"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Rukia's pulse quickened. She was thankful for the rain; it hid her own tears. For so long, he had been a rock for her. She was so certain that no matter how she crumbled in these past 17 months (and there had been severe crumbling, despite her new rank), that he would always remain standing tall and proud and... Oh.
Broken.
New tears burned her eyes. Her hands shook, reminding her that in one was the key to ending this misery. With all her strength, she thrust it through his heart.
"That's how it is... Dad... Ura-ara-san..." he choked.
"Idiot," she spoke with Isshin, though was fairly certain he only heard the man. "Look carefully," he continued. "You should be able to see who is holding that sword now."
She watched as Ichigo craned his neck further to look behind himself. Confusion flickered a moment, then blink... blink... Realization crossed his face just before the light physically signifying the return of his ablities englufed him.
Rukia smiled, withdrawing the sword. "There there now, Ichigo," she spoke softly so the men alongside her didn't hear. "All better now. No more tears."
He was so getting a kick in the face for that behavior.