Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

Woot! More reviews! Yay! Alright, chapter six!! What adventures await Ichigo and Rukia in this installment?? Read to find out!!

Unprepared Battles

VI The Gender

Sweat drenched down his face as he stared in horror of what was in front of him.

Rukia.

She was fighting the hollows off, but they wouldn't die, they kept on coming. They kept on attacking. Ichigo couldn't bear to hear Rukia cry out every time a hollow's claw clashed with her skin a sickening way. Ichigo couldn't stand to see the blood pouring out, the pain on her face.

He needed to protect her.

But he couldn't move. Something was holding him down, something extremely powerful. Ichigo tried screaming out her name, but she didn't seem to hear him, not that him saying her name would do any good.

With one deep slash to the back, Rukia fell to the ground, the color red continuing to spread around her in a pool. Hollows circled around her, until they stared at her body hungrily.

"She carries a child." One hissed.

"Even better." Another laughed. And with one last motion, the hollows dived down.

"NO!" Ichigo screamed as he sat up.

He jumped when a soft hand touched his shoulder. "Ichigo, what's wrong?" Rukia asked with worry. Ichigo turned to look at her.

Nightmares were terrible, awful, and haunting things. Ichigo hated them with a fire. It felt so real. Rukia had really been killed, at least it felt like it. So for her to be staring at him with that worried look of hers, with her beautiful violet eyes, moving around with liveliness, Ichigo couldn't help but crush her to him.

Rukia tensed for a moment, and Ichigo only assumed she was confused. He didn't care at all, because he was so glad to know it was a stupid silly nightmare. Rukia slowly relaxed and brought her arms around his waist, snuggling her head into his chest as she often did.

"Did you have another nightmare?" Rukia asked when she pulled away. Ichigo didn't let go of her though, he couldn't.

"Yah, sorry." Ichigo replied, smirking a bit. Rukia smiled at him and wrapped her arms around his neck, scooting herself closer to him.

"Why are you sorry idiot? You can't really control what you dream about." Rukia replied, giving Ichigo a soft smile, one of the rarest. Ichigo couldn't stop himself from brushing his lips against hers lightly.

Rukia knew all about his nightmares. Ever since the incident with the hollow a month back, Ichigo began having the same nightmares over and over again. He hated them so much, and he didn't know how to go about the situation, because he didn't want to scare Rukia if he told her. After speaking with Unohana briefly after one of the captain's meetings, she told him to go ahead and tell Rukia since it was bothering him so much.

To his luck, Rukia had not been surprised. Rukia told him that he mumbled her name out in his sleep, and had the feeling that something was disturbing his dreams. She didn't get upset at all, but of course couldn't leave out the famous line "don't worry about me Ichigo; I don't need to be protected." Anytime Rukia said that line to Ichigo, he kind of just ignored it, because it was impossible to not protect her. It was in his instincts, his reflects to protect her, and he didn't mind at all.

He cupped her face with his free hand, staring at her face. Ichigo would never do such a thing publicly, but to be alone with Rukia at such late hours did not bother him in the bit. Rukia was his wife after all, and even he liked showing some affection to her, no matter how insane she sometimes drove him.

"You're such a baby, you know that?" Rukia asked in a teasingly manner. Ichigo rolled his eyes, but replaced with a smirk, a lecherous one. Hoping to surprise her, Ichigo grabbed hold of Rukia's shoulders, pushed her down so that she was down on the futon, and he hovered over her.

He could see the blush on her cheeks, and his smirk widened. "Who's the baby now?" Ichigo whispered into her ear. When she didn't respond, Ichigo brought his lips to her neck, letting them trace her skin lightly.

Rukia soon brought her hands around his waist, pushing him towards her. He didn't press too hard onto her due to her large stomach. When Ichigo finally looked at his wife again, he could see that she wanted a little more of well…him.

And so, Ichigo crashed his lips down onto Rukia's. He didn't know where he got all the energy from suddenly, considering he had just been sleeping moments ago, but hell, sometimes the more…pleasurable moments with Rukia came up at the most random of times. It brought back memories of their honeymoon together.

Just when the kissing was starting to really deepen, and Ichigo started feeling the heat between them, Rukia quickly began pushing Ichigo off.

"What?" Ichigo whispered to her. Rukia instantly pushed Ichigo away with all her strength and stood quickly from the futon. When he realized her hand covering her mouth tightly, and the urgency in her steps to get to the bathroom, Ichigo knew that she was having morning sickness.

Rukia got sick about once every two weeks, which made things much easier on the sleeping issue. Then again, Rukia's morning sickness had just ruined what would have been a good cure to Ichigo's nightmares.

Sighing groggily with the blankets twisted around him, Ichigo arose from the futon and made his way to the bathroom, where Rukia had run to only seconds before hand. He leaned against the doorway as he watched his small wife do what she needed to do over the toilet.

