Chapter One Hundred and Three:
"From the readings Szayel and Kurotsuchi Taichou have gathered it appears there have been several small disturbances within Hueco Mundo causing the influx of unusual Garganta activity in the World of the Living and Rukongai." Kyōraku murmured, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "It has so far been difficult to pinpoint what has caused this anomaly."
"Indeed, however I do have some theories as to what may be causing it." Szayel said confidently from his position in the meeting room, "I believe a few more scans and readings will confirm my thesis. At which point I will see fit to share it with you all. After all, there is no point causing alarm without due evidence."
Ichigo folded his arms thoughtfully as he listened to the conversation, he'd overheard some of Szayel's discussions with Grimmjow and the other Espada about the Garganta issue. But he hadn't been able to garner any solid facts from it. He trusted Szayel's certainty however, if the Octavo was keeping them in the dark it was for a good reason.
"It is my opinion that if we trust in Szayel-san and Kurotsuchi Taichou to keep a close eye on the situation, there is no reason why we couldn't wait to see if it resolves itself in time." Rukia stated, receiving a murmur of agreement from Byakuya and Shinji.
It had been little over three months since Rukia had been officially named as Division Eight's new Taichou. The inaugurations had taken place at the same time, his own, Rukia's and the Visored who'd returned to their former Divisions. The Goeti Fourteen, as it was now known, was at full strength for the first time since Aizen's defection, and they were flourishing.
"Though we should be prepared for the worst. After all, there are still a great deal of powerful Hollows in Hueco Mundo and Las Noches." Renji murmured, reluctantly disagreeing with his wife.
Ichigo cleared his throat, "I still think it would be worth sending Division Fourteen into Hueco Mundo for a scouting mission. The Espada, and myself know those sands better than anyone else present. We would be able to seek out any Hollows who threaten the balance of peace while also rescuing any of those who no longer desire war and conflict. There is no reason why other Hollows would not share the same view point as the Espada."
Byakuya's sigh was audible from across the room and the raven haired male shook his head once, "A forward camp in the sands of Hueco Mundo is far too risky without first knowing exactly what the cause of these recent anomalies are. It could be a trap, Hollows still loyal to Aizen attempting to lure Shinigami out there to their doom."
"Which is exactly why I suggested utilising the Espada." The strawberry haired man argued, politely, "For all we know, the lingering Arrancar – the Fracción, the Números and the Privaron – might well be completely unaware that the Espada are alive and well, and that they too have another option now. They deserve the chance to decide their own fates."
"And I agree completely with that sentiment, Kurosaki Taichou," Kyōraku interrupted, "However without all the facts I will not be sending anyone to Hueco Mundo."
"Would it be safe to assume that once we have all the facts you might be willing to reconsider?" Ichigo asked. It had long been his desire to return to Las Noches and see if he could grow the numbers of Division Fourteen with other highly skilled Hollows willing to change their ways as the Espada had done.
"You have my word." The Sou-Taichou smiled softly, "Now, we do have other matters to discuss, Szayel you are welcome to take your leave I am sure you have a great deal of... Experiments to attend to."
"I do indeed, thank you kindly." The pink haired scientist bowed his head curtly and swept towards the door with his usual dramatic flare, his hands had barely touched the entrance when it flew open from the outside, "What the-"
Everyone looked towards the intruder, Ichigo's eyebrow twitched as he found himself staring at the flushed, sweaty and frankly panicked face of Kisuke Urahara. The blond man panted hard and staggered passed Szayel without even really looking at the man.
"Ichigo!" Was all he exclaimed, grey eyes wide.
"What?" He demanded, stepping out of line as he hastily rushed towards the man, fear gripping him quickly that something ill had befallen his friends in Karakura town, "What's wrong?"
"I need... We need... Can we talk? Outside? Please?" The urgency in Urahara's voice was most unlike the man.
"Uh..." Ichigo glanced around towards Kyōraku.
"Go ahead, Ichigo. Please return when you are finished."
"Thanks." He muttered, tucking his hand under Urahara's arm as he steered him out of the meeting room. He could feel Byakuya's eyes burning into his back, mostly likely concerned.
As the doors shut behind them and Szayel sauntered away to give them privacy, Ichigo watched as Urahara slumped against the wall, hands running down his face as he stared off into nothingness. He wasn't behaving at all normally.
"Urahara-san... What's going on?" He asked, "I've never seen you like this... Is it Orihime? Ishida? The twins?"
"No..." A slow shake of the head, his eyes seemed to get wider with fear, "It... It's Yoruichi-san..."
Ichigo gulped worriedly, he'd heard from Soi-Fon that her former mentor was still sick, her illness had stretched out for months with little sign of improvement, could it be... Was she...
"What's wrong with Yoruichi-san?" He asked quietly, concerned that Soi-Fon might overhear and potentially try to slaughter the blond haired man.
"We finally... I mean... We found out what's wrong with her... She's been sick for months so... I took her to see Ishida-san but... I couldn't quite believe what he told me so I brought her here to see Unohana-san or... Or Isane-san..." He was trembling, this wasn't good.
