Chapter 11: Bonds
"Shima taichou," the grand councilor greeted Kurushimi, "I came as soon as I heard about what happened."
He frowned at the sight of the bandaged wound on Kuri's shoulder.
"My exploratory team will take evidence from the scene of the crime..."
Kuri shook his head firmly.
"The crime did not take place here," he insisted, "Daisuke, someone has tampered with my clan wife's mind. Tetsu-hana would never harm his own family. I would swear it on my life. He was not in control of himself."
"I believe that remains to be seen," the grand councilor replied, shaking his head, "I understand that something may have caused what happened, but we need to establish both the crime and the factors leading up to it. We will need to question Shima Tetsuya and unless you wish to incarcerate him here, we will move him to the council detention building to await trial."
"Now, wait a minute!" Renji objected, stepping forward from where he stood at Byakuya's side, "You can't just come into a noble home and start telling a clan leader what to do!"
"Renji," Byakuya said, placing a staying hand on the redhead's arm, "the noble's general council, while not interfering in the day-to-day workings of the particular families does oversee events that have repercussions in more than one clan."
"But the clans involved are my own and yours," Kuri interjected.
He paused for a moment, glancing at Byakuya.
"I believe Byakuya and I can work this out without the involvement of the council."
Daisuke sighed and shook his head.
"I am afraid it is more complicated than that, because of the fact that we are responsible for putting your attacker in your household by choosing Tetsuya as your clan wife."
"I don't care about that," Kuri insisted, "I believe very firmly that the council was correct in choosing Tetsuya for me. This is really an internal matter, something for Byakuya and me to handle. We can settle this over a bottle of fine sake, ne?"
"I have no objection to working this out privately," Byakuya agreed, "There is no reason to make it a public matter. Our clans stand to lose more than we gain from the negative coverage."
"Yes, I suppose there is that, and I understand your protective feelings for Tetsuya, however, you must be aware that the situation has caused some concern about the choosing process."
"How so?" Byakuya asked, not daring to look at Kuri.
"Well, we can't figure out how Tetsuya was chosen for Shima taichou. Going back to the original input entries, he should have been eliminated as an option, given his half-blood status and our awareness that his first gestation was not viable."
"It was not viable because some of our misguided brothers took it upon themselves to imprison and kill the mixed bloods," Kuri said in a low, angry voice, "Tetsuya lost his child, yes, but he survived and he is going to have the Shima heir."
Daisuke arched a fine eyebrow.
"He is...already pregnant?"
"It is not confirmed," Kuri admitted, "but it will be."
"That could offer him some protection from immediate harm, but I think the two of you know that he will have to stand trial, if for nothing better than to have his name cleared. As a mixed blood, he will be the target of a lot of disapproval."
"Well, disapproval or not, he isn't at fault for this!" Renji insisted.
"And you have...proof to back this up?" the grand councilor asked.
Renji stiffened.
"I don't need proof when I know Tetsuya like I do!"
"I understand he is your friend," Daisuke explained, "But I hardly think that excusing him because 'you say so' is enough to mollify the ones who will want to see Tetsuya held accountable for his actions."
"I assume these are the same as the ones who wanted to imprison and kill the mixed bloods for nothing more than existing," Kuri hissed angrily.
"I think an icicle in the shoulder is something other than just existing, Shima taichou," Daisuke argued, "You do not even dispute that Shima Tetsuya attacked you, and you offer no proof of your claim that he was brainwashed into doing so. And I might warn you that even if he was brainwashed, that young man can never be trusted again. I strongly advise you, whatever you decide to do, you annul the marriage and have the boy committed to a good mental hospital. That could help prove your assertion and it would earn him some sympathy from the council."
"Earn him sympathy?" Kuri repeated icily, "Usted idiota! No voy a traicionar a mi amante como eso! ¿Qué clase de hombre crees que soy? ¡Bastardo!" (You moron! I will not betray my lover like that! What kind of man do you think I am? Bastard!)
"I think what Shima taichou means to say is that he will hold Tetsuya here until his trial," Byakuya said calmly, "As the leader of the other clan involved, I am content with this."
"I think it is dangerous to leave Tetsuya here," Daisuke said sternly, "It seems that Shima taichou is blinded by his feelings for him, and your cousin is a proven danger to him."
"No one is going to touch my clan wife!" Kuri snapped, laying a hand on his sword, "and I want you to leave my home now!"
"Of course," Daisuke said stiffly, "Just keep in mind that, as you are acting against the will of the council, council forces will be posted near your home for the duration...to be available in case of another violent incident. They will have authorization to kill Tetsuya, if they deem him to be a threat. Are you sure you don't want to reconsider remanding him to council custody or having him committed to an authorized institution?"
"Get out of here!" Kuri shouted.
