AN: Thank you!: Denidene, Crystal-Clear Hope, Star Princess, Shadow Pain, Lunar Iris and everyone else reading.

It's not that I have the end already written, that I've been a posting fiend lately. I think it's just that I'm so excited on how the ending is turning out, it kinda has a life of its own now. I think I can't wait to see how it ends as much as you guys.

Enjoy…

Chapter 24

The patrol ended with nothing to report on both sides. Toshiro went off to bed mumbling something about thinking and sleeping at the same time. Rangiku excused herself saying she had some shops to invade. She wanted to be first in line when they opened. That left Rukia and Ichigo in the main living room.

"Well, I suppose I should get home and get ready for school." He said. Rukia looked at him and cocked her head.

"You're nervous," she said.

"No, I'm not."

"Yes you are. You're nervous which means you talked to her last night but don't want to tell me what she said." She said looking away.

"Rukia…" Damn, am I that readable?

"Don't, Ichigo. I shouldn't have asked you, I'm sorry." She said walking past him. He grabbed her hand and held onto it.

"Rukia, I…I want you safe."

"Ichigo, this is my son. I will find him and I will do whatever is necessary to protect him. That is my job as his mother, and I am his mother. I don't care if he has a hollow like you, I don't care if he's some kind of prodigy like his father, I don't care what I have to do or who I have to fight to get him back. I will get him back and I will protect him with my life."

Ichigo pulled her into a hug, bent down and whispered in her ear, "Remember where you found me when I trained with the vizards? They're moving him there tonight. If you just happen to be patrolling there blocking all of your reiatsu…" Rukia's eyes widened.

"Ichi-go," she said as he held her for a moment longer.

"Stay safe, ok? I'll see you later," he said as he left the apartment. Rukia stared at the door.

"He's coming for you, bitch." She said laughing. "He's going to take you and make you his." More laughter.

"You will be the mother of a new race, a race that will serve me." The man's voice said. A hand reached out and grabbed her hair and threw her head back. She was on her knees with someone behind her.

"We're gonna lock you up and use you until there's nothing left." Another man's voice said. "I know I can't wait to get my turn at you." He said as he slid his hand around her throat. Rukia couldn't breathe, she tried to move, but her limbs were like lead. The man was breathing in her ear, she felt him lick her neck as he tightened his grip.

The woman kept laughing…

Laughing…

Gasping for air, Rukia sat up. She was trying to remember where she was. Her hand went to her neck seeking the collar. The room was dark. She was still trying to get her bearings when she felt a hand on her shoulder. She screamed.

Toshiro was in the living room planning out the nights patrol area when he heard Rukia scream. He ran back to the bedroom and threw open the door. He found the light switch and saw her, curled up in the corner and Matsumoto standing in the middle of the room.

"Matsumoto?" he asked as he went to Rukia's side.

"I think she had a nightmare. I was looking for the outfit I bought yesterday. I didn't want to turn the light on and disturb her, but I tripped and ended up touching her to get my balance. That's when she screamed."

Toshiro sat down and pulled her into his lap and held her.

"I'm sorry, Rukia, Taicho."

"It's ok, just leave." He said. Rukia had turned her face into his chest as she fisted the collar of his robes. "I've got you, Rukia. It's ok now."

"Toshiro," she said not changing her position.

"Same dream?" he felt her head nod. He held her tighter while cursing the three in his head.

"Taicho, the others are here for tonight's patrol brief." Matsumoto said from the hallway.

"Alright," he called out. Rukia sniffed and let go of his robes. "Rukia?"

"It's ok, I…it wasn't as bad as the others, her hand just scared me and I was disoriented. Come on, we have a lot to do tonight," she said in a whisper giving him a small reassuring smile.

"Indeed," he said thinking back to their conversation this morning. Rukia woke him up when Ichigo left and told him what happened. With the apartment being empty save the two of them, they made surveillance plans and talked about different scenarios if they were to find their son tonight.

A few minutes later, Rukia was making tea in the kitchen while Ishida and Orihime went over the patrol area at the table. Matsumoto walked out of the bathroom, she was dressed in tight jeans and a button down white blouse, top buttons undone, breasts spilling out as usual. There was a sparkle in her eyes which Rukia noticed. She smiled.

