Chapter 25

Fifteen long agonizing minutes later the door bell rings. Ulquiorra puts Rukia's head down and runs to the door. When he opens Hanataro is standing there wet and with a broken umbrella. He is frozen in place when he realizes who opened the door. Ulquiorra pulls him in quick.

"What have you done to Rukia-Chan"?

"I have not done anything. Save the questions for later she needs help".

Hanataro pushes back any thoughts about Ulquiorra and rushes to Rukia's aid. There is a blanket over her but she is still sweating and shivering.

"Where is the bleeding coming from"?

"I haven't looked to find it but it was coming down her leg".

"Can you get me a warm wet towel and a dry one also bring a small cold cloth for her forehead".

Ulquiorra starts digging. Hanataro is looking through his backpack. Rukia is burning up and she is struggling in her sleep.

"Ichigo…Ichigo…Ahhh…" Rukia is saying his name over and over.

"Where does it hurt Rukia-Chan"? She clutches her abdomen. Ulquiorra brings the towels. "Apply the cold cloth to her forehead. Please give us some privacy now".

"Who are you"?

"I'm from Soul Society. Yamada, Hanataro of Squad four, was Seat Seven, now Seat Five and studying medicine in the human world".

"Well I was from Hueco Mundo. Cifer, Ulquiorra, Espada Cuatro from previous Arrancar army, now status unknown".

"I see well pleased to meet you Ulquiorra–San". He bows to Ulquiorra. "Now it is urgent I check Rukia-Chan"! Ulquiorra returns his gesture and walks to Rukia's bedroom. Hanataro gulps loudly. "Rukia-Chan I'm going to have to look a little, is it okay"? Rukia opens her eyes and nods at him. He remotely checks her and cleanses her. He gave her something for the pain as well. "How are you feeling"?

"Some…what… better…ahhh…ohhh".

"There is something else I want to try. As hard as it is please try to relax".

She nods again. He closes his eyes and begins to glow while chanting some words. Two circles appears one over Rukia's heart, another over Hanataro's and a third one appears over Rukia's abdomen, which splits into two smaller circles. Hanataro's droopy eyes grow wide with realization and a big smile forms to match.

"Rukia-Chan…"

His sentence is cut short as Rukia screams in pain and begins to struggle. Ulquiorra runs out of the room. Hanataro closing his eyes once again begins to chant. Hanataro gets pushed back into a small table located near the couch.

"What is wrong with her"?

Ulquiorra is trying to hold her down gently. Hanataro closes his eyes again.

"It's not working. Something or someone is not letting me heal her. If I can't find the source and stop it, they will die"!

Another fifteen minutes go by. Renji and Tatsuki are in Ichigo's house.

"Ouch that hurts Carrot top"!

"Suck it up red. Besides who told you to go on your own. You should have waited for me".

"Ouch idiot! Soul Society wants you back a hundred percent before you do anything".

"They look like the couple".

Orihime laughs at Tatsuki's joke. They are on the couch Renji's shirt is up exposing his abdomen while Ichigo is straddling his legs trying to keep him from moving as he cleans the wound and applies ointment.

"You're right, straight out of a Yaoi Manga"! The girls are having a laughing fit.

"What are you guys laughing at"? Renji raises a questioning eyebrow.

"Nothing stud, just hurry so we can go home".

A few minutes later Ichigo is on the driver's seat, Renji is on passenger's side and the girls are in the back seat. They are still laughing. Ichigo starts the car in the garage. As the garage door goes up he turns the headlights on and there is Ulquiorra thoroughly soaked, chest rising and falling fast trying to catch his breath.

Everyone remains silent until Ichigo gets out of the car and Renji follows. Ichigo doesn't wait and rams Ulquiorra into the wall. The girls get out of the car. Renji tries to pry Ichigo off of him.

"What the fuck are you doing here"!

Ulquiorra's is trying to get free to speak but Ichigo has him by the throat.

