The various taichou handled the new rules about what would and not be tolerated in pretty much an identical manner… a lecture and warning to the troops. And they meant it. Very few of the higher ranks were really prejudiced against homosexuals – they were older and experienced in the ways of the world, particularly the Living World – and they all respected Kyoraku and Ukitake, however they might feel about Lupe. So they intended to enforce the new edicts to the best of their abilities.
The one thing that varied, though, was the content of the speeches. And some of it was very amusing.
"This is a drag, but I have to talk to you fuckers." Zaraki scratched under his eye patch before suddenly grinning. It was a bit maniacal. "So! None of you guys were involved in the other shit so I figure we're good, but I'll say it anyway. If I catch anyone picking on someone because he's a fag, I'll kill him myself. You got it?" There was a chorus of agreement from his waiting troops. Some, like Yumichika, just looked indifferent. He wasn't gay but some had made the fatal mistake of assuming so, in the past. "Good. Like I said, I figure we won't have any problems. I mean, shit, we've already got a goat fucker in the audience." There was a laugh and a bit of jostling of one particular shinigami.
"It was just too much sake! Why must you always bring up my shame?" The man lamented, which only led to a more merciless ribbing. The meeting, if you could call it that, broke up after that. Kenpachi had only refused to take Lupe to begin with due to laziness. He'd been well aware of what would happen and hadn't wanted to deal with the paperwork. But he'd never been worried about his own men.
The nature of the Eleventh was to do what they wanted, when they wanted. They didn't care much about such things.
Starrk smiled to himself as he played idly with the hilt of his sword.
He was at the training ground for the Sixth Division. Byakuya had a spot for a Fourth Seat open and Starrk had decided to take his offer. Kenpachi had offered him a spot too – apparently, one of his seats was permanently empty due to Yumichika's choice of spot – but after a quiet conversation with Ikkaku and Yumichika, Starrk had declined. Not because of any potential problems about his sexuality but because his shikai was most emphatically a distance weapon. Apparently, it was an unwritten rule that all members of the Eleventh were supposed to have melee weapons. Starrk could fake that if he chose – twin sword did work well – but it would cripple his power too much.
However, there was a problem. His rapid advancement was causing some very unpleasant rumors that he was essentially 'sleeping his way' to the top. It was pure jealousy, but a few had gone so far as to suggest that his bankai was fakery. Starrk thought that was absurd but he did sort of understand where they were coming from. It was also absurd that someone as young as he could have any kind of bankai. Even Hitsugaya had taken longer and no one knew about his history as Aizen's Primera.
So to start off his career in the Sixth, he was going to demonstrate his skills on Renji. Kuchiki taichou thought that was more than fair, since Renji was relatively new to his bankai. Starrk was newer, but he didn't have to win. He just had to prove to everyone that his power was real and profound.
"Ready to get your ass kicked?" Renji grinned and Starrk's smile widened as he drew his sword.
"I could ask you the same thing. Scatter, Lilinette." He said easily, calling on his shikai. Renji also called on his.
"Howl, Zabimaru!" Then Starrk began employing his guns. To his annoyance, he found that Renji could use Zabimaru to block the blasts. The extending zanpakuto was uniquely suited to the task. "Twin sword!" The guns morphed into swords and the battle was on slightly better footing. He raised a few gashes on Renji, and was slashed a few times himself, before the redhead suddenly disengaged.
"Hihio, Zabimaru!" He called and Starrk's eyes went wide as he saw the bone bankai for the first time. Terrifyingly, it was coming right for him. He could have dodged but his eyes narrowed as he summoned the power of his bankai.
There was a burst of power and the watching shinigami murmured, trying to see what was happening. Then there was disbelief in the watchers as they saw Starrk in his bankai form. His feet were planted firmly on the ground, digging into the hard soil of the practice yard as he held back the fangs that were trying to impale him with simple force. Renji looked stunned as he saw what had happened.
"Twin wolf." Starrk growled as he struggled against Zabimaru. Lilinette appeared in a flash and laughed wickedly as she leapt towards Renji. He saw what was happening just a touch too late and his unexpected opponent kicked him in the belly and sent him flying. Zabimaru pulled back and Starrk managed to let go before he could be yanked along. Renji was dealing with Lilinette well but that split his attention and Starrk grinned as he cast an entrapping kido. It succeeded but then Zabimaru began charging a red light and Starrk's eyes went wide as he called on more kido.
"Red flame cannon!" He pumped every bit of power he could into it, given that his power was partially sealed to keep this somewhat safe. The two powers exploded and Starrk's eye narrowed as he tried to use the dust for cover, sneaking up on Renji.
