Hello. Author's notes at the bottom.
Someone To Watch Over You Chapter 35
A few more days had passed by and as they entered October, it'd been like a slap in the face at just how quickly Kotaro's Birthday was approaching. This time five years ago Toushiro had been in a similar situation, the only difference being he'd been constantly keeping an eye on Rangiku for even the slightest sign of her going into labour. They still had two weeks to go before it was Kotaro's actual Birthday, but he and Rangiku seriously needed to think about slipping off to the World of the Living for a day trip to pick Kotaro a nice present.
Hell they hadn't even had the time to sit down and discuss exactly what they were going to get him this year. Toushiro knew Rangiku was probably planning on something big, considering she saw turning five as a milestone.
As he sat at the kitchen table drinking his morning coffee and eating the breakfast muffins Rangiku had made him, he allowed his mind to wonder. He wasn't thinking about anything in specific, just allowing his mind to slowly open up for the day.
He felt a pair of hands land on his shoulders. Tilting his head back he saw Rangiku smiling down at him, "Good Morning," he greeted, his eyes slid closed as she lowered her lips to his.
"Morning," she cooed back wrapping her arms around his shoulders, "I see you found breakfast all right."
Toushiro chuckled, "You're little note was very subtle," Rangiku manoeuvred herself and slid comfortable onto his lap, capturing his lips once again.
Once they broke the kiss Toushiro sighed softly and threaded his arms around Rangiku's waist.
"What were you thinking of?" Rangiku asked breaking the silence.
"Hmm?" Toushiro mumbled, "Not much really, although I was thinking we really should start thinking about sneaking off to a certain place, for a certain thing, for a certain someone, whose certain day is quickly approaching," he replied in secret code as he heard the 'Certain Someone' emerging from the bathroom, "Have you had any ideas yet?"
"A few," Rangiku replied in a soft tone.
"Anything concrete?"
"Not yet."
"Typical," Toushiro chuckled.
"What are you talking about?" Kotaro's voice came from behind, which made them both jump. He could be so light on his feet when he wanted to be. And quick.
"Oh sweetie!" I wish you wouldn't do that!" Rangiku exclaimed as she discreetly tried to readjust herself. Toushiro just chuckled knowing exactly what'd happened.
Rangiku slapped him playfully on his thigh, "You can keep quiet too."
"I wasn't even going to say anything," he replied struggling to hide the smirk on his face.
"No but you were thinking something," Rangiku pulled her attention away from him and instead glanced down to Kotaro, "Sweetie! What are you doing!" She then jumped off Toushiro's lap and reached her hands out to Kotaro.
Toushiro craned his neck to look back at Kotaro. What he saw had him swivelling around in his chair a second later. Kotaro was standing before them with shaving foam all over his face, brandishing Toushiro's razor with a grin on his face, "Kotaro! What are you doing with that!" He asked echoing Rangiku's earlier comment, who had already carefully taken the razor out of his hand.
"I'm shaving," he smiled back at them.
"Why?" They both answered at the same time.
"I saw a hair," Kotaro pointed at his cheek, "Right there, so I need to shave just like Daddy."
Toushiro latched onto Kotaro's wrist and pulled him closer, "Where let me see."
"Right there!" Kotaro touched his cheek where he thought he saw the hair and managed to get shaving foam all over his fingers. He wiggled his fingers trying to shake it off, then gave up and discreetly wiped them on Toushiro's sleeve.
"Hey not on my uniform little man," Toushiro rebuked before squinting his eyes to look at Kotaro's cheek. Sure enough he saw a small fine hair dusting Kotaro's cheek, however it wasn't the type of hair that Kotaro thought it was. Toushiro swiped a finger over it, and it easily came away as it stuck to the foam on his finger. Toushiro held it up to Kotaro's eye so he could see, "Its an eyelash Kotaro."
"Oh," Kotaro pouted back.
Rangiku broke out into hysterical laughter and Toushiro got to his feet and hoisted Kotaro over his shoulder, "Come on, lets get you cleaned up little man."
"But Daddy!" Kotaro protested.
