A/N: Sorry for the lateness!! Dedicated for those who wait for this update patiently and who reviewed it!
Enjoy the Seventh Chapter of Truth?... Don't forget to review!
"She's dying... The cancer cells are spreading and there is nothing we can do to prevent this," the words were like tiny knives stabbed his heart.
"But... How can this happen? And the baby? Will he survive?" Ichigo blurted a torrent of questions.
Dr. Nakashima sighed. "It looks like some sort of relapse. Maybe she had a cancer before. I don't know about the baby. It is all depends on the mother. If she has a strong will, the chance for her baby to survive until birth probably high. But, if the cancer cells has spread to her vital organs by that time, the chance will be low. The baby might die with his mother..." she explained as she looked through the blood test report of Miu Ishikawa.
"Dr. Kurosaki, have you call her husband?" The question was answered by a shook.
"She's dying, Kurosaki-san. I think you better call him quick!" and Ichigo nodded.
"Can I tell her about this?" Ichigo asked. Miu was ill. Extremely ill. And how will she react to this painful news that could take her and the baby's life any time?
"I think it's better for you to tell her... Just make sure that she has her husband with her all the time. She needs support from the loved ones."
Ichigo nodded.
"I think that's all..." Dr Nakashima looked at the clock, it was time for another round of checkups.
Ichigo nodded again and got on his feet. "And Dr. Kurosaki... Don't forget about your wife," added the female doctor. "Okay," he barely cared of what the doctor had just said. Everything he thought at that time was about Miu.
---
Rukia looked at Ryuu and tears started forming inside her eyes. Her baby looked barely alive with wires and tubes around his tiny body.
"Rukia, don't worry about him... He's going to be just fine," said Byakuya, squeezing her shoulder.
"But... look at him. He can't even breathe for himself. I can't even help him... I feel so hopeless!" replied Rukia, now crying.
"Don't worry, okay. He's a strong baby," he repeated. Rukia gave a slight nod. She knew that her brother was right but then, how could she overcome this sadness? Seeing her son like that, she could never hold back the sadness and to make the matter worse, Ichigo wasn't there beside her, when she needed him the most.
"Can you leave me? I want to be with him alone..." and Byakuya stepped out from the NICU.
Rukia slowly caressed the skin of Ryuu. It felt... different. And due to the touched from his mother, Ryuu suddenly moved his tiny hand. A respond of some sort for his mother. Rukia smiled. Then, she continued stroking his body. He moved his limbs and somehow, she saw his little lips curved slightly, as if he was smiling. Rukia smiled.
Then, the baby clutched her finger. Tightly.
"Hey Ryuu. How are you today?" she asked. The baby wiggled his mother's finger. She smiled and the 'conversation' between both mummy and baby continued for almost an hour.
"Rukia, it's time for lunch and your medicine. Let's go back to your ward, okay?" said Byakuya, who suddenly appeared behind her. Rukia nodded.
"Hey Ryuu, mummy needs to go now..." after she finished her sentence, the baby released her finger. Rukia gave him a finally gentle stroke. She kissed his forehead. "I'll see you again, tomorrow, okay?" then she looked at him for the last time for that day before Byakuya shoved her wheelchair out of the NICU and toward her ward.
---
As they moved along the corridor, Rukia spotted several nurses that she had known for the past few days staying there. She smiled and greeted them happily. When they reached a ward, while waiting for the workers to pull a food trolley around the long-stretching level of wards, she heard a familiar voice. It was Ichigo's. But it wasn't her ward. 'No, definitely not' as she looked at the ward number and its occupant. It said: 1400, Ishikawa Miu.
She didn't recognise the name and the patient inside couldn't be Ichigo's since he wasn't in-charge of pregnant women or babies. The door to the ward was ajar. Rukia glanced quickly at her brother; he was looking away. Then, she peeked inside.
She was right. It was Ichigo's voice and he was with that woman! The pregnant woman that she saw at the park. The one that was pregnant his baby!
