Chapter 4:

It was getting later and later by the minute. Soon it would be sunset and it would be harder to search for a total stranger in darkness. They had to hurry and find Checkers. It was even harder to do now that a total of 26 Soul Reapers had been effected with the 'baby virus', two of whom were captains and one lieutenant.

At the moment, Ichigo and a few of the others had corralled some of the toddlers into Hitsugaya's office and started a meeting of their own. Rangiku was feeding her captain in a corner while the meeting went on. Yumichika was sitting in front of the window looking out. He kept himself busy most of the time with a vase of roses placed on the windowsill. He kept remarking how beautiful it was. He remarked the same thing about the formation of the clouds in the sky. Byakuya on the other hand was very bored. He lay on the floor, waiting for someone to play with him. Ichigo, Rukia and Renji were all standing in the middle of the room talking.

Unable to take anymore, Byakuya got up and went over to them. He pulled on Ichigo's pant leg. "I'm bored."

Ichigo shooed him away.

"Play with me."

"Yeah, yeah, just a second, just a second…" Ichigo shooed Byakuya away with his hand again. Now was not the time, but Byakuya didn't understand that. He wanted to play now.

Too bad none of these adults seemed to understand that. They were far too busy with their meeting to notice him.

"So you're going to keep me as the babysitter instead of helping?"

"You are helping by doing that, Ichigo."

"Why? How? Because that way they're out of your hair while you go on a wild goose chase? Not fair!"

"Please, you sound just as immature as the kids."

"I mean it! Let me look with you guys. Let someone else handle the kids for a change."

"Oh, so you trust Renji with a task like that? He's pathetic! He'll probably end up killing them."

"Yeah, I know that was a knock at me, but I agree with her. Ichigo, I swear to God I'll kill them."

"Is that a threat or are you planning it?"

Byakuya fussed again, pulling on Ichigo. "Come ooooon!"

"Byakuya, not now. I'll get to you in a second." Ichigo never turned around to look at him. If he had, he would have seen the frustrated look on his face. But he was too busy glaring at Renji to notice. "So what are you saying? I'm not good enough?"

"Yeah, I am! This isn't you job, it's ours."

"That's not what he means, Ichigo."

"Yes, it is."

"No, it's not! Listen, it's dangerous out there and we would feel a lot better if you were to stay here with the kids while we go out there."

"Dangerous? He turns people into freaking toddlers! How scary!"

"It's risky, Ichigo! No one even knows where he is. We have to find him."

"I have just as good a chance as any of you!"

"Shuddup!"

"You shut up, Renji!"

"Both of you shut up!"

Byakuya had had enough. Wanting some attention of his own, and a good time, Byakuya took it upon himself to find his own fun. Walking past the distracted adults, Byakuya opened the office door and went out into the hall.

It was so big from his tiny perspective. Especially with no one around. It was a little scary, but it was also an adventure waiting to happen. Byakuya started walking.

He passed by several doors, visiting each one as he went by. He opened doors, poked his head inside and retreated back into the hallway. Then he started going into the rooms, one by one. These rooms were all so big. He investigated each one. Some had desks and chairs and books. Others had piles of paper and some were completely empty. When he got to an empty one, he used it as his own gymnasium, doing cartwheels and rolling around on the floor. He ran around all four walls, giggling. Soon, it became boring and he went back out into the hall.

He got to the stairs, sliding down them on his backside, one step at a time. He wandered around on the lower levels. This place was so big, wherever he was. He skipped down another hallway, this one leading outside. Once at a wooden bridge connecting two buildings together, Byakuya got down on his knees and crawled, a little scared at how high it was. Once on the other side, he tucked himself into a ball and started rolling. Dizzy and unable to see where he was going, Byakuya came to a stop. Once the hall stopped spinning, he got to his feet and started walking again.

He could hear talking down one of the hallways and decided to get investigate.