"Hot date?" she asked. Rangiku laughed.

"Yeah, Ichigo is taking me to dinner." She said blushing.

"I hope you have a great time," Rukia said softly.

"Thanks, you know I will," she said with a wink. She tossed her long blond hair and left. "Don't wait up for meeeeeeeee,"

Rukia looked down the hall in time to see Toshiro come out of the communications room. He didn't say anything as he drank the rest of her tea and gave her a smile.

With the plan in place, Ishida and Orihime left. Toshiro looked at Rukia. The determination in his eyes gave her confidence. She steadied her nerves.

"Ready?" he asked taking her hand. She moved in and placed her lips on his as he pulled her in. Their kiss deepened for a few minutes before she pulled away.

"Now I am," she said with a smile. He reluctantly let her go.

"So what is it that they want me to do to help with the transfer tonight?" Ichigo asked Rang. They were walking to a nearby café for dinner.

She gave him sad smile. "I didn't tell them I told you."

"What?"

"I have a confession. I used you to make me feel better." Ichigo's eyes flared as he blushed. Rangiku gave a slight laugh.

"I don't mean the sex. I meant I knew you would tell Rukia about her son, about the move, that's why I told you."

"Did you lie about it?" He was hoping he didn't give Rukia false information, which would only crush her.

"No, what I told you is the truth. A truth I am too much of a coward to tell myself. I am ashamed of myself. I thought I was doing well by saving their child and then protecting them. I think we all did. It never dawned on me that what we were doing was wrong. I told you I am a horrible person, but I hope by doing this, I can at least right some things I've done." She said as tears ran down her face.

Ichigo stopped walking and held her, "You did what you thought was right. You've been protecting the snowball for a long time, it's only natural you would continue. Although Rukia and I haven't been together a long time, I feel the same way with her as you do him."

She held him tighter, thankful that he understood.

"You know, I almost didn't tell her for the same reason. I just pictured her trying to fight off Soul Society or Aizen and knowing she would die…I…"

"We can still protect them." She said. He gave her a kiss.

"You are incredible," he said.

"No, but I'm glad you think so. Come on, there's time, but if we're going to gain their trust back enough for them to let us help them we had better get going."

Rukia was hidden in the shadows concentrating on keeping her reiatsu as low as she can. She knew Toshiro was a pro at it as she couldn't sense him at all, yet he was in the same warehouse with her.

She could see the ladder that led to the underground training area from her position. She had been cramped in this corner for the past two hours. She dared not come out, dared not lose her concentration on her reiatsu, dared not breathe. Then she heard noises from the warehouse entrance. Someone was coming in. She closed her eyes and steadied herself.

"Hiyori, have you received word from the others?"

"No. They've only been gone a day, give them time."

"We're out of time."

"The warehouse will be good enough to hide the thing. It was good enough before, I don't see why we have to leave because of two lousy Shinigami."

It sounded like more people were entering the warehouse.

"Shinji, where's Hachi? Yoruichi will be here in a few minutes, we didn't sense him so she wanted to stay back."

"He should be downstairs."

"Are the others back yet?" Hiyori made a noise.

"You people are making such a fuss over this thing." She said as she stormed off downstairs.

"She's in a great mood as always, I see."

"I've sent the others out yesterday to scout for a better location while the shinigami are here, but they're not back yet. We're just going to have to hope they don't come by here."

"Everything is ready," Hachi called out from the basement.

"How are you going to suppress his reiatsu from there to here?"

"I drugged him." Urahara said. Rukia bit her lip to keep from reacting. "It knocks him out and suppresses his reiatsu like he's a normal baby."

"Kisuke?"

"Hachi is here, Yoruichi-san, its ok." In an instant, she was beside him with a small bundle in her arms.

"He sure hasn't grown any." Shinji said.

"He hasn't been getting Aizen's enhancement drugs. Those shots he gave Kuchiki-san. I would imagine if they were still in his grasp, he would have been born and would have continued getting the shots. Based on the rate of growth add the fact he could grow faster outside the womb, he'd probably be about 5 years old."