With the sound of a flush, Rukia closed her eyes for a second and leaned against the bathtub from behind her. She looked extremely tired, but it was three in the morning. He probably didn't look all too energetic himself, although moments ago he was ready to do some dirty things with Rukia.

"So many things just happened in the past few minutes. I'm glad I don't have to go to the division tomorrow." Rukia said with just about no energy from her spot against the bathtub. Ichigo didn't have to go to his too. He decided to take the day off with Rukia, since they were going to see Unohana for a very important visit.

"Why are you acting so surprised? It's a normal thing for us isn't it?" Ichigo asked with sarcasm.

"You do have a point there. I mean, I woke up because I heard you yelling, suddenly wanted to have sex with you, and then felt the urge to throw up, all in about…three minutes."

"You basically just made it sound like having sex with me makes you want to throw up." Ichigo replied, a frown upon his face. Rukia chuckled for a moment, and clutched onto her stomach. It amazed Ichigo at how fast Rukia could dive for the toilet. Sometimes he doubted that she didn't know flash step.

Ichigo hopped onto the counter while Rukia once again threw up, not liking to hear the sounds as it happened. He promised her though, that any time she had her morning sickness that he would stay awake with her until she fell asleep.

Rukia pulled away for the second time, leaning her head onto the edge of the bathtub slowly.

"I think I'm done here." Rukia replied. Ichigo moved off of the counter and kneeled down in front of Rukia.

"Do you need any help?" He asked. Rukia stubbornly shook her head, but of course was lying, since she began falling over the moment she stood. Ichigo caught her with plenty of time to spare. Rukia wrapped her arms around Ichigo's waist and the two moved out of the bathroom and back down onto the bed.

When they reached the bed, Rukia sunk slowly down, but didn't lie down all the way. She kept her back up against the wall. Even though the room was dark, Ichigo could see her hazy eyes.

"You feeling dizzy?" Ichigo asked.

"Mhm." Rukia replied, sighing every several seconds. Ichigo brought his hand to her stomach and began rubbing it slowly. Rukia said it helped ease the dizziness, and helped calm her down if she ever felt extremely anxious about anything.

"Talk to me." Rukia demanded. Ichigo raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"Ok…" He mumbled back.

"It helps with the dizziness!" Rukia snapped back. She really had bad mood swings, especially at three in the morning.

"Oh right." Ichigo paused, trying to think of something that could be distracting. He smiled from his spot on the bed.

"You never said anything after I pointed out how you added wanting to throw up after having sex with me."

Rukia sighed for the millionth time. "Be serious, really." She muttered out. Ichigo, finding the humor already forming, for him at least, continued on.

"So what, do I make you want to throw up? Have you been hiding it all this time and could no longer hold it in?" Ichigo asked. The irritation on Rukia's face went up a notch.

"You really are stupid to think of such a dumb conversation, then again, you're pretty good at dumb conversations." Rukia said with aggravation.

"Stop avoiding the questions and answer them." Ichigo demanded.

"Ichigo, have I ever complained about anything after we had…"

"Sex?" Ichigo asked.

"Yes Ichigo." Rukia replied with dullness.

"No, but maybe you just weren't saying anything." Ichigo said back. He loved bugging her the way he was the moment, especially with a subject so idiotic.

"I'm feeling much better now. This conversation can end now." Rukia mumbled as she slowly sunk down into the futon. Ichigo was relieved when she snuggled closer to him, and let his hand continue to rub her stomach. He liked touching her bulky stomach, especially when the baby would kick. It reassured him that there was a human being growing inside of his wife's body, and that he was without a doubt going to be a father.

And Rukia would be a mother.

"Good thing we can sleep in tomorrow." Ichigo added before they were both asleep.

"Not really, since our appointment with Unohana is at seven in the morning." Rukia reminded him.

"Is it too late to cancel?" Ichigo asked with hope.

"Idiot."

After six months of having to deal with getting up to feeling completely exhausted every morning, Rukia just couldn't get used to it. She kind of gave up on the hope of getting used to it since there were only three more months.

And waking Ichigo up every morning only got worse.

"Come on Ichigo! We have fifteen minutes to get to Unohana! You know she's a busy woman!" Rukia griped from down the stairs. She had her hands set firmly on her hips, hoping that once Ichigo saw her, he would realize how serious she was.

"Fine I'm coming!" She heard Ichigo yell.

"You know this appointment is very important! It's not every day you find out the gender to our unborn child!" Rukia screamed. Ichigo finally emerged from up above, eyes half open.

"I know, but I wish the stupid appointment wasn't so early." Ichigo whined as he took the slowest steps possible down the stairs.

