A/N: Thanks to everyone who's continuing to enjoy this story :)

Flashback order: 2, 9, 3, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 10.
The emboldened number is the current chapter. They're not written chronologically because I make this fic up as I go ^^;

Disclaimer: Bleach belongs to Kubo Tite.

Revision notes: The full unedited and uncensored version of this chapter can be found at the-tower-room dot livejournal dot com (no spaces and replace "dot" with period; there's also a link to it in my profile since I can't put a link here :/ ).

Chapter 10: Afterlife

Clad in her wedding attire, she walked by the freshly dug graves of the ones that were taken by the plague to pay her last respects. Before every single tombstone, she stopped to place a flower, reciting the name of the one that lay beneath, and prayed.

Would she find peace like this there? she wondered. The cemetery had never been this full before, she realized as her eyes spanned the expanse, of the many added roughly hewn gravestones that dotted the field. So many lives were claimed that it was a wonder there were still any villagers left.

It was a common knowledge that the power of the gods were indicated and limited by what they reigned over. So there hadn't been any doubt whatsoever in any of the villagers' minds that it was the God of Death who had sent the plague. The only question had been: what had they done to have displeased the god so?

As the weeks passed, and more that were afflicted succumbed to the sickness, it had become clear that no amount of prayer and penance were enough to please the god. And so it was that the remaining village elders decided upon a sacrifice.

One life as offering, the propitiator, for the rest of their own. One life, the final death that would put a stopper to the plague.

She knelt in front of two unmarked gravestones and placed a hand in each. They had been the two who had held the most important places in her heart. As she had already lost them, the pending loss of her own life hadn't mattered to her anymore.

She turned to one and idly traced the name of the one who laid beneath it with a finger. "I will be going now," said she in a quiet voice. "I don't know what's ahead of me. But I hope that wherever it is, I will get to see you and be with you really soon." She leaned over to kiss the stone, her tears darkening its surface.

She turned to the other and wrapped her arms around it, eyes blurry with the fall of her tears. She couldn't help the squeak that her voice had become, but she ploughed on. "Sora." His name came out in a stutter with her heaving cry. "I never had the chance to let you know how much you meant to me, as more than a brother, like a father, you were always there. And in your last hours, I've been unkind to you, selfish and ungrateful, thinking more about myself than the pain you were in. I didn't mean to run out on you in your time of need, and it serves me right that the Death God had taken you away from me when I finally returned. You didn't deserve to have me as a wretched sister. And telling you how sorry I am could never be enough to atone for it. I know it's too late, but I'm really sorry. And I hope that wherever you are, you'll be able to forgive me."

She swiped at her eyes and her cheeks, sniffing as she stood. She took a deep breath to compose herself. "Farewell," she whispered, and gave each a last lingering look before she made her way to the entrance of the cemetery, where a rickshaw waited to take her to the next life.

As Ichigo entered his father's house at sunset, colour seeped back into his white form. The ivory hair was stained orange from root to tip, the white and black of his garments inverting as the ebony fur at his collar, cuffs, and ankles blazed to crimson.

He kept his mask over his face as he stalked through the halls of his father's house, striding purposefully down the winding colourful corridors on his way to his quarters when, suddenly, arrows formed out of the mosaics, inciting him to follow. He shook his head and continued on his way, but the house, sensing his defiant gait, rearranged its walls and presented him the double doors that led to the God of Life's council chamber. He stopped in his tracks and turned back around, fists clenching in annoyance. He didn't really feel like talking to his father or any other gods that might wait behind the doors.

He walked away from it, willing the house to realize his wish to be left alone and to be redirected to his chamber, glowering at the insistently flashing mosaic pieces. After a few steps, he halted, finding himself face to face with the same entranceway. An irate growl rumbled from deep within his throat as red streaks of light began to gather between the tips of his horns, close to firing upon the doors and his father.

As the house sensed his growing malevolence, the doors opened on their own accord.

Inside, at the head of a long table, sat the God of Life. Contrary to what Ichigo was expecting, only the God of Invention and the Goddess of Love and Fertility were the other occupants, sitting on either side of him.

He entered the room, head lowered as he glared at the three, his horns targeting each in case he decided to actually blast them with Cero. The doors closed behind him with a quiet click.

Isshin, ever jovial and with nary a care for his son's irritated stare―having gotten used to it as it was Ichigo's default mood whenever in his presence―greeted him with a big smile. "Ah, good, we caught you just in time."

"You mean you trapped me and I had no other choice but to come here," corrected Ichigo.

"Well, this is very important."

"It had better be, old man. Otherwise, get ready for your house's new renovations."

"Ooh," shivered Rangiku. "Ever the charmer."

Ichigo's nostrils flared as he directed a piercing gaze at the goddess. It was rather ineffective as she remained unfazed, sending him a wink and blowing him a kiss. "If you're here," he said as he nodded towards Rangiku, "then this has to do with Orihime. What did you do to her now? Didn't I tell you to stay away from her?"

"Now, now." She waved a finger at him. "Is that any way to treat the one who gave you the best wedding present?"

