Chapter Six
My brother's reaction was by far the most pleasurable.
"Ichigo, you horny pervert!" His dad shouted, kicking in his face. "My apologies, Ms. Kuchiki, it seems my DISGRACEFUL son can't keep it in his pants."
Ishida flushed crimson. "Well um, I'm very happy for you, I guess." He straightened his glasses on his face. There was awkward silence before he ran off, averting my gaze.
"RUKIA CHAN!!!" Kon was hysterical. "Oh, wait! Does this mean your boobs will –" At that, I punched that little bastard in the face. He sobbed as he fell to the ground through the window.
"How unbeautiful," Yumichika stated with his neutral tone. "Those bulges will be so noticeably hideous. AND STRECHMARKS!" He walked away, probably to his boyfriend's house (a/n Possible yaoi, if anyone wants a shot at it. ).
But I wasn't prepared for the reaction Renji had planned. I knew I should probably come alone, so he wouldn't feel awkward around Ichigo. Those boasting idiots. I stood in front of his house, afraid to run, afraid to enter.
But he heard me, and answered the door, surprised at his visitor. "Rukia! When did you get to the Soul Society?" He invited me in and offered a chair. "So what brings you hear?"
"Renji. I know that you like, or may love me. I can help it though. Ichigo has stolen my heart, making it impossible to give it to you." I breathed deeply before continuing. "We are now engaged, and I'm pregnant."
I looked up, not wanting to see, but having to see. He sat there, across from me, with a blank face. He nor blinked or took a breath. "Renji?" Tears started to flow down my cheeks. I threw myself at him. "Oh Renji! You know I love you, and I know you love me, but this can't happen! We can't let this tear us apart! I need you, more than you could ever know!" We sat there in silence for a long moment, before he moved his arms around my back.
He picked up my face and smiled. "Nothing could ever stop my love for you." He kissed my forehead and helped me up. I ran out, a trail of tears following me.
I had never been so confused before. It was if as my spirit ribbon's edges had frayed, pulling me apart.
I returned from my flashback, and stroked my stomach, now noticeably larger, maybe even too big for someone only this far. I was around six months now, and I had started to become very attached to it. We had no idea of the gender, though Ichigo still thought it was a boy and I KNEW it was a girl. It was my pre-mother intuition.
"Rukia! Come back to earth, why don't you? We still have your homework to catch up on!" Orihime's voice intruded my thoughts. She had brought my class work to me everyday, ever since she found out.
"Why must I do this? I don't even think I'll be going to school anymore, anyway." I was groggy and crabby. It might have something to do with my "weight gain". And regrettably, Kon was right; my chest had gotten bigger. Not like Orihime, but nonetheless, bigger.
A sudden sharp pain reached my hip and I screamed, startling Inoue. "Is he coming?" she started to panic, even trying to get me to stand and get to a car.
"No, AH! I think it's kicking." I motioned her to come closer, and she too, could feel the kicks. "Oh, you're a feisty one, just like your father." We giggled as my baby settled down. "Orihime, I have a question I've wanted to ask you for a while now."
She looked up from her fixed gaze, suddenly attentive. I had been pondering this thought for a while now, and even though Ichigo should have been part of the decision, I decided that I could do this without him.
"I want you to be the godmother. Do you –" I couldn't finish as she knocked me over squealing.
"Oh! I'd love to! Thank you so much!" She was hysterical, in a good way. Jowever, she was crushing me. Ichigo walked in, probably wondering why there was girl squealing.
"Inoue! Don't kill my kid, alright? And I'd prefer Rukia was still alive, too." She suddenly blushed, and I could see why. Ichigo, just getting out of bed, was not wearing any clothes. She blushed and turned away as he realized why. He ran out, and I turned to Inoue, as her blush started to fade.
"I'm a terrible person!" She cried. "I know guys are married and having a kid, but I can't help it! I still love him!" I comforted her, as she had done when I first told her. I felt a sense of irony as I let her pull herself together and leave.
For the first time, I considered my skill as a mother. I didn't know much, not growing up with parents. I was abandoned by Hisana, but I have completely forgiven her long ago. Oh, but how would I manage as a mother? I laid down on the couch and feel into a deep sleep.
Hisana, what would you do?
(a/n This is where it gets good.)
"Rukia. Wake up," I opened my eyes to see Ichigo, already dressed. Looking at my surroundings, I realized I was in Ichigo's room, but I couldn't remember getting up and walking into his bed. "That kid sure makes it hard to carry you around." He smiled for a moment, then seriousness set back into his face. "There's something important that we need to do. Please, get up, Kisuke is expecting us."
"Kay," My automatic reply came easy, as that was how I had been answering Ichigo lately. I stood up, almost forgetting that I was much heavier now. Stumbling, I reached the shower and turned it on. The steam had always relaxed me, now more than ever.
"You ready yet? Damn, you can be slow," an irritated Ichigo complained. I gave him a look and then went back to getting ready. Then, I remembered he hadn't told me where we were going or why. Making a hasty decision, I didn't ask him. Ichigo seemed tense enough.
"Kuchiki, Kurosaki. We didn't want to wait any longer, so we decided to come here," I heard Ishida from the door. You mean I got dressed for nothing? Shaking off the rude thought, I went to greet him, and the others, who I knew would be there also. We all sat down as Kisuke pulled out his fan, probably for no reason.
"You and that goddamn fan," Ichigo muttered softly. It was wise not to ask him, he was in such a terrible mood.
"Okay," Urahara started. "Let's get down to business. Now, I called you all here for some bad news." Gulp. Was it about me? My baby? "They're back. The bounto."
My heart fell. Impossible! I watched as Ichigo had slain Kariya. He had turned to dust as he spoke. He had caused us trouble for so long.
And to tell the truth, I didn't want Ichigo being a soul reaper anymore. I mean, he was really good, and on some occasions saved us all, but I felt that something bad was going to happen. I remembered my dream. The one no one knew about. The one where I had found Ichigo, dead.
"Well, I'm going after him." Ichigo stood as my head screamed.
He couldn't leave.
Not now.
