reesen555 - Just as I was wondering where you disappeared to because I know you would always review. :3 Yeah, Fanfiction is being a shit these few days. T_T I finally realized I couldn't stand Rukia anymore and made a slight change to Rukia. I hope it doesn't throw the story off balance though. I will see how the readers taken it when receiving reviews. XD P.S: Yup, 'Marco' is a typo. I apologize for that but I have no way of correcting it since I deleted my Document for that particular chapter. Any ideas what to do? T_T

Disclaimer: I neither own Bleach nor its characters. :3

I'm almost there.

Shoot. I'm being held up at the restaurant. Sorry.

Some distance away from the hospital as she had gotten the messages, Rukia was considerably upset. Despite knowing that she couldn't fault Shuuhei and Yumichika from how they had been working the past few months, despite knowing that she couldn't possibly be mad ar Shuuhei for prioritizing the restaurant, it had always been hard seeing Ukitake in the hospital, let alone when Rukia had to see him all alone, without her Brothers supporting her both physically and mentally. After fixing Ichigo's car yesterday, she had been inside her room, ordering take-out and watching some TV out of boredom. Yet, she hadn't seen Ichigo even once, not even to the point where she had left the house in the morning. Rukia figured she could have gotten a chauffeured ride if she had wanted but seeing that it was such a short distance, using the shiny black card that Isshin had given her seemed pointless. Early afternoon by now and as Rukia walked through the hospital doors, she was instantly hit with that distinct hospital smell - a mix of antiseptic and sorrow, that is. Following the signs in the hallway down a corridor, passing through another set of doors, Rukia approached the desk. "Hello." Rukia smiled, hoping that her tone of voice had sounded cheery or optimistic. "I'm here to visit Otou-San. Ukitake Tachibana."

"Ah, Ukitake. What a sweetheart. He's in 820. Follow this hallway down..." The nurse started directing Rukia. "...All the way until you can turn right. He's the first door on the right."

"Thank You."

As Rukia began to leave, the nurse's words had her halting his steps. "He's doing great and he's a fighter."

Smiling at the direction of the nurses, she proceeded down the hallway once more. Each step as heavy as a giant, she prepared herself mentally for the worst. Reaching the door, she opened it and took a peek in. Despite mentally prepared, she had felt colour drain from her face almost instantly. Ukitake had looked even more pale from the last time she had saw him in the hospital. His eyes closed, his body connected to so many wires that Rukia couldn't differentiate one from the other. Taking a moment to calm herself down, she walked in. "Otou-San?"

Eyes fluttering for a second before tilting his head slightly, just enough to have a look at Rukia, the faintest smile appeared on Ukitake's face. "There's my girl."

Rukia could cry right there and then hearing Ukitake's hoarse voice but she simply walked over to him and wrapped her arms gingerly around him. "Hi. How are you doing?"

"Me? I'm just dandy." Rukia forced her gaze to remain on Ukitake. "Tell me about you. But, before you do, can you fetch me a drink? Something strong?"

Rukia shook her head, smiling, before taking a glass of water for Ukitake. Alas, Ukitake's hands were shaking so badly that Rukia had held the glass to hips, assisting him to drink. "The nurse says you are a fighter."

Ukitake sighed. "It was only one time. And he started it." Rukia giggled and knew that if Ukitake was still cracking jokes, he must be okay, right? A knock resounded and Rukia turned to the direction of the knock. "Dr. Ryuken."

"Hey, big guy." Ryuken stepped I to the room and took a look at Rukia. "You got the ladies visiting you already?"

"Only my daughter."

Knowing that was her cue, Rukia stood up, offering her hand. "Rukia Tachibana."

Taking the hand offered to him, Ryuken smiled. "Ryuken Ishida. I have been on your Dad's case since he turned back up here." Rukia nodded. "He's an icon around these halls, Rukia. He has this superpower where he can rile up just anyone and he always gets his chips the minute he asks for them."

Rukia gave Ukitake a look before smiling and facing Ryuken. "Sounds like him."

Bending down to check Ukitake's vitals and temperature, he regarded Rukia. "Can I talk to you outside for a moment, Rukia?"

Fear gripped her but she nodded. "Sure." Bidding a goodbye to Ukitake, she stepped out of the hospital room with Ryuken.

"She's my daughter! No touching!"

Rukia shook her head mentally with a blush on her cheeks. She was glad to know that Ukitake, against all odds, still had the energy to joke around. As soon as Ryuken shut the door to Ukitake's room and walked Rukia further down the hallway, Rukia instantly knew that there was something up. Ryuken's face had changed, no longer the carefree and easygoing person he was back in the hospital room with Ukitake. Instead, his gaze was darker. "Rukia, I just want to make sure that you are up to date with everything on your Tou-San. Your Brothers were here last night but there have been a few more changes." Rukia nodded. "You know we took him out of coma yesterday and he has been responding well. But, he's not eating by himself yet and the ALS... It's progressing. Rapidly. We could try and fight each of the symptoms individually but the efforts would be shallow rather than preventative. There's no way of stopping them from coming back, or worsening. So, the typical next step... It's to make sure he's as comfortable as possible." What Dr. Ryuken was suggesting, it was reminding Rukia of the conversation what both Shuuhei and Yumichika have had before she had met up with Isshin. Giving up. Seeing her downcast expression, Ryuken continued speaking. "But, there's something I want to bring up to you, a trial treatment. Combination of a pill and daily rehabilitation practices, all of which could be done here. There isn't any precedence for this treatment though, Rukia. I want you to understand there are risks, it's not even on the market yet."

