A Mistaken Past

A/N: This chapter is rather short and I apologize but I am getting ready for the holidays. Also it will be a few chapters before Ulquiorra comes in but I promise he will be there.




Chapter Three



Byakuya rolled the pen between two fingers sensing his vice-captain finally arriving. It was about time the lazy ass made an appearance. Perhaps allowing Renji to assist Rukia had been a bad idea. The report earlier this month had stated an outbreak of hollow in the area. It was the worst in decades which caused them to act.


After the reign of Aizen they weren’t taking any chances of another demented hypocrite thinking to cause havoc. That city was a prime target with all the souls and energy sources. Only two arrancar had appeared since the former captain had met his end.


Which left the last few months to be rather boring and with nothing to do. He’d spent his time meditating and thinking as he watched the petals fall from his trees. The dull ache that usually accompanied the cherry blossoms had lessened. Now the scene was more lonesome than painful.


“Come in,” he called out knowing the redhead was on the other side of the door. As soon as Renji left he might enjoy some tea before taking a stroll. Staring at reports was beginning to make his eyes go cross. What he needed was a few hours of sleep before going back to work.


Renji bowed his head in greeting and noticed the pinched features. His luck would have it that the man would be tired and irritable. Why did he have to be the messenger? Didn’t the messenger always get shot?


“Is everything being handled?” Byakuya stopped playing with the pen. Was it his imagination or was Arabai tense? Had something happened? “Rukia?”


“Rukia-chan is well but I have news to report.” Dammit, and why couldn’t he tell the man that an espada had appeared or Ichigo had called him an asshole? Those two owed him big time after this.


“Report before I grow tired of waiting.” Whatever it was couldn’t be that bad. He’d done lost his wife, almost watched his adopted sister be executed, lost to a wannabe shinigami and had to fight in a war that had no point. There was nothing that could be said that would upset or disturb him now.


“Hai, sorry it’s just I’m not sure how to start. You see it’s like this,” Renji took a deep breath and hoped that he wouldn’t suffer the man’s wrath. “Orihime-chan died, so did that Tatsuki girl and they want to come here. Thing is she had a kid and tis yours.”


The pen snapped in half as the shinigami stuttered and stopped speaking. Byakuya ignored the black stain dripping down onto his paperwork. He got the part about Orihime dying and something about a kid. “Explain yourself now.”


The words were spoken softly but Renji could feel the malice in each syllable. “I dunno what they were talking bout. But the girl says you are the father and both are dead. Rukia wants you to help em instead of sending em.”


Tatsuki, hadn’t that been the girl’s name? Over eight months had passed since that night and he’d only thought about it a few times. Mostly he would wonder what he’d been thinking at the time. If this was some kind of jest he’d slay all those involved. Except his sister, she’d get a sound thrashing. “Take me to them.”




The mattress was extra soft but she was so weary it wouldn’t have mattered. Tatsuki smiled as the tiny fingers curled around her own. He couldn’t weigh any more than four pounds, but had a strong grip. She was saddened that he’d never be able to live a normal life as a human. If things worked out maybe he could have an even better one.


Her stomach tightened in a hard knot as she waited for Renji to get back. Ichigo had escorted her into the spare bedroom when she asked to lay down for a bit. So much had happened today and there was still so much to decide.


She could only imagine what his reaction would be of learning about their son. It was for that reason she hadn’t told anyone. Rukia had supplied her with more than enough information without realizing it. The man was the head of a noble family and had played hell when he’d adopted Rukia as a request from his deceased wife. He had done that out of love for his wife but she meant nothing to him. What they had was a one night stand caused from too much sake.


There was no way he’d go out of his way to help them. She’d make due in the Soul Society but would not lose her son. He was all she had now and even Byakuya wouldn’t take that away. While that night hadn’t been planned, she didn’t regret it. What hurt was seeing the look on Ishida’s face as he heard. He’d probably come to the same conclusion as the others. She’d given herself to a man for a mere night’s pleasure.


