Just over two months had passed and Seireitei was now deep within the grip of summer. Ichigo and Byakuya had taken to spending most nights together and the two had developed something of a rapport.
Ichigo tapped her ink brush against her examination scroll anxiously as she sat alone in the large study hall. She had barely managed to pass her first lot of exams with Byakuya, Rukia and Renji's help, and now she was taking the aptitude exam that would determine whether or not she would be suitable for a seated position amongst the soul reaper ranks.
Thankfully the Head Captain had allowed her to skip over her Kidou test after she had accidentally set her examination tutor on fire twice.
The test was mainly multiple choice, posing questions on scenarios and how to overcome them. No one answer seemed wrong so Ichigo believed that the answers given could mean the difference between scrubbing toilets with squad four or holding a leading seat within another division.
Byakuya had been a huge help, often passing her a scroll from his personal library for her to study. The thought made her smile. The last couple of weeks her husband had been quiet thoughtful giving her helpful advice and taking the time to ask her how she was. He seemed to be more interested in her comings and goings lately which had led to Rukia throwing gooey eyes her way more than once.
Ichigo penned in her last answer with a sigh.
Please let me have done well. Ichigo begged silently as she laid her brush down and motioned to the examination soul reaper that she was finished.
"Are you confident that you have done all you can?" The old man asked.
"Yeah, I am."
"Are you sure? Once I remove this paper you cannot reclaim it."
"I'm sure thank you." Ichigo confirmed anxiously with a weak smile.
"Very well Lady Kuchiki. Have a good day."
Ichigo nodded then excused herself. She had to shield her eyes from the brightness of the sun as she stepped outside. The weather was glorious , the sun beat down upon the white buildings giving the place a warm glow and he smell of incense was carried on the wind. These were all things that she was quickly becoming accustomed to. The weather in the Soul Society was much more stable than in the human world.
When it rained it rained and when it shined it shined, is what Rukia had told her once. Now Ichigo understood what she had meant.
"Hey Lady Bya-Kun!" Squeaked a high pitched voice. Ichigo grimaced at the nickname as she turned to face Yachiru.
"Hi there." Ichigo smiled.
"Did you finish your exams yet?" The pink haired girl asked as she took a place at her side.
"Yeah I did." Ichigo replied as she looked around warily for the bubbly soul reapers gigantic counterpart.
Since Ichigo had become a full time member of the soul society Kenpachi had been practically stalking her. On more than one occasion Ichigo was forced to pull a cheap trick to lose the manic Captain.
"Kenny isn't here at the moment, he's busy but he said for me to tell you that he'll come play with you later!"
"Great." Ichigo huffed sarcastically. "I can't wait."
"Yey! Neither can Kenny!" Yachiru yelled joyfully as she bounced up and down on the spot excitedly.
Ichigo not for the first time worried for the girls sanity.
Since Ichigo had started living at the Kuchiki mansion she had discovered that the place seemed to be a second home for the pint sized lieutenant. The girl was forever coming and going as she pleased. Ichigo was surprised how unperturbed Byakuya was by these frequent home invasions and had come to believe that Byakuya was secretly fond of Yachiru's Impromptu visits as he always seemed to slip her a sweet or two when he thought that no one was looking.
"How is Bya-Kun?" Yachiru asked brightly as she pulled a stick of pocky out of her Shihakusho and began to nibble at it like a hamster.
"He's fine."
"Where are you going now?"
"I'm going to the thirteenth division to see if they need any help today."
"Yey! I'll come too!"
Ichigo rolled her eyes, the girl seemed to have an unlimited supply of energy at her disposal. Not that Ichigo minded her company; in fact it was a welcome addition to her day to day life.
They had been walking along happily enough when Yagari appeared before her.
"My Lady. Momoko Kuchiki has requested an audience with you." He spoke formally head bowed slightly as he addressed her.
"Tell her she'll have to wait." Ichigo growled. Momoko sadly was one thing that hadn't changed. The woman was relentless when it came to pulling Ichigo up for every little thing that happened. Ichigo had hoped that once she and Byakuya were married the vulture would step back and leave them too it, but she had no such luck.
"Lady Momoko was insistent." He replied woodenly, his watery blue eyes piercing hers challengingly. Ichigo growled in frustration.
"Sorry Yachiru, looks like I'll have to accompany you another time."
"Aw, I don't like bird lady she's a big meanie!" Yachiru squealed then vanished from sight.
"Tell Momoko I'm on my way." Ichigo said to Yagari then turned around and began to head back home.