"Hisagi!" Kira gasped. His fellow lieutenant had been keeping himself busy with the paperwork. Only, as a toddler, he didn't see it as anything but a toy. "What are you doing?"

The toddler, sitting surrounded by stacks of paper, held up what was in his hand. "Origami."

"With the important documents?"

"Not all of 'em." Hisagi fished around in the pile, pulling out a piece of unfolded paper. "I drawed you this picture." It was Kira's report files covered with Hisagi's childish scribbles. "Ain't it pretty? See? This is a doggy and…"

Kira picked him up and set him off to the side while he cleaned up the papers. That's when he found the new contract cut into tiny pieces and more papers cut in a strange fashion. "Uh, what is this?"

"I cutted it. I was making snowflakes and paper dolls." Hisagi held up one of his masterpieces proudly. "Like it?"

Kira couldn't take anymore. Whatever wasn't scribbled on or folded into poorly made paper cranes were cut to ribbons. He picked up the toddler and put him out into the hall. "Get out!" He slammed the door shut behind him, now in a whole new mess of trouble.

Banished to the hall, Hisagi blinked. That was so sudden. He didn't know what to make of it. What he being punished? It was very unclear. He was so confused.

It was then that Byakuya came toddling over to him. "Hi! Who are you?"

"Shuhei Hisagi. You can just call me Hisagi, though. Everyone else does."

"I'm Byakuya Kuchiki. Nice to meet you. What are you doing out in the hallway like this?"

"I dunno. That man in there just told me to get out."

"Was he mad at you?"

"I don't think so. I didn't do nothing wrong. At least, I don't think I did. He didn't tell me."

"I guess he doesn't want you in that room anymore."

Hisagi got up. "That's fine. What are you doing?"

"Nothing. Just trying to go on an adventure."

"A'venture? I wanna go, too. Please, can I?"

"Sure!" Byakuya pointed down another hall. "Thataway!"

Cheering, Hisagi followed his new leader, both happy to have a playmate.

Back at the office, their meeting had finally come to a close. Ichigo turned around, looking at the floor. "Ok, Byakuya. Now what did you want?" The child wasn't there. He looked around. "Uh, where's Byakuya?"

The others looked around as well. "He was just here a second ago."

"I don't know."

Ichigo looked at the open door and put two and two together. "Oh, no… Crap! He's loose!"

"We have to find him before he gets lost or hurt!"

"So what, we split up or something?"

Rukia pointed to the door. "We'll each take a side. I'll go left, you go right."

"I'll stay here with the baby," Rangiku said, her arms wrapped around Hitsugaya. It looked like he was drifting off to another nap thanks to the milk.

Yumichika was still looking out the window at the clouds.

"Make sure you watch Yumichika as well," Rukia warned. "Let's go, Ichigo."

Meanwhile, Byakuya and his new playmate had wandered outside and found themselves surrounded by unfamiliar things. The white walls were huge! The ground stretched on for miles with no end in sight. This place was amazing! It was like a large playground.

Byakuya ran over to the nearest tree and attempted to climb it. It was short and thin, but there were no branches for him to grab onto to pull himself up. That plan was a fail. That was, until he got a new idea. "Hey, Hisagi. Come here a second." Hisagi stood in front of him looking curious. "Get down on the ground and help me get up here."

Hisagi got down on all fours and allowed Byakuya to climb on his back. Now a few inches taller, Byakuya made another attempt to climb the small tree. He could reach the lowest branch. Wrapping his tiny fingers around it, he tried to pull himself up. Feeling Byakuya's feet leave his back, Hisagi moved aside to watch.

Without Hisagi beneath him, Byakuya's body dangled, both hands on the branch. It flexed and bowed, making Byakuya feel like a yoyo. "Hey, look at me! This is fun!" Byakuya bounced, the branch bending and slowly bouncing back, making Byakuya move up and down slowly. He giggled and pulled harder on the branch. He wanted to go faster. The branch moved up and down, some of the leaves beginning to fall. Byakuya gave it a few more tugs and the branch snapped, sending him falling to the ground.

