Hey everyone! Thanks for waiting for the next chapter and sending in reviews. Hope that you will enjoy this chapter. My goal is to try and update no later than 2 weeks at a time and so far I haven't been so busy that I couldn't do so I hope to keep doing so.

Chapter 21: The Return:

Rukia's eyes widened as she stared forward. Her mouth hung open unable to close. Her hand was resting on the top rail of the baby's crib as she was standing beside it. Behind her, Byakuya had stood in silence.

Rukia couldn't believe what she had heard. She didn't want to show how angry she was in front of her brother. At the same time, she didn't know what to say. Since things were silence between them, Byakuya turned around and left from the room. As soon as she heard the door slide shut, her hands wrapped around the rail firmly as she tossed her head down. She closed her eyes tight. This was far worse than when Byakuya had told her that she was arranged to marry Renji years ago. She could handle going through and marrying Renji back then but not this. No one had seemed to care that she was all ready married to Ichigo. More than that, she had to leave Ichiro and the baby to Shinsuke.

Her body shook furiously. Her hands had tense more on the wooden rail. The baby awake in her crib watched as her mother looked upset but didn't understand why.

Then, outside of her room, she had heard two voices talking. They were starting to get closer. She walked over and leaned toward the door to hear who it was. She could hear Ichiro laughing and his voice lower to say "I'm glad. Thanks dad."

She could hear Shinsuke laughing back. "Ichiro-." Before Ichigo could finish, Rukia had slid the door open quickly, getting angrier than before. She glared at Ichiro and then up at Shinsuke. Her face had tense once she glared at him. "You! This is all your fault!" Her voice had made shivers go down Ichigo's and Ichiro's spines. Their eyes widened, nervous. Rukia baled her fist, ready to smack someone. "How could you? Is this some kind of plan to get me for yourself? I told you I'm all ready married! You can't just take my children away from me-!"

Ichiro held up his hands as he stepped in front of her, fearful that his mom was going to kill his dad. "Mom!"

Instantly, she turned her head to her son. "Ichiro! Get in here now!" She grabbed him by his ear and pulled him toward her. Ichiro waved his hands as he was in pain. "Ow! Ow! Mom!" She pulled Ichiro inside of her room. Quickly, her head had turned back to Ichigo. Her eyes stared at him coldly. "I'm not done with you yet." She slid her door close hard in front of him. Ichigo couldn't get a word in, but he wasn't worried about things now. Everything was going better than he had expected and he knew soon that he could get Rukia out of here.

Rukia walked back over to the baby's crib and stared down at the few months old, little girl. Ichiro was a little confused as to why his mom was reacting upset toward him. "Mom-?"

Her hair had casted a shadow over her eyes. In the crib, the baby was holding her index finger in her little hands, curious. "Why did you call him your dad?" she hissed. Ichiro had jumped at the sound of her voice. "Umm…?"

Rukia had pressed her lips tightly together. "How could you just forget about your father like that? Don't you even care about him anymore?" she raised her voice.

Ichiro was taken back by what she said at first but soon relaxed. "Mom. Of course I do."

Rukia's body had begun to shake. Less and less she understood what was going on. "Then how could you call him that?" Ichiro stared toward the ground. He remained silence. The sound in Rukia's voice seemed devastated. Rukia had lifted her hand from inside of the crib as she had begun to calm down. It felt like everything was going out of her control.

Then, Ichiro had looked over at his mom somewhat sad. "I guess…you heard."

Rukia lifted her head. "How could I not? After all, I'm the one who has to marry him." Ichiro had looked back toward the ground. He hoped that his mom wouldn't get anymore upset at him. "It's…sort of a good thing."

Rukia's eyes widened as she looked over at Ichiro. She couldn't believe that he had said that. "What?"

Ichiro wanted to stop her before she started yelling. He held up his hands in front of him. "Mom! You won't be executed anymore!"

"Yeah but at the expense of what I'm doing to your father?" she shouted.

Ichiro glanced back down. His mind was debating whether to tell her the truth but he knew that she would only believe if she had seen his dad for herself. "Mom…dad isn't here and they could kill you any day now. Something needed to be thought of fast. At least this way, if dad does come back, he could save you because you're still alive."

Rukia clutched her teeth together. Her fingers had baled into a fist. "I don't care! I-!"

Ichiro interrupted her. "Mom!" His high tone had made her go silence and surprised. Ichiro calmed down and looked sad. "Mom. You know I wish that dad was here but instead of holding out for him to show, why don't you do it for this reason? Just do it for us because we still need you. I came to the Soul Society because I wanted to rescue you and look how that ended up. If I lose you, I can't take care of my sister by myself and I don't know where we would be without you. Please... If you don't want to do it for me, then please…do it for her." He pointed over to where the crib was.

Slowly, Rukia's eyes shifted over and down at her little girl. There were dark brown eyes staring back at her. Rukia had started to get worried. She didn't think about the people she considered most important especially the baby. "She needs you most of all mom." Ichiro added. Rukia's eyes lowered as her eyes shook. She couldn't bare to think what would happen to her little girl. Ichiro walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist. "Please?" Rukia turned around in his arms and placed her arms around his shoulders. She leaned her head against his with her eyes closed. After hearing Ichiro out, she knew now who she had to think about most.

