Rukia looked at Isshin and was getting worried because the silence had been going on for too long.
"Otousan?"
Isshin immediately looked up with a startled look but then eased out at seeing Rukia. "Ah, sorry about that Rukia-chan. I was just thinking about something. Now, where was I…"
"You just told me that okasan became pregnant with Ichigo."
Isshin snapped his fingers with a goofy face. "Righto! Anyways, my beloved got pregnant. Don't ask why I decided to sleep with her or how that even happened… Actually, maybe you should know—"
Rukia shook her head frantically, not wanting to know about how Ichigo got conceived.
Isshin laughed at her reaction. "HA HA HA! Don't worry Rukia-chan! I'm not going to go into those details. But I'm sure you know of it anyways," he winked at the blushing woman in front of him. "But let me explain how it was possible to get Masaki pregnant when I'm but a soul in a gigai."
"Oh," Rukia relaxed a bit, "That is interesting. I'm kind of shocked about my pregnancy too."
"Well, do you remember who gave me my gigai?"
"Urahara."
Isshin nodded. "And who gave you yours?"
"Ura—" Rukia suddenly stopped as realization hit, "You don't mean that he actually—"
"Yup," Isshin continued, "That man was able to create gigais that had all—and I mean ALL—the necessary components to make it into a real life human body. Haven't you heard from the Twelfth Division talking about how they've noticed that your first gigai, from when you first met Ichigo, had so much detail that they were shocked beyond belief?"
Rukia rubbed her chin as she thought back. "Yes, I believe someone told me… but I wasn't quite sure what they meant by that."
"Well it's like this. A regular gigai from Soul Society only has three aspects: the five senses, the digestive system, and the overall exterior of the body. These enable a shinigami to easily blend in with the humans. For example, if a shinigami befriended a human, they could easily go eat and take a dump without looking suspicious. BUT! Kisuke wanted to go beyond that. That is why he created a gigai that could hide reiatsu so it would make the shinigami more human. And this wasn't the only new improvement. Kisuke wanted the gigai to be completely like a human so he created a reproduction system. It wasn't until after I left Soul Society that I found out I was his first experiment in his new gigai… and a successful one at that. Ichigo was born with my blood running in his vein. And now I have three children that are actually mine. I was pissed at Kisuke at first but now I have to bow down at that man."
Rukia let out a small giggle. So Urahara was behind all the blessing.
"But," Isshin suddenly became dark again, "Now I want to tell you why Ichigo was a problem."
Rukia gulped. She really didn't like this serious version of Isshin.
"Ichigo should never have been conceived, but when he was, Masaki and I were so happy that there was no way I was going to leave her. My mission was done and as a taicho I had to return to Soul Society. Masaki kept trying to send me back, despite her desire not to. She said that too many people depended on me, and that she would be fine as long as I visit to see our child once in awhile. I was about to follow her instructions. But when I stood before the senkaimon to return to Soul Society, I couldn't. I stood there for who knows how long, debating in my head what to do. In the end, I ran back to Masaki, abandoning my duties as a taicho and as a shinigami. Nothing was more important to me than the woman that I love and our child that was growing in her wombs. I still had my gigai and so we decided to run. We came here, to Karakura. It was a safe and quiet town that I knew Soul Society would never have thought I'd be there. I later met an old man who was running this clinic by himself. I asked him if I can help, though I had no medical license. The old man still took me in, and allowed me and Masaki to live in his home. He helped us survive as I studied for my medical license and after Ichigo was born, he gave the clinic to me…
"But that was not the problem. The problem happened while Ichigo was still inside Masaki's womb. I had HUGE reiatsu and Masaki had a lot as well, thus she was able to see me all those years ago. And her reiatsu changed as she tried to keep control of Ichigo's reiastu but it slowly affected her health. Kisuke and Yoruichi had to help me with fighting off Hollows and distracting Soul Society so that they wouldn't notice us. He created a medicine that helped conceal her and Ichigo's reiatsu to an extent, but she was still weak. Apparently just sustaining Ichigo's huge reiatsu in her was taking a toll on her life. Not to mention how me being there was also affecting her. Apparently Ichigo's reiatsu increased more and more when I was present, almost feeding off of it. Anyways, Kisuke didn't think Masaki would make it. Thankfully I befriended Ryuuken by that time and he agreed to help."
"You mean," Rukia interrupted, "Ishida's father?"
"That son of a bitch attended the same college as Masaki. He noticed her because of her reiatsu." Isshin suddenly stopped. He crossed his arms across his chest and pouted. "Even though he'll never admit it, I knew he had a crush on my Masaki, so we didn't get along too well at first."
Rukia laughed, totally understanding the situation. After all, Ichigo and Uryuu are not so friendly right now, though they relied on each other immensely.
Isshin scratched his head as he continued. "Anyways, that pussy agreed to help us. He created a special room underneath the hospital that he worked in and brought us there. Masaki had to stay completely sealed away from society until Ichigo was born because as days past, Ichigo's reiatsu kept getting stronger and stronger. If Masaki was left outside, not only would Soul Society have detected us, but all the Hollows and Menos as well. And when Masaki went into labor… well, let's just say she almost didn't make it."
