ARRANGED LOVE OR COERCION?

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

"Speaking"

"Thinking"

"Zanpakuto/Hollow"

Chapter19: Pain and Hidden Sorrow

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"Don't tell me you are at it again Byakuya. Why are you doing this to yourself ? If you are not locked up in your bedroom the whole day, you are drinking yourself to dead" said a worried voice.

"What do you want this time sensei?"

"I am worried about you. Is this how you want to end up?"

"If you are here to scold me, save your breath my sister, Renji and grandfather have done that already."

"No not today, actually there are people here to see you. Maybe they will be able to kick some sense into you."

"Seriously sensei don't you get tired of coming here or bringing people to talk to me? I told you I will be fine. Who wants to see me this time?"

"I am the one who wants to see you brat" answered a stern male voice. "However, I am disapponted to see what you have been doing to yourself." Isshin said disgust evident in his voice.

"You are-"

"Isshin Kurosaki, I am not here for tea so we can skip the greetings. I want to know exactly what you did to my daughter brat?"

"I will appreciate it if you stop calling me that Kurosaki-san" Byakuya said glaring daggers at the older man.

"I see you still have a backbone. I almost taught I was talking to a weakling when I came in."

"Come on Isshin no need to be that hard on Bya-boo. He is suffering already" said a female voice.

"Really sensei you had to bring her too?" Byakuya asked Ukitake with a frown.

"Hello to you too Bya-boo, So tell me you got married to my student and you did not even think of inviting your shunpo-sensei to the wedding. How rude!" she said sarcastically but the noble decided to ignore her.

"If you are here because of your daughter Kurosaki-san. I will like to say sorry to you for hurting Ichigo the way I did. I thought setting her free was my way of attoning for what I did to her."

"Your ridiculous apologies don't move me Kuchiki. I will ask again what did you do to my baby?"

Sighing he answered "I betrayed her love for me and destroyed her life."

"Tell me something Kuchiki why did you chose Ichigo when you were asked to re-marry?"

"In truth when I chosed her , I did not know why. but now I know it is because she is different."

"Different? How so?"

"What I mean is, she is the only one, who was able to bring about the worst and the best in me just by being herself. I think that's why she could easily push my buttons and annoy me, when I first met her"

"Did being married to her help you understand what you really felt about her?".

" Yes and I equally realized I wasn't deserving of her feelings."

"Are you in love with her Kuchiki?"

"Am I obliged to give an answer to that question?"

"Yes you are brat."

"No I am not in love with-" he started saying but Isshin interrupted him.

"What did you just say Kuchiki?" Isshin growled.

"I was saying that Ichigo means the world to me. She is my life and my everything that's why I can't qualify my feelings for her as simply being in love for my feelings are stronger than that." he admitted.

"Wow who would have thought you will one day look this miserable and wallowing in self pity because of love Bya-boo, how sweet!" mocked Yoruichi.

"Then you should have fought for your love and marriage instead of hurting her the way you did and sending her away."

"I did what I think was the right thing to do Kurosaki-san"

"You are a fool, if you think you did the right thing. You are both miserable for goodness sake!" Isshin said loudly in exasperation. Byakuya chose to remain silent. "Protecting them is supposed to be your main priority, instead you send others to do your job. Are you a genius or an idiot?" Isshin said angrily.

"Byakuya-kun I know all this is partly my fault, since I was the one who told you Ichigo was of Shiba descent. But do you know exactly why Kuchikis and Shibas can't stand each other?"

"No I don't know and it's no longer important."

"On the contrary Kuchiki it is important and I will tell you why they are enemies."

"No need Kurosaki-san I am not interested" he said standing up to leave his office."

"I am surprised my Ichi-chan fell for you. Aside from that pretty face of yours there is nothing special about you, added to that rude attitude of yours." Isshin insulted. "Kon?"

"Yes dad?"

"We are leaving it seems coming here was a waste of time."

"But Isshin I thought you said-"

"What I said and thought before coming here no longer stands Yoruichi. I have seen and heard enough.They are better of without him. Ichigo is strong, with time; she will overcome her pain"

"Bya-boo?"

"Leave me alone Yoruichi. Go and annoy someone else" he said glaring at her she shrugged and followed the two Kurosakis out.

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"I don't know what I will do with you Byakuya-kun. I thought Isshin-san or Yoruichi will succeed where we all failed. Are you trying to kill yourself."

"Just because I want to be left alone does not necessarily mean I want to die sensei."

"If you say so. I will advice you to go home and rest, you look exhausted." the white haired captain said.

"I will if you leave me alone."

"See you later, I have alot of work these days because of you."

"Sensei?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think she will ever forgive me? Do you think this pain I feel right now will go away?"

" I am sure she has forgiven you already Byakuya-kun. But will you ever forgive yourself?"

With a bitter chuckle he said "I really messed up right sensei?"

"Byakuya go home and get some sleep ok?"

"Hai"

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"Good afternoon Nii-sama, I brought you lunch."

"I am not hungry Rukia"

"You know Byakuya you are not invincible. You need to eat like everybody else that has spiritual energy in order to replemish it"

"I know that so what's your point?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I haven't seen you eating anything since she left last week . Have you seen your reflection in a mirror lately?"

"No"

"You should Nii-sama you are slowly killing yourself." she said sadly.

"I am not hungry so if that's all you can leave Rukia I need to rest." he said with finality.

"She will be very sad, if she sees what you have done to yourself ." Rukia said sadly and left.

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"Greetings old friend."

"Greetings to you too Ginrei, What brings you here this late?"

"I need a favour from you Genryuusai?"

"What is this favour about?"

