Standard disclaimer applies.
Author's notes: This one is a sequel of some sorts for one-shot #24: Newsflash. Although reading that one is not necessary to understand "Jitters," I think you should 'cause I really like it. xD I'd like to thank Akai-chan again for beta-reading this! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Much love to you, hehe. (;o; A decent one-shot, at last!)
Oh, also my family is spending New Year at my Grandparent's (from Dad's side); that means my internet access will be more strained that it is already (that's what happens when your younger bro clogs the dsl modem). I honestly would like to update next week, but for this reason, I'm not sure if I'll be able to, sorry!
Finally, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you! My love and best wishes!
Jitters
06.11.2005 / 09.12.2005
"You're dead." The head of the Kuchiki clan had hissed those two deadly words to him with sharp precision; even wearing a cold, disapproving look to go along with his threat.
Ichigo glanced at the man but didn't acknowledge him.
Those had been the exact two words Byakuya had muttered to him oh so many times already, and if not for Rukia stepping in each time, they probably would've turned out true. Rukia was not here to save his ass now, however, and he wasn't in the best mood to fight. Instead, he simply tried to ignore the need to tear something apart as he ran out of patience. No, he wasn't in the mood for it… Besides, there were too many people here and the insurance didn't cover destroying half the building.
If Ichigo thought that informing Kuchiki Byakuya the nature of his relationship with his adopted, little sister (of whom the man was oddly overprotective of, mind you) was hard, standing side by side with his brother-in-law as Rukia's painful screams reverberated through the halls of the hospital was one of the most horrifying, scarring experiences of his young life.
He dropped himself on the chair, raking his hair with his fingers in a desperate action. "Why the hell can't I be inside?" he yelled irritated.
Ishida smirked, patting one of the orange-haired young man's shoulders once he approached him. "Because you're an idiot, Kurosaki."
Glancing hurriedly at Ishida, who gave her an innocent look, Orihime stood beside Ichigo. "The sensei said it would be better for Kuchiki-san if you stayed outside," the chestnut-haired girl supplied gently. Then added quietly: "You were making all the nurses nervous too."
"But I should be with her! She's giving birth to my child! That damned doctor…!" He yelled, frustration getting the best of him.
"Don't yell at Orihime!" Tatsuki countered hotly, stepping in between them and looking up at him defiantly. Orihime took a step back behind Tatsuki, not wanting to upset the already stressed man any more.
"I…!" Ichigo's mouth hung open in shock, his gaze flying around to catch sight of the concerned looks on everyone's faces.
Orihime had her brows furrowed very much like Tatsuki, but her lips were quivering also. Ishida was playing with his glasses, eyes avoiding Ichigo's, and Chad was even more silent than usual. His little sister Karin was staring at him with an almost annoyed look while Yuzu was gazing worriedly at him while glancing at the labor room every time Rukia's voice was heard. And of course, that pokerfaced bastard he had to call 'brother-in-law' was looking more grim than usual. He closed his mouth and lowered his head, mumbling an apology to his friend.
"Idiot." Tatsuki smiled and patted his head, breaking the tension in the small living room. "We know you're worried about Rukia-san, but she will be alright. Be patient, okay?"
"But how long is it going to take…?" His furrowed brows only indicated how tense and anxious he was.
"Stop it, Ichii-ni! Or I'll tie you up too!" Karin smacked his head reprovingly as her father struggled under her foot, body against the floor and ropes binding him. She had taken care of silencing the man all by herself some while ago when she got fed up with his loud mouth.
"You're asking for the impossible from Ichii-ni, Arisawa-san," Yuzu spoke softly while smiling at her family's antics, and gained a nod of agreement from both the tall, dark-skinned Chad and the lean, bespectacled Ishida. Tatsuki nodded too as she and the rest, with the exception of Ichigo and Rukia's brother, laughed slightly.
"Rukia!" Renji's voice hollered through the halls, making everyone's head snap in surprise.
The owner of the voice soon showed himself, arriving into the already packed waiting room looking disheveled and slightly out of breath. "I just got the message!" he explained quickly, nodding in respect at the sixth division captain and turning angrily to the soon-to-be father. Renji pushed Ichigo's shoulder back forcefully and accusingly as he stood in front of the orange-haired man.
"Ichigo, you bastard! How could you make Rukia suffer this much?" He was suddenly gripping the collar of Ichigo's shirt.
"Who's the bastard? Monkey brain!" the other barked, not intimidated at all by his old acquaintance and fighting out of the latter's strong grasp. "It's not like I want her to be in pain!"
He glared at the man before him as the people passing by stopped to stare at the two. The small number of his friends currently gathered looked between the two men with slight worry, but none of them were willing to try and stop what was coming.
Renji stared down at Ichigo, looked around the room, and finally met captain Kuchiki's hard gaze. The older man made a slight head movement, a nod barely noticeable, and Renji dropped his grip on Ichigo's shirt. "Hmph," he grunted, then smirked cockily at Ichigo. "If anything happens to her, I'll kill you!"
"If anything happens to her, I'll remind you to kill me," the other smirked back. He dropped once again to the chair, and looked up at his rival and friend with a worn-out smile. "Thanks, Renji."
And then the room was filled with silence once again, only to be interrupted by the sound of doctors and nurses moving along the halls and their hushed whispers as they worked hurriedly.
"It's a boy!" A feminine voice announced, shifting everybody's attention to the nurse coming out from the labor room.
Ichigo stared at the round-faced woman like she was some sort of messenger of God and relief washed over his stressed face as he released a deep breath. He stood up from the chair only to be swarmed by his friends patting his head and shoulders and offering words of congratulations. He smiled despite his weariness, nodding at his friends but merely ignoring all of them.
There was only one thing he could think of, that Rukia and his baby were safe.
His eyes met Byakuya's and they shared a look mixed with something like pride and like respect. The other man nodded at him, a mere gesture of approval before he looked back at the closed door of the birthing room. And then Ichigo noticed that thoughtful look on Byakuya's face that made the alarms in his head start going on loudly.
"Like hell!" he shouted suddenly, making everyone turn his way as he pointed an accusing finger towards his brother-in-law. The Kuchiki captain merely raised an amused eyebrow. "I know what you are thinking and I'm not naming my son after you!"
The man chuckled deeply and started walking smoothly towards the labor room, where his little sister was waiting with his new nephew, before Ichigo could reach them himself. And then he glanced back at the 'boy' over his shoulder, a glint on his eyes. "We'll see about that."