He sputtered. "We don't need your meddling when it comes to stuff like that."

"Stuff like what?" she asked in a syrupy voice with a pout.

"None of your business!"

She laughed.

"She doesn't need aphrodisiacs or whatever it was you gave her." He crossed his arms over his chest. "She's already good the way she is."

"Oh?" The goddess raised an eyebrow in response while his father coughed into his fist, finding the ceiling rather interesting.

"Whatever it is you're thinking, that's not what I meant."

"How very enlightening, Mr Death, sir." The tow-headed God of Invention finally spoke up, the corners of his mouth pulled up into a leering smile as he adjusted his green and white striped hat.

"What the hell are you even doing here?"

"Ara, I live here, as you know."

"Still? I can't believe you haven't been kicked out yet."

"You're so distrustful of me―"

"It's because you've given me no incentive to ever trust you."

The God of Invention flipped open his fan and hid behind it, his shadowed grey eyes peeking over its zigzag top. "I suppose it's straight down to business, then. If you must know―"

"I don't really want to," interrupted the Death God resignedly, "but it's not gonna stop you from telling me anyway."

"Oh, it would be of utmost benefit to you and the madam," smiled Kisuke, and cleared his throat. "Even though I'm also the God of Knowledge and totally getting off on this, this is something that is important as it pertains to you both. As I was saying, I've been inspecting the properties of the mead that was given to your bride last night. As well, I've also been charged with concocting the brew that would grant her godhood."

"Like hell she's going to drink anything you made."

"She would need it as she's on her way to bearing your offspring."

"What?"

"Under normal circumstances, the state of her pregnancy will not be known for some time. However, with the mead that's provided by the Goddess of Love and Fertility, it has heightened and drastically increased her chances that, unless you want to lose her so soon, she has no other recourse than to accept godhood."

Ichigo could only reply in silence. He knew that there were a lot of risks in coming to his father's house, most notable of which was the meddling of the other gods. They just could not help playing with a mortal's life when they have one in such a close proximity.

And he had thought of granting her godhood some time in the future, when she was more settled in living among gods. He knew that while she had adjusted, she hadn't acclimated herself fully yet, that there were still traces of her old life that she was missing. He had wanted to broach the subject gradually and give her the choice about the matter. Godhood was something that shouldn't be taken lightly, and for a mortal, the transition to immortality and change would be great.

And now, there would be the added matter of a god's offspring. He could only shake his head as he glared at Rangiku. What a cruel entrapment. He wondered just how far she and his father schemed of this. He should've known better. He should've been on better guard of himself last night especially after he found out Orihime had been drugged. But he hadn't known who was the culprit nor could he have any idea just how much it could affect them, especially her.

"The mead is enhanced by the goddess's power," Kisuke went on, taking the Death God's silence as his cue to continue. "It is only to be used by those who are infertile and who come to her temple to pray to be gifted offspring. Simply put, as well as acting as a highly potent aphrodisiac, it induces instant ovulation regardless of whatever stage of monthly cycle the woman is in. Add in the fact that you've procreated with your bride within the house of the God of Life, there is only one conclusion that this will lead to.

"As you know, there has never been a successful account of mortals bearing the children of gods. It changes their bodies' chemical makeup to such an extent that they cannot survive it. Immortal cells are what's necessary to house gestating godlings inside their bodies. And that's what your new bride will need in order to be able to successfully birth your offspring."

Ichigo clenched his fists, trying to control his breathing as he tried to process every word the God of Knowledge and Invention uttered. Now was not the time for regret. He needed to find Orihime and see if she had already been made aware of the situation.

A small Cero split the table in half lengthwise as the Death God stormed out of the room. It was a controlled enough blast that it only affected said furniture and didn't reach his father, who sat at the end with both his hands held out and legs raised up against him as he watched the table spread out and collapse. The three silenced and surprised gods looked at each other.

Kisuke flipped his fan closed. "I think he took it rather well."

The house of the God of Life suddenly became so in tuned with his desire to find Orihime that the double doors of the council chamber immediately led outside to the labyrinth garden. The hedge walls parted to make way for the Death God, clearing a path for his purposeful prowling and closing once again behind him. Deeper and deeper he went, disturbing gods mid-tryst within the maze, ready to issue a protest until they discovered that it was him and away they scampered. At last he reached the clearing upon whose bench Orihime laid in, and his eyes gentled at the sight as he pulled his mask off and transformed into his sunset form, the long orange hair shortening into soft spikes, claws smoothing down and receding back to his fingers.

She slept as though dead, straight on her back with hands clasped over her middle. Ichigo knelt by her head, staring at her upside-down with hands splayed against the spread of her hair as he leant down to drop a kiss her forehead, the tip of her nose, and her lips. Her eyes blinked open; a princess awakened, eyes clear and bright as they gazed up at him. A small smile stretched the corners of her mouth as she reached up with both hands to draw him down to her.

Her lower lips between his were plump and soft, pliant against his onslaught. Hungrily, her moans and sighs were captured, and she readily gave as he sought for more. Her mouth opened underneath his, the tip of her tongue against his lips inviting his own to play with hers, and it was his turn to yield, lips parting to suckle hers before massaging it with his tongue.

