{Kenpachi X Reader} A flower among weeds Pt.7

“Captain Zaraki, I’m sure you already know what I wanted to speak to you about.” Kyoraku sighed as he poured two glasses of sake. He was sitting across from Kenpachi who had reached over to take one of the glasses.

“Oyagi stepped on a few toes in the barracks. Then he stepped on the wrong toes,”

“Those wouldn’t happen to be ___’s toes, would they? Or maybe he stepped on yours.”

Kenpachi glared at Kyoraku who was wearing a smug grin as he picked up his own cup. “What are you suggesting? Oyagi is her problem, not mine.”

“Then you challenging him to a fight was just a rumor then?”

“It wasn’t.”

Kyoraku sighed. “What are you doing to the poor girl, Zaraki?” He asked as he poured them each a new drink, their first cup already gone. “She won’t be able to handle this hot and cold if you keep it up.”

“I assumed you’d be giving me the riot act for not keeping my squad in line but you’re being awfully nice. Tell me, why does ___’s brother have the authority to make the honor guard keep her from fulfilling her missions or give her a free pass for assaulting one of their members?”

“As far as Oyagi is concerned, he wants serious action taken against her. He said if she wants to act like one of those “Squad Eleven savages” then she should be disciplined like one.” He took a sip. “I told him that the only witnesses to her actions were other squad members and since all of them have said that he was antagonizing her, if I were to take action it would end badly for him. I wouldn’t say that ___ was given a free pass, it’s just that Oyagi’s behavior was unacceptable. He openly challenged a member of Squad Eleven so he was lucky he left with his life.”

Kenpachi chuckled. “Knowing her, she probably knew that when she hit him. I kept her from pursuing him so he should really be thanking me. If you can get him to show his face to me again, that is.”

“Oh, I don’t think so.” Kyoraku finished yet another glass. “You may be smiling but the look in your eyes tells me the truth: You’ll kill him.” Kenpachi dropped his expression, disgruntled.

“I already told you, Oyagi is ___’s problem, not mine.”

“Kenpachi,” Kyoraku’s stone faced expression said he was no longer going to dance around the subject. “Why are you running away?” His words seem to make Kenpachi twitch. “From the time Unohana pushed you to release your full potential up until now, you have been almost calm even on assignment. I knew that removing the inhibitors your subconscious had placed would cause you trouble but you never showed any emotion other than disinterest. It wasn’t until ___ arrived that you seemed to spring back to life. So how is it that you have found a new way to hold back?”

Kenpachi eyed the sake in his glass, any anger on his face had faded. “It may be hard to believe but even I can act like a captain when it’s necessary.”

“If she were any ordinary squad member, I’d believe you but the man sitting in front of me is not the same man who went running off to thrash Kunikida when he thought ___ was in danger.” His stare hadn’t left Kenpachi’s face as if searching for a reaction. “Did you perhaps, begin to consider the consequences of your actions?”

Kenpachi set down the glass before he stood up. “It didn’t begin now. I had considered them a long time ago. Just like when I remembered her, I just can’t forget about them anymore.” He turned to the door. “Thanks for the sake but I’m not really in the mood for it anymore. I can’t drink too much when you’re making a big announcement tomorrow.”

{Kenpachi cut through the guards that charged at him with no trouble.

“There are lots of people out here!”

He stepped out of the brush, meeting your eyes through a window. “So they were guarding a princess.”

“Wow, Kenny~! A real princess?” Yachiru’s excited tone kept the smile on his face.

Much to his surprise, you focused a glare on him. It was not something he was used to seeing. “What do want?”  

“Nothing. Just passing through.” He stated plainly before turning to leave.

“Wait-!”

The call surprised him as he turned to see the look on your face. It wasn’t fear but loneliness. “What? You want to come with?”

“Yes.”

The quick answer surprised him but he didn’t let it show as he grinned. “Then get up and follow me.” He intended to pay you no mind if you had a response to his joke. The next sound he heard was not a voice however but a loud thud as you hit the ground. He stood in awe as you attempted to prop yourself up.}

‘From the moment I saw her what I wanted had nothing to do with my instinct to fight. Even now, after sparring with her I don’t have any desire to fight her.’

