CHAPTER TWO
Positive

As the days went by, soon a month passed. Captain Ukitake was now feeling much better and was about to say goodbye to Rukia, who was about to set off to the World of the Living. Minako was right beside him, hands crossed in front of her with a soft smile on her features. With a small bow, Rukia entered the Senkaimon gate, following her hell butterfly. Minako glanced up at her new captain, noting the worried expression he had on his face, "She'll be alright captain. There isn't a need to worry." she put her hand on his arm, earning a nod and a smile.

"You're right. She can handle herself. How about some tea?" she nodded and followed him into his office, where a pot of hot water was waiting. Minako added the tea leaves and poured it into a mug, then stirring in his medicine. She handed him the cup.

"Here you go." she then poured her own cup and sat down beside him.

"Thank you." he blew over the mug, sending the steam over the rim.

"So, how are you going to tell Captain Kuchiki that Rukia will be gone for a month?" he shrugged, glancing out the window to the small pond outside.

"I'm not sure. I have to figure it out soon though. I would think Captain Kuchiki has a time that Rukia has to be back by, and surely he would notice her not arriving at that time. She's always known to be punctual. She's usually here before I am." he took a sip of his tea, "But even if he does protest, she's already gone, so if he wants her back home he'll have to go get her himself." Minako chuckled, taking a peppermint and stirring it around in her tea, "So, how are you doing?" she shrugged, "How's your secret doing?" she giggled, rolling her eyes.

"He's not really a secret. Well, only Captain Unohana and Momo know who he is." he raised an eyebrow, "I have to tell somebody about things that happen. Although Momo isn't very happy about it…" she mumbled, "But anyway, I'm not really sure how he's doing. He's been… distant this past month… He's at Squad Five hardly ever anymore. That's odd considering his rank. He even snapped at me once… he said he was busy and to leave him alone. I thought it was Mayuri at first." Captain Ukitake chuckled, "He seems like he's busy, like he's planning something big or something. I'm worried about him. When I do see him, he looks tired, like he hadn't slept the night before. I guess he's just working more than usual." she shrugged, drinking the rest of her tea, "But still, I worry over him." Jushiro smirked.

"As a doctor or as his lover?" Minako blushed, looking down into her empty mug.

"Well, both in a way. I'm worried as a doctor because a deprivation of sleep can cause harm to his body, but I'm also worried as his lover because he's working so hard he doesn't have time to sleep. I've seen him on some night in his offices. He keeps doing paperwork until the early hours of daybreak before he gets to sleep, and then he only gets maybe three hours sleep tops. I try to get him to go to bed but he says he has a deadline for that. Last time I checked paperwork didn't have a deadline unless the head captain gave one. I've known he was a hard worker, but I didn't know it was so important to him that he would have to neglect me six days out of the week to complete his tasks." she brought her knees to her chest, "It's like sometimes I don't know what to do." he offered her a kind smile, relaxing her tensing posture.

"Just give him some time. It'll pass. Maybe he's just had a lot of extra work. Those kind of things happen." Minako nodded, sighing softly as she rested her chin on her knees, "Why don't you two go to dinner tonight? Get him out of the office for a while? I'm sure he'd feel better if you took him to a nice, quiet restaurant for a while. It's six now. You go ahead and leave. I'll finish whatever work is left over." she smiled.

"Are you sure?" he nodded. She jumped up, hugging her captain around the hug, "Thank you!" she said as she ran out of his office. She began to flash step her way to Squad Five. Minako walked down the hallway until stopping in front of her lover's office. She tapped on the door frame, "Sosuke? Are you there? May I come in?" it was silent for a few moments, until she heard a familiar voice.

"Come in Mina." she slid open the door and entered, smiling at him as she approached his desk. He Didn't even look up from his papers, making her frown. She went up behind him, slipping her arms around his back, "What is it Minako?" she nuzzled her cheek to his warm back.

"I miss you Sosuke. This past month you've been shut away in your office. I miss you. I haven't seen you but maybe once a week. Come to dinner with me. We can go to a nice, quiet restaurant and have a nice dinner, just you and me. Please?" she whispered, closing her eyes while feeling the warmth of his back on her cheek and silently praying that he would say yes. He felt his chest broaden as he sighed. She then heard the rustling of papers as he folded them, then heard a drawer open and shut.

"Alright. I've neglected you enough as it is with this work." he took her hand and stood up, "Let's go." her smile returned as she hugged him, standing on her tip toes so she could give him a tender kiss.

"I know a perfect restaurant we can go to."

2 HOURS LATER

The lovers walked arm in arm towards Minako's home, Minako leaning her head to rest on his shoulder. Soon the house came into view and he walked her back up the porch. She turned to him," Well, that was a wonderful dinner." he nodded once, leaning down to take her lips in a kiss, "I guess this is goodnight." he smirked, pinning her against the door.

