Wages of Sin
Chapter Nine
They had put her under observation for the last couple of days. Ichigo had stayed with her during the day, but the only other people she had seen had been members of 4th division. The good news was whatever had made her ill didn't seem to be contagious. The bad news was no one had a clue as to why she couldn't leave her gigai. Hanatarou had noticed a problem with her reiatsu when she' d first come in, but he hadn't been able to pin it down. Unohana Taicho herself was going to examine her sometime today...
A small knock on the door breaks into Rukia's revery at that moment. A few seconds later Isane Kotetsu, Unohana's fukutaicho, pokes her head in. as she enters the room Rukia had been given Isane asks how she was doing
"Still doing alright Kuchiki-san? Any nausea today?"
"No, Isane Fukutaicho I'm doing fine so far."
"Are you ready for Unohana to come see you?"
Just then Ichigo walked back into the room with a tray of lunch for the two of them. Greeting both of them he sets the tray down next to Rukia.
"Rukia...Isane-san.. I brought lunch Rukia , can you eat?"
"Um mm Ichigo," Isane interrupts, "maybe Unohana Taicho should examine Rukia first before she eats."
The two of them look at each other, Ichigo makes a face when he realizes Isane is right.
"Alright I think lunch will hold long enough. Do you want to wait Rukia, or eat now and have Unohana-sama come later?"
"Kuro-" Isane starts but Rukia interrupts her.
"Ichigo, Unohana Taicho is very busy so the fact that she's coming in person means she thinks this is important." turning to Isane, "Fukutaicho, if Unohana-sama is ready then so am I."
As Isane gets up to leave, Unohana paces into the room.
"Thank you for the concern Kuchiki-san, but it has actually been quiet enough around here I could have come back later. Though 11th division is getting rather bored. Kurosaki if you'll wait in the hall."
Not wanting to leave Rukia, Ichigo starts to protest but recognizes the 'do it now' tone in Unohana's voice. Smiling at Rukia he goes to stand right outside her door.
Unohana motions for Rukia to lie down on the bed so she can examine her. Laying down Rukia wonders what's going to happen next. Unohana starts by examining the problem with Rukia's reiatsu, it seemed that there was some sort of a ripple. As if something was interfering with the proper flow of it. Reaching her lower abdomen Unohana finds the possible problem. There seemed to be a smaller and much weaker spirit feeding off of Rukia's reiatsu.
Going from examining the reiatsu, to Rukia herself Unohana begins to feel around where the smaller spirit had been. Where the well trained muscles of her lower abdomen should have been there was the beginning of a softening. It was slight but Unohana could tell the difference. She could also feel the slight changes that meant her womb was growing.
This posed a problem, Unohana thought to herself, while not prominent herself Rukia was connected to several people who were. There was also the question of how this had happened in the first place, a gigai was an artificial construct, not a real mortal body. Something must have happened when the gigai was created to allow this, but it also meant that Rukia was sexually involved with someone.
Finished Unohana motions for Rukia to sit up. Disturbed she sends Isane for the two people who need to hear about this first.
"Isane, I need you to find Ukitake and Kuchiki Taicho. Also tell Kurosaki he can come back in."
"Yes Taicho. What should I tell them when I find them?"
"Just tell them I need to speak with them about Rukia"
"Yes Taicho." with that Isane leaves to find the other taicho. She didn't understand why she was being sent, what could be so sensitive a hell butterfly couldn't be sent?
As Isane leaves Ichigo returns to the room. He notices that Unohana looks worried, but isn't sure if he should ask or wait for her to speak. Sitting down they begin to eat the lunch Ichigo had brought. Just as they finish Rukia's brother and taicho arrive with Isane right behind them. Gesturing them into the room Unohana quickly shuts the door.
Turning to the other two taicho, Unohana tell them that they had a huge problem. Rukia's problem wasn't contagious but it was serious. The other two taicho get a look at Unohana and realize that whatever was wrong it had her extremely worried. Her usual calm demeanor was less than rock steady at that moment.
"Taicho," Unohana starts, "I found out what was wrong with Kuchiki-san This is something that must be kept quiet until what ever happens has been decided. The reason Kuchiki-san is unable to leave her gigai was because there is a smaller weaker spirit partially attached to hers."
"you mean...Rukia's..." asks Ichigo
"Yes, as far as I can tell Kuchiki-san is about six weeks pregnant. How this has occurred I haven't figured out yet."
Ichigo actually goes to sit by Rukia joining her on the bed.
"Will this cause any sort of health problems Unohana-sama?" Asks Ichigo
"I have no idea, I would say probably not if she was having a normal pregnancy, but who ever had a person in a gigai pregnant?"
At that moment they all hear a muffled noise at the door. Striding to the door Ukitake slides it open. Kiyone and Sentarou collapse into the room as if they'd been listening there.
"Kiyone!...Sentarou!... I told you to stay at the barracks. Why did you follow me on routine errand? It wasn't as if I was suddenly deathly ill."
"Gomenesai Taicho, when Nee-san showed up we thought something might be seriously wrong with Rukia Why else would Unohana Taicho send Nee-san rather than a simple butterfly."
