It's been a bit, hasn't it? Do forgive me! I think that I've gotten out of my block though, so hopefully things will go a little faster now. I'm just having trouble finding time to type. Until next chapter!
I don't own Bleach. I cry.
Chapter 6
"Ichigo, wake up."
Chocolate brown eyes fluttered open slowly, and then focused on teal eyes. He yawned, and then reached up, looping an arm around a small – well, used to be small – waist and tugging.
Toshiro tumbled down with a squeak, landing beside Ichigo on the bed. Ichigo buried his face in Toshiro's shoulder, purring faintly as he did.
The tiny captain sighed, and then poked his lover in the ribs. "Ichigo, we're going to be late. Unohana-taichou is expecting us!"
There was a faint groan and then mumbling as Ichigo unfolded his long body and stretched. He rubbed at his eyes with a yawn, and then stood, pulling on his shihakshou. Toshiro watched him with amusement glittering in his teal eyes.
Ichigo followed the white-haired captain from the room, moving to his side and sneaking a hand into Toshiro's. To his surprise Toshiro weaved their fingers together, his touch gentle.
Ichigo smiled triumphantly at this, stroking his thumb over Toshiro's pale, cool skin. Normally the small captain didn't encourage contact like this, but lately he had been getting more affectionate, and less afraid of doing so in public. Yesterday, in fact, Toshiro had shocked him by giving him a kiss goodbye. It had been nothing more than a cool touch to his cheek, but it had been in the presence of Matsumoto. While the busty woman knew they were together, she had never seen any sort of affection between them. Maybe a hug or two, but nothing more.
Part of Ichigo wondered why it was happening now. Something (probably his inner Hollow, Ogichi) said that it was the pregnancy, that it was the influence of the child that had softened Toshiro. He (and by he, Ichigo thought about Ogichi) had an interesting thought about the question of why hadn't he gotten the captain pregnant before.
Another half of him just hoped that Toshiro was finally confident enough in their relationship to begin revealing it more.
A squeeze to his hand made him look down into Toshiro's bright teal eyes. "Lost in thought, Ichigo?"
Ichigo raised their hands to press a kiss to the smaller's knuckles. "A little. Are you excited, yuki hime?"
Toshiro nodded. "Very. Unohana-taichou said that we should be able to hear the baby's heartbeat today."
"How?"
A small smile came onto Toshiro's lips. "When Urahara-san was still captain of the 12th squad Unohana-taichou asked for some new medical equipment. While she can use reiatsu to see babies in the womb, she wanted to let the parents see. He created the wave machine."
"Oh, like ultrasound." Ichigo said softly.
Toshiro considered, and then nodded. "Yes, similar. It takes what Unohana-taichou's reiatsu 'sees' and turns it into image and sound."
"Cool."
They were met by Unohana in the 4th division courtyard. She smiled at them, her blue-gray eyes sparkling faintly. "You are looking well, Hitsugaya-kun."
Toshiro smiled. "Thank you, it's thanks to your expertise." He commented a bow.
Isane, a small smile on her face, appeared at the door, sliding it open. "This way please."
Ichigo allowed a smile to come onto his face, excitement flooding through him. He glanced down at Toshiro, his eyes automatically traveling to his stomach. The shihakshou was a billowy enough uniform that it hid the bulge of their child, but Ichigo could tell that Toshiro's obi was much looser. His waist certainly did look thicker.
The orange-head leaned in as Isane helped his small lover out of his top, revealing porcelain skin and the gentle curve of Toshiro's stomach. At 16 weeks Toshiro was healthy and growing nicely (and quickly, it seemed).
Unohana held her hands over Toshiro's stomach, her fingers skimming over the pale skin. Ichigo saw the screen beside the bed flicker, and then a black and white image came onto the screen, two tiny white shapes just visible.
"Congratulations Hitsugaya-kun. Twins," the woman murmured with a smile. "I had suspected it earlier, but hadn't had time to confirm it."