The ache in her gut got worse as voices began to rise outside the door. One was Ichigo’s and the other one she hadn’t heard in months. That had been fast, she wasn’t ready for this. It needed to be done but why did she suddenly feel like jumping out of the window?


“You will remove yourself,” that had to be him threatening someone on the other side. The voice was calm but managed to send a shiver of dread down her spine.


“Fine but if you so much as upset her I’m coming inside.” Ichigo stated without hesitation as the door opened to reveal several people standing in the hallway.


Tatsuki propped herself up on an elbow so she didn’t feel so defenseless. That was the plan until she gathered the courage to look him in the eyes. To say he wasn’t happy would be putting it mildly. Contained fury met her without blinking and she was now wishing she’d given into her first impulse. Kouji must have sensed the tension as well, he began to squirm and cry.


“Am I to understand that you are trying to pass the child off as mine?” Hearing the accusation come to life and make noise brought the matter up. He’d been grilled the second he’d entered the home and was already agitated. The concept of conceiving a child with a human girl was preposterous. It had only been the one time and he had no plans of siring a child.


“I don’t need to try,” she bristled under the implication. As if she couldn’t pick someone better! “Believe me if I could pass him off as someone else’s then I would. Even that loud mouth Renji is a better option but as my luck would have it you are the only person I’ve been with so I’m screwed.”


He let the insult slide knowing that if he were to strike the girl then he’d have several people trying to retaliate. Instead of bickering further he inspected the tiny child next to her on the bed. The boy had impressive reitsu for a small child. It wasn’t that uncommon to see it in a child but it was nothing more than a babe. Which meant it was possible to be born from his line. It was rather small and there was another problem. “Perhaps but then explain why it is there before me when we were together no more than over eight months ago?”


“His name is not it, it’s Kouji. ” She wouldn’t let him refer to her son like an object or thing. “I was only eight months along today when I died. And as far as him being here now, that tends to happen when you let Orihime drive. I guess he didn’t feel like staying any longer after I was taken for a ride across the pavement at eighty miles an hour.”


“Enough,” he hadn’t come here to argue with the girl. Now that he’d seen for himself that there was indeed a child, he had to do something about it. Having a son was something he’d once thought about decades ago when he’d married but that had been denied him. He saw no reason for her to fabricate such a tale. Not to mention eyes much like his own were watching him.


She sat up in order to cradle the baby against her chest which calmed him down immediately. That hadn’t been too terrible and she was still in one piece. From what she’d heard the man cared for Rukia so maybe in time he’d come to care for his son.


“Very well, follow.” Byakuya wasn’t looking forward to what he had to do. How many times would he be forced to break his promise in order to do the right thing? Would his parents understand? This time he believed they would. That was his son, his heir, and he would take responsibility. It meant dealing with the female but he wouldn’t separate them. Even though it meant doing something he swore never to do again.


“Where are we going?” She had a good guess but she wanted to know what would happen when she got there. Orihime had plans but she wasn’t about to go walking into this blindly. “Before I go, you will tell me where I’m going.”


“We will return to the Seireitei and we will wed.” He was almost insulted at the horrid expression that crossed her features. “You will then have the benefits of my name and home. As my son the child will grow up to be raised as the next in line as head of our noble house. I have no wish to separate you from the child so this is the only option. Do you disagree?”


Hell yes! She didn’t want to get married to anyone. At one time she would have contemplated the idea with the Quincy but that was a long forgotten dream. What would the man do if she refused? Her son was his heir and he wouldn’t let her take Kouji now. “Fine but I’m not happy about it.”


“I agree.” When he’d buried his wife he had known he’d never marry again. Being in a loveless marriage wasn’t very agreeable but many did it. Once it was done he’d set them up in his home and she could do as she pleased. They would go their own ways and do what was necessary for the boy. “Come, I have duties I need to return to."




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Next Chapter: Back at Soul Society........