"Hey Ichigo, wake up," Renji whispered, rubbing a hand across the teenagers back but the only response the older man got was a groan before Ichigo rolled over and snuggled deeper into the covers. "Wake up or I'm going to tickle you," he threatened, hoping to spark a reaction in the boy. After receiving no response he reached over and began to tickle Ichigo's ribs, causing his eyes to fly open and let out a hoarse laugh.
"Stop it Renji!" Ichigo screamed out between fits of laughter, hitting said man on the chest.
Renji chuckled at the previously sleeping shinigami's reaction and, deciding to be nice, stopped his administrations. "Good morning," he whispered, bending over and giving him a kiss.
Ichigo kissed back but had to pull away, still out of breathe from being tickled. "Mornin'," the orange haired boy panted, smiling up at his lover.
"You're so cute when you first wake up," Renji teased, causing Ichigo to smack him on the arm.
"Shut up!" Ichigo pouted, before crawling out of the comfort of his nice warm bed. "So what's for breakfast?"
"Who says I'm making you anything to eat?" Renji demanded, following him into the kitchen.
"Please!" he whined at the lieutenant, wrapping his arms around his neck and playing with the wild, red mane Renji called hair.
Renji rolled his eyes but found it hard to resist that adorable pout and asked," What do you want?"
"I want pancakes!" Ichigo let a big grin spread across his face but it slowly turned into a frown as he felt the dreaded uneasiness rise up in his stomach. "I'll be right back," he called, before running down the hall and into the bathroom.
After the waves of nausea had passed over him he crawled over to the wall and slumped against it, pulling his legs up against him and resting his head on his knees. He had hoped that Unohana's prediction had been a bad dream but this just assured him that it was very real. Now all he needed to do was tell Renji…
He was startled out of his thoughts when he felt strong arms wrap around his shoulders. "This flu sure is lasting a long time," Renji noted, handing Ichigo a glass of water.
"I just wish it would go away," Ichigo said with more meaning behind those words than Renji knew.
"Well, until it does I'll be right here taking care of you," Renji comforted. They sat quietly, both deep in thought, until small sobs broke through the silence. "What's wrong Ichi?" Renji asked, pulling the crying teen onto his lap.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry I lied to you," Ichigo sniveled, burying his face in the crook of Renji's neck.
"What are you apologizing for Ichigo? Everything's going to be fine," he reassured him,
"I lied to you! I'm not just sick. I'm pregnant," Ichigo cried, saying the last part so soft that Renji wasn't sure if he heard him right.
"What? Did you say you're pregnant?" Renji asked disbelievingly but instead of getting an answer his question just provoked the emotional substitute shinigami to start bawling his eyes out. Renji hugged the weeping man even closer to his chest, trying not to upset him anymore. Once Ichigo had calmed down a bit Renji pulled him back so he could look at his face. "Now tell me what you said again," he said, wiping tears from the smaller's cheeks.
"I'm pregnant… Unohana said she wasn't sure how it happened but she said that when I go back in two months for a check-up she might have a little bit more information about how I got this way," Ichigo said, all the while squeezing Renji's hand as tight as possible, as if he expected him to get up and leave him. "Please don't be mad at me. I'm sorry this happened and if you want me to get rid of it I will. Just tell me what you want and I'll do it," Ichigo pleaded.
Renji wanted to break into tears himself when Ichigo said that. "Ichigo, I want you to do whatever you want. I'll be here to support you no matter what you decide. We're in this together."
"I-I think I want to keep it…" Ichigo said nervously. Renji gave him a reassuring smile and Ichigo practically squealed, happy that Renji approved of his decision. "I love you!" he whispered before giving Renji a long sensual kiss. "Now how about those pancakes?"
Well I finished this chapter sooner than I expected… Oh well. I'll post the next chapter soon but before I do I want to see some reviews;)