Author's Note: Woohoo, let's keep the motivation going! It's another update - I can't believe it. Thank you for the follows and reviews~

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Tite Kubo, the creator of BLEACH.

Chapter 26 – Shaken, Not Stirred

A few days later…

After the pregnancy news, everyone tried their best to maintain a positive attitude in the palace. Dr. Haichi had emphasized that Orihime should not be put under any duress by any means. Only limited staff were allowed to visit the maiden to tend to her medical needs and deliver food and clothing. All other matters were to be directed to the butler. The devoted head of the palace was busier than he had even been! But despite how much demanding his job had gotten, he still couldn't avoid the person he most detested. Every time he entered the princess' bed chambers, the individual he had almost punched in the face would be there as well – as was his right being the child's father. Nonetheless, it was extremely difficult for Uryu to be in the same room as Ichigo. He didn't know how long he could harbor these feelings of hatred against the former peasant before he exploded again.

All things considered, he truly was grateful Rukia had decided to leave the Imperial City behind and continue her caretaker duties with the Inoue House. She was a calming presence in the face of uncertainty. Quite often, Rukia would remind him that he needed to be in control of his emotions for the sake of Orihime. Therefore, with each moment he stepped into the princess' room, he purposely diverted his gaze away from Ichigo. They also barely exchanged words.

Although on this day when he pushed aside the giant doors to the maiden's quarters, Uryu discovered an empty bedside. Furthermore, he noticed the princess' bed itself was unoccupied. The sheets were disheveled and the pillows were toppled over. Immediately, something didn't feel right. Had she gone to use the facilities? Even so, she was not allowed to leave the bed without calling for someone to assist her.

The butler took a few paces closer to the canopy bed, feeling his heartbeat begin to race. As he cautiously turned the corner to the side the princess usually lays on, Uryu's eyes widened in horror at what he saw.

"Your Highness!" he exclaimed as he rushed to Orihime's crumpled body on the ground. She was lying motionless on her side, her long hair concealing her face. As Uryu gently brushed it away, the young woman began to stir.

"Ishida-kun?" her lips softly spoke his name.

"Yes, I'm here Inoue-sama. Are you hurt anywhere?" the loyal servant asked with worry. He quickly scanned her form of any bleeding, but found none visible.

"N-no, I just suddenly feel hot," the princess slowly detailed her current physical ailment. Uryu pressed his hand to her forehead and it was indeed warm and coated with a layer of sweat. It was evident a fever was forming quickly.

"Let me help you get back into bed," the companion offered. Without waiting for a response from her, he carefully scooped her up in his arms and placed her on the bed. Once she was comfortably situated, Ishida poured water into a glass that had been left behind from earlier. As the slender man handed her the refreshment, he became even more alarmed by what he saw occur next. When Orihime lifted the glass to drink, her hand trembled to keep it steady in her grasp.

"Inoue-sama," the butler's focus never wavered from the cup, "Are you sure nothing is hurting?"

The tired teenager titled her head, "Yes, why do you ask?"

Uryu stepped forward and placed his own hand under the glass to keep it from falling as the princess took a gulp of water, "Your hand is shaking and I fear you may be experiencing a fever too."

Silence enveloped the two friends as Ishida expressed his concerns. He couldn't quite understand why she was lying to him about her health. Afterall, how could she explain away the fact that he found her on the floor when he first walked in? It was clear to the devoted individual that Orihime either was trying to avoid a conversation or she didn't remember what had happened prior.

When she was finished drinking, Uryu swiftly put the glass on the nightstand for her. Other than the shaking and her skin feeling warm to the touch, there were no obvious signs of distress. However, he knew he needed Dr. Haichi to further examine her. He wasn't qualified to make a diagnosis and would be more comfortable knowing the professional's opinion about what may have transpired.

"I would like to call the doctor," he implored to her. The princess began to object his words, but Uryu put his hand up to stop her from doing so further. Realizing her efforts would be futile, the young woman slumped back into the pillows keeping her upright.

"May I ask where Kurosaki is?" the butler inquired. He would handle Ichigo's carelessness later. If he had been in the room with her, Inoue wouldn't have fallen out of bed for unknown reasons. At the very least, Isshin's son could have gotten Dr. Haichi immediately and they would have an answer about what was physically ailing the princess besides her pregnancy.

"I…I'm not sure," the aristocrat struggled to get her words out, "I…don't actually…remember."

Upon hearing her lack of memory, the man's eyebrows furrowed together and the corner of his lips turned downwards. Was she experiencing amnesia too? The maiden glanced up and met the butler's troubled expression. This only seemed to elicit more emotions for the confused girl. Tears were now rolling down her face and she couldn't bring herself to stop.