{“I-I’m not getting stronger for you!” You shouted after him as he left. For some reason, he felt the need to look back and take one last look. What he saw was the most unbelievable thing he had seen you do since he first laid eyes on you. You were smiling.}

‘In that moment, I held back the urge to take what I wanted because I also wanted to see the lengths to which she would go for me. I realize now I have been selfish long enough.’

Kenpachi opened the door to his room. The moonlight had revealed the futon had been laid out with you sleeping snuggly inside of it. He clicked his tongue as he sat at the futon’s edge. “Who said you could go to bed without me?” He reached towards you but paused, hand hovering above your head. “You don’t see me the way I see you, do you?”

“How do you see me, Captain?” He moved his hand to see your eyes were open.

“How long have you been awake?”

“I just woke up. How do you see me, Captain?” You sat up, turning to face him. “I’ve been thinking about it for a while now. You do nice things for me but then say it’s not special treatment because it’s me. Not because I’m a squad member but because it’s me. So what is it that you see?” He grabbed your wrist as you attempted to touch him.

“After tonight, you should sleep in your own room.”

“Oh…” you tried to think about it logically but his words still stung. “You’re right. My brother will be here soon and Oyagi might report it to him.”

“You can put a positive spin on anything,” he sighed. “What are your nightmares about?”

“Huh?”

“I realized all this time your nightmares have been gone for a while now but I never asked what they were about.”

“They’re not really gone. I still have them from time to time.” You shuffled, a little embarrassed about having to explain it to him. “They usually start off as an old memory. I was playing in the garden when I was little, back before I was… disabled. My mother calls out to me and then… everything goes wrong just as it did in real life.”

“So you keep reliving the trauma?”

“It seemed like no matter how strong I get, it never goes away. But recently, I hear your voice in my head. You could be saying something as simple as “quit goofing around” and everything is alright. So I guess I should say thank you, for always saving the day.” You chuckled.

“Damn it!” You felt your body shift as Kenpachi was in view above you, shoving you down onto the futon. “I’m really trying here! Why’d you have to do that?”

“D-do what?”

“I’m trying not to-!” You could feel the tension in his hand that was pressed against your shoulder. He seemed to relax as he took a deep breath. He let go and climbed to his feet. “Get some sleep.”

“Where are you going?”

“For a walk. I’ll be back.”

“Why are you running away from me?!” You hadn’t even realized the words had left your mouth. They stopped your captain in his tracks. You had jumped to your feet and before you knew it, more words just kept pouring out. “I worked hard to get here. I followed you. I wanted to be stronger so that I wasn’t a burden but maybe that was my mistake. You tried to save me from Masume even though I didn’t need saving. You’re always looking through me even though everyone else says they can’t read me. It seems like every time you try to do something nice for me, I always end up ruining it. So… if I’ve annoyed you please tell me! Just don’t run away from me!”

“You’re so smart and yet you don’t understand anything, do you?”

“When it comes to you, no I don’t. So please tell me!”

“I have never once thought of you as a member of Squad Eleven.”

“Oh…” Somehow you had suspected that but you never thought he’d say it out loud. “I see… sorry to be a bother.” You could feel tears hot on your cheeks. Embarrassment began to bubble up inside of you so quickly that you used your flash step to make a swift exit.

“That was mean, Kenny!” Yachiru emerged from his haori. “You like ___ so why are you being such a dummy?!”

“You only show yourself when she’s around,”

“Because you won’t tell her the truth!”

“I did tell her the truth.”

“But that wasn’t the whole truth! You can’t stop half way or she’ll think the wrong thing, Kenny!”

“That’s fine.”

Yachiru puffed out her cheeks. “It’s not! I wouldn’t have to keep appearing if you’d stop running away!”

“You’re saying that too, huh?”

“You’re still thinking about what Fluffy said a long time ago, aren’t you?”

“It’s a good time to consider it. I’m a lot stronger than I was back then,”

“You’re being so silly. The feeling you get when you fight and the feeling you get when you’re around ___ are two different things.”

“I know that.”

“___ makes you happy but that’s too scary for you to admit!”

“It’s not that.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I am strong enough to take whatever I want but that doesn’t mean I should.”

“That’s not like you at all!”

“Yeah, I know.” he chuckled. “I considered if I went at her head on as I am now, would I end up destroying the thing I want?”

