eleventh Division building. You can get cleaned up there. Your friend's probably waiting for you, too."

"..."

She bowed her head, staring intently at her own hands.

"...thank you..."

He shrugged.

"Che. For what? C'mon. Get up. Let's go."

She pushed to her feet and promptly grabbed his arm to keep from falling. He frowned down at her, then looked to Hanataro.

"Just how bad was she hurt?"

Jade blushed and let go of him.

"I'm fi--"

"The wound wasn't very bad, but she lost enough blood to faint. She just needs some food and rest and Jade-san will be fine."

Kenpachi's frown deepened and he stared down at Jade again. She refused to meet his gaze.

"Che. Whatever. Let's go."

Hanataro bowed as Kenpachi swept out of the room, Jade trailing slowly in his wake. Once they were out in the hallway, he made a sound of impatience and scooped her up into his arms. He chuckled at her cry of protest, and full-on laughed when she hit him, yelling at him to put her down. He had to admit to himself that she was really, quite attractive in a way that only marginally had to do with her looks. There was so much fight in her!

~*~

Renji looked up at the sound of the door sliding open and nearly choked at the sight that met his eyes. His one-time Captain stood before him. Jade was scowling terrifically and had her arms crossed over her chest. She was also currently in Kenpachi's arms. Dani stood and immediately began worrying over her friend.

"Are you alright? Is she alright? Why are you carrying her? Does it still hurt? Oh god, Jade, why'd you have to fight them? It's all my fault, if I weren't so god-damned useless. I--"

"Shut up already! I'm fine, just woozy. I'd be walking on my own if this big jerk would just PUT. ME. DOWN!"

The last three words were each punctuated with a fierce jab of her elbow. Kenpachi only chuckled.

"And I NEVER wanna hear you talk about yourself like that again, you got it? Everybody's got something they're good at, and I just happen to be better at fighting than you are."

Dani slumped and bowed her head, only to be pulled up straight by her hair.

"Ow ow ow ow OW!"

"Do you understand me?"

Dani looked up into Jade's fierce eyes and felt tears well in her own.

"Yeah. I understand."

Jade's own eyes softened and she let go of her hair.

"Good. Sorry about pulling your hair."

Dani just laughed softly and sighed.

"Oh Jade...so...are you really gonna get married?"

This last bit was addressed to both Jade and Kenpachi. Kenpachi just put Jade down suprisingly gently and snorted.

"Why does everyone keep askin' that? I said I was gonna marry her, didn't I?"

"But, well, ya never really asked her..."

Three pairs of eyes blinked dumbly at Renji and he began fidgeting.

"I'm just sayin'...ya didn't ask her if she wanted ta marry ya...and, well, um..."

Jade smiled at him and he blushed.

"That's sweet, Renji. But if I had a problem with marryin' him I would've said something. Thanks. So..."

Dani silently slipped over to Renji and gave him a soft kiss. He blinked in surprise, a goofy grin spreading over his features. Jade smirked as she straightened out her clothes and turned to Kenpachi.

"So. What do we do now?"

Kenpachi shrugged.

"I guess we go see the Commander General. He's the one doing the marryin' ain't he, Renji?"

Renji blinked stupidly before the question sank in.

"Uh, hai. Yes...Ya mean ya wanna do it now?!"

Kenpachi shrugged again.

"Not much point in waiting, is there? The sooner it's over and done with, the better. I've got other shit to do. Why, goin' to fast for ya? Ya scared?"

He smirked when Renji bristled.

"O' course not! Let's go see the Commander then!"

Jade and Dani both gave little shrieks of surprise to find themselves thrown over the shoulders of their respective, apparently, really-soon-to-be-husbands and rushed off somewhere. After a few minutes, Jade huffed and looked over at Dani with a half-shrug and a roll of the eyes. Both girls smiled bemusedly. Men...

