My Hero

by Spunky0ne

After the Quincy war, Grimmjow and Ichigo awaken to a new reality…M/M, mpreg, Grimmjow/Ichigo with side pairings of Renji/Byakuya, Kisuke/Tetsuya

My Hero

By Spunky0ne

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After the Quincy war, Grimmjow and Ichigo awaken to a new reality…M/M, Grimmjow/Ichigo with side pairings of Renji/Byakuya, Kisuke/Tetsuya

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Chapter 1: End of Night

The familiar sound of slightly shuffling steps brought Byakuya out of the work induced haze he had been in for most of the night. His head turned and his weary grey eyes met his lieutenant's in greeting.

"Renji."

"G'morning, Cap'n," the tall redhead greeted him, "I hope you managed to get some sleep last night. I hit my pillow and was out like a light until morning."

Renji crossed the room and placed a cup of hot green tea at the dark-haired noble's elbow.

"Thank you."

"No problem."

Heading to his own desk, the redhead set his tea down, sighing as he spotted the pile of new work waiting in his inbox.

Well, I guess we're lucky to be able to do this again.

A little shiver went through him as he recalled the horrifying opening battle of the recent war. His body went still, cinnamon eyes losing focus as his gaze returned to his steaming teacup. He swallowed hard as his ears echoed with the sounds of that desperate, earthshaking conflict.

"Abarai?"

I remember this…moment. I remember lying there on the wet, broken ground. I didn't know if he was still alive or if being hit three times with his own petals was enough to kill him.

"Renji, are you all right?"

While I was lying there bleeding and the rain was starting to fall, I thought about just this…a normal morning, waking up in my bed at the Squad six headquarters, taking a hot shower, dressing, making our tea and saying good morning as I set his tea down beside him. I thought about how many times I'd done that, how many times I've met his eyes and thought they were so beautiful it hurt, how many times I've seen the edges of his lips turn very slightly upward in reaction, how often I've gotten a whiff of that pretty Sakura scent that's always around him.

I promised myself that if we survived and we came back here…

"Renji!"

Shit!

When did he get up and cross the room?

His startled gaze met Byakuya's and he read the look of mingled understanding and concern.

It's been hard for all of us, not just me.

He managed a little smile.

"Sorry, Captain, I was just…"

I was just thinking about that promise I made to myself…the one where I thought that, no matter how you reacted, I'd just tell you exactly what you mean to me. Because, to me? There was nothing worse in the three worlds than lying on that hard ground, feeling the rain mixing with my tears and thinking about how if you were dead, I didn't want to take another breath.

"I see," the noble replied quietly, moving a chair so that he could sit facing his distracted subordinate, "Would you like me to call Captain Uno…?"

Byakuya's voice stopped for a moment and the two looked into each other's eyes, sharing the feeling of loss. Byakuya cleared his throat softly.

"Would you like to talk about whatever is troubling you?"

What?

Byakuya bit at his lip gently, considering his words.

"Your eyes look haunted. I suppose I don't have to ask why. Maybe mine look the same to you."

Renji looked more deeply into the soft grey orbs that had always seemed so distant. There was no distance now, not after the war that had threatened to take everything away from them.

"I am sorry."

"Huh?" Renji managed, "You're sorry, Captain? Sorry for what?"

Byakuya drew in a breath and exhaled slowly.

"I am sorry for disappointing you. When the Quincies arrived, we entered the battle blindly and because of that, we lost many talented young soldiers…men and women who should be here with us, but who were lost because of my failure as their leader."

"Hey," Renji objected instantly, "I'm a leader in the squad too. I was supposed to be there for them. I was supposed to have your back."

Byakuya sighed and shook his head firmly.

"The blame for what happened…" he began.

"Isn't yours or mine to take," Renji interrupted, making his captain's breaths stop as he reached out and took Byakuya's surprisingly soft hand in his, "Captain, the Quincies struck from the shadows. They had powers we didn't understand. If our squad members were hurt and killed, if you and I couldn't protect them, it was because our enemy was powerful and sneaky, and they spied on us to learn how to cause the most damage when they attacked. There was nothing any of us could do."