He managed it, although only at the cost of Lilinette's defeat. She vanished into his inner world as Starrk leapt. His claws clashed with bone as the battle continued on a close combat basis. Starrk could see the sweat on his opponents face and grinned, revealing his fangs. He was actually having fun with this!
Two bankai wielders tangling was certainly entertaining for the spectators. It was very rare to see a duel between two taichou-level opponents. More dust flew into the air as Starrk tossed off further kidos. He was saving doppleganger for a good moment.
A moment that came after he thought Renji was defeated. Starrk managed, through a combination of kido and the strength of his bankai, to shatter Zabimaru. He thought that was it. But Renji grinned as he called on the final power of his bankai. Starrk's eyes went wide as razor sharp bones flew towards him.
"Doppleganger!" The two copies appeared. They couldn't really do much about the assault but they could absorb many of the blows before they vanished. Starrk used his furry arms to good effect, blocking most of the rest. Two still slammed home, punching into his body. Not too deeply thanks to the power limiters, but painful. Then Starrk leapt at his startled opponent.
"I'm badly hurt, but you're dead." He said as he pressed a taloned hand against Renji's throat. The other man was scowling at him.
"If it weren't for the limiters, you'd be worse than hurt!" He said and Starrk tilted his head before looking down at himself. Blood was trickling down his body but judging from the angles…
"No. Even if they had gone in fully, I would still be alive and able to move. My bankai enhances my endurance." That was true although the kido locks and redundancies Szayel had built into him had a lot to do with it. "I'm fairly sure I've won." Although that wasn't up to him. He glanced towards Byakuya, who was watching the bout from the sidelines. He nodded, his grey eyes cool and thoughtful.
"You have the victory." He allowed and Starrk nodded before removing his hand and reaching down to painfully extract the pieces of Zabimaru. He hissed as Renji sat up, mumbling something and rubbing his throat. A medic from the Fourth hurried to attend him and Starrk sighed as he felt the healing power touch him. He might have won, but he was far more battered than Renji.
"If you're that powerful, shouldn't you be the fukutaichou?" An anonymous voice called and Renji glared as he tried to find the speaker. Starrk sighed, honestly wishing he hadn't been forced to display his power so publicly. Fortunately, Byakuya took care of that.
"Absurd. He has never been a seated officer. He must move up the ranks properly to learn his duties." He said firmly and there were a few murmurs and nods in the ranks. "This spar is over." The crowd began dispersing, talking back and forth about what they had seen. At least this would put some of the rumors to rest. Starrk sealed up his bankai, flinching slightly at the pain. Then he quickly left to go see his children.
He had the rest of the day off. He was going to use it.
"Oh kami they are so cute!" Orihime cooed over the babies as Starrk smiled with parental pride. Ichigo was holding little Netta while Starrk had Amiko. Netta was sucking her thumb and looking around alertly as Amiko slept.
"They are beyond cute." Keigo agreed as Uryu adjusted his glasses, looking at the girls curiously.
They were having a 'baby shower' in the Living World to celebrate the children. Everyone knew that Starrk was the 'mother' here, and that was rather pleasant for him. Shunsui and Juushiro weren't there yet, although they would be arriving soon. Starrk didn't expect they would enjoy it too much… they were so much older than his friends here… but it wouldn't be a long party. This was a school night.
"I love the cake. What is the flavor?" Starrk asked curiously as he took another bite. It was… different. He honestly liked the texture but he thought many people wouldn't. It was strangely rubbery. Orihime looked very happy at his compliment.
"It's a beet cake with raspberry jelly and bean curd!" She said and Starrk blinked. That was… odd, to say the least. Then he took another bite.
"Well, I like it." He was definitely enjoying it. Everyone else just looked at him like he was crazy.
Yeah, that's weird. You better check with Kisuke to make sure that shield he made for you is working. You sure don't need to get knocked up again. Lilinette advised and Starrk smiled at her. He was sure the shield was working. His last pregnancy had started with nausea long before the food cravings. No, he just had odd tastes.
Then Shunsui and Juushiro both arrived. They both got a chance to try the cake and Starrk smiled at the look on Shunsui's face. His mate swallowed hard before managing to smile and say something that sounded like a compliment.
"It's… quite unusual! I can honestly say that in a thousand years, I've never tasted anything like it." He said with absolute sincerity and Starrk grinned as Orihime beamed. To his eyes, Shunsui was waiting for a moment she wasn't looking to dispose of it. Starrk helped him out, stealing the piece of cake as soon as Orihime happened to look away. "…Lupe?" Shunsui said, taken aback, as Juushiro nibbled his piece before wincing and setting it down.
"I like them." He said before eating the piece of cake. Both his lovers gave him a strange look and he smiled. "Don't worry, I'm not pregnant. No nausea." And Lilinette hadn't mentioned any buildup of reiastu. Now that they knew the signs it wouldn't catch them by surprise.
