ARRANGED LOVE OR COERCION?
Disclaimer: I donot own Bleach or it's characters. If I did Ichigo would have been female:)
Chapter14: Tiredness, lunch and Menos
It has been five days since Ichigo started taking care of Byakuya. With time, she was surprised to admit to herself that she found the job as Byakuya's personal nurse interesting. She learned many things from him. He thought her how to calligraph, but to Byakuya's dismay, Ichigo's calligraphy lessons turned out disastrous. She learned how to play shoji and surprised Byakuya by being a fast learner at the game when she won him thrice. What made Ichigo happy was that she realized that he was feeling better by the days and could now properly control his immense spiritual energy. Byakuya learnt that Ichigo hated spicy foods when he asked her once to eat with him. In otherwords, these few days of vocation was benefitial for the couple: enabling them to get to know each other better.
"You know, for someone so impulsive, who always charges head on in a fight without a prior plan you are really good at shogi." he said teasing.
"Will it kill you to give a real compliment Kuchiki?" she said in an annoyed voice.
"No it wouldn 't. but then, what will be the fun in it if you don't get annoyed" he answered.
"What can I say I have been taking care of an arrogant jerk." she said moving her shogi piece to the left.
"I win"
"What? No way you cheated." she argued
"It's not my fault you got distracted Kurosaki." he said arrogantly
"So you distracted me on purpose? that's cheating."
"No that was my strategy and fortunately for me, you fell for it."
"Arrrgh! it's no use argueing with you." she said standing up.
"Where are you going?" he asked curiously.
"To tell a servant to make your food. I feel tired and weak. I will not be able to cook ." she explained.
"Don't bother yourself with that Ichigo.I am not hungry, Sit or lay down for a bit you look pale." he said worry evident in his voice.
"Yeah I think you are right, I need to lie down ." she said weakly.
He created space for her on the bed enabling her to lie down beside him.
"It seems taking care of me has made you sick." he said
"Don't blame yourself unecessarily. I am exhaused and sleepy not sick idiot." she said snuggling into his arms
"If you say so" he said unconvinced.
Ne..Byakuya?"
"Yes?"
"Will you take care of me if I am sick?" she aaked.
"Yes of course I will. Try to sleep for a while, you need your rest" he said softly.
"How sweet the ice king is being caring" she teased.
"Let's just say; I have my moments. but, if you tell on me I will deny it." he said with a wink causing her to laugh.
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The next morning
"Good morning "
"Morning Ichigo are you feeling better?"
" Yes, I am fine now. I see you are fully recovered now."she comnented on seeing him fully dressed for work.
"Yeah all thanks to you" he said with a gentle smile
"You are not completely healed yet. Try not to over do it at work today. Oh and don't forget to take your medicine with you. I will tell Ai-chan to bring you lunch this afternoon, make sure you eat it"
"Yes mom anything else?" he asked with a raised eye.
"Haha..very funny. No that's all for now." she said annoyed.
"Oh well I will leave you to get ready. Ichigo are you sure you don't want to rest the whole of today? You still lok exhausted"
"I already told you I am fine, stop being a worry wart. Give me a few minutes to clean up."
"Ok then I will be in the dining hall for breakfast." he said leaving the room.
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"Hello good morning Kuchiki, I see you are better now thanks to Ichi-chan." a male voice said e tering the dini g hall
"What do you want this time Hirako-san?"
"Breakfast"
"Excuse me?"
"I am here for breakfast. Rukia -chan invited me " Shinji said his piano smile in place.
"More like you invited yourself taichou." grumbled Rukia.
"Ow! Rukia-chan you are no fun!"
"Good morning Nii-sama how are you feeling today?"
"I am fine now Rukia. Ichigo did a great job taking care of me."Byakuya said.
" Wow I did not know you could be or feel grateful Kuchiki" Shinji said in mock surprise . However chosed not to answer the jab and simply glared at the blond after which he decided to remain silent and ignore them both while waiting for Ichigo to join them.
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"Hey Shinji don't you get tired of being a freeloader" asked an amused female voice.
"No not when eating here is better and cheaper than any restaurant in Seireitei." he said causing her to giggle.
"Morning Rukia" Ichigo said sitting at Byakuya's right on the table."
"Morning Ichigo hope you slept well?" Rukia asked with a wink.
"Yes I did midget do you want the details?" Ichigo countered teasingly causing Rukia to blush and Byakuya. to clear his throat.
"So tell me Shinji apart from the free food, why are you here?" Ichigo asked with a raised eyebrow.
"You wound my pride Ichigo I thought we are family, that's why I am here."
"Of course we are family, but I equally know how your brain works, So why are you really here?."
"Well you got me there, the truth is there is something I will like to discuss with you."
"About?"
"Don't be so inpatient Ichigo, I will tell you after breakfast."
"Ok then"
With that Ichigo gestured for the servants to serve the food."
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So what did you want to tell me Shinji?"
"More like warn you Ichigo"
"Warn me? About?"
"The Kuchikis especially Byakuya."
"What do you mean?"
"Remember I told you your dad was first known as Isshin Shiba?"
"Yeah so?" she said not getting his point.
"Shiba! idiot he is from Kukaku's clan ."
"Wait!!! does that mean I am related to that stupid Ganju?"
"Yes and that is why I am worried about you. You see Kuchikis and Shibas have been enemies since I could remember, that's why I find it suspicious that Byakuya picked you specifically."
