Woah, well, it's been a while, I'm sorry I was unable to update, I got caught up in well...lots of things, it was a good trip all in all though, I have like a million insect bites...but I'm okay!

Well here's the next Chappie, this one has lots of angst; some of you may hate me after this, but it is necessary for these things to happen, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, I promise! It might seem a bit rushed, but keep in mind that I haven't been writing for over a month and I'm doing all in my power to not make this story too long, other than that, enjoy!

January 10th…

Ishida snuck through the streets and to his school very cautiously; he froze when he bumped into someone else as he looked back. It was her, she glared at him and extended her palm towards him asking for something.

"Where is it?"

"What do you mean where is what?"

"My zanpakuto you imbecile!"

Ever since the night when she kissed him two weeks ago, Soi Fong had been acting frighteningly strange. She carried her zanpakuto everywhere and seemed to use it for just about anything she could think of. Haircuts, chopping vegetables, cutting grass, shaving her legs, stirring her morning tea, turning on the television; what frightened Ishida the most was the deadly look she had in her eyes whenever he was around, he could even swear that she clutched the handle of her zanpakuto tighter whenever he walked into the room.

Another disturbing fact that added to the suspicion of there being something amiss with Soi's sanity was the dozens of cages in their backyard. She suddenly took a liking to buying and slaughtering her own chickens with her zanpakuto. When he asked her why she did this, she answered saying that she liked her meat freshly killed, though she seemed to release a lot of pent up rage whenever she killed the chickens.

"I have no idea where you left it," said Ishida taking a nervous gulp.

"Don't you dare mock me puny adolescent boy! Now where is my zanpakuto?!" Asked Soi Fong grabbing him by the collar of his shirt.

"Soi-chan! Uryuu-kun!" Said two voices from afar; Soi Fong immediate grabbed Ishida and kissed him to hide from the approaching girls that she was about to punch him. Ishida's eyes widened, but when he notices the blonde and the read-head walking towards them he closes his eyes and returns her kiss very enthusiastically.

"Soi? Uryuu?" Said Christine as she and Yukina approached them.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't hear you, I was too busy making out with my boyfriend," said Soi batting her eyelashes in an exaggeratedly sweet manner, "right Uryuu?" He didn't answer and she turned to look at him; he looked dazed; she had to glare at him for him to shake his head and come back down to earth.

"Well we just wanted to say hi and invite you to our Valentine's day party, it's still far away but we like to get everything prepared ahead of time," said Yukina giving them invitations.

"Thanks! We'll be there, right boo?" Said Soi Fong biting his earlobe seductively; Ishida could only nod.

"Well, we'll be expecting you there then. Oh and…Soi…happy first day of school," said Christine; before Soi could pull away, Christine kissed her on the lips; she quickly ran out of there giggling alongside Yukina.

"Stupid lesbians, that's the second time I've been kissed by a girl so far," said Soi Fong wiping her mouth.

"Who was the first?"

"Inoue," said Soi Fong; then she walked towards the school building.

Orihime, Ishida became confused and saddened every time he heard her name. The morning after they made love two weeks ago she started acting very strangely; she left in a hurry and hadn't spoken to him ever since…

…

Ishida woke up to find her enveloped in his arms. He smiled at this and placed a gentle kiss on the nape of her neck. She smelled wonderful, like the rain. He couldn't help himself, he needed to taste her again. He rolled his tongue to the side of her neck and sucked on her pulse point. He felt her begin to stir and nuzzled her neck.

"Morning," he whispered in her ear as he sprinkled kisses along her jaw line and down her neck.

"Morning," she mewled turning her head to the side and giving his bottom lip a gentle bite. He took this as a signal to continue and slid his tongue past her lips savoring the taste of her.

While he kissed her his hands slid the sheets off of her and then glided down to her stomach. His hands drew circles on her large mounds and then back to her abdomen and lower…it was then that she froze and opened her eyes. She pulled away from him and covered herself with the white bed sheets again.

"Is something wrong?" He asked her; she didn't say anything, instead she slipped a hand inside the sheets and between her legs. She brought the hand in front of her face and her eyes widened at the sight of blood on her fingertips.

