I noticed that everybody keep asking me to update faster. Unfortunately i don't have such free time as i used to, two years ago when i started this story - being a grown up (not that i like it) keeps you occupied most of the time.

But since these days i had a couple of hours at my hand i told myself to write another chapter.

Someone also asked if there is still a long way to go... i must admit that with the next chapter i will reach exactly the half of this story. Therefore as long as it won't bore you and you will review, it will keep going.

As for Byakya... don't worry, he's still a main character. But these chapters need to be about ichiruki.

Otherwise, thank you for your reviews and enjoy the chapter! Mind my english, it's 2.24 am in my country and i don't have any beta.

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51. A chance to set things right part 2

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"Nice party, huh? And to think that could have been yours..." a voice came from the back. He didn't even bother to turn to see who it was. His eyes were fixed on Orihime and Ishida dancing together. Their happiness caught him too. A few meters away his sisters were trying to were laughing with their dates at the table. They also seemed to have a great time, so why wouldn't he? Why couldn't he?

He took another glass of white wine.

That person...Perhaps it was right. This wedding could have been his... but not with Orihime. He gasped, fighting with this own thought. He promised himself that he will never think of her again.

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A few meters away, on the dance floor, Ishida approached his chick to Orhime's.

"So should i call you, honey right now?"

Orihime blushed and then grinned like a little girl.

He kissed her on the chick and then approached to her ear:

"You know, i heard the conversation between you and Ichigo."

Her eyes suddenly widened worried, but he smiled.

"You know that i trust your judgment, right?"

But she still looked worried.

"I am glad that you cleared things between you two. Moreover that you cleared them in your heart."

With a relieved expression, she smiled and took him in her arms.

"I also know about the letters." he whispered in her ear.

This time she looked really troubled.

"Shouldn't you give them to him?" he asked.

She bit her lips.

"I can't give them directly to him. Kurosaki-san is hurt enough. I don't want make things worse between them."

"Then what are you waiting for? Go and talk to Isshin. I know you consumed yourself with this for the past month. Talk to him and then let us all enjoy this day!"

She smiled and kissed him in her most passionate way, with everyone catcalling behind them.

"You know i love you, right?" she asked.

"I love you, too. Now go!"

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Orihime went to the bridegrooms table to get her little white purse and then she headed to the restaurant's silent terrace where Isshin was leaning over the banister with a thoughtful expression. When he saw her approaching , his face brighten with a soft and warm expression:

"You look wonderful... and you look happy." he praised.

"But you don't" she answered.

He tried to hide a pitiful smile.

"You have to tell Kurasaki-kun."

Isshin frowned.

"Tell him what?"

"Don't try to hide it! I know everything. I heard the conversation you had with Kuchiki-san before she left Karakura."

His eyes widened.

"Don't worry. I'm the only one who knows... and Uryu-kun apparently, but you know he won't say a word."

Isshin gasped with a tired expression.

"I won't see the end of this!"

"Yes, you will. Tell Kurosaki-kun everything. You know that he and Kuchiki-san need each other."

"My daughter, it's not that simple. I can't meddle anymore. You saw how ended up the last time i did. I only wanted the best for my son and i ended up hurting him the most. This is a matter between him and Rukia."

"Kuchiki-san is lonely and so is Kurosaki-kun."

Again, Isshin let out a pitiful smile.

"Don't call her like that. She's not a Kuchiki anymore..."

"Very well, then let her have the name she deserves."

After she said that she took out of her little white purse the pile of letters she brought with her.

"I also managed to keep in touch with her. Right after she left, i followed her to the train station and i didn't' t let her go until she had promised to write me. These are the letters we exchanged almost every day."

Isshin was more than surprised.

"You can read them if you still doubt on what you have to do. I'm sure that she won't mind. But i wish that some way these would get to Kurosaki-kun, as well."

Isshin took the letters.

"As soon as possible." she added kindly and then she returned to the party.

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While he was starring at the letters, Isshin stood still like a statue for more than half an hour and played different kinds of scenarios in his head. He didn't open them. He didn't even need to. He already presumed what were Rukia's feelings.

