AN: Hello! :3 I feel so drained; this chapter was so emotional. It's always hard for me, because I start putting myself in the character's shoes, and before you know it, you start crying because of a fictional character. *sighs* Anyways, I wasn't completely content with this chapter, but it's about as good as it's gonna get! It was a step in the direction that Byaruki fans will like 3 I was originally an Ichiruki fan, but now I'm a mix of the two. I feel like in a different universe, that Ichigo and Rukia could be together. But.. who knows. XD Anyways, I'll quit all my rambling. Please review! I enjoy reading them, and they help inspire me. So feel free to yell at me with your thoughts and whatnot. Or just tell me to stop leaving such long author's notes. XD Hope y'all like it!

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own Rukia nor Byakuya. I don't even own Ichigo. But I do have several strawberries in my refrigerator. Does that count? And I also own a bottle of bleach? :D

Chapter 5

Byakuya looked into the rearview mirror worriedly while Rukia nervously played with her hair. "Rukia, take the battery out of your cell phone. Do not use it until I tell you that it is alright."

Rukia complied, but asked, "Ano, Byakuya. Why do you think that I am in so much danger all of the sudden?" Byakuya glanced over at her.

"Rukia, Renji was found to have a certain drug in his system. It is one that has yet to be identified; after a certain amount of time, it completely disappears, leaving no traces as to what it might be. It has left us puzzled for several years." Byakuya turned onto the interstate, but continued to glance nervously behind him.

"And, what does that have to do with me?" Rukia asked, confused.

"Rukia, Renji was injected with this drug." Rukia's eyes widened. "And, we've found out that this drug has the ability to alter a person's conscious actions. I think that Renji was forced to rape you." Rukia's jaw dropped open, and Byakuya continued, "I am in no way protecting him or his actions; I am just informing you of everything I know. I don't want to keep you out of the loop."

Rukia looked down, tears filling her eyes, "And what about.. Ichigo's mom?"

Byakuya hesitated, his face contorting with raw emotions that Rukia was familiar with; guilt, fear, anger, and pain. He spoke barely above a whisper.

"She had nearly the same injuries as Renji. And I couldn't save her. Or figure out what an antidote for the drug was. Is. We still don't know what would help." Rukia nodded but refrained from asking any more questions. She saw that Byakuya was still in the past. She desperately wanted to reach him, and let him know that it was okay, but she didn't know how.

They sat in a comfortable silence for a solid two hours before Byakuya cursed under his breath. "They're following us." Rukia paled and looked over her shoulder. She saw a black sedan with tinted windows a few cars back. Byakuya pressed harder on the gas. "Get down Rukia; I wouldn't put it past them to shoot at us." Rukia gaped like a fish before complying. Byakuya spoke quickly and quietly, "Rukia, open up the glove compartment there. There should be a wig and jacket. Put them both on and stay low. When we lose them, we'll have to find another way to get to the lodge."

Rukia put the blonde wig and pink jacket on over her purple V-neck. She gripped the seat as she felt Byakuya speeding up.

After what felt like forever, Byakuya let out a deep sigh and nodded at her. Rukia sat up in her seat, and watched as the scenery changed from the city's tall buildings to trees and houses. Byakuya pulled into an empty parking lot and looked around before climbing out. He opened the door for Rukia and nodded toward the building they parked in front of: Car Rental Services. They went in and got a completely different car. They were soon on their way to the middle of nowhere. Rukia stashed the wig and jacket back in the glove compartment.

Rukia woke up after dozing off sometime during their trip. Byakuya was pulling into a well-hidden driveway, though it was lined with sakura trees. He pulled up to the cabin and said, "Well, this is it!" Rukia stared agape at the cozy-looking cabin. It was almost rustic looking, with a chimney and made of logs. He opened the door for her, and the amazements never ceased. The inside of the house was just like she imagined it would be. It was furbished with a fireplace, a leather loveseat and recliner, as well as a table and chairs.

