Yo buddies!! Sup? Well, I'll tell you what's up!! The LAST CHAPTER of Kenny and Yachiru's Soulreaping Adventures!! NOOO!! But… yeah, I knew it would happen some day, and here it is… I gotta thank every one of you for all your support, especially arrancar12!! Thanks for taking the time to send me messages!
Well then… last chappie!! Let's totally make it kick arse!! Yeah!! Read and review!!
Chapter 11: Thankyou!
Kenpachi stood at the gate of the Seireitei.
Yamamoto stood across from him. The old soul reaper stared at him, looking at him through pale eyes and clutching his old twisted stick thing.
All around them, the other Gotei 13 captains were gathered, waiting to hear the verdict.
Kenpachi smirked.
And right behind Kenpachi were his faithful followers. Ikkaku Madarame and Yumichika Ayasegawa. They had grim expressions on their faces, yet their eyes betrayed nothing. They were silent and their only focus on their captain standing in front of them.
Beside Kenpachi and nowhere else was his assistant captain. Yachiru Kusajishi would do anything Kenpachi did, even if it meant going to the ends of the earth, the soul society, and beyond that. Even her normally cheerful face was nowhere to be seen. Her eyes were solemn and determined.
She stood so close to Kenpachi that she was practically hidden by his long shadow. Yachiru looked serious and yet she wasn't worried. Because she always knew her best friend better than anyone else.
--
Yamamoto began his little speech, with the grandness he always used for everything. "Captain Kenpachi Zaraki of Eleventh Company, don't think we haven't noticed all the things that your company is failing in. We have seen it all and we know them all. I'm sure Captain Kuchiki has already explained most of these things to you. Failing to do paperwork and to train your squad members under the proper code. The assignment given to you to teach the shinigami students only exposed more of the problems you had as a Gotei 13 Captain. You damaged Shinigami Academy equipment, Captain. You hurt and fought amateur students so brutally that you broke bones. I'm sure you're aware that this was why we removed you from that job and replaced you with Captain Komamura."
Kenpachi said nothing. He didn't seem the slightest bit worried. In fact, some of the other shinigami were noticing that maybe he even had a little smile on his face.
Yamamoto continued. "But most worrying, and what ultimately brought me to this decision, Captain Zaraki, is what you did most recently. You and your closest officers running off to the Living World without either permission or informing the Gotei 13 was a most horrible crime. We decided to let you think about this, Captain. I know you weren't the most happiest of the Gotei 13. I know that the Seireitei's many rules and regulations dissatisfied you. So we gave you time to think and decide whether or not you wanted to stay a shinigami."
"I know." Kenpachi said lightly.
Yamamoto stared at Kenpachi gravely. "I hope you've chosen well. Because whatever your decision, it will still be me who makes the final choice."
Yachiru's serious expression immediately vanished and a huge grin replaced it. The pink-haired shinigami tilted her head to the side and almost laughed out loud.
All the other shinigami and soul reapers stared at them, perplexed. What on earth was with the weird Eleventh Company? They were always laughing at the wrong time and they were just plain strange!!
Komamura was standing near the back of the small crowd. He was deep in thought. If, he thought to himself, Kenpachi made the right decision, then… they would be very happy. After all, those students Kenpachi had beat up and taught so long ago… were graduating today!!
The bucket-wearing captain looked over his shoulder at the Shinigami Academy. Through the window he saw his class, working diligently on their final papers and exercises, each one with such great determination and spirit behind them.
And there was that one boy, what was his name again? Haruki? The one with the determined red eyes who idolized Kenpachi. And Haruki's friend that always seemed behind him, tagging along, struggling to follow, but not giving up anymore. Kouji.
Komamura smiled to himself as he saw the two students through the window, each one working furiously and with great purpose.
Zaraki… don't give up your post!! For the sake of your company, and for the sake of those students who believe in you… you have to stay the invincible captain of Eleventh Company so that those kids have someone to run for, someone to strive towards, in hope that they'll one day fight under you!!
--
Somewhere above them, in the sky of the Seireitei, Ikkaku felt spiritual pressure. But it wasn't a spiritual pressure that was good. It was a pressure that made Ikkaku bite his lip with anxiety. It felt like… a really strong Hollow.
Yumichika noticed Ikkaku's expression. Hollows rarely ever entered Soul Society but with the appearance of those newer modified Hollows, the ones that had been changed or given meticulous abilities and those that were under Aizen's evil plans now had the ability to do basically whatever was before impossible.
