• 1-Chapter One
• 2-Chapter Two
• 3-Chapter Three
• 4-Chapter Four
• 5-Chapter Five
• 6-Chapter Six
• 7-Chapter Seven
• 8-Chapter Eight
• 9-Chapter Nine
• 10-Chapter Ten
• 11-Chapter Eleven
• 12-Chapter Twelve
• 13-Chapter Thirteen
• 14-Chapter Fourteen
• 15-Chapter Fifteen
• 16-Chapter Sixteen
• 17-Chapter Seventeen
• 18-Chapter Eighteen
• 19-Chapter Nineteen
• 20-Chapter Twenty
• 21-Chapter Twenty-one
• 22-Chapter Twenty-two

Chapter Twenty-one

Reika had almost gotten to her feet when Kenpachi had decided to start his attack on poor Eros. Words not even forming as the brute quickly brought his sword down on the younger male. Eros, thankfully, had draw his sword, but the strength of a captain was nothing to laugh at. Soon his legs bent from the pressure, his knees falling into the soft grass. A grunt was heard as his arms began to shake, Kenpachi’s sword drawing closer and closer to his face. “Fuck…”

Suddenly, there was a strong kick to Eros’ side, sending him falling to the right. As Kenpachi’s sword fell into the dirt where the younger boy once knelt. The captains eyes glanced over at the one who’d helped his target. His glaring eye landed on Reika, who was glaring right back at him. “What the hell is wrong with you!” She growled out through clenched teeth.

Kenpachi ignored her in favor of staring at her for a moment longer. His attention quickly turned back to the other male who was scrambling to his feet. With slow steps and a smirk that could chill the bones of the dead, Kenpachi repeatedly brought his sword down to clash with Eros’ own.

‘Shit, shit, shit!’ Was the only thing going through Reika’s mind, unbeknownst to her Eros was repeating the same phrase as well. She watched in morbid fascination as Kenpachi overpowered the other with his strength alone. Her hand reached for the sword by her waist, only to freeze. Her teeth digging into her bottom lip.

Eros briefly glanced at Reika, though he couldn’t give her even half of his attention with the Captain attacking him. ‘She’s hesitating.’ Was the quick thought that filtered through his mind before he tuned his full attention back to Kenpachi.

Kenpachi’s grin faded some as he continued the attacking the pitiful male before him. ‘This is what she chose?’ He wondered, his mind becoming more and more agitated. ‘This weak ass twerp?’ His energy spiking at the thought of this wimpy male touching his Reika. She was stronger than he was, what could she see in him.

Reika finally moved her hand from the hilt of her sword and instead ran into the small battle without her weapon drawn. She couldn’t risk it taking hold of her, she couldn’t risk it attacking Kenpachi. She briefly heard the growling sound within her mind, Ketsurui was not happy with being denied.

Yumichika and Ikkaku both looked up from their spots in the 11th division office. “Did you just…” Yumichika asked, but his bald headed friend was already rushing from the room. “Guess you did.” He too stood and went to stalk down their captains slowly rising spiritual energy. ‘I hope him and Reika are just fighting.’

Yachiru stopped her pestering of the random shinigami to turn her sights towards the pressure she felt. ‘Hmm.’ She detached herself from the other and skipped off into the direction she‘d been looking. “Ken-chan seems to be angry.” She mentioned in a sing song voice.

Reika grunted in pain as she was thrown into a tree trunk. Grumbling she stood, her arm resting over her stomach. “I think he broke a rib.” She muttered finding it difficult to breathe. “Idiot!” She tried to yell but it came out more as a groan of pain.

Eros coughed up blood as he was thrown back to the ground again. The poor male’s body was littered with cuts; both small and large. It seemed Kenpachi was set out to torture the other, instead of merely killing him. His jagged sword swooped down and Eros receiving another long shallow cut on his leg. Said male only hissed at the knick before jumping to his feet again, though he was still a bit wobbly. Kenpachi was growing bored with the one-sided battle. A narrowing of his eye was all the warning he gave before he lifted his sword and heavily swung down. There would be no avoiding it for Eros, and the force of the swing would no doubt relieve him of his arm.