'Her name is Miu...' thought Rukia. She tried to remember if they ever met, before she saw them at the park. Nope. As Rukia looked inside, her heart broke. Ichigo kissed her! Well, not on the lips though, it was a kiss on her forehead, but he kissed her! When Ichigo sat, Rukia saw that both looked sorrowful. Miu was crying as she held onto her bulged stomach.
Ichigo, then, soothed her, caressing her back. He murmured about something and Miu nodded. Ichigo swept her tears. He took her free hand and place kisses on it. He looked so concerned, worried about her. Something that she never see before. Emotions that were impossible for the Kurosaki Ichigo she knew.
Tears started to roll down her face.
'How could he do this to me? Why? Am I not good enough? What did I do wrong?' Rukia tried to think of anything that could upset Ichigo till he decided to have another relationship with another woman.
She tried to stop the tears but they kept falling, like a bursting dam. Then, her thought recalled back about their son. Did he care about Ryuu, who was still sick? Who still couldn't breathe properly yet? He didn't even care! He didn't bring her to see him. Her brother had to take his place to bring Rukia to the NICU. If it wasn't for Byakuya, she probably still wouldn't have meet Ryuu yet.
Suddenly, she felt the wheelchair move. She swept away her tears, trying to hide them from her brother. But the current 6th Division Captain noticed.
"Are you okay?" he asked as he bent down to level with her. Rukia nodded.
"I know you better Rukia. Don't try to hide it from me. Tell me what's wrong," he sounded concerned. Well, she was his family!
And Rukia, as you know, being stubborn. She shook her head, "Nothing."
Byakuya sighed. Damn! What could he do? She was one hard-head woman, just like him. As he stood up, his gaze felt on the orange hair colour that could draw anyone's attention. He looked closely. Yup, he was his brother in-law. His blood boiled.
"I'll kill him!" Before he could ever make a step toward Ichigo, Rukia already pulled his sleeves, shaking her head.
"No! Let him be. I just want to go back..." she said. Her voice filled with sadness. Tears still falling from her midnight eyes.
"But you can't just let him go!" he whispered.
"I just want to go back. Please."
---
Ichigo told her, about the relapse, the chance for the baby and everything. And, like he had assumed, Miu cried. Hard. She couldn't believe it. The cancer that she had years ago had came back. She had the cancer when she was studying in a university, where she fell in love with that carrot-top Kurosaki. At that time, she didn't tell anyone, not even her best friend. But why now? Why did it happen back now? Why? Why couldn't it wait at least until she gives birth?
"If I die, I want you to take care of the baby. Please love the baby as much as you love me," said Miu. She swept away the tears. She must be strong, for the sake of her baby.
"I will. Don't worry," he replied. His heart was aching to hear her sorrowful voice. If only he could do anything to help her. But, what could a mere human being like him do? Other than crying, feeling sorry and praying, there was nothing that he could do to change Miu's fate.
"I'm sorry that I couldn't do anything about this..." he murmured. Somehow, the words had brought a sad smile on her face.
"Ichigo, I'm very thankful that I'd met you. You thought me everything about love. And we have to accept the fate that had been assigned for us. No matter if it is good or bad. For me, I have the greatest life that one could ever wish to have. Knowing you was a part of it," said Miu, smiling sadly.
By hearing those words, Ichigo cried. He was about to lose someone that he loved.
"One more thing, I really want to meet him before I die..." continued Miu. Ichigo only nodded.
"But promise me something. I want you to say goodbye before you go. Or at least, wait for him. I don't want him to suffer," Ichigo said. His voice was shaking.
"I promise..."
"I love you Miu," Ichigo whispered, squeezing her pale hand.
"Love you too" she replied.
A/N: You probably want this Miu person to die right? Don't worry about it. She'll die upon readers' requests! For those who want Ryuu (IchiRuki's baby) to die, hell no! I love kids~ haha
Anyway how was it? Want to continue? Please review~