"Your Highness," the butler took a spot on the bed as he didn't wish to see her in this state, "I'm sure he's fine. Let's just worry about keeping you and the baby healthy."

With his reassurance, the crying only lasted a few moments longer. As soon as he felt things were under control, Uryu excused himself from the bedroom in search of Dr. Haichi.

With the evening light fading fast, Ichigo couldn't believe how difficult it was to find his own father in the sea of local villagers. Naturally, he had tried his home and found no one to be there. He noticed his twin sisters were playing kickball with some neighborhood kids, but Isshin was absent from the dwelling. Next, he visited the small clinic he had recently opened in order to cut back on his traveling. Unfortunately, that too was also empty. At that point, the man of three children could be anywhere in the village.

Just as he was about to head back to the horse carriage and return to the palace, Ichigo had one more spot to check before he left for the day. It was his mother's grave. The last time he had been there was when he came with Orihime during the competition. It was also there where they shared their first kiss. The memory felt so long ago, when in reality, only three months has passed since then.

The walk to the cemetery was roughly twenty minutes and by the time Ichigo arrived at the gates, the sun had finally dipped below the horizon. Before long, he was at the section of where his mother was laid to rest. Off the beaten path, the princess' significant other saw a man smoking a cigarette in front of the elevated tombstone. The shadowy figure was without a doubt his father whom he had been searching for the last few hours.

"I thought you were gonna quit those things," Isshin's only son pointed out his father's bad habit as he approached from the side.

"Ichigo, my boy!" the doctor's face lit up as he turned to see his child, "You caught me red-handed." With a swift motion, the cigarette was on the ground and stamped out under his shoe. While Ichigo didn't mind the smoking, he knew Yuzu was always reminding their father how unhealthy it was to continue the addiction. After dealing with sick patients on a daily basis, it was the way he released his stress. Regardless, it wouldn't hurt the old man to stop for the sake of his family or for his own future for that matter – considering there would be a new addition to the Kurosaki bloodline.

"I didn't think I would be seeing you until the Coronation," Isshin's dark eyes narrowed at Ichigo's unexpected arrival into town.

The newly appointed solider couldn't help but kneed the back of his neck at his father's statement. When the teenager had packed up his belongings a few weeks ago, Ichigo had informally invited his parent to upcoming grand event. A banquet was also to be held to celebrate Orihime turning eighteen. Although, under the current circumstances, it was difficult to say if the crowning of the princess would even take place in front on an audience.

"Don't sound so disappointed," the orange-haired teen grumbled sarcastically. The smoke from the burnt-out cigarette began to sting his nose and felt a knot in his chest begun to develop. How did he imagine this conversation was going to go? Would his father be disappointed or ecstatic? Considering the recent hurdles his father had went through for his sake during the rape trial, he felt oddly torn. The elder had risked a lot for his son. Finally, Ichigo knew the truth about his mother's murder. It couldn't have been easy for Isshin to relive the worst day of his life. How much more could this man handle before he reached his own breaking point? The death of his wife still clearly weighed heavily on his mind – this notion only to be confirmed by where Ichigo discovered him.

"Is everything alright with the princess?" his father's deep voice startled him as his mind spiraled.

"I'm not sure if there's going to be a Coronation," Ichigo said as he looked up at the night sky to avoid Isshin's gaze.

Suddenly, the sound of gravel being kicked was heard, indicating his only parent had started to close the distance between them.

"Son, you're starting to worry me," the father of three earnestly declared, "Whatever it is, just tell me. Let me help you if you're in trouble." Not soon after saying this sentiment, Isshin's tall and broad figure stood in front of him as two hands grasped his shoulders. His father was now face-to-face with him, with Masaki's grave only a foot away.

Ichigo remained motionless and speechless. The truth was harder to say than he imagined. This wasn't how he wanted to tell Isshin – in a cemetery as darkness fell upon them. It seemed almost morbid to an extent. A new life was growing while the bodies of people's loved ones laid at their feet.

However, he knew he owed it to Orihime to be honest. If she wasn't on bedrest, she would have come with him. He had told her his plans to visit Isshin and reveal the news of the pregnancy. She encouraged him and sent him off with a bright smile – despite the symptoms she had been experiencing. Truthfully, he didn't want to leave her side in case something occurred with the baby. Reluctantly, he abided and took his leave before he changed his mind.

"You're going to be a grandfather," Ichigo blurted out in one breath. Once the secret had left his lips, he could feel his ears burning from the revelation. Unfortunately, his embarrassment was only prolonged by his father, who enveloped him in a hug.

