Summary: Nemu learns just how much trouble she's in as she goes to see the Council of 46.
"I don't believe this!" Nanao cried as she ran up to the cell. She stared horror at Nemu who stood placidly in her white prisoner robes.
"When I first heard about this I couldn't believe it, but its true! They have you locked up like an animal!"
"Greetings, Lieutenant Ise." Nemu said with a polite bow. "There is no need to be concerned. The door is unlocked."
"It is?" Nanao said while pulling on the door. Sure enough, it glided open on well oiled hinges.
"In my condition, it was felt that I should be allowed to use the bathroom down the hall whenever necessary." Nemu explained.
"A woman in your condition shouldn't be kept in a filthy cage like this anyway!" Nanao declared as she entered the cell, still outraged.
"Aw, c'mon Nanao." Renji protested. "We clean this cell every day. You could eat off that floor."
"Indeed." Nemu added "The sixth division has gone out of their way to make me as comfortable as possible."
She waved her hands to indicate the bed, rocking chair, bookshelf loaded with books and the small desk with a laptop on it.
Nanao sniffed. "Still, it's the principle of the thing." She handed Nemu the large basket she had brought filled with soaps, lotions and other items and decorated with ribbons.
"Here's a present from the Shinigami Women's Association. We felt a basket of sundries would be necessary in this harsh and neglectful environment."
"We're not neglecting anybody!" Renji protested
Nanao pointedly ignored him.
"I was glad to see my division won the drawing to act as your representation." She said. "We'll soon get this sorted out. Speaking of which, that captain of mine was supposed to meet me here."
Renji shrugged. "If he shows up, I had Rikichi waiting at the entrance to escort him in."
"Nanao-chaaaan!" A man's voice called out. "Are you in here? I seem to be lost."
Nanao rolled her eyes. "Over here." She replied.
Muttering curses under his breath aimed at his subordinate, Renji went out into the cell block to guide Kyōraku Shunsui the rest of the way. The big man swept into Nemu's cell in a swirl of pink cloth and cologne.
"Ah, there's our little mother-to-be."Shunsui said gripping Nemu by the shoulders. "Congratulations my dear. I can already see a bright glow around you."
"My thanks, Captain Kyōraku. " Nemu said. "However, my appearance is merely an illusion caused by an increase in blood flow as well as greater production of hormones resulting in increased oil secretion on my skin in preparation for the rapid growth I will soon be experiencing. I am emitting no illumination in any significant quantities. I checked."
Shunsui threw back his head and laughed. "Of course you did Nemu-chan, of course you did. Now, if our esteemed colleague and host can show us somewhere we can all sit down, we will go over the particulars of your case."
At that moment, a gangling youth came tearing around the corner, stumbling over his own feet and barely managing to stay upright as he came to a stop in front of Renji.
"There you are Rikichi!" Renji yelled. "Where the hell have you been?"
"I'm..huff…sorry…puff..Abarai-san." He struggled to say. "I had to go to the bathroom…gasp… and by the time I came out..wheeze."
"Never mind." Renji barked. "Just lead our guests to the interrogation room."
"The interrogation room!" Nanao exclaimed as she wrapped her arms around Nemu. "Oh no you don't! I won't let you force a confession out of her with your thumb screws and hot pokers!"
Renji slapped his open palm over his face. "It's just a room with tables and chairs in it, Nanao. Sheesh, what an imagination you have. We're not barbarians!"
Without too much trouble, Rikichi soon led them to the interrogation room, a bland white room with a plain table in the middle and several chairs. Notepads and writing tools were placed in the middle of the table. Tea had already been prepared and Rikichi poured out cups for everyone before taking his leave.
"I'll be waiting outside to escort the prisoner back to her cell when you're done." Renji said.
"The 'prisoner' has a name." Nanao retorted "Have you forgotten that, or is this another one of those dehumanizing mind games you people use to break her spirit and force her to comply with your brutal, soul killing routine?"
Renji grimaced. "You know what? I…I...never mind. Just never mind."
Rolling his eyes, he left the room, closing the door behind him and moving down the hall to wait until he was summoned.
Shunsui chuckled, "My little Nanao-chan, such a spitfire."
