Sorry for the last chapter! Thanks for the reviews.

Chapter Seven

~Toshiro~

Toshiro sat in Byakuya's office. The thick wooden desk was a few yards from a smaller wooden desk. Byakuya's desk was tall with golden edges. A small pile of papers were stacked with a tiny paper-clip keeping them together.

"Uh, Captain Kuchiki…." He didn't feel like going on. Toshiro felt as though the whole room was frozen in time.

Byakuya stared out the window, but it looked as though he saw nothing. Toshiro saw Byakuya's eyes shift toward him. They locked gazes for several seconds before Toshiro spoke.

"Tell me…"

A heavy sigh escaped through Byakuya's lips. His eyes closed tightly, and his body turned toward Toshiro. He slowly opened his eyes, as though looking threw Toshiro.

"Rukia, she is all I have left of…Hisana. Hisana was my wife, and Rukia's sister."

Toshiro had heard small parts about Hisana from Rukia, but she didn't really go deep into the subject.

"I cared deeply for Hisana. She wasn't a noble, but a peasant. Can you believe that? Just a peasant…" he let the last word trail off, then gave out a small chuckled. "I was a fool to have fallen in love with her. For the first time I pushed aside my pride and the law…

"The second time was to save Rukia. I saved her for one reason. Not because of a promise I had made, but for myself. I knew that if I lost Rukia I would loose Hisana forever"

"Promise?" Toshiro asked, shifting in his seat.

Byakuya started to tell Toshiro on how Hisana searched day and night for Rukia, though her health wasn't good. Byakuya went on to tell him after Hisana's passing that he too searched for on Hisana's last dying wish; and how he promised her he would find and protect Rukia. He even told Toshiro about his second promise of defending the law.

"When did you realize about Rukia and me? When I brought her to your house so often or when she didn't show up that one night?"

"Fool" his voice changed from compassion to cold and harsh. "I've known since the day you guys first met. I could feel that she was at your office, while Lieutenant Matsumoto was in the world of the living. I only kept quiet because I hoped Rukia would show some respect and dump you"

Anger slowly built into Toshiro's mind. "Then why the hell did you agree to send Rukia if you knew that she was Pregnant?" his voice rose higher.

"I agreed because I hoped an "accident" would happen and the baby would die. Do you understand now? I've always been one step ahead of you…even if you don't understand"

"How have you been one step ahead of me?" Toshiro couldn't control his anger anymore.

"The same way you were one step behind me"

~Rukia~

Our swords clashed hard against each other. My arms started to shake swiftly in place. I felt my stomach cramping up as I made these big movements with my arms.

Ichigo smirked as he slid his sword up and down mine.

"You're slow" he said, moving away a few inches.

"Wipe that stupid face off your head" I said, smirking.

Ichigo's face turned into a small grin, and he chuckled slightly.

"You're funny. I've missed that about you" he stepped close to me. We both were sweating tremendously.

"Get back in position" I ordered, getting ready to attack.

Ichigo smirked and we were off once more. We practiced for almost an hour before my stomach was in major pain. Ichigo cocked his head slightly, and walked over to me.

"Don't tell me you're giving up already?" he had his sword pointed at my heart.

"Ichigo…I can't" I had to force those last words out of my mouth.

"Yes you can. Toshiro, Byakuya, and Yamamoto put me in charge. I'm going to keep you in shape. Now get ready to fight"

"I said I can't!" I sat down on a heavy gray limestone rock.

"I don't think so" he swung his sword hard at me. I didn't even try to stop the sword. My eyes shot close, waiting for the pain.

"That's not nice" I looked up at Renji, who held his sword to block Ichigo's.

"This isn't your training, Renji. It's Rukia's"

"If she says she's tired then she WILL take a break" Renji insisted.

Ichigo and Renji dropped their swords, both staring evilly at one another. I could feel the tension between the two. None of this kind of thing happened before she started daring.

"I…" Ichigo started.

"I…" Renji repeated, as if trying to finish his sentence.

"I don't care" his voice was hard and cold. He never really spoke this rough to anyone.

"You filthy son of a bit-"

"Enough!" I yelled, standing to my feet. "That's enough. Ichigo, we are done for today. We will pick up tomorrow morning. Now if you excuse me I need to place a call"

~Toshiro~

"I don't understand!" Toshiro sat in the office of Jushiro Ukitake. After the small insentient Byakuya Kuchiki pulled off earlier that day he didn't have the patient to deal with anyone else. "Why did Byakuya think it would make me want to break up with Rukia? None of this makes sense!" Toshiro was ready to pull out his hair.

"Calm down. I will tell you Rukia's side of the story" Toshiro lifted an eyebrow at Ukitake. "Better yet. I have her diary here. It's only good to read it to gain knowledge, no?" Ukitake showed Toshiro a black and purple book no bigger then an address book.

"I won't read her personal thought!" Toshiro cried out, snatching the book and putting it in his sleeve, so that he could return it back to its rightful place.

"Consider it my boy. I've read it, and there are some seriously deep things in there. Not even, Byakuya himself could understand the pain she goes through"

Toshiro said nothing, and walked off.

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.

.

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Toshiro walked back into his office. He was tired. The day was hard and stressful. He needed some peace and mind. He placed the diary on his desk and sat on the couch. He took a deep breath and relaxed.

No matter how much he tried to sleep the diary kept calling to him. It was like the diary had a mind of its own. Well it wouldn't hurt if he just peeked…. Before he could give it a second thought his cell phone went off. He looked down at the phone and saw that it was Rukia.

He quickly answered but didn't say a word.

"Hello?" her voice was frail and soft.

"Rukia!" he sighed in relief.

"Yes…Toshiro, I don't think that being here is good for my baby. Please bring me back!" her plead was almost a sob.

"I know, I know…tell me what happened"

"It's Ichigo…he is being really rough on me…the baby isn't safe…I think its dying!"

Toshiro's face popped open and he quickly reassured her that everything was fine. After he hung up with her he looked at the diary once more. He NEEDED to know more about Rukia. He needed to know the huge secret that kept both Ukitake and Kuchiki from talking about it.