"Ru-ki-a is…

"Ichigo-Kun stop it"! Orihime runs over and is yanking Ichigo off."Please Ichigo-Kun"!

Ichigo's grip loosens some. Ulquiorra starts to cough. Renji manages to get Ichigo completely off him.

"I think you are the only one who can help her"!

Ignoring Ichigo He grabs Orihime by the hand and begins to pull her away. Ichigo grabs Ulquiorra and punches him in the face. Ulquiorra reciprocated the punch and rams Ichigo into the wall. Orihime falls to the ground on her knees cradling her head. Tatsuki rushes over and kneels beside her.

"I remember now"! Orihime has everyone's attention. "I, I, I saved you! I placed a shield around you and rejected your death"! Well that was a mouthful and all is quiet.

Ulqiorra lets go of Ichigo, kneels next to her and takes hold of her hand. She is sobbing.

"There are many things we need to discuss but Rukia needs your help".

"Rukia-San needs my help"?

"She is dying"!

Ichigo comes out of his shock and picks Ulquiorra by the arm that is still holding Orihime's hand.

"What's wrong with Rukia"?

"Hanataro will explain".

They all get into the car and Ichigo is speeding past every car and light. All he can think about is Rukia.

"Rukia-Chan I know it's hard but please try and control it".

Rukia is nodding and inhales and exhale's trying to calm down and stabilize her Reiryoku. The both of them are sweating. He has a shield around them. Rukia shuts her eyes as another wave of excruciating pain hits her and she passes out. The door flies open, Ichigo had sensed her out of control Reiryoku since they reached the neighborhood so he was really worried. He rushes over to Rukia but stops when he sees Rukia's frail body, sweating, gasping for air, her face grimacing with pain and a white towel with some dark pink liquid stains in between her legs. His eyes are already glistening with unshed tears.

"Thanks Kami-Sama you made it back"! Hanataro seems confused and turns to Ulquiorra. "I thought you said you knew the source of this! So why did you bring them"?

"I did, she is the source".

He lifts the hand that's holding Orihime's hand. Hanataro concentrates and suddenly a red circle appears above Orihime's head. Ichigo tries to go into the shield Rukia is in.

"No stop! No one can come in"! Hanataro warns.

"What's this red circle around Hime"? Tatsuki tries to touch it but Renji stops her hand.

"I don't understand how Orihime-San is responsible. But my spell does not lie; The circle is above her head".

Ichigo drops to his knees by Rukia's head but out of the shield.

"But how can I be responsible for this"?

Orihime is shaking. Ulquiorra grips her hand tighter letting her know it will be okay. Ulquiorra takes a deep breath and begins the explanation.

"The night when you snapped and rejected Rukia it was my power manifesting itself. You rejected my death and saved me when I fought him. You were devastated by the realization of his feelings for Rukia and your subconscious took the opportunity to release my malevolent powers. You really didn't know you saved me but your hidden capabilities picked up on your heart felt wish, to be able to truly save me from eternal damnation and did it for you. Once my powers fully left, your subconscious rearranged your memory to keep me hidden till my body was finished regenerating. After my body and soul healed your memories gradually started coming back to you but unsure of what you were remembering you kept quiet, especially with the glimpses of me resurfacing".

"But the rejection should have ended the night Ruks momentarily died"! Renji bursts out as Orihime is holding herself.

"Her rejection spell is strong as hell alone plus being derived from my powers at that time imagine the strength. Aizen didn't want her for her looks". Renji glares at Ulquiorra.

"So what can I do? Please tell me"! Orihime is fully shaking.

"You have to create a spell to counter the rejection spell".

"But I don't even know how"!

Orihime begins to sob. Hanataro secretly signals Ichigo who listened painfully to Ulquiorra's every word to come closer to him. Ichigo reluctantly scoots away from Rukia and gets closer to him. Whispering low as everyone is busy with brainstorming.

