Rukia and Inoue were arriving in the living world just when a hollow came through a garganta.

"Rukia! Inoue! Watch out!" Ichigo cried as he switched into Shinigami form by popping the pill in his mouth. "Kon! Go hide somewhere!"

"Aye Aye!" Kon answered as he ran behind a tree.

The large blue skinned hollow was about to attack the two that had just came out of the sekai gate. Inoue released here shield them from the first attack. Just as the blue skinned hollow was about to strike at the shielded girls again; Ichigo slashed at its mask making it disappear into spirit particles.

"Thank you, Kurosaki-kun!" Inoue called.

Ichigo made his way towards the two girls that were still being protected by Inoue's shield.

"Thanks Ichigo, we should stick together in case anymore come unexpectedly." Ichigo nodded and Inoue let down her shield.

"Kon! Give me my body back now!" He yelled to a far tree.

"Hey! You should be grateful! I kept this body unscratched! " The usual lion plushy said with a scowl plastered on Ichigo's face. He came out from behind the tree and walked to the trio.

"Yeah, yeah. Just get back into your body and give me mine back."

"That's not very nice Kurosaki. He may be an annoyance but no need to get grumpy." Ishida said from behind.

Ichigo ignored him for the moment and pushed his substitute page against his Kon possessed body and the pill popped out of his mouth. The orange head got back into his body and put the annoying Kon pill back into the lion plush.

Ichigo turned to face the Quincy. "What are you doing here Ishida?" Ichigo said with annoyance.

"I felt the hollow's presence. I thought you may need help, but…" Ishida paused. "…but I see you have everything under control. I'll… see you later." Ishida said in a semi-hurt tone then god stepped away.

"Kurosaki-kun… I think you hurt Ishida-kun's feelings." Inoue said with worry.

"Ichigo, that wasn't nice in the least. Aren't you two dating now? Why were you so cold sounding to him?" Rukia asked.

Ichigo let out a sigh. "I-I don't know," He replied sadly. "I'm just feeling weird today… I'll go apologize."

"Well, you sure give up quickly when it comes to four eyes." Kon smirked.

"Shut up, I just don't want to see him hurt!" Ichigo stomped on the lion.

"What do you mean you feel weird Ichigo?" Rukia asked.

"Are you sick?" Inoue asked. "Should we call a doctor? Or maybe Urahara-san? If you're sick you need to be in bed, eat soup, and sleep." She said worriedly.

"No, I'm not sick, Inoue." He sighed. "I just have a lot of my mind and it's just making me worried."

"Well, in any case we should hurry up to go get Ishida then Sado. We need to get to Urahara's soon. I would like to know why all these gargantas open." Rukia advised.

Both orange heads nodded.

"Kon, go home." Ichigo pointed in the direction of Kurosaki Clinic and Residence.

"Why?" The plush climbed onto Inoue's back. "I want to stay with Nii-san and Orihime!" Kon whined.

I want Orihime to hold me close her to big boobies! The perverted lion thought while he got a nose bleed envisioning Inoue and Rukia holding him between their embrace

Rukia slapped him off her girlfriend. "GO!" She screamed. "And never ever touch Inoue again!" She kicked him into the distance.

Inoue just stood there wide eyed.

"Let's go." The boy called as he walked away.

Both girls ran to catch up with him and set out to find Ishida and Sado.

Ichigo knocked on the Quincy's apartment door. After waiting for five minutes, he still didn't get any answer. Rukia suggested that maybe he wasn't home. But Ichigo knew he could sense his lover inside.

"Shit." He muttered under his breath. "I know he's here. I may suck at sensing reiatsu sometimes but I can never get his reiatsu presence wrong."

Inoue got her phone out and started to dial. "What are you doing?" The short Shinigami asked.

"I'm going to call Ishida-kun."

"I don't know if he'll answer Inoue." The tall male said as he turned towards the girls. "He usually doesn't answer when he's upset."