When Isshin paused to reflect on the past, Rukia decided to speak up. "Did the same thing happen when okasan got pregnant with Yuzu and Karin?"
"No," Isshin shook his head, "Though they obtained some reiatsu that was still in me, I lost most of if before Ichigo was born, mostly because I wanted to stop him from taking any more of it. And when Masaki gave birth to Ichigo, she lost all of her powers, thus preventing her from seeing that damn Hollow on that fateful night."
"I see…"
"Anyways, the reiatsu that Ichigo inherited was so immense that Kisuke had to conceal it within the body. Most of his powers weren't awakened until you came and triggered it, Rukia-chan," Isshin smiled.
Rukia blushed but her smile faded. "But, what does this have anything to do with me and my child?"
Isshin kept smiling but it was now sad again. "Because both you and Ichigo have substantial amount of reiatsu which your child has inherited. More than what Ichigo had inherited from us. If you were to stay here, too many Hollows and Menos will be attracted to it, and not to mention that when the child is born, people might die."
Rukia eyes widen at the last comment. "What? Die?"
Isshin nodded. "As I said, Kisuke had to conceal Ichigo's reiatsu but he couldn't do it alone. It was so strong that Yoruichi, Ryuuken, Tessai, and I had to contribute as well. It took a lot of our powers to sustain Ichigo. And Masaki almost died from the intense power because at that point she lost all of hers and couldn't stand up to it. Apparently a small earthquake erupted in Karakura that caused a few accidents in the hospital above, but thankfully nothing too serious. Still, that does not excuse the fact that Ichigo brought a huge blanket of power that almost engulfed the humans. Even the hidden room couldn't contain all the reiatsu inside its walls. And your child has more reiatsu than Ichigo had when Masaki was still in her first trimester. If this is the rate the reiatsu is going to increase for your child, then it might kill too many people, suffocating them under its reiatsu. And worse, if Ichigo is continually present, the child's reiatsu might increase in greater amounts, attracting too much attention from Hollows and Arrancars. So we must keep Ichigo away from you and your child for as long as possible."
Rukia looked away, unable to say anything.
"Rukia-chan," Isshin continued, "I'm not saying I'm against this pregnancy. I'm very happy and excited for you two. But it seems that your child might hurt too many people. And don't forget that Gin, Tosen and many Arrancars are still out there. If they noticed this then they might try and take away the child."
Rukia just nodded as she felt tears forming in her eyes.
"Go to Soul Society."
Rukia looked up. "What?"
Isshin nodded his head. "They will help you with a safe deliver and the captains will help with concealing the reiatsu in the child like we have done for Ichigo. And because you'll be surrounded by strong, controlled reiatsu everywhere it might increase your chance of survival."
Survival, Rukia repeated that word over and over again in her head and it did not sound good. So this child might cause her death… "But why can't I tell Ichigo?"
Isshin sighed as he rubbed his temple with his forefingers. "I know this may sound foolish but it's the truth, so please try and understand. Ichigo has reiatsu. A LOT of reiatsu that he can't control. And too many Hollows are attracted to him as it is. If this child was to be born here then it would mean utter chaos. And with Ichigo around it'll only make things worse. But in Soul Society the reiatsu can be controlled."
Rukia was still confused. "Then can't Ichigo stay with me in Soul Society when the child is born?"
Isshin shook his head. "If the child keeps taking in Ichigo's wild and enormous reiatsu, it means trouble for both human world AND Soul Society. The child might become too strong for you to carry throughout an entire pregnancy, and in the end it might kill you and the others before or after it is born. And besides, if Ichigo was to know he still would try everything that he could to figure out ways to reach you. This would take a toll in your life as well."
"Why is that?"
"Well," the older man scratched the back of his head, "You will be wasting a lot of reiatsu just to keep the child alive, and thus become weak and almost powerless. If Ichigo is around he might crush you since he still doesn't know how to control that massive reiatsu of his."
Rukia sighed as she slowly nodded her head.
Isshin noticed her worry and asked, "Rukia-chan, do you still wish to have this child?"
Rukia was quiet at first but then she looked at him with determined eyes. "Of course."
Isshin stood up and walked over to Rukia. He placed a hand on her shoulder and said, "If everything goes well, you can then return home with the child. Ichigo will be waiting, as will we all. Just don't tell him yet. Wait until after the child is born."
Rukia cleared her throat as she tried to speak. "Wh—when will I be…leaving?"
"Well," Isshin looked at the calendar behind him, "It seems that the child's reiatsu isn't yet big enough to be detected too far away from here. If you take the pills that Urahara is going to deliver later today, I'd say it's safe to say that you can stay here for another two weeks."
Rukia stood up and bowed. "Arigato, otousan."
Isshin watched as the future mother-of-his-grandchild slowly left his office. He let out a long, depressing sigh as he looked outside through the window. "Masaki…please help us."
A/N: OMG. what's going to happen? Poor Ichigo... well, wait a few more days and find out what happens. I have a midterm this week so I might be late in posting up the next chapter. I'll still try my best so I hope you guys don't leave me! (begging on my knees)
Here's a little something to look forward to: Rukia tells Ichigo the sad news and Byakuya finds out about Rukia's pregnancy. OMG! .
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