The three headed back to the manor and slipped into some more comfortable clothes. Byakuya and Renji went to the dining room for dinner as it had gotten too cold to use the patio. Mana went directly to bed as she was exhausted from the day she had.


"Byakuya?" Renji caught the noble's attention as he was sipping his tea.


"Yes Renji?"


The redhead smiled. "What do you want for your birthday next week?


Slate grey eyes stared in surprise at the red brown ones. Byakuya was not expecting that. "My birthday?"


Renji nodded. "Yeah, your birthday is next week isn't it?" He asked while taking another bite of his food. "On the thirty-first, right?" He asked as he swallowed.


Byakuya nodded and still stared surprised at his lover. He was otherwise calm. "How did you kn-…"


"I've been your Fukutaichou for the past forty odd years haven't I? I've watched you and I talk to Rukia. I know a lot about you." Renji smiled. "What would you like?" He asked.


The raven head blinked. He had no idea that his lover knew such a thing. But then again, Byakuya thought. Renji was watching me to surpass me. So I suppose it would be normal for him to know such things. He is also close friends with Rukia and it is possible she told him. Byakuya smiled slightly at the thought.


"What would you like?" The redhead asked again.


The raven head was pulled from his thoughts by Renji's voice. "Hmm?" He said as he remembered what they were talking about. "Oh, you needn't give me anything watashi no koi. I have everything I need."


Renji inwardly rolled his eyes and went silent for a long time then asked again. "What do you want, not need?"


Byakuya gave him the same answer as before, making Renji more than a little irritated. Must be nice being rich. Renji mused to himself. He suddenly thought about what he could do for Byakuya's birthday. He smiled and went about eating his dinner.


The couple went back to the noble's room and Byakuya went over to his nightstand and picked something from the drawer.


"What's that?" Renji asked as Byakuya was coming back over to where the redhead stood by the bed.


"This," The noble said as he held out a silver bangle for Renji to look at. "is a bangle that we each must wear when we are intimate." He explained.


"Oh, it's that bangle thing that keeps us from getting pregnant, ne?"


"Hai." Byakuya clasped it around Renji's wrist. Renji noticed that his lover was already wearing one. It was a bit too big for the noble's slender wrist. But he figured it would do the job. He grinned and looked into Byakuya's eyes. The slate grey eyes were filled with lust and love. The redhead worked the hair piece out of the noble's hair. Next was the noble's yukata and fingerless gloves. When Byakuya was completely undressed, Renji noticed the light dusting of pink on his lover's face. Byakuya inverted his gaze away.


"Why do you always blush?" He asked.


The noble's blush turned a deeper crimson. "It's nothing."


"Bullshit." Renji said softly as he took off his own clothes. Byakuya pulled the hair tie from the crimson locks. Renji slowing and gently pushed Byakuya onto the bed and kissed him deeply, never breaking contact.


"Urahara-san?" Nel called for the shopkeeper. She was in a normal t-shirt and shorts. Her long green hair was also in a ponytail under the edge of her mask that sat on top of her head.


"Hai?" He answered from the kitchen.


Nel and Grimmjow had made their way to Urahara's place successfully. Although Grimmjow had a few more injuries then he would have liked to have just from traveling with the Hollow leader.


They got there and had a nice reunion with everyone. At least, the green haired hollow leader did. She tackled Ichigo to the ground, hugging him. Ichigo could hardly breathe with her death grip around him. He thanked and scowled at Uryu for saying something to Nel about if she didn't let go, that he would have to drag his lover's passed out form back home. She did the same to all the others there. She giggled and talked to Inoue for a long time. They were so much alike. Meanwhile, Grimmjow just stood there with his arms folded acrossed his chest waiting for her 'Hellos' to end. Ichigo was not very fond of the idea that Nel had started seeing the other Espada that nearly killed him more intimately. But gave them his blessing just the same and told the sixth Espada if he ever hurt Nel that he would surely pay for it. After all Nel was one of the teen's close friends now. He was very protective of all his friends it never really mattered what they were as long as they were good natured people. Urahara called them into the shoten and gave the hollow leader his invention to help her with her problem.


Nel left the fuming bluenette in their room and wanted to talk to Urahara-san alone. She walked into the kitchen with a soft smile on.


"Good evening Urahara-san." She said.


"Ah, evening Nel-san. Would you like some tea?" He asked in his cheerful voice. He was turned away from the stove that he was boiling water on.


Nel nodded and sat down at the kitchen table. "Urahara-san?" She looked at the ex-taichou questionably.


"Hai?" He answered and took another cup from the cabinet.


