Chapter 34: Sweet and sour

[Soul Society]

Things had been pretty hectic since the discovery of the pregnant women throughout the soul society. A grand total of eleven women had been confirmed to be pregnant by, who else, Ichigo Kurosaki. Yoruichi Shihoin, Kukaku Shiba, captain Kenpachi Zaraki, Ikuko Madarame, Yumichika Ayasegawa, Rukia Kuchiki, captain Soi-Fon, lieutenant Renka Abarai, lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto, lieutenant Isane Kotetsu, and lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi had all been confirmed pregnant by captain Unohana, and the response was near deafening.

For Yoruichi, since she was the former head of the Shihoin clan and no longer banished, the Shihoin clan wanted to immediately reinstate her and make her child the next heir. Now of course Yoruichi protested this and was actually against the whole thing. The fact that she was going to have a baby was already too much for the usually fun and carefree woman, but even she knew that things would turn bad if she disagreed with them. It actually took her younger sister, Yushiro Shihoin to convince her to at least hear the elders out.

Kukaku was one of the only remaining and noticeable Shiba's in the soul society, so the fact that she was having child meant that the Central 46 wanted to bring back the Shiba clan as a whole. Of course, Kukaku already saw through the BS that those old women wanted. They didn't care enough about the remaining Shiba before until Ichigo, a very powerful male who has been accomplishing so much in such a short time, impregnated her and was giving her a powerful child. Unlike the Shihoin clan, the Shiba elders were long dead and the only other Shiba members out there were Genji, Kukaku's sister, and a bunch of regular women scattered about. Since she was the most powerful and the cousin of the former clan head, she found a loophole that essentially made her the head of the Shiba's with no elders in her way. This effectively gave Kukaku full control of all Shiba matters.

Kenpachi was actually fairly happy to get knocked up by her strawberry. She knew that their kid would be one helluva powerhouse when she comes out, and it was also nice to be able to give Yachiru a little sister to play with. While Kenpachi was excited, she was then told a problem in her eyes by Unohana. No more fighting until she gives birth. This angered the savage woman as fighting was her fun time and to be told not to do that for fear of injuring the baby was irritating to her. Oh well. She at least knew that none of her squad members would try anything stupid against her for fear that she would retaliate.

Both Ikuko and Yumichika were told the same thing. No fighting until birth was done. They hated it and wanted to protest, but it was Kenpachi that told them both to just deal with it for now.

The Kuchiki clan was both over the moon about this information of Rukia's pregnancy and disappointed at the fact that it wasn't Byakuren. There were preparations going on in the manor for when the child would be delivered, and Rukia was feeling very anxious about all of this. Almost a month ago these same Kuchiki clan members and elders condemned her actions and promoted her execution, saying that she has disgraced the Kuchiki name and should die for it. Now, they were essentially bending over backwards to ensure that Rukia has a healthy delivery. Byakuren explained to her younger sister that the elders had always pressured her to conceive an heir to the clan, but she had always refused as it would impede her duties as a captain. Now that Rukia is pregnant, and by someone as powerful as Ichigo who is also a male, the elders knew that they could finally have their heir, and one that would be very powerful. The only thing that would make them all truly over the moon on would be if Byakuren became pregnant by Ichigo as well.

Soi-Fon felt horrible about this whole thing. Not only had she been convinced by Yoruichi to have an intense and passionate night with the only male soul in existence, but she had also gotten pregnant for it as well. It really shouldn't have surprised her that they did get pregnant since none of them used protection of the sort. Now she had to ease up on her duties in order not to stress the baby. She was seething that her work had to effectively be put on halt all because she showed a moment of weakness with that male. Her clan was happy for her though as they wanted her to embrace the idea of being a mother. The fact that it was Ichigo that impregnated her was also a plus since he was so powerful already. It would show that the Fon clan was actually to be taken seriously now.

As for the four lieutenants, they all received a scolding from their respective captains, or in one's case, subtle praise. Renka was essentially told off by Byakuren on how she could get herself pregnant so recklessly and even drag Rukia into it without even considering her. Well that last part came out by accident as Byakuren blushed up a storm after that. Renka was given time off duty to prepare for the delivery. A delivery she was nervous about, but excited as well.

To say that captain Shiroyuki was angered by her lieutenant's idiocy was an understatement. She yelled so loud at Rangiku's recklessness that she nearly lost her voice in the process. While Rangiku wasn't all too excited about being a mother so soon, she couldn't deny that it was a new experience she had never felt before. She had only wished her childhood friend Gina were here to congratulate her at least. Unfortunately, as her punishment from Shiroyuki, Rangiku could not drink any alcohol until she gave birth. Of course, Rangiku was very distraught over that.