Reika grunted as she pushed herself off of the tree and tried to rush towards the two again. Her body ached and it was not the good sort of ache Kenpachi normal left her in. With the little strength she had left she threw herself in front of the quickly falling sword. She had managed to throw Eros out of the way and squeezed her eyes closed awaiting the pain that would surely follow. ‘When did I become the hero? Stupid, stupid!’ She thought trying to make sense of her odd actions.

“CAPATIN!” Ikkaku yelled as he arrived on the scene, his eyes wide in confusion. His captain was seconds away from chopping off the arm of his lover. Yumichika came up behind him, the same look of mild confusion on his features.

The yell from the voice he knew seemed to knock Kenpachi back into the land of the sane (not that he visited often). For a brief second his eye widened in panic, but it was far to late to stop the full flow of his muscles. With a quick turn of his body, he narrowly missed detaching her shoulder from her body. Yet, he was unable to avoid the sword connecting with her all together.

Reika groaned in pain as the tip of his sword sliced down her skin. The cut starting on her collarbone, over her shoulder and continuing down her upper arm to her elbow. “Fuck!” She hissed, her hand instinctively reaching to stop the blood that poured from the new wound. She fell to her knees, her body doubled over in pain that racked her body. She bled from wounds all over, and she swore her rips were at least bruised.

Kenpachi watched in confusion, though he showed none of it, as Reika fell to the ground. ‘Why did she do that?’ His mind rumbled in annoyance, he had no intentions of putting any more scars on that body. He didn’t understand, wasn’t it normal for a man to be angry when his woman was with another man? Wasn’t it his right to fight for her and reclaim her as his? His eye flickered over to Eros as the younger male scrambled over to the fallen Reika.

With a growl Kenpachi used his foot to push the other away from her. “Don’t touch her.” He said in a all too calmed voice, glaring holes at Eros who looked up in horror.

Ikkaku and Yumichika had cautiously crept closer, both trying to evaluate the situation. “Reika?” Ikkaku mumbled, trying to catch the girls attention without gaining that of his captains.

Reika glanced up from her hunched position, her face pale from blood loss. Still she managed to smirk at the bald male. “I so didn’t need your help.” She muttered, referring to the other yelling, right after she spoke her smirk faded as her body gave into the pain.

With a shallow breath her body fell forward, heading for the bloodied grass below her. Before she hit the ground something warm and solid stopped her path. Her groggy eyes looked up to see Kenpachi looking down at her. His leg holding her from hitting the ground. She would have normally protested, growled and bitched out the male for his previous actions, but darkness took her before she had the chance.

“Ken-chan?” Yachiru said with a tilted of her head, standing not far from the carnage. Her big eyes glanced down at Reika, only to frown at the sight. “What happened to Rei-chan?” She asked, her little arms crossing over her chest.

Kenpachi shrugged, returning his sword to it’s place on his hip. Bending down he scooped Reika’s pale form into his arms. He was claiming his prize, in his mind at least, he had won so Reika was again his.

“Hey wait!” Eros managed before Ikkaku silenced him with a quick blow to knock him out. The already damaged body falling to the ground in a heap, with no protest.

Yumichika stood before the now unconscious man, a smile sent to his captain. “We’ll clean up the mess here.” He said, trying to get the still angry captain to forget about the idiot who lay prone behind them.

It seemed to have worked because Kenpachi didn’t even spare a glance in their direction. He turned and headed for a place he had been seen more often now that Reika was in his life, the 4th division head quarters. He needed Reika to be fixed before he could settle this situation with her. Only as he was leaving the scene did he noticed the rather large crowd the had gathered around. With one look the group allowed the captain and his cargo to pass.

Yachiru sighed as she looked at the form of Reika on the hospital bed. The healers had just finished their work and left saying Reika should be fine after some rest. Though she’d have a nice scar to add to her collection. The pink haired girl turned her mini glare to the male lounging in the room by the window. “Rei-chan is gonna be angry.” She said in a low voice, turning her gaze back to the unmoving body.