"I want you to give my grandson a leave or a vacation."

"I am sorry Ginrei I don't have the power or right to do that. The laws stipulates that a captain has to be either sick or incapacited to be sent on vacation or leave. So if he doesn't fall into one of the categories my hand a tied sorry. But tell me, why do you want me to do that to him?"

"Byakuya has not been himself ever since Ichigo-chan left him"

"Are you sure you are not being overprotective again my friend? He is sad and that is understandable, but I think with time he will get over it."

"If only you were right my friend." Ginrei said sadly.

"I promise to watch him closely from now on to make sure he is still fit mentally and physically. Is that ok with you?"

"Yes thank you"

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"Byakuya-sama if you are worried about them why don't you go and check on them"

"I can't do that, not only will she not want to see me but I also have alot of work these days."

"You are so stubborn Byakuya-sama. How long has it been since she left?"

"Three weeks why?"

"And through out all this time, you have been miserable. You just decided to eat again and equally pretend you are no longer depressed so that they will leave you alone. But sadly, you are decieving yourself not them"

"It is working isn't it? They stopped worrying about me. And as for Ichigo her bodyguards have been giving me updates" he explained stoicly.

"Unfortunately, that doesn't keep you at eas, does it? I will advice you to go and check on them yourself master."

"No it will be too painful to see the hatred in her eyes"

"You can go when she is already asleep" his Zanpakuto suggested

"I will think about it, now leave me alone ." he said and his zanpakuto cut off the link.

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Kuchiki-sama? Is there a problem? why are you here?"

"No need to be worried Daisuke. There isn't a problem. How is she?"

"She is ok sir though her morning sickness has intensified, she throws up almost all the time and sleeps very often which is normal" answered the female bodyguard.

"I see, the three of you can go back to the manor. I will watch over her tonight."

"Hai, Kuchiki-sama!" they said in unison and dissappeared.

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Byakuya was about to enter his wife's room through the window when.

"Hello brat how nice of you, paying your in-laws a visit. But please use the door no need to get in through the window." said a male voice.

Sighing in annoyance Byakuya said " Good evenning Kurosaki-san?"

"Good evenning Kuchiki, please come in don't be shy."

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"Dad? who is he?"

"Well Karin dear this is Byakuya Kuchiki your brother-in-law" Isshin answered merrily.

"Wow Ichi-nee was right." Karin thought aloud and realized it too late.

"Right about?" Byakuya asked with a raised eyebrow speaking for the first time.

"Oh eemmh! it's nothing. So tell me Nii-san why are you here this late are you hiding from Ichi-nee?" Karin asked changing the topic. Her question made the noble to stiffen.

"Karin-chan you and your questions. Ichigo's room is this way Kuchiki" Isshin said.

"Thank you Kurosaki-san"

"You know Nii-san I have heard Ichi-nee cry many times late at night. I hope you fix it whatever the problem is." Karin said with determination.

"Turning to the raven heard girl he said " I am sorry Karin-chan, I can't make a promise I will not be able to keep." he said guiltily.

"She was ommitted alot of information when she told us about you."

"And what is that?"

"That the two of you are the same. You may try to hide it with a cold mask. but, I can still see that deep hidden sadness in your eyes nii-san. Ichi-nee does that too but the difference is she pretends to be happy." Karin explained. "Even if you don't succeed promise me Bya-nii that you will try to fix it." she added.

" I promise I will try to relieve some of the pain I caused her." he promised.

"Ok now that all the drama is over. You can go and see her brat. As for you Karin go to bed it's past your bed time.

"Ok dad. Good night Nii-san." she said smiling at Byakuya.

"Good night little one."

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"I see you finally took up the courage to come and see me".

"To be honest, I thought you will be asleep."

"Still a coward I see." she commented. He decided to ignore the insult and instead ask.

"How are you feeling Ichigo?"

"Happy to know you are concerned about us. I feel like hell."

"I am sorry"

"Don't be Byakuya, this baby is the symbol of the love we once shared I don't regret anything and I won't have it any other way."

"Thank you"

"No need to do that." she said gesturing to him to come and sit beside her and he did. "How have you been?"

"Fine"

"No you are not you look restless and paler. You have not been taking care of yourself have you?"

"Is it a family thing for you Kurosakis to see beyond my masks?" he asked jokingly.

"No its not a Kurosaki thing idiot, I know you very well and as for Karin she is very observant and perceptive."

"Yeah I noticed that a while a go"

"Talking about being observant I noticed those three you sent to stalk me"

"You did?"

"Yeah"

"If you don't want them around I-"

"It's ok they can stay.I need the protection anyways. Ne... Byakuya?"

"Yes?"

"Can we just pretend to be simply Ichigo and Byakuya whenever you come to see me here in Karakura?" she asked expectantly.

"Does that mean you still want me here?" he asked surprised.

"Yeah I thought of it, the baby is not to be blamed for our mistakes and I don't know if it's because of my hormones but I have missed you." she said with teary eyes.

"Please don't cry" he begged wiping her eyes. "I am not worth it."

"I can't help it my mood swings these days are so annoying." she complained causing him to chuckle.

"I can see that, try to sleep and get some rest"

"Only if you hold me"

"Of course" he said lying down beside her and holding her in his arms. "Ichigo?"

"Yes?"

"I missed you too and I have been very miserable without you."

"I know you have since you look like hell. If it makes you feel better I don't hate you I am just angry and hurt."

"Will you ever forgive an idiot like me?"

"I forgave you a long time ago, good night Byakuya."

"Good night Ichigo."

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AND CUT!!!

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NAMIKAZE ICHIME