Disclaimer:I'm on strike. I refuse to disclaim this chapter


Chapter 8 - The Soul's Side

Isshin once again insisted on keeping Rukia for another couple of days just in case. But after two days he realized there was no other "just in case", and let her go. Though Rukia would never say it, she was glad to be out of the clinic. There was a lot of activity in the Kurosaki household at all times of the day, and even though she was in the clinic she still saw a lot of it, and it tired her out pretty quickly. Not that it took much to tire her out these days. She knew it was because the baby's spirit energy was growing, and she was trying to hide it. She'd decided not to mention that to Ichigo; she didn't want to worry him.


Rukia was just entering her fourth month. Ichigo had noticed that she was tired a lot lately, but didn't say anything about it, figuring it was just a normal part of being pregnant (because he knew absolutely nothing about being pregnant). So instead of questioning her about it, he simply helped her out whenever she needed it, and was careful to keep things quiet when she was sleeping. All and all, he had to admit, he felt kind of useless at some points, because she was handling everything on her own, really. But he liked to think he could sometimes help.

Ichigo stirred as a pounding noise echoed through the small apartment. Who the hell was trying to knock down their door? And why were they doing it so early? His first thought was that it might be Yukio, but then he remembered that one, Yukio was in jail, and two, Yukio, no matter how sick he was, had been polite when he'd tried to break in, and had rang the doorbell. Ichigo tried to think about who else he knew that actually knocked. His family and their friends all just barged in, except for Yuzu. She used the doorbell. Jeez, no one knocks, he thought, rolling over and pulling the blankets over his head. "Ichigo," he felt Rukia poke at him, "There's someone at the door"

"Very good genius," Ichigo muttered, "Ignore them, they'll go away"

The pounding continued though. Rukia finally lost her patience and tried to get out of bed herself to get the door. Ichigo grabbed her and pulled her back. "I'll go, I'll go," he grumbled, pulling himself out of bed. He dragged his sorry ass to the door, which was still being pounded on. "Knock it off already!" he said furiously as he unlocked the door and threw it open.

"About time! I was ready to knock the door down!"

"I'd believe it!" Ichigo yelled back, not quite registering who was standing in front of him. It was Yoruichi, in her human form. "What the hell are you doing here?" he said in a slightly quieter voice, noting that the sun hadn't even risen yet.

"A question I've asked myself many times, I assure you," Yoruichi muttered, "Listen, you need to get out of here. Now"

"Why-"

"The Soul Society's gotten wind of Rukia's pregnancy," Yoruichi cut him off, "And they're not happy. Byakuya's out for your blood from what I've heard"

"Ah...oh crap," Ichigo felt the color drain from his face. Yoruichi nodded. "Well...what can we do?" he said after a second. "I mean, we've talked about this, but we always said we'd cross that bridge when we got there..."

"Well then start crossing, because they're organizing to come here right now," Ichigo ran a hand through his hair.

"All right. I'll-"

"Ichigo?" he looked around. Rukia was standing a few feet away, leaning slightly on the couch. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw who else was there. "Yoruichi"

"Hellos will have to wait," Yoruichi said, but Ichigo noticed a slight note of softness in her tone. "Ichigo, do you know what you're going to do?"

"Yeah," he nodded, "Yeah, I know. Or I kind of do. I'll figure it out. Thanks for telling us"

"Do you need any help?"

"No, we'll be fine. Tell Hat 'n' Clogs thanks as well," Yoruichi nodded and disappeared. Rukia's face was twisted in confusion.

"What's going on?" she asked as Ichigo shot past her into their room. "Ichigo, wait!" she stumbled after him, "What's-"

"Soul Society," he said shortly, yanking out a suitcase and throwing in clothes at random, "We've gotta get out of here until we figure out what to do"

Rukia's eyes widened in shock. Ichigo slammed the lid to the suitcase shut. "Wait, what are we doing?"

"For now, we're going for a drive," she looked confused. He didn't blame her. He grabbed her hand and pulled her out of the apartment (she closed the door as they left), and downstairs, outside. Ichigo opened her car door and carefully helped her in, then threw the suitcase in back, ran over to his own side, threw himself in, and jammed the key into the ignition all at once.

