Part 11- Message from a Strawberry
Rukia is completely shocked at the request, but nods in agreement. She's not stupid by far, she knows what will happen to the egg if anyone were to know who the father was… not that it isn't totally obvious. Yamamoto hates the Espada with a passion and will deem the egg undesirable, destroying it before forcing Ichigo to mate with a 'pure' evolved gargoyle. She only knows this, because it's happened before. Byakuya told her the story of Masaki and Isshin, two evolved gargoyles from different groups that fell in love… they were killed because of it, though no one knows by whom.
"Rukia… how am I gonna hide something like this?" Ichigo whispers so quietly and heartbrokenly she almost cries.
"Don't worry, Ichigo, I'll help you," she says firmly. "We're siblings, we'll always stick together just like nii-sama taught us to. I'll be here to share your burden and help you through your troubles, I swear it! We don't need any stupid mates holding us back, we just need one another!"
"Yeah… You're right," Ichigo chuckles as he holds the egg close.
His dark haired 'sister' helps him to his weak legs and over to the blankets and pillows, lowing him carefully so the egg doesn't get damaged. The thing is huge, she's actually shocked Ichigo didn't show before having it, and it looks to be a chore to hold it. Against the orangette's slender form, it's the length of his abdomen to about mid-ribs and a perfect oval. The black is so light you can barely see it, but when looked for it looks like wisps of storm clouds passing over the whiteness.
"This is my egg," Ichigo murmurs tiredly as he lays down with it. "This is mine and Grimmjow's baby… I have to protect it."
"You have to go to sleep, stupid," Rukia scowls. "I'll protect the both of you for now, got it? Get some rest before I knock you out."
"He needs to know."
"I'll figure something out, I promise. Just go to sleep."
Ichigo nods, the movement sluggish as he's taken by slumber. It's no the stone sleep gargoyles are so known for, but one humans take when they're too weary. Rukia was always glad for that particular evolved trait, but right now she's not so certain. She knows that no one has ventured through these caves like she and Ichigo have… but that doesn't mean the won't if they thought Ichigo was hiding here. She needs to think up an excuse for the orangette, so they won't come looking for him.
Grimmjow, on the other hand, is pacing furiously as the Visoreds join him and the Manhattan clan. Goliath is curious, watching these other strange gargoyles with interest as they argue childishly. Broadway and Bronx are lazing about with Hudson, but Lexington managed to goad Kisuke into a technical discussion that either has yet to drop. The Visored called Kensei has caught Angela's eye, almost as quickly as Grimmjow did. All in all… everything is a downright chaotic mess.
"I suggest we all sit down and calm ourselves," he states in a firm tone that leaves no room for debate. "One of our own is out of our territory, facing dangers unknown, with an egg that could be laid at any moment. Please, grasp the situation for what it is and push it to the forefront of your minds. Ichigo needs us far more than we need the occasional casual conversation."
"Goliath is right," Demona growls out. "This is bad! We need to think this over and figure out how to help Ichigo."
"Might I remind you that he's in Shinigami territory now," Kisuke points out cheerfully, though his eyes are cold as ice. "Even if we had a way to reach him, they would never allow us to get him out. Not to mention, going yourselves will place you in the middle of this god-awful war of theirs."
"I have seen a thousand lifetimes of war," the crimson haired female utters fiercely. "One more will only hone my skills further."
"That may be, but Ichigo might get caught in the crossfire," Shinji sighs. "This is hopeless. They managed to lure him away, but they won't allow us to do the same. Aizen will be patrolling their border in case he manages to leave their territory, snatching the poor brat up before we get the chance…"
A knock on the mansion door stills his rant, everyone's curious eyes turning toward it simultaneously. Grimmjow moves to answer it, but Demona has a hand on his chest in hopes to stop him. She goes in his stead, placing the fiercest look she can possibly make on her features as she swings the door open.
"What!" she growls.
"Uh… um… I'm l-looking for… G-Grimmjow," a female voice stammers out. "I-I'm Ichigo's… uh… s-sister."
"Rukia!" Grimmjow calls out. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Ichigo asked me to come find you," she says as her eyes scan the area. "I need to tell you something, please let me in."
She knows she wasn't followed, but she's not so sure Aizen doesn't have someone watching the place. They allow her passage into the mansion, the small girl walking like the noble she was raised to be as they take her to the sitting room. The sheer amount of gargoyles, both old and evolved, stun her. She's seated beside Angela and across from Grimmjow.
"What's the news? Is Ichigo okay? They didn't hurt him, did they?"
"No, Ichigo's fine," she smiles. "I'm watching over him. It's just… he told me to come tell you that… he laid an egg…"
"What!" the teal haired man gasps. "No… oh god, did they find out? Are they gonna hurt him for it?"
"Calm down," she huffs. "You're as excitable as Ichi, I swear! Ichigo and I know of a place in the forest by the Kuchiki Manor, but no one goes there. The tunnel system is confusing and dangerous, but we've explored it our whole lives. He's hiding out in one of the deeper caverns that are hardest to get to, I made sure to leave a shit-load of false trails and the tunnel that leads to the correct path is hidden behind overlapping walls… it took us years to find."
"He came through the labor okay?" Kisuke wonders in worry.
"Yep! I remembered my lessons from when Yamamoto declared I'd be having an egg soon as well… I mean, I'm not carrying… he just wants the females to start trying to reproduce again. We all had to take a class with Unohana about it, so I helped Ichigo through his laying! He's sleeping it off now."
"And the egg?"
"Perfect and very beautiful," she nods, pleased.
Grimmjow sighs, relief taking his mind by storm as his worry for his mate melts away. His precious Ichigo laid their egg, they'll be having a hatchling soon… what the hell is he supposed to do then? The nausea the quickly pours in almost has him throwing up, he never imagined in a million years he'd be a dad!