A/N: Sorry for posting this so late! I was very busy but I didn't want to leave you guys hanging! I waited all week to post this chapter. The past seven days have moved by so slow!
But we're here now, and that's all that matters! Lol!
Disclaimer: Bleach! Yeah, I love Bleach! It just saddens me that I don't own it... Oh well, life goes on.
Star so light and star so bright
First star I see tonight.
Star so light and star so bright
Keep him by side.
Orihime inhaled deeply and grasped Ichigo's hand harder.
His amber eyes connected with her's. He could almost fell how hard her heart was beating. "It's going to be okay," he whispered and smiled. He was scared too.
The heavy door behind them opened, and in walked a scruffy looking man with shaggy, chin-length, blond hair, and a dark green and white striped hat. His white lab coat billowed behind him.
"So, I have your test results back from the lab..." He said as he sat down behind the desk and stacked up the papers that was sprawled around the top.
Orihime bounced up a little in her chair. She was excited and fearful at the same time.
"And? Is it... you know... safe? Are we... in the green?" Orihime scrambled for the right words.
Ichigo placed a hand on his wife's shoulder, calming her. "What she means, is, are we..." Ichigo also looked for the right term, "ah, bountiful?"
The blond haired man hummed to himself. Then he, respectfully, took off his hat, and stared the couple in the eye. "The test results came back negative."
Orihime's heart pumped faster. She brow crumpled in confusion. "Do you mean the bad negative, or the good negative?"
Ichigo was quiet.
"I'm afraid that I mean the bad kind." The man turned towards Ichigo, "We've found out, from the various test, that you have an UI."
Orihime looked at Ichigo for help. He said nothing.
"Wha-what?" Tears threatened to pool over, but she pushed them back. "What does that mean exactly? Please... elaborate. I... I..." Ichigo held her hand again, and squeezed tightly.
"It stands for Unexplained Infertility."
At that word. That one word. Orihime's heart dropped. Infertility. It was the one word that Orihime hoped not to hear.
The tears were still on the verge of falling, but she stayed strong.
"I... I still don't..." Orihime looked over at the bookcase. She couldn't get the words out of her throat.
"Kisuke." Ichigo started. "Could you possibly tell us why?"
Urahara cleared his throat. "I'll just give it to you straight. Separate, both of you could easily conceive. But together," Urahara entwined his fingers to make his point, "with your combined fertility potential, it is large enough to cause the infertility."
Orihime's bottom lip trembled. Her head drooped and she held it in both her hands. "No... Please, no..." she whispered.
"You must remember, that this diagnosis is vague. We are still getting more results from the Department of Research and Development. But right now, having a child is not likely in your future."
Orihime cried out. "Forgive me..." she sobbed. Ichigo leaned over his chair and held her close. She covered her eyes and face from the rest of the room.
Urahara went on. "It's too early to tell, but from what I have in your files," he flipped open the crisp vanilla folder and scanned down the paper. "You could arrange for surrogacy, though very risky, seeing that your eggs won't hold the sperm..."
Ichigo spoke as Orihime continued to cry. "We don't want that. Orihime wants to hold the child in her own body."
"Maybe an IVF could work, but I highly doubt it..."
Orihime stood up. She had enough of this. It all too much to handle.
"Orihime?"
She walked out of the room. The walls were closing in. She heard Ichigo call out behind her but she didn't stir.
Orihime proceeded through the long pale hallway.
She couldn't breath!
The woman rushed to the elevator. She pushed her long burnt-orange hair out of the wet face as the metal box went down the shaft. When the doors slid open, Orihime dashed through the lobby.
How her chest hurt! And she then ran out the revolving glass doors.
Outside the tall, white building, she balled her eyes out. The tears felt endless as the droplets rolled down her cheeks. In seconds, long arms grabbed her into a tight embrace. Ichigo murmured into her hair, telling her that it will be alright,and that they'll find a way.
She grabbed onto his jacket firmly, as her tears soaked his shirt.
"It's not fair!" She screamed into his chest. "Why is this happening to us?"
"Orihime," he whispered back. "I don't know."
"Why is this happening?" Her grip on his jacket became tighter as her finger nails dug into the fabric. "Please! Tell me! Tell me why?"
Ichigo pushed her into his chest closely. "I don't know..."
"Ichigo," she sobbed his name and lifted her face up to him. "Ichigo. Please tell me something you do know..."
Ichigo swiped a loose strand of burnt-orange hair out of her smoky gray eyes. "I know that we'll be alright."
...
Orihime held her stomach protectively.
"I can't be pregnant... I just can't be!"
