First of all, Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to all!

I hope your holidays are going wonderful!

Thank you for all the reivews and adds. They're like Christmas presents to me!

Usually I write out the main points of a chapter before I start typing but this is a 'type as you go' chapter. Hopefully, you all like it!

Chp. 9: Clouds Filled with Stars...

It was few weeks later since Shunsui had asked Jushiro out and their relationship was going on very strong. Many of their co-workers had found out about the relationship, because of Nanao mainly, but they had accepted that both men were dating each other. Kisuke and Isshin had pestered Shunsui about his relationship with Jushiro and how far he would take it but Shunsui said that he didn't have the time to be bothered by a bunch of idiots.

The two had still not gone on a date yet, mainly because Yamamoto put them both to work after Jushiro came back from being sick. Shunsui and Nanao were told to go on a two and a half week business week to England for business purposes while Jushiro had to fill in Shunsui's spot at work, which left him very busy. They called each other everyday, something Nanao thought was cute and teased him mercilessly for.

The two explained to Kazuo and Kenji their now budding relationship and the two took it well. They wanted to see their dad happy with someone. They accepted Shunsui into their lives without hesitation, something that Jushiro was afraid of, but he was excited when his kids told him that they didn't mind Shunsui as long as he kept him happy. Shunsui had to pinky swear on that or many pranks would be pulled every time they got a chance to see him.

"I'm sure that they will love to have me at their birthday. Is there anything in particular that they want?"

"You don't have to get them anything, really…"

"But I want to…They're my boyfriend's kids. I don't want them to feel as though I don't like them or I'm ignoring them. What were you planning on getting them?"

"Well, Kazu likes to read…a lot. He even tries to read the books I have in the house, that kids don't usually read. That's probably why he's so collect; his mind is full of knowledge. He told me that he want to be an author."

"That's unique. I don't personally know any authors. What about Kenji?"

"Hmm….He's the artistic type, but not the same as his brother. He's into all type of art. He loves drawing and painting. They're not the kiddy type either, you know, like stick figures. You should see the one he did about him and Kazu. It looks really good. I know he's going to do something with art when he grows up."

"What could we possibly buy them?"

"Well, I have 500 dollars for the both of them, on gift card. Kazuo's is for the local bookstore and Kenji's is for the local art store. Why not get them started early?"

"It's a lot, but hopefully they will use it over time. I'll add another 500 to it, if that's O.K. with you."

Sighing because Jushiro knew that he couldn't reason with Shunsui on anything be"Sure….Thanks, Shunsui."

"I'll have your present when we get back. Kenji and Kazuo told me what you wanted."

Please don't tell me that they said something embarrassing!"

Shunsui just laughed as he remembered asking Nanao about some of their co-workers birthday and he found out that Jushiro's was the 21st of December. He was coming back from his business trip on the 24th, the day before Christmas and later, he found out from Jushiro, the day before the twins birthday. He promised Jushiro that he would get him something when he came back; excluding the card and flowers he had delivered to Jushiro's house even when he was gone.

He didn't know what Jushiro wanted, so he wanted to ask him. He called Jushiro house about a week before his birthday, only to get an answer from Kenji, who was home with his brother while Jushiro was out shopping for groceries. Taking this as a chance, he asked the younger twin what his father wanted for his birthday and he got a great answer. Since he and Jushiro had yet to go out on a date, Kenji told Shunsui that his father really wanted to go out with him, before the phone was taken from his and Kazuo's voice was heard.

"Take him on a date on New Years Eve. I'm sure he'll like it. If you need someone to watch us, ask Nanao to come over, or we could go over her house. Buy him a wrist chain, he likes those. That's not to flamboyant, right, Ken? He'll appreciate it."

Those kids really knew their father like the back of their hands.

It was Christmas and Shunsui was bombarded with phone calls from friends and family all day long, asking what his plans were and if he wanted to come over. As much as he wanted to, he wanted to spend Christmas with the three new people who were apart of his life now.

His early, unexpected arrival to the Ukitake house did shocked Jushiro but nethertheless he was greeted by three hugs, to which he gave back. The house was filled with laughter, as the four celebrated Christmas.

The twins had their birthday party on the following Monday, which was the 27th. Many of their friends came over to celebrate but there was one visitor that the four of them were not expecting, especially Jushiro.

As the celebrations were on-going but coming to a close as people were leaving, there was a knock at the door. Jushiro asked if Shunsui could answer it since he was trying to clean up the mess the guest left. The knocking got louder as Shunsui approached the door and when he opened it up he came face to face with a petite woman, with short purple hair held in two pony tail, and purple hair. Behind her another woman with spiky hair and emerald eyes, and a young girl with long black hair, also in ponytails and pink hair. They both had bags in their hand.

"Um…Can I help you?" Shunsui was staring at the three of them as the woman with short purple hair was standing there, fist clenching and teeth grinding.

"Where is Jushiro? This happens every year!" Her anger seemed childish but Shunsui answered her instead of voicing his thought.

"Let me go get him. I'll be right back. Excuse me." Shunsui shut the door, turned around and went to find Jushiro. As he explained to Jushiro, he notice his facial expressions turned from happy to grave.