"I don't have to leave yet. I'm off duty." she giggled as he kissed her once more. Minako fumbled with the doorknob behind her, the door flying open leaving the lovers to stumble inside. Sosuke had Minako back against a wall while his lips ravished over her unclothed skin, soon finding that weak spot on her neck that had her moaning beneath his hard frame.

"Sosuke…" she said breathlessly. He scooped her in his arms and made his way upstairs.

"The bed will be more comfortable." he said into her ear, his warm breath trickling past and making the woman tremble in his arms as he carried her inside the bedroom, his foot shutting the door behind them.

THE NEXT MORNING

Always gone. At least one thing didn't change. Although Minako wouldn't mind if she actually woke up in his arms after a night of amazing sex. Was that so hard to ask? But like always, Minako got up none the less and showered. She suddenly felt extremely nauseas, having to sit down in the shower floor for a moment until the sick feeling passed. She groaned softly, taking deep breaths. She quickly finished her shower and dried off, slipping on her kimono before going to the kitchen. She grabbed a pack of saltine crackers and some soup broth, warming it up for breakfast. That would hopefully settle her stomach. She crushed the crackers and stirred them into the broth, sluggishly eating it until it was gone, "I must be coming down with a cold…" she muttered to herself, "I hope I didn't pass it to Sosuke. He doesn't need to be sick with all the work he's doing…" she put the bowl in the sink and headed out the door, tying her hair back in a low ponytail with her red ribbon. She yawned as she entered Squad Thirteen's barracks, waving at Kiyone as said girl waved from her office. Minako went inside Captain Ukitake's office, "Good morning." she said drowsily. Captain Ukitake looked up and frowned, seeing her condition.

"Minako? Are you alright? You don't look too good." she smiled weakly, nodding slowly.

"I think I just have a cold. You know how those little buggers are. They leave you feeling awful on the first day they attack." he didn't believe her, standing up to put the back of his hand on her forehead.

"Are you sure. It looks like more of a cold." she nodded again, holding a hand up.

"I'm sure. I'll be fine. I've handled worse. Don't worry about me. Have you had your medicine yet?" Captain Ukitake nodded, "Okay, that's good." Captain Ukitake took her wrist, making her look up at him, seeing his serious expression.

"Minako, I order you to go home and rest. You don't look well at all, and you feel like you have a fever." she giggled lightly, smirking.

"Are you the doctor now captain?" she said teasingly, until seeing his serious face not changing. With a sigh, she gave up, "Fine. I'll go home if it puts an ease to your worry." his smile returned.

"That's all I ask. Do you need me to bring you anything? I'd be happy to brew you some tea or make you some chicken soup. It's the least I can do for you letting me stay in your home when I was ill." she shook her head.

"I think I can handle myself. Thank you though. Is there anything I can do here for a few minutes? I hate to just leave without doing anything." tilted his head, glaring playfully at his lieutenant, making her laugh, "Okay okay, I get it." she turned to leave, "I'll see you tomorrow… maybe." with a giggle she left the barracks, heading back to her house.

2 MONTHS LATER

"What do you mean she's being charged as a criminal? She didn't do anything wrong!" Minako followed her captain as he rushed down Squad Thirteen's barracks, "She did it to save that family's lives! How can that be treason?" Captain Ukitake sighed, turning to face his lieutenant.

"I don't know. What matters now is that we get to Central 46 before they give their punishment decree. Byakuya is already there. Hopefully with a noble of high rank such as him can do something to strain their punishment." Minako nodded, her hands nervously playing with the sash on her kimono, "I'm afraid all we can do it wait…"

12 DAYS LATER

"What do you think about this Ryoka invasion Sosuke?" Minako looked outside into the dark sky. Her lover shrugged as he turned to look at her.

"I am not sure Mina. I hope I do not have to fight one of them. I'm not very partial to fighting." she nodded, turning to walk back over to him. She sat down beside him, leaning to his side. She yawned slightly, "Are you tired Minako? You haven't been feeling well lately. Maybe you should head on home." she nodded slowly.

"You're right. I haven't been feeling my best for the past few weeks." she kissed his cheek before standing, "Goodnight." he took her hand and kissed her knuckles.

"Good night." she exited his office, admiring the moon as she walked along the wall less halls. She passed Momo.

"Good evening Momo." Momo smiled and gave a small wave, soon stopping in front of Sosuke's office. Minako yawned again before flash stepping back to her home.

THE NEXT MORNING

Minako paced around nervously. Death… that had been the decision on what to do. They sentenced Rukia to death, for giving her powers to this Ichigo Kurosaki, so he could save his family, because Rukia was injured and couldn't do it herself. And now the same boy was rumored to have broken through the barrier around Soul Society, and was about to attempt to rescue her. Minako was in the bathroom, putting a cap on an object while looking in the mirror, "This isn't right. I have to talk to Captain Ukitake about this…" she looked down at the stick she just placed on the counter, "It can wait until I get back."

