The three man plan
If Renji was anxiously walking around before Ichigo's arrival, now he was like a tiger in a cage.
"Captain!" He turned to Byakuya. "No matter what, I am leaving tonight and I am going to kick Hainara's ass."
"Did you hear what I just said?" Ichigo stood up angrily. "We can't kick his ass, because Rukia will be harmed in the end. And not just Rukia…" Until now Ichigo had not said anything about the baby. First, he was not sure if it was appropriate of him to tell the father and second – he feared Renji's reaction would be even more reckless.
"So what, Kurosaki? Do you suggest we just stay and obey him and watch him torment her, because Soul Society can't live without him? I don't care if we all die, but I have to get Rukia out of his grasp!" Renji was shouting.
"If it was possible I would have already done it, you fool!" Ichigo shouted too. "But I can't possibly risk her life, especially when she is pregnant!"
Both of the men stopped shouting at looked at each other in shock. Ichigo was angry it had slipped his mouth, while Renji was just completely crushed.
"So…he even got her pregnant…" The red-haired man sat down on his bed.
"No, fool! You got her pregnant! She is already in the 6th month!"
Renji looked up again. A new wave of power hit him with the knowledge that he had to protect not only Rukia, but also his unborn child. Overwhelmed with happiness, he jumped to embrace Ichigo. Ichigo answered eagerly, both of them smiling.
"Well, congrats, Man!" He said.
Just a minute later Renji realized that Byakuya was also standing in that room. Cold sweat ran on his body as he turned his head to meet his gaze, while Ichigo did the same.
"Captain…I…" Renji did not know what to say exactly. He was about to marry Rukia, but with the way things turned out, their child was so clearly conceived out of wedlock and was probably going to be born out of it too.
"I can't believe it!" Byakuya shook his head.
Renji wanted to disappear and Ichigo was also nervously biting his lips.
"I can't believe you two are so stupid to believe that the only way to get rid of this man is to kill him." Byakuya stood up. "We are not going to kill him, but I will definitely seal his reaitsu and put him in prison."
"When you say 'we'…? Ichigo spoke.
"Yes, I mean the three of us, Kurosaki Ichigo. And I hope that you will be able to follow my instructions, because we are doing it tonight!" Byakuya energetically took off his hospital gown, much to the other men's surprise and embarrassment. "Now, who goes to take my uniform?"
The two of them blinked a few times. The determination in Byakuya's eyes was definitely something to be feared.
Rukia was in bed, but she was not sleeping. Luckily, Hainara was so mad at her, that he went to his own room and left her alone. She was not to leave the house – that was obvious. His strong shield of reishi could not be easily broken. She was very scared for her baby, but hoped to find a solution in the coming months.
Suddenly, she felt familiar reaitsu close to her. Ichigo! She got up and moved to the window. Ichigo was really in front of the house and the guards were lying on the ground, defeated. Not only that, but he also tried to break the barrier surrounding the house. She heard the familiar "Getsuga Tensho", but it did not achieve anything. To her surprise, Ichigo was not alone.
"Renji!" She gasped, when she saw her husband behind Ichigo, transforming into his Bankai form.
Ichigo did the same. Their attacks united created a loud explosion and the barrier was gone. Rukia could not help it, but run down the stairs with her sword.
"Hainara!" Renji shouted. "Show up!"
"Abarai – kun!" Said man walked in front of them, smiling. "I thought you would be more careful, after you just came back from the dead."
"You son of a bitch! I am giving you a chance to re-do that stupid spell you put on Rukia and let her go. Otherwise, you will go to Hell!"
Hainara answered with a loud laugh.
"There is no way to re-do it! And if you still care about Rukia, you better leave. I am giving you a last chance to live!"
"You are going to pay for everything!" Ichigo hissed as he ran towards him.
Hainara quickly started shooting arrows at him, but Ichigo's speed was incredible. The orange-haired man was just a step away and he prepared to cut his arm, but then he was suddenly pushed away by some unknown force. Hainara smiled.
"You haven't heard of Quincy's Blut? I am surprised. But then your friend Ishida Uryu also works with Emperor Yhwach!"
Ichigo raised his eyebrows.
"No way am I going to believe you! And I don't care if you have Blut or anything, because that won't stop me!" Ichigo was ready to run again.
Hainara continued sending arrows his way, but then Renji managed to get close to him, provoking him to turn and fight him. In order to use his Blut defense, he had to stop his bow and Ichigo used that opportunity, wounding his leg. Hainara hissed, but pushed away both of them, quickly sending an arrow into Ichigo's hand, causing him to drop his sword.
"It seems your Blut does not work for two parts of your body at the same time!"
"Renji! Ichigo!" Rukia exclaimed as she ran out of the house.
"Stand back, Rukia!" Renji shouted and she stopped in her tracks.
Hainara tried to use this opportunity to take Rukia in his grasp, but Ichigo was faster, grabbing the man's neck from behind. Renji attacked, while Hainara used Blut again – the energy sent Renji flying in the air.
His happiness was short-lived, however, as he felt sharp pain, coming from both his hands and legs. Four pink blades were stabbed into his flesh.
"Byakuya!" He hissed.
Byakuya appeared from behind them.
"Nii-sama!" Rukia whispered, her eyes full of tears.
"Rikujōkōrō!" Byakuya said, restraining Hainara's movements.
Hainara was burning with anger.
"You attack three against one! Your dirty tricks amaze me!"
"It is you who used dirty tricks. I am merely answering you." Byakuya calmly walked over to the man.
Renji undid his Bankai as he ran to embrace Rukia. She moved her arms around his neck, tears running down her cheeks from happiness.
"Good job, Byakuya!" Ichigo smiled as he moved to take his sword again.
