"Tadaima," Ichigo said as he entered his house.
"Okaeri!"
Ichigo looked up but frowned when he noticed nobody was standing before him. "Rukia?" he called out as he pulled his sneakers off.
"In the living room!" she answered back.
Ichigo followed her voice to the said room. He stopped when he got close to the couch and just smiled at what he was seeing.
Rukia was crouching on the floor, shaking a Chappy doll on the ground where Takeshi was laughing with joy. The coffee table was replaced with a baby blanket that was littered with all sorts of toys.
"What are you guys doing?"
Upon hearing the familiar voice, Takeshi looked up and squealed upon seeing his father. "Papa!" He raised his tiny arms towards him, asking to get picked up.
Rukia looked up and exhaled an exhausted breath as Ichigo walked around the couch to pick up their infant son. "You're finally home. I was about to lose my mind here."
Ichigo chuckled as he lifted Takeshi high into the air before bringing the baby close to his face, then lifting him high again, and bringing him down again. They baby was just squealing, obviously enjoying his father's ability to make him 'fly.' "Where are the others?"
"Yuzu and Karin are helping with setting up the Sports Day for tomorrow at their school and your father went to the Karakura General Hospital for some supplies," Rukia told him as she laid her body on the baby blanket and closed her eyes in exhaustion. "I had to take care of the baby and do all the house chores by myself today."
"Well, aren't you superwoman," Ichigo said as he came down to press a kiss on her forehead. "I'm here now so get some rest."
Rukia nodded as a yawn escaped her. "I was planning to but I need to clean up the area first."
"I can do that for you."
But she merely snorted at his offer. "Then are you willing to make dinner as well?"
"Anything I make will definitely be better than what you might make," Ichigo said, earning him a slap right away. "Oi, I was being nice so why don't you just take it without being a bitch."
Rukia promptly ignored him as she closed her eyes and immediately fell asleep in the middle of the living room. Ichigo played with Takeshi a little bit more before looking down at her peaceful expression. A small smile graced his lips as he reached over to sweep a stray bang away from her face.
"Mama nigh'?" Takeshi blinked.
Ichigo smiled. "Yup, so we have to be really quiet." He emphasized by placing a finger against his lips. Takeshi mimicked his move while giggling.
Staring down at Rukia once again, Ichigo couldn't believe how strong she was. She really was superwoman in his eyes.
After Yume's sudden passing, Rukia worked extra hard to make up for the time she had spent in her room ignoring Takeshi, Ichigo, and the rest of the world. In no time she was back to her original self: the demanding and annoying midget that was growing in his heart. Not to mention their sex life kicked back into gear a month afterwards.
"Oops."
Ichigo was pulled out of his thoughts to look down at Takehi who was frowning. He also frowned. "What's wrong?" Takeshi looked up at his father before patting his diaper. That was all Ichigo had to see to know what was 'oops.' A deep sigh escaped him as he picked up his son. "Com'on, let's change your diaper."
Even after a year of raising a child, Ichigo still couldn't stand dirty diapers. If Takeshi wasn't his kid he was sure he wouldn't do it even for a million yens.
Of course if Isshin could disappear, then that would be another story.
Ichigo could only smile as he listened to Takeshi squealing and laughing from his seat in the stroller. It wasn't often that the entire family got to go out somewhere, so even this little baby could tell today was a special day.
"Bird!" he pointed to the sky.
The father nodded with a grin. "That's right. You're really smart Takeshi."
Again the baby giggled.
"I can't believe he's turning two in a few months," Rukia sighed, "He's growing up so fast."
Ichigo rolled his eyes. "Rukia, he still has almost half a year before he turns two. Stop getting all worked up."
She immediately replied with a swift kick to his shin. "Don't bother me when I'm crying here. Let's see how you'll react when he suddenly grows up and starts college."
"Freakin' midget," he groaned as they continued their walk to the Karakura Middle School. He looked up to see a huge banner in front of the school gates: Annual Sports Tournament. "Man, I haven't been here in years."
"Are the others joining us?" Rukia asked, referring to their friends.
He shrugged his shoulders. "Tatsuki said she was going to come but I'm not sure if the others are." They entered the school grounds to see kids already playing soccer up ahead. "Are we late?"
"No, this is the first game," she told him. She looked around to look for any familiar faces when she noticed someone waving at them. "I see Yuzu over there." They walked over to where the young girl was waiting for them. As soon as they reached her, Rukia gave her a hug. "How's the tournament so far?"