"I know, but we have to help him and we have to get to Urahara-sans." The ginger haired girl said while she finished dialing the number and pressed her phone to her ear. It rang and rang, but he never picked up. She left a voice mail. "Ishida-kun, we need go Urahara-san's shoten and find out why all these garganta's are opening…" Ichigo touched her shoulder to signal her to give him the phone, she nodded. Ichigo took the phone and continued the message. "Hey, it's me. Look, I'm sorry I was sounding so annoyed earlier. But you know what we were talking about yesterday just caught me off guard. You know? But uh… like Inoue said we need to get to Urahara-san's and we need you. So when you get this, open the door and let's go. Okay? I love you Uryu." He clicked the end button and they waited a few minutes. Finally the door opened and Uryu looked like he had been crying by how red his eyes were.

Ichigo saw this and instantly pulled his lover into his arms. He whispered quiet reassurances in the brunette's ear. "Hey, I'm sorry. You did nothing wrong. I was just totally blown away by finding out about that yesterday. We'll pull through this... together."

Ishida sank deeper into the substitutes embrace and took in his sweet masculine scent. "I know." He breathed as he pulled away slightly to look into the light brown irises. "But we have to help fix this problem with the gargantas first."

Ichigo smiled and nodded. He pulled the Quincy closer to kiss him. Rukia and Inoue smiled at the boys. After about two minutes and their mouths were still fastened together, Rukia cleared her throat to make them part. "I think it's time for us to be leaving now. We have to go get Sado." They then started towards Chad's apartment.

After they picked up Chad they went quickly to Urahara's.

"Ah! You finally came!" The shopkeeper exclaimed as he was walking past the door. The teens came in shop and were told to sit at the table. "Tessai will bring us some tea." He chirped while waving his fan in his face.

"Okay, but we should really talk about why gargantas are opening suddenly." Rukia beamed at the shopkeeper. He nodded and Yoruichi walked in the room and sat down with Tessai at her heels with eight cups of green tea. As he was setting the tea down for everyone Urahara started the conversation.

"Well, I have concluded that a new Hollow Lord has emerged." Urahara announced.

"So could he be the one who is doing all this?" Ichigo asked. "I mean opening these gargantas and letting hollows come through?"

The blonde Shinigami nodded. "Hai, but I never said it was a male lord." The shopkeeper smirked.

All the teens went wide-eyed. "Nani?" They all said together.

"It is a female. A Hollow Queen has emerged." Yoruichi stepped in.

"Who?" Ishida asked.

"Neliel Tu Oderschvank." The cat women answered.

"N-nel? She's the new queen? But I thought she turned back into a child after she faced Nnoitra." Ichigo stammered.

"You must remember that was over a year ago Kurosaki-san. A lot has happened and the Espada have changed." The blonde argued.

"So she can change back and forth easily now?" Ishida asked softly as he saw his lover's face turn from shocked to a scowl.

"Yes, she can. But she doesn't know that she is opening all these gargantas. Her… erm… close friend Grimmjow-"

"Wait! Wait wait, are you saying that Grimmjow and Nel are now involved?" The orange haired boy queried.

Urahara nodded again. "H-hai, and I have talked to him recently."

"Is he even tame enough to talk to?" Rukia joked.

"Why, of course!" Urahara waved his fan in the air. "It seems that all of the Espada are not influenced by their leader like they were with Aizen. Nel treats them with as equals. I believe she wants to live somewhat peacefully within the three worlds."

"But then why is Nel-chan opening gargantas?" Inoue questioned.

"Like I said, she in unaware that she is doing it." The shopkeeper reminded.

"So how do we help her stop opening the gargantas?"

"Ahh, I have made a little gizmo for her. All Nel needs to do is put this around her wrist so she won't open any gargantas that she doesn't want open." Urahara pulled out a small white box that held a turquoise bangle with a red stone button it. "This bangle will help her keep control of her gargantas opening. This red button will close or open and garganta she wishes." Urahara explained.

"So… is Grimmjow coming to get it? Or do we have to take it to her?" Ichigo questioned.

"I believe if you go there, you will likely be attacked. Most of the Espada and Arrancar are not very fond of you still." The blonde shopkeeper snickered.

