I Promise You

Chapter 10

Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.

Guest - Thank you! I've tried to make Momo a little more...I don't know...nicer in this story. Yes, a bit cheesy I have to admit, but it gets the work done! Thank you for all the encouragement!

"What do you want?"

Senna bit her lip nervously for a second before quickly steeling herself. She stared Ichigo straight in the eyes. "We need to talk."

Orihime had been pushing and encouraging Senna all week to tell Ichigo about her pregnancy. The week had flown by much quicker than Senna expected. Her job was only made harder because Ichigo avoided her like the plague. It hurt so much to see that he wouldn't even spare her a measly glance.

"Aren't we talking right now?" Ichigo spat.

Ichigo's attitude was starting to rub Senna the wrong way and she was suddenly fighting to keep herself calm. "In a more private place, Ichigo."

Ichigo let out a loud sigh as he ran a hand through his hair. He looked at Senna with tired eyes. He didn't know how long he could keep up this act with Rukia. "Fine." He looked around nervously in their workplace. It was the early evening, but most everyone had gone home. Rukia had left early saying she had something to do.

"Thank you," Senna said in relief. Her shoulders immediately drooped, all her pent up tension being released with her words.

"Wow, I feel like I've been out of the loop!" whined Rangiku.

Orihime laughed a little. "Yeah, you've missed some things." She looked away to hide her expression.

Rukia pouted at her two friends. "Come on you guys, I really need to pick out an outfit!"

Rukia, once leaving work, headed straight home to raid her closet. She and Toshiro had planned to meet tomorrow and she was suddenly haunted by the thought that she needed to look good that night. Rukia called Orihime and Rangiku over to help her with her little conundrum.

Rangiku smirked. "I don't understand Rukia. Who is this mystery friend?"

Rukia slightly blushed. "H-He's just a friend Rangiku-san, nothing more."

Rangiku's smirk widened. "And Ichigo? Did he agree with this?"

"I really don't think that this concerns him," Rukia replied sharply. Her eyes had suddenly darkened and her facial expression hardened. "It's just a meeting with a friend."

Rangiku held up her hands while saying, "Alright, alright."

All three girls looked up when they heard knocking.

"Ah, I'll be right back," Rukia said as she headed out the door.

Once Rukia was gone, Orihime gave Rangiku a hard look.

"What?"

Orihime suddenly sighed. "You really have been out of the loop, Rangiku-san."

Rangiku furrowed her brow in confusion. "Is there something wrong between Rukia and Ichigo?"

Orihime looked at the ground. "Um…yes. There is something wrong."

Before Orihime could say anything more, Rukia walked back into the room.

"Eh, what's with the faces? Did you guys have a fight while I was gone?" Rukia jokingly asked while putting her hands on her hips.

Orihime laughed. "No, we were just bored."

Rukia raised an eyebrow. "Uh huh. Well I'll be right back, my neighbor needs help with something."

Rangiku nodded. "That's fine, we'll just pick out some outfits for you." She gave Rukia a suggestive smile.

Rukia blushed and threw Rangiku an embarrassed look before hurrying out of the room.

"You were saying, Orhime?" Rangiku asked as she heard Rukia leave the apartment. She crossed her legs and leaned forward expectantly.

"Look, I'm just trying to ease Rukia out of her relationship with Ichigo," Orihime said bluntly. She immediately looked guilty after saying those words and covered her face.

Rangiku frowned. "What are you saying? Is Ichigo cheating or something?"

Orihime bit her lip. "You…well yes. He did something that ended up having a lot of consequences."

"Spit it out. We're both Rukia's friends here," Rangiku spat, obviously annoyed.

"Senna's pregnant!" blurted Orihime. Tears started to fill her eyes. "Ichigo slept with Senna on the night of your party. Obviously they didn't use any protection."

