ARRANGED LOVE OR COERCION?

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or it's characters:)

AN

Hello once again dear readers. I am back and I have decided to update and subsequently finish this story. Due to some of your productive reviews I decided to edit my previous chapters and correct my spelling and grammatical errors. I hope you enjoy this new chappy:)

Chapter 21: The source of the Kuchiki/Shiba enemity

Soul society centuries ago...

"It all begins with three very good friends who were inseperable and loved each other dearly. From childhood to adulthood they did everything together. These three friends were from three of the noble clans: Yakuno Kuchiki, Minami Shihōin and Kenji Shiba. However, their beautiful frienship slowly turned into a love triangle without any of them realising it until it was too late. You see Yaku had a crush on Mina, but he was too shy and prideful to tell her, so he decided to act as her protector and confident. Mina on the other hand had a huge crush on Kenji who only saw her as a younger sister and not a love interest. While they grew into adults, Yaku realised that Mina was in love with Kenji and not him so, he began a strong rivalry with his best friend with the aim of making Mina realise he was a better choice than Kenji. All the rivalry between the two men abruptly ended when Kenji fell in love with Saori Furuji a girl from the first district of the Rukongai who was a member of the 4th division. she once healed Kenji from a mortal wound, thus he fell in love with.

This caused Mina to be heart broken and devastated. While Mina saw this situation as an evidence that love brought only pain and decided never to fall in love again, Yaku saw it as an opportunity for him to finally win her heart. So he played the role of consoling her. Time went on and after a few years, Kenji and Saori got married while Yaku and Mina and Yaku were still very close friends to Yaku's frustration. Yaku taking matters into his hands and being the head of the Kuchiki clan at the time, convinced his clan elders that an arranged marriage between him and the shinōin clan heir will be beneficial to both clans. He later sent a marriage proposal to the Shinōin clan head who was reluctant to agree, because she knew who her daughter really loved. However, Yaku persuaded Mina to marry him with the hope that she will learn to love him.

Kenji was very happy for his two best friends and he promised to help both of them with whatever they needed for their new status as a couple. Kenji's enthusiasm was a relief to Yaku but another stab to the heart for Mina who decided that been indifferent and cold towards Kenji and his wife will be the best shield for her heart.

Unfortunately for Kenji his happiness was short-lived; Saori his wife died during child birth leaving a devasted Kenji to raise their son Kai alone. What is stranger is that when Saori was in labor she asked to talk to Mina saying she had something very important to tell her. Kenji whose friendship with Mina was strained at the time, reluctantly agreed to bring her to his wife.

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"Flasback"

Mina entered Saori's labor room after knocking and being permitted to enter.

"You asked to see me, what do you want?" Mina asked coldly.

"Ah Mina-chan please have a seat." Saori said with a bright smile ignoring Mina's cold stare.

"No thanks I prefer standing. Whatever you have to say to me, say it." Mina answered.

Her cold reply caused Saori's smile to fade and be replaced by a sad frown."You really despise me don't you?"

"I don't know what you are talking about." Mina denied.

Sighing Saori said "I mean that you hate me ever since I started dating Kenji-kun. You know, Kenji may be oblivious to your feelings towards him but I am not."

"If that's why you called me here I am leaving. "Mina said turning to leave.

"Please don't go Mina-chan I have a favour to ask of you." Saori pleaded.

"What makes you think I will accept to grant you of all people a favour?" Mina said glaring.

"Because Mina-chan I am dying. You see when I found out I was pregnant, I was advised not to keep the baby or else I will die during child birth because of my illness-" Saori explained.

"What do you mean your illness? Are you sick? Does Kenji know?" Mina asked with frantically.

"One question at a time Mina-chan. Yes my illness, I have an incurable heart disease since I can remember and yes Kenji knows. I told him when he proposed in order to dessuade him, but he told me he loved me the same. What I omitted telling him was that my pregnancy made my condition worst, and that I won't survive the birth of our baby.. "

"Why will you keep the baby knowing him growing in you is slowly killing you?" Mina asked confused.

"Because I love Kenji more than my life and I just wanted to be selfish and leave my footprint in this world through Kai-chan. Saori said with a sad smile.

"Why are you telling me all these? What do you really want from me Saori?"

"I told you already, I need you to do me a favour."

"What then is the favour?" Mina asked.

"I will like you to agree and promise that you will be the mother my baby needs and the partner Kenji needs to overcome his pain and raise our baby."

"You know I cannot promise you that. I am engaged to marry...Yaku. How will I be able to keep such a promise to you without hurting him?"

"You are engaged Mina not married, I know it is selfish of me to ask this favour of you. But I know you are the only one who loves Kenji enough to do this for me. You love him, that is why you have never liked me. I am giving you the chance to be with the man you really love"

"I don't know Saori I don't want to hurt Yaku, He has always been there for me."

"He has I know but he knows you are in love with kenji doesn't he?"

"Hai, he does but-" Mina started saying when she realised Saori was in pain. "Saori are you alright?"

"Yeah I am fine it's just the contractions. Mina what is your decision?"

"I don't know I am so confused. I need time to-"

"Time is what we don't have right now. Please Mina-chan grant the last wish of a dying mother."

