Sequel to "Ichirin No Hana"
Disclaimer - I do not own Bleach.
She splashed water on her face. "I'm fine," she replied. Was she really? The last couple of days she had woken up with her body covered in sweat. She had felt sick to her stomach but today was the first day the sickness had come up. She opened the door and gave him a quick smile.
He studied her face. She looked pale. "I want you to see Captain Unohana," he said "Do you want me to get her now?"
"No. I'll go see her this afternoon." Hitsugaya kissed her forehead.
...
"Thank you for seeing me," Hana said as she met Captain Unohana in the 4th division meeting room.
"Captain Hitsugaya is very worried about you." Hana smiled. They had been together for 2 years and it was still like it was the first time. Unohana performed a through medical exam.
"Are you sure?" Hana asked when the exam was complete.
"Positive. Although, it's been a while since something like this has happened in the Soul Society.
Hana made her way to the 10th division building. She had to tell Toushiro. Unfortunately, he wasn't there. She would have to wait. Hana wandered back to their chambers. She felt like she was floating on a cloud. She didn't hear her name being called but she felt the touch on her shoulder.
"Toushiro." She smiled at him. They linked hands and walked into their home.
"Hana, are you okay? I called your name and you didn't answer." He studied her face. She looked better than she had that morning. There was more color in her cheeks and her eyes were bright.
"Oh, Toushiro!" She kissed him. "I went to see Captain Unohana. She says I'm fine. I'm healthy. I'm pregnant."
"Pregnant?" he asked, brows knitting.
"Yes. We are going to have a baby."
"A baby," he repeated. "It's been a long time since anyone in the Soul Society had a baby."
"That's what she said." Hana looked at him. "Why?"
"Every few centuries, the heavenly guardian is born into the Soul Society. The heavenly guardian is the only one who can bear children."
"Are you saying that you are the heavenly guardian?" She stared at him. Why had she not heard this before?
"Yes. No one was sure that I was. They all assumed."
"Who all knew about this?"
"All the captains were told." He shrugged.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't think it mattered." She turned to walk away and he grabbed her wrist. "Hana, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. Regardless of whether I am or am not the guardian, it doesn't change the fact that I love you." He kissed her tenderly. Hana forgot her anger. She wrapped her arms around him and let him love her.
...
Jushiro sat in the library and discarded another book. It wasn't in there either. He had been spending all his free time looking through the records.
"What are you looking for?" Hana asked as she approached him.
"Hana, hi!" He quickly closed the book. Jushiro didn't want anyone to know what he was looking for. Not until he was ready to reveal his findings.
"Do you have a minute?" she asked. He nodded. Hana sat beside him and told her grandfather the good news.
Jushiro hugged her. "Hana, I'm so happy. What did Captain Hitsugaya say?"
Hana sighed. "He seemed happy." She paused. "He told me that he thought he was the heavenly guardian."
"We always wondered if he truly was the embodiment of the heavenly guardian. To Captain Hitsugaya, it never mattered."
"Is that why he never mentioned it to me?" Hana asked.
"I'm sure he wasn't keeping it from you for the sake of hiding it. Captain Hitsugaya had it rough when he became a captain. He excelled at the Shinigami Academy and graduated top of his class. He was often called a boy genius because he is the youngest captain in Shinigami history. Some people teased him about it. He asked us not to mention it to anyone unless they needed to know. We respected his decision. I never told my vice-captain about it." Jushiro placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hana, don't be mad at him for keeping it from you."
Hana kissed Jushiro on the cheek and left him. He buried himself back in his research. He had to find what he was looking for. Hana had just given him a deadline.