Bleach Fan Fiction ❯ Different Circumstances ❯ The Demand ( Chapter 31 )

Tite Kubo owns Bleach and the characters depicted therein. The characters in this story are not mine, mostly.

 

The Demand

 

“You're right, Ran. I hate it when other people are right and I'm wrong.” Rukia's voice drew me away from my thoughts and for a moment I couldn't recall what I was right about. Being right didn't happen often enough for my liking.

 

I was still experiencing the guilt and uncertainty that I was acting in a manner that would benefit everyone, let along one person. And that one person would still be consumed by rage and pain which would take too long to pass. There was no easily administered panacea to the pain that Renji suffered and Rukia was feeling the pain as well. She would for some time, weeks, maybe months. She had inflicted almost as much pain on herself as she had on Renji but she would feel guilt as well. There was no luxury in indulging in anger as it could only be directed at herself.

 

I didn't want to estimate how long it would be before Renji could awaken from a sleep without the tearing feeling at his chest to remind him of what he had lost. And the silent, desperate yells of anger against fate and the former lover. He would experience the anger and I wondered if it would help in handling the pain or he would turn the anger inward. Unlikely as it seemed it was difficult to predict how he would manage his emotions.

 

From my experience I knew that even a hangover didn't help the morning memory. Instead it meant two competing pains, one in the head and one in the heart. I blinked back the tears that stood in my eyes as I contemplated the days facing Renji. Since I had heard about the termination of my previous pregnancy, tears were never far from my eyes but now I kept ascribing their presence to a different reason. I didn't need to think of loss. Others had experienced loss also and they needed my help.

 

Before I said anything that might make me look like I hadn't been paying attention I confirmed what Rukia was saying. “You're admitting you love Yumichika?” It was either that or she was agreeing we couldn't always choose whom we loved.

 

“You said we can't always choose. I haven't chosen, I don't want to choose, but I can't…,” Rukia said.

 

The woman was making as much sense as I normally did when I was trying to escape from saying something that might make me feel too much, or when I was trying to avoid the truth. It rarely worked for me, and I wasn't feeling in a generous mood. “Then don't. Just accept. Fighting against feelings only causes friction.” Help. That one word and I was thinking about sex again and the friction I wanted to feel with Zaraki. I hoped she didn't guess where my mind was taking me. Guilt, sex, sorrow.

 

Her words managed to help me drag my mind back to our conversation because of her incredulous tone. “But love? Love Yumichika?”

 

I was pleased he wasn't here to hear this. If it had been me I would have found the disbelief in her voice painful, if I loved her. The doubt, pain and fear would have punched him in the chest as surely as Renji would punch Yumichika, once he found out the truth. How the disclosure would affect both of their relationships with Ikkaku was another factor I didn't wish to consider. Ikkaku would support Yumichika, because their friendship had lasted through so many years and other disasters, but how would Renji view that? He valued Ikkaku as a friend, almost as much as he had valued Rukia, before he tried to move their friendship into love. Would he be able to come to terms with the fact that his life long friend loved someone he knew and liked and a man he admired so much supported his enemy???

 

I hoped it would be a long time before he found out, but I felt certain that one member of our party would take great pleasure in inflicting even greater injury and pain by disclosing the name of Rukia's lover. I wished he would be inflicted with a case of fatal laryngitis, but knew that it wouldn't work.

 

Then remembering the conversation I'd had with Retsu, I wondered if Renji had thought the child was his? He knew she had been pregnant and Rukia had confessed to trying to have sex with him to obscure the identity of the father, but failing due to some reason she was unable to admit. How long had it been since she'd had sex with Renji.

 

“Why not? You can admit you loved Renji,” I reminded her. “Did he think he was the father of your child?”

 

Her face paled and I cursed by my flippant reply as tears again coursed down her cheeks. “Oh, my poor Renji.” She hugged her arms around herself and rocked slightly back and forth. “He never asked, but it would have been impossible. My poor Renji!

 

“Not your Renji. Your friend, Renji, but not your Renji.” Despite everything I thought I should point out that she should retain her distance and her focus. “At the moment I doubt he would even claim friendship.”

 

“What can I do?” While her voice was pained, she wasn't whining or complaining, only asking for some guidance. “I was thinking only of myself and my loss. I was selfish and wanted to be free of a relationship that would be built on lies and deceit. It sounds strange but I wanted to free him so he could find someone to love him, and I made a mess of it and hurt him.”

