Hello everyone! Sorry for the delay…been real busy. I'm taking courses over the summer, the kids are keeping me very busy and the midnight shift is killing me. Ha! And my beta (thank so much dear) has been busy as well…so expect the updates to be a little longer than usual. As a reward for waiting for this update, this is actually two chapters, so it's really long! Please make sure to send out a review!

Also, that little note I put at the end of my last update...

(It's a fanfiction sin to read, favorite, or alert without reviewing. I know who you all are. :D)

was from another writer… I borrowed it because it was so true!!! So my apologies if I didn't give proper credit!

A huge thanks to Shenhui for the excellent beta read!

Gift of the Guardian

Chapter 4

Written by gokusgirl

He could hear the sounds of feet thundering down the hallway, and a sharp knock soon resounded at his office door. Returning his brush back to the inkstone, he gave his recent calligraphy a brief inspection.

"Enter." Byakuya commanded, is tone flat and slightly aggravated.

Abruptly his shoji doors slid open. A guard entered the doorway and curtly kneeled on one knee, his left hand fisted on the floor.

"My apologies for the intrusion, Kuchicki-sama, but I am here to inform you that Lady Kuchiki has returned from the human world." The guard told the 6th division captain.

Byakuya made no reaction to the news; instead he simply gazed stoically at the guard before him. "Thank you. You may leave."

"Hai, my Lord." The guard said quickly, obediently standing as he backed out of the office, sliding the door closed.

Byakuya stood and looked out the huge window that overlooked the courtyard, and he gave a small nod.

"So you are home, sister." Byakuya said to himself, and he walked of out of his office to greet her.

***

Terrified was the only word Rukia could describe when she walked through the portal. But when she successfully reached the other end, and touched ground at the Shinigami headquarters she thanked God for giving her safe passage. Her hand rested on the stone Yoruichi had given her, still hidden under her robes. Thank you, Rukia silently thought as she thought of Kisuke and Yoruichi.

Rukia was escorted to the debriefing area where she filled out paperwork before leaving. She then gathered up her large duffle bags and headed out to the entrance of the headquarters, surprised to see who stood there waiting for her.

Looking rather detached, Captain Byakuya Kuchiki stood at the entrance, only holding a gaze on Rukia's face for a brief moment before he spoke. "Welcome home, Rukia."

Suddenly becoming jittery, she immediately dropped her bags to respectfully bow before her brother, her hands clasped firmly in her lap. "Thank you, brother." She looked up at his emotionless face, and saw how he looked at her baggage with mild disdain. She blushed; clutching the duffle bags' handles with nervous fingers.

"That will not be necessary, Rukia." Byakuya instructed her suddenly. "I will have the servants fetch your belongings. You may follow me."

Not wanting to object, she let the bags remain on the ground as she quickly followed her brother down the marbled streets of the seireitei. She followed behind him closely, remembering that walking along side him was not appropriate. As they passed other Shinigami in the court, they quickly acknowledged his presence with a curt bow or gesture. When they saw Rukia behind him, they gave her the same courtesy, but some gave shocked gazes and whispers about her return.

Finally arriving at the front gates of the Kuchiki mansion, servants greeted Byakuya and Rukia promptly. Byakuya ignored them, walking past as he entered the foyer and removed his sandals. Rukia hurried as she removed hers, trying to keep with her brother as he walked into the tea room.

"Have a seat, Rukia…I'm sure your travel through the senkaimon has tired you." Byakuya told her as he sat in the seiza position on the tatami mat.

"I am well brother, thank you for asking." Rukia replied with a short bow as she sat down on the hearth mat across from him. She mimicked Byakuya's seating position perfectly, making sure to follow as he did. It had been so long since she had been home, and she had forgotten how tedious it was to conduct oneself in Soul Society without it displaying disrespect or dishonor.

"Shall I prepare tea for the Lord and Lady?" A servant politely asked as he entered the room.

"Yes, that will be fine, Roko." Byakuya answered flatly. As the servant bowed and left leave the room, Rukia made sure to keep her eyes on the tatami mat in front of her, not wanting to displease her brother with lingering stares.

"There is something different about you, Rukia." Byakuya suddenly told her, and her head whipped up to look at him. Her heart began to beat harder, and her cheeks began to blush. "It is something that I cannot exactly place."

