ARRANGED LOVE OR COERCION?

Disclaimer: I donot own Bleach or it's characters :)

"Speaking"

"Thinking"

"Zanpakuto/Hollow"

Chapter 13: High fever, bed rest and personal nurse

Ichigo returned to the Kuchiki manor that evenning with shopping bags in hand. she rejected the help of a servant who wanted to assist her with the bags.

"Don't bother yourself with the bags Daichi they aren't heavy."

"But Lady Kuchiki it is my duty to carry them. please don't put me in a difficult situation by preventing me from doing my job.

" Tell you what, let's just pretend you did not see me and I will let you attain to your other duties."

"But Ichigo-sama I can't..."

No buts it's an order." Ichigo said with a frown.

"Hai, Ichigo-sama"

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Ichigo entered their bedroom to find Byakuya fast asleep huddled in blanket. "Wow he is back early today. I will just have to keep this stuffs away, so that he doesnot see them."

After hiding her shopping bags deep inside her closet. Ichigo stripped naked and got ready for her shower.

"I better freshen up before he wakes up." with that Ichigo entered the bathroom for her shower.

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Ichigo had just finished dressing up when there was a knock on the bedroom door. Openning the door silently not to disturb Byakuya she saw Rukia at the door. Going out and shutting the door behind her she asked.

" Rukia what is the matter why do you look so worried?"

"Hello Ichigo I didn't know you were back already. Is Nii-sama with you?

" Yeah sort of I came back and found him asleep, come to think of it, that was about an hour ago. He must have been really tired to sleep for so long."

"That's why I am worried Renji said he left the 6th division early this afternoon saying he had a headache and the servants say he has been sleeping since then."

"Wait that therefore means there is a a problem. let me check if he is alright.

" Ok ichigo I will wait here."

"Why will you do that? she asked confused. " You can come in Rukia." Ichigo said re-entering the room her friend directly behind her.

On reaching the bed, Ichigo called his name once before shaking him. However, she got no reply. Deciding to remove part of the blanket covering his head she was. shocked to realized Byakuya looked paler and whiter in an unusual way.

"" Hey Rukia is he usually this pale?" she asked worriedly. On touching his forehead. she shouted " Oh my God Rukia he is burning hot!! he has a high fever go and get a medic Rukia, while I try to bring down his temperature.

"Hai I will be right back." answered the petite woman as she hurried out of the room.

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Ichigo went into the bath room and came back with a bowl of cold water and towels.

"Byakiya... Byakuya? Can you hear me? she called ,putting a wet towel on his head."Hey Kuchiki can you here me? wake up!

" Ichi..go is that you?" he asked in a whisper.

"Yes idiot it's me. How are you feeling." she asked softly.

"My head hurts. What time is it?" he asked.

"Time for you to rest Kuchiki, you have a very high fever. Rukia has gone to call for Unohana-taichou, so please try not to strain yourself."

" I am just tired not sick Ichigo. I will be fine by tomorrow." he whispered.

"The medic will be the one to confirm that Byakuya." She said replacing the towel on his head with a new one.

"Ichigo?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you"

"What for?" she asked confused.

"Taking care of me, you did not have to. You could have called a servant or a maid." he explained.

"Sssshhhht! I told you not to strain yourself you are very weak right now. No need to thank me, I am your wife it's my job to take care of you whenever you are sick."

"Ichigo it's painful to admit put I think he is right I don't deserve you." he whispered.

"I did not get you Byakuya, what did you say?

" Nevermind it is not important." he said. Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door.

" Good evenning Ichigo-chan it's me Unohana, may I come?"

"Yes of course taichou come in."

."How is he?" the Captain of the 4th division asked in usually soft voice.

" He has a high fever and his temperarure is very high. I have been trying to lower his temperature with a soaked towel, but it seems its not working ." the orangette explained.

" Ok Ichigo, let me do a general check up on him in order to know what he is sufferring from."

" Ichigo left his bedside giving way for Unohana to do the diagnosis.

The medic with the use a kido spell begain her check up, she was able after a few minutes to tell what the noble had."

"Byakuya-kun you are neglecting your health again. You have not been eating, sleeping and resting properly why is that? she asked.

" It is nothing taichou I just had alot of things to take care of I guess I overdid it again." he explained.

"Byaku-chan don't tell me you have become as reckless as your wife. she tease causing her patient to smirk.

" Who knows taichou I might have copied some of her bad habits." he jokingly said.

"Wow taichou he must really be sick if he is already making jokes. Ichigo remarked teasingly. "So what does he have?"

"Well dear, Byakuya will be fine in about a week. His fever is due to a lot of stress, his body couldn't support the strain that is why, he is sick." Unohana explained.

"Does he have an infection taichou? You see his high tempratures made me really worried."

"No he doesn't have an infection, the headache and the high temperatures is his body's natural reaction to alot of both physical abd mental stress.

"Ah! I see, that is a relief. So what medicines will he take for the fever?"

"You seem to know alot about taking care of a patient, how is that?" the medic asked her curiously.

"Well I use to work in a clinic, my family owns one in Karakura." she said.That explanation made the room to go into an unconfortable silence. To change the topic Unohana said "He needs alot of rest Ichigo that means no working for atleast a week. Since he doesn't have an infection; you will give him this medicine to drink trice a day it will give his body strength to heal itself."

"Got it thank you taichou." Ichigo said taking the bottle from Unohana.