Daisuke nodded and turned to go, then he paused and looked back over his shoulder.
"Just so you are informed, the council is performing an inquiry into changes to the computer entries that occurred the night before the choosing ceremony. I am curious about what that investigation will reveal. It would be unfortunate if any tampering might cause us to invalidate certain unions."
He turned away and walked out without another word.
Renji shook his head worriedly.
"What're we gonna do?" he asked urgently, "We all know Kuri tampered with the computers!"
"Tell me there were no witnesses to this," Byakuya said, frowning.
"No one saw me touch the computers," Kuri informed them, "however, there was a guard I intoxicated before going in. I do not think he will talk, but who knows for sure."
"Damn it!" Renji snapped furiously, "We're in some real trouble, all of us. Tetsuya could end up dead or in prison or a nut house and our marriages could be revoked."
"I don't think they will annul the marriages, except perhaps for mine and Tetsu-hana's, assuming all of us impregnated our partners," Kuri assured him, "The one we have to worry about is Tetsu-hana. He could earn a death sentence for injuring me with intent to kill. And even if not, he will certainly go to prison for many years."
"We're not gonna let that happen!" Renji said, clenching his fists.
"No," Byakuya agreed, "but we need some kind of plan. Normally, I would have Tetsuya or Arashi use waterforms, and I would suggest an evacuation to a hidden family retreat. However, Tetsuya is still without his powers, he is unconscious, and Arashi still has not emerged from his body, because he is still recovering from injury."
"So, what're we gonna do?" Renji asked urgently, "I don't think we can take a step outside of this place without those council goons jumping us and taking Tetsuya with them!"
"This will take careful planning," Byakuya mused.
"Then, we had best get planning," Kuri said darkly, "because I don't care about the consequences, no one is laying a hand on my Tetsu-hana!"
XXXXXXXXXX
"Ichigo-sama?" the Shiba heir's attendant called softly.
"Ungh," Ichigo grunted, yawning widely and scratching his head, "What is it, Toshi?"
"It is Jaegerjaques Grimmjow, sir," Toshi reported solemnly.
"Eh...is he causing trouble again? Just give him something to eat and leave him alone for a while. That usually works, ne?"
"Oh, it's not that, sir," Toshi went on, "Grimmjow-san is ill."
Ichigo blinked and sat up straighter.
"He is?" the Shiba heir mused, a strange tickle in his stomach at the thought, "Is he all right? What's wrong with him?"
I kinda know what he's probably going to tell me, but...
"Maybe you had better come and see him, Ichigo-sama," the attendant suggested.
"Yeah, okay," Ichigo sighed, slipping out of bed and walking out into the hallway.
As he approached the bathroom, he heard Grimmjow curse, then sounds of intense discomfort, retching, then more swearing.
"Well, that doesn't sound good," Ichigo sighed, walking into the bathroom.
He spotted Grimmjow, crouching on the floor, in front of the open toilet, holding his stomach and vomiting violently.
"Damn, are you all right?" he asked, though it was more than clear the sexta espada was anything but okay, "Is there something I can do?"
"Ugh...Ptttthh!" Grimmjow spat, "You've fucking done enough, haven't you, you stupid son of a bitch! Augh!"
He paused and retched loudly. Ichigo winced.
"Look, you don't even know that you're knocked up, and you sure as hell don't know for sure that it was me..."
"You're the only one I've shared a goddamned bed with!" the hollow seethed, "I haven't had sex with anyone in a really long time, so I fucking know it was you, Kuro...eh, Ichigo!"
"I didn't sleep with you!" Ichigo objected, "Well, I did sleep next to you, but I didn't have sex with you. I swear I didn't!"
"Ungh...bleah!" Grimmjow heaved, "Then explain to me exactly how I got fucking pregnant without having sex? You think it was immaculate conception? Dumbass! You fucked me in your sleep or something!"
"What? Why the hell would I do that?"
"I don't know! Why the hell are you asking me? I don't know why you do the goddamned deranged things you do!"
"C'mon, I didn't do it!"
"Would you shut up and hand me a towel? Do something useful or better yet, just get away from me! I don't want to see your annoying, stupid, moronic, impregnating and lying face!"
"What? Grimmjow!"
"Ugh, leave me alone!" the hollow yelled, jumping to his feet and bolting back across the bathroom and out the door.
"Hey!" Ichigo cried.
He watched Grimmjow disappear down the hall, then sighed resignedly.
"Shoot, what do I do now?" he mused.
"I will go and care for Grimmjow-san," Toshi offered, "He doesn't have as much reason to be angry with me, I suppose."
"I told you, I didn't knock Grimmjow up!" Ichigo insisted, "I just slept next to him! If' he's having a kid, then it's not mine!"