"What ever do you mean, brother?" Rukia managed to ask evenly.

"You seem to be adjusting well in the human world Rukia… to carry so much of that human emotion in the way you walk and talk… it is a bit disconcerting."

Looking away from his piercing gaze, Rukia nodded in agreement. "I apologize, brother. I did not intend to offend you."

"That is not what troubles me, Rukia." Byakuya told her in his very refined voice. "I was informed of a very pressing matter when Vice Captain Abarai came back to Soul Society."

Rukia's eyes grew wide when she heard mention of his name. Renji Abarai… her once close friend and lover. He had left the human world several months ago without a goodbye to Rukia; claiming defeat to Ichigo's not so open admission of his feelings for her. She really wasn't ready to face him or that issue right now, and yet now here she was, facing the music all of a sudden.

Looking up at her adopted brother, she gave no clue to her agitation as she stared back at him blankly. "And what did he have to say?"

Before Byakuya could respond, the servant returned with the tea, serving it in an elegant and swift manner and he left the room again. Byakuya took a small sip, and placed his cup down as he began to speak. "Renji told me that you turned down his marriage proposal. Would you like to tell me the reason behind this decision?"

Biting the inside of her cheek, Rukia steadied herself as she gave a reply. "Renji left before I could give him an answer."

"I was told that you had an issue hindering you from making this decision. What was this hindrance?"

"He proposed two days before he left. Since I did not give him an immediate response, he took it as an insult, and a hindrance…I suppose."

Pausing, Byakuya picked his cup up again, taking another sip. "I am not one to meddle in personal affairs, Rukia. I just wanted to know your version of the story."

"I understand, brother." Rukia told him as she bowed her head.

"But I do hope you will reconsider it. He is being considered for Captain of the 3rd Division, and he recently opened his own dojo. He has a very prosperous future ahead of him."

Knowing that if she tells her brother that she does not want to reconsider her decision would detain her longer, so she quickly changed the subject. "Brother, having sat here with you made me realize that I am a bit exhausted… I think I will retire for the evening."

"Very well then. Goodnight." Byakuya told her after a brief pause.

Rukia stood, giving her brother a courteous bow before leaving out.

***

Sighing, Rangiku Matsumoto felt her eyes grow heavy with sleep as she flipped through a monthly report file. She had stayed up late again, playing drinking games up until the wee hours of the morning. Also, Captain Hitsugaya had her up at the break of dawn, shouting that it was her punishment for being so lazy and irresponsible.

Rangiku, however, could care less.

Propping her hand under her head, she sighed again as she flipped through the file. Her eyes then drifted up from her paperwork slowly to see Rukia standing in the doorway of her small office.

"Why Rukia…! You're back!" Rangiku exclaimed, standing up and running around the desk to hug her.

"Hello Rangiku, how are you?" Rukia asked her as they embraced, making sure to not smother herself on Rangiku's busty bosom.

"Bored to death, but I'll manage. Did you get what I asked for honey…?" Rangiku asked like an excited child on their birthday.

"Yes Rangiku…" Rukia told her in an irksome tone as she pulled out a grocery bag loaded with various kinds of junk food. "You should have seen my brother's face when he saw me leave the house with this stuff."

Rangiku squealed, snatching the bag with glee as she shifted through its contents. "Thank you so much Rukia! I miss eating this stuff so much…"

"But we barely have appetites here, Rangiku. You're not going to want to eat that junk."

"Oh, but I love the taste! I put in a request to do some work over in the human world," Rangiku told her as she opened up a bag of spicy rice cakes. "That was over two months ago. I hope it gets approved."

"They're not going to send a Vice Captain to the human world." Rukia told her as she sat down on the small couch.

"Well they let Renji go lots of times," Rangiku mumbled, and then her eyes lit up as she joined Rukia on the couch. "Speaking of Renji… what the hell did you do to the guy?"

Rukia bristled. "What do you mean what did I do to him?" She inquired sharply.

"Don't answer a question with a question…it's annoying." Rangiku laughed as she watched Rukia's face redden. "Wow, it must have been something big for you to be this evasive."

"I did nothing to Renji, Rangiku. Renji just wants to play the victim, that's all." Rukia answered.

"To what?"