 

Rukia wasn't Momo. She was sensible and had suffered considerably, facing each challenge bravely which made me admire her. I doubted that I would have recovered and forgiven quite as easily as she had done. She'd forgiven her brother for his indifference and Renji for his actions in the human world when he had come to retrieve her. Instead of deserting the Seireitei for a place that would protect her she had continued working, trying to assist others. At no time had she sought a saviour or failed in her obligations, but now she seemed lost and uncertain. I couldn't blame her.

 

If I expressed pity she would either reject it or resent it. “You can continue to fight. We need to win this war and defeat the Espada.”

 

“But Renji? Yumichika?”

 

“You can't do anything for Renji. Don't you understand?” Even though I wasn't sure, I hoped she wanted honesty and it would only be fair to provide it. “You have to work out your feelings and how to live with them and he has to do the same. If you try anything now it will make matters worse.”

 

I was about to continue but the door opened and I knew I hadn't heard anyone knock. Before I could voice a protest I had been picked up and was being carried elsewhere. “Zaraki!”

 

“What? You had time to talk to her, didn't you?” My husband held me even closer and I tried to look over his shoulder. Rukia looked stunned and seemed to be fighting her desire to either laugh or cry. “Hey, you, Rukia. Follow. We have a meeting and I want you there to beat some sense into your brother, or at least make him stop acting like he's got gum disease. Would it break his face to smile?” he called to her and I saw her nod dumbly and begin to follow.

 

A slight depression overcame me. He hadn't come to claim me for more sex, but a meeting. I knew which out of the two I preferred. And this meeting was going to be confrontational at best.

 

“Why now?” I asked and then kissed his cheek.

 

A smug look played across his features as I kissed him again. “Can't get enough of me, can you, wife?” he said. “Don't worry. This will be a short meeting so we can establish who is what and where and why.”

 

I wanted to ask more questions, or at least obtain one answer, but we were in the room we had met in earlier and I didn't want to argue. Everyone except Chad and Ishida were there. Even Renji was there, blinking, his eyes red and his movement slow and sluggish. Captain Kuchiki and Ichigo sat on either side of him. When Rukia entered, Renji tried to rise, but collapsed back onto his chair as Ichigo and Captain Kuchiki held him by the shoulders.

 

“Bitch,” Renji said, his voice slurred.

 

“Wenji,” Nel said in a reproving manner.

 

“Oh, for heaven's sake, shut up Renji,” Ichigo growled his voice showing his weariness at the insult. “We're here to talk strategy, not about our doomed love lives. You could at least say something different.”

 

“Fucking bitch,” Renji said and tried to spit at Rukia.

 

“Wenji!” Nel sounded shocked and Yachiru patted her on the shoulder as she padded closer to the Shinigami.

 

Casually, Captain Kuchiki slapped Renji so his head rocked on his shoulders. “She is the daughter of a noble house and my sister,” he reminded his lieutenant. “Do not speak to her in that manner.”

 

“You didn't have to hit my Wenji so hard,” Nel said reprovingly to Captain Kuchiki. She climbed onto Renji's lap and cuddled up to him protectively, and glared at Rukia. “He's upset.”

 

Protected as I was in Zaraki's arms I could almost feel Rukia flinch at the words, the hate, the glare and the slap.

 

“Renji Abarai! You insisted that you be permitted to attend this meeting and agreed to behave in a fitting manner. Are you prepared for the consequences if you disappoint me?” Her voice might be calm, but there was no hiding the purpose behind Retsu's words. The stern gaze fixed on my friend made me feel for him as it promised reprisals if the instructions weren't followed.

 

Slumping down, his hair obscuring his face, Renji seemed to choose not to disappoint Retsu. I thought I saw Ichigo pat his shoulder before punching it hard when he saw Rukia looking in his direction. Males bonding against the common enemy: women, but pretending that they didn't. I didn't expect anything more from a teenager and a male who had been wounded so recently by his one time love.

 

“Do I really need to be here?” Kurotsuchi tried to feign indifference. He was standing, not hiding his impatience, a large red and purple hand shaped bruise forming on his neck where my husband had held him. Nemu stood stiffly beside him, looking depressed and weary. She kept her gaze downcast as if ashamed or unwilling to meet anyone's gaze. I had not missed her father's glare at Zaraki as we entered the room but Zaraki had simply growled and bared his teeth at him slightly.

