"Where's she going? Should we go with her?" Ashido asked as he nervously watched Karakura fade as the gates of Seinkamon closed behind them.

Renji raised his hand, dismissively, "Nah, she'll be fine." He continued walking toward the bright light that lay ahead of them.

The slight depression in his tone grabbed Ashido's attention. The new shinigami angled his head questioningly; his curiosity was piqued. Renji's voice was burdened by an unspoken sadness. It was faint, but Ashido was sure it was there.

"Is...something wrong with Rukia?" He carefully monitored the captain's expression from the corner of his eye.

The red-head paused, as if thinking about his answer. "You ask a lot of questions! I should dock you for being a disrespectful subordinate," he grumbled.

"Dock me? Y-you aren't serious—are you?" Ashido asked incredulously. What had he done wrong? He was merely concerned!

Renji stroked his chin. "Nah," he smiled mischievously. "I just always wanted to say that." He shrugged, his laughter relieving Ashido of any worries about their missing companion.

"So..you are positive she will be fine, then?" he inquired warily.

"Yep! She'll be fine. She just has some…business..to, er, take care of," he superficially explained.

"Business?" Ashido repeated softly.

Renji nodded, closing his eyes. His face was a canvas of emotion. Ashido didn't quite understand the meaning behind his expression, but he trusted Renji's opinion when it came to Rukia.

"Something she should have done a long time ago," the red haired captain whispered. They stood in silence for a few moments, as Ashido studied Renji's reaction. He didn't quite know what Renji was referring to, but he understood the context of his words.

Seconds passed before Renji opened his eyes—they were the same familiar eyes that Ashido had come to know. It was his face that was different. Instead of its usual brooding expression, it was brightened by a new-found resolution. It was as if he hadcome to some silent conclusion before Ashido's eyes. This new Renji, he seemed lighter—as if some unknown weight had been lifted from his shoulders.

Ashido smiled his understanding of Renji's ease--though he couldn't truly comprehend his new friend's feelings. Regardless, he patted his companion on the shoulder, "Let's get a drink," he offered.

Renji smiled, "Good idea. Best you've had since your arrival."

The two men chuckled in unison, as the reason behind Rukia's flight faded into a distant memory.

Isshin pushed his glasses onto his forehead, squeezing the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. He was getting a major headache from all of the paperwork that had been piling up these past few days. The clinic was busier than it had ever been, mainly due to new school district protocols in regards to necessary vaccinations for the students. Parents were flooding his answering machine, frantically trying to find time to bring in their children for the required check ups. While it led to a major increase in income for the Kurosaki Clinic, it also translated into a major headache for the only medical expert on staff.

It was days like these that made him rethink why he chose to become a physician. Because you were one in you former life! he reminded himself. He groaned, spreading his two fingers apart, so that they pressed against his closed eyelids. He gently massaged his temples.

"Oh, what a life I have chosen for myself!" he whimpered. He was just too busy to find time to relax! And, right now, relaxing would be welcome. He was thankful for Ichigo's help around the clinic, but he knew that there was an ulterior motive driving his son to become this helpful. It wasn't like the eldest Kurosaki child to actually agree to spend time with his father, so Isshin had a hunch that it had something to do with a certain raven-haired shinigami.

"How long are you going to watch me? It's becoming creepy!" he called out to the empty room. He extended his neck, stretching his sore muscles.

Suddenly, the slender frame of a young woman appeared through the wall behind Isshin's desk. "I thought I was suppressing my reiatsu enough," she complained.

"You were, for anyone else. But not for a Captain-level shinigami like myself," he smirked. "Oh, shit, I lost my glasses," he muttered, as he began looking around his desk.

"On your head, Gramps," Rukia replied.

"Oh, yeah. Thanks, Rukia-chan!" he chirped. His eyes scanned over her, looking to confirm his suspicions. Yup, she looks like shit, he thought to himself as he suppressed a smirk. She had dark rings under her eyes, and she seemed to have lost weight. "What's got you so down?" he asked, concern in his voice.

"Nothing," she replied quickly. She collapsed into a chair next to his desk.

"Does it have something to do with one of my offspring? Particularly one that is not Karin or Yuzu," he added. He rested his chin on his interlaced fingers, looking at her expectantly.

"Don't start," Rukia glared fiercely. "I'm not in the mood."

"Neither am I," he waved his hand. "This paperwork has made me miserable." He gestured to the papers littering his desk. Rukia followed the paper trail as it led her over his desk and around the floor.

"I can see that. You have a lot of it," she commented.

"So nice of you to notice, Rukia-chan!" he smiled sweetly. "So what brings you here, in the middle of the night? And without visiting my son, no less?"

Rukia met his inquiring stare. She knew he had some idea that there had been a falling out between the two youngsters. But, he had enough respect to wait for her to share that information with him. She sighed in defeat, "It's a mess. A real mess. And it's all my fault!" She covered her face with her hands, as she rested her elbows on her knees. She hadn't expected to blurt her feelings so readily.

Isshin stood, weaving through his mountain of paperwork. He placed a knowing hand on Rukia's back. He could feel her body shaking with silent sobs. "Now, now," he cooed. "Don't cry. I'm sure whatever it is, you two will get through it. He loves you, you know." He hadn't realized he had said those words so easily. It rolled off of his tongue--leaving him without a doubt in his mind. Ichigo truly loved her.

Rukia looked up at him, her eyes glistening with tears. "He did! Until I turned him down. I...I broke his heart! I could see it in his eyes!" she sobbed into her hands, partly angry at her sudden change in mood.

Isshin kneeled. "It's a bitch to be in love," he murmured, remembering his own tearful nights nearly two decades earlier. "But, I can see that he still cares. It's how he is. He bottles it up, until he can't take it anymore. Then it spills out. He picks up the pieces and bottles it back up. But, I'm his father, and he can't hide it from me. I can see it. Part of him is always with you, and if you are not there, he is always incomplete." He paused, hoping his words reached her. "I'm assuming he professed his undying love for you, in a foolishly inappropriate manner?" He heard Rukia's sharp intake of breath, and he knew his intuition had led him to the right conclusion.

With her face still covered by her slender fingers, she nodded. Her hair fell over her shoulders in glistening black waves. He grinned, knowingly "It's a Kurosaki curse, I think. I told you before," he said thoughtfully, "Masaki turned me down the first ten times I professed my feelings for her."

"Ten times?" Rukia asked, her damp eyes wide with amazement as she peeked at him through her fingers.

Isshin shrugged, "Ten. Twenty. Eh, it's all the same."

Rukia slowly smiled, already feeling better from his words of encouragement. "Thank you," she whispered as he handed her a handkerchief. She dabbed her eyes, letting out the last of the few sobs she held inside her tiny frame. Her lower lip trembled.

"So, what can I do for you today? Need a check up? I'll tell you now, I'm gonna have to charge you. Maybe make you help me with all of this," he waved to the paperwork