"Now if I didn't tell my brother, why would I tell you?"

"Because I'm not your brother, that's why," Rangiku responded as she watched Rukia's face flush even redder. "So it's true, huh? That you dumped Renji for Kurosaki Ichigo ?"

Rukia's eyes bulged out of her head when she heard that. "Who told you such nonsense?"

"It's written all over your face, silly girl!" Rangiku chortled as she covered her mouth. "And come to think of it… you're literally glowing! Okay, tell me all the details."

Rukia swallowed thickly, holding up a hand as she shook her head in denial. "Details on what?"

"On Ichigo of course! Come on dear you can tell me. How is he in the sack? Is it thick or long? Or both?"

Rukia shot up out of her seat, mortified at the way Rangiku was talking now. "Rangiku! I cannot belie-"

"Why are you keeping this to yourself Rukia?" Rangiku interjected loudly. "I've been to the human world. I know that while you're in the gigai thing it makes you feel…different."

"And..?" Rukia asked, expecting to hear more.

"And I know that it makes you feel alive… like thousands of tiny fingers running all over your skin," Rangiku spoke dreamily as she lay back against the couch's backing. "I was really naughty when I was over there. Didn't you feel that way, too?"

Sighing, Rukia sat back down, and raised a hand, feeling the warmness of her cheek. "…I suppose I did."

"So you gave into your desires, then?" Rangiku asked carefully, searching Rukia's face a she seemed to be lost in thought.

"More than I care to admit, yes." Rukia replied, and Rangiku squealed delightfully. "But I don't want anyone knowing about it, Rangiku. Ending it with Renji was really complicated."

"Oh, I understand." Rangiku nodded, biting her lip as she patted Rukia's hand. "But can you tell me one itsy bitsy detail?"

Letting out an exasperated sigh, Rukia ran a hand through her hair, and stared at the Vice Captain—hard. "What?"

"Ichigo's a terrific lover, isn't he?" Rangiku queried softly.

After pausing for a few moments, Rukia stood and walked to the office door, and just before she left she turned to look at Rangiku's questioning gaze. "Yes, he is."

She wasn't even a few feet away from the office door when she heard Rangiku screamed an I fucking knew it at the top of her lungs.

Instead of walking back to the Kuchiki Estate, Rukia decided to purchase some fruit from the Rukongai market. She wasn't barred from going out there; but most Shinigami and especially nobles don't venture out to it. In most cases you would only see the presence of a highly ranking Shinigami if a hollow was spotted in the area; otherwise most of the areas were maintained with little or no crimes. Besides, Rukia was brought up in Rukongai, so going there wasn't out of the ordinary. It was like returning home after being away for so many years.

The villagers gawked at Rukia while she was walking through the crowd, but she paid no mind to their stares. She was in search of a fruit cart; since her arrival home she hadn't had much to eat –since souls didn't require much sustenance. But Rukia was hungry; famished really… and she knew why her appetite had been so intense. Every time her stomach would growl, she instinctively knew she had to go and seek out some food to feed herself and the growing child in her womb. Even now as she gently pushed through hordes of people, her search became almost frantic. It wasn't long before she finally found a large cart holding several varieties of fruit.

Smiling, Rukia absent mindedly patted her stomach as she approached the cart and its owner.

"Oh, my…you don't have fruit in the Seireitei?" The elderly man who owned the fruit cart asked.

"Not like this," Rukia answered happily as she smiled. "I would like to have two papayas, four apples, one of those Asian pears and three oranges please." The elderly man nodded, opened a small burlap sack and began putting her requested items inside. Rukia was happy, she had food to eat and she would sneak it past her brother and keep it in her room to nibble on. She just hoped she didn't eat it all in one evening. She picked up an orange to give it a smell, and a few fell down off the cart, rolling on the dusty ground. Alarmed, Rukia went after the runway fruit with a quick apology to the vendor. She successfully snatched up one orange but the last one rolled out a much further distance. She continued to follow it until it rested at someone's feet. Rukia didn't pay much mind to whom the feet belonged to, but as she began to pick the fruit up, the person beat her to it. She frowned, finally glaring up at the person and then her jaw dropped. Why she hadn't noticed this person's reiatsu, or his flaming red pony tail, she'll never know. But Renji Abarai stood there, looking at her like the cat that ate the canary.