"Are you ok?" Hisagi worried, coming over to him.

Byakuya sat up on the ground, broken branch still clutched in his hand. He felt a lot like crying. That was pretty scary. He fell so suddenly.

Something distracted him out of the corner of his eye. Forgetting all about what had happened just a moment ago, Byakuya looked up. "Did you see that?"

Hisagi turned around. "No. What it a monster?"

Suddenly curious and hungry for adventure, Byakuya got to his feet to investigate. "Let's find out."

Upstairs, Yumichika was getting bored with the sky and wanted to find something more entertaining. He turned around and looked at Rangiku and the baby. "Hey, you…" he said, forgetting the woman's name. "Can you play with me? I'm bored."

"Yeah, yeah, in a minute." She was too busy looking at the adorable baby in her arms.

That was grown-up talk for never and he knew that. Annoyed, Yumichika tried to think of something else that could be fun. "Can I hold the baby?"

"No, you're too little."

He pouted. "Am not..!"

Rangiku ignored him and stroked the baby's face while he sucked his thumb. He was just too cute!

Yumichika frowned and looked back out the window. "Hm?" There were two other kids around his age running around outside. It looked like they were having fun. He wanted to have some fun, too. Possible playmates. He looked back at the woman. "Can I go play?"

"Hm? Yeah, yeah. Sure. Go ahead." She never even looked up at him.

Pleased that he had been given permission, Yumichika climbed down from the chair he was on and went out the open door into the hallway. He came to the nearest staircase and sat down at the top. He slid down slowly on his butt one step at a time. It was slow going, but it was less scary that way. He didn't want to fall. When he made it to the bottom step, he jumped down and went to the nearest door. He stood on his toes and slid it open with both hands. It was hard to do because of his small size. This kind of thing was easy for an adult.

With the door finally open, Yumichika ran outside in search of the other children.

Rukia had finished her sweep of the left side of the building and returned to the office to see if her brother had been found. When she entered the room, she found Rangiku trying to burp her captain now that he had finished his milk. She looked around and noticed that they were short one toddler.

"Um… where's Yumichika?"

"Playing."

Rukia frowned. "Where?"

Rangiku looked around the room. "No idea. But I said he could."

Rukia groaned. Yet another baby to find. "I'll look outside, then…"

By this time, the little boys had wandered far away from the building in pursuit of imaginary evildoers. Byakuya took the lead and led them far off down another wide street. Soon they found themselves at something that took their breath away. A cliff. The only way to get across was to take the long narrow bridge in front of them. The other side looked like a lot of fun, but none of them were willing to brave it at first.

Wanting to look cool, Byakuya started across the bridge, hoping the others would join him soon. After a few steps forward, Byakuya looked down and his knees locked. It was so far down! If he fell from this height, he would be killed. He couldn't even see the bottom. Gulping, Byakuya slid to his knees, sitting where he was. He was too scared to move a muscle.

In reality, the bridge was about seven feet wide and Byakuya didn't even take up one-forth of that space. Still, to him, if he moved even an inch, he would tumble off the edge, despite being in the center.

The children behind him began to call him back. They were worried for his safety. Byakuya slowly moved his head to look behind. He was only three feet away from them, but in his mind, he may as well have been miles away. Whimpering, Byakuya ever so slowly turned his body around, spinning on his knees like a top and faced back the way he came. He started to crawl, inch by inch, back towards them. The other toddlers held their breath.

After a crawl that lasted nearly two minutes, Byakuya was back on land and off the bridge. Wanting to appear cool as well as brave, he quickly stood up to take a bow as if it were no big deal. He faced danger like that all the time.

This got Hisagi thinking. "I bet I could go further than you!" He ran to the edge of the bridge and looked over the side. His enthusiastic smile slowly faded away and he turned back around, looking frightened. "N- never mind…"

Yumichika clapped for Byakuya. "You're so brave! That was cool! You made it almost to the other side!" He really hadn't; not even close, but from Yumichika's tiny persective, it sure seemed it to him. He was very impressed.

