Stand in the Rain
Shadow of an Echo
A/N This chapter is my attempt to prove I will not have Ichigo turn into a blushing stuttering uke because of the baby. To make it realistic I had him be nervous and scared because in all honesty who wouldn't be in that situation? He will still be Ichigo, there is just going to be more to his character than before.
Chapter Twenty
My Kind of Love
Thanks to the conversation with his dad Ichigo was finally calming down and getting some of his confidence back. He had needed that reassurance badly. He was back to feeling a bit like himself again, but was even more motivated to get things worked out than he was before. They now had a limited time frame to get everything set up if they were going to pull this off. He had a general consensus from the healers in the group that he would most likely be able to hide at least until his fourth month, maybe a little longer if they were lucky.
He wasn't the only one to think that way, but it took an interesting and unusual event for that to become apparent. Ichigo was out in the charade of patrolling with his father and Kensei at the time when they had a visitor so well hidden the only give away was the shimmer of movement caused by rapid Sonido drawing to a close. Both of his protectors had Zanpakuto drawn and shoved Ichigo behind them before they had a chance to recognize the two Arrancar in front of them, but once Ichigo got a look at them he called out to the others, "It's okay, that's Starrk and Lilynette." He informed, followed by Kensei and Isshin lowering their blades but not putting them away just yet.
"I need to talk to Ichigo," Starrk requested, calm but firm, all business. "It's important." The Primera insisted while carefully keeping Lilynette behind him in the face of the two Zanpakuto held by the people protecting Ichigo. Their power levels matched or surpassed many of the Espada by the feel of them.
"What do you need?" Ichigo asked, coming to stand level with the two other males, putting his hand on his father's arm in a bid to keep him calmed down.
He looked a little reluctant to speak in front of the other two, but he quickly realized asking to have a minute alone was not going to work so he decided to trust in Ichigo's judgment. "I need someone to look after Lilynette until tomorrow night. I have to go back and make another report, but after what happened last time I refuse to leave her alone." He explained, pulling her into his side protectively so they could see her but couldn't get to her without going through him first.
"This report, nothing about Ichigo will be in it?" Isshin asked suspiciously, measuring up the powerful Arrancar in front of them, one who was doing everything he could to keep the child next to him safe.
"I swear I will not reveal anything." He promised, looking Isshin in the eyes, proving his sincerity. "I want to remove Aizen from our world. He is playing with fire without knowing what he is doing. If we do not stop him all three worlds will crumble out of balance. Our best chance of success is to work together, but at the same time most of the people willing to rebel will also have trouble taking orders from someone who is not a Hollow. That is why I will protect Ichigo and his cub, your son is one of us, he can command the others and they will listen. I would not trust Lilynette to his protection if I had intentions of hurting his child, he could hurt her in retaliation. Take it as a show of faith." It had not been hard for Starrk to make the connection between Ichigo and Isshin, their power overlapped and contained traces of each other projecting the relation.
Kensei spoke up, "We have a place where she will be safe and out of sight from any Shinigami who might attempt to turn her in or hurt her, but it is with the rest of the Visoreds. There are eight of us, plus Ichigo, do you still want us to keep her for you?"
He took a moment to consider it, "Would I be able to see this place before I left her there?"
Kensei shared a questioning look with Ichigo, gaining a nod of encouragement. "As long as Ichigo vouches for you, then yes."
"We can't leave her by herself again, let him come." Ichigo advised. He trusted Starrk, he could have already turned him in, but he hadn't, and he was being honest when speaking with Isshin.
"Alright," Kensei allowed, "Follow us."
With Starrk and Lilynette shielding so well, no one was worked up at their return until catching sight of the crisp white uniforms and broken masks. "I take it you are the Espada Ichigo has been telling us about?" Shinji approached first with the others following in a mix of caution and curiosity.
"Yes, I am Coyote Starrk, and this is my Fraccion Lilynette Gingerbuck." He introduced.
