Disclaimer: still don't own it.

Chapter two: Searching

Over the next week they fell into a nice rhythm. Afraid of looking suspicious, they parted ways after school. Not an hour later, Uryuu would knock on Inoue's door bring food. They would work on their homework and spend time talking distractedly. But as a result, Inoue began to smile more and more every day. Uryuu assumed she didn't feel quite so alone anymore and that is why spending time with her every day was important.

The first couple of days, Uryuu approached this new task of guarding Inoue as his duty. His Quincy Pride took over and he diligently set about the house cooking and cleaning, propping Inoue up on pillows and making a general. Finally on the third day Inoue laughed at him.

"I'm pregnant, not dying silly!" But it was nice to hear her laugh again.

After that Uryuu allowed himself to relax, and he realized that more than a protector Inoue needed someone who she could talk to and not have to hide the truth. And he found that now he brought Inoue out of her shell, she was much more at ease in general. Though he couldn't blame her. She told him when she figured out about her situation, she was first terrified. But the more she got used to it the more it began to seem like not such a bad thing.

It was confusing trying to understand all of that, but Uryuu trusted that she knew how she felt. Though, he personally didn't see how having a hollow's child growing in her belly could be not a "bad thing."

As for Uryuu himself, even just after this one week, he was able to focus better on everything in his life. When he trained, he trained to protect Inoue. When he did school work, he no longer felt as if nothing he did mattered. Suddenly everything had a purpose.

Friday evening, saw Uryuu cooking in Inoue's kitchen while she sat at the table finishing her math homework. Every so often Uryuu would walk over to the table and peek over her shoulder. She had a fair bit of work to catch up on that she missed these past couple weeks when she had been out of it, but now, thanks to her confidant she was able to finish it easily.

Uryuu was a little quieter tonight than he had been, which is saying something considering Inoue did the majority of the talking anyway. There was something on his mind that he needed to discuss with Inoue right away. The best time would probably be during dinner, so he was feeling a little nervous. He was sure she didn't want someone telling her what to do. But he was concerned.

"Mm… Ishida! It smells so good!" her voice broke through his thoughts and he smiled.

"Well it's almost done, so I hope you're hungry!"

"How could I not be? It smells yummy!" She paused for a moment. "Ishida, I never knew you were such a good cook."

Uryuu shrugged in response, "I'm not a good cook, but I can manage a few dishes. And someone has to see that you eat well since you're eating for two."

Inoue laughed as she cleaned off the table, a sound that he didn't realize he had missed until she had started making it again. "I don't think I'm really eating for two yet. I mean I've been reading that book you got me and my baby is only..." she made a small space about three inches apart with her hands, "about this big."

"That big and growing," he joked back setting plates on the now clean table. "So eat up!"

She smiled and began to eat. Uryuu really liked eating here with Inoue. There was always a warm feeling to their small meals, whereas at home there was silence unless his father was drilling him on what he learned in school. He didn't know if that made it easier or more difficult to bring up what he wanted to talk about.

"Say Inoue, have you been to see a doctor yet? You know for check ups with the baby."

Immediately she grew quiet and put her hands in her lap and looked down at her plate. "No, I haven't. I know I should but, I just … well I don't really know what to expect."

Uryuu nodded. "That's what I thought. I have an idea, but I don't know if you are going to like it." She looked up at him and waited for him to continue. "I think we should visit Urahara. He will be able to tell us about what's going to happen to you and if…" he stopped. No '"if's" for now. "And we need someone to know. Because this whole situation might put you and the child in danger. You never know what Aizen is planning."

"But, I don't want everyone to know. I don't want… what if…" Uryuu could hear all the things she left unsaid. What if they condemned us? What if they took my child away? What if I lost the freedom to care for this child? What if they all hate me for it?

"Inoue," he started, "I'm sure we can swear him to secrecy. This is Urahara we are talking about here. He will most likely be more interested in seeing the results of your situation than alerting soul society or even Ichigo if you make it clear that's what you want."

She nodded, it was a cold truth but a truth nonetheless. It was good she listened to reason so easily. Uryuu had been worried that he would be met with resistance. "We'll go tomorrow, how does that sound?" When she didn't answer he added, "Sado told me that he and Ichigo are helping at the Kurosaki Clinic tomorrow so the shop should be empty tomorrow."

Inoue nodded. "Yes, if it's empty that's good."

"You know they will notice eventually." Her eyes locked with his own pleading. "Well, we'll deal with that when the time comes." She looked grateful and they started to eat again.

"I thought we might also do some baby shopping this weekend." Her face lit up immediately and she started going on about all the things she wanted to start looking at. Uryuu didn't really like shopping that much but he thought it might help ease the tension to revealing her secret again. He watched her talk as they ate, obviously excited and it warmed him a bit.

Later that evening they had set their plans for the following day and Uryuu was on his way out the door when Inoue stopped him. Casually, he turned to look at his friend and was a little surprised to see unshed tears in her eyes. He started to say her name but she cut him off.

