Ichigo jumped out of his skin and back into reality.

What the hell? He thought to himself, panting hard. He looked around the room. Everything was normal. Orihime was sleepy softly beside him. He could hear Yoi's soft exhales through the baby monitor. Everything was fine.

But Ichigo.

He rested his head on his hand and shook it. He was dreaming about her again. The dreams would be so vivid. So real.

Time to take a cold shower.

Ichigo removed his shirt and he got out the bed and slowly made his way for the bathroom. He set the shower temperature to more of a lukewarm instead of straight cold. Just enough to wake him up without giving him a cold. Just enough to help him try to get Rukia out of his mind.

"Damn," Ichigo muttered to himself.

"Is everything alright Ichi?" The shower curtains pulled back to reveal Orihime, clad in only her night robe.

"I'm fine Hime. Just a little aggravated by these dreams," Ichigo said, placing his hand in his hair.

Orihime removed her robe and joined Ichigo in the shower. "I can tell that you're not necessarily okay. So I'm only here to help you feel a little better. Because I know my Ichigo. And I know my Ichigo doesn't take showers in the middle of the night for just any type of dream." Orihime moves closer to Ichigo and presses her body against his. She stares lovingly into his eyes and pulls his head down for a kiss. They kiss passionately, like two star-crossed lovers and when Ichigo breaks the kiss to look back down at Orihime, he freezes.

Instead of Orihime standing in front him, it was Rukia. She jumps into his arms and kisses him with a force of wanting that it crushed him.

Ichigo shook his head and Orihime was standing back in front of him.

Damn Rukia.

"I can't do this tonight Hime," Ichigo said turning off the water.

"I understand," Orihime responded. Together they dried off and headed back to bed. Ichigo felt bad for turning his wife away. But…

He had no explanation.

Ichigo pulled Orihime against him and fell asleep with his face buried in her neck. In the back of his mind, he hoped that maybe this would help a little to get Rukia out of his system.

-P-

Isshin Kurosaki knew when something wasn't right with his son. He knew the moment he stepped through his office door that something was amiss. And he had a good idea to what was bothering Ichigo.

"It's about that time of the year again isn't it?" Ichigo looked at Isshin startled.

"What are you talking about?" Ichigo asked, sitting down in a chair in front of Isshin's desk.

"How can anyone forget what happened five years ago between you and Rukia? It's almost the anniversary of that fateful night. She's been on your mind, hasn't she?" Isshin asked. He closed his door, locking it. He knew that this was a private conversation that he needed to have. Right now wasn't the time for eavesdroppers.

"Dad, I don't want to have this conversation right now."

"Then why else did you come down here?" Ichigo's mind woke up on that question. Maybe somewhere deep down, he hoped that maybe talking about this with his father would help him to get over it all. Rukia included.

"To say hi maybe?" Ichigo leaned back in the chair as if he owned it.

"Ok then. How is my daughter-in-law? How is my granddaughter?"

"Orihime is doing just fine. And Yoi is great too, she's finally trying to walk now," Ichigo said with a smile.

"I must come by soon to see my precious Yoi. She looks just your mother to me, you know?" Isshin said, taking a picture off his desk which happened to be the latest one he had of Yoi.

"Yeah, I've noticed." Ichigo closed his eyes and thought about his Yoi. His world really changed when he had a daughter. He began to somewhat understand Byakuya's rash decision those odd years ago. Still hated it. But it was understandable.

"I'm sure Rukia thinks of you just as much as you think of her," Isshin said to cheer Ichigo up.

"But I don't want her to just think of me. I want her to be with me." Ichigo gave his father no time to talk. He abruptly stood up and walked out the door. Isshin shook his head.

"I knew it was something along those lines." Isshin stood up from his desk and placed his medical jacket back on. He grabbed a piece of candy and headed out the door to see his next patient.