"I'm Shinji Hirako, why are you here?" He asked. Shinji usually took the lead when dealing with people, it was part of his nature.
"I needed a favor and I was told you may be able to help us." Starrk answered honestly while Lilynette took a step away from him, checking out their surroundings. She hadn't expected the subterranean training ground she found herself in when she had first entered the broken down warehouse.
"What do you want us to do?" Shinji asked, watching with curiosity as Lilynette took a few more steps away from the Espada and caught sight of Hiyori. The two of them looked like they were about the same age and were sizing each other up.
"The last time I went back to Heuco Mundo I had to leave Lilynette behind, Aizen wanted one of us here at all times. While I was gone she was attacked and I had no way of knowing about it until Ichigo chased Findor back to Las Noches with his tail between his legs. I will not take the risk of leaving her alone again, Barragan is targeting her and he is not one of those that will give up even if Aizen ordered it, he is only loyal to himself." Starrk explained. "Would you be willing to shelter her until tomorrow night?"
That had Rose asking, "Why do you think she would be safe here? I'm not saying she won't be but that seems like a lot to gamble on when you obviously care about her."
"I trust Ichigo, and he trusts you." Starrk admitted. "I witnessed what he was able to survive and overcome, no one else could have done it; no one. Aizen did everything in his power to make him break and it didn't work. There is more to Ichigo than spiritual strength, and it is that side of him that makes me believe Lilynette will be alright where he feels she will be safe."
"You fought him while he was there didn't you?" Isshin realized, still leery of the extremely powerful Espada.
"Yes, but if I hadn't then it could have been even worse for him, though I doubt that seems possible." Starrk began to inform. "I knew how far he could be pushed that would both satisfy Aizen and keep him in the best shape possible. I helped find the way to break him out, but it was Szayel and Grimmjow who pulled it off."
"Do you have time to talk more about who is working with you?" Shinji broke in, realizing if Starrk was asking for this then he was due back in Heuco Mundo soon.
"Not now, but when I come back I will answer any questions you have," He promised.
"We will watch out for her," Shinji allowed. "Like you we trust Ichigo. We will want those answers though. Keep Ichigo safe and we will do the same for your Lilynette."
There was nothing but relief in Starrk's voice when he responded, "Thank you." He turned to Lilynette who was whispering excitedly to Hiyori in a worrying kind of way, considering the havoc both of them could get into on their own. "Stay with them and listen if they tell you to do something, that means it's probably for your own good. If I hear that you gave them a rough time it won't end well for you." He cautioned his hyperactive other half.
"Oh Coyote, relax, I know as much as you do about what's going on. I'm not going to screw it up, but I'm still going to have fun. Go and deal with the idiot then get back here." She ordered, turning away in what was supposed to be a firm dismissal, but considering she looked like a ten year old it did not have quite the effect she intended because at least half the Visoreds in attendance were laughing at her.
He rubbed at his temples, "Just try not to level the place." He reminded, before looking at Ichigo and Shinji, "I'll be back tomorrow."
"I'm sure we can handle her," Ichigo had a smile on his face as he waved Starrk away. He had to admit, it was kind of nice to see Hiyori laughing and giggling along with whatever the Arrancar was trying to drag her into.
"Alright, while Starrk isn't out on the streets we should double patrols until he gets back." Kensei decided, looking at the two plotting girls and just shook his head.
Isshin immediately interrupted, "That's fine but Ichigo stays right here until that Espada gets back. I don't want him out around Arrancar that aren't on anyone's leash."
"I was going to stay with Lilynette anyway," Ichigo assured his father.
"Love and I will go, we can tell Kisuke what's going on and probably get Shunsui back here if you want Ichigo?" Rose offered.
"Tonight is up to him, but he should definitely be here tomorrow when Starrk gets back." Ichigo advised.
"Mashiro and I will go out too," Kensei decided, the tiny female Visored already ready to go with him. "Anyone else want to patrol tonight?"
