The moment Shunsui walked into the captain's meeting room, he knew something was amiss. His student, normally with an air of laziness and boredom was alert and fidgety. He resisted the urge to raise a brow at the man while he spoke of the impending division reviews and end of year celebrations for another successful decade. As he spoke, his eyes drifted over to his other student, eyeing the white-haired captain with a calmness learned over centuries even as he scrutinized the slight pinch of his brows and equally as anxious fiddling he was doing with his zanpakuto.

When the meeting was over, he dismissed his lieutenant and suppressed his mighty reiatsu down to nothing, silently following behind the two troublemakers as they bickered about who got to go where. He decided not to follow them, knowing they would be back to discuss whatever it was that they did, and then he could thoroughly interrogate them as they gave away their secrets. He settled himself in a dark corner of the thirteenth division and resigned himself to wait.

Yamamoto didn't have to wait long, for his students returned nearly as quickly as they left, fussing over something that Shunsui carried. He raised a silent brow as he stalked them from above, watching intently as fabric was pulled back. If he hadn't been thousands of years old, he would have stumbled. A baby was smiling up at Shunsui like he hung the stars, and a babble of laughter escaped the child as he gnawed on his students' larger finger, bringing an involuntary smile to his own face. He didn't miss Shunsui's own expression, how it shifted into a deep fondness, emphasized by the protective way he held the orange haired baby. He shook his head and retreated from the scene with a softer smile. Babies were rare in soul society, and while he wasn't sure of the circumstances, he knew that he now had a grandson to call his own.

A few days later…

Jushiro rubbed a hand down his face, taking a deep breath and counted to three. Kiyone was squealing in excitement, her voice loud and echoing in the room as she gushed over the baby in his arms.

"How old is he!? Do you need a babysitter? Oh! Taichou!"

Jushiro winced at the particularly loud shout, using his free hand to cup Ichigo's ears, pulling his tiny head further against his chest in an attempt to salvage the still developing ear drums. Jushiro couldn't hold in the sigh as his 3rd seat kept on gushing, her voice raising with each sentence.

"Kiyone" his voice was sharper than he meant it to be, but he found it difficult to keep his tone soft when he had just gotten Ichigo to calm down from his hyperactive state. The short haired woman stilled immediately, not used to his tone of voice, and threw herself to the floor in a bow, apologies on her lips as she realized her mistake. She was still loud, but at least it was a sort of whisper screaming.

Ichigo squealed in his arms, once again wide awake and a bubbling laugh came from him. His honey eyes were bright in delight and his hands yanked at Jushiro's white locks with vigor. He winced, carefully pulling his hair away from grubby hands and shook his head at Kiyone.

"It's fine, did you need something?" He watched as she lifted her head from the floor, her eyes momentarily settling on Ichigo before rising to meet his gaze. She sat back on her heels and tilted her head in a respectful nod to report her message. When she was alone, she had the capacity to be mostly professional at least.

"Taichou, your presence is required at the central 46 chambers along with Kyoraku taichou to step in for Yamamoto soutaichou."

Jushiro winced, his mind racing. His mentor had never, never missed a gathering of the central 46, it was a duty he held in high regard to uphold law and order, and it was an honor to have to step in for him. Normally, this would have made him worry, but he knew the old man was cunning and probably suspected something going on with he and Shunsui. Just the fact that both of them were made to go tipped him off, but it's not like it mattered. Jushiro and Shunsui couldn't shrink from their duty either way. Now their mentor had effectively taken them both out of the equation. He swallowed and glanced back down at Ichigo, absently bringing him closer to himself even as the baby squeaked in protest.

He couldn't know, could he? He looked out the window, gauging the level of the sun in the sky and the distance to the Shiba residence. He was sure they wouldn't mind a surprise visit, but they were quite far away and in the opposite direction he needed to head in. He looked back down at the patiently waiting Kiyone, "when?"

"In 10 minutes taichou."

For the second time that day, he rubbed at his forehead and let out a nervous chuckle. His mentor definitely knew something was up and had not given him enough time to think of a plan. Before he could speak again, Shunsui burst into the room in a flicker of shunpo, Nanao diligently behind him. They were out of breath and Jushiro raised his brows in surprise, unused to seeing his normally relaxed friend so taxed.

"Did you run here from the middle of the Rukongai?" He asked absently, taking in the sweat that beaded down their faces. Shunsui winced and Nanao smacked her captain in the back of the head with nothing less than her full strength.