"Um, how exactly does this bangle work?" The green haired espada asked as she looked at the small bracelet wrapped around her wrist.


The shopkeeper looked at her with realization that he never really explained how it worked since the other was getting caught up in conversations with the others. Then after the teens left, he never remembered to tell Nel about his invention.


"Oh, I'm sorry. I never told you how to use it, eh?" The ex-taichou chuckled.


Nel shook her head. "No, I guess that is mostly my fault though. I was getting caught up with everyone else."


Urahara heard the teapot and took it off the burner. "No, harm done though, I expected as much really." He took the two cups and poured hot water in them then put in the green tea. "I'll explain now. You are staying for a few days, no?" The shopkeeper asked as he set the cup of tea in front of the hollow leader.


"Hai, I told everyone that I would be staying for a while so you can show me how to use this…" She took a sip of her tea and sighed "I guess, I also want to stay here for a while so… Grimmjow and I can have a little break from the ruckus in Hueco Mundo…" She admitted while looking down into her tea.


"It's a stressful job, ne?"


She looked up at the shopkeeper. He had a look of understanding. "Hai."


"I would expect as much from being the leader of a… not well liked society."


Nel chuckled softly. "…Not well liked society, eh?" She laughed louder. "We hollow are a hated population, end of story. We are not a much of a society. We are a race, yes. But we do not cooperate well together." She gave an irritated sigh. "The arrancar and Espada help me as much as they can with lower ranks of hollow. But… mostly we just end up having to kill the lower ranks because they try to attack us because they do not agree."


"They don't understand the knowledge you have." Urahara offered. "So, they attack you and you defend yourselves."


The other nodded. "I wish I could make them listen and understand. But I don't know how. I know most take me for a joke because I cannot control gargantas and I want to work peacefully amongst the three worlds."


Urahara gave her a sympathetic smile. "Well, I can help you with gargantas. But making the hollow understand how you want to work is something you are going to have to think of yourself."


"I know. Thank you Urahara-san." She smiled.


"Now, as for the bangle and gagantas… you can press that button and it will open a garganta and then once you are threw you can press the button again and it will close it." He explained.


"But…" She knew there would be a catch.


"But the garganta will remain open until you are all the way through to the other end."


"Meaning, while it is open for so long, hollow or any others will be able to pass through it without me knowing it unless they are with me."


Urahara looked impressed. "You don't need to explain anymore if you already know." He teased.


She shrugged. "I figured there had to be a catch. Your inventions can't stop everything. You can only try to have them do their best in what you want them to do."


"You sound as if you know a scientist."


"I did." Nel let a soft smile play across her face as she remembered a silver haired scientist.


"Are you talking about Gin?"


"Hai."


"I believe I don't know the full story of his betrayal."


Nel shook her head. "No one did, except for a few."


The shopkeeper took a sip of his cooled tea. "I'm guessing you are one of those few, ne?"


She sighed. "Yes, he told me why he betrayed Soul Society. He did it so he could get close to Aizen to protect what he needed to protect from danger and keep her from shedding tears."


"Ah," Urahara suddenly realized. "He did so, so he could protect Matsumoto-san?" He asked.


Nel nodded. "Hai, she was very special to him, so he didn't want her in harm's way. Gin-san also saw that Aizen had killed some others when he was young so he vowed to pay him back."


"He died doing so." The shopkeeper said.


"He died for what he believed in and for what he wanted to protect." Nel added. "I see him as although mischievous man, he was caring and did what he needed to do."


Grimmjow walked in the room. "Hey Nel," He looked over in Nel's direction then the shopkeepers. "Urahara…" He said sheepishly. He wasn't used to talking to people kindly unless it was Nel and when they were alone.


"Come sit Grimmie!" Nel cooed happily.


"I'll get you some tea." Urahara said and got up to freshen up the tea.


Grimmjow nodded and went and sat next to his green haired partner.


"So, how much did you hear?" Nel asked her lover. His presence didn't go unnoticed but she didn't announce it because she didn't want to embarrass him. She knew he would come on his own anyhow.


The bluenette blushed. "Erm…"


"Don't bother denying it. I know you were there. It really doesn't matter. I was just curious."


"I came by around the part where we were staying a few days." He admitted sheepishly.


Urahara chuckled. "So around the beginning then."


The sixth Espada's blush grew a deeper crimson.


"Its okay, Grimmie. It's good that you heard anyway."


"I wish I could help you out more." He hesitated before grasping the others hand.


