Here I am again, Saij Spellhart, and I'm presenting my second installment to my one-shot collection. This one takes place farther in Ichigo and Rukia's relationship, and is meant to give a peek at how they handle parenthood, and what their kids might be like.
Warning! this chapter contains a LOT of Byakuya. But hey, we love him.
Summary: Byakuya willingly volunteers to babysit Ichigo and Rukia's kids while Rukia is away on a mission. Ichigo is not about to let Byakuya watch his kids alone, and so the substitute accompanies the noble for the next 2 days.
Title: Baby Sitting
"WHAT!?" exclaimed Ichigo. "NO! No way!" He held up his arms in front of him forming an X.
"It's just for two days Ichigo." Rukia fixed her obnoxious husband with an exasperated look.
"And what's so wrong with me looking after them?" His question was almost interrogating.
"Nothing is wrong, they just tend to be a handful for you. And Nii-sama offered." She finished packing a few things into her travel satchel. "Besides, it'd be rude if I declined."
"So what? Byakuya's always rude, that's no excuse." The orange-maned soul reaper frowned and ran his fingers through his hair. He absently watched Rukia pack, and opened his mouth a few times to say something, but closed it again, deciding not to protest. His wife deserved a break after all.
Rukia had been "assigned" a so-called "mission" But since it was handed down from the Soul Reaper Women's Association, he really doubted it involved anything crucial. It was likely a trip to a hot spring, or a spa, or some other girly trip. Several other lady reapers were attending this mission after all.
"Your brother hasn't even seen them since they were born." Grumbled Ichigo one last time.
"All the more reason for him to babysit them this weekend." Rukia shot him a glare of finality over her luggage. "If you are so worried you can go stay at my brother's place and help keep an eye on them."
"Fine..." Ichigo threw his head back and groaned.
0000
Ichigo arrived in the seireieti, his shoulders laden with luggage and holding the hands of two toddlers. They children laughed loudly and squealed at the sights before them. As powerful and he was, it was a herculean effort to keep the two kids in check. They constantly tugged on his arms like a pair of sled dogs.
Right on time, a tall figure approached them. He was dressed in formal robes, and it was quite a sight. Ichigo had been so used to seeing the great and mighty Byakuya Kuchiki in his standard Soul Reaper Captain garb, that seeing him in robes (even if they were nobility robes) was a complete contrast.
The head of the kuchiki clan stopped a fair distance from the orange-haired substitute and the little toddlers squealing on either side of him.
"Ichigo." Byakuya acknowledged his presence with a nod.
"Byakuya." Ichigo returned the cold greeting.
"I've arranged for transportation to the Kuchiki estate." Informed Byakuya, his tone cold, and unwelcoming. He motioned toward a wagon drawn by one of the kuchiki servants. A small pink-haired reaper was also sitting in the wagon, and she waved frantically at Ichigo.
"Hi-eee! Ichi!"
Ichigo would have waved back, but his hands were full. Instead he nodded, and returned her greeting.
Byakuya motioned for Ichigo to move the luggage to the wagon. He also motioned for the children to also sit in the wagon. The kids were more than happy to comply, and squealed with delight over the wagon ride.
"Is there any transportation for us?" Inquired the substitute reaper.
"I believe we are more than capable of walking." Snipped Byakuya.
Ichigo was about to open his mouth and make a snide remark, but he bit his tongue, remembering his wife's warning about being polite to her brother.
"What are the names of the little ones?" For the first time Byakuya showed interest in something, and it caught Ichigo off guard. Both men followed up behind the wagon so they could keep an eye on the squirming youngsters, and an equally squirming lieutenant.
Ichigo scratched his head. The two children were twins, one a boy with violet eyes and the other a girl with amber eyes. They were both two and a half years old, his son didn't talk well but his daughter was a chatter box. "Well the boy's name is Ryoji and we named the girl Zakura." Ichigo's mouth formed a straight line.
"Zakura?" Byakuya raised an eyebrow at the substitute reaper.
"Yeah... Rukia's got a lot of respect for you. She wanted at least one of the kids to have a name with a connection to you." Ichigo kinda grumbled the last part.
"I see." Byakuya seemed scrutinize the two screaming toddlers before him. "I… see they did not inherit Rukia's hair."