The redhead paused, giving his superior a little, sad smile.

"None of us but Ichigo," he said more softly.

"Yes," the noble agreed, "Ichigo is Soul Society's hero. If not for him, none of us would be here."

Renji nodded.

"All of this would be gone," he agreed.

He wasn't sure when he'd begun to lean forward, and he was surprised that Byakuya held perfectly still as the younger man's lips closed in on his.

"And I wouldn't be able to keep this promise I made to myself."

His lips stopped just short of the frozen noble's.

"A promise?" Byakuya inquired tentatively, "What promise was that? When did you make it?"

Renji's head tilted forward so that their foreheads were gently touching, eyes lowered. The light scents of Sakura and green tea made the redhead's thoughts scatter and for a moment, he couldn't speak, let alone answer. His heart pounding, he ran his tongue over his lips, then forced the words out.

"It was when I was lying on the ground, bleeding all over the place and wondering if we'd ever be back here…like this. You know, just doing the normal things we've always done. Working together, talking, making tea and fighting hollows."

Very slowly, he met Byakuya's eyes again.

"I promised myself that if we made it through and we came back and got back to something like it used to be, I would stop worrying about not being good enough for you or being rejected. I'd just tell you that I think you're the most beautiful person I've ever known. I've fallen head over heels in love with you. Then, while you were shocked and not able to answer right away, I would kiss you and hold you in my arms, even if it was only that one time…and even if you decided to hurt me for disrespecting you that way."

"You call that disrespecting me?" Byakuya mused, keeping his forehead resting against his lieutenant's.

Renji laughed softly.

"So," Byakuya went on, "are you going to do it? Are you going to tell me?"

"I kinda thought I just did," the redhead chuckled.

"No," the noble corrected him, "You only stated that you made yourself a promise to do so. Well? Are you having second thoughts, Renji?"

His lieutenant's cinnamon eyes softened and he shook his head, rubbing their foreheads together lightly.

"No second thoughts," he resolved, "Captain, you are…"

He broke off, letting out an exasperated sigh as the squad room door opened.

"Damn it, Rikichi!" he steamed, "TIMING!"

He realized a moment later that the young man at the headquarters entrance was a little taller and more slender and delicate looking than their new third seat. And he was sure he'd never seen eyes so startling sapphire, like gems glinting under strong light. Byakuya gave his lieutenant a disapproving look.

"Sorry, Tetsuya," Renji apologized, "I thought you were…someone else."

"My apologies," Tetsuya said in a flustered tone, "but word has come from the living world."

"Is there a problem?" Byakuya asked, breaking away from Renji, who barely held back a little sob of distress as his captain left the chair and went to meet his cousin, "Have the Quincies…?"

"There have only been scattered attacks," Tetsuya explained, "The remaining Quincy forces have retreated into the shadows."

"I'm sure that's not the last we'll see of some of'em," Renji speculated, scowling.

"Kisuke Urahara seems to feel the same, but the message was not only about the Quincies. He reports that his home is overrun with injured soldiers, some of whom were sent from the fourth division, due to lack of personnel. The others are from patrols that have been attacked by bands of retreating officers. He also requires assistance with a former Espada who was afflicted with a poison that is not responding to his interventions. Isane Kotetsu could not spare anyone from the fourth division, however, she sent a message to the elders, asking for any available family healers. I have doubled the watch around the main estate and I can leave Arashi to guard as well so that I can go to assist."

Byakuya nodded in approval.

"Our division was also asked to provide some added protection while Urahara has his focus on the injured," he answered, glancing as his still piqued subordinate, "Renji and I will accompany you to the living world."

"Yes, of course," Tetsuya acknowledged, bowing.

"Come, Renji," Byakuya said, heading for the squad room door.

The redhead grabbed his zanpakuto out of the sword stand and flash stepped after.

Damn, this is not how I pictured things going today!

