First off…THIS IS THE SEQUEL TO 'Left Behind' (A Hitsugaya and Rukia fan story).

My little corner (Author's Rambling Notes): Um. Like 'LOL'? I've been gone for quite the while haven't I? It's just that…well…Naruto is the new Bleach in my life. We've been going steady for the past few months and I think it might just work (this time).

I'm in love with a dead man.

Itachi…

I'll join you soon…

(P.S. By the way, I'm not gonna do that whole arrancar arc now. I'm just gonna jump ahead a few years in the Hitsugaya/Rukia fan fiction. Surprise, surprise. I'm gonna make this different from what I had originally plan. I hope you understand.)

(P.S.S. I would like to thank Cutegoth yet AGAIN for getting me to write. Otherwise, I would have continued brainstorming for Naruto stories. I've got too many of those in my head nowadays.)

Chapter I
Sorry...

-

"Toushiro?" Rukia called timidly from the couch placed a few feet in front of his desk. In his office, he made sure that everyone had a place to sit and shut up when he was working. Though with Matsumoto, his efforts were always in vain. Perhaps fate placed him with such a vice-captain because he was meant to have a complete polar opposite.

God was never on his side.

"Hm?" Hitsugaya casually glanced up, only to be staring at her back. The tone of her voice was enough to hint that something was amiss. Now he regretted the way he placed the furniture. At least if she was facing him, he could use his glaring influence over her. Of course, that did not always work with her and Rukia had her methods of persuasion too. Maybe she was growing impatient. "I'm almost done, don't worry. We can go home as soon as I finish signing these papers."

"Yes sir."

He raised an eyebrow at her submissive answer. Usually when he made her wait such a long time, he would get some sort of fierce look or a grunt of disapproval, but not lately. Recently, she had been understanding of his lateness and even supported him being away. Deciding that he had been thinking too much the captain returned to his work, finishing it and pushing the papers to the side. There was one more stack left, but he deemed that whatever she had to say might have been important enough to let it wait.

All went quiet as he sat attentively behind his desk, eyes focused on her. It was getting late and if she wanted to discuss something, they could either do it there or wait until later. Either way, no one was around to hear.

A minute passed in silence.

"You're done aren't you? Why didn't you say something?" She turned her body to face him while on the couch, making herself comfortable. Rukia smiled gently and Hitsugaya admired her softened features. If she had not kept her hair trimmed, he might not have been able to recognize her. Her face and body had changed in the many years of their marriage, though in the life of one who dwelled within Soul Society, it was not that long. She was a little taller and a bit curvier, though not to the extent of some women—mainly his lieutenant and that other girl that Ichigo married a while back.

When it came to him, it was a little different. Basically, the only thing about him that changed was his height, at least that was what he thought; though Rukia did list a few things about him that she 'personally' admired as they matured together.

Overall, both Rukia and Hitsugaya were both young adults in the life span of someone in the Soul Society. Rukia—a beautiful, yet still somewhat petite young woman; and Hitsugaya—a well-built and noticeably handsome young man.

It was too good to be true in some cases.

"Are you listening?" Rukia spoke, but with more authority in her voice. "I came to speak with you on something important."

"Yes. I'm listening. Go ahead. I'll finish the rest later."

"Well…never mind."

"Excuse me?! Rukia, you can't just come in her every time you want to and demand I talk to you—then suddenly say 'never mind'. If you've got something to say—say it! Otherwise, you're just wasting time when you could be doing something more important or I could be doing my job!" He paused to 'hmph' a loud as he could and she adverted her gaze, not showing any signs of being affected by him yelling at her. Hitsugaya wondered if she was even paying attention and forced his tone to be unsympathetic. "Does Ukitake-Taicho know that you left post to come here?"

"Yes. He advised I go home, but I told him where I would be instead." Her voice was even more indifferent then Hitsugaya's, the gentle look on her face turning to an apathetic stare.

Hitsugaya leaned forward in his seat with a worried expression, noticing something. "Why did he tell you to go home? Did something happen?"

"I fainted again in the middle of training," she replied plainly.

"What do you mean 'again'? When was the first time and how often does this happen? Besides—why didn't you tell me this earlier, like when you came in here? I would have taken you home!"

"It's only happened recently and this was the third time." Her attention flew back to him, a determined look on her face. "Listen…I went to the Fourth Division today to see what was wrong. Ukitake-Taicho personally requested Unohana-Taicho and…well…I know now that—"

He clenched his fist and struck the top of his desk to silence her without using his choice of words. Rising from his seat, he quickly reached for his Zanpakutou and slid into the strap. The remaining papers that needed to be checked could wait until tomorrow—or whenever he decided to do the rest. "I've heard enough for now. We'll finish talking later."

"That's not what I came here to tell you." She stood also, only to sway at the sudden motion and have to regain her balance.

He watched her with a pained expression. Seeing her like this made him conclude that something was wrong, frozen in his spot beside the desk. "I just don't understand you at all, do I?"

Rukia sighed. "Obviously, this isn't the best time then. If you can't get over that and pay attention to what I'm trying to say now—then there's no hope that you'll even understand it." She walked from behind the couch and towards the door. "I'll go home by myself. Stay here and finish your work. I'm feeling much better."

"Wait… You look tired. Are you sure you want to go alone? Give me a few moments." He stated, dejected. Then he changed the subject. "We live together. You can't avoid me either."

She sighed deeply again, shaking her head. "Hitsugaya?"

"Yeah?" He was hesitant.

"Remember that night when we were just…messing around in our room after Matsumoto's birthday celebration and you said 'Better safe, then sorry'?"

"Yeah." He shot her a confused expression.

"Sorry…"

She left after that, leaving him to his perplexed thoughts. He did not quite understand, but as it began to sink in on what she said, he realized what his young wife was trying to tell him all the while.

He was beyond shocked.

'Better safe then sorry'? Apologizing would mean that the person is… That couldn't be it. Rukia is…Pregnant? But that means that we're going to be—I'm going to be a…Father?' Hitsugaya contemplated, the words not registering in his mind. Either way, something about the whole thing made him smile to himself and marvel over it all.

After a few moments of preparation, he left his office to find the woman who perhaps carried his child.

Rukia was still walking through the streets when she was embraced from behind, a familiar and masculine body pressing against hers. She felt a hand slide down and cover her belly. He stroked her belly once before removing his hand and rapping his arms around her shoulders, giving her a sweet and tender squeeze.

"Stubborn woman," Hitsugaya chuckled, mumbling into her neck. "Was that all you were trying to say?"

Depressed Regression (Don't know what that means): I know. I know. Sucky first chapter isn't it. Well I'm trying. I've been out of practice so long that it's a little impossible to get back into it. However, I'm trying.

Anyways, as you just read, I'm starting this out with a bang. (I've found that I've been quoting Deidara a lot in real life without trying. I'm always using 'a bang' in my sentences.) Rukia and Hitsugaya are soon to be parents. That'll probably be my final chapter to this series when I get there. It's still a ways off though, if you consider my writing habits and me. My problem now is getting to the final chapter and what gender the said baby will be. I'm leaning towards boy. It would just fit better.

In any case, I guess I'll leave you to your ponderings now!