Phobia

A/N: LJ prompt, really.... I was having writers block...
___________________________________________________________________

Zaraki Kenpachi would never admit it, but the only thing he was ever afraid of was losing his cheerful, headstrong 4th Seat, Kamaitachi Ryorin. He had met her in Rukongai after stopping her from stealing Ikkaku's money bag, and was surprised to have her retalliate with a zanpakutoh, managing to scratch his arm as well too.

Needless to say, he found Kamaitachi Ryorin to be a very intriguing female.

Ryorin was not your usual girl-on-the-Division-block. She cussed and swore as loudly as Renji and Ikkaku, drank as much as Shunsui and Matsumoto, and enjoyed fighting just as much as Zaraki did. Yet, she seemed to mantain some level of feminity about herself, caring about her hair as much as Yumichika cared about his beauty, and mantained a slightly muscled, if not slim body.

True, she wasn't as well-endowned as Matsumoto was, but she had a filled figure. Not like Kuchiki Rukia, who was ridiculously skinny, in Zaraki's opinion.

Heck, she even wore a shikakusho belt with an unusally long material, tied into a bow at her back, the ends almost reaching her ankles.

Yumichikia often teased him about it, about being overprotective of Ryorin, but he was simply afraid of losing her. Not many girls could make it in the 11th Division, what with it being bloodthirsty and filled with leering men, but she had made a place for herself there, earning the respect of said leering men with her abilities.

Renji had once stated to Byakuya; "Kamaitachi has a mean kick..."

She walked the walk, talked the talk and wasn't afraid to roll in the dust with the others. But still, Zaraki noticed, she wasn't like those modern-days Yakuza "Onee-san"s, still keeping a sense of dignity and self-consiousness.

Ryorin bathed in the early hours of the morning before everyone got up, late at night after everyone was asleep, or made the trip to the local bath-house if she wasn't in the mood to wake up early. She never exposed her body when she fought, and took great offence if anyone ogled her. She tried not to give any ideas to the many men that were in the Division, watching her words and her behavior, trying not to go overboard with her rough and crude actions.

Yes, Kamaitachi Ryorin was a very intriguing female indeed.
___________________________________________________________________

"Ne, taichou."

"What?" Zaraki grunted, looking back at her out of the corner of his eye as she helped him attach the last bell on the highest spike of his hair.

"Why dontcha let Yumi do this fer ya?" Ryorin grinned as the bell went into place and slid down his back, landing with a little thump. "I mean, he seems eager enough t' help."

"Che, I ain't lettin' that fruity bastard anywhere near my hair," Zaraki growled, checking his reflection in the mirror for one last time before turning. "And ya better stay put, or I'll get Yachiru t' watch ya."

Ryorin pouted, clad in a white yukata with bandages all over. She had sparred with Kuchiki-taichou yesterday, and had pressured him into releasing his shikai. If Yachiru hadn't cheerfully and casually stated that "Rin-chan was really gonna get it from Byakushi now", Zaraki would'nt have rushed there in time to save her ass. She had been holding out pretty fine, until Senbonsakura's petals sliced into her. It took Zaraki everything to not gut that pompous captain that watched and walked away without a word of apology.

"We were just sparrin', taichou." Ryorin sounded irritated. "Kuchiki-taichou wouldn't have killed me. He would've alerted Unohana-taichou, 'neways."

"Still, I ain't lettin' ya leave till yer wounds heal," Zaraki said, using the stern tone he usually reserved for Yachiru when he was sleeping and he wanted her to shut the hell up. Ryorin caught the warning glare in his eyes and settled for sulking, knowing that whatever punishment he was thinking of if she didn't listen to him wasn't that bad and actually benifited her. But still, he was Captain and she had to obey him.

Even if the punishment was getting to sleep the whole day in the 11th Division's cell with sake hidden for her under the bed.

"Whatever."

"Hn." With a final warning look, Zaraki turned and walked out of her room, leaving her to sit on the edge of her bed, legs dangling.

Yeah, she wouldn't leave for now. Not till her wounds were completely healed. Because said and done, Zaraki Kenpachi cared for her as much as he cared for Yachiru. And he was afraid of losing her.

It was his only phobia, anyone might say.