"As long as Ichigo is here safe I should go back home and check on the girls, I'll keep an eye out for trouble though," Isshin laid out.
"Sounds good," Shinji approved, "Take care of yourselves out there."
"Uh, Rose, I have to ask; could you get Kisuke to let my friends know what is happening with Starrk? I want them to be involved with the planning. If things are happening in this world they deserve to know and should be here tomorrow." Ichigo requested.
"That shouldn't be a problem." The blonde Visored agreed before the five of them left to their tasks.
In less than a second after the so called responsible ones left, Hiyori and Lilynette had drawn Zanpakuto and raced across the training ground to a nice open spot ready to see what the other could do.
Ichigo found a boulder to lean against while watching the girls, the three remaining Visoreds settled down near him, Lisa with her magazine, Hachi watching the impulsive spar with an eye towards making sure it didn't go too far; this left Shinji to talk to Ichigo. "I never thought I would see such a young Hollow, much less an Arrancar." He observed.
"If you think Lilynette looks young, you should meet Nel, she looks like she is maybe two or three." Ichigo responded with a small smile, "I should probably warn you in case you didn't know, but Arrancar do not age, they are frozen in place as soon as they break their masks. Lilynette is much older than she looks even if she doesn't see the point in acting like it most of the time.
"How old can she be? Aizen made her didn't he?" Shinji asked curiously, looking over the seemingly young girl closely.
Ichigo was forced to admit, "I don't actually know how old she is, but you're wrong about something. Starrk is the only Arrancar in the Espada that Aizen did not make himself, and Lilynette was with him when Aizen discovered them."
Shinji was stumped at something, "How could you possibly know that?"
"Because Aizen told me." Ichigo confessed. "He was just as proud of the fact he could lure an already formed Arrancar into his ranks as he was of being able to create them. He thought it was a symbol of his strength, but it was more Starrk liked what he offered but as Aizen started exerting more control even he couldn't stand it anymore."
"What did Aizen promise Starrk?" Shinji didn't know what could have possibly captured the attention of someone as powerful as Starrk had to be to hold the position of Primera.
"That's a question for Lilynette. I can guess but I'm not sure," Ichigo didn't think it would hurt to ask the girl some questions, even if she wouldn't answer it was still worth a shot.
There were more questions Shinji could ask but since the vast majority would be better suited to asking either Arrancar he kept quiet and just watched the spar in progress. By then Lilynette had managed to cajole Hiyori into showing her mask, and was barely managing to hold up under the strain.
Lisa who had been trying to hide her interest glanced over the top of her magazine, "Why doesn't she use her resurrection?"
"I've never seen her use it, so that I don't know." Ichigo informed as the tired and panting girls slowly drug themselves back to the little group.
Lilynette had heard enough of the conversation to answer the question for herself, "I didn't use a resurrection today for the same reason I didn't when Findor attacked; I don't have one." If Starrk and Ichigo trusted this group of people she would follow suit. They would hopefully be working together soon so it made sense they get used to each other.
"What do you mean you don't have one!?" Shinji was openly shocked, "I thought an Arrancar used a Zanpakuto to seal their true selves, how can you have one without the other?"
"You might not believe me if I told you," She warned, almost teasingly.
"Go ahead Lilynette, I kind of want to know too," Ichigo encouraged her.
"Fine then, Coyote and I are different than the others. We are not separate beings, we are two halves of the same Arrancar; instead of sealing his power into a sword Coyote put it in me. I'm not really his fraccion, I'm actually his Zanpakuto." She was amused at the gobsmacked expressions on their faces. "Why do you think Barragan wants to kill me so badly? Coyote would be hamstrung if he lost me, both in power, and because before Aizen found us all we had was each other for decades."
"I already asked Ichigo, but he didn't know and I'm curious, just how old are you and Starrk?" Shinji couldn't hold the question back anymore.