"What kind of excuse is that to sentence a person to death? That isn't right captain!" Captain Ukitake nodded while sitting at his desk, his face in the palms on his hands.

"I don't know." he began to cough, holding a towel to his mouth as he coughed blood into it.

"Captain!" Minako said, jumping in to hold the towel to his mouth for him, "Let's move you to the bed." with shaky legs he stood, going into the back room. He laid down on the bed and cleared his throat. Minako quickly got a cool glass of water and took it to him, "Here, drink." he nodded and soon emptied the glass, "Here, let me get you another one." she stood up and quickly went into the bathroom.

"CAPTAIN UKITAKE!" a sudden shriek was heard down the hallway, as well as patters of feet. Kiyone and Sentarou barged in, huffing and puffing as they caught their breaths.

"What…" another cough, "What is it?"

Kiyone's eyes were wide as she held her fist to her chest, "Captain Aizen has been murdered!" Minako's head snapped up as she was leaving the bathroom, her platinum eyes wide.

"What?" Captain Ukitake said in between coughs, "Aizen's been killed?" his coughs returned, though not as bad as before. Minako couldn't breath, her world collapsing around her as the glass slipped from her hand, falling and shattering on the floor. She leaned against the bathroom doorframe, gasping quietly for air as her arms wrapped around her stomach. Minako sank to the floor, tightening her hold on her stomach as she tried to breath. Captain Ukitake, despite his recent attack, leapt up to hold his lieutenant upright.

"Minako? Minako what's wrong?" she ignored him… so many thoughts were spinning in her head. Sosuke…. Her lover…. Was dead… NO! This couldn't be! Minako jumped up and ran to Kiyone, grabbing the papers and reading over them. Tears were brimming in her eyes. She thrust the papers back to Kiyone and ran from the barracks.

"When did this happen?" Captain Ukitake continued. Kiyone and Sentarou repeated the message written on the paper in sync with each other. Without a second thought, Captain Ukitake stood and headed towards the Repentance Cell.

Minako collapsed in her room, her tears blinding her as a hand grasped her bedpost. Sosuke, her Sosuke, was dead! It couldn't be true! It just couldn't! Finally Minako couldn't hold it in. She raised her head, took a deep breath, and screamed, before falling to the floor in helpless wails. In the midst of that, she remembered what was in the bathroom. Her heart filling with fear, she slowly crawled towards her bathroom.

Thirty minutes after Captain Ukitake went to the Repentance Cell, he grew worried after Kiyone said Minako hadn't returned yet. He wanted to make sure she was alright after she had burst out of the office like that. He found the spare key and unlocked the door, slowly going inside, "Minako?" he didn't need a reply. He heard soft sobbing coming from upstairs, "Minako?" he called again as he went up the stairs, heading towards her bedroom. He stopped when he noticed that the sobs grew louder, like they were being echoed. He peeked inside her bedroom door, only to see her ankles and feet. He nodded once, confirming his thought on her being in the bathroom. He walked over to the bathroom to see Minako on the bathroom floor, her face red and stained with new and dry tears. He knelt down beside her, "Minako?" she said gently. Minako turned her head to look at him through bloodshot eyes, "He was you lover, wasn't he?" with a choked sob she nodded, weeping once more. He gathered her shaking form into his arms and he carried her to her bed, gently placing her on the soft mattress. He sat beside her, rubbing a hand on her back as she curled to his side, her right hand holding onto his haori until her knuckles turned white. She buried her face in his clothed stomach.

"Who could have done this? Sosuke… he was too smart to ever be surprised or to have a blind spot… How could someone run him through with his own zanpaku-to?" she asked in a trembling voice. Captain Ukitake cast sad eyes down to his lieutenant as she shook with grief. He moved her to where her cheek was pressed to his chest. Her narrowed eyes widened when she saw the stick on the floor. She scrambled to get it.

"Minako?" she got off the bed and sat on her knees, eyes the white stick. Captain Ukitake knelt down beside her, "What is that?" with a tear streaked face, Minako looked at him.

"….. a pregnancy test…." Captain Ukitake's eyes widened, "The cap covers the results. I can't look." she tightened her hand around it, "I just can't…" with tender hands, Captain Ukitake took the test from her trembling fingers. She turned her head away when he uncapped it.

"Um, Minako…" he said softly. Minako gulped and glanced at the test, her eyes growing wide as she saw the results…

"It's… It- it's…"

+ Pregnant

And there you have it! Aizen's 'dead' and leaves Minako pregnant. What a bastard! *giggles* But please review and tell me what you think!