Adult-FanFiction.org : Bleach

Prize of Victory 1.5
By : NovaAlexandria
Category: Bleach > General
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Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach nor profit from my works.
Chapter List
- 12
- 13
- 14
A Surprising Absence in Loneliness

Nanao had been looking forward to returning to work. Starrk had been very hesitant to permit her when she�d brought it up, but in the end he had made the stipulation he would only permit it if she was in Jushiro�s Division so his pet could defend her from any Arrancar that hadn�t gotten the message she was his fraccion and not to be touched. Since Jushiro was his pet, and given the order to defend her, he could get away with attacking any Arrancar that would attempt to Claim her as he would only be following orders. Jushiro was strong enough to take pretty much every Arrancar on, including the Espada though they all knew of his Claim on her anyhow so there really wasn�t an issue there. There was little chance that anyone else would get through him unless they attacked en mass; and she was no pushover either. Her Kido was more than strong enough to keep pretty much any Arrancar not an Espada at bay, if not outright kill them.

She�d checked, and apparently if she killed an Arrancar that was trying to Claim her there would be no repercussions, both because Starrk already claimed her as a fraccion and because if any assailant got capped trying to Claim her, they never deserved her in the first place.

Of course, finding out she was with child changed everyone�s perception. While she did want to go back to work, for moping about the estate was hardly good for her mental health, she suddenly found herself with a new distraction; that of impending motherhood. Nothing mattered to her more than making sure this child was born healthy, and going outside of Starrk�s protective aura was to invite danger to herself. She had never been labelled as being foolish, and she wasn�t about to gain such a reputation either. She�d always been known as a practical person, and that wasn�t going to change anytime soon.

While Nanao was positive she could defend herself until help arrived if an Arrancar, or even a pack of them, was stupid enough to make a go for her, she was not willing to risk a stray blow to her stomach that could result in losing the last thing of Shunsui�s they had. She couldn�t do that to herself and she certainly couldn�t do it to Jushiro. He was almost looking forward to the baby more than she was.

She wanted to hate Starrk, she really did, but she couldn�t find it in herself to do so. Starrk was just the sword Aizen had used to kill Shunsui. It was almost painful to look at the Espada for there was so much about him that reminded her of Shunsui. She had no doubt in her mind that the two could have been fast friends, if only he�d survived.

Starrk had recounted their battle to her. Many of the details she�d been able to confirm from Jushiro, thought it was painful for him to do so, so she knew the Espada had been truthful with her. She could find no fault to take with Starrk, for it had been Shunsui to keep pushing for the conflict when Starrk hadn�t wanted to engage at all. It seemed a little odd to her, for she knew how much Shunsui usually tried to avoid conflicts, but she supposed it was their duty to cleanse hollows and Starrk was a very powerful hollow.

Even disregarding their conflicting races, Starrk was a soldier. Shunsui had been a soldier. It was sad and painful, but soldiers died. They didn�t start the wars, that was the politicians. She placed Shunsui�s death firmly on Aizen�s shoulders, for he had been the one to start the war in the first place.

This, of course, left her at the Estate with little to do but sit in her room. Not one to remain idle, she made it her objective to take up a job she was well acquainted with; caring for those unable, or unwilling, to care for themselves. Shunsui had certainly given her a lot of experience in that area. The Estate was far too large for one person to manage, nor was she foolish enough to try, so she set a reasonable boundary for her to maintain and was quickly glad she had done so. It would seem that neither Starrk nor Jushiro had any inclination on the ways of laundry. Not too surprisingly, Lilinette was just as helpless. She supposed she couldn�t blame them as they�d always had others tend to the need before.

With a goal and a mission, Nanao had rolled up her sleeves and set to work, showing those with whom she shared a roof with where dirty laundry had better end up if they valued clean clothing. She gave them the schedule for cleaning days so they would know when she would be invading their rooms, thus giving them time to put away anything they didn�t want her to discover. She normally tried to have their rooms done before Jushiro got home from work, often with Lilinette in tow as the fraccion seemed to enjoy meeting up with him for some reason. While she had no proof, Nanao strongly suspected it had something to do with Jushiro�s perchance of keeping sweets on and around his person. Lilinette had displayed the well known symptoms of a sugar rush one too many times for Nanao to discount the likelihood that Jushiro wasn�t plying the girl with sweets when no one was looking. Lilinette looked just like a child, and if it was one weakness Jushiro had, it was children.

