A/N: New chappy, almost done, whoooot!

51. Troubling Thoughts

Seeing Rukia happy (or at least content) was something Byakuya was used to. It wasn't until he saw the "the-world-is-so-perfect-I-could-just-die-of-happiness" look (as Hisana had so dubbed it once) that he truly began to get suspicious of Captain Hitsugaya's sudden (and constant) hovering around his adopted little sister.

52. Stirring of the Wind

That's probably what did him in that day near the sakura tree—the light fragrance that only she wore.

53. Future

The Kuchiki princess first caught his attention when walking past him in a flurry with pained features, like she was desperately trying not to look as angry as she actually was. He remembered her scurrying past him and to Rangiku, hugging her friend tightly as she revealed what the fortune-teller who sat outside the gates had told her (and not really noticing him there).

"Sh-she said I'd grow really old and saggy and live with a cat! Rangiku! I'm going to die alooooooone!"

And really, it shouldn't have bothered him (and it didn't for a while) until he realized that really, he didn't want to let her die alone.

Nonetheless, a hundred or so years into their unlikely marriage he sat up one day in bed, the sunlight streaming through a window as a revelation dawned on him.

"Rukia?" He turned to her, shaking her slightly.

"hnnnmmmmm. . . turtles. . ." Raising a brow, he momentarily sat there before trying again.

"Rukia. . .?" He tickled her nose, watching with a smirk as her face pinched at the sensation, her hand smacking lazily at his.

"Whhhaaaaaa. . .?"

"Wake up! There's something important I have to tell you." Even though she could feel his gaze on her, it was his voice that broke through the veil of sleepiness over her.

"Is something wrong?" She asked slowly, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as she sat up to join him. Blinking, Rukia turned to him expectantly to find his expression dark.

"Remember that day the fortune teller told you you'd die old and with a cat?" Her brows instantly came together in confusion, Toushiro watching and almost able to put sound effects to the slow awakening of her brain as she tried to follow and digest what he had just said.

"Rangiku was the only one who-"

"She wasn't lying." Her eyes met his then, and for some reason a small chill ran down her spine.

"So you're saying that I'm going to grow old. . . alone?" Her violet eyes became harsh now as she tried not to reveal the pang of fear running through her.

"She said you'd die old and with a cat." He looked down to the foot of their bed where a small ball of fur lay (totally ignorant of their gazes seeing as they had no food and thus were not worthy of her attention) and stared silently.

Now Rukia was just lost (if not irritated at all the mind games so early in the morning).

"So. . ." Teal orbs slid to her then, a soft smile on his features that left her heart skipping a beat.

"You'll die old and have a cat, Rukia." He chuckled then. "She never said anything about dying alone, silly woman."

For a moment she sat there frozen, blinking as the words churned in her dazed mind. The white haired prodigy, her husband now, watched curiously as her expression fell from dazed to annoyed. A violet (and violent) glare was thrown his way as she clenched her fists.

"You woke me up THIS early to tell me something I already KNEW?!" His eyebrows shot up as he put his hands up, his palms facing her.

"Well I-" That was all he could get out before a brutal shove rendered him speechless. . . in a quite literal meeting with the wooden floor.

"Next time it better be about the secrets of the universe or else I'm not buying it!" Grabbing the covers, Rukia hmphed angrily and curled back up to go back to sleep.

54. Health and Healing

It wasn't Unohana's bandages, or the countless amount of candies his fellow captain brought him every day but the laughter of the petite shinigami in the bed next to him that reminded him there was still something to fight for.

55. Separation

It was always like this when they went out into the street markets—Rukia would stray to a small vendor with some shiny little bauble and his arm would shoot out from nowhere and drag her back to his side.

56. Everything For You

It was hard times, what with them being college students and her brother not really approving of them living together, and her job on the line. But the look on her face that snowy afternoon as she pressed her fingertips to the cold shop window and gasped at the sight of the black dress hung there, how could he not ask (not beg, no, never beg) his boss for more hours?

57. Slow Down

"Oh-my-gosh-the-doctor-said-that-oh-how-can-I-say-this-it's-so-weird-even-though-we're-married-and-I'm-still-in-shock-and-what-should-I-do-how-should-I-"

"RUKIA!"

Her mouth clamped shut immediately.

"What is it?"

"I'm pregnant."

His poor mind sped waaaaaay past comprehension now.

58. Heartfelt Apology

Chappy the bunny would have been disappointed in how fast Rukia forgave Toushiro for breaking her favorite coffee mug . . . then again, how could she resist the awkward sorrow he was trying to hide as he gave her a new one (limited edition collector's version) and declared that it was "only to shut her up?"