"How much did the two of you hear?" Ukitake asks, "this is something that can not become general gossip. Do the two of you understand?"
"Yes Taicho," the two of them chime in unison.
"We were right behind you so we'd heard everything "
"Everything?" Ukitake asks with a raised eyebrow, "do you realize what you'd so carelessly heard?"
"But Taicho it's not as if we don't get pregnant occasionally. How else would we have regular families?" asks Kiyone looking over at her sister.
Before Ukitake can answer Sentarou smacks his co-officer and answers.
"Look booger-face think for a second what isn't Kuchiki-san? She's single and part of one of the four great houses. That means she isn't married. Also who do you think the father would be?"
"Ichigo's the father isn't he," Kiyone says quietly.
Looking at his co-officers, Ukitake shakes his head. They were good if a bit over enthusiastic. Looking at Ichigo he notices him whispering something to Rukia. To what ever it was she gives a tremulous smile. Beside him Kuchiki clears his throat.
"Excuse me, if the scolding of junior officers is finished, we have some thing important to discuss. Unohana, what would your recommendation be at this time?"
"Medically there shouldn't be a problem, but it still might be better if she were to ...lose the child..."
"No!" Ichigo begins to stare down the three taicho. "If there is no harm to her why shouldn't she have the child. To just get rid of it because it was 'inconvenient' would be a cowards actions."
Seeing the look in Ichigo's eyes Ukitake tries to explain what would happen as gently as possible. "Ichigo, child, it wouldn't be because it would be inconvenient as you put it. There is more at risk than just the two of you. If you and Rukia had been anyone else then it would be a small matter. Because of who you are this is a major problem. The child is yours correct?"
"Yes Taicho, and I'll do anything to protect either of them."
"Admirable Kurosaki," injects Byakuya "but you realize that if anything gets to Central 46 then the child will be destroyed anyway and if you're lucky Rukia will just be stripped of her powers. You may have forgotten this, but you Kurosaki are a Shinigami Dai-ko, a human that has high enough spirit power to act in the stead of a regular Shinigami."
"I rea-," Ichigo tries to answer, but Rukia breaks in.
"You're wrong Nii-sama," Rukia says looking around for the first time, "he is more than that. You have proof if you'll just remember. He's used the Senkai gates at least once without having them specially prepared."
Byakuya raises an eyebrow waiting for his sister to continue. Undaunted she reminds him of what happened with Lady Kasumi-Ouji.
"When we had to come to the Seireitei after Lady Lurichiyo-dono we all came through the Kuchiki private gate. He spawned a hell butterfly then, and again when we came here a few days ago. Ask Renji he'll confirm it."
"That may be coincidence rather than proof..."
"How do you explain the fact that he's been in and out of Soul Society and the Seireitei several times, or how he's regained Shinigami powers not once but twice. And each time it was permanent not temporary like the very first time should have been. Or even what happened that first time with my powers. They should have lasted a few weeks at most, not the two to three months until I was brought back."
Byakuya gets a look on his face as if he wants to refute what Rukia had just told him. All he could think of was that, that just doesn't happen, but in this case it seemed as if it did. Ukitake Taicho also seemed to have an abstracted look on his face, as if he was trying to remember something just out of reach. Clearing his throat again, Byakuya tries to get the discussion back on track.
"All this is well and good but third seat Kotsubaki was correct."
"How so Nii-sama?" asks Rukia.
"You're not married Rukia."
"Is that the only problem Byakuya?" asks Ichigo seriously. "If it is I'm willing to marry her. We were going to try and get your permission sooner or later any way."
"Have you not been paying attention brat!" states Byakuya rounding on Ichigo. "No that is not the problem. The problem is that Rukia is now carrying a high crime inside of her! The number one law of Soul Society is that you never interfere in the destiny of a human!"
"How would it be Rukia's crime? I'm the one who got her pregnant." looking at the ground Ichigo also mutters "It would be three quarters Shinigami anyway."
"Child," starts Ukitake as Byakuya gets his temper under control. "Central 46 would blame Rukia because she is the Shinigami, and until we can prove otherwise they will see you as only human."
Muttering under his breath the other taicho hear Ichigo and his opinion of Central 46. Collectively shaking their heads they get back to the subject at hand.
"So it seems Rukia is going to keep the child. Correct?" asks Unohana.
"Correct Unohana Taicho," answers Rukia. "Unless there is some pressing reason I shouldn't?"
"No, there is no medical reason why you can't have the child. Delivery may be dangerous but that will be because you are so petite. We'll put you on medical leave for the next six to eight months. We can't risk anything happening to you until after the baby is born. I'll keep you here for a few more weeks but more than that and people will begin to notice something isn't quite right."
"Is there somewhere she could stay where she could rest," asks Ichigo, "what about Ugendou Ukitake-san? I think Kuchiki House would be out of the question. I trust the WSA but still if gossip is going to start..."
"I'm sorry Kurosaki-san Ugendou is out of the question as well. I have family of my own who still live there."
