Disclaimer: I don't own a thing. Don't pity me, I pity my own damn self...

Chapter: 29...closer to 30!

Title: Shattered Spirit

A/N: Last chapter was kinda...eh, right? Well, I'm hoping this one will be better. A few revelations; heart ache and a bit of denial, but with some romance to boot. I guess the humor aint really gonna take place until things settle down in chapters 40 and up. One more chapter and it'll be at 30! Then there'll only be 22 chapters left..sigh. But. I still have Beauiful December, Sheer Heart Attack, and Rescue me to finish up. Along with a few other non-bleach stories, and some non-YoruIchio...ones. Anywho, in this chapter: Yoruichi is left behind at Kukaku's place, Ichigo along with Byakuya, Isshin, and Kisuke to fight Takashito/Achikawa. Yoruichi finds out that she is going to be a... You wanna know? READ! And then review!

"That isn't fair and you know it." The tention in the air was palpable as everyone sat around Kukaku's small round table in the lower levels of her pad. Byakuya was already there, so Ichigo wouldn't need to look for him later. Everyone sat in a mere silence, Yoruichi's words running through them. She was right, they weren't being fair. But she looked quite pale for her skin tone. Not to mention her eyes were drawn, tired like. And she had been running to the bathroom with her mouth covered several times. Ichigo had been right to exclude her from the upcoming fight.

"You need to rest. We can't have you going out there with us. You'd just be in the way, Yoruichi." Old pals can be rather annoying, and Kisuke had been no exception. Glaring at him, said goddess merely waved him off with a flick on her middle finger. "Hey, no need to get drastic."

"Yoruichi, anyone can see your not at your best right now." The soft words of Ichigo seemed to have an effect on her demeanor as she glanced down, her eyes narrowing. She hated the thought of being left out! "I know. I know you wanna fight." He'd taken her hand in his now, squeezing gently. The flash goddess turned her attention to him; defeat written all over her face. He gave a smile; one of those rare, smiles he never gave to anyone but her. "Let me fight for you."

"Ichigo.." She mumbled, leaning forward, her head slumping into his chest. By this point, everyone had taken Kukaku up on the offer to move else where, giving the two their time. They'd already had everything figured out. Ichigo and the others would seek out Achikawa and fight with everything they had in them. That was the best plan they could come up with. Simple battle strategies wouldn't be of any use here. Not with their opponent. They hadn't even known what he was capable of, so there really wouldn't be much point in forming a plan. The only thing they could do was attack himn from both sides. Ichigo and Byakuya agreed to take the front lines while Isshin and Kisuke stated they'd put their two cents in on the back. It seemed like it would work...

"Hey, this ain't you Yoruichi. Wheres the defiant, confident woman I fell in love with?" The orange haired man grinned, trailing his hands up and down her back. Yoruichi merely smirked, leaning back as she looked him in the eyes.

And that small gesture was enough to mean the world to them. The moment their eyes met, both could feel a strange sense of security; a sense of understanding. They could carry an entire conversation without saying anything at all. And that was one of the many beauties of their relationship. ESP.

"Then you better get your ass back here fast Ichigo. You wouldn't want to spend the night on the couch now would you?" Her eyes had a mischevious glint to them, despite the sickening look she held. She was beautiful none the less though.

"I'd rather be in bed with you, so I think I'll take the latter." And with that, his lips met hers. He himself didn't really like the idea of leaving her behind, but he couldn't exactly drag her into a fight that almost killed her last time! That would be just...whack right?

"Yer calvary are gettin a bit impatient." Kukaku grinned. The two lovers turned to see the fire works expert leaning against the door frame. For how long she'd been there, they didn't know. Ichigo stood, pulling Yoruichi up with him as he placed another deep kiss on her wet lips.

"I'll be back." He promised, squeezing her hands before turning and walking passed Kukaku; who glanced to him with a nod. The dark haired woman strode into the room, watching her best friend fall back on the many pillows that had been strone about the room. Really, who decorated for Kukaku? Her place was a mess! She could definitely use some more company...

