Baby-sitting

-Chapter II: Cracked-

Special Note: This fan fiction is under extensive revision. I'll add more fluffs, descriptions and scenes. Thank you for all the reviews. I'm moved. I know it is kind of selfish for deleting the other chapters but I fear that the story might be slightly different from the original. I'll do the same thing with my other fics. Please don't sue me. I just want this to make a better read. Comments and suggestion are welcomed. I'll do my best to become a mature writer. That includes lesser whining. XD

Disclaimer: What? Does Taito/Tite Kubo writes fanfictions for one to have a crazy idea that one of the writers here is him? Not likely.

"Dedicated to the ones who keep reviewing and supporting this fic and my awesome beta-reader who wants to work in the shadows. (winks) I hope this is worth dedicating."

- - - -

"...And that's why I'm here." were Rukia's final words taken from her explanation of her reason being on earth.

To whom did she tell these words?

Of course not in front of the class!

It's obviously for the whole soul society gang: Inoue, Ishida, Sado and Ichigo.

They were currently at the rooftop, pretending to eat their lunch and pretending to be normal.

They had been silent for a few seconds. Blame it to the astonishment.

Their jaw hanged open but then Inoue decided to break the silence.

"Kuchiki-san, does that mean that you're going to stay here again?" inquired the hoping Inoue, a serene smile on his face.

Rukia blinked, she seemed that she was still trying to cope with the sudden change of atmosphere. By the time she did, she folded her arms and tried to be serious,. "Yes. Until the time comes I would have to stay at Ichigo's."

"What?!" gripped exaggeratedly by Ichigo. "My house isn't the 'Home for the Aged' you know!"

"Oh no, Kurosaki-kun. You can't mean that, can you? When will Kuchiki-san stay then?"

"Inoue-san's right, Kurosaki. Be a gentleman enough to—"

"Oh shuddap, Ishida! If you're so worried, then take responsibility of her!"

Ishida gave him a look that translated to: Aren't you and Rukia the 'partners'?

Sado joined in too, giving him a stern look.

They hate me. Ichigo concluded. Having him being overwhelmed, Rukia won by landslide victory and thus it was official she would be staying at Ichigo's.

Ah. Just like the old times.

- - - -

Chatters.

Laughters.

Talking casually with her good and true friends.

This was what Rukia had missed.

Too bad it was short-lived when Inoue began to yelp a feminine squeal and pointed a trembling hand over the egg.

It was making some rattling sounds inside.

"I think it's going to crack now..." Rukia leaned forward, deeply curious on what kind of creature could be 'that' important to soul society.

Learning that it was already safe and there wasn't reason to panic, Inoue placed her index finger at the tip of her lower lip. "I wonder what's inside of it."

"Well I was thinking that could be an ostrich, assuming from the size of it..." Ichigo deduced.

"Ostrich in soul society? Really Kurosaki, I've never heard of that." Ishida countered wryly.

"Yeah?" Ichigo glared crossly at Ishida, "Well I'm sorry Mr. Know-it-all. May I ask how much do you know about soul society?"

"Cut it off, Ichigo, Ishida." scolded Rukia. The usual idea hopped into her mentality. "Maybe it's a bunny..."

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Bunnies don't lay eggs, you idiot!" Ichigo retorted.

"Who you calling idiot, idiot!"

"Maybe it's a dragon!" Inoue fantasized, forming random and absurd stories at the back of her mind again.

"Hm." was the only sound that came from Sado.

—The rattling sounds continued and got louder and more frequent this time. It started to form cracks that made some lights escape from it.

Rukia leaned to be able to do her job-see to it that she would be the first one that the creature would see. Ichigo leaned forward as well in order to prove Ishida that it was a damn freaking ostrich.

- - - -

"What the—" Ichigo and the others couldn't believe what they were hearing. As their eyes began to adjust to the light, all of them warily opened their eyes and almost screamed in horror when they saw a crying baby-human.

Silence.

"W-W-Wai! It's so cute!" Inoue exclaimed as lifted the baby heavenwards then ogled and admired the cuteness of the 'creature.' "...hunh..." Inoue tilted her head slightly at a side.

"What's the problem Inoue—Whaah!" all of them but Inoue jumped back in incredulity.

It was a normal healthy baby boy. Nothings awful or monstrous about that but...

The baby has a spiky raven hair with orange stripes. Its skin was as pale as Rukia's and its eyes were fiery like Ichigo's but has a blue lining on its iris.

Freaking hell... the baby closely resembled Ichigo and Rukia!

"H-how..." Ichigo couldn't say more.

"I-impossible..." Rukia blinked. "This might be the reason why—"

"The reason why, what!" Ichigo demanded. He was pissed for he didn't want to see a baby that looked like him—and Rukia.

"...Why Yamamoto-taicho wanted me to see to it that I would be the first one this creature would see..."

"I don't get it." he grumbled and probably also meant that: I don't care about that.

