A/N: I do not own Bleach or any of the characters.
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Rukia groaned as she lowered herself onto the tatami mat floor in one of the many empty rooms at her brother's sprawling estate. Ichigo had offered numerous times to accompany her to the Kuchiki house, but she had a feeling he wouldn't be much help. In fact, he would only make things worse. This was something she needed to do alone.
A young housemaid, not much older than Rukia herself, poked her head around the sliding paper door. "Miss, your brother will be with you in just a moment." As she was about to duck out of the room, her eyes gravitated to Rukia's bulging stomach. "Is there anything I can do to make you more comfortable?"
Rukia shook her head, blushing slightly. "No, no, I'll be fine."
And she was alone once more, with only her thoughts to drive her nuts. What do I even say? He's going to be angry, no way around it, but there's got to be a way to diffuse the situation... But before she could even come up with a Plan A, the door slid open, this time revealing Byakuya Kuchiki, looking as proud and important as always. Rukia bowed so quickly she almost slammed her forehead into the mats.
"What is so important that you couldn't have scheduled a meeting with me ahead of time?" He questioned, but with one look at Rukia, he had his answer. His eyes burned with rage as he glided across the room and yanked her up by her arm.
Rukia opened her mouth, but Byakuya cut her off. "You have the nerve to even return to this household pregnant and unwed?" He hissed, squeezing tightly.
"Brother, please-"
"Who knows? How long have you been parading around like this?"
Rukia winced, but managed to speak, "Just Urahara and-"
"He knows? His mouth runs faster than his brain, the idiot. You've disgraced this family, Rukia. I hope you know what you must do."
Rukia gasped as the color drained from her face. She had thought about running away and having the baby away from the public eye, but abortion? Abortion had never crossed her mind. In every scenario she'd played out in her head, every plan she'd made, the baby was always born. Always. "I can't," she squeaked, "Brother, there has to be another way!"
Byakuya released his grip on the raven-haired girl. "Another way? Do you plan to marry?"
"If-if that's what it'll take to make things right, then I will. Brother, I will do anything to make this right," she whispered.
His faced soften as he looked into Rukia's eyes. They reminded him so much of his late wife, Hisana. Everything about her reminded him of Hisana. After a long pause, he let out a sigh. "Who is the father?"
Rukia gulped. She wracked her brain for an easier way to tell him, but realized that no matter what approach she took, things wouldn't end well. "Ichigo Kurosaki."
Byakuya'a lip curled in disgust. "Of course it's him, I should've guessed. I knew he was no good to begin with. But... if you marry him, you will no longer be a member of Kuchiki family and the spawn of your relations with that boy won't be my problem." Satisfied that the plan was beneficial to everyone involved, he opened the sliding door and stepped into the courtyard garden.
Rukia followed him outside and stopped a few feet to his right. "After the birth, I'll bring the baby to see you, Brother. That is, if you want."
He glanced at his adopted sister out of the corner of his eye. "Do you know yet the sex of the child?"
"No, not yet."
"Do as you wish. I do not care if I see it or not," he said, feigning disinterest. Byakuya turned and walked down the garden path, disappearing into the greenery.
Once home, Rukia set out to find Ichigo. After a few minutes of searching, she found him unpacking medical supplies in the clinic. When she walked in, he looked up and wiped his brow on the back of his hand. "Hey, how was the meeting with your brother?"
Rukia chuckled dryly. "Well, considering I was allowed to return here, I think it went better than expected."
"Better than expected, but how well?"
"Not well."
"That's what I figured."
They stood in silence for what seemed like forever, eyes locked. Finally, Rukia broke the stare. "We have to get married, Ichigo."
Ichigo's eyes bugged in surprise, "What? Why?"
"It's the only way to avoid shaming the Kuchiki family. The other option was... less than favorable. I know you don't want to marry me, I'm sorry."
Ichigo shook his head. "No, that's not it. I had planned on proposing to you eventually, just... not so soon."
It was Rukia's turn to be surprised. "Really?"
"Listen, I can't see myself being with anyone else, okay? It's always been you. I know it, you know it, everyone knows it. I'm not working to support you and our baby because I feel obligated to. I'm doing it because I want to. You may drive me nuts more often than anyone else, but… I guess I don't mind if it's you."
Thoroughly embarrassed, Ichigo brushed past Rukia and left the clinic, mumbling to himself something about not being good with words.
That night, neither Rukia nor Ichigo could sleep. Rukia had her leg cramps and aching back to keep her up, while Ichigo- well, Ichigo had his questions. He figured his father and sisters wouldn't be too surprised by the news of their impending marriage, but his friends? Uryu remained indifferent to their relationship, Chad was a bit more accepting and supportive, and Orihime took it the worst. For almost two whole weeks she refused to believe that Rukia was pregnant, let alone with Ichigo's child. After that, she froze up every time the topic arose in conversation. And then... who else? He felt like he was forgetting someone important...
"Renji is going to kill me," Rukia moaned, more to the darkness than Ichigo. "I told him I would visit him after I saw my brother, but I had so much on my mind that I totally forgot…"
Ichigo turned on his side so that he was facing Rukia's black form on the bed. "Like how to properly spring this whole marriage thing on me?" His breathy chuckle quickly turned into a yawn.
