Annnnnddd...I'm back sooner than I thought. I couldn't not write this awesome fanfiction. I really wanted to do more before all these ideas escape lol.
THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE WHO'S FAVORITED/FOLLOWED AND I WANNA THANK Tachibana Midori FOR BEING THE FIRST TO REVIEW! It meant so much to me!
Any questions/concerns, feel free to leave a review/PM me!
I forgot to disclaim the fanfiction, so..I DON'T OWN BLEACH.
"P-pregnant?" Ichigo stuttered. No way, it's impossible. Rukia, with child?
"How could this have happened?" Byakuya questioned, his eyes flashing in anger.
"Well you see, Byakuya," Shunsui grimly answered, "when a man and a woman love each other very much—"
"I know how reproduction works, you imbecile," Byakuya hissed, "I meant how could Rukia, of all people, be with child?"
"You make it sound like its her fault," Ichigo knocked heads with the Kuchiki.
"Calm down, you guys," a new, more feminine voice interrupted. Ichigo spun around and faced Yoruichi. "The last thing Rukia needs is people assuming she was raped."
Raped..? The word burned through Ichigo's skull, pounding away at his brain. Rukia, the strong-willed, independent, kind, soul reaper…she couldn't have…
"Are you saying she wasn't?" Suì-Fēng inquired.
The purple-haired feline perched herself on a chair. "All I'm saying is you're very quick jumping to conclusions. Tell me, do you really think Rukia would just sit back and let someone rape her? Think about it, she's a strong, independent woman, she wouldn't just let anyone touch her."
"So you're saying she consented to this?" Renji asked, red eyebrows furrowed.
"We'll never know until she wakes, huh?"
Ichigo sighed from his seat beside Rukia's hospital bed. Most of the soul reapers left for their work in the divisions. Never in his wildest dreams, would he imagine this, of all things, to happen. Even with thick blankets shielding Rukia's stomach from view, Ichigo still managed to make out the tiny bulge in her abdomen.
To him, Rukia's the stronger warrior, not the other way around. She's the one who awakened his powers in the first place. If not for her, he's nothing. When Ichigo heard about her disappearance, he searched endlessly for her. He spent his vacations scouring the Soul Society for any trace of her spirit energy, but found nothing. Ichigo expected her return in a coffin, or at least dead. Pregnant definitely didn't reach the list.
"I'm sorry," Ichigo reached over and grasped the hand closest to him. Ironically, even in their sleep, Rukia and Toushiro managed to find each others hand and hold onto them for dear life. He supposed the event possible if Unohana hadn't ordered Isane to push their beds together.
"I don't know why you're sorry," a very feminine voice spoke behind him. Ichigo glanced at the door in surprise. Rangiku stood there, leaning against the door with her arms crossed. The normally bubbly woman, now serious, shook her head. "It's not your fault. If anyone, I'm to blame because I couldn't protect my captain."
"Let's agree no one's at fault," Ichigo resumed his gaze at Rukia.
Rangiku claimed the seat on Toushiro's other side. Ichigo heard of how stressed the disappearance of her captain made the lieutenant. With no 10th Squad captain, Rangiku Matsumoto, the next possible candidate, took the position temporarily until Toushiro returned.
"It makes me wonder," Rangiku started after a while of silence. "What's going to happen now?"
"What do you mean?" Ichigo asked.
"I mean when they're both healthy and safe again, what's going to happen to them after all of this?" Rangiku frowned. "Rukia's carrying a child and Captain Hitsugaya obviously has an idea of the father. I wonder if she's going to keep it, given where it happened."
Ichigo frowned. He knew Rukia experienced a lot down in that warehouse, but at the same time, he knew she would never kill life unless necessary.
"I don't know," Ichigo admitted. "I honestly have no idea where to go from here."
A half hour passed in silence before Rukia began to awaken. Her pale eyelids fluttered open, revealing the bright violet orbs underneath. Rukia's gaze scoured everywhere her eyes could find before landing on Ichigo's face. Her eyes widened in fear as she sat up too quickly, her face contouring into an expression of discomfort. Rukia glanced down at her hand still trapped in Toushiro's, and she immediately relaxed. In fact, she lowered herself back down, closer to the white-haired man beside her and snuggled closer to his hand.
