Chapter 38: Many Happy Returns

(Thanks to everyone who has read and loved this story, which has taken a place among the most read and reviewed. It's one of those special ones that I can't help but reread every so often. I really appreciate all of the PMs and reviews, the chat sessions and such that this story has generated. My deepest gratitude to all of you...now off to work on another work in progress. Cheers, Spunky)

(seven months later)

Byakuya felt Ichigo's naked body move in his embrace, and he opened a calm, dark eye, sliding a hand down to rub his husband's very round belly. Ichigo made a soft, sleepy sound of approval as Byakuya's reiatsu began to radiate, sinking under his bared flesh and curling around the spirit chamber inside him, slowly stabilizing the reiatsu of the baby.

"Mmmmmmm, feels good."

As the forces within Ichigo stabilized, Byakuya smiled and slid his hand down lower, caressing Ichigo's hot, flushed privates and making him moan and shift hungrily and bringing erotic fire into the younger man's feral, golden brown eyes. He bit down gently on the paler flesh of Ichigo's exposed neck, nibbling along the length until his husband's patience slipped, and Ichigo turned suddenly, bringing Byakuya down onto his back and spilling the long strands of his raven colored hair all around. He spread Byakuya's warm, willing thighs wide and launched an attack of his own, first enjoying the softer, more sensitive skin of his nether region, then commencing a slower and quite thorough preparation that left Byakuya writhing and nearly breathless. The two shifted impatiently for a moment to find the proper angle for Ichigo's entry, then joined hastily and surrendered to a rush of heated undulations that swiftly stole their breath and sent them tumbling into release. Ichigo remained on his knees for a while after, still connected with Byakuya's body and gazing down at his husband's contented expression through hazy, sated eyes. While he was enjoying the lovely sight of Byakuya's fully exposed white torso, a rumble went through his insides, making the two smile.

"Ah, you are hungry for food now?" Byakuya asked, starting to pull free.

Ichigo dragged him back down and into a fresh flurry of warm, wet kisses that left both men flushed and beginning to become aroused again.

"Stop it," Byakuya said finally, pushing him away gently, "You must eat or your reiatsu will drop too low and you will lose consciousness."

"I don't care," Ichigo insisted, tackling him again and climbing on top of him, spreading his own white thighs wide to straddle Byakuya's slender body.

Byakuya's hand slid along the outsides of his thighs and wrapped around his soft bottom, encouraging Ichigo as he rubbed sensuously against his piqued husband's hungry nether region.

"Ichigo, I was not joking. You will pass out."

"I told you, I don't care," his ginger haired mate laughed, rubbing harder against Byakuya until his dark eyes were widened and clouded with lust.

Byakuya could only stare in wonder as Ichigo joined their bodies and rode him, keeping their eyes locked and their movements slow and deep. His hands spread out on Byakuya's muscular chest, the slim fingers teasing his husband's pink nipples until Byakuya was moaning and writhing heatedly underneath him. Byakuya's hands tightened on his smiling mate's bottom, his hips bucking upwards, hard and fast, finding the sensitive nerves inside him and bringing him swiftly to the verge of bliss. Ichigo pitched forward, panting hard and moaning loudly as Byakuya's heat filled him and he violently expelled his own release. He collapsed beside Byakuya, his ears ringing loudly, and glad that he could barely hear as Byakuya scolded him for his recklessness.

"Fool! I told you that you would pass out."

"I'm n-not out," Ichigo laughed dizzily, "Just a l-little loopy."

Byakuya disentangled himself and climbed out of the bed, wrapping a yukata around himself as he called for their attendants. Torio appeared immediately, looking neatly dressed, but decidedly weary.

"Are you all right?" Byakuya asked, "Were you not able to sleep?"

"I am fine, just a bit tired," Torio assured him as Toshi exited the attendant's bedroom, one hand on his abdomen as he ran to the bathroom, "Toshi's morning sickness was bad during the night. But it's fine. I'm all right, really. Would you like me to bring tea?"

