Chapter 3: Vow of Adherence
Byakuya slept fitfully, his mind spinning as he tried, even in sleep, to cope with the facts of first, being pregnant, and second, being pregnant with the beastly eleventh division captain's child…and heir to the Kuchiki clan. His frazzled mind tried to make some sense of the facts as he slept, but only succeeded in giving him horrid nightmares that woke him repeatedly, and finally left him a short time before morning. As a result, he overslept, and was, in the end, gently awakened by his attendant.
"Lord Kuchiki," Torio said quietly, "It is late, sir. Are you wanting to sleep in, or…"
Byakuya dragged himself out of sleep and regarded the youth with a sleepy gray eye, then jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom, where he dropped to his knees and emptied his stomach violently. Torio watched with sympathetic eyes, then helped him to his feet. The attendant started to turn him back towards his bed…and the noble's body screamed for more rest. But he shook his head gently and staggered into the dressing area, where he stood, looking into the mirror and trying not to notice how awful he looked. But how he looked wasn't nearly as awful as the way he felt. His head ached ferociously and his stomach felt like it was in knots. He was only half dressed when another wave of nausea passed over him and he was forced to abandon Torio and flash step back into the bathroom. He let the attendant coax him back into bed then, and sent hell butterflies to the first and sixth divisions and Kuchiki council.
Shades, I do not want to have to explain this to them anyway…
He curled up in a ball and tried to go back to sleep. But it seemed his ears suddenly picked up and amplified every small sound, and the noise made his head hurt more fiercely. Until finally, he dragged himself into a sitting position and put his hands to his head, groaning in surrender.
"Whatsa matter, Byakushi?" asked a childlike voice from his doorway.
Byakuya turned his head to look at the pink haired vice captain of the eleventh, and Yachiru smiled at him.
"You look sick today," she announced, "But I have just the thing to help."
"Oh…" he groaned, "Not today, please, Vice Captain. I…"
He blinked in surprise as the girl shoved something green and leaf-like into his mouth and disappeared through the inner door, headed for the kitchen. The green leaf turned out to be peppermint. He chewed on it slowly and was surprised to find that it actually did seem to help. He laid back down in his bed, still overtired and weary, but starting to feel better. He had almost dropped off to sleep again when Torio appeared alongside Yachiro, carrying a tray of tea.
"Oh," he groaned softly, "I don't think I can manage it."
"It's okay, Byakushi," Yachiru said, a little too cheerfully, "It's ginger tea. It will make your tummy feel better and it's hot, so it will help you fall asleep."
Byakuya took a few sips of the tea, then turned his head to look at the pink-haired girl again.
"Arigato," he said gratefully, "But where did you…?"
"From Captain Unohana!" laughed the giggling vice captain, "She said she tried to tell you before you left the healing center, but that Byakushi's thoughts were elsewhere, so it would just go in one ear and out the other."
"I see," he said, with a mild edge of disapproval, "Well, you have my thanks, in any case. I do need to rest now, so if you go with Torio, he will locate some sweets for you."
Yachiru stared at him, wide-eyed.
"But Byakushi usually carries them in his sleeve," she said, grabbing Byakuya's sleeve and trying to peek inside.
He looked down at her dispassionately.
"I am not accustomed to having you visit me when I am in my nightclothes…"
Yachiru giggled again and climbed onto the bed, settling beside him.
"Tell me a story, Byakushi."
Byakuya sighed.
"I don't know if I feel up to it right now. My apologies."
"Please Byakushi?"
"Hmmm, I will tell you what. I will tell you a story…one, and then you must allow me to sleep. I have to get better so that I can go back to work."
"But Kenny told me that you were 'knocked up,' and that meant you were having a baby, and that pregnant girls don't belong in combat."
She blinked curiously as Byakuya's reiatsu flared ominously.
"Are you okay, Byakushi?" she asked innocently.
"Yes," the sixth division captain said, forcing down his burning anger, "But can we change the subject?"
"Sure," said the pink-haired girl, "We can go back to the story."
Byakuya sighed wearily.
"Very well," he said quietly.
He was only a few sentences into the story when his eyes closed, and he dropped off to sleep again. Yachiru smiled and patted his hand gently. She looked up curiously as Kenpachi appeared in the bedroom doorway.
"Kenny?" she said, her eyes widening, "Why are you here? I thought you said that…"
"Is he feeling better?"
Yachiru nodded.
"I gave him the peppermint and ginger tea, just like you and Captain Unohana said to. He went right off to sleep."