Momoko was sat in the receiving room. Her small beady eyes swept over Ichigo judgementally as usual.
"You're right sleeve is frayed, you should have a new Shihakusho made."
Ichigo looked down at the sleeve, a single thread stuck out from the seam. She pinched it between her fingers and pulled it out quickly; then returned her gaze to Momoko's withered old face.
"Problem solved." Ichigo smiled sweetly.
Momoko sniffed obviously unimpressed. "You are such a defiant child." She sneered.
"Just because I'd rather fix something than replace it, does not make me defiant it makes me practical."
"There are however some things that are impossible to fix, no matter how hard we may try." The old woman intoned calmly, her gaze shifting to meet Ichigo's eyes.
Ichigo knew that she was the unfixable thing that Momoko was referring to on this occasion. She bit back an insult with much trouble and took a deep cleansing breath to steady herself.
"Why are you here?"
"I came to see what condition you are in of course."
"Well as you can see I'm in one piece. Now if you'd excuse me, I have better things to do with my time than play the host game with you."
"Are you with child yet?" Momoko asked bluntly as Ichigo turned to leave the room.
She froze on the spot.
Again? Ichigo thought exasperated.
Momoko pretty much asked the same question every other day whether by letter or in person.
"Byakuya and I have been married barely three months, I'm sure it will take time."
"Are you even trying?"
Ichigo turned around to face her Aunt in law.
"You keep asking this question, but I don't see how it's got anything to do with you. I'm Byakuya's wife, anything that happens between us in the privacy of our rooms is just that, private. In other words none of your business!"
Momoko smiled slightly her eyebrow arching petulantly.
"Actually that is where you are wrong. The Kuchiki clan is dependent upon you baring a child and the sooner that happens the better. Seeing that you have not yet conceived I shall have a remedy made for you to take before you got to bed each night."
"Why do I need a remedy? I'm not sick."
"This remedy will encourage conception to happen sooner."
"You want me to take a fertility drug?" Ichigo huffed disbelievingly.
"Yes."
"I wont do it!" Ichigo growled.
"You must."
"I don't have to if I don't want to. It will happen when and if it happens deal with it."
Momoko stood up quickly and proceeded to leave the room.
"I see that coming here was a waste of time as usual."
"Yeah well maybe one day you'll get the hint and realise that you're not welcome." Ichigo sneered. The older woman smirked at her, increasing Ichigo's ire even further.
"Until next time Lady Kuchiki." Momoko said in a sickeningly sweet voice then left.
Dinner time arrived bringing with it Rukia and Byakuya, both a little worn out from their daily activities.
The three ate their meal, exchanging the latest news and updates. Ichigo smiled slightly to herself as Rukia told Byakuya about an event that had occurred in her squad earlier that day.
She was surprised how homely the place now felt. Mealtimes were something she now looked forward whereas in the early days it had been something she had dreaded. Although quiet Byakuya did listen, and occasionally added to their conversations.
Dinner was finished and everyone excused themselves. Ichigo took her routine evening bath, then went for a stroll around the gardens. As was lately his custom to do so Byakuya soon joined her. They walked around in silence until the sun gave up and finally set, leaving the gardens cast in shadow and lit only by the light of the moon and the few paper lanterns that hung from the branches of a Cherry blossom tree.
"Momoko came to see me again today." Ichigo said breaking the silence.
"And what did she have to say?" Byakuya asked turning his head to look at her.
"Heirs." Ichigo muttered knowing that this was all the information her husband would need to gather how the conversation between the two of them had went.
"I see." He muttered taking a seat on a stone bench near to them. Ichigo plopped herself down next to him and let out a deep, long suffering sigh.
"She wants me to take fertility drugs."
"And what did you say to that?" He asked her his face growing serious.
Byakuya a few weeks beforehand had confessed his dislike for his Aunt. Ichigo now felt comfortable unloading her problems with the woman onto him as he knew better than anyone the emotional weapons the old hag wielded.
"I said no. I mean it's not like we haven't been...well you know..." Ichigo's face turned scarlet and she looked away embarrassed.
"No doubt she was not pleased." Byakuya said smiling slightly, skilfully diverting the conversation away from sex.
Although the two of them had been intimate almost nightly since the wedding Ichigo still found herself often chagrined by the subject.
"No she wasn't. She left; but I don't think I've heard the end of it."
"I can have words with her if you'd like." He said his face softening as he studied her intently.
"No, I've got to deal with her myself. I don't want her to think that I'm weak and will go running off to you for help every time something bad happens."
Byakuya nodded in understanding then stood. He reached out a hand, which she took and pulled her to her feet.
