Author's Note: Hey, everyone! I'm so happy to be back writing. Although this chapter took awhile to make, I'm glad it's finally done! I can't believe BLEACH anime is back too, which is why I finally got some inspiration to write again. My favs looked so good.

Disclaimer: All characters belong to Tite Kubo, the creator of BLEACH.

Chapter 25 – Miracle

The sounds of a bustling capital city and the rush of a summer breeze across her skin eventually caused Orihime to stir from her slumber. As her eyes fluttered open, the warmth of Ichigo was noticeably absent. Moving with a leisure pace, the maiden sat up in bed and took in her surroundings in the daylight. However, her attention was immediately drawn to the curtains softly swaying from the open balcony doors.

Peeking over the bed, she found the remnants of her linens on the floor from the night before. It was within arm's length to pick up and quickly toss over her head to cover herself. The princess strode to the source of the noise, only to pause her steps as she approached the veranda. Her heart skipped a beat and her breathing caught in her throat as her gaze fell upon the back of the man she loved dearly. With his elbows propped on the railing and his hands hanging loosely over it, his stance appeared relaxed. The sight of his peaceful form brought immense comfort to Orihime as she felt her chest began to swell with emotion.

Not wanting to idle behind the door, she swiftly moved towards Ichigo before fully embracing him around his waistline. She pressed her body tightly against his back as she pulled him in closer.

"You're finally awake?" a deep voice rumbled from the front.

"Good morning, Ichi-kun!" the future Queen gleefully beamed.

The teenager veered around to meet Orihime's lively expression. His toned arms continued to cradle her against his torso. His eyes fleetingly scanned her clothed body for any markings that he may have left behind from their tryst, but failed to see any present.

"Is there something on my face?" she titled her head.

A tint of pink graced his cheeks as he averted his eyes from the maiden's questioning stare.

"Sorry, I was just thinking about finally going home," he shared.

Orihime pulled away from the embrace at the sound of his words laced with worry. She was aware the kingdom had been restless since her departure for the trial. Chad had been updating Uryu with letters retrieved by a carrier pigeon every few days. The villagers were angered by the fact that the princess' assailant had not been sentenced to death for his crimes. In their hearts and minds, Byakuya's decision was irresponsible. He was the Emperor of Japan with all the power and control at his fingertips. He allowed a "rapist" to live out his days without severe consequence.

The aristocrat understood her people wanting to protect the future of their kingdom. However, their feelings had been misguided due to false information. No one outside of the palace walls knew about the circumstances surrounding Orihime's attack, other than that a peasant boy had been accused and found guilty. When the maiden and the royal council returned to the comfort of familiar territory, a discussion needed to take place regarding Ichigo's role. With all that had passed between the start of the tournament and the trial, Orihime was nervous about how their relationship would be received by the village. She didn't want to tarnish the reputation of the Inoue household after her brother had worked so hard to rebuild it during his reign.

"Are you having doubts too?" Ichigo's inquiry interrupted her internal thoughts.

The future Queen silently nodded, her tongue feeling numb as she scrambled to find the next words to say.

"We're going to figure this out together," the maiden reassured the blacksmith as she glanced up to meet his dark eyes.

"I guess this means it's time to get ready," the blacksmith suggested as a smirk spread across his lips.

Thankfully, the plans for their transportation had not been terminated. The arrangement Uryu had made with a ship captain a few days prior was still in place when they entered the docking location. The butler handled everything – including payment and the loading of their luggage.

Before stepping onto the ship, Rukia took one final glance at the Imperial Palace in the distance as the flags of the kingdom blew in the wind. She and her brother did not share many words with one another upon departure. Despite having sorted through their issues, the petite woman did not feel at peace living within the palace walls any longer. She had a new family – one who she wished to continue to protect. Rukia was certain her brother understood her position. The guilt and shame that once weighed heavy on her heart no longer existed.

As she walked across the plank to the upper deck, she heard a bubbly laugh within earshot. Her eyes focused on the source and spotted Orihime and Ichigo standing in close proximity with their backs turned to her.

"Kuchiki-san," her name was called by a familiar voice.

Her attention diverted from the couple as she stood more upright and discovered it was Uryu who had beckoned.

"May we speak in the captain's corridors?" the butler asked.

She silently nodded and quickly followed Ishida to a secluded part of the ship. When the two approached the door, Uryu gave a soft rap with the back of his hand. The entrance to the room opened and he walked inside. Rukia trailed in behind him.

"Well, well, well~," a sing-song voice greeted the members of the royal court, "I didn't expect to see Kuchiki-sama on our journey back home."