Yumichika glared up at the sky worriedly. …what crappy timing for one to appear now.
Kenpachi and Yachiru had absolutely no sense of the Hollow appearing. They just sucked at sensing spiritual pressure. Sometimes they sensed hakudo. But right now the two ignorant Eleventh Company Captains had no idea of the danger looming towards them.
And then the sky seemed to give way. Darkening clouds accompanied by strange howls from Hollows appeared over the horizon. Then a crack appeared in the sky, splitting into more and more cracks, as the sky seemed to open up and one of the largest Hollows Ikkaku had ever seen emerged from the cracks and smirked, its wide white teeth gleaming and the hole in its chest seemed wider than ever.
Ikkaku was immediately on his guard. He reached towards his sheath and was about to whip out his sword when Yumichika stopped him with a hand on his shoulder.
Ikkaku stared at him. "What?"
Yumichika looked solemn. He turned his gaze towards the two Eleventh Company captains standing in front of them. "It's all right. It's all taken care of."
If the Captain-general sensed or knew that there was an enormous, strong Hollow behind him, he certainly didn't show it. He didn't even waver or show a sign of movement when the Hollow gave a huge bloodcurdling howl.
It was at this moment that Yachiru noticed the huge Hollow that was looming over the Captain-general. It moved closer and closer until it was standing right behind Yamamoto. And still, the Captain-general did nothing.
Yachiru tugged at Kenpachi's shihakusho with a small frown on her face.
Kenpachi smiled. He already knew.
Yamamoto didn't stir. Neither did any of the other shinigami captains gathered around. Some of their faces showed worry and concern over the giant Hollow, but none of them opened their mouths or said anything.
A small sweat drop did, however, roll down Ukitake's face as he watched.
"Captain Zaraki, I ask you now. Are you staying a soul reaper or not?" Yamamoto asked.
The Hollow growled and then stomped forward towards the unflinching captain-general. It leant down and reached towards Yamamoto with two large clawed hands with impeccably sharp ends.
In a flash, Kenpachi was there. Kenpachi sped towards Yamamoto and the Hollow in such speed he was invisible to most of the shinigami there. Yachiru stood back with Ikkaku and Yumichika and grinned.
As the Hollow advanced on its potential prey, Kenpachi came darting in through the air, with the wind and with an impressive super fast swing of his sword, slashed straight through the Hollow's mask.
As it threw back its head and roared with pain; in true Kenpachi-style, Kenpachi lifted his sword and swung it many times again, truly pulverising the Hollow into lots of little dispersing pieces.
Ikkaku thought for a spilt second that he saw the captain-general smiling slightly, and then he blinked and decided he must've been imagining things.
Kenpachi stood there, right beside Yamamoto, still with his sword held up, little pieces of Hollow mask and bits of Hollow flying through the air. He stood there, his white captain's coat billowing in the wind. Kenpachi's devilish grin was wider than ever.
"Did you really think I could give up on this?" he asked.
He took too much pleasure in being allowed to kill and hack apart these monsters to ever give up on Soulreaping. Kenpachi never mentioned anything about his company and the students he had trained, but it was obvious he would never give up on them.
Yamamoto closed his eyes for a moment and then declared, "That's fine then. Captain Zaraki, I can clearly see your passion for this. I advise you to go over the regime for your company and I urgently push you to complete your paperwork. I will let you go on the case of leaving Soul Society, but if it ever happens again, you will not get off this easily."
Yamamoto calmly and composedly walked away from Kenpachi, not even looking back at him. Kenpachi lowered his sword and rested it over his shoulder.
Yachiru let out a big happy cry and raced to hug her best friend. Ikkaku and Yumichika looked behind them to see all the other shinigami and captains disappearing and leaving behind the captain-general, but Yachiru didn't even glance at the vanishing crowd. She had eyes only for Kenpachi.
--
The Eleventh Company posse was rejoicing within themselves as they cheerfully headed back to their building, yes, their headquarters. Yachiru sitting upon Kenpachi's shoulder, Kenpachi resolutely marching ahead of the others and Ikkaku following eagerly behind with Yumichika at his heels.
Suddenly, they paused at the sound of someone yelling. They turned briefly to look.
Haruki was racing down the path, a sword in his hand, mouth wide open and yelling out loud at Kenpachi.
Right behind him and practically beside him was Kouji Hayasaki with his murky purpley hair. He stared at the ground in front of his feet and then suddenly looked up at the posse and showed his gleaming beautifully clear azure eyes.
