Author's Note:

Hello everyone and welcome back! Thanks to all who read and reviewed, I was so happy to read them! I wanted to point a very important issue about this story, so I won't get any more comments about it. If you read some things that are 'out of character' (What the hell is that anyway when you're writing fiction? To me it's a reader's opinion.), please do not panic. Please do not send me emails or reviews saying it was 'OOC'. It's not OOC, its fiction. (smiles)

A big, heaping thanks to my beta readers, Shenhui & janabanana!

Gift Of The Guardian

Chapter Two

Song for this chapter: Like you'll never see me again by Alicia Keys

Because the events of the previous night were still fresh in her mind, Rukia felt a little apprehensive as she walked up to Ichigo's room. The only thing that is putting her at ease is the gentle but remorseful look in his eyes. He placed his hand on the small of her back, making her walk faster. As they came up to his bedroom door with the '15' sign hanging on the front, he reached around her to open it and let her walk in first. To finally have the opportunity to walk in through his bedroom door instead of creeping in through his window was exhilarating for Rukia. Once she walked inside, the door was quickly shut close and locked, and Rukia's stomach coiled with the uneasiness of the sound of it. She bumped right into Ichigo's chest when she suddenly turned around. He quietly stared down at her, still feeling regretful at what he had done. Rukia's hands drew up to his face, caressing his jaw tenderly.

"It's okay Ichigo," Rukia whispered. "I forgive you."

Ichigo pulled her closer to him, his head lowering down to her shoulder. Waves of relief washed over him, and he embraced her tightly. He took in her scent, breathing her in deeply as his eyes drew closed.

He was going to miss this.

He raised his head up slowly, staring at her amorously before he leaned forward for a kiss. Rukia, loving how he touched his lips lightly against hers, moaned softly. His tongue darted out leisurely as he pressed his mouth closer. She was used to his kisses, and she knew what each one meant. Kisses that were feathery, fleeting, and filled with pure gentleness told how much he loved her. Those kisses would lead to heavy petting and cuddling that could last all night. The kiss she was getting now however was full of passion, heat, and intensity. She knew well enough what this kiss meant. It was a kiss that usually leads to furious, instantaneous sex that would exhaust them within minutes. She felt his hands slide around her waist, gliding down lower as they slid under her dress.

Rukia shuddered, pulling her mouth away from his as she felt his warm hands rest on her hips. "Ichigo!" She breathed.

Ichigo began kissing the hollow of her throat, his tongue swirling around the sensitive area. Rukia moaned again, grasping him tight as he gripped her hips tighter, grinding himself against her.

"We don't have much time," Ichigo panted as he suddenly straightened, backing away from her and begins to unzip his pants.

Rukia felt her legs weaken as she watched him pull his pants and boxers down, and his very aroused member sprung into view. He grasped it tightly, giving it a long stroke as he smirked at her.

"Ic-chigo…" Rukia stuttered as felt herself warming up at the very sight of his nakedness. "Your family is downstairs!"

"So what? They're here all the time…" Ichigo said as he walked up to her, making her walk backwards to his bed. She clumsily fell back on the mattress, looking up at Ichigo as he knelt down between her spread legs. "You look so good Rukia… I have to have you now." He pulled her dress up, and groaned painfully as he looked at her panties. "You have on the purple pair… I love it when you wear these…" Ichigo lowered his head, kissing her crotch right through the material. Holding his nose closely to her clothed center he inhaled sharply, growling low in his throat. "You smell so fucking good!"

Rukia found herself totally helpless and aroused as she lied back down against the mattress, biting her finger to keep herself from crying out. She felt his mouth nuzzle against her, taking tiny bites against her covered mound.