"An army of children?" Shinji said as his eyebrow rose.

"Children that could have the world in the palm of their tiny hands in a matter of days." Urahara said.

"Hey, I thought I would mention, he woke up from his nap this morning and his mask had reappeared."

"Full mask?" Shinji asked, face serious.

"No, only partial. It covered the right side of his face. It had a fang and a horn." Yoruichi explained.

"Did he act any differently? Did the mask have any markings?"

"He was quiet, like he was calculating his surroundings. It was a little creepy if you ask me. I don't remember any markings. It came right off when I went to pick him up."

"Hachi, you might want to add another barrier to the kid's room," Shinji called down.

"Well, here," Yoruichi said handing the baby over to Shinji, "I need to head back to Soul Society and report."

"Ah, yes, and I must be getting back to the shop as well. I'm close in coming up with something that might help this little one control his reiatsu before he can control it. If you have any problems with him, you know how to contact me."

As they left, Rukia let herself breathe. Shinji took the baby downstairs as Toshiro came out of his corner. He took Rukia's hand and motioned towards the stairs. She nodded and they went down to the basement together.

The huge basement room looked the same as the one under Urahara's shop with one addition. There was a huge black box with a door off to one side of the room. It was surrounded in an orange and yellow glow.

Hiyori charged from behind a boulder, sword in hand pointed at Rukia when she was stopped half way. She looked up at who dared to put their hand on her and was shocked to see who it was.

"Ichigo!" Rukia said. He turned and smiled.

"You didn't think I would just let the two of you do this by yourselves, did you?"

"Let go of me!" Hiyori said, kicking the side of his face.

"Matsumoto!" Toshiro said as she came up and stood on his other side.

"I'll ask for forgiveness later, Taicho. Please just let me assist you now." She said.

"Hey, hey, hey! What's all the commotion?" Shinji asked as he came out of the black room with Hachi following.

Toshiro took a few steps forward, "You will give us Tsuneo."

Shinji put his hand in his chin as if in thought, "umm…nope. I don't think so."

"Why? I don't understand why?" Rukia said as her anger was building, "How could you do this?"

"How? Why? It's all irrelevant. What's important is that your son is alive."

"What's important is you handing him over to us." She replied, eyes burning.

"I don't think we can do that"

"Why not?" asked Toshiro.

"You're not nearly strong enough to take care of him." Hiyori spat.

"Strong enough? Who are you to decide that I am not strong enough to take care of my son?"

"You're only a shinigami; you wouldn't be able to handle him. That's if you could keep him. You know damn well Soul Society won't allow you to keep him."

"So you let me think he's dead? Yes, that's a much better plan. How dare you!" Rukia said.

"What do you think would have happened if we didn't take him? Your 46 was already briefed on the situation and had ordered it to be destroyed upon birth. The remnants were to be given to the 12th for further study. Would you have rather we did nothing and let that happen? What's important is keeping him alive and safe."

Rukia's eyes narrowed, "Why is he so important to you? Why do you risk so much for him?"

"Because he is one powerful little guy and whoever controls, erm…"

"Enough!" Toshiro growled, "I have no intention on bringing my son back to Soul Society. I'm not stupid; of course they would destroy him on sight but I will not let anyone use him or have people think that they're going to control him. That is my son!" He pulled his sword, "Soten ni zase, Hyorinmaru!"

As the ice dragon appeared, Shinji backed away

"Bring him out, Shinji." Matsumoto said. Ichigo was still fighting Hiyori off to the side. Shinji looked at Hachi, "Are the outside shields up?"

"Yes," he said wiping the sweat off his brow.

"Hiyori, go get the baby and bring him out here."

"Shinji!"

"I said do it. I'm not here to fight them. Our intent is to keep the child safe." He looked at Toshiro.

Hiyori came out of the black room with a little bundle. She looked at Shinji and then handed it to Rukia. Toshiro sealed his sword and was beside Rukia. The baby was asleep, or still drugged, as the two remembered.

Suddenly, they all felt a burning reiatsu in the distance.

Aizen had returned.

AN: And the beat goes on…