"It's hard to tell time in Heuco Mundo but I'd say it's been at least a century since Coyote and I split apart, and probably more." Lilynette tried to answer, "Coyote is the oldest Espada; we were able to figure out that much. Barragan was old when he became a Hollow which is why Coyote looks so much younger."
"What made the two of you join Aizen in the first place?" A good question that did need an answer.
"Coyote and I are powerful, too powerful, when Hollows discovered us they would attempt to stay but would eventually smother under the weight. Aizen promised us a place around people strong enough to handle our strength without dying until we built our shields up enough we won't hurt anyone." She explained. "All of the Espada embody an aspect of death and Solitude is ours."
Shinji's eyes narrowed, "So why turn on him?"
"Because we aren't selfish. We know what Aizen intends to do and if he is allowed to go through with his plans it will mean the destruction of everything we know. It is better to be alone than to not exist at all, but now we have control enough to be safe around others or we wouldn't have gotten sent here." Lilynette more or less patiently answered the expected question. "And no I won't get into that now. If you want to know more about Aizen, ask Coyote, he can answer better."
Another familiar presence made itself known in the ensuing silence, "Shunsui!" Ichigo called out happily as they were quickly joined by the elder Shinigami who was looking at Lilynette with curiosity.
"So this is Lilynette, when Rose told me she was here I didn't know what to expect." He admitted while settling down with them and pulling Ichigo against him.
"Who are you?" Her voice was a bit testy, she didn't like being talked about like she wasn't in the room.
"Shunsui Kyouraku, I'm the Captain of the Eighth squad back in the Seireitei." He answered, trying not to smile at the prickly youngster. He probably shouldn't provoke her no matter how much fun that might be, at least, not without a little more cause.
Lilynette looked sharply between him and Ichigo, taking into account the close contact, "Are you his mate?" She asked abruptly, the terminology giving him a bit of a pause before his good humor took over again.
"If you want to call it that, then yes." Shunsui replied truthfully.
"Well you two are having a young one together, as long as she's not Grimmjow's. Sounds like a mate to me." Lilynette pointed out.
"Lilynette, while everyone here knows about her there are a few around us that do not, please don't say anything about the baby so openly," Ichigo requested. "And we know now that she is not Grimmjow's, she is too young to be his."
"I won't." She promised, "Like I told Coyote I know what's going on. I'm not going to let her get hurt, I'm the same as Coyote I like young ones. I just figured if you trusted them with me, you would trust them with your own. I kinda think Grimmjow is going to be a little disappointed that she isn't his though."
That surprised Ichigo, "Really?"
"Of course. She would have been proof you let him help you escape the way he did, and that's something he is actually pretty proud of," Lilynette explained. "Plus any young one carried by you has to be strong, he would be interested in her just because of that."
Shunsui pulled Ichigo closer and had his own question for Lilynette, "So having a child born like this isn't a problem for Hollows?"
"What do you mean like this?" It was her turn to be confused.
"Ichigo is a man, in the Seireitei that is a big problem," Shunsui responded.
Still confused, "Why would it be? Hollows aren't male or female when we reach above Gillian level, we are a mixed up mess of souls. We don't mate often, even less than you Shinigami, but we can pair up with whoever we want."
That made something click in Ichigo's mind, "So Hollows can have children too?"
"Yes, but like I said, you have to be at least Adjuchas and even then it usually doesn't happen." She confirmed.
"Shunsui maybe that is why she is here so quickly, I can have children from both sides." Ichigo theorized. "Junichi is a form of Menos, but we don't know which kind, though we're guessing Adjuchas from the way we look as a Hollow." While recovering in the Seireitei they had quite a few talks getting to know each other as something other than enemies, and that had come up.
"I guess it's possible," Shunsui responded while thinking it over, "But it must work differently so I doubt we can be sure, especially since we know she is either Jyuushiro's or mine, if she were Grimmjow's I would think Junichi might have more influence over it."
"Wait, you can look like a Hollow? I thought Visoreds only had masks?" Lilynette was confused again.