"Aren't you excited to find out?" Rukia asked when Ichigo reached her. She sure as hell was excited.

"Let's just go." Ichigo replied, his scowl already on full display. He'd gotten much better at not scowling, but it still never failed when Ichigo was extremely irritated, or half asleep.

"Stop being such a grouch, you after all, weren't the one throwing up."

Ichigo glared at her. "Don't even pull that guilt trip with me Kurosaki Rukia. It's not my fault that the woman is the one that carries the child." Ichigo said with a strange tone.

"Either way, we have nothing planned once the appointment is done, so we can take a nap when we come home." Rukia said. Ichigo just followed Rukia out the door wordlessly.

Deciding using flash step would be faster, Rukia hopped onto Ichigo's back. Ichigo didn't go as fast as he wanted to, because Rukia had to be careful with the baby. He'd been more careful and protective of Rukia since the hollow incident, and he made sure she took her reiatsu tablet every morning.

There weren't very many people at the division, but Rukia assumed it had to do with the fact that it was 6:55 in the morning. She didn't even reach her division until eight or sometimes nine.

Unohana greeted them with a warm smile. "Good morning. I'm sorry to have you so early Rukia-san, but today is a busy day, so please come with me." Unohana said with a sweet and soothing voice. Rukia smiled at the woman and followed behind her, keeping a hand on her stomach. It made her feel like she was protecting the child.

When they reached a smaller room, Rukia sat on the bed propped up in the middle, with Ichigo standing next to her.

"Now, first I will do the checkup I always do on Rukia-san, but then, you have the option of finding out the gender of your child. Do you want to wait? Or would like you to find out today?" Unohana asked.

Rukia looked at Ichigo who nodded at her with a smile. "We want to find out today."

Unohana then performed the exercises she always did on Rukia. Checking her heart rate, blood pressure, and breathing just like any normal check up. But then it got to the awkward part where Unohana had to check her…

"Does everything feel alright?" Unohana asked. Rukia felt extremely uneasy, and was glad Ichigo wasn't in the room at that moment. She didn't like him being there watching Rukia while Unohana checked over her where the baby would come out.

Rukia's thoughts drifted away when she saw a strange facial expression on Unohana's face.

"Is something wrong?" Rukia quickly asked. Unohana never gave looks like that, even if they were small.

"You're fine Rukia-san, I just noticed something suddenly." Unohana stated with her calm composure.

"I should have warned you about this at the beginning of your pregnancy, but because of your good health, I decided not to tell you until now."

Unohana paused again and Rukia waited for her to speak. She had the feeling she wouldn't like what Unohana would say.

"You're pregnancy has been going very well. You've been eating the right amount of foods, and resting you're body well enough, even though I'm sure you still feel tired all the time."

Rukia shook her head in agreement. Unohana continued on. "You see, the only thing Rukia-san, is the size of you're body. You're a very small and petite woman, and carrying a child inside of you're body has made it very tired. This happens to every pregnant woman, but because of you're small size, I don't to risk something happening to you're body when the time for labor comes, so I think the best option would be a C-section for the birth of the child." Unohana finally finished.

She knew exactly what a C-section was, because Rukia decided to study up on pregnancies before hand, and knew that C-sections were rather common.

"I should have said something to you before Rukia-san, I'm truly sorry." Unohana said softly. Rukia smiled at the woman. She knew Unohana was a smart and amazing doctor, as well as a captain, and wanted to laugh that the woman was apologizing to her.

"No Unohana-san, don't be ridiculous. If it's what is best for the baby and me, then I will do what ever it takes to keep us safe." Rukia said with confidence. She trusted in Unohana's words, and knew that if Unohana saw it as the best option, then it must have been the best option.

Rukia told Unohana that she would tell Ichigo about the C-section later on after they left her office, and should go on with what they had been waiting for.

Unohana retrieved Ichigo following.

"Are you two ready to find out?" Unohana asked with a large grin. Both Ichigo and Rukia nodded. Rukia wasn't scared, but she was nervous. She decided that the gender to their child was an important thing. If it was a girl, then Rukia thought the child would be more like her, but if it was a boy, then it would be like Ichigo.

At least that was how she looked at it.

"Now, do understand that this is about 95 percent accurate, alright?"

They both nodded their heads.

Ichigo's hand suddenly touched Rukia's, and she wrapped her fingers around his tightly. It was a big step for them after all.

He was smiling, smiling in public view without a care in the world. Ichigo started thinking that the pregnancy was rubbing off on him since he was pretty sure he was having mood swings. He'd been so grouchy that morning, but now, he was filled with excitement and happiness

"What about Hayato?" Rukia asked, her hand still holding onto his.

Ichigo shrugged his shoulders. "It's ok I guess, but it doesn't have much of a ring to it. We want our son to have a strong name." Ichigo said.