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Grimmjow woke to a sick, tight feeling in his stomach and a metallic taste in his mouth that sent him rocketing out of the bed he laid in before he realized where he was. He tried to stop, but crashed into the bedroom wall.

"F-fuck!" he growled, holding his stomach as he pushed himself to his feet with one hand and dragged himself to the bathroom, where he crouched in front of the toilet, heaving repeatedly, "Ugh."

When the horrid spasms stopped, he sat, rested against the wall, running one hand over his pale, sweaty face.

"Fuck'n poison prick!" he snarled, baring his teeth, "I'm GLAD I fuck'n ripped your goddamned heart out, you quincy bastard. Hope you're burn'n in hell for poison'n me."

"Ah, you're awake, I see," a male voice said pleasantly.

Grimmjow bared his teeth again and growled warningly, vaguely registering that he was looking at Kisuke Urahara's comrade, Tessai.

"I suppose I don't need to ask how you are feeling, Master Grimmjow."

"Ugh, stop fuck'n bein' so cheerful," Grimmjow grunted, still holding his stomach, "Damn it! Am I still poisoned or something? I feel like shit."

"Hmm, yes, I'm sorry. Miss Orihime was able to heal your other wounds and we slowed the poison for now, but we are going to need the help of another person to banish it entirely. Fortunately, I've just been informed that a young man who can help you is on the way here."

"Well, he'd better fucking flash step faster, cause I feel like I just puked my guts out already," the catlike hollow complained.

"Come now," Tessai said, helping him to his feet as Grimmjow hissed and spat out more foul language, "let's get you back to bed."

"I'm f-fine!" Grimmjow snapped, pulling free.

He wobbled for a moment as Tessai bit his lip, trying to decide whether or not to intervene more forcefully, then he caught himself and limped away, one opened hand against the wall.

"He's a stubborn one," Tessai sighed, shaking his head as he headed for another guest room.

Grimmjow stumbled out of his room and down the hallway, reaching out with his senses and looking around.

"C'mon, Ichigo," he muttered, "I know you're here somewhere. You promised me a fight after the quincy fuckers were beat. They're beat now, and you owe me."

He heard voices ahead of him, in the shop kitchen and he crept to the door and paused to listen.

"How is Ichigo?" a woman's voice asked, "He still looked pretty beat up when I visited him yesterday."

"Eh, he's better today," Kisuke said around a mouthful of food, "Physically anyway. Seems that final battle took a lot out of him. He's been pretty quiet since we got back."

"Hmm," Rukia sighed, shifting the food around on her plate with her fork, "I noticed that too."

"Some of that is to be expected," the shopkeeper mused, "Comes with the territory, but we should keep an eye on him. Ywach was really good at getting inside people's heads. He was a real piece of work, that's for sure."

"Now he's a dead fucking piece of work," Grimmjow huffed under his breath, "and good riddance."

"Ywach may be gone," Rukia surmised, "but he left a lot of damage in his wake."

She looked down at the table silently for a moment before continuing.

"It's not just the buildings and structures that have to be repaired. Many families lost fathers, mothers, sons, daughters and close relatives. Friends were torn apart. In the fighting, even the ones who survived were strained by the demands of the battles. I know Ichigo didn't just have to fight either. He learned some difficult things about himself and his family."

Difficult things?

"Yeah," Kisuke agreed, "Isshin finally had to tell him everything. That's a lot to process. But Ichigo's strong."

"Hmm," Rukia reflected, "still, everyone's strength has limits. Even his."

"Do you think I should go and have a talk with him?" asked the shopkeeper.

Rukia considered quietly, then shook her head tentatively.

"Let's give him some time to think about it first," she decided, "He may need that before he can really talk about it with anyone else."

Kisuke nodded.

"Sounds like that might be the best idea."

Grimmjow frowned, rubbing his chin and debating.

I'm not much for waiting around and I'm not sure letting a guy stew in a bunch of damned emotions is the best thing. The way I see it, life's not gonna get any more fair if you piss and moan about it. Expect it's gonna be shit and find a way to be happy anyway.