Nel really loved this side of her lover. This was the tamer, shy, and caring side of the more vicious, easily irritable, natured hollow cat. After Aizen's defeat she knew he and all the others had been fooled by the traitorous ex-taichou.


The bluenette saw Nel fighting Nnoitra and admired her strength and will. Surprisingly after Ichigo left, Grimmjow noticed that Nel helped him with his wounds. And when she returned to her adult form she asked him if he would help her straighten out Hueco Mundo. He agreed and eventually they became lovers.


Urahara came back to the table with the tea and set it down. "I think you two should talk about how you are going to one, get on peaceful terms with Soul Society. And two, get the other hollow to understand.


"That's easier said than done, you know." Grimmjow snapped softly.


"I realize that. But if you are going to get anywhere you need to come up with some sort of game plan."


"I think I want to sleep on it first." Nel piped up.


"I agree." Grimmjow said.


"Alright then kiddies, finish your tea and go to bed." The shopkeeper ordered.


Both Espada's nodded and drank their tea and went to bed.


Uryu tossed and turned in his lovers arms. He tried to get confortable again and apparently made a wrong move because Ichigo woke up.


"Hey, Uryu? Are you okay?" Ichigo asked sleepily.


The Quincy was unable to sleep. He didn't know how to deal with his and Ichigo's problem.


"I don't know how I'm supposed to deal with this." He admitted softly while turning over to look at the Substitute Shinigami.


Ichigo chuckled softly. "Neither of us does. I mean, we really didn't expect you to…"


"Get pregnant?" Uryu offered.


"Well, yeah. You're pregnant and we don't know how that could possibly happen since you are a male that doesn't have the necessary parts to even have a baby. Plus, we haven't told our Dad's yet."


Uryu's eye's narrowed. "I am not telling Ryuken anything!" He declared.


Ichigo hugged the Quincy tighter. "Uryu…"


"Ichigo," Uryu said in a softer tone to his lover. "I can't tell him. He already hates me for becoming a Quincy, following in my grandfather's footsteps, helping you, and even falling for you." He explained. "I'm not telling him anything about my pregnancy. I don't care if he is blood related to me or not. But he doesn't get to know about my personal life."


Ichigo sighed. "Alright, then at least why don't we tell my father or at the very least my sisters. I know they would be happy."


"N-not yet. At least, can we wait until I start… showing before we tell Kurosaki-san?" Uryu asked. "We can tell your sisters though. I'm sure we'll need to do a lot of explaining but I know they would be happy."


The orange head's face lit up as his lover said they could tell his sisters but not his father. He wasn't going to argue with it. "Of course we can wait to tell him. I don't want to do anything unless we both agree on it. Okay?" Ichigo said.


The Quincy was relieved. "Thank you, Ichigo." He let a soft smile play across his features as he snuggled up closer to his lover.


"You're welcome, Uryu." Ichigo said and let his hand rub in soothing circular motions on Uryu's back. Before he knew it, the Quincy was asleep. He smiled at his lover's relaxed look on his face. Beautiful. He thought then fell asleep as well.


The next morning Renji and Byakuya went to the dining room for breakfast where they found a tired looking Mana already waiting for them.


"I trust you slept well?" She asked with a grin.


Renji and Byakuya had similar thoughts about the night before. They had made love. They felt more comfortable with each other more than ever now. It felt right to wake up with the other in their arms that morning. And they felt even better when Byakuya asked Renji if he would move in. Renji of course accepted and kissed his noble which led to another round of their love making.


"Did you sleep well Mana-san?" Renji teased as he could see the circles under the other's eyes.


"Oh, I slept like a log!" She said sarcastically.


Byakuya knew that his cousin didn't get much sleep the night before because he sensed Kameko had come over during a very late hour. "I think you and Kameko need to make better plans for social visits." He said and sat down.


"Hai." The purple haired Shinigami said. "Oh, Renji-san, can I speak with you after breakfast."


Renji looked over to his Taichou for confirmation. "You may stay here and talk to her Renji, and then you can come to work."


The redhead nodded and looked over to the younger noble. "I guess I could stay for a few minutes."


"Good. Because it is important that I talk to you alone." Mana looked at him with a serious expression.


"Okay…" He didn't know whether to be freaked out or amused that she wanted to talk to him of all people about something important. The only one who ever talked to him about important stuff was Byakuya. And it was always about work, or as of late about their relationship.


He figured he would simply have to wait and see what the other had to say to him after breakfast. Surprisingly breakfast went by quickly and Byakuya left for the office.


"Now," Mana said after she saw her cousin had left her sight. "what are you going to do for Byakuya-sama's birthday?" She asked with a grin.