CHAPTER THREE- part two: A whole mew world is opening up for me

*warning... I know I haven't said anything but this will be a mxm fiction. Not for a long while! but if you or male love turns you off. I am quite sorry but that's just how my Ichi will be. Thanks*Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or Ichigo. Never will sadly

"There now, rest little one. Everything's going to be just fine now." Unohana says, voice gentle and calming as she laid Ichigo back on the bed. She'd just healed him and had calmed him down enough to get him to stop vomiting and to rest easily. She smiled and ran one last check over the now sleeping toddler. She smiled happily, "He'll be just fine if he rests over night. Sorry for the long wait, we had over fifty unseated squad members severely wounded by a group of thirty Menos Grande and I was stalled for a while. I'll let you all rest and if something seems off just call for me and I'll be to your aide as swiftly as I can." She reassured Kaien and Miyako before making herself scarce.

Kaien blows out the breath he'd been holding, listening to Ichigo cry and vomit because he was in severe pain had made his nerves defuse. He felt like his heart was broken into millions of pieces, "He's okay now, take as many deep breaths as you need to dear."

A Hell Butterfly floated into the room and landed on Kaien's shoulder as he was about to respond to Miyako and so he stayed silent as he listened to the message before sighing heavily, "I'm needed for duty." He says.

"We'll be fine here, go on my love. Come back safely." Miyako says, voice as soft as a butterflies wings as it takes off once again.

Kaien pulls Miyako close and kisses the top of her head, her cheek to his chest before looking up and kissing him on the lips feather light. She turns back to Ichigo when Kaien shunpo's out of the room and to their squads barracks.

A Week Later

Ichigo was once again home, he was crawling around like mad and rushing to objects to stand up. He almost had it down! He would stand up and grip what he was next too to walk along it then plop back down and start all over again. His aunt Kukaku was watching him while his parents were away yet again. He smiled when she squatted down beside him and asked if he wanted to go visit a friend of hers from within the Sierietie, so Ichigo smiled, "Will Momma be there?" He asks eyes lighting up excitedly.

"I'm not sure but if she is you must be very respectful while she's on duty." Kukaku warns then stands and picks him up. "Ganju is coming along as well, I bet you'll be a whole lot more behaved than that scoundrel." She muses.

Sierietie - High Noon

Ichigo was currently crawling about with a young girl about twelve years his senior, he didn't mind though because she was pretty and she was chasing him to keep him busy while his aunt made a deal with her friend on the selling of fireworks she'd just finished. "Hey, what are you thinking so hard about? You stopped in the middle of our tag." The girl, who called herself Miwa Ottokami of the Ottokami Clan says and Ichigo looks at her then points to his aunt, "I want to go to my aunt." He says but the girl shakes her head, "It's impolite to interrupt adults while they're busy. Wait for her to come to you and I'm sure she'll appreciate it all the more." Ichigo sighs but nods in acknowledgement and continues the game.

When Kukaku was done a clue hours later, Ichigo was relieved. 'I like that girl but she has way too much energy for me.' He thinks and watches ahead of them as they stroll down the walkways. Kukaku was annoyed, she forgot how these walkways were like a maze and were easy to get lost in. "You would think I'd be able to navigate easier than this damnit." She spits.

"Damnit." Ichigo repeats and Kukaku's face turns beet juice red.

"Don't say that in front of your mother, she'd send me to the moon using my own fireworks." Kukaku says smiling with her eyes closed and rubbing the nape of her neck embarrassed. Ganju who had been rather quiet all day finally became loud, laughing at his older sister because Ichigo finally caught on to her swearing.

"Okay." Ichigo agrees in his tiny voice, trying to ignore his uncle's annoying pig laugh only for someone to tower over them and shadow them from the sun.

"If it isn't Kukaku Shiba and her snot nosed little brother… What brings you this far away from your mansion?" A deep voice jests. Ichigo looked up as Kukaku glared up at the man, "Mind your own business!" Ganju spits and stomps off ahead.