Ichigo teased her as he flicked his tongue rapidly against her clothed nub while his hand slid up to pull back the dampened seat, sinking two fingers into her deeply. Rukia's back arched towards his hand, and he smiled. "You're so wet, Rukia… I love it." Removing his hand he stood up, positioning his hardness against her wet entrance. Rukia tried to pull her panties down, but Ichigo placed a hand on hers. She gazed at him strangely as she saw the glazed, reckless look in his eyes. "Keep them on."

"What are they doing up there?" Karin queried to no one in particular as she set the plates on the dining room table.

"They're probably talking… they looked very tense about something…" Yuzu pondered as she brought out the dinner rolls from the kitchen.

"Well I'm sure they're talking it all out about now…" Karin grumbled wryly as she sent a glance up the stairs.

Every pent up emotion and every iota of passion was suddenly exploding from the both of them as they ravished each other. They both knew that they didn't have a lot of time, so it had to be done fast, hard, and more importantly, right. Rukia's legs were tight against his hips, drawing him closer as he pummeled away, expertly sinking into her at a pace she couldn't keep up with. She just laid there and let him take her, riding the waves of pleasure that spiked through her like tidal waves.

She gazed at him, watching how his mouth was hung partially open, and how his half lidded eyes fluttered blissfully. He would grit his teeth every few seconds, trying hard to ride the pleasure out but feeling himself spiraling out of control. He knew that prolonging the moment was not a possibility at the hurried pace his hips was moving. He just wanted to feel the tremors of her sex grip him; he wanted to feel her floodgates open and crash all around them. There was so much he wanted to experience with her, but right now a quickie was all he could manage.

His hand slipped down between them, attempting to find the nub of her pleasure to sail her into ecstasy. As his hand slid across her belly, he felt his hand grow numb with a tingling sensation… like waves of reiatsu dancing across his flattened palm.

"What… is that…?" Ichigo marveled; his voice thick and heavy with awe and drunken lust. He glanced up at Rukia, who was mewling under him as he slowed down, his hand now making small circles on her stomach with total fascination. He gave her a sheepish, confused smile; not sure why this sensation felt so good and yet… familiar.

Rukia's body stiffened with panic when she felt his caresses there. She saw the perplexed yet aroused look on his face and realized that he didn't understand what he was feeling. She decided to distract him from this curiosity she begins to thrust her hips up to his frantically, drawing him out of his inquisitiveness and placing his mind back on the task at hand.

Ichigo regained control again, grabbing her hips to keep her in place. He moved against her harder and faster until all thought was gone between them. Ichigo could feel himself pulsing hard within her, and he knew he couldn't hold out much longer. He suddenly felt Rukia's body quiver and contract around him, and she began to let out a few breathless pants, that grew into a long and very loud sigh.

"Ahhhh….ohhh….ahhh!" Rukia groaned as she felt the force of her orgasm approach.

Ichigo's eyes grew wide with alarm, and he lowered his head closer to her ear as he whispered in a shaky voice, "Shhh… they'll hear you," He tried to warn her. But Rukia was far gone, lost in her own blissful paradise as she was coming full force now, triggering the release that he longed to have. Gnashing his teeth, he quickly covered her mouth with his hand, and pumped faster against her as he came with her, wheezing hard against her ear. The power of his release was so strong that it left him dazed and lethargic.

Rukia felt the blood rushing in her ears as she held onto him, panting dizzily as the euphoria she felt was sending her to sleep. Only six and a half minutes had passed in bout of their amazing quickie. She roused herself awake, suddenly feeling Ichigo's dead weight on her entire body, making her lungs burn for air.

"Ichigo!" Rukia squealed as she pulled on his heavy forearms. He began to move, slowly bringing himself up on his wobbly arms. His face was red, partly in the afterglow and mild embarrassment from nodding off on her. She smiled up at him dotingly, loving the way her body felt so spent with him, and how close their bodies were meshed together, his member still twitching rhythmically inside her depths. She felt her body stir, responding to his body's movements as her body involuntarily clenched around him, making him take notice and he gazed at her darkly. Lustfully. Rukia placed a trembling hand on his clothed chest as she told him, "We have to get downstairs, remember?"