"I understand this is a bad situation," Rukia said slowly, "But if you break the key in the ignition, it's not going to do us any good. Calm down"

"You're brother wants my head on a platter," Ichigo said as the car kicked into life, "I could take him if I wanted to, but to be honest, I really don't want to, especially considering he probably won't be alone. I can take Byakuya alone, and I could take Renji alone, but both of them together? I could, but to be honest, I don't want to find out the hard way that I can't. Just let me focus on driving, all right?"

She nodded silently, and leaned her head against the window, her eyes closed. She was asleep within minutes. Ichigo drove for hours. The sun was just thinking of rising. He was driving along a deserted road, thanking God that he was the only one there, because he wasn't going overly fast anymore. He was trying to drive and think at the same time, which was actually dangerous, because he was on a cliff, and it was a loooong way down.

He heard Rukia groan next to him and watched out of the corner of his eye as she sat up, rubbing her eyes. Her face looked unnaturally pale. "Um, Ichigo?"

"Yeah?"

"Could you...pull over?"

"For what?" he didn't mean to sound impatient. But hell, he was tired.

"Please?" she rested a hand on her stomach. And Ichigo understood. As soon as he stopped the car, she stumbled out and over to a small patch of bushes, dropped to her knees, and threw up. Ichigo stepped out of the car and kneeled down behind her, rubbing her back soothingly. "Sorry," she muttered when she was done, sounding miserable.

"Don't be," he said, taking her shoulders and helping her stand. She leaned against him. "Guess the car ride didn't agree with you, huh?"

She shook her head and he led her back to the car, carefully helping her back in. "I'll stop for a little while," he assured her as he climbed in on his own side, "Need to save gas anyway"

They stayed silent for a few minutes, and then Rukia said, "So what are we going to do?"

"I can honestly say I have no idea"

"We can't just drive forever"

"No, sooner or later we'll have to stop for gas"

"Ichigo..."

"Sorry," he sighed, "I'll...think of something. Okay? Don't worry about it"

She looked over at him, then laid her head down on his shoulder. "But I am worried. I don't want you to get hurt because of me"

"Me, me, me, it's always about me," Ichigo said, "I'm not the Soul Reaper who's pregnant, Rukia. Save some of that worry for yourself"

She rolled her eyes, but didn't answer. Maybe she actually was worried about herself, but she'd never let on. "And I'm not the one my brother wants to kill"

"I can kick his ass, don't worry"

"I think we established that I'm alreadyworried"

Ichigo laughed and ran a hand through Rukia's silky raven hair. "Well, don't worry anymore then you already are, then"

She didn't have an answer to that


Ichigo never actually slept. His mind was always somewhere between conscious and unconscious, his ears and mind both torn, trying to hear someone approaching, or sense approaching spirit energy (even though he knew he wasn't any good at it; that was Rukia's area, but he wasn't going to bother her with it). He was surprised they hadn't been found yet, but he wouldn't complain.

They found a motel to stay at that night, and Ichigo silently thanked God that his wallet had been in the glove compartment. It was now almost three a.m. Rukia was curled up in a tight ball at the top of the bed, her breathing deep and even. Ichigo was sitting down at the bottom of the bed, staring at the door, waiting for it to fly open and for angry Soul Reapers to burst in, intent on killing him or Rukia or both. His Substitute Soul Reaper badge was clutched tightly in his hand.

He jumped as Rukia started kicking him lightly in the back. "Go to bed Ichigo"

"Not yet"

"It's three in the morning. Now lay down or else"

"Or elsewhat?"

She sat up fully now. The moonlight was shining in through a crack in the curtains, and hit her face, illuminating her violet eyes, and making her look...well, scary. And to top it off, she was smirking her usual, evil smirk. "Do you really want to know?"

He decided he didn't, and silently crawled up next to her, setting his badge down on the side table. "Good boy," Rukia said, laying down again. He reached over and wrapped his arms around her waist, resting his hands on her stomach. She was just starting to show, not enough to really be noticeable, unless you really paid attention. But Ichigo could feel the slight rise in her belly. He smiled, knowing it was his kid growing inside her, and fell asleep at once.

He was awoken moments later – or so it felt – by the door to their motel room flying open. He and Rukia bolted up at the same time, still tangled up in each other. "Whuzgoinon?" he said, his voice thick with sleep.