Not a second later, Rukia identified the owner of said voice. It was none other than Urahara. The man was hiding his face behind his famous fan with his feet kicked up on the surface of a nearby table.

"Kisuke-san," she muttered as she took a seat across from him.

"I need to ask-," he started.

"Don't."

"You didn't even give me a chance!" he whined.

"Whatever you are going to say, I know it will be stupid and not worth my time answering," the maiden curtly explained.

"Enough," Uryu cut in, "At this moment, we have more pressing matters that need our attention."

Thereafter, the door to the captain's room swung open and another body entered the room. It was Isshin and he was humming a tune unbeknownst to Rukia. As always, a grin was spread across his aging face as he greeted the small group.

Suddenly, a thought came to Rukia's mind, "Where's Arisawa?"

Uryu pushed his glasses up as they began to slide down the ridge of his nose, "I have her keeping an eye on the princess to ensure she doesn't stumble upon our meeting."

The reason for the purpose of their gathering still remained a mystery. It was clear that whatever needed to be discussed in private – without Orihime or Ichigo – was of great importance.

"Why are we having this meeting?" Kisuke grumbled.

Standing tall with his arms crossed behind his back, the butler of the Inoue household was prepared to begin his agenda.

"I'm concerned about the relationship that is unfolding right before our very eyes," Uryu confided to his royal associates.

A haughty laugh escaped from the shaggy-haired man sitting beside him, "Well, I for one, think it's a beautiful thing."

Rukia rolled her eyes, "No one cares what you think."

Before a retort could be made by Uruhara, Isshin leaned forward on his elbows and frowned at the comment made by Orihime's friend.

"Ishida, do you not approve of my son and the princess being together?" the doctor inquired earnestly.

The adolescent could feel his heartbeat pulsating in his ears at the question. He had been suppressing his inner thoughts for the sake of Inoue, but now he was faced with the ultimate truth as it was put before him.

"Absolutely not. Our Highness has been through more tragedy than most have experienced in a lifetime. I will not allow her to continue this foolishness with Kurosaki. She's already been scorned by him," the butler began to raise his voice.

The father of three swayed his head from side to side as he sympathized, "I'm not overlooking that fact. Furthermore, I acknowledge she has faced heartache and disappointment. However, my son has also. He is not a stranger to death. The two have more in common than you're willing to admit because you don't want the princess to find her own happiness."

For a few moments, the harsh sentiment Isshin dispelled lingered in the air. No one dared spoke or made any movement. The occupants of the room were stunned by the older man's observations. However, Rukia had known for quite some time about Uryu's unrequited love for their beloved aristocrat. Consequently, rather than display an expression of shock, she was curious about the seventeen-year-old's reaction to the accusation.

Lifting a hand to his mouth to cough into, the teenager sheepishly stuttered, "O-of course I want her to be happy."

The sound of a fan snapping shut shifted the focus onto Urahara.

"You don't mean it," he affirmed, "If you looked at her right now, would you be able to say that with a clear conscience?"

The shady individual's accusation only compelled Ishida to raise his voice even further, "My feelings have nothing to do with this! My only role here is to protect and serve Inoue-sama – which I will continue to do so for as long as I live."

Finally, Rukia spoke up before more arguments arose between the group of men, "No one is doubting the lengths you would go for our princess. I think this trial has shown proof of that. Regardless, in less than a month, she's going to be the Queen of Karakura. We have to let her make her own decisions so she can grow into her role as a leader."

"Even if that means letting her get hurt?!" Uryu retorted, his eyes widening with intensity.

The petite aristocrat slowly nodded, "Yes, just like when a mother bird lets her fledging fly from the nest for the first time. We must sit back and watch."

With her words of wisdom echoing through the silent cabin, the only sound heard was the creaking of the ship over the ocean's waters.

It had been several days since the young princess and her royal court arrived back in Karakura. Isshin and Urahara parted ways from the group, both returning to their respective homes. At first, Ichigo had been hesitant to leave with his father once they docked at port. By now, he was certain his sisters had heard of his punishment he received in the capital. He thought perhaps by seeing him again, he would only cause them more pain when he left to return to the palace. However, his appearance was received warmly by the twin girls. Each sister embraced their oldest sibling with tears in their eyes as Isshin looked on from the doorway. The Kurosaki family was reunited at last – although not for long.

