AN: A fluffy long extra mostly from Takuma's view.
A Kiss for Shelter: Extra
Home
There'd been an endless stream of well-wishers and thus no time to contemplate all that being home meant.
Renji, acting as gatekeeper, seemed to come and go, appear and disappear from hour to hour. He escorted in visitors, made apologies when his captain was not receiving, and ushered out those intent on mischief (Kenpachi seemed determined to make a nuisance of himself).
As it was the Sixth Division's Lieutenant took the post seriously- but when it came to personal visits for himself he was a bundle of jittery nerves. Renji was quite excited as much as he was intimidated by seeing little Takuma. And when Xochitl insisted on placing the boy in the man's arms he held his breath until the woman demanded he breathe.
Takuma took to the red-haired lieutenant rather well. In fact he stayed wide awake whenever the man was around and watched him curiously. The boy was strong and determined, holding his head up for periods of time to take in what and who was around him. Once Renji became comfortable with the tiny human being in his arms, he would take him for slow walks. Unlike his walks with his father, Renji's sure voice would chatter on over his head. The lieutenant was eager to avail him of the comings and goings of his division and of course regaled him with tales of his illustrious father.
While he appreciated his sire's serene presence, the measured way he walked, the quiet hum of his deep voice when he did speak, Takuma found that he enjoyed Renji's excitable commentary.
There were many people for the little Kuchiki to take stock of. His aunt was the one with the big amethyst eyes and the low, but pleasant voice. Sometimes she would giggle, which seemed something she didn't do often, but he liked whenever it occurred.
The one that loomed over the young woman's shoulder however… Takuma wasn't quite sure how to feel about the tall, brilliant-haired boy?-man? He seemed a little grumpy- though he couldn't help but notice the panic in the boy-man's face whenever his aunt placed him in his long arms. It was somehow satisfying to see the expression of uncertainty on the boy-man's face. Still, he didn't particularly like when the interloper interrupted his time with his aunt. The sweet smile she reserved just for him ought not be wiped away because the boy-man irritated her.
"Ichigo quit hovering!" She'd snap at him.
"I can't help it," The boy would return in a frustrated hiss, "Your brother keeps glaring at me."
Sometimes they'd argue about his name.
"Taku-ma." His aunt would insist.
"What- Akuma is part of his name! What's wrong with calling him that?"
"He's not a demon, Ichigo!" She would glare.
The boy-man would snort, "That has yet to be seen… He's your brother's son after all."
It was usually at this time that his aunt would carefully place him in his bassinet and then proceed to make her impertinent companion yowl with pain. Takuma felt certain that whatever was happening was just.
There were maids that floated in and out and always made delighted noises whenever they saw him. They gasped and giggled and tittered in high voices over him. But they seemed to come and go like a breeze and he found them easy to ignore.
A woman liked to come in the mornings not long after his first meal. She smelled of jasmine and her kimonos were made of soft colorful fabrics that felt nice against his skin. He did still prefer the scents of his mother however and though her clothes were not always as silky, her arms were exceptionally warm- like no one else's. He didn't mind the jasmine woman however, her voice almost whisper-soft.
A couple others stood out in his mind.
The man with the hat whose rich laugh conveyed a joviality that could be compared to very few. He had one sepia eye that twinkled merrily and he always wore a lazy smile.
The man always came with another who had long colorless hair that sometimes tickled Takuma's face and whose green eyes were infinitely kind. He'd sometimes stick his finger in sweet jams or drinks and let Takuma suck the remnants from his fingertips.
Finally there was the scarred man who grinned down at him with an anticipatory expression. He would frown up at the man, but this only made the giant laugh and grin harder. His feelings about this big fellow were mixed to say the least.
The world around him was an enchanting place all and all. So much to take in. The people were as diverse as his adventures about the manor. But of course he was partial to the woman whose milk sustained him and whose songs lulled him to sleep or kept him focused on her smiling lips. He craved her attention only slightly more than that of the man whose sculpted features were ever reassuring. The calm grey gaze could quiet him easily, despite his sometimes finicky moods.
It was a good home. And though that word was not something he knew just yet, the feeling was deeply imbedded in his small body. He knew the feeling of contentment and the tingling presence of happiness. And always surrounding him, lifting him up on invisible cloud-like arms was an emotion he'd eventually recognize. Love.