As a general rule, it was easy for Retsu to get up in the morning. Two thousand years of being called from her bed at all hours of the night had trained her to be quick to fall asleep and quick to awaken—usually. Today, she didn't get up until the sun was already peeking over the trees. Sighing as she abandoned her bed, she walked over to the table where she kept her sword at night. Bowing slightly, she said, "Good morning, Minazuki."

Good morning, Mistress, her zanpakuto answered. Did you sleep well?

Retsu hesitated. Not really, she answered mentally, as she began her morning preparations.

She felt the curiosity coming from her sword. Is the Noisy One on your mind? Minazuki asked. It was always hard to tell, but Retsu thought she detected a certain amusement in her sword's question.

The Noisy One? Why do you call him that? Retsu asked, trying to dodge the issue.

His sword is quite loud—and rather uncouth, Minazuki said disapprovingly, but for all its shouting, its master still hasn't heard its voice. Its master must be very noisy indeed to drown out that one.

Retsu smiled slightly. Kenpachi would have a loud-mouthed zanpakuto.

But you didn't answer my question, Mistress, Minazuki reminded her.

Retsu sighed. Minazuki was polite, but incurably curious. It was usually a good trait, but at the moment, she wasn't sure she wanted to answer it. Still, she owed Minazuki a lot. See for yourself, she said, offering the relevant memories.

She felt a gentle mental touch as Minazuki examined the memories. I see, the sword said finally.

It's odd, Minazuki. I haven't shown so much emotion in years, but I opened myself so fully for him, even though we barely know each other, Retsu said. Maybe it's because he's such a mess of contradictions, she thought ruefully.

Minazuki gave the sword equivalent of a chuckle. How appropriate, she observed. One day, when he manages to be quiet long enough for his sword to get through, he'll appreciate the irony. Maybe.

Retsu smiled her agreement as she went about her business. She and Minazuki were out the door before the sun was fully over the trees. She arrived promptly at Fourth Division headquarters and picked up her mail and the day's paperwork. She sorted it and began a round. Hanatarou was the first person on her list.

She knocked quietly and was surprised to hear Hanatarou say, "Come in." She hadn't expected him to be awake already.

She opened the door and went in. "Good morning, Hanatarou," she said.

"Good morning, Captain Unohana. Um…I heard that you got pulled away from dinner last night because of me," Hanatarou said, looking down at his hands. "I'm sorry."

"It wasn't your fault," said Retsu. Although I won't be nearly as forgiving if I catch those responsible, she added silently. "Who was it this time?" she asked.

"It doesn't matter," he said.

From prior experience, Retsu knew that Hanatarou wouldn't tell her who had hurt him. He had his pride, even though he knew that others looked down on him because he was a poor fighter. "I won't press you," she said. "But there are others who would be happy to help you, you know."

"Yes, Captain Unohana," Hanatarou said.

There was a second knock on the door and Miss Tanaka entered.

"Taro!" she said. Miss Tanaka ran across the room and barreled into him with a huge hug. Hanatarou blushed furiously.

"Careful," Retsu advised, "his rib is still healing."

"Sorry," Miss Tanaka said, letting go of Hanatarou and settling at the foot of his bed. Retsu noticed that Hanatarou's ears were still bright red.

"Well, I'll leave you two alone," said Retsu. "I'll ask you to stay tonight, as well, Hanatarou. As long as your lungs are still clear tomorrow, you can leave in the morning." She left the two shinigami in the hospital room and shut the door behind her, allowing herself a quiet chuckle.

After she left Hanatarou and Miss Tanaka, Retsu's morning got really hectic. Eleventh Division was holding one of its full-squad training melees, which always meant an overload of work for Fourth Division. At least they'd been notified in advance this time.

By midmorning, Fourth Division was running to capacity—every available room was filled with Eleventh Division members. By noon, the less injured shinigami were being treated in the courtyard. It was around that time that Retsu noticed Hanatarou, still in his hospital robe, was scurrying around treating patients. She made her way over to him. "Aren't you supposed to be resting?" she asked.

"I thought you could use some help, Captain Unohana," said Hanatarou, rubbing the back of his head. "Besides, they needed my room."

Retsu couldn't argue with that. "Very well," she said, "but take it easy."

By sundown, things had started to quiet down. Retsu was about to sit down to her first real meal of the day when Isane came to get her. "I'm sorry, Captain Unohana, but I'm having trouble with some patients. Can you assist me?"

