"I'm pregnant."
Those words changed Ichigo Kurosaki's life forever. It didn't change his life in the way he thought it would, but in the end, it took him to the place he needed to be. Those two words were so important, in so many ways, and they led to a great deal of pain first because of what she said next.
"I don't know if it's yours."
Ichigo had almost dropped the bowl of ramen he was holding when Orihime had announced suddenly before dinner that she was pregnant. Now, with those words, he did drop the bowl. There was a crashing sound, and shards of the ceramic bowl went flying about the kitchen. The entire time, Orihime stared at her hands and didn't look up at Ichigo.
They'd gotten married right after high school ended. Honestly, everyone expected it, so no one was surprised. Everyone wished them well, and when they moved to Tokyo for school, everyone supported them there too. They went home on the weekends to Karakura Town and saw Ichigo's family. Things had been good for the last five years. Even things in Soul Society had been quiet, and other than the occasional hollow, Ichigo hadn't been required to do anything for them. Five years, and Ichigo was close to finishing part of the medical program he was going to school in, and Orihime was already a nurse, going for an advanced nursing degree.
"What?" was all Ichigo could manage, standing there with spilled ramen around his feet, socks damp from the broth.
"I'm sorry. Things just happened. I told you I ran into Ishida-kun a while back." She still refused to look at Ichigo.
"You said you saw him at the hospital and went out and got a drink since I was working third shift on clinicals," Ichigo knew all that.
"I didn't tell you we ended up back here. He confessed to me. He said he'd fallen in love with me when we were in school, but because of you, he never said anything. I told him I felt the same way, but I never thought he'd reciprocate. One thing led to another, and well, we ended up sleeping together." She paused, looking up finally. "I still love you, Kurosaki-kun. But what I did was unforgivable."
Ichigo didn't know what to say right then. In two words, his world had shattered just like the ramen bowl.
"Ishida-kun and I have been talking since then. He knows I'm pregnant already. He said he'll take responsibility for the baby, and me, no matter who it belongs to. I'm leaving tonight to stay with him."
She stood up, not looking at Ichigo as she left the kitchen. Ichigo was frozen, unable to think, let alone move. His heart was beating way too fast and he just stood there until the front door opened and closed.
Two weeks later, she had already filed for divorce, and things were in motion. Ichigo hadn't talked to her, and he had no idea how she was doing. He was still numb, though. He didn't feel anything at all. He'd called his father and told him that they'd separated, giving him the excuse they needed time apart. His father had been shocked, but really didn't press the issue.
Now, tonight, Ichigo had received the notice that the divorce was final. So, he was at a Tokyo dive bar, drinking until he couldn't stand anymore. The numbness had finally worn off, and the pain had set in. He wanted to be numb again.
"That's your third drink in less than thirty minutes, man, you okay?" a man asked him as he sat down beside Ichigo at the bar. It didn't dawn on him how odd it was for someone to have noticed how fast he was drinking.
"I'm 22 and divorced already. I need a drink or two," he answered, knocking back the shot sitting in front of him.
Ichigo didn't notice that someone else sat on the other side of him. The first man reached out and patted him on the back. "Here, let me buy you one," he said, flagging down the bartender.
"So, tell me, how'd you end up divorced already? Cheat on her?" the man asked.
Ichigo looked at him. He was plain looking. Black hair, dark eyes, nothing special. The only thing that stood out about him was the fact he was wearing a brown sport coat. "She's pregnant. And it might not be mine," he said, sighing and picking up the drink without looking at it.
"Aw, man, that's rough. I see why you're in here. Here, finish that one off, and I'll buy you another," he said, smiling.
Ichigo didn't argue with him. He had a few more, talking a little about Orihime and Uryū. Then things began to get hazy. He couldn't stand, he realized, and then he was walking out the door with the guy in the brown sport coat and someone else.
Vaguely he heard a new voice. "Man, some of these guys make such easy targets."
Target? For what, he thought?
The next clear thought he had was dropping to the concrete. He didn't know where he was, but he felt sick and even as drunk as he was, he knew something was wrong. It wasn't just alcohol, and he could tell that. Then, there were hands on him, stripping off his clothes, and he realized in horror what was happening. He fought them, but his responses were dull, and they just beat him in response, causing him to weaken even further.
In the middle of it, he felt a surge from within. Something he hadn't felt in a long time. The hollow was fighting for control again, and Ichigo wasn't sure he could hold him back this time. He pleaded with him to stop, to stay back, but for some reason, perhaps because Ichigo didn't want to stop him, he couldn't, and the world grayed out for a while.
When he came back to his senses, the drugs and the alcohol were gone from his system, burned out by the hollow's presence, no doubt. He was sitting on the ground, completely naked, and covered in blood. Around him, there were three bodies, literally ripped apart. He glanced down at his hands and stared in disbelief at the blood still dripping. He heard distant sirens, so he gathered his clothes and put them on, running away before the police showed up.
He got home, running to the bathroom to vomit first, then he got in the shower and began cleaning himself off from head to toe. He wanted to get rid of the blood, but also their hands.
You can't be hurt that I won't step in.