"In order for us to be a Visored we have to defeat our inner Hollows and gain control," Shinji decided to answer. "In the fight with them we took on their form for a short period of time, when we won the only thing left of that body was our masks."
"Sorry Shinji, but you're a little bit wrong," Ichigo decided to interrupt, "I thought I already told you our Hollows are the other half to our souls? We didn't defeat them in order to control them, instead we were proving they had someone strong enough to be their host. As long as you both agree to work together we can take on Hollow form again, but they are in control when using that body so you have to trust they will give it back when the time comes."
"I've never really talked with mine to be honest, you are the first of us to make contact that wasn't a battle," Shinji defended himself.
A soft interjection made all of them look over in surprise at the largest Visored, "I have."
"When? And why didn't you tell us?" Shinji interrogated.
"Not long after we got here, I didn't think it was that odd until the rest of you started talking about how much you fought with yours. Mine didn't after that first night," Hachi admitted. "I figured it was something that needed to happen between us and our Hollows when we were ready for it, not something able to be forced."
That made Lisa speak up, "You always have been the gentlest, if our Hollows really are our other halves then it makes sense yours wouldn't be as volatile as the rest of ours."
"Hey Ichigo do you think it's safe for you to show us your Hollow form?" Lilynette asked curiously.
"I know you've been listening, do you know if it's safe for her?" Ichigo decided to ask his Hollow.
It took a moment for Junichi to respond as he considered it, "I don't see why it wouldn't be. That is our true body as much as this one is thanks to me, and the girl already said Hollows can have children –something I didn't know by the way- so that shouldn't be a problem either."
Zangetsu's voice chimed in too, "Yes the baby will be fine. Junichi is right you are a Hollow as much as a Shinigami it won't hurt her to take on that form. After all she is part Hollow too."
"Okay, we can try." Ichigo decided before addressing the others. "Both Junichi and Zangetsu think the baby will be okay, so yes I can show you." He slowly pulled himself away from Shunsui and took a few steps forward to make room for the change before giving full control over to Junichi and letting his own consciousness fade into the background, sitting against a sideways building with Zangetsu as silent support next to him. He wasn't just giving up partial control like he had to let Junichi speak for them, this was willingly allowing him to have free reign without any restraints what so ever.
As soon as Junichi had complete control their body began to shift over into his form instead of Ichigo's, with his King morphing along with him on the inside. They were reflections of each other, when chigo was in control they looked like a Shinigami and when Junichi had command they looked like a Hollow.
His form was large and smoothly muscled, the white Hierro a sharp contrast to bright orange hair and dusky red stripes along his body. Junichi was proud of his appearance, he knew he was strong and powerful and didn't have any confidence issues to hold his pride in check like his King did. "What do you think?" He asked in his echoing voice.
The question made Lilynette giggle, "I think your young one likes it, her power just started spiking, feels like she's really excited."
"Are you sure she is excited and not in distress?" Shunsui asked in concern.
"Yes, she's fine, I meant it she feels happy. There is a big difference in how the two things feel no matter how big or small the source of power is." Lilynette assured, still not over her giggling fit, the baby's excitement almost contagious to anyone that could feel it. "I know what distress feels like, when the Hollows around us started dying we could tell, and she doesn't feel like that at all."
Junichi had slid a hand down to his abdomen at the reminder of the baby, and used his own way of sensing now that he had full access to his powers. "Whoa, yeah, the kid's right. She's really jumping around." He could feel even more pride welling up at feeling the happy child. No matter his misgivings about the whole thing this was his baby and he wanted her strong and healthy.
Shunsui didn't bother waiting for Ichigo to be back in control, he really had no problems with Junichi so he wasn't reluctant to go up to him and put an arm around his shoulders avoiding the spikes and placed his hand next to the Hollow's looking for the baby too. He was no healer as Retsu had revealed for him, but he was good at sensing spirit pressure if he knew what he was searching for. It took a moment to sift through Junichi's familiar but still altered power until he found the little flaring spark that didn't match the rest, a huge smile crossed his face. "I can feel her," He informed with excitement as the baby sent a curious wave of power back to him at the gentle feel of his searching. "There you are little one. You just stay happy for us okay? We are all waiting to meet you."