"This way to your room, Rukia." She followed him, carrying her bags. She couldn't help but stare at the way his muscles rippled as he carried his luggage and walked up the stairs. She shook her head; no, she had Ichigo. She cleared those thoughts from her head and continued the climb. Her room was simple, but it felt perfect. It was plain, but Rukia was grateful for anything at this point. She set her bags down, and was surprised to hear Byakuya's voice from the doorway.

"My apologies, Rukia, that I couldn't have this room more prepared to your taste." Rukia shook her head.

"I appreciate that you have done all this for me, Byakuya. All this is just so… overwhelming!" She said honestly. Byakuya nodded.

"I know that it's only afternoon, so would you like to take a walk?" Rukia smiled and nodded. They walked in a comfortable silence, Byakuya not wanting to push her, and Rukia afraid to reach out. As Rukia walked briskly (to keep up with Byakuya's long strides), she couldn't help but be amazed that so much chaos had ensued during the past few weeks. She tried to piece together Renji's, Byakuya's, and Ichigo's motives, and whoever drugged Renji. She came up with nothing, however, and released a dissatisfied sigh at her conclusion.

Byakuya looked at her, and mistaking her sigh from lack of answers to be one of disappointment, he frowned deeply. "Rukia, is there something not to your liking?" She looked up at him, her thoughts cast away in the blink of an eye. She smiled warily, and bowed her head, letting her hair hide her face and reactions.

"No, Byakuya-san. Thank you for doing all of this for me." Byakuya made a non-committal noise in the back of his throat and lightly tapped her chin. She raised her head, startled, and he tilted his head, questioning her honesty with him.

"First of all, Rukia, I would prefer if you would be honest with me." Rukia's face flushed a deep red, and he continued, "Secondly, I thought I told you that you don't need to be so formal. Just 'Byakuya' is fine." She blushed, for another reason altogether. He added, as an afterthought, "I only prefer formalities when around people who need to be reminded that I am their superior." Byakuya shook his head at this last thought, and glanced to see her reaction.

Rukia's expression was carefully neutral, and Byakuya sighed, "Gomenasai, Rukia-san. Please forget that I said anything." He bowed, and then rose and looked at his watch. "I have something I have to do. If you'll excuse me. I'll leave you to yourself, and dinner will be ready at five." He realized that she didn't have any sense of time, since he requested that she turn off her phone. He unbuckled the clasp of his watch and handed it to her, before walking back towards the house.

Rukia was left alone to contemplate her thoughts. She stood, letting the breeze caress her face. She tipped her head backwards, letting everything sink in. She mentally went through her checklist of her packed belongings. She backtracked and realized that she had left her brush as well as her toothbrush. She wondered if she left any other, erm, feminine products there as well. She tilted her head, trying to remember when her next cycle would come.

Her eyes widened exponentially as she realized that she had missed hers only last week.

"No.. there's no way. It can't be possible, right?" she sucked in a breath, trying to ease away the feeling of despair settling deep in her pit. She cursed softly, feeling tears burn behind her eyes. No, she couldn't afford to cry. She needed to find the truth above all. She turned and sprinted towards the house. Byakuya sat in the living room, signing paper after paper, when he heard Rukia's harsh breathing from the entrance. He set the papers down calmly, not reflecting his inner turmoil, and stood, turning to face her. Her face was red, and her eyes glazed slightly.

He briskly walked to her side, placing his hand on her forehead, and he finally asked, "What's wrong, Rukia?" He peered down at her with his endless grey eyes, and her shimmering orbs met his.

She leaned into him and gave into her tears.

Byakuya hated when people cried. First of all, he was taught that tears were a sign of weakness. However, he knew that this girl was not weak. Secondly, he knew that no matter what he said, he was very weak to tears, especially from a truly broken soul. As she sobbed wantonly into his chest, he hesitantly wrapped his arms around her. A strange sense of warmth seeped from the tips of his toes to the nerve-endings in his fingertips. As his gentle touch cradled her, her sobbing increased. It was no longer a matter of that she was taken, or some years younger than him. No. None of that mattered as the girl who made him feel, healed in his arms.