"I will do it, but know this, I am not doing it because of that oblivious idiot. I am doing it for your baby who has nothing to do with my pain and heartbreaks. You should know there is no guarantee your husband will end up falling in love with me he hasn't for years, I don't think me caring for his baby will make a difference." Minami said.

"Thank you Mina, I will die a happy woman knowing you will be there for Kai-chan and Kenji. Please don't give up on Kenji." Saori said with a grateful smile.

"I am so sorry Saori with the way I treated you in the past-' Mina tried to apologize in tears but she was interrupted by Saori.

"It's okay you were hurt and the only way you could bear your pain was by hating the source of your pain, me. Don't worry Mina I know you are a good person due to the way Kenji often spoke highly of you.To be honest with you I think we would have been great friends if we hadn't fallen in love with the same man."

"Thank you." Mina said still crying.

"I am the one who is suppose to be thanking you not the other way around. Please tell Kenji to inform the doctors that I am ready to have my baby." Saori said with a determined smile.

Mina nodded and left the room to do what she was asked to do.

xxxxEnd of flashbackxxxx

"Saori Shiba died a few hours later from childbirth. She held her baby for a few seconds and gave him away to Mina. When Kenji asked why she did that, she told him she was sorry she won't be there for Kai and him because she was dying. She died in Kenji's arms a few minutes later after her confession.

Saori's dead marked the beginning of the end. Mina had to move in into the Shba clan in order to take care of the baby and equally be a mental support to Kenji who became withdrawn due to his pain. Yaku who agreed at first to let Mina take care of Kenji and Kai became paranoid and began suspecting and accusing her of cheating on him. These accusations led to constant arguments between the two and later the cancellation of their engagement after the mutual agreement of both clans. After that Yaku began avoiding his best friends like the plague. With time he developed a profound hatred for Kenji believing his former best friend took away everything from him.

Meanwhile Kenji with Mina's help was able to overcome his grief and move on for his son's sake. Slowly but surely as years went by the three became a functional family with Kai calling Mina kaa-chan. The two best friends became even closer during their years of parenting together. Their relationship took another turn the night of Kai-chan's birthday and Saori's fifth death anniversary, when Kenji tried to forget his pain and sorrows in alcohol and getting drunk. He later returned home intoxicated and succeeded in seducing Mina to lay with him. Feeling guilty the following day, Kenji asked Mina to marry him and she declined telling him he wanted to marry her for the wrong reasons.

However, a few months later their night of passion led to Mina being pregnant. Mina not able to hide it from her mother ended up confiding in her and Kenji and Mina were forced to marry.

It will be putting it lightly to say that Yaku was furious with the news and vowed never to forgive them for their betrayal leading to the everlasting enemity between the two clans." Isshin said concluding his story.

"It is unfortunate that my ancestor chose his battle wrongly when he decided to pursue Mina. I love Ichigo with all my body and soul sir. Ichigo and the baby are my family now. So I give you my word Kurosaki-san that I will devote my life and time to making them happy." said Byakuya.

"As they say love can turn people to idiots." Isshin said jokingly.

"True but I don't think falling in love and protecting love ones is idiosity.I loved my first wife ,but I know I adore your daughter. I felt sorrow, pain and regret when Hisana died, but I wanted to die when Ichigo left me to return here. So yes if that makes me an idiot I agree to be one for her. Also I doubt members of my clan still harbor a strong hatred for the Shibas. The prove is I did not know about this enmity till just recently." Byakuya said.

"Well I think it's partly because the Shiba clan is no longer a part of the noble clans. So with your knowledge of this story son, are you certain Ichigo will be safe coming back to live with you in soul society?" Isshin asked.

"Yes Kurosaki-san I will make sure they will be safe. I promise you on my life, that I will never hurt or take her love for me for granted again. I have to go back to soul society and prepare for her return. I will be back later today take my family back home with your permission of course."

"Okay kid take care. Promise me you will at least let them visit us once in a while." isshin said

With that Byakuya nodded left the clinic for the house.

"So you adore me ? That's new, it's amusing how you declared your undying love for me to my dad rather than to me Bya-kun!." Ichigo teased.

"You were eavesdropping on us? That's not befitting for a woman of your noble rank." Byakuya accused.

"Really is that your best shot at changing the subject koi?" ichigo asked sweat dropping."So when are you leaving for Soul Society?"

"Now, I was just coming to say goodbye. I will leave the guards so they can protect you."

"Is that really necessary? I can take care of myself." she grumbles.

"I know you can but right now you are totally defenseless when it comes to fighting or combat. I will be less worried knowing they are here with you. They will stay with you till I come back for you later tonight. It's an Order from your clan head not a Request." he ended coldly openning a Senkaimon and leaving for soul society.

"What a jerk! who is he calling defenseless? eeergh...he is lucky I am pregnant." she said angrily.

"Oww!! Bya-nii is so cool! He actually has the guts to order Ichi-nee around that's fantastic!" the twins squealed in unison.

"Hey! who's side are you guys on?" Ichigo asked with indignation.

"Yours Nee-chan!" they answered once more in unison with stars in their eyes.

"This is ridiculous my sisters fan-girling over my husband. They are hopeless ogling over that pretty-face jerk!" Ichigo murmured tiredly going back to her room to rest.

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AND CUT!

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