A/N: Thank you to my reviewers, story alert and story favorite people. I really appreciate all the support for my first story. I hope you continue to read and review! If the characters are OOC or if I made a mistake in grammar, then please let me know.
Disclaimer: I am not, sadly, the owner of Bleach.
"Premature Birth"
Previously: "What's wrong, Rukia?" Yoruichi rushed to Rukia's side to help her sit on the sofa. By this time, the contractions are hitting Rukia very hard. Groaning and sobbing aloud, "I think I'm in labor! This cannot be! I'm two months early!" With one last gasp, Rukia yelled, "ICHIGO!"
Down inside the bunker, Ichigo managed to master the Bakudou form of the Demon Arts, but not the Hadou form. Byakuya decided to give Ichigo a break from Kidou in order to concentrate his efforts in controlling his reiatsu, learning sword techniques, and strengthening his resolve. Although his sensei was a ball buster, Ichigo actually admired him in his coaching skills. He's actually being patient with me, and helping me become a better person, Ichigo thought to himself. While they practiced sword skills, Ichigo stopped mid-swing, dropping Zangetsu and clutching his heart tightly.
"Rukia!" Ichigo yelled aloud, slowly falling to his knees.
"Ichigo, what's wrong with you? What's going on?" Byakuya asked, worried about his student.
"I don't know. Suddenly, I felt Rukia calling out to me. Something is wrong with her and the baby."
"How can that be, Ichigo? I didn't know the two of you had a psychic link to each other," Byakuya responded skeptically.
Looking at his sensei angrily, Ichigo's eyes started to change colors.
"Control your emotions, Ichigo! Your hollow is trying to break free!"
"Don't talk as if you know me, Byakuya Kuchiki, because you don't!" Ichigo replied in a harsh tone. "I felt Rukia's reiatsu fluctuating wildly. If you were any kind of brother to her, then you would have felt it too!"
Byakuya stopped cold upon hearing the harsh words from Ichigo, but he knew that the boy was worried about his wife. He refused to believe that Ichigo still harbored hatred for him.
"Ichigo, I know you are very upset, which is why I'm going to ignore that last statement. We can't get out of here by ourselves, so we just have to wait for Captain-Commander Yamamoto to release us."
"This is ridiculous!" Ichigo yelled, his reiatsu flaring uncontrollably higher. Meanwhile, Shadow smirked evilly because he knew Ichigo was going to enter his world and beg for help. Not that he wanted to help Ichigo, but unfortunately, he fell in love with his King's wife. Tired of watching his King flail around yelling at the sky, Shadow called out to him.
"Ichigo let me help!"
"Shadow, what are you talking about? You can't help me – no one can!" Ichigo murmured, as he entered his inner world.
"Change into your Bankai, and give me full control of your body. That might be the only way to escape this hellhole," Shadow replied.
"There is no way I'm giving you full control of my body, Shadow," Ichigo responded. "With that kind of power, you would cause damage to the Seireitei!"
"Ichigo, we do not have time for arguments," Shadow yelled at his King, putting his hands on his hips. "You want to help Rukia don't you?"
Seeing the boy nod his head, he continued, "Well, I do too! I love Rukia too, and if anything happens to her, you will get all depressed on me, and then it will rain again. I don't like the rain, Ichigo!"
"Fine, whether this works or not, you will return my body to me immediately," Ichigo informed his hollow.
"Fine, King, can we get to work now?" Shadow agreed.
Not sure if he made a deal with the devil, literally, Ichigo returned to his body to inform Byakuya of his plan, without mentioning Shadow's part in the plan.
"Bankai!" Ichigo called out his other form. Instantaneously, Shadow took control. Stalking up to the entranceway of the bunker, swinging his sword around by the hilt, Shadow called out the full power of Zangetsu.
"Getsuga tensho!"
Byakuya, and whom he presumed as Ichigo, watched with anticipation as a powerful burst of red and black energy sailed towards the top of the bunker. With a great explosion, rocks the size of boulders rained down on the pair. Once the air cleared, they looked up hoping that the technique worked.
"There's no opening, Ichigo," Byakuya replied with a sad voice, turning towards his student. Ichigo raised his head to look at his sensei, and that is when Byakuya noticed the difference in the boy.
"You are not Ichigo," Byakuya stated the obvious.
"Give the man a prize," Shadow replied. "Have you forgotten my name already? Well, I'll be nice and tell it to you again, it's Shadow."
"Where is Ichigo?"
"He's inside waiting on my return, so I can't chat with you this time. Goodbye, Byakuya Kuchiki." With that said, Shadow returned to the inner world.