Kukaku looks the man up and down, "Nothing really, excuse us Lieutenant Omaeda. I'm meeting with my older brother and his wife soon." She steps away quickly. Omaeda smirks but let's her pass without a fight but then tries to make fun of her, "Didn't know you had a kid Shiba, he looks nothing like you." He jests.

Kukaku whips around and swiftly kicks him in the nuts, "He's my nephew! Do I look old enough to have a child!! You idiot!!" She screams bonking him on the head. The Lieutenant apologizes while laughing and let's her leave without further confrontation. 'Stupid Omaeda! Can't leave well enough alone! I'm only 95 years old and he pulls that kind of crap!' She fumes in her head while stomping away.

Ganju was having a time as well, he'd just ran smack head first into the squad two's third seat and was apologizing. "Don't worry, it was totally my fault. Please, be careful where you're running next time… uhm."

"Ganju." Ichigo giggles at his uncle blushing while saying his name to the soul reaper and the two look up. Ganju goes even more red when he sees that Ichigo finds his embarrassment hilarious. "Why you little punk you, wait till you get older! Why, I'll teach you a lesson." He says putting up his fist and baring his teeth. Ichigo laughs again, eyes closed until he opens his eyes and makes eye contact with the soul reaper and attempts to get down. Kukaku almost loses grip and decides to put him down before he makes her drop him. Ichigo stands up using Kukaku's hand as a means of lifting himself off the ground. She blinks and gasps when he lets go, going to catch him but he stays up right. He manages to catch himself twice on his walk, happy that he was still up right. "Holy cow, he's fricken walking!" Ganju shouts stunned, Ichigo hadn't attempted walking yet but he was doing a pretty good job of it.

"All beings eventually do that you know." The soul reaper points out the obvious.

Ichigo smiles and takes another step and then another until he's right in front of the reaper and tugs at his hakama' s pant leg. "I'm Ichigo." He whispers when the reaper bends down onto one knee.

"Nice to meet you Ichigo, I'm Kisuke Urahara." Now said Urahara smiles fondly at the toddler.

Ichigo blushes, "You're really handsome, will you marry me when I get older?" He asks in his tiny little voice.

Everyone goes tomato red from head to toe at that declaration, "Ichigo, don't say such things!" Kukaku shouts about to knock him on the top of his head.

"But why not? Why can't I ask those things? Dad asked momma and she said yes." Ichigo asks rightfully confused.

"Listen Kid, what the lovely lady is trying to say is that you shouldn't randomly ask people to marry you." Urahara points out.

Ichigo puts a finger to his bottom lip and looks down, "Am I not your type?" He asks, a voice in his head suddenly started laughing maniacally.

Urahara goes speechless and looks at Ichigo flabbergasted, "Well, I've never had a thing for…"

"For short people?" Ichigo interrupts making the laughing in his head even more crazy. 'Who was that?' He thinks then a light dusting of pink touches his cheeks, "You like girls?" He asks making Ganju and Kukaku fall over backwards.

Urahara laughs and puts his hand on top of Ichigo's orange hair, "You're cute but yes, unfortunately Ichigo-chan, I like girls. How about we be friends?" He asks, putting up his fist. Ichigo knew how to fist bump because Ganju and his dad were always trying to get him to do it so he smiled widely and bumped fists. "Friends!" He shouts.

Twenty Minutes Later

"Auntie why are you so angry?" Ichigo asks as Ganju sprints to keep up with his older sister who was rushing away from that soul reaper Ichigo was so fascinated with. They'd passed by dozens of other reapers and Ichigo hadn't asked for their hand in marriage so what was so special about that blond reaper that made Ichigo ask weird questions like that?! "Auntie?" Ichigo asks again poking her in the forehead.

"Ichigo! Knock it off! You really embarrassed me back there!" Kukaku shouts, her face going even more red if that were possible. Ichigo kisses her cheek, "I'm sorry auntie." He apologises while giving her puppy dog eyes.

Kukaku blushes then hugs Ichigo close to her, "Damnit, why are you so hard to stay mad at?" She asks primarily to herself.