Yea, it's gonna be a little while again... I'm leaving in... about an hour to head to LA for a week, and then two days after I come back I'll be leaving for a college trip. I'll update when I get back, I promise! Please enjoy!

Chapter 10

Snap.

"Ow."

Crack.

"Ow…"

Ichigo frowned at the sounds, chocolate eyes a little confused and worried as he looked at his lover. "Um, Toshiro? Is that normal?"

"Unohana-taichou said it would be." Toshiro replied calmly from where he lay beside the orange-head. "Ow. It doesn't really hurt, it's just… uncomfortable."

"Sounds gross."

Toshiro chuckled. "A little. But it's definitely helping my hips. With them getting wider like this the twins aren't putting as much pressure on my pelvis."

Ichigo blinked. "Wait… Unohana-taichiou said this drug would get you ready to give birth naturally…" His jaw dropped. "You're turning into a GIRL!!"

The captain rolled his eyes. "Baka. It's only temporary; once the twins are born it will go away. It's only giving me a birth canal and widening my hips, not much else. Besides, I'm technically already a woman on the inside you dolt; I'm pregnant."

"Still…" Ichigo wrinkled his nose, and then shivered faintly. "That is so weird."

Toshiro shifted, trying to get comfortable. Wider hips certainly helped, but the twins made it hard to get comfortable. At nearly 32 weeks it was hard to do anything anymore.

"She doesn't think you'll have them now, does she?" Ichigo murmured, his fingers caressing his lover's stomach.

The tiny captain shook his head. "It's just a precaution. Some twins make it all the way, but many don't. I need this in case I go into labor prematurely."

Silence fell for a time, only the soft cracks and snaps of Toshiro's bones shifting breaking it. Ichigo went still, his large tanned palms resting against Toshiro's swollen stomach. He could feel the twins shifting beneath his skin, a strange sliding feeling that was one of the babies rolling over.

Ichigo suddenly blinked. "What was that?"

Toshiro chuckled, his fingers rubbing just below Ichigo's hand. "A knee or an elbow, I think."

"Cool…" Ichigo murmured. "Never felt that – whoa!"

A laugh echoed from Toshiro's throat, clear and happy. "Oh Ichigo…"

"Well I never expected to get a high five from a baby still inside you!" Ichigo exclaimed, his brown eyes wide in shock.

Toshiro kissed him gently, a smile still on his face. "They're short on room, it's very easy to feel them now. Be expecting things like that."

"Freaky…"

Knock knock.

"Taichou, are you awake? Kurosaki-kun?"

"Matsumoto…" Toshiro murmured. Ichigo sat up, scooting away from his lover; a reflex he still hadn't gotten rid of. Toshiro sat up as well, scooting up against Ichigo's chest. The orange-head blinked, but snuck an arm under Toshiro's to lay his palm on his lover's belly.

"Enter, Matsumoto."

The woman cooed softly as she saw them, but then smiled happily. "Kurosaki-kun, your presence had been requested by Yamamoto-soutaichou, as well as you, taichou."

Toshiro blinked. "Both of us? Why?"

Matsumoto's smile grew bigger. "Just come, both of you. It's nothing bad, I promise."

Ichigo seemed nervous, but he pushed himself to his feet, helping Toshiro up a moment later. The captain winced as his hips popped painfully, and then smiled. "Feels better already." He took Ichigo's hand. "Come on, we'd better hurry."

The two followed Matsumoto as she led them through the Seireitei, a smile on her lips. As they reached the first division Ichigo swallowed thickly.

Matsumoto dropped to one knee. "Yamamoto-soutaichou."

Ichigo copied her, but as Toshiro made to do the same the old shinigami stopped him. "Please, Hitsugaya, do not stress yourself. A bow will suffice for now."

The captain nodded, bowing slightly and then straightening. "Thank you, soutaichou."

"Now, as to why I called you here, Hitsugaya, as captain of the 10th squad, do you think that you would recommend Kurosaki as a captain?"

Toshiro blinked. "Yes, soutaichou. He has achieved bankai, at a young age at that. He had stood up to both Kenpachi-taichou and Byakuya-taichou and fought well. I believe that he would do wonderfully."

