Hey everyone! Thanks for waiting for the next chapter. As always, thanks for the reviews and adding this to your favorites and alerts. Also a special thanks to one reader for adding this story to their community which I am honored. I rarely see those. Well, I hope that you will enjoy the next chapter.

Chapter 14: The Hardest Sacrifice:

Not too far away from squad six headquarters, Ichigo, Yoruichi, Uryu, and Chad were running on the streets searching for any signs of where Rukia and Neko could be. As they were running, suddenly, Yoruichi had sensed a familiar spiritual pressure. She stopped, staring over which had caused the others to halt. When Ichigo, Uryu, and Chad had stopped, they realized that they were in front of where a mansion was stationed. After staring at the huge place, Ichigo's eyes had shifted over to Yoruichi, curiously."Yoruichi?"

Yoruichi had jumped over the wall and sneaked onto the ground. There was no one around to catch her neither could she sense anyone else's spiritual pressure at the moment. She relaxed a little but was still on her guard. She glimpsed around intensely as she began walking over toward the house. Ichigo, Uryu, and Chad had jumped over the wall as well and followed her. They stopped in front of the mansion. Yoruichi glanced back at them. "Hold on." She wanted them to wait while she had gone in first. She slid the door open and advanced in.

They weren't sure why Yoruichi had stopped them but they had respected her wishes to wait. Uryu looked back toward Ichigo and Chad. "Maybe she found them."Ichigo, Uryu, and Chad waited a few more seconds before following behind her. Inside, Yoruichi had started fighting against the soul reapers that were in there. Ichigo, Uryu, and Chad helped out until all the soul reapers were knocked down and out.

Then, Yoruichi rushed over into a bedroom where she had sense the spiritual pressure. She slid the door open to see Neko along with two other soul reapers. The soul reapers looked surprised at first that she had got in but then rushed to attack her. Yoruichi knocked them down instantly. Afterwards, she turned her attention to Neko who was sitting on the edge of the bed, crying with the back of her hands to her eyes. Yoruichi smiled gently as she bent down in front of Neko. She could hear her sobs, being nearby. "Neko." she whispered. Her motherly instants had taken over.

Neko cried a little more before she hurried into over and wrapped her arms around her mother's neck. In return, Yoruichi had wrapped her arms around Neko as tight as she could. She closed her eyes, relieved that she got Neko back. Ichigo, Uryu, and Chad walked in to catch the scene. They couldn't help but smile because of the reunion. Yoruichi picked up Neko in her arms. "Were you scared?" she asked tenderly.

Yoruichi could feel Neko nod against her shoulder. Neko's tears had stopped falling but she kept her eyes closed tight. Yoruichi pulled Neko from her and looked into her big yellow eyes once she opened them. She smiled soothingly. "Everything's okay now. I'm taking you back home."

Neko wiped one of her eyes with her index finger. "Is daddy here too?"

Yoruichi shook her head with her eyes closed. She knew that Neko would be a little disappointed that he didn't come but would be happy once she saw him again at home. "No. He had to watch your little brother but he wanted to come. He's going to be so happy to see you again. Now I want you to tell me something." Neko pouted still sad but she was listening. "Can you tell me where Mrs. Kurosaki is?"

Everyone had waited anxiously to hear her answer. Then, Neko closed her eyes tensely. Quickly, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her mother's neck, letting more tears far. "I'm sorry!" Everyone was stunned by her reaction. "They took her away! She got really sick and they took me away from her!"

Ichigo had started to get concerned. Yoruichi had turned around to Ichigo and the others. She had given them a serious looks. "Listen. I'm going to go ahead and head back. I need to get Neko out of here soon. Think you can get Rukia without me?"

Ichigo smiled. He understood. "Yeah."

Yoruichi walked out of the room and then ran off, heading back to the World of the Living. Ichigo looked toward Uryu and Chad. "I guess we still have to find Rukia on own on."

Uryu put his hand to his chin, thinking. "It's weird that no one else is around but a few soul reapers."

Ichigo didn't see it as anything to worry about. He was anxious just to get Rukia back. "So? Let's just go find her." He took off and Uryu and Chad followed him out of the room.

On the execution ground, Rukia was waiting with all the other captains and lieutenants. She was staring up toward the sky. Along with them, they were still waiting for Ichigo to show up. She hoped deep inside of her that he wouldn't come. Byakuya glanced over toward Rukia to see how concerned she looked. He could see in her eyes, that she was very worried about Ichigo.