"So be it!" he suddenly said and straighten up. He took out his cellphone and as he was dialing an number the returned to the party.

"Good afternoon. I would like to make reservation for Tokyo, please."

He put down the cellphone for a moment and looked around the restaurant.

"Where are you brat?"

He took the cellphone again.

"Yes... train ticket!"

He looked around again and this time he saw Yuzu and Karin.

"For today, please. When is your next train?" then he approached his daughters. "Oy, Karin! Where's your brother?"

She shrugged her shoulders, but Yuzu pointed at the bar. And there he was, the orange haired guy, having fun with a bottle of wine.

"I would like for the ticket to be on the name of Kurosaki Ichigo." he added in the cell phone, while he was heading to the bar. He gave his bank information and by the time he was done he was in front of Ichigo. With no other introduction he spoke:

"Ichigo, Rukia is pregnant!"

Ichigo cocked an eyebrow . Then considering that his father was putting his usual lunatic show on, he went back to his glass.

"I mean it, you idiot! She really is pregnant!"

This time Ichigo made a long face, but in order to hide it, he played indifferent.

"Already? I thought she'd wait till the wedding. Or don't tell that they me got married..."

"IDIOT!" Isshin snapped angrily and hit him at the back of his head. "It's yours! Rukia is pregnant with your child!"

Ichigo froze.

"You imbecile! She tried to tell you when she got back but you didn't listen to her!"

Still Ichigo was able only to blankly stare back at his father.

"Come to your senses you fool and go after her!"

"WHAT?! What are you saying there?!" he snapped as he was finally getting the message.

"No time for talking! Go! I got you a train ticket to Tokyo!"

"WHAT are you talking about?! What Tokyo?! What Rukia?!"

Isshin gasped with disappointment.

"You are more idiot then i thought. What part of Rukia is pregnant you don't get? Rukia or pregnant?"

Ichigo was blank. Isshin's eyes widened.

"My boy, you want me to explain to you how babies come to this world? Very well. So when a man and a woman met, this case you and Rukia..."

"SHUT UP! You old fart!" Ichigo snapped with a red face. "She can't be...she's getting married to Byakuya...You told me so! SHE admit it!"

Isshin gasped again like a scientist trying to explain quantum physics to a commoner.

"She was to marry Byakuya, but that's because first, he proposed to her and second because she thought you were about to marry Orihime."

"So she is not getting married?" Ichigo asked with expression of someone who needed one ore correct number in order to win the lottery.

"She's not! IDIOT! She went back to Seireitei to cancel the engagement! And after that she came back to you!"

"Then why didn't say something about the baby?"

"YOU DIDN'T LISTEN TO HER!"

"THEN WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SOMETHING?!"

"She forbid me to!"

"Then she doesn't want to have anything to do with me anymore..." he said as he leaned over the bar and falling into despair.

"She didn't want you to be with her just for the baby..." Isshin added.

Ichigo suddenly got up.

"JUST FOR THE BABY?! I though she betrayed me! Oh, no! Oh, no! I have to after her! I have to see Urahara so that he will get me to Seireitei!"

Isshin hit him again on the back of his head.

"Are you that stupid? Have you listen to me for a moment? She's not in Seireitei anymore. She moved to the Human World. She's in Tokyo!"

"In Tokyo?!"

"Ok. Try to picture this: Rukia is engaged to the mighty Kuchiki Byakuya and while the he is making the wedding preparations Rukia gets pregnant with you. I don't know when and i don't want to know, but when she come back home, she told to the her fiancé everything. Therefore she cuts all the ties with the Kuchiki family."

"But why Tokyo?"

"She thought it wouldn't be such a good idea for you to stay in the same town. She wanted to give you space, you know?"

"No, you don't get me. Why did she come to the human world?"

"So that her child- and your child as well- would have a human, worriless life. She gave up her life as a shinigami for that. She will live the rest of her life as a human."

His eyes widened and he bit his lips in order to not let his chin tremble.

"Just like you... But how could she do that? Being a shinigami was her life."

"I guess being a mother it's her life now."

"But is how is she managing without Byakuya's money? How is she keeping all together? I mean it's Tokyo!"