Ichigo let out a low grunt with a scowl still plastered across his features. "Fine! Then that cat is coming to get it." Ichigo snapped.

The elder Shinigami nodded. "Nel is coming too." Urahara said.

"Great…" The orange head muttered.

Renji was relieved to get to the office and start the work day with his taichou. He didn't want to think about what the Kuchiki elders were going to say when they would get back to the Kuchiki Manor. He was beyond nervous about it and Byakuya was really trying to calm him but his butterflies just wouldn't go away.

Damn... I can't concentrate like this. This is pure torture! I don't want to burden Byakuya by asking a million questions but I just don't know what to expect. Renji sighed and tried to think about the report he was working on. But he was quickly becoming frustrated and his reiatsu was flaring slightly.

Byakuya sensed his fukutaichou was stressed and wanted to help his lover calm down. He just didn't know how to calm him.

"Renji," he spoke calmly gaining the red head's attention. "If you have questions about tonight's meeting with the elders do not be afraid to ask."

"I'm fine Taichou." Renji said simply.

"Renji, you may not be able to sense reiatsu well, but I certainly can. Your reiatsu is quite riled."

"Erm... I'm sorry Taichou... I'm just nervous I guess." The red head admitted.

The noble looked back at his papers "What are you nervous for?"

Renji did the same after he calmed his reiatsu. "I-I just..." He took a deep breath. "I don't know, its just that I don't want to be a burden to you... And I don't want a group of stuffy elders to get in the way of our relationship."

Byakuya looked back up at his working fukutaichou. He sighed and stood. He walked over to Renji and sat down at the chair across from the red head's.

"Renji," The red head looked up and swallowed hard. "You are not a burden to me. If you were, I wouldn't be in this relationship with you." Byakuya stated simply. "And as for the elders we won't let them stand in the way."

"But I am a peasant, and on top of that I'm a male." Renji said sounding still unsure. "I know they have been pressuring you to have an heir. And last time I checked two males cannot make kids."

"Ahh... I forgot to tell you..."

"Forgot to tell me what?"

Byakuya sighed and tried to think of the words to explain. "Well, you do not know nobles can have children with a female or male."

"Nani! Did you just say that we could get each other pregnant?" Renji's eyes grew wide.

"Why, yes I did. But we do not have to have children until you are ready. Nor do we have to get married until you are ready as well."

"Marriage too, huh?" Renji chuckled. "Well, can't say I'm ready for either but maybe eventually I will be. But how are we supposed to stop each other from getting pregnant?"

"Oh, we just have to wear a bangle that is charged with nullifying reiatsu. The bangle is only worn during intercourse so we don't get pregnant." The noble explained.

"Ahh... well that doesn't sound too bad." Renji grinned.

Renji felt better after talking to Byakuya for a while about what was to be expected in the future. And strangely he didn't feel horrified like he thought he would if he married the raven head sometime in the future. He was actually looking forward to it even though he wasn't ready for it. But Byakuya said that they could take their time. He decided he was going to trust his lover of what he said.

After a while Byakuya got up and took Senbonzakura from its stand and signaled that it was time for their daily training with the squad. Renji grabbed Zabimaru and walked over to join his taichou at the door. As they made their way to the training grounds Renji sensed a familiar reiatsu approaching. He couldn't quiet place it but he knew it was from someone friendly.

"It's Neliel Tu Oderschvank." The noble said quietly.

"Huh? How did she get here?" Renji asked.

"I do not know. But we should perhaps go and see why she is here. I sense another with her."

"Really? I don't sense anyone but her." The red head reached out his senses again and only found the female Espada.

"When do you ever sense something so clearly Abarai?"

Renji scowled. "Well at least I can sense something."

"Hmmm.." The noble hummed. "Come, we should see what they are here for." Byakuya continued.

Renji sighed. "Hai."

They flash stepped to the confused looking female espada and her scowling partner.

"Nel, you opened the garganta in the wrong place again." Grimmjow huffed.

"I don't understand. I was aiming for the world of the living not Soul Society." Nel said sounding confused.