He looked at the Hollow for a moment, considering, until he threw caution to the wind and kissed him. He had no problem proving he was just as comfortable with Junichi as Ichigo. He pulled away to see a shocked Hollow looking back at him, "You know, if she likes this form so much you should use it as often as you want." Shunsui encouraged, just making the surprised expression worse.
Lilynette came to a realization in that moment, "You really don't care that he is half Hollow do you?"
"Not a bit," He assured, "I love him, both sides, if I chose one over the other how could I claim that without lying to myself? It's the same for Jyuushiro." He then turned back to Junichi, "I know you don't do it on purpose but I still want you to know you do not have to hide away. We know you are part of Ichigo and if you want to come out and be with us at times, do it."
That was just too much for Junichi to handle, so he thrust control back over to his King, and Shunsui found himself trying to hold onto a disintegrating body until his love was standing in his arms with just his mask over his face.
Ichigo pulled the mask off and it vaporized all with him grinning widely, "I think you managed to embarrass him." He informed while hearing low mumbled protests from his Hollow. Junichi was much better at handling destruction and mayhem than affection.
"Well it's true!" Shunsui defended himself, holding Ichigo close. "He can come out whenever he wants, I thought he knew that."
"Knowing it and hearing it are two different things," Ichigo reminded. "I don't think he believed you would admit it out loud in front of witnesses."
"What's wrong with that?" He asked curiously.
"Nothing wrong," Ichigo assured, "But remember what he told you the night we found out about the baby? Hollows feel emotion differently, he is better suited to battle than love, he just doesn't know how to deal with it."
Lilynette interrupted, not able to keep quiet anymore, "Hate to break it to you but Hollows can love, or at least some of us. I love Coyote." She informed. "Admitting it is difficult at first though, it's normally thought of as a weakness because it gives us a potential soft spot that can be exploited as Barragan discovered."
"Is that true?" Ichigo asked Junichi curiously.
There was a stubborn silence for a long time until finally, "It can be, but it takes a while and I'm not there yet. It is possible though." He eventually admitted. "I didn't lie to Shunsui that night. I'm still at the point where you being mine is all I can think about for now."
"Do you want to love Jyuushiro and Shunsui, or at least the baby?" This question was a little more serious, but even more than the last time he wasn't sure Junichi would answer.
"…Yes," The confession was slow to come. "It will be easier to love the baby. She is a part of us, I can feel her growing, and I will be able to connect with her more as she gets bigger."
Ichigo couldn't help but request, "Is it okay if I tell Shunsui that? He will want to know."
More grumbles ensued until Junichi made up his mind, "Oh alright, he will probably figure it out eventually any way."
"Thank you," Ichigo knew that couldn't have been easy to allow. "Shunsui, I asked Junichi, and he told me he doesn't love yet, but he wants to, and the baby will be the first one he will be capable of loving."
Shunsui held onto him tightly and kissed him hard before pulling away to touch their foreheads together, "That is more than I can ask for. I can let him know right now that love is worth all the effort in the world. If he is going to fight to understand anything that is the one thing he should definitely work towards."
Ichigo was surprised at the voice coming to him, "King let me come forward again for a minute, like we did so I can talk."
Ichigo obeyed curious what his Hollow was up to and it turned out to be something that made a small happy smile bloom on his face, Junichi had lifted their head and touched his lips to Shunsui's. It didn't last long, and wasn't as deep as others, but it was the first time Junichi had initiated a kiss.
Shunsui knew something had changed when Ichigo's power shifted, but he never expected the quick kiss he got before Junichi retreated once more. "Thank you Junichi for trying," Shunsui whispered in Ichigo's ear knowing the Hollow was listening. "You won't regret it."