Suddenly, everyone had lifted their heads up. They could feel that something was flying rapidly toward them, pulsating. Rukia closed her eyes sensing the same pressure as the others. Her head lowered as she closed her eyes. She could tell who it was. She just wished that it wasn't…him.

"Rukia!" Ichigo flew down toward her as fast as he could. He had noticed all the captains and lieutenants around. He thought maybe he could grab her fast enough so that he wouldn't have to fight all of them.

"Stop him!" Head Captain Yamamoto ordered them. Instantly, everyone had shot attacks toward Ichigo from their zanpakutos. He had spun, dodging some of them. One attack had seemed to hit him and the rest of them had followed. Soon, Ichigo was surrounded in smoke from the explosion.

Rukia looked worried, wondering if he was okay. She held her hands together as she stared toward the sky, hoping. Soon the smoke had disappeared. Ichigo held his zanpakuto in his hands with a merciless look on her face. He had used his zanpakuto to block and cancel out all the attack. After all these years, they could see that Ichigo was as strong as ever.

Head Captain Yamamoto leaned onto his wooden staff as he looked up at the soul reaper in the sky. "Ichigo Kurosaki. We suggest that you leave now."

Ichigo placed his zanpakuto at his side. He wasn't intending on attacking them yet as much as he wanted to. "I'll go but Rukia comes with me."

Rukia continued to look worried but she was touched by what Ichigo said and had come to her rescue despite her all ready knowing. "Rukia Kuchiki is back in the soul society awaiting execution." Head Captain Yamamoto continued.

Ichigo growled a little under his breath. "Not this again." he muttered. He got upset and began yelling. "You guys still can't let it go! You've been looking for her for eleven years for not coming back! It's pretty pathetic! You guys don't have anything better to do?"

Head Captain Yamamoto had started to get furious by Ichigo's disrespect. He slammed his stick down on the ground. "Rukia Kuchiki will stay here until her execution!" he stated firmly.

Rukia held her head down. Her bangs had covered her eyes as she held her hands out together in front of her. "With all due respect head captain, my last name is Kurosaki not Kuchiki."

Everyone had turned their attention to Rukia. What she said had brought a smile to Ichigo's face. "So how long are they waiting to execute you this time Rukia?"he asked, with a semi-jokily tone in his voice.

Rukia wasn't sure about what to say. She was supposed to be executed as soon as he got there but things had changed. How was she supposed to tell him at a time like this that a baby had just saved her life? Since Rukia didn't answer, the head captain had decided to reply. "She will not be executed now but most likely she will be over a year."

Ichigo smirked. They really thought that he wasn't going to go after Rukia in that period of time. Still, he couldn't understand why they were delaying it. "Oh come on! Why are you waiting that long?"

Rukia had started to get furious. Her eyes had narrowed as she baled her fists. She knew that they weren't going to push the date of her execution any closer but still he didn't have to provoke them. "Ichigo!"

Then, Ichigo had started to fly toward Rukia, trying to pick up enough speed to grab her and go. "Soifon!" Head Captain Yamamoto called out.

Soifon nodded and used flashstep to get to Rukia. She pointed her Shikai directly at Rukia's stomach. Ichigo had stopped, afraid that she was going to hurt Rukia. Rukia's eyes had widened in fear. The fear wasn't over her life but the life inside of her. "Don't come any closer." Soifon warned. Her face had started to tense.

Ichigo had seen her attack before and knew what she needed to do to kill Rukia. He wasn't sure if he could get there in time to save her. The head captain turned his attention back to Ichigo. "We have nothing against you Ichigo Kurosaki but if you do not leave now, you will be granted as an enemy of the Soul Society."

Ichigo had started to get angry. He baled his fist at his side tightly. "I don't care! Just let her go!"

"If you try to attack us again, we can instantly move her execution to right now." Head Captain Yamamoto warned. Ichigo gripped onto his zanpakuto with both hands and held it in front of him, ready to fight. "I'll take all of you bastards on one by one!" He would continue to fight forever until he had stopped all of them to get Rukia back. He pressed his teeth against each other firmly.

Head Captain knew that Ichigo was reckless but not so reckless to gamble the lives of two people he cared about. "I'm surprised. You would be willing to risk both their lives?" Ichigo looked surprised but mostly confused. He was completely lost about what he was talking about. The head captain continued. "Both of them will be executed if you proceed."