"Honestly, woman! I can't wait to get that stupid invention Urahara made for you. Maybe you won't fuck up going home."

"Are you guys lost?" Renji asked.

"Great! I knew we should have masked ourselves here. Now we got two taichou level Shinigami here." The blue haired espada said sounding annoyed.

"What are you doing here in Soul Society?" Byakuya asked calmly.

"Erm... I meant to aim for Urahara's shoten in the living world." Nel said reluctantly.

"Well, as you can see. You are in the wrong place." The noble countered.

"Well, yes I know. But I don't know if I open another garganta it will lead us to the living world."

Renji quirked an eyebrow. "Huh? Why?"

"I'm the new Hollow Queen but I'm not very good at opening and closing the gargantas at will." She explained.

"I see. So you are the one who is making all the gargantas opening." Byakuya interrupted.

"Hai." The hollow leader replied. "Urahara-san, I hear, made me something to help me with the gargantas until I learn how to control them fully."

Renji turned to his taichou. "Can't we send them through a-"

"No, they would be instantly killed by the cleaner or worse sensed by other Shinigami and could have to face them. Then it would start a war." The noble stated.

"I see your point." the red head turned back to face the two espada. "Sorry we can't help you. But maybe if you concentrate hard enough you can open one to the living world."

"Tch, she tried that last time and we ended up here." Grimmjow said as he was growing more irritated.

"Well, why don't you open one? You also have that ability do you not?" Byakuya queried.

"I would love to. But she told me she wanted to practice. More like fail, if you ask me."

Grimmjow's comment earned him a slap over the head by his partner. "I'm done practicing." She said as turned the opposite way and folded her arms across her chest. "Just get us to Urahara-san's. I would like to get the Shinigamis off alert so I can start talking about a truce and a peace treaty with them."

Grimmjow winced at the painful bump on his head Nel caused. Renji could quite stifle a snicker and earned a glare from the sixth espada.

"Shut up Shinigami!" The blue haired espada yelled which only made the red head laugh harder.

Byakuya on the other hand, couldn't see what was so funny. All he knew is that they were late for training and that two lost espada were in front of them arguing. He shook his head and just stood there quietly.

"Grimmjow! Just get us to the living world!" Nel yelled with her back still turned. She was now annoyed and she noticed the stress of being the hollow leader was changing her way to talk to others slightly. But at this point she really didn't care. She was fed up with having this problem and wanted it resolved and soon.

Grimmjow noticed she was dead serious and quickly opened a garganta to the living world. "I will be back to finish this pineapple head!" He said as he pointed at Renji, then grabbed the still furious Nel to go through the garganta. As the garganta closed behind them Byakuya suggested that they get to the training grounds quickly begin training the squad. Renji scowled at the nickname the blue haired espada called him but nodded at his taichou's order and followed.

As Byakuya and Renji got to the training grounds they saw the squad already starting to spar with one another to warm up. Byakuya took point and ordered them to get into groups of four or five and practice many different simulations of battle. Once the squad did that and got started. He and Renji went around to check on everyone to see how they were doing.

They are doing well. Byakuya thought. It seems this is a bit too easy for them. Maybe Renji and I should come up with something different for them. Or maybe since we found out Nel is the new hollow leader maybe should would help with our training or have another arrancar or espada. Many of the seated officers are ready for that. Byakuya was pulled from his thoughts and saw Renji had joined sparring with Rikichi.

Rikichi was doing quite well for not being a seated officer against Renji, Byakuya observed. Our third seat was recently transferred to the fifth squad since Momo Hinamori is wanting to achieve Bankai soon and become a taichou. I should probably think about promotions soon. He thought as the battle ended with Rikichi on his knees panting.

Renji smiled. "Hey, you did really good! I'm impressed!"

Rikichi looked up at the man he admired. He smiled and got back up to his feet. "Thank you Renji-san!" He exclaimed. Renji nodded and walked over to the raven head as he sheathed his Zanpakuto.

"I think we should promote him to third seat Taichou." Renji suggested as he stood next to Byakuya. "He is definitely third seat material."

"I agree. We should also think about other promotions as well." Byakuya agreed.