 

“We all need to be here except for Chad and Ishida. Hopefully they aren't implicated in any of these confusions,” Captain Kuchiki said slowly. “Or do I mean confessions?” He raised a carefully studied eyebrow and looked at each of the females in the room in a speculative manner. “As such, their presence is not needed.”

 

“I have nothing to confess to you,” I blurted out. His superior attitude was irritating me and I didn't see that he had the right to demand any information from any of us. Whatever it was, I was certain that it would be none of his business and potentially cause problems for all of us.

 

Kurotsuchi laughed and the sound jarred on my ears. “Setting yourself up as a religious person or a mind doctor, Kuchiki? Confession is not part of my nature because it is a sign of weakness. I prefer facts. And my business is no business of yours.”

 

The faint whisper of a sigh touched my ears and I watched the expression of the 6th Division Captain remain unchanged as he observed his brother officer. “I am asking for facts, Captain. Is your daughter pregnant?” The tone was cool but commanding and made me wonder why he was asking the father and not the daughter. But would Kurotsuchi even permit his daughter to talk?

 

A smug look passed over the man's face at the question. “Is that what this is about? The possible fecund state of the females we have accompanying us? I think we should send them all back to the Seireitei. Females are unsuited to fighting, whether they're pregnant or not. My theory is it is because they have the wrong type of minds. Their reflexes are too slow, except for my daughter. But she is female and therefore inferior and expendable.”

 

I drew in my breath in a sharp hiss. Glancing at Rukia, Retsu and the other women in the room I could see his comments had not escaped their attention, but Nemu only stood there, her head hanging down, and her hands were crossed in front of her. Even a whispered comment from Yachiru left her unaffected.

 

“A question requires an answer and you did not provide one,” Retsu replied, her voice even while her eyes, bright with anger, stared at the 12th Division captain.

 

The large smile that dominated the man's face made him even more unattractive than normal. “My daughter is not, nor ever will be, pregnant. I created her and made certain she is sterile. As her creator I deserve her full attention; and do not want her distracted by some puling brat gotten on her by a bald inferior. In that way she is superior to all women as she will never suffer the weakness of motherhood.”

 

Involuntarily my eyes were drawn to Nemu as her father revealed a secret of her existence. She was very still, silent and though I thought it impossible, she had become whiter than I'd ever seen her. Then it struck me. Her father hadn't told her that she was infertile. If he hadn't told her that, what other secrets about her creation and existence did he still know, but hadn't shared?

 

“Mayuri,” her voice was breathy and broken but she raised her head and met his eyes with her own. “You lied to me.”

 

“Shut up, Nemu,” he said and slapped her or tried to, but her hand interposed between them. She didn't try to hurt him, but only deflected the blow. Her eyes were no longer staring at the floor.

 

“No. I will not remain quiet. You told me to break with my lover because you would kill any child we had” Nemu said her voice breaking. “And you said you'd kill Ikkaku if I ever conceived.”

 

“What a fool you are. By now you should understand that you have no choices aside from those I make on your behalf.” Kurotsuchi seemed to care little for the reaction of his daughter. “A pregnant fighter is a liability, not that you serve as much except as a shield, pregnant or not.”

 

I knew the 12th Division Captain was cruel and the most unpleasant man I had encountered, with one or two exceptions, but it was beyond my comprehension that he could behave like this. I looked around the room to gauge the others reactions. Retsu had her eyes fixed on Nemu, the look of compassion on her face made it clear to me that she found the lies more hurtful than the action. Isane had reached out involuntarily to Nemu and was now blushing and turning away, not wishing her automatic reaction to be seen and misinterpreted. Rukia had crouched down and seemed to be whispering to Yachiru as her face was near Yachiru's shoulder but I could the tension in her shoulders. Captain Kuchiki appeared unmoved except for a raised eyebrow, but his nostrils were pinched and white. Ichigo, Nel, Pesche and were all sitting on Renji who was flailing his arms as he tried to rise to his feet.