~*~

Suffice it to say, when his Lieutenant told him there were people here to see him, the Commander General was not expecting Captain Kenpachi Zaraki and Lieutenant Renji Abarai to enter with two decidedly rumpled looking young women, asking to be married. But with a mental shake of the head, he shrugged and stood up to perform the simple ceremony. After all, at least they weren't opposing the new law...

------

Dani looked up at the sky as they left the Division One building. Jade and Renji watched her, and Kenpachi watched Jade.

"So...that's it...?"

Renji looked slightly confused, but Jade sighed in relief. Kenpachi could've cared less about the whole thing. It was over and done with...though the thought of consummating the marriage did bring a smirk to his face. Oh, Jade was gonna be fun...

"....need a bath. But first, Renji, where d'ya get all your tattoos?"

Kenpachi blinked, being brought out of his thoughts by Jade's voice. Something about tattoos....

"Eh? Oh, these, uh, there's a place not too far from here actually..."

"Why?"

Jade grinned up at Kenpachi and grabbed Dani's arm.

" 'Cause Dani and I are gettin' matchin' ones."

Dani's eyes widened and both Kenpachi and Renji stared at her; Renji, in surprise and Kenpachi, in interest.

"Oh?"

"Yeah. Lead the way, Renji."

Dani pulled her arm from Jade's grasp.

"Um...what, exactly, are we getting done, where?"

Kenpachi laughed when Jade sighed in exasperation.

"This. Unless you wanna be holding on to it for the rest of your life. And where is completely up to you. It's just that Urahara said it's gotta be with you to work, and well, I'd hate to lose it and end up not being able to understand anybody..."

She held out the crumpled paper with Urahara's translator spell on it.

"Couldn't we just keep it in a pocket or something. I mean, a tattoo?"

Jade smirked.

"Uh...I don't know if you fell asleep in class for this one Dani, but you don't get pregnant by holding hands... And what about when you have to take a bath? What if you lose it then, or drop it in the water?"

Dani and Renji both blushed a deep crimson and Kenpachi roared with laughter. Oh, he liked this girl.

~*~

Renji and Kenpachi found themselves standing on the other side of dressing screen, listening to Jade talk to the tattooist.

"That's it? Just like that? No healing time?"

"The salve takes care of that. Heals the entire thing. Just wash it off when it starts itching."

"Wow...c'mon Dani, your turn then. It only stings a little."

"..."

-------

"You itchy yet, Dani?"

Dani shifted slightly. Renji glanced at her curiously.

"A bit, you?"

Kenpachi smirked as Jade fidgeted, obviously struggling not to scratch herself.

"Like hell! Damn, I need a bath..."

Kenpachi chuckled darkly.

"We should probably head back anyways. Yachiru'll be getting bored with Ikkaku soon. You can use the bathhouse there. Each of the Divisions have their own bathhouse, so Dani can use Division Six's."

Dani and Jade both stopped moving and exchanged slightly worried glances.

"Um...are they far apart? Divisions Six and Eleven, I mean?"

Kenpachi studied the two girls for a moment, before shrugging.

"Che. I'll have someone bring ya to Division Six tomorrow so you'll know the way. Or Renji can show Dani the way to Division Eleven."

"Uh, yeah. No problem!"

Both girls relaxed at Kenpachi and Renji's answers, then Jade hugged Dani, whispering in her ear so only she could hear.

"Have fun tonight, Dani. And don't worry about me."

With a wink and a grin, she let Dani go and walked over to Kenpachi.

"See ya tomorrow! PUT ME DOWN, YOU BASTARD!!! I CAN WALK!!!"

Renji and Dani both laughed as they watched Kenpachi quickly disappear around a corner with an enraged Jade in his arms. Their laughter died away to a slightly awkward silence until Dani leaned forward and kissed Renji. The memory of their first kiss washed over both of them, and with a smothered groan, Renji scooped Dani up into his arms and flash-stepped to the Division Six bathhouse.

~*~

Notes: Damn! It took me forever to finish that one! Hope y'all liked it. Lemon in the next chapter. *waggles eyebrows suggestively*