Thank you everyone who commented on the last chapter.

Kataritsugu koto
Chapter 2

In the end, Hisagi-fukutaicho made a fool of himself, asking something completely out of context.

"Damnit! Why couldn't I have asked him then and there! It was the perfect chance and it's not like Kira is into lying."

Shuuhei berated himself angrily as he stomped from side-to-side in his office. His seated members were starting to get worried, Hisagi-fukutaicho never got so worked up before, and it was especially bothersome since they didn't know what it was that got their acting captain like that in the first place.

Kira let out a soft breath as he took a small moment from signing papers to gently rub his belly. It was just slightly bigger than the day before, and Kira could feel the mild, weak pulse of a reiatsu growing inside of him. It brought a smile to his face.

Unohana-taicho had said that they wouldn't be able to tell the sex of the baby until the next trimester, but Izuru could feel that his child would be a boy, he supposed it was a sort of maternal instinct that told him that.

Not many knew yet of Kira-fukutaicho's pregnancy, just the closest seated members of the Third Division. It wasn't being kept a secret on purpose by Kira, but it was a personal matter that he didn't see the need to tell the whole of Soul Society. He wouldn't deny it if asked anyway, it would be pretty obvious soon what was going on.

With a sigh, Kira turned back to his papers, trying a bit to forget the whole ordeal of having to be pregnant. It wasn't an unwanted baby, it hadn't been planned sure, but Kira had never thought of getting rid of it, even if it was 'that' person's child. All the more reason to love this baby.

A knock on the door diverted Kira from his thoughts.

"Kira-fukutaicho, the meeting is about to start."

"Yes, thank you, I'll be right there."

Ah, the inevitable had come. Soutaicho had forced Kurotsuchi's hand to reveal the names of those pregnant for all the taicho and fukutaicho to know. Kurotsuchi himself wanted to keep those names secret, not for the good of those impregnated, but so he could examine them without disturbances of related or unrelated parties. In the end, Yamamoto's iron rule had won over the 12th Division captain's fancy.

Despite being lieutenants, both Shuuhei and Kira were acting captains, and therefore had to attend captain meetings as well as the lieutenant meetings, this meeting however, called for both parties.

Kira tried not to make his pregnancy too obvious. Even though his belly wasn't very swollen, he tried not to put his hands over it as he often did nowadays. Shuuhei kept a close eye on Kira, despite being several seats apart. Feeling his gaze, Kira averted his eyes to the floor, arms coming around himself in a sort of self-hug. Did Shuuhei know? Even if he didn't, he would soon enough.

Yamamoto soon started the meeting.

"As you know, Kurotsuchi-taicho has been performing experiments on unsuspecting shinigami. This experiment was meant to induce pregnancy in males, and according to his research, has succeeded. Now, Kurotsuchi-taicho, if you could please inform us of the shinigami currently carrying."

With a cough, the 12th Division captain stood, Nemu handing him a paper. Coughing again, Mayuri began to read.

"Shinigami successfully impregnated are: 7th Seat of the 4th Division Yamada Hanatarou, former 12th Division Captain Urahara Kisuke, 13th Division Captain Ukitake Jyuushiro and 3rd Division Lieutenant Kira Izuru. We suspect Shinigami Representative Ichigo Kurosaki to be carrying but we are still unsure, tests have been inconclusive."

Mayuri sat down. All of the shinigami present were whispering quite loudly among themselves, until Yamamoto silenced them with a tap of his cane.

"Thank you Kurotsuchi-taicho, and the fathers?"

The hall went silent with that question. Mayuri began to fret about and sweat until Unohana stood to take the words from his mouth.

"Yamamoto-soutaicho; since this experiment was done without the knowledge or consent of the impregnated, I believe it is their choice to reveal who is the parent of their child, seeing as it is a rather private matter."

Yamamoto nodded his head at her in agreement. "Very well, Unohana-taicho. Of the shinigami that were just called, are there any of you who are willing to reveal the parent of their child."

For a long moment, no one moved or even took a small breath. Ukitake was the first brave one to stand, his hands shaking slightly.

"Umm, I haven't told him so I guess this is a good chance. It's yours, Shunsui."

Said captain gasped loudly, seconds later leaping out of his seat to glomp and huggle his beloved. The rest looked on with soft eyes as the 8th Division captain kissed and made promises of a happy life for his child.

Looks soon turned to Kira, the only one here besides Captain Ukitake out of the four called. Shuuhei especially kept a steady gaze on the blonde shinigami, who only turned away from the prying eyes.

"I...I'd rather not say, so please..."

With those words, the looks softened a bit, except Shuuhei's. Kira could feel those eyes on him but he still refused to look up.

"Please excuse me, I'm not feeling well..." Shakily he stood up, gently refusing the help of Omaeda and Unohana. He managed to run to the bathroom only to dry heave and cough. That had been stressful; too stressful. Sitting on the cool floor, Kira rubbed his belly gently feeling the small reiatsu there pulsing, and he smiled a bit.

After a while he came out and walked away to the entrance. No use in staying any longer and the meeting was probably over anyway.

Stepping out to the street he bumped into Hisagi again.

"Umm, how are you feeling?"

"Good, felt a bit queasy back there but I'm fine now."

Shuuhei looked away from Kira's gaze, now their roles inverted on who looked and who hid.

"I'll walk you back to your Division." Hisagi offered, his face turning the slightest bit red.

Kira smiled at such a cute gesture. "Thank you, but I'm actually going home now. You're welcome to accompany me, if you want."

Hisagi grinned widely and walked along at Kira's side. Although it was silent between them, it was comfortable silence, until Shuuhei decided to pry in private matters.

"So, ummm, you got knocked up..hehe..."

"Y-yes..."

"Sooo, you want a boy or a girl?"

"I think it'll be a boy..."

"Oh..."

More silence between them, not as comfortable this time.

"Thought about any names, yet?"

"No, not really."

"So, what about the dad? Aren't you gonna tell him?" 'Please say it's me. Please don't say it's me.'

"I...I don't think I can tell him..."

"Why not?"

"I don't think he'll want to know..."

Shuuhei stayed quiet after that. It was true he didn't want to know, but he also did want to know, just to disperse any doubt.

The rest of the walk home was not so pleasant anymore, even with the evening sun warming them up. Shuuhei could feel a barrier between he and Kira, a cold thick barrier.

Finally when they arrived, Kira hurried in opening his door and saying a quick but polite goodbye, but although Shuuhei didn't stop him, he still felt like he should say something else.

"You're wondering about it, aren't you?"

The swift reading of his mind took Shuuhei by surprise, which clearly showed on his face.

"If you...don't give me the right question...I don't know how to answer it."

'Just ask me already so we can get done with it,' was what he was really saying. But, Shuuhei took his time in formulating the question, swallowing hard after thinking deeply on it for a few minutes.

"Is...is it mine?"

Kira looked at him impassively with a single eye, letting out the breath he was holding and answered.

"I can't tell you."

To be continued...

Comments are welcome. Next update will be on Friday.