"Well that's perfectly normal Orihime."

"I have to go," she said; she dashed out of bed attempting as best as she could to cover her bare body with her hands, she took her clothes, ran to the restroom, and once she was finished she left the house without another word.

Orihime sat inside her creative writing class looking out the window thoughtfully. She watched a bird pass by and sighed only to bury her face in her hands again.

"Hey what's been up with Orihime?" Chizuru asked Tatsuki; Tatsuki shrugged.

"I don't know, she has been like this for two weeks."

…

"I wonder who the new teacher will be," said Mizuiro.

"I just hope she's hot!" Said Keigo; Ichigo heard them and rolled his eyes. He turned to look at Rukia who was sitting by the desk next to him; she had a sandwich on her lap and ate it discretely.

"You didn't have enough to eat during lunch?" He asked surprised, recalling the three sandwiches, two bowls of rice, two slices of cake, and five slices of pizza that she ate.

"It's not that, they wont stop staring at me," said Rukia miserably as she glanced over at the girls in the classroom, they were all staring at her, they had been since that morning.

…

"Kuchiki-san you're pregnant?!" Asked a group of girls as she and Ichigo walked in through the school's gates.

"Is Kurosaki-kun the father?"

"When did this happen?" Rukia didn't know what to say to them. She just remained silent, Ichigo pulled her away from the group of girls.

"Just ignore them," he said giving her hand a light squeeze and then letting her go.

…

"Just ignore them," said Ichigo, the same phrase he had repeated countless times during the day. Rukia wasn't the only one they stared at; they all seemed to think he was the father. But unlike Rukia he didn't care, not only because he wouldn't mind being he father, but because he was too tired from fighting off Hollows to deal with anything else.

Just in the past three days he had fought a minimum twenty five Hollows, four of them Arrancar. It helped that someone as strong as Byakuya was around; they finished them off a lot faster that way. Hollows were raining on Rukia, and unfortunately she seemed to grow weaker every day. A fact that he did not fail to notice, but at the same time did not speak about to Rukia, he knew how much she disliked worrying him, and if worrying him worried her, then he would pretend not to be worried.

...

Renji, Hitsugaya, and Rangiku were sitting a couple of seats away from Rukia and Ichigo; Renji covered his ears trying to block out the gossiping that came from the group of girls concerning Rukia's pregnancy and the new professor.

"Seriously, does it even matter who the new professor is, he or she will only be assigning homework anyway,' complained Renji.

"Actually lieutenant Abarai, you might find that there is more to this professor than meets the eye," said Hitsugaya.

"Yeah, and all these squeamish school girls won't be disappointed either," said Rangiku with a smirk.

The jaw of every single girl and even some boys in the classroom dropped at the sight of their new professor; even Chizuru the lesbian looked at him with adoration. Ichigo was flabbergasted and so was Rukia, though she was also horrified. 'That settles it, god must hate me, damn you Yamamoto!' she thought to herself as the gorgeous tall man wrote his name on the board.

"Hello class, I am professor Kuchiki and I will be your creative writing teacher for the next four months," said Byakuya stoically.

"As your first assignment you will be reading and writing an essay on the script of the 1979 movie Caligula," said Byakuya; Rukia was shocked. 'He wouldn't…' she thought to herself.

"Professor Kuchiki, what will it be about?" Asked Keigo.

"About the third Emperor of the Roman Empire."

"Professor, but isn't that the one that…" Mizuiro tried not to laugh as he said this, "had umm…intimate relationships with his sisters." Rukia's eyes widened, the chronicles of her shame were about to begin.

"Yes, but that is not the point, it is to witness as readers the fall of a once mighty political leader."

"Speaking of sisters, professor Kuchiki, are you related to Rukia Kuchiki?" Asked Chizuru looking over at Rukia.

"Yes, she is my sister," said Byakuya emotionlessly not even turning to look at her.

"I thought you'd be, you're both drop dead gorge…I mean, you both have great hair," said Chizuru.

"Very well then, Rukia follow me into the office to help me bring copies of the scripts." Rukia nodded and stood up nervously; sensing her discomfort, the child in her womb gave a sudden kick which startled her; she jumped up surprised and placed her hand on her stomach.