Meanwhile back at the Kurosaki house, Isshin awakened with a terrible dread in his heart. Normally he can feel his son's reiatsu, but today he cannot. Instead, he felt that his daughter-n-law was in terrible pain. Where was Ichigo? Deciding he needed to investigate the matter further, Isshin grabbed his captain's haori and flash-stepped to Urahara Kisuke's shop. Sensing the wariness of his bestfriend, Urahara opened the gate to Soul Society without Isshin asking permission.
"Be careful, my friend. I don't know what's going on either, and no, I can't feel Ichigo's reiatsu," Urahara informed his friend.
Nodding his head, Isshin donned his haori, and went through the gate. Once he arrived at the Seireitei, Isshin followed Rukia's fluctuating reiatsu until he reached the Kuchiki manor. Storming inside, he saw Yoruichi holding his daughter-n-law, as blood seeped between her legs.
"Yoruichi what is wrong with Rukia?" Isshin asks frantically.
"She's in labor, but something is wrong with the babies," Yoruichi answered. "I've already sent for Captain Unohana from the Fourth Division."
"Okay, well, we need to staunch the blood flow," Isshin replied, going into doctor mode. "Rukia, honey, can you hear me?"
"Da-daddy Is-shin," Rukia moaned.
"Yes, Rukia, it's Daddy Isshin. I need you to stay in this position and do not move. I need you stay awake, too, honey. Don't go to sleep!"
"Where's Ichigo?"
"He's on his way, but you may have to deliver the twins before they get here. Oh, and you can explain why you didn't tell anybody that there were two babies, instead of one," he reminded her.
"I-I didn't know before Ichigo went to train underground. He doesn't know," she answered.
Isshin turned towards Yoruichi with a quizzical face. "What is she talking about Yoruichi?"
"Captain-Commander Yamamoto agreed to Ichigo becoming captain of the Fifth Division, only if he trained for six months. He will perform all he's learned in front of the Gotei 13 Squad, and then the captains will vote him in."
"What? That is preposterous! I never had to perform such a meaningless task when I became captain, Yoruichi!" Isshin yelled.
"Well, the Old Man doesn't think that Ichigo is mature enough to handle the tasks of being a captain. He sent Byakuya Kuchiki to train him because he is a noble."
"How long is this supposed training?"
"Six months, Isshin, but I was going to go to Captain Yamamoto to convince him to release Ichigo because of this critical situation," Yoruichi replied.
"No, I will talk to Captain-Commander Yamamoto myself," Isshin said, getting angry over the harsh treatment of his son.
While Yoruichi and Isshin talked, he prepared himself to deliver his own grandchildren. He still cannot believe that there were two of them instead of one. Karin and Yuzu are going to get a kick out of this, he wondered to himself. Isshin sent one of the servants to retrieve blankets, sheets, and a gown for Rukia. He turned his head as the female servant and Yoruichi undressed Rukia, and redressed her in the gown. Once dressed, Isshin turned around to examine his daughter-n-law again. Seeing the contractions appear at a faster rate, Isshin decided it was time for his grandchildren to make their first appearance into the world.
"Rukia, the medical team is not going to arrive in time, therefore I'm going to help you deliver the twins," Isshin informed her.
"You can't," she rejected his notions, doubling over as another contraction hit her hard.
"Why not? I'm a doctor, Rukia, and I've delivered plenty of babies."
"You are my father-n-law, and it's not proper for you to, um, you know, see me down there," Rukia stammered, trying to appear as a noble Kuchiki.
Laughing, Isshin bent down to Rukia, and said, "Are you going to deliver your children by yourself, dear?" Rukia shook her head. Isshin continued, "Not to worry Rukia, you do not have anything down there that I have not seen before! I never told you or Ichigo this, but I delivered him at home too!"
"Well, okay, but just don't touch something you are not supposed to touch! Ichigo is going to kill the both of us; I have you kn-oooh--ow!" Rukia replied as another wave of pains hit her.
"We'll deal with that when he returns. Rukia, I've managed to stop the blood so don't push until I tell you to, okay honey?" Isshin told her with a serious face on.
By that time, Captain Retsu Unohana burst into the manor with Isane by her side.
"Thank you Captain Kurosaki, but I believe I can take over now."
"By all means, Captain Unohana." Isshin replied stepping out of the way.
"Ichigo! Ichigo! Where is he?" Rukia cries out.
"He's on his way Rukia, just hang on. Your brother is coming too," Yoruichi called out, hating the fact that she lied to her friend.
"Rukia, I need you to push as hard as you can now, dear."
Rukia nodded her head and started pushing. Yoruichi helped her as she sat behind her friend on the settee.
"Push, Rukia!" Captain Unohana cried out. Rukia pushed again, and one baby popped out.
"It's a boy, Rukia." Rukia cried tears of joy as she held her son for a moment. Isane came over to get him and clean him up.
"Okay, Rukia we have one more to go. Now, Push!"
Rukia pushed with all her might. Captain Unohana told her to push again, and she did so. Rukia and Ichigo's daughter arrived, but she was not crying.