"Hm," Ichigo replied, his eyes sparkling with a renewed interest of the position they laid in. He rotated his hips gradually, making Rukia's sensitive flesh tingle. "I think… I want to stay right here."

Rukia grabbed his arms tightly, her hips involuntarily moving on their own. "Ah…! They'll know what we're doing up here, Ichigooo…" Rukia sighed raggedly, biting her bottom lip as she told her brain to stop moving her hips.

"I know…" Ichigo whispered huskily as his gradual movements became more pronounced, his semi-hard flesh awakening hers very quickly. He closed his eyes momentarily, relishing the way she felt around him, and a wicked smile spread across his face. "That's what makes this so fucking hot…"

Isshin rushed back into the dining room, clipping his phone back onto his belt. He eyed the twins that sat in their respective places at the table, and he furrowed his eyebrows.

"That call was a bit longer than I expected, damn that Mr. Hiroshi," Isshin began as he looked around the room. "Where are Ichigo and Rukia?"

"They went upstairs," Karin confessed immediately, crossing her arms in front of her. "As soon as you got on the phone, I might add. Wow that was like… fifteen minutes ago." Karin couldn't help but smile smugly at her father's now dropped expression, and he directly headed for the stairs.

"You enjoy getting Onii-san in trouble," Yuzu admitted bitterly as she glared at her older sister.

Karin snickered, holding her hands on top of her head as she rocked back in her chair. "Yes. Yes, I do."

The second unexpected round was more intense than the first, but unfortunately Ichigo didn't have the pleasure of reaching orgasm. It always did take him a little longer to achieve it the second time consecutively; so he chose to send Rukia off into two earth shattering climaxes that made him cover her mouth with his to quiet her screams.

As they quickly recovered, Ichigo shuffled over to the bathroom with his pants and boxers around his ankles to clean himself up. Rukia finally pulled herself up, feeling a twinge of soreness between her legs, but it was a good sort of tenderness that made her feel warm and fuzzy inside. Her hand slid across her flat stomach, her mind suddenly whirling with what Ichigo had nearly discovered. She snapped out of her deep thoughts when she heard Ichigo speaking to her from the bathroom, and she stood, peeling the damp panties off her and twirling them on one finger. Her legs felt like linguini as she made her first tentative steps.

"Come clean up so we can head back downstairs," Ichigo told her firmly, his sexy voice now replaced with panic.

"You're the one who wanted to go a second time," Rukia said as she entered the bathroom, grabbing the designated wash towel that sat next to his.

"And you made no objections." Ichigo noted playfully as he pulled his pants up. He stood at the door of the bathroom, leaning against its frame as he intently watched her clean up, his arms folded squarely at his chest. She ignored him as he watched, not feeling offended with his gaze; after all they ritually performed this task in the past. Ichigo's eyes lit up as he remembered something from earlier. "Oi… did you feel that earlier?"

Rukia never looked in his direction, trying hard to seem aloof with what he had asked. But she knew what he was asking about. Running the towel over her face, she shook her head. "Feel what?"

"I don't know…" Ichigo laughed, scratching his wild orange mane as he thought back on what he felt. "… It was like my reiatsu was everywhere… on you or in you…"

"You were in me, baka," Rukia replied dryly, looking at him in the refection of the mirror. "You know you have a problem controlling the flow of your reiatsu."

"This was different," Ichigo told her curiously. He paused, looking puzzled as he thought more on it. Rukia silently watched him, her heart fluttering with the horror of him actually figuring it out. "…it felt like me, but it wasn't me, you know? Very strange…"

Rukia became deathly quiet. She wasn't sure if this was the time or the place to tell him. She surely didn't imagine telling him that she was pregnant in his bathroom, right after having two very serious rounds of quickie sex. She swallowed, turning the faucet off as her eyes remained fixed on the sink's drain.