"Come on Kisuke, tell me what's wrong." Ichigo grasped his shoulders, squeezing comfortingly.
"She's... She's..." Urahara finally looked him in the eye, "She's pregnant!"
His mouth fell open as the blond finally exploded with his explanation and Ichigo felt himself immediately break into a grin, "That's fantastic news! Congratulations!"
"Fantastic?! Fantastic?! It's awful!" The man exclaimed, "I can't be a father, I can barely look after myself! I like experiments and danger and laziness, I can't look after a tiny little baby! What am I going to do?!"
The strawberry couldn't help but laugh at his panic, but he schooled himself back under control and let out a small sigh, "You are going to be fine. You are kind and considerate, you know the importance of manners and standing up for what's right. You're a good man and your child will be lucky to have you as a father."
Urahara stared at him, eyes wide, "You... You really... Think so?"
"I do." He nodded once, "I remember how you were with me and the girls when we were kids. You were a natural then, you'll be a natural now."
"What if I can't do it?" He breathed, "I'm lazy and self absorbed and... And... What if I can't handle it?"
"You're not doing it alone, Urahara-san. You will be able to share the burden with Yoruichi-san, and Tessai! And I'm sure Orihime would be happy to help as well. You're going to be fine." He patted his shoulder comfortingly.
"Thanks..." Urahara seemed to slump, all the tension he had been carrying seeped away like a bad memory as he took a few deep breaths, "I just... I completely panicked. The thought of a tiny little life form relying on me. But... You're right, I won't be alone..."
"See, you're already half way there. Just believe in yourself and nothing can go wrong." Ichigo beamed, "Besides, how far along is she? She's been ill for sometime, I'm assuming it was morning sickness?"
"Five months gone already." The blond swallowed, "I can't believe I didn't realise before hand."
"Well, we're all blind to things we don't want to see." The strawberry shrugged, "This is good news. Go and enjoy it with her."
Slowly breaking into a sheepish grin, the blond nodded, "You're right, you're right. Hey, would you consider being a Godparent when the baby is born?"
"Me?" He blinked before smiling, "I'd be honoured."
"Oh that takes some of the weight off my mind. Alright... Okay... Good... I can handle this... I've got it..." Urahara ran a hand down his face as the colour finally began to return to his cheeks, "I'd better go, I left her with Isane-san!"
Ichigo watched as the man started walking away, and at that moment a small smirk tugged at his cheeks, "Don't forget, Urahara, the Shihōin family will expect their heiress to be married before she gives birth to assure the family line is carried on."
"FUCK!" Urahara's voice was already distant but Ichigo still heard his dramatic cry.
Shaking his head, the Division Fourteen Taichou pushed the meeting room doors back open and rejoined the other Taichou. Shaking his head slightly as he played over the conversation he'd been a part of.
"What was amiss with Urahara-san?" Ukitake asked softly, "I hope it was not to do with your Human friends?"
"No, nothing to do with them." Ichigo smirked, although he soon surrendered to a faint fit of giggles, "I'm sorry... I'm sorry, it's just... He was panicking because of Yoruichi-san..."
"Yoruichi-sama?!" Soi-Fon's ears pricked up and she stepped forwards, "What's wrong with Yoruichi-sama? Why are you laughing? What has he done to her now?!"
Barely containing his laughter as he sucked in a few deep breaths, he swallowed back the mirth and forced himself to address her questions properly, "Well, he finally took her to a doctor to see what was making her so sick, after all it has been a few months since her illness took hold."
"Oh my God, is she dying?!" Soi-Fon's voice broke and she released a choked noise.
"Would I be laughing if she was dying?" He asked, perplexed before he shook his head, "She is not dying. Far from it. In fact, she couldn't get much further from it."
"Please do put us out of our misery, Kurosaki-san." Kyōraku sat forwards on his seat.
"Of course, my apologies." He licked his lips, "Well, we may have to look forward to another noble wedding sooner rather than later, because... There's going to be a little Shihōin running around the place."
"She's pregnant?" Byakuya gasped, "Yoruichi... Shihōin is... Pregnant?!"
"Y-Yoruichi-sama is?" Soi-Fon's eyes were wide with horror.
"Kisuke Urahara... A father..." Ukitake trailed off.
"... He'll be fantastic." Kyōraku murmured certainly.
"No wonder she was being sick all the time..." Rukia breathed, "Morning sickness!"
"That's what I said." Ichigo beamed, "She's already five months gone!"
Ichigo's eyes met Byakuya's across the room and he felt his smile grow wider. He knew that despite all Byakuya's grumbles about the woman's ludicrous teaching methods, and the games of tag he loathed so much, he loved her in a roundabout way. She was like family to him. And there was a definite twinkled in the Kuchiki heir's eyes which suggested he was over the moon for both his former mentor and her lover.
In fact the only person who didn't look happy about the revelation was Soi-Fon, she seemed close to tears. Ichigo was sure he could hear her muttering about the thousand and one ways she was going to murder Kisuke Urahara for defiling her Yoruichi-sama. It made him snort, because he knew she would never follow through with it. The moment she saw that Yoruichi was happy, she would be too.