Rangiku's eyes widened. "I…I had no idea. I thought things would be okay." She immediately thought back to when Rukia had told Ichigo to take Senna home. She had trusted him. Her eyes lit up in realization. "This explains why he's been so weird lately with Rukia."

Orihime nodded. "But tonight Senna should be telling him."

"What about Rukia?" Rangiku asked angrily. "Has anyone told her?"

"No, she doesn't need something else to worry about right now," Orihime muttered.

"Are you kidding?" Rangiku inquired while standing up. "That's her boyfriend and her bestfriend!"

Orihime remained silent and was not meeting Rangiku's eyes.

"Well I'm telling her," Rangiku said, causing Orihime to look at her. "She deserves to know."

Orihime stood and quickly grabbed Rangiku's arm. "No! You can't!"

"Why not?"

"Senna is planning on telling her…tonight," Orihime stated.

Rangiku looked taken aback. "But you said Senna was telling Ichigo…she's telling both!?"

"We're here," Ichigo said as he walked into his apartment and threw his jacket on the couch. He looked back at Senna. "What do you want to tell me?"

Senna looked nervously around. The walls, the furniture, everything reminded her of what they did that night. She was disgusted with herself. Senna walked further into the room and stood awkwardly next to the wall. She was too uncomfortable to sit down.

"Senna," Ichigo called out in a gruff voice. Now that they were alone, Ichigo felt more inclined to be nice to her. He walked over and put both of his hands on her shoulders. She looked up at him with tears falling from her eyes. Shock filled him. "W-Why are you crying?"

Senna hurriedly wiped away her tears and brushed off Ichigo's hands. She didn't register the pain in his eyes at her actions. She turned away so that her back faced him. "Look Ichigo, okay, this isn't all that fun for me too."

"What are you talking about?" Ichigo asked. He folded his arms and stared at the back of her head.

"Ichigo," Senna choked out. Her shoulders had begun to tremble. She might as well get this over with. "I'm pregnant."

Ichigo just stood there for a few seconds, dumbfounded. It wasn't until Senna started rushing towards his door that he found his voice. "Senna!"

He closed the door as Senna opened it and trapped her against it. Tears poured down her face and sobs wrecked her body. He quickly pulled her into a tight hug.

"I-Ichigo," started Senna.

He comfortingly rubbed the back of her head. "Shhh, no I'm sorry." He held her tighter. "I'm so sorry Senna. I honestly had no idea."

Senna pulled away a little to look up at his face. "Rukia is coming over."

Ichigo's eyes widened. "What, why?"

"We have to tell her," Senna said through choked out sobs.

Ichigo's face hardened. He stared at the door behind Senna. His arms around her were loose.

"I love you."

Ichigo's head cleared itself at those words. He looked down but Senna refused to meet his gaze. She was still crying. He gently took her chin and lifted her head up so he could see her face. "Say it again."

Senna looked surprised. "I-I love y-you, Ichigo."

Ichigo couldn't help himself, he leaned down and gently captured Senna's lips. It was a short chaste kiss, but its meaning was hard to ignore. "I love you too."

Rukia looked at her phone suspiciously. I thought we agreed that I was busy today, Rukia thought. Ichigo better have something important to tell her.

"Hey, make yourselves comfortable! I'll be gone for a while!" Rukia shouted into her apartment. After waiting to hear her friends' acknowledgement, Rukia closed the door and began leaving her apartment complex.

She stepped out of the building and shivered as the cool night breeze welcomed her. Rukia pulled her light purple jacket around her a bit tighter. She put one foot into the street and hailed down a taxi. I'll try to make this as quick as possible.

"Are you sure? I don't want you to feel like you have to do this," Senna whispered quietly.

Ichigo pulled her closer and placed his head on top of hers. They were comfortably sitting on the couch though their nerves spoke otherwise. "I am sure."

Senna pulled away. "I don't understand though, how could you lo-"

Knock! Knock!

