Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.
Word Count: 499
AN: Told ya I had these chapters ready! Much love all!
A Kiss for Shelter
True Pioneer of Love
"Takuma."
"Takuma?" She repeated, curiously.
The lamp light was low, the late hour quiet, but for the soft whir of the monitors.
On her side she stared at the bassinet only a hand's reach from the bed. Byakuya was the heat at her back. His hand, smoothing circles over her stomach, did not pause.
"Mm… I… suspect he will have a different perspective than most. He'll be able to see beyond some of the veils that shroud our classes." He answered quietly.
She murmured thoughtfully, "I see…"
Her neck lay bare above the yukata, her braid having fallen over her shoulder. He let his nose run along the soft skin and laid gentle kisses in its wake.
The noble knew this peace was vulnerable.
There was quiet for a moment and then once Xochitl had released her bottom lip from the clutch of her teeth she said, softly, almost shyly, "I thought… Ren might be nice."
His brow lifted at this, "Ren… as in the flower?" His breath tickled her neck and she shuddered before answering.
She smiled, "Yes… And of course it's part of your lieutenant's name…"
Byakuya did not comment but looked to be considering this.
"I suppose we don't have to decide just yet?" She looked over her shoulder at him to gauge his reaction.
He breathed deeply and replied, "If not now, when? Upon return to the manor…" Byakuya left the thought unfinished, but Xochitl understood.
"Right… Then…"
…
In the light of day, Rukia stared at her nephew, astounded by how much he looked like her brother. Even the intense gaze, quiet yet searching reminded her of the man who watched her from the bedside.
She'd been frightened at first to take the child in her arms, but her brother's even gaze had assured her.
"He's-," She choked slightly, unable to finish her thought until she swallowed, "Amazing, Nii-sama…"
Byakuya acknowledged this with a regal nod, accepting her compliment as any proud father.
Rukia pushed back tears with an effort, and straightened slightly in the seat she'd taken near the window.
He was so small- the lightest of weights in her arms- not quite seven pounds. A good deal of black hair, brushed her arm beneath the small head. His nose was already strong and his pink lips pouty, the chubby cheeks made her think of puffy white dango. She wanted to nibble on them. She bit her lip to stifle a giggle, but her smile still reached her face and the boy looked thoughtful in response.
He was very alert.
She did give a light laugh then, "Have you named him?" When silence met her she looked up to watch as her Nii-sama pulled the covers up on a sleeping Xochitl.
Finally he lifted his eyes, "Takuma Ren Kuchiki."
Middle names were a rather foreign concept, but Rukia just beamed at him.
The boy was a bridging of worlds and thus his name reflected this in more ways than one.
It was…
"Perfect."
AN:
Takuma: Taku- "expand, open, pioneer" ma- "true, real"
I wanted a nod to Byakuya's best bro. I found that Renji was hard to find a meaning for. I came across the name being Sanskrit meaning 'to make happy'. I did come across a live journal noting that Renji in Japanese meant "yearning love" or "next in sequence" which together might mean "second love". And of course Ren can refer to the lotus flower or even "love, romance".