Nemu's Trials Chap 7

Summary:  Nemu and Uryuu get started on their new life together.  So do you think Mayuri is simply going to accept this situation and move on with his life?  I don't think so…

Nemu jerked awake and scrambled to her feet. She had to get to the bathroom.  Now!  She circled in place, unsure about where she was, let alone where the bathroom was located.  Uryuu woke up as well, quickly putting on his glasses.

"Nemu, what's wrong?" He asked.

She put her hand over her mouth.  Answering him would definitely not be a good idea.  Memory came flooding back.  They were in their new apartment.  That would put the bathroom right over…there!

Jumping over Uryuu, she flung open the door to the toilet and knelt down just in time to get violently ill.  Uryuu followed her in and held her hair back.  Though it felt like a long time, it was soon over.  Uryuu went to his backpack and found a handkerchief.  Wetting it in the sink, he offered it to her.  Gratefully, she accepted it, wiping off her face.  Uryuu sat on the cold tile floor next to her, holding her as she shuddered from the after effects of her sickness and the chill.  

"It's like this for you every morning?" He asked.

She nodded. "It may go away in a few more weeks.  It may not stop at all."

"I'm sorry." Uryuu said. "I hate to see you suffer."

Nemu shook her head. "It's all right.  It will all be worth it when the baby is born."

She smiled as she put her hand over her stomach.  Uryuu smiled as well as he gave her a gentle squeeze.  

"Come on," He said getting up, "let's go get something to eat."

Getting dressed, they went to a small diner down the block.  They took a booth in the back and ordered sparingly, Nemu's stomach still being upset.  Uryuu frowned as he put away his wallet.

"We're not going to be able to afford this for long." He stated.  "Besides food, we need to find a way to pay for the apartment, get furnishings, set up the utilities, all kinds of things.  I don't think I can do that and still go to school."

Nemu grew alarmed by his words.  "You're not thinking of dropping out?" she asked.

"I don't see what choice we have." He replied. "Even though graduation is only a few months away, there's no way we can live off what I have saved until then."

"I have some money as well." She said as she rummaged around in her purse. "The Gotei 13 issues a onetime lump sum living allowance to all banished shinigami.  It's supposed to be enough to allow the exile enough time to get established.  They also convert the exile's savings into the local real world currency and add that to the allowance."

She handed him a checkbook with the most recent balance. "Will this be enough?"

He looked at the total listed.  His eyes bugged out.

"Nemu, this is enough for a family of four to live on for about four years!"

"I had a lot saved up." She responded.  "So you are not going to drop out of school?"

"I can't take this from you." He protested returning the checkbook.  "This is your money."

"No," she argued, "it's both of ours.  We're a family now, right?  That means we work together and we share what we have.  This allowance is supposed to help me get started on my life in the new world.  I want to use it for our family."

Uryuu had to take a second to absorb that.  Was he allowing his pride to get in the way?  It was true, he would gladly share anything he had with Nemu.  Was it so bad to have her supporting him?

"With this much money, finishing school should be no problem." He admitted. "I can look for a job after that."

Nemu shook her head.  "I don't want you to get a job after graduation. I want you to go to college."

Uryuu frowned. "College costs a lot.  Even if we skimp, this won't last forever."

"Captain Unohana gave me thorough briefing on living in the real world to include job seeking and building a career." She informed him. "You will be in a better position to get a job with a proper education.  Besides, I want my husband to be an educated man."

"What about you?" He asked. "What do you want to do?"

She grew thoughtful at that.  "I don't know.  Everything I learned in Soul Society is very different from real world science and technology.  Some of the principles we use don't even exist here.  Also, I have no credentials beyond a basic identity.  I would have to earn a real world degree just to get in the door."

"You don't have to work as a scientist." He pointed out.  "You can try something else."

"I suppose." She said. "I'll have to think about it.  For now, I'm only worried about you and 'him'."

Uryuu smiled as she looked down.  He knew who she was referring to.  

"You're sure it's a boy?"

"That's what he feels like." She replied with a smile.  "He's sleeping right now."

"Have you thought about a name?" He asked.

"Souken." She answered decisively. "His name should be Souken."

Uruu was surprised.  "You already decided?"

"I thought about it every day since I found out I was pregnant." She said. "It is only right that he should be named Souken."

Uryuu supposed it could be worse.  She could have decided on Mayuri.

"You don't have to decide now." He said. "We can get some books, look at some other names."