"Awe the baby kicked!" Cooed a group of girls in unison as they giggled; Rukia's face turned as red as a tomato but she ignored them.

In the copy room, Rukia took and stapled the papers together as Byakuya passed them to her. It was silent, too silent; they had not actually carried out a conversation for almost a month; the two weeks they had spent living together they rarely ever ran into each other; either she was out with Ichigo or he was in a Captain's meeting.

"Wouldn't it be nice to have one of these machines back at Sereitei?" She asked unable to stand the awkward silence any longer. Byakuya however didn't even so much as acknowledge her; he seemed very deep in thought about something.

"You have been fainting quite frequently," he stated, still looking intently at the copy machine.

"Well that's normal, I am after all pregnant, nii-sama," she laughed; he turned to glare at her, not seeming to find anything funny about it.

"You are weak Rukia, if you continue on denying me, the child will die," he said.

"But nii-sama-"

"How Kurosaki feels about this does not matter to me. It only matters that you and the child survive, and if I must force myself on you Rukia, then I will. I will not allow a naïve adolescent romance to endanger the life of my family, of course it would be preferable if you came to your senses and complied. My…my child's life is what's most important to me, and I am not one to set your moral priorities, but isn't that emotion twice as strong for the mother? I do respect your wishes Rukia, but understand that in this case I must make an exception," said Byakuya; Rukia's jaw dropped, that was probably the most she had ever heard him speak, and so passionately too, his cold uncaring eyes were suddenly lit with emotion, though anger would not have been the emotion she would have preferred.

"Understood nii-sama," said Rukia not able to hold in her sadness.

"I am glad to see we have reached an understanding, skip my class and get some rest," said Byakuya, it was not a suggestion, it was a demand; Rukia nodded. Byakuya was about to leave out the door but paused and looked at her as if he wanted to say something, but then just lowered his gaze to her womb and then left out the room.

Rukia looked down sadly and placed a hand on her stomach thoughtfully. He was right, Byakuya…no…the father of her child, had made a very important point, one that was crucial to them both. Even though their mentality and priorities were usually very different, at this point in time they both wished for the same thing, the well-being of their unborn child. She loved Ichigo, she did, and she knew that he would perhaps understand. He would forgive her for being involved with Byakuya, but in the process he would be very hurt; she couldn't have that…even thought it tore her inside, there was something she knew she must do, for her child, and even for Ichigo…

Orihime and Tatsuki were at the park; they were both on the swings facing each other; Orihime looked at the floor as Tatsuki looked at her. Orihime drew hearts on the sand with her toes and then erased them again.

"Orihime, what's wrong?"

"Why do you ask Tatsuki?" Said Orihime suddenly very cheerful.

"Well, you've been mopping around all day, and that's not like you

"Nothing really I just…what would you do if you realized you made a mistake, but to somebody else it didn't seem like a mistake, to them let's say it's like a gift, how do you let them know that you regret giving it, or maybe was a bit confused at the time you gave it?"

"Well, I don't know, it depends what kind of gift it is. It's not that I don't care about other people, but you know me and the importance of being earnest!" laughed Tatsuki; Orihime didn't get it.

"It's an English play from Oscar Wilde, it's on the list that Byakuya gave us, I had read it before though, even watched the movie. It's weird isn't it? Having Captain Kuchiki as our professor, it must be even weirder for Rukia," said Tatsuki.

"Yes, it must be very weird, poor Kuchiki-san…" said Orihime sadly.

Ichigo walked out to the front of the school to wait for Rukia. School was over and he had not seen her in the last two periods; once she left with Byakuya to get some copies she did not return. He waited silently ignoring the stares and pointed fingers given to him by his other classmates. He heard the whispers grow louder as Rukia walked over to him; he looked at her curiously wondering why she had that glum look on her face.

"Is something wrong?"

"We need to talk."