“Aw, Kenny. I don’t think ___ will ever stop smiling at you,”

“I guess I’ll never know now.”

“You’re being silly again. As long as she’s still here, she’ll always be chasing after you.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“Because that’s love!”

~BLEACH~

Kenpachi stood among the other captains in the Head Captain’s presence. He felt as if he were in a daze. He knew what this was about so he had decided not to pay any attention well before the meeting had started.

“You are awful, Zaraki.” Shinji caught his attention, standing beside him.

“Why do you say that?”

“You have to ask?”

“You’re not the first person to call me awful. Just curious as to what I’ve done this time.” He grinned but Shinji seemed bored by his manner.

“I know ___ was crying.” Kenpachi’s cheeks had fallen, his expression turning blank.

“How would you know about that?”

“You don’t know? ___ always comes to me when she wants to talk. She showed up at my room last night with Yumichika in tow. He told me she wouldn’t say anything except for “I’m fine” but he didn’t believe her. Something about red, puffy eyes ruining her aesthetic charm.” He sighed. “She wouldn’t tell me anything either so I’m sure you had something to do with it.”

“It’s ___’s business, not mine. Why should I care?”

“Now you’re doing it too.” Kurotsuchi interjected, annoyance carried his tone. “I have known you long enough to say that you are much more intelligent than you like to show, Zaraki. So tell me, when did you join ___ in the little game of denial that she’s been playing? You were so worried about ___ that you even approached me about Kunikida, which was uncharacteristically coy of you and now you’re pretending as if you do not care. Does the arrival of Hayato ____ really have you putting on such an act?”

Kenpachi’s gaze narrowed. “What does that mean?”

“Have you still not learned who he is?”

“That’s enough.” Kyoraku’s voice cut through the conversations. “Since it’s already been brought up, let’s just get right to it. ____ ____, the newest member of Squad Eleven is the sister of a very important man and that man has chosen now to visit the Seireitei.”

“The honor guard’s annoying presence has already made that clear.” Soifon grumbled.

“I don’t care about any of that.” Kenpachi stated. “But he’s preventing my squad members from taking missions and that’s annoying as hell.”

“Not members, a member.” A voice echoed as the doors opened. In the doorway were three figures. To the left was Oyagi, to the right was another honor guard member and in the middle was a man wearing clothing that were impossible for any of them not to recognize. He had long, fluffy hair that was pulled into a loose braid, the sides of his head were shaved. His hair color and eye color were identical to yours. He was the one who had spoken and continued to speak as his party proceeded into the room. “A member who should have never been placed in Squad Eleven to begin with,”

“I knew the name “Hayato ____” sounded familiar,” Byakuya stated, locking eyes with him. “It also explains the way you’ve been able to abuse so much power. It’s easy to get what you want when you’re the new head judge of Central 46.”

“It has given me more sway but my family is still nobility so I doubt my request would have been denied.”

“I was just about to announce your arrival next week and yet you’re already here.”

“Apologies, Head Captain. Oyagi made me aware of my sister’s attempts to depart for the world of the living even though she was informed of my coming so I decided not to allow her the chance to avoid me if she was given a heads up.” His gaze shifted back to Byakuya. “Although that was quite the salted response, Kuchiki. I expected you of all people to understand how the hierarchy works but you sound as if you are trying to pick a fight with me.”

“It seems the way I phrased the statement has caused some confusion,” Byakuya started, “I definitely meant for that to be offensive. I’ll make sure to say it more clearly next time.”

“How dare you-!”

“Silence, Oyagi.” Hayato hushed him. “That is still a Kuchiki you are speaking to.”

“Right. Sorry, sir.”

“It has nothing to do with what family I am from. The Soul Society has been in shambles and everyone has been doing everything they can to put things back together and to defend it against enemies, your sister among them so I cannot stay silent about the chaos you have caused for such a childish reason.” Byakuya’s tone was the same as always but the harshness of his words carried weight. “I have spoken with ___ multiple times since the beginning of her investigation and can say that she is easily one of the most dedicated soul reapers in the Gotei 13.”

“___ has been collaborating with all of the squads to amass any information that could be considered relevant to our investigation.”

“She’s kept all of us informed and even juggled her own squad responsibilities. I’ve even been having the stealth force gather any new information that might emerge during this farce at her request.” Soifon glared at him. “We’re stretched thin enough as is so we could care less about how you feel towards your sister’s decisions.”