Kenpachi looked over at the two females. He didn’t understand why Reika would be angry with him. Shouldn’t she be elated that he had fought to keep her? ‘Stupid wimp of a man would have never been able to satisfy her.’ He thought, turning away from the scene before him. It wasn’t as if he wanted to hurt Reika, she should have just stayed back and watch like she was suppose to.

Yachiru shook her head and wondered why her Ken-chan was so stupid sometimes. “You aren’t suppose to beat up Rei-chan’s friends, Ken-chan.” She climbed into Reika’s bed, with the thoughts of taking a nap. “And all of her friends wont be female.” She muttered, letting her big eyes close and sleep take her.

Kenpachi frowned at the two woman in his life. He didn’t know if he wanted to deal with a pissed off Reika, not when he didn’t think he did anything wrong. Crossing his arms, he leaned back against the window frame. His eyes glaring at the sky, he didn’t think relationships would be this difficult.

Reika groaned and glanced at the dark cave. She didn’t want to be here, couldn’t the thing just let her recuperate. “Stupid…” She muttered, only to be granted a ghostly being looking down at her.

“You sure pick them, Reika.” The creature sneered, looking down at his ‘partners’ bloodied body. Lifting his bony foot, he not so gently nudged her with it. He opened his mouth, only to snap it shut. His pale eyes snapping up and glancing off into the distance.

Reika would have thought more on this abnormal behavior had she not felt like an elephant had just sat on her body. Her pale tormentor stared off into the distances, a look of thought and confusion on his face. With a quick turn on his heel he was heading back into the cave, sending Reika back into the waking world.

Eros paced in his room, he had been told to stay in bed but he couldn’t. Not when he wasn’t being informed of Reika’s status. ‘So, she is involved with that captain somehow.’ He thought, biting on the tip of his thumb in thought. He vaguely thought that they were lovers, but quickly dismissed it. Telling himself that Reika had to have better taste than the blood craved 11th division captain. ‘I knew that Ikkaku was familiar.’ With a trouble sigh, Eros finally threw the door to his hospital room open, if no one would tell him of Reika’s health he’d find out on his own.

Just as he was entering the hall he thought she might have been in there was a loud bang. He froze, only to hear the voice of the girl he was looking for.

“ARE YOU AN IDIOT!” Reika screamed looking over at the calmly relaxing Kenpachi. The small bedside table she had just thrown at him lay in shambles on the floor. “No, don’t bother answering. YOU ARE A FUCKING IDIOT!” She stumbled over her own feet as she stood, her body still not fully healed. Kenpachi frowned and reached to steady her, only to have his hand smacked away. “Where is Eros?” She asked, causing the captain to get a fierce look on his face.

Stepping over to her, Kenpachi’s large hand encircled her uninjured upper arm. “Doesn’t matter.” Was all he granted her, leering down at her in anger. “Get back in bed.” He could feel Reika try to pull her arm away but it would prove to be impossible. Reika would only go free when Kenpachi allowed it. Kenpachi now wished Yachiru hadn’t left an hour earlier, maybe his fiery love would have been calmer with the tiny girl around.Reika glared at the male, wishing she could shoot flames from her eyes. She would burn the male, and then kick him while he writhed on the floor. “I do not need you to tell me what to do! Release me.” Her voice was low and leaked of venom. Though the hand around her arm did nothing to move itself, if anything it only got tighter. “Kenpachi.” She warned, though they both knew she could do nothing. At least not when she was in the shape she was.

Said male felt his eyes cloud in confusion. “That gutless twit lost.” He said simply, though Reika could hear the undertone of frustration that he hid so well. His hand loosened but did not let her go. “You’re mine.” She could have sworn she heard a whine like sound coming from him, but she quickly pushed that thought away. Kenpachi whining, yeah right.

Rage took over her features, before it was quickly replaced with shocked understanding. “You…” Reika’s mind was functioning on slow mode. ‘He…is an idiot.’ She thought before a small smile fell onto her lips. Finally understanding why he had acted the way he did, and in the itty-bitty tiny girly part of her mind she was flattered he had fought to keep her. “Your mind has a fucked up way of working, you know?” She was still a bit peeved, but at least she realized why he had acted so brutish.

