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Prize of Victory	By : NovaAlexandria Category: Bleach > Het - Male/Female Views: 87205 -:- Recommendations : 8 -:- Currently Reading : 8
Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach nor make profit from this snippet

Chapter List
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Soul Retrieval

A few days later Orihime and Karin walked towards the Research Center, their respective children walking in front of them; Ajuga up on two legs and Diaemus in a series of short glides as he practiced flying.

Karin kept a sharp eye on her daughter because Ajuga kept glancing at Diaemus as if he was prey and her tail was constantly in motion. Ajuga had promised them that she understood that Diaemus was NOT to be hunted, but Karin trusted that promise about as much as she trusted the girl�s father�s promises not to molest her for the day; a promise that was seldom upheld.

She didn�t think Ajuga would hurt Diaemus, but she could tell that the young boy had her daughter�s undivided attention. Karin also knew that Orihime was just as nervous as she was about the children, but today that nervousness was overshadowed by an abundance of cheer.

Orihime had jumped at the chance to heal Renji�s soul. Unlike Karin, Orihime actually knew the redhead well enough to call him a friend. Karin just hoped this worked because she knew Orihime�s spirit would be crushed if she failed at this task.

�Szay!� Ajuga shouted happily as they approached the entrance to the building, finding the scientist waiting for them.

Karin watched as he daughter took off to greet him, pleased that her daughter took off on two legs instead of dropping to all fours and loping like an animal, no matter how graceful Ajuga looked while going to all fours.

�Hey, how is my favourite experiment?� Szayel greeted her warmly.

�Good,� she chirped happily. �Look, Demus-kun came too!� she pointed at the boy as Diaemus fluttered to the ground, ending his short glide and staring up at Szayel with big, curious, green eyes.

�Ah, my second favourite experiment,� he grinned at the child.

�I wish you wouldn�t call him that,� Orihime sighed as the two women caught up to the gathering. �Ulquiorra doesn�t like it either,� she added.

�Oh, Mama said that you are going to be a Daddy soon too!! Is that true?� Ajuga asked excitedly.

�Yes it is,� Szayel smiled happily. �With twins,� he practically squealed in delight.

�Congratulations,� Orihime smiled happily, eyes lighting up.

�Yes, Aizen-Kami was actually very pleased with the news and extended the deadline for the defence net. Nemu and I will be the first Shinigami/Hollow success, despite her unique makeup,� he said proudly.

Karin�s smile faded a little at that. She already knew about that, and unfortunately, she also knew about the fallout the announcement had caused. Granted, the repercussions weren�t anywhere near as terrible as those which resulted from Aizen�s Victory, since most of the Arrancar had already used up their allotted Claims. Still, she knew that a number of Arrancar had once more been getting more physical with their pets, including Nnoitra.

There was nothing they could do about it and Rangiku had gone out of her way to reassure her that the Fifth Espada wasn�t hurting her physically with his attentions. He was more amorous than he had been in some time and Rangiku was damn sure it wasn�t because of the battles.

Szayel had apparently made it known how important it was to keep the female stress-free for copulation to be successful, so the reports she had gotten from the Claimed Shinigami in both the 2^nd and 5^th division more or less had the same thing to say: the Arrancar owners had been more �attentive� to their pets, but not overtly aggressive or abusive in their renewed interest in siring progeny.

That was at least one relief to her overworked body and mind. Not needing to fret about any of her subordinates coming into work traumatised, if most of them could even be further distressed at this point, was one less burden she had to shoulder. The only one she still worried about was Byakuya; even though Yammy had been far less abusive towards the Noble, especially after Aizen�s public punishment of Szayel, the Espada still did enjoy his pet rather frequently and made no motions of being gentle.

�At least there was one silver lining to that whole mess,� she reasoned.

�We have a room set up and ready for the experiment. I am not sure what to expect, but one of the more likely results is that returning half of his soul will also return a large portion of his reiatsu at once. That in turn may cause either an explosion or some other similar outburst of energy. Nemu will be watching the children while we do this to insure that they will be out of any potential harm�s way,� Szayel announced, bringing Karin�s thoughts back to the reason why they were here.

�Lead the way,� Karin nodded.

�I�m ready,� Orihime added, with her voice full of determination.

They followed Szayel into the building, dropped Ajuga and Diaemus off with Nemu before being led into another, more open chamber somewhere underground. It was heavily shielded, which Szayel explained was to protect the structure should something violent happen and avoid any potential damage to the children, more so his own than theirs since theirs were already developed enough to have their own protections.