Ichigo shook his head. No, he couldn't let the hollow take that much control. "You're the horse, remember?" Ichigo stammered as he wrapped a robe around himself and stumbled to his bed.
A horse that will defend his master. Remember that.
Ichigo slipped into bed and fell into a deep sleep plagued with nightmares of what had just happened, both the strange men and the hollow's killing of them. He honestly didn't know which was worse.
-oooooo-OOOOOO-oooooo-
"Ichigo! I didn't expect to see you! What happened to you? You look like you got in a fight, but why didn't Orihime heal you?" Urahara asked as Ichigo stood in front of him at the shoten.
Ichigo did look bad. Not only was his face and arms covered in cuts, scrapes, and bruises, but he was exhausted.
"I don't know what to do, getabishi."
Urahara's smile faded and he adjusted his hat, opening the door wider and ushering him inside. They went in the back to one of the rooms where the tea table was set out. Ichigo dropped into one of the places and waited as Urahara got tea for them. He sat down, frowning at him.
"What's happened?" Urahara asked, serious for once.
Ichigo swallowed a lump in his throat, unsure exactly what he was going to tell Urahara, but knowing he had to tell him something. He needed his help.
"I haven't really told anyone, but Orihime and I are divorced."
Urahara stared for a second. "Divorced?" he echoed.
"She got pregnant. And it might be Ishida's baby."
Urahara didn't move or say anything for a while.
"I'm sorry, Ichigo. I don't know what to say," Urahara finally managed.
"That's not why I'm here," Ichigo said in a near whisper. "It's what happened last night."
Picking up the teacup, Urahara was silent as he watched Ichigo carefully. "Alright."
Ichigo licked his lips and chewed the bottom for a moment. "I went to a bar. There were some guys. I got drunk, maybe drugged. I was attacked." He paused, looking up at Urahara with tears in his eyes. "I didn't do it. I tried to stop him; I swear I did! I didn't want it to happen!"
Now, Urahara's eyes widened, just a bit, as it began to dawn on him what must have happened. "Ichigo, first, are you alright? Do I need to get someone to heal you?"
"I'm fine. Just a little beat up, it's okay, though, I've had worse."
"I don't think you have, Ichigo. If they drugged you—"
"Don't worry about that part!" Ichigo snapped, covering his face with both hands. "Worry about the fact I killed three men!"
Urahara nodded. "You said you couldn't control the hollow?"
"I don't remember much. Just I was fighting them, then I was fighting the hollow inside me and I couldn't stop him anymore. Then when I came back, I was sitting there, and they were all dead, torn apart. It looked like a wild animal had killed them. I don't think the police will know what to do with the scene." Ichigo still had his hands over his face, mumbling around them.
"Okay, let's figure this out. I'll get some instruments, and we'll do some measurements. I'll check your reiatsu and compare it to previous readings," Urahara said, getting up and patting him on the back. He didn't miss the flinch when he touched him.
Several hours later, Urahara had a confused look on his face, and Ichigo was tired.
"The readings are more hollow in nature than before," Urahara said with a sigh. "Something has changed. Drastically. Have you noticed any other changes?"
Ichigo shook his head. "Don't you think murder is enough?"
"I might be inclined to call what happened a form of self-defense, Ichigo. Not murder. You were in danger and the hollow reacted. He's always been a powerful, separate entity to you. Have you tried going to your inner world?" Urahara put down a device he was holding.
"Not since then," he admitted. "I've been afraid if I go in there, he'll come out again."
Urahara nodded. "I can't tell anymore here. If we want to look into this further and find out why your reiatsu has changed to become more hollow, we may need Kurotsuchi-san and the twelfth division in Soul Society."
Ichigo looked at him. "What will happen to me?"
"I don't know. I leave it up to you if you want to involve Soul Society in this," Urahara lifted his hat and scratched his head thoughtfully. "But I can't do anymore here."
In the end, Ichigo decided that he had to find out what was happening to him. He couldn't let the hollow part of him loose on the World of the Living. He just couldn't do that even though he didn't know what Soul Society would do with him. Urahara contacted them, and a few hours later, Rukia came to the shoten.
"Ichigo!" she said, waddling a bit, very obviously pregnant herself.
"Look at you," Ichigo couldn't help but smile. "I'm surprised you came. Renji said you were doing well last time I saw him in Tokyo."
She placed her hands on her stomach and grinned. "I had to come. You look terrible, why didn't Orihime heal you?"
Ichigo's face fell and Rukia regretted her question immediately. "We're no longer together. She's with Ishida now."
Rukia's eyes widened and she looked completely taken by surprise. Ichigo guessed it was natural for her to have that kind of reaction. After all, him and Orihime were "meant to be" as everyone said. He guessed meant to be didn't last forever.
"What's going on, then? Why are you coming to Soul Society, and why did they insist someone come to get you with priority?" she said, looking between Ichigo and Urahara.
"His reiatsu is becoming more hollow in nature. We don't know why," Urahara said, staring at Ichigo.
Ichigo realized Urahara must not have told them that he'd murdered three men under the influence of the hollow. He had to thank him for that, because that was something he didn't want to discuss again, especially not with Rukia.
