Chapter 8

Shiro looked out the caves entrance, hearing the many howls outside. Night had fallen quickly and they were stuck in here till Ichigo woke up. A few plants had grown from the ground, all herbs used to heal wounds like his. Shiro had used soldier ants to stitch up his wounds after cleaning them. He had forced them to pinch his skin then tore off their bodies, forcing their pincers closed. He had learned of it while in an american indian tribe school of medicine.

Ichigo had never supported it, but he would probably be a tad nervous knowing he had saved him doing so. He looked back to Ichigo with a frown, sighing heavily.

He should have expected this.

He looked to the side when he felt something cold press against his arm. The small pup who had found and led him to Ichigo was sitting next to him, its head tilted to the side in question.

Shiro had a feeling he was asking him if Ichigo would be alright. He smiled, petting his small golden head. His fur had dried, the small golden retriever miraculously seeming to be nearly grown. Shiro was sure he was still a new pup, but he appeared to be already eight months old.

The pup touched it's nose to his hand, barking softly. Shiro looked to Ichigo, feeling a tad hopeless.

"You did a good job," he told the pup as he looked back to him, picking him up. The pup kicked at first but relaxed once Shiro put him against his chest. The pup nipped his chin, licking his chin when Shiro whispered a no.

Shiro placed the pup next to Ichigo's uninjured side, sleeping on the other. He looked to the wound, the surrounding skin red but seeming a lot better. Shiro kissed his cheek, resting his head on his arm, his face right next to Ichigo's.

He looked over his features, breathing softly. If he didn't, he had a fear Ichigo would stop too. The pup licked Ichigo's neck, whimpering softly. Shiro looked to him with a small smile, reaching over and patting his head. The pup leaned into it, resting its head on Ichigo's shoulder.

They fell asleep like that, pressing into Ichigo lightly. The world slowly spun around and around, the balance lost between it all.

"Ichigo…"

Brown eyes opened slowly.

Ichigo blinked a few times blearily, frowning when he felt a heavy pain weighing over his chest. He tried to lift a hand but something was over it, Ichigo looking to the side. A small pup was laying on his forearm. The pup was a tad bigger than he remembered, but Ichigo knew that small body of fur anywhere. He smiled, the pup sensing it was being looked at. It's small head rose, it's blue eyes going wide in surprise.

It rose up and barked loudly, Ichigo chuckling as it began to lick all over his face.

"I missed you! I missed you so much!" it was chanting over and over, Ichigo out right laughing at that. He felt something move next to him though, his eyes turning to come face to face with beautiful blue. Ichigo gasped, lightly pushing the pup off of him.

"Hey!" it barked, but it was silenced once it saw him hug the man next to him. The pup walked away, knowing they would need their privacy.

"Ima go watch the entrance," it told him as he left, yawning wide.

He was glad King was happy again.

Ichigo kissed Shiro over and over again, ignoring the pain radiating in his chest and side. Shiro wouldn't though, gently pinning him down to the ground.

"Don't move so much," Shiro husked against his lips as he got ontop of him, Ichigo wrapping his legs around his waist. Ichigo sighed, running a finger over the back of Shiro's neck. He just stared up at him with a smile, but it slowly fell.

"This is all my fault," he whispered, Shiro frowning.

"I don't know why the werewolves were trying to kill you after fighting so hard to get you on their side, but I am absolutely sure it was not your fault."

"I'm pregnant Shiro." Blue eyes blinked down at him in confusion.

"You are a male," Shiro stated flatly, Ichigo smiling softly at that. It was hard to be serious with Shiro, he never could connect the dots.

"I am the Soul, I do not harbor it. It is me. I can give and take life, and when I met you on that day, we created life."

Shiro blinked in confusion, rising up and looking down to Ichigo's stomach then back to his face.

"I don't get it. I'm dead. I'm a vampire, that shouldn't happen."

Ichigo smirked, looking from his lips to his eyes.

"They said the same about Cleopatra. Yet, she gave birth to a son." Shiro was seeming more shocked now, his eyes staring into his a tad panicked.

"Dead or alive, I can give life. That puppy, he had died. But I had given him life. Your body is dead, as was your semen. But with love, I brought it back. Shiro, I'm speaking in fucking riddles but just know, inside of me, is your child."

Shiro blinked, then blinked again.

"My child?" he whispered, Ichigo nodding as he bit his lip. Shiro smirked after a long while, his smirk becoming a wide smile. His smile fell though.

"That's why they were trying to kill you? Because we broke the contract?" Shinji asked, Ichigo nodding. Shiro looked away from him, slowly rising up. He helped Ichigo up also, standing on his feet.

"I had thought if I had killed myself the war wouldn't hap-"

"Ichigo that is foolish and you know it," Shiro replied, Ichigo looking away. At that moment it had seemed like the right choice.

Shiro grabbed his hand, hearing a howl that was too close.