Renji was already down there, lying on a steel table. It was the only piece of furniture in the massive room other than the monitoring equipment.

�You can begin when you are ready,� Szayel directed, and motioned to Orihime with his hand.

�Alright.�

Orihime stepped up and stared at her target before giving a sharp nod of determination and summoning her shield, saying the phrase �Soten Kisshun� in a strong voice. Her look of determination didn�t slip for a second and Karin watched with pleasure as Renji�s reiatsu slowly started to shift and change.

She felt excitement coming from Szayel as well, indicating his equipment must have been picking up some interesting data. all the answer she needed to know that Orihime�s talents had to be working.

For all intents and purposes, it appeared as if Renji was simply sleeping, his eyes closed and his body relaxed. When the moment of actual restoration happened, the change came so quickly that it took Karin a moment to realize the table was now suddenly empty shortly before a burst of power rushed into her followed by a squawk of pain and surprise from Szayel.

Reiatsu infused with what Karin could only call blind fury lashed about the room and she heard Orihime cry out in surprise as it shattered her shield.

�Murdering, raping, fucking bastard! I am going to kill you!� a voice roared, the fury in it unmistakable.

Karin whipped about just in time to see Szayel fire a defensive Cero at point blank range, knocking Renji off of him. He then retreated several feet away with fresh blood streaming from a cut down his face.

The surge of returning reiatsu seemed to have shattered what was left of Szayel�s Claim on the redhead, setting him completely free, and he was clearly not happy. Holding out his hand, a blade slowly formed in it and Szayel barely had time to draw his own Zanpakuto to block the strike coming for his head.

�Renji-kun, wait!� Orihime desperately cried, trying to get his attention without getting caught up in the brawl.

Karin watched amazed as the furious redhead bit out a command shortly before his blade changed before adding a second command that changed his blade again, as well as releasing a large wave of spiritual pressure.

�Holy shit,� Karin gasped in surprised at the large, bone-like snake that was now roaring and rushing straight at Szayel.

The room was large, but Szayel was too close to the attack and all that extra space meant nothing as he simply didn�t have the time to be able to get out of the way.

Karin acted quickly, summoning a barrier of Kido to block the attack and launching herself at Renji�s back, grabbing a hold of him and trying to pin his arms down while calling his name over and over.

Orihime acted next, calling upon her healing shield again. She cast it over both Karin and Renji. She then put herself squarely between Renji and Szayel, a warning look on her face.

�Get off of me!!� Renji snarled, trying to dislodge Karin.

�Easy, relax, he won�t attack or hurt you,� Karin tried to soothe him.

When words failed, she fell back on her second option.

Like she had done the first time she had discovered Aizen had tortured Szayel, she let her reiatsu wash over Renji, surrounding him with calm while not actually letting the reiatsu penetrate his own, an act he might have misinterpreted.

�Easy,� she whispered. �Tell me, do you know who I am?�

He ceased struggling and glanced at her over his shoulder, a frown marring his tattooed features as he studied her.

�You look familiar,� he admitted. �But��

�I am Karin, Ichigo�s younger sister,� she informed him and watched him stiffen in shock.

She felt him slacken in her grip as his eyes widened, jaw dropping in disbelief.

�Impossible,� he breathed. �You�re too old to be her,� he added.

�No, it has just been a long while since you�ve been fully with us.� Karin loosened her grip on him but didn�t let him go just yet. �What is the last thing you remember?�

�I�� he frowned, confusion in his voice as he tried to mentally grope for the information.

Around them, Orihime�s shield continued to glow golden, sending soothing energies into them and Karin watched as more of his soul was slowly knit back into place.

�I remember pain, a lot of pain, and Zabimaru screaming,� he finally answered softly. He looked over his shoulder at her again. �You really are Kurosaki Karin?�

She winced at the name, but as it was the only one he would remember her having, she nodded.

�I was,� she answered. �I go by a different name now. It has been almost ten years since Aizen ascended to the throne.�

He went ridged at her words, his expression becoming one of horror. Slowly his transformation slipped away; his clothing returned to his normal garb and the giant snake made of bone returned to a simple katana.

�Mama!� a voice cried out, and both she and Renji turned to look at who had cried out the word.

Orihime let the shield fall and everyone looked at Ajuga, who rushed up to her mother, heedless of the man next to Karin. Karin stepped away from Renji for the moment, but stayed close just in case he decided to attack again. Ajuga made it to her side and hissed at Renji in warning.