"It's getting late we should retire." He said softly his hand still holding hers. Ichigo nodded and followed him back to their rooms.
That night as she lay in bed her mind kept bouncing around the conversation she and Momoko had, had with each other. Ichigo was worried, she knew that Momoko was not one to take no for an answer and Ichigo was shocked when the old bat had left without argument when Ichigo had told her that she wouldn't take the offered remedy. With Momoko nothing was a suggestion. Every word that left the woman's mouth were thinly veiled threats that promised reprisals when ignored.
Ichigo turned to look at Byakuya his face was turned towards hers. His features were relaxed in sleep, completely unguarded making him appear younger and carefree.
I wish he'd look this peaceful even when he's awake. Ichigo thought as she gently touched his raven hair. Byakuya moaned slightly in his sleep and unconsciously pushed his face into her hand. A smile spread across her lips as a warm feeling spread throughout her chest.
"I'm the lieutenant of squad thirteen!" Ichigo yelled gleefully as she waved her acceptance letter in front of her friends. It had been nearly a month since she had taken the exam and now here were her results.
"Congratulations Ichigo welcome to the fold!" Rangiku clapped her hands excitedly.
"Wow!" Renji grinned as he snatched the scroll from her and quickly read over the official type. "I can't belive the Head Captain is actually letting you into thirteen. With Ukitake's health you'll practically be running that squad."
"Oh shut your mouth Renji!" Rukia berated playfully. "It'll be good to have you in the squad Ichigo!" Rukia smiled. "Does Brother know?"
"No. I haven't seen him yet. I think I should go talk to my new Captain." Ichigo smirked proudly as she bounced towards the exit.
"Ichigo find me when you're done. We'll have a celebratory drink!" Rangiku cried joyfully after her retreating form.
"Will do!" Ichigo cried as she leapt confidently onto the rooftops towards her division.
Her Division, the thought sent a warm feeling through her. Now she would no longer be the tag along changing between divisions. She was a lieutenant now. She felt as though her life were finally coming back on track.
She would have been lying if she were to say she was not depressed over her separation from the human world. On more than one occasion she had awoken Byakuya in the night with her sobs. He had been so comforting when she cried, holding her tightly whilst gently stoking her back until she was emotionally spent and fell to sleep cocooned within his strong arms.
He truly had been her rock during those moments of weakness, and never once did he judge her for lack of control over her crumbling emotions.
She landed with the elegance of a cat in front of Ukitake's office.
Sentarou and Kiyone greeted her as she approached.
"Good morning Lieutenant Kuchiki! Welcome to the thirteenth division!" Sentarou shouted enthusiastically.
"Congratulations!" Kiyone yelled as she shoved her friend out of the way. "It's so good to have you here! Welcome!"
"Stop butting in Kiyone!" Sentarou yelled.
"I was not I'm simply welcoming our Lieutenant!"
"You were too butting in you booger face!"
"Uh guys is Ukitake in?" Ichigo asked nervously hoping that the argument between the two wouldn't erupt into an all out brawl, which according to Rukia was often the case.
"Yes!" Both cried in union as they scrambled to open the door for her.
"My Captain, Lady Kuchiki is here!" Kiyone announced.
"Come in Ichigo." Ukitake's soft voice called from within the office.
Ichigo walked in, Juushiro looked up at her smiling brightly.
"Welcome to my division Ichigo."
"Thank you Captain, I'm honoured that you accepted me." Ichigo said as she bowed low in respect.
"There's no need to thank me Ichigo, nor to bow. You are a welcome addition to our squad. I'm glad to have you here."
Ichigo smiled gratefully and sat down opposite Ukitake.
"You wont begin your duties until next week. This will give me time to rearrange the schedules to include you. As you are aware my health isn't always good. So you will from time to time have more duties than your fellow lieutenants." Ukitake picked up a scroll from his desk and passed it to her. Ichigo accepted it with a questioning look.
"It contains information on our squad and duties you shall be expected to preform."
"Thank you Captain." Ichigo grinned. "I'm really looking forward to this. I was so worried that I wouldn't get a placement. 'Cause I never attended the academy."
"After all that you have done for the Soul Society the head Captain new it would be foolish to give you a placement undeserving of your contributions. Now then how about some tea?"
Later that day Ichigo made her way to the sake bar with Rangiku. Once there she was taken aback by the yell 'congratulations!' from half a dozen already sake merry voices.
Whilst Ichigo had been talking with her new Captain Rangiku had been busy gathering Ichigo's friends together for the celebratory drink.
