Chapter 5: Bladed Petals

(Aha, things are turning in a direction no one will suspect! This is going to get really fun now. I am off to write the next. Thanks to Cerrucci (Oh, there is going to be soooo much cuteness!), CrimsonNight41 (You will be laughing very hard pretty soon, I figure!), Hiya (Okay, here's more!), NGBW (Aww, thanks so much!), Purple Light Snow (Oh, Renji will have an...interesting reaction when he meets Byakuya! lol), Blood87 (Here you go, then! Thanks for reading!), Kuchiki (Good point. I actually meant to have Byakuya say he learned from the prisoners that they had been there since Aizen caught them, but forgot to include that. I'll have to go back and fix that when I have time.), CallMeSenseiKuchiki (So glad you liked it!), Kyuumihaira (I think Yoruichi will die laughing and Ichigo will faint!), LittleMissy (Heehee! Yes, Ichigo, stating the obvious! lol And Yoruichi is too funny around little Bya. She's so mean!), LeAwesomeOne IX (*giggles* I had a lot of fun writing that one...and this one!), Nya (Ah yes, Rukia! Still working on that. That will be along soon!), Hieizz (Heehee! You've got it!), Mrs. Passionate (Oh, it will be a while before Bya's grown up again, but the time between will be fun!...for us anyway!), Hylla (My thoughts exactly! lol), NamineLily (Yes, it's fun to see Byakuya more reactive and emotionally honest. I am really enjoying that.), KarenaAngel1986 (You are most welcome!), BlackButlerQueen666 (Thanks so much! I will keep the ball rolling!), Kami-no-Namida (Heehee! they are going to go in directions that will shock, surprise and amuse you all a once!), Zenjurou (Thanks so much! Glad to have you along!), SunlessNights (So glad you are enjoying the story!), MissyQueenBee (Yup, little Bya is bad and will get badder!), Anelir-Sensei (Here is more!), and Tougetsu (Here you go!), Whew! It was good to catch up on those shout outs, now that the bugs are out of ff for now! Enjoy the new chapter! Love, Spunky)

"That woman was completely unpleasant!" Byakuya huffed disgustedly, returning to his place on the bed and resuming his meal.

Ichigo chuckled.

"Well, she told me before that she used to go to Kuchiki Manor and train with you. She liked to tease you, but she did teach you some really great flash steps and hakudo."

"Well, flash steps or no, I do not want to have to deal with her again ever! She is repulsive! If she lays a hand on me again, I'll show her some hakudo!"

"Aww, she's not that bad," Ichigo chuckled, "She helped train me too."

"Did she torment you the way she did me?" the noble asked sourly.

"She teased me sometimes," Ichigo confessed, "She likes to change from cat to human form without putting on any clothes, just to get a rise out of you."

"Shameless," Byakuya mumbled around a mouthful of food.

Ichigo smirked and leaned closer.

"You know," he breathed hotly into the shell of one pale ear, making it blush brightly, "After what we spent last night doing, maybe you shouldn't be calling her the shameless one, ne?"

The shinigami substitute was floored when instead of the scowl he expected, Byakuya only smiled in a very self-satisfied manner and teased him with a ripe strawberry placed between his flushed lips.

"What, last night wasn't enough? You know, you are more shameless than she is!" Ichigo laughed, leaning forward to steal half of the offered fruit, but instead being pulled into a wet and amorous kiss, "Hey, aren't we supposed to avoid getting you riled? Do you really want to self-destruct?"

"I won't self-destruct," the noble said off-handedly, "Your reiatsu calmed mine. I am fine now. I just hope that Kisuke finds a way to undo what that hollow did. As much as I enjoy lying about making love to you, if indeed, I am a clan leader, there are things I should be seeing to."

"Yeah," Ichigo sighed, "Don't worry. Kisuke will have you changed back and off leading the Kuchiki clan again in no time. Then, you'll probably forget all about me."

"I very much doubt that I could forget you, Ichigo...ever," Byakuya said, seeking his lips again.

"Damn," Ichigo said softly, "I'm really going to miss this when you go back. I hate that it's going to be so soon..."