After spending a night in his old bed, a carriage was sent to collect him the next day. He packed what little items and clothing he had in his room and said his goodbyes to his family. Ichigo told Yuzu and Karin he would be working as a special solider for Princess Inoue for the next few weeks – which hadn't been formally approved yet. Nevertheless, he did not want to make them needlessly worry. For now, the little they knew, the better for all involved.

"When will we get to see you?" Yuzu voiced her concerned.

"You can visit me whenever you'd like," the brother responded with a firm smile, "I'm sure the princess would love it too."

This would not be a permanent goodbye. Regardless, Ichigo didn't feel at ease leaving his father and the girls behind. He rather they came to live in the palace, under the best protection money could offer. In the end, it had been Isshin who had advised against it. His reasoning for turning down the proposition was understandable after a lengthy discussion was held between the two men. With his father promising to cut back on his traveling, the girls would continue to have a stable environment. To suddenly uproot them from their classmates, teachers, and friends would not only be unfair – but it would also cause a disruption to the only life they've ever known.

As Ichigo reflected upon the last encounter with his family, it came to a halt when the mattress underneath him creaked from the shifting weight on the other side of the bed. His eyes darted to the figure sitting upright in the darkness in silence.

Since residing in the Inoue palace, the former blacksmith had been spending his nights with Orihime. During the day, their interactions were limited as Uryu continually made an effort to keep them apart. Once all of the staff and royal court were dismissed from their daily duties, Ichigo would retreat to his room for a few hours as to not to draw suspicion from the butler. Consequently, after the handmaidens assisted with Orihime's bath, the teenager would leave the confinements of his bedroom to cautiously make his way through the enormous halls of the castle to the corridors of his significant other.

Since beginning this routine, Ichigo had managed to be discreet with his appearance outside her bedroom's door. As far as he was aware, no one knew he was sleeping in a room not of his own. However, tonight – that would all change.

Ichigo rolled to the side facing Orihime, who had remained frozen in place.

"Hey," he tiredly called, "Did you have a bad dream?"

"I-I'm not sure," a shaken voice escaped from the maiden's lips.

Her unusual statement and the quiver in her throat arose alarm within Ichigo. Throwing the bedsheets off of him, the seventeen-year-old grabbed a nearby candle and rushed over to Orihime's side. As he approached with the light, his pulse immediately began to race. The maiden's white nightdress was stained with the color of red. The amount of blood was by no means small.

The newly appointed solider dropped to his knees and looked over for any open marks on Orihime's body.

"Are you hurt anywhere?" he questioned as he padded her down with one hand.

The princess silently shook her head, her mouth ajar from shock.

"I need to get you a doctor," Ichigo started to rise to his feet, but Orihime grabbed him by the arm.

"No!" she managed to shout, nails digging into his skin, "I don't want to be left alone!"

"Okay," he tried to soothe her panic, "Is there a bell or something I can ring to get someone in here?"

Inoue lifted her arm and pointed a finger at her nightstand. The former blacksmith noticed a pink music box sitting on the bottom shelf. He placed his candle down and reached for the item. When he unlocked the latch, it popped open and a teddy bear began to spin to a musical note.

Shortly after discovering the box, Ichigo could hear the faint sound of running outside the bedroom doors.

Then suddenly, the doors swung open and Tatsuki vaulted into the dark room.

"What happened?" she asked, overlooking for the time being Ichigo's unexplained presence.

"He…he didn't do anything," Orihime defended as her face contorted in pain.

"Where's all of this blood from?" the tomboy remarked, her dark eyes darting over every inch of the princess.

"We need to get her a doctor!" Isshin's only son urged.

Tatsuki whipped her head and gritted through her teeth, "You don't think I see that, idiot? Help me get her to the bath first."

Ichigo didn't understand the handmaiden's lack of urgency in seeking medical assistance. She seemed more concerned about the princess' cleanliness. In her time of need, the blacksmith decided not to argue for Orihime's sake. Instead, he carefully scooped the weakened girl into his arms and hurried to the bathroom. The handmaiden followed close behind.

In a gentle manner, he placed Inoue into the tub as she whimpered from the unknown discomfort. Tatsuki turned on the facet and water began to pour into the tub. The blood on Orihime's garment started to mix into the water.

Still puzzled by the actions, Ichigo pressed forward in getting a doctor immediately. His patience was beginning to thin as he held Orihime by her arm to keep her from slipping underneath the water. It was clear she was growing weak from blood loss and she was barely speaking now.

"What are we waiting for?!" he growled, "Is someone going to come and help her?"

The member of the Royal Court was standing in the doorway of the spacious bathroom, not sparing a glance in his direction. Her silence only continued to anger him about the situation.