 

“Ikkaku! You did that to Ikkaku. You bastard. You're almost as bad as that whey faced bitch that was going to marry me. The things he went through because of Nemu! He was prepared to do anything to make her life better, even give her up. Whatever she wanted, but she wanted him, and he agreed. And all this time you were playing them like puppets. You're like all these bloody captains and nobles. Think you can do anything, treat everyone the way you want because we don't matter. You should marry that lying cow, my former fiancée. You deserve each other. No honour, no care, just greed and more greed for power,” he yelled until Dondochakka shoved his hand over his mouth.

 

“You're making my headache don't cha know. And upsetting Nel. Be quiet.” The big Hollow told him.

 

Yachiru surprised me. She was patting Rukia on the back with care, but her eyes had hardened into the volcanic obsidian, black, sharp and eerily shiny, and were fixed with implacable hatred on Kurotsuchi. “Shut up, Lieutenant Abarai,” she said quietly. Though quiet, her voice quietened everyone in the room and focused all attention on her. “Rukia made a mistake and if you used those two remaining brain cells you have, you'd know that. She fell in love with someone else in the human world while you were busy at Urahara's. She didn't want to get engaged to you. Anyone with half an eye could see that.”

 

I hadn't, but I hadn't really been paying much attention to what was happening around me in the human world. As Rukia had been frank with me I knew who the man she had bestowed her `affection' on, but Yachiru had accused her of falling in love which made Rukia look more lost and bleak than before. She had still been denying that possibility only half an hour earlier and if hadn't been for her hard won self control I knew she would be crying. I did not believe her denial, it was clear that she shared something special with Yumichika, but was not prepared to admit that it was anything more than misplaced lust. Why did she find it so difficult?

 

Even as I tried to comprehend, I recalled my denials and the way I had challenged my feelings when I thought I was falling for Zaraki, but not to the extent that Rukia was doing. It could be that guilt was preventing her from making the admission, or there were other, deeper problems that needed to be addressed before she could freely accept her emotions. Fervently I hoped she would find a way to overcome those obstacles, but not through talking them over with me. The brief discussion we had only proved that I did not manage to cope with other peoples problems even if they were closely aligned with mine. I had enough trouble trying to retain a sense of balance and found I was again wavering between a need to mourn the baby I had lost, or rejoice in the news of the child I was now carrying. The conflicting emotions were hard to reconcile, so once again I tried to forget until I had a more impartial perspective, or at least that was what I told myself. Trying to be impartial about it would be as likely as Aizen apologising to Yamamoto and begging to be incarcerated in the Maggots Nest.

 

Kurotsuchi feigned a look of surprise and then chuckled, a malicious edge discernable. “I did nothing to your bald friend. He did it to himself. If people choose to ignore warnings, or disobey instructions from their betters, they have to expect frustration and failure. You did administer the medicine as you were told, didn't you, Nemu?”

 

Medicine? To whom and why? And why was he mentioning it now? The man was an enigma.

 

“No,” Nemu said, her eyes brighter than I had ever seen them.

 

“I gave you a direct order,” her father squealed, obviously displeased that his daughter had defied him. “I didn't want to leave any loose ends behind.”

 

“You don't have the right to decide who should live and die, father.” The heavy emphasis on the last word and her sudden straight posture made me wonder if Yachiru had been talking to the girl, perhaps spreading a little rebellion against parental authority.

 

“I have told you before, that I have total autonomy,” he averred. His teeth showing and his eyes glittering, the man did not inspire confidence.

 

“As you evidently wish to discuss private matters, you may be excused,” Captain Kuchiki said, cutting through the developing domestic.

 

The look he received from the 12th Division Captain indicated that the man did not appreciate the interruption. “You insisted we attend, therefore we stay. Nemu, we will talk of this later.”

 

“I will not blindly follow your orders in future,” Nemu said staunchly and I saw Yachiru nodding in agreement a pleased look on her face. “I don't care what you do, Mayuri. Disassemble me if you want, but you'll have to wait until we return to the Seireitei.”

 

“And before you can I will arrange to transfer your daughter to my Division,” Retsu said sotto voce, so that only those standing near her could catch her words.

 

Kurotsuchi must have heard something as he turned his face toward my friend, but before he could ask, Captain Kuchiki spoke again. “We are aware of two pregnancies within this mission. I feel it is necessary we discover if there are any more.”