"But nothing," Toushiro replied good naturedly as he carried a squirming Kotaro back to the bathroom, "You shouldn't be touching my shaving stuff, and you certainly shouldn't be needing to use it any time soon."
Rangiku clutched at her aching ribs and shook her head, those two were going to be the death of her.
Once Toushiro had emerged from the bathroom again, followed by a much cleaner Kotaro. He stepped back into the kitchen to find Rangiku washing up the breakfast pots. He stepped over to her and planted a kiss on her cheek, "I need to get going, I'll see you later on."
"Have fun at work," Rangiku replied flicking soap bubbles at him.
"Are you all ready for later?"
"Nearly, I still have a few things to do but everything will be ready for when Nanao arrives."
"Good, I'll see you later then," he pecked her on her cheek before stepping away and picking up Hyourimaru, "See you later little man, I'm off to work now."
Kotaro jumped to his feet and dashed over to him, "I'm coming too Daddy!"
"No not today Kotaro, I need you to stay here and help Mummy get things ready for Nanao's arrival."
Kotaro pouted back at him, "But I'm your little helper!"
"I know little man, but today I need you to stay here and help your Mum," Toushiro replied firmly. Kotaro folded his arms across his chest and scowled. Toushiro raised an eyebrow, was that how he looked at times? "Besides, I'm not going to be in the office today and where I'm going is a restricted area. Captains only I'm afraid."
Kotaro's eyes lit up and the scowl melted away, "Where? Where Daddy?"
Toushiro sighed, "Just help your Mum today, okay?"
"Ow," Kotaro complained before stalking off in the direction of his bedroom.
Once they'd heard Kotaro's door slam, Toushiro turned to Rangiku and saw the worried look on her face, "Try not to worry Rangiku, I'll be careful."
"If you get caught," she started to protest.
"I wont and besides, as a Captain I have authorization to be there. Admittedly not many Captains feel the need to go there. But if it makes you feel any better, Ukitake will be there with me."
"It doesn't make me feel any better," Rangiku replied stubbornly, "Why do you have to go sneaking around? Cant you just approach the Head-Captain and enquire about Shunsui's whereabouts?"
"Rangiku, you didn't see how angry the Head-Captain was that night," Toushiro sighed, "Neither Ukitake or myself think the direct approach would be wise at this stage."
Rangiku held up her hand, "I don't want to argue with you. Just go off to work and do whatever you need to do."
"Rangiku.."
"Just promise me you wont get yourself into any awkward situations."
"I'll try not to," he leaned in and planted a kiss on her lips, "I'll be at the Eighth this morning and Ukitake's going to join me after he's dropped Nanao off here."
Rangiku brightened up slightly, "I'm glad Captain Unohana decided to discharge her today."
"I'll see you later Rangiku," he replied before heading out the door.
"Sure," Rangiku whispered after he'd left, "Just be careful."
At the Fourth Division, Unohana was giving Nanao one final check up before she officially discharged her from her care. Truth be told, she had felt a little worried at first about discharging her so soon. But she trusted both Toushiro and Rangiku and knew that Nanao would be in good hands. Then there was Kotaro. The day they'd asked Toushiro to come to the Fourth, and Kotaro had managed to slip away. They'd quickly located him and found that he'd naturally gone to see his Auntie.
When they'd reached Nanao's room it was to find her fast asleep and cuddling Kotaro in her arms, with a peaceful expression on her face while Kotaro was sat there reading her a story from his book. They'd all felt his soothing energy gently swirling from him.
It was in that moment that they all realised having Nanao temporarily move in with the Hitsugaya's would be a very good thing for her indeed.
Also Unohana was hoping that by having Nanao spend some time with Kotaro, then just maybe she might start taking an interest in her own pregnancy. So far Nanao hadn't shown any of the usual reactions one would exhibit on finding out that they were pregnant. It didn't seem as though it'd fully sunk into her yet.
Unohana expected it was because of the stress she'd been experiencing and also the upset she was feeling from Shunsui's absence.