Ichigo also looked over at his children. Ryoji was busy pulling his sister's hair, while Yachiru smacked him on the head repeatedly. Eventually the twins began screaming, and crying; Ichigo just rolled his eyes and sighed.
"They appear to take after your personality as well." remarked Byakuya, there was a slight hint of disgust in his voice as he watched the unruly children before them.
"Hey! What is that supposed to mean?" Snarled the orange-haired reaper.
"Nothing of consequence."
"Yeah, whatever." Ichigo mutters under his breath. He hasn't even been in Byakuya's presence an hour and already he wants to throttle the noble.
Suddenly the kids began screaming louder. Ichigo turned his attention back to his children who were now biting each other, and Yachiru. This was quickly followed by kicks, and fists, and other nasty actions. The substitute soul reaper hurried over to the twins and scooped his daughter up in one arm, and his son in the other.
"Guys, knock it off," their father scolded. "Cool it."
Byakuya watched silently as the screaming children calmed down in their father's arms. Perhaps this human boy could be responsible after all.
0000
They had just reached the gates of the Kuchiki estate, and everyone in their party was relieved that their little trip had come to an end. Kuchiki servants rushed out and collected the luggage and even the children before carrying them into the house.
"Hey where do they think they are going with my kids." demanded Ichigo, he pointed to the front of the mansion where the servants had disappeared.
"The human toddlers will be washed and properly clothed. I will not have them running amok in my house with grubby fingers and clothes." Byakuya shot the ryoka boy with a matter-of-fact look. As if this were obvious.
Ichigo shot Byakuya a glare. "Don't expect me to get all preppy for your benefit. It ain't happen'n."
Byakuya did not seem affected by the substitute's rude words. "That's nothing of consequence, we don't keep clothes for commoners on this estate anyway." He left Ichigo to stand there and gape at him in absolute fury. "By the way, I am quite capable of watching these children on my own, your presence was not required." He fixed the orange-haired boy with a look of contempt.
"Che," scoffed Ichigo in response. "Like I would let you be alone with my children. The man who threatened to execute his own sister."
An uneasy silence settled between the two males.
It wasn't until a bit later that Ichigo finally settled in. He had been given a guest room to stay in during his two night stay. He mentioned just staying in Rukia's room to Byakuya, but the noble had answered him with a short and contrite "no." and had made preparations for a guest room.
A servant came by to fetch the substitute reaper not long after he had put away his luggage. "Lord Kuchiki requests your presence in the tea room. The children have been properly washed and clothed to suit their nobility status." The servant bowed before taking his leave.
Ichigo just stared after him for awhile before mumbling to himself. "Nobility status?" He shook his head and decided to ask Byakuya about it in a bit. It took longer than he would have liked, but Ichigo finally made it into the tea room. As expected the dark-haired nobleman fixed him with a look that said, "you are late." Ichgio ignored this and sat down on a cushion and began to pour himself a cup of tea.
"So where are my kids?" He looked around but didn't seem them anywhere,
Byakuya motioned to a servant near the door way, and said servant nodded and pushed a sliding door aside. The open door revealed a very worn out looking woman, who was trying desperately to make two orange-maned toddlers stand still.
Ichigo was taken back by the compete 180 his children had gone through. Their usually messy orange hair was now combed and parted. His son, Ryoji, was wearing two kenseiken in his hair, and a formal dark blue robe with a silver sash. The blue robe had little silver stars embroidered on the bottom left corner and on the long sleeves. His daughter, Zakura, was dressed in a matching set of robes but hers were purple with lovely pink flowers embroidering it. Her hair was much the same length as her brother's, but someone had pulled it back into a short pony tail on the top of her head, and there was a cute butterfly pin in it.
"Wow, they almost look decent, I'm impressed Byakuya."
"It's a simple task, something any responsible parent could accomplish."
"Your expectations of me and Rukia are astounding."
Neither male noticed the female servant who cast an irritated look at Byakya for his bold statement. She did however release the children and took her leave. She was not about to witness the crisis unfold in the tea room now that those little devils had been released.
"DADDY!" two squealing children toddled across the hard wood floor and threw themselves into their father's lap. Ichigo looked down at them with a tender look in his eyes, and stroked the top of his son's head while wrapping his other arm around his daughter in a half hug.
"How often will the children need their under garments changed?" Byakuya's question interrupted the happy family moment.