"Yeah, like that," she replied sarcastically. "Unfortunately, we don't have much time. I'm getting larger by the week, and the purpose of this wedding is to hide the scandal of my premarital pregnancy."
Ichigo sat up on his futon and scooted over to the bed, resting his chin on the mattress a foot or so from Rukia's head. Her heart skipped a beat as he gave her one of his signature smirks. "Renji'll be so pissed when he hears about this. You, Rukia Kuchiki, knocked up and marrying some punk. I can't wait to see the look on his face!"
Rukia clicked her tongue and lightly flicked the side of his head. "I don't need you egging him on, you hear? Don't make this any harder than it already is."
"Are you gonna tell him, or let the wedding do the explaining?"
She shrugged and watched him through half-lidded eyes. She was getting too tired to move, but she didn't want to waste the moment. Although she'd never admit it, Rukia yearned for his touch, his attention… not a hand when she needed it or a response when she spoke, but the touch that got them into this whole mess and his eyes on her like they were at that second…
"You're staring," Ichigo teased.
Rukia wrinkled her nose in response. Impulse took over and she reached out to him, lightly touching his cheek with the tips of her fingers. "What's wrong?" Ichigo whispered, tilting his head until it was cupped in her palm.
"Everything- or maybe nothing. I don't know anymore. I'm used to responsibility; I've had to deal with it my whole life. That's not the problem. It's just... I've never wanted anyone more than I have you, and now that I do have you, even if it's a tiny bit, it's for all the wrong reasons. It's my fault that your father is making us move out together, it's my fault that my brother decided that we need to marry... and I'm afraid that once this is all said and done with, I'll be alone. But I shouldn't be allowed to be scared! If you want to leave, do it. I'll come up with a good story- no, wait, you stay and I'll leave! That makes more sense. I'll just-"
"Just stop!" Frustrated, Ichigo sat up abruptly. "How many more times do I have to tell you that I will stay with you and help you raise our baby? I don't care if I'm young and unprepared; I refuse to be a deadbeat father... or husband. I just want you to relax and let things happen. All you do is worry, and it makes me wonder what happened to the girl who was making some stupid fort in my room no more than five months ago. You don't have to be scared anymore, Rukia. You've had me, all of me, longer than you think, and I'm not going anywhere."
"Then don't leave me alone tonight."
Without a second thought, Ichigo climbed into the bed. The bed was small, certainly not made for two people to sleep comfortably, but they adjusted. Rukia turned on her side and rested her head on his chest. Ichigo, on the other hand, remained stiff as a board, not used to such simple intimacy as sleeping together... not that kind of "sleeping" together, although he knew that one slightly better than what he was experiencing at that moment. He tried to be as still as possible, but once he was sure Rukia was asleep, he cautiously laid his hand across her stomach. It was warm and... surprisingly solid. He tried to imagine what the baby looked like, but all he could picture was one of those creepy looking Cabbage Patch Kids, and he prayed to God that their child would be infinitely better looking.
"If you wait long enough," Rukia began, not bothering to open her eyes, "maybe you'll feel Baby move."
"Really?" Ichigo asked. Rukia nodded into his shirt in response.
He was impressed that something so small was already moving around, and he nearly jumped out of his skin when he felt a faint thump against his hand.
"I see. I can't say I agree with his way of doing things, but..."
"Yes, he's very old-fashioned, but my brother is still a very smart man. I trust that he'll handle this appropriately, and if things go well, his support will be invaluable."
"Then I assume you two have spent a lot of time thinking and talking about this, right? Ichigo?"
Hearing his name, Ichigo snapped back to attention, finding the eyes of both Rukia and his father on him. He'd been zoning out for the past five minutes as they discussed the marriage. "Um, yeah. We've talked about it a lot."
Isshin cocked an eyebrow, looking unconvinced. "Well, just know that marriage isn't something you take lightly, okay? I want you two to be happy, so remember that doing what you think is right should always come first."
Rukia and Ichigo nodded in unison.
The wedding was to be set two weeks from then. It would be a small ceremony, held graciously in the Kurosaki's backyard. Food and decorations would be easy enough to make, but invitations needed to be sent as soon as possible. Ichigo could wear an old suit of his father's, but the real task would be finding a dress that would efficiently hide Rukia's growing baby bump.
So much to do, so little time.
A/N: Gee, I think I just set a new record for how quickly I could write a chapter from scratch! I have a love/hate relationship with this chapter, though. I like the way it turned out and how it flowed when I was writing it, but I'm afraid that Ichigo and Rukia are getting too OOC… is it noticeable? Can I use character development as an excuse?
Also, what's the deal with the new story cover art stuff? Do you think I need one of those? :P
LASTLY! Please, please, please check out the poll on my profile if you haven't already! I really need y'all's input on the gender of Rukia and Ichigo's baby! I won't tell you how many people have voted, but let's just say it's 50/50 at the moment… I need you guys to tip the scale! Help a gal out, okay? Hehe c:
The next chapter will reveal the gender of the baby, SO GET VOTING!