A/N: Hello and welcome! I apologize for the obnoxious amount of time it itook to get this out, but, well, shit happens. And now every one that doesn't really want me on their favorite author's list can take me off! Yay!
Seriously, I hope you enjoy. I ca't say exactly where this is going, honestly, I don't know myself. It's gonna be a fun ride, though!
Shunpo.
Shunpo.
Shunpo.
Ichigo was in a hurry. He didn't flinch as the icy winter winds whirled about him: He was a man with a mission.
"Oi! Urahara-san!" He called out, reaching the store. The owner had been out on the deck, seemly trying to prevent the two children who were always there (or at least the boy) from fighting with the shovels they carried, clearing the front.
"Ah! Kurosaki-san!" Urahara greeted him. "Oh, wait! It's Kurosaki-taichou, now isn't it? What can I do for you?"
"Gigai," the other panted. "Do they have to look like their owners?"
The blonde 'hmmed' thoughtfully behind his trademark fan. "Why do you ask?"
"Just tell me, will you?"
"Urahara-san," the girl spoke up. "Do you want me to make some tea for your guest?"
"Ah! Yes, Ururu! Please do! Come, Kurosaki-taichou, tell me everything inside."
Ichigo visibly twitched. He had been foolish expecting a straight answer from this man without some questions of his own. "At least stop calling me 'taichou'," he asked as the sat in the back of the store. "It's weird coming from you."
"Yes, yes, of course," was the reply. "Now. Tell me what's going on."
"Well, you know about Toushiro, right?"
"Yes, yes! Yoruichi told me of his... unique condition. This has to do with him somehow?"
"Yeah. He was born today. I wanted to see him, but..."
"Sealing Art 910: Close!"
Ichigo mis-stepped, sending him crashing down off the second story building he was on. And once his ass hit the snow, found he was unable to move.
"Sorry, Ichigo-taichou!" Tsuzuki said with a small smirk, joining him with one other. "Rukia-taichou ordered me to."
"And that binding is handmade for Vizards," the violet-eyed woman told him. "It would be foolish to break it."
"And just what the fuck did I do to deserve this?" the male asked.
"We all felt Hitsugaya-taichou's reiatsu reemerge into the world. And you were going to go see him."
"So?"
"Ichigo, it would be unwise to see him so soon. What if you stir up memories he's not ready for?"
"He was just born! I seriously doubt-"
"Ichigo! I know you! See him once, see twice, it's all the same. Use your head, will you? He'll likely be able to see us, yes? We don't need an 8-year-old remembering the first time you two-"
"Fuck, Rukia! I got it!"
The woman nodded to the first seat, who released the kido.
"Just... one thing," the male taichou said as he stood.
"What?"
"Make sure he's protected."
Rukia smiled softly. "Of course, Ichigo. There's one shinigami assigned to this town in my place, I'll make sure at least one more is keeping an eye on just him."
"Thank you. Good luck finding a volunteer for that mission, though. They'll probably see it as babysi- Tsuzuki, why do you look so happy?"
The gray-eyed girl blushed, suddenly facing the ground. "N-No reason."
"Ah, so Tsuzuki-san has the spare time and willingness, yes?"
"She'll get to see Orihime more often, too."
"I'm sure that helps."
"So, the gigai? Would one I occupied have to look like me?"
Urahara sighed, looking at those hopeful brown eyes, eyes that just wanted to see his significant other, confirm for himself the other was safe. "I'm sorry, Kurosaki-san. The gigai takes the shape it's owner's reiatsu tells it to."
"So, yes."
"As it is now, yes."
Ichigo sighed.
"Kurosaki-san, you've taken over much of 10th Squad's work, haven't you?"
"Agreeing to help Matsumoto was the only way I could the old man not assign another taichou. Believe it or not, she's actually been helping, too."
"My, my! I never thought I'd see the day!"
"Toushiro'll never believe me. If he ever remembers."
"Now, now, Kurosaki-san," the blonde said. "Hitsugaya-taichou is a stubborn individual. I'm certain he will remember, now matter what it takes."
"That's the second time you've insinuated you know more than you're saying," Ichigo stated blankly.
"Was it? Goodness, I'll have to watch my words, won't I?" Kisuke replied. 'I really will if he's become so perceptive,' he thought. 'Most likely because it's his significant other we're discussing. Or Hitsugaya-taichou is rubbing off on him.'
"Whatever," was Ichigo's dismissive reply as he stood.
"Leaving so soon, Kurosaki-san?"
"Yeah. Got shit to do. See ya."
"Bye-bye now!"
Ichigo remained in his office the rest of the day. He was starting to wonder how his lover held on to his sanity at all with this paperwork. Hisagi had left for the night as well, leaving him to his thoughts, wherever they happened to wander, though it was usually to the place.
Toushiro.
Toushiro.
And, yeah, Toushiro.
In fact, it seemed like the more Ichigo tried not to think of him, the more he did. It was annoying. And frustrating. In more ways than one. A cautious knock sounded at his door, breaking him of his one-track thoughts.
"Yeah, come in," he said.
Dark brown hair and gray eyes peered at him. "Ichigo-taichou? Are you busy?"