Ikkaku, Yumichika, Renji, Kira, and weirdly Nemu were all waiting for her. Rukia was buried in her work and was unable to attend.
Ichigo sat down in the reserved booth with them.
"So you're a lieutenant now huh?" Ikkaku smirked as he passed her a bowl of sake. "Congratulations Ichigo."
"Thanks." Ichigo grinned as she drank the beverage happily.
"The party is over when the booze runs out. So knock them back lieutenant Ichigo drinks are on us tonight!" Rangiku cried happily.
Hours later found Ichigo sprawled across the booth floor giggling manically as Yumichika and Ikkaku told them some of the misadventures they and their squad had been through over the years.
Ichigo tried to applause them once they had finished their tale but found it difficult to bring her hands together.
"I think I may have drunk too much." Ichigo slurred as she tried to stand up only to trip and crash into Rangiku who burst out laughing.
"Come on Ichigo! There is no such thing as drinking too much!" She cried as she took a long swig from one of the many sake bottles that now littered the floor.
Ichigo grinned stupidly as the busty woman offered the bottle to her. She tried to take it but was having trouble working out which one of the four Rangiku's she should be grabbing it from.
"Ha ah aha!" Kira giggled stupidly as he watched her. "She looks like a cat trying to catch a mouse!"
"Shaddup! Ichigo cried as she finally managed to grab the bottle. "I am merely acclimatising to this swaying world."
"You're an idiot is what you are!" Renji snorted loudly.
"I can beat the shit out of you drunk or not remember that Abarai!" Ichigo growled then aimed a punch at him which instead hit Ikkaku.
"Hey!"
"Oopsie, 'm sorry 'Kaku." Ichigo cried apologetically as she patted the bald man on the chest, then turned her attention back to her crimson headed friend.
"If Rukia were here then she'd hit you for me!" Ichigo smirked as Renji blushed at the mention of his childhood friends name. "Renji loves Rukia!" Ichigo giggled. Everyone laughed as the tattooed mans face grew red enough to match his spiked hair.
"He's not denying it!" Rangiku laughed playfully.
"How Cute." Yumichika smirked .
"So when are you going to grow some balls and ask her to marry you?" Ikkaku demand as he slapped his friend on the back heavily.
"Uh...I...Soon." Renji muttered his expression growing more embarrassed. "I don't know what my Captain will think though. What if he wont let me?"
"Ah! Don't worry about him Renji!" Ichigo yelled as she hugged him tightly. "I'll make sure he lets you marry our darling little Rukia!"
"You'd do that?" Renji asked her seriously, sobering up slightly.
"Yeah of course. I mean I am his wife after all! And lately he's been offering to do all sorts of stuff for me, so this can be one of the things he can do for me!" Ichigo finished with a loud hiccup and grinned at everyone proudly. "See I'm drunk and I can still scheme!"
"Lady Kuchiki."
"Oh no, not you!" Ichigo cried loudly as she turned to see none other than Yagari stood in the doorway of their private booth looking down at her with disdain. "Go away!" She cried as she picked up an empty sake bottle and threw it at his feet.
"Lord Kuchiki is looking for you."
"Well then by all means tell 'Lord Kuchiki' where I am, just go away first." Ichigo groaned. Why of all people did Yagari have to turn up? "To be honest I don't like you, you're weird and almost as bad a Momoko in the whole attitude department."
Everyone in the room watched the exchange with great interest and bated breath. Yagari's face grew angered and his thin lips curled into a sneer. "You disgrace the Kuchiki clan with this unsightly behaviour!" He hissed venomously.
"I don't care!" Ichigo yelled as she stumbled to her feet. "I don't care about the Kuchiki clan! I just wanted to have a night of fun with my friends! Then you have to show up and ruin it! You're always looking at me like I'm dirt. Leave me alone! I'm going now, goodbye everyone" Ichigo called to her friends as she smashed passed Yagari clumsily and unsteadily made her way out of the sake bar. The sun had set long ago and the air was now cold.
"Whoa I must have been in there for ages." Ichigo muttered as she stumbled back to the mansion determinedly. Damn Yagari. Ichigo thought as she wobbled around. No matter where I go it all comes down to being a bloody Kuchiki.
She arrived at the mansion 'after several detours into walls and bushes' still completely drunk. She managed to get to her room quietly enough but made quite a commotion whilst trying to pull on her nightwear.
After ten failed attempts she finally managed to pull her yukata on.
"I win!" Ichigo declared triumphantly as she did a little victory jig in celebration of her latest achievement.
"Where have you been?"
