this was the strongest one yet. It felt like her body was twisting and being rearranged. "I don't think I want to do this anymore." She announced to the room at large, no longer caring if everyone thought she was weak. She was starting to get scared; the pain was not letting up.

Soothing words were whispered from behind her and softly feminine hands wiped her sweat-streaked brow. But they weren't the hands she needed the most. "Renji, I need you." Rukia murmured before groaning as her pain only seemed to increase. "Hurry, I need you now."

Meanwhile, at the far edge of the garden, Orihime was unaware of her friend's advancing labor and growing fear. Instead, the human girl was backing further away from the manor and from unsettlingnodded in farewell and turned to cross back over the bridge, wanting to return to the manor as quickly as possible.

A small yelp escaped her mouth as she instead came face to face with Captain Kurotsuchi and that stiff disconcerting smile of his. Orihime glanced back over her shoulder, genuinely surprised not to see the captain still standing where he was just a moment ago. Apparently, he had used flash step, but she hadn't even seen him move. And that was saying something. She was married to Ichigo, the man with a bankai of pure unadulterated speed, after all.

"One minute is all I need." He pressed while continuing to hold out his hand, clearly waiting for her to obey.

It was obvious that he wasn't going to let her