�Why you attack Szay?� she demanded, clearly upset.

�Ajuga-chan, I thought I told you to stay upstairs,� Karin said firmly, glaring at her daughter.

�I smelled Szay�s blood so I came quickly in case something bad was happening,� Ajuga declared, ignoring the fact that Renji�s jaw had dropped at the sight of her.

�This is�� he tried to ask, and Karin took pity on him.

�My daughter, Ajuga,� Karin introduced her child before turning her attention to the woman who should have been watching her.

Nemu actually looked out of breath as she crossed the room, hot on Ajuga�s heels.

�My apologies, Karin-san, in my condition I was unable to keep up with her when she bolted,� Nemu apologised with a bow. �Renji-san, it is good to see you fully-functional again,� she added.

�She�s a Hollow,� he blurted, staring at the little girl.

�Of course I am, you knew that,� Ajuga looked up at him in disbelief. �What�s wrong with him?� Ajuga questioned, turning her gaze to her mother. �And why did he attack Szay?� She demanded, hissing his way.

�He was hurt and Orihime-chan fixed him,� Karin answered.

�Oh, is that why he couldn�t speak very well before?� Ajuga asked curiously, her tail twitching.

�That�s right,� Karin agreed.

�So you are all better now. That�s awesome!� Ajuga said, looking up at the stunned redhead happily. �You weren�t much fun before.�

�Your daughter?!� he blurted again.

�You knew that,� Ajuga pointed out, a little crossly this time. �You must have been really sick if you can�t remember that!�

�Ajuga, I�ll tell you all about it later. Go back upstairs for now,� Karin ordered.

Ajuga pouted but eventually sighed and wandered back towards Szayel, who was wisely remaining silent by the monitoring equipment.

�Oh, Diaemus, what are you doing down here?� Orihime sighed.

A glance over to Orihime showed her own son hiding behind her legs, looking over at the redhead curiously.

�There�s another one!�

�This is my son, Diaemus-kun,� Orihime smiled, reaching down to pick him up.

�But� He�s a Hollow too?� Renji gasped, looking as if someone had punched him in the gut, repeatedly.

�Of course he is. His father is Ulquiorra,� Orihime announced.

If Renji�s jaw dropped any farther, Karin thought, his chin would be scraping the floor tiles.

�Perhaps it would be prudent to inform Renji-san what has happened in the years his soul has been absent,� Nemu spoke up.

�An excellent idea,� Szayel agreed, speaking up for the first time since the healing had begun.

Renji shot a look of pure hatred and a promise of a very painful death towards the Espada. His hands clenched on the hilt of his Zanpakuto, but at least he didn�t try and attack again just yet. Some of that might have been because Ajuga now stood next to Szayel, her tail �poof-ed� out in the shape of a bristle-brush and her blue eyes narrowed.

�I do hate to bring up unpleasant news, considering your current attitude towards me Renji, but there is one little law that cannot be side-stepped,� Szayel spoke up, adjusting his glasses somewhat nervously.

�Yeah, and what might that be, you asshole?� Renji demanded in a bark.

�You are still considered Taichou-class,� Szayel said. �Under Aizen-kami�s laws you will need to be Claimed in order to be permitted to continue living.�

�Fuck no,� he snapped, eyes blazing. �I ain�t ever letting you touch me like that again you sick bastard,� he added in a snarl. �Try it and I�ll cut you to ribbons!�

�You�re Taichou-class? Then the second form your sword took�. that was your Bankai?� Karin asked with some surprise.

�Yeah, it was,� Renji reluctantly admitted, then turned on her with a suspicious look on his face. �Why are you defending him anyway?�

�If you will permit me, Szayel-sama, I would like to inform Renji-san of what he has missed during the last decade,� Nemu spoke up again.

�The danger though,� he frowned, and Karin could tell he wasn�t pleased with leaving a pregnant Nemu alone with a potential threat.

�As long as he stays down here no one will be the wiser,� Karin pointed out, indicating the shielding. �Ajuga-chan, can you promise not to tell anyone about Renji not being Claimed?�

�You mean like �take-ji?� Ajuga questioned.

�Right, like �take-ji. For now it�s best to leave things as they are and you know why Szay can�t refresh it right now anyway.�

�Oh right, because Szay belongs to Papa, so he can�t recast a Claim yet anyway,� Ajuga said proudly.