And his eyes twinkled with contempt.

***

He didn't know why he agreed to come along with Ishida. The moment Ichigo walked into the mall with the impressively dressed Quincy, he knew he'd made a huge mistake. On a whim Ishida had called him, asking if he wanted to tag along as he purchased last minute items for his flight to America. After his father had graciously made huge monetary donations to Harvard, it was only obvious that his son would be swiftly accepted into their medical school. Ichigo wasn't really doing anything… he had just awoke from taking the tenth cat nap of the day.

Ishida and Ichigo walked into yet another men's clothing store and Ishida browsed the clothing racks in search of the perfect sable colored polo. Pulling out one shirt, he held it up against himself as Ichigo looked on boringly.

"Does this look sable or light emerald to you?" Ishida asked as she plucked a loose string off of the polo's collar.

"Looks fucking green to me." Ichigo replied dryly as he rolled his eyes.

"Your choice of words is very derogatory in public; could you be so kind to not shout obscenities across the store when you talk to me?" Ishida growled lowly.

"I swear Ishida… if you weren't dating Hime I would have thought you were gay." Ichigo laughed as he looked at a long sleeved dress shirt with disinterest.

"I can't help that I want my attire to look flawless and coordinated upon my arrival to America… I can see that you could use some help in that department, if you're interested."

"Forget it," Ichigo replied a he let out a bored sigh. "My ratty tees and stonewashed jeans suits me just fine, thank you."

"Whatever suits you, Kurosaki." Ishida mumbled as his attention was held on a corral colored polo.

"How is Orihime handling you leaving for the states?" Ichigo asked, and Ishida looked up from the shopping rack.

"She is taking it rather well. She had a choice of attending Boston University that wasn't too far from where I would be, but she chose to stay in Japan. She's going to attend a small university in Okinawa and study Engineering." Ishida explained with much enthusiasm as he pushed his glasses up on his nose.

"Hn, Engineering huh? I never thought she would want to study that." Ichigo commented as he leaned against a clothing rack.

"Oh we intend on carrying professional careers. And after five years we will be married, five years after that I should be finishing my internship in medical school. I'll return back to Japan to work as a resident doctor in my father's hospital… and we'll purchase our first home as we begin having our 2.5 kids."

Ichigo snickered at Ishida's well thought plans. "What the hell is the point five?"

"That's one on the way, you idiot." Ishida replied back as looked through another rack.

"Wow, you and Orihime have got this figured out."

"Of course we do…well I guess this polo will have to do." Ishida sighed.

"Thank God," Ichigo said with a clap of his hands. "I would have left your ass if you headed towards Abercrombie & Fitch."

As they walked up to the register, Ishida laid his selected items on the counter and the sales representative rung them up. When he was given the total Ishida whipped out a platinum American express card, courtesy of his loving father.

"So you're still going to Todai, Kurosaki?" Ishida asked him as they walked out the mall's exit that led to busy City Street.

"What do you mean by still? Of course I am." Ichigo said crossly as he stuffed his hands into his jean pockets.

"I commend you for being so headstrong in continuing your education… but I assumed you would stay closer to home due to Rukia's pregnancy." Ishida spoke matter-of-factly as he walked up the sidewalk, and he glanced over to look at Ichigo, but he wasn't walking beside him anymore. Ishida stopped, and turned around finding Ichigo several feet behind him, the blood entirely drained from his face. Oh shit, Ishida thought instantly to himself as he pushed his glasses up on the bridge of this nose, and he began to walk slowly back to the substitute Shinigami that stood there stupefied. For a moment Ishida had forgotten that Rukia's news was not known to Ichigo; and he absentmindedly blurted it out. Hime is going to kill me for this...

"What did you just say?" Ichigo asked quickly, the blood not returning to his face until it was bright red.

"Uh- Nothing, I said nothing Kurosaki. Now we need to hurry up because Orihime is going to meet us- "

"Fuck that! What did you just say to me?" Ichigo exclaimed loudly, making the people around them look at them strangely. "Did you just say Rukia's… pregnant?"

