Disclaimer: All I own are my OCs


Chapter 3 – Confessions

Ichigo was saved from having to tell Rukia about Yukio, because she slept right through the rest of the day. Secretly, Ichigo was relieved. He wasn't sure exactly how to go about telling Rukia that her would-be killer had escaped from prison. He spent the rest of the day flipping through the channels, trying to find news. But no one knew anything about how Yukio escaped, or why he had done it, or where he could be at the moment. Well, Ichigo wasn't stupid. He knew exactly why Yukio had escaped. The sorry excuse for a human being wanted revenge. If he came within ten inches of Rukia...

Orihime called, panicking. She started shouting the second Ichigo said hello, going on and on about Yukio. It took Ichigo five minutes to cut in and tell Orihime he already knew. She had been quiet for a few minutes, then asked if she could come over. Normally Ichigo would have been okay with that, but he wanted to be the one to tell Rukia the news, and Orihime would surely let something slip about it. So instead he told Orihime that Rukia was sick, and it was best if she was left to rest for a little (and for all Ichigo knew she was sick; his dad never got back to them with the test results).


Ichigo groaned as he once again felt Rukia's foot connect with his knee as she darted out of bed. She could at least alternate which knee she hits, he grumbled silently as he sat up, running a hand through his hair. He sighed and allowed worry to once again fill his mind. What could be wrong with her? The flu didn't last this long, and anyways she didn't have a fever.

Unsure of what to think, Ichigo pushed himself out of bed and quickly walked into the bathroom. Rukia was just finishing throwing up. Breathing heavily, she leaned against the wall, eyes closed. Ichigo walked over and kneeled down next to her. Without saying anything, he reached over and put an arm around her shoulder. She leaned her head against his arm, taking deep breaths now. He didn't want to try and move her in case she wasn't quite done throwing up yet, but after about five minutes he figured it was okay, and carefully helped her up. She refused to be carried, big surprise, but allowed him to help her back to their room without a fuss.

Once Ichigo was sure she was comfortable he stood up saying, "I'm gonna go call my dad. He never called about the test results"

"Actually," Rukia caught his arm as he turned to leave. "He...did call. Yesterday, while you were sleeping. I didn't get a chance to tell you though..."

Interested now, Ichigo sat down. Rukia pushed herself into a sitting position, staring determinedly at her hands. Ichigo looked back at her for a good five or ten minutes before saying, "Well? What'd he say? Are you sick? Is it serious?"

"Well, I, uh...it depends on what your idea of serious is," she still didn't look up at him.

"Well, are you dying?"

"No, nothing like that"

"Then it can't be too bad," Ichigo folded his arms. She still seemed reluctant to let on though. "Rukia, just tell me"

"Well, you see, it's...I mean..."

"Come on, how terrible is it?" he decided to go for sarcasm, "I mean what, are you pregnant or something?"

She finally looked up at him. "What would you say if I was?"

Ichigo blinked, and his amber eyes went wide. "What?!" he jumped up, "What do you mean your pregnant?! But, but...how?!"

"What, no one ever told you?"

Ichigo glared at her. "Please tell me you're kidding. I mean...a baby? Us?"

"That's what everyone is saying"

Ichigo took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down, and sat back down on the edge of the bed. "You're really serious, aren't you? About a baby, I mean..."

Her violet eyes met his amber ones. "Yes, Ichigo. I really am"

"Oh God..." he ran a hand through his hair, "This is...I just...don't believe it"

"Are you upset?" she looked like she expected him to say 'yes'. Well he was going to surprise her.

"No. Not really. Just surprised. I mean, I've always wanted kids, someday, but..." he sighed, "God Rukia, we're both still in college for heaven's sake, we can't take care of a baby"

"I know," she looked down at her hands, "I know...and there's also..."

Her voice trailed off. "Also what?" Ichigo asked, suspicious now. How much more news was she going to put on him?

"Well, it's the Soul Society," she said after a minute, "I'm not sure if this would be...allowed. I mean, considering you are technically a human, but you're also a substitute Soul Reaper, so...I'm not sure where this falls"

Ichigo blinked. And suddenly he understood. The Soul Society didn't take kindly to people breaking their laws. And Rukia had already done that once. "You don't mean...they wouldn't kill you for this, would they?"

"Maybe not kill," her voice was slow and deliberate, "I'd definitely be taken out of the living world, and the baby would be killed, but I'm not sure what they'd do to me"

"But-"

"I told you, Ichigo; I'm not sure where this situation falls," she shook her head, "For all I know they'll kill both of us. Or they might just leave us alone. I really don't know right now"

Ichigo tried to be calm. He didn't want to think about the Soul Society hurting Rukia or him or their baby. "It'll be okay," he said finally, "We'll just have to deal with things as they come along, you know? Don't worry about it. I won't let anyone hurt you. If anyone from the Soul Society does come, I'll just kick their asses, it's no big deal"

"It's not me I'm worried about," her voice was low now.

"It's never you Rukia, that's the problem," Ichigo placed a hand under her chin and forced her head up so she was looking him in the eye, "I've told you before, you have to start worrying more about yourself and less about me. Okay? You're more important right now"

She looked away, trying to push back her tears. "Ichi...go..."

He wrapped her in a tight hug, resting his chin on top of her head. "We can make this work," he said, trying to reassure her, "We will make this work. No one's going to separate us, understand? And no one's going to take this baby away," he paused for a second. "You do want the baby, right?"

Her face was buried in his chest, so her words were muffled. "Come again?" he pulled away and looked down at her, hands planted firmly on her shoulders.

"I said of course I do, you idiot," she smiled, and some form of life entered her dull eyes.

"Okay," he pulled her back into the hug. After a second of thought he said, "It is mine, right?"

This time she didn't even bother to answer; instead she raised her hand and slapped him in the back of the head. "I'll take that as a yes," annoyed as he was that she had slapped him, he still managed a smile. "So...we're gonna have a baby, huh?"

"Yeah. I'd say so"

Ichigo kissed the top of the short girl's head. "Rukia?"

"Yeah, Ichigo?"

"I love you"

"I love you too"


Author's Note: Must...not...stab...self...with...nearest...sharp...object...this chapter was just...I'm ashamed of this chapter, really. Seriously, I want to grab a paper bag, cut eye holes in it, and put it over my head. Unfortunately, we use don't use paper bags in my house. So...can anyone lend me one? Anyways...thanks for the reviews last chapter, I really liked them, glad no one thinks this story is a waste of time. 'Course...what you think now is a different story all together. But yeah, between 70 and 80 reviews this time around would be awesome (I'll never say no to more though). Also, if you have a chance, drop by my profile and check out my new story called Miracle. It's an AU IchiRuki, if you like depressing you might enjoy it. Anyways, review! - Sam