ARRANGED LOVE OR COERCION?
Disclaimer:I donot own Bleach or it's characters.
"Speaking"
"Thinking"
"Zanpakuto/Hollow"
Chapter 16: Why?
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At the captain's meeting
"It seems Captain Hirako had other plans more important than this meeting we will proceed without him" announced the Captain Commander.
"So sensei what is the main reason for holding this impromptu meeting?" asked a curious Ukitake.
"First of all, I will like to welcome Captain Kuchiki back. I am pleased to see he is feeling better now" Yamamoto said. The noble acknowledged the greetings with a nod in the Commander''s direction.
"The reason why I called all of you here is to announce-"
His speech was interrupted by the shouting coming from a commotion just outside the meeting hall
"Lady Kuchiki please you cannot go inside right now they are in a meeting" pleaded a male shinigami.
" If you know what is good for you idiot, you will move out of my way"growled a female voice.
"But Kuchiki-sama I-"
"I said move it or else I will blast you and the door" said the female voice warned again.
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In the meeting room
"Eeeehm! was that not Ichigo's voice?" asked a confused and worried Rose.
"Yeah and she sounded furious." commented Toshiro. Causing everybody to look at the Captain of the 6th division as though asking the unspoken question.
What did you do this time?Howeversaid Captain decided to ignore their accussing stares by keeping his stoic and indifferent mask on.
"Hey Byakuya what did you do to her this time?" asked Zaraki bursting out into mocking laughter.
"I will appreciate it if you address me in the right way Captain Zaraki" Byakuya said glaring at the said captain.
"All the same your wife is pissed and I am sure you are the cause again, I hope she kicks your ass this time arrogant bastard." countered Zaraki still laughing. The noble chosed to ignore him too worried about his wife's anger to argue with Kempachi.
"It seems she is coming this way let's wait and see what she wants" commented Unohana.
They did not have to wait for long since the entrance doors were blasted open sending debris into the meeting hall and at the door stood a furious orangette.
"The Kuchiki clan is paying for the repairs of those doors, since it was destroyed by their clan head's-" The head captain's tirade was interrupted when Ichigo sent him a venomous glare and he decided to shut-up causing the other captains in the room to remain silent waiting for her to speak. With the blink of an eye she flashstepped from the front door to stand directly infront of Byakuya proving Kempachi's earlier comment.
"Why? What did I ever do to you?" she asked her head bowed and her bangs covering her eyes.
Surprised and confused Byakuya asked"What do you mean and Why are you here?"
It seems that was the wrong question to ask because she answered him with a resounding slap
There were a few gasps but then the room became very silent since they were all too shocked and scared to say anything.
"You are asking me why I am here? Why did you use kido on me to disrupt my memories? she growled.
Byakuya realized why she was furious from her last question."How did you find out ?" he asked calmly. She ignored his question and asked.
"Why?" in a low voice.
Understanding what she was asking he answered."I did it to protect you?" he said honestly
" What the hell don't give me that bull shit you egoistic bastard! You still have the balls to look me in the eyes and lie to me?" she growled." Well congratulations Lord Kuchiki your plan worked you won your bet against that old hag. But I am warning you stay away from me as from today." She said removing her two Kenseikans and throwing them at his feet. "I just hope all your schemes and betrayals were worth it." she added turning her back to him.
All through her speech Byakuya remained silent too shocked by her revelation to say anything.
"Eeehm Byakuya-sama I think she is pregnant and added to that she hates you." commented his zanpakuto
"Not now Senbonzakura" he thought through their mental link.
"Just remember I warned you this will happen." the Zanpakuto said cutting the link.
"I am not surprised you are not saying anything. Was that your plan all along? she asked. But Byakuya did not answer her. "Answer me damn it! Or else I will conclude Shinji was right all along." she shouted holding the front of his uniform tightly while shaking him.
Her last statement got a reaction from him. He frowned and asked "What did that idiot tell you?" he demanded.
" You have got some nerve asking questions after what you did-" her tirade was interrupted by a male voice.
"Ichigo don't waste your energy on him he is not worth it." said Shinji.
"I know Shinji but I need to understand why? Maybe in that way I will be able to move on." she answered her blond friend. Turning to the captain commander who had been silent all this while she said" Gramps thank you for everything you did for me these past months, but I am obliged to resign as the vice captain of the 13th division." she said removing the white band around her arm and offering it to the old man who took it silently. Turning back to her husband she asked " Do you have answers to my questions or have you decided to remain silent as usual?"
"I will answer your questions, but not here" he said picking up the Kenseikans by his feet and flashstepping out of the meeting hall taking Ichigo with him.
It was when the couple had left that Kyoraku said "Woah! she is really scary when she is angry. Was it just me who saw it or did Ichigo slap the Byakuya Kuchiki?"
"Everybody in here saw it. but what shocked me is that, he did not react or look angry instead, he looked guilty that's strange." said Captain Ukitake.
"She did ? Wow that means she was really angry." said Shinji.
"Oh right you arrived afterwords. but then do you know why she was so angry with Captain Kuchiki and why did she resigned? asked Rose.