Ishida frowned slightly, not sure what to say now. He had already said it; just thinking of speaking it again made his throat tighten. "I'm sorry Ichigo… but I was told not to tell you…"

Ichigo ran a hand across his face, which was now contorted into an angry scowl. "You weren't supposed to tell me that my girlfriend is having a baby?" He exploded as he grabbed Ishida's shirt, lifting him practically off the ground. "Are you out of your mind??"

"What's going on guys?" Orihime asked as she walked up to them hurriedly. Ichigo looked over Ishida's shoulder, and instantly dropped him back to his feet. As Orihime studied Ichigo's face, she noticed how upset he looked. When her boyfriend turned around to face her, she was met with the guiltiest pair of blue eyes. She stopped in her tracks; a hand covering her mouth as she finally realized what had happened. She began to frown, eyeing Ishida down with a heated fury. "Uryu Ishida!" The redhead chided harshly.

"I-I'm sorry, Hime… I just blurted it out." Ishida spoke pitifully as he hung his head in shame.

"So you're in on it too, huh?" Ichigo accused Orihime sharply.

"Yes, Ichigo. It's not Uryu's fault… Rukia asked me not to tell." Orihime replied softly.

"And yet you told everyone… except me." Ichigo said icily. "Thanks."

"Please understand, Ichigo… I only told Uryu about it. No one else."Orihime tried to explain, her eyes tearing up at the sight of his distress.

"So no one thought I needed to know about this? Do you know how dangerous it was for her to enter that fucking portal just for the sake of this lie?" Ichigo yelled. "Do you know how much of a fucking idiot this makes me by just letting her go like this?"

"Ichigo, I know you're upset about this… but Orihime only wanted to respect Rukia's wishes." Ishida explained as he stood beside his girlfriend in her defense.

"Well thanks a lot for dropping the bombshell, Ishida. It's good to know I can depend on my friends."

Ichigo stormed off, despite Orihime's pleading to stop and calm down.

***

"Lady Kuchiki," Renji said with a huge grin on his face. He was leaning against a merchant's vegetable cart, and as he dusted off the orange, he kept a careful eye on Rukia, slowly offering the fruit back to her. "Now what are you doing in the Rukongai?"

"I always come here, Abarai-dono." Rukia replied as she frowned at him, warily plucking the fruit out of his hands. She turned, walking back to the fruit cart, sighing annoyingly as she heard him follow.

"Abarai-dono… so you're addressing me formally now?" Renji laughed loudly.

"What do you want, Renji?" Rukia asked as she turned around to face him, hating to see that smug smile plastered all over his face.

"Ah, now that's better." Renji chortled. "I was instructed to escort you back to the Mansion, Milady."

"I don't need you or anyone else to escort me anywhere. I am quite capable of defending myself, remember?" Rukia growled.

"I know Rukia…I remember," Renji spoke darkly, his smile curving into a tight frown. "I have an impeccable memory. You can bet your ass on that."

Knowing that he was hinting on something entirely different, Rukia nervously turned back around as she continued to the fruit cart. She paid for the items, including the ones that fell on the ground without a word. As she quickly walked off, she could still feel Renji's presence behind her.

"It's rather strange that you're buying fruit here when the Kuchiki estate has their own orchards," Renji noted as he walked up beside her.

"It's none of your business what I do, damn it." Rukia replied briskly.

"I suppose you're right… however Captain Kuchiki entrusted me with the honor of escorting his sister back safely."

"Do what you like, I don't care."

"How's Ichigo?"

Rukia stopped walking, and watched as Renji stopped as well, his face swelling with that ridiculous grin he wore. Just looking at him brought up unnecessary feelings and resentment that Rukia didn't want to feel now, and that infuriated her. He was teasing her, taunting her as he picked her for information about her relationship with Ichigo. All she wanted to do was wipe that pathetic smirk off his face.

Then a thought came to her.

"You want to know how he is in bed or how is he in general?" Rukia asked with a bit of mirth in her voice. She smiled when she saw Renji's cocky grin twist into the ugliest of frowns. His face grew quite red and he stepped closer to Rukia, closing in the gap between them as he stared down at her. Rukia didn't back down or flinch; staring him down with the same wrath and hatred in her eyes.

"I bet the Captain would love to hear that," Renji growled, a small smile curving on the end of this angry mouth. Now he watched as Rukia's smile quickly fade and be replaced with a frown of apprehension. "… you know I think the Captain would be very upset if he found out that you've been slumming around with that orange-headed ingrate. What do you think?"