That afternoon Ishida sat inside his living room, alone. There were no signs of Soi Fong anywhere, which he considered a good thing; he didn't have to be worried about being massacred by her poisonous zanpakuto. Or maybe…perhaps she was in the house…but didn't want him to know…maybe she wanted to catch him unsuspecting. Ishida immediately stood up and paced around the room quietly. He gave a sudden jump when the door bell rang; he then sighed relieved and opened the door, it was…

"Orihime? Wow…I mean, hello, come in," said Ishida genuinely surprised to see her there.

"Hi Uryuu," said Orihime timidly walking inside; then they both sat on the couch.

"Well, it's good to see you, it's been a while."

"Well I've been busy with school… is that a dead chicken on top of your TV?!" Asked Orihime surprised observing the beheaded, still covered in feathers.

"Long story," said Ishida sheepishly scratching the back of his head, "so, what have you been up to? It felt like you pretty much ran out on me after…"

"That's, that's why I'm here," said Orihime loosening the collar of her shirt.

"What? You mean…right now? Soi Fong might get home any-"

"No, not that, it's just a little warm in here," smiled Orihime nervously.

"So then, why are you here?"

"This, this whole thing Uryuu, it can't go on anymore," said Orihime uncomfortably.

"Well, it's all right, we don't have to do that anymore, I promise," said Ishida.

"No, I mean, us. The way I felt after doing that with you, it made me realize that this is wrong, we're wrong; I don't love you Uryuu."

"What? Oh come on, you can't say it just because of what happened, you were probably just nervous…maybe you weren't ready and you…"

"No! stop it Ishida! You're making this more difficult! don't you understand? I never loved you! I never will!"

"Why? So you…you lied to me? Why now? Why do you tell me this now?" Asked Ishida quietly.

"Yes, I lied to you, I'm a horrible person! And that's why you need to forget about me!" Said Orihime standing up and bursting into tears.

"Wait, no, you don't mean that Orihime, I know you don't," said Ishida standing up and placing one hand under her chin.

"You don't know that."

"Yes I do?"

"How?"

"Because you're crying Orihime, you don't want to leave me, we both know that."

"Of course I want to leave you…I…I'm in love with someone else," said Orihime nervously, making it up as she went, lying to get him off her back.

"Who?" Asked Ishida looking a bit hurt.

"Kurosaki-kun," said Orihime; Ichigo was the first person she could think of, "we're dating, so leave me alone!" she said; then she ran out of there, leaving Ishida too shocked to respond in any other way.

"Rukia…" said Ichigo shocked. He and Rukia were at the nearby park sitting on the grass under a tree.

"I'm sorry Ichigo, but you need to understand, I don't want to hurt you…this is the only way, nii-sama…nii-sama is the father of my child, my baby needs him. I can't be with both of you at the same time, it's immoral…it's unfair," said Rukia quietly.

"That's my decision to make you stupid midget! If I say I don't care if you're with him and me at the same time then damn Rukia don't try to change that decision for me!"

"I can't, I wouldn't only hurt you, I would hurt nii-sama, and whether you like it or not, I do love him."

"What?" Asked Ichigo taken aback.

"Yes, Ichigo, I love him! No matter how much I love you…he was the first man in my life, and…and…when I think about it, I'm glad he was…I don't think I would have been comfortable with anyone else…"

"Rukia…how could…"

"I'm sorry, but it's for my baby, I don't want something like this hurting him. Our relationship is harming him Ichigo, first of all because I won't let Byakuya touch me, and secondly, because he won't know the happiness of a family, I never knew my mother or my father, and I don't want to deprive him from the chances of having them both…"

"But I could be his father! He could have to fathers, wouldn't that be better? Byakuya could still be in his life, I wouldn't mind…Rukia…"

"I'm sorry, Ichigo, but I must go," said Rukia sadly; she stood up and left. Ichigo watched her leave with the sunset.

It was night; Byakuya sat by the fireplace in his study reading a novel. How fascinating these people in the living world were…and what great novels they wrote. He was currently reading Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier, and thoroughly enjoying it. He set the book down when he heard Rukia walk into the living room, this time choosing not to ignore her, especially the fact that she was home very late and appeared very tired.

"It is past eleven, this is not an hour to be arriving home in your condition," he said picking up his book again.

