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Zaraki growled to himself as he watched Byakuya stride past him and into Ryorin's room. He was sure... VERY sure, that that arrogrant priss had given him a very snooty shove-it-up-your-ass looks before going past him. Unohana put a restraining hand on his shoulder. "I suggest you don't, Kenpachi... This is a place of healing after all."
"He almost killed her, Restu," Zaraki snarled. "He actually used shikai on her."
Unohana shook her head slightly and sighed amid a muffled squeal of "Kuchiki-taichou!" and a thump that she supposed was Byakuya hitting the ground as Ryorin glomped him. Dear... she shouldn't have allowed Yachiru to bring in all those candy after all. "Kenpachi, let's settle this in my office, not here. I can offer you some sake while we're there."
Zaraki grumbled, but the thought of sake tempted him, so he gave in and followed the motherly captain back to the office where she firmly slid the door shut so no one could disturb them. "I didn't know ya kept sake here, Retsu," he said finally. "I thought this was a healin' Division."
"On the contary, I'll let you in on one of my dirty little secrets," Unohana said as she rummaged around in a cabinet and brought out a bottle of sake, setting it down in front of him. "I like drinking. It's just something that I indulge myself in sometimes, when I've had a busy day and I need to let loose a bit."
"Aa... Sou ka?" Zaraki's grin returned full blast as he reached for the bottle, uncorking it. His view of Unohana had changed considerably. Maybe he should invite her out the next time he went drinking or something... There was more to this woman that what met the eye.
Much like Kamaitachi Ryorin.
"So then, Kenpachi. Back to Ryorin. What makes you so protective of her?" Unohana threw the question at him when she saw that he had calmed down enough. "I don't think Yamamoto-soutaichou will be so pleased if you.. as you put it... 'shove Senbonsakura up his prissy, arrogant noble ass and watch him scatter shit'."
"Eh, ol' Yama-jii can burn and rot fer all I care..." Zaraki mumbled, taking a gulp of his sake. "Ryorin belongs to me. She's mine and I'll kill anyone that tries t' lay a finger on her."
"Why do you say so?" Unohana leaned forwards, unfazed by his manner of speech. "I take it that Ryorin is the only eligable female Shinigami in your Division, excluding Yachiru-chan, and she's been following you since you were in Rukongai. Maybe you have some kind of... crush on her?"
Zaraki eyed her, contemplating his next words. "Crush? I dunno..... Do I have a crush on her? Not possible, Retsu. I don't hav' anything t' do with her, 'cept make sure no one touches a hair on her head."
"So you're saying that she's like a daughter to you, nothing more? Just like Yachiru-chan?"
"Yeah..... No! I din' mean that!"
"Then? Please explain, Kenpachi."
Zaraki leaned back in his chair, an unreadable expression crossing his face. "Ch... I dunno, Retsu. There's jus' this unexplainable feelin' of wantin' t' protect her. Get what I mean? Like... havin' my zanpakutoh. I mean, ya can't live without yer weapon, can ya? Well, that's what it's like. I can't live without her. She's grown on t' me, the little Weasel. It's like somethin's wrong if she's not there to greet me, or spar with me, or get my hair out of these spikes every night."
Retsu souldn't help the smile that spread acroess her face. "Kenpachi, you may not believe this, but you're hopelessly in love with Ryorin."
Zaraki blinked. "Me? In love? Hn, love is a pansy word. I ain't gonna fall in love."
"If you don't believe me, maybe you'll find out for yourself when I tell you that Kuchiki-taichou's making a move on Ryorin."
Zaraki was gone like the wind. Unohana luaghed to herself and brought out another small bottle of sake, noting that the one she gave Zaraki was gone. "Ah, well...." Yes, she was evil sometimes.
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Byakuya fairly jumped when the door to Ryorin's room burst open and Zaraki stormed in. But Ryorin didn't seem fazed. On the contary, she beamed and leapt off his bed, right into the gigantic taichou's arms. "Taichou!!"
Zaraki caught her, hoisting her up on his shoulder as he sent a killer glare at Byakuya, who gave him a freezing look in return. "Stay away from Ryorin, ya priss. She's mine, ya hear me?"
"Ne? Tai-"
Ryorin's words were cut off as Zaraki's lips descended on hers in a kiss, startling almost everyone who managed to walk past. Byakuya's eyes had widened to the size of saucers, and Zaraki grinned ferally as he broke off. Hell, yeah. He could get used to this love thing.
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