"Fuck you." Rukia seethed; her voice raspy and tight.

"Yes… you have," Renji quickly retorted, his eyes suddenly roaming across her face and body. "Too bad that's all over now… or is it Rukia?"

Rukia recoiled in disgust. "I wouldn't want you if you were the last man on this planet!"

"Come on now Rukia… after all we've been through… all the love we had for each other, and you still want to keep it like this?" Renji spoke softly, and for brief moment Rukia could see the hurt laced in his eyes. But he needed to be shut down, right now. Sparing his feelings was the farthest thing in her mind when she began to speak.

"Renji… I don't love you. In fact I never loved you… I loved the idea of you. The idea of being safe and cared for… nothing more. It would do you good to let me go and find someone else." Rukia spoke frankly, hoping that Renji would understand.

So much for hope.

"You're going to regret not loving me, I promise you that." Renji warned her in a low voice, and he suddenly walked away from her, stopping only to turn around to give her a piercing glare. "By order of Captain Kuchiki I must escort you back to the Mansion, Lady Kuchiki." Renji spoke like he had rehearsed his words perfectly, his eyes gleaming with scorn.

Rukia nodded, straightening her shoulders as she walked past him, heading back to the Mansion in total silence.

***

He ran over 20 city blocks, stopping only part of way to heave on the side of the sidewalk. His lungs burned for air, his face and clothes were wet from sweating and his gut felt like he'd swallowed a handful of razors. When Ichigo came into the familiar surroundings of Kisuke Urahara's neighborhood, he felt relived and still pissed that he had another group of people to confront.

Knocking on the shoji doors for several minutes, He finally saw a light come on in the front of the store. He could hear someone grumbling about the store hours as they approached. When the shoji slid open, a yawning Urahara stretched his arms upward as he tipped his hat up to see who stood there.

"Ichigo-san… what a surprise!" Urahara said with a sleepy smile.

Ichigo's fist was on autopilot as it hit Urahara squarely on the chin, sending the unsuspecting man sailing across the storeroom floor and into and register's counter. The loud noise of his body hurling against the counter alerted Yoruichi and Tessai who were sitting in the adjacent tea room. They came running in just as Urahara was picking himself off of the floor, nursing his busted lip and jaw.

"What the hell is going on in here?" Yoruichi demanded loudly. When she saw blood dribbling from Urahara's lip, she rushed over to him to assess his injuries. She then glared up at Ichigo who now stood over them, and her golden eyes slimmed narrowly at him. "You got two seconds to answer for what you've done, boy!"

"I knocked his ass out for sending Rukia through that portal carrying my baby!" Ichigo exclaimed loudly as he pointed a finger at the flash goddess. Tessai gasped with the news, his folded arms dropping to his sides. "If you weren't a woman I'd knock you on your ass too because you were in on it as well!"

"Don't let my gender keep you from doing what needs to be done," Yoruichi challenged him as she stood. "If you're man enough to procreate then I'm sure you're capable of striking me."

Ichigo growled as he lunged forward, his fist clenched tight as he swung at Yoruichi, only to be kneed in the stomach. He keeled forward, clutching his stomach in pain as he fell to his knees on the storeroom floor. Yoruichi stood over Ichigo, and bent over to pull him up by his shirt. His head rolled back groggily as he gasped for air from her swift kick, and once he gained focus of her tanned face he glowered at her.

"It was Rukia's decision not to tell you," Yoruichi told him evenly. "It was her choice to enter that portal as well. So if you want to go around punishing people, start with her!" Yoruichi yelled vehemently at the young man. "Now get a grip of your emotions and stop acting like you've been betrayed you little fool!"

Yoruichi waited for his reply, intently staring him down as the grip on his shirt tightened. Instead, Ichigo brought his hands up to cover his face, not wanting her to see the tears that tried to spill out his eyes. He let out a agonizing groan, and Yoruichi's face softened, releasing his shirt as he lowered his head down to the floor, his face still covered as he anguished over the entire situation.

"Leave him be, Ichi." Urahara told Yoruichi as he walked up beside her. "Maybe we deserve this, if only a little."