"Good, come on. Let's go find something to do. I'm bored," Kenpachi said, waiting as Yachiru climbed off the bed and launched herself onto his shoulder. He started out of the room, but stopped and glanced back at the peacefully sleeping captain.
"He's as pretty when he's sleeping as he is when he's pissed," he commented, smiling crookedly.
XXXXXXXXXX
Byakuya gave a soft sigh of relief as he woke the next morning to find that his headache had gone away entirely. It was demeaning however, he thought, to have to leave his bed immediately to throw up again. But this time, doing so actually left him feeling somewhat human again. He found the stash of peppermint leaves that Yachiru had left for him and slipped one into his mouth. He chewed on it absently as Torio appeared with a cup of ginger tea.
"Good morning, sir," the youth said, looking pleased that Byakuya looked substantially better and that he immediately accepted and started drinking the tea, "Are you hungry this morning?"
"Actually," said the noble, "I am. I think a large breakfast would be good."
"The usual?" Torio asked.
"Hmmm," said Byakuya, "No. Something sweet."
"S-sweet?" said the attendant, blinking, "But Lord Kuchiki…"
"It is well known that pregnancy can stimulate changes in appetite and preference, ne?"
Torio blinked again, then gave him an amiable smile.
"Of course, sir. I forgot. My apologies. Something sweet, then."
"And have Mai make ginger cookies for later."
"Yes, sir."
"Torio?"
"Yes, Lord Kuchiki?"
"A lot of ginger cookies. I would like to attack my hunger and cravings all at once, ne?"
"Of course, Lord Kuchiki," the youth said, smiling affectionately.
Byakuya watched as Torio left, then turned onto his side and looked lazily out into the gardens, enjoying the soft breeze that came in through the open double doors, carrying on it, the scents of flowers and sakura. He sipped at his tea, then slipped another peppermint leaf into his mouth to stave off the return of the nausea.
"You know, lemon drops will help too," announced Yachiru, popping in from the gardens and hopping up on his bed.
"Good morning, Vice Captain," he said, the hint of a smile touching his lips, "What brings you this morning?"
Yachiru grinned.
"You never finished that story you were telling me. But it can wait, because Mai said she would make me pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream. She made me laugh when she said you were having some too. I know Byakushi dislikes sweets."
"But you also know that I am having a baby, ne?" he said, sipping at his tea, then watching in amusement as Yachiru stole the cup from his hand and finished the tea, "And people who are having babies often have odd symptoms like being very hungry or craving certain kinds of foods…"
"And it makes you barf and faint," Yachiru added, reaching into her shihakushou and removing several more fresh peppermint leaves, which she added to the smile pile she had left before.
"Sometimes," Byakuya admitted.
"Kenny likes you," the girl said suddenly.
Byakuya blinked in surprise and felt a soft flush on his cheeks. He tempered the annoyance that the comment instantly brought on and tried to think of a way to change the topic as Yachiru studied him carefully.
"Do you like him back?" she asked, bluntly.
"W-well…" he began, the blush on his face deepening, "If you mean, are we friends, then…"
"I mean, do you like like him?" Yachiru clarified.
"I…" he stammered, wanting to scream 'NO' at the top of his lungs, but holding back because he didn't think it right to dash the girl's obvious hopes.
"He says you're as pretty when you sleep as you are when you are pissed," she reported, looking up and giving a soft, pleased squeal as Torio entered the room, carrying two breakfast trays.
He set one in front of Yachiru, and the other on Byakuya's lap, then bowed and left the room. Byakuya tried to eat properly, but the food smelled so good and his stomach was growling so fitfully that soon, he was eating as eagerly, though not as messily as the girl. Yachiru glanced at him and giggled.
"I guess now wouldn't be a good time for finishing that story, ne?" she laughed.
Byakuya gave her an amused look and shook his head briefly so he wouldn't speak with his mouth full. They finished their breakfast with little more conversation, then Byakuya yielded the promised story, before sending the young vice captain scampering out of his room, and climbing out of bed, himself, to set about getting ready for his day. Torio reappeared and cleared away the breakfast dishes, then met Byakuya in the dressing area, where he quickly set Byakuya's uniform in place, then brushed out his long, black hair and decorated it with the kenseiken. He slipped the haori around the noble's shoulders and placed the fingerless gloves on his hands, then wound the ginpaku kazahana no uzuginu around his throat. He left Kuchiki Manor, feeling much more like himself, and turned towards the first division in a much better mood.
Until people began looking at him…
He was used to people looking at him as he passed, and usually it didn't bother him. But the expressions on their faces were different this time. He tried to ignore it, but as he moved in the direction of the first division, it became obvious that it was not an anomaly. Shingamis were stopping and staring at him strangely as he passed.