�I will have to make sure to keep an extra eye out when my baby arrives,� she mused with an actual pleasant thought, resting an unconscious hand on the small bump that was now her belly. �I will have to make a mental, and maybe even a physical, note to remind myself to check Ukitake-taichou�s room, hanging uniforms, and any other spot I think he could hide sweets. With my years of experience hunting down sake stashes, it shouldn�t be too hard to get most of them.�

The thought was definitely amusing her as she moved over to empty Lilinette�s wastebasket, noting the numerous candy wrappers and take out containers. The first just affirmed her suspicions as to Jushiro�s candy handing ways.

�I may need to have Starrk-san escort me to his division to check out hiding spots there as well. Lilinette would be unreliable, and likely an accomplice from what I have learned of her thus far. Starrk-san would be far too lazy to bother doing a through investigation, if he bothered to do one at all.�

Finishing Lilinette�s mess of a room, she moved over to Starrk�s. His room was the easiest to clean as he almost never stirred himself from his nest of pillows unless it was to go out on whatever mission Aizen had for him, escort her to the fourth, or when she came to clean his room. Other than some dusting, gathering the laundry and collecting the garbage, it was easily the quickest. She found herself frowning when she noticed the large number of takeout containers, yet again, in his garbage. Lilinette she could understand, for the girl had little in the way of self control, but Starrk shouldn�t be indulging in such fair so often. Her frown deepened when she made it to Jushiro�s room to notice the same thing. Takeout containers and bags to rival the ones in Starrk and Lilinette�s room.

�I have been seeing far too many of these over the last few weeks. It�s no wonder the food in the fridge keeps going bad,� she scowled aloud to herself. �Ukitake-Taichou I could almost understand as he works all day, but there is no reason for Lilinette and Starrk-san to be eating all this take out.�

She had a new mission it would seem. Finishing up Jushiro�s room, she headed for the kitchen that, apparently, only she had been using. It sort of made sense to her now why both the main kitchen and the kitchenette in the joint Priemera�s suite were so clean all the time when the other three seldom got their rooms in order. They hadn�t been using the amenities at all.

�Seriously, Ukitake-taichou should at least know better. He has his health to worry about,� she grouched as she took inventory of what was in the kitchen. It didn�t take her long to think of something and, tying up the sleeves to the pink, bloodstained kimono she was wearing, she set to work on making dinner. �At least he hasn�t had any relapses yet,� she commented to herself with relief.

Considering all the stress he�d been under, on top of the injuries incurred during the battle, it was a miracle he hadn�t had one. Nanao shook the depressing thought aside as she concentrated on cutting up the rack of ribs into individual pieces and getting them into a wok of heated oil and crushed garlic.

She felt Starrk return as she was cutting up vegetables. He was so powerful that she didn�t even need to try and sense him. She had worried about her unborn child being around someone so strong, but Unohana had assured her during her last check up that if it was going to be an issue she would have miscarried already. In fact, she probably never would have even noticed she was pregnant at all. That had given everyone a deep sense of relief.

Starrk headed right to his room, not to her surprise. Sometimes she wondered if he wouldn�t collect dust if not for his missions. Speaking of dust, since it had been three months since any of the dishes had really been used, she found herself discarding the top, dust covered pieces and giving the ones below them a quick wipe. She was just removing the last dish from the stove when she felt Jushiro and Lilinette come through the front gate. Her timing was dead on, and that brought a small smile to her lips. She still had the organization skills of a pro.

�Ukitake-san, Lilinette-san, dinner is ready. Please get changed and come to the table. Can one of you get Starrk-san please,� she called out when they were close enough to hear her.

She felt both presences pause at her call before they moved to the entranceway of the dinning room, staring at the spread she was just starting to put out in disbelief.

�Did you hear me, or should I repeat myself?� she asked sweetly.

�Uhhhhhh,� was Lilinette�s intelligent reply.