Yoruichi began to protest, but stopped as she saw the solemn gaze Urahara gave her.

"Tessai, gather Ichigo and carry him into the tea room. Have Jinta prepare some warm sake to calm his nerves." Urahara ordered the taller man. Tessai nodded, walking over as he helped Ichigo up to his feet.

They all silently walked into the tea room, and sat down as Jinta sauntered in grumbling with the serving tray with sake and drinking cups. Ichigo's hands seemed to tremble as Jinta poured for him, and he greedily brought the cup up to his mouth, tossing the clear liquid to the back of his throat. Everyone watched in silence as Ichigo sat there, his head lowered and his cup extended out for more. Jinta looked over at Yoruichi and Urahara, and they both nodded to give the young man some more.

After dousing down the second cup, Ichigo wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and took in a deep, controlling breath.

"I'm sorry for hitting you old man." Ichigo told Urahara, his eyes never meeting the other man's concerned gaze. "I'm sorry for insulting you too, Yoruichi."

"It's alright Ichigo…" Urahara replied as he nursed his bruised chin. "I believe I've been hit far worse than that."

Yoruichi didn't say a word. She just stared at the young man dubiously as she sat there with her arms folded squarely at her chest. Her mouth was now drawn up into a tight, disconcerting scowl.

"How soon can the portal be opened?" Ichigo asked abruptly, and the room became deathly quiet. He finally raised his head up, staring Urahara down intently as the answer never came.

"Ichigo…" Urahara began as he gave Yoruichi a small glance before finishing. "The portal won't be ready for another three to five weeks."

Ichigo's eyebrows lifted on his forehead sharply. "Three to five weeks? Why is that?"

"The portal that you use is not as stable as the senkaimon… there is much preparation in its creation." Urahara explained carefully.

"Then prepare it!" Ichigo snapped loudly through his clenched teeth. His eyes finally locked onto Yoruichi's, and she gave him a smirk and a slow nod.

"I knew you were only being nice to get what you want," Yoruichi commented as she narrowed her eyes at Ichigo. "You're nothing but a spoiled little brat!"

"Ichi-chan…" Urahara told the flash goddess, but she held up a hand to silence him.

"He needs to understand that these portals can't be opened like doors to a house. It takes time, and much preparation to complete it successfully. Unless you want to die going through one." Yoruichi told him matter-of-factly. "And when the portal is opened and you enter, what do you expect to do when you get to the Society? Kiss the feet of Byakuya Kuchiki as you tell him how sorry you are for deflowering his sister and tainting the family name?"

"I can't expect you to care about how I feel right now," Ichigo spoke lowly at her as he stood, his fists balled up at this sides. "So do me a favor and spare me your sarcasm!"

"Ichigo she has a point there," Urahara told him as he stood, flapping open his fan to cool himself. "If you did go to the Soul Society, do you have any idea how you're going to approach Captain Kuchiki?"

Ichigo's hands unclenched as he gave Urahara's words much consideration, and he ran a hand through his wild hair. "No."

"So I think you need to focus on that for now, and in the meantime I will begin working on the portal." Urahara said as he looked over at his fuming mate. "In spite of how you're reacting to us about this matter, I do sympathize with you, Ichigo. But for now, you must be patient."

"And remember not to bite the hand that feeds you." Yoruichi added as she eyed Ichigo up and down, glowering at the substitute Shinigami with disgust. She gave a small snort as she turned on her heel, quickly exiting the room.

"My my…. You'll have to forgive Yoruichi," Urahara told him as gave a small smirk. "She tends to hold on to grudges longer than most folk; it's rather unhealthy."

"I don't mean to upset her," Ichigo told Urahara as he rubbed his face with both hands.

"Well I think you need to think over how you intend on telling your father as well, Ichigo." Urahara said with a flap of his fan.

Ichigo's eyes bulged. "…Tell my Dad? Why would I do that?"

"Because it's time," Urahara folded his arms in front of him as he paused. "And you need to tell him everything."

"Everything?" Ichigo gulped.

"Everything." Urahara repeated back at him.

Turning his back to Urahara, Ichigo suddenly felt fearful about what he had to do. Like finding out about Rukia wasn't enough today… now he had to reveal his secret and more to the one person who would most likely not understand.

Could he do it?

To Be Continued

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