"CAPTAIN ZARAKI!!" Haruki was yelling. The two students, who had grown since their last encounter were no longer immature boys. They looked like two determined young men.
Kenpachi smirked to himself and then turned away from them and faced home.
Haruki continued to shout, speaking both for himself and for Kouji, his quiet friend. "WE PROMISED YOU, DIDN'T WE??" The red-eyed new shinigami yelled. He stood there, obviously in his brand new shihakusho that seemed so fresh and newly ironed.
Haruki said loudly, "We told you we'd graduate and we did!!" His voice wobbled a little emotionally, as he stared down at his shihakusho. "We really became… soul reapers… just like we said!! And we… we never would've gotten this far without you, Captain Zaraki!! So… so…" Haruki struggled to find his words. He bowed down low and closed his eyes with tears brimming over them. "…thankyou!!"
Kenpachi stood, his back to them, just as before. Yachiru looked in their direction, an expressionless look on her face.
Kouji knew why Haruki was practically crying. Because although they had both worked so hard, because they had trained and pushed themselves to almost breaking point and became shinigami, the one thing they really wanted was to fight in Eleventh Company under Kenpachi.
And Haruki was scared. He was scared, that even after all his blood, sweat, tears and hard work; he still wouldn't be able to fight under Kenpachi. And that was what was holding him back at this moment.
"We promised!!" Haruki cried, although a bit of the spirit behind his voice was now lost. "Captain Zaraki, won't you… accept us into your company??" At Kenpachi's silence, Haru muttered despairingly, "… please… captain?"
Kenpachi still said nothing. His harsh ignorance was hurtful.
Finally, Kouji decided to speak up instead. "CAPTAIN!! ARE YOU JUST GOING TO IGNORE ALL OUR HARD WORK AND NOT LET US FIGHT UNDER YOU?? Even if you refuse to captain us, I'm not going to give up!! We're not going to give up!! We made a promise, right, and we're gonna keep it, whether you want it or not!!"
He stood, clear blue eyes flashing with indignation. Haruki raised his head, a little surprised at Kouji's sudden bravery.
Kenpachi finally spoke. His smirk widened. "Heh. I never said I'd act like I cared."
Yachiru grinned, sitting on his shoulder.
Then to the two wide-eyed shinigami academy students standing behind him, he declared loudly, "What? Are you two gonna stand there forever? Are you coming or not?"
With a happy tear bursting from eyes, Haruki stood straighter and started running after Kenpachi and the others. "Y-yes, Captain!!"
Kouji quickly ran after him, and although he hid his emotion with his messy murky hair, he smiled overjoyed to himself.
And so Kenpachi and Yachiru returned triumphantly to their headquarters with the ever-faithful Ikkaku and Yumichika behind them, and the two hopeful and young new shinigami Haruki and Kouji.
One thing was for sure: Eleventh Company was about to get even more insane!!
--
Kenpachi and Yachiru sat outside on the porch of their Eleventh Company building. Everyone else was inside, being forced to work on the stacks on paperwork. It seemed quiet and peaceful except for the occasional complaints that came from Ikkaku inside.
Yachiru sat beside Kenpachi and leant against his tall figure. She was happy and grinning.
"Hey Ken-chan?"
"Ehh?" Kenpachi replied with a little grunt.
"I love you."
At once, and as he normally did, Kenpachi replied. "I know."
And then with a second thought and dropping his voice to a murmur, he added:
"…Thankyou."
THE END!!
Thankyou for reading Kenny and Yachiru's (Slightly Violent) Soul-Reaping Adventures!!
Thanks so much for all your overwhelming support everyone!! And yes, this fanfic is now officially over so don't check for a new chapter next week because there won't be one!! But there will be a new fanfic of course!! And please, please check it out!!
For all of my wonderful faithful readers of I'm a Soul Reaper, but I Love You, the sequel/companion is coming out!! I'm so excited!! Woohoo!! YEEAAHH!! It's an angst fic, and I love writing them so much! What I mean by angst of course, is an emichii-style SUPER DARK PLOT. Mwahahaha!!
Return of Karin's awesome zanpakuto Hoshi Matsuri!! And HitsuKarin fluff of course! As well as focus on IchiRuki and the scarily dark story surrounding them!! That Unmendable Hole in my Heart! Read it, okaayy??
Thankyou for everything!! See you!! emichii!