�This looks wonderful, Nanao-san. I will return as soon as I change. Come on Lilinette-chan, let�s make ourselves presentable and get Starrk-san.� Jushiro ushered the stunned Arrancar away from the doorway, presumably to change and get Starrk.

�That�s Lilinette-sama to you, Shiro-chan.� Nanao heard the young Arrancar shoot back as they walked down the hall.

Nanao smiled inward as she finished bringing the last few dishes to the table. Jushiro was the first to return, changed out of his uniform into a simple, navy yukuta. She�d seen him wearing things other than his uniform enough times that it hadn�t taken long for the novelty of seeing him in something other than black and white to wear off. Starrk and Lilinette arrived shortly afterward. The second all but flew to a spot and start dishing out food onto her plate while the first hovered by the door, as if uncertain he was actually invited in to join them. Lilinette�s initial table manners were appalling so far, but she would address that another day. �Baby steps,� she reminded herself.

�It is rude to loiter, Starrk-san,� she commented, taking the place across from Lilinette.

Starrk jerked as if startled, but hesitantly moved to the only seat left and sat down. Just as hesitantly, he helped himself to the display she had prepared after everyone else had already taken a portion. He almost seemed to be in a bit of a daze as the meal commenced. Nanao was at least relieved to discover that both Arrancar did have something resembling table manners when it came to actually eating, despite how enthusiastically Lilinette continued to refill her plate. Both knew how to use the utensils and she took it as a compliment to her cooking skills that Lilinette was eating everything in sight and making delighted exclamations as she tried each dish.

�How was work today?� she asked once everyone had a full plate, or in Lilinette�s case, was onto her second plate already. She had no idea how the child inhaled food that quickly while still eating properly and not choking.

�The deployments went well,� Jushiro answered easily. �My seated officers are finally doing their paperwork properly and all our reports got in one time with minimal mistakes.�

�That is good to hear.�

With so many killed and most of the surviving seated officers Claimed and no longer permitted to work, there had been a severe shortage on people that even knew how to run a division, let alone do the paperwork.

She had spent the last months in basically solitary confinement. Now that she had everyone sitting at the table, she realized just how lonely she had gotten. Subconsciously she decided that, from now on, they would be eating breakfast and dinner together every day as long as she had something to say about it. And since she doubted Jushiro was making a lunch for himself, she vowed to send him to work with a bento box as well. His heath required a good, firm diet and she wasn�t going to count on the cafeteria food being acceptable.

�And what did you do today Lilinette?� she asked to keep the conversation going and to keep the oppressive silence away.

Lilinette froze with a rib halfway to her lips in surprise at the question. The Arrancar recovered quickly though and took a bite of her rib, thankfully swallowing, before answering. �Meh, did more exploring. I can�t believe how many �parks� there are. I have never seen so many trees before! And the sheer amount of water. Man, I have got to show you this river I found Starrk. There is so much water it even flows! I heard there are flowers due to come soon too, and that they will be all different colours,� the young fraccion exclaimed excitedly.

�There are,� Nanao answered, unable to keep a soft smile from her lips, nor was Jushiro, as they took in Lilinette�s excitement. �In about a month the first one should be blooming. They can be rather pretty and the parks will be full of different colors.�

Seeing Lilinette�s enthusiasm reminded her that she would be having a child soon, and the thought of bringing her son or daughter out to see those sights excited her. If Lilinette was this excited over the drab winter colours, she couldn�t wait to see how the fraccion would respond when the fruit trees blossomed and the festivals started.

�What of you Starrk-san? What did you do today?� she asked. �Other than sleep in your room of course,� she couldn�t help but to mentally add.

If Lilinette had frozen at being addressed, there was no word for what Starrk did at being addressed so directly by her. She noticed he�d barely touched his food as well. He seemed a bit embarrassed as he answered her question. �I was reading more of the information Unohana-sama gave me about Shinigami pregnancies.�

Nanao swore he actually blushed a little at the admission. She did raise an eye in surprise. He�d been rather interested in her pregnancy and had accompanied her to all three of her appointments thus far.

�Do you find it different from a hollows?� she asked before she could even think about it, curious despite herself. Jushiro also gave the Arrancar his attention.