Byakuya gave him a gentle look of reproach.

"I would like you to have Koji make tea and bring a large meal for Ichigo. You take care of your husband."

"I will," Torio chuckled, turning away to go and find his brother.

Byakuya returned to the bedroom and found Ichigo curled up in a pile of soft pillows and sleeping contentedly. He turned in his sleep as Byakuya slid back into the bed, and snuggled up to his lovely husband and burying his face in a swirl of sakura scented, silken black hair.

"You smell good enough to eat," Ichigo mumbled, biting the back of Byakuya's white neck.

"Koji is bringing your breakfast," Byakuya informed him, squirming as Ichigo slid a hand down his slender torso to caress his privates teasingly, "Stop that! We are not making love again until you have eaten."

"I'll eat," Ichigo laughed, rolling Byakuya onto his back and attacking his husband's frowning mouth, "I'll eat you alive!"

"Baka, stop it! Ichigo, stop!" Byakuya snapped, struggling beneath him as his mouth was eagerly devoured, "You have to eat and get dressed. It's almost time for the wedding!"

"All right," Ichigo giggled, letting go of his flustered husband as Koji entered the room, carrying a heavily laden food tray, "Oh my god, thank you, Koji."

"Koji, how is Tetsuya this morning?" Byakuya inquired.

"He is tired from being up half the night with the baby, but he's all right."

"I don't suppose Renji was much help," Byakuya sighed.

"He does tend to sleep soundly during the night."

"Yeah, and he snores to loud we can hear it in here with the doors closed," Ichigo joked around a mouthful of his breakfast, "Byakuya, are you going to eat some of this?"

Byakuya moved closer, accepting a bite as Koji continued.

"But he is playing with the baby in the gardens now, giving Tetsuya-san some time to rest before the wedding. He really is very attentive…erm…once he wakes up," Koji said, smirking in amusement, "He and little Tora are soul mates, I think."

"Someone talking about me?" Renji asked, appearing in the doorway, carrying a cooing red haired, blue eyed squirming bundle, "My ears were burning."

"We were just talking about your loud snoring," Ichigo snickered.

"You oughta talk," Renji snapped back playfully, "Are you listening to this guy, Tora?"

"He is right about your snoring," Byakuya said sedately, accepting another bite of Ichigo's food.

"Man," Renji complained to the cooing baby in his arms, "tough crowd, huh?"

"C'mon, bring her over here," Ichigo invited him.

"No way," Renji chuckled, cuddling Tora to his shoulder, "You'd mistake her for your breakfast. We've gotta get back to Tetsuya."

"I'm here," Tetsuya yawned, appearing in the doorway, dressed in an enchanting formal blue and green kimono.

"You were supposed to sleep longer," Renji chided him, "I know she kept you up all night."

"There isn't time," Tetsuya insisted, "Give her to me and go let Koji dress you."

Renji handed Tetsuya the baby, who turned her head towards his chest, snuffling and squawking.

"There now," Tetsuya sighed, smiling down at Tora, "Are you hungry again?"

He sat down in a chair near the bed and moved his clothing to allow the baby to latch on and feed. Ichigo watched curiously, then glanced at Byakuya.

"Do you think I'll be able to breastfeed like you two do?" he asked, looking down at his chest.

"Do your breasts feel tender and throb sometimes, now that you are close to delivering?" Byakuya asked.

"Sometimes," Ichigo admitted.

"Then, you will probably be able to. You don't have to, of course."

"But it's better for the baby, right?" Ichigo inquired.

"It is the most natural food and it provides not only nutrients, but also immunities of some kinds as well."

"Does it hurt?" Ichigo asked Tetsuya.

"No, not really," Tetsuya assured him, "I was a bit sore the first few days while we were getting used to each other, but Tora-chan and I are quite comfortable with it all now."

"That's good," Ichigo said, his voice betraying an edge of uncertainty.

Byakuya curled an arm around him and kissed him affectionately.

"Do not worry. You will do fine when the baby comes."