"I just wanted to say, thank you Uryuu. For everything you're doing. It's so much easier facing this when you know you aren't alone. I feel like this is actually possible knowing that you are helping. Thank you."

Uryuu was used to hiding behind his glasses and logic, and he was getting used to Inoue's face being an open book. "Don't thank me. It's what anyone would do. You deserve to be taken care of."

She smiled at him and he said his good night. It wasn't until he was halfway to his house that he realized she used his given name and he liked hearing her say it.

IOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIOIO

Early the next morning Uryuu woke to shower and dress. He was a bit nervous himself, not really knowing what Urahara would say about Inoue's situation. Despite her desperate and uncertain situation, he could tell she was quite attached to the life growing inside her already. He would hate for Urahara to proclaim the child as evil. Inoue would probably be devastated, and he doubted you could count on a pregnant girl to be a rational creature. Twenty minutes after waking up, Uryuu was on his way to pick up his friend.

Inoue stepped outside and straightened her knee length skirt before locking the door. Uryuu was just reaching the house and waited for her to turn around before speaking.

"Ready?"

A quick nod. Almost saying that she was not really ready, but she was going anyway. Turning he walked slowly allowing her to fall into step with him. They walked in a tense silence for a while before reaching Urahara shop.

Inoue paused outside the shop and Uryuu gently put a hand on her elbow. A new determined look replaced her old apprehensive one as she reached for the door.

"Well, what do we have here?"

Both teens jumped and turned around. Uryuu came to his senses first. "Oh! Urahara! We were just coming by to see you."

"That much, at least, is obvious," he coyly grinned at them from under his hat. "The question is what were you coming to see me for?"

One quick look at Inoue told Uryuu that she froze up. "Maybe we better move this inside."

Urahara's eyes shifted under his hat. Apparently he was intrigued. "Alright then, come on in."

When they finished telling him the story, Urahara sat very still, hat obscuring the view of his eyes. "I see." One hand came up to rest on the white and green striped brim. "I think we'll have to run some tests."

Inoue's eyes grew large, but she nodded resolutely. If anyone knew the gravity of the situation, she did. Uryuu found that he was proud of her for being so brave about this—all of this. He caught her eye and gave her an encouraging look.

For two hours, Inoue lied on her back midriff bare, while Urahara hovered over her running a number of uncomfortable procedures. Uryuu looked on in amazement and tried to comfort Inoue without getting in the way.

Finally, Urahara disappeared stating that he needed to check these results. Uryuu let out a breath and moved closer to Inoue. "You did well, Inoue." He smiled at her as she lay there still on the table, midriff exposed. Her stomach went in and out as she breathed, but her stomach looked mostly flat. "It's hard to believe that something is growing inside you when your stomach isn't very round at all."

Inoue's hands went to caress her bare abdomen, and Uryuu realize that he had spoken aloud. Warmth crept up his face, so he turned his head and pushed up his glasses to hide his growing blush. Since his head was turned he didn't see Inoue reaching for his other arm until she had caught his wrist and placed his had against her skin. The blush in his cheeks deepened and he turned to berate the girl, but she started to speak.

"I know it's hard to see on the outside, but I can feel inside. I can feel it growing in me. I am aware of the life I am giving it. I feel it deep within me. I've never felt something quite like this before. I know where it came from, but that doesn't mean that it should be feared. And I know it is still only a few inches long inside of me, but I already would do anything to protect it." She smiled softly, a private smile that Uryuu felt intrusive witnessing.

"Ino-- Inoue…" She had an incredible ability to render him silent with the depths of his emotions. Sometimes, compared to her emotional revelations, he felt his own world-view limited. He was so struck by her words, that he stood there motionless watching her. Inoue blushed and tangled her fingers over his own.

"I'm sorry. That probably sounds stupid. It's just something I don't think I can explain. I guess you have to feel it for yourself. So I guess you can't really know what I mean then. But it is incredible. And…" she trailed off not really knowing how to sum up her thoughts.

"Oh am I interrupting something?" Urahara had stuck his head in the doorway and peeked surreptitiously out from over his fan.

Immediately, Uryuu jumped to the side away from Inoue and pushed up his glasses to cover his blush and Inoue sat up waving her arms, "No, no, no! It's nothing!" All Urahara did was raise an inquisitive eyebrow.

Like two children who had been caught red-handed stealing sweets before dinner, they followed Urahara silently through the store and sat at a table as commanded. Urahara poured some tea.

Finally Uryuu got the nerve to talk. "I didn't think you'd get the results so quickly."

"Obviously," the older man shifted his gave at the teen causing him to blush furiously. After a pause, Urahara said, "So, you want to know what I found out?"

Both teens stared anxiously at the man as he launched into an explanation.