Nemu shook her head.  She reached across the table and took his hand.  "This is what I want Uryuu.  I know I can never bring your grandfather back. I can never replace him either.  The least I can do is to honor him this way.  Of course, he is your child as well.  If you really do object, I will listen to you.  But I really want this, Uryuu.  For both our sakes."

Uryuu squeezed her hand back.  He was touched by the sincerity in her voice.  "If that's what you want. Souken suits me just fine."

They dropped into a companionable silence as they finished their meal.  It lasted all the way back to their apartment.   

"Well, I'll have to get ready for school."  Uryuu said as he got his uniform out.  He took off his street clothes and started putting in his uniform. "Are you going to be all right?"

"I'll have more than enough to keep me busy." Nemu replied.  "I am going to list all the things we need for the apartment and spend the rest of the day shopping."

"Don't do anything strenuous." He warned as he finished up getting dressed.

She smiled at his concerned look "Don't worry.  I won't pick up anything heavy if I can't have it delivered."

"Be careful anyway." He said as he headed out the door.  He stopped for a moment as if he had forgotten something.  Stepping back inside, he put his arms around Nemu's waist and pulled her close for a kiss.  

"I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too." She said with a grin. "Now go.  You'll be late for school."

He laughed, but did as he was told.  It made Nemu glad to see him so happy.  She stood looking at the door long after it had closed.  

She slowly turned around as she looked at their new home taking in the bare walls and uncovered windows.  It was so empty, so quiet.  She went to her suitcase and began to unpack it.  There was a metal box with her forged documents in it.  Birth certificate, National Health Insurance card, high school diploma, passport.  All proof of a life she never lived.  She read the description of her official identify.  She was still called Kurotsuchi Nemu, aged 18 apparently, and as far as she could tell, she had never been outside of Karakura's prefecture.  A normal life, but somewhat sheltered.  She put the box in the closet.

There was another box in her suitcase.  This one wasn't supposed to accompany her.  Exiles were not supposed to bring personal belongings with them when they were banished.  Unohana had allowed it.  She saw no harm in letting Nemu keep her memory box.  She looked the other way when Nemu added it to her luggage.  It was a plain wooden box, nothing you would notice.  She opened it up, glad to see the little treasures she had stored away had made the transition.  Yachiru's crayon drawings remained bright and cheerful, the empty medicine bottle from so long ago, meaningless to anyone but her, still a solid, weighty reminder from her past. She would show it to Uryuu later she decided.  She put that box in the closet as well.
  
Finally, she went over to the bathroom mirror and took a good look at herself.  She looked the same as she did wearing a gigai.  Yet, it was not the same.  There was no way for her to leave this body.  She looked at her hands.  They were slim and fine boned but strong.  They would never be used as a drill.  Never be able to smash through rock.  They were simply human hands.  Her legs, while long and supple, would never propel her several stories into the air.  They would never outrun a speeding train.  Probably not even allow her to outrun most other people.  Simple human legs.  There was nothing superhuman about her strength, hearing, eyesight or anything else anymore.  She was simply a human being.  Nothing else.

"I am a human." She said to her reflection in the mirror.  She liked the sound of that.  "I am a human!" She declared.  The thought gave her an incredible sense of freedom.  She was no longer a shinigami bound to duty and regulations, no longer her father's servant.  No longer an artificial construct, viewed as less than a real person.  She was a human now, with all the boundless possibilities that came with it.  It was a good feeling.  She smiled at herself in the mirror.  She felt an echo to her emotions coming up from deep inside.

"Are you awake now, Souken?" She asked pressing her hands to her stomach.  "It's the start of a new day for us.  Are you ready?"

Obviously the child wasn't going to answer.  He was simply happy his mother was in a good mood as he floated safe and warm inside.  Smiling, Nemu took a pen and notebook out of her suitcase.  What did they need to get first?


Akon took a deep breath before knocking on the door.  There was no answer to his tentative raps.  

"Mayuri-sama?" He called as he opened the door.  Poking his head into Captain Kurotsuchi's office, the smell hit his nose first.  It was a foul combination of unwashed bodies, stale air and some weird chemical stench.  His eyes adjusting to the gloom, he saw his captain face down unconscious at his desk, a tall beaker of some dark liquid still clutched in his hand.  Akon entered warily, balancing a tray of food in one hand.  Mayuri didn't move as his made his way to his boss's desk.  Akon carefully moved a stack of papers aside on the desktop to make room for the tray.  After setting it down, he made his way behind the desk.  He gingerly reached out and shook Mayuri's shoulder.