"Actually," said Kisuke from the doorway, "I think that Captain Kuchiki will not be changed back for a while."

"What do you mean?" Ichigo asked, frowning, "You haven't been gone all that long. You can't be giving up on changing him back already."

"Oh, I know how to change him back," Kisuke said, matter-of-factly.

"Then, why are you not going to do so?" Byakuya inquired, "I have a clan I am supposed to lead...a military division to run..."

"I know that," said the shopkeeper, "and believe me, as soon as it's safe, I will be happy to change you back. However, there's a problem."

"Oh, I don't like the sound of that," Ichigo said, his arm curling around Byakuya protectively, "What are you getting at? Why can't you change Byakuya back right now?"

"Well, you know how I told you that you shouldn't go crazy and indulge in wild parties or sex?"

Byakuya and Ichigo blinked uncomprehendingly.

"You mean, when you told us too late not to have sex because he might explode?" Ichigo asked.

"Yeah, that," Kisuke said, nodding, "You see, the problem we have here is that the hollow that struck him is called a disruptor hollow. It attacks, trying to cut its target, then explodes and infuses the body with highly unstable reiatsu. That reiatsu can make all sorts of crazy things happen. We were worried the most about Captain Kuchiki exploding. But in other cases, there have been other side effects."

"Like what?" Byakuya inquired, looking unnerved.

"Ah...body parts rearranging themselves in kinda awful ways before actually killing the person, organs malfunctioning, hollowfications, you know...and, well, there was one other case of the effect that seems to have afflicted our Captain Kuchiki."

"What's that?" Ichigo asked worriedly, "You...don't mean that fading, right? He's not going to just...keep fading?"

"No, nothing that scary," Kisuke said reassuringly, "But, you see, Byakuya is in a condition which he will definitely want to be rid of before he goes back to the clan."

"Yes, I am a teenager again," said the noble, "Are you saying there is something more than that?"

"Yeah."

"Well?"

Kisuke smiled.

"It looks like while your reiatsu was in a tizzy and you and Ichigo decided to explore that changed body of yours, you spun the procreative wheel and Byakuya ended up pregnant."

"Wh-what?" Ichigo asked, looking bewildered, "B-but...Byakuya...he's...a guy! How can he...?"

He paused, surprised that the noble hadn't reacted vociferously to the notion, then noticed the strange look on Kisuke's face. He followed the shopkeeper's gray eyes to where they watched Byakuya's reaction and froze, staring. Byakuya's eyes shone happily and his lips had curved up into a pleased smile.

"Not quite the reaction we would have expected," Kisuke muttered beneath his breath, "but the guy has forgotten just what the clan does to young, unmarried clan leaders..."

"Byakuya?" Ichigo queried, looking into the noble's happy gaze.

Byakuya focused on him and read his expression, then took on a crestfallen look.

"What is it?" Ichigo asked softly, "Did you just now realize how much trouble you'll be in with the clan?"

"No," the noble said, very softly, "I just realized that...you are unhappy with this."

"Unhappy?" Ichigo repeated, "Of course I'm unhappy! I'm barely of legal age and I'm not even out of high school yet! I can't be a father! I'm practically just a kid, myself. And you...you're...well, you're a kid right now, just as 'barely legal' as me. And even if you weren't, we aren't that serious!"

"Not that serious," Byakuya repeated quietly, "Is that right?"

"Look," Ichigo said urgently, "I like you. I really, really like you and I just...you were so cute like this, and I thought you'd been killed and I just...!"

"It's fine," Byakuya whispered, turning away and clamping down forcefully on his emotions, "Then, you needn't be a part of this. Leave me alone."

"Oh...hey, don't get mad, okay? I wasn't lying when I said I was falling for you. I am! But you know, most people don't fall in love and get married and pregnant the next day! Byakuya..." he said, reaching out and taking hold of the noble's arm.

He reeled in surprise and shock as the noble spun in his grasp, aiming a swift, vicious kick to his head.

"OW! What th'fuck!"

"I despise you! Stay away from me!" Byakuya snapped, turning and running out of the shop.

"Eh, that went well," Kisuke mused, shaking his head.

