She needed to realize that she couldn't do all the things she did before.

Following Renji as he leapt to the ground, Ichigo dropped down in front of the gate to the Kuchiki family manor. Servants threw open the large hinged gate immediately, allowing them both through without question while even more servants held the manor's doors wide. Slowing to a more decorous pace, but still moving at a quick clip, Renji led the way inside with Ichigo fast on his heels.

Pausing only long enough to rip his waraji from his feet, Renji left Ichigo behind in the entry and moved through a number of familiar reception rooms before heading to the back wing. "Rukia, where are you?" he called out with his hands cupped around his mouth, wishinghe'd paid more attention to which room Captain Unohana prepared for the birth.

A door halfway down the hall opened with a clack and the sound of someone breathing heavily and rhythmically reached his ears. Renji strode down the corridor like a man condemned, sweating profusely. Byakuya stepped out into the hall, looking pale and uncharacteristically strained. With a glare that promised a painful death, he pointed Renji into the room he just exited.

Stepping around his brother-in-law hesitantly and skirting the box dropped on its side just outside the door, Renji brightened considerably when he saw his wife sitting up bed. "It's about time you showed up, you jackass." Rukia exclaimed with a sob as tears threatened to spill down her red flushed cheeks.

Going from worried to irritated in