"Matsumoto-fukutaichou, do you agree with your captain."

"Of course, soutaichou."

Yamamoto nodded. "Very well. We shall have a meeting to nominate him. There are still two squads without captains, after we recently moved Abari to 5th squad captain. Hitsugaya, please be present in one hour for a meeting."

Toshiro nodded. "Yes, soutaichou."

"Kurosaki, you should remain on-hand during the meeting, should the captains vote in your favor, we shall require your presence."

"Yes, soutaichou."

As they left the room Ichigo pumped a fist, a wide grin on his face. "Alright!"

Toshiro chuckled softly. "I'm proud of you, Ichigo. You'll be a fine captain."

Ichigo kissed his lover happily, and then chuckled. "Thanks yuki hime, that means a lot."

Toshiro felt pride leaking through him as the soutaichou called for a vote to see how many captains would support Ichigo as a captain. The majority agreed, only Kurotsuchi didn't join in.

The soutaichou nodded. "Good, good. Well then, I believe that squad 9 is still in need of a permanent captain. Hisagi-fukutaichou, you have done well, but Kurosaki will be stepping. In the meantime, I believe that you will be a good match for squad 3."

The black-haired shinigami nodded. "Yes, soutaichou." A smile was on his face at his promotion.

Kurotsuchi suddenly stepped forward. "Soutaichou, I have reason to believe that this Kurosaki boy is a vizard! It wouldn't be wise!"

There was a murmur in the group, and then Ukitake stepped forward. "Even so, Kurosaki-kun had helped us for many years, and he is a powerful shinigami."

Unohana stepped out as well. "It is obvious that he is in control; never have I noticed a Hollow while dealing with him."

"Perhaps we should bring Kurosaki in here to speak for himself." said Komamura, the tall captain's golden eyes on the door.

Yamamoto nodded. "Very well. Chojiro, if you would fetch him."

The 1st division fukutaichou nodded. "Yes, sir."

Ichigo moved to stand before the soutaichou as he came in, his eyes going to Toshiro before resting on the elder. "You summoned me, soutaichou?"

"Kurosaki, we have heard that you are vizard. Is this true?"

Ichigo hesitated, and then nodded reluctantly. "Yes, soutaichou, it is true."

Kurotsuchi grinned. "See?.! Would we want a betraying vizard in our midst?.! Give him to me, soutaichou, it would be a joy to see the way that he works…"

Kyoraku glard at the division 12 captain, the normally peaceful man upset. "Kurosaki is a good man, and powerful. I say he still qualifies!"

"You have the creature under control, don't you Kurosaki-kun?" Ukitake asked, his brown eyes curious.

Ichigo nodded. "I have, for several years. I could almost say that we are friends, but no matter what we are partners." He smiled slightly. "Besides, he's not so horrible now, ask Toshiro."

Kurotsuchi's eyes widened. "You've met the beast?" he sneered.

Toshiro glared, the temperature dropping rather sharply. "Ogichi is not a beast. He is caring, even though he is a Hollow. He pledged himself to protect me and my babies." The small captain breathed deep, calming himself. "He only wants acceptance and love. He was happy when I accepted him."

Byakuya suddenly spoke. "He is very powerful, and would be a useful asset. I have fought him before."

Yamamoto tapped his cane on the stone floor. "Enough! I think that we've debated this quite enough. Kurosaki, you are henceforth the captain of Division 9 of the Gotei 13, by an almost unanimous vote."

Ichigo couldn't help but grin as he was handed the white haori. "Yes, sir!"

"As for living arrangements, we knew you would need a place for your little ones. A home has been built between the two division buildings, both you and Hitsugaya will live there." Yamamoto said, a smile just peeking from beneath his white beard.

Toshiro felt a warmth in his heart. "Soutaichou, I don't know what to say…"

The elder smiled. "Do not feel indebted, Hitsugaya. Children are a blessing here, and twins even more so. Consider it a gift in congratulations."

"Thank you, sir."

Ichigo put an arm around Toshiro's shoulders as they left the building.

"I'm proud of you Ichigo. I love you."

Ichigo kissed the top of his head. "I love you too, Toshiro. Thanks for supporting me."