Main Pairing: KenpachixMayuri, side pairings include Ikka/Yummi and some others I haven't made up my mind on.

Warning: Yaoi m/m, adult language and situations (meaning lemons, or attempts at one anyway) in later chapters. No real plot here, the story is developing as I write this so if you have any suggestions you're welcome to share them.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach or any of the characters in this story, only this plot (if there's any really). Bleach and it's characters belong to Tite Kubo. I make no money from this, it's just for entertainment purposes and nothing more.

Non beta-ed. All errors are mine if there's anything wrong just let me know.

Captain Kurotsuchi was making his way to the Shinigami Research Institute to see the new specimens he had just brought back from Hueco Mundo. He had made various trips to the deserted land in order to get all the new specimens that he had managed to obtain. He was excited, he had managed to transport the last remains of the giant Zero Espada, what ever his name had been. Perhaps he should ask Kuchiki or Zaraki if they remembered the Arrancar's name along with the other Arrancars they had fought previous to that fight, he did hate to have subjects improperly titled after all.

Since he was passing by the 11th Division HQ grounds, he decided to try his luck with the barbarian first so he entered the grounds making his way towards the noise of destruction that was coming from the outer training grounds. When he got there he saw his current target. The Eleventh Kenpachi was training with both Ikkaku and Yumichika at the same time. Ayesagawa was bleeding heavily from one side and Ikkaku was already limping. He took a seat in the porch, under the shade the building provided since it seemed the fight would not last much longer.

Sure enough both Ikkaku and Yumichika feel a minute after his arrival, both laying down their swords. Zaraki laughed and his gaze finally left his two targets, landing in the figure of Kurotsuchi. "Dismissed." He said offhandedly towards his two seated officers as he made his way towards the 12th Captain wrinkling his nose at the thought of having to deal with the difficult man.

"What do you want Kurotsuchi?"

"I came to ask you a question." Kurotsuchi said getting up and following Zaraki who was making his way inside.

"Let's hear it then." He said sitting down heavily in his office chair. Taking out a bottle of sake and two cups filling them both up and offering one to the masked man.

"Do you remember the name of the Arrancars you fought? I know your division have a tendency to ask for their opponent names for some insane reason." Mayuri said making himself comfortable in a chair in front of Zaraki's desk. He threw a slight look of disgust at the cheap sake that had been offered to him but took it nonetheless. It's best to keep the beast happy, that way it's more likely to cooperate.

"A person like you wouldn't understand." The tall captain stated drinking his cup of sake in one gulp, he served himself another as the shorter captain took a sip of his.

"I ask my adversary's name simply to know what to label the test tubes. I hate incorrectly labeled experiments. You on the other hand have no necessity to know, though I'm not complaining since I've managed to obtain all those you've fought and would love to know their names." Mayuri finished his sake, setting the cup in the desk. He took out a piece of paper from the desk and a brush. "There was a male with a five tattooed on his tongue; what's his name?"

"Nnoitra Gilga(1) his fraccion should have been close by, blond one. I don't know his full name but I think the Espada called him Tesla. The big guy at the end was Yammy something-or-other."

"It'll do." He said writing the names down. "I must get going now, I have a lot to do." He got up, folding the page and safely storing it within his haori while heading towards the door. Now all he had left was questioning Kuchiki, he had already the other information from both Abarai and Kuchiki's sister along with the ryokas.

"Anytime..." Kenpachi said sarcastically. "Leaving already?"

"Yes, I have no more reason to remain here." He turned towards Zaraki. "Or is it that you want me to stay?"

"No..." Kenpachi snorted. "You just suck at making visits you know that. Usually there's a lot more polite useless chatter involved."

"As lovely as that sounds, I have to go." He said with fake enthusiasm turning back towards the door. "Maybe next time."

With that he left the 11th Captain's office swiftly. He couldn't help but chuckle at the barbarian's question. 'Why would he stay behind and socialize? Did the barbarian not know already that they did not get along, that he did not do social calls?'

The 2nd president of the Shinigami Research Institute had never felt the need to befriend anyone, he didn't see the logic in that. After all befriending involved trust and he just couldn't see how that could ever be beneficial to him. He didn't even know how that was even accomplished, he had created Nemu to serve him and only him but ever since she was made "Honorary Vice President" by Zaraki's pink spawn she had seemed more and more willing to leave his side and seek out the company of his fellow female Shinigamis. She had been created, she was programed yet here she was seeking out companionship from other people other than him.

'Enough of this foolish thoughts, back to what matters." He said as he left the 11th Squads HQ grounds. He would not visit Kuchiki directly, he was not in the mood to deal with the nobleman, he may be more socialized than Zaraki but that did not make him more bearable. In fact, he would rather spend a whole hour in the company of the demon than one minute with the captain of the 6th Division. No, he either would send Nemu to ask him or just send him a memo, with that in thought he entered his private lab and began his long exciting day dissecting Arrancars.

It was three weeks later as he found himself walking back once again in front of the 11th Division HQ's with nothing new to do. He had dissected and studied every single Arrancar and Hollow he had managed to obtain in Hueco Mundo and Karakura town. He was bored, he no longer had that excitement he had had all those weeks ago, he had no more info to dig up from those corpses that were currently correctly label in his morgue... or at least what was left of those bodies that were currently not in beaker or vials somewhere in the main laboratories.

As we walked by the Division gates he looked in and saw the barbarian captain doing what he did best, or second best. He was drinking, what Mayuri wasn't sure, sitting in the Main Building's porch. His small Lieutenant was calmly watching her surroundings while sucking on a lollipop, she saw him and waved erratically at him. Mayuri ignored it and kept on walking when Zaraki saw him, he didn't know why but he found himself stopping. It must have been a sudden lapse of judgment or Zaraki's intense gaze that had prevented him from leaving. Instead he marveled himself by entering the Division grounds and making his way towards the rough captain.