"I'll tell you what's going on," a familiar voice said, "You two are in a lot of trouble"

Ichigo rubbed at his eyes to try and clear his vision, and saw, to his terror, Renji Abarai and Byakuya Kuchiki, the Squad Six Lieutenant and Captain, both standing in the door, glaring at Ichigo and Rukia. The latter blinked as she started to recognize these unwelcome guests. "Oh. Oh boy..."

Ichigo's hand flew to the table and he grabbed his substitute Soul Reaper badge, untangling himself from Rukia and jumping out of bed. Rukia scrambled out and stood close behind him. "Oh, cute," Renji scoffed, trying to hide how hurt he felt when he saw how close they were. "Come on Rukia, do you really think he can protect you?"

Ichigo reached his free hand behind him and pulled Rukia closer to him. "Get out," he said, barely controlling the anger in his voice, "Just leave us alone"

"And why should we do that?" Renji asked, "You're in no position to be ordering us around, Ichigo"

"I'll order you around all I want," Ichigo shot back, "What the hell do you want from us?"

"We're here to bring Rukia back to the Soul Society," they were the first words Byakuya had spoken since he had entered the room. And they were by far worse than anything Renji could ever say.

Ichigo's shoulder tensed. "I won't let you"

"You can't stop us," both of them drew their Zanpakutous. Before Ichigo could raise the hand clutching his badge, though, he felt a small hand yanking him backwards, and Rukia took a spot between him and her brother and best friend.

For a second no one moved. Then Byakuya said, in a slightly forceful voice, "Move"

"No," her voice shook slightly, but she stood strong. "I figured it out. Ichigo's a Soul Reaper, isn't he? Technically he...he didn't break any laws, nor did I. We're both completely within our rights. He may be a Substitute, but still...in the end, it all adds up to him being a Soul Reaper. Therefore neither of us have done anything wrong"

Renji and Byakuya exchanged looks. "We were ordered to return you to the Soul Society-"

"For breaking the law, right?" Rukia - surprisingly - cut her brother off. "But if I didn't break any laws, there's no reason for you to bring me back"

Renji scowled heavily. "Rukia, you aren't...serious about this, are you?"

"Serious about what, Renji?" she turned her glare souly to him, "About this baby? Yeah, I am. Is that a problem?"

"You...you..." he didn't seem sure what to say to this.

"Well, you heard her," Ichigo said, though unable to do anything because Rukia had pushed him against the wall then pinned him there. "Get out"

"Don't talk to me like that carrot top"

"I'll talk to you however I want reindeer"

"Don't call me reindeer!" Renji's grip on his Zanpakutou tightened. Ichigo smirked.

"I don't even need to transform," he said conversationally, "I'll just cut your hair, that'll hurt you far worse than any Zanpakutou..."

"Look who's talking," Renji snapped, "Have you ever even heard of a comb?"

"Renji," the Soul Reaper in question looked over at his captain. Byakuya had turned away. "Don't bother sinking to his level. We're leaving"

"My level-?!" Ichigo stepped forward, but Rukia threw her arm out, caught him in the chest, and threw him backwards.

"They're leaving, shut the hell up," she hissed.

Byakuya threw a glare in their directions. It was a look that clearly said, "This isn't over," but both he and Renji left without another word. Ichigo gaped at Rukia. How had she done that?

Before he could question her more fully though, he noticed that she was starting to shake. He rested his hands on her shoulders and pulled her into his arms. She smiled as she rested her head on his chest. "I'd say we handled that fairly well, wouldn't you?"

"We?" he repeated, "More like you. How'd you come up with that anyway?"

She laughed softly. "I pretty much made it up. I told you before, I don't know where this situations falls on the scale, so I just tilted the scale a little in a more favorable direction. But you know this isn't the last we'll hear from them, Ichigo. They'll be back"

He pulled her more tightly against him. "And we'll be waiting"


Author's Note: I liked typing the part between Ichigo and Renji, it was fun. Anyways, Rukia the Psychic is quite correct; this isn't the last from the Soul Society, they'll be back in later chapters. So don't come down on me for making their part so small. You can do that when you find out about all the trouble they cause - oops, shouldn't have said that! Anyways, hoping to get my review count up to 200, maybe a little more if you're nice. Think that could happen? - Sam