"Well your blood pressure has lowered to an acceptable level Nanao, and it seems as if your spiritual pressure has risen slightly. Although it is still a bit on the low side, but those tablets I've prescribe for you should help out with that."
Nanao opened her eyes and nodded but made no comment.
"Physically you're doing a lot better now," Unohana stepped around the bed and picked up a clipboard, "All that I ask, is that you carry on eating regular nutritious meals and to make sure that you get plenty of rest."
Nanao remained quiet, staring straight ahead.
"Nanao," Unohana perched herself on the edge of the bed and rested her hand over Nanao's, "I would also suggest that you try and meditate at least twice a day. It will help you to re-centre yourself emotionally. Also I think it will help you to connect with your baby and bring it a sense of calm."
Unohana had been examining Nanao daily and keeping a close eye on the ball of unsettled energy swirling away in her stomach. So far it'd been impossible to figure out the basics like what gender it may be and how far along in the pregnancy Nanao was. Although Unohana estimated Nanao was about a month and a half pregnant. If that was the case, then Nanao would be due in the Spring, during April sometime. She realised with a small smile how thrilled Shunsui would be about that. He was always saying the best things bloomed in Spring, he loved it when the cherry blossoms came out.
"I would also keep trying that technique I taught you. Its the most natural way to connect with the baby and you'll know instantly what its gender will be."
Nanao turned her gaze to Unohana, "I tried it again last night."
Unohana smiled, "Any luck?"
Nanao shook her head, "It felt the same as before, unsettled and undecided. I thought for a moment it felt like a boy. But then the energy shifted and it felt like a girl. Then it felt as though everything went all cloudy again."
"Hmm," Unohana stood up, "You don't mind if I take another look do you?"
Nanao gave Unohana her permission and settled back into her pillow as Unohana's hand lit up with a soft blue kido.
After several long minutes Unohana flicked her wrist and the blue kido vanished, "I think it may be that, your reiatsu is still unsettled and its taking time to come into harmony with Shunsui's reiatsu and the baby's. I reckon we'll know more when you come in for your first scan."
"When will that be Captain Unohana?"
Unohana smiled, it seemed as though Nanao was slowly starting to accept that she was pregnant. This was turning out to be the longest conversation they'd had on the topic so far. Maybe she was making progress after all. With Nanao being so reserved all the time, it really was hard to tell at times.
"It wont be for some time yet, but I will set aside an appointment for you," Unohana offered Nanao her hand and helped her to sit up.
"Thank you Captain Unohana," Nanao replied in a quiet voice.
"There's just one more thing I'd like to discuss with you before I hand you over to Juushiro," Unohana spoke in a soft, motherly tone, "Its quite standard for pregnancy, but with you, especially so."
"You don't want me to do any kido, do you?" Nanao answered calmly.
"That's right Nanao, it would be very dangerous for you to do so," Unohana's voice was soft, but had a serious edge to it.
"I guessed as much since my reiatsu is so unstable and I've had a few spells backfire on me before," Nanao held her main kido hand up and flexed her fingers. Unohana had done a wonderful job healing her hands and wrists, there was no sign of scarring. However when she flexed them, they still felt stiff and sore.
"Nanao, it will be dangerous for you to do so," Unohana warned again, "Its not so much a danger to you, but more so towards your baby. Any reiatsu you have needs to go towards supporting the baby's growth. If you use it for anything else and use too much of it, the baby wont be getting the vital supply it needs. If it gets cut off again it will begin to play up again. Only this time we cant guarantee Shunsui being here to feed the baby his own reiatsu. You need to be very careful."
Nanao glanced up and looked at Unohana in the eye, "I understand Captain Unohana."
"I know you do," Unohana smiled warmly and patted Nanao's hand, "Well I cant think of any other reason to keep you here any longer. I believe Juushiro's waiting outside with a clean set of clothes for you to leave in. I've also been informed by Rangiku that she's already been over to your house to collect anything you shall need while staying with her. So all you need to do is sign the discharge form, get dressed and you're free to go."
"Thank you," Nanao replied gratefully, although there was a hint of sadness behind her words.