Retsu left her dinner on the table and went with Isane. "What seems to be the matter with them?" she asked.

"Well, on the surface, not too much. They're suffering from pretty bad reiatsu overload, but they won't let anyone get near them to administer treatment," Isane said.

"Odd," Retsu said. They were getting close enough to hear a commotion.

"Don't you get near us!" someone shouted.

"Calm down," a second voice which sounded like Hanatarou said. "I'm just trying to give you a sedative…"

Retsu opened the door and nearly started laughing. Two burly Eleventh Division members were cowering in fear from Hanatarou, who was trying to get them to take an herbal mixture. "What seems to be the matter?" she asked. She spoke calmly, but loudly enough that all three shinigami stopped and looked at her.

The two Eleventh Division members ran to her and bowed deeply. "We're sorry we hurt your division member. We didn't mean to!" they said. "Please don't let him hurt us!" It took Retsu a moment to realize that yes, they were in fact referring to Hanatarou.

Well, isn't that interesting? she thought. She took out her sword and looked at it meditatively. "So you two were the ones who caused Hanatarou to be hospitalized last night," she said calmly. The two shinigami paled and started shaking slightly.

"On one hand," she gestured to the left with her zanpakuto, "it is a cowardly thing to hurt someone weaker than yourself, especially someone who has devoted his life to helping others. It is also rather foolish to toy with someone who may have to save you life one day, don't you think?" The two shinigami nodded painfully hard.

"On the other hand," she said, gesturing to the right with her sword, "it is best to be merciful, especially when the offenders are sorry. And I'm sure you are sorry, aren't you?" she asked.

Taking her cue, they spun around, fell to their knees in front of Hanatarou, bowed and said, "Please forgive us!" Then, they looked back at Retsu nervously.

"Do you suppose they mean it?" she asked Hanatarou.

"I'm sure they are truly sorry, Captain," Hanatarou said, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.

"Very well," said Retsu, putting her sword back in its sheath. "Now, drink your medicine," she told the chastened shinigami. "You'll recover much more easily if you take it."

They obediently took the remedy, grimacing slightly at the flavor. Almost immediately, the staticy crackling of their auras settled. "Now, isn't that much better?" Retsu asked. They nodded again. "Feel free to go back to the barracks now, but try to get some extra rest tonight." Before she had even finished speaking, the two Eleventh Division members had run out the door.

As they left, Retsu said to Hanatarou, "Since things have quieted down, you ought to get some rest, as well. You can go home if you wish, but make sure to tell me if you come down with anything."

"Yes, Captain," he said. "And…thank you."

"You're welcome," she said, trying not to start laughing.

As Retsu returned to her long-delayed dinner, she reflected on the events of the day. She was not so naïve as to imagine that the Eleventh Division bullies had spontaneously repented, so it was clear that Kenpachi had done something. Which meant that she owed him an apology.

After she was done for the day, Retsu walked to Eleventh Division. She made her way to the squad's headquarters, although she wasn't sure if Kenpachi would still be there. It was past sundown, after all. She knocked on the door.

"It's open, isn't it?" Kenpachi shouted through the door.

Retsu opened the door and entered. "Oh, hello, Retsu," he said.

"Captain, I know that you took care of those bullies for me. Thank you," she said, bowing slightly.

Kenpachi looked at her in surprise. "Wasn't anything. Just used them for a demonstration, is all," he said. "That all you wanted?"

"No," Retsu said. "I also wanted to know whether you would like to come to dinner tonight, since our last dinner was interrupted."

"I can't," he said. "I've got something else I've gotta do."

"All right," Retsu said. "Would…"

"Ken-chan!" said Yachiru, jumping up onto Kenpachi's shoulder. Retsu hadn't sensed the girl, but apparently she'd been on the other side of Kenpachi's desk, outside her line of sight. "You should ask Backwards-Braid Lady if she wants to join us," she scolded.

"She's not going to want to, brat," Kenpachi said.

"I won't want to what?" she asked.

Kenpachi looked slightly embarrassed. Yachiru explained, "Once a week, Ken-chan reads to me. He's telling me a really exciting story about this Peach guy who beat up lots of ugly monsters!"

Retsu raised her eyebrow. She wouldn't have expected Kenpachi to be familiar with folklore. "That sounds quite interesting," she said.

"Then you should come, right, Ken-chan?" Yachiru said.

"All right," Kenpachi conceded.

