◊ (When You Left- Part 1, Rukia) ◊
∆ (Ichigo's Room -3rd Division) ∆ - ¤ (Days Later) ¤ - Kuchiki Rukia
Nothing much has gone on since they had the girl put under protection. Many of the divisions had been temporarily shut down since their captains were on duty or being watched in some cases, like mine. Ichigo didn't feel like doing his duties, which would later prove to be dangerous to his position.
Kiyono was still weeping the loss of his girlfriend who he had actually known for a long time. I felt bad for him. Thinking he was in love, protecting her and then having her ripped from her arms but he was doing all right, I hoped.
"Rukia!" Someone yelled from out the window.
I opened the balcony window and stuck my head out of it. "We need your help!" Renji asked.
I turned around and looked at Ichigo who was angrily sitting on the bed wait for me, his company to return to his side. "We've been summoned outside." I said.
He sighed. "Fine." He grabbed his sword and jumped out the window after grabbing me and sat me on the ground once we had landed. "What you need Renji?" Ichigo asked.
"I need help with this." He said holding out a small crying child in his arms.
"It's so small and adorable." I said taking it from his arms and rocking it back and forth. "Where you'd get it?" I asked.
"Like I should know, it was left in my division. I thought to take it here first." Renji said.
"Here?" Ichigo asked.
"Rukia has a lot of experience with young children from earth, right?" Ichigo shook his head. "She seems to be doing a good job though, so can you take care of her, Rukia?"
"Sure, but try to find her mother because she's still quite young." I said and walked inside. Ichigo shrugged and Renji smiled and stepped off.
"How'd you get so good at taking care of children Rukia?" He asked.
"I don't know. You've only had a few pregnant mothers who's children I watched at the clinic and I seem to know what I'm doing, don't I?" I asked.
"Yeah, you remind me of my mom with Yuzu and Karin except with one child." He said smiling.
"She's so young, probably new born. We probably won't find her mother. Her mom probably lived at the cost of this little one. It's sad." I said. I felt sad for the poor lonely child.
"So you're going to have to be its mom?" Ichigo asked.
"It seems so until we find someone that can take care of her; she's mine to care for." Ichigo said and we sat on the couch. He put his arm around my back holding me close to him and I continued rocking the child.
"You're really good at being a mother Rukia." I smiled.
"Thanks, it just comes naturally to me to care for smaller living things, like babies." I said.
"My mom said something about that when I asked her how she understood what Yuzu and Karin wanted."
Ж (Flashback) Ж
(Ichigo is very little, like 5) "Mommy you have two little babies." Ichigo said.
"Yeah I do, there names are Yuzu and Karin and they're your sisters."
"Really, they're mine?"
"No, but it's your job to watch over them, care for them and love them forever, understand?"
"I will mommy, no matter what. I promise." His mother smiled. She patted him on the head.
"Good boy Ichigo, that's your job, I never forget that."
Yuzu and Karin both started crying. "What do they want?"
"They need food Ichigo." She said.
"Really? You understand them?" He asked amazed.
"Of course I do, I'm their mother. It's a girl thing. We understand small children, their hopes, dreams and everything they need to live and survive. You'll understand that one day."
"It doesn't make any sense. Crying doesn't mean anything. You cry because you're in pain, or upset not if you need something. That's silly. If you need something just tell someone."
She laughed. "Ichigo, babies can't talk, they cry like you do when you're hurt to tell me you need to be taken care of. They just have a wide variety of meanings."
"Wow, that's amazing." Ichigo said. "How'd you do that?"
"I'm a mom, I just know naturally." She said.
Ж (Flashback Over) Ж
"That's a nice story Ichigo." I said watching him tell about his past with his mom.
"I never did understand how a cry could mean something but if a baby couldn't cry, it would die." Ichigo said.
"You think so?" I asked.
"Yeah, it's like their form of talking, isn't it?" I shook my head.
"No, a mother knows what they need regardless if they cry. They know they need food, water, to be warm, sheltered, to breath and all the things all humans needs. If crying was the only way for babies to communicate and moms were they only ones to understand we'd lose a lot of children wouldn't we?" I asked.
"I guess, orphans, those who lost their moms, and a lot of people in soul society. A dad could never take care of a child."
"But they can, your dad knew how to take care of you, Yuzu and Karin, didn't he?" I asked.
"Yeah but we were older." He said.
"It doesn't matter; there are things you just know. Maternal and Paternal Knowledge, it's the stuff you grow to know and the stuff you've always known." I said.
"So doesn't it need a bottle?" He asked.