"I am not your little Nanao-chan." Nanao declared turning up her nose.
"Since we are going to be here a while, we may as well get comfortable." Shunsui said taking a flask out from a pocket in his robe.
Nanao was scandalized. "Captain, it's not even past noon yet!"
"Sake always tastes sweetest before noon Nanao-chan, you should know this by now." Shunsui said as he produced a cup from another pocket. He set the cup of tea before him aside and put the empty cup on the table filling to to the rim from his flask.
"I know that you can't join me Nemu-chan, but surely you can have a taste Nanao-chan?"
She crossed her arms in front of her chest and turned away in disgust. "No thank you."
Shunsui shrugged. "Suit yourself." He drained the cup in one long draught.
"Ah! That's the way to start off a long meeting." Putting his cup down, he filled it again from his flask.
"You certainly seem to have gotten yourself in a pickle, Nemu-chan." He said. "As I will be defending you before the Council of 46, I am going to have to ask you a lot of questions. Some of them will be very personal and even seem a little rude. Do you understand?"
Nemu solemnly nodded. "Yes Captain Kyōraku. I will do my best to supply you with any information you require."
Shunsui nodded back and smiled. "That's good to hear. The first thing I need to know is, are you sure that you are carrying the child of a human from the living world? Is there any possibility it's another seated officers' child or a nobleman's?"
Nanao's jaw dropped open in shock. "Captain, what are you implying? Lieutenant Kurotsuchi is not some trollop spreading her favors willy-nilly! How could you ask such a thing?"
Nemu shook her head. "The question does not disturb me. I can say truthfully that Ishida Uryuu is the only man I ever allowed to touch me. He is undeniably the father."
Shunsui sighed and took a sip from his cup. "I was afraid you'd say something like that. It would have made things a lot easier if you were just pregnant with another shinigami's child. Then you would only be asked to resign your commission."
"There is no regulation that states a seated officer must resign in the event of pregnancy." Nanao pointed out.
"But it is a long standing custom." Shunsui replied.
"A custom that only seems to apply to female shinigami." Nanao said. "Males are never asked to resign when their significant others are pregnant. It's an outdated, sexist policy that in no way reflects reality. It should be changed!"
"Why Nanao-chan," Shunsui said reaching out to pinch her cheek, "were you planning on something?"
She struck his hand away. "You wish."
"So harsh." Shunsui whined pulling back his hand. He grew more serious as he faced Nemu.
"Have you been told the consequences of having a child with one of the living?"
Nemu nodded. "Yes. Captain Kuchiki brought me the relevant articles as soon as I was incarcerated. There is a wide range of options the council of 46 may choose, up to and including execution."
"We're not going to let that happen!" Nanao declared.
"That's pretty unlikely in any case." Shunsui said taking a sip from his cup. "That law is very old and comes from a time when interaction between Soul Society and the world of the living was getting troublesome. There were so many hybrids being born, it was beginning to upset the balance of souls. Harsh punishment became necessary. It was a different time then. People were a lot more open to the spiritual in those days and didn't find it strange to talk to or even form relationships with someone from the spirit realm. Nowadays, fewer and fewer people in the real world believe in ridiculous things like shinigami and even the spiritually gifted don't believe their eyes when they see us. Problems like this one are very rare now."
He took another long drink, draining the cup. He filled it again, giving his flask a shake, dismay showing on his face from how little he had left.
"So while I don't think we have to worry about execution, we do have to be prepared to argue for the outcome we desire." He looked at her from under the brim of his straw hat. "That means I need to know what you want Nemu-chan. What do you wish the results to be?"
Nemu replied without hesitation. "I wish to be sent to the real world. I am prepared to live the rest of my life as a normal human. I want to give my child the best upbringing possible. I want to stay with Ishida Uryuu to the end of my days."
"But Nemu-chan, "Nanao said, "what if he doesn't want you?"
It was a possibility. She had considered it. Uryuu was a decent man and she was sure of his love. Still the responsibility of raising a child was daunting.
She shook her head. "I have faith in Uryuu. We'll work something out. Even if he were to reject me, the real world is still a better place to raise my child. We'll manage."