�That�s right.� Karin smiled at her daughter. �I believe we are done down here for now. Renji, can you promise me not to leave this room, at least until we can figure out what to do? Aizen�s Claiming law still stands and it would be one hell of a mess if another Arrancar were to spot you and notice you are no longer Claimed.�

Renji glowered at the scientist, the look promising a world of hurt and pain, but eventually he rubbed his forehead and nodded in Karin�s direction.

�Yeah sure, I guess I can stay in here for the time being. Where are you going?� he demanded.

�Well, I need to get home with Diaemus-kun. Ulquiorra should be home soon and he gets twitchy if he doesn�t know where his son is� Orihime answered. �But we will be back tomorrow, for certain and I would love to catch you up on everything you missed,� Orihime smiled warmly at him.

He returned a weaker version of it to her.

�And I have to get back to my Division,� Karin sighed. �Byakuya-san does an excellent job running the place, but the two of us are just barely keeping up with the bloody paperwork and there is a training session I need to run in about an hour.�

�Division? You are a Shinigami now?�

Renji looked a little pale at that, bombarded as he�d been with what Karin suspected was too much information.

�No, not quite,� Karin sighed. �I am sure Nemu-chan will fill you in on that, but if not, I will see you tomorrow as well. Ajuga-chan�� Karin said, turning her attention to her daughter, about to order her home.

�Can I stay here, please Mama? Please, please, please!? I want to know more about Renji now that he can talk without being told to,� Ajuga begged. �I promise to be good.�

�She�s a lot like Nel, isn�t she?� Renji couldn�t help but to ask, unable to take his eyes off of the girl.

�Nel?� Karin snapped her attention back to him.

The memory of the green-haired woman that had tried to warn her about her families blood, before Szayel�s untimely interference, an interference he paid dearly for, bubbled up from somewhere and her eyes grew larger.

�He can�t mean��

�Nel was an Arrancar child that Ichigo, Sado-kun and Ishida-kun found when they broke into Hueco Mundo to try and rescue me,� Orihime answered. �Her mask was broken and I don�t think she had any memories from before she regressed.�

�She�s also the Arrancar you met when this happened to me,� Szayel tapped his mask, indicating the fracture.

Karin felt a headache of her own coming on and reached up to rub her forehead before answering.

�Yeah, I just didn�t know you knew her, and she definitely wasn�t a child when I met her last.�

�I�ll tell you about it on the way home,� Orihime promised her, and Karin shot her a look that indicated Orihime had better do just that. �Come on Diaemus-kun, are you ready to go home?�

Diaemus gave his little head a nod, but still kept a curious green eye on Renji, as if unsure whether the man was friend or foe.

�So can I stay?� Ajuga pleaded.

�It�s up to Renji, but I am not so sure he wants to be pestered by you right now,� Karin answered.

Ajuga pouted, putting on a pathetic face.

�Eh, the kid can stay if she wants, I don�t mind,� Renji answered, slightly embarrassed by her interest in him. �Since apparently I already know her.�

�Yes!� Ajuga exclaimed, clapping her hands.

Karin looked back and forth between Szayel, her daughter and a very put-upon looking Renji, but eventually nodded.

�Alright, but I want you home in time for supper. After all, you can�t expect Lily-chan to take care of Jushiro-san all day.�

�Promise, and I won�t forget about �take-ji,� Ajuga promised.

�I am going to secure the door behind us so no one wanders down this way,� Szayel announced, giving Renji a significant look. Renji, for his part, bared his teeth.

�You lock that door and I am going to bust your face in,� Renji threatened.

�I have the codes to open it, should the need arise,� Nemu assured him, placing one hand on his forearm.

�It would be for the best. Besides, it�s not like Orihime-chan and I don�t know you are down here,� Karin assured him as well. �And as I am sure Nemu-san will tell you, there is nothing that Szayel can do to stop me from doing anything,� Karin smirked.

Szayel�s eye twitched in annoyance at the reminder.

�This way then, if you please, Karin-sama,� he bowed elegantly with a sarcastic ring to his voice.

�Oh, no mocking today?� she shot back with a grin.

Szayel muttered something under his breath before leading the way out of the chamber, securing the door behind them.

�Please sit, Renji-san, we have a great deal to discuss. I also promise not to leave a single thing out.�

Renji stared at the closed door, as if he could wish it open. A moment later, he sat back down on the table, holding a sheathed Zabimaru across his lap. With his elbows on his knees, he let his forehead rest against his interlaced hands, eyes cast down at his lap.

�One thing before you start, Nemu. Please, I have to know, is Rukia still safe?�

�Yes, she is,� Nemu smiled softly at him and as she watched his shoulders slump a little in relief, she launched into her explanation, starting with the day Aizen won. Occasionally, Ajuga would chime in from time to time, with odd, helpful little bits.