"Please try not to worry, Ichigo-sama," Toshi said soothingly, "The healer is coming in and he will be able to prove to Grimmjow-san that you did not father the child...if there even is a child. We don't know for sure yet."
"Yeah, yeah, I know," Ichigo said in a troubled tone, "Augh, but Toshi, what if I did do something to Grimmjow? What if I did have sex in my sleep or something? What am I gonna do?"
"We will deal with that when and if it comes to that," Toshi said reassuringly, "But let me go and check in with Grimmjow-san and the healer."
"Okay...but maybe I should go too," Ichigo said uncertainly, "What do you think? I mean, if I stay here, I'm just gonna worry about what's going on in there, so..."
"But if you go into his guest room, he may become agitated."
"I think he's already agitated," Ichigo sighed, shaking his head, "Anyway, I really need to know what's going on. I'll feel awful if I took advantage of Grimmjow."
"I'm sure you didn't."
"But what if the kid is mine!" Ichigo worried.
"Then, there is an explanation," Toshi decided, "You would not take advantage of Grimmjow-san, so if you did become intimate with him, there is an explanation as to why. I know there is!"
"Okay," Ichigo said, shaking his head, "But, you know, I'd better go in. I'll just...stay near the door or something, in case he flips out."
"Good thinking, Ichigo-sama," Toshi complimented him.
The two walked down the hallway, to the guestroom Grimmjow had been given upon their arrival at Shiba Manor. They entered the well-appointed room and stood quietly near the doorway as the healer leaned over Grimmjow and laid hands on his slim belly.
"Have you had any abdominal pain?"
"Just cause I got the shit kicked outta me a few days ago," Grimmjow answered, "But it's not pain that's bothering me. I can't stop throwing up. I've been throwing up all morning! I don't know if I'm sick or if that asshole, Ichigo, knocked me up! He keeps saying he didn't do anything when we slept next to each other, but..."
"But," sighed the healer, "you are pregnant."
"Fuck...what am I gonna do about that?"
The healer eyed him cautiously for a moment.
"Are you saying that you want to end this pregnancy?" he asked carefully.
"You can do that?" Grimmjow asked, looking surprised, "I thought because Ichigo's a noble..."
"Well, you are both from noble families."
"Actually, I'm not. I don't know where the hell they got that bullshit about me being a Shihoin."
"It does seem a little dubious," the healer admitted.
"Yeah, but that doesn't matter now," Grimmjow said, staring down at his belly and touching the area beneath his belly button with curious fingers, "There's a kid to think about, right?"
"Ahem," the healer said, clearing his throat, "There are signs of more than one reiatsu, Grimmjow-san."
"What?" the besieged hollow managed, "What the hell? Oh right, that lady said there might be two or more. Like one little bastard wasn't enough? How the hell many are we talking about?"
"Oh, I can't be sure at this point. Not until they emerge. That's when the reiatsus separate and are born. They resolve into their physical bodies after emerging."
"Okay, whatever," Grimmjow snapped, "And how do we tell if Kurosaki...erm...Ichigo is the father? I need to know so I can kill him if he is."
"That would not be advisable," the healer said sternly.
"What the hell? Why not? He screwed me while I was unconscious! I've got more than enough right to kick the merry shit outta him!"
"If Ichigo-sama is the father, then when I do a resonance test, it will be confirmed."
"How do you do that test? Is it painful?"
"Oh, no, not at all," the healer assured the anxious hollow, "But I do need Ichigo-sama to..."
"I'm right here," Ichigo said, stepping further into the room.
Grimmjow scowled.
"So, the truth'll come out and we'll see if you're a freaking liar or not."
He watched closely as the healer motioned for Ichigo to join him, then laid the Shiba heir's hand in place on the sexta espada's pale-skinned stomach. He sent a tiny thread of his own reiatsu into Ichigo's hand, and a moment later, Ichigo's hand and Grimmjow's belly glowed a lovely ice blue.
Ichigo's face paled and he swallowed hard. The healer looked at him sympathetically.
"I know you wish it wasn't true, but you are the father."
"You piece of lying shit!" Grimmjow complained.
"But please," said the healer, "It's not really Ichigo-sama's fault, you see? Because you resonate almost perfectly...a true resonance!"
"A...true resonance?" Ichigo mused dazedly.
"Yes," the healer confirmed, "The level of your resonance is extremely high, so when you were together sleeping, you likely both engaged in intimacy..."
"We had sex?" Grimmjow asked, looking mystified, "Just because of this...resonance thingy?"
"Yes," the healer confirmed, "A high resonance is a compulsion that no one can resist. You two were perfectly mated in the choosing. This was meant to be!"
"Meant to be? Are you crazy?" Grimmjow and Ichigo yelled together.
"Yes," the healer said, smiling, "You are perfect for each other!"