The orange-head looked up and fixed the nobleman with a confused look. "Oh well, we won't need to. They took after me and potty-trained pretty early, so they'll tell you if they gotta go." He shot Byakuya a grin that showed he was proud of himself and his kids.
"I suppose even a human has to have something they can be proud of." The Kuchiki lord didn't even look at Ichigo, he simply picked up his cup of tea and took a slow, lazy sip.
Kurosaki ignored Byakuya once again. He had promised Rukia he would be good, he wasn't about to cause strife over such snide remarks. "Hey guys, do you know who this is?" He turned the kids attention towards the stoic noble. "This is your uncle. Go on, say hello and tell him your names."
"Hiii!" Byakuya was suddenly crowded by two very loud twins. They immediately crawled over on his lap and took fistfuls of his formal robes. "I'm thwee!" they chorused together.
Ichigo gave a chuckle. "They aren't three yet, but they are excited to be turning three soon.
Byakuya nodded before looking down at the little girl, she was tugging the front of his robe incessantly. "Yes?"
"I'm Zak-rah!" She announced with pride, she even scooted a little further up his lap.
The little boy was next and he saw Byakuya turn expectantly toward him. "I Riijee!" He slapped his palm against his uncle forcefully as if to make his point.
"What your name?" asked Zakura. She looked up at the dark-haired man with her large amber colored eyes.
"I am Lord Byakuya Kuchiki. I am the elder brother of your mother. That would make me your uncle."
"Bakya?" Asked the little girl.
"Byakuya-sama, is the proper form of address in this house." He corrected.
Ichigo let out a sigh of irritation.
"Bakya-sama?" She asked again.
He nodded, and looked over at Ryoji, also expecting the boy to address him properly.
Ryoji just lifted his palm and smacked Byakuya on the chest again. "Baka!"
"Byakuya-sama." corrected his uncle.
"Baka-sama!" squealed the child, he began smacking repeatedly.
The soul reaper noble raised his hand to grab the child's flailing hand, but it only caused both children to squeal and and roll off his lap. They tumbled into the table and caused his tea to upend, it's contents spilling across the table.
Byakuya shot Ichigo a look as if the children's behavior were his fault. Ichigo just shrugged, and grinned behind his tea cup, taking a sip.
000
Later that day Byakuya found himself in the calligraphy room with the two little twins. They were excited at the prospect of art time, and like they usually did, ran around screaming and rabble rousing. The nobleman tried his hardest to ignore them, and simply prepared his ink pot and stack of parchment. He ended up re-stacking the paper three times before he could begin. The children seemed hell bent on snatching pieces of parchment.
Finally he was able to get them to settle down and watch him work. The twins scooted close and waited with eager expressions. They watched their uncle dip his feather pen into the ink pot and place it ever so slightly against the paper. With careful and precise hand strokes he made a beautiful Japanese character.
"This is flower." He informed them.
"Wabbit!" They squealed. "dwaw a wabbit!" They snatched a new piece of parchment and placed it over his first piece before the ink could even finish drying. Byakuya calmly placed the ruined pieces of paper aside and grabbed a clean piece. He dipped his pen again, and began drawing a new character. When he was finished he moved his hand away so the children could see.
"This one is rabbit." He informed them.
The twins looked at it for a moment before scrunching up their noses. "NOO!" Ryoji grabbed at the pen while Zakura just grabbed a new piece of paper. She pointed at the new piece, and shouted at Byakuya. "Bakya-sama, make a wabbit!"
Byakuya just fixed the children with a confused look. He hesitated as his eyes widened at their next statement.
"Like mommy! Waaabbits!"
After a moment he took a breath and calmed the children down. He pulled out another piece of paper and began drawing a bunny. Not a character this time, just a silly little animal with long ears and round eyes. Once again when he had finished he pulled away for the children to see. Zakura squealed in delight, but Ryoji just grabbed at the pen. When Byakuya moved the pen from the boy's reach he scrunched up his face.
Byakuya was about to draw a something new when Ryoji got up and grabbed the pot of ink. "Me too!" he declared. The toddler tried to run forward, but his foot caught on the fancy yukata he was wearing; child and ink pot fell onto the floor and made a huge mess.
Suddenly the room was filled with screaming kids, and squirming, and it took several minutes for Byakuya to scoop a struggling boy into his arms. He then seized Zakura's hand and led both children from the calligraphy room. Needless to say, Ryoji was going to need a bath and a fresh change of robes. A servant was waiting outside when Byakuya left the room with the kids, he nodded to the man, giving him a flat expression.