As the tense moment continued to drag on, Tatsuki finally offered a response to his inquiry, "He's here." The girl's eyes were still focused on the entrance of the bedroom. Faintly, Ichigo could hear the sound of heavy footsteps shuffling towards the door. Nonetheless, his attention still remained on the princess.

"Greetings, Arisawa-san," a chipper voice called from the other room. The handmaiden bowed respectively and moved aside for the individual upon his arrival. From the corner of his eyes, Ichigo sensed the figure enter the corridor of the bathroom.

"Ah, Kurosaki-san, we meet again."

Finally, the teenager glanced up and made contact with the man before him. It was Dr. Haichi who had come to their aid. The two first encountered one another when Ichigo moved into the Inoue palace. It was upon Orihime's insistence that he visit the doctor to check on the recovery of his injuries from the whipping. Later on, the princess shared that Dr. Haichi had delivered both Sora and her when their mother was alive. The highly-skilled individual was a person that Orihime deeply respected.

The large man kneeled beside the peasant as he continued to hold the limp girl. He first silently assessed the situation and placed his thumb under his chin in deep concentration.

"When was her last bleed, Arisawa-san?" the physician inquired.

Tatsuki moved closer to the tub with concern, "It was just two weeks ago. It lasted for 5 days."

"Interesting. I don't believe she is experiencing menstruation at the moment. I'll have to do a further examination," he explained.

Shortly after the doctor arrived, he kindly requested for Ichigo to depart from the bedroom. Despite Ichigo's protests to stay, the medical physician was much taller and larger than the teenager himself. He barely struggled against the villager as he pushed him towards the doors. Once he was forcibly escorted out of the room, he sighed defeatedly and took a seat outside the bedchamber walls. Before long, Uryu and Rukia were rushing towards him in their own nighttime attire.

They both asked him what had transpired, but he was reluctant to share his side of the story. As much as this angered the butler, the petite woman was able to calm him down. From that point on, the trio quietly occupied the hallway in the middle of the night as they waited for news to come.

Once some time had passed, Ichigo began to fear the worst had happened. Every second seemed to drag and every minute felt like an hour. What could have possibly occurred from the moment they fell asleep to when he was awoken by Orihime's strange behavior? He was not able to draw a connection to any particular event. The weight of the uncertainty began to encroach upon Ichigo as his vision blurred from exhaustion.

However, the sound of double doors opening quickly snapped the concerned individuals from their thoughts. The doctor and Tatsuki walked over to the group who had mixed expressions on their faces. Ichigo was the first to rise to his feet.

"How…How is she?" he asked with hesitation.

Dr. Hachi lifted an arm to grasp the teenager by his shoulder, "May we speak in private?"

The peasant shook the man's hand off, "No! Whatever you need to tell me, just say it right here!"

The husky man surveyed the individuals in the hallway, trying to determine his next move. He wanted to tell Ichigo the news first without prying eyes. Yet, he considered the news would be shared one way or another.

"Well, I was able to get the bleeding under control," Hachi began, "During my exam, it was discovered that the princess is with child. For now, she is on bedrest for the next 10 days."

It was certainly not what anyone had been expecting. How could the angelic aristocrat be pregnant? Not much time has passed between the trial and their arrival back at the palace, but it appeared Uryu's concerns were not without merit. Otherwise, the respected family doctor wouldn't be telling him such life-changing news. The initial shock was quickly beginning to dissipate as the butler felt the blood in his veins turn cold.

There was only one person to blame for this situation, and his name was Ichigo Kurosaki.

"You son of a bitch!" Uryu shouted through gritted teeth as he reeled around with a drawn fist in the air. However, the attempt to inflict pain was futile. He wasn't able to land a punch because Tatsuki and Rukia had intervened by grabbing him by the arms to restrain him.

"Stop it Ishida!" the tomboy voiced her opposition, "Hitting him might make you feel better, but it's not going to be a long-term solution!"

As the tension unfolded before him, Ichigo was too stunned to even take note of Uryu coming towards him with clenched knuckles. He remained motionless as the two women calmed the butler down. How could he be so careless? He loved Orihime and saw a future with her. He just never envisioned a child being a part of that future so soon, much less without them exchanging wedding vows to each other.

Most importantly, she was about to undergo one of the most live-changing events of her life. She was soon turning eighteen and would officially be crowned the ruler of Karakura in a lavish ceremony. Although he knew the maiden wasn't keen on her coming-of-age being made into a large spectacle, a lot of effort and organization had already been placed into the special day.