"Great!" she squealed, "Our class is winning with Karin already having made her third shot of the day."
"Not surprising," Ichigo snorted.
Yuzu bent down and smiled as her nephew squealed at seeing her. "And how are you, Takesh-kuni? Did you have a nice long nap?"
"Yu'," he mumbled as he reached out a hand to his young aunt.
"Shouldn't you be playing too?" the older brother asked.
But Yuzu shook her head. "I'm not good so Karin-chan made me to something simpler while she signed up for almost every game."
"Well, don't take it badly. She's just overprotective of you," Ichigo patted her head, earning a wide grin from his sister.
"Yuzu-chan!"
The said girl turned around to see her friends calling for her. "Well, looks like they need me. I'll see you guys later!"
Ichigo and Rukia waved as Yuzu left them until she was with her friends. Then they made their way to the stands where family and visitors were sitting, watching the game before them. "This is exciting," Rukia grinned.
Ichigo snorted as he parked the stroller off to the side. Picking up Takeshi and the bag with the bento boxes that they made for lunch later, he followed Rukia as she looked around for a seat. "What are you doing?" he asked when she remained still in her spot, still looking for a spot when there were still a lot of seats opened.
"I'm searching for our friends—oh, there they are!" she pointed. Ichigo followed her finger and sure enough Tatsuki was waving at them from several feet away. The two of them—plus one baby—made their way across the stands to confront Tatsuki and Renji. "Hey, are you guys the only ones here?"
"For now," Renji answered, "Ishida and Inoue might come along with Chad. But I'm not sure about the others."
"Hopefully they'll know what's good for them and not come," Ichigo muttered under his breath as he sat down.
Tatsuki leaned over and smiled at the baby. "And how are you Takeshi?"
"Boo," he answered.
"That's great to hear." She grabbed his tiny hand and did a high five.
"Man the last time I was here was when I was still attending this school," Ichigo commented as he watched his sister run across the field for the ball.
Renji snickered as a thought came to him. "This makes me remember about the time I kicked you ass back in sixth grade while playing basketball." He quickly got a smack on the head from the orange head.
"That was because you cheated! If Tatsuki over here hadn't pushed me down I would have won."
The said woman rolled her eyes. "I can't believe you two are still making a big deal out of that after all these years," she said before smirking at Ichigo. "But that was a pretty hilarious day."
"Shut up," he growled.
Rukia chuckled as she wiped the drool from off from Takeshi's face. "You guys are so lucky to have all these memories together."
"What were you doing when you were in elementary school?" Renji asked.
She frowned as she thought about it. "Well, while I was with my grandparents we were living in a small town in Saitama. I was just a normal student until I was found by Niisama not too long after."
"Do you have any exciting stories from there?"
"Well…there was this guy I met there. He was my first crush," she grinned at the memories.
Tatsuki and Renji snickered as they saw the jealous expression on Ichigo's face. "What was his name?" she asked.
"I think it was…Something Hiro I think," she said.
"Psch, what a gay name," Ichigo mumbled off to the side.
"What happened to him?" Tatsuki asked to further annoy the orange head who was now glaring at her.
Rukia shrugged her shoulders. "After I got adopted by Niisama, I never heard from him ever again. Maybe I should look him up…"
"Why would you want to do that?" Ichigo scowled.
She looked up at him to notice for the first time how irritated he looked. "Ichigo are you okay? You don't look so good."
"Yeah, what's up your ass?" Renji snickered.
Ichigo was just about to grab a water bottle and chug it at his head when suddenly everyone around them rose to cheer out loud as the game came to an end. He looked up see his sister getting picked up as her class celebrated their victory.
Rukia and Tatsuki stood up and gathered their stuff. "Let's go down and meet them. It's almost time for lunch."
Throwing Renji one last glare, Ichigo handed Takeshi to Rukia so he could carry the bento boxes they had prepared. Carefully making their way towards the twins, they ignored all the suspicious looks they were getting from adults around them.
Ever since Rukia left high school, word spread throughout the town how the son of the well-respected Kurosaki clinic's doctor got the new girl pregnant. And that started the looks. Sure there were still many nice people that treated them well, but that didn't hide the fact there were many other people, especially other parents, who would glare at them and whisper behind their backs.
"Psch, pricks," Tatsuki snapped as they passed by some parents who were keeping their kids away from them.