The pair jumped apart and Ichigo awkwardly rubbed the back of his head. He got up when he heard more knocking. "Coming!"

Senna sat deadly still. Her mind was frozen as she stared blankly at the space in front of her. Fear masked her face and she flinched when she heard the door open.

Rukia stared up at Ichigo, annoyance written all over her face. "What is this about?"

Ichigo felt obliged to greet her with a hug like he always did, but this time he just slowly stepped aside. "Please sit down, we uh need to talk."

Rukia looked at him as if he had lost his marbles. Even she was expecting him to give her a hug. Rukia walked on in nonetheless, but she stopped cold in her tracks when she spotted Senna. Ichigo came up from behind Rukia and gave her a friendly push to sit down before doing so himself. Rukia slightly shook her head. Her body moved itself to take a seat.

Rukia looked hard at both her boyfriend and her best friend. She felt pit form in her stomach as she recalled what she had heard the other day. "Is there something you two want to tell me?"

Both Senna and Ichigo looked at each other. Ichigo nodded and Senna turned back to Rukia.

"Rukia, I…" began Senna. "I'M SO SORRY!" She burst into tears after her exclamation.

Rukia was immediately by her side. "What? What are you sorry for?" Rukia asked in a hushed voice as she comforted her friend.

Ichigo looked on awkwardly. He stared at the two most important women in his life, yet he found that he could only love one of the raven-heads. Frowning, he slowly shook his head.

Senna looked at Rukia through teary eyes. "Rukia, I'm pregnant…with Ichigo's child."

Rukia froze. Suddenly everything she saw came crashing down before her. Her heart felt crushed and she let her arms drop from Senna. So it was true. Tears welled up in her eyes as well, but anger dominated any sadness she had. Rukia abruptly stood up causing Senna to fall back a bit. Rukia glared down at her friend. "You…how could you?"

Senna got on her knees. "No you-"

"And you! I trusted you!" Rukia spat out at Ichigo as she turned sharply to face him.

Ichigo flinched. "Rukia I-"

"SHUT UP!" Rukia yelled.

Her tears had finally spilled over. She hurriedly backed away from either of them. Senna was a sobbing mess, but Rukia could not feel any sympathy.

"How could both of you keep this from me?" Rukia continued. "And Orihime, did she know too?" Rukia looked at Senna who dropped her gaze. Ichigo just stood with wide, shocked eyes when Rukia glared at him. Rukia laughed crazily. "What? Did everyone know except for me?" She placed a hand to her chest and looked up towards the ceiling. "You guys aren't my friends if you've been hiding this disgusting fact for so long."

Upon hearing this, Senna shot to Rukia's feet. "No, please Rukia!" Senna begged.

Rukia pushed Senna away with indifference. "I hate you." She walked towards the door. "I hate all of you."

Ichigo broke his silence. "You are being unreasonable, Rukia."

Rukia laughed again as she opened up the door. "And you are an asshole." With that said, Rukia left and slammed the door on her now ex-friend and ex-boyfriend.

Orihime and Rangiku decided to leave Rukia's apartment. After waiting for a while, both came to the conclusion that Rukia would be staying over at Ichigo's. Hopefully everything went over well.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Rangiku murmured as she and Orihime exited the building.

"Don't, I'm sure everything will be fine," Orihime assured. "We'll talk to Rukia tomorrow."

Rangiku nodded and waved good-bye as the two parted ways.

Rukia sat under a tree. She had buried her head in her arms and was in the fetal position. Rukia had no idea where she was, she only knew that she was away from everyone. As she sat alone in broken-heartedness, she wished someone else would come along to comfort her.

Rukia found herself wishing for Toshiro.

Meh...not too happy with this chapter.

But, please leave a review and thank you for taking the time to read this!

I'm sorry for the late update, but I've been very busy with school and what not.

Anyway, I think I'll be wrapping up this story pretty soon...

Thanks for all the support!

Adieu!

-Shiragiku