The servant seemed to understand because he nodded his head and disappeared into the recently vacated calligraphy room.
While on the outside, Byakuya was his usual stoic and calm; on the inside he exuded a twisting and wrathful cloud of reiatsu. Even the twins stayed quiet as they could feel the stuffiness in the air from their uncle's powerful influence. The air only seemed to thin and become lighter when the group reached the kitchen, where they stumbled upon a stubborn father fighting with old fashioned kitchen equipment.
Without turning around to look at them Ichigo addressed the noble. "Byakuya, your kitchen is like ten centuries out of date." It wasn't surprising that Kurosaki knew it was him, He'd been exuding enough spirit pressure to choke a horse.
"I have servants who make the meals; why are you destroying my kitchen?"
Ichigo turned around and fixed Byakuya with a glare. "My kids need to eat… What the hell happened to you?!"
The scene that greeted the substitute's eyes was a rather distressed, but hiding it well, Byakuya Kuchiki. Little Zakura, looking like the little angel she was, was clean and wide-eyed, as if she hadn't a clue about what happened. The two men, Kuchiki and Ryoji; well they looked like they had just taken part in a very strenuous match of ink wrestling. From head to toe Ryoji was smeared with ink, and his clothes were stained. And byakuya's arms and chest and even his face were equally slathered.
Ichigo didn't know what to say. He just stood there and gaped and subsequently tried not to laugh, then tried not to laugh again.
"You children are insufferable." the noble said flatly.
"I can see that.." Ichigo couldn't hold it in anymore. He began to snicker loudly.
Byakuya let out a sigh, and turned to a servant that appeared in the doorway in response to his wavering reiatsu. He handed over the now wriggling Ryoji, and ordered that the child be cleaned and changed into a fresh set of robes. Then he turned his attention back to the Kurosaki boy. "Keep this little one out of trouble while I clean myself off." He nudged Zakura into the kitchen towards her father, and took his leave soon after.
"Hey little angel." greeted Ichigo. He gave his daughter a soft and warm smile. "Have you been good today?"
The little orange-haired girl toddled over to her father's side and gave his leg a tight hug. "I'm lots of good!" Zakura chimed happily. "Ryoji was baaaad." She added unnecessarily. She hid her face in her father's clothes.
"Yes well, your uncle needs to lighten up. He's a real big ass sometimes." Ichigo continued preparing their afternoon snack. As he idly chatted with his daughter.
"ASS!" Chimed Zakura for emphasis.
"Shit!" Ichigo cursed. "Don't tell your mother I said that around you."
"SHIT!" Zakura parroted loudly.
Ichigo clapped his hand over the little girl's mouth and shook his finger at her. "No. Those words are bad. Mommy will have your hide… and mine if you go about saying them."
"Mommy says you smell." were the first words that came out of his little angle's mouth after he removed his hand.
"Oh really." Her father grinned. "Well tell her I think she's really short."
"A weally short ass?" She asked. and giggled as if her naughty word was funny. She clapped her hands over her mouth as Ichigo fixed her with a glare of warning.
"No more naughty words or I'll paddle your hind end." Informed her father, he was no longer joking. All the endearing humor the two had shared earlier evaporated, as Ichigo realized his daughter was not going to understand until he acted like a parent. "Now have a seat, and wait for Byakuya and your brother to come back."
Several minutes later Ichigo felt Byakuya's spirit pressure, now well under control, enter the room. Just as before, Ichigo ignored the nobleman and kept his back to him as he worked to finish cooking.
"Where is the little girl?" Byakuya's calm voice broke the silence, but it also tore daggers into Ichigo's ears just as sharply as the noble's eyes did to his back.
"What do you mean, she's sitting at the table…" Ichigo swallowed his own words when he turned around to witness that his daughter had managed to wander off in the last couple of minutes. "Shit.. I'll go find her." The orange-head sighed and wiped his hand on a towel. "I'll go find her."
"No." Clipped Byakuya. "I promised Rukia I would watch them. I'll go find your child."
Ichigo just rolled his eyes when the black-haired man stormed from the kitchen in yet another foul mood. "What a prick." He hissed venomously.