Nemu, for her part, left nothing out, not in the least bit concerned that Ajuga was there to learn things that she had previously never known. The only thing she was careful to omit was the information regarding the fact that Karin, Ajuga and Hana shared Royal Blood. Szayel had forbidden her from telling anyone about that fact, and this was no exception.

By the end of it, Renji was left to sit in stunned silence as he digested the information he had been given. When Ajuga reluctantly had to go home, Nemu let her out before returning to his side. Renji still had not moved or spoken. They stayed that way until the redhead gathered himself together and looked up at Nemu.

�I wish I could say that the bastard got what was coming to him, but that was sick, even for Aizen,� Renji muttered. �Still, how could you respect him, especially when he killed Ishida?�

�You know as well as I do that it was Kurotsuchi-Taichou that killed Ishida-san to spite Szayel-sama. Szayel wanted Ishida-san alive and regrets that he died,� Nemu informed him.

Renji scowled, for he knew she was right. He may have been delirious with pain, but he did recall it had been the former 12^th Division Taichou who had killed his friend by crushing the doll that contained Ishida-kun�s surrogate internal organs without a moment of hesitation, declaring that he was no longer interested in studying the Quincy. He, sprawled out across the debris of the broken building, had been unable to do anything but watch as his companion died in front of him.

�Damn it, everything is so messed up,� Renji groaned, clutching his head in frustration. �I mean, Karin and Grimmjow!? Ichigo is going to have a conniption fit when he finds out about this! Not to mention Orihime and the flying rat that kidnapped her in the first place! And now� you and that bastard Szayel?! You�re really going to give him children?�

At that, Nemu stood and she straightened, looking him in the eye with an intensity he�d never seen before from her. He�d always considered her that nutjob Kurotsuchi�s puppet, his willing drone, doing the Taichou�s bidding without question or remorse. In truth, he�d been a little scared of her. All of the Fukutaichou had given her space because of that seemingly relentless devotion. A little of that fear returned as he realized that she�d effectively shifted her allegiance to the Arrancar, this time by her own free will.

�Times have changed Renji, people have changed. I am sure you will notice that Szayel-sama himself has changed a great deal.�

�So, Aizen really did� THAT�. to him?�

�Hai,� Nemu answered. �He has suffered far worse torture at Aizen�s hands than anything you could wish upon him,� she assured him.

Renji ran his hands through hair that seemed much longer than he remembered keeping it and then lay back down on the table and stared at the ceiling.

�I think� I need some time alone.�

�Of course�� Nemu stood up and walked to the door before looking back over her shoulder at his prone form. �Renji-san��

�Yeah, what is it?�

�It is good to have you back and, I know it is not something you want, but in order to walk out of this room and freely about you must be Claimed,� Nemu stressed. �Aizen will know that you lack an owner and kill you outright.�

�Yeah, I know,� he sighed unhappily as she left, hearing the lock click into place behind her.

The very thought of submitting himself to the pink-haired bastard brought up the strong urge to vomit and kill all at the same time, leaving him feeling beyond nauseous. He had a lot to think about and he had the feeling it was going to take several days to work it all out. He did have about ten years of history to sort through and digest after all.

�Karin and Grimmjow�.. that must have Ichigo�s tail in one hell of a fine knot,� he couldn�t help but to muse aloud.

For those of you wondering, yes something did happen to me, fortunately it all worked out. When I went to my Dr�s Appt on Thursday May 10^th I was informed I had developed Hyper Tension (really damn high blood pressure, I was 180/120). This is a very serious condition that apparently shows up in about 5% of pregnancies and can cause organ failure if left untreated. There is only one cure for it, to have the child. I was immediately sent to the hospital and admitted where the IV�s and drugs started to get my blood pressure under control and to prevent any seizures.

Our town�s paediatrician was gone for the week and we don�t have a NICU unit here so on the 11^th I was air-vaced to another hospital. On the 12^th they decided to go ahead and remove the baby via Caesarean and I was presented with a Beautiful Baby Boy 5 weeks preemie. We were only released to come home yesterday and arrived pretty damn late, it was a very long, 10 hour drive home.

All seems to be going well now. My blood pressure is slowly coming down and he is gaining weight. Unfortunately at this point he is up every 3-4 hours to be feed, so I don�t get much rest or self time. Chapters may be a bit sporadic from here on out.
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Prize of Victory