"Still nothing" he mumbled to himself; slipping his phone back into his pant's pocket. When they left this morning she'd looked distracted and barely said a word to either him or Karin; but she made the lunch he carried so he was confused to say the least.
It was rare for him to eat in the staff room, but Uryu had insisted. Mumbling something incoherent before pushing up his glasses and leaving. Needless to say, his morning was going great, and his spectacled friend was going insane.
A few of his coworkers looked up in surprise as he came through the olive drab door; but with a scowl sent their way they were quick to return to their meals. Somehow he'd managed to only be in this room once before; it wasn't so much do to a dislike of his coworkers, more just a general desire to be left alone.
There were a couple more tables than he remembered; they left the fairly large room feeling smaller than it actually was. Alone at one of them sat Uryu; half his face blocked by his hands, fingers interlocked and eyes staring so intently Ichigo had shivers running down his spine, and not the good kind.
Sitting across from Uryu was like being at a job interview; his well pressed white dress with the collar folded so sharply it could cut you; he must've used a whole box of starch to get it that way.
"So what is it this time?" Ichigo asked taking the seat across from his friend.
"You always assume the worst of me Kurosaki."
"Do you not do the same Ishida?" The barest trace of a smile was directed his way "touché."
They'd hated each other when they first met; and competed at everything: grades, popularity, the love of a certain woman. Yet even after all of that they had become thick as thieves, even if they still acted as if they hated one another.
"We couldn't have done this in my office?"
"Kurosaki, you don't want to give our students the wrong idea of us do you?"
"Oh fuck off" Ichigo replied with a roll of his eyes. "Why did you want to do this anyway?"
"We've been too busy, I thought it would be nice to catch up."
"Bullshit" Ichigo had to refrain himself from slamming a fist down on the table "every time you want to catch up you just end up asking about my personal life."
"Do friends not talk about that sort of stuff?"
"Yeah, normal friends, when have we ever been normal friends?"
"I guess even you can be right once in a while" he badly wanted to smack his friend; but keeping his job meant Ichigo had to restrain himself even if Uryu deserved it. "There is something I wanted to talk to you about."
"Of course there is" Ichigo mumbled placing his lunch on the table; if he was going to have to sit through another one of Uryu's lectures on his lunch he would for sure be leaving on a full stomach.
With his friend droning on in the background Ichigo focused on the meticulously packed lunch; each item paced within its own container and masterly stacked.
"You're not listening to me are you?"
"Hmmm, yeah yeah I" he started to respond before his eyes caught a hint of colour buried in between the mound of grey Tupperware. Honestly whatever it was was far more interesting than whatever speech Uryu had for him.
"Left yourself a note?"
"Wha- oh… no" he stared down at the folded paper; parted ever so to reveal its colourful interior. "I think Ru- ah… my girlfriend made my lunch; she must've left it." He hadn't known her to have much of an artistic streak, and he was proven right. It was juvenile, silly, and right up her alleyway; with two crudely drawn bunnies in what could be described as a field making a heart out of their arms.
Maybe he'd pin it to their fridge as high as he could, or maybe he wouldn't. It was cute in its own way, not that he'd ever tell her that; but given the events of the previous weekend making a joke out of this maybe wasn't the best idea.
Under his friend's watchful eyes the paper was carefully folded; then he pulled out his wallet. As it unfolded and the picture of his son was bare for him to see; there wasn't hesitation as Rukia's drawing began slip behind the picture of him and his son.
"Are you happy?"
"What?" He asked; hands stopping.
"Whatever your girlfriend left you, you're putting it behind… well."
"Yeah I know; I guess I am." He felt happy as the paper slid into its new home, he felt a little lighter too.
"That makes this easier on me then."
"Makes what easier?" Ichigo asked as Uryu brought out his own lunch; he didn't give it much though till he could smell it. "YOU SON OF A BITCH!" He launched himself across the table grabbing the surprised, and maybe just a little scared, spectacled man by the collar.
"C-calm down Kurosaki."
"CALM DOWN, CALM DOWN! YOU'RE DATING MY EX-WIFE AREN'T YOU." He was shouting so loud now that Uryu's hair was blown back.
"It could be worse!" Uryu shouted back at him "HOW?" "It could be someone you don't trust!"
"I'M SUPPOSED TO TRUST YOU?"
"Yes damn it; I'm your friend!"
"THIS DOESN'T SOUND LIKE SOMETHING A FRIEND WOULD DO!"
"I KNOW! I know" Uryu's admission had the hellfire inside him calming just a little. "You don't think I beat myself up over this; I can't help how I feel though, and I can't help that she feels the same."
Ichigo's grip slackened, not enough for him to pull away, but enough that they were no longer almost nose to nose.
"I can't believe my lunch gave it away; I had a speech and everything." Uryu's attempt at humor did lighten the situation just a little more
"I've eaten enough of her crazy creations to know one when I smell it."
"How long does it take to get used to them?"