A loud knocking suddenly came at Ichigo's bedroom door, startling them both. "Dinner is ready, kids!" Isshin shouted, placing much emphasis on the word kids as he suggested whatever they were doing up there earlier shouldn't be happening. As they heard his footsteps stomp back down the stairs, they both began to breathe again.

Ichigo pushed himself off the doorframe and turned into the bedroom, leaving a very relieved Rukia standing there, silently thanking God for sparing her from being the bearer of the news she wasn't ready to give.

She was so embarrassed.

Ichigo's father and the twins watched them as they descended the stairs, and Rukia could especially see how aggravated Isshin looked, his smothering gaze covered with a fake smile. As she sat down at the table, Rukia tucked in her lips that where swollen and red from Ichigo's fierce kisses.

But nothing could cover up the very evident love bite that now donned her neck.

They all ate in an awkward silence. Rukia tried to keep her eyes on her plate; but every now and then her eyes would wonder over to Yuzu, who always looked pleasant and polite. Rukia couldn't place the sly smirk Karin would give her; so she made a mental note to keep a close and careful eye on her. Isshin's anger had vanished the moment the main course was set on the table- Tonkatsu. He resumed being merry and oddly strange, like always.

Dinner was over and they went back into the living room to talk some more, eating some of the sweet daifuku that Rukia brought over as dessert. As soon as the twins retired for the evening, and Isshin had said his good nights to them all, Ichigo led Rukia by the hand and quietly followed him back upstairs to his room.

"I'm going to miss this," Ichigo mumbled sadly, spooning her as they laid there in a post-orgasmic haze, having made love for the third time that evening. He kissed her neck, her shoulders, and breathed in her hair. "I've never been this attached to anyone like this."

"I know… but it'll only be a week or two…" Rukia lazily replied, feeling herself on fringes of sleep. "I won't be gone forever." Silence. "I have to finish packing tomorrow, did you want-"

"NO," Ichigo spat harshly, and he pulled her possessively against his warm body. A tense pause drifted between them for a moment before he could continue. "…I can't watch you pack. Don't ask me to do that."

Rukia turned onto her stomach and looked at Ichigo laying there with his forearm now covering his eyes. She had hoped that he had gotten past the fact that she had to go, but really he hadn't. There was nothing she could say, nothing she could do to prevent this. Her eyes lit up with an idea, and she wiggled closer to him, wrapping her hands around his naked shoulders.

"Come with me," Rukia implored softly, and he removed his forearm off his face to stare at her. "I know it's sort of short notice, but you could get Urahara to open the portal in a day or two and meet me there."

"I can't," Ichigo answered, his voice nearly croaking. He pulled himself up, laying his back against the headboard. He stared at the ceiling as he shook his head. "My Dad wants me to go to Todai, Rukia. I've been accepted there and he expects me to be at orientation by mid-August."

The room was quiet once again, both of them sadly clinging to each other. Rukia felt her eyes stinging again, and she fought hard to keep the tears back until her stomach unexpectedly growled. Ichigo pulled back, looking at her with an amused smile on his lips.

"…You're hungry, again?" Ichigo questioned her as he laughed.

Rukia's face pinked as she buried her face in his chest. "Well…a little."

This only made Ichigo laugh louder. Harder.

Rukia gave him a slap on his arm, and he flinched violently, still laughing.

"You wolfed down two helpings of pork and a huge bowl of tsukemono, yet your stomach's still growling?" Ichigo asked her between cackles. "You're eating more than you weigh lately."

Rukia's heart leap into a panic, but she managed to pull away from him heatedly. He grabbed her, pulling her even closer as he pinned her body beneath his, cupping a breast. She heard him growl lowly in his throat as he gave the supple area a tender grope, and he leaned down to suck gently on the sensitive nipple. Rukia let out a shuttered breath, feeling a mixture of ecstasy and indecisiveness.