"Could you even get pregnant again so quickly… oh, how adorable!" They both admired little Amiko. Orihime and Ishida had gotten her into one of the gifts, a beautiful baby dress that Uryuu had made for her. It was purple velvet and looked absolutely adorable on the little baby.
"It's too bad you won't be the shinigami here anymore. I was feeling really good about giving Karakura town to you." Ichigo said, a bit sadly. Starrk nodded, feeling a matching sadness. He was actually starting to enjoy living here. There were so many interesting people and things to do, in Karakura town. But…
"It's just not practical with the children." They were going to be getting a nanny but Starrk still wanted to be with them as often as possible. Spending days away in the Living World just wouldn't do. "And Karakura town is part of the Thirteenth's responsibility, and even if I weren't being promoted I would need a transfer." Ichigo gave him a puzzled look and Starrk elaborated. "Since homosexual relationships are being officially acknowledged, we have to follow the same rules as regular ones. I can't stay in the Thirteenth." The rules were fairly strict with regards to taichou. The lower ranks could have cross-ranked relationships, as long as they were disclosed to the taichou and did not affect discipline, but the taichou himself could not. If something liked that developed, a transfer was necessary.
"Oh. I suppose that makes sense. It wouldn't look very good." Ichigo said after a moment and Starrk nodded. He was going to miss Rukia and his friends in the Thirteenth, but Renji was far more friendly now that he knew Starrk had no designs on Rukia. He thought he would fit into the Sixth quite well.
Fairly soon after that, everyone started saying their goodbye's. It was well timed… Netta was beginning to fuss and Amiko was following her sister's lead. Starrk just concentrated on calming the infants as his lovers gathered up the gifts.
"Thank you so much for this." Starrk said to Orihime. She'd been the one to put on the party. She smiled at him, dimpling. "It was a wonderful time." He really had enjoyed it.
"It's nothing. I'm so glad to see them!" She smiled at the two babies, who picked that moment to begin crying in earnest. "Oh, do they need a change?" She asked and Starrk frowned.
"Maybe… here, can you hold Netta?" With Netta safely held, he checked Amiko. "Yes, she does and Netta probably does too… a moment." He was getting good at this part of parenting. Some wipes and a bit of baby powder later, and a new diaper was in place. "There you are. Now for Amiko…" It didn't take long for him tend to her as well. With their needs taken care of, the babies soon began to calm. With that, they were able to depart. Starrk smiled to himself as they went back to the senkaimon, gifts in hand.
Soon they would be going to the party hosted by the Kyoraku clan. Starrk thought that Ishida's dresses would be perfect for it.
"Grandson, do you think I'm stupid?" The question was so unexpected that Shunsui just stared at his grandmother dumbly for a moment.
"Um, I… no?" He asked, bewildered. After the party, she'd sent him a hell butterfly requesting that he join her for tea. Assuming it had something to do with the fallout over his announcement of his sexuality, he'd immediately consented. She stared at him for a moment before heaving a small sigh and sipping her tea.
"Perhaps it's because you're a man. I know you're not thick. Shunsui, I've had six children, three of whom have given me grandchildren. I also have countless nieces and nephews." She said and he nodded, unable to see where she was going. "In that time I have become able to easily recognize the family 'look' in an infant. It's really quite distinctive. So I would like to know why my 'adopted' granddaughter is the splitting image of her namesake."
"…Coincidence?" He said weakly as she gave him a severe look. "I really have no idea." He said with utmost sincerity. From the look on her face, she wasn't buying it for a moment. Inwardly, he cursed himself… but how was he to have foreseen this? And even if he had, what could they have done to avoid it?
"You know, I would only have to mention my suspicions to the Council and they would order you to submit her to a blood test." She said and Shunsui winced. "The question of her paternity would be – "
"Please don't." He said before she could continue. For a moment, he thought hard. How could he salvage this? "Obaa-chan… will you swear, on the Kyoraku name, not to tell this to anyone?" If he could just get her to swear… she frowned a little at him.
"If it will not damage the Kyoraku clan, yes, I will swear." She said after a moment and he hesitated before nodding. That was the best he would get out of her. Glancing around, he tested to make sure the room had a silencing kido. It did… his grandmother was aware of the potential for loose lips among the servants, and generally took steps to avoid any problems.
"She is my daughter, but her 'mother' is Lupe." He said quietly and her eyes widened in surprise. "He has active royal blood and conceived the child along with Juushiro's."
"What?! How can that be?" She asked and Shunsui sighed before giving her the truthful story. In the thousand years he'd known her he'd hardly ever seen his grandmother surprised, but it seemed to be happening a lot lately. "I… let me see if I understand this properly. Lupe is actually the son of Aizen Sosuke and Hinamori Momo. He's also a construct with the DNA of Shiba Kaein, which gave him active royal lineage. However, he has no interest in freeing his father and just wants to live as a shinigami. He conceived your children and Urahara Kisuke delivered them. Is that right?"