But now, a party was the farthest thing from anyone's mind. A new life had been created and maintaining the health of the princess was top priority. He could punish himself later about being irresponsible without the disparaging glares being directed from the company he was with.

Finally, Dr. Haichi intercepted before another outburst could happen between the two young men.

"If you would like to go see her, you can," the physician pointedly stated.

Without a single sound leaving his lips, Ichigo nodded his head and rotated his feet in the direction of the bed chambers. The moment his hand rested on the door handles; the orange haired boy felt a familiar sensation wash over him. He had done this so many times already – always being the one to go to Orihime's bedside because she been hurt indirectly by him or because of his actions. He couldn't continue to put her in harm's way.

As he turned the doorhandle, his palms began to sweat. After all, it was time to come face to face with this new reality.

Orihime wasn't exactly sure when she had slipped into slumber. The last thing she could recall was speaking with Dr. Haichi after he had told her she would be on bedrest for the next week or so. This was so that the baby wouldn't experience any fetal distress during it's crucial developmental period.

Moreso, she still couldn't believe she was even using the word 'baby'. A new life was growing inside her and it was a strange feeling nonetheless. She was barely an adult herself and now she would be raising a child in the coming months. Everything was happening at rapid speed. With so many emotions swirling in her head from the pregnancy reveal, her quick nap was soon disrupted as she jolted from rest. As she stirred from her sleep, the princess felt a grip on her hand.

"Ichi-kun?" were the first words she spoke.

"Hey there, Hime," the comforting voice greeted her from the bedside.

She was sunken into the big, fluffy pillows for extra comfort as she slowly regained consciousness from earlier. The princess pushed herself upright to sit more forward. Unfortunately, even the slightest bit of movement trigged a dull pain to emerge in her head. The family doctor said she would frequently experience headaches as a side effect from the pregnancy.

"What's wrong?" Ichigo's tone immediately shifted.

Orihime waved off his concern, "It's nothing, just a headache."

It seemed now would be the appropriate time to bring up the baby. The subject was looming over the couple. She wanted to be excited about the news, but it was difficult to know about Ichigo would react. This child was the future of the Karakura kingdom, despite how unconventional it was conceived. Would her partner view the unborn as a blessing or a curse?

Not wanting to let the moment pass, the aristocrat glided her tongue over her dry lips. She squeezed Ichigo's hand that still lay on top of her own as she met the eyes of her beloved. However, she was unable to get a word out because it was the peasant who broke the silence first.

"It's okay," his thumb brushed the side of her face, "I know about the baby."

"Dr. Hachi…," she said the physician's name barely above a whisper.

Ichigo silently nodded to her statement, only to have a sudden flashback to the events that transpired out in the hallway. With Orihime in a weakened state and needing rest, he didn't feel it was imperative to cause her further stress. Ishida and he were never destined to be friends. However, for the sake of keeping the princess healthy, he would have to become allies with him. For now, that was an issue for another day.

"Are you upset about it?" the aristocrat's voice cut through his brooding. His forehead had begun to wrinkle into his classic scowl.

The teenager cleared his throat, "No, of course not. I'm only upset with myself. I wasn't careful when we…".

Without going further into detail, his voice trailed off as he darted his eyes to the floor. Since confirming their feelings with each other, they had only been intimate twice. Their first night together happened in the capital after the trial, and the second time occurred shortly after he moved into the palace full-time. As he reflected fondly on those memories, he realized both of those times he had been careless with Orihime.

In that moment, Ichigo raised his head and pointedly asked, "How do you feel about us having a baby?"

Despite being lethargic, the maiden's pale face lit up from the question. Immediately, it was like a ray of sunshine had poured into the room even though the windows were covered by velvet curtains.

"I think this is a blessing!" she beamed, "I never thought it would be possible to love something I haven't even met yet!"

Her optimism never seemed to cease even in the grimmest situations. However, the creation of a child was by no means a terrible circumstance. Truthfully, he was still in shock that he was going to be a father before he was twenty years old. It was something to be celebrated, although many had already expressed their displeasure at the state of affairs between the princess and himself.

Without skipping a beat, Ichigo stood up from his seat and climbed into the bed, next to Orihime. Everything had been changed out and fresh linens were now wrapped around the couple. As the hour of daylight encroached upon them, the Karakura native felt sleep begin to wash over him. He slung one around the maiden's shoulder and pulled her in close to him.

Before closing his eyes, he lowered his lips to her ear and whispered, "I promise to protect you and our child."

The princess had no doubt that he would.