Following

by

PND

Part 14

"You know, Ikkaku," Yumichika drawled lightly, watching the other man as he worked. "I bet when you signed up, you had no idea you were going to be doing things like this."

"I think you should shut up," Ikkaku snapped, obviously starting to get a little frustrated.

The dark-haired shinigami's mouth lifted up and his voice came out in a sweet lilt. "Says the man folding a pink sword with a flower shaped tsuba."

"I told you to shut up!" Ikkaku threw one of the tools he was using at him.

Yumichika dodged it and laughed, "You missed!"

"Why the tell does everything you say sound dirty?"

"What sounded dirty about it?"

"Uh, you know...fondling?" Ikkaku looked kind of embarrassed just to be saying it.

Yumichika couldn't help but smile. "There's nothing dirty about that word. I was just saying that you were being gentle with it." He gave Ikkaku a look. "Not everything has to be sexual, Ikkaku. Really, you should watch what you say! Especially when there is a young, impressionable girl in our squad. I'm disappointed in you, Ikkaku."

Ikkaku's face was starting to redden. "Yumichika, I am going kill you."

Yumichika lifted a thin brow. "With that sword?"

"Yeah," Ikkaku grinned wildly, pulling the sword from its sheath.

"Baldy? Is my sword done yet?" Yachiru's head popped up over the windowsill.

Ikkaku fumbled in surprise, almost dropping her sword.

"Good morning, Lieutenant," Yumichika called sweetly.

"Heya, Feathers!" Yachiru smiled brightly. "Is Baldy being all slow?"

"Yes, but that's not really any different from usual, is it?"

"Nope," Yachiru laughed.

Ikkaku scowled, sheathing the sword. "Here, it's all ready for you."

The little girl perked up and took it. She trotted in a circle pulling it behind her. She beamed at him and jumped up on his shoulders. "Aww, thanks, Baldy!"

"What are you doing?" Ikkaku tried to pull her off. "Don't you bite me!"

"Calm down, Ikkaku, she's just trying to give you a hug." Yumichika laughed lightly, shaking his head.

Ikkaku stopped. "Hug? The Lieutenant knows what a hug is?"

Yachiru wrapped her arms a little too tightly around his neck and grinned brightly. "Of course I do, silly!"

Yumichika laughed, "It's nice to see the two of you getting along so well."

Yachiru nodded, enthusiastically. "We always get along!"

There was a pause.

"Lieutenant, honey, you might let him go now..." Yumichika said slowly. "I don't think he can breathe."

"Oh, sorry." Yachiru let go, leaving Ikkaku wheezing for breath.

Yumichika laughed softly. An encounter with no biting and no trips to the fourth was rare. It really was nice to see them doing so well together.

Haha, short, but I thought I should write something. I started without a plot, so this is was you got.

Also! There's a poll on my profile about my multi-chapter fics. Please look at it and if you like one of the stories listed, vote for it.

Thanks all!

PND