Ichigo rubbed his eyes and stared at everyone to make sure that he wasn't going crazy. He floated down until he felt his feet on solid ground. He still held onto his sword at his side, utterly baffled. The captains and lieutenants were on guard but they relax once they seen that Ichigo wasn't going to attack. They noticed that he seemed lost. Ichigo had recognized everyone in the crowd but the only person he had seen that he cared about was Rukia. "What are these guys talking about?" he wondered.

Then, he focused only on Rukia. She had stared back at him, trying to think of someway she can get them both out of this. Everyone else in the crowd wondered why Ichigo was being very quiet. Soifon had calmed down from guarding Rukia and stood beside her. "Rukia." Ichigo spoke softly.

Rukia had still appeared troubled. "Ichigo." she spoke in the same volume as him. He wasn't sure about what he could do at that point. Since Uryu and Chad weren't there yet as planned so they could ambush the soul reapers, maybe it would help him enough to escape with Rukia. It seemed that the soul reapers were only expecting him which gave him somewhat of an advantage. He knew that people would be guarding Rukia but not all the squads' captains and lieutenants. He smiled a little, trying to make the best out of a bad situation. "I heard you were sick. Are you okay?" It sounded like the doctor side of him was asking but also the husband side of him too.

Rukia was surprised that he heard that and thought that maybe they had found Neko. No one else would probably tell him that she was. They would've been too busy trying to fight him. "Yeah. I'm fine." she replied.

"You sure?" Ichigo asked again. He wanted to make sure that nothing was serious wrong with her. Rukia gazed down, saddened. He didn't know yet. The reason she had been sick. The reason the execution was stopped. He didn't know. Byakuya's eyes had moved to the side, looking at Rukia. He was a little surprised but kept it to himself and the same neutral expression. "Rukia? Doesn't he know?"

Ichigo looked surprised but concerned. "Know what?"

Everyone had finally realized that Ichigo was clueless about what could've possibly put Rukia's execution off. Yachiru pushed herself onto Kenpachi's shoulders, still having her young childish look and sat down. She grinned. "Kenny! Ichigo doesn't know that he's going to be a daddy yet!"

Ichigo's eyes widened as mouth slowly dropped. His feet had refused to move back even if he wanted to. "What?" he could barely speak.

Rukia wished that it didn't have to be said that way. She had wanted to tell him on her own but it was hard to get any privacy with all the captains and lieutenants around holding her hostage. A few seconds later, Ichigo had come out of some of his shock. "Rukia? Is that true?"

"Yeah." Rukia answered nervously. She placed her hand in her hair. "I wanted to tell you that alone and tell you that's why the execution was put off. It was supposed to be today."

Ichigo was still stunned. Soon, Uryu and Chad had jumped beside Ichigo, figuring that they had stayed in hiding long enough and could distract the soul reapers long enough for Ichigo to get away with Rukia. They were about to rush in to attack since they had knew that the captains and lieutenants were there but seen that Ichigo wasn't moving. When they got there, they had noticed that Ichigo was frozen in place. Uryu wondered why he was just standing there and looked upset. "Ichigo? What are you doing?"

"Rukia's pregnant." Ichigo whispered without thinking. Uryu's eyes widened in surprised. Chad was also stunned by the news. Head Captain Yamamoto had seen it as an opportunity to end it now. "Now that you're friends are here, you can leave the soul society." The Head Captain rose up his hand to open a portal in the sky that led to their world.

Ichigo growled as he let his anger rise. "No! Not without Rukia!" Ichigo was about to run for her but Uryu and Chad held him back. Uryu had noticed Soifon standing nearby with her shikai in her fingers. Uryu growled. "You're not thinking this through Ichigo!"

Ichigo continued trying to get out Uryu's and Chad's grasp. "I don't care! I can't leave her here!" Uryu and Chad struggled to keep him back but it was getting hard. Rukia was to rush over but Soifon held out her arm in front of her.

"Zetsubou No Te!" they heard a voice yell out. Everyone looked up toward the sky. Ichigo's and Rukia's eyes widened. Above them, Ichiro held his zanpakuto up to the sky with both hands and then send a black slash with a white outline going down toward the captains and lieutenants.

Some of the captains and lieutenants moved out of the way but some had stood still since they knew that the attack was not going to hit them. Ichiro landed in front of Soifon and Rukia. He raised his zanpakuto about to attack but quickly, Soifon used her shikai to stick in his chest. Ichiro's eyes widened, feeling a sharp pain. A symbol shaped like a butterfly had appeared on his chest. A scared look came across Rukia's face. "Ichiro!" Rukia pushed Soifon away from him and wrapped her arms around him quickly as he fell down on his knees. She was afraid for his life since he had one more shot before he could die.