After Isshin told her, he walked her outside and to his house. The house where Ichigo grew up. Orihime had been here before, but it was always a wonderful feeling being there.
Isshin ran his right hand through his spiky hair again. "It happens."
"But the Doctor Urahara diagnosed us with U-"
"UI. I know."
"That means I can't be." Orihime licked her lips. "How do you know! You didn't even check?"
Isshin drew in a deep breath. "When Masaki was pregnant, she couldn't stand the smell of bacon either." Isshin smiled again and shook his head. "I remember when I made her breakfast... bad idea."
The two sat on the large sofa. Behind them was the kitchen and the staircase. Orihime looked up at him. "What happened?"
"Lets just say that breakfast ended up out the window, and so did I." He laughed at that. It was a big, deep laugh, from the pit of his stomach.
Orihime smiled too. It was rare that she heard stories about Masaki. Ichigo didn't talk about her. In fact, he didn't like to talk about his family at all.
Orihime leaned back on the cushions, and stared back down at her belly. It was flat and normal. "So what happens now?" she whispered.
Isshin stopped laughing. "I'm guess that Ichigo doesn't know."
"Not a clue. He still thinks that I'm sick. Right now, I'm supposed to be at home, lying in bed."
"So that's why you came to me." It wasn't a question, but a statement.
Orihime looked down in shame. All because Ichigo was cold to his family, didn't mean she had to be too.
"It's okay, I understand." It was Isshin's turn to look down. "After Masaki died, Ichigo had to grow up quickly. It was hard, but we all pulled through. We had to." It was quiet for a few seconds, then Isshin's voice lightened. "Just try to visit more. Yuzu and Karin love you so much!"
"That reminds me! How are they?"
"College life has been good to them. Though it does get a little lonely around the house sometimes..."
Orihime looked up and at the man's face. He looked sad and old. Not too old, but the stressful old. He hadn't talked to his son in years. It broke her heart how cruel Ichigo could be.
Isshin jumped up. "But life moves on!" he cheered. "And I have my patients to keep me company!"
Orihime stood up. She still had one hand on her belly.
"And I'm also guessing that you don't plan on telling Ichigo either." Isshin lifted an eyebrow.
Orihime felt small under his scrutinizing gaze. "No, not yet. But it would help if you didn't say anything."
"Don't worry," Isshin smiled a wide and toothy grin, "my lips are sealed."
...
Ichigo placed the phone by his ear. It rung a few times.
"Hi!" A bubbly and out of breath Orihime answered.
Ichigo giggled. "You sound a lot better. So what have you been up to since I've been gone?"
There was rumbling in the background before she answered. "Nothing much. How have things been on your end?"
Ichigo got up and walked around his office. "You know, the usual. Boring paper work. Annoying clients and what not." Ichigo stopped and leaned on his desk. "Just wanted to make sure you're alright."
"I'm doing fine, just fine..." Orihime sounded really distracted.
"Okay, I'm going now."
More rumbling. "Yeah... yeah..." Then she mumbled, "this is so stupid..."
Ichigo squinted his eyes. "What's stupid?"
"Oh, nothing," she laugh halfheartedly. "Just talking to myself."
Ichigo waited a beat. "On second thought, since you're feeling better, why don't you come down and have lunch with me?"
The noise in the back sounded like running water, like from a sink. "Sure! I'd love that!"
"Be down here in 20, okay?"
"Okay..."
"And Orihime," Ichigo smiled. "I love you."
"Uh huh. I love you too..."
Ichigo heard a light click. It wasn't like Orihime to act like that. All distracted and sidetracked.
She was up to something.
And Ichigo had the strongest feeling that he didn't like it.
...
Orihime watched as the shiny wrapped cylinders flew across the room.
The woman jumped off the toilet and scrambled on the ground to grabbed one of the containers. "Hi!" She said into the phone.
She heard Ichigo giggle. "You sound a lot better. So what have you been up to since I've been gone?"
God, those boxes are hard to open, Orihime thought. Orihime heaved herself back onto the toilet. "Nothing much. How have things been on your end?"
"You know, the usual. Boring paper work. Annoying clients and what not." He sighed. "Just wanted to make sure you're alright."
"I'm doing fine, just fine..." She fingered the crisp silver cylinder. It was so inconvenient for Ichigo to call her at this time. Right when she was about to take a pregnancy test.
"Okay, I'm going now."
Slowly, with shaking hands, Orihime ripped open the tiny package. Inside there sat the curvy white stick. "Yeah... yeah..." Orihime said into the phone and stared at the small bar. "This is so stupid..." she mumbled to herself and set the test on the sink counter. Of course Orihime didn't doubt Isshin, it's just that she wanted to be sure for herself.