"Well, what does he expect?" Ichigo fumed, "I didn't know I could get him pregnant! It's not like it ever occurred to me that could be remotely possible! I was completely blindsided!"

"Yeah, I know," said the shopkeeper, "I get it. And if Captain Kuchiki was working on all thrusters, he'd get it too. But he's not himself right now, or anything like it...which is probably how you managed to seduce him."

"Hey, it wasn't like that!" Ichigo objected, "I just...I thought that the hollows had killed him, okay? I thought he was dead and then he showed up and I was so happy he hadn't died that I just..."

"Maybe you should stop trying so hard to explain," Kisuke advised him solemnly, "I might not hate you for saying stuff like that, but do you really think you should be saying that stuff to the guy you just impregnated? If it was me, I might just kick you in the head too."

"Kisuke, come on, you know me. I'm not ready to be a father. And I've never taken risks that could've made me one. I didn't have sex because I didn't feel ready. But then...Byakuya got attacked by that hollow and he changed and I just...totally fell for him. It never even occurred to me that a guy could ever get pregnant."

"I don't think it occurred to our buddy, Byakuya, either," said Kisuke, "The thing is, he heard and it made him happy. I don't know. Maybe, while the disruption messed with his memory, it didn't erase all of his instincts. I mean, he does remember how to fight."

"Yeah," Ichigo agreed, rubbing the side of his head, "he sure does."

"And you told me when you got back that he seemed to remember things like strategy and survival. So, I guess we can reason that the things that became more reflex to him are the things that weren't lost, while most of his memory was."

"Yeah, that sounds right."

"And what that means is that Byakuya's reaction to hearing he was having a kid might have more to do with something reflexive and instinctive than something he decided. You know he lost his wife..."

"Uh-huh."

"And in the fifty years after, how many times do you think he wished that he'd had a kid?"

Ichigo sighed and lowered his eyes.

"Probably a lot. Damn it, Kisuke, you're right. I shouldn't have said those things to him. I keep thinking that because he's in that body and that he looks like he's my age that he thinks like me too. But the truth is, he's in a different place than me. I should've thought about that and I shouldn't have said those things to him. No wonder he was so upset. Even if he doesn't remember his wife, he was reacting honestly when he was so happy about the baby. I should go find him and talk to him."

"Eh...maybe," Kisuke said uncertainly, "But don't you think you ought to give him a little time to cool down? He was pretty steamed when he left here."

"All the more reason to find him quickly," Ichigo concluded, "He's not really himself. We don't know what he might do. He could get into trouble."

"But..."

"Yeah, I'd better go and find him. I've gotta make things right."

"But..." Kisuke tried again as Ichigo flash stepped away, "Huh...and he says he just likes the guy! That's some pretty serious 'liking' then."

He shook his head in resignation.

"Ichigo, you have gotten yourself and Captain Kuchiki into a shitload of trouble!"

XXXXXXXXXX

Renji strode through the park, heading for Urahara's shop and whistling happily to himself. He heard a soft sniff as he passed a blooming plum tree by the river's edge and slowed, slowing his whistling as well. His whistle faded away altogether as he spotted a very lovely, but obviously broken-hearted youth sitting at the foot of the tree with his knees drawn up to his chest, his arms wrapped around them, and his pretty face partially buried in his arms. He wondered if he should just leave the boy alone, but felt a tugging in his chest when he tried to make his feet move to leave him there.

"Hey, uh...are you all right?"

The youth lifted his head slightly and turned it away.

"I am fine, thank you."

"R-right, well," Renji went on, moving closer, "You kinda look like something's really wrong. I know you don't know me, but I am a good listener. It might be good to just, you know, get this off your chest."

The boy took a breath and looked ready to refuse, but then sighed softly and lowered his head onto his arms again.

"Are you...sure you really want to involve yourself?" he asked.

"Hey, what are friends for?" Renji asked, good naturedly.

"I thought we didn't know each other. Now we are friends so quickly?" the other boy mused, "That was rather fast."

"Yeah, I guess it was," Renji said, extending a hand, "The name's Renji Abarai. I go to school at Karakura High. Are you there too?"