"They can probably track our smells, we have to get out of here," Shiro whispered lowly, whistling to get the pups attention. The pup came trotting back, a tad more alert but happy. Shiro kneeled down in front of him, smiling softly.

"Can you find us a way back?"

Ichigo chuckled, Shiro looking to him.

"What?" Ichigo was quiet for a second.

"Nothing. He said there are some caverns leading out." Shiro narrowed his eyes, very curious as to what had made Ichigo laugh. He didn't question him though, following the pup with Ichigo. They walked quickly in silence for a long while, only stopping when Ichigo needed rest. After the fourth stop, Shiro was growing a tad worried.

"I think we should rest here for the night, we've walked a good mile," he ordered, the pup looking to him in understanding. They were both worried for Ichigo.

Ichigo smiled weakly, obviously very tired.

"We shouldn't stop because of this. I'll be fine," Ichigo soothed, but Shiro wasn't buying it. Ichigo yelped when he was suddenly picked up, his vision spinning.

"Fine, but i'm carrying you," Shiro replied with finality, the puppy going on. In a few days puppy won't be the correct term. Ichigo had stopped struggling quickly, physically and mentally exhausted. Shiro smirked.

He never did know when he reached his limits.

"What should we name him?" Shiro asked, Ichigo snorting softly against his chest.

"We don't even know the gender," Ichigo murmured, on the verge of sleep. Shiro chuckled, kissing his cheek.

"Not the baby Ichigo, the puppy," Shiro corrected, Ichigo stirring a little at that. He opened his eyes and looked to him, shrugging his shoulders slightly.

"I would say Rain or Storm," he mumbled, Shiro raising an eyebrow.

No.

"Naming a dog after the weather isn't the smartest idea," Shiro pointed out, Ichigo looking up to him, touching his nose to his chin.

"Golden retrievers are water dogs. Naming him after water isn't going to hurt him," Ichigo yawned, Shiro rolling his eyes.

"Then we might as well name him Tsunami," he countered, Ichigo's breathing stilling for a second in thought. It started back steadily, Ichigo chuckling softly.

"See what you mean," he whispered, the pup looking over his shoulder to them.

"Mama called me Syrian," he told Ichigo, Ichigo smiling softly.

"How about Syrian?" Ichigo asked, Shiro narrowing his eyes in thought. He nodded slowly after a long minute, stepping over a rock.

"That would fit I guess," he agreed, Ichigo grinning. He felt good when he didn't have to change the way things already were. He heard a howl echo in the cave though, sudden fear running through him. With the fear came pain. Ichigo curled up into a ball with a sudden cry, Shiro looking down to him with concern.

"Get me out of here," Ichigo growled, holding his stomach as he panted to try and get through the pain. Shiro began to run as did Syrian, his arms holding Ichigo tight. Ichigo put a hand over his mouth to not cry out in pain again, closing his eyes tight as he whimpered softly behind his hand. Tears sprouted forth and fell down his cheeks, his finger on consciousness slipping as they entered into the light.

Baby, please be alright.

XXXHeartXXX

Shinji growled as he was pinned down, snapping at Mashiro who growled back in anger.

"You let him get away!" she roared, Shinji snapping at her again.

"I did not! He used my own body against me!" he roared back, kicking her off. She fell onto her back but was quick to get up, licking her snout. They were both in full form, the other's having yet to meet up with them. She was accusing him of helping Ichigo get away, and Shinji knew the other's would be quick to follow in her lead. He snapped at her, running forward and pinning her against a tree, the bark scraped off by her.

"You had gotten to close and risked all we have been waiting so long for! I fought and saved you in that bloody war and this how you repay me!" Shinji growled low, wrapping a clawed hand around her throat.

"That was not a war! That was an extermination!" he growled, Mashiro's eyes widening.

"I knew from the very beginning what you have been trying to do. You framed Cleopatra, and now you are trying to frame me. We both had wanted the Soul to live, but you wanted it to die an-!" Shinji yelped when suddenly pain tore through his torso. He released Mashiro from his shaking grip, looking down to his torso.

A large clawed hand had went through him, blood spurting from his mouth. The hand was pulled out, Shinji falling to the ground. He took in shaky quick breaths, seeing who had done it before his vision became dark.

Hachigen licked his claws, looking to Mashiro.

"You are a terrible apprentice, I think I've grown tired of you." Mashiro's grin fell, her legs shaking as she took a step back.

"Wait! You can't do this! I was the one who started this! I am the King!" She yelled, Hachigen smirking. He opened his mouth, sharp fangs showing.

Mashiro shook now, fearful.

"You infected yourself," she whispered, her size shrinking and her fur shedding away. Hachigen grinned.

"No Mashiro, I became a greater being. Even more than the Soul."

Her scream was heard, Ichigo hearing it in his pain filled slumber. The wolfs had retreated and they were on the freeway, on their way to Karakura town. Ichigo felt her soul, her fear and anger locked in his heart.

Their time was running out.

Author's note: Short, but oh well. Hope you liked.