"She's here." Jushiro briskly walked past Shunsui but looked over his shoulder to smile at him.

Jushiro told Shunsui to stay inside, as he would handle the situation outside his apartment door. Shunsui went back to entertaining the guest but a few seconds later, the woman with blonde hair and the younger appeared in the room.

"Kazu, Ken!" the little girl let go the woman's hand and ran to the two boys who were in the middle of inspected the many toys they got for Christmas and their birthday.

"Loly! You're here!" The two boys shouted and got up to tackle the younger girl, the three of them fell to the floor laughing.

"You two haven't forgotten me, have you?" The twins looked up and smiled even harder

"Aunt Menoly!"

The woman was soon tackled to the ground by all three in the room, "Where's dad?"

"Long story short, your mother followed me and he's dealing with her, so I left them alone. You know how much they don't get along."

"Umm…"Shunsui didn't want to interrupt the sweet family moment but he felt awkward just standing there. "Oh…I'm sorry!" The blonde haired woman looked at Shunsui with a shocked look on her face but she quickly recovered as she stepped over to Shunsui, reaching out her hand as if to shake it, " My name is Menoly Mallia, I'm Kazuo and Kenji's aunt from their mother's side. You are?"

Shunsui was a little nervous about introducing himself as Jushiro's boyfriend to the woman whose hand he was beginning to take, but he figured that it wouldn't be a good idea to lie to the boys' aunt right in front of them. "I'm Shunsui Kyoraku, Jushiro's boyfriend."

"Oh! You're his new beau? He was telling me about you! You seem like a really nice guy."

"Thanks."

Just then all five people in the room could hear the front door slam and heavy footstep coming their way. Shunsui hoped that it was Jushiro coming back into the room without that crazy childish woman he saw earlier, but his wish went ignored as the said woman walked into the room, with arms spread right open.

"Hi boys!" Her loud voice made everyone visibly cringe and Shunsui turned to look at the twins. Their facial expressions were nearly unreadable, Kazuo had his usual apathetic face on but it looked a little more far away and this was the first time that Shunsui had ever seen Kenji's bubbly face go blank. Was this woman their mother?

"Aren't you happy to see mommy? I brought you lots of gifts and hugs." The boys mumbled something incoherent to Shunsui's ears as they walked over the woman and gave her a hug. Well, more like she was squeezing the living daylights out of them.

"Where's Jushiro, Cirucci?" Menoly pouted as she looked at her sister, who was still hugging her children.

"Still outside, but it's not like I care. He's the one preventing me from seeing my kids-." Shunsui didn't hear anything he said after that as he walked past her and headed towards the front door of the apartment. As he opened the door, he could hear Jushiro mumbling something to himself in the hallway. So closing the door behind him, he walked over to Jushiro and gave him a hug.

"She's their mother isn't she?"

"Yea, I didn't think that she was going to show up this year, so I'm still a bit shocked, always will be."

"What happened?"

"She always wants to yell and scream at me for taking the boys. She the one who got me to have sex with her, I didn't even know she got pregnant until she had the boys she gave them me as she left for 5 years. She can't just barge into their lives like that and expect them to forgive her." Shunsui could feel the barely controlled anger rolling of Jushiro as he tried to calm the man down. He knew exactly how Jushiro felt because his own mother encountered this situation years ago.

"This was like the situation with me and my brother. We all have different mother and I didn't meet any of them until I was 6. Our mothers hated each other and they didn't want us to see each other, but we all persisted because we were brothers, even if we didn't have that strong bond. Maybe one day they will come to accept her because right now…Kenji just scared the hell out of me with that face he made."

"I'll have to accept her too right?"

"The only thing you have to accept is that she is their mother and they are you're children. Nothing else."

Clouds Filled with Stars...

As the night continued on, Jushiro composed himself around Cirucci and the two didn't speak to each other unless they needed to speak to each other. Menoly asked it Loly could stay for a couple of days, to which Jushiro happily complied.

Once the two women left and the kids were put to sleep, Jushiro and Shunsui were left alone sitting on the couch in silence, just watching what ever was present on the T.V. screen, until Jushiro spoke up.

"Thank you Shunsui…"

"No problem, I already told you that I don't like seeing you sad."

"I know…."

"And how about I make you happy as we celebrate the New Year together? I heard from two special little boys, that their father wants to go on a date with his new boyfriend." Shunsui fought back laughter as he stared into Jushiro's wide eyes. "How about it? Nanao can watch the kids and I'll be able to take you out on New Years Eve?"

Jushiro mouth was wide open now and Shunsui started laughing, but kissed Jushiro on his forehead. "Say, 'Yes Shunsui, I would love to.'"

Jushiro mouth turned into a smile as he gave Jushiro gave him a big hug.

"Yes Shunsui, I would love to."

Like in Chp. 3 GL is the hint for the twins mother. GL = Gothic Lolita. Which is kinda like how she dresses. I love Gothic Lolita. All the others….I don't like.

Loly and Menoly were not in my head when I first planned this out, many weeks ago, but I wanted the twins to have a girl cousin. Loly and Cirucci kinda look alike. I didn't want to leave Menoly out so I put her as Loly's mother.

Next Chapter won't probably be out until early to mid January!

Thanks, Kihana!