Oh, please tell me that barbarian loudmouth didn't get drunk and start making up stories…though nothing could be much more disgraceful than the truth of this…
He quickened his step, trying to reach the first division more quickly, so as to be away from the staring eyes and the whispers his sharp ears picked up as he passed by them.
"Zaraki and him?"
"…got him pregnant?"
"I'm surprised he didn't kill him, but we are talking about Zaraki."
"That's going to be some kid…"
"Kid? Don't you mean, monster?"
"Hope he gets his looks from Kuchiki taichou and not him."
Byakuya moved into flash steps, ignoring the instant ache in his belly that using his powers caused. He arrived at the first division, sweaty, somewhat out of breath, and badly in need of a bathroom. He slipped a peppermint leaf into his mouth to stave off the nausea and flash stepped to the bathroom, where he relieved himself, then spent several minutes convincing his stomach to hold down his breakfast and gently washing his face, before leaving the bathroom and heading for the officers' meeting chambers.
A blush rose on his cheeks as he realized that he was the last to arrive, except for the head captain. He took his place near Captains Kyouraku and Ukitake and avoided looking across at Zaraki, though he felt the other captain's eyes studying him. He noticed an unusual silence in the room and looked up to find that several of the gathered captains were stealing odd looks at him, while Captains Unohana and Ukitake kept their eyes respectfully lowered.
"Well, Kuchiki," said Zaraki, making everyone look up, "Nice of you to show up today. Glad you could stop throwing up for long enough. Just let us know if you need a potty break."
He wasn't sure quite how it happened, but suddenly, he was on the other side of the room, pushing Zaraki up against the wall, and holding his bared zanpakutou to the other captain's throat and glaring into Zaraki's amused eyes.
"Shut up," he said, glowering at the other man, "Or I will kill you. I have had more than enough of you using that abnormally large mouth of yours to disgrace me."
Zaraki's smile widened.
"I don't think that's what I 'disgraced you' with. But okay. We don't have to talk about it, if you don't want to. I think there are still a few people who might not know. Been on reconnaissance or something."
Byakuya's hand tightened on his blade.
"You admit that you've been spreading this around?" he fumed, "Damn you!"
"What?" Zaraki said, looking confused, "What are you talking about. You're the one who was screaming at me about it in the lobby of the fourth. I didn't tell anyone. I didn't have to. You did that all by yourself."
"What is the meaning of this?" demanded the head captain, from just inside the chamber doors, "Put your weapon away, Captain Kuchiki!"
Byakuya glared into Zaraki's eyes as he withdrew the blade from the man's throat and snapped it angrily back into its sheath. He flash stepped back to his place and lowered his eyes, his face flushing madly.
"Sorry," laughed Zaraki, "Lover's quarrel, you know."
It took everything in Byakuya not to cut the man's heart out. But he forced his enraged body to stand still as the head captain walked past and took his place at the head of the room.
"I don't care what your reasons are," Yamamoto went on, "There is no excuse for such behavior! This is not a school playground or bar. When you come here, you will conduct yourselves as is expected of a Gotei 13 captain, not as a couple of juvenile delinquents! Am I making myself clear?"
"Yeah," said Zaraki, his smile not fading in the slightest, "Sorry, Head Captain."
Byakuya felt the heat of the head captain's eyes come to rest on him.
"Byakuya?"
"Yes, Head Captain," he said in a low voice, "I understand."
Byakuya gave a silent sigh of relief as the head captain began the meeting, and the focus shifted away from him. After several minutes, the blush disappeared from his face, and he started to regain some sense of normality. But his peace was all but shattered as the meeting drew towards its conclusion, and the head captain's eyes came to rest on him again.
"And for the final piece of business…Captain Unohana, what is your report on Captain Kuchiki's condition?"
"Head Captain," Byakuya said quietly, "Can we not discuss this more privately? It is a personal matter."
"It may be a personal matter," Yamamoto said, regarding him with measured patience, but as it affects your ability to lead your division, we do need to plan accordingly."
"We're all grown ups here," Zaraki added, "And we all already know about your 'little problem,' so there's no reason to be secretive."
"I am not being secretive," insisted the noble, the blush returning to his cheeks, "I am merely trying to avoid making a spectacle of this."
Zaraki laughed.
"I'd say it's a little too fucking late for that, after your little meltdown in the fourth…but I understand that mood swings are a part of it, right?"
"You bastard!" Byakuya hissed, reaching for his weapon.
"SILENCE!" yelled the head captain, "BOTH OF YOU!"
