So here's chapter 7…

I read it and it wasn't that good, but I think it's ok…

Please Enjoy….


One Lost One Gained

I really can't have both, can't I? It's either one or the other. That night I lost Shuuhei but I got Byakuya. Now I have Shuuhei and I lost Byakuya. I really am selfish.

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This really is for the best, Renji thought as he saw the house Shuuhei had just bought.

"Well? Do you like it?" Shuuhei asked, his arms wide open and gestured for Renji to come into his embrace.

"Do I like it? Shuuhei, it's beautiful." Renji replied as he hugged Shuuhei.

The house was simple. It was located just outside of the dirty roads of Rukongai and it was beside a river. You could see the sunrise in the East and the sunset in the West. Renji looked at the setting sun and could not help but find it beautiful, but he also could not help looking sad.

" Renji, what's wrong?"

Renji almost had tears in his eyes but fought to hold them back.

"It's just… I don't know if I'm gonna be a good parent. I mean, it's not normal for a man to have a kid and… and…"

"Would you cut that out?" Shuuhei told Renji. "We both know you're gonna be a great parent."

"But I'm not ready for this…"

"Renji, it's okay. You have me remember?" Shuuhei reminded Renji. "Besides you're just having mood swings and anxieties. Unohana-taichou said that was normal. Especially for a first time mother."

With Shuuhei's reassurance, Renji felt much better and he hugged the other man tighter.

"You're right." Renji finally said.

"I am, so just relax. You wouldn't want the baby getting stressed out 'cause of you." Shuuhei chuckled.

"Yea… " Renji agreed. "Just… Shuuhei, I'm still not used to being called a mother. After all, I did spend all my life knowing I was a normal guy."

"Don't worry. Let's spend these following months getting you used to it." Shuuhei said as he gently kissed Renji.

Renji was happy but deep inside he knew that there was something wrong with this picture.

Shouldn't it be him that's with me and kissing me right now?

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"No! Please don't take my baby away from me," he cried out desperately at the men who took his child.

"This child is the heir to our clan. We cannot have you raise this child up the way you want. He must be disciplined and brought up properly," said one of the men.

"Please, don't. I was the one who gave life to him. I was the one who suffered in labour."

"But it takes two to make a child, doesn't it? Therefore, I have as much rights to this child as you have. I am the father, am I not? And because I am this child's father I have the right to choose how he will be raised!"

Renji was silenced and the men continued to leave. He was left to cry. He knew he was never going to see his child again.

"No!!!" Renji cried out loud, grabbing onto the sheets; his eyes were filled with tears.

"Renji! What's wrong?" Shuuhei asked as he grabbed the half-asleep Renji and hugged him tight.

"No! Don't! Please don't!"

"Renji, wake up!"Shuuhei yelled at Renji .

At this, Renji woke up, clinging tightly to Shuuhei. He was shaking.

"Renji, its ok it's just a dream."

"No Shu… Shuuhei…" Renji said. His eyes were wide open and he stopped crying.

"It was just a dream." Shuuhei said again.

"Shuuhei?" Renji whispered.

"What is it?"

"Promise me you won't let them take my baby away."

Shuuhei wasn't sure who 'they' was and why 'they' wanted to take away Renji's baby, but all he knew was that promising this to Renji would make Renji feel better. And so he did.

"I promise Renji. They won't take our child away." Shuuhei assured the man, stroking his hear and back lightly and lulling the other man back to sleep.

Renji's strange behavior and dreams made Shuuhei more curious.

Who really is the father of this child?

Shuuhei really wanted to know who it was but he knew that it was a sensitive topic for Renji. But he knew that the child will come to know him as the father; and that was enough for him.

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On gloomy days and when Shuuhei was away, Renji would look out the window and stare out into the open. His arms were wrapped protectively around his tummy, as if this small gesture would protect the growing being inside of him.

He sat down and started to sing a song he had heard when he was a little child. And now he was singing it to his unborn child.

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine

You make me happy when skies are grey

You'll never know dear how much I love you

Please don't take my sunshine away.

He kept singing this part of the song; repeating it over and over again as if it was a chant. He sang it till he fell asleep.

When Shuuhei came home, he found Renji sitting near the window fast asleep.

He came closer to the sleeping man, careful not to make any noise, and carried him into the bedroom. He gently put Renji down on the bed and looked at his sleeping face.

He looks better now.

Shuuhei was happy to have a family. He and Renji are going to be parents.

Shuuhei gently touched Renji's abdomen and smiled to himself. Slowly, he put his head on Renji's tummy and tried to feel anything, anything at all. Nothing really happened, but he did feel warmth. And slowly like that, he fell asleep.

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When Renji woke up, he felt a weight on his stomach. He gently got up and found Shuuhei sleeping. He gently touched Shuuhei's hair. This gentle movement was enough to wake up Shuuhei.

"Renji…" Shuuhei said as he nuzzled into Renji's stomach.

"What is it?" Renji asked.

"Do you want a boy or a girl?"

Renji thought for a moment. He had never thought about it yet.

"I dunno…"Renji said. "A boy maybe, so we can raise him to become a great shinigami. Or a girl would be nice. I really don't know. What about you?"

"Boy or girl, it doesn't matter. As long as this child completes our family, I will be satisfied." Shuuhei replied.

"Then why'd you ask in the first place?"

"No particular reason." Shuuhei chuckled.

Renji smiled warmly.

"I hope the child looks like you though." Shuuhei added.

"Yeah I do too."

I really do. If this child looks like me, that man's features will not be seen. If my child ends up looking like him, I will always be reminded of that one night. That one night when he decided to love me.

"But if possible, I want our child to look like you."

"Me?" Shuuhei asked. "Yeah, I know. So this kid'll grow up to be one hot stud."

Renji laughed at what Shuuhei said.

"Right… if our kid really turns out to be a boy." Renji reminded him.

"Yeah. But if it turns out to be a girl I'm sure she'll be pretty."

"I hope so."

"Renji, our child will be beautiful."

"Yeah," Renji smiled. "Of course."

Shuuhei sat up to give Renji a gentle kiss and when he pulled away, he said. "Oh, Unohana-taichou reminded me that you have an appointment with her next week."

"What?" Renji was surprised.

"Don't worry about it."

"Do I have to go there?"

"She said she'll come here."

Renji was relieved. He was afraid to go to the Sereitei because he might see his former captain. And if Byakuya knew he was pregnant, he will know that it's his.

"Oh okay."

"Okay. I'm gonna cook now. Do you want anything in particular?" Shuuhei asked.

"Umm… not really. Anything you cook is great." Renji replied with a smile.

"Flattery'll get you nowhere." Shuuhei joked.

Renji grabbed Shuuhei's sleeve and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Well how about that?"

"That gets you a long way." Shuuhei chuckled. "I love you." And kissed Renji softly.

"I love you too." Renji said when they both pulled back.

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Okay this chapter was kinda messy…

Anyways I hope you guys still like it.

Does anyone have suggestions on the baby's name?

Please tell me… I still don't have any idea on that part.

(The song Renji was singing is old. My mom laughed at me when I sang that out loud. I'm not that old. The version I was thinking of was Anne Murray's.)