 

A gasp and choked cry came from Rukia, but she stood and stated clearly, “I am not pregnant, brother. Not now.”

 

Her brother nodded slowly. He didn't say anything but his gaze was compassionate as he looked at his sister.

 

“It wasn't mine, either. The slut was going to marry me and try to convince me the bastard was my kid. I didn't care after she lost the thing, but she didn't even tell me she was breeding. Hey, Rukia. When would you have told me? Huh? Would you've told me who the father was? Well, would you, bitch?” Renji had not been placated and was still furious.

 

“WENJI! Bad Wenji!” Nel smacked him gently with her hand.

 

Ichigo looked at Retsu and Captain Kuchiki. “Look, I don't need to be here. I'm not pregnant. I haven't had a chance to get anyone pregnant and Renji is going to go ballistic if he's here much longer. Let me take him somewhere else.”

 

Retsu nodded slowly her sad eyes fixed on Renji. “I think its best, but if you can perhaps take him to help guard the perimeter. It might keep him occupied and in company.”

 

“If my Wenji is going, then so is Nel.”

 

“If Nel is going, we're going too,” Pesche said. “We'll keep the man busy. You can stay here, Ichigo,” he said quietly.

 

I had not seen Ichigo look so downcast before. Very unhappily he sat down again and watched the foursome leave the room. “Are you sure you need me?” he asked plaintively.

 

“No. Go with your Hollow friends,” Kurotsuchi sneered.

 

“I wasn't asking you, jerk,” Ichigo shot back. His attitude had changed with the comment from the 12th Division Captain and now he appeared determined to stay. Nel and her friends dragged a protesting Renji from the room.

 

Shouts were heard in the corridor and then a firm voice was heard to say, “Wenji. If you don't behave I will let Pesche use his infinite slick on you and then let Dondochakka explain how Nel got this way. We can play tag. Won't that be fun? Or we can find someone to fight.” The voice trailed off as they moved further away, the protests becoming fewer.

 

“Let's finalise this. Interruptions are only prolonging this discussion,” Captain Kuchiki said smoothly. “As Nel is a child, she can be excluded from this discussion.”

 

Yachiru piped in. “You're wrong `Kya. She's only a kid sometimes, but I don't think she's pregnant. She's obviously got it bad for Pineapple head.”

 

The Captain shuddered at the diminutive use of his name. “The name is Captain Kuchiki.”

 

“Would you prefer it if I called you Chiki?” Yachiru wondered aloud. I thought `Kya sounded better, but I could always call you…”

 

“Captain Kuchiki,” the Captain said insistently.

 

Retsu began to giggle but coughed loudly and announced, “Both Lieutenant Matsumoto and I are pregnant. We know that Rukia and Nemu are not and we hope that Nel isn't due to her apparent age.”

 

“Uh, okay,” Ichigo said, his stunned demeanour showing as he darted glances at the 4th Division Captain and me. He furrowed his brow and looked at the other females in the room with speculation and then shook his head in confusion.

 

“Isane? Yachiru?” Retsu asked pointedly.

 

I felt Zaraki tense as Yachiru was asked the question. I hadn't even contemplated that possibility and I pitied any man who dared to touch Yachiru either with or without her consent.

 

“Me?” Yachiru said. “No. I was saving myself for `Kya, but now he's engaged I'll have to allow at least a hundred years for my broken heart to mend. I might eventually forgive Kiyone.” She gave him an evil grin and he looked shocked and then mastered his reaction and recovered his normal impartial expression.

 

The revelation seemed to startle everyone except Isane.

 

“Kiyone? She's the femme fatale who got you into trouble?” Zaraki marvelled. “I'd never guessed it was her. I thought it might be that girl Matsumoto told me about, Tatsuki. She sounds more your type, but you've never met her.” He laughed loudly and hugged me tightly. “What happened? Did she get you drunk and leap on you? Huh? Poor Kuchiki.”

 

The clearly defined cheekbones of the Captain were being stained a fiery red, so different to the normal cream. His expression became closed and more forbidding with each word my husband uttered.

 

“I'm sorry, brother,” Rukia began.

 

“You've said enough, Zaraki. Teasing the Captain won't help anyone,” Retsu said.

