Summary: Ichigo works as a scientist for the government and is forced to look after their new experiment; a new type of human hybrid called Shirosaki. Watch Ichigo as he goes through the struggles of being a parent. But is being a long term babysitter really as easy as it sounds? Bleach AU. Kinda angst-y in the middle but I don't like sad endings.
~Hybrid Child, Chapter One~
Once again Ichigo woke up to the sound of his alarm ringing too loudly, his orange hair being too unruly and his coffee being too cold. Working for the Department of Research and Biological Development was never his dream job, but the work was simple enough and it paid well. When Ichigo finished school he always thought he'd be doing something else a little more… Well, that was the problem, he just didn't know.
He expected his job to be useful to others, so at least he could go home with a sense of accomplishment. But as of lately, he couldn't even find it in himself to be interested. What Ichigo never expected was to be called in to his Director's office one morning to be told, for all intents and purposes, that he was gonna become a mommy.
"…Uh, what now?"
"For the last time, Kurosaki…" Uryu Ishida sighed and pushed his glasses a little further up his nose. "I said, that you have been selected to take part in a long-term experiment. That you are to become the primary care giver to one of the Hybrid Species that the Genome Department has been working on."
"So, in plain Japanese, you're making adopt… something."
"A biologically constructed human hybrid, yes."
"Right." Said Ichigo, "Do I even get a choice in this?"
"You can take part in this or you can lose your job." Ishida smirked at the immediate scowl on Ichigo face, "You're choice completely."
"Okay, okay. Just tell me why I'm the one who has to do this again?"
"Well aside from Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who was more than willing, you seemed a more suitable candidate."
"…because?"
"What we are studying is how such a creature will react to normal human behaviour. Kurotsuchi can hardly be deemed as normal let alone human. This is based on the types of experimentation he does on his subjects, all of which border on torture."
Ichigo had to agree there. He had seen the people who worked under Kurotsuchi. They always start off looking happy and excited but all look traumatized by the end of the week.
"What does it eat?" He asked suddenly.
"Well, since it has the same biological composition as an normal child his age just give him the basic diet of the average human infant."
"Uhh, meaning?"
"Usually a baby gets milk from its mother about 8-10 times a day."
"From its mom? But I can't do that! I'm not exactly 'equipped' am I?"
Ishida strongly resisted the urge to face-palm as he wondered, not for the first time in his life, how in hell did Ichigo managed to get this job in the first place. He was the dumbest-smart person Ishida knew and throughout their career working together he had many examples proving just that. Even in high school, Ichigo had aced every test handed to him, always in the top 30 of his schools rank order, however he remained oblivious to the busty girl who used to follow him around school like a love struck puppy. It was so obvious how much she liked him but he never noticed. Stupid, right?
"Kurosaki!" Ishida takes a deep breath "I am NOT suggesting that you breastfeed the infant yourself. You will be given instructions with everything needed to cater to the child's needs including milk formula!"
"I see..." Ichigo raised an eyebrow at Uryu's little outburst, "So when am I expecting the little bundle of joy?"
"Monday at nine sharp. Make sure to clear out your spare room. And for God's sake do something about that hair of yours!"
Just as Uryu promised, Ichigo heard a loud knock Monday at nine a.m. At the door were two men Ichigo had recognised from work, Kisuke Urahara and Byakuya Kuchiki. Byakuya was carrying two large bags packed with baby stuff and in Urahara's arms was a little squirming bundle all wrapped in blue.
"Congrats on your new baby boy!" Urahara whispered loudly as he placed the sleeping baby in Ichigo arms. Ichigo tried to scowl at the man but his face softened when tiny fingers clutched Ichigo's shirt and snuggled closer into the orangette's chest. For the first time, Ichigo noticed the little tufts of snow-white hair surrounding the babies head. He was a pale child; much lighter than anyone Ichigo had ever seen before but he still seemed healthy… and absolutely adorable.
"He's cute, right?" said Urahara as he gently poked the baby's button nose "He hardly makes a sound but I suppose that'll change once he's hungry again."
Ichigo tightened his hold around the baby. None of this seemed to be real until the child was actually placed into his arms. Ichigo knew what he was getting himself in for, he just never thought he'd feel so obligated. Who'd of thought that something artificially created could look so… human.
"I will remind you both that this is a critical scientific observation which needs to be taken seriously. Despite appearances this creature is most certainly not human and requires constant care and attention. This will be the sole responsibility of you, Kurosaki."
"Oh come on, Kuchiki-san, don't be so stiff. He knows what to do, right Kurosaki-san?"
Ichigo nodded and shifted the child so he was resting more comfortably. "Um, what's his name?"
"It is called Hybrid Experiment #2.5." Byakuya answered.
"But I'm guessing you might want to rename something a little less complicated than that, ne?"
"Here are some rules and guidelines for you to follow, we're hoping that based on your experience of caring for your younger sisters this shouldn't be to hard for you." Byakuya sighed and handed Ichigo some papers. "If there's anything else you need assistance with you are to call us right away. Kisuke, we really should get going now."
Checking the time himself, Ichigo realised that they had been here for quite a while. Byakuya and Urahara had stayed for nearly 2 hours explaining to Ichi about his "Do's and Don'ts" but Ichigo soon blanked them out, opting to stare at the little being sleeping on his lap. It was amazing, the things that science could do and once more Ichigo was glad to be apart of it.
"We'll be back in a few months to check your progress! Bye Mommy!" Kisuke escaped out the door before Ichigo could throw a milk bottle to back of his head.
Stupid old man.
Since the hybrid was still fast asleep Ichigo decided to put him in his crib. It had taken him and Renji fours hours to put the stupid thing together and there was no way his work was going to waste.
Ichigo placed him down and loosened the blanket so the baby could move if it needed to. Ichigo poked him gently but apart from a small snuffling sound there was no movement from the child. He stared at the quiet bundle for a few more moments, walking around the crib a few times to look at him further before ultimately deciding he was bored. Eventually he slid down and sat with his back to the child just hearings its little murmurs through its sleep. Ichigo sighed and turned his head around quickly in case the hybrid moved while he wasn't looking but there was no movement.
Well, this is gonna be fun...
He wished Kisuke would come back sooner.
A/N: Well, that's it for the first chapter of my first story! It isn't much but I got lots and lots and lots of ideas for this, so there will be a plot eventually. In the next chapter, Shiro will be a little older and I'll put it up ASAP. Thanks for stopping by and pleas W! . I need to know if I did good or not.
My first reviewer gets a cookie! With sprinkles! xD
~Nellz-x