Free Talk- I hope everyone had a very good New Year. Actually, the holidays is one of the reasons that this chapter took longer than usual. Also, the cord for my laptop broke and I won't be able to use my computer until the new one arrives. So this chapter was written on my sister's computer (which she so graciously let me borrow). I have a lot of other stuff to worry about right now, and I think my creative spark might be a bit low. Even the last chapter wasn't read as much as previous ones (based on hits) so I may need to try and take a break and get my spark back to make the story as interesting as it can be. I hope nobody will be upset if the chapters take a little longer. I also hope that people like this new one about Sousuke and the babysitter. The results are a bit predictable, but I tried to put some cute moments in. As always, thanks for the support and for the patience. Please tell me what you think. Comments, questions, and suggestions are always welcome!

Bad Boy
By Miss Angel Maxwell


Chapter 9: Misbehaving
Sousuke felt the butterfly-wing flutter of excitement in his chest when Momo mentioned that she would be going out to run an errand and leaving him behind. He hadn't figured he would have such an opportunity so soon to help out that squinty-eyed man, Itchy-maru. The little boy's hopes were dashed to bits, however, when his caretaker so cheerfully mentioned that he would not be spending the evening unsupervised.

When announcing the name of the babysitter, it sounded like Momo said Mr. Opera, which Sousuke thought was an absolutely ridiculous name. Of course, he thought it was absolutely ridiculous that he should even have to have a babysitter. After all, he wasn't a baby. Didn't Momo know that he had been living all alone on the street for two months now? He was smart and capable of taking care of himself. But in any case, he had learned from the bath incident that he couldn't win in an argument against that lady. All he could do now was wait to see what this Opera guy was like and try to determine what kind of night they would have together.

The knock on the door of Momo's apartment came just moments after the unpleasant plans were revealed and she welcomed in a small woman with wispy black hair and a tall man with a head like a bright red pineapple. This had to be Mr. Opera. He was dressed in traditional black shinigami uniform and wore a white cloth tied around his forehead, though Sousuke could see the edges of strange tattoos on his forehead, poking out from underneath. The little boy's first impression of this man was that he was a big tough guy who loved to fight and show off, more brawn than brain. And yet, Sousuke couldn't ignore a weird intuition that this guy might actually provide some fun.

Momo kissed Sousuke goodbye, and it made his heart squirm slightly when she told him what a good boy she knew he was. Helping Itchy-maru isn't bad, he had to remind himself. It doesn't mean I'm bad. And if it helps out Sis then it's a very good thing… Besides, Momo doesn't even hafta find out about it.

He was already feeling content with his decision when Momo and the other dark-haired lady left together. Now it was just him and the red pineapple-head, eyeing each other suspiciously.

"So… Reeeeennnnjiiiii…" Sousuke said, calling the man by the name he'd suggested but drawing it out contemptuously. "What did Momo say to you 'bout coming here? 'Cause I don't believe you when you say yer not a babysitter."

Renji smirked. "You sure are a suspicious little tyke. What makes ya think I'd lie to ya?"

"You're a grownup," Sousuke snorted. "All you guys are liars."

"Really?" Renji asked. "All of us? Even Momo?"

Sousuke immediately felt heat in his face. "Yeah, Momo too. But… she doesn't do it so much. She's not as bad as other grownups."

"I see," Renji said, scratching his chin below a wide grin.

This was the other thing that Sousuke hated about adults. They treated kids like they were idiots. Did they really think that? Or was it some big joke among all adults, something to make them feel superior to children?

"So you're friends with Momo?" he asked.

"Oh yeah," the redhead answered. "Me an' her go all the way back to Shinigami School. We were classmates in the advanced class."

Sousuke snorted softly. "Advanced class… She doesn't seem like that great of shinigami. She says she's a vice captain but she doesn't even work."

"You're wrong," Renji said, shaking his head. "Momo is a phenomenal shinigami. She just chose to take a break from her duties to take care of you, kid."