"Ichigo-San there is something you must know. Rukia-Chan is expecting".

"Expecting what"?

"She is expecting twins. The rejection is affecting them too. Rukia-Chan is fighting with all her might to keep them safe inside her. If Orihime does not end the spell all three will die".

Rukia screams once again arching her back in pain. Ichigo reaches for her but hanataro yells out.

"Don't"!

Ichigo can't hold back his tears anymore.

"Pease Hanataro tell me what can I do"! Ichigo is extremely happy and surprised but the worry is overshadowing everything else.

Rukia's falls back onto the couch holding her abdomen still unconscious. Renji crouches down by Ichigo and puts his arm around him. Ulquiorra pulls Orihime into Rukia's bedroom to get her away from distractions.
"No one comes in please"!

He shuts and locks the door.

"I don't know what to do! I'm scared of letting her die"!

"I know you won't".

"How can you have faith in me"?

"The same way you had in me, enough to save me…" He is wiping her tears away and stroking her face gently. Orihime closes and reopens her eyes with his kind gestures. "I will help you by jogging your memory".

"But how your powers…"

Ulquiorra takes her hand and puts it over his heart.

"You gave me this". Orihime's eyes open wide with wonder. "Do you feel it thumping strongly"? She nods. "Concentrate on it, connect yours with mine, we are one Orihime…" Their heartbeats are falling in sync. Her eyelids are getting heavy. "I know now what I was reaching for". He presses his forehead to hers.

"She's carrying our kids Renji".

Ichigo's voice is small and low but Renji understood.

"What, but, wow! I mean…"

"I just found out and I'm already losing them"!

"Listen Ichigo you are not losing anyone".

"If Rukia dies without knowing that I…"

Renji shakes the living hell out of Ichigo.

"Listen Carrot top! Ruks is fighting with everything she's got! Do not count her out! Do not give up on your kids! Where's that presumptuous wise cracked kid who kicked all of our asses to save her"!

Renji is still shaking him hard.

"Okay Red I said okay Red"! Renji lets go and Ichigo falls backwards. "Ouch you crazy bastard! Are you trying to kill me"!

"Just getting you ready for when Byakuya finds out you knocked up his sister".

"Oh Kami you're right". Ichigo cringes at the very thought.

Tatsuki sits on a chair digesting what Renji yelled at the top of his lungs.

"Can you guys keep it down I'm trying to rest". Rukia coughs as Ichigo runs to her side but stays out of the shield.

"Luv, I'm so sorry, I'm a monster for all the awful things I said".

"Apology accepted but don't think you won't pay strawberry. Besides I was visited by the green monster. I was so jealous I blew everything out of proportion".

"I made everything worse luv. I made you feel like you came second and nothing's farther from the truth! I only love you, even in my death there will only be you".

Rukia begins to cry.

"I don't want to lose our babies".

Ichigo swallows the lump of tears and holds his composure to give Rukia reassurance.

"They are as strong as their mom and stubborn as their dad".

Rukia smiles holding the pain in, she knows Ichigo is struggling to hold his composure.

"Damn straight strawberry". Ichigo smiles back.

Rukia doubles over in pain and bites the couch pillow. Hanataro begins to sway. Ichigo holds him steady.

"Ichigo-San I don't think… I can hold on… much longer".

Ichigo closes his eyes and slowly begins to transfer his Reiatsu into Hanataro's body. Hanataro is slowly gathering energy and exhales.

"Thanks Ichigo-San. I feel much better".

The towel around Rukia has fresh light red stains. Ichigo cannot see because his eyes remain closed.

Tatsuki looks at Renji which walks over to the door.

"Please hurry up".

He whispers to himself and is praying Orihime breaks the spell fast before it's too late.

Author's note: Hi my wicked ones! =) Glad you're still following! I know it's angsty but hang in there! Hi Skesh, Hi hinataellis and to everyone lending support! Thanks my wickeds and stay tuned! =D