"Yeah, that's what you keep saying. I mean, I feel comfortable with Suki and Torao, but you were doing the more motherly stuff with them, so…"

"You will adjust," Byakuya assured him, "For right now, just focus on having a healthy baby. We will take care of the rest later."

"Okay," Ichigo said, setting his food tray on the nightstand.

"Come now," Byakuya said, exiting the bed and moving to Ichigo's side, "we should dress."

"But Koji's busy with Renji and Torio's taking care of Toshi."

"Do not worry about that," Byakuya said, smiling, "I will dress you."

"I don't know if I'll even fit into that kimono you had made for me," Ichigo complained, "I've gotten even bigger since they took the measurements."

"It will fit just fine. Trust me," Byakuya said reassuringly, taking his hand and leading him into the dressing area.

Ichigo watched as Byakuya dressed him, blushing slightly as his husband wrapped the fine cloth around his enlarged abdomen.

"You see, it fits perfectly," Byakuya said approvingly.

"Yeah, it does," Ichigo agreed, "Thanks, Byakuya. You want me to dress you now?"

"I can do it!" Torio said breathlessly as he rushed into the dressing area.

"I told you we are fine," Byakuya chided him, "You should be caring for Toshi."

"Toshi's okay now," Torio chuckled, starting to set Byakuya's formal kimono in place, "He's eating a mountain of food right now, so he'll be busy for a while."

"It's funny he can do that just after spending half the night throwing up," Ichigo mused, "but I was like that too."

"I remember," Byakuya said dryly.

"But we're very excited to be having our first child."

"You wanna know who's excited, it's that crazy Hinata," Ichigo laughed, "I heard that Satoshi's having at least triplets!"

"It is probably the cat form," Byakuya surmised, "It tends to result in multiple births."

"I'm swelled up enough, having just one," Ichigo said, rubbing his belly as he watched Torio finish dressing Byakuya, "I don't know how Byakuya had room enough for the two he had."

"Nature always finds a way," Torio chuckled, finishing his work, then taking leave of them.

Byakuya and Ichigo met Tetsuya in the bedroom and joined Renji to walk to the courtyard of the manor, where they spent the next half hour greeting the wedding guests. When the last of the guests had arrived, Byakuya escorted Ichigo to his seat, then walked back through the gardens to his father's room.

Tama stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the tie on his kimono. Byakuya joined him in front of the mirror, looking at their reflection as they spoke to each other.

"You look wonderful, and very contented," Byakuya commented, "I am glad for you."

Tama's eyes took on a softer, wistful look.

"I still think of Soujun every day," he confessed.

"But you know that he would have wanted you to be happy," Byakuya said, picking up a brush and smoothing the back of his father's soft, black hair, "I want you to be happy. Though, I do not pretend to understand how that rogue scientist makes you happy."

Tama smiled.

"We are both artists of a kind. I paint and he crafts the answers to life or death puzzles. He is…an amazing person."

"I must confess that we would not have fared so well against Aizen Sousuke or the quincies without his intercession. So, I am willing to forgive his idiosyncracies…as long as he makes my father happy."

"He does," Tama assured him, taking Byakuya's arm.

The two walked out of the bedroom and through the gardens, arriving at the back of the area that had been prepared for the wedding. Guests lined either side of the aisle and Kisuke stood alongside the aged Kuchiki Nori, smiling widely as the preparatory music began and Byakuya guided his father forward. He led Tama to the place where the two men waited, then set Tama's hand in Kisuke's and kissed his father on the cheek, before taking his seat.

"I never thought Kisuke would do it," Ichigo whispered, watching and grinning as the two took their vows, "He's always been so busy fixing things that went wrong, I didn't think he'd have time for falling in love."

"Love doesn't arrive on a schedule," Byakuya whispered back, "It comes when you least expect it and sometimes in a way you would never imagine."

"Yeah," Ichigo agreed, his eyes misting as Kisuke curled his arms around Tama and kissed him, "You can say that again."