"You should invest in some cookbooks" his answer had the hope draining from Uryu's eyes "it can't still be that bad can it?" Ichigo asked, his attention turning to his friend's food just to quickly avert his eyes for fear of gagging at the sight."
"Want to trade?" Ichigo was quick to let go and snatched up his lunch at the question.
"Not a fucking chance, you dug yourself into this hole; and know this, if the food doesn't kill you I will if you hurt her."
…
Sure he could be rude, brash, and the short jokes were always annoying; but Ichigo was never vindictive. Even after more or less giving him the cold shoulder this morning he was still checking in with her, making sure she was alright in a roundabout sort of way. Letting her know he would be stopping by his mother's grave and asking if he should bring flowers for her sister as well.
He probably though he had figured her out; truth is she purposely gave different answers depending on her mood; it was a useful tool. Quickly, she let him know it would be appreciated; in a nice happy sort of way, a way that ran counter to how she actually felt.
There was a pit at the bottom of her stomach, she hadn't been able to keep anything down; and it would be a stretch to say she paid attention to any of her teachers today. She was good at putting on a brave face, very good actually, but the cracks were starting to show; which was how she ended up face to face with Orihime's office door.
If there was someone else she could go to she would, but as it stood this was her only option. She didn't have time for a second knock before the busty auburn haired beauty flung the door open.
"Rukia, what a pleasant surprise." Her cheery voice and innocent, happy smile had Rukia wanting to turn back and run.
"Do you have a minute before you leave?"
"Of course" Orihime answered; stepping aside and allowing Rukia to enter. "What is troubling you?" Rukia didn't register the question, just nervously paced back and forth in the small space.
"Rukia!" The sudden outburst from the councillor brought her back.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come but I didn't know who else to go to."
"Rukia what's going on?" Orihime sounded full of concern "what has you so would up?"
"I'm late!"
…
Each hand was laden with a bouquet of red tulips; around him the birds sang and the trees were starting to show their fall colours, every so often a leaf would crunch soundly underfoot; but it was all just background noise to the one thought that occupied his mind. At least she wasn't mad at him; that alone brought solace.
But his mind wandered as he traversed the winding path, what was eating away at her? Normally it was a pretty straight forward affair, she'd let it kick about for a bit, maybe kick him a little bit if he were responsible, and then she'd tell him. A simple routine they always followed; that was why this didn't sit right with him.
Despite better judgement he wanted to poke and prod till she spilled her guts.
Deciding that he'd just have to go with the flow of things he left his thoughts and the concrete path behind. The clearing Hisana rested in was lovely; with autumn wildflowers littering the treeline.
"Hello, Hisana-San" he greeted her; laying a bouquet at the foot of her headstone. Never before had he been here without the midget so he was left somewhat unsure of what to say or do.
"Shiba" it wouldn't take a genius to figure out who was behind him; and the anger hidden beneath that deep monotone voice didn't bode well for him. "What are you doing desecrating my wife's grave with your presence?"
…
"I-I'm sorry I don't think I quite heard you… did you just say you're late?"
"About two weeks" Rukia confirmed "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have come" she said reaching for the door.
"No… Rukia" Orihime stopped her, grasping her shoulder "have you taken a test yet, have you told Ichigo?"
"N-Neither" she admitted; slowly the hot, prickling sting of tears in the corners of her eyes "I just… I don't know what to do."
Quickly she was pulled towards a chair and gently pushed into it and, while she was hesitant Rukia let herself sink into the soft fabric "You could just be overthinking things" Orihime calmly told her "you've told me about the stress you've been under it could just be that; with that being said, still, the first thing you need to do is to tell Ichigo."
"But-"
"No buts, this is serious Rukia; he's not going to be mad at you, probably just shocked."
"You know the situation we're in, if this were any other time I'd be happy; I want a family. To have all of us crowded around a table talking about our days, I never got that, but I'd like it; this could get us in a lot of trouble though, I don't want him to be angry, I don't want him to leave." Her eyes drifted down and away from Orihime; wrongfully or not Rukia was ashamed to have come to her.
"He won't leave, or be angry with you; but his initial response might not be something… desirable. Has he talked much about Kazui, or our time together? Right… that makes sense" Orihime added after a brief awkward silence.
"I was in the same position as you, and when I told him I was pregnant he left school looking more panicked than I'd ever imagined he could be." Her story didn't line up with the indomitable man she knew; but there was the barest hint of a smile on Orihime's lips.
"I found him later in my apartment, in between building a crib and a rocking chair. He was sixteen then and I know he's grown since then; but if you don't get the reaction you want right away know that he'll come around quickly."
As the words sank in Rukia worked up the courage to ask "what was he like?"
"As a father?" Rukia nodded; Orihime leant back in her seat, smiling to herself; perhaps at the memories of years past. "He worried about every little thing, when Kazui was learning to walk Ichigo would always want to be beside him to make sure he didn't fall. I'd tell him to let Kazui be, he needed to learn to fall; Ichigo just didn't want his boy to grow up."
"Was Ichigo really that over protective of a father?"