He shook his head and let out an agitated breath, slipping away as the ones in the kitchen continued their conversation. As he followed the hallway to the door leading down into the underground training room, he felt the return of the nausea he had felt before, accompanied by an aching throb in his belly.

"Ugh," he grumbled, dropping through the opening and engaging his sonido.

A heartbeat later, he realized it hadn't worked.

Fuck, I'm falling.

There wasn't time to recover, so he closed his eyes, bracing for what he expected to be an unforgiving collision with the sandy floor. But instead of the anticipated impact, he heard a blazing flash step and suddenly found himself looking up into Ichigo Kurosaki's troubled golden brown eyes. For a breathless moment, they stared into each other's eyes wordlessly, then Ichigo blinked and seemed to wake up from his reverie.

"Grimmjow, are you…"

"You wanna put me down?" the hollow growled, "Thanks for catching me, but I ain't your fuckin' bride."

Ichigo managed a little chuckle and set him back on his feet.

"Shit," the hollow complained, "that was…"

"What happened to you?" asked the shinigami substitute, "Why didn't you use your sonido?"

"Huh, what? You think I just forgot or something? What does it look like happened? I tried to use it and it didn't fucking work, baka."

"Yeah, but why didn't it work? Is this because you were injured? I thought that Kisuke and Orihime said you were gonna be okay."

"I am okay," the agitated hollow insisted.

"You just fell and your face is turning red," Ichigo observed, "Do you have a fever? Maybe you should go back to bed."

"I don't need to go back to bed!" Grimmjow snapped, "All I need is to have that battle you promised me. So, get out your sword and let's get to it!"

Ichigo gave him a baffled look, blocking as the former Espada charged at him.

"Whoa! What're you doing? It's obvious you're not up to fighting me. You aren't even sure your powers are gonna work, are you?"

"I don't need powers to beat a fucking little crybaby pussy like you," the hollow sneered.

"Hey!" Ichigo seethed, grabbing Grimmjow by the forearms and glaring into his icy blue eyes, "Knock it off! I get that you feel like hell, but don't take it out on me, okay?"

"Huh!" Grimmjow huffed, "What're you gonna…"

He broke off, grunting and doubling over as a flash of pain and a swell of nausea brought him to his knees in front of the surprised substitute.

"Grimmjow!"

The hollow started to answer, then groaned and heaved.

"Fuck!"

"What's wrong with you?" Ichigo shouted, his expression growing more distressed as the hollow groaned again and collapsed, losing consciousness entirely.

"Hey!"

Flash steps sounded and Byakuya and Renji appeared alongside a younger looking man with the same black hair and aristocratic look as Byakuya, but paired with wide, slightly glowing sapphire eyes. His eyes fixed on Grimmjow and when he answered, his voice was filled with concern.

"This is the former Espada, Grimmjow?" he asked, kneeling at hollow's side.

"Yeah," Ichigo answered quickly, "this is him."

"Kisuke Urahara informed us that he was going to need assistance with some of the healing, here in Karakura Town, particularly with one who had been poisoned by a Sternritter," Byakuya explained.

"Grimmjow was poisoned?" Ichigo asked worriedly, "Is he gonna be all right? There's something you can do, isn't there? That's why Kisuke contacted you, isn't it?"

"It is," Byakuya affirmed, "This is my cousin, Tetsuya. He is a talented healer with an ability that should be able to extract the poison from this hollow's body."

"I will get started right away," Tetsuya promised, extending his hands over Grimmjow's collapsed body.

Ichigo's hands clasped and unclasped and he watched closely as the blue glow of Tetsuya's power wrapped around the hollow's still form. Noting his distress, Byakuya gave his lieutenant a little, hidden nudge and Renji nodded briefly and moved closer to his human friend.

"Hey, he's gonna be all right," the redhead assured Ichigo, "Tetsuya's a really good healer."

"Hmm," The substitute mused, keeping his eyes fixed on Grimmjow, "How come I've never met him before at Byakuya's place? Most of the time when I'm at Kuchiki Manor, it's to get patched up after a fight."