"Where Rukia goes will not be a problem," answers Byakuya frostily. "The clan has a small holding out away from the Seireitei where she can stay. There are a few servants and nothing much else. You would even be able to visit if Rukia wished it Kurosaki."
As the afternoon passes Ichigo and the three taicho begin to lay plans. Rukia would be kept at the Main Aide Station for the next couple of weeks, then she would be moved to the other property. Hanatarou would be sent with her so that if anything went wrong there would be a healer right there. She would stay there until the baby was a couple of months old and then she could be certified to return to her duties.
Byakuya would acknowledge the child if he had to, but no one was sure if it would be raised in the Seireitei, or in the mortal world just yet. If they could keep it completely under wraps Ichigo would take it back to the mortal world, if not...then thing would get complicated
One thing began to worry Ichigo -Renji. He had been sent to the mortal world for a reason. What would happen now, whoever had wanted to speak with her would still want to. Also it was well known that Renji and Rukia were close friends, if she was discovered they might assume it was Renji's at first.
"One more thing Taicho," mentions Ichigo, "Renji will need to be brought in on this for two reasons. One- is he was sent for other reasons than just being part of the backup team. Two- who is Rukia's best, closest, and oldest friend?"
"What are you babbling about Kurosaki?" asks Byakuya mildly annoyed.
"Renji will need to know what's going on in case this gets out. Do you want him blowing this by accident because someone thinks the baby is his?"
Sighing Byakuya bows to Ichigo's logic. He didn't have to like it but the brat was right. With a thought he summons a hell butterfly, whispering his message to it. Moments later it was winging off towards his fukutaicho.
It takes about ten minutes, but soon they hear a quiet knock on the closed door. Motioning to his third seats Ukitake has them go to the door. Opening the door a crack Kiyone and Sentarou see Renji. Immediately they pull him inside and close the door again.
"...Wha-" exclaims Renji startled
"It's alright Abarai Fukutaicho," replies Kiyone.
Shaking his head Renji looks around the room. He notices the three Taicho as well as Isane Fukutaicho and Ukitake's third seats. From the looks on their faces something must be badly wrong with Rukia.
"What's wrong? Is Rukia going to be Okay?" Renji asks disturbed.
"Rukia will be fine Abarai, or at least as fine as someone in her condition can be," answers his Taicho. "Rukia is carrying Kurosaki's child."
"Rukia is... Kurosaki's? Why are you telling me Taicho, that seems to be something between Kurosaki and yourself?"
Byakuya again heaves a sigh. Sometimes his Fukutaicho could be overly dense. Then again it could be that Abarai forgotten that Kurosaki wasn't yet a full Shinigami.
"Kurosaki is not a Shinigami yet. While we may be able to prove that this is not some kind of crime, we can't let it be known yet the child is his. He also brought it up that if it gets out people at least among the Gotei may want to rather believe it's yours."
"Mine Taicho?" asks Renji. "Who would really believe that? Everyone knows Rukia spends more time with Ichigo in the Mortal World than she does with me, and anyway how would I have gotten her gigai pregnant?"
"They may not know she's stuck in a gigai," replies Ichigo, "and any way no one else knows how pregnant she is. Especially if the baby is early."
Renji opens his mouth to say something, but before he can one of the nurses pokes her head in. She tells them that supper is being served and asks if Rukia will be eating. Rukia, Renji, and Ichigo decide to eat in Rukia's room, while the other two Taicho eat with Unohana among the rest of her division. When the food is brought in and the lower ranking Shinigami leaves Renji picks the conversation back up.
"So, it looks like you've managed to get my best friend in trouble again. What do you have to say for yourself Ichigo?" asks Renji right off. "You'd tripped some kind of red flag and now Central 46 wants to know why."
"Blame my dad for this one Renji," answers Ichigo. "We were keeping things low key and under the radar. Then a few days before you guys showed up my dad walked in on us. He treats Rukia like a third daughter, over protective as hell. So of course my dad made us 'do it right'."
"Okay so that's how you ended up married in the mortal world. That should have been small potatoes. How did Rukia end up pregnant? That is not a small thing."
"The usual way I'd guess. Rukia and I have been sleeping together off and on for the last several year. Everything I'd ever heard about a gigai says that it's a construct, not a body that should be able to be fertile."
"...and Rukia wouldn't think about protection." shaking his head Renji looks at Ichigo sternly.
"I am here you know," says Rukia as tartly as her brother. "why should I think about protection. Gigai are constructs. The fact that this one is fertile is something Urahara must have done."
"Why would Urahara give you something like that anyway, without you knowing? He may play the idiot but he's not truly one"
"I think I know Renji," answers Rukia. "When we got our gigai the last time there had been more than just our three constructed. Ururu was confused as to which ones to give us. What if I was given one meant for someone else?"
"That could be a problem"
AN: Sorry it's been so long since the last update... Between life, missing notes, and my too short attention span and all that... I finally have this posted now, so I hope you enjoy the new chapter... Any thoughts and advice would be greatly appreciated..
Don't forget to review!