"You're really filling out, Rukia…I like it." Ichigo breathed heavily against her wet skin, sending chills up her spine. "Your breasts are so full…" He ended his sentence as he captured the puckered flesh in his mouth again, sucking hard as his other hand slid down the inside of her thigh.

Rukia's mind was on fire.

This man was insatiable.

"Go downstairs and get me some more of those sweet cakes," Rukia finally managed to say. She needed to distance herself from him now before he noticed anything else. Because right now… Ichigo was noticing everything. He ignored her at first as he continued to lick her bosom, the other hand now stroking her depths deftly. Rukia could feel her head spinning, her body spiraling and falling into that sweet abyss with Ichigo again, but she pulled herself out of it. Grabbing his shoulder, she pushed him until he snapped his head up, his gaze foggy with desire.

"Get me something to eat!" Rukia pleaded with him again, her voice coated with sugar sweetness.

"I got something for you to eat." Ichigo answered suggestively, his voice thick with need. God, how she loved hearing his voice like that…

Rukia crinkled her nose. "Ah…no. I want some sweet cakes. Please go get me some of those sweet cakes, Ichigo…" she begged him as she batted her eyes.

Ichigo scowled, finally realizing that she was serious. He ran his hand through his hair and face as he gave her another hard gaze. He sucked in air from behind his teeth and pulled away from her as he scooted over to the edge of the bed, cursing under his breath.

"I can't believe you want some freakin' sweet cakes right now." Ichigo mumbled.

Rukia smiled, and hugged him from behind as he leaned down to grab his boxers.

"I'll make it up to you… I promise." She whispered sensually, her tongue licking his back slowly. She felt him shiver with her touch, and she smiled.

Standing, he looked at her over his shoulder, wearing his bed sheets and looking sexy as ever. Ichigo swore again. Damn those sweet cakes. Damn all the sweet cakes that were ever made. "We're doing a sixty-nine when I get back."

"What the hell is that?" Rukia asked oddly. She watched as he pulled his boxers up over his hips, and he turned to give her a mischievous grin.

"You'll find out when I get back." Ichigo told her cunningly as he opened his bedroom door and walked out.

He walked downstairs, running his fingers through his wild hair as he reached the kitchen. He opened the refrigerator, bent down and opened the container that held the strawberry treats. There were only about four left, so he gathered them up along with some cold dumplings his sister made the day before. Humming to himself he pulled out a strawberry soda, thinking that they could share it later. Ichigo stood; his arms full as he swung his hips against the door to close it.

He never saw his father standing there in the darkness.

Ichigo jumped, letting out a yelp of surprise as he finally saw his father leaning against the kitchen counter. Isshin's arms were folded at his chest, and he wore a rather somber expression.

Ichigo hated seeing somber expressions on his father.

Ichigo frowned, annoyed that he got startled so easily. Then he remembered he was standing in the middle of the kitchen with an armload of food, half naked and half aroused, covered with the smell of sweat and sex. The seconds ticked by like hours, and abruptly Isshin cleared his throat.

"Having a late-night snack?" Isshin asked, failing at sounding humorous.

Ichigo gave a small nod, not trusting his voice for a moment. He watched as his father's expression darkened more and he pushed himself off the counter and stood.

"You got a problem giving me an answer?" Isshin asked him sternly, and the hairs on the back of Ichigo's neck stood on end. What was his problem?

"N-no sir," Ichigo replied softly, suddenly feeling intimidated under his father's stare.

Isshin walked over to the island, stopping only a few feet from his son who was now keeping his eye on his every move. He looked his son up and down, and once Ichigo and his father's eyes met, he knew that he wasn't joking.

Ichigo knew his father was a rather relaxed parent at times. But it didn't sway from the fact that Isshin was a strict parent; dropping his façade of dimwit to an intimidating, protective father in a matter of seconds. And another thing Ichigo knew about his father was this for sure: when he wasn't smiling, he was dead serious.