"Mayuri-sama?  Mayuri-sama, I brought you something to eat.  Mayuri-sa…!"

The captain burst from his chair seizing Akon by the throat and slamming him against the wall.

"Don't touch me!" He shouted "Don't ever touch me!"

Akon turned his head away to escape the awful smell of Mayuri's breath thick with the odor of whatever it was he had been drinking as well as the horrifying sight of his bloodshot eyes.  He'd never seen Mayuri like this before.  His hair was wild and unkempt, his makeup was flaking off and he badly needed a shave.  

"It's me Mayuri-sama." He choked out.  "I just came to bring you some food."

Sanity returning, at least a little, Mayuri let him go.  Akon stumbled a bit as he tried to keep his footing.  Mayuri turned his back on him and went back to his desk, falling into his chair.

"I don't want any food." He said.  He reached out to the beaker on his desk and took a huge swig.  

"You have to eat something Mayuri-sama.  You haven't left this room in days."

Mayuri ignored him, resting his elbows on his desk, his face in his hands.  Akon tried a different approach.

"Captain-Commander Yamamoto asked about you again, Mayuri-sama.  He says you have missed too many meetings and you are falling behind on your workload."

"Workload?" Mayuri slurred. "Not a single one of them can do what I do. If they're not happy with my workload, then let's see them try it!"  He gulped down even more of the dark fluid.

"Mayuri-sama, please.  You must stop this." Akon begged.  "Everyone if getting worried about you."

"Ha!  That's rich." Mayuri barked.  "Worried about me?  What a load of codswallop.  I know what they're really thinking. They're against me.  They're all against me.  Now take this swill and get out of here."

"Can I do anything for you?" Akon asked.

"You can get the hell out!" Mayuri shouted leaping to his feet and throwing the tray at him.  Akon ducked, so the tray flew past him to clang against the wall, food going everywhere.  He got down on his knees and picked up the tray and the broken dishes.  Balancing the load on one hand, he made his way out.  He paused at the door and looked back at his commander swaying unsteadily on his feet.
  
"Please, call me if you need anything Mayuri-sama.  Anything at all."

Mauyri's reply should have set the air on fire.  He stared at the door long after Akon had left.  At last, he went back to his chair, sprawling into it as if utterly exhausted.

"They're all against me." He whispered.  "The only one I can trust anymore is me."

Seizing the beaker with both hands, he poured the odd concoction down his throat until sweet oblivion reclaimed him.  


Nemu turned away from her unpacking when she heard the door opening.

"Welcome home." She said as she went to the door to give Uryuu a kiss.  He returned it with a smile, all the while holding a rectangular box.  He also wasn't taking off his shoes for some reason.  

"Come inside." She said pulling on his free hand. "Let me show you what I bought for the apartment today."

He shook his head and stayed in the entryway.  

"I've got a surprise for you." He said handing her the box.

"You didn't have to give me anything." She replied

"I wanted to give this to you." He coyly responded.  "It's something special just for you."

"What is it?" She asked giving the box a shake.  

"Open it and see." He said with a grin.  

Kneeling down, she did as he asked.  First, she undid the ribbon, then took off the top.  Underneath were layers of tissue paper.  Pulling them aside, she saw folded white cloth.  Pulling he garment out of the box, she got back on her feet to hold it out in front of her.

"It's a dress." She exclaimed.  "It's so beautiful."

Indeed, it was a beautiful dress, white and flowing with blue stripes in a pattern all around culminating in a Quincy cross on the bodice.  The silky material seemed to weigh hardly anything and was sensuous to the touch.

"Do you like it?" He asked.  "I made it just for you."

She hugged it against her body imagining how she would look wearing it.

"I love it." She replied.  

"I'm glad." He said.  "It's a traditional Quincy wedding gown."

She looked up at him in surprise.  His eyes had a faraway look to them as he kept explaining.
  
"We lost so many of our traditions and rituals.  So many things that didn't get written down or were lost.  There used to be an entire Quincy wedding ceremony that no one else had ever seen.  All gone now."

He reached out and touched the dress.

"At least we still have this.  For as long as I live, I will do my best to pass on what we do know so this much as least is never forgotten."

He looked into her eyes with a smile, returning to the present. "Nemu, if it's all right with you, I would be honored if you would wear this gown for me tonight."

"You want me to put this on?" She asked

"More than that." He said.  Slowly, he got down on one knee and reached out to take her hand.