�Don�t know no pregnant hollows. Offspring are rare to the point of being almost a myth,� Lilinette answered between bites. �And even if they weren�t so rare, we were too strong for anyone to come near us anyhow, let alone think about getting it on. Poor Starrk never had much of a chance to screw��

�Lilinette,� Starrk warned, giving his other half a look that was half glare and half mortification. Jushiro had nearly choked on his food at Lilinette�s bluntness. Nanao didn�t like where the conversation was going either and was thankful Starrk had seemed fit to end it.

Not that I haven�t heard worse from Shunsui when he got plastered� or even when he was sober a few times, she couldn�t help but to muse in mild amusement.

�Is there something wrong with your food?� she asked him after several minutes of them eating in silence, for Starrk was still picking uncertainly at his.

�No,� he was quick to assure her. �It�s just� nice to sit at a table with others and enjoy a meal.�

�You are trying to savour the moment?� Jushiro questioned curiously.

�Something like that,� Starrk answered with a hint of a sad smile.

�Well, if you keep �savouring� the moment, you won�t be able to savour the food before it�s gone,� Lilinette pointed out gruffly. �Come on Starrk. This is far better than the crap Gin tried to feed us a couple of times, and the stuff you get in those container things every day.�

�Of that there is no contest,� he agreed easily. �Thank you Nanao-san, for this meal. It is very good,� he complimented.

�Is there something particular you would like for dinner tomorrow night?� she asked.

Starrk actually dropped his utensils as he stared at her in surprise. She could practically hear the shocked �why?� in his expression.

�It has come to my attention while cleaning your rooms that, not only are you three eating out a lot, but the food in storage is going bad because none of you seem able to cook even a simple dish. Thus, I have decided to provide breakfast and dinner to make sure you are eating healthy. You, particularly, should be ashamed of yourself, Ukitake-san. Your health demands a balanced diet, and I doubt you have been getting that eating out. Unohana-Taichou would be most displeased with you if she found out.�

Jushiro had the grace to look ashamed, and go rather pale at the thought of Unohana finding out about his eating habits, while Lilinette cheered at the thought of two full meals a day and Starrk still looked like someone had smashed him in the back of the head with a board.

�If you don�t want me to, I won�t.�

�No,� Starrk quickly spoke up, looking alarmed. �I would enjoy having a sit down meal twice a day,� he assured her more calmly. �Just give me the list of what you require and I will make sure it�s provided.�

�Actually, it would be best if I went with you. Some ingredients need to be the right kind of ripe and I should be getting some exercise with walks anyhow.� She hadn�t really left the estate since the end of the war and she was really starting to feel cooped up.

Starrk sighed, running a gloved hand through his hair, before reluctantly nodding. She wondered what part of the demand had him the most flustered; actually getting up to go to the markets, or having her outside of the area he deemed as �his.�

The rest of dinner went well, as did tea and treats afterwards. By the time everything was cleaned up it was late, and she found herself crawling into bed pleasantly exhausted. For the first time in several months, she fell asleep easily.

Another room down the silent hallways found the inhabitant having the opposite problem. For the first time in his life, at least as long as he could remember, Starrk simply couldn�t fall asleep. His mind kept repeating the entire dinner over and over. Sure he�d had tea during the meeting with the other Espada, but outside of those meetings, despite Aizen�s promises, he�d essentially been confined to his wing and continued solitude. He couldn�t really blame Aizen for that, after all Kami had presented him with people who would survive being near him as promised. It was up to him to make them like him, yet he had been alone for so long that he honestly had no idea how to even begin approaching the others to offer his friendship. He envied Lilinette for her spunk and outgoing nature, for she�d managed to make a few comrades out of the others.

�Of course, Lilinette wasn�t cursed with my strength. Only the other Espada and a few of their fraccion could stand being in my presence for any real length of time, and none of them showed much interest in becoming friends.�

Starrk sighed unhappily at the memory.

