Alright ya'll, here comes another break. This is my only day to update this week, and I managed to get some typed. Hope you like, and OMG, here comes the birth!! WOO!

IMPORTANT NOTE: Ooo, important enough for bold, italic, and underline... Anyway, THERE IS GOING TO BE A SEQUEL! Yep, already started planning and writing it, and it shouldn't be too long after the completion of this story that it will come out (not that many chapters left people!!) The name of the sequel is Finding You. I'll release the summary in the last chapter for this story, as well as more information on it. But keep an eye out for it after the completion of BTTE, I would love to have you all back with me!

Enjoy!

Chapter 11

"Ah, that feels so good…"

Matsumoto chuckled to herself as she watched Toshiro settle into the hot water. As the tiny shinigami often said, water was his best friend. He had always had an affinity for water, but it took the pressure off his bones and the heat soothed aching muscles and joints.

He loved it.

Ichigo had opened their basement to the massive underground chamber in the Seireitei, glad that their home was near the natural hot spring. It was now one of Toshiro's favorite places.

The little captain sighed to himself, a hand skimming over his swollen abdomen. Ichigo was gone for the day, duties with his new division and newfound responsibility of Karakura Town keeping him busy. A week he had been captain, and he was doing well.

Toshiro had never been so proud of him.

He glanced up as the water rippled and Matsumoto came closer. The woman was there to keep him company as well as to keep an eye on him. Toshiro was glad of her company, it made him feel more secure in some way, even though it was a little uncomfortable.

He shifted as a cramp moved through his stomach, rubbing the spot as the pain endured. As it eased he glanced to Matsumoto, smiling slightly at her as he saw her concerned look.

"I'm alright Matsumoto. Pains are nothing new, it's been happening all through the pregnancy," he reassured, giving a soothing gesture.

Matsumoto frowned. "Are you sure, taichou?" Unohana-taichou said to be careful of that now, it could be a sign of labor."

Toshiro shook his head. "It doesn't feel like what she described, I'm fine."

She didn't seem to believe him, and he kept a close eye on her taichou. Toshiro leaned his head back against the stone, sinking into the soothing water. His muscles were tense and sore, but the water helped a little.

Matsumoto watched him silently for a long time, her cornflower blue eyes worried and afraid. She continued to frown as she saw him wince again, timing it mentally.

About 10 minutes. It seemed too convineent, and she shook her head, starting to stand and move out of the pool, but a soft sound from her small taichou made her turn.

Red. The water was stained red around Toshiro.

"Taichou!"

"M-Matsumoto…"

The woman moved closer, her eyes examining the small shinigami. "I think your water broke, taichou. We need to get you to the fourth division."

Toshiro nodded. "You'll need to call Ichigo, I can't make it up these stairs on my own. Or Hisagi-taichou, he carried me down here."

Matsumoto bit her lower lip. "But… I can't leave you by yourself, taichou!"

"Call a hell butterfly. Don't panic Matsumoto, I'm not worried, you shouldn't be either." Toshiro said calmly. "We both need to be calm and cool about this."

The white-haired taichou closed his eyes again, leaning his head back. While he was calm on the outside, on the inside he was positively terrified. The pain wasn't horribly bad now, but the cramps – what he now realized were contractions – terrified him.

He was alone.

Ichigo wasn't there, and he was utterly alone.

Come now, little master, things will be alright. Your mate will come.

Hyourinmaru?

He would not leave you alone. He will come; have faith in him.

I do, Hyourinmaru, but I cannot help being afraid. Is there supposed to be that much… blood?

I do not know, little master. I sense nothing wrong for the moment, you'll be okay.

"Come on, taichou, let's get you out of the spring. It's probably better to have you up here."

Matsumoto's voice broke him from his conversation with Hyourinmaru, and he nodded in response, taking hold of Matsumoto's hand and letting her haul him from the water. She helped him to where his clothes were folded neatly, turning her eyes respectfully.

Toshiro breathed deep as another pain took him, swallowing as he felt the trickle of blood on his inner thighs. Something's wrong… there shouldn't be this much blood…

He bit his lower lip as Matsumoto helped him towards the stairs, laying him down on a soft patch of dirt, covering him with the outer black gi of her shihakshou. He leaned back on the stone, hissing through his teeth at the aches.

"Taichou? Are you okay?"

Toshiro opened his eyes, pain in his gaze. He nodded, smiling shakily. "I'll be fine Matsumoto." He touched her hand. "I'm glad that you're here with me."

She smiled back. "I wouldn't miss it for the world, taichou. I just hope that everything's okay. And that the hell butterflies reach Hisagi-taichou and Kurosaki-kun in time…"

Toshiro closed his eyes again, shifting uncomfortably as cramps stretched across his stomach.

Please Ichigo… I'm so scared… Please come…

I can't do this alone!

"Taichou! Taichou!"

Ichigo looked up, sweeping his white coat out of the way. The haori was now sleeveless, edges tattered like Kenpachi's, but with long rips through it, marks it had obtained from claw swipes from Hollows.

The orange-head grinned at his fukutaichou, Sora Kitsune, as the rather fierce looking woman ran up to him. "What is it, Kit?"

She flicked her short reddish-brown hair out of her eyes, worry in those green orbs. "A hell butterfly, Ichigo-taichou. From Matsumoto-san."

Ichigo felt his heart leap into his throat. "And?"

"She says for you to come as soon as possible. Hitsugaya-taichou has gone into labor and they are underground." Kit responded.

The 9th division captain swore, putting Zangetsu against his back once more. "You take over Kit, I know you can handle it."

The woman nodded. "Yes, sir!"

Ichigo whirled, following the floating black butterfly away from the fight. He distantly heard Kitsune call on her zanpaktou, Oni, and then silence desended, only the sound of his own breathing echoing in his ears.

As he reentered the Seireitei the connection he had with Toshiro grew stronger, and he could feel his lover's pain and fear and he sent his love and strength through the link.

King?

Go!

Ogichi's precense was gone an instant later, flying across the link to Toshiro. Ichigo stepped into the fasted shunpo he had ever done, flying to the entrance to the underground chamber.

He met Hisagi near the entrance, quickly issuing a request. "Go get Unohana! Tell her we're coming!"

"Yes, Ichigo-kun!"

Hold on, Toshiro, I'm coming!

Toshiro was riding out another contraction as he felt Ichigo's warm love and strength, reassured. He's coming…

Toshiro!

Ogichi!

Don't worry, King is almost here.

Thank you… Thank you for coming to me…

I'll always come when you need me.

"Taichou?"

The little captain smiled. "He's coming, Matsumoto. Everything's going to be fine now."

The woman breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank god." She squeezed her captain's hand.

"You're right, everything's going to be fine."

A call made them look up.

"TOSHIRO!"

A/N: Sora Kitsune is my creation. She isn't someone I just made up, she was inspired by someone. As for who... well, that's a mystery!! Sora means sky, and Kitsune means fox demon.