"Kurotsuchi Nemu, will you marry me?"

Nemu though her heart had stopped beating.  She was caught totally by surprise.  It took her a few seconds to gather her wits.  Then it took another few seconds to gather her breath.  When she could finally talk, she found her response was as natural as it was easy.

"Yes, Uryuu." She answered, "I will marry you."

Uryuu whooped as he sprang to his feet and fiercely embraced her.

"The dress, Uryuu!" Nemu reminded him. "Be careful of the dress!"

He didn't seem to hear as he turned around and yanked open the door.

"She said yes!" He yelled down the hallway.

To Nemu's surprise, his shouts were answered.  Ichigo, Rukia, Orihime, Tatsuki, Chad and even Keigo and Mizuiro had been waiting outside the whole time.  They swarmed into the apartment shouting congratulations and reaching out to shake her hand as Nemu twisted and turned to protect the dress.  

"We have to be going now." Ichigo announced as the boys left the apartment dragging Uryuu with them.

"Wait!  Where are you going?" Nemu asked.

"You'll see." Uryuu replied as he allowed himself to be led away.

"We're staying behind to help you, Nemu-san." Orihime explained.

Rukia was busy pulling various items out of her backpack.

"Let's get you changed, then we'll take you to your fiancé." She said.  "It'll all make sense when we get there.  


It didn't take long for them to get to City Hall after Nemu finished getting ready.  Uryuu and the rest of the boys stared as she walked in the door, Rukia and Orihime bringing up the rear.  Not only did the dress fit perfectly, Rukia and Orihime had given her the matching shoes, gloves and the veil held in place with a silver tiara.  

"You look beautiful." Uryuu murmured.

Nemu ducked her head, shy from all the attention.  Still, she couldn't help but notice Uryuu had changed as well.  

"That's not like your usual Quincy robes." She said.  "It looks magnificent."

While his clothes were the usual white with the Quincy motif, the cloth was much heavier, the embroidery more elaborate.

"This is the traditional dress uniform." He explained. "It's too stiff and heavy to be practical for fighting hollows, but it has a certain charm.  Are you ready to get married?"

"Now?" She asked  

"Why not?" He replied.

"It's very sudden."  She said. "I wasn't expecting anything like this."

"I wanted it to be a surprise." He said. "We don't have to if you don't want to."

Nemu thought about it.  Being with Uryuu was all she had wanted before.  She had never dared to dream she would ever marry him.  She had never thought about what her wedding would be like or plan on how it would go.  She couldn't see any reason not to get married this way.

"Let's do it." She said with a nod of assent.  "Let's get married."

All of their friends clapped and cheered.

"Right this way you two." Ichigo said as he held open a door.

"Are you crying Asano-san?" Mizuiro asked.

"My contacts are slipping, that's all." He answered.

"You don't wear contacts Asano-san." Mizuiro pointed out.

"Shut up!" Keigo sniffled.

Nemu was suddenly struck by a thought.

"Uryuu, don't we need the proper forms before we can get married?  I believe that takes a long time."

"Don't worry." He assured her.  "I got some help."

Entering the judge's chamber, Nemu saw exactly where their help was coming from.  It was strange seeing them in regular clothes.

"Everything seems to be in order." The judge said as he sat behind his desk peering through his thick glasses at the stack of forms in his hands.  "Are you sure you want your son to get married this young?"

"I realize seventeen is a bit young," Urahara said "however he will turn eighteen in November. That's only a few months away."

"Our boy is very mature for his age." Yoruichi declared. "I believe he is making the right decision."

"Ah, here's the young couple now." Urahara announced, taking Yoruichi's arm and moving off to the side.

"Welcome the both of you." The judge said jovially getting up from his chair and waving them closer.  "Please step right this way.  What…interesting outfits you have on."

He leaned forward and held the corner of his glasses as he got a good look at Uryuu.  Then he looked at Urahara and Yoruichi.  Then Uryuu again.  Then back to Urahara and Yoruichi.

"You say this is your son?" He asked puzzled.

"He's adopted." Urahara fibbed hiding behind his fan.  

"Adopted you say?" The judge replied in a skeptical tone.

Yoruichi sprang forward and clasped Uryuu to her bosom.  

"Even though he did not come forth from my own body, I defy anyone to tell me I love him any less as a mother!"

She squeezed him with all her might.

"To have people think that just because you are adopted, you are not my real son, it's…it's…almost too much to bear."  A tear ran down her cheek as she began to sniffle.  "It hurts so much!"

