A Kiss for Shelter

by ArsinoetheXXVII

What if the courtesan was not the first to fall? One night is all it takes. And in Fate's hands a seed takes root. An honorable man will take responsibility and face the unexpected. Beyond passion, beyond possession and obligation he'll want for more, but find a soul unwilling to bow to him. Still with a little effort Byakuya might get what he'd forgotten he always wanted.

150. Chapter 150

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Word Count: 342

AN: Hello everybody! Hope life is treatin' you kindly… Thanks very much for treating me kindly w/ the follows, favs, and reviews- it's a thrill!

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A Kiss for Shelter

Castle

After dispensing with his captain's duties for the day he was always eager to return home.

Before-before everything- it had just been a routine. Takuma and Xochitl had offered him an entirely new perspective with which to view life.

He could usually find Xochitl and his son in one of three places, the library, the kitchen, or the gardens. It didn't seem utterly out of the realm of possibility lately, however, to have to do a little more hunting.

Byakuya gave no indication of surprise when he opened the shoji of the woman's rooms to find Renji sitting cross-legged with Takuma held over his head, babbling excitedly. The boy seemed to like high places- like his aunt.

"Captain?" Renji looked over his shoulder questioningly. Takuma cooed a pleased greeting from his height, watching with gleaming hazel eyes as his father drew near.

Byakuya assessed his son a moment before his gaze softened and he ruffled the boy's feathery hair.

Wiggling in Renji's grasp the boy let out a squeal, reaching for the man eagerly, "U-u-u-u…"

It was not quite "up" but Byakuya's mouth quirked and he took the child from his lieutenant's hands, warmed by his son's recognition. He pulled the boy in toward his chest and brush his lips subtly, lightly, against his forehead. Settled on his father's forearm, Takuma instantly grabbed for the man's clothes to cling on to, all the while looking up expectantly.

As Renji resituated to face the door, Byakuya gracefully seated himself across from the other man.

It was perhaps ten seconds after he'd been placed in his father's lap that Takuma ventured forth. From his sire's lap he tumbled down to the tatami, managing to right himself enough not to bonk his nose. On his tummy he wriggled and pulled himself along, not quite crawling, but making progress nonetheless.

As the baby inched along toward him, Renji carefully gauged his captain's reaction, but when it didn't seem that Byakuya had taken offense to Takuma's shifting attention, he smiled and welcomed the boy into his lap.