"Good morning, Rukia," Rangiku carefully greeted with a gentle smile. "Are you hungry?"
Rukia met her eyes with a grimace. "Some bread, please." Her empty hand covered her slightly bulged stomach protectively.
As the busty, strawberry blonde disappeared from the room to fetch what Rukia desired, Ichigo took notice of the strain in her voice. Her normally confident and powerful voice reduced to sickly words and fragile whispers.
"Are you feeling okay?" Ichigo asked, and soon regretted it. She just returned from her year-long capture, and you asked her if she's okay? Idiot!
"I've gone missing for a year and I return pregnant," Rukia hissed, unintentionally, "would you be okay?"
"Sorry, I worded that wrong," Ichigo apologized. Another moment of silence passed before Rukia sighed deeply.
"You have a question," Rukia stated.
Ichigo jumped, startled. "O-oh! I-I, uh…well…I hate to be the one asking this…but—"
"You want to know who the father is, right?" Rukia finished his sentence. "I'm not stupid."
"Sorry," Ichigo apologized again. He watched Rukia's features soften before her lips curled into a small smile.
"Idiot," She murmured. "Isn't it obvious?" Her grasp on Toushiro's hand tightened until her knuckles faded white.
The door opened up before Ichigo could word his next question. Unohana entered with Isane and Rangiku behind her. Rangiku carried a tray full of bread and water.
"It's nice to see you awake, Miss Rukia," Unohana smiled as she checked her vital signs.
"Yeah," Rukia mumbled, her violet eyes locked on Toushiro's sleeping figure.
Rangiku set the tray beside Rukia's bed before retreating to a corner. Ichigo stepped back so Unohana and Isane could work.
"It's him," Ichigo spoke lowly, only Rangiku could hear. He nodded his orange head towards Toushiro. "He's the father."
"Rukia told you?" Rangiku whispered back, shocked.
Ichigo confirmed it with a nod of his head. "Although, I'm glad its him and not some deranged pervert."
"Can't disagree with you there," Rangiku sighed. "Hinamori's not going to like this."
Ichigo only leaned back until he rested against the wall, his arms crossed. Rukia and Toushiro. Now that's a couple Ichigo never considered. He always assumed Renji would pull a move on the violet-eyed soul reaper. Rukia and Toushiro both connected with ice elements, it made sense if they developed a close relationship.
"I heard Rukia has awoken," The ever-stoic and serious, Byakuya Kuchiki entered the room with ease and grace.
"Brother," Rukia diverted her gaze to her hand locked with Toushiro's.
"How long are they to stay under hospitalized care?" Byakuya ignored his sister-in-law for Unohana.
"I'm keeping them for at least a month," The woman answered, "depending on how well they heal, their time here will either shorten or extend."
"Then what?" Ichigo asked.
"Rukia will return to the Kuchiki Manor and that abomination removed from existence," Byakuya stared directly at Rukia's abdomen.
Rukia's eyes widened in pure fear, and her breathing labored instantly. Her arms wrapped themselves around her pregnant belly and she curled herself into a ball. She began crying, shaking her head in fear and mumbling words too quiet for Ichigo to hear.
"Over my dead, fucking, body," a new voice hissed out with acidic venom.
Ichigo didn't even notice the drop in temperature, or the consciousness of the ice captain. The amount of spirit energy in the room sky-rocketed unbelievably since Toushiro's near-death experience.
The white-haired man in question straightened up, glaring death in Byakuya's eyes. "Like hell you're taking Rukia. Like hell." Ichigo almost flinched in fear himself at the look in Toushiro's eyes.
"Rukia is no longer your concern," Byakuya responded calmly.
Toushiro rose to his feet with little struggle, and positioned himself in front of Rukia, shielding her from view. "I've heard about the rumors your so-called 'loyal' servants say about Rukia. As long as she's carrying my child, her well-being is every concern to me."
Ichigo gaped at the 10th captain in surprise. He didn't even bother hiding the truth, nor did he bother using her last name like tradition calls for. Ichigo realized just how deep their relationship grew the past year.