"I think I do, Kuchiki-san." Ishida said, he liked what he was feeling. It wouldn't be everyday to find this rare occasion that he, Ishida Uryuu, the last quincy, found himself a proof that he was smarter than a mere substitute shinigami. "Maybe it's some kind of a creature that takes the form of whatever being he or she first sees at the time he or she was born..."

How'd he know that? Rukia thought, quite impressed. "Yeah but... I'm not sure... I hope Yamamoto-taicho would clear things up sooner."

Ichigo frowned. He got a feeling that Rukia still has no clue on what was the 'big deal.' He had to let her know... but of course, he would do it on his own way. "Why the hell do you look so placid, Rukia? That thing is—"

"And why the hell do you look so perturbed? You're being exaggerated again."

He hissed as a sign of exasperation. "Can't you see it? That thing—"

"Wai! He looks like Kurosaki-kun and Kuchiki-san's offspring!"

Silence.

"Wha-What!" Rukia exclaimed then stared at the baby incredulously. "No freakin' way!"

"You just realized?" Ichigo stated sarcastically. "You're too much caught up on how the hell did 'that' happen that you forgot the OBVIOUS!"

She looked away, refusing to meet Ichigo's reprimanding look. "At least I know the more important!"

It was Ishida's turn to scold. "Cut it off, the both of you. There are hell a lot of things important than to squabble over a trivial thing!"

"It isn't trivial!" they gripped simultaneously.

- - - -

"Okay. So what name would it be?" Ishida queried, pushing his slipped glasses.

"How about umm... Rukigo?"

"That's disgusting, Inoue."

"Ichiki?"

"Urgh! Stop merging our names!"

"Umm..." Inoue gestured into deep thinking. "Since this child is a nexus on what Kurosaki-kun and Kuchiki-san's dream chil—"

"He isn't our dream child!"

Inoue sweatdropped. It seemed like she couldn't feel the dark aura emanated by Ichigo and Rukia because she continued to say what was on her mind, "Why don't we name him Yume?" (Yume - dream)

Silence.

Maybe Rukia should say something. "That's a girl's name, Inoue." Rukia told Inoue, almost matter-of-factly.

"Is that so?" Inoue chuckled sheepishly then started to think names again.

Silence.

"Argh!" Ichigo had a fistful of his hair. He never thought naming a baby would be that hard. He never thought of giving one anyway, as he saw himself long ago that he would grow old alone. The name thinking thing was taking too much of their brake time, getting pissed at every second wasted, he began to shout, "Let's just call him Akumu!" (Akumu - nightmare)

"Kurosaki. You're talking way too far. It wasn't the child's fault for looking that way. Primary, it was YOURS."

"He's right." a voice chirped in. "Who would want to look like you?"

He rolled his eyes angrily to the speaker. "Shut up, Rukia."

"I know!" Rukia knocked her fist on her palm. "Let's name him Usagi!" (Usagi - bunny)

"That's a girl's name." Ishida commented, using the same tone Rukia used on Inoue's.

"Well..." she looked teasingly at Ichigo. "Ichigo's a girl's name too, isn't it?"

Bitch... she's eating her own words. He thought darkly as he clenched his fists. "Lunch break is almost finished, hurry up!" thinking about it, it was the first time Rukia teased him about his name... or was she that desperate to name the child 'Usagi'?

"Auburn." All of the heads turned to Sado.

Ishida's glasses shone. "Yes... makes sense since the color of the baby's eyes are auburn... but... it was too obvious and it kinda doesn't suit to name him that..." Ishida said.

"So what!" Ichigo snapped. It wasn't because he liked the name but like what was repeatedly said, the naming business was eating their lunchtime.

Why the hell would they bother to give the child a beautiful name anyway? It wasn't like it was everybody's baby.

"Sooo? Auburn? Is it decided?"

"It sounds lame to me."

"..."

"It sounds weird..."

I know let's call him Gaki. (Gaki - Brat)

- - - -

Asano Keigo slowly but surely crept to 'Kuchiki-san' to have a better look at 'what-the-hell-is-she-carrying.' His idiotic face turned into a much idiotic one as soon as he saw—

"Huuuu-What! Kuchiki-san!" Keigo's voice was highly pitched, his eyes became somewhat teary. "S-So that's why you were out for a long time!"

All of their classmates turned their heads to see what was the ruckus was all about then gasped at as they saw their oh-so-innocent classmate, Kuchiki Rukia cradling a baby haphazardly. Ichigo let out a defeated look, setting his face down... he knew it was coming.

Rukia chucked nervously for her classmates were sending her some sympathetic looks.

She didn't get it—Ichigo did.

So as Keigo was saying all his damn stupid sentiments (actually crying) he tentatively made his way out but—

"Tell me!" Ichigo could loudly hear whatever Keigo was saying. "Who caused all of these!"