"Hiya Mayurin!" The pink haired girl said smiling brightly. Kurotsuchi merely nodded in acknowledgment not tearing his gaze from his fellow captain. The big captain nodded towards him and said lazily. "Aren't you in luck Kurotsuchi, I just got these pastry sweets from Kyoraku and I had some tea made to go with it. I know how much you like tea and those pastries so why don't you join me?"

"I don't see why not..." He sat down, to be truthful he surprised himself by accepting and even more by sitting down besides the man. The latter gave him a cup of tea and offered a box full of tea pastries that had Mayuri's mouth watering. Both himself and Yachiru accepted one and began to munch on them, Zaraki stuck to continue drinking his tea alone.

"It's the first time I've seen you in a while. You didn't even go to the captain's meetings, gramps was beginning to worry you had died in that old creepy lab of yours." Kenpachi said leaning back slightly looking up into the sky. "Yachiru, it's almost time for your group meetings."

"I'm gonna go then," Yachiru said eating the last of the pastry. "Maybe Byakkun will take me for some ice-cream today. I'll be back later Ken-chan. Bye bye Mayurin." With that she ran in that incredible speed of hers in the direction where Mayuri knew lay Kuchiki Manor.

"I have been busy," he said in response to Zaraki's comment. "With all my spoils of war. I will be there for tomorrow's meeting since I have finished with that project. And my lab isn't creepy, it's just perfect for me."

"How is that supposed to make me change my mind?" Zaraki laughed. "You're creepy as hell Kurotsuchi."

"I'm not about to explain how I am to the likes of you barbarian." Mayuri said with an angry glare. "Besides you're not really someone who should be judging others creep factor when you yourself make the 4th Division practically urinate on themselves by just looking at you. What does that say about you?"

"That I'm strong and they fear me because they're weak."

"Yeah, you keep telling yourself that." Mayuri said with a roll of his eyes. Zaraki burst into laughter.

"You have to admit is fun watching them squirm." He said with a chuckle.

"True," Mayuri said darkly. "I've got a streak of sadist in me as well."

"Kinky." Zaraki said with a smirk.

"Dumbass."

Mayuri found himself wondering where time had gone. After that topic they had moved on to different ones, from best hand-to-hand combat moves, to fights they've had, to even science. Nothing too complex but enough to have Mayuri impressed, but then again, the barbarian may be a beast but he was old and he was very observant. By the time the teapot was empty along with the pastry box the sun was reaching the western horizon and the 12th Division Captain was amazed at how swiftly time had passed and even more amazed at the fact that he had actually enjoying himself.

"Well look at that." Kenpachi said looking at the setting sun. "Looks like you were able to hold small useless chatter after all."

"I wouldn't call it useless," Mayuri said, looking at the formidable man that sat besides him. "It served a purpose, I'm no longer bored."

Kenpachi laughed, he was amazed at how well this whole evening had gone. Yachiru had not returned, she must have either stayed over with one of the other girls or had simply chosen to give him time alone with Kurotsuchi, why he didn't know nor cared.

"Well then, you're welcome to come anytime to cease your boredom. Mind though maybe next time we could have a spar, it amuses me more than a simple chat."

"Whenever you want you big oaf." Mayuri said getting up and stretching, his muscles sore from sitting too long. "I'm not afraid of you."

"Good then tomorrow, after the Captain Meeting." Kenpachi said raising himself from the porch floor with a slight grunt.

"You're on." Mayuri said with a wicked smile. "Be ready to get your ass handed to ya."

"We'll see clown face." Kenpachi said with a smile of his own. "Maybe you should bring some of your green goo healing shit. You're gonna need it for yourself after I'm done with ya."

"You wish barbarian." With that he set off back towards his private quarters leaving the other man behind, throwing a small wave in farewell towards him as he went.

Mayuri walked pensively back towards the main building of the 12th Division, where his quarters lay. Nemu was there, waiting for him patiently along with Akon, both looked relieved at seeing him.

"I don't mean to impose but we were beginning to wonder where you were Captain." Akon said beginning to walk alongside him and Nemu who followed silently.

"I was out ." He said simply too into his own thoughts to pay them much mind. "Was there something you needed me for?"

"No, we were just wondering if something had happened to you sir, that's all." Akon said looking at him strangely.

"Well I'm back so no need to worry." Mayuri said reaching the door to his room. He dismissed them with a wave of his hand and entered, closing the door behind him. He removed his face mask and scarf, and after undressing he showered all the while thinking back on his day. If he had to be honest with himself, he was relaxed and for once he didn't feel that simmering anger he usually felt towards everyone around him. Maybe that's why Nemu hanged out with those women, he sure as hell had a an excellent time this evening, so much that he had willingly agreed for a repeat, not only that to a friendly spar too! He normally would have found that to be completely pointless and a waste of energy but now felt like tomorrow couldn't come fast enough, and the thought of having to endure a whole hour of listening to the old Commander go on and on about some dumb shit or another a complete torture. Well at least we would get a reward after the meeting. That was his last thought as he got ready for bed, not once wondering why he considered spending time with Zaraki a reward when any day before today would have been a worse punishment that listening to Yamamoto-soutaicho's droning speech.

1. I know Nnoitra better as Jiruga rather than Gilga, but apparently that's the correct spelling of his name so I'll go with it even though I'm used to Jiruga. Besides he's only mentioned here once and that's it.

Dear readers please, reviews are welcome, hell, they're wanted. I want to improve my writing skills but for that I need to know what I need to fix and that's were you all come in. Tell me what you think of the story, what's missing and what's wrong or right about it, anything really just let me know. Just no flames 'cause those don't help anyone.