" Well Ichigo is pregnant, that is why she resigned and as for why she is angry , it is not my story to tell." Shinji explained.
"I see that explains alot. No wonder she was so aggressive pregnancy hormones I presume" joked Kyoraku but nobody found it funny.
"For your own sake Captain Kyoraku let Ichigo never hear what you just said." advised Unohana.
"This is a disaster Byakuya knocked-up my fighting partner" complained Zaraki with a groan causing everybody to sweatdrop.
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"Captain Yamamoto, you remember our agreement and the real reason why I accepted to be a captain right?"
"Are you resigning too today?"
"Hai Captain, Ichigo is leaving there is no need for me to stay here." Shinji said with a bow offering his hoari to the commander.
"Wait I am lost what are you two talking about?" asked a confused Ukitake.
"Well I owe a few people favours Shinji here being one of them, Urahara and Isshin Shiba. Hirako was here on a mission to protect Ichigo and make sure she was happy and fine here in Seireitei that's the reason why he came back to soul society. He was to stay here until his mission was complete either by persuading Ichigo to leave if she is unhappy or by Ichigo deciding to stay here but visiting her family once in a while proving she is happy"
"Funny I did not have to do much since the Kuchiki-brat did all the work for me. oh well thank Kami I am leaving this boring place already." commented Shinji
"What makes you sure Ichigo is leaving?" Soi Feng asked with a frown.
"You will have to wait to find out." Shinji said with a wink in her direction.
"Isshin Shiba? I thought that man died about 17 years ago?" asked Hitsugaya.
"No Shiro-chan, Isshin Shiba your former captain, is now known as Isshin Kurosaki he is Ichigo's dad." explained Ukitake.
"That explains why Ichigo is so strong her father was a former Captain." said Unohana.
"Well then with all what just happened this meeting has no reason to hold you are all dismissed return to your respective divisions." said Yamamoto and the captains began to leave.
"Okay see you guys I have to make sure Ichigo doesnot destroy half of soul society after Kuchiki's explanations" Shinji said and left via Shunpo.
"I have a feeling all this drama is not over yet" commented Hitsugaya and everybody just nodded in approval.
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I thought you were taking me to the manor where are we?"
"A forest in Rukongai I think here nobody will hear us."
"So why did you use kido on me after we made love that night? Why did you want me to forget what happened?I woke up the following morning thinking everything was a beautiful dream. Why do you keep broking my heart Byakuya? Did you regret what happenned?"
"Ichigo I am sorry I will hurt you once again" Byakuya thought sighing internally.
"Sealing your memories was part of a plan, my plan to be more precise. You have been asking why I chosed you to be my wife or why I hated you in the beginning. Well It is because you are from the Shiba clan. I thought the Kuchiki elders will realize it before the wedding and send you back" he said
"I am such an idiot. Shinji told me but I vouched for you and the love I thought you had for me. Tell me Byakuya did you ever mean it when you said you loved me?" she said tears threatening to flow out.
"Don't misunderstand me Ichigo." he said weakly. "I love you and I will always do. but I am setting you free from the prison I put you in. My clansnen don't know you are a Shiba and when I tell them you will have your opportunity to leave since you are pregnant with the heir to two clans that have been enemies for centuries. You can now leave soul society Ichigo. Nobody will be able to hurt you or your family now for fear of hurting the future heir. I am sorry I had to hurt you to accomplish this."
"SLAAAAP!" she slapped him a second time that day. "Your way of showing me you love me is so twisted. I see you are tired of me and you have decided to do away with me. Don't worry you will not have to kick me out of your life. because I am leaving. I loved you like I have never loved anyone I would have beared everything here in soul society knowing you are with me but you decided to give up on us." she said.
"I am sorry I destroyed your life Ichigo, I hope you will be happier going back to your family."
"Noo you are not sorry you are pleased everything worked according to your damn plan!. I hope you will feel as much pain as the one I feel right now when I am gone. Oh and don't bother checking on my baby and I since I will tell him his dad was a heartless, insensitive and manupulative bastard" she said dissappearing via shunpo leaving Byakuya behind.
"If only you knew Ichigo I am already in pain" he murmured
"Hey Kuchiki are you sure you did the right thing by pushing her away from you. I hope you don't regret." said a male voice.
"That is none of your business Hirako-san. That's what you wanted right? She will be leaving soul society with you. I made it easy for you. However, I am warning you if anything happens to them I will make you pay with your life." Byakuya warned glaring threateningly at the blond vizards.
"To be honest Kuchiki I feel bad, because all what is happenning right now is partly my fault. However you must understand that I made a promise to her family to protect her . Don't worry she is upset but she doesn't hate you she is just hurt right now she will forgive you soon enough." Shinji conforted. But the noble did not respond."Are you sure you will be okay without her Kuchiki?
"I will be happy knowing she is happy now leave me alone Hirako-san"
"If you say so" Shinji said shunpoing away.
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AND CUT!!!
SEE YOU NEXT CHAPTER:)
NAMIKAZE ICHIME