Someone landed behind them causing the toddlers to jump. It was a woman.

"Rukia!" Byakuya ran to her and wrapped himself around her leg.

"What are you all doing out here? You could have gotten hurt!"

The boys hung their heads guiltily. "Sorry…"

"Come on, let's get you back. We have snacks and things for you."

As she carried them all back in her arms, Byakuya and the other boys all started talking at once, telling her about their adventure. She got them all back to the room safely and treated them all to some milk and apple slices. They continued to talk excitedly about the fun time they had. Rukia sat with them, listening. Her brother was so adorable like this. She had never seen him smiles so brightly.

After their snack and all was quiet, the worn out toddlers started to get drowsy. Hisagi was falling asleep at the table where he sat. Rukia spread a blanket down on the floor for them to use as a bed. Hisagi and Yumichika didn't complain at all. They were tired and knew it. Byakuya put up a bit of a fuss, but quieted when he saw that the others were taking a nap as well. No games for now.

Ichigo came back into the room to find the kids he was looking for fast asleep on the floor. He let out a groan and sat down on the couch. "Do you have any idea what I went through to try to find them? I was looking in ditches and just about any place they could get their heads stuck or chopped off!"

Rukia shushed him. "You'll wake them up."

"… Sorry."

Yumichika tugged on the blacket covering Byakuya, wanting more for himself. He snuggled his face against Byakuya's chest, using him as a pillow. Hisagi burrowed himself into Yumichika's back, curled into a little ball. Byakuya yawned and rested his head on top of Yumichika's. At least they were quiet.

Soon, Hitsugaya who had been sleeping all this time began to wake up with a faint cry. Not wanting to wake the other children, Rangiku took him out into the hall. His bright eyes opened and fell on her in an instant. He stared at her quietly.

"Good morning, little guy," she said sweetly.

Immediately, he started to fuss.

"Oh. Oh, dear… What's wrong?"

His fussing grew louder and more urgent. He started to whine. It grew in pitch. She tried to rock him but nothing helped.

"What? What to you want?"

He started crying.

"What?" She was clueless here. What could he be trying to tell her? She stuck her head back into the office to call for Ichigo. He stood up and crept out of the room, not wanting to wake the others. "He's fussing an awful lot. I don't know what's wrong with him."

Ichigo looked at the baby, wriggling around in her arms and looking very uncomfortable. He kicked his legs straight out and tried to roll onto his side towards Rangiku, now beginning to cry louder. Ichigo looked back at Rangiku. "I think he might need changing."

She shoved him towards Ichigo. "Take him. All yours."

"I don't think so!" Ichigo shoved him back. "You have to learn how to do this when I'm not around! What, are you gonna just let him sit in it?"

"But it's gross!"

"It can't be helped!"

Rukia stuck her head into the hall. "Take it somewhere else!" She slammed the door shut.

Anymore noise and the others would awaken.

Ichigo took Rangiku and the baby into the next office they could find. Ichigo pushed all the papers off the desktop and set Hitsugaya down on his back, ready to change him. Rangiku watched Ichigo's work.

"How often are you supposed to change him?"

"Whenever he needs it," Ichigo answered.

"So… like, four times a day? Five times?"

"Whenever he needs it," he repeated, annoyed. He stripped off Hitsugaya's dirty diaper and applied the fresh one. By this time, Hitsugaya had started to calm himself. He watched Ichigo quietly, sucking his thumb. When Ichigo was finished, he dressed him back into his baby clothes and let out a sigh. "You know, I don't enjoy doing this…"

"But you're so good at it!" Rangiku smiled. But sweet-talking wasn't going to work on Ichigo.