"That's what she says," Sousuke replied skeptically. "But if she was a really great shinigami she wouldn't give up being an officer just for some random kid off the street that she just met. I just don't get it."

Renji shrugged. "You don't have to get it, squirt."

The little boy frowned at the patronizing response. He kind of felt like he didn't like Renji very much. But at the same time, Renji knew stuff about Momo that Sousuke didn't, and for some inexplicable reason, the boy really wanted to know. He was fascinated by Momo, though he would never admit it, even to himself.

"You and Momo were at school t'gether, eh?" he asked.

Renji nodded. "I already told ya. But it wasn't just us who were friends. There was also this other guy, this blonde little wienie Kira Izuru. Man, he had the biggest crush on Momo back then."

Sousuke scrunched his nose up. "What's a crush?"

"Uh…" Renji began awkwardly. "A crush… Well, it means that you want to be somebody's boyfriend or girlfriend. That's the simplest explanation I can think of."

"So this Kira guy wants ta be Momo's boyfriend an' kiss her and junk?" Sousuke asked.

"I dunno if he still does, but he sure did when we were in school," Renji answered.

"Crushes are stupid," the boy blurted out, even though his insides felt funny. They didn't just feel funny, they felt horrible, like his belly was full of jagged rocks. Why did hearing that some guy wanted to be Momo's boyfriend make him so angry? His young brain couldn't explain it, but his heart couldn't help it. "Does she wanna be his girlfriend?" he asked without thinking.

"I don't think so," Renji answered, giving Sousuke an odd feeling of relief. "Why do you… Oh, I get it. You're jealous, huh kiddo? So you want to be Momo's boyfriend when you grow up?"

"Ewww no!" Sousuke stammered in disgust. "I don't wanna be anybody's boyfriend! Never ever! Girls are annoying! And kissing is the grossest thing ever!" His voice became softer and less confident as his eyes moved to the floor. "Besides… I don't even like dumb Momo."

Renji didn't say anything after that and the silence made Sousuke uncomfortably aware that the two of them had just been standing there in one place talking about Momo for so long. And now this funky-browed pineapple-head probably thought that he liked Momo. But he still had to ask one more question. Just one more question and he wouldn't talk about Momo the rest of the night.

"Hey Renji, do you know who the guy is that stabbed Momo and gave her a scar?"

He waited patiently for the babysitter's reply, but it took some time. Renji obviously had to think about how to answer the question.

"I do know who did it, but you don't have to worry about it, shorty. That guy's not gonna hurt her again."

"But Momo said she was scared he would come back," Sousuke informed. "How do you know he's not gonna hurt her?"

"Well, I guess I don't have any proof," Renji reasoned. "But I still don't think you have anything to worry about."

The boy folded his arms over his chest and raised his chin defiantly. "You can't tell me what I should do. It doesn't matter what you say, if that guy ever comes back, I'm gonna kill 'im myself."

"Jeez, you shouldn't talk so lightly about killing people, kid," said Renji. "Aren't you into doing kid stuff at all? You know, playing games and shit?"

"Okay!" Sousuke shouted, relishing the change of conversation even though he didn't get the answer he was waiting for. "Let's play games and shit!"

"Uh, you probably shouldn't say shit, kid," Renji advised.

"Why? What does it mean?" the kid asked.

The redhead chuckled slightly as answered. "It means bad stuff… but it's not very nice way to say it, not a word kids should say. I don't think Momo would want to hear coming from your mouth. And if she knew that I taught it to you…"

"Oh I see," Sousuke huffed. He paused for a moment before beaming a huge smile. Then he took off running in circles all around Renji, chanting his new favorite word. "Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit!"

"Cut that out and let's play sumthin' already ya little punk!" Renji barked, planting a strong hand down on the boy's forehead and bringing him to a rough stop.

The rude demand and physical restraint infuriated Sousuke and he put his hands on his hips in advance of a loud and spiteful protest. The fingers of his right hand, however, landed not on cloth over soft flesh, but on the wooden handle of his little sword. He smiled as he pulled it out from tucked into his kimono sash and swung it out in front of him.