"Congratulations, my boy!" Isshin patted him on the back before pulling away and glancing a look over his shoulder, "Masaki, did you hear that? Ichigo's going to be a papa!"

Riding on the curtails of the announcement, the seventeen-year-old was now more at ease after witnessing his father's reaction. Consequently, it helped him make his final decision in what he needed to do next. His father was the only person he could rely on to accomplish this goal.

"Dad," Ichigo's voice grew stern, "I have a favor to ask you."

Actually, he more than just one in mind.

It was very late by the time the carriage returned to the palace gates. After having a lengthy conversation with his father, Ichigo's body felt lighter than when he left that morning. He hated depending on other people, but he knew he couldn't do everything on his own.

Deciding to swing by the kitchen to grab a quick snack before bed, the solider stopped in his tracks when he noticed Sado and Tatsuki sitting down at the mess table. They were speaking in a whispery tone, so Ichgio couldn't hear their conversation from where he had halted.

"What are the two of you doing in here so late?" Orihime's partner asked in a teasing manner as he entered.

At the sound of his voice echo, the princess' friends turned around and were startled to see Ichigo standing in front of them.

Immediately, Tatsuki's facial features scrunched together as she arose from her chair.

"Where the hell have you been?" she hissed through her teeth.

Kurosaki looked at her puzzled, "Uhh, I went to see my father. Didn't Orihime tell you?"

The tomboy stalked over with her hands clenched at her sides, "No, because she couldn't remember! She was really confused and scared."

Ichigo paused, unsure of what to say after Tatsuki's troubling words. The couple discussed his plans after having an early lunch together. Nothing seemed amiss at that time.

"That doesn't sound like her," he shook his head, "Did something happen while I was gone?"

"We're not sure," Chad interjected, still seated at the table. "Arisawa and I have been waiting for an update for a while."

He assumed the chef was referring to Dr. Haichi or Uryu. It was difficult to read Sado's expression because his shaggy hair usually hid his eyes from view. However, he was a trustworthy person and dedicated to fulfilling Orihime's unique cuisine preferences. In fact, as Ichigo stood in the center of the room, his attention was drawn to a plate of untouched food. Even though she was pregnant, Inoue's appetite hadn't diminished. As a result, the princess' companion came to the conclusion that she wasn't served dinner because Sado had been told to come back later to deliver it.

"Well, I'm not waiting," Ichigo declared, starting to turn on his heels.

"I see you've returned," a different voice was inserted into the conversation.

Everyone's head swiveled to the direction of the source. It was Uryu, with Rukia trailing in behind him. They wore looks of exhaustion on their faces.

"I was in town," Ichigo curtly explained his absence, although the butler didn't ask.

Uryu's blue eyes reflected hint a malice, "You should've been at her side."

Before the two enemies could get into an argument, the petite caretaker stepped forth and placed her hands on her hips.

"Regardless of where you were or weren't, Princess Inoue needs us to get along. We can't put her under any more stress – especially after today!" Rukia emphasized.

With little information being shared about what took place while he was gone, Ichigo ran a hand through his spiky hair.

"Can either of you explain to me what happened?" the peasant exhaled.

The young woman meandered over to the long mess table and took a seat. Next, the other two individuals who were standing silently followed as well. The royal court were now all together, some more eager than others to find out what had taken place with their princess.

"I discovered Inoue-sama lying on the floor when I entered her room," Uryu spoke first, "Thankfully, I didn't see any injuries but her skin was warm to the touch. A fever was on the horizon. She couldn't tell me how she fell out of bed either."

The aristocrat had already one health scare with her pregnancy, thus why she was on bedrest. Ichigo had barely left her side since the doctor's orders, but he felt she was regaining her strength and seemed more vibrant than before. Therefore, when he departed to the village, he was reassured that her status would remain the same.

"Dr. Haichi was then notified," Rukia added.

"After he examined her, he determined that while Inoue-sama was in bed, she had a seizure. He said it's a miracle she didn't hit her head when she fell," the butler continued to detail the event.

"Can a seizure cause temporary memory loss?" Tatsuki inquired.

Ishida firmly nodded, "Yes, which is why she couldn't tell us where Kurosaki was or even what happened."

Being as his father was a doctor, Ichigo had a general idea about what a seizure was. The thought that Orihime had suffered through one without him being present made his stomach churn. Although he didn't want to admit it, he was appreciative that Uryu had checked in on her when he did. Who knows how long she would have been lying on the floor before someone found her?

