They all sat in the dining room, eating quietly.
Everyone but Rukia.
"Should I go get her?" Momo pouted from the seat.
The other three looked over at her.
"We should let her rest," Renji answered, taking another spoon full of rice.
"Kaien's back." Rangiku murmured and the others looked her way.
Ichigo didn't.
"He called," Rangiku continued.
Ichigo still didn't look her way.
"He said he wants to talk to Rukia," she looked over at Ichigo "But I hung up."
"That bastard." Renji cursed.
Ichigo got up.
Why every time he tries to forget that man, his name comes up?
He hates him.
Or was he just jealous of him?
"Ichigo?" Momo sounded worried as he walked out.
Ichigo held on to the door knob for a minute.
Soon, Rukia's bandage will be removed.
And he wouldn't be 'Kaien' anymore.
Everything will go back to normal.
Maybe.
"Kaien?" her face lit up when he opened the door.
He hated that.
"Ichigo?" the whisper came from his door.
He turned his head.
Rukia was standing there.
"What's wrong?" he quickly got up.
Rukia sighed, closing the door behind her.
"Is something wrong?"
He was standing in front of Rukia now.
She looked up "I want to talk to Kaien."
Ichigo's heart broke in two.
Why!
"Why?" he said as calmly as he could.
"I want to finish it, once and for all," she embraced him from the waist, her sobbing slowly taking over "With you there."
Ichigo held on to Rukia.
Her sleeping form in his arms.
She should always be in his arms.
He moved some stray hair from her face, relieving what he thought was beautiful.
"I love you." He said, knowing she didn't hear it.
Those were the first words he said to her in weeks.
"She's going to what!" Rangiku yelled from the couch, Renji covering his ringing ears.
"She wants to talk to him," he repeated, noticing Renji nobbing his head no.
"And you're letting her?"Renji had a serious face.
"Why wouldn't I?"
Rangikui bit her lip.
"Why do you act like Kaien can be the only man she will every love?" her question made Ichigo sigh "You can be the man she loves Ichigo."
"She loves another." He murmured before walking to the door.
"But you can make her fall for you, idiot." Renji sighed. "Try to be the one."
He can never be the one.
At least not the one she really loves.
"Rukia?" Ichigo walked into her room in their house.
She was going to stay with them as long as she needed.
"Yea?" she answered from the bed.
She was sitting there.
"You alright?"
"Of course I am." She forced a smile.
It hurts.
She tired getting off the bed.
Her legs couldn't support her and she nearly fell.
Ichigo quickly got over there and caught her.
But lost his balance.
They were both on the floor.
She on top of him.
And he began to hear sobbing.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, her arms around his neck as they laid on the floor.
"Kaien…" she began sobbing.
That hurts.
He shut his eyes tight, hoping no tears will escape.
Hoping she wouldn't see it.
"What are you doing here?" Kaien frowned when he opened his door and saw Ichigo.
"Rukia wants to talk to you." He had to force it out.
Literally.
"Rukia?" he raised a brow, noticing her standing behind him.
Holding his hand.
"Rukia." He smiled down at her.
Ichigo felt her grip on his hand tighten.
And she was shaking a bit.
"Come in, Rukia."
"You'll be out of those bandages by tonight." The doctor spoke happily to Rukia, her smile couldn't get any bigger.
"Did you hear that!" she started jumping on her knees in bed.
Ichigo smiled.
He was happy.
"It's almost over Kaien!"
Ichigo still smiled.
He was being 'her' Kaien.
But he was frowning on the inside.
He wouldn't be able to spend time with her anymore.
Fall even more in love with her anymore.
"Will you be here tomorrow, Kaien-san?" she smiled at Ichigo.
She knew full well he'll be here.
He nobbed.
Just not as Kaien anymore.
"Are you two a couple now?" Kaien sounded a bit angry.
They were holding hands across the table from him.
She was holding his hand.
"We didn't come here to talk about that," Rukia spoke so firmly, not cracking once "I came here to let you sign our divorce papers."
"Are you really leaving me for him?" he asked, his eyes locked on Rukia's. "I love you, Rukia."
A lie.
"Can you s-sign here." she began whipping her eyes with her free hand.
She was going to cry.
"You're a cheater," he started accusing, snatching the paper from her hand.
Ichigo tried to get up, but Rukia stopped him by not letting go of his hand.
"You cheated on me with him, didn't you? You will tell me about the nights I will stay with you, but I never visited you." His words stung.
Rukia began sobbing next to him.
"You cheater." Her signed and slammed the pen on the table. "A dirty cheater that can't tell two men apart."
He walked over to the door "You know what those types of women are called?" Ichigo got up that time, ignoring Rukia's crying plead to sit back down.
"Shut the fuck up!" Ichigo yelled, walking over to Kaien's face.
"A whore."
There, Ichigo had it.
Next thing you knew, Kaien and Ichigo where on the floor punching each other, Rukia crying as she tried to separate them herself, screaming for help.
"I love you, Rukia." Ichigo kissed her forehead as he watched her fall asleep.
For the last time at least.
Her bandages were off and she was tired.
She slept right after they took it off, the doctor claiming the light can hurt her eyes.
"Here." Rukia passed him another pack of ice for his swollen cheek. Their fight left both of them bruised and with a police warning.
"Thanks." He murmured, taking the pack.
They were in his room alone with a flickering candle as their only source of light.
She will try.
She leaned in and kissed him.
He looked at her.
She will try.