Bleach ~
Beta ~ TealEyedDragon

thank you sis for kicking me into line xxx

"Congratulations Unohana-san, you are pregnant"
The young captain looked like a deer caught in the head lights at her former mentor.
"How..." She whispered.
"I think the question is what now?" He corrected her.
"Tenjirō Kirinji-sama, I am keeping the baby without hesitation" unohana replied, head held high. "I will talk to the father of my baby"
"Good luck, child" he smiled faintly. "No member of gotei 13 ever got pregnant and I am not sure how central 46 will react"
"I will do what's best for my baby"

Later that day Unohana got the news about a declaration of war by vandereich and she decided to tell yamamoto about her pregnancy.
At first he raged and lectured her about priorities and responsibilities that come with her position.
When he cooled down he told her he'd have to report it to central 46 and she had to wait with telling the news to her lover.

The wait were the longest hours of her existence and when he finally returned, her world shattered.
Central 46 was not happy with the news and demanded she'd keep it secret even from the baby's father.
Unohana's heart screamed it was wrong to do so but her rational mind won it and she resigned herself in the decision made for her.

Due to being busy preparing his subordinates for the upcoming battles, Ukitake hadn't noticed the changes in Unohana. However Shunsui had, but he felt it was for the best if he didn't interfere in his friends private lives, despite wishing that he could.
It was an inwardly battle he fought with himself but at last he went with his first instinct and didn't confront the young medic.

Ukitake was worried about Retsu in the back of his mind. So when the day came for her to depart to the zero squad, Ukitake left his division in the capable hands of his subordinates.
When Unohana arrived at the gates, Ukitake was already there to see her off and she picked up Shunsui's reiatsu from up in a tree.
Unohana half expected him already but it did not make her any less nervous to the point she was about to have an anxiety attack if he'd start with his interrogation.
She took a deep breath and quietly faced him.
"Retsu" he greeted with his usual smile and warmth but his eyes held many questions and even more concern for the woman he loved so much.
Ukitake taichou" she replied politely. "It's very kind you came to see me off"
Ukitake frowned at the formal tone. She only spoke such a way when trying to create a distance between them.
The last time she did that was shortly after her captaincy about 50 years ago.
"Yamada-san will see to your well-being for the next 7 to 8 months. Stay away from the cold, extreme heat and dust:

Why are you going for so long? And on the verge of war? You are our chief medic, sensei surely ..." he trailed off as he catched a flicker of irritation in Unohana's reiatsu

"It's an order from the spirit king himself, sensei has no role in this entire situation." Unohana explained, her entire demeanour strained .

"Are you losing your powers?"

"No, I will be going to expand my knowledge about medical herbs for healing battle wounds"

"For 7 whole months?" he replied dubiously.

"Yes for 7 months. Do you question my honesty, Ukitake-sama?"
Ukitake let out a sigh and grudgingly decided to let the matter drop, "No of course not. Have a safe trip Retsu."
"Thank you, Ukitake taichou" her gaze shifted to shunsui who stood a few feet away. He was like a little brother to her.
"Shunsui-kun..."
In a flash he was standing before them.
She gazed up to him.
He adjusted his hat, "Thought I'd come and see you off"
"Don't drink yourself into oblivion. The war is approaching. Keep an eye on your best friend and don't get on sensei's nerves." She warned. "Don't eat instant noodles every day, eat your vegetables and fruit"
"Yare yare, I can take care of myself, Retsu"
"I know that" she lovingly smoothed his haori. "You are just impulsive and sometimes think sensei has nerves of steel" she took a deep breath. "Sayonara, shunsui-kun"
"Just make sure you come back to us. Or I'll personally storm into squad zero and bring you back myself."
She gave him a last sad smile and locked her eyes with Ukitake making a silent promise to return before waving goodbye and disappearing behind the gates.

7 months later

Unohana did her best not to cry out in pain as one contraction after the other hit concentrated on her breathing and got herself ready to push.
She did not even know if it would be a boy or a girl because she struggled too much during her pregnancy to think of that.
It had been hard combining the pregnancy and learning about healing herbs.
She only knew the baby was quite temperamental by the kicking of it that often made her gasp for air.
"Are you ready?" Tenjirō asked.
She gave a small nod and pushed with all she had.
After 3 times pushing, soft wailing filled the small room.
"A girl" her mentor notified and handed the baby to her.
Unohana cried as she cradled the baby and started feeding her. "She is so beautiful"
The new mother was so absorbed by her baby that she barely felt the contractions until they build up to the extend she had to push again.
Her eyes widened and she had to give her baby to one of the shinigami assistants of her mentor.
She braced herself and pushed a few times.
This time the baby announced its presence with roars and already a scowl on the tiny face.
Unohana was delighted that she had a son and he eagerly drank his mother's milk. "Toushirou" she whispered and marvelled how much he resembled his father.
Too wrapped up in the beauty of her babies, she didn't notice she was pushing again and one of the nurses quickly caught the baby she pushed out.
"Nothing short of a miracle" the nurse smiled. "You have 3 healthy babies"
Unohana was shocked but very happy.
Her happiness was short lived though as she was brought the news of central 46 and the spirit king himself their decision.
She had to give up her kids...