A few days after hearing the news, Rukia had walked down a white path outside in the yard of Byakuya's manor where cherry blossoms were floating toward the ground. She was dressed in a white kimono with pink flower patterns. She had looked ahead to the man who was standing a few feet away with a smile on his face. Her feet wanted nothing more than to stop but she kept going forward. She looked toward the ground, remembering that she was doing it for Ichiro and the baby. Still, Ichigo couldn't help but cross her mind along with the guilt she felt at that moment.

Before the ceremony started, she had to sign a contract giving Shinsuke partial custody of the kids and that she would marry him. Shinsuke had signed the same contract along with her. Rukia stopped in front of Shinsuke without looking at him. A few captains were there along with Byakuya and Renji. Renji still couldn't believe that Shinsuke had shown up out of no where and got to marry Rukia in such a short time.

As the ceremony progressed, Shinsuke had replied yes to marrying Rukia. Hesitant at first, Rukia had finally agreed to say yes. Throughout the wedding, Rukia didn't smile but Ichigo couldn't help but smile. Little did Rukia know that she was marrying her husband again and this time in the Soul Society where they couldn't deny that they were married now.

The next day after the wedding, Ichigo and Rukia were packed to go away on their honeymoon and planned on taking Ichiro and the baby with them. Ichigo had wanted to take all three of them away. The night of the wedding, they had slept in separate rooms.

They walked to a house in a forest outside of the Soul Society that was standing high above the forest. They went up the stairs into the house. Ichigo had looked back to notice that Rukia still didn't seem happy. He smiled over at her. She noticed but had refused to look at him.

Later on, when sunset had come around, Rukia walked into the doorway of one of the rooms where Ichiro and the baby would be sleeping. Inside, she watched as Ichigo had held up the baby in his hands, smiling. Rukia frowned at the sight as she crossed her arms. As much as she wanted to yell, she had decided not to say anything. Then, Ichigo had put the baby down to sleep and looked over at Ichiro. They both smiled at each other. Sadden, Rukia had turned and started walking down the hall. She was afraid that Ichiro was getting to close to Shinsuke. Their voices were still close enough to hear. "Good night Ichiro."

"Good night dad." Ichiro replied back.

After hearing Ichiro say that, Rukia had stopped, frozen. Her mind wondered if Ichiro had started to cast off his real father. Then, she had continued walked down toward her room. Inside there was a Japanese style bed at the head of the room. She walked over and laid down in the bed under the covers. She placed her hand against her forehead wondering what she had done. Her eyes stared up toward the ceiling. Her mind traveling again to Ichigo. She thought about why she had married Shinsuke and what would Ichigo think if he found out.

Then, she had looked over once she snapped out of her thoughts to see Ichigo standing in the door still in his Shinsuke disguise, smiling. She could sense his spiritual pressure once he entered. Instantly, she had gotten upset. "I thought we agreed to having our own rooms."

Ichigo walked in which had made Rukia concerned as to what he was up to. "Why would we? It is our wedding night."

He sat down beside her but she sat up, intending on leaving. "I didn't agree to anything like this! Also stay away from my kids! Just because I agreed to do this does not mean I want you interfering with them!"

Ichigo just grinned. He grabbed onto her hands, pressing them down against the ground, trapping her. Silently, she growled as her teeth clutched together. She wished she had her zanpakuto in her hand right then. "Sorry Rukia but you're mine now, and I would think since we're married now that you don't want them to change the sentence again."Rukia pressed her teeth together figuring that he was threatening her. She was about to say something but had remembered the reason she was doing this. Ichigo continued to smirk. "So? What's it going to be?" Rukia growled. She had wanted to fight him but she didn't know if she could escape with Ichiro and the baby. "Don't worry. It'll be worth it."

Rukia scowled and reluctantly laid down. Ichigo had scooted in the covers beside her and had soon come over her. His hand had loosened the tie of her kimono and then removed it from off of her shoulders. "How about this? How about you just pretend I'm Ichigo?"

Rukia had grown confused. "Why would you want me to think of another man?"

Ichigo smiled gently. "Let me explain this another way." His hand had reached up toward his face and began peeling off his mask from the side. Once he had taken the mask off of his face, his spiritual pressure was released. Since he was about three hundred feet away from any soul reaper that could feel his spiritual pressure, no one would try to find out if it was really him or not. That way, he wouldn't have to wear the disguise anymore while he was there. He looked down at Rukia and smiled. "Because I am Ichigo."

Rukia's eyes had widened as her mouth had hung open, shocked. She couldn't believe it. It was him from the same orange spiky hair to his brown eyes. Same facial features and body. "Ichigo."