"Well, Tetsuya's not just a healer, he's my captain's bodyguard."

"He's a healer and a bodyguard?"

"Yeah, and when you're around, it usually means there's trouble, so Tetsuya's first responsibility is to watch out for his leader."

"It is as he says," Byakuya confirmed, "But, as the war has ended, and the greater need is for a healer in this situation, I am making Tetsuya available to Kisuke Urahara for the purposes of healing injured soldiers like your friend."

"My…" Ichigo breathed, "…friend."

He gave a little smirk and a light blush touched his face and throat.

"I don't know if I'd call him that exactly," he chuckled.

"Oh?" the noble mused, "Is that so?"

"Heh, usually Grimmjow just insults me a lot and tries to get me to fight him, but he did come through for us in the war, even if Kisuke had to bribe him to get him to do it."

"How'd he bribe that guy?" Renji asked, reaching up to scratch the back of his neck.

Ichigo laughed softly.

"Kisuke told Grimmjow that if he helped us to beat Ywach, he'd get me to accept Grimmjow's challenge to fight."

"Ah," Byakuya said, blinking as he considered, "that should be an interesting exchange."

"Yeah."

"But before you have this battle, Tetsuya will ensure that the hollow is at his best physically."

"That would be good," Ichigo agreed, giving Grimmjow and look of relief as he groaned and stirred under Tetsuya's hands.

The group looked up as more flash steps sounded and Kisuke and Tessai joined them in the underground training room. The shopkeeper opened his mouth to speak, then he paused, gazing silently at Tetsuya's bowed head and the blue light flowing out of his extended hands.

"So," he said, rubbing his chin, "this is your cousin? This is the healer you told me about, Byakuya?"

"Yes," the noble affirmed, "As I'm sure you can see already, Tetsuya's power is not like that of a normal healer. His zanpakuto, Reku-hime, commands the element of water."

"All things have some amount of water in them," Tetsuya related as he continued his efforts, "Our bodies possess large amounts of it, and my ability allows me to access and use that water in different ways. In the case of poisoning, I first employ my ability to augment that amount of water in the person's system, using my own or that of the environment around us. Then, to draw out the poison, I can encase the particles in the water I control, and slowly push it out of the body. As I work, I must continue to augment the patient's fluid levels so that they do not become dehydrated. The work can be slow, especially with difficult poisons, and with some poisons that adhere to cells and invade them or change them somehow, it is harder for me to affect the necessary changes, but in Master Grimmjow's case, it is a more rudimentary poison. I sense that this quincy could have chosen a more dastardly poison, but he opted for simplicity and just a large amount of poison, rather than increasing the complexity. That means I am sure I can heal him."

Tetsuya's head lifted slightly so that his eyes met those of the now spellbound shopkeeper and Kisuke rubbed his chin harder, his pale grey eyes intense.

"Fascinating," he breathed.

Byakuya looked from his cousin to Kisuke and back again, his eyes narrowing as he read the intensity of reaction between them.

"We should leave Tetsuya to his work," the noble said shortly, "Renji and I will need to know how best to protect the shop so that you can focus on the injured coming in."

"R-right!" Kisuke responded, shaking his head and giving a little nervous laugh at the Kuchiki leader's stern expression, "Tessai, why don't you stay here and help Tetsuya out. I'm gonna get the security stuff taken care of."

"Yes boss."

Renji noted the continued agitation in Byakuya's reiatsu and caught the noble's eye as they ascended the ladder, into the shop above.

"You all right, Captain?" he asked, already sensing the answer to his question, "Hey, I know Kisuke sort of rubs you the wrong way, but he's a good guy."

Byakuya's lips thinned and his reiatsu bristled.

"If that man disrespects my cousin or dishonors him in any way, I am going to kill him."

"Yikes," the redhead laughed, "I don't think there's any need to be killing the guy."

"Give him time," Byakuya said dourly," and I'm sure there will be."