"It's OK, uh, mother." Uryuu wheezed as he gasped for breath. "I…love you just the same."

"My apologies Mrs. Ishida, I didn't mean to cause any trouble." The judge said. "Please go back to your husband and we'll get started in a minute."

"OK!" She said with a grin, her tears instantly disappearing.  As she skipped back to Urahara, the judge began to arrange the rest of the gang where he wanted them for the ceremony.
  
"Isn't this all so romantic?" Yoruichi crooned.  "Two young lovers taking the plunge, binding themselves together for all eternity."

"I suppose." Urahara replied casually fanning himself.  

"At the same time, I'm sad." She said.

"Oh? Why?" He asked raising an eyebrow.  

"Our little boy is all grown up and moving away." She said.  "Soon we'll be all alone."

Urahara merely grunted.  It was nice that she was keeping up appearances, but the act didn't need this much work.

"Kisuke," She said turning towards him. "I want to have a baby."

Urahara almost dropped his fan.

"What?"

"We're still young enough." She argued.  "Don't you think we have more than enough love to give for one more child?"

Urahara leaned in close so no one else could hear.

"Look, I know you're really into this role my dear, but come on, stop talking nonsense."

She grabbed him by the lapels pulling him in until they were nose to nose.

"Kisuke," She snarled giving him a shake every other syllable. "I want a baby.  My Clock. Is. Ticking.  You get me?"

"Pardon me." The judge interrupted.  "We are ready to start the ceremony now."

"Oh, of course! Don't mind us." She replied with a warm smile.  She let Urahara go and smoothed out his lapels, then took her place quietly by his side.

"We'll talk about this later." She whispered from the side of her mouth.

Urahara did not reply.  He stood frozen in place, white as a sheet with sweat running down his face to soak into his collar.


"Here we are Mrs. Ishida." Uryuu said as they made it back to their apartment.  He unlocked the door and opened it.  Nemu tried to enter, but he stopped her.  

"This is not a quincy tradition.  It's something we imported from abroad."

Sweeping her up in his arms, he carried her across the threshold.  Even after he was inside, he didn't put her down.

"We did it." He said. "We're now officially husband and wife."

She embraced as best she could in her position, holding him tight.

"Yes, we are. I never thought I could be this happy."

Letting go, she looked again at the ring on her finger.  It felt warm.  Almost alive.  Uryuu followed her gaze.

"I think grandmother would have liked you." He said as he put her on her feet.  "I'm sure she would want you to have her ring."

"It feels so different." She observed as she ran her finger along he metal tracing the Quincy motifs etched into its surface.

"It has been handed down from generation to generation for centuries." Uryuu said.  "It was supposed to have been made by my ancestral grandfather, a master quincy weaponsmith, as a gift for his new wife.  Maybe a little bit from all those quincies rubbed off on it.  And now it's yours."

"I'll cherish this." She declared. "I'll never take it off."

He gave her a naughty grin. "For what I have in mind, you don't need to take it off."

She glanced up at him surprised and giggled.  He reached out to her and she eagerly embraced him.  They melted into one another, lips meeting, hands exploring.  Nemu supposed it wasn't unusual how fast Uryuu was able to undress her.  After all, he had made her gown himself.  


How did he end up on the floor?  Mayuri wondered.  He'd obviously been sick as well judging by the pool of vomit he was laying in.  He didn't remember doing that either.  Forcing himself to rise, he went to his desk.  The formula he had mixed was no longer there.  The beaker was shattered on the floor.  It must have rolled off.  Looking at the various chemicals he brought in to make it, he saw most of the ingredients had run out.  Pity.  

Looking in a mirror he had on the wall, he almost couldn't recognize himself.  He looked pathetic.  Is this what he had been reduced to?  Wallowing in a narcotic haze, drowning in self pity?  How had he allowed himself to fall into such a state?  No, that wasn't the question.  The real question was, how could he have allowed that quincy to drive himself into such a state.

"Pull yourself together man!" he growled at his reflection.  "This is not the answer."

Suddenly, an idea came to him.  It may have been more accurate to call it a memory.  Shoving the trash that had accumulated on his desk to the floor, he located his keyboard and booted up his computer.  A quick glance at the calendar was enlightening. He'd been out that long, eh?  He pulled up an old file.  It was a dossier on someone in his organization he never thought he would use again.  He had kept that person handy just in case.  You never knew what the future would bring.  He was very happy he had.  

"Revenge." He hissed. "Revenge is the answer."