ARRANGED LOVE OR COERCION?
Disclaimer:I donot own Bleach or it's characters.
"Speaking"
"Thinking"
"Zanpakuto/Hollow"
Chapter 17: Of advice and sad goodbyes
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"Hey Rukia it is late what are you still doing here?"
"Oh hey Renji I had alot of work today because my captain wasn't around I am almost done though" she explained.
"That's strange my captain wasn't around the whole day too."
"If you are planning on saying goodbye to carrot top you better do it ASAP because she is leaving tonight" said a third male voice.
"Captain Hirako where have you been all day? I had to do my paperwork and yours." complained Rukia.
"Well Rukia-chan I am no longer your captain and today was a hectic day for me my dear." he said with an apologetic smile.
"Wait a minute, you just said Ichigo was leaving where to?" asked a confused Renji.
"Well pineapple head she is going back to Karakura, back to her family" the blond explained.
"But...but she can't be leaving for good right? she is married to Nii-sama and they love each other. They have had fights yes, but they were so happy together this past week what changed?"
"True they do love each other, but let's just say your brother decided to set Ichigo free"
"Set her free why do you say it as though she was in some prison here with us?" Renji asked angrily.
"In your honest opinion Renji do you think Ichigo was completely happy here in Seireitei?" asked Shinji.
"No but-"
"You said it yourself she was not happy she decided to stay here in order to protect her family in the living world. Byakuya set up a plan that will enable Ichigo to go back home free and safe added to that, nobody in the Kuchiki clan will try to hurt her or her family after they find out that Ichigo's father was once a captain formerly known as Isshin Shiba."
"Wait What? Isshin-san is from the Shiba clan? I know Kuchiki's and Shiba's are enemies by I don't really know why.Is that why she is leaving?" asked Rukia.
"No Ichigo is pregnant and furiois with Byakuya that's why she is leaving. You better hurry or she will leave before you two can say goodbye"
"Pregnant? being with child is always good news to expecting parents, and the news will get Momoko out of her hair, why then is she angry?" Rukia asked confused
"Well I have said alot already you will have to ask her or your brother" Shinji said with an apologetic smile.
"Those two are idiots." sighed sadly Renji.
"For once I agree with you Abarai I really do." said the blond vizard.
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Kuchiki Meeting
Byakuya had just finished telling the elders lies on why he is sending Ichigo away. He said it was because, despite the fact that she is pregnant he equally just found out that she is of Shiba descent thus the reason why she will be leaving the Kuchiki manor.
"But Byakuya-sama she is pregnant can't we wait until she puts to birth?"
"No Uncle she will be safer in the living world and she doesnot want to stay here any longer to begin with, since she found out our clans are enemies."
"Does that mean we will loose our heir to the Shibas?" asked an angry Momoko.
"What do you mean aunty we are not loosing anything instead we have alot to gain in everything. You all wanted an heir and Ichigo is pregnant what then is the problem?" asked Byakuya a deep frown marring his face.
"The problem is she can't leave while still pregnant the baby she is carrying is our heir" countered Momoko.
"Well aunty for your own good and safety, I will advice you to leave Ichigo alone. Her mood swings right now are uncontrollable. I don't think you will want to bear the risk of been killed, if you make her angry by stopping her from leaving the manor. She hates you to begin with, so don't tempt your luck" he said glaring at his aunt.
"I am not scared of that brat" Momoko argued.
"Well you should be my dear, that brat as you call her is very scary when she is furious dear daughter of mine. If I remember correctly she beat up Byakuya the second time they faught right Byakuya-chan?" Kuchiki Ginrei asked his grandson teasingly while entering the meeting room.
"Ojīsan they did not have to know about that." Byakuya said glaring daggers at his grand father.
"Oups! sorry about that Bya-chan I forget it was a sour topic since Ichi-chan was trained by Yoruichi-chan and she defeated you a few hours after obtaining her benkai" Ginrei said smirking mockingly at his grandson, who sighed in defeat. "Well on a serious note, I am ordering all of you to leave that young lady alone. I think she has suffered enough. She was forced to be part of this clan by you Momoko. I spoke with her a while ago and she was really upset, hurt and angry with you Byakuya and the entire clan. In truth I gave her permission to leave that means none of you here have the power or right to stop her." He added in a warning tone.
"But Otousama I did not force her to do anything!" Momoko said trying to defend herself.
"Knowing you as I do Mo-chan, you threatened the poor girl in order for her to agree to marry Byakuya here, from what Rukia-chan told me about Byakuya and Ichigo's past relationship they hated each other. So tell me how will you explain her agreeing to marry a man whom she could not stand?" he asked and Momoko remained silent." I see you don't have an answer to my question. Anyways this meeting is over I will like to talk to Byakiya alone." Ginrei said dismissing the elders.
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"So tell me Byakuya why did you decide to give up on the woman you love for the sake of a stupid plan you set up on your own?"
"I see she told you everything. However, I don't want to talk about it please excise me." he said standing up to leave.
"Really now? funny because, I do want to talk about it. You picked that poor girl when you were forced to remarry and made her very unhappy while she was here. You made her fall in love with you, got her pregnant after sealing her memories on how the baby was conceived and topping it all, you tell her to leave saying you are setting her free. So tell me what did you not want to talk about? Ginrei asked glaring at his grandson. "It seems I failed in raising you properly after your parents past away seeing the way you turned out." Ginrei added regret evident in his tone.