"Don't worry, I'm sure the kid'll be fine." Said fire works goddess stated, taking a long puff on her long-stick cigarette before plumping down on the pillows beside her.

"I know... But I still can't shake the feeling." Yoruichi said, sitting up and leaning on the table. She sighed, alerting to Kukaku that something besides the fight at hand was bothering her.

"What is it?"

The goddess merely glanced down. She was definitely not herself.

"You ever have that feeling, that you know something terrible is going to happen? And theres nothing you can do to prevent it?"

Kukaku nodded.

"I've been having this dream. It stopped for a while, but then, just last night, I dreamt it again."

"Whats the dream?"

Yoruichi could only sigh once more as she began opening up to one of her dearest friends. She'd shared many things with the woman before her, many secrets. The two even shared their own secrets together. Hell, everyone knew that the two had a more than indifferent past together. It wasn't entirely unthought of. Yoruichi had often spent the night at Kukaku's, and had stayed there for more than her fair share of days. To some, it was just a regular, tight friendship. To others, it was a blasphemy. Something forbidden. Though, that was a different story all together. And it had been well over fifty years ago. Sworn to a secrecy since then.

Kukaku sat with her brows furrowed, as if she were thinking intently. What Yoruichi had told her about her dream of Ichigo's death was more than disturbing. Hell, it was warping.

"Have you told Ichigo? That your dream is back?"

"Really, Kukaku, he doesn't need anything else on his shoulders right now..." Yoruichi implied, before slapping her hand over her mouth and running to the bathroom.

She'd been that way all day...

"You've been pretty sick today. Whats wrong with ya?" Blowing the cancer smoke out of her lungs, Kukaku put out the cigarette, focusing her attention on the woman before her. So many times had they been in this exact position. Although, the times before were under different circumstances and Yoruichi was with Kisuke then. She never did like the two as a couple. Kisuke had always been so clingy, yet loose.

Yoruichi looked distant for a moment as she set a hand to her stomach, unaware that Kukaku was focused on her every move.

"You don't think yer..." She spoke, pointing to her stomach. Yoruichi gave a slight smile.

"It would make sense. Ichigo and I never use protection." The dark skinned goddess flashed a grin. Hah, she really was the goddess of flash in every way! "It takes away from the pleasure, you know that."

Kukaku sat wide eye'd for a moment, her mouth agape as she stood and walked towards a small cabinet in the corner of the room. After about two minutes of searching, a small 'ahh' was heard before a white box was tossed on the table. Yoruichi eye'd it for a moment before tossing a raised brow over her shoulder at the fire works expert standing close behind.

"You know where the bathrooms at." She stated, walking around and taking a seat. She lit up another cigarette, closing her eyes. She wasn't actually serious...was she? She intended for Yoruichi to check now?

"You've got to be kidding me. Kukaku, with the situation as it stands now, I'm not sure if I even want to know just yet."

"Its better to know so you don't go endangerin' not just yer life but yer babys'." She had a point.

"Alright, fine." Yoruichi sighed, defeated yet again. That was twice in one day! Omen? She hoped not. Getting up slowly, the goddess demonstrated her slow side as she took her time making her way to the small room to her left. She really didn't want to take this damn test right now...especially considering the high possibility. Mother-hood. The word 'mother' was entirely strange to her. And she could phantom the thought of some little kid calling her that. She didn't even know if she had it in her!

After several minutes of debation and consideration, the goddess sighed.

'What the hell.'

Kukaku was becoming impatient. She had been waiting anxiously for 30 damn minutes! How long did it take to use the damn thing and get a result? The sound of the door creaking open alerted the fire works babe as she turned her attention to the woman before her. Yoruichi's eyes gave away more than one emotion, while also giving away nothing. Kukaku titled her head, as if to ask a question. The goddess spoke then.

"I'm pregnant."

A/N: HO! She is gonna have a weeeee lil one mate! How joyous in this time of catastraphe.