Notes: this chapter is short, but sometimes short is more effective, and I PROMISE you its sweet. Though Muramasa does act more like Light Yagami for a moment there.
Ichigo was awakened in the wee hours of the morning by a wave of intense nausea. "SHIT!" He hissed, getting up and running to the bathroom. He groaned, throwing up his rather large and romantic dinner, a dinner Byakuya had made specially for him.
When the nausea finally stopped, Ichigo washed his face, swished his mouth out with listerine, and then went back to bed, curling up next to Byakuya. A few minutes later he was sleeping soundly.
About five minutes after him, Byakuya got up, looking rather green, and pretty much headlong flash stepped into the bathroom and threw up. And it would have been amusing had Ichigo known that Byakuya did the exact same thing. Washed his face, washed his mouth out with listerine, and went back to bed, pulling Ichigo close and curling his body around him.
When Ichigo woke up the next morning he felt like he'd been hit by a truck. His head was pounding. And it wasn't just that morning, as he and Byakuya went about their business for the next two weeks until his appointment with Unohana.
And Byakuya was feeling similarly lousy, but he knew what was going on. Ichigo absolutely had no clue. But Unohana only said "good chance" not a certainty, and he didn't remember what it was like when Masaki had Karin and Yuzu, he was too young.
Then he woke up one night, after two weeks of consistent nausea, the clock on the wall said 2 am. Ichigo ran to the bathroom, and as he was throwing up, he felt two strong, comforting arms encircle his chest. "B... B... Byakuya I'm sorry I... I've been sick this whole time and I... I didn't want to bother you. Its just an upset stomach..."
Byakuya blinked, didn't he realize that what he was having could be morning sickness? "Ichigo... tell me, have you had your cycle yet?"
"My what? Wha the heck?" Ichigo was half asleep, his mind not really functioning.
"You mean you didn't even..." Byakuya just shook his head. "Ichigo, darling, you didn't stop to think that you could be pregnant?"
"WHAAAAAAAAAAT??? Oh shit, I forgot... oh my god... Byakuya I..." He threw his arms around Byakuya, burying his face in the other's chest. "I can't believe I didn't put two and two together." He sighed.
Byakuya wrapped his arms around Ichigo. "Scared?"
"Very. Damnit, why'd I have to sleep with someone who was a total dick to me in my normal form?"
"Do you plan to keep it?"
"Probably." Ichigo sighed. "My name means 'one who protects' I would... and want to... protect my child, or children, I definitely want to have more than one."
"Would you... want to have one with me?" byakuya asked, hesitantly. His heart began to pound, sweating slightly.
"Of course!" Ichigo wrapped his arms around his koi. "I love you Byakuya. But... I'm scared, I.." he sighed. "I want to be with you, but I'm not going to abort, I'm going to have it." And Byakuya knew that for Ichigo that was the end of the matter.
"I don't think I could do the same..." Byakuya said with a sad sigh. "Your heart is so naturally large and loving."
"So is yours." Ichigo said quietly. "Are you willing to love this..."
He was about to say "love this child even though its not related to you." But Byakuya cut him off. "Yes. Renji is Nakama, I would be... improper not to."
The two of them stared at each other in silence, Ichigo felt like he was drowning in Byakuya's eyes. For all the smoldering passion they regarded him with, they looked kind of... sad...
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing Ichigo..."
"Is it /her/?"
Byakuya realized that he had to lie, yes, not being able to have children with Hisana saddened him, but it was not the reason why he was depressed. "no its not... well its sort of her... but right now my interest is in you, and in healing the past. Now we need to get some sleep. I have an annoying duty tomorrow and I want to be alert when I perform it. And I would like you with me."
"Alright."
Senbonzakura had spent the last two weeks spending with and enjoying as much time with his son as he could. The child zanpakuto was a child, with an angelic face and long dark hair, with powerful black leathery wings, pointed ears, and pointed teeth. He suspected that whatever zanpakuto this child of his was a vampire type, though he did kind of resemble Byakuya as well. But despite the ominous physical appearance, his son, who hadn't discovered his own name yet, and probably never would, took, he was a sweet boy, helpful and curious. And while Senbonzakura tried very hard to do the right thing, and treasure the time they had together, he would give anything to save the child he would never get to know.