Rukia began keening, unable to restrain her emotions, even if she had wanted to. Ichigo was terrible with understanding her complex feelings, and her best friend had betrayed her. No matter the circumstances, Renji had sworn to keep her safe. And she felt stupid; she had believed him.

Byakuya murmured quiet words into her hair, and he tightened his grasp on her. After a few minutes of her releasing all her pent-up emotions, she quieted down to a soft whimpering mess in his arms. He dared take a glance at her face, and was surprised at the catch in his throat. Her eyes were puffy, nose red, and face blotchy, and yet he thought her to be the most beautiful angel he had ever set eyes upon. In fact, the only angel he had ever set eyes upon. He resisted the urge to take her whimpering lips in his own and make her belong to him until she remembered no other but him. But, he took a deep breath and quelled this urge with thoughts of the possibility of destroying their relationship. If you could call it that.

He gazed into her half-lidded eyes, and whispered, his voice riddled with emotion, "Please… Tell me. I can't help unless I know what's going on." Rukia's eyes strained to open fully, and she sat on the couch, motioning for him to sit. She began talking, her eyes focusing on something in the distance, her voice hoarse and emotionless.

"My last cycle should have been last week; I have fairly regular cycles," Byakuya had a sinking feeling that he knew what this was leading to.

She focused her eyes on him, sadly, desolately, "Byakuya, I think I'm pregnant."

Byakuya was unable to speak. He instead, decided to nod, like an idiot. He didn't let his face betray any of his traitorous emotions. She looked uncertain, but continued, "I.. would like to go to the store and buy a test, as well as some other toiletries I seem to have forgotten." Byakuya continued to nod. He crossed the room, grabbed his jacket from the stand, and motioned to the door.

"Let's go then, Rukia."

She looked at him doubtfully, "You're… not angry with me, Byakuya?" He paused.

"No. I am unhappy that that… that… bastard! Did this to you! You don't deserve to have to go through this!" He crossed the room again, placing his hands on her frail shoulders. He looked deeply into her eyes. "It is not your fault. Don't try and tell yourself otherwise, ne?" She bowed her head, not letting him see the effects of his kind words. Her eyes threatened to leak tears again. She instead let a sad smile grace her face, and she looked gratefully at him.

"I don't deserve someone as kind as you, doing this for me. You've gone to such an extent to protect me. And I have nothing to offer you in return." She spread her arms open wide in order to prove her point. "Who knows, I could be carrying another man's baby!" Her voice cracked, and her eyes dulled slightly. "What should I tell Ichigo?" She murmured, unaware that Byakuya was clinging to her every word. He grasped her hand, and spoke clearly.

"Rukia, we will pass that bridge when it comes. For now, we don't know for sure that you are. Once we find out, we'll decide on our next step. And from there, we'll take another." He released her hand, and opened the door for her. She slipped her black flats on and they were off. Byakuya took them to a small local shop where 'privacy was guaranteed'. Rukia didn't question him, but quickly asked another question.

"Byakuya, when I find out, can I tell Ichigo? I mean, if I am pregnant. If not, then there's no need to bother him with such trivial…" Byakuya cut her off with a well-placed look. It offered no excuses for her self-deprecating words.

They rushed into the store, buying the necessary items, and Rukia paused after they checked it out. "Is there any way I could take it when I get home? I mean.. to your house.. or.."

"Home is just fine. If that's where you feel safe and you wish to call it home, you may do so." Byakuya said, letting a smile ghost over his lips, before resuming his icy demeanor.

Rukia rushed into the bathroom, her hands shaking and she could hardly think. She quickly did what was necessary and waited for the results. It was the longest two minutes of her life.

Byakuya refused to fidget, opting to stand still with his hands shoved deep into his pockets. He stood straighter as Rukia emerged from the bathroom. She looked resigned, and she looked up into his eyes. Before she even spoke, he knew what the test said. He scooped her into his arms and felt her sag against him.
"Rukia, we'll figure out what to tell Ichigo. Why don't you get a good night's sleep tonight, and we'll figure out everything tomorrow morning. Acceptable?" Rukia nodded into his shoulder.