"Don't you worry about a thing Nanao," Unohana stroked Nanao's hair. Since Nanao had been admitted to the Fourth, she'd worn her hair down all the time. Partly because her hair clip got destroyed along with her glasses. At least she'd been able to prescribe her with a new pair of glasses. "You'll be fine with Rangiku, Toushiro and Kotaro, they'll take good care of you. Don't worry about Shunsui either. I know it will be hard not to, but Juushiro's going to everything he can to find him and get him back to you, okay?"
Nanao nodded and Unohana pulled her into a gentle hug, "I'll also stop by once a week for a check up too."
There was a light tap on the door and after Unohana had told the person to come in, it opened slowly and Ukitake stepped into the room.
Unohana stood up and glided over to him, "She's all yours now Juushiro, see that she gets to the Tenth safely will you."
"Of course Retsu," Ukitake smiled back at her before she walked out the door.
Toushiro had been at the Eighth for quite awhile. Before he'd headed over to Nanao and Shunsui's shared office, he'd made the rounds to check over the Eighths members to see that they were functioning okay without their leaders present.
They all seemed to be doing okay and several people had asked him if he knew how Shunsui and Nanao were doing. The whole Division were aware of their leaders absence, and seemed to be under the impression that Nanao was in the Fourth on sick leave and that Shunsui was watching over her. They weren't completely wrong in their assumptions, however Toushiro saw no reason to correct them.
Arriving at the office Toushiro slid the door open and stepped inside, expecting to find mountains of paperwork stacked up in any available space. From what Rangiku had told him, the last time she'd been here she could hardly walk inside without knocking something over. So as he glanced around the office, it was understandable that he felt somewhat confused.
The office was completely cleared of all paperwork. There was nothing. Not even a lone order form for something or the other. Not even a stray report that needed to be read and signed.
Just what was going on here? Even Ukitake had seen the monstrous piles of paperwork for himself. Yet as Toushiro stood there glancing at the tidy office, he just couldn't comprehend where it'd all gone.
He sidled over to Shunsui's desk and started routing through the drawers looking for any sort of clue. All he came across were several bottles of untouched sake. Various life like doodles of Nanao sitting at her desk working, and scrap after scrap of paper, all with short love poems scribbled on them and several declarations of love.
Toushiro sighed and slammed the drawers shut. Of course he wouldn't find anything in Shunsui's desk. It was Nanao who ran the office and knew of anything and everything to do with the administration work.
He swept over to her desk and pulled open the top drawer. Nanao's drawers were much more organized then Shunsui's and everything seemed to have a specific place and purpose. Just as Toushiro expected. It seemed Nanao had a lot in common with him when it came to office work and organization.
Unfortunately though, he found nothing of interest or any indications of the paperworks whereabouts either. He closed the drawer and decided he'd head back to the Tenth. As he stepped over to the door he saw a flash of white out the corner of his eye and turned towards the coffee table.
On the floor was a lone piece of paper that had come to rest just under the table. He stepped over and plucked it off the floor. Bringing it up to his eye level he saw that it was an official notification from the First Division. It stated that any and all paperwork requiring attention from the Eighth Division, was to be transferred and redirected back towards the First Division.
Toushiro frowned. That certainly was a strange notification. Had Shunsui personally written it and the paper he'd written it on he'd acquired from the First. He was one for winding the Head-Captain up after all. He shook his head, no that wouldn't make sense.
Looking closer at the letter, he scanned his eyes further down the document until he came to where a signature or a stamp was usually present. Both were absent however a small code had been printed in the signature box. CO1STD – HCGSY.
It was easy to decipher, CO Courtesy of, 1STD First Division, HCGSY Head-Captain Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto.
The Head-Captain had issued this notification personally. Usually for notices or orders coming from the First, it would be one of the Head-Captains seated offices who dealt with orders such as this.
The plan for today was to sort through and pick up the paperwork that was urgent and required immediately attention. Then he and Ukitake were planning on paying a visit to the Maggots Nest, to see if Shunsui had happened to have been placed down there. It seemed like a logical move on the Head-Captains part, taking into account at just how angry he'd been. But after seeing this notification and no paperwork, Toushiro couldn't help but think that maybe their original assumptions were incorrect.
