Nothing, escort her home

You don't need to say anything. For years there has been speculation about you and the 'demon from Zaraki', something that the two of you didn't help squash simply because it was fairly amusing to see their expressions at the joke you made. The conclusions they came up with were their's alone--you never said you did anything or tried to with him. They came up with the images all on their own.

It isn't as if you haven't thought about it, though. Zaraki is your exact opposite, everything you despise rolled into one, but the two of you don't fight as much as one would expect. You have a fair few things in common, such as haircare (extremely important, something you share with Ukitake and Komamura), your pride and the child that invites herself everywhere.

Understandably, a man in your position wants to be free from time to time. He's the fox at your cage, greedy, seeking to devour your heart, mind, body and soul and you are mesmerized by that prospect. Putting him in his place, too, sends a shiver down your spine, one you're careful to repress, in front of the child. Either way, whether the demon devours you or you destroy his pedestal and remind him of his place, it's a thought that makes your blood heat.

"Let's go," you tell her, leaving the garden, ignoring the confused looks of the guards as they see a bright pink head slip past them and you right behind her. You'll have to figure out how she got in this time and if it's error on their parts, you will, indeed, have to find replacements.

"Byakushi?"

You regard her with a look, not sure whether you're inviting her to continue, or you're silencing her. She never listens to what you say anyway--why bother to ask questions or deter her from trying?

"Do you like Ken-chan?"

There is no answer. You search your mind for one, anything to tell her, to get off the subject, but your mind is blank. You have no idea what you truly think of Zaraki-taichou, aside from what you know you should think. It doesn't matter, does it? There's no need to dwell on it--you have nothing but disdain for he and his ways and any desire you have is to experience, for once in your life, the freedom of being just a little bit different, a bit freer from routine.

"Hurry along," is all you can think of after that long moment of silence that didn't seem like it'd ever end. She pouts, but follows you as you revert to shunpo to make the long journey much faster.

The silence falls again, though it's even heavier than before. For a moment, it feels as if the whole of Seireitei has been enveloped in hollows. There really is something wrong with Zaraki... it's the only explanation that you have for Yachiru's melancholy.

"Why have you brought this up?"

She stops and blinks curiously, forcing you to stop as well while she takes a minute to figure things out for herself. "Because if Byakushi likes Ken-chan and Ken-chan likes Byakushi, then we can hang out and eat all of Byakkun's yummy stuff!"

A childish response, but you expected no less. She smiles cheerfully and picks back up into a run and, for a moment, you hesitate to follow. You have never known Kenpachi to mention anything about feelings unless in battle, but Yachiru is perceptive. She's quite intelligent for a child.

You follow anyway, heading straight for squad eleven's barracks to drop her off. Should you see Kenpachi, then you can perhaps take a moment to reprimand him for not keeping watch over the girl. If not... you'll figure something out.