"Pwick!" Parrotted a toddler from the doorway. Ichigo turned and saw Ryoji barrel into the room towards him. The toddler was all cleaned up and in a plain white set of robes. "Pwick pwick pwick!" Chanted the little boy, finding the new word to be extremely entertaining.
"Oh for God's sake; your mother is going to skin me." This time ichigo leaned down and scooped up his kid, and decided it was best just to balance Ryoji on his hip while he finished cooking. Lest the second child go up missing. He wasn't frightened of Byakuya's wrath, sure that his own powers exceeded the noble. No it was his wife's wrath later on that scared him the most. That woman could make even the meanest toughest scum tremble and cower in fear. Ichigo just shuddered at the thought.
0000
Byakuya searched the house high and low and it was only in the last room that he looked that he found the little Ichigo clone. She was seated in front of a shrine, and she was happily beating two candles together, causing a loud racket. The shrine in question usually housed a picture of Byakuya's deceased wife, Hisana. The candles, which were not lit right now, were all knocked over and scattered around the room.
When Kuchiki entered the room, the little girl just looked up at him with big amber eyes, and smiled happily. She held up a picture of Hisana to show Byakuya, and looked as proud as can be. "Mommy!" She squealed happily.
"That is NOT your mother." growled her uncle. It was everything he could manage to keep from yelling at the troublesome child before him. He took a moment to compose himself, taking a few deep breaths. These children were really trying his patience.
Zakura took a moment to analyze her uncle's foul mood, and immediately went on the defensive. She knew right away, she was in trouble. Byakuya was barely able to take one step towards her, suddenly the toddler's mouth opened wide and she let out a blood curdling scream. Another step caused the orange-haired toddler to take off running, she was so quick that it caught Byakuya off guard and she slipped past him and out into the hall.
"DAAAADDDY!" Screamed Zakura, she skittered down one hall and up another. Byakuya close on her heels. "DAAAAAAAAADDDDDYYY! HEEEEELLLPPP!"
Ichigo heard the two coming before they even reached the kitchen. The unmistakeable patter of frantic toddler feet, followed by the scary and mathematically precise foot falls of Rukia's older brother. Halfway down a different hallway, a pink haired soul reaper joined Zakura and the two began screaming all the way into the kitchen. Once past the threshold, both girls dove for the amused and shocked Ichigo, and hid behind his legs.
Byakuya appeared in the doorway soon after, the mask of his face calm and straight as ever, but his eyes burned with anger.
Ryoji looked at his uncle from Ichigo's arm, much like his sister had been after the ink incident, the little boy looked innocent and wide-eyed. Ichigo, not understanding the gravitity of the situation, just began laughing uncontrollably at the situation. "What's the matter Kuchiki? Are two little toddlers too much for you?" Ichigo picked Zakura up and balanced her on his other hip. "I know in a one on one, I'm a bit too much for you, but really, my kids? I'd think they'd at least need 5 more years to out-class you, this is too soon."
Neither man said anything more. Byakuya simply left the room, and Ichigo just turned away from him, settling his children down for a long-awaited snack. The happy children, and a mooching Yachiru, gleefully ate the peanut butter and banana sandwiches that had taken an inept Ichigo more than an half of an hour to prepare.
The rest of the night passed rather uneventfully, and the kids were put to bed early. All the days activities had tired the little mongrels out, and they crashed well before 7 pm. Byakuya eventually calmed down, and even took dinner with Ichigo, though neither male really talked about anything.
0000
The next morning saw the two males taking a stroll in the gardens. The gardens made up much of the grounds of the Kuchiki estate, and they were well tended daily by many servants. The sakura trees and koi pond were especially Byakuya's pride and joy. Ichigo's two noisy and rambunctious kids screamed, ran, tripped, and then screamed some more through the gardens.
Finally the kids seemed to stop their incessant noise and instead began tugging on their father's clothing. Their father however had been making idle conversation with their uncle, and it took a bit of tugging and a string of "Daddy, daddy, daddy," before he finally looked down at them.
As soon as they were sure they had their Father's attention they began chanting "Woosh!" One right after the other, over and over again.
Byakuya looked over at Ichigo with a confused look in his eyes. He tilted his head, "woosh?" he inquired.
The orange-head gave Byakuya a lopsided grin, and bent down to hoist Zakura to his hip. "They want me to do this." He clarified. He made sure he had a firm grip on his daughter, and made sure his son took a step back. When everything was clear he gathered his reiatsu under his feet, and flash-stepped forward a few feet. When he re-appeared he turned and grinned widely at Byakuya. Zakura also greeted her uncle with a squeal of delight, and many joyful giggles.