"I'm sorry nii-sama, it will not happen again," said Rukia emotionlessly; this surprised him, she mirrored his usual expression exactly. The fiery and emotional Rukia seemed nowhere in sight, but choosing not to show his concerned, he looked at her indifferently.

"What kept you?" He said still reading.

"I had to take care of a little problem," she said walking over to him.

"Were you successful in your attempts?" He asked.

"Yes…quite," she said; then he looked up from the book and at her. He was surprised by what she did next. She sauntered to him swaying her hips seductively and then stood in front of him.

She took his book and threw it to the floor, then sat on his lap, straddling him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through his hair as she looked heatedly into his eyes.

"Let's not keep Hideto waiting," she mumbled onto his lips; then pecked him briefly.

"Hideto?" He managed to ask through feather light kisses.

"That's what I decided to name our baby," she said kissing along his jaw line, "what do you think?"

"It is a suitable name," he said wrapping his arms around her waist; she shuddered pleasantly as he ran his hands inside her shirt and up her back, massaging her spine gently.

"Though I will punish you for deciding on the name without consulting me first," he said running his lips and teeth along her neck.

"Well then, stop talking and punish me," she said; then she grinded herself down on him causing him to moan involuntarily. He leaned his head back on the couch as she sprinkled his neck with kisses.

Then suddenly, he opened his eyes, there was something very wrong about this. It was not like Rukia to advance on him like this, and she was never as…dominating. There was definitely something wrong with her, he could sense it in her lips, her touch, cold, uncaring…

"Rukia, wait," said Byakuya; Rukia stopped.

"What is it Byakuya-kun," she teased as she ran her hands down his chest, abdomen, and down…

"A-are you feeling well? I do not wish to hurt you or Hideto," said Byakuya stifling a moan as she stroked him.

"I'm fine, and your touches could only make both the baby and I feel better," she said smiling; then proceeded to kiss him on the lips, eventually plunging her tongue inside his mouth and tasting him.

"Rukia…"

"I already told you I'm…" then he placed a finger to her lips.

"Bed, now," he said Lifting her into his arms and carrying her upstairs in flash step.

"Nii-sama!" shrieked Rukia in fear she would fall.

"Five-hundred-and-thirty-five," said Ichigo counting the stars, he was sitting by his window; finding nothing better to do he did this. Giving up on counting he lied on the bed and closed his eyes. But then exasperated he sat up again.

"Rukia…" he said, he could not believe it was really over, his Rukia…leave him for…Byakuya? It was unthinkable, something he never would have foreseen, the man was a block of ice for goodness sake! And Rukia…she was so warm….so full of life and emotion. How was it that someone like Byakuya took her from him? He couldn't understand how…

"Ichigo!" A sudden scream broke him from his thoughts…it was Orihime, she was standing by the window and inside his room.

"Orihime? How did you…?"

"I'm sorry Kurosaki-kun, but I'm in trouble…and I need you to help me."

"What? What happened?"

"Well, I lied to someone about something, but I did it for a good reason I promise, and…and you were included in that lie," said Orihime standing in front of him.

"Me? Well, what do you want me to do?"

"I want you to pretend to be my boyfriend," said Orihime looking very embarrassed.

"Your what?!"

Ishida was inside the kitchen with Soi Fong. He was doing his homework but having a hard time concentrating, while Soi Fong was plucking a chicken. She interrupted his daydream by slamming the plucked chicken on the table.

"What?" Said Ishida snapping out of it.

"It's rude to ignore someone when they're talking to you," she said glaringly.

"I'm sorry I just…"

"I was just saying that…I think we should go as Aries and Aphrodite to the Valentine's Day party."

"What?"

"Well, Christine said that we had to take costumes, and Aphrodite, isn't she supposed to be the goddess of wisdom or something of the sort?"

"What? Oh yes, yes she is," said Ishida holding back the urge to laugh.

"Yes, I will be a wise and powerful goddess," said Soi Fong raising her fist into the air, "well, I'll be off now, see you tomorrow," said Soi Fong walking away. "Oh, and another thing, you shouldn't look so upset, it's bad enough having me as a pessimistic person in the house," smiled Soi Fong; then she left the kitchen. Ishida blinked a couple of times confused, did Soi Fong just…smile?