"Well, I'm sure Kurotsuchi-taichou will be quite happy to examine you," Rukia said. "Granted, I can't say much for the bedside manner you're about to receive…"
Ichigo told Urahara goodbye and followed Rukia through to Soul Society. He was nervous but hopeful. Maybe they would be able to find out what was happening. They went immediately to the twelfth division where they were met by Kurotsuchi himself.
"Well, I finally get a Vizard in my lab as a willing participant!" he said, eyeing Ichigo.
"Kurotsuchi-taichou, please take care of him. I'd hate for anything to happen to him," Rukia said, eyes hard and glaring at the eccentric looking captain. There was a distinct chill in the room.
Rukia left him there, and Kurotsuchi set to work doing scans of him. After a few hours of sitting in a chair having various instruments around him, Kurotsuchi and Akon were standing in front of him.
"The readings are different than before," Akon said.
"Yes, yes, that is expected. We knew they were going to be different," Kurotsuchi waved at him.
"No, Taichou. They're different than the first scans we took today," Akon explained further.
"What? The hollow strength is steadily increasing?"
Ichigo's heart began to beat a little faster. What was happening? Why was this happening? Things had been fine for five years. He'd barely needed to even summon the mask for anything in that time, and now his hollow was taking over his body?
Kurotsuchi stared at him, then turned back to the panel. "Something has changed recently."
Ichigo felt his heart clench. There was only one thing that had changed, and that was the attack. He didn't want to tell them about that.
Akon nodded. "A triggering event had to occur that gave rise to the power levels increasing. Perhaps something that increased arousal? Heightened adrenaline? Cortisol?"
Kurotsuchi turned to him then. "Well, what happened that triggered this?" he demanded.
Ichigo swallowed. "Orihime and I split up."
"No, no, too broad. Something acute. Something that caused you to fight for your life," Kurotsuchi said, narrowing his eyes and coming over to him.
"A fight," Ichigo admitted. "I got drunk and these guys attacked me."
"That could have been enough." Akon turned back to the instruments. "Perhaps the alcohol caused a distorted perception of danger and allowed the hollow nature to strengthen."
"We need more tests," Kurotsuchi said, turning away from Ichigo and moving off with Akon.
Ichigo's relief was short-lived, because Kurotsuchi's next round of testing was not nearly as pleasant as the previous one. This time, he wanted samples, and he wanted to measure levels of different chemicals to see if they affected his reiatsu. In fact, for the next two weeks, he performed testing and experiments on Ichigo that Ichigo would liken more to torture. Several times, he felt the surge of the hollow's presence, but whatever Kurotsuchi was doing helped keep him under control.
He wasn't allowed to leave the division and was given a small room to himself. He tried not to think of it as if he was locked away, but that's what it felt like. For some reason, Renji and Rukia didn't come to see him while he was there, so he imagined that Kurotsuchi-taichou had insisted on no visitors while he was there. At least, that was what he told himself.
After a month altogether, Ichigo was sitting in the room alone, like most days. He sat on the bed and listened to the silence.
It's time to go.
Ichigo blinked. "What?" he mumbled, sitting up straighter.
You're about to find out who your friends are, and they aren't who you think they are.
Ichigo didn't know what that meant at all, but just then, the door opened to reveal the Sou-Taichou. Ichigo stood up and stared as he came into the room, followed by Kurotsuchi-taichou.
"Kurosaki Ichigo. It has been decided that you will be confined to Soul Society until such time as your hollow nature can be controlled or eliminated." He paused, glancing at Kurotsuchi. "Place the seki-seki stone on him and prepare him to transfer to the tower."
"Wait, wait, what? What's going on?" Ichigo said, standing and backing away from them deeper into the room.
"You heard the Sou-Taichou, Kurosaki," Kurotsuchi said with a grin. "I get to keep trying to understand you. Perhaps see if we can't remove that hollow Zanpakutō."
Ichigo shook his head, feeling the surging sensation again. "No, look, this isn't necessary. I don't need to go to the tower. I'm fine here, and there's no need to shut off my powers like that!"
"I am sorry, Kurosaki Ichigo. The decision has been made," the Sou-Taichou said, nodding at Kurotsuchi again.
"I won't! You can't!"
Hold on tight, King. This is going to be a helluva ride.
It was like being dunked in ice water as his skin faded into to white and the hollow's presence came forward. This time, though, he wasn't forced away, he stayed conscious. For some reason, everyone else in the room was moving in slow motion to him. He was there, but he definitely wasn't in control. Kurotsuchi came toward him and he slammed him away.
"I'm out, bitches," came a voice from Ichigo that sounded wrong.
Behind him, a garganta opened and he stepped backward through it. Ichigo thought for a second how strange it was since he'd never been able to open one before, but the hollow inside him was stronger, after all. The garganta closed, and Ichigo was in control of his body again. He stared at his hand, seeing the color had returned to normal.
Sorry, King. But there's no going back again, the hollow's voice reverberated in his brain. I made you more me, and less you.
Ichigo looked around the sands of Hueco Mundo, seeing absolutely nothing except Las Noches in the distance. He supposed there was nowhere else to go.