"What… what if he doesn't want me?" Byakuya furrowed his brow.

"Then he's an idiot." Rukia snapped her head up to look at the man in front of her. "And if he decides to let go of a precious treasure like you," Byakuya paused and kneeled, "Then I will take care of you until you find someone who treats you like you should be treated." He looked up, and saw that one hand covered her mouth, and the other curled around her abdomen. He gently pried her fingers away from her flat belly, and leaned forward to place a soft kiss where her hand lay just moments before.

Rukia had never felt a fire left on her body like the one Byakuya had left. And he had only kissed her, through her clothes! Rukia nodded once, and Byakuya stood and offered her his hand. She took it, and he led her to her room. He left momentarily, and returned with a phone in his hand.

"This phone is safe for you to use. It is equipped to be untraceable. It should… nevermind. You can use it to contact Ichigo, but just once. In case they've tapped his phone. I don't want them finding you due to my carelessness." Rukia smiled shyly, and nervously dialed the number she knew by heart.

A breathless voice answered, "Hello?" Rukia could hardly swallow the lump that formed from hearing Ichigo's voice.

"Ichi… go." She said, trying to regain her composure.

"Rukia! Are you okay? We've all been so worried about you! Is Byakuya treating you alright?" Rukia smiled at his barrage of questions.

"I'm… alright, Ichigo." He heard her pause, and determinedly questioned her.

"Rukia, tell me what's wrong." He heard a deep intake of breath on the other end of the line.

"Ichigo, do you really love me?" Ichigo shut his eyes; he had prayed that this question wouldn't arise. It wasn't in his nature to lie, and Rukia knew it. That moment of silence had confirmed her fears.

"Ichigo, I won't hold you back." She said, a lone tear breaking her emotionless visage. "If you love another, I don't want to be an obligation that holds you back."

"Rukia, it's not like that!" Ichigo practically yelled.

"Then what is it?!" Rukia yelled. "Stupid strawberry! If you had just been honest with me from the start, this would be so much easier, cutting off my feelings for you." Her hand trembled, and she continued speaking, her voice showing no hesitation. "I am breaking up with you. I can manage just fine by myself. If you'll please send my remaining belongings.." She paused. Where would she stay? It was too painful to remain in the Kurosaki household. Isshin would berate his son and Ichigo's sisters would pity her. And, Ichigo. She refused to dwell on this thought.

Byakuya took the phone from her and continued smoothly, "Ship her remaining belongings to my home. I will pay the cost, just give the bill to one of my servants."

Ichigo was speechless, but then regained his ability to speak. He spoke quietly, "Byakuya, please take care of her. I have failed to protect her when I should have, and now she is suffering because of me." Byakuya scoffed.

"You think I don't know this, boy?" Ichigo stiffened, "Just go be happy. Isn't that what Rukia asked of you?" Ichigo grunted yes into the phone. Byakuya abruptly said that he must go and destroy the phone, so he requested that Ichigo not try and contact them.

Byakuya turned to see Rukia hunched over. He sat on the ground and brushed the tear away from her face. He then leaned forward and kissed her forehead, her eyelids, and her cheek, before leaning her back into her bed.

"Too much activity for one day. You need some time to sort things out." As he turned to leave, Rukia's hand snaked around his, and he turned.

Her eyes begged him to stay, with words that she could not bear to say. That night, Byakuya cradled the broken woman in his arms, desperately wanting to find a cure for her broken heart.

AN: Phew! So, there are a ton of unanswered questions. And Rukia's carrying Renji's baby! WHAT? Crazy, I know. Sorry for the twists, but not really. XD I am having so much fun analyzing what they could be like in a different universe :3 So, Thanks for reading this far, and.. I think that's about it.. :D Yep. Oh! And I'll be out of town for the next week or so, without electronics. So, unless I get time to write it down on paper, I won't have it posted for a little bit. *Bows in a dogeza* Please forgive me! And I'll try and post again as soon as I can :D Thanks again for reading!