"You're still entertaining company, I take it?" Isshin asked finally, it sounding more like a statement than a question.

Swallowing, Ichigo's eyes looked away from his father's. "…Yes sir."

"Ichigo," Isshin began in a deep, fatherly tone. "Rukia… she's a remarkable person. She's a fine choice; mature in every way. But I worry if her maturity has the best of you." He watched Ichigo look at him with a mixture of confusion and anger.

"I'd never pry into your personal affairs, because I know I raised you right. But I have to know one thing, son."

"What's that?" Ichigo asked slowly.

"Please tell me you're being safe with this girl."

Ichigo scowled. He felt insulted, and invaded by the mere question.

"Dad—" Ichigo spat and shut his mouth quickly- half afraid of what he was going to say next. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a second. "Why… would you ask me that?"

"Because young men think with their dicks," Isshin replied, his arms now dropping to his sides. "You have your whole life ahead of you, Ichigo. I don't want you out here knocking some girl up because you forgot to wear protection!"

"Okay…I understand your concern," Ichigo nodded, his eyes diverting away from his father's again. "…but what you're asking me right how is a bit intrusive."

"It's yes or no question, Ichigo." Isshin sighed irritatingly. "Which one is it?"

"Then it's no…" Ichigo retorted quickly as he looked at Isshin, and he saw how his father's eyes widened fractionally. "…it's none of your business!"

Ichigo began to walk off, but was jerked backwards and spun around to meet his father's livid face. He was about to swear, but as he looked at Isshin, he noticed that there was no cheerfulness in or amusement on his face. He was dead serious about this conversation. This was something he could not just walk away from.

"It's my business while you live under my roof," Isshin hissed. "It's my business while you're still my son, got that?"

"You don't have—" Ichigo began, but was shoved against the kitchen wall, nearly taking the breath of out him.

"Shut up, I'm not done talking boy." Isshin commanded him in a harsh tone. "I blame this on myself… because I allow you to do whatever you want. You leave here for days on end without a word; you sneak this girl up to your room night after night… I figured as long as I knew where you are, everything would be fine. But Ichigo this- this is not fine. Now if you want to play house and do grown-up things, do it responsibly. That is all I ask. Now are you using a condom with this girl?"

Ichigo swallowed hard, blinking hard as the rush of rage and hurt burned in his chest. He stared at his father's face, and then his eyes faltered away, his stare now fixed on the kitchen window. What would his father do if he knew he wasn't being careful? Throw him out of the house? Disown him? Ichigo didn't know what the outcome would be, and didn't want to find out, either.

So he decided to tell a lie.

"Yes!" Ichigo exclaimed flatly, pushing his father away.

Isshin sighed with relief, his features on his face relaxed, returning to its usual pleasantness as Ichigo just stood there numbly, his eyes glued to the floor.

"Try and understand, Ichigo. I don't want you ruin your chances for college, ruin your dreams." Isshin explained.

"Going to college is your dream, Dad. Not mine." Ichigo told him bluntly as he finally looked up at him, shoving his way past as he walked out of the kitchen.

::To Be Continued::

That's chapter two, folks! I'm hoping you all are still enjoying this so far. And a brief explanation on Isshin: I know you expected him to act dimwitted like he does in the manga, but I wanted to give a realer feel, like a true parent. Not that I'm condoning him slamming Ichigo against the wall; but in the manga he physically beats the poor boy up (but it's all in fatherly love, and we know this)! So I think that his attitude in my story shouldn't be too shocking. Another point I'd like to reiterate is that this story is told a bit differently, meaning that the character's can be out of character at times. Please do not have a coronary about this, folks. It's fiction.

More to come! Please review!!!

Glossary:

Todai – University of Tokyo

Ichigo Daifuku – Mochi (rice cakes) with strawberry filling

Reiatsu – Spiritual energy

Tonkatsu – Breaded, deep fried pork

Tsukemono – Japanese pickles