Isshin's expression softened.

"Don't imagine it's easy for her. From what i heard she's working so she could pay the food. I manage to pay her the rent, but..."

" What do you mean she's working?! She can't be working! She's pregnant! What if something happens the baby?!"

"Well, in that case you should be a man and go and take care of her!"

Ichigo starred at his old men with a tense expression and stood still as statue:

"Are you sure about all this?"

"If you don't believe me take this." Isshin said and gave to him the pile of letters he received form Orihime. "You have the address written on each envelope.

With the same tense expression he emptied his glass with one movement , took the letters and hurried to the exit of the restaurant.

"I'm off! Please tell Inoue i'm sorry i had to leave so early!"

And with that he disappeared. From the dance floor, seeing him leaving in such a hurry, Orihime suspected that everything cleared out.

"Oy, Kurokaki-kun!" she called. "Kurosaki-kun!"

He stopped from a second and looked back.

"Give this to Rukia from me!" and she threw him her wedding bouquet. After that, she turned to Isshin for a moment and slipped a meaningful smile.

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Ichigo was dizzy, but even though he couldn't put all the pieces together, he was certain about one thing: he was able to breathe again. Once more, everything was making sense and he knew where he belonged: By her side.

For him, it was enough to know she didn't cheat him, so that he could purchase her the end of the world. He didn't need a baby for that. His knees started to tremble again. It happened every time he was remembering the baby.

Father... He is going to be a father.

He couldn't understand when or how. Well, he did know when, but still.

Maybe it was a joke. Maybe it wasn't true. Even so, he didn't care. It was enough for him to know that she wasn't getting married with someone else.

But being a father wasn't such a bad idea, after all.

But what if he wasn't ready? How will he support the family? He didn't have a job yet. But will she have him back after he sent her away? Will she marry him now? Will they live a normal, human life? No more hallows, no more zanpakutos? What if Byakuya will come to beat the crap out of him for stealing his fiancé? Neah, he wasn't worrying about Byakuya. He already beat him once.

He was dizzy. All these question were making him nauseous. In order to calm down, he took the letters he received. All the envelopes were all opened and in each of them there were two letters. On each there was a different hand writing. On one there was Rukia's, on the other was... his blood pressure went down: it was Orihime's.

He started to read:

"Kuchiki-san, how are you? I know you were supposed to write me first, but i was anxious to know if everything is alright with you. The human world is a pretty difficult place to make it all alone. Myself, i found it hard sometimes to make it through the day ...and i am a human living in a small town. To think that you chose Tokyo made me really worry about you.

Once again, i'm sorry for following you down to the train station that day and for eavesdropping on your conversation with Kurosaki-san. I assure you, it was not with bad intentions. When i heard about your pregnancy, i was more than shocked, but to also know that you won't allow Kurosaki-kun to know about it, truly confused me. I'm sorry about the misunderstanding between the two of you, but i must tell you, as someone who grew up without its parents: the little baby inside your tummy will need both of his parents in order to be happy. I don't want to judge anyone and more than that i don't want you to feel guilty in front of me for what you have with Kurosaki-kun. Shinigami or human, we cannot dictate to our hearts to whom should they like or hate. Besides, don't forget, i'm getting married myself so i put all the past aside.

Kuchiki-san, i always knew that the bond you two have is something i could never surpass. So don't feel guilty and don't avoid me because of that. Believe me or not i wish we would be friends again. So tell me about yourself and your life in Tokyo.

Sincerely,

Orhime Inoue"

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Ichigo put the letter down. He was once more astonished with the Orhime's kindness and disappointed with himself: he was the last to know about Rukia. On the other side. However, he took the other letter written by Rukia's hand and continued to read:

"Dear Inoue,

Thank you for your letter and your concern. You are right: life in the human world is tough, especially in big cities. In these days, when making a leaving takes all my time, your letter came like a bless. I was so happy when i received it, but to be honest i wouldn't have been able to write to you if you hadn't wrote me first. No matter how kind your words are, my guilt in front of you is overwhelming. I know that next to you, Ichigo would have had a wonderful life. I destroyed that dream and along with it, all you two built in six years. I was selfish and i'm continuing on being selfish since i'm over thrilled with this new life that grows inside me. Sometimes it scares me how many people i hurt only so that i could allow him a peaceful life. Sometimes i wonder if i became i bad person... and if i did how could i ever be a good mother? So if you could accept such a shallow person such as i am, i would be more than happy to be your friend.