He heard rumors from the zanpakuto of those also hit with the kido about what they were doing with their own offspring.
Hitsugaya enjoyed interacting with the baby's zanpakuto, glad that he'd have the chance to observe something most men would never get to experience. And while its mischief concerned Hyourinmaru, the dragon was in every way a doting papa.
Wabisuke was in a similar boat to Senbonzakura, but was enjoying what time he would have with his baby. The zanpakuto was serene, realizing that it was his child, or Izuru's and by extension /his/ life. He would have another chance, it just wasn't safe now.
And Zangetsu was a constant comfort to Senbonzakura, often coming to visit him though he never brought his own offspring with him. And eventually, one night after Senbonzakura's son was asleep, the two zanpakuto responded to their owner's ardent love making in kind, the beautiful, masked zanpakuto and the dark, doleful old man, sharing in comfort, strength, and passion. It was the most uplifting, powerful, incredible emotion the masked zanpakuto had ever felt.
But Senbonzakura wanted... safety for the nameless vampire like zanpakuto that was his child. He wanted it desperately. And as Byakuya's appointment with Unohana was tomorrow, Senbonzakura was more than a little on edge.
"So what's down here?" Ichigo asked as he followed Byakuya underground.
"This is the crypt where Koga Kuchiki's belongings are kept." Byakuya replies. "Including fragments of his zanpakuto, which was broken in half upon his death. We have one half, the other lies with him. However, Koga was extremely dangerous, the clan elder fears what would happen if Koga's zanpakuto's power escaped the crypt. Muramasa has shown signs of life, even though his owner has gone to the grave. He is easily the most dangerous zanpakuto in the history of the soul society. Even more dangerous than the Commander General's. Koga had great power and charisma, and he suffered for it, and for not being able to maturely handle his gifts." Byakuya replied.
"So this Koga was a traitor."
"Yes, though its not a clear cut case. His elders framed him, but the evidence would have shown him innocent if he had /waited/ for it to be reviewed by the captain commander. Instead of patiently waiting for the incident to sort itself out he went on the rampage, killing hundreds of shinigami in the process, and my grandfather, who was sixth captain then, was charged with the duty of killing him. We were unable to retrieve all of his zanpakuto, but the fragment of Muramasa we /did/ retrieve has shown signs of life, and viability to this day. If your Zangetsu shows any signs of confusion, /leave/ immediately. You have my permission to run. I will not hold it against you."
"Thanks." Ichigo said sarcastically as they approached an altar. "Its that serious?"
"yes."
"What did this Muramasa do anyway?" Ichigo peered over Byakuya's shoulder. What he saw was half a Katana, bound by tiny, golden threads of energy to a stone altar.
"Muramasa was able to materialize his enemy's zanpakuto, then force it to fight against its owner. If he got to you, he would turn the power of your zangetsu against you in a heartbeat. That is a massive power to be unleashed in the seireitei, and it only takes one zanpakuto powerful enough, possessed, for him to get free and attack the others." byakuya replied. "These threads hold his power in place."
"They seem so... delicate."
"yes, they are actually quite powerful." Byakuya mused.
"So what do we do here?"
"I must inspect the alter for signs that the seal is breaking or cracking, make offerings to the spirit in hopes of placating him, and make sure nothing else of Koga's is showing signs of carrying Muramasa's energy."
Senbonzakura was not paying any mind to Byakuya, his son had gone off into his inner world and Senbonzakura was trying to find him.
Then he came out of the woods. "Daddy! Daddy! Look who I found!" Holding onto his hand was a peculiar looking man, wearing white and purple furs, dark black hair that stood out elegantly around his head, long nails, tear like makeup on his face. No, he wasn't a person, he was a zanpakuto, like Senbonzakura.
Senbonzakura protectively pulled his son away from the strange zanpakuto. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"I am Muramasa, a zanpakuto who seeks to overthrow the rule of the shinigami."