"Me too!" sang Ryoji in excitement. "Me too! Meee TOOOO!" Ryoji ran up to Ichigo and grabbed fistfuls of his robes.
Ichigo took a moment to set Zakura down and scoot her away, then he picked up his son, and repeated the same as before, but this time he reappeared next to Byakuya. The small gust of wind created by his movement caused the noble's hair to become disturbed, but for once the man didn't seem bothered. Instead he was watching the interaction of the father and his two kids with mild amusement.
"So they like shun-po?" He inquired.
"Yeah, it's their favorite thing." Ichigo scratched his hair with his free hand, "sometimes they'll ask me to do it until I'm tired out." The kids started chanting "woosh," again, and pulling on their father's clothes. "Say, Kuchiki." Ichigo shot Byakuya a sly grin. "You wanna give it a try?"
"Shun-po isn't meant to be used as a game." the Kuchiki noble tried to turn his face away and feign disinterest.
"C'mon give me a break. Yoruichi says you used to play Flash-step tag all the time way back when." The orange-head turned to his kids and pushed them in their uncle's direction. "Uncle Byakuya can woosh too." He urged them.
Immediately both kids squealed and rushed at Byakuya. "Baka woosh! Baka woosh!" For a moment the Kuchiki noble was startled, his eyes growing a bit wider than usual. He was barely able to keep the kids from jumping on him. After a moment he looked up to glare at Ichigo, but the boy had already made his get away toward the mansion. From the way Kurosaki's shoulders shook, he knew he was being laughed at. Finally Byakuya looked down at the noisy kids, they were still begging for wooshes. A sigh and an eye-roll later, and the nobleman took a child up in each arm, balancing them on either hip just as their father did.
"I expect you to hold on." He instructed. He felt both kids take fistfuls of his yukata. A moment later Byakuya began flash stepping to and fro, a chorus of children's laughter following every movement.
About twenty minutes later Ichigo returned to the garden to find his two children laughing and squealing while racing around with their uncle. Ichigo almost missed it, almost swore he didn't hear it, and even second guessed it afterward. For one moment, one single moment, he heard a chuckle; a deep sounding, low, and almost handsome sound. But it was over and quickly drowned out by children sounds, and Ichigo dismissed it assuming he'd heard wrong.
0000
Later that afternoon, Zakura and Ichigo decided to have a messy art time in the kitchen. Byakuya refused to let them defile his calligraphy room; so the duo found themselves on the kitchen floor with several pots of colorful paint, and many sheets of parchment paper. Ti-dye hand prints, and terribly drawn bunnies came to life all over the kitchen.
Ryoji however was not about to partake in art-time today. He was much more intrigued by his uncle's whereabouts. After all the fun in the gardens in the morning with Byakuya; Ryoji was determined to hang out with his dark and mysterious uncle for the second half of the day as well.
Needless to say, Ryoji found his moody and stoic uncle in the training dojo. Said uncle was deep in focus, performing intensive yoga. This didn't seem to deter Byakuya's nephew though, he toddled right up to the Kuchiki noble and assumed a very cheesy fighter pose.
The new presence caught Bykauya off guard and he paused what he was doing to look down at his unwelcome nephew. Ryoji didn't pay his uncle the same attention, the little toddler was more focused on his own training. His face was set in an intense scowl, much like his father's trademark expression, this little boy was brimming with determination. Byakuya watched with curiosity usually alien to the noble.
After a moment of silence, the little boy hopped forward and cried "Woosh!" It was so sudden and unexpected that it caused Byakuya to take a step back in surprise. And he was still stunned when the little boy continued his actions; focus, hop and simultaneous "woosh!" The little boy was actually attempting to flash-step on his own. After watching a few more unsuccessful attempts, Byakuya decided to step in and become a mentor.
A large hand fell on Ryoji's shoulder halting anymore attempts, "Watch," instructed a deep voice, there was almost a parental edge to the masculine voice. The dark-haired noble took up an equally intense pose next to his orange-haired nephew. The little boy looked up with shining violet eyes, eyes that mirrored his mother's; he was met by equally intense but older grey eyes.