"No, it needs like some sort of small food to eat. I'm going to find something, watch her." I said. I handed the baby to Ichigo and walked out of the room.
"Shouldn't you name her?" He asked.
"You." I said walking out.
I came back in with food and snacks for both us and the baby and sat down and took the baby from Ichigo. "I couldn't think of one." He said.
"I figured."
"I looked it up in the files, her name was supposed to be Karla." I said holding the child.
"And?" He asked.
"Her mom is alive, she's here. It was a deformed birth. Karla here is alone." I said sadly.
"It's alright, she'll be fine." Ichigo said.
"Yeah but I'm taking care of her now. The amazing thing was how she showed up directly in the Court of High Spirits."
"This means?"
"It's a soul-Gigai-human entrance." I said.
"That means?" He asked.
"A human or Gigai gave birth to a child that was a half Gigai."
"And?" He asked annoyed.
"It's possible."
"What is?" He asked.
"A human or Gigai pregnancy and that a Gigai or human can give birth to a dead human or Gigai. It means one parent could be alive, one could be dead."
"You don't mean?" He asked.
"Yes, the child died because one of its parents was a Gigai, the other was alive and the child was born half alive and half dead, it was unstable but it's possible. That's all we need to know." I said looking down at her.
"So she's a Gigai-human?"
"Yes, which means just as easy, you could have a Shinigami-hollow hybrid." I said.
"You don't mean?"
"Naturally in the world, it's possible to stumble upon, not natural but abnormally. It could be possible."
"Which means?" He asked.
"It's an experiment of Aizen's. It worked and he will want his child back." I said holding the child closer to me.
"We need to go see Yamamato." Ichigo said. I nodded and got up and flash stepped to the 1st Division.
"Captains Kuchiki and Kurosaki, what's the meaning of this?" He asked.
"It's a Gigai-human hybrid." I said holding out the child.
"You sure?" I nodded.
"It showed up in the 3rd Division Headquarters. It was brought to me for care and I just figured it out."
"Earth born?" I nodded.
"Human birth, correct?"
"What does this mean, Captain Kuchiki?" He asked.
"It's possible for a child to be born a Hollow-Shinigami Hybrid. I have theory to believe that Aizen is."
"I doubt this." He said.
"Why not, he has no history of the place or rebirth; he could be born anywhere, right?" I asked.
"But if it's part hollow…
"If his mother is a Shinigami or even a normal soul he could have been born in straight into Soul Society." I stated.
"Kuchiki-taichou, I put you in charge of protecting this child and keeping it out of the hands of Former Captain, Aizen. Understood?"
"Yes, sir." I said nodding.
"Kurosaki-taichou, I put you in charge of protecting Rukia Kuchiki-taichou with your life, understood."
"Of course, yes." He said.
"Now go back to earth, take care of things there. Now." He opened a gate and pushed us in.
∆ (Earth, Park) ∆
I walked around the park until I found Ichigo who had fallen a little farther away from me then I would have expected. "Ichigo, we should go to your place." He nodded.
"How are we going to explain the child?" He asked.
"How should I know?" I responded.
"Your Far Aunt died leaving you with the child and your uncle was killed in the war a few months ago." I shrugged. That would have to be the stupidest thing he's made up yet, and yet, we would go with it, of course.
∆ (Ichigo's House) ∆ - ¤ (After a Long Explanation) ¤
"She's so adorable nii-san, isn't she?" Yuzu asked.
"Yeah, she is." Ichigo said in response to talking to Yuzu. "Rukia, how long until they find someone to take care of Karla?" He asked.
"It could be a while since she's of noble blood like I was; they have made sure she's 100 safe. That's why they didn't worry about handing her over to me." I said.
"Man that stinks." Ichigo said.
"Stop complaining Ichigo, enjoy the time we have with her." He sighed as he watched me play with the small child.
"Yes son, one day you will have children of your own after you have found a wife and married her and you two will enjoy the time you have with them so much more then you could have ever imagined." Ichigo's dad said.
"That's why mom always said dad, when Ichigo complained about watching us." Ichigo's dad smiled and nodded.
"So you enjoy caring for a being smaller then yourself then, yes?' Ichigo's dad asked.
"Yeah I do, she's so small and she relies on me so much. It's so nice." Rukia said.
"So do guys like Ichigo," Karin stated. I laughed and Ichigo just gave me a hard glare and I gave him a smile back, which he knew I was being funny, but I rested my head on his shoulder. "You look tired." Yuzu said. "You should both take a nap." It was too late for that. Ichigo was asleep. He hadn't slept since he was had been in charge of watching me.