She didn't mention it was probably safer. She'd raise her child in Hueco Mundo if she knew it would keep them safe from Mayuri-sama.
"Well that gives us somewhere to start." Shunsui said grabbing a notebook. "If the real world is your goal, then that's what we'll work towards."
He cocked an eyebrow at Nemu. "Of course, while I will do all I can to get you what you want, a big part of the council's decision will depend on your captain's testimony."
Nemu merely nodded. She knew that too. The thought sent chills down her spine.
The moon was high as the two sentries rounded the corner of the sixth division compound. The silvery light showed nothing, just as it had all night. The two men yawned and shook their heads to try and stay alert. The end of their shift was coming up soon. It wouldn't do to become careless now. With nothing worth noting, they made their way down the long wall and rounded the corner. As soon as they were gone, the paint on the wall began to flake and crumble. A part of the wall began to push away from the rest. It soon began to take a shape. A man's shape. Captain Kurotsuchi Mayuri's shape. Once the camouflage had all fallen free, he got to work. Taking an aerosol can out of the leather bag he was carrying, he sprayed a door sized area over the wall. The specially designed enzymes ate through the bricks turning them quickly to a thin liquid. He had timed the sentries patrol and knew he had only a limited window to carry out his plan. As soon as the way was clear, he stepped through the hole in the wall. His time was limited, but it should be more than enough. Stepping out into the courtyard, he paused for a moment to get his bearings. Where would the cell block be from here?
"You're having trouble sleeping too, Mayuri-kun?" A voice called out.
Whirling around, Mayuri saw Kyōraku Shunsui leaning against the wall right next to the hole he had just made.
"What are you doing here?" He demanded.
"As I said, I had trouble sleeping." Shunsui replied as he left the wall and approached Mayuri. "I'm supposed to be representing your daughter tomorrow and couldn't stop thinking about her case. Taking a walk always helps me think. Funny thing though, I came walking by the compound and felt something odd by this wall. I couldn't figure out what it could be, so I came in to wait and see what happened. This is a strange way to get in Mayuri-kun. Why didn't you just go in the front gate?
"I don't see how it's any of your business." Mayuri snapped. "I merely wanted to visit Nemu without being disturbed. I brought her a few things from home to comfort her."
He held up the leather bag he was carrying as proof.
"You could have just come during visiting hours." Shunsui pointed out.
"And I would have guards swarming all around me." Mayuri replied "I need more privacy than that."
"Oh?" Shunsui said raising an eyebrow. "Why is that? Perhaps I should have a look at what's in that bag."
Mayuri held the bag away from him. "I already told you, it's just a few things from home to make Nemu more comfortable."
"Then why won't you let me see it?" Shunsui asked. "You seem to be acting a bit suspiciously, Mayuri-kun. "
Mayuri let out a deep sigh. His shoulders sagged as he looked at the ground and he seemed to shrink down as though under a heavy burden.
"You don't understand Captain Kyōraku." He said quietly. "I know I am not a moderate man. I sometimes let my temper get the better of me. Nemu telling me she was pregnant was one of those times. I did a very foolish thing. I turned my back on my only daughter. I let my anger control me and may have ruined the one real relationship I have. I failed in my role as a father. I cast her aside instead of supporting her when she needed it most."
He looked up at Shunsui with pleading eyes. "I want to make it up to her Kyōraku. She's sitting that cell right now, frightened and alone. She need to know that she still has a family that cares for her, a father that loves her. I thought it would be best if we were alone when I talked to her, to convince her I was sincere. Let me go to her Kyōraku. Let me make up for my mistake. Please."
Shunsui held back a sob. He pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and swabbed his teary eyes.
"That was so beautiful." He said, his voice thick with emotion. "Yes, Mayuri-kun. Go to her. Go to your daughter with my blessing."
He stood aside to let Mayuri pass. The scientist could hardly believe his luck. He bowed his head in thanks and began to walk past the now steadily weeping man.
He got two steps before Shunsui put his hand on his shoulder.
"I'm still going to have to look in that bag."
Before he could do anything, Shunsui had snatched the bag from his hands and was on the other side of the courtyard.