"You are not at fault for my transgressions Ojīsan, I just felt I wasn't deserving of her love and decided to set her free. I know she will be happier back home in Karakura"
"I thought I raised a genius but it seems I raised an insensitive idiot. Will you be able to live with the guilt that you destroyed your family with your own hands? I will give you a geniune advise if you let that girl leave you with that much anger and hurt I felt in her tone, she will end up really hating you and I know you will end up being miserable."
"They will be better of without me grandfather my mind is made up, there is no turning back. I knew the consequences of my actions"
"It seems I raised you and taught you everything. but I wasn't able to give you a loving heart and teach you values mothers instills on their children. That will be my biggest regret. She is leaving tonight, atleast be there to say good bye" the old man said exiting the meeting room.
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"Shinji I am set, we can leave now." Ichigo said
"Hai Ichigo. but are you sure you want to leave tonight?"
" Yeah certain, I don't want to see him again it's too painful" she explained.
"Were you planning on leaving and not saying goodbye Ichigo?" asked a female voice.
"Huh! Rukia is that you?"
"I thought we were best friends, but it seems I was wrong since you wanted to leave soul society like a theif in the night." the smaller woman said.
"I am sorry Rukia I didnot have the heart to tell you I am leaving especially after what happened with your brother please forgive me." Ichigo said solemnly. That apology made Rukia to rush to and embrace her friend tightly as though her life depended on it.
"Ichigo please don't leave. I thought you said we were your family now. please don't go!" Rukia said sobbing.
"Hey don't cry midget you can come visit me anytime. But right now I can't live here any longer. I need a break, please try to understand."
"Don't call me that idiot. So did he hurt you that much this time? she asked but Ichigo evaded her gaze. Changing the topic she instead said "Congratulations by the way Hirako-san said you were pregnant. promise me you will take good care of yourself when you go back to Karakura. I will not insist on knowing what happened with my brother because I know you won't tell me"
"I promise I will be careful" she said with a gentle smile."Hey Renji, Ranny the two of you can show yourselves I know you are here."
"IIIICHIGOOOO!" cried Rangiku joining in the bear hug.
"Funny I am the one who is pregnant with raging hormones, but the two of you are the crybabies." Ichigo said.
"I will miss our banters carrot top, take good care of yourself and eat healthy got it?"
"Yes Doctor Abarai" she answered jokingly. causing the red head to blush and glare at her playfully, she winked at him to tell him she was kidding. However she stiffened when she felt another person's spiritual energy.
"Eeehmm! guys please give me a minute." she said looking in a certain direction. She disappeared before they could agree.
"Did you feel that? That spiritual energy seemed familiar." asked Renji
"You are so moronic at times Renji you of all must have guessed who it was since it is your captain" said Rangiku
causing Rukia and Shinji to laugh at the redhead.
"Hey! you did not have to insult me."
"That wasn't an insult that was an observation idiot."
"I know the two of you are upset Ichigo is leaving but no need to transfer your aggressions on one another please stop fighting already." pleaded Rukia.
"Alright sorry about that Renji, it was uncalled for."
"It's ok Rangiku"
"Truth is I don't know why the three of you are upset you can see her whenever you have a mission in the living world."
"True Hirako-san but it is always sad to say goodbye especially to a loved one." answered Rukia.
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"Did you come out here to make sure I was leaving?"
"No I am here to say goodbye and give you this." he said giving her a white box with the Kuchiki clan symbol on it.
"What is inside the box?" she asked taking the item.
"Your kenseikans and the baby's"
"We don't need it." she said giving it back to him.
"Please keep it even if you never use it" he said pleadingly.
"Ok I will keep it then. Is that all or did you need something else?" she asked scowling at him.
"I needed a goodbye hug too." he murmured in her ear embracing her tightly taking her by surprise.
"You confuse me Byakuya, she said threading her fingers through his hair." You are the one who decided that I should leave. Why then do you look so upset? You have had your hug, I need to go now, Shinji is waiting for me"
she said.
"Maybe because I just reslized I am an idiot." he whispered releasing her from the embrace.
"That makes us two, since I am equally an idiot." she said turning her back to him ready to leave." Good bye Byakuya Kuchiki" she added.
Her retreat was interupted when he caught her left arm pulling her to him once more.
"Heyyy! that hurt.Why did you do that?"
"For the last time Ichigo please allow me to be selfish" he said in a low voice but she heard him.
" What are you-" she started saying but forgot what she wanted to say when he kissed her with so much love and passion that she felt dizzy. All she could do was return the kiss. "Just one last time" she thought to herself.
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"You took your sweet time saying good bye to Captain Kuchiki hein! Ichigo." teased Rangiku causing the orangette to blush slightly.
"Who told you I was with that jerk?" Ichigo asked with a deep frown.
"Nevermind, so when can I come and pay you a visit in Karakura?" Rangiku asked changing the subject.
"The three of you are welcome at anytime Ranny." she said embracing her friend, then Rukia, when she stood in front of Renji, he ruffled her hair and said "Goodbye buddy see you soon.'
" Bye Renji" she said hugging him taking him by surprise.
"Ok kids enough with all that drama. Ichigo it is time to go." Shinji said interupting them a senkaimon already open .
"Yeah you are right. Good bye guys." Ichigo said entering the senkaimon that closed behind her.
"I hope she will be ok"
"Don't worry Rukia she will be fine. I am more worried about the welbeing of your brother." Renji said sadly
"Ok guys I am going to bed. good night." Rangiku said leaving since she felt as the third wheel.
"Good night Rangiku. Hey Rukia let me walk you home."
"Ok Renji."
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AND CUT!!!
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NAMIKAZE ICHIME