"I...I am new in town. I am...staying with my...uncle, Kisuke Urahara."

Renji's eyes widened.

"That loon is your uncle?" he asked incredulously, "But... you don't look anything alike!"

"Eh, he is an uncle by marriage," Byakuya said, "Um, speaking of which, I suppose that I had best get back."

"But I thought you wanted to confide in me," Renji objected, "You looked real sad before."

"I..."

"Did someone just break up with you?" Renji asked.

"Well, kind of."

"Ah, sorry to hear that. Was she a student at the high school?"

"Er, no, it...was a boyfriend."

"Oh," the redhead said, arching an eyebrow slightly, "Okay. Well, whoever the guy was, he's gotta be pretty stupid to let go of a cutie like you. What was he thinking? Idiot!"

The beginning of an amused smile rose on Byakuya's lips.

"Yes, he is a complete idiot. But...I suppose he had his reasons. I guess I can understand. After all, he is young to become a parent and he had no idea I could become pregnant."

Renji's eyes crossed.

"Uh...what was that? A...um...you're pregnant?" he said in a confused tone, "But...you are...a guy, right?"

Kami, what have I done! Byakuya thought belatedly, I'm such an idiot! How in the world do I explain without looking crazy to this human?

"I...I am...male, well, partly. You see," Byakuya stammered, thinking quickly, "I...I am...a hermaphrodite. I am male mostly, but strangely, it is my female...um...organs that work."

He blushed profusely and rose to leave.

"Renji Abarai, I am sorry. I see that I've flustered you. I...I didn't mean to..."

"Well, bless my heart! Who is that delectable, sinfully pretty creature, Renji?" said a higher pitched, but still male voice.

"Oh," said the redhead, looking over his shoulder in surprise, "Hi there Shou. Shou, this is...um...erm..."

"Bya," Byakuya said, extending a hand and gazing curiously at the smiling, colorfully dressed young man.

Shou peeked out from under a ruff of purple that rose out of his otherwise jet black hair and tumbled down over a pair of friendly blue eyes, and he accepted the noble's offered hand and kissed it lightly.

"You are just darling, Bya dear!" he gushed, "Say, you don't, perhaps sing, do you?"

"Oh, ah...I...I don't know..."

"Hey, knock it off, will you?" Renji said, shaking his head, "You don't even know this guy. Don't worry. We'll find someone to replace Otto."

"Excuse me," said Byakuya, "But, who is Otto?"

"Ah," sighed Shou unhappily, "Otto was my boyfriend and our lead singer, but that two-faced bitch just took up with a boy from that other damned band and..."

"Other band?"

"Hey, Shou, this isn't really the time. Look, I'll see you at school tomorrow. I think Bya really wanted to talk about something."

"But he's so good looking!" Shou insisted, moving closer to Byakuya, "And I can tell from his pretty voice, oh, he must have perfect pitch. Hum a little for me, will you, Bya dear?"

"Uh..."

"Really! I don't have to hear a note and I know you'd be better than what we had. You're going to enroll in school, ne?"

"Well, I hadn't..."

"All right, then. Come tomorrow to my flat to practice. We'll have a listen to you then."

"But...?"

Shou removed several battered papers from his breast pocket and pressed them into the flustered noble's hand.

"Thank you so much, Bya, darling," Shou said with deep sincerity as he kissed Byakuya's hand again, "You are saving a life here! I would positively die if that no good, thieving two-timer and those Bloody Demons beat us in the competition!"

"B-bloody demons?" Byakuya queried, blinking questioningly.

"It's the other really good band in the competition," Renji supplied, "That's the band that stole Otto away."

"Oh."

"See you tomorrow, lovely Bya, and you too, Renji!" Shou said, turning and disappearing down the trail.

Renji shook his head and sighed.

"Sorry about that. Shou is a little bit...passionate. But he's a damned good guitarist. He's a lot of fun to play with."

"I see," Byakuya said, smirking.

"Hey, it's not like that. I'm not seeing him."

"Oh?"

"Naw. I uh...I have my eye on someone. I mean, there's someone I kinda like. But he's so damned shy, I don't know if he'll ever like me back."

