Standard disclaimer applies.
Author's note: Whee! I've been waiting eagerly to reach this one :D A lot of grinning and smiling and smirking, and yeah, many facial expressions… In theory, I should be writing all these "follow-ups" in a similar style, but I'm not… Jitters and Shopping give out a chirper feeling, while Newsflash and Bonds are written on a more serene, fluffy mood. Byakuya-chan shows up in this one, of course, and his speech is intended to resemble one of a toddler. I wouldn't know how true it is about having trouble speaking correctly as a child, but mother did say I wouldn't shut up…

Bonds
11.03.2006

There wasn't a more beautiful, blissful feeling that the one he felt when he touched her. His fingers trembled as they grazed her pinkish skin, just like the first time he did, making her stir slightly. She yawned lazily, opening big, curious eyes and then staring up at him. Her lips curved at the sight of him, recognition settling on her face. He smiled back and mouthed a gentle greeting. She cuddled against his arms and he allowed her to move until she was comfortable enough in his embrace. She closed her eyes again and in no time she was asleep one more time.

"Ichigo?" Rukia's questioning voice floated in the air like a breeze. He turned toward her, careful enough not to move much and wake the sleeping child in his arms. "Oh," she whispered. "I was wondering if you hadn't come back yet."

He gave her a small nod and, grinning at her, murmured softly, "I'm home."

Ichigo slowly returned the baby back into her crib and turned over to his wife, who had already stepped inside the pink decorated bedroom. (At first, he hadn't been too sure the amount of bunnies in the room would be good for their daughter's mental health, but oh, well…) He leaned down for a kiss, which the black-haired woman responded gladly.

She sighed in delight, letting him hold her a little longer against his chest before looking up at him. "Hisana-chan fell asleep while waiting for you, you know?" Rukia reprimanded jokingly, smirking because she knew how guilt-ridden he'd get when it came to his daughter.

"I'm sorry," he said apologetically, "The surgery took longer than I expected. How is she?"

She smiled at him, and it looked like she was beaming with relief. "She's much better. The cold is almost gone and she's only slightly irritated," she explained. Her expression turned into one of concern and interest. "What about you? How did it go? Is everything okay?"

"I'm fine, just a bit tired," he said, letting go of her and moving to sit on the small sofa near the cradle. Rukia trailed after him and sat beside her husband. "It is boy…" he told her, and it was enough to make the young woman squeal in excitement and mutter, "She was right!" Ichigo laughed softly at her antics before continuing.

Ichigo frowned slightly, massaging his temples. "There were some minor complications during the delivery, but it was okay. Besides, I was only assisting the gynecologist because Ishida made me swear I'd be there."

"He was worried about her," Rukia nodded in comprehension, "This is their first child after all; and I bet he'd be rather upset if something happened to her or the baby," she declared in a know-it-all voice and it made him raise a brow, crossing her arms over her chest. He knew this tone and posture quite well, from many years ago.

"Yeah," the young doctor conceded, "But fortunately both are fine and quite lively and healthy, the boy seems to have taken a lot from his mom. I think that the one won't last though is Ishida. I think he even threw up at one point…"

She laughed in some sort of agreement. "I know someone who nearly fainted…" she said, and didn't let him retort, simply placing her fingers on his lips to show him she'd been just joking. "Did you tell them why I wasn't there?" she asked, her fingers reaching for his hand and intertwining with his.

Ichigo paused to look at their interlaced hands and his free one fell on top of hers; he stroked the top of her hand with his thumb absently as he leaned against the back of the sofa and stared up at the ceiling. He then replied not to worry and that, "They know that either taking Hisana out of the house or leaving her alone wouldn't be the best for her health."

"To think," She voiced out in wonder, "I should be giving birth to Hisana around this week or so." Her face took on a wistful look; brief panic overtaking her gaze before it was gone in a flash only to be replaced by newfound serenity as her eyes found the cradle in front. "She gave me a fright back then…"

"She did give us a scare…. But it is okay now, she's out of danger…" He too looked thoughtful. They heard the baby noises coming from the crib, and Ichigo stood up to check up on the supposedly sleeping infant. He smiled widely as he found the girl, entirely awake and grinning at him with a toothless smile. He lifted her up carefully to show her to her mother. "Besides, now my girl can brag that she's two months older than that Ishida's brat, ne?"

"Ichigo! He's just a baby, not a brat!" Rukia scolded, but Ichigo ignored her as his attention was fully on the tiny baby.

Hisana's skin was as pale as her mother's, pale enough to have worried the doctors at first, but her cheeks were flushed rosy pink. Her round-up face made her look almost cherubic and her amber-colored eyes sparkled with childish glee as her father rocked her. There was a tuff of black hair slowly growing atop of her head; the hairs were an ebony shade that contrasted greatly against the rest of her fair complexion. The baby girl was very small due to being born two months beforehand, but otherwise she was pretty much complete and healthy.

The woman frowned at the lack of attention and cleared her throat. "And it is Ishida and Orihime's son you're talking about." Rukia's continued reprimand broke him out of his reverence and he frowned.

"Precisely," he argued, a smirk set on his face, "with that kind of father, I'm sure as hell that he'll be a brat when he grows up."

And oh, of course he'd been talking about one of his best friends… Rukia scoffed at him, because she knew he'd been only teasing.

"Whosa brat?" A small, sleepy voice made them both turn their gazes to the door. The boy stood by the doorframe, clad in squared pajamas and trying to rub out slumber from his eyes. "Mama? Papa?"

"Bya-chan!" His mother exclaimed, and waited for the child to walk over to her to kneel down and ask, "Are you okay, why are you awake? Did you have a bad dream?"

"I thwas worried," he admitted bashfully in a still sleepy tone of voice, rubbing his eyes one more time, "about lil' sis."

"She's okay, see?" Ichigo lowered down his arms to let him look at Hisana and both siblings peered at each other curiously. The girl reached out her small hand to touch her brother's wild, orange hair and tugged at it.

The boy squeaked, frowning at the laughing girl and massaging his head on the sore spot. "Hey! Yer more good than I thought… Mama can I carry her, pweasie, pwease? Yeah, Mama? Papa lemme hold her, 'kay? I promise I won't throw her to the floor."

Rukia took Hisana from her husband's arms and moved back to sit on the white and pink sofa, with one hand she patted the spot next to her and called for her first born. "Come here." The boy scurried to the couch, using both hands to help himself sit beside his mommy. Rukia then slowly passed his sister into his arms, holding up her head with utmost care. "Now, gently."

Ichigo watched his four-year-old trying to hold his baby sister with the help of Rukia and grinned contentedly to himself. It was then that he began thinking of his mother and something struck him like a lightening bolt. He finally understood everything… he'd do anything for his children.