�At least I was able to sleep with the feeling of others around me,� he mused. It was a tradition that had carried over here. �I suppose I should be thankful for Taichou-san�s last request. Ukitake is kind enough to sit through a few games with me some evenings. I may still be alone most of the time, but now I actually have someone to speak to. Having another presence at the back of my mind is also a welcomed thing most times.�

He�d never held a Claim before, although it did remind him a little of merging with Lilinette, if a lot less noisy. Jushiro was a rather laid back man and that calming presence, that knowledge he wasn�t alone anymore even when in an empty room, made it worth holding the man�s Claim; even over the embarrassment of casting it.

I suppose I should thank you, Taichou-san. If you hadn�t made your dying request, I most likely would never have given your companion or mate a second glance after our Victory and I would still be wallowing in loneliness.

Jushiro had been friendly with him since the beginning, and while Nanao had not been mean spirited, she hadn�t sought him out either. And yet� He�d honestly thought Lilinette had been playing a joke on him when she�d kicked him awake and said Nanao had made them all dinner. He hadn�t meant to be rude and not eat the fare provided, for it had been exceptionally good, but he couldn�t help but to just bask being in the presence of others and not have it be work related. He couldn�t even begin to describe the feeling of having been sought out for nothing more than a night of sitting together and talking. He�d dreamed about what it would be like to have friends to do such things with, and while he wouldn�t consider Jushiro and Nanao as friends, the experience had been far better than anything he�d ever dreamed up.

�And she promised we would do so again, and not just in the evening, but at breakfast too! Is it possible? Despite the fact I must keep Ukitake chained to my will, could we become companions? Do they truly hold no grudge for Taichou-san�s death and my part in it?�

Most hollows wouldn�t think overly much about it unless it was a very long time pack member, mate or child, but he knew Shinigami were very different. The thought was too tempting to pass up, and the reality seemed to be mirroring it. Still, they could just as easily turn their backs on him. Well, he could force Jushiro into his company against the man�s will, but it would be no different than the times he spent at those meetings where the majority of the other Arrancar were sizing him up and their chances at taking his rank. Besides, he would never force the man to do anything against his will, well, unless Aizen ordered it of course. He doubted Jushiro would ever do anything that would require him to stop the man�s actions.

Perhaps, for now, he would remain cautiously optimistic over this tentative outreaching of something resembling friendship. He did have a communal breakfast to look forward to after all. If all went well, it would be just as full of others� presence as dinner had been. He found he was looking forward to that very much.

�It is a good thing Lilinette is already asleep, or I would never hear the end of it,� he couldn�t help but to muse.

Well, since he couldn�t sleep, he turned the brightness of the lantern beside his futon up a bit and dug out the book Unohana had loaned him about Shinigami pregnancies. There were a fair number of differences from what little he knew of hollow pregnancies, and most of that was just the snippets he caught over Szayel�s slumber-fest reports. Shinigami had a set nine months of gestation, at which point the baby would be born. Unlike most hollow young, this one would require years of careful nurturing, especially in the first six or so months. It was also exceedingly rare to have more than one offspring.

Of course, there was no telling if Nanao would even let him see the child, at least until it was older and she was ready to introduce it to the pack. She would likely den up and give birth there. That was fine. As the Alpha of this pack, he would make sure the den was secure and the cub kept safe. He had a vow to uphold after all.

Baby

This chapter was too small to be it�s own chapter, and so I put it at the end of this one.

Starrk was normally more than pleased to find the nearest soft spot to splay out and nap, sun optional but appreciated. If it was one thing he found he loved about Soul Society, it was the warmth of the sun on his napping form. Today, however, napping was far from the object of his interest. Even if it was, the loud, occasional scream coming from his pet�s room would have made it difficult. Apparently, having a cub was extraordinarily painful for a Shinigami. Not that he knew if it was much different for a hollow since he�d never met any female hollows, other than Lilinette, that had lasted very long in his presence before joining Aizen�s forces. There had certainly been no cubs amongst the Arrancar and there was question if they could even breed anyhow after being changed by Aizen.

�Dear Aizen, can we put her out of her misery already?� Lilinette whined as she paced passed him, covering her ears. �Surly death would be a mercy at this point.�

�Hmm,� he responded to save his shins from a kicking for ignoring her, even if he didn�t entirely agree. Having a baby definitely didn�t sound pleasant and Nanao had been at it for hours already. �You could go get something for lunch,� he offered.

