Mad World [Kenpachi Zaraki]

Chapter 9

Kenpachi couldn't recognize her. Ellie fit in almost too well to the Eleventh Division and by the end of the month nearly all the men were terrified of her very presence. The first few days after pulling herself from the confines of the bedroom some approached. Men, who had not been familiar with the Fourth Seat before being kidnapped. They had been thrown around like children, littering the training grounds. But then the young woman sighed, crouching beside each one and healing their injuries. The Soul Reapers still conscious flinched or screamed like little girls when she approached, and were confused when she meant no harm. Though Ellie left the others that were unconscious lying on the ground.

Kenpachi had been watching the whole time thinking to himself. Just what was he going to do with her. The fight had been brutal, one without mercy. Something that was prized in this Division. So that was how Aizen and the Espada had been destroyed. Healing his men, now that had been a surprise. But it gave him hope that the old Ellie was in there somewhere.

He found her sleeping on the floor every night. For some reason the Soul Reaper never wanted the bed. But it wasn't the young woman's fault. Having been used to the ground of the cave. And every night the Captain would be the one to lift Ellie off the ground and tuck her in. She wondered just how it was happening at first. Then she noticed the traces of Spiritual Pressure. She never said anything though.

Yachiru could be seen latched onto the young woman's shoulder every day. Unless Kenpachi ordered her away on business. The child always followed him into battle. And so did Ellie. He was her new Captain now. She would go visit Unohana too from time to time so she continued her practices as a medical nurse.

"How did you acquire your new powers?" Unohana asked one day.

"It was a deal really," Ellie said. "The only way to accept it was to keep the healer side of me present. To keep the deadly personality balanced."

"Are you happy now?"

There was a moment of silence. Hands removing from the sleeping child she was caring for, Ellie stared up at the ceiling. "I don't know anymore. I used to be once."

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Unohana was concerned and approached Kenpachi. "You need to talk to her."

The man cocked a brow from behind the desk. "Isn't that your job? You're both women and are better at those kinds of things."

"You're her new Captain. Only you can fix this."

"And how do you propose I do that?"

"Just talk. Both of you need to sort some things out."

"What kind of things?"

The woman smiled lightly. "That's for you to figure out." He did not understand. "You've welcomed Ellie ever since she showed she could hold her own against the members in your Division. You even began training her for a time. And I know you don't do that for everyone. There's something more going on between the both of you. Only you cannot see it yet."

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Ellie could not sleep, tossing and turning on the wooden floor. Finally she sighed, sitting up and moving through the halls. "Ellie." She paused. "What are you doing up this late?" Opening the door to the office Kenpachi could be seen sitting behind the desk, filling out some last minute paperwork.

"I couldn't sleep."

"Is there a reason why?"

Her shoulders shrugged. "It happens from time to time."

He set the pen down. "Does it make you nervous to be asleep."

There was a pause before whispering, "Yes."

The man sighed. "You must know that nothing will happen to you."

"It does not matter."

Kenpachi stood, moving to stand in front of the Fourth Seat. "Tell me what happened."

"You read the report."

He had, and it was not what he had been expecting. In fact, the man was forced to calm himself at times when details grew to be too much for him. Brought back to the present, his head shook. "I want to hear it from you. Not your time in the forest, what happened behind the walls of Hueco Mundo." Immediately she tensed. "Take your time."

It was hard to explain, but the Captain never rushed her. Ellie never cried once during those two hours, but her voice cracked and shook every now and then. When it was all over, Kenpachi almost wished those men were still alive so he could rip out their spines. He controlled himself, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. "If I had trained you sooner it could've saved you."

Her head shook. "The state of mind I was once in that would've been impossible. Even with the training. It was inevitable."

"Damn it, Ellie." A hand ran over his face. "Why wasn't I more careful?"

"We didn't know what was happening. I trusted him. That's what happens when you are involved with a person."

Aizen. The Captains never got along with each other in the first place. When Ellie first appeared in the Eleventh Division and they met he was surprised when Aizen sought her out one day. It was then he discovered they were seeing each other. Which for some reason struck a nerve with him. Maybe that was why Kenpachi tried convincing her to learn how to fight? Maybe that was why Ellie was his goal? She was a Fourth Division member, and those from the fighting Squad had no interest in them whatsoever. She was different.

"I was only an object they could easily discard. He was using me from the start. I was just too blind to see."

Kenpachi quickly wrapped his arms tightly around the young woman's body, startling her greatly. "You are much more than that, Ellie. He had no right using you, putting his hands on you. Treating you as if you didn't matter." Ellie's breath faltered. "You matter to me. I wanted to go after them when you were kidnapped, but the Head Captain would not allow it, nor my injuries. And by then everyone believed you were dead. I was waiting until the Head Captain gave us the order to invade and was going to tear the whole place down looking, tying to figure out what had happened." He chuckled dryly. "Much to my surprise you beat me to it." She was silently crying into his haori by now. "I am proud of you for learning the true identity of your zanpakuto."

"They beat me mercilessly," Ellie's voice shook. "The Adjuchas. But I'm not angry with them for doing so. It made me strong. Because I kept thinking it could be worse. Like how you train your men. I know you were going easy on me before." He chuckled. "I've done enough crying, Kenpachi. I almost hate it now." Yet he could feel his shirt damping. "I don't like anyone to see me cry anymore because it is a weakness."

He forced her to look up. "But that was what I admired about you. Your ability to care." The Captain brushed some stray strands of the flatten Mohawk out of her face. "I want you to promise me something."

"Depends." He chuckled, seeing a glint of amusement in her eyes.

"I want you to try and start caring again. Show emotion. I know it's in there. You only act like this to protect yourself. But you're back now." Kenpachi pulled her into a passionate kiss. It was startling at first and nearly attacked, but then realized who this was. She returned the gesture, holding on him tightly afraid he would disappear again. Or more so herself.