It was with a sigh that he broke away, laying his head down on her shoulder with his nose against her neck, drinking in her heady scent as her fingers massaged his scalp.

"There's something I have to tell you," said he softly as he raised his head, standing to pace away, his back towards her. He heard the rustle of fabric as she rose to sit, and felt the weight of her stare on him, attentive and curious.

"When gods are born, it's not always that they'd immediately have or know their power. Most of the time, it manifests later. I was young when my power called upon me, and the first death I had to usher was my mother's."

He turned his head, his profile lit against the darkening sky as the Night God's sakura petals rose up to take their place as stars.

"I shouldn't have brought you here."

As though Orihime sensed the disquiet that lay beyond his words, she went to him and embraced him from behind, leaning her cheek against a shoulder blade. His hands hesitantly rose and enveloped both of hers, squeezing gratefully at her show of comfort.

"It's my fault. I should've been on guard; I couldn't protect you."

"From what?" she whispered, puzzled.

"From the other gods. From myself."

"I don't understand."

"They want to turn you into a god. Because of last night, because of what the Goddess of Fertility gave you, because of what happened between us within the house of the God of Life, you might already be with child."

"You make it sound like they're all related somehow."

"They are. Humans die when they try to bear the children of gods, that's why they want to grant you godhood."

He felt her stiffen behind him, her hands retracting from his hold as she moved away. Slowly, he turned and watched her lower herself back on the bench. In two strides, he reached her and fell to his knees in front of her, feeling unable to touch her for fear he might cause her yet more harm.

"I don't have much power over life," offered he with sad brown eyes. "But I do if it's anything of mine. I can take it away...if you don't want it. If you feel that you're not ready or you hate the idea of it―"

Orihime's hands rose and cupped his cheeks, halting his words. She couldn't quite stare at him, could only gaze down at the possibility that might already be residing within her. Too much, too many things hitting her in one day. Her head was in a jumble, and a deep, tired exhale escaped from her, her stomach contracting as she tried to organize her thoughts.

"How about you?" asked she quietly as she mulled over the choice he was giving her. "Do you want it?"

"Anything of yours, I will make mine," he replied, voice just above a whisper.

Before anything could really begin, he could stop it. Just like that. Simple and fast, as though it hardly mattered, although she knew by the weight of his tone that it did to him. Very much.

And her? How did she really feel about this?

Her eyes rose and met his gaze.

With a groan he slapped her rump before flopping down beside her on the bed. Chest heaving, her insides still throbbing, she straightened her legs underneath her from their kneeling position and settled down to lay better on her stomach.

She turned her head and glared at him when she heard his immediate snores, raising her upper body by her elbows and leaning her cheek on one hand. She blew air up at a sweat-dampened lock of purple hair on her forehead before reaching over for her leaf-ornamented mirror. Reflected back were a flushed face, glowing skin, and heavy-lidded orange eyes. Without her moving, the surface of the mirror panned down to reveal her back. Fresh scratches marred her skin, crisscrossing against the older scars made from the God of Destruction's claws, evidence of a lover wild and rough. She sighed, shifting her hips in an effort to alleviate her soreness.

How long had it been since she'd first come here to his lair? After breaking off with the Death God, she'd immediately called upon to the God of Destruction, sending him a black butterfly to seek an audience. As with the former, she'd offered herself in exchange for his assistance in her vengeance upon a village. He'd scoffed at first, citing that the God of Death had already done his work, and all that was left was to wait for the inevitable conclusion.

After she'd responded that there was one villager that seemed to be under the Death God's protection and that he was in love with her, Grimmjow perked up, his interest piqued. As acceptance to her request, he'd held out his hand, and she knelt in front of him, ready to begin performing her part of the bargain.

Since the Death God had taken steps to ensure that that young woman would escape the fate of the village, there had been nothing she and the God of Destruction could do. Despite the original arrangement that brought them together, the two of them had continued on their relationship.

The mirror rippled, and the God of Death appeared before her, asleep, the serene expression gracing his features juxtaposed against the ever-remaining scowl. You betrayed me, she mouthed as the view zoomed out to show an auburn-haired young woman's head tucked under his chin, their arms wrapped around each other in peaceful slumber. She gritted her teeth to curb the sudden rage that threatened to boil over her at the sight, and brusquely shook her head, the mirror wiping clean to reveal her reflection.

Senna slammed the mirror face down on her pillow and tried to even her breathing. The Death God might have won a round when he took that human from the mortal world, but to her, that only meant that that woman was brought closer to where she was in the realm of gods. The only question now was: how would the Goddess of Autumn be able to access her?

APPENDIX

Ichigo - God of Death and the Moon
Isshin - God of Life
Rangiku - Goddess of Love and Fertility
Urahara - God of Knowledge and Invention
Grimmjow - God of Destruction
Senna - Goddess of Autumn (filler character from Bleach: Memories of Nobody movie)

Thanks for reading :)
Jan/2011; revised 2012