He shot her a look. "It wouldn't kill you to learn, too! I'm only good at it because I practiced on my little sisters. Mom would make me stand by them if she had to leave the room so I would watch. And since I knew she wouldn't pay attention to me until it was done, I helped her out to make it go faster…" He smiled at the memory of the very first time he did it all by himself, his mother saying how proud she was of him. He loved the praise. It felt good.

Bored with laying on the hard surface, Hitsugaya fussed. When the adults looked down, he reached up with both hands, asking to be picked up. He wanted up.

Ichigo got the message and lifted Hitsugaya off the table and into his chest. Hitsugaya snuggled him at once. He sucked his thumb and looked around the room innocently.

There was a pop and Ichigo almost fell forward, the older version of Hitsugaya now in his arms. The captain became aware of his surroundings almost at once and gave Ichigo a glare. "Put. Me. Down. Now." Hitsugaya growled through his teeth.

Ichigo set him on the floor, gladly.

"Oh, Captain! You're back!" his lieutenant cooed.

He paid her little attention. He looked around the room. "What happened?"

"You turned into a baby again."

"I'm aware of that. I meant what happened with that man with the odd name. Was he caught yet? Where is he now?"

He shrugged. "No one really knows."

Hitsugaya let out a disappointed sigh. He actually looked kind of sad by the news.

Back in the adjacent office, there were several more pops and the sleeping toddlers returned to their adult forms. All sprawled on top of each other sharing a blanket.

Byakuya's eyes opened first, looking down. Yumichika was laying on his chest, Hisagi on top of him. His eye twitched. Yumichika's head lifted off the captain's chest, looking around.

"What on earth happened to me?"

Hisagi sat up, hoping that no one noticed that he had been cuddling Yumichika moments ago. "I, um… think this is the um… the um… captain's office. Hitsugaya's I mean…"

"Yes, but why are we here?" Yumichika sat up, rubbing his head. "I feel strange… I feel as if a large chunk has been taken from my memory."

"Strange… I feel that way, too…" Hisagi blinked. "Wait! I understand now. We must have just been transformed into our childhood selves. Just like the captain, remember?"

Yumichika scoffed. "I seriously doubt that. I would know whether or not something like that had happened."

"Well, it did," Rukia said, getting up from the couch. "All of you were just toddlers a moment ago."

"Why are we on the ground, though?"

"Because you needed a nap."

Byakuya was already on his feet, walking around to the other side of the office as if he wanted to gain as much distance as he could from them. "It would seem that our memory gaps are from us reverting back to our childhood forms. We're going back in time, physically and mentally. So it would make sense that we don't remember what's happened during that time. We're unaware of what our other selves are doing at that time."

"So every time we change ages, we're not gonna remember it?"

"Why would we? It's someone else at the time, not ourselves. But then when we revert back, we pick up right where we left off last before the transformation."

"And visa versa, it would seem," Rukia said. "Brother, you didn't remember being an adult at all. Which would make sense because you weren't a captain at that time. But you believed that you were living at home with your parents, playing a game. You didn't know who any of us were."

"Which makes sense."

Hisagi looked out the window. "All that aside, let's get one thing straight, ok? If we want to stop these random uncontrollable changes, we have to find that man, correct?"

"If he's the cause of it, then that would only make sense."

Byakuya looked back at Rukia, as the only one of them who hasn't shown any signs of change yet. "What's the situation? How is everyone's progress?"

"Well…" She hesitated.

In truth, there wasn't much to report. Since more and more people were starting to revert back to childhood, all attention was now focused on taking care of them. Children were a handful. So far only 1/3 of Soul Reapers were looking for that man. Everyone was either a child themselves or taking care of one. Squad 4 alone was a madhouse. Most of the Soul Reapers didn't know the first thing about taking care of a small child. Many of those clueless ones were going to Squad 4 for help, using it as a daycare center or begging for help. Soul Reapers were running around everywhere. There was a lot of yelling and chasing after children; the whole division couldn't possibly have time for anything else.

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