Ichigo yelped in shock as she turned to see Byakuya watching her.
"I was celebrating!" Ichigo smiled as she fell to the floor with a thud.
"Are you inebriated?" He asked as he made his way over to where she had landed.
"Yeah." Ichigo admitted, too drunk to care what he thought.
"I see." He answered as he watched her struggle to right herself.
"Don't look at me like that!" Ichigo moaned as she finally managed to stand up.
Byakuya raised a thin eyebrow in confusion. "Like what?"
"Like I'm a fool!" Ichigo huffed her cheeks turning red as she stumbled away from him.
"Well you are."
Ichigo turned around to yell at him but was confused to see a gentle smile on his face as he watched her.
"What're you smirking at?" Ichigo demanded as she wagged a finger at him. "I'll beat you up if you start laughing at me! And you know I can, I've done it before after all!"
"I don't intend to laugh at you Ichigo." He assured, then quickly grabbed her to prevent her colliding with the dressing table.
"You should watch where you're going." He reproached quietly as he helped her sit on the futon.
"Renji's going to ask you to let him marry Rukia." Ichigo grunted as she let herself fall back against her pillows with a soft thud.
"Is that so?" Byakuya asked as he pulled her socks off gently and placed them in the clothing hamper.
"Yeah he told me tonight. You have to let him marry her Byakuya." Ichigo sniffed, her eyes watering slightly as she looked at him seriously. "They love each other."
"I have no intention of standing in their way." He replied his dark eyes meeting hers.
"That's good to know." She sighed heavily as she relaxed against the bed, her eyes sliding shut. "Why aren't you angry at me?" She asked not bothering to look at him.
"You were celebrating your achievement, why should I be angry?"
"You sent Yagari to find me." Ichigo huffed. "I thought that you were angry."
She opened her eyes as she felt the bed dip next to her from his added weight. She watched as he reclined next to her turning to look at her face.
"I was worried, I didn't know where you were." He admitted quietly.
"You were worried about me?" Ichigo asked her heart beating faster as her belly filled with a warm fluttering feeling.
Byakuya nodded slightly his eyes wandering across her face.
"Why?"
"I don't know." He muttered then raised his hand to her chin and caressed her cheek gently with his thumb. He then leaned in and quickly kissed her on the lips. Ichigo gasped at the unexpected contact. Sure they had been intimate with each other many times before, but for some reason the kiss he'd just given her felt different.
He pulled away his breathing uneven, then sat up to leave. Ichigo quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him back towards the bed; suddenly feeling a lot more sober than she had a moment beforehand.
"Wait." She begged him. He turned to look at her, his face wrought with obvious confusion.
"I should go." He whispered, his voice shaking slightly. How unlike him Ichigo thought as he pulled his arm from her grip roughly.
But instead of leaving Byakuya continued to sit on the edge of the bed his hands now clenched together as he stared at the floor. Ichigo watched him her heart racing. This feeling it was so new, the way he kissed her; it was so different to any kiss he'd given her before now it was so full of emotion.
Ichigo's earlier drunkenness all but vanished as she sat up and scooted over to him.
"You should stay here with me." Ichigo said desperately, before she could think keep her mouth shut.
She grimaced as the words left her. How would he react? Would he berate her? would he remind her that he didn't love her? That this was a marriage of convenience? Ichigo began to wrack her brain for a way to resolve the situation. When Byakuya quickly spun around and pinned her to the bed.
"What are you doing to me?" He demanded his voice cracking with emotion as he stared at her with fiery eyes. His hands pushed her shoulders into the mattress and all Ichigo could do was stare up at him in shock.
"This wasn't how it was meant to be!" He growled as he let go of her shoulders and sat back his eyes shut tight as though trying to will her away with the power of thought.
Ichigo watched Byakuya unsure of what to do. Where had this sudden attitude change come from? Then again now that she thought about it he had been acting different lately. Taking more of an interest in her, asking her if there was anything he could do. giving her books, and kimonos for no reason other than he felt like it.
"Goodnight." Byakuya grunted as he quickly left her room slamming the door shut loudly behind him as he left.
Sleep did not find Ichigo easily that night as her encounter with Byakuya replayed in her minds eye. More than once she stood before his door debating whether or not to go in and confront him about his behaviour but in the end she chickened out, too afraid of the answers she might find.
"I'll ask him tomorrow." She promised herself before finally extinguishing the light.
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Thanks for your patience. this is the last chapter from Binksy's Coercion.
The next chapter will be tbe begining of my own story in order to complete Coercion.
See you next Chapter