"So... You are basically telling me, it's either the untested treatment or... Nothing?"

Ryuken looked down at Rukia, gaze full of pity but nodded nevertheless. "It's a hard decision. I hadn't mentioned it to your Brothers last night because I wanted to see what the first 24 hours out of the coma would be like for him. Therefore, I would recommend the 3 of you talk about this. Really talk about this, based on what you are comfortable with." Rukia nodded again. She knew that, if Ryuken had told Shuuhei and Yumichika his suggestion, they would figure out what was the right decision. "Oh, and Rukia?"

"Yes?"

"Because the trial treatment is just so new, it comes with a pretty big price tag." Rukia bit her lips as Ryuken took the cue to continue. "If it works, it's something that Ukitake could be on for upwards of a year. At the moment, because it doesn't qualify for insurance, the pill and the rehab are coming about 1K a day."

Rukia lowered her gaze to the ground before hardening her eyes. She couldn't believe that a pill made for treatment would have costed 1K a day but as her mind reminded herself the existence of Ichigo and Isshin, she knew there was still hope.

By the time Rukia had gotten back home, it was considered midnight. Not wanting to leave Ukitake that soon, Rukia had delayed her timing of coming back. As she rode the elevator up to her floor, she heard the loudest music ever pulsating through the walls. As the door finally open, music pierced through her eardrums but Rukia took no notice of it as she proceeded back to her room. Suddenly, the music stop abruptly and Rukia turned to see Ichigo. He had obviously been partying and having a great time in the afternoon, Rukia assumed. "There's my wife."

"Kurosaki." Out of habit, Rukia had wanted to keep her distance from Ichigo yet Ryuken's words rang through her mind. Would it be best to ask Ichigo first so he wouldn't define her a 'Gold-digging slut' for asking Isshin about this request? Ichigo is obviously drunk, would he have a heart for once? As Ichigo stumbled through the kitchen and poured himself a glass, Rukia followed him and stood on the opposite side of him. "Hey, there's something I wanted to ask you."

Ichigo's expression was an expression of annoyance. "What?"

"Tou-San... He's..."

"Too much talking involved."

"If you would just let me explain --"

"SHUT. UP." Rukia flinched at the tone of voice Ichigo used. "How much clearer do I have to be? People are always talking to me. Always talking and I just want silence." Rukia sighed before heading back to her room. "Hey!" Ichigo had called out but Rukia ignored Ichigo. For someone who had refused to hear her out, she didn't have to stop for him as well. Soon after that, Ichigo began running after her and Rukia felt a hand on her elbow, pushing against the wall. "Hey." His tone was softer, as if trying to flirt. "You are my wife, you know that?"

"I know that, Kurosaki. Your point?"

"So, don't walk away from me." With that, he leaned his face closer to Rukia's.

"Okay." Rukia simply replied and tried to wiggle away from Ichigo's grasp on her.

"You know, wives are supposed to do things for their husbands." Rukia gazed at Ichigo, hatred flowing through them. "To perform." Rukia could smell the alcohol practically.

Alarm bells rung inside Rukia's head and she successfully forced her way out of his grip this time. "I'm going to bed."

Smashing the wine bottle onto the wall, causing Rukia to gaze back at him. Giving Rukia the eeriest smile, he spoke. "You are gonna learn to do what you are FUCKING TOLD. You live here. You live off me. You are gonna learn to make yourself useful."

Ichigo stepped towards Rukia, eyes roaming her body. Rukia stepped back, knowing that Ichigo was imagining what laid underneath those clothes. "Kurosaki, stop." Rukia's voice took on a firm tone.

"You are a gold-digging slut." Once again, it was that comment that made Rukia hate Ichigo. "You should start acting like it." Rukia flinched and taking the opportunity at Rukia's flinch, Ichigo's hands were on Rukia's shoulders, running through her hair.

"You are drunk, Kurosaki." For some reasons unknown to Rukia, it froze Ichigo and taking this chance, Rukia made a run for it, searching for her room. Not far away, her gaze stopped at Momo who was walking towards her.

Noticing the fear and the pain that was in Rukia's gaze, she grabbed Rukia's hand. "I will take care of it."

Back in her room, Rukia took a few deep breath, her lungs slowly refilling with air. Laying in her bed, her mind was filled with images of Ukitake lying in the hospital bed, the untested trial treatment, a drunk Ichigo before closing her eyes, intending fully to forget the cursed incident that had happened only moments ago.

Short chapter but if I combined 2 into 1, it would lose the effects of Ichigo's action towards Rukia. Thoughts, people? Looks like things are really heating up! .