Byakuya bit his lips and forced his hand to release the hilt of his sword. Zaraki fell silent, but continued to smirk as the head captain went on.
"Captain Unohana?" Yamamoto said, looking at the fourth division captain.
"Captain Kuchiki is late in his first trimester, and so is experiencing nausea, vomiting, dizzy spells and short losses of consciousness…"
"Mood swings," added Zaraki.
"Shut up!" yelled the head captain, "Or I will have you thrown out of my division!"
Byakuya couldn't contain a soft, self-satisfied smirk.
"Oh, you think that's funny, Kuchiki?" asked Zaraki, earning another glare from the head captain.
"Yes," said Byakuya, sedately, "I think it's quite amusing, as a matter of fact."
"Go on, Captain Unohana," the head captain said, glaring at the two of them.
"His symptoms are, for the most part, controllable, but as he moves into the second trimester, because of the intricacies of noble male pregnancy, he will need to have short, nightly bonding sessions with the father of his baby.
"Oh…" said Byakuya, gritting his teeth at the thought, "I think I'm going to be sick."
The exchange of procreative reiatsu will keep Captain Kuchiki's symptoms under enough control so that he can perform all duties except for direct combat. Light sparring with minimal contact and no contact to the abdomen would be acceptable. His abdomen will expand some during the second and third trimester, but will not grow as much as that of a human female. As he nears delivery, he will need to wear a reiatsu limiter to maintain the stability of his reiatsu. He may have flares and fall offs. Delivery will be minimally invasive. The baby's reiatsu will pass through his body and emerge from his abdomen, meaning no need for surgery, and only a short hospitalization to regulate his reiatsu afterward. He will require a month of leave time to regain his full reiatsu and to bond with his new child."
"Very well," said the head captain, nodding, "I want you to leave the requirements for Captain Kuchiki's treatment here with me when you go. I am also placing the sixth division on home detail until after the child is born. Captain Kuchiki, you will inform Captain Abarai as to your needs for leave as necessary, and will leave orders for the month you will be on recuperative leave."
"Yes, Head Captain," said Byakuya.
"This meeting is adjourned," said the head captain, "Captain Zaraki, Captain Kuchiki, I want to see you privately."
Byakuya let out a weary sigh and watched the others leave. His stomach growled and turned at the same time, leaving him feeling weak, and sick and shaky. He closed his eyes and took slow breaths, but only made his head spin ominously. He heard the head captain begin to yell at the two of them, but was relieved at only picking up a few of the words at a fraction of the volume. He heard Yamamoto say his name and started to look up, but the room had darkened and his eyes only registered darkness with a few spots of light. He felt himself falling and was caught and lifted off his feet.
Just don't let it be him…
"Sorry, Head Captain," he heard Zaraki say, "He gets like this sometimes. I'll take him home, then I can come back and let you finish yelling at me. But you should give him a break. He's feeling like hell right now."
"Just get out of here, and take him with you," growled the head captain, "And when the two of you come back here, you will conduct yourselves properly, or I'll have you thrown in the first division jail!"
"Gotcha," muttered Zaraki.
Byakuya could almost feel the eye roll that followed as Zaraki turned away.
"L-let me down…" Byakuya said struggling, "This is…disgraceful!"
"Eh, shut up, will you? I know you don't want a lot of people to see. Tell you what. I'll be nice and use my flash step. How about that?"
"I hate you," Byakuya snarled, his gray eyes flashing, "Put me down!"
Zaraki let out an annoyed sigh and set the noble back on his feet, then watched in amusement as Byakuya managed one step then collapsed into his arms again. The eleventh division captain looked down at Byakuya's calm, relaxed features and shook his head.
"Stubborn ass," he muttered.
He studied the noble's handsome face more closely and sighed.
"I don't know what the hell's wrong with me, but…I kinda like looking at you," Zaraki admitted.
He chuckled softly, ringing the bells on his hair lightly. He flash stepped out of the first division and carried the unconscious noble back to Kuchiki Manor, where he laid him in bed and turned him over to his attendants. He walked out to the front gates of the manor, where Yachiru was waiting.
"Is he okay, Kenny?" the pink-haired girl asked, "I heard he passed out."
"He'll be fine," Zaraki said, smirking, "But why don't you stay here until he wakes up, okay?"
"Okay, Kenny!" Yachiru said happily.
"And hey!" Zaraki called after her, "Don't tell him I put you up to it, all right?"
"I won't!" she promised, disappearing around the corner.
He looked after her for a moment, then shook his head in amusement and flash stepped away.