"I think I'll be joining him in going to sleep. Can one of you watch Karla?" I asked.
"Of course Rukia, I bet neither of you had got any sleep with all her crying." Yuzu said and walked out of the room with Karla. I laid my head on Ichigo's shoulder and smiled.
"Sorry you had to protect me again, I told you, you wouldn't have to anymore. But I made a mistake." I said kissing his forehead and going back to sleep.
"I really am, forgive me?" I asked.
"You're always forgiven Rukia, don't worry about it. I love you so much; I'll always protect you if even you don't want me to." Ichigo said and pulled me to lie down and hold me so that he could look in my eyes. "I love you and I live to protect you, don't worry I will protect you, no matter what."
"Thank you Ichigo thanks." I said and smiled and he pulled me to his chest and hugged me close.
- (Dream) –
There was a girl with dark brown/blackish hair and crystal clear skin and she had the most amazingly beautiful brown eyes, they were soft and caring. "Who are you?" I asked. She ran up to me.
"You're home, Daddy said you'd never come home. He was so upset. I thought he was crying. I'm so happy you're home." She said and smiled.
"I'm happy I'm home too, where's your dad…um…?"
"Marie, you don't remember my name?"
"No, sorry Marie. It's been a while, I'm so sorry." I picked her up and hugged her close to my body. "I'm so sorry."
She smiled at me. "Don't worry; I'm glad you're back. Daddy will be happy to see you again. It's been a long time, 2 years." She said.
"I left you two years ago?" I asked. She frowned and nodded. "I'm so sorry Marie, I really am. I don't even remember where I was."
"Neither do I, you just ran off crying and then two years later you're back." She said.
"So that's where, well let's see your father." I said. I walked over to the door and she ran in and waited at the door.
"Well you finally came back after 2 years, eh Rukia?" A familiar voice asked.
"Renji, you're her father?" I asked.
"Something really did happen to you bad out there, no wonder you were so upset. No, Ichigo is her father, your husband." He said laughing. "I'll tell my wife about this one, funny Rukia, thanks for a laugh."
I walked inside and I felt two large strong arms wrap around me and I felt tears fall from my face. "You're back." He said. "I thought I had pushed you away after that."
"I can't remember anything, do you mind explaining?" I asked.
"Sure," He pulled me to the couch. "Well you told me after the birth of Marie that you never wanted to get pregnant again?"
"Why?"
"The agony of both of you."
"Both of us?"
"Marie was born dead, half human half Gigai. She could never be a part of any world. You said you could her and feel her pain when she was with you. You said that you were in extreme pain; creating life within a soul is almost impossible and deadly and extremely painful. I almost lost you; I told you that it was alright."
"One child wasn't enough, was it?" I ask.
"Yeah it is, you were fine, and we were fine. I only needed one kid to take care of. However, a couple of years accidentally of course, it happened. You were pregnant but this time worst than ever. When you give birth to life, it was killing your soul. A soul and body can create a soul and body but I Gigai can't. You were filling in the missing part of the body with your soul. I would have killed you but you ran off."
"Why?"
"You said you wouldn't kill something even if it was in so much pain, it was partially alive but it was suffering. It was like a hollow, a soul within a manifestation of skin that was suffering but you didn't get an abortion as I begged you to, you suffered. However, ran off, and it's been two years. So where is she/he?"
"I don't know. I showed up and I saw her while I was walking and I felt everything was trying to come back. I don't remember anything at all." I looked down at the ground. "Sorry.' He hugged me.
"It's alright, Marie and I are just glad you're back. She needs you trust me. I never understood how much harder it was to raise a kid without you. Don't leave me again, will you?"
"No, not if I have a choice." I told him.
This is what happens when you leave someone that you love behind, Rukia. this is what happened when you left, both times.
"Both times?" I asked.
When he gave everything to come and get you. You left him to return to his own home, and left him to suffer and sulk without you. The one he loved. Then after a mistake and he wanted to help you, you did it again. You left.
"I don't remember leaving the second time. I just remember coming back."
Want to know what it was like when you left, both times?
"Sure, I need this." I said.
Ж (Flashback) Ж
∆ (Ichigo's Place) ∆ - ¤ (Summer) ¤
Yuzu walked down the hallway and knocked on Ichigo's door. "Nii-san, are you coming out?" Yuzu asked. "You've been in there since you got back." She said.
"I don't feel it today Yuzu, go away, please?" He asked.
"Alright Nii-san, whatever you want." She said deeply depressed by his lack of enjoyment of the summer.
Yuzu sat next to Karin on her own bed. "Ichigo stop sulking yet?" Karin asked.
