Chapter Four - Living with the Abarai's
Byakuya had to excuse himself from the fourth division, not for any reason other than the fact that watching Yoruichi, Miki and Renji made his heart clench, for the first time in decades he felt lonely.
He knew he had Rukia and the Kurosaki brat to keep him company even during times he wanted to be alone, yet it had been unexpectedly painful watching the three. He wanted what Renji had; a family of his own, he wanted a daughter who was playful and cunning yet intelligent and promising… like Miki, he wanted someone to laugh with and tease like Renji had Yoruichi.
True he had thought about having kids but he really wasn't ready to remarry, it wasn't as though he was still in Love with Hisana and couldn't fall in love again, it was that despite the fact that he still loved Hisana and would always will, he didn't think he would ever find someone who could make him feel like she did. He had considered courtship and having a family but had never really given it much thought as he really couldn't see himself falling in love. Watching Renji's 'family' made him feel like he had nothing, he might be the Kuchiki clan leader but compared to Renji he had nothing.
He knew it would be selfish of him to ask Renji to let him spend some time with Miki, he didn't deserve a daughter he had neglected for seven years even if he didn't know of her existence, he knew male Nobles were able of having a child with another male, yet he was reckless in assuming the night with his lieutenant had no consequences.
Rukia and Ichigo weren't blind, they noticed the look of longing, hurt and guilt on Byakuya's face as he left the 4th division, it was obvious that the reason for his gloom was the family scene in front of them. Ichigo couldn't help but feel like this was all Byakuya's fault, sure it wasn't as though the Noble knew about the kid, but Ichigo still felt as though Byakuya could have done something.
In the Kuchiki manor, Byakuya was in his calligraphy room, trying to clear his thoughts when he felt the familiar presence he knew all too well, the same one that gave him headaches when he was younger.
"Byakuya-boy."
"Yoruichi, what do you want?"
"You should talk to him you know."
"I have no idea what you are talking about, are you merely here to waste my time, or is there something important you wish to discuss with me?"
"You haven't changed a bit. Why haven't you spoken to Renji about Miki? She's still your daughter you know."
"I wouldn't want to overstep my boundaries, I'm sure Renji wants nothing to do with me."
"He's not like that and you know it, years ago he might have, he's not the brash lieutenant you used to know, he's a grown man who understands how you feel better than you think."
"Clearly I know nothing about him, he couldn't possibly know how I feel, he has you and the child, I neglected them both, he is probably angry at me." Yoruichi laughed.
"You think he's angry at you? Byakuya you have no idea what he has been through because of you, but believe me he isn't angry at you."
"He should be. I shouldn't have neglected them, I should have looked for him when he suddenly disappeared, I don't deserve to be a part of his family."
"Well if you ever decided to stop blaming yourself for the past and finally make a move, he's looking for a place to stay, you could help him get a place.. or let him stay at the Manor, you would be able to get closer to Miki that way." Before he could respond she was already gone.
Renji was beyond surprised when Byakuya had offered him back his rank as lieutenant, he wasn't sure what made his Taichou have a change of heart, because seven years ago, he would have gotten a lengthy speech on abiding by the rules and probably would be put in 3rd seat at best... if Byakuya was feeling generous.
"Taichou, thanks a lot."
"I hope I do not regret it Abarai."
"You won't."
"I heard you were looking for an apartment."
"Yea, it's nice staying at Kyōraku-Sotaichou's place and all, but I wouldn't want to become a burden on him by staying there for a long time. It's nice that he gets along well with Miki still I don't want to trouble him.
"A valid reason, you could stay at the Kuchiki manor, it is spacious and it would be economical for you than getting an apartment, besides Kurosaki practically lives there, and with Rukia and him she would have constant company."
"Thanks for the offer Taichou but I can't do that, you already helped in with central 46, and gave me back my seat, I can't stay at your place after all that."
"Abarai, if I had felt that you would be a burden to me I wouldn't have asked."
"Taichou, it's not just that, Miki is kinda loud and hyperactive in the morning, I don't think you would like all the noise." Byakuya frowned, did Renji think Kyōraku-Sotaichou could handle a kid and he couldn't? he would have him know that he had cousins with kids who came to the manor quite often, and he could tolerate the noise and disturbances just fine.
"Renji, I'm sure it's nothing I can't handle."
"Um, okay? Can we move in on Friday, she kinda likes Kyōraku-Sotaichou and I wouldn't want to make her leave so suddenly?" Byakuya nodded in response.
It turned out Renji wasn't joking about Miki being hyperactive in the morning, Ichigo had stayed over at the Kuchiki manor (At this point it couldn't be called staying over, since he practically lived there), he was surprised when a blur of red buzzed past him, he blinked trying to figure out what had happened, he turned and found Byakuya and Rukia looking at him in curiously, probably wondering the same thing as he was.
"Oi, Miki go take a bath." A shirtless Renji called out, he was dressed only in loose white Pajamas pants, his red hair was unbound, messy and flowing down his neck, Byakuya found it hard not to stare. Ichigo of course had noticed Byakuya staring at his friend and smirked.
"No…"
"Dammit, I don't have the energy to chase you around today." He was still sleepy and was hoping to to back to bed to sleep for a few more minutes.
"That's because you are old." Miki replied sticking out her tongue, while giggling and jumping about.
