The King's Death

Chapter 24:The Royal Dining Hall

It was weird this odd peace that settled over the Seireitei over the past week. All of the Captains went back to their squads and the only people left living in the castle are the Vizards, aside from Hiyori, and Rukia and I. However everyone is here today eating dinner with us since it's the weekend and Rukia and I decided that every weekend we would invite everyone over for dinner and to hang out. My family would spend the night and Hiyori would spend the weekend with us along with Yoruichi, Urahara, and Byakuya. The Captains and Lieutenants would eat and then retire to their homes for the weekend.

So here we sat me at the head of the table with Rukia to my left and Byakuya to her left. To my right sat my twin sisters and to their left sat my father. Spreading out beside my father Byakuya are the Vizards and then next to them are the Lieutenants and their Captains. Head Captain Yamamoto sat at the other end of the table facing me with his Lieutenant on his left. We all eat and chat about what's been going on in the Seireitei all week becoming caught up with each other and also bringing the Gotei 13 closer as a group.

I reach over and squeeze Rukia's hand as the courses are being swapped when she gasps and holds her stomach. Her eyes widen and she turns to me in shock. Her mouth parts and she smiles brightly.

"Ichigo it's time…" She murmurs softly while looking at her stomach. I stand quickly and move to the doorway. I open it slowly and see Yasu and Yuki sitting at the table in the kitchen.

"Yasu Yuki it's time alert the birthing staff quickly, I'll carry her up to the room." I rush back in and everyone is talking wildly helping Rukia up. I pick her up gently and move toward the set up room. I slip her onto the table and the birthing staff comes in quickly taking care of her needs.

"Kurosaki-dono we are asking you to stay out of the room so you don't get irrational with your wife in pain." One woman says softly nudging me out of the room. I nod slowly and walk into the hallway where everyone is gathered. I sigh and sit down putting my head in my hands and breathing deeply. I hear a chuckle and look up shooting a glare at her brother.

"Shut up, you ass, I'm just nervous and excited that's all." He leans against the wall beside me as everyone takes a respective position. He wraps an arm around Rangiku as she leans beside him and then he speaks.

"She'll be alright Ichigo, she's a tough one, and she won't let anyone take her children away from her even death." I look up startled and stand beginning to pace. I run my hands through my hair quickly and I can feel eyes on me.

"Why'd you say that, I wasn't even thinking of that, but now I am and now I'm thinking of all the things that might go wrong?" I say my worry seeping into anger and frustration. I feel a strong hand on my shoulder and my father forces me down into my chair again before squatting to eye level. He reaches up and smacks me over the head quite hard before speaking.

"Would you shut up you idiot your reiatsu is leaking and that won't help Rukia of your child now stop acting like a woman!" He says completely serious before turning to the door quickly with tears in his eyes before running back and forth in a circle crying and wailing his arms around.

"I'm finally going to have a grandbaby! My son has made me the proudest man in the world!" He shouts repeatedly before running down the hall a bit into his room where we can hear him wailing the same thing and others to the portrait of my mom. I watch as Karin turns on her heels and stomps toward the room her reiatsu pulsing with her anger. Toshiro looks at her for a moment and shake his head seemingly afraid of her.

"Damn it dad you need to knock it the hell off your embarrassing Ichi-nii in front of all of his guests!" I hear her shout before quite a few loud 'thumps' and 'smacks' echo into the hallway. Karin walks out of the room dusting her hand off and picking at her kimono before taking a seat in a ladylike spot beside Yuzu. My dad crawls out into the hallway on hands and knees bruises from being kicked and punch forming on his face and blood dripping down his face. Yasu stands quickly offering him a cold cloth.