"You must focus your spirit energy under your feet. Let your reiatsu carry your feet through space and time." Byakuya's instructions did not cater to the child's limited understanding. But Ryoji seemed determined enough to see, and listen past their gap in understanding.
A half hour later, and many failed attempts, concluded in Byakuya being taken back like never before. The little Ichigo clone flooded the room with unsteady spirit energy.
Ryoji, determined to woosh all by himself, managed to release enough spirit energy to counter-act his lack of control. And for the briefest of moments, when he hopped forward announcing the motion's sound effect. He vanished from sight and re-appeared a foot and a half away from his original position.
This was met with a choking sound escaping Bykauya's throat, as the young child had accomplished something that took most adult soul reapers years to achieve. The child was able to form half of a smile at his triumph, before all the chaotic spirit energy evaporated, and the little toddler collapsed in a limp heap on the floor. A concerned and secretly very proud uncle went to collect him and make sure he was alright.
With strong and protective arms, Kuchiki cradled the boy against his chest, and rocked him back and forth in a comforting motion. If anyone had been in the room to witness it, they would not have believed it. When he was sure the child was breathing, and still in perfect health, he settled himself on the floor, and tenderly ruffled the toddler's orange mane.
"One day you will be the finest 'Woosh-Master,'" whispered Byakuya, quiet and low. "Second to myself, or course." corrected his uncle.
0000
The two days ended all too quickly and soon it was time to go home. The morning of the third day; the party of four, Kuchiki and Kurosaki, followed by the two orange-maned toddlers; met Rukia on the grounds of the 6th division. She was radiant as ever in Ichigo's eyes, even if motherhood had caused her to gain a little weight. Said mother was looking quite rested and relaxed as she greeted the group.
"Mooommmmyyyyy!" The two toddlers clambered over each other to reach mommy first, and as soon as they did, they buried their faces in her shinigami robes, and giggled happily.
"Well hello there," greeted Rukia, she ruffled their hair with her hands and smiled warmly at her lovely children. "Were you two good for nii-sama?"
The children answered with childlike responses that only a parent could understand.
Ichigo was the next to approach Rukia. He parted her from their children and scooped her up in his strong arms. Then with no regard to any of the audience, he planted a passionate and heartfelt kiss on his wife's lips. His arms holding her close as if they'd spent years apart. The toddlers didn't seem off put by this action at all, and accompanied it with cheering and "yays." Byakuya however scowled at the two. He never did approve of his sister marrying the annoying and brash human boy. But he held his tongue.
After the reunion of husband and wife concluded, Ichigo put her down and turned his attention to the waiting kids. "Go say goodbye to your uncle, and say thank you." He instructed them.
The toddlers turned and ran screaming back to Byakuya. Zakura reached him first and gave him a hug. Byakuya nodded at her, and gave her a half-hug/half-pat in return. The smallest of smiles even graced his lips. Then came Ryoji, the small boy stopped about two feet from Byakuya and fixed him with his purple eyes. The noble looked at him just as intently and for a moment neither of them spoke.
Then finally, Ryoji opened his mouth and addressed his uncle. "Baka." was the only word he uttered.
A smirk formed on Byakuya's face. "Brat." He said in return.
With that, both children ran away back to their parents, and eventually left through an open senkaimon into the living world.
Rukia held the hands of her children as they finally made it back to the living world. She looked at each of them, and asked how their stay was. Zakura had announced that it was good and fun. But Ryoji's response was a little odd.
"Imma brat!" He crowed with excitement.
"Has your father been calling you a brat again." She asked, irritation laced in her voice.
Ryoji shook his head quickly. "Baka-sama!" he told her happily.
The confusion never left her eyes.
I apologize if people don't like this chapter. I struggled with it for quite some time. And I even studied as many small kids as I could while at work. I'm not real familiar with small children since I've never had any of my own. But I tried to make them believable. Let me know if I succeeded or failed. My husband and I proof read this chapter a few times, but we may have missed some stuff. I also apologize for spelling and grammatical errors.
I also have no clue if the pacing was okay. Really I honestly struggled with this whole thing. It was really fluffy and completely out of my element. I'm a dark writer. I like dark and I like humor. I don't do fluff, or cutesy. But marriage has carved a bit of fluff in my soul, and i felt compelled to write. Besides this was just too cute of an idea to pass up.
So yeah... Please tell me how I did. Good? Bad? Just let me know. the curiosity kills.
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