59. Luck

With the wind howling and the thunder crashing, she still looked amazingly beautiful as she sat in the puddle, wet hair and all. If his mouth was open to yell at her for bumping into him, it closed right away of its own volition.

The small bag of peaches he had just bought at the market lay forgotten at his side.

60. Impressions

"My name is Toushiro Hitsugaya."

"Rukia Kuchiki." She simply said—the first tonight to not add pomp to circumstance.

"I guess if we were following formalities, I'd ask if you'd like to dance." Her violet gaze was sharp over the rim of her wine glass.

"And if we were following formalities," Smirking in cat-like fashion, she set her wine glass on a passing maid's tray in one swift motion. "I'd have to politely agree to it."

And without another word, she disappeared into the overly rich crowd, her lingering perfume the only proof she had even turned him down.

He liked her.

61. Teenager

When Rukia walked past him into her bedroom, Byakuya noted her hurried steps and the (rather creepy) large grin on her face; it wasn't until he heard her high pitched squeal (not at all muffled by the pillow) that he realized that Hitsugaya would soon be coming over to ask for what he was sure Rukia had already said yes to.

62: Irregular Orbit

His life was simple, regular, a single straight line in a disorganized world.

Then she came along.

63. Cold Embrace

The cold was what they grew up with, what they knew and treasured; but who knew that out of even the coldest and frozen of places, the most burning passion could awaken?

64. Frost

Sometimes she'd sit there, marveling at the frost on the window pane's edge not even realizing Toushiro was more awed by her.

65. A Moment In Time

When he shook her hand and actually properly introduced himself (not as Head Captain prodded by Ukitake, but as a willing man) was when he caught a glimpse of his children. . . their children in her eyes.

66. Dangerous Territory

". . . ."

"Come on." A look of annoyance.

"I don't think we should do this yet. . ."

An exasperated sigh. "What, are you terrified?"

A harsh glare. "I'm about to tell a rich and powerful man I'm dating his sister, of COURSE I'm terrified!"

67. Boundaries

"I can't believe he's doing it."

"Ahh, Renji, once you are a married man, everything changes." Urahara chuckled, also watching Hitsugaya's nervous (actually sort of fidgety) form enter the pharmacy.

"Hmph. I don't get what the big deal is." Ishida pushed up his glasses with his index finger, crossing his arms and shrugging.

"Just because Inoue has you on a leash doesn't mean we all are, stupid." Ichigo muttered. Ishida glared at him.

"Do you think he even knows where to find those. . . things?" Renji asked, looking suddenly a bit concerned for the Head Captain's pride. Beside them, Chad sighed.

"It can't be that hard to find-"

"Don't say it!" Renji and Ichigo hissed, clamping their hands over his mouth.

"Did he get her tampons yet?" Yoruichi yelled as she stuck her head out the car window.

They all cringed.

68. Unsettling Revelations

"You know if you wanna date me you have to ask my brother first, right?"

69. Shattered

I let him slip through my fingers. Everything he gave, I broke. So now, instead of dressed in white by his side, I watch him marry a woman shorter than me, with violet eyes and the strength to stand where I once thought would always be my place.

I don't think I can wish them happiness yet.

70. Bitter Silence

There wasn't a war he had ever been afraid in. Not fear like "oh no, I'll lose what I hold dear" sort of fear. It was instinctual, driving him to protect the people under his title.

Nothing more, nothing less.

But here, in the silence as she slept in such a weakened state—that's when he could say he truly learned what fear was.

71. The True You

Sometimes he truly was scared of Rukia because of her knack for piercing through every possible one of his defenses and reaching the very core without even lifting a finger.

Only she knew what truly made him happy. . . what mad him remember he still had a soul.

And she never failed to remind him.

72. Pretence

He pretended to be cold, she pretended to feel warm, and suddenly the middle seemed such a hard place to reach.

73. Patience

"Now?"

"No."

. . . . . . .

"Now?"

"No, Rukia."

Silence again.

"How 'bout now?!"

"Rukia-!"

74. Midnight

"You'd think they would get it by now."

"No, for such an educated youth my master is . . . rather slow." The spirit beside him shrugged.

"This isn't going to be easy, Shirayuki." The butterfly spirit threw her head back and laughed.

"If it was, our midnight meetings would be as dull as muddy snow."

"No pun intended?"

Shirayuki's bell-like laughter echoed in the snowstorm.

75. Shadows

What circled Hitsugaya's mind at the thought of losing her.