Ichigo blinked in shock, and then a wide grin spread across his face, his hand tightening on Toshiro's hand. "Twins!"
Toshiro smiled, closing his eyes as Ichigo planted a kiss on his nose. He opened his mouth to say something, but nothing escaped his lips as a sound interrupted him.
Thump.Thump.Thump.
The tiny captain chuckled as he saw the look on Ichigo's face, a look of pure awe. Ichigo stared at the screen where the little forms floated. "Wow…"
Unohana smiled, turning her eyes to Toshiro. "You're doing well; they both look very healthy, though a little small. You could stand to gain a few pounds, but other than that I'm happy."
Toshiro smiled at that, allowing Isane to help him off the examination table and to fasten his shihakshou. "Thank you Isane-san, Unohana-taichou."
The gentle captain nodded at this. "You are most welcome. I will see you back for a 20 week check-up, but feel free to contact me if anything seems wrong."
Toshiro nodded. "Of course." He turned, grabbing Ichigo's hand and leading him from the room.
Silence.
Toshiro sighed quietly, teal eyes half-lidded in the darkness of his chambers. It wasn't often that it was so quiet in his room, Ichigo was loud even in sleep.
Even so, the orange-haired shinigami was deathly silent right now. He lay beside Toshiro, his ear against the swell of Toshiro's stomach, his fingers caressing that pale mound. Toshiro's own hands were tangled in orange hair, stroking gently.
"I can hear them, yuki hime… Their little hearts beating…" Ichigo whispered. "It's so amazing…"
The tiny captain chuckled. "It's amazing to see you in awe like this."
Ichigo snorted faintly. "How could I not be? There are two little lives growing inside you. That is simply incredible." Butterfly kisses were trailed up Toshiro's stomach, causing the smaller to shiver.
"Ichigo…"
Toshiro blinked as his lover went still. He felt a spike of reiatsu, but it wasn't quite Ichigo's. It was… different somehow. Harsh, pressing, and… frightening.
"I-Ichigo?"
"Sorry, he's not home right now, can I take a message?"
Toshiro gasped in shock at the distorted voice, flinging his body backwards as golden eyes rose to meet his own teal eyes. "W-What…?.!"
A sickening smile twisted Ichigo's features. "Oh right, you haven't met me yet. I'm Ogichi, as the king has dubbed me."
Toshiro swallowed. "B-But… you're a Hollow!"
"Very good, give the pup a prize!" Ogichi drawled, rolling onto his side. "I'm the King's Hollow. Such a pleasure to finally meet you, Toshiro."
"Ichigo…Ichigo is a Hollow?" Toshiro murmured. "But how? When?"
Ogichi chuckled faintly, sending shivers up and down Toshiro's spine at the doubled voice. "No, silly little captain, Ichigo is a vizard. As for how and when, you'll have to ask King. I'm not much for long explanations."
Toshiro moved back a little, his arms automatically shielding his stomach, teal eyes wary and afraid.
These actions wrenched a full laugh from the Hollow. "Don't worry, little one, I'm not going to hurt you or the pups. That would make the King angry, and that would lead to rain. I don't like rain. Besides…"
Toshiro barely had time to think when the Hollow was suddenly beside him, lightly clawed hands trailing over his swollen abdomen. He gasped faintly, but restrained himself from moving.
"I've taken a liking to you, Hitsugaya Toshiro. You are a pretty thing, pup-heavy or not." Ogichi's grin widened. "You won't be seeing much of me, don't worry. I only took this chance because the King was exhausted enough to forget me."
"Exhausted?" Toshiro whispered. "Why?"
Ogichi scoffed faintly. "Stayed up all lost night. Didn't sleep at all."
The small captain blinked. "Doing what?"
Golden eyes moved to teal. "Watching you." As Toshiro opened his mouth the Hollow raised a hand to stop him. "I already said, I'm not one for explanations, I let the King do that."
There was a tug on his mind, and then Toshiro's vision faded and consciousness fled.
Hooray for Ogichi! Gotta love him. Hope you guys are happy with it!