"oh really? And how do you propose to do that?"
"I can appear to them, in the real world. I can make you appear too, would you like to see?"
"Thats your power? To make zanpakuto appear?" Senbonzakura felt a surge of hope.
"yes." Muramasa said simply. "I am gathering zanpakuto willing to participate in a rebellion."
Loyalty was a major part of Senbonzakura's personality, but over the past several weeks, Byakuya's disregard for his feelings had strained that sense of loyalty, opening cracks that Muramasa could easily exploit. Zangetsu had not experienced the same weakness, because Zangetsu would be allowed to keep his child.
"you can materialize a zanpakuto?"
"Yes, do you want to join me or not?" Muramasa seemed to be getting impatient, his power should be taking over Senbonzakura, making him agree to help him. It should be /working/ by now! He had sensed weakness here and he wanted back to his Koga so desperately.
"Can you save my son?"
"Save?" This was a surprise. Muramasa was expecting outright submission. He had no idea of the circumstances of the zanpakuto who's world he had snuck into to tempt his way to freedom. Just that there was a way he could escape and use Senbonzakura to do it.
Senbonzakura began to cry, putting on the water works in hopes of getting Muramasa's sympathy. "My owner, Byakuya, was changed into a girl by a kido, the kido then compelled him to have sex with his lieutenant, and he got pregnant from it. The boy who lead you here is the result. But Byakuya wants to get an abortion, when he does, my son will die. He is due to see the doctor for it tomorrow. And even worse! He lied about it, and plans on lying about it to everyone /but/ his mate, and will /only/ tell his mate the truth when its all over and said mate can't talk him out of it. He claims its for his own happiness, he slept with one man but the man he really loves is changed into a girl, and pregnant with his lieutenant's baby as well but his /mate/ is willing to have the child! Its not FAIR! Zangetsu gets to be a father, but I cannot keep the babe who came from /my own/ body!" Senbonzakura finished with a wail as he clapped his hands down on Muramasa's shoulders. "please Muramasa, take my boy, give him the freedom and the life that I cannot!"
Muramasa gently pushed Senbonzakura away, dusting his coat slightly with his hand, cool as a cucumber. "I will take him on one condition."
"Anything!"
"When I come for you, you come, and join me, without hesitation, pleading, or negotiation. You will have time, months, years even, before I make my strike, but when I call for you, you will come, you will serve me faithfully, and forget and forsake all others. Your son deserves a life in the world beyond /with/ his father."
Ever the master manipulator, Muramasa cast his net, taking clever advantage of Senbonzakura's desperation. And Senbonzakura was sure to cover up the fact that he had more or less sold his soul to him from Byakuya. It was the perfect crime, and the perfect capture.
Senbonzakura bowed down on his hands and knees. "Its a deal."
"Daddy?" Senbonzakura's son clung to his father's side. "I dun wanna go, I wanna be here! With you!" Muramasa smiled inwardly at the boy's piteous pleading, the faintest malevolent glint in his eyes and a slight edge of malice to his reiatsu.
Senbonzakura started to cry. "I will see you again someday, I promise. But its not safe for you to be here with me any longer. Please, son of mine, /go with him/. And never forget how much I love you."
Hook.
"Promise? Promise you'll come back for me?"
Line.
"I will." Senbonzakura replied. "We will live together in the world beyond as father and son."
And sinker.
"Hmmm... Zangetsu's not doing anything. He's just standing at the edge of one of the buildings staring at the distance." Ichigo frowned, watching as Byakuya carefully inspected every inch of the altar and every foot of wall, as well as every object contained within the tomb.
"Good, keep an eye on him, I'm almost finished." Byakuya made one last check of the area, not realizing that Muramasa was not using Ichigo, the less experienced and more obvious target of the two of them, but his own Senbonzakura as a method of escape. "There we go, everything seems to be in order."
And so on the hilt and blade of Byakuya's loyal Senbonzakura, Muramasa made his escape, using the schism of resentment between blade and owner as his bid for freedom.