"What's stupid?"
"Oh, nothing," Orihime laughed nervously. "Just talking to myself."
Ichigo waited a beat. "On second thought, since you're feeling better, why don't you come down and have lunch with me?"
Orihime stood up at the sink and turned the cold water knob and continued to talk into the phone. "Sure! I'd love that!"
"Be here in 20, okay?"
"Okay..."
"And Orihime, I love you."
Orihime quickly turned from the sink, not wanting to look in the mirror. "Uh huh. I love you too..."
Orihime flipped her phone shut and grumbled one more time. She picked up the test again. She brought the damn thing, so she was going to use it.
After Orihime did her business and washed her hands, she waited for the white stick to dry.
The longest two minutes of Orihime's life past, and she took up the stick.
On the small screen, two pink straight lines became visible.
Orihime groaned. She knew she was pregnant, but the test just made it all the more real.
Orihime picked up the rest of the wrapped tests from off the floor. Down stairs, Orihime found a plastic bag, and stuffed all of the tests inside.
Orihime didn't want Ichigo finding anything, so she threw them all out.
"It's all going to be alright." she said out loud. And it was.
Back upstairs, Orihime got dressed and ready for her lunch date with Ichigo.
...
"Orihime." Ichigo whispered. She didn't stir. "Orihime. Orihime!"
Ichigo felt Orihime jumped in his lap. He still had his eyes glued to the screen, but he didn't need to look at her to know that she was looking at him now.
"What has gotten in to you lately?" Ichigo said. Outwardly, Ichigo sounded calm and concerned. But on the inside, anger was brewing. Orihime was acting differently, and he didn't like it.
"I don't know what you mean..."
Ichigo silently snarled. "You get really distracted, and you zone out and get this weird look on your face."
"Oh, really? I wasn't aware..."
"Even the other day, when we went out for lunch, you were acting funny." Ichigo lowered the volume on the television. "If there's something bothering you? You know that you can always talk to me. Right?"
Orihime smiled. "Of course. I wouldn't keep anything from you!"
Ichigo turned his gaze back to the television screen and the sound came back.
He heard her get comfortable, and sigh. He loved it when she sighed. It was like little angels from heaven rung chimes all at once.
The phone buzzed, and Ichigo made to get up and take the call, but Orihime jumped up before him and grabbed the little ringer.
"I got it!"
Ichigo was surprised. He had never seen her move so fast to get a phone call before.
"I'll just be out here..." Orihime scurried out the room and into the hall.
Ichigo squinted his eyes. She was up to something again.
Silently, Ichigo got up from the couch and went to the front hall. In there, another phone sat. He crossed the room to the phone's base. Slowly, Ichigo picked up the wireless device.
Ichigo heard Orihime's voice first.
"I said to call on my cell phone. I don't want to get us caught."
"I'm sorry, I forgot." Ichigo listened as the man cleared his throat. "Ichigo doesn't know?"
"No, he doesn't. And he won't. Not for awhile." There was a few ruffled sounds. "I just need to get a few things straight."
"Your secret is safe with me."
Orihime's voice lightened. "So, what time did you want to see me?"
"Ah, we can meet up tomorrow, at 3:00 at my place."
Ichigo heard just enough. He placed the phone lightly on it's back and crossed the living room, and into the hallway where his wife was.
Orihime turned the corner and walked right into his chest. Ichigo, predicting the future, grabbed her forearm before she could fall.
The man felt his face harden. "Who was that?"
Orihime's large, gray eyes widened. "It was, um... no one."
Ichigo lifted a brow.
"Really! It was no one important!" She tried to move past him, but he stopped her with his strong hands again.
Ichigo bent his neck down and pressed his lips to her lobe. "I love you," he whispered, "and I don't want you to forget that..."
Ichigo squeezed her arm tightly, one more time, then let go.
...
"Orihime. Orihime. Orihime!"
Orihime jumped and looked over at Ichigo who was still looking at the television. She laid on his chest across the couch. "What has gotten in to you lately?"
"I don't know what you mean..." Orihime wasn't even paying attention to what was on the screen. She had been waiting all day for a very important phone call.
"You get really distracted, and you zone out and get this weird look on your face."
"Oh, really? I wasn't aware..."
"Even the other day, when we went out for lunch, you were acting funny." Ichigo lowered the volume on the television. "If there's something bothering you? You know that you can always talk to me. Right?"
Orihime smiled. "Of course. I wouldn't keep anything from you!"