"Okay! Let's play pirates! I'll be Peter Pan and you can be the nasty Captain Opera!"

"Don't you mean Captain Hook?" Renji asked.

"Naw, you don't got a toothy enough smile to be Hook," Sousuke said. "He's really mean an' toothy. Now on guard yuh scurvy pirate! Yah!" Then he lashed out the wooden blade in a wide swing, bringing it into contact with Renji's leg using the full strength of his little arms.

"Rrrrr… DAMMIT!" the young man roared, clutching at his shin with both hands. From this pose he snapped into a fighting stance and whipped out a large sword, still encased in its scabbard, from his side. "Alright ya little punk! Time to send you back to Never Never Land!" His voice was ferocious but the mouth producing it sported a big smile.

A wild make-believe fight was soon raging inside Hinamori Momo's small apartment. Howls of laughter and improvised pirate speech combined with the clunking sounds of Sousuke's humble wooden sword colliding with the thick leather of Renji's blade's scabbard as the two circled and chased each other. For some reason, Sousuke found that imagining he was fighting that Kira guy instead of Renji made the fight even more exhilarating, even though he didn't know what Kira looked like.

Sousuke knew that he was at a major disadvantage in terms of height and reach, but he overcame it by climbing on Momo's furniture. Table, desk, and bookshelf became his cliffs and trees. The mock battled spilled from the living room into the kitchen, where the boy hastily clamored up onto the countertop and poised his toy sword at Renji's throat triumphantly.

"I gotcha now, pirate!" he exalted.

Rather than giving a never-say-die pirate response, however, the babysitter let his shoulders sag and his sheathed zanpakutou fall at his side. "Yeah, I guess you got me," he sighed exhaustedly. "So, are you getting tired yet, squirt? 'Cause I am. What time does Momo have you go to bed at?"

"Aww man!" Sousuke lamented. "Jus' when I was startin' to think you were fun… If you don't wanna play anymore, fine. But it's not my bedtime yet. I go to sleep with Momo, an' she's not here."

"So you sleep with Momo, eh?" Renji said. There was something funny about his voice, as if he were saying something naughty, which Sousuke didn't understand. "Hmmm…" the man continued thoughtfully. "Well, couldn't you get in bed now and wait for her to come home?"

"Wait in bed?" Sousuke moaned. "But that's soooooooooooo booooooring."

"How 'bout if I read you a story while we wait then?" Renji offered. "I heard from Momo that you like stories."

Sousuke pouted. "Yeah, they're okay I guess… I'm not all the way ready for bed yet, though. I gotta brush my teeth. And I need a glass of water."

"Eh, is it really okay for you to have a drink right before bed, kid?" Renji asked. "Won't that make you wet the bed?"

"I never wet the bed!" Sousuke snapped. The very idea that he would wet the bed was insulting to the highest degree and it made him very angry. "I bet you wet the bed! Yer the one who shouldn't have a drink! You just go get the books, pineapple-head! I'll get my water all by myself! Now go! Go!"

"Alright, I'm going," Renji said. "Jeez, you don't have to be such a mean little booger. Eh, don't mess anything up in here." As he exited the kitchen, Sousuke could still hear him muttering under his breath. "Insufferable little… I wonder if he acts like this to Momo… She must have the patience of a…"

Sousuke released a loud sigh as soon as the man was out of earshot. I guess he really was just pretending to be to be all fun and nice. He's just here to watch me like a prison guard guy…Prison… Itchy-maru! The wanderings of his little brain had brought him once again to the fox-eyed prisoner who'd promised to reunite him with Masaki. But how could I ever sneak outta this place when I always got someone watching me? Tonight woulda been my best shot if it weren't for that stupid pineapple-head. At least I can break the dumb rule and have a drink after dinner.