"I wouldn't say over protective" Orihime hummed and hawed, taking a while to come up with a way to best describe the carrot top. "He was very doting but I would say he was cautious; Ichigo… he took being a father very seriously."
…
"It's Kurosaki"
"What was that boy?"
Byakuya's voice grated on his nerves like no other "I said my name is Kurosaki, my father took my mother's name."
"Strange, for a man of his standing."
"He loved my mom, is that so strange?"
"Perhaps not." There was a noticeable shift in the older man's voice, some of the edge was gone and there might have even been a hint of respect for the Kurosaki patriarch hidden within.
Still, they stared each other down. If he stayed longer there would surely be a shouting match, so, as a favour to the midget Ichigo quietly moved away from her sister's grave and gave Byakuya a wide berth as he headed for the treeline.
"It seems Rukia still remembers" clearly her brother had more to say.
"What?"
"Tulips, they were Hisana's favourite."
He should have left it at that but, Byakuya's words had him looking bundle still in his hand; a petal slowly breaking off the flower and floating away in the breeze, back towards the stone. "They were my mother's favourite as well" Ichigo finally responded.
Byakuya stayed quiet, stoically looking on at his wife's grave; and something about that pissed him off. If he loved his wife so much how could he hurt Rukia the way he did.
"Why did you lie to her?"
"I never lied to Rukia" Byakuya quickly responded "I simply omitted some details."
"Cut the bullshit! Do you know how much you hurt her?"
"Do you know how much trouble you could get her in?" Byakuya countered "for someone who acts like they care about her, you're putting Rukia's future at risk."
"I know that, and it keeps me up at night, but she's free to leave whenever she wants."
"If you really care about her than you'd convince her to come home with me."
"If you cared about her then you'd act like a fucking father" Ichigo quickly fired back.
"Excuse me?" Byakuya asked, shock etched into his features, like it was the last thing he'd been expecting to hear.
"You heard me; you're the closest thing Rukia has to one and it's clear that's how she sees you."
"You can't be cer-"
"She keeps a picture of the three of you on our nightstand, says that you were almost like any other family. Whether you like it or not when you married Hisana you took on the role of her father, and from the stories she tells about growing up it doesn't seem like you minded."
"Of course I didn't" Byakuya… he sounded insulted.
"Then why would you make her think she was going to be married off, why would you pay her boyfriend to spy on her?"
"Because being a father means making tough decisions and sacrifices; that is something someone as young as you wouldn't understand."
"Guess again" Ichigo replied, reaching into his back pocket he pulled out the old, cracked leather wallet and tossing it to the elder man. "I was twenty in that picture" Ichigo said as Byakuya opened it "my son was three. At seventeen I became a father so don't lecture me on tough decisions and sacrifice."
"Is he with his mother now, were you too unfit of a father?"
Ichigo ignored his jab "on Friday our school is holding our cultural festival, it starts at noon and lasts till four or five. I know Rukia won't admit to it but the way I see her look at that picture of you three, the longing she has for it, she still wants you in her life. If you show up, apologize, and support her, I know she'll forgive you."
"Are you trying to help? Why would you tell me this?" A confused Byakuya asked.
"Because the only time I get to see my son is when I work up the courage to stand in front of his grave. Helping you is a necessity, I just want Rukia to be happy."
There was a long silence between them and as Ichigo started to slowly turn and walk away, coming to the conclusion things were finished that's when Byakuya finally spoke up again. "I've admired you father for quite a while" that was something Ichigo had never expected to hear.
"You know he's a giant goofball and an idiot right?"
"He has those qualities yes" Byakuya admitted "but the Shiba's are an old family with money, power, and renown; and your father walked away from it all to be with the woman he loved. I always thought he'd keep the Shiba name, just it alone would command respect; but it seems he gave that up too. It takes great courage to do something like that; he must've truly loved your mother."
"I don't think he'll ever date again" Ichigo's comment was met with an approving nod, and a longing look at the headstone.
"It pains me to admit that you seem to demonstrate all the positive qualities of your father; Jushiro and Kukaku have both assured me of your quality, and that you'll take care of Rukia."
"Well of coruse I-" but he was interrupted by the elder man raising his hand, signaling for him to keep quiet.
"Kurosaki your family has courage I only wish I had seventeen years ago when I married Hisana, perhaps had I been more like your father… more of a father. Perhaps then I never would have had something to hide."
"I… what are you getting at?"
"Has Rukia talked about her parents?"
"No" he admitted, quite confused "she told me she never knew them, that Hisana wouldn't talk about the."
"That is a lie, though one Rukia doesn't know she tells; she has indeed met her parents, though she doesn't know as much about them as she should."
Alarms started going off in Ichigo's head and his eyes widened "you mean you're-"
"Yes" Byakuya interrupted him "I am her father."
Authour's Note: Ichigo's saying he was seventeen when he became a father and Orihime telling Rukia she told him when she was sixteen I know is a bit confusing I'm just trying to account for the 9 months she would be carrying the baby.
Also I have been waiting 18 chapters to do this reveal, totally worth it.