"Like strawberry?" Rukia asked. She just had to bring that up.

"You of all people should know that my father name me Ichigo because it also means 'to protect' so don't give me any of that crap Rukia." Ichigo said back.

"Well Hayato sounds like a good name to me." Rukia mumbled. Ichigo sighed.

"We have a good three months to think of our son's name Rukia."

"Actually, less than three months, since it's already been a few weeks since the sixth month began." Rukia corrected.

Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Can we just go home and sleep for now, and then think of the names?" Ichigo insisted. Rukia didn't reply, but stayed silent the rest of the walk home.

Yes, Ichigo and Rukia were having a boy. He'd been up and down about the gender of their child. On one hand, having a son sounded awesome, because like Ichigo, their son would be able to protect his younger siblings (and Ichigo was pretty sure they'd be having more than one child since they were married for all eternity). He could do fun little boy things with his son, and give him good advice when their son would get older.

But then having a girl sounded like a good plan too, because he honestly didn't know how he would act around having a girl around minus Rukia. Ichigo knew that Isshin was the hugest softie in the world to Yuzu and Karin, so would Ichigo be that way to his own daughter? Would Ichigo even have a daughter ever? What if he had all sons?

Why was he thinking so ahead in the future? That was Rukia's job.

Either way, Ichigo was happy to know more about their unborn child. He wasn't exactly sure of what the next step was, but he had a feeling it had to do with shopping for the child, and of course the whole Rukia giving birth to the child thingy.

Not even feeling hungry for breakfast, both he and Rukia crawled up the stairs and to their bedroom to the unmade futon. They had left it undone for a reason.

Rukia took off her Shinigami robes and slipped into her sleeping yukata. Ichigo smiled at seeing Rukia's round belly. It did look strange on her, but not in a bad way. She simply looked like a mother, and Ichigo wondered if Rukia ever thought he looked like a father. He sure as hell didn't think he looked like one, but technically he wasn't a father yet.

They both plopped down onto the bed at the same time after Ichigo took of the top to his Shinigami robes. Right when Ichigo started to get really comfortable, Rukia sat up.

"Ichigo, I forgot to tell you." Rukia said with a serious face. Ichigo sat up on his elbows.

"Is everything alright?" He asked with a concerned tone. Rukia was easily readable to him after all, and the suddenly serious expression told him she was going to say something serious.

"Yes, everything is fine, but Unohana told me that because of my body is so small, that giving a natural birth to the child could be unhealthy for both me and the baby, so she suggested that I do a C-section." Rukia stated.

Ichigo didn't like what he was hearing. So Rukia had to get a C-section so she would stay healthy?

"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" Ichigo asked. Rukia's face expression changed to one of defense.

"Unohana asked me if I wanted to tell you there, and I decided it would be best to tell you at home. Besides, I was so worked up about the gender that I forgot to tell you earlier." Rukia said.

"I think the health of your body is a little bit more important than finding out the gender of the baby, which we will find out when it is born."

Something about Rukia having to get a C-section because Unohana was saying Rukia couldn't hold a child properly scared him, and so, he felt anger.

"Ichigo, stop. I know it's important, which is why I wanted to tell you now. I'll be alright Ichigo, it's just a precautionary Unohana wants to take to make sure I stay as healthy as possible."

Ichigo looked away from Rukia, wanting the sudden irritation to die down. Maybe it was just knowing that the slightest harm was in her way, and that she and the baby could get hurt, or maybe for once, Ichigo didn't have a say on the matter, or better yet, he couldn't protect her from it. It was stupid for him to get so worked up about it, but that was how he was sometimes.

Ichigo dropped onto his back, staring at the ceiling. "I guess you're right. Unohana does know best, and I guess there's not much we can do about it." He replied.

Rukia leaned down and kissed his bare shoulder. "It will all work out, don't worry Ichigo. Let's think about other things right now, like names, and stuff that we can buy for the baby."

Ichigo knew that Rukia was going to bring up the shopping portion, and he knew before anything was going to start that he was in for a rude awakening

A/N: Alright, I know this chapter was a little bit shorter than the others, but I liked the length of it, and felt that it ended on a good note. I really enjoyed writing this chapter, because I got things in there that I wanted to get, and I added the IchiRuki banter that we all love. As for everything that happened with Unohana and Rukia, and the whole C-section ordeal, I basically made that all up, minus the common knowledge of C-sections. Hopefully you all enjoyed it, and I'll try to make the next chapter longer.

Please review! I love you!! Tell me your thoughts of the story overall so far, I love hearing them!!!

PS: Next chapter is the baby-shower, yaayy!!

PS #2: I'll be updating Unknown Premises sometime THIS WEEK. So anyone waiting, BE READY!!