Toushiro sighed and pocketed the note. As he walked out the office door deciding to head back to the Tenth, Rangiku's words came back to him.
'Why do you have to go sneaking around? Cant you just approach the Head-Captain and enquire about Shunsui's whereabouts?'
Toushiro reached his hand up to scratch the back of his head as he thought about it. Maybe he and Ukitake had been going about this all wrong, maybe Rangiku's suggestion would be the better course of action.
He sent his awareness over towards the Tenth and felt Rangiku and Kotaro, along with Ukitake and Nanao. He summoned a hell butterfly and sent it on its way, letting Ukitake know to meet him in his office instead.
"I've got your hairbrush. Your toothbrush... Sweetie can you pop this into the bathroom please," Rangiku asked as she handed the toothbrush to Kotaro.
Kotaro jumped off Nanao's lap, grabbed the toothbrush and toddled out of the guest room.
Rangiku retuned to unpacking the fairly large bag of stuff she'd acquired from Shunsui and Nanao's home a few days prior. She pulled out a warm dressing gown and draped it over Nanao's lap, "Now where are those slippers."
"Rangiku, are you sure you don't want any help?" Nanao asked as she saw her clothes piling up on the bed next to her.
"Absolutely not! You're my guest and I'm suppose to be looking after you," Rangiku stepped over to a wall and slid a panel to one side revealing an inbuilt wardrobe. She pulled a few hangers forward and began hanging up Nanao's clothes, "Besides, Captain Unohana specifically told me, not to let you over exert yourself. You need to rest Nanao."
Kotaro returned a few seconds later and promptly climbed back onto the bed and settled himself once again on Nanao's lap, "Does Mummy need any more help?"
"Not just yet sweetie," Rangiku ruffled his hair before returning to the bag, "Now where is that nightie?" She mumbled as she rummaged through the bag, "Ah ha!" She pulled the nightie out of the bag and placed it over the dressing gown which Nanao had placed to one side, "Oh and look, I found a spare hair clip. I thought you could use it since your other one got destroyed."
Rangiku passed Nanao the clip and watched as Nanao ran the clip through her fingers. Just as she'd expected, it was one of Nanao's 'special' hair clips which she'd happened to have found in a drawer along with a few other special items. Rangiku had no doubt in her mind that those things, along with the hair clip were all presents from Shunsui. The hair clip was a black wooden one with beautifully hand painted cherry blossom petals decorating it. Rangiku had a sneaky suspicion that maybe Shunsui had been the one who had painted them on.
"That's pretty Auntie Nan-nan," Kotaro commented after seeing the hair clip too.
"Its my favourite one Kota-kun," Nanao replied softly.
Rangiku could have sworn she saw one corner of Nanao's mouth lift slightly in a half smile. She turned away from her friend and busied herself with putting the rest of Nanao's things away.
"Did Uncle Shun-shun give it to you?" Kotaro asked curiously.
"Yes he did," Nanao hesitated slightly before adding, "It was the first serious gift he gave to me, and the first one I actually liked."
Rangiku was glad that her back was to Nanao. If her friend had seen the massive grin on her face she would've been blasted by kido. She knew exactly what Nanao meant by 'The first serious gift.' Before then Shunsui had plagued Nanao with gifts of tasteless lingerie and all sorts of embarrassing gifts. Both Ukitake and herself had warned Shunsui that if he wanted to seriously pursue Nanao, then he would have to start being serious with his choice of gifts. Thank goodness he'd listened to them in the end.
Rangiku listened as Kotaro chatted away to Nanao, as she finished placing the last few of Nanao's belongings away. Sliding the wardrobe door closed, she turned on her heel and surveyed the room, "All done, but I cant help but think that something is missing."
Kotaro glanced around the room and his face suddenly lit up when his eyes landed on a pile of books stacked up on the bedside table, "I know Mummy! Auntie Nan-nan will need a lamp so she can read her books!"
"You're right, well spotted," Rangiku smiled warmly at Kotaro, "I think there's a spare one in Daddy's study."