Rukia, still haven't got the gravity of the situation tilted her head to a side. "Well..." her look turned sheepish. She wasn't prepared to any of this. Not used to lying, but couldn't spill classified information, she blurted out, "Kurosaki-kun's at partial fault at this."

Uh-oh. That didn't sound good. He froze in his tracks, feeling a death glare from his behind.

He decided not to say anything—trying not to look defensive.

He could still hear the murmurs now—should he still keep quiet?

"So do you think, Keigo that's the reason why Ichigo refused your invitation last vacation?"

"N-NO! YOU'RE GETTING IT ALL WRONG!" he couldn't bear it anymore. They were ruining his image and 'that' Rukia wasn't doing a thing! "It was an accident!"—wrong choose of words... couldn't spill classified information...—

"Really Ichigo." Keigo's voice was in full volume and sarcasm laced on his tone. "Man. I never thought you're like that." Ichigo was about to retort but Keigo continued. "You should at least be a little careful. Don't you know how to use con—"

"Shut up!" Ichigo exploded, not letting Keigo finish. His face was bright red. "That. Child. Is. Not. Mine's." he put stress and emphasis on every word.

Silence.

Awkward Silence.

Silence caused by fear.

Ah. He felt better.

- - - -

"Ichigo." Rukia said after moments of silence. Ichigo looked away then mumbled an angry and annoyed 'hump.' He still couldn't believe the humiliation 'Rukia' got him into.

"Ichigo." Rukia tried again... and again... but still... none came. Seeing that it would lead to nowhere if she would be 'nice,' she kicked him on his shin.

"Oow!" he glared angrily at Rukia. "What the hell are you doing!"

"Serves you right." she said bluntly as she threw him a cold glare. "I know that you were humiliated but I'm 'not' the one responsible for you 'suffering' so don't you dare ignore me!"

"Yeah?" he challenged. "Who brought that brat on 'my' class!"

"Shut your crap. If you weren't 'there' when the egg was cracking then you probably don't have problems!"

"Well if you have warned me, I would have stayed back!"

"Like I could think of that at a red alert."

Damn. Why does she hate losing?

Silence.

He noticed Rukia was inching closer to him.

"What do you want?" he growled.

"...What are we going to do now?"

He glanced at her incredulously. "Pardon? WE? After all the humiliations because of that brat, you think I'm still going to help you!"

"Well yes. We have to raise this baby until the time comes."

He almost ripped all his hair out. "Tell me a good reason why will 'I' help you?"

"...Umm... because..."

"Because what?"

Silence.

There's only one way to make him agree...

"I absolutely know nothing about raising a baby!" Rukia blurted out.

No response.

She sighed as if preparing to say something as dreadful as a disease called cancer. Here it goes... "...please..." she added in a gruff whisper.

He grinned inwardly. Hearing her 'plead' was giving him a tingling sensation on his ears.

Walking past her, he indicated no answer as he went to the doorsteps.

Taking his silence as 'Okay. Fine. I couldn't do anything about it, right?' Rukia abruptly nudged the baby to him. Before Ichigo could react, she added an explanation. "I can't carry that baby while climbing the window, can I?"

He let out a defeated look—once again.

- - - -

"W-wait!" Ichigo was making a full endeavor to stop them from having wrong ideas. "I-It's not what you think..." his voice was shaking. "...This baby isn't—"

"Sniff... Onii-chan... how could you?" Yuzu whimpered.

"Yuzu... you don't understand, this isn't—"

"Ichi-nii. Explained this already." Karin demanded, folding her eyes as she sent him an ominous glare.

"Ichigo!" his father cried as well. "I know I'm always encouraging you... but 'this' early?"

Ichigo furiously kicked his father. "You all don't get it!" he said through clenched teeth.

No response. Telling him to continue—he wished they didn't do that. "He's just here because... because... it's a... a project?"

Damn himself for being a lousy liar.

Silence.

Needless to say, his family didn't buy it. Of course. Not when they heard the baby calling Ichigo in a coo, "pop-a."

--And the 'poor' Ichigo let out a horrified look as he dashed to his room and locked himself in.

- - - -

End Notes: The second chapter, finished 'editing'. This can be edited further so don't worry. Okay so this isn't really the extensive revision I am talking about. My beta is currently enjoying her vacation so this isn't beta-ed. Sorry! I'm bored so I decided to tweak some of this fic. Don't worry, I won't be deleting chapters again by the time my beta comes back. For now, please bear with me! Besides, I think I've leaned some of Beta-sama's techniques... Ehehe.

We're not a perfect people who can find faults without help so if you find anything weird, OOCs, wrong grammars, wrong spellings, wrong pronunciation (private joke) tell us and we'll be happy to change it. Oh, if you would please do so, please point out the things that you want to be changed. Kindly site them. I think it won't help if you would just vaguely say: There are a lot of grammatical errors.

Thank you for reading! You can send emails if you want. I am not hostile. Check-ie my profile.