Kenpachi was astonished by the reactions of his fellow captains but kept it to himself. He didn’t know the full extent of your investigation into these strange occurrences but he never imagined you had involved the other captains.

“You look like you don’t wish to be here, Captain Zaraki.” Hayato had stopped in front of him, only three feet in between the two of them. “Understandable that you’d hate to see me again.”

“Again?” Shinji questioned.

“Why should I?”

“Because I lied to you, back then,”

{Kenpachi walked through the trees, guards stepping out of his way as he passed. He was wearing the shihakusho and haori of the Squad Eleven captain. Yachiru sat on his shoulders, leaning on his head. “Wow! Being a captain sure makes things easier!”

“I’ll admit, it’s good for warding off weaklings.” He chuckled. “Think she’ll be surprised?”

“Of course, Kenny! When she finds out we came back for her I bet she’ll run up and hug you!”

“You think she’s made that much progress already?” He grinned. “Old man Yama has been annoying me a lot lately. It’ll be nice to see that smile of hers again.”

He stepped through the brush, stopping as he noticed the empty window.

“Oh! She did get out of bed, Kenny! See? I was right.”

“Intruder, who are you?” Kenpachi turned to see Hayato, guards tensing up behind him. “You wear the garb of a captain but I do not recognize you.”

“Where is the girl who sat by this window?”

“Who?”

“The princess, Fluffy! We came to rescue Kenny’s princess!”

Hayato’s gaze narrowed. “I see. You’re the wild man who filled my sister’s head with foolish ideas back then.”

“You still haven’t answered my question.” Kenpachi matched his glare. “Where is she?”

“She died.” This came as a surprise to them. “She pushed herself too hard and it was too much for her body to take. Though I doubt that bothers an animal like you. You just try to take what you want and you don’t even care if it gets destroyed in the process.” He turned away. “Leave my property and never come back. No doubt you’ll forget about her soon enough.”}

“Honestly, I thought my sister had died so I wouldn’t exactly call it a lie. I waited for her to come back for so long but she never did.” Hayato’s fist clenched, spiritual pressure in the room increasing slightly. “So you can imagine my anger when I heard rumors of the so called “Flower of Squad Eleven” that could only be her.”

“It seems like you’re the one who hates me.”

“I do indeed.”

“Then do something about it.” A toothy smile accompanied the rise in his own spiritual pressure.

“Excuse me,” Your voice cut through the tension as you opened the door. “I was summoned by the head captain-” You could feel a chill go down your spine as you met eyes with the familiar figure of your brother. “Hayato-?” Before the words left your mouth he was in front you, as if he had used flash step to get close as fast as possible. His hand was inches from your face when you reacted. You dodged his grasp before your fist collided with his cheek, the force of your punch caused his head to turn back on a tilt. You flash stepped away from him, backing towards Kyoraku. Every captain in the room set their hands on their zanpak-tos, surprised by the reaction but hostilities directed towards the honor guard’s movements.

“How dare you assault his lordship?!” Oyagi’s blade as well as the other guards were at your throat.

“Souta, Hiroki,” your voice made them shiver as you shot them both a look. “Get away from me or I’ll kill you.”

“It’s alright, Oyagi, Ise.” Hayato wiped the blood from his lip, the same dull expression on his face that you were used to seeing. “She hit me so I wouldn’t hit her first, not that I would have.”

“What is this meaning of this?!” Soifon snapped.
“Look at you, staring at me like a scared animal. You probably spent all this time wondering how I would react when I saw you now that you’re strong enough but you shouldn’t worry.” His eyes locked with yours. “I am not Yuujirou, I did spend so much time at your bed side just to attack you when you’re finally well,”

“Judge ____,” Kyoraku finally spoke, just as disconcerted by the events that had transpired. “I think you owe us an explanation.”

“I do not owe you anything. This is a family matter.”

“No, it is not.” You stated loudly, almost yelling.

“___, I am here to take you home.”

 “You are not my family! I am a member of-” You stopped, remembering what Kenpachi had said to you so you rearranged your words. “I am a soul reaper!” You stated it defiantly but his response destroyed any objections you could have made. It was the one thing you never wanted to hear ever again.

“Mother is home.”

TO BE CONTINUED…