"I'll get it," Kotaro offered and slid off Nanao's lap again and bounded out the door, before Rangiku could even say another word.
"You don't have to go through so much trouble for me Rangiku."
"Its no trouble at all Nanao," Rangiku stepped over to the bed and flopped down onto it, she then threw her arm around Nanao's shoulder, "I know there's no place like home, but I do want you to feel as comfortable as possible whilst you're here. Besides I know what you're like."
"Meaning?"
"I know your favourite way to relax is with a good book," Rangiku shrugged her shoulders, "And I suspect you'll be doing plenty of reading. So really its no bother at all to bring a lamp in for you."
Nanao rested her head against Rangiku's shoulder and slid her eyes closed, "Thank you," she replied through a yawn.
"Are you feeling tired?" Rangiku asked noticing the sleepiness that'd come over Nanao.
"A little bit I guess," Nanao answered honestly.
"MUMMY!" Kotaro shouted down the hallway, "I CANT FIND IT!"
"I'LL BE RIGHT THERE SWEETIE," she shouted back, "Would you like a cup of tea? I sure could use one too."
"Yes please, tea sounds great," Nanao mumbled sleepily against her shoulder.
"Okay, well while I do that," Rangiku got to her feet, "Why don't you put your bed clothes on and make yourself comfy. I wont be too long."
"Sure okay."
Rangiku smiled and walked out the bedroom and headed for Toushiro's study. She found Kotaro rooting through a cupboard trying to locate the lamp, which was actually sitting on Toushiro's desk where it was suppose to be.
"Okay sweetie I have another job for you," she called to get his attention.
Kotaro wiggled out of the cupboard and bounded over to her, wrapping his arms around her legs, "What is it Mummy?"
"Can you pop into the kitchen for me and get out two cups, a beaker and some cookies please."
Kotaro's face lit up, "We're allowed cookies?"
"Yes sweetie," Rangiku bent down and planted a kiss on his forehead, "You've earned them today."
Kotaro grinned and rushed out of the room, happy to comply with that order.
Rangiku picked up the lamp and headed back to Nanao's room, she tapped lightly on the door expecting Nanao to answer. When she received no reply she cracked the door open slowly and peered inside.
She could see that Nanao had flopped over and was lying on her side, her back towards the door. Rangiku stepped around the bed and saw that during the short space of time she'd been in the other room, Nanao had crashed out and fallen asleep.
Rangiku smiled and placed the lamp down beside the bed. She then gently pulled off Nanao's glasses and placed them next to the stack of books. She picked up the night clothes she'd handed to Nanao and placed those in the chair, before stepping over to a set of drawers and pulling out a blanket.
She settled the blanket over Nanao and then walked quietly out of the room, with a small pleased smile on her face.
Hello Everybody. I would like to say Thank you to everyone who read and reviewed the last chapter. You're support means a lot to me and it always brightens my day when someone leaves a review. I dont always have the time to reply personally to the reviews left, but please know that each and everyone is appriciated.
Back at the end of Chapter 11, I remember asking you all for suggestions on what name or phrase Nanao could use when addressing Kotaro. I had several suggestions, however there was one in particular that stood out from them all and I instantly started using it in my head without much thought. It just fit so well. So Thank you very much to Akai-Miko with her suggestion of Kota-kun. I love the name so much and it fits wonderfully :) If you squint, you'll see that I've used it for the first time in this chapter ^_^
Now after all the doom and gloom of the previous chapters, we are now heading towards all the much needed fluff and all the nice scenes I've had planned for a long time. Yes sadly STWOY is nearing the end =( Still quite a few chapters to go yet, but my mind is always 5-10 chapters ahead of what I've actually written. My mind is currently going over the Hitsugaya's trip and a certain scene which I shall not mention here.
But dont despair, I've already got 2-3 ideas already for fresh new stories, along with several one shots. Plus a certain idea I had after seeing pictures of Hollow Shunsui, Ukitake and Toushiro is feeling very appealing at the moment.
See you all next chapter, apologies for rambling on so much, as always all comments and feedback are welcome.