"That will explain why almost killed Ganju when him and Hantaro went to rescue Rukia." she thought. "So are you insinuating my marriage to Byakuya is part of some evil plan aimed at hurting me because I am a from a Shiba descent?"
"I hope my suspicions are wrong but yes that's what I think."
" I can't and won't believe Byakuya will be that evil to devise such a plan. I doubt he even knows I am a Shiba."
"I don't know how he found out but he does. I just hope you are right about him and that his clan isn't aware of that piece of information." Shinji said before noticing that Ichigo wasn't walking beside him anymore. He turned to realize she was breathing heavily and holding a wall for support. "Hey Ichigo are you alright? You look pale, are you sick?"
"No Shinji I just felt dizzy and I fill like throwing up."
"Throwing up? you practically ate nothig during breakfast."
"Yeah tell my stubborn stomach th..." she began to say but couldn't finish her sentence for she had to run to a corner to empty the contents of her stomach. Shinji followed her and help in holding her hair up.
"Ichigo I think we should go and see Unohana." he said worry evident in his voice.
"Don't worry I am feeling better already. No need to see a medic."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah certain. Sorry about that let's go on." she said standing up straight and they continued their walk to their respective divisions.
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"Hey Queenie are you sure you are alright?"
"is that worry I sense in your voice Shiro-teme. she asked teasingly
"Me worried about you? In your dreams idiot." the hollow answered a disgusted expression oh his face causing Ichigo to giggle.
"Ichigo I think it will be better for you to see a medic." said a third voice.
"Hey old man how have you been?"
"Fine Ichigo but I can see you aren't." Zangetsu comment.
"I am fine Zangetsu. It's just a minor stomach disorder nothing serious. " she said
"If you say so Ichigo. but endeavor to see a medic just to be sure." he insisted.
"I promise to do that later today old man." her promise nade her inner hollow to laugh hysterically.
" What so funny idiot." she asked annoyed.
"You will see queenie." he said still laughing.
"I am too tired to probe you for answers teme. I have alot of paperwork to take care of I will talk to you guys later" she said cutting the link.
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Today wasn't a good day for Ichigo, she had spent the whole day throwing up added to that her head hurt like hell. ' It seems seeing Unohana-taichou isn't a bad idea after all." she thought now convinced she might be sick. Her train of thoughts was interrupted by a knock on her office door.
"Come in"
"Hello Ichigo,I thought I should check on you and invite you for lunch my treat."
"I am not really hungry but since you are the one paying I will come with you." she said with a smile.
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At the restaurant
"So tell me Lady Kuchiki what would you like to eat?
" You will find this funny but I feel like eating rice balls spiced with red beans paste and wasabi."
"Urggh! that sounds disgusting I thought you hated wasabi or anything spicy."
"Yeah I thought so to but I don't really have appetite for noodles or anything sweet at the moment." she explained.
"Oh well its your stomach not mine. The only person I know who eats such a strange mix is Orihime." he said causing her to laugh, remembering her aurburn haired friend.
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"Thank you for the lunch Shinji."
"Don't mention Ichigo"
"So where are you up to right now?"
"Well there is a captain's meeting in about 15 minutes."
" Do you know what the meeting is all about?"
"No I have no idea. I will just..." His explanation was halted when they heard a loud growling noice.
"Did you here that?"
"Yeah I think it's a hollow."
"Shinji look there are three menos that way."
"Aah! finally some action." Shinji said taking to the roof tops in the direction of tbe hollows.
" Only an idiot like you can be happy to see hollows"
"One must try to entertain himself in this boring place don't you think?" he asked with a wink.
"You are hopeless" she said with a smile.
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"This will be easy no need to interfer Ichigo"
"I wasn't planning to idiot"
Shinji was able to defeat the three menos in no time.
"That was too easy how boring" he thought with a sigh walking towards the orangette.
"Oi Shinji watch out there are more Hollows coming out." shouted Ichigo releasing her Shikai to help him with the hollows.
"Wait Ichigo, These many menos at once is not normal. This happens mostly when they are attracted to a particular spiritual energy they consider appetizing"
"Yeah I know that, it's better we kill them fast and now to avoid an unwanted situation" she said with a frown on her face.
"You have a point" he agreed.
After fighting for a few minutes Shinji realized something." Hey Ichigo it seems the Menos are after your spirtual energy" he shouted loud enough for her to hear him.
"Me?" she asked surprise.
"Yes they are all moving in your direction see?"
" Yeah you are right." she said slashing through six hollows at once with a getsuga attack breathing heavily.
"Hey Ichigo are you ok? You look exhausted and you are turning white" he aaked
"I don't...think...I am fine Shinji. I can't feel my limbs...I..am sorry you will have to carry me because I think..." she said between heavy breaths but could not finish her sentence before passing out in the air .The last thing she heard before blacking out was her blond friend shoutibg her name. Luckily her body did not hit the ground since Shinji eliminated the remain hollows and caught her just in time.
"Ichigo! Hey Ichigo!" he called shaking her but the orangette was out cold . It was at that moment that reinforcement from tbe 10 division arrived.
" Captain Hirako what happened to Ichigo?" asked a worried Rangiku.
I don't know she just fainted on me during the fight. I have to take her to Unohana right away" he explained hurriedly flash stepping away.
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AND CUT!!!
YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR TGE NEXT CHAPTER TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO ICHIGO:)
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NAMIKAZE ICHIME