"No," Yuzu said sadly.
"I'll knock him back to his sense for you Yuzu." Karin said standing up. Yuzu grabbed her arm.
"No, he's depressed, leave him be." Yuzu said. "We don't want to push him away father. Let's go eat. I'll ask him if he wants dinner."
"Fine but if he doesn't come to his sense soon, I'll make him." Karin warned her.
Yuzu returned to the door and knocked. "Nii-san, dinner." Yuzu said hoping to see a glimpse of her dearly beloved brother.
"I'm not hungry Yuzu, pack it away if I feel like eating later, would you?" Ichigo asked.
"Alright, Nii-san." Yuzu said walking away with tears coming out of her eyes.
Yuzu tried her hardest not to cry but her brother seemed to be the last remnant of their family togetherness, how their dad was always working this summer, they barely had enough time to spend as a family.
I had only seen the family a few times and they were always playing, planning something, being together, when Ichigo was there, they were whole. I guess It's my fault for messing with Ichigo, and then messing up their family. My fault, nothing is ever not my fault, is it?
Ж (Flashback Over) Ж
You ready for the second part, if you left now.
No, I can't handle them one after another, sorry. I feel bad enough about doing that. Is that a true part of his summer, or how it was like?
True, of course. I can make no mistake with showing the truth.
I thought it was like an example like what you're about to show me now.
No, that was a fact of the summer, as you said. However, I recommend seeing the truth of the possible future to decide your path again.
I do, don't I?
No, you have a choice, but I highly recommend it.
Fine then, I wish to see how it was for both of them while I was gone. Please tell me that I can change this first. I can't handle this if there's no way I can change it.
Of course, you can change it, Destiny plays a part in it but you have free will to change and alter it as well. Good-luck.
Ж (Flashback) Ж
"Daddy, where is my mommy? All the other kids have mommies, where's mine?" Marie asked. "Don't I have one? Where is she? Can I meet her? Is she coming back? Does she hate me? Did I do something wrong?"
"You have a mommy but she's been gone a while because she was confused and needed time to herself. Your mommy is somewhere. You have one, of course you do. You can meet her one day when you stop worrying, she'll feel comfortable coming back to see us, and you'll be happy again. She doesn't hate you; I think she left because she thinks I hate her. You didn't do anything wrong, you're perfect, just like her."
"Do I look like her?"
"Yeah, you do."
"Really, then she must be really pretty!" Marie said happily.
"Yeah, she is." Ichigo said smiling at the little girl's enthusiasm.
"So if I wait you promise she'll come back?" Marie asked.
"I sure hope she does. I hope she doesn't think I hate her. I hope she comes back soon but with her, it could be a while."
"Mommy runs off a lot?" She asked.
"Sometimes but only once has she ever run off for longer then a few days."
"She came back right, when?"
"When I was upset and practically crying for her. She showed up." Ichigo said.
"If I cry, will she come back?" Marie asked.
"No, don't cry. She'll come back for you, maybe me, one day." Ichigo said smiling at her
"Alright, then I'll wait until the day when she returns."
"Good girl," Ichigo said picking her up and bringing her to the table. 'Rukia, please come back, I… we need you. Especially her.'
How selfish was I, I didn't understand what was going on, I ran off twice. I'm stupid. I need to make sure that doesn't happen. I have to stay with them, no matter what. I will stay with them!
Ж (Flashback Over) Ж
Therefore, you see your mistakes.
Only someone who was blind and deaf wouldn't see my mistakes and even then, I'm sure they could sense the tenseness and pain in the air.
Very well, so you know that you have to stay with them.
Can I ask you something?
I guess I can allow it.
Isn't Ichigo a soul as well, and a Gigai so wouldn't the child be born completely dead and a soul?
Yes he is, as are you so yes, you both are but two and two is 1, she is alive and you are dead as is he because you both are 50 and 50 so she is whole strangely so it tortured you and her to live like that.
Then isn't it best for me not to have a child at all?
Would you risk your and his happiness just to save yourself and that child a small bit of pain? All births are the same. They are not without equivalence.
I guess you're right but if each parent give 50 of them to the child wouldn't the child be half Gigai-human as well?
In human births, that is how it works but not it others, it's a random process so she was born alive, unlike her parents so you live on earth and it causes you pain.
I understand.
Good, then you will have a child, live with it and protect it as Ichigo vowed to her, right.
Of course, I'd never leave a child. I don't know who that was but it wasn't I because I don't know any of this.
Then you see what happens.
Aizen and Gin, they take over.
Exactly.
I'll take care of it, don't you worry.
Thank you, Rukia.