He smiled more. "Told you it would be worth it." She was speechless. She didn't know what to think or what to ask first. All she knew was somehow he was there. "Ichigo." Ichigo had leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. At first she didn't respond, still in disbelief, but soon have given in to him. She closed her eyes as she passionately kissed him back. Her hands had reached to the back of head. Her fingers had intertwined with his orange spikes.

Soon, they had separated and opened their eyes to look at each other. Rukia had just stared at him, taking in how he looked so that she could believe this moment. "Ichigo." she whispered again. He had loosened the kimono he was wearing and began kissing the skin on the side of her neck. She had closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation from his lips. Her hands had reached up and slid down his kimono from off his back. Her legs had wrapped around his waist. "Ichigo." She was happy that he was there with her again. More than he knew. Through the night, they had continued their long awaited reunion. It wasn't until later on, a couple of hours before the sun had come up, was when they had fallen asleep.

It was still morning when Rukia had began to open her eyes. She moaned and turned her body over to see Ichigo. Her eyes widened when she had seen the bed was empty. She sat up as she had held the covers close to her chest. She searched the room from where she was sitting but it seemed that she was alone. She held her hand to her head with her eyes closed, wondering if last night was nothing but a beautiful dream. She figured if it was then she couldn't understand why she would be in bed without anything on. Then, she had wondered if Shinsuke had gotten to her again and she had imagined Ichigo there. She had started to worry about what she had done. Suddenly, she had heard the door slide open. She looked up concerned at who it might be.

Ichigo had slid the room door close after he stepped in as he held the baby in his arm, dressed in his kimono. He smiled over at Rukia. Rukia sighed in relief seeing that he wasn't in disguise anymore and that it wasn't a dream. He walked over as he looked down at the little girl and sat down beside Rukia. Rukia was just happy that he was there. Then, Rukia had reached up and pinched his cheeks to see if his face was real. Ichigo had interrupted the silence. "You should've seen the look on your face. I knew I should've walked in here this morning as Shinsuke just to scare you."

Rukia got upset. "You would really do that to me after all you just put me through?" she began to yell.

Ichigo looked confused. "What-?" Before he finish, the baby had started wiggling in his arms and began to cry. He had handed her over to Rukia to see if she was hungry. Rukia had held her close to her chest to let her feed. Ichigo smiled. "I guess you can't kick me out this time since you know for sure that I've seen you do this."

Rukia looked over at him curious but then remembered when she had first seen him as Shinsuke and she was feeding the baby. She arched her eyebrow confused. "You got a lot of explaining to do."

Ichigo nodded. "I know." After a few minutes, the baby had fallen asleep and Rukia had placed her kimono back on. She had placed the baby back in Ichigo's arms. He had stared down at her, happy. She could finally see what her real father looked like and he could finally look upon her with his own eyes.

A few seconds later, their door had slid open which Ichigo and Rukia had looked over, somewhat on edge. Inside the room, Ichiro had stood surprised. His dad wasn't wearing the disguise anymore. Then, his eyes had squinted and shook; finally glad to see his dad as he really was. "Dad!" He rushed over with his arms out. Ichigo's eyes widened. He had handed the baby over to Rukia before Ichiro could knock him down onto the floor with a hug. "Ichiro!" Ichigo tried to shake Ichiro off but he remained on top of him still hugging him tight. Rukia looked over. She couldn't help but smile. Ichigo had sighed and returned the hug. Afterwards, Ichiro had gotten up from him. Ichigo sat up and Ichiro smiled. "Dad! You're back! Now I don't have to call you Shinsuke anymore!"

Ichigo placed his hand on the back of his head. "Well… maybe a little bit longer. We still gotta get out of here to go home."

Rukia had looked surprised when he had said that. "Go home?"

Ichigo looked over at her. "Well yeah. I'm not letting you stay here." Rukia wondered how he had planned to leave the Soul Society.

Later, Ichiro had left Rukia and Ichigo alone. Ichigo stood near the window ceil as he had held the baby in his hands. Rukia had stood beside him, leaning in the window by her arms. Ichigo had looked over toward Rukia. "So? Can I finally know what her name is?"

Rukia looked over at him at the corner of her eye. Her lips had curved upwards into a smile. "Yuuki." Ichigo smiled gently. Rukia turned to them and rubbed the top of Yuuki's head. "I wanted to wait until you showed up so that we can name her together but time had gone by and I couldn't walk around with a nameless child so I named her that. At that time when I first found out I was having her, she was my hope and my help and she has always been that way. I always hoped that you would come back."

Ichigo smiled a little. "I'm sorry it took me so long." He walked away and placed Yuuki on their bed so that she could sleep. He walked back beside Rukia. Rukia placed her hands together and looked at Ichigo. "What happened after you left the Soul Society?"

Ichigo looked down and leaned on the windowsill. He had thought about what happened once he left. "I…was a wreck once they brought me back…"

To be continued... So I found two meanings for the name Yuuki. One was tender hope and the other was precious help. I thought it fit for her. I know it's been a long wait to find out what her name was but wanted to keep the suspense up. I hoped that you liked the chapter and i'll update as soon as I can. As always, let me know if you like.