From his perch on the kitchen counter, Sousuke could reach up and get a glass from the cupboard himself. He just had to remember which cabinet they were in. Edging along the countertop, he opened each one and examined its contents. Bowls… Food… He was about to close the second door and move to the third, but he stopped and took another look in that food cabinet. Right there on the middle shelf was a familiar little blue jar.

The sleeping stuff! Hmmm… Just a little spoon of it will make you fall asleep… I wouldn't use it to put Momo to sleep. But Renji…

The little boy suddenly felt his heart speed up in his chest. It was a risky plan, and he knew Momo would not like it, but it might be the only chance he got to see his sister again. After all, he had less than a week to help that funny prisoner. As soon as Renji passed out, Sousuke would go back to the courthouse and free Itchy-maru. Then he would go and find his sister. It had been over two months since she left him. Now, the mere thought of seeing her again made the corners of his eyes sting. It took all of his will to keep himself from actually crying, which would have been way too girly.

When he found the cabinet with the cups, he took out two instead of one and filled them both with water from the sink. To one of the cups he added a spoonful of powder from the jar and made sure to remember which one it was, the one in his left hand. Then he tucked the jar into his sash. It might come in handy later. Being very careful not to spill, he dismounted from the counter and went to find the babysitter.

Sousuke painted his face with the most apologetic expression he could muster before entering the bedroom with his two glasses of water. Renji wasn't there. So the boy wandered through the other rooms until he found his sitter in the living room with a large book on his lap.

"Lighting's better in here, kid," he said gruffly.

Sousuke didn't object to the change of venue. "Mr. Opera," he said, gently and politely. "I'm real sorry I yelled at ya and got all mad and… and shit. I brought you some water, too."

With an intentionally shy smile, he offered up the glass from his left hand. Renji took it and drank with no hint of suspicion, making Sousuke both excited and nervous. He took small sips from his own glass and watched the man intently as he opened up the storybook, waiting for the first signs of drowsiness. There weren't any. Renji began reading Alice in Wonderland as wide-awake as ever. When he got to the end of the first page, he keeled over forward, completely out.

"It worked!" Sousuke whispered triumphantly. It actually worked! I can't believe it… I'm gonna see get to see Sis! Tonight! I don't even know what I'll say to her… Should I tell her about the mean kids who hurt me? No, she doesn't have to worry about that 'cause they won't bug me now, now that I live with Momo…

He still wanted to live with Momo. Even if Masaki's new family asked him to stay with them, he knew in his heart that he would say no. It felt like a betrayal. He was choosing Momo over Sis. Even though he loved Sis, Momo was the one he wanted to stay with. Sousuke left her apartment knowing that he would come back, and that knowledge was enough to light his way through the darkened streets of Soul Society all the way to the courthouse.

Most of what Sousuke had learned about stealing, sneaking, and breaking into to places, he had learned from Masaki. Both siblings had been quite successful getting by on the streets, but he had a particular knack for it. It was his constant sneaky crimes, in fact, that had turned so many of the other urchins against him. Now was the ultimate test of his abilities, with the ultimate reward.

Getting into the building turned out to be surprisingly easy, as Sousuke had arrived just as the last shinigami clerks were leaving. Because of his small size, he was able to slip inside the door without anyone noticing him. Now, with no idea where Itchy-maru was being held, he had to rely on trial and error to guide him.

He crept around corners as quietly as a mouse. The halls and rooms all seemed empty, but there was always the risk that someone would suddenly appear out of some little nook and ambush him, in which case he was totally screwed. Even if he didn't say a word, the pounding of his heart might alert them to his presence.

He'd searched at least a dozen rooms with only books and furniture inside, and was beginning to think that the fox-face had deceived him, when he heard a distant hush of voices. For a moment he stood motionless, trying to hear if they were moving towards or away from where he was. The speakers, two of them he guessed, weren't moving at all, and in his silent state he could make out some of what they were saying.

"Eh, can you believe we got stuck her watching this villain? This sucks. I had plans for tonight."