"I cannot allow such a disgrace into the Kuchiki clan. The child must be eliminated."
It happened so fast. One minute, a fifteen feet distance divided the two captains; the next, Toushiro's hands found themselves clasped around Byakuya's neck, cutting off any air to the older man's lungs. "You have no idea the kind of shit we had to endure to survive! This is life you're wanting to erase! An innocent child! This is my fucking child!"
Ichigo praised whatever God existed when Ukitake and Shunsui arrived in time to separate the two captains. Toushiro didn't struggle, instead, he allowed the two new arrivals to drag him back to Rukia's side. Unohana checked over Byakuya's neck, much to the aggravation of the other man. Rangiku and Ichigo only watched in surprise…the strength Toushiro broadcasted at the mere mention of abortion.
"I don't understand," Isane exclaimed. "We gave him enough sedatives to knock him out for hours! Not forty minutes!"
Toushiro laughed, cold and twisted. "After a year of injections, you become immune to whatever the needle gives you." Toushiro shrugged off the hold Ukitake had on the shorter captain's shoulder. He trudged over to Rukia's shaking and curled up form.
"Hey," He murmured. His entire demeanor changed from aggression to soothing comfort. He gathered Rukia in his arms and pulled her to rest on his lap. She instantly gripped onto his white sleeping garment, her trembles decreasing. "It's okay. We're okay, butterfly. Nothing's going to hurt us."
"I c-can't—," Rukia choked on her words, "I can't lose another one, Toushiro."
Ichigo felt the air leave his lungs. Another…one? You mean she's been impregnated before? Just how many…?
"You won't," Toushiro tightened his grip on her tiny form, carefully so he didn't crush her swollen belly. "I swear you won't. You remember what I promised you?"
Rukia nodded her head against Toushiro's chest. The tears flowed off her cheeks and soaked the ice captain's torso. "I'm sorry, little one." She hiccuped. "I'm sorry…"
Ichigo couldn't help but feel like he intruded on a private moment. Amber eyes glanced around, somewhat pleased to see the others looking away like he did. Rangiku quietly excused herself from the room, Isane quickly following. Both in tears.
Unohana, who normally kept a straight face in situations like this, pulled Byakuya into the hallway furiously. Ukitake and Shunsui shrugged, the captain of the 13th Squad voicing his departure and wishes of getting well before leaving with Shunsui into the hall. Ichigo cast one last glance at the ice duo, before he too, left.
"I understand the culture and traditions of the Kuchiki Clan must be upheld, but not even you can act so heartless, Byakuya Kuchiki," Ichigo quietly shut the door behind him as he witnessed Unohana chewing out the 6th Squad captain. "Rukia's way passed the stage of possible miscarriage and abortion. Not only that, but would you really have her go through with something so traumatic too soon after her return? Don't you understand what abortion does to a woman? Besides, the life of the baby isn't any of your business, for you are not its parent. This is Rukia and Toushiro's decision. No one else has a right to say otherwise," and with that, Unohana left the area before she destroyed something.
"Damn," Shunsui rubbed his neck. "Haven't seen her that pissed off since Ukitake and I destroyed part of her division. Accidentally, of course."
Ichigo refused to believe this all happened. It feels like a twisted dream he's waiting to wake from. Anger boiled through his veins. "I want to…help protect Rukia and Toushiro…and their baby. I won't let anyone hurt them as long as I live. I won't fail her again."
Ukitake and Shunsui smiled before departing back to their divisions. Byakuya already left after Unohana finished scolding him. Rangiku and Isane returned, however.
"I'm sorry," Rangiku apologized. "Its hard to believe they've changed so much."
Ichigo pulled her into a much-needed hug. "Now its our job to change for them, too. They need us now, more than ever. It's time to be at our strongest."
Rangiku returned the embrace. She could feel the trembling body against hers, and knew she's not alone trying to keep a strong facade.
In the next chapter, we'll get to see just what exactly happened to Rukia and Toushiro down in that warehouse. Everything...xD
See you next time!
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-EZ17