As Ichigo prepared to ask his next question, his mouth suddenly felt dry, "How's she doing now?" If the situation had taken a turn for the worse, he didn't think he would be sitting at the table and continue to converse.

Rukia shared a look with him, "She's stable, but Dr. Haichi has some concerns."

"What kind of concerns?" the teenager asked hesitantly.

The Emperor's sister brushed some of her jet-black hair behind her ear as it fell in front of her face, "He thinks she may be developing a condition called eclampsia. There's not enough research or cases that he's come across to properly diagnosis her. We have to continue to monitor her for any unusual indicators, but it can be difficult because they are similar to normal pregnancy symptoms – vomiting, headache, swollen hands or feet."

The information didn't sound reassuring. In fact, it was more terrifying. No one could predict if another seizure would occur and there wasn't any medication to prevent such a thing from happening again. The health and wellness of both Orihime and the baby's future remained uncertain. What was the best course of action in proceeding forward with her pregnancy?

A blanket of silence had settled around the royal court after Rukia's report. Each companion seemed wrapped up in their own thoughts with regard to their beloved princess. This day had become mentally draining for all involved.

Eventually, it was Ichigo who decided to break the tension, "I've asked my father to come and stay at the palace for a while."

"Who gave you the authority to do so?" Uryu demanded, a vein in his neck protruding from the force behind his voice.

"Orihime," he responded bluntly.

"Why would she do that?" the butler seethed. He was doubtful if the solider was actually telling him the truth.

"She thought it would be better to have two doctors on call in case anything was to happen with the baby," Ichigo explained the decision made between the couple.

With the brief reasoning, the head servant felt his anger temporarily retreat. It wasn't a terrible idea. Dr. Haichi was a knowledgeable man, but having a second pair of hands and eyes to support the aristocrat was probably for the best. Isshin Kurosaki was decent, although not much was relatively known about him and his practice. He was the only physician in the village and he cared about his patients. The elder was also the complete opposite of his son in terms of personality.

Uryu hoped inviting Ichigo's father wouldn't be a mistake they would later regret.

"I guess it's been settled then," Kuchiki asserted, pushing out her chair from the table. "We'll make accommodations for him prior to his arrival. What about your sisters?"

"They'll be coming too," he mumbled.

"Are you serious, Kurosaki?!" Tatsuki moaned.

"They can't be left alone!" Ichigo defended, "They're only thirteen! During the trial, our neighbor was kind enough to help out and watch them. But my dad feels bad to keep asking. Besides, you won't even know they're here."

Rukia stood up and sighed, "It's fine, we'll manage. Right, Ishida?"

The butler was too busy rubbing his temples to ease the headache that was emerging that he didn't hear the caretaker's question. The burden to maintain a peaceful environment for Orihime only seemed to grow heavier. By having Ichigo's entire family staying at the palace, he didn't think it would offer stability. Rather, it was more of a nuisance on his part. However, he knew he couldn't rescind the princess' offer either. He would be overstepping his duties as both butler and friend.

Dropping his hand from his face, Uryu folded his arms over his chest, "I suppose we have no choice. Dr. Haichi will be grateful for the additional help and Inoue-sama might like the company."

"What about her aunt?" Sado mentioned Orihime's relative.

"Yes, I was going to ask Her Highness about that when I went to visit her. For obvious reasons, it slipped my mind. Although, I do think it would be best for Matsumoto-sama to know her only niece is expecting," Uryu retorted.

It had been weeks since the two family members last saw each other. They had parted ways in the Imperial City after the trial concluded. When the royal maidens said their goodbyes, Ishida sensed something amiss with Rangiku. For a person who exuded confidence, she appeared distressed as she hugged Orihime – almost as if she never would see her again. He thought she may have felt somehow responsible for the assault. However, being as there had been no letter correspondence as time has passed, his suspicions may have been confirmed. Sending a carrier pigeon would be faster than sending a messenger by horse. With Orihime's health being unstable, getting a letter out as soon as possible should remain a priority.

"Well, it's been a long day. See you all in the morning," the petite woman echoed the thoughts of everyone in the room.

A few grunted or sighed in response.

"Is she asleep?" Ichigo glanced at Uryu for an answer.

The princess' close companion silently nodded as the others exited the kitchen area. The untouched meal that Sado had cooked would have to be discarded. With the confirmation he needed, Isshin's eldest rose on his feet and started to retreat from the table. Before he made his way into the hallway corridor, Ichigo paused as he knew he had one final thing to say.

"Thank you for what you did today," he uttered.

"It wasn't for you," Uryu scoffed over his shoulder.

"I know," he admitted nonetheless.