�Yeah, I think I am going to go do that.�

Lilinette left, leaving him alone to continue to pace on the porch outside of Nanao�s room like the watchful sentry he actually currently was. The faint scent of blood had him worried and her shouts were loud enough that anyone passing by the walls might hear them, especially if they were a hollow. He was not going to risk one being drawn to the powerful, unClaimed woman obviously in distress. Nanao was stronger than a good number of the Numeros and no few would be happy to use such a weakness to Claim someone normally out of their league. He had a promise to keep after all. He was, of course, interesting in the cub as well, but he wasn�t really expecting her to let him near it. Of course, there was the chance that the cub would be weak, despite it�s impressive heritage, and he would have to see about housing mother and child elsewhere, maybe with the rest of Jushiro�s family. He really didn�t like that idea as it would be much harder for him to keep track of her and protect her from a distance.

He could hear the murmuring of Unohana as the woman attended to the labouring woman. When Nanao had gone into labour this morning, he�d panicked and jerked Jushiro home via the Claim perhaps a bit more harshly than he�d intended. Jushiro had come flying home in a panic, than proceeded to turn about and calm right down as soon as he understood the situation. Starrk had been the one sent to fetch Unohana, and only now did he realize Jushiro had sent him out to do so to get him out from underfoot. After that he�d been confined out of the room as Unohana and one of her female assistants tended to the delivery. There had been brief talk of moving Nanao to the 4^th, but Starrk had declared that he would sooner keep the woman safe in the den than move her unless it was truly necessary. Unohana had conceded without a fight and didn�t appear to be upset with his decision. The only concession she had demanded was if things took a turn for the worst, they would move Nanao. He�d agreed to that easily.

He was so caught up in his worried pacing that he walked right into Jushiro, splashing the cup of steaming tea his pet was holding out for him all over himself. He blinked sheepishly and accepted the cup. Most of the liquid remained at least and the portion that had landed on his clothes cooled quickly. Jushiro sat down on the porch and Starrk followed suit, mainly because if he was sitting he wasn�t pacing. He also felt ashamed that he had failed at being a sentry so utterly.

Of course Jushiro is pack and holding my Claim, so it�s no wonder my mind easily dismissed his presence. Kami knows I have done the same to Lilinette a few dozen times. I swear she actually uses it to her advantage, he couldn�t help but to muse before another loud cry returned his thoughts immediately to the present. �Is this much screaming normal?� he asked.

�Often,� Jushiro answered easily. �The baby should be arriving soon though.�

�You seem rather calm.�

A small smile touched his pet�s lips and Jushiro tucked a strand of white hair behind his ear. �I have many siblings and have been around no few of my mother�s labours. Waiting around for the baby to come is something I have experience with.�

They sat in relative silence for a time. Starrk held onto the cup of tea Jushiro had delivered, but never brought it to his lips. His free hand tapped against his thigh without his knowing. Over the months Nanao had continued to make them breakfast and dinner while doing their laundry. As she�d gotten bigger some of the housework had fallen to the wayside and less of the large estate was tended to, but that was only to be expected. He�d been surprised at just how big her belly got and Lilinette had commented on it several times, much to his chagrin.

When the baby had begun to kick he�d never seen such a smile on her face, nor Jushiro�s when Nanao had asked if her fellow pet wanted to feel. Starrk had wanted to feel as well, but he�d never mustered up the courage to ask and she�d never offered. The feeling he got just from sitting at a table with her and Jushiro for breakfast was enough to remind him how he wasn�t alone anymore. He didn�t want to do anything to compromise that feeling of having others around. Even on the nights Jushiro came home late Nanao still made dinner for them and he was not shunned from the table. After several nights of attempted conversations, that were stilted and awkward, he eventually discovered that Nanao had a steel trap of a mind. He could definitely see what Shunsui had seen in this woman after that and they had a bit of fun playing things like �end catcher.� It was a game Lilinette could at least play a bit of too before Starrk and Nanao would bring it out of her league. He discovered quickly she also had a thing for numbers and playing any kind of card game against her was often a bad idea.

Nanao gave out another long, loud scream that caused him to flinch as the volume assaulted his ears and broke him out of his thoughts. The screaming continued and it took him a moment to realize the cries were different; that they didn�t belong to Nanao.