"Lot's of good news for a change, eh, Aibou?" Shiro snorted.
"Yeah, I hope it continues!" He replied, smiling widely.
"Me too, there are fuckin' rainbows in yer head right now, ya know? It's never looked so nice in here."
"Best avoid being in the sun too long, I'd simply hate to see you get sunburn." Ichigo smirked.
"That witty sarcasm will get ya nowhere with me ya know Aibou."
"I know, but I enjoy it."
The meeting concluded not long after Ichigo's return. Everyone was simply too energetic to really get any work done, and for the most part Kyōraku and Ukitake wanted to pay Yoruichi a visit while she was still in Division Four.
Ichigo strolled along the walkways, sandwiched between Byakuya, Renji and Rukia. He had mostly zoned out of their chatter but was brought back from his short lived daydream by a single question aimed directly at him.
"Do you really thing the Arrancar left in Las Noches might join us like the Espada did?" It was Renji who asked, his head tilted as he looked at his friend.
"I hope so." He said softly, "Aizen kept them under control with fear and force... I want to give them all another option! I want them to know that they don't have to hide, they don't have to be afraid. There's somewhere they can go, somewhere they can rebuild their lives. Somewhere they can be good."
"Your compassion towards others, even your enemies, is immeasurable." Byakuya murmured, "But it certainly makes you who you are, and worthy of your position. When Szayel has more answers and Kyōraku permits the exploration of Hueco Mundo, I hope you know that I will happily provide members of Division Six to assist you."
"I know." He smiled sheepishly, linking their fingers affectionately, "And I know that if I asked Starrk would lead Division Fourteen there for me, so I wouldn't have to face the past, but I'm not hiding anymore. I made that promise and I am keen to keep it."
"Starrk was a good choice of Fukutaichou. Even if he is lazy, he's dedicated to the well-being of the other Espada, and the Visored by extension." Renji mused.
"We don't really conform to the ranks unless we have to," Ichigo shrugged, "But they are all good to have around for guidance."
"You're a good leader, Ichigo." Byakuya squeezed his hand firmly, "Never doubt that."
"Don't compliment him too much Nii-sama, his head will expand." Rukia snorted.
Ichigo rolled his eyes but smiled as he cast his eyes over the city again, letting out a contented sigh, "Whatever happens next, whether its good or bad... Whether there's trouble in Hueco Mundo or not, we'll deal with it together. Because that's what we do. And I know that as long as we have each other... We can deal with whatever comes our way."
"Feeling philosophical are we?" Renji scoffed.
"Go fuck yourself." He hissed, but smiled soon after.
He watched as Byakuya, Rukia and Renji walked on ahead of him. His own movement halted as he stared at their backs. His eyes began to well with tears, he wasn't sure why. He didn't feel sad... In fact, he felt overwhelmingly happy.
He was free from the dark, eternal night. Free from the chains of his past. Free from Aizen's plotting schemes and wicked plans. He had a purpose, he had a life and he had a family. His friends were his family. And he was willing to do anything to protect them. He had found the thing he had been missing, that missing segment of his heart. He felt nothing but warmth, contentment and love where once there had been cold, bitter loathing. Byakuya, Renji, Rukia, they'd all pulled it out of him. Shown him the best version of himself and never stopped believing he could reach it.
"Thank you, Rukia." Ichigo whispered.
He would never forget her overwhelmingly bubbly personality when he'd met her in Rukongai, she'd been fiery, passionate and determined. It had been Rukia's idea to go to Shino, her guidance and elegance had kept him grounded when his ego had threatened to destroy him.
"Thank you, Renji." Ichigo breathed.
He would never forget Renji's stubborn streak, his dislike for being looked down on, his determination to prove himself, to show that he could be as good as any noble. It had been Renji's strong grasp and friendship that had kept him going when things seemed dire.
"Thank you... Byakuya." Ichigo
He would never forget Byakuya's wilful need to pull him from the darkness that had consumed his life for so long, that single hand outstretched, being offered despite all their differences, despite all the risks, despite the danger. It had been Byakuya's resolute helping hand that had allowed him to step free from Aizen's shadow.
"Come on Ichigo!" He heard Renji call back to him.
He didn't believe in happy endings, because in order for there to be one it meant something was finishing. But that didn't feel true. To Ichigo it felt like everything was just beginning. He broke into a broad grin, all teeth and warmth as he he ran to catch up to them. To his family.
His everything.
Thank you so much for following my on the journey of Dark Hearts, this story was one I originally started many years ago but never finished due to ill health. It is with pride and joy that I now bring the conclusion of this story to you all, you who have supported and encouraged me every step of the way, and who have taken genuine pleasure in following my adaptation of Ichigo Kurosaki's story from start to finish.
But this isn't the end, after a short haitus Dark Hearts will be back with a sequel and a spin off series titled "What If" drafting several short stories following what could have happened in certain scenarios if things had happened differently for Ichigo and his companions.
Until then, much love to you all, and remember, no matter how dark the road ahead seems, you are never travelling it alone.
CaptainMorrigan xxx
