AN

I can't believe it! We actually reached 150 reviews! I'm so excited and pleased and thank you all very much! So, because you just brightened my Sunday morning with your devotion to this fic, you've unlocked the next chapter I promised a couple of days ago. Happy reading!

Disclaimer-I own nothing.

No Escape

Chapter 30

Ichigo watched Kon sleep for the better part of an hour, then went to do the same with Rukia.

Kira was right. It helped knowing they were safe. Maybe in a few days, after they found Yammy and put him behind bars, he'd start to belieive it.

The police were scouring Hokkaido for signs of Yammy. So far, no luck.

"How long do you plan to stand there?" asked Rukia in a sleepy voice.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you."

"You didn't. My body is exhausted, but my mind is wide awake."

Ichigo wanted to go to her, to hold her in his arms, but he didn't dare. Not after the way he'd lied to her about Kon. Their time together was probably over now, and as much as he wished it to be otherwise, he could hardly blame her for not wanting to be with him any longer.

It was best if he just played it cool. It might hurt less when she turned away from him that way. "I hate it when that happens."

"You've got to be tired, too," she said. "It's been a long day."

"One of the longest ever," he agreed. "But I'm not ready to sleep."

"Okay, then at least come lie down."

Ichigo stood still. Not "go lie down" but "come lie down." Was that an invitation to join her? It couldn't be. Not after what he'd done. "Aren't you still mad at me?"

"I hated what you did, but I understand why you did it. I still haven't told Kon the whole truth, so it'd be a bit hypocritical of me to hold it against you. Besides, I'm too tired to be mad." She pulled back the covers, and this time, there was no mistaking the invitation.

Ichigo pulled off his boots, but he didn't risk taking anything else off. No matter how mad she was at him, she still lit his blood on fire, perhaps more so, and he didn't trust himself not to push her for more than she was physically and emotionally ready to give. It made him an ass, but at least he knew his flaws.

He slid under the blankets with her and moved until his body was cradling hers. It felt like heaven to have her so close-to be able to smell her hair and feel her skin and know she was safe because he could feel her pulse thrumming through her body.

He probably should have insisted she stay in the hospital for overnight observation, but he had to admit this was much better. Not to mention the fact that she was an adult and fully capable of making her own decisions, even if he thought they were bad ones.

She settled against him and let out a resigned sigh. "I think we should leave town until Yammy's found. I can't put Kon at risk again."

"We can go to Uryu's if Kon's caseworker will let you take him out of state."

"I'll tell her it's a vacation. She'll argue that he should be in school, but I'll get his work from his teachers or something."

"If she doesn't agree, you could let me take him. That way you wouldn't be responsible."

"You mean kidnap him?"

"Yeah."

"So you'd go to jail for it?!"

Ichigo shrugged. "Better me than you."

Ichigo flinched as he felt a kick to his shin. "That's completely idiotic and out of the question!"

Ichigo said nothing, just watched the curiosity grow on her face. He knew that eventually she would question his logic. She was just that kind of person. He was right.

"How do you figure?"

Ichigo hid his smirk in her hair. "I'm expendable."

Rukia frowned. "Expendable? What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just like it sounds. If one of us has to go to jail to keep Kon safe, it should be me. Besides, if they wanted to arrest me, they'd have to catch me first. I'm pretty good at hiding."

Rukia rolled her eyes. "No one is going to jail. I'll get permission for a short trip. His caseworker wants Kon safe as much as we do."

"Not likely, but we'll try it your way first."

Maybe it wasn't too late for him to work with Uryu. He didn't even really care if he got paid. He just wanted to be useful. Included.

"What about Renji?" she asked.

Ichigo scowled. "He's a big boy. He could leave town, too, if he wants."

"With us?" she asked.

Ichigo didn't like the idea of having another man tag along, but if Renji helped her feel safe, or she felt the need to protect him, who was he to argue? Besides, the man was so skeptical that he probably wouldn't agree to come along, anyway. Not to mention the fact that Renji obviously didn't like him anymore than he liked Renji. "If you want. We'll talk to him about it tomorrow."

"Maybe they'll find Yammy tonight and we won't have to go anywhere."

She'd stay here. He'd leave. It didn't sound that great to him. Not anymore. "Try not to worry about it now, okay?"

He felt her hair slide over his cheek with her nod.

Ichigo stopped talking, and after a few minutes, he felt her drift off to sleep. He didn't think he'd be able to join her, but apparently, he was wrong. Just after two in the morning, Rukia's cell phone woke him with its jaunty little tune that sounded suspiciously like a certain, bunny-themed TV show opening song.

She stirred but didn't wake. Ichigo grabbed the phone and answered it. "Hello?"

"Help me." It was a little girl's voice shaking with fear, and instantly Ichigo was wide awake, his body ready to fly into action.

He slid from the bed and headed for the bathroom as he asked, "Who is this?"

Her response was a small, terrified whisper. "Natsuki."

Momo's daughter. Calling in the middle of the night.

Ichigo forced his voice to sound calm when everything inside him was screaming that something was wrong with the child. Why else would she be calling at two in the morning? "What's wrong, honey?"

All he heard for a moment was a harsh panting sound, like she couldn't get enough air.

"Natsuki? What's wrong?"

"There's a bad man in the house, and he's hurting Mommy."

Thank God for all those years of training in Delta Force. If it hadn't been for them, Ichigo was pretty sure he would have panicked. Instead, his mind was already spinning toward how to save the girl and her mom. "Where are you?"

"Under my bed." There was a crash, like the sound of wood splintering, then Natsuki yelped in fear.

"What bed? Where did your mom take you?"

"Home."

Momo was supposed to be out of town. Why would she be at home? He wasn't about to waste precious time asking her about it now. "Can you get out?"

"No. I'm upstairs."

Ichigo opened his mouth to tell her he was calling for help when he heard a woman's terrified scream. A gunshot followed a moment later. Then silence.

"Natsuki?" shouted Ichigo. "Natsuki, are you okay?"

The line went dead.

AN

Cliffhanger! Sorry guys. I wish I could tell you what happens, but that would ruin things now wouldn't it? Hope you don't suffer too much and I'll try to update as soon as I can. Review please!