At the end of the ceremony, Byakuya and Ichigo led the guests to another section of the gardens, where tables had been set up and piled with food, and a dance area had been sectioned off. After indulging in the wedding meal and cake, the two entered the dance area, joining as a love ballad played. Ichigo closed his eyes and rubbed his cheek against Byakuya's, then kissed him, feeling an odd impulse to shed tears.

"Are you all right?" Byakuya asked softly, "We can go to our room if you are tired. Everyone would understand."

"I'm okay," Ichigo said, brushing away the offending moisture, "It's just…the wedding and the decorations, the music and everything. It's kind of overwhelming."

"Come then," Byakuya said, slipping his hands into Ichigo's, "We'll take a walk in the moonlight."

"That sounds good," Ichigo said, turning with him.

He paused suddenly, making a soft sound of pain and paled as he rubbed his rounded belly. Kisuke and Tama stopped dancing and moved quickly to join them as Ichigo made another sound of pain and started to pant softly.

"Looks like someone's trying to steal the attention away from us, ne?" Kisuke laughed as Byakuya lifted Ichigo into his arms and carried him quickly to the bedroom.

He swiftly removed Ichigo's kimono and laid him in bed as Kisuke arrived alongside Tama to assist in the delivery.

"This is really it, huh?" Ichigo mused as Byakuya washed his face with a cool, wet cloth.

"Yeah," Kisuke affirmed, "Couldn't wait another hour, could you?"

"Babies don't wait for anyone," Tama said, smiling at Byakuya, "They come when they decide it's time."

"You are doing well," Byakuya said reassuringly, holding Ichigo's hand and looking down into his widened eyes.

"I-I'm not so sure," Ichigo joked wryly, "Maybe you should do this. You have more experience."

"Relax," Byakuya said calmly, "Breathe slowly."

"Easier said than done," Ichigo panted anxiously, "It feels like there's an elephant on my stomach."

"That's just pressure from the reiatsu that wants to get out. It has to push against the loosened spirit particles above it to start emerging."

"So, this is like, happening now?" Ichigo mused, watching raptly as his bared belly began to glow.

"It's happening now," Kisuke confirmed, curving his hands around the cluster of bright reiatsu as it began to emerge.

Ichigo's hand shook in Byakuya's, and Byakuya kissed his husband soothingly on the cheek.

"You are doing well."

"I feel like laughing, crying, throwing up, peeing and fainting all at once," Ichigo panted as Byakuya wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"You look absolutely beautiful," Byakuya said, kissing him again as the cluster completed its arrival and Kisuke set it in Ichigo's arms.

The four men watched closely as the baby's tiny body solidified, revealing a small, delicate looking boy with black hair and large, blue-violet eyes. Tama's breath caught in surprise and Byakuya found himself taken aback and suddenly blinking back tears.

"What is it?" Ichigo asked, frowning, "What's wrong, Byakuya?"

"There is nothing wrong," Byakuya whispered, touching the baby's comely face, "It is just that…I have a picture of my father as a baby…and…he looked like this…exactly like this."

Ichigo smiled and handed the baby to Byakuya.

"Then, maybe we should name him after your father," he suggested.

"Soujun," Byakuya whispered, looking adoringly down at his new son, "Welcome to the Kuchiki and Shiba families."

"Well," said Kisuke, "it seems like things are under control here, "What say we go out and dance some more?"

"Gladly," Tama answered, taking his hand and following him out of the bedroom.

Byakuya sat down on the bed and laid the baby in his lap.

"Are you feeling all right now?" he asked Ichigo.

"Great," Ichigo answered, giving him a relieved smile, "but I still think you're better at this than me."

"So, I will have our next child," Byakuya offered.

"I'm not saying I won't do it again, just…not for a while."

"I will be happy to impregnate you any time you wish," Byakuya said, smirking and seeking his lips for a lingering kiss, "and for the rest of our lives, I will tell you every day…how much I love you."

"Good," said Ichigo, "because that's how often I'm going to say it to you."

The End