"Yes." He admitted as she rubbed her forehead, looking like she had a headache. "Grandmother, we can't tell anyone. What they would do with Lupe and the children…" Shunsui was certain something ghastly would happen to Lupe. At the very best, it would be execution. At the worst, he might be given to Mayuri to take apart in an effort to understand the secrets of his construction. The children, he wasn't as sure about. But Shunsui felt grimly certain that the royal family would lay claim to them and spirit them away, to be raised in the Celestial realm. That would not be bad for them but he and Juushiro wouldn't see them again.
"Yes, I see… kami! Aizen's blood and yours and royal on top of it? Do you know how strong that girl might be?" His grandmother asked and Shunsui shrugged. He knew both their children would undoubtedly be taichou-class. It would be some time before they would see if either of them took after Lupe and, by extension, Aizen. "That's going to cause problems." She murmured thoughtfully and Shunsui nodded.
"We're hoping no one will really remember they were adopted, by the time the power emerges." It was quite likely that everyone would have forgotten about it, or just not make the connection. But his grandmother waved that away.
"No, you don't understand. Thinking like a man again… Shunsui, the clan WILL remember she's adopted. They won't want to make her the heir without our bloodline. If she proves to be strong, someone will surely suggest marrying her off within the clan." She said and he choked at the thought, his eyes widening. Was she saying…? "One of your brother's boys, no doubt. Oh dear, this could be troublesome."
"Kami." He breathed as he realized she was right. That was exactly what someone would suggest. "…Can I worry about this after she's out of diapers?" He asked plaintively and his grandmother blinked before laughing.
"Ah, you have a point. And there's nothing we can do about it anyway. Very well grandson, I'll keep your secret. But keep an eye on that young man! If anything goes wrong you and Ukitake will be in for it." She said severely as he nodded soberly. Shunsui had faith in Lupe, though. "Oh yes, that reminds me. Did you want to hear the story of how your great uncle died? It was really quite amusing."
"Um?" Amusing was not a word he often associated with death. But if she said it was funny, it probably was. "Certainly. How did it happen?" He asked and she smiled, sipping her tea.
"Well, he had a certain circle of friends he visited with regularly. Rather, ahem, different young men with a great fondness for sake." She said lightly and Shunsui was a little surprised. That had to have been a very long time ago. He was surprised they'd dared to meet openly. "They were a very select group… everyone knew about them but it wasn't talked about. I imagine there are still such things. Anyway, he went to one of their parties and got quite amusingly drunk. Alas, he somehow got the idea that he could stuff a chicken with snow. He kept taking it outside, stuffing it and bring it back in. And when the snow melted, he went back out to stuff it again. Finally he passed out in the snow and his friends were too drunk to even notice. And so he passed away." She said and Shunsui couldn't help but smile. That was a very silly and painless way to die. "Consider it a cautionary tale on the dangers of sake. Something you should keep in mind, perhaps, hmm?" She smiled at him, her eyes twinkling and he laughed.
"Oh obaa-chan! I have Juushiro and Lupe to drag me inside." He said cheerfully and she smiled, taking a tea biscuit.
"It's true, you have more sensible companions than he ever did." She said lightly. "But you still should do something about it. It's not good for you, Shunsui." She said in a gentle tone, looking at him with an expression of concern. He looked down, staring into his tea for a moment and seeing his reflection.
"I know. Lupe has been getting help for his wounds." He said softly. Lupe was mostly fine, but once in a while he woke up violently, remembering the pain and violation he'd experienced. "…But it's very late, grandmother. I don't know if the habits can be undone." Shunsui knew that time did matter in things like this. His wound had long since scabbed over and his coping mechanisms were firmly in place. Could any of that be altered in any way? He'd never really tried before. But how could he, when he couldn't even discuss it with Juushiro? His grandmother sighed.
"I don't know, grandson. But I know it can't happen if you don't try." She said softly and he nodded sadly. She was certainly right about that.
"You're right. I'll… try." Shunsui had no idea if there was any hope of success. He knew himself and knew if he was being honest, he would have to say he'd been a functioning alcoholic for at least half his life. Probably more. Juushiro would know. But he had a daughter now. Maybe it really was time to try to fix something that had been broken for almost a thousand years. Feeling a new resolve, he nodded sharply.
He didn't know if he could fix this but he knew he was going to try.
Author's note: And we're done! Did you like it? Did you? I like the idea of Shunsui being a functioning alcoholic with some serious problems in his past. ^_^ Makes him more human…