"Yeah, so did I. Just deal with it. Though, if you ask me, we should just execute the bastard. Just like we should have killed you-know-who."

These two were watching the prisoner, Sousuke was certain. He followed the sounds of their voices, not yet thinking about what he would do when he actually found them and had to somehow get past them. This listening-based method of locating led him down the hall and around several corners, to a slightly ajar door. Peeping through the cracks, the boy confirmed that this was the right room. Inside he could see the metal bars of a prison and the silver hair of the prisoner crouched in the corner. The two guards were lazily slumped, like wet laundry, in chairs on either side of the cage.

Seeming to sense the presence of the little boy, the prisoner's face lifted and his sharp gaze connected with Sousuke's. There was eye contact. Sousuke swallowed hard before setting into the complex thought process of making a good plan of attack. Itchy-maru gestured to him silently from inside his cage, pointing a thin white finger at one guard's side then the other. He was pointing to the water flasks at their hips.

How could he know that I have the sleep powder? Sousuke marveled to himself. The answer to the question didn't really matter. All that mattered was that he had a way to get passed the guards. Of course, it would be a real test of his sneaking skills to get the powder into the water.

The lamps in the room cast long, dark shadows across the wooden floor, and Sousuke could use them to his advantage, being small enough to slip inside them. It also helped that the guards looked rather bored and were probably already a bit tired. As he crept through the narrow bands of concealing darkness, the prisoner kept watch over him with fox-like eyes. Sousuke made it to underneath one of the chairs and spiked the first guard's drink. Then he crawled through the maze of shadows to the underside of the second chair and repeated the feat. When he was done, he scampered back through the door and waited outside, his heart beating wildly.

After a moment he peered back inside. There was still an obstacle. The guards actually had to drink the sleeping potion for it to work. To accomplish this task, Itchy-maru used his own method, as Sousuke curiously observed.

"Say," the prisoner said politely to the guards. "I'm a bit parched. Do you think you might let me take a sip from your water flask?"

"No way, you filthy scum," one guards growled, turning his neck to look disdainfully at him.

"Yeah," the other guard added. "You ain't getting one drop of this."

Then they both began to drink from their flasks, exaggerating their refreshment in front of the prisoner. Less than five minutes later, they were both on the floor, fast asleep and snoring.

"Nice work, young Aizen Sousuke," Itchy-maru said with a proud grin. "You need both keys to open the cell."

The boy wordlessly complied, retrieving the keys from both sleeping shinigami and opened up the cage. "It doesn't seem all that hard to break outta this thing, Itchy-maru," he said.

"Call me Gin," the strange man replied smoothly. "This is just the temporary holding cell, where the accused are kept immediately before their trials. The real prison is much more secured. Though I supposed you wouldn't remember that."

"Why would I?" Sousuke asked under a wrinkled brow.

"Oh, no reason," Gin said. "Now, could you help me get this collar off my neck? It's really bothering me. You need four keys to unlock, two from each guard, and you have to insert them all at the exact same time. We'll need to work together."

Sousuke found the appropriate keys and handed two to Gin. Together they removed the restrictive collar and set out to leave the courthouse. The escape was just easy as sneaking into the place. The silver-haired shinigami knew exactly which halls and stairs to take to avoid any lingering clerk or security personnel. Strangely though, they didn't leave through the front doors and out onto the street. Gin led Sousuke out of the building onto the roof. Once out in the cool night air, he stopped and the boy finally felt it was time to ask about the other end of the deal.

"Gin," he said cautiously. "I got you out just like you asked so…" His voice became more excited. "Please take me to go see her! I wanna see her!"

The man's grin twisted up even higher and more sinister as he looked down at his little cohort. "You'll see her very soon," he said. "Now I am dreadfully sorry to have to do this…" He raised his hand and held his palm just centimeters from Sousuke's forehead. The boy didn't even have time to ask what was going on before his mind went blank and he fell into unconsciousness.

To be continued…