"Hmm, what have we here?" He said rummaging around inside the bag. "A scalpel. Syringes. Some kind of clampy thing."
Shunsui dropped each object on the ground as he brought it out of the bag. Mayuri was helpless to do anything but watch as he scowled with his arms crossed.
"What's in this jar here?" He asked bringing a large sealed glass bottle out of the bag. Holding it up to the moonlight, something with way too many eyes and a lot of tentacles stared at him. Flinching away, he put it back in the bag.
"What was that?" He asked
Mayuri's scowl deepened. "It's a monitoring device if you must know."
"A monitoring device?" Shunsui said. "Your daughter takes comfort in some really strange things Mayuri-kun."
Mayuri could tell by the other captain's face that he wasn't believing his story for a second.
"All right, all right, I wasn't being entirely honest. I did let me temper get the best of me. Instead of getting angry, I should have put Nemu and her spawn under observation immediately! Don't you see Kyōraku? This child will be like nothing anyone has ever seen before. If I hadn't let my temper get the best of me, I wouldn't have failed to seize the opportunity."
Shunsui frowned in puzzlement. "There have been shinigami and human hybrids before Mayuri-kun. I don't see how this one is any different."
"This one is not just the by-blow of some random human Kyōraku." Mayuri said feverishly "This child is half quincy! In all the history of the Gotei 13, there has never been an instance of a shinigami mating with a quincy. Not one. Ever! Those damned quincys were always too proud to mix with shinigami, looking down their noses at us and deeming themselves superior. This is the first time anything like this has happened and I almost missed it! We have a comprehensive database on all the ways a human/shinigami hybrid can turn out, but nothing like this. We shouldn't be wasting our time with this legal rigmarole Kyōraku, we should be taking this opportunity to learn everything we can!"
Shunsui picked up the instruments he had removed and put them back in the leather bag.
"So you were coming here tonight to take some samples and put that squiggly thing inside her?"
"It's not an ideal solution." Mayuri admitted. "I could much more if she were back in the lab."
"Really? Like what?"
"Lots of things." Mayuri said, smiling and rubbing his hands together. "I could put her in an isolation tank suspended in a nutrient bath with permanent shunts and catheters to take samples at regular intervals. The growth of the fetus could be recorded in real time with the installation of an internal camera, oh, or maybe by installing a transparent portal. And once the child is viable, there are so many experiments I could carry out, especially if I clone multiple specimens."
Shunsui had no reason to doubt the scientist's words now. Mayuri's eyes glowed greedily as he described what he would do to gain the knowledge he craved. He shoved the bag into Mayuri's arms.
"Go home Mayuri-kun." He said. "I'll let Byakuya-bo know where to send the bill for fixing the wall."
Mayuri glared at Shunsui in rage.
"You drunken fool." He hissed. "You have no understanding of what's truly important."
Shunsui calm gaze never wavered. He found it vaguely amusing that a man who would put his own daughter and grandchild in a glass tank would lecture him about what was truly important.
"Goodnight Mayuri-kun." He said.
Growling and cursing under his breath, Mayuri turned on his heel and exited the way he came. Shunsui watched until he disappeared into the gloom. He shook his head. Tomorrow was going to be interesting.
Nanao gave Nemu a few last finishing touches outside the door leading to the Chamber of 46.
"There you are." She said combing a few stray hairs back into place. "Perfect. Are you ready?"
Nemu gave a hesitant nod. "I feel nervous."
"You're going to do fine." Nanao assured her. She lightly touched Nemu's stomach. "How's the little one doing?"
Nemu smiled. "Last night, I think I felt him moving."
"Really?" Nanao said matching her smile. "So it's a he?"
Nemu smile grew wider. "Yes. Captain Unohana confirmed it was a boy when she examined me."
"Have you picked out a name yet?" Nanao asked.
"I have an idea." Nemu replied. "I'm not ready to decide for sure just yet."
Shunsui touched her on the shoulder. "If you are ready Nemu-chan, then there's only one last thing to do before we go."
Taking his flask out of his pocket, he opened it up and took a drink. It took a long time. The two women watching him began to wonder how he was able to drink so long without breathing.
"Ah! That hit the spot." He gave the flask to Nanao.