"Really?" Renji asked sounding a bit shocked.

Byakuya nodded. "Of course. We have had several seat changes lately. Also, the relief team came back and they are showing improvement. I think a promotion for some of them is wise."

"Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one that noticed that."

"Of course you are not the only one who noticed."

Renji smirked and told the squad to get cleaned up. Byakuya and he walked back to the division. They started back at the paper work that was still left undone. Soon, after work hours rolled by as they finished up the last of the reports.

"Erm... I think I need to clean up before we leave for Kuchiki Manor." The red head said as he turned towards his private quarters. Byakuya nodded and turned to go into his own private quarters but suddenly Renji's arms wrapped around the nobles waist.

"Renji, what do you think you are doing?" The raven head quirked an eyebrow as he turned his head to look at the red head.

"Would you like to join me for a shower?"

"Hmm... We probably shouldn't. We would get distracted and be late for the meeting." Byakuya said.

Renji released his lover. "You're probably right... Sorry." He started to turn back to his quarters until Byakuya caught his wrist.

"I said we probably shouldn't. I never said we couldn't." The raven head smirked.

Renji grinned as he was led into the nobles private quarters. Once the door was closed and locked they quickly shed their clothes and their mouths were locked together. They broke apart and went to the bathroom and Byakuya turned on the shower then slipped in with the red head. Byakuya's mouth claimed his lover's again and soon he began to leave a trail of kisses down Renji's chest and abdomen. He then traced the black tattoos on the red heads chest with his tongue, which left the red head moaning and leaning into the touch.

"Oh Gods!" Renji moaned.

Byakuya smirked. Once he got done with the tattoos. He knelt down and looked at the trail of red curls and the blushing arousal of the other. He blew a puff of air on Renji's very aroused penis. Renji's cock twitched. The raven then took a gentle but firm hold of the others leaking erection. The red head moaned and placed his hands on Byakuya's shoulders and looked down at the noble who was sitting on his knees. Byakuya licked the tip of Renji's arousal, and liked the taste of the red heads pre-cum. He wrapped his mouth around the others still leaking penis. Renji moaned louder and louder as Byakuya bobbed his head up and down on the blushing arousal.

"Oh Gods B-bya!"

The raven head let the others cock slip out of his mouth. "I can't seem to wait to make love to you." Byakuya smirked.

Renji nodded, but knew they couldn't go any farther than what they were doing until later.

Byakuya took Renji's cock back into his mouth and slowly licked the slit at the top. Renji was a moaning and heaving mess at this point and wanting so badly for release. It took everything he had not to buck his hip forward into the hot mouth. Byakuya took his own arousal into his hand and started to stroke it. Renji saw this and an idea flashed into his mind.

He pulled away from the noble and laid down on the shower floor. The raven head looked at him questionably as the hot water was spraying down on them but then seemed to catch on as he placed his cock above Renji's face and the knelt down to take the red heads penis into his mouth. Byakuya had not thought about doing the sixty-nine position before, but he couldn't form a coherent thought as soon as Renji started sucking him. They were both moaning as they were about to climax. Renji teased the tip of the raven heads cock. It was surprising to hear some of the sounds that came from the nobles mouth but he didn't want it to stop.

"Oh... Kami... Renji, stop teasing!" Byakuya panted as he released Renji's cock.

Renji grinned and wrapped his lips around his taichou's leaking penis and strted bobbing his head. Byakuya did the same and they both soon climaxed. They swallowed several times taking in every drop of each other's cum. Byakuya took a few breaths and shifted to lay on top of the red head and exchange many long hot open mouthed kisses as their hearts returned to rest. They loved the blended tastes of their cum.

After a few more minutes of relaxing on the shower floor, they finally got up and washed each other. They were perfectly content now. They got out soon after and got dressed. After a few more passionate kisses they started for Kuchiki Manor with their hands clasped together. Both were ready to face the council and Renji was not nervous anymore. He was ready to take the next step, what ever that step was. He knew that he wasn't alone in it either. Byakuya was right next to him and they would face anything they had to together.