�Sounds like a girl,� Jushiro commented with a soft smile. �Shunsui would have had a heart attack just thinking about all the boys that would be chasing her. He was a horrible flirt himself.�

Starrk was saved from trying to find a response to that comment by the door clacking open behind them. Both men turned to stare up at Unohana as she smiled at them.

�You may come in now,� she announced.

Jushiro was quick to his feet and into the room, but Starrk lingered, uncertain if Nanao would even want the killer of her child�s father to be near her. Unohana simply raised an eye at him and he finally rose to his own feet and shuffled uncertainly into the room, his cup of tea cold and forgotten on the porch.

Nanao looked exhausted, her brow and hair glistening with sweat. Jushiro sat by her side, a soft smile on his lips as he gazed down at the swaddled bundle in his arms. It seemed so small, even from here. Still uncertain if he was welcomed, he remained by the door as Unohana and her assistant finished cleaning up the mess labour had created with a brisk efficiency.

�Have you thought of a name?� Jushiro asked.

�Hana,� Nanao answered immediately. Exhaustion heavily laced her words, but she had enough strength left for pride to seep into her voice.

�She is beautiful,� Jushiro remarked.

�She is. He would have loved her,� Nanao sighed.

Starrk felt miserable and strongly debated on leaving. Cubs were so rare and his hand had prevented someone who might have been a friend from seeing this joyful moment. He had just turned to leave when Nanao�s voice cut through his sudden feeling of self loathing.

�Would you like to hold her?�

It took almost a full minute for Starrk to realize that she was speaking to him. Swallowing nervously, he moved over to where Jushiro sat with the bundled baby. She seemed so tiny, so fragile. Could he dare to hold something so delicate? Would his power cause her to disappear before him as so many before her had? The choice was taken from him as Nanao took her daughter back from Jushiro before passing the little girl to him, helping him to adjust his arms until he found himself holding the fragile creature without support.

Gulping nervously, he dared to look down at the little creature in his arms. Baby blue eyes peered up at him curiously and he felt something in his chest constrict at the sight. This small cub looked up at him with an innocence that he swore was impossible, and it was in that moment, lost in that gaze, that he realized he was completely taken with the little girl; that he would do anything to make sure this cub was kept safe and raised well. He was completely unaware of the two Shinigami staring at him as his emotions ranged across his face.

�She�s beautiful,� he found himself repeating Jushiro�s earlier observation. �I�� his throat constricted so he tried again. �Thank you for letting me hold her,� he managed to get out.

�Oh sweet, the cub�s here! Let me see!� Lillinette demanded as his other half came flying to his side. �It�s all wrinkly, but kind of cute. How long before we can play tag?�

�At least two to three years,� Jushiro answered firmly.

�What? That long?� Lilinette pouted unhappily.

Hana began to fuss and he felt panic once more take root. What had he done? Why was she suddenly unhappy? He hadn�t hurt her had he?

�Sounds like someone is hungry,� Jushiro chuckled.

�Oh,� he very carefully handed Hana back to her mother, than blushed as the woman bared a breast for the little one to latch onto. �Come on Lilinette. I think they both need rest,� he declared, making a tactful retreat.

�Awe,� Lilinette pouted, but did follow after him without a fight.

Nanao did not keep him away from her daughter. In fact, he was invited to share in the little cub�s life. Lilinette was ecstatic, especially once Hana learned to crawl and chase her around. The young child brought a liveliness to his pets that he could actually physically feel thanks to the Claim he had on Jushiro. And as Hana grew, he felt his world expand, literally in some cases as several buckets of water somehow found his person every summer. The soaked clothing was well worth the reminder he was truly not alone.

I have been working on a new fict that is about 96 pages long so far and roughly at the halfway point. There are several other chapters outlined and a few ready to go for this one, but I am at the point where I kind of feel like we are beating a dead horse and I am ready to move on. As usual, thank you very much for the few that take the time to review.
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Prize of Victory 1.5	By : NovaAlexandria Category: Bleach > General Views: 14938 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach nor profit from my works.

Prize of Victory 1.5