"Unohana-taichou since I am not actually sick can't you use kido to heal me? I can't spend a whole week in bed I have alot to do." asked Byakuya in a tired voice.

That question made Unohana to develop an intimidating aura around her and with a threatening smile she said " Byakuya-chan are you trying to undermind my healing skills?".

"No taichou"

"I thought so too, I will not heal you with kido.However, I also know you are very good in kido and that you will try to heal yourself. If I find out you did that Bya-kun you will be very sorry my boy."

Byakuya cleared his throat to cover up the fear he felt from that subtle threat and said "Hai taichou but can you please reduce my resting days to less than a week?" he asked expectantly.

"As stubborn as always I see, that will depend on Ichigo." she ssid returning back to her normal domeanor.

"Me why?" asked a confused Ichigo.

"Simply beacause I leave him into your care. If there are any complications send a servant to call me. I want you to personally take care of him.'

" Oh I see."

"Well I will take my leave now."

" Bye taichou and thanks again." Ichigo said with a bow. The medic responded with a gentle smile and left the couple to themselves.

"Hahahaha... Oh my God Byakuya I did not know Unohana-taichou could equally scare...Who would have thought the fearless 28th leader of the Kuchiki clan and...the Captain of the 6th division will ever fear the threats of a medic...this is hilarious" She said between fits of laughter.

" I see you find my predicament amusing Ichigo. In truth my grand-father and the Captain Commander equally think the woman is scary."

"I know what you mean both my Captain and Captain Kyoraku are scared of her but you? I would have never imagined." she said still laughing.

"I am fearless as you say but not stupid enough to contradict her." he said in an amused tone.

"You have a point. So what will you like to eat?"

"I am not hungry"

"You have to eat and take your medicine Byakuya what should I bring for you?"

"Bring anything Ichigo" he said not having the energy to argue with her.

"Ok then give me a few minutes I will be right back" she said leaving to go get him something to eat.

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Immediately after Ichigo left, Byakuya fell asleep again but this time he was pulled into his mind-scape.It was a beautiful forest made up of several flowering cherry blossoms under a bright sunny sky.

"Senbonzakura why did you pull me here?"

"You fever has made your spiritual energy uncontrollable and you body is too weak to contain the high level of spiritual pressure, that is why I brought you here."

"I see so what are you planning to do then?"

"For starters I want you to try and empty your mind of all the thoughts causing you stress. Try to meditate in here and become one with those sakura trees."

" How will that help?"

"You will be able to share your spiritual energy with nature in the outside world thus reducing it's strain on your body." his Zanpakuto explained.

" Will that much spiritual pressure not be harmful to those around me with weaker energy?" he asked with a frown.

"To an extent yes, but only to those with weaker spiritual energy found in the same room with you as for the others in the manor the only effect they will have is that some will be more hungry and weaker than usual."

"Will it ve harmful to Ichigo?"he asked worried.

"No she will not be affected since her spiritual energy is as high if not higher than yours. It is a good thing she will be the one taking care of you."

"How long will it take for it to work?"

"That will depend on your level of concerntation Byakuya-sama."

"I see let me try to do it." he said moving to sit under a sakura tree to meditate.

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30 minutes later in the outsideworld

"Oi Byakuya...can you hear me wake up!.Your spiritual energy is all over the place. Byakuya!"

"No need to shout Ichigo, I can hear you .You are increasing my headache with all that shouting." he complained in a strained voice holding his forehead.

"Oh sorry about that I would have shaken you awake but your body is covered in a pink aura. Rukia was here earlier and she said she could not breath properly in this room because of your spiritual energy. What's wrong are you okay?"

"I have had better days, I was meditating in order to control my spiritual energy. It seems my body is reacting negatively to it because of my fever.

"Oh okay, so is it working?"

"I guess it is, my head doesn't hurt as it did earlier."

"Here, I made you something to eat."

"You?" he asked with a raised eyebrow."Why didn't ask a servant to do it?"

"Yes me, I thought it better to cook your favorite since you don't have the appetite to eat. That's why I made it myself." she explained.

"What did you make?" he asked a bit surprised she knew his favorite dish.

"I made you rice curry with vegetables, since you hate sweets I did not put alot of sweet potatoes in the curry soup, instead I made it more spicy by adding wasabi."

"I am impressed, I never would have thought you knew how to cook." he said jokingly.

"Thanks for the confidence you have in me dear husband I am touched. " she said in a sarcastic tone.

Placing the tray of food on a stool, she helped him sit up and fixed the pillows behind him and brought the food to him.

"I hope it tastes as good as it smells. I wouldn't want to have stomach ache added to the headache." he said with a teasing smirk.

"Aaarghh! Byakuya Kuchiki you are an ungrateful bratty jerk. If you weren't sick, I would have taken back the food." Ichigo said her irritation evident in her voice.

Breaking his chopsticks, he began to eat. "It's not bad." he said with an arrogant smirk.

"With your attitude, I am beginning to hate the job as your personal nurse." ichigo groaned.

" Unfortunately for you queenie you are stock taking care of him for a whole weak." her inner hollow said laughing histerically further dampening her mood.

"Yeah unfortunately"she thought.

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AND CUT!!!

I JUST THOUGHT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO MAKE BYA SICK AND SEE HOW ICHI WILL TAKES CARE OF HIM

NAMIKAZE ICHIME