Ichigo turned his gaze back to the television screen and the sound came back.
Orihime snuggled up to Ichigo a little more and sighed. But it was a restless sigh. On the outside, Orihime looked calm, and comfortable in Ichigo's arms. But on the inside, she was screaming and shouting and waiting impatiently for the person to call.
Finally, the phone rung.
"I got it!"
Orihime leapt off of Ichigo and crossed the room for the house phone.
"I'll just be out here..." Orihime scurried out the room and into the hall. She stood in front of the empty wall where the long mirror once resided.
"Hey!" Orihime said into the phone. "Thanks for making time for me."
"Thanks for calling in the first place." Urahara said back.
"I said to call on my cell phone. I don't want to get us caught."
"I'm sorry, I forgot." The Urahara cleared his throat. "Ichigo doesn't know?"
"No, he doesn't. And he won't. Not for awhile." Orihime leaned her back on the wall and held her head. "I just need to get a few things straight."
"Your secret is safe with me."
"So, what time did you want to see me?"
"Ah, we can meet up tomorrow, at 3:00 at my place."
"Okay, that's perfect! And," Orihime bit her lip, "thank you."
Urahara chuckled. "No problem! I'm always happy to help a family friend."
The line died, and Orihime pushed off of the wall. Everything was in place, just the way she wanted it to be.
Orihime turned the corner and bumped into something flat and hard.
Ichigo's strong hands balanced her. She smiled and gazed up at him, but the look on his face made her happiness die.
"Who was that?" Ichigo's face was stony and stoic.
Orihime's eyes widened in fear. He only gave this face when he was really upset. "It was, um... no one."
Ichigo lifted a brow.
"Really! It was no one important!" Orihime tried to slip past him, and into the living room, but a firm hand on her forearm stopped her.
Ichigo bent his neck down and she felt his lips lightly brush her lobe. "I love you," he whispered, "and I don't want you to forget that..."
Ichigo squeezed her arm tightly, one more time, then let go.
...
Ichigo traced the skin on his wife's wrist. The night she came home, there were bruises there. There was also bruises along her hips and legs, down to her ankles. He noticed them after they made love. At first it angered him. Someone had put their hands on Orihime. His Orihime. But the next reaction, surprisingly, was a tranquil type feeling. Not exactly calm, but satisfied? He told himself that she'd tell him what happened when she was ready. And that was enough for him. For now.
Orihime mumbled and stirred a little bringing him back to the present.
She slept silently on the couch. Ichigo looked down at her sleeping form. She was only on the phone not ten minutes ago, and now she was asleep on top of him.
It was quite amusing.
The way her lips made a little O and how she murmured and cooed. Ichigo smiled. She was so adorable.
This didn't change the fact that Orihime was hiding something from him. From the information he gathered from Orihime's secret conversation. She was going to meet up with someone at 3:00 tomorrow. With a man.
Ichigo snarled out loud. She shouldn't be meeting up with anyone, anywhere. Especially with a man.
Not wanting to wake the sleeping form under him, Ichigo slipped his body from under Orihime. He laid her softly, longwise, on the couch. With steady hands, Ichigo pulled her cell phone out of her back pocket.
If Orihime was calling people privately, then the call history would surely come up in the archives.
Ichigo flipped through the contents until he found what he was looking for.
A man had called her. Or more accurately, she called him.
And now, Ichigo had to find out why.
...
Ichigo walked down the familiar sidewalk.
The man smirked. He remembered when he rode his bike down that rode, and over there where he got into a fight with one of the neighborhood kids. And there, where he saved Yuzu from a dog.
Some things you could never forget, no matter how hard you tried.
Ichigo finally stood in front of the building. It looked the same. It still had the same old green roof, and blue clinic sign.
The man sighed. He hoped that he would never come here again. But here he was, back at the house where he grew up. But Orihime came here and he needed to find out why.
Taking a deep breath, Ichigo walked up to the building, and knock on the house door three times.
When it opened, a man with spiky black hair stood as big as the door frame.
Ichigo started first. "Hello... dad."
The man did not smile. "Hello. Son."
Ugh! I know! This is a filler chapter! And I hate filler chapters! But they have to be done.
Anyway, we are coming down to the nitty gritty, and I love it! Since this is a filler chapter, I decided to make a poll to keep you guys preoccupied. Who do you think is the father to Orihime's child? The options are either Ichigo or Aizen. The poll is on my profile. And if you don't have a profile, then you could vote in a review!
The next chapter (and I promise!) will be what everyone is waiting for! So get ready!
Thanks again to everyone who has ever read this story!
Rocka.