"Isane! Get the cart over here now!"
Yoruichi helped Rukia sit up, and Isshin rushed over to see what was going on. "What's wrong with my daughter, Captain Unohana?"
Retsu said nothing still working on the baby.
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH MY DAUGHTER?" Rukia screamed out.
"She's not breathing properly, Rukia. I need to get her to the fourth division immediately. I am taking your son with me in order to examine him. My subordinates will appear shortly to escort you to the divisional hospital."
Rukia stared in horror as Isane and Captain Unohana left the mansion with her children.
"What did she mean, Daddy Isshin?" Rukia looked to her father-in-law for an explanation.
"I don't know Rukia," he replied.
"You are a doctor aren't you? Tell me what is wrong with my daughter! Don't you care?"
"Rukia!" Isshin yelled at her, sounding like his son. Sighing, he responded, "Of course I care, Rukia. She is my granddaughter. There could be a number of things wrong, but we won't know until we get to the Fourth Division hospital."
Yoruichi pulled a teary, bloody Rukia into her arms. She looked at Isshin and spoke softly, "Maybe you should go to Captain Yamamoto now, Isshin. Force him to open that bunker immediately. I will stay with Rukia and escort her to Fourth Division. You can join us there after you collect your son and Byakuya."
Feeling as though he is abandoning his daughter-n-law in her time of need, Isshin reluctantly nodded his head in agreement and flash-stepped to the First Division. Reaching the gates, Isshin announced his presence to the guards.
"I request a private meeting with Captain Yamamoto immediately."
"I'm sorry sir, but the Commander is meeting with all the captains of the 13 Gotei Squad, and no one is allowed to disturb them," one the guards spoke to Isshin, denying his request.
"Do you know who I am?" Isshin asked. When neither guard answered he continued, "I am the former Fifth Division Captain Isshin Kurosaki, now let me pass."
"I'm sorry sir, but I can't," the guard announced.
Suddenly, Isshin flared his reiatsu violently at the guards, knocking them unconscious. Muttering, I do not have time for this; I will introduce myself, Isshin walked through to the gates and headed for the main hall.
Inside the main hall, the captains went on alert after feeling the violent wave of reiatsu outside. They all wondered if they were under attack again. The doors opened slowly, and Isshin walked in. Bowing out of respect, he stated, "I'm terribly sorry to interrupt your meeting, Captain Yamamoto, but I request you release my son immediately. It is of the utmost urgency, sir!"
"Former Captain Isshin Kurosaki, I never thought you would grace your presence here in the Seireitei again. What is so important that I must interrupt your son's captain training?" Commander Yamamoto asked.
"Sir, Rukia Kurosaki delivered her twins two months early. One of the children is in critical condition, and she may not survive. Rukia is frantically calling for Ichigo. Captain Unohana cannot calm her down, and we need my son here in order for her to do so," Isshin explained.
All the captains looked around with shocked expressions because they know and like Rukia. They would not want anything this drastic to happen to such a nice girl.
"I'm sorry; Isshin Kurosaki, but I cannot permit your request. Ichigo Kurosaki's training is vital to the completion of the 13 Gotei Squad. I must deny your request."
"What? Old Man, you have truly gone senile if you think I am going to let you dismiss my grandchildren that way. They need their father; Rukia needs her husband! After all my son has done for Soul Society, you will not permit the release of him. Fine, then I will find him and release him myself!" Isshin stated, his reiatsu flaring at an enormous rate. Not allowing the Commander to speak again, he turned on his heels to go find his son.
"Isshin Kurosaki if you release your son without my permission then I will place you on charges on treason!" Captain-Commander Yamamoto yelled at his retreating back.
Turning around slightly, Isshin replied, "Do what you feel is necessary, Commander. However, you should never threaten a parent when it comes to his children, or in this case, his grandchildren. If it was Shunsui Kyoraku and Jushiro Ukitake, I believe you wouldn't hesitate to do what was necessary for them."
Paling significantly, Captain Yamamoto sighed because he never thought of what he would do if he were in Isshin's shoes.
"Very well, Kurosaki. I will allow the opening of the bunker for Ichigo Kurosaki and Captain Byakuya Kuchiki. However, I planned to make your son the captain of Fifth Division. Now, I will move him to Ninth Division, and you will retake your place as Captain of Fifth Division."
"I'm sorry, but I must rescind your request, Captain Yamamoto. I have two daughters I need to raise in Karakura Town. Find a substitute captain for the position, and after Karin and Yuzu reach a mature age, then I will return and retake my position as captain."
"Very good, Captain Isshin Kurosaki, you have made a wise decision. I will escort you to the bunker, and open it myself."
Nodding in agreement, Isshin and the other captains followed swiftly after their beloved commander.