"Naw," he replied, putting down his writing brush. "Wasn't gettin' much done anyway. What's up?"
"I have my report for today."
"Report?"
"On Hitsugaya-taichou. Rukia-taichou said I should give you an update every day."
Ichigo pushed back the urge to smile at the woman's kind thought. "She didn't mention that to me."
"Oh. Well, here it is, if you want it."
"'If?' Tsuzuki, give me that." The girl giggled as she did so. "Wait. If you're here...?"
"Oh! Don't worry, Orihime's got a barrier around the whole place until I get back! And tomorrow, there's gonna be another shinigami, Haruko, from Rukia-taichou's squad; so we can each actually get some sleep at times."
"That works," was the reply as the male opened the folder. "Daisuke Saionji, huh? That's gonna be interesting."
"They live in Orihime's building, believe it or not."
"Convenient."
"Yeah. I'll go now, unless there's something else."
"Nah. Go fuck Orihime or whatever."
"Ichigo-taichou!" she replied, face turing red.
"Aw, not that far yet, are we?"
Tsuzuki just narrowed her eyes and left, but not before sticking her tongue out at him.
The male's attention returned to his new paperwork.
Named: Daisuke Saionji
Born: December 20, 2006 at 4:10 pm
Weight: 5lbs, 8oz.
'Pint-sized even now,' Ichigo mused.
Notes: Delivery took 8 hours, premature 2 months. Birth weight is under normal standards, attending physician recommended he spend a bit more time at the hospital than normal for newborns, checking up on him to be sure he's healthy otherwise.
And then at the end, almost like an afterthought:
Mother and Father love him very much.
Tsuzuki. She'd known he would want to know about the 'newborn's' family as well. He made a mental note to thank her sometime.
But it seemed his little 'Daisuke' was bit sickly. That worried him, of course, though it would be kinda funny to see if he still had his captain's cloak, even as a baby. He could so see his lover maintaining his role, even at such an age, yelling at them telepathically and forcing Ichigo to fill out his paperwork.
Despite how hilarious it was in his head, he knew that was a very, very bad thing.
"So, how was your day, dear?"
Kon scoffed at his girlfriend's attempt at humor. "Nothing that can't be fixed by a soft pair of-"
"KON!"
"-violet eyes," he expertly finished.
"Nice save. Idiot."
"Got lost on the way to the Academy, so I was late. I think I suck at kido."
"You think?"
"I blame Ichigo."
"How is it his fault?"
"Just is. Hand-to-hand isn't too bad, though."
"Well, you always were a more physical person," Rukia replied, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Kon?" she asked, her tone softening.
"What?" he answered, returning the embrace.
"You are all right with this, aren't you? Nii-sama and I sort of pushed you into it."
"I didn't wanna really at first, but I like it. Except kido."
"And that's Ichigo's fault."
"Exactly! There's something else, isn't there?"
"How'd you know?"
"The question's in your eyes."
"So read it."
"I can't. You have to tell me."
"Kon... do you... mind your name?"
He smiled. "No, I don't. I did, but I'm used to it now. It'd be weird if I changed it." He looked hopefully at her. "Can we have sex now?"
"Idiot."
"Is that a 'yes'?"
Orihime looked up at the roof of her building as she approached after classes. Haruko still stood there as she had that morning, and waved to the human, who returned the gesture. 'Tsu-chan must still be sleeping,' she mused, climbing the stairs.
Indeed, she found the apartment empty when she entered. And on her bed, curled up with one of her pillows, was Tsuzuki. Her zanpakuto leaned against the edge, by her feet. Orihime bit her lip to keep from 'Aww-ing' at the adorable sight. It really was too cute. The healer put her books down on the nearby desk, then sat alongside her girlfriend, pushing back the dark strands that covered her face.
"Hime...," the shinigami muttered, nuzzling at the chilly hand.
'What? She never calls me that...'
"Hime no cold," she said suddenly, grabbing the hand and pulling it close to her, which pulled Orihime close to her, which almost made the healer topple over her. Then she turned unto her back, forcing the human to awkwardly straddle her.
"Uhhhh..." Orihime stuttered.
Tsuzuki opened her eyes. Then smiled. "Well, good morning."
"Tsu-chan! This isn't- I mean- I wasn't-"
"It's ok! Orihime! Listen! I was kinda awake, but I wasn't sure if I was still dreaming or not. I guess I wasn't. Besides, I love having my Orihime close to me!" she said happily, pulling the other close in a hug.
"Tsu-chan?"
"Mm?"
"You were calling me 'Hime' earlier. In your sleep."
"Was I? I'm sorry."
"Why?"
"Well... Chizuru calls you that... I thought you didn't like it."
"Not... not from her... b-but from you... I don't think I would mind."
"Really?"
The healer nodded animatedly.
Tsuzuki smiled. "Cool."
Ichigo put down the report, eyebrows furrowed.
'I know you! See him once, see twice, it's all the same.'
What the fuck did Rukia know? Without another thought, he flash-stepped to the Senkai Gate. After making sure a certain female's reiatsu was nowhere to be found, he stepped through.