Ichigo's eyebrows enclosed closer together though he didn't say anything.
When someone whispered about the ugly baby born between two stupid teenagers, Renji almost lost it. "Want me to shut them up for you?" he nudged the ticking orange head.
But Rukia stepped in. "Don't even think about it, both of you," she glared at Ichigo and Renji.
Tatsuki's hands clenched into tight fists. "But they're totally asking for it."
"But there's no reason to stoop so low as to prove them right by reacting the way you guys want to," Rukia chided as she held the baby tighter. Her eyes turned up to one side as she looked at the man next to her. "Right, Ichigo?"
"Che," he snorted.
They reached the twins before anything could happen. Rukia immediately put on a smile. "Karin you did great!"
The said girl looked up with a twinkle in her eyes that only appears after a satisfying game. "Did you see me put in that last goal, Rukia-nee?"
Rukia nodded. "You totally nailed them."
"Karin-chan! Let's talk later and eat first. I'm really hungry!" Yuzu grabbed some of the boxes her brother was holding. She quickly led them over to a more secluded area of the school grounds so they could all sit together and eat. "How come the others aren't here?"
"Some of them will be here later," Tatsuki told her before turning to Karin. "So where did you learn that last move?"
She grinned back as she relayed to her how she practiced the kick after seeing one of her favorite soccer players perform it on T.V. "—And I was able to actual hit the ball just last week. I had to get Ichi-nii to help me out after that."
"Man, you're really amazing," Renji patted her on the head.
"'Zing!" Takeshi threw his arms in the air.
Karin grinned as she grabbed her nephew and held him. "Thanks, kiddo. When you grow up, I'll teach you the move, okay?"
The baby just giggled in response.
"Karin-chan! Yuzu-chan!"
The twins simultaneously looked up to see one of their friends running up to them. "Hi, Riko-chan."
The girl, Riko, came to a stop before them and grinned. "Is this Takeshi-kun?" she asked as she kneeled in front of the baby.
"Yup," Karin lifted him up higher so her friend could get a better look at him.
"He's so cute!" Riko squealed as she grabbed the chubby hand.
Yuzu also neared the baby to poke his cheek. "Takeshi-kun, can you say hi?"
The baby continued laughing—loving all the attention—before saying, "Hi!"
"Aw! Kawaii!" Yuzu and Riko squealed.
Rukia laughed as her baby started clapping. "He's really a ladies' man."
"That's because he doesn't look like him," Renji pointed at Ichigo who was glaring at him.
Riko looked up at hearing their voices before bowing at the people in front of her. "Hello. My name is Riko."
"Nice to meet you," Rukia smiled, "How do you know the girls? I don't think you guys are in the same class."
The girl nodded. "We were in the same class back in elementary school and we often eat lunch together."
"Well, come over and visit them at our place once in a while," Ichigo said, "These girls barely go out."
"Really? I'd really like to visit your house and play with Takeshi-kun!"
"Sounds like a plan."
"Yay!" she squealed as she and the twins immediately started planning a sleepover.
"Riko!"
The said girl turned around to see her parents approaching them. Waving her hand, she shouted out to them, "Okachan! Otousan! This is Karin and Yuzu. And Takeshi-kun, the one I've been telling you about!"
Suddenly their faces paled as they quickly grabbed their daughter and started to drag her away. "Riko! I told you not to go near them!"
"But why?" she frowned.
"Because!" her mother snapped at her, "They're bad company!"
Ichigo's eyes narrowed into a deadly glare, already knowing what these people meant by that. By now, everyone was staring at them and that was just fueling the fire. But he didn't do anything else but clench his fists, knowing Rukia wouldn't want him to do anything. But that didn't stop his sister.
"What does that suppose to mean?" Karin gave them the similar glare Ichigo was giving them.
Riko's parents looked at her and snorted. "Where did you learn such horrible behavior? Don't you glare at an adult like that. And don't cut into our conversation."
"Don't bother," Riko's father told his wife, "I think rudeness runs in the family. After all, there are so much horrible people in that house," he said while looking at Ichigo.
"Hey!" Karin shouted at him before handing Takeshi to Yuzu. "Take that back!"
The mother scoffed at her reaction. "You're talking like we're wrong."
"You are! You don't know anything about our family!"