As for Ichigo. I came to the conclusion that i hurt him enough for an entire human lifetime. To tell him about the baby would only make things worse, because his sense of duty will have made him come after me in order to raise the child. He would have cared for the baby, but he would have hated to be by my side... and to be honest, i believe that worse than a single parent child it's a child raised in a family where the parents don't get along. Therefore, i will work twice harder and be twice more carrying and attentive. I believe i'm on the good direction since i already found i job. I a waitress at a coffee shop. It's not much, but it keeps the food on the table.

Enough about me, tell me about yourself. How are the wedding preparations?"

Sincerely,

Rukia

Ps: don't call Kuchiki anymore. I am no longer one.

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In the next letter, Orihime was meticulously describing the festive atmosphere back home: about how she chose restaurant, the invitations, Ishida's suit and so on and so on. Yet, at some point, out of nowhere she wrote: "Don't let yourself deceived by appearances. Ichigo it's not the same. He can't seem to find his place and that's because you're no longer here. He needs you back so why don't you come over to my wedding? This way you'll solve this issue once for all so that you'd finally enjoy your happy ending. Like i do right now..."

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"Dear Inoue,

Thank for your invitation, but i must decline since i have to work. Lately i took a second job and i work as a part time teacher at a kindergarten. It's good money and besides that it helps me to get used with children. Please, Inoue don't get me wrong, i wish i could congratulate you in person for this big step that you are about to take, but beside the work that keeps here, i also believe that my presence there would be a little awkward...

But don't worry i will make sure to work extra hours and sent you a beautiful present. I wish for your wedding to be perfect! And when you'll be back in Tokyo, please come and visit me. I might be at work so i will write you in this letter the addresses from the coffee shop and the kindergarten.

Sincerely,

Rukia

Ps: if you say that Ichigo is not doing well please keep an eye on him. Even if it's from distance. I know his stronger than any of us, but his heart is weaker than we can imagine.

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"Dear Rukia-chan,

Please don't exhaust yourself with extra hours so you can send me a present. As a matter a fact i don't find it a good idea for you to have two jobs. Please, give up at one of them. In my opinion i would go with the coffee shop since it can be really tiring. You must understand that you are a pregnant woman now and every extra effort that you make can lead to a miscarriage. Trust me, i am a nurse and i've seen a lot of them. I know how precious is this child for you so that's why i'm asking you to take care of yourself. You are no longer a warrior. You are no longer a shinigami. You are going to be a mother.

Ps: I'll see you on Tokyo then. I noted the addresses from your jobs. As for Ichigo, you know that no one could keen a better eye on him than you.

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"Inoue,

You said 'No longer a shinigami'. Even now it gives me goose bumps when i think about it. More than half of my life i've been one, so i still find it difficult not to be. As i find it strange to not wake up with Sode no Shirayuki by my side.

Sometimes i still worry about the unfinished things i left behind. As a matter a fact i often think about the enemies that are still out there. Tell me, did the Prisoners made more victims? Is Ichgo still fighting?

It's so selfish for me to ask, but do you have any news from Soul Society?

Oh, It's so stupid for me to even write these words, so i won't mind if you don't reply me."

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Here Ichigo stopped from reading. Rukia's words only made him feel miserable: Locking up her shinigami powers and her luxurious lifestyle to that she could struggle to make a leaving in Tokyo. He knew how much meant to her to be a vice-captain. He knew with how much pride and grace she was swinging her zanpakuto . Therefore it was unimaginable for him to see her working during days as a teacher and in evenings as waitress... all that while she was pregnant.

Something hurt inside him. He just wanted for this train to arrive faster in Tokyo. He wished to see her, but what would he tell her?

He looked again at the paper on which there were written the addresses from her working places...

What would he tell her? Because this was his last chance to set things right...

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See you next time!