Uryu and Chad kept holding Ichigo back. He had started to get scared for Ichiro as well. "Ichiro!" He growled, starting to get upset. Both Rukia and Ichigo realized that they could lose both their children. "Ichigo! If you stay around, she'll kill them both!" Uryu tried to tell him but Ichigo didn't want to listen.

Ichiro started to feel tired. His head had leaned against Rukia's chest. His eyes had lowered half-way. "Mom?" he whispered. Rukia hugged Ichiro tightly. When she looked down, she could see a little part of the butterfly still on Ichiro chest. "Ichiro." Ichiro had no more power left to fight. His legs were close to giving out completely.

Soifon walked out in front of the two of them. She knew that now she had the upper hand to make Ichigo go. "Ichigo. I suggest you leave now before I hit the same spot on the boy's chest again. If you go, he'll be just fine. I'll remove the mark." Soifon didn't intend on attack Ichiro but she acted on instinct when she was about to be attacked. She could see several openings on him but decided to strike at the center of his chest.

Rukia had started to get worried more. Her eyes had begun to shake in fear. Tears had started to fill her eyes. She couldn't lose her son. She was so scared for him that she didn't hear what Soifon had said. Her hands had pressed harder against Ichiro who she still held. His eyes were closed but he still had his arms wrapped around her. "Ichiro." she whispered. She pressed her head more against his as she closed her eyes.

Uryu looked serious. He wasn't one to take Soifon lightly. He didn't want to find out if she would make good on her threat. "Fine. We're going."

Ichigo turned his head to Uryu quickly, shocked by what he said. "What? No!" Ichigo had started struggling again. Uryu and Chad were getting tired just holding him back. Ichigo looked over to see Rukia and Ichiro. Rukia had looked as if she was in emotional pain and Ichiro as if he was unconscious. He wanted to rush to his family where he belonged. "Let me go! I can get them."

Uryu looked over at Chad. Both of them nodded at the same time. Together, they jumped up taking Ichigo with them to the portal Head Captain Yamamoto had opened. Ichigo closed his eyes tight, shaking his head. "No! No! Let me go! Let me go after them!" Uryu and Chad managed to pull him in as he was still shouting. Soon after, it had closed. Everyone continued looking up at the now clear sky. Rukia continued to hold on to Ichiro as she kept her eyes closed. She could tell Ichigo was gone. His spiritual pressure along with his voice had faded. "I'm sorry Ichigo."

Uryu, Chad and Ichigo traveled back to Urahara's shop and fell to the floor once they came out of the portal on his end. Urahara and Orihime were standing nearby. They were surprised to see that Rukia wasn't back with them. Uryu and Chad got up on one knee. Ichigo was on his hands and knees with his head down, breathing hard.

Orihime looked concerned as she held her hands together. "What happened?"

Uryu stood up and dusted himself off. "They were expecting us to come so we couldn't get Rukia. Did Yoruichi come back?"

"Yeah. Like a few minutes ago." Urahara had answered him.

Ichigo growled after hearing Urahara's voice and quickly got up. He grabbed onto Urahara's jacket firmly. Urahara could see the rage in his eyes. "Why was Ichiro there?" he shouted. Urahara had started to worry a little. Ichigo must've found out that Ichiro got away from him. "Answer me! Why was Ichiro there?" he demanded to know.

Urahara held up his hands. He wouldn't be surprised if Ichigo had decided to hit him. "He got away from me. He asked me to train him and when I was showing him a portal to the Soul Society, he jumped through."

"Why would you do that?" Ichigo wondered why Urahara would do such a thing knowing that Ichiro wanted to go after his mother. Orihime had started to get worried about how angry Ichigo was. She always got worried when he got that way. She placed her hands on Ichigo's sleeve, trying to pull him away. "Ichigo please! Calm down!"

Ichigo closed his eyes tight. His eyes had wanted to fill with tears. His anger had turned into despair. "How can I?" he yelled.

He let go of Urahara jacket and dropped down to his hands and knees. He had lost them. He had lost everything. "They're gone. They have my whole family!"

Everyone watched Ichigo. His body was shaking, devastated. They weren't sure if there was anything they could do to help him now.

As always, thank you for reading and I hoped that you liked the chapter and as always, let me know what you think. Until next time...