The father shook his head as if pitying them. "Such a respectable family that fell so much in society. And all because of the doctor's son and his young girlfriend." He looked down at Rukia, eyeing her like a piece of candy. "And I thought Tokyo raised smart women, not sluts."
In a blink of an eye, Ichigo was up on his feet and holding onto the collar of the father. The older man let out a small strangled cry and his wife gasped in surprise. Ichigo glared daggers into him as he growled, "Take that back, old man."
"Ichigo!" Rukia jumped up to hold him back.
"Let go," Riko's father tried to push Ichigo's hold away but it didn't budge. "Let go before I call the police!"
"Sure, go ahead, but by the time they get here there won't be anything left of you."
"Ichigo," Rukia pulled his arm, "Let go. Don't cause any more trouble! We're at a school and the children are looking!"
With a low growl, Ichigo shoved the man away, who landed on his ass. His wife rushed to him and helped him up. "You talk all high and mighty by talking shit about people younger than you when in reality that just makes you look lower than shit. Do you really think that's going to look well to your kids?"
"Why you—" the father lost his sentence when Renji and Tatsuki stood up to stand next to their friend. He bit his lip as he glared and pointed an accusing finger at them. "I'm going to have a talk with your school to make sure they expel delinquents like you! I don't want people like you near my children!"
"You talk as if they're caring some sick disease when its people like you who are sick in your way of thinking things," Karin said as she stood next to her brother. "I thought adults are supposes to be smarter than that." She immediately got a high-five from Tatsuki and Renji as they came to stand next to her too.
The two parents were about to retort, but stopped when their daughter tugged on their arms. "Stop talking bad about my friends and their family! And people are staring! It's embarrassing!"
At her words, the parents finally looked around to notice that most of the people were giving them a weird stare instead of at the young parents they were targeting. Clearing his throat, the father tugged on his collar to fix it. "Riko! Let's go!" He turned around and quickly dragged his wife away.
The others watched as the couple, who suddenly started bickering, disappear behind the school building, probably to hide from all the stares. Karin looked back at her friend and smirked. "Thanks for standing up for us."
Riko shook her head as she smiled. "I'm really sorry about my parents. They don't know what they're talking about."
Yuzu stood up with Takeshi and approached her friend. "I hope this doesn't affect our sleepover."
"No way! I'm coming over next weekend so get ready," she grinned.
Ichigo smirked as he patted her on the head. "Thanks a lot. I'll make sure to buy you guys a treat when you come over."
At his words, the grin widened as did the sparkle in her eyes. "Really? Can we have some ice creams?"
"I'll make sure to buy buckets of your favorite ice cream," Rukia added.
She cheered as she and the twins started to list their favorite flavors as the others went back to their seats.
"Man, that was dramatic," Renji sighed, "This is probably the tenth time something like this happened."
"And again, thanks for standing up for us man," Ichigo lightly knocked him on the shoulder. He then looked over at Rukia who was smiling at the girls and their baby in between them. "Hey," he nudged her shoulder with his own. "You okay?"
Rukia looked up at him before nodding. She leaned over to rest her head on his shoulder. He immediately wrapped an arm around her body and held her close as he listened to the long list of the cool dessert being read off and his two other friends boasting about the last time they fought with a group of high school-dropouts.
"Ichigo?"
"Yeah?"
Rukia snuggled deeper in his embrace. "I'm really happy."
He smiled as he placed a kiss on top of her head. "Me too."
A/N: Like many other countries, Japan has a Sport Day from elementary to high schools. I just wanted to include a scene where Ichigo and Rukia encounter more people on the issue of having kids really young. I decided to write about the twin's sport day instead of Ichigo's by random.
Just in case anyone is skeptically of the talking ability of a baby, I have babysat kids ranging from one year old to ten years old almost my entire life, and trust me, some one year old can say simple words. It's really amazing. And in this chapter Takeshi is over a year old (lots of time passed since the previous chapter). In fact, let's say he's around fifteen months.
This was a hard chapter for me to write (due to the reasons I have stated at top) but I also felt necessary to include this. Ichigo and Rukia are more than proud to show off their child. At first, they were met with weird and cautious stares but at the end other parents were able to ignore it as they all helped in staring down Riko's parents after their little show. This was to show that over time people started getting used to this couple and realize that they're no different from before. I don't know if I portrayed it right but that was what I was aiming for.
Thanks for reading and please review!
Preview for next time:
A few years later...Ichigo and Rukia thinking about their future...?
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