"Ichigo!" Rukia released Renji, worriedly looking at Ichigo's wounded hand.
"It's nothing, Rukia! Inoue will heal it in no time." He smiled, glad that Rukia was finally safe.
Byakuya moved to take hold of Hainara.
"It's over!" He said, straight to his face.
Hainara smiled.
"Indeed. I am so sorry, Rukia! If only you listened to me and chose me!"
Rukia could not understand the meaning of those words.
Just then, Hainara cried out, breaking Byakuya's Kido spell. Kuchiki was blinded by the outburst in front of him. Renji and Ichigo could not react fast enough and within few seconds, the Quincy used one of his arrows to pierce his forehead, falling to the ground.
"Noo!" Ichigo ran to him, shaking Hainara's body.
He was dead.
Renji and Ichigo turned to Rukia, who was surprisingly standing tall on her legs. The bracelet had vanished from her wrist. Taking this as a good sign, the men laughed in relief. Hainara's body was slowly degrading to spiritual particles, but there was Rukia. She was fine and free. Or so they thought.
"Rukia!" Renji jumped to catch her as she started falling.
"It was true…" She whispered, feeling weak.
"No! NO!" Ichigo moved closer too. "I am going to get Inoue. She will manage to…" Rukia caught his hand, with her last powers.
"It's useless. I have only a few minutes left." She was getting paler. "Thank you, Ichigo! Renji, I am sorry I could not protect our child." Renji was holding her, tears forming in his eyes. "Nii-sama…"
Byakuya was up on his feet, his hands clutched into fists.
"I love you all…" Rukia said, as they all watched the last drops of life leave her. Byakuya kneeled, taking Rukia's other hand in his own hands. He did not have a solution to this scenario.
Ichigo moved up, shouting.
"No way! No way are you leaving us, Rukia!" He was holding his head with both his hands. "I am going to give you my powers and you will live. I am going to…" Suddenly his face lightened up. "Of course! Just like you did all those years ago! I will transfer my powers into you!"
Renji and Byakuya turned their heads to him. Renji left Rukia's body on the grass softly, joining Ichigo.
"Ichigo! I am going to do it! You don't know how it's done."
"No!" Byakuya spoke. They expected him to take on the leading role, but he surprised them. "Kurosaki will do it! Rukia had successfully transferred his powers to him before. They are compatible. It's certain."
Ichigo quickly took his sword.
"Renji, show me how!"
Meanwhile, the last remnants of Hainara's spiritual pressure were about to leave.
"We have no time…" Renji shouted in despair.
"Jikanteishi!" Byakuya exclaimed and everything froze around them. Rukia was unconscious but breathing.
"Captain, this spell is …" Renji widenes his eyes.
"I know! And I can't keep it much longer, so just do it quickly!" The noble shouted.
Renji turned his head to Ichigo, quickly instructing the orange-haired man, who wasted no time following his instructions ans trusting his sword straight into Rukia's heart. Byakuya fell on the ground his hands in wounds, as the strong Kido spell was broken. All of them hoping for a miracle!
An hour later, Byakuya was standing together with Ichigo on front of furious Yamamoto and Mayuri. Byakuya had his hands bandaged, but other than that he was acting as per usual. Ichigo was outraged, that instead of being by Rukia's side they were summoned to give explanation.
"Kuchiki Byakuya, I never expected you to do such a stupid thing!" Yamamoto angrily hit the floor with his wooden stick.
"I saved the Gotei 13 from outside oppression." Byakuya calmly said.
"And you dare speak?" Yamamoto shouted, opening his eyes. "You used a forbidden spell! And on top of it, you destroyed the peace he had created. The Wanderreich will attack in a matter of hours! We don't have the needed power to stop them!"
"Are you crazy? Did you just call this psychopath a peacemaker?" Ichigo raised an eyebrow.
Yamamoto was about to kill them both on the spot.
"Kurosaki Ichigo! We treated you with respect and trust but you betrayed them! You had no rights to meddle!"
"I saved my friend! Byakuya saved his sister! We had to do it, of course!" Ichigo shouted in response.
"Get him out of here!" Yamamoto ordered and numerous soldiers dragged Ichigo out despite his tries to free himself.
"Kuchiki, you will remain in prison! We don't need captains like you in the Gotei 13." Yamamoto stated.
"Very well. The Goitei 13 might cease to exist soon anyway." Byakuya answered.
Yamamoto turned his back and left him with Mayuri.
"You are so stupid, Kuchiki! You should have given me a few more days to hack his system and then I would have gladly helped you kill that guy!" He shook his head and sighed.
Renji was holding Rukia's hand, while she was lying unconscious in the 4th division.
"Captain Unohana, is the baby ok?" He worriedly asked.
"I think so. But only time will show, if Kurosaki's reaitsu will influence your child." Renji raised an eyebrow. "We can't be sure that some of his visard powers won't be transferred onto him." Unohana said calmly.
Renji caught his head with his hands.
"Why did this have to happen?"
Unohana put her hand on his shoulder.
"At least, Rukia is alive. And with time, she will wake up." The older captain smiled.
Renji nodded. He hoped that the bad days were behind them.
Somewhere in the Zero Division, Kirinji was watching Seireitei from above. Hitsugaya came next to him.
„Life is a strange thing, right, Toushiro-kun?" Kirinji smiled. "You thought you would never return to Soul Society, but it seems that it is inevitable." He sighed.
Toushiro turned his face to him.
"In order to protect the King, we have to go down and protect the Gotei 13!"
Even though Toushiro thought he was already an expert at hiding his emotions, he couldn't help but show his surprise.
Next chapter is here! Now to the real action! All of these incredible characters and Kido spells belong to Tite Kubo!