"Hold on to this for me Nanao-chan." He said. "I wouldn't want to be tempted to take a sip during the trial."
"It's empty." Nanao said with disgust.
"Oh?" He said reaching out for it. "Well in that case, I'll take it back."
Nanao snatched it out of his reach. "Never mind! Get moving before you're late!"
Chuckling, Shunsui took Nemu's arm and led her towards the entryway.
"Good luck!" Nanao called out behind them.
Nemu looked backwards to see Nanao waving encouragement. She looked up to see Shunsui smiling down at her. His face was confident and relaxed.
"Don't worry Nemu-chan." He said. "Everything's going to be all right."
Nemu still felt nervous as they entered the dark chamber. The council members were already seated, faces obscured by their screens. Shunsui was leading her to a pool of light on the right sight of the chamber floor. Standing on the left side…
"Mayuri-sama!" She gasped.
Shunsui put his finger to his lips. "Shhh."
If her father heard her, he gave no sign. After they reached the center of the light, Shunsui motioned for her to go forward. Mid way between their spot and Mayuri's was a smaller pool of light. She walked forward until she stood beneath it. She gave a deep respectful bow.
"Lieutenant Kurotsuchi Nemu." A voice boomed out. "You have been found guilty of violating Soul Society's law. Specifically, you have conceived a child with a member of the living world. There is no question of your guilt in this action. This trial is to serve the purpose of determining your disposition. Do you understand?"
"Yes council members." She said.
"You will be given a chance to give your testimony during the course of this trial." A different voice said. "For now, return to your defense representative."
Nemu said nothing, bowing again before returning to Shunsui's side.
"Captain Kurotsuchi, step forward."
Mayuri moved as the council directed, taking the position Nemu had left, also giving the council a respectful bow.
"Captain Kurotsuchi, do you claim responsibility for this woman as a member of your division?"
"I do council members," He said. "both as her captain and as her father."
"Your testimony will weigh heavily on what actions we decide to take with Lieutenant Kurotsuchi. Be sure to choose your words carefully to give us the greatest possible understanding of the situation."
"I intend to do just that, council members." Mayuri said. "In fact, I would like to point out that the council is already in error."
"Us? In error? In what way?"
Mayuri's grin flashed through the darkness.
"In the nature of my daughter's crimes, unfortunately." He explained. "This is not a matter of a simple indiscretion between a shinigami and a human, ladies and gentlemen. We are not dealing with the fate of only this mother and child. Instead, we are dealing with a threat. The child my daughter carries is nothing less than a threat to not only the living world, not only Soul Society, but to existence itself!"
The chamber filled with astonished murmurings, the council members leaning towards each other to absorb this shocking allegation.
"Explain yourself Captain Kurotsuchi." A voice called out. "How can one child threaten existence?"
"Think back." Mayuri said. "Remember how things were only 200 years ago. Do you remember existence being in peril then? The balance of souls had become badly out of alignment and the possibility of both the world of the living and the dead tearing itself to shreds was a very real possibility. Why? The Quincy. The arrogant, insufferable Quincy who refused to listen to shinigami wisdom. They didn't care that their destruction of hollows was throwing the universe off balance. We had no choice but to destroy them just to restore that balance. They earned the sentence we passed upon them."
"Why so you bring this up now, Captain Kurotsuchi?"
Mayuri's grin seemed wider than ever as he explained. He pointed his finger at Nemu.
"I remind you of these events, ladies and gentlemen, because Lieutenant Kurotsuchi bears no ordinary human's child. Lieutenant Kurotsuchi's child is a Quincy!"
Mayuri had to shout to continue over the council's uproar. "She knowingly and willingly seeks to bring back that which almost destroyed the world! She is a traitor to Soul Society, a traitor to the shinigami! The only logical sentence for her is DEATH!"
Only then did he turn to look Nemu in the eye. Her heart almost stopped at the look of hatred mixed with triumph in his eyes. She looked up at Captain Kyōraku. He no longer looked confident and relaxed. His mouth was set in a grim line. Feeling her eyes on him, he looked down at her and managed a smile. He took her hand and squeezed it.
"Don't worry Nemu-chan." He said. "Everything's going to be all right."