"Well one of the things Shinigami and Hollows have in common is that they all used to be humans. Now, when a human dies and his spirit goes to Soul Society, a soul with a strong reiatsu continues to grow like a human, only much slower. That is why Shinigami live for centuries, and most that die, die in battle not naturally. Now a spirit that travels to Hueco Mundo, does not grow. Their spirit form becomes warped and it ceases to be able to grow. But through a strenuous process of devouring other souls, a hollow can evolve and take on a stronger form. As a hollow evolves, it reaches new levels of consciousness and self identification, much like a human toddler. Only when the hollow removes its mask does it take back on a humanoid form. But these forms are static. They do not grow at all. This is the process Aizen accelerated with the Hogyoku.

"These arrancar don't change anymore because they view themselves as complete—a perfect form. But if they wanted to evolve more, it would only be through consumption of other souls. Now, since the child inside you is growing without consuming souls, this child is not a Hollow." At this point Inoue sighed and Uryuu let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. "Thus, the genetic matter that has been passed into you Inoue is human. I have confirmed this with an analysis of amniotic cells.

"As the hollow known as Ulquiorra managed to keep an identity through the hollow process, he must have maintained some of his humanity. Otherwise, how could he use a zanpakuto? This is true of all arrancars. But due to the fact that even female arrancars cannot grow, I doubt the ability of hollows to reproduce on their own. Which is why Aizen commanded them to use you for that purpose. This of course is good news for you. You don't have to be afraid of giving life to the child inside you, however—" he looked sideways at them from under his hat. "This child that you will give birth to, will be capable of obtaining powers the likes of which we never have seen."

Inoue gasped and Uryuu just stared. When Urahara said, "Should I go on?" they both nodded eagerly.

"Well, as a human who has awakened her reiatsu, you child will be born special. If that wasn't enough, I believe that this child will be able to gain the powers used by hollows without being hollow or shinigami. For centuries, shinigami and hollows have both wondered how to get the powers of the other's side, how to obtain and control the power of the sword and the mask. But never before has there been born a human with the ability to fully command the powers of an arrancar. Even Arrancar cannot obtain the powers of a shinigami, but a human child born with Hollow powers… who knows what they will achieve?

"Thus, I believe while this child will be no risk to you to bear, the child will be at constant risk from both sides. Since this is Aizen's doing you can be sure that there was no accident in its creation. Also, you can bet that Aizen will show up at some point to claim this child. For that reason, Soul Society will be interested in controlling this child's power first. The potential is limitless, neither side will want to come up against it.

"Since you haven't told anyone else about this child yet, that means that Soul Society won't be concerned as of yet. But once the child is born, they will be bound to notice sooner or later, especially since the surveillance of this area has increased due to the fact that the humans from around here seem to be good at making trouble for them.

"Now it seems will come about six months from now. Due to the special nature of this child, I recommend not going to an ordinary doctor, but come here and I will be able to help you. When the time comes for the birth, I can hire someone from the fourth squad no questions asked to lead the delivery. I hope this will be acceptable."

Inoue nodded enthuasictally, Uryuu guessed she was worried about the cost of medical bills and hospital stays, and this was a relief to her.

"Well then," Urahara continued. "I think we've covered enough of the basics for now. Everything looks healthy with the baby. Do you want to know the sex?"

Uryuu looked at Inoue, as her eyes went very wide. "You can tell that already?"

Urahara nodded, "I ran a lot of tests."

She was looking at Uryuu now, "It's your decision."

"Oh, right." She thought for a minute, "Then. Yes!"

"Then in six months, you will have a healthy baby boy."

Inoue smiled and gasped. "I had a feeling it might be a boy."

"Well, I think that's most of what I can help you with today. Let's plan to meet about once a month from here on out. We'll meet more toward the end. Contact me if anything unusual happens."

Inoue and Uryuu both nodded and started to stand. "Thank you, Urahara sir!"

Inoue shyly asked to use the restroom before the walk home. "It's not easy having a baby sitting on your bladder!" Uryuu blushed a little at the mention of it.

When Inoue disappeared, Urahara grabbed his elbow. "It's good that you decided to protect her, but I warn you this is going to be harder than what you expect. There will be many different people trying to gain control over this child. I don't know when the attacks will start, but they will come eventually. And once they start they are not going to stop. Are you're sure you can handle this Quincy? "

Uryuu pulled his arm away, "I will protect her at all cost!"

The older man smirked. "When you say it like that, I have nothing to worry about."

"Ready to go?" Inoue was back from the restroom and smiling more brightly than she had for weeks. It heartened Uryuu. He would protect her at all costs.

"Yeah, let's go."

As they left the shop, Uryuu was aware of Urahara watching him as they left and understood that his promise meant more than just helping his friend and keeping her safe. The very future of Soul Society, Hueco Mundo and the living world could very well rest on the well-being of the child that he had sworn to protect.

He suppressed a shudder as they walked down the road. Maybe he had bitten off more than he could chew, but that just made his resolve stronger. Looking out of the corner of his eye he watched Inoue. She was so happy and full of life. And that life was his to protect.

Author's note:

Here's some more. Ahh! Technical stuff. Next chapter the fun really begins. Longer than I expected, but I didn't feel comfortable doing it in the middle. Next chappy soon! 3