Unohana was usually a very patient and temperamental person, but to hear that her lieutenant did something so stupid as to listen to and follow Rangiku Matsumoto to the world of the living for a night of unprotected sex was really straining her patience and temperament. She didn't yell or shout or even scream at Isane, she simply brought her into a backroom in squad four and put the fear of God into her to never do something like this again. Isane, for her part, swore she would never listen to Rangiku's stupid ideas ever again. Unrelated note, Isane had helped deliver man children before, so to be on the other side of the process was scary to her. She was given leave and spent time with her little sister who was excited to be an aunt and happy for her older sister loosening up. Maybe being a mother wouldn't be so bad after all.

The only one to not be scolded or shouted at was Nemu as her captain was far too excited to experiment on this new and unknown soul. She had actually ordered her surrogate daughter to follow lieutenant Matsumoto and Kotetsu to the world of the living for the specific task of getting a sample of Ichigo Kurosaki's seed. To hear that Nemu was pregnant was too good to be true for the mad scientist. While she wouldn't kill the child like some in her department thought she would, Mayuri wanted to see just what would come about from this union of a male soul and a female soul. She had run test on Nemu and had come to a conclusion that because of Ichigo's unique energy and powers, along with the fact that not a single person here knew just what the ramifications would be if he had impregnated someone, had found out that the growth of the child was much faster than a normal copulation. Instead of several months for the body to be formed using both energies of the parents, it seems that Ichigo's power was accelerating the growth of the child in the womb. By her estimation, all of the women impregnated by Ichigo should be giving birth in about three and a half weeks.

When that information was announced to everyone, there was a slight panic from some as the fact that in only three and a half weeks they would give birth was insane. Kenpachi laughed as it only meant a shorter time till she could fight again.

The head captain could do nothing but chuckle under her breath, much to the surprise of everyone in the meeting. "I suppose we should inform Ichigo Kurosaki of his upcoming parenthood." She announced to everyone present.

"With all due respect head captain," Joshiraku Ukitake started in a concerned tone. "I know that this is an unexpected turn of events, but what if Ichigo chooses not to be involved in his children's lives?"

It was a horrible gut punch to some that no one had even considered yet. Ichigo was only fifteen years old and still a human. He was far too young to start having children now and the stress of it all could be too much for him to handle. This was something that caused the pregnant women, sans Nemu and Soi-Fon, to feel terrible for having to put someone so young in this uncomfortable position. Nobody knew what his reaction would be or just how he would respond to this new development. Would he be angry? Would he be in denial? Would he reject the idea entirely? It was all up in the air for them, and they did not like it.

"Hmm." The head captain started, getting everyone's attention as she stroked her chin in thought. "I think he will not do something like that."

"What do you mean head captain?" Komamura asked her while raising a brow.

"I have spoken to Ichigo Kurosaki before," the old woman replied, "and I can tell he is a man of honor. I don't believe he will reject the lives he has brought into this world. It's just a feeling I have about him."

Everyone who knew Ichigo started to think about it. He was a noble man who put others above himself and would do anything to protect the ones closest to him. He was kind, funny, determined and above all else, a man of honor. The head captain was right about that. Ichigo could have easily avoided or distanced himself from any of them when they were finished with their night, but he didn't. He kept in touch with the ones he could and told them to relay messages to the ones he couldn't get in touch with. Only a caring man would do something like that.

The head captain could see the ones that had that doubt in their minds thinking over her words about Ichigo and smirked. She banged her cane down to get everyone's attention before speaking. "Then it is decided then. Inform Ichigo Kurosaki of his impending fatherhood as soon as possible."

"Yes ma'am." Everyone stated in unison.

The older woman chuckled slightly under her breath once more.

"Is there something funny I'm missing, old lady Yama?" Shizuka Kyoraku asked while tipping her hat up.

The head captain simply smirked at her former student. "Oh, I was just thinking that with so many of these young people copulating that maybe it was time I gave the boy a taste myself."

The reaction from everyone in the room was priceless as they all went paler than Kurotsuchi's makeup.

"What?" She said as she looked around the room. "I used to be a wild and rambunctious woman back in my younger days."

With that, most of the occupants of the meeting room left rather quickly. The old woman could do nothing but laugh at the young.

[Back with Ichigo]

"Achoo!" Ichigo sneezed into his free arm while he used his other arm to carry Yuzuki around.

"Are you alright daddy?" Yuzuki asked as Quorro and Yamma walked on either side of him, also looking concerned.

"Yep." He answered her with a smile. "I think someone's talking about me."

"Well, whoever it is had better not try anything while I'm around." Quorro responded.

Ichigo wrapped her around the waist and smiled at how she quickly nuzzled into his shoulder. "Eh, it's probably nothing to worry about for now."

Just as he said those words, they all made it to his home. This would be a very odd conversation with everyone inside, but why were there so many more people inside?

Really loved writing this chapter. Next chapter will have Ichigo knowing just what's up.

I was asked a very long while ago if I would have Yamamoto join in the lemons and I figured this was a good and funny way to imply that it's gonna happen. That's gonna be a fun chapter to write.

What do you guys and gals think of the eleven soul reapers about to give birth so soon? I know I'm gonna be stressing cause that's a lot of names I gotta come up with now.

Anyway, stay awesome and as always...

PEACE!