AN: 'that' refers to the events in Fetching Orihime. This is sort of a sequel to the previous stories I have written involving Orihime and Ishida. I hope you guys out there enjoy them.

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach and its characters but the baby Ichirin belongs to me.

Haunts from the Past

Ichirin giggled and smiled when I tickled his chin. He looks absolutely adorable with his shock of baby fine jet black hair and huge hazel brown eyes. Just merely looking into his innocent eyes reminds me of his mother. Holding him tight, I thrust him upwards and quickly recoil my outstretched arms. Ichirin let out bursts of laughter at the short ride and flashed his toothless smile as I repeated the act.

I caught the sight of Orihime standing under the archway towards the living room. Her warm winsome smile carved onto her face as carefully watches me while I play with Ichirin. I stopped and got off from the couch. Shifting the boisterous baby to my left arm, I took Orihime into my right in a partial hug and tenderly kissed her on the lips.

"You know, I wouldn't drop him…not in this lifetime," I whispered as our lips parted. "Don't worry."

"I know you would never but that might happen again…" Orihime answered quietly, tearing her gaze away from my eyes. As if Ichirin felt the pain in his mother's words, he reached out for her and patted her cheeks while babbling something in baby talk. She took Ichirin into her arms and turned to return upstairs. Under the dim light of the room, I thought I saw tears glistened in her eyes as she stepped away.

A pang of guilt shot through my body and I felt my face redden.

"Please…don't…" I manage to croak, my hands automatically went out grab her left arm to stop her from leaving. Moving closer and embracing her in a back hug, "I'm, I'm…different now…you can trust me, this time,please do…"

"Uryuu…"

"Please…I'm also his father…and I want to be the best father in the world for him…" I pleaded.

"…"

"Please…"

"…"

The atmosphere felt heavy and only silence enveloped us in its behemoth. We stood there for what felt like eternity, with just the occasional gurgle from Ichirin and the lavender shampoo scent of Orihime's hair in my nostrils.

Suddenly, she chuckled and exclaimed, "Uryuu, what are you talking about? Of course I want you to be his father. After all, we brought him into this world."

She tickled Ichirin under his chin and he reacted with another burst of laughter. The tension between us seems to intermingle with the laughter and melt away with each emergence of the new wave.

"Then, can I hold him?" I tested the waters cautiously.

"Uryuu, why did you sound like I wanted to abandon you? I'm only taking Ichirin for feeding, you know," she answered back in her cheery way punctuated with that precious smile I have fallen in love with the first time I met her.