She looked up at the frowning captain, he still didn’t understand his actions were wrong. Sure, he knew Reika was upset with what he had done but he couldn’t understand why. Never would he think that his animalistic way of laying claim to his ‘mate’ was wrong.

Sighing, Reika looked up at her brute. “Let go Kenpachi.” Her anger was rather none existing now, and Kenpachi felt his hand dropping from her arm. “Now, you didn’t kill Eros, did you?” She asked, sort of nervous about hearing the answer. She was talking slow and calmly, hoping Kenpachi didn’t freak out on her again. Even if she hid it well, the bit male could be rather intimating when he tried to be.

“Hm, now that I think about it.” He said looking towards the door. “I haven’t. I got bored.” He lied, knowing full well he was more worried about her state of health than killing the other male. The thought alone put an odd sense of confusion in his mind and a cloud of doubt around him. What the hell was he thinking? Reika suddenly meant more to him than killing - that was absurd. His feet already began to move to pull him from the room, maybe being around the woman wasn’t such a good idea.

Reika reached out and grabbed his wrist. “Oh! Good!” She said in relief, she didn’t seem to notice his stiffen. He didn’t like the anger that swelled in him at her relief that the other man was alive. She finally let him go, her only good hand scratching at her scarred face. “It’s odd ya know, he’s the first person I met that didn’t try to kill me or sleep with me.” She snorted and continued to stare at the ground. Yachiru didn’t count she was a younger girl in Reika’s mind and she would probably try to kill her if Kenpachi asked. “It’d be lame to call him my first friend.” She grumbled, Kenpachi finally turning to her, seeing a cute annoyed pout on her face. “He’s like a puppy who just kinda decided to follow me around, though he probably wont now.” Reika looked up Kenpachi and a smirk fell on her face. “I mean I do have a big ass Rottweiler standing next to me growling at ‘em.” She chuckled dryly and rolled her eyes when she saw the jealousy clearly swarming on Kenpachi‘s face. “I do not want to have sex with Eros, you dolt.”

That seemed to be all the big male wanted to hear cause his body visibly relaxed, though Reika doubted he even knew it did. Eros stood outside the door, his eyes wide with the new found information. ‘She has horrible taste in men.’ He thought briefly, his earlier denied thoughts proved to be true.

Suddenly Reika felt something outside of her room, thankfully Reika wasn’t as inept in sensing spiritual energy as her lover. She quickly turned and dashed to the door, throwing it open. “You!”

Eros shrunk back about ready to run, knowing the lunatic that had attacked him was within the room. Though Reika reached out and grabbed his shirt, shaking him lightly. “You’re not dead! Kenpachi didn’t kill you! Way to go!” The grin on her face was almost comical, seeing as the girl rarely did more than a smirk.

Eros gulped and peeked in the room behind the girl. “Uh, not for lack of trying.” He mumbled letting the girl do as she wished. It was odd the way she spoke of his survival, like it was a game and he hadn’t lost, yet he hadn’t won either.

Kenpachi walked up behind Reika, not even glancing at the other male. Though his presence was enough to purposely scare the hell out of the other. Reika slapped the injured males arm, causing Eros to groan and rub the now sorer spot. “Psst, if Kenpachi wanted to kill you he would have just chopped your head off or something. He was just playing.” She said still smirking, though she knew she was lying out of her teeth. Eros probably knew it too, but he took it in stride and just nodded before asking her about her health.

Kenpachi stood behind Reika, his body leaning against the door frame. He looked as if he was staring at nothing, but he was eyeing Reika. He didn’t like this feeling at all. His fingers itched to touch her, his body and mind telling him to claim her in front of the other male. Sighing within his mind he’d resist all the urges, knowing Reika would get angry with him. He was lucky she didn’t try to kill him for his earlier actions. Even though he said he wouldn’t, his hand reached out to brush a piece of her hair behind her ear. In mid reach he froze, his mind finally realizing what he was about to do. He snapped his hand back, neither Reika nor Eros even noticed his movements as they spoke. ‘What the fuck!’ Kenpachi growled in his own mind. He was turning into some love sick puppy, and he honestly didn’t know how he felt about it. Kenpachi Zaraki was well on his way to become what he dreaded, a tamed beast.