"I cannot see why anyone wouldn't," Byakuya said bracingly, "You are quite handsome. Those tattoos are attractive in a very primal sort of way."

"You think so?" Renji asked, smiling.

"Yes. Now, you were telling me about this person you like?"

"Yeah, he's a bodyguard. He guards my captain...erm...my friend who's a captain in the military. His name's Tetsuya Kuchiki. He's pretty. like you, with this cute, wavy hair that he can't seem to make behave...gorgeous blue eyes like sapphires and, well, the finest little bottom I ever saw on a guy, you know? I would do anything to make that guy notice me. But he never says much beyond 'hello' and 'goodbye.' He's like I said, really, really shy."

"Does your friend, the captain, know you like his bodyguard?"

"No, I haven't told him," Renji lamented, "You see, they come from a real good family, not a poor family like mine, and it's the captain's cousin, so..."

"Ah, I see. I am sorry, Renji. I wish I could do something to help."

"Eh, well, I'm sure it'll work itself out. Besides, I thought I was supposed to be listening to your problems, not telling you mine."

Byakuya gave him a melting smile.

"But, if we are really friends, then we should listen to each others' problems, no?"

"Yeah," Renji agreed, smiling back at him, "Yeah, you're right, Bya. So...who is this guy who got a pretty thing like you pregnant and wasn't thrilled? Point him out. I'll kick his ass for you, okay?"

"That won't be necessary, but thank you, Renji," Byakuya said, pausing as Ichigo flash stepped into view.

His smile faded as the ginger-haired youth approached them and slowed, catching Byakuya's gaze and reading the noble's warning expression. Renji looked from Ichigo to Byakuya and back, then caught his breath sharply.

"Holy shit!" he gasped, "It was Ichigo who knocked you up and dumped you?"

"You told him?" Ichigo asked, staring.

"I told him about me being a hermaphrodite and unexpectedly becoming pregnant after being with you, yes. He was very understanding."

"But Renji is..."

"Renji says that he also goes to Karakura High School, where my uncle Kisuke is sending me starting tomorrow," Byakuya continued, cutting him off.

"Oh..." Ichigo said, backpedaling, "Right, okay, sorry."

"Ichigo, come on," Renji said, scowling, "What do you think you're doing, making a baby with a cutie like him, then dumping him? That's low...real low."

"Well, I didn't know a guy could have a baby!" Ichigo exclaimed.

"You mean, you didn't tell him about your condition until after you...?"

"I didn't know I could become pregnant," Byakuya said softly, "I wasn't trying to trap him. I love Ichigo."

"Yeah? What does your uncle think about the situation?" asked Renji, "I'll bet he's kinda pissed."

"Well, he's not happy," said Ichigo, meeting Byakuya's eyes again cautiously, "But I think he understands that I wasn't really rejecting you, Bya..."

"I get it!" Byakuya said, cutting him off, "I think that we should talk privately about this."

"Yeah," Ichigo agreed.

"Okay, I guess I'll see you at school tomorrow, okay guys?"

"Right," Ichigo said, waving him off.

"Goodbye, Renji," Byakuya said, nodding in farewell, "Thank you for being so kind and stopping to talk to me."

"See you tomorrow, Bya."

Ichigo shook his head, watching Renji depart.

"You let him call you Bya?" he asked.

"What was I supposed to do? Tell him my real name?"

"You...do realize that Renji is a shinigami...like you."

"He is?"

"Yeah, and more than that, he's your vice captain."

Byakuya's eyes widened.

"I am Renji's captain...friend?" he mused.

"Yeah."

That means that Tetsuya is my cousin! I wonder if...

"I...I need to go back and talk to Kisuke," Byakuya, turning away.

"Wait, I thought we were going to talk!" Ichigo objected.

"What is the point in talking? You don't want a child, so I'm not going to expect you to be involved. What did you think I would do, cry over it? I have better things to do than that."

"But...?"

Ichigo let out a frustrated breath as the noble disappeared again.

"Damn it! Fine, have it your way. I'm tired of chasing you around. I'm beat. I'm going home. We can fix this tomorrow."