Kataritsugu koto
Chapter 10

"No no, you gotta place it a little more up. Right here. Yeah, right there. Can you feel it now?"

Shunsui smiled at finally feeling the kicks from his little one. He and Jyuushiro were happy and anxious, Kurotsuchi-taicho had predicted that Ukitake-taichou's baby would be first to be born, then Kira's and then Urahara's and Hanatarou's.

"I hope it's a boy..."

Shunsui raised his head a bit to look at his lover. "Oh? Why?"

"Because if it's a girl you would totally spoil her all the time." Ukitake chastised gently, smiling at the though of his lover going gaga for only one girl finally.

Kyoryaku laughed gently at the accusation, knowing that it was completely true.

"Well, even if you say that, I hope it's gonna be a girl." The 8th Division Captain smiled and placed his head on Jyuushiro's engorged belly.

"Let's hope, Shunsui. Let's hope..."

Antsy was the right word for him, yeah. Izuru was antsy. He was seven months pregnant now and he supposed this was as big as he would get. He didn't have as much trouble walking, unlike Ukitake taichou who was huge, or Hanatarou-kun who's feet had swelled.

Kira felt lucky about having an easy pregnancy, his back hurt from time to time but it was normal.

With a sigh, Izuru sat on the rocking chair the 3rd Division had bought for him. He and Shuuhei had painted the room a soft blue with yellow accents. Most of the furniture they'd gotten from the living world thanks to Ichigo, most of it white. The crib, the changer, a little dresser, even the closet Shuuhei had insisted in buying was white. The only colorful things in the room besides the wall were around purple carpet and a number of small animal plushies he'd fallen in love with. They were just so cute!

Everything seemed to be ready for Shizuka, now they just had to wait until the due date.

But he was too antsy to wait!

"I'll go take a walk."

Easier said than done. His shinigami robes had stopped fitting a few months back, and now he was forced to wearing regular kimonos and yukatas. Not that he didn't like them, they were comfy, but he didn't want to be thought of as a girl.

Just as he turned a corner, a familiar orange color came into view, sitting languidly with a bottle of sake barely out of reach.

"5th Seat Ayasegawa?"

Yumi raised his head a bit before turning away. He did not need this right now, he did not need to see Izuru's full belly from having a healthy baby inside.

With a bit of work, Izuru sat in front of him, worried.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm just fine. I'm just dandy, can't you see?" There was a bit of an edge in Yumichika's voice, but Izuru ignored it.

"I...heard what happened...I'm really sorry."

"If you came to pity me, stop. I've had enough of that already. Haven't you wondered why I'm so far from the 11th? It's because I can't stand everyone looking at me like I'm a piece of broken porcelain!"

"Ah-I'm..."

"Don't say it!! Don't say your sorry!" Yumi started crying. "I'm sick of this! I'm sick of everything! I want my baby boy back! And then you come by, flaunting around your big belly at me! You don't understand me!"

Izuru gently reached for Yumichika's hand, gripping it softly.

"I...I do understand, Yumichika."

He was crying too. Silent tears.

"If...Shizuke were to die now while still inside me...I don't think...I don't think I could ever get better..."

Yumichika stared at him for a second. It wasn't Kira's fault that his baby was growing well while Yumichika's had not. And just the same, Kira's pregnancy could go wrong at any second. He didn't have to have a miscarriage to understand, they both had carried another life inside them, and that was enough for them to connect.

"Kira...I'm so sorry Kira..."

Yumichika started crying, really crying, letting out all his suppressed feelings. Calmly, Izuru wiped the tears from his own eyes and wrapped his arms around Yumichika, the man needed comfort, and not just the comfort of his partner or friends, the comfort of someone who could understand the pain in his heart.

To be continued...

Nothing much to say this chapter. Please review, I like to hear people's opinion. Oh, and a special dedication to Luthiena 'cause she asked for more Uki/Shun, hope you liked it, and thanks to everyone who's reviewed up 'till now, I really appreciate it you guys