"Of course, Ukitake taichou! We just HAD to get some special sake!" Her voice was high in fury and Jushiro waved his free hand in a placating motion, willing her to calm down and pointing vigorously at a wide-eyed baby in his lap. She straightened immediately and he was impressed by her restraint, even if she took it out with another smack on his best friend. For his part, Shunsui let himself be beaten, a sulky look on his face as he complained about his dearest Nanao-chan being so ruthless.

"8 minutes, taichou." Kiyone's voice brought him back to the crisis at hand and he jerked forward, keeping his grip on Ichigo tight as he debated on what to do.

"You got the summons also?" He looked towards his friend who nodded in confirmation. Their eyes met and they both understood the meaning behind the meeting, it was a distraction. They couldn't possibly bring a baby into the central 46 chambers and they hadn't told anyone else about Ichigo besides those who had stumbled in on them. So it was between his 3rd seat, who he was reluctant to give Ichigo to, and Nanao, who would undoubtedly parade him around the entire Shinigami Woman's Association. Unohana and the Shiba's were out of the question for varying reasons, leaving them with no other option. They knew this would happen eventually, but this wasn't exactly how they had planned. As one, they both turned to look at Nanao and then back to Ichigo, their eyes pleading.

A vicious glint of victory shone in the lieutenant's eyes before it was hidden away by the glare of her glasses. Her mouth remained in a soft smile, but Jushiro wasn't fooled.

"I will watch him for you" Nanao stepped forward and raised her hands, grabbing for the baby in his arms. Jushiro sent Ichigo a silent apology and handed him over to her carefully. His tension eased slightly at the delicate way she held him and although he knew Ichigo was in good hands, he couldn't help but worry. This was the first time they had to entrust him to someone else besides Kukaku and Unohana, and he had the feeling it would not be the last. Ichigo twisted in her arms, a frown on his face as he kicked and tugged at her clothes, his big brown eyes the color of honey looking at him with what could only be described as abandonment. Jushiro swallowed and was saved when Shunsui stepped in front of him, blocking his view of the innocent baby and his betrayed face.

"Maa, maa, you're so spoiled already Ichi-kun, don't look at us like that." Shunsui leaned down the give his finger to Ichigo, wincing when it was bitten in an act of defiance. Nanao laughed lightly and shook her head, gently helping her captain take his finger back.

"Don't worry, I will take care of him." Nanao promised, raising her glasses further up on her nose. Shunsui gave her a smile, but Jushiro could see the faint tension at the corners of his eyes. It was funny, how quickly enraptured the both of them had become.

"4 minutes, taichou!"

Jushiro felt himself get jerked out the door and Shunsui stepped into shunpo, forcing him to follow or get dragged along.

"Come on Ju!"

Momo couldn't hold back a squeal as Nanao entered their meeting room with an orange haired baby. She rushed over with everyone else, shoving Rangiku out of the way to get a better look at the bundle in her arms.

"Ah! So cute!" Rangiku shrieked from behind her, her bosom crashing into her back and making her tip forward. Nanao caught her with her free hand while shielding the baby away from their prying eyes.

"Hold! Be careful! This is my taichou's son!" Nanao's voice rose sharply above the chaos and everyone stilled, eyes traveling from her to the baby in shock.

"Ehhh!?" A collective scream left them all and Nanao stepped up to the podium, letting the baby clutch at her clothes and chew on her shihakusho as she banged her hammer for order. Momo immediately took a seat, her eyes never leaving the baby and her mind racing with the implications. Nanao cleared her throat, tipping her glasses up on her nose.

"This is Ichigo Kyoraku, my taichou has entrusted me to watch over him until he has completed his duties for the day." Nanao let a smirk slide onto her face here, "though he did not say how."

Momo felt a smile etch itself on her own face and she swung her feet on her seat in excitement.

"Furthermore, I have offered the services of the Shinigami woman's association to help take care of Ichigo!" Whispers of excitement burst out around Momo as she leaned forward, eager.

Nanao let them all see the wide smile on her face as she continued with determination in her voice. "All in favor say aye!"

"AYE!" Momo's own shout was lost in the roar around her and she barely heard Ichigo's giggle above the din. She saw him smile into Nanao's arm and watch them all with bright eyes, the color warm and filling her with a surge of protectiveness.

The hammer banged against the podium once again and Nanao dismissed the meeting. Momo was the first to swarm her, eager to get another close look at chubby cheeks and curious eyes. She cooed at him, rubbing the tip of his nose gently and beaming at the delighted babble he gave her. Momo looked up at Nanao who was watching with a serene expression on her face.

"Let's go to the 5th! I just know Aizen taichou would love to see him!"