"We'll start right now," Yachiru said. "I don't mind going to bed a little early today if Backwards-Braid Lady will listen to Ken-chan's story, too!"

The three of them made their way to the squad quarters. Oh dear, Retsu thought, this is going to cause quite a stir. Well, it's too late to worry about that now, she told herself. Kenpachi let them in and said, "Change into your pajamas, Yachiru, and make sure you brush your teeth properly."

"Okay, Ken-chan," Yachiru said, running off.

When they were alone, Kenpachi said, "Sorry about this."

"I don't mind, Kenpachi," Retsu said. "Yachiru is your daughter, after all."

It wasn't very noticeable, but Retsu noticed that Kenpachi's eyes softened just a little with pride as he said, "Yeah."

"I'm all ready!" Yachiru said, reemerging in white and pink pajamas.

They went into Yachiru's room and Yachiru nestled into her covers. Kenpachi sat at the foot of her bed, and Unohana sat on her right side.

"So, where were we?" Kenpachi asked.

"He was just about to meet the demon king," Yachiru said.

"Right," Kenpachi said, opening to the proper page and settling in to tell the story.

So Momotaro said to Akandoji, 'Come out and fight with me, unless you are a coward and are afraid to fight with a mortal!'

'I fear no being,' said Momotaro, 'mortal or immortal. I accept your challenge.'

Then Akandoji took out his great club and swung it at Momotaro, but Momotaro dodged…

"Why didn't he use a sword?" Yachiru interjected.

"Cuz they didn't have swords back then, that's why," Kenpachi said. "Anyway,

…Momotaro dodged around and landed a mighty blow on Akandoji's chin, a blow so powerful that Akandoji flew backwards into the wall of his cave. The demon hosts were greatly distressed, for what chance did they have against so mighty a foe? However, Akandoji got up and charged forward once again.

Momotaro cleverly avoided the attack once again and seized a great rope from a demon standing nearby. 'Ha!' laughed Akandoji. 'Do you think to defeat me with such a paltry weapon?'

"What's paltry mean?" Yachiru asked.

"Small or weak," Kenpachi said. "Now shut up and let me finish the story.

Ignoring the monster's taunts, Momotaro ran behind the demon king and kicked him mightily in the back so that Akandoji fell to the ground. Quick as a flash, Momotaro seized the club and bound him with the rope. 'Do you surrender?' he asked.

'I must, since I cannot move,' said Akandoji.

'Then order your riches to be brought before me,' said Momotaro.

Akandoji obeyed him. Momotaro and his companions carried away the plunder to his home, each one giving honor to the others, for all had helped to defeat the demons. As for Momotaro's parents, they wept with joy to see him home, and they all lived in peace and prosperity until the end of their days.

"The end," concluded Kenpachi.

"That was a good story, Ken-chan!" Yachiru said. "Even though there wasn't very much blood in it."

"Yeah, well, I didn't write it," Kenpachi said. "Now go to bed."

"Can Backwards-Braid Lady tuck me in, just for tonight?" Yachiru asked.

Kenpachi looked at Retsu with a question in his eyes. "Of course," said Retsu.

"Yay!" she said. "Now, you wait outside Ken-chan."

Kenpachi obediently left the room. Retsu chucked. He may be the most feared warrior in the Gotei 13, but Yachiru has him wrapped around her finger, she thought.

After the door had closed behind him, Yachiru looked at Retsu speculatively. "Are you really going to marry Ken-chan?" she asked.

Oh, gods, Retsu thought. Now what do I say? Out loud she said, "We've only been seeing each other for a little bit, you know." Yachiru just continued to look at her expectantly. "It's possible," Retsu conceded.

"Then you'd be my mom, right?" Yachiru asked.

"Yes, I suppose," Retsu said. "Why do you ask?"

Yachiru hesitated. "Even though you might not marry Ken-chan, can I try something?" she asked.

"What is it?" Retsu asked.

Instead of answering, Yachiru climbed over to Retsu and put her arms around her neck. After a startled moment, Retsu returned the hug. They remained that way for a surprisingly long time, and Retsu's eyes were stinging with tears when Yachiru let go.

Yachiru climbed into bed and Retsu pulled up the covers around her. Kissing Yachiru gently on the forehead, she whispered, "Good night, Yachiru."

"Good night, Captain-Mommy," Yachiru said quietly.

AN: The story of Momotaro is a real Japanese fable about a boy who emerged from a peach pit, which is why his name contains the word Momo ("peach").