"I'm not old, just sleepy." Ichigo and Rukia wondered how she could have all that energy.
"Eh, daddy what were you doing last night." Byakuya was amused, he could get used to waking up to this every day.
"I did nothing last night, don't look at me like that, please go take a bath, so I can go sleep for a few more minutes."
"Noooooooooo."
"Dammit, you little brat." Another blur of red and Byakuya was wondering which of them was the adult.
The two redheads chased each other endlessly until Renji got tired, all trace of sleepiness already gone.
"Fine let's make a deal, if you go take your bath quietly, I'll grant you one request."
"I can ask for anything?"
"Eh… as long as it's reasonable."
"Wow, Renji you have to bribe your daughter." Ichigo asked mockingly.
"It's not bribery it's called a peace-offering."
"Sure…" Ichigo replied disbelieving.
"Can I train with squad 11?"
"NO FUCKING WAY!"
"Language dad." Renji snorted.
"You are smart enough to know not to curse, and there is no way in hell I'm letting you train at the 11th" Byakuya could see the understanding in that statement, she did seem like a child who was smart enough to know what to do and what not to do.
"Why not." She whined.
"Believe me, they'll kill you, now stop pouting. It's for your own good… oh come on give me a break here… fine I'll talk to Ikkaku." Ichigo looked at Renji in disbelief, his kid had him wrapped around her finger.
"Can I get another request?"
"No way, go take a bath." She pouted hoping he would change his mind, seeing that it wasn't working she held her breath, her face slowly turning light pink. "oi what are you doing? Are you seriously threatening me by holding your breath? Fine I'll listen what do you want." Ichigo shook his head wondering how Renji got so soft; Byakuya was enjoying watching the father-daughter interaction.
"I want to learn a new fighting style."
"No fucking way in hell! You can barely use your Shikai, master that first."
"B-but, That's not fair, I just want to learn kickboxing, it would be cool to mix both."She whined, Ichigo rolled his eyes at her behavior.
"I'll think about it, now go take a bath, thanks to you I won't be able to sleep for a few minutes."
"Renji you are spoiling her." Rukia decided to intervene, she couldn't believe Renji let her get away with whatever she wanted. Miki however glared at her in retaliation, she still hadn't forgiven Rukia for getting her dad arrested.
"She's not that spoilt."
"She is." Ichigo retorted
"She's not."
"She is."
"What are you two? Kids?" Rukia yelled pulling their ears. she made a mental note to try to talk to the little girl, as she was really hoping they could be friends.
Breakfast was different from usual, the atmosphere was relaxed and homey, it felt like they were one big family. Miki was making bratty comments at Ichigo, Rukia was trying to calm Ichigo down, and Renji was laughing at the two while Byakuya watched with a smile.
"Oh daddy aunty Yoruichi told me to tell you to eat well."
"Why..?" Renji was getting a bad feeling about this.
"Well I told her we'll be staying with Kuchiki-san, she told me to make sure you're eating well so the babies will be healthy." At this point Renji choked on his eggs, Ichigo and Rukia turned red, Byakuya's eyes widened a light blush on his cheeks at the implications of her statement.
"What the hell! There are no babies. I don't have the time or money to have another brat, you are exhausting enough." Surprisingly Miki nodded in understanding, neither Renji nor Miki noticed the hurt and guilt that flashed on Byakuya's face. Ichigo and Rukia did though.
"I don't want you to have a baby."
"Why not?" Ichigo asked, most kids would be happy to have a brother or sister.
"Well I don't want to share daddy and…"
"Selfish brat." Ichigo cut in.
"That's not the only reason, I'm sure it was hard for daddy to raise me alone, I don't think it would be good for him to have another child." Ichigo's nodded in understanding, he knew it must have been difficult for Renji to raise a kid on his own, even though he had Urahara and Yoruichi, looking at Byakuya he saw the look of longing on his face, he knew that If Renji was to have another Kid Byakuya wouldn't make the same mistake as before... well that was if the two stop avoiding the pink elephant in the room and talked about Miki as well as clear the awkward sexual tension between them.
"Well don't worry I'm not having another brat."
"Oh, and aunty Yoruichi also said you should use those rubber thingy, just in case." Renji's face went red, Ichigo and Rukia gaped in disbelief.
"Renji, what the hell does Yoruichi teach her anyway?"
"Trust me you don't want to know."
"She gave me some, but when I showed it to uncle Kyō-chan, he laughed."
"You showed Kyōraku-Sotaichou? Oh shit I'm screwed! This is so humiliating."
"Don't worry, he didn't mind, he refused to tell me what it's for though."
"At least someone is sane enough to know what not to tell a kid." Rukia and Ichigo were laughing at Renji, and Renji was sure Miki was also laughing, at least she did a better job of hiding her laugh than the other two.
Turning to Byakuya he asked "Um, Taichou can I use the kitchen."
"Renji you can call me by my name when we are not at work, and you don't need to ask for my permission you can do as you please. What do you need the kitchen for anyway?"
"Um… To pack Miki's lunch box." Byakuya raised an eyebrow.
"You cook?" Renji nodded in response. "The servants can prepare it for you, but if you insist you can go ahead."
"Thanks, Oi Miki what do you want for lunch."
"Fish!"