 

“At least your family will stop trying to marry you off to Yoruichi or Fong,” Zaraki said before I elbowed him sharply in the ribs. I hated to spoil his enjoyment of the situation but it wasn't helping matters. “Wife, you'll pay for that later,” he hissed in my ear as he rubbed his stomach in a completely unconvincing manner.

 

Smiling at him I answered, “I'm counting on it.”

 

“An extremely bad combination of genes. The offspring will be flawed. I suggest you terminate the experiment and commence again with a better receptacle,” Kurotsuchi said as scornfully as he could.

 

That's my sister you're insulting,” Isane began talking over the Captain but he just smiled and continued, his gaze raking her body.

 

“This one would be preferable, but she appears to already have an occupied womb.”

 

A number of exclamations of shock went through the room. `Who is the father?' was my first thought, but I couldn't work it out. I felt a chill creep over my skin. Was Isane's another ill fated relationship and how pregnant was she? I saw Retsu pat her reassuringly on the shoulder.

 

“Three pregnant women. It doesn't have to be this way,” Kurotsuchi talked directly to Captain Kuchiki. “As the senior Captains of this mission we can force terminations and then the problem will be resolved. I can render them sterile at the same time.” He licked his lip with seeming anticipation.

 

I felt sick at the suggestion and clutched Zaraki's arm tightly. They couldn't do that, could they? Then I noticed how still my husband had become. I looked at his face and saw the rage that had built within him. Isane was white, while Retsu looked as if someone had struck her. I prayed that something would happen before Zaraki erupted and I knew that was a scant few seconds away. The only reason he hadn't done anything was he was cradling me close, after noticing my fear. I had expected him to be on his feet taking Kurotsuchi to pieces by now. Then it struck me that maybe he was placing my fear above his anger. Strange as it seems, that scared me.

 

Before Kurotsuchi could say anything further, Retsu said with firm determination, “I am the senior captain. I say no.”

 

“But we can't include you,” the grin that covered the face was hideous with the weight of malice and revenge. “You're part of the problem and irrational due to your hormone imbalance. If you'd agreed to my earlier proposition….”

 

“No woman could agree to what you suggested,” Retsu said, a sheen of perspiration on her forehead.

 

“But you could have offered your lieutenant. Pregnant woman are a liability, even you must recognise that. Captain Kuchiki, you must agree..”

 

“No.” The 6th Division Captain had risen to his feet as had Ichigo. Both had their hands ready to draw their zanpakuto's and I saw steely intent in their eyes. “What you suggest defies every law we uphold.”

 

“Just one termination, then. Either the slut or the stork, I don't care,” Kurotsuchi insisted.

 

An angry gasp drew my attention to Isane who was now standing looking angry. I had never seen her look angry before. “My sister insisted you were perverted, but I told her that you were a Captain and she should only demonstrate respect, but she was right. What business is it of yours if I am pregnant? Or if she is? Or the whole female population of the Seireitei? You wouldn't be the father. No one would let you touch them. Repulsive, wormy…”

 

“Slug breath,” Yachiru supplied helpfully.

 

Kurotsuchi was looking at Isane as if she had gone insane, his mouth flapping soundlessly as he tried to think of something to reply. Having never seen the man lost for words I wanted to laugh, and as this was the first time he seemed less than comfortable with the way he was being observed

 

Zaraki carefully lifted me off his lap and placed me very gently on a chair and for a brief moment I thought I smelt the salty, copper aroma of blood, but looking at him I could see no sign of it. The control in his movement demonstrated just how furious he was. Clearing his throat he said softly, though his voice reverberated through the room, “Shut up, Kurotsuchi.”

 

Yachiru looked at her Captain, and I saw a fear reflected in that gaze I had never expected to witness. Maybe I would find out one of the things I didn't understand about my husband. If so, I wasn't eager for the revelation.

 

A.N.

 

For those who don't know, a one-shot, `The Burden of Proof', has been posted which explains how Yumichika and Rukia's relationship began. At present three more off-shoots (again only one-shots) are being considered. One each for Kiyone, Isane and Retsu. It depends on time and inclination.

 

Soundtrack

`Conceirto de Aranjuez' Joaquin Rodrigo

`Superheroes' Daft Punk

`Genie of the Lab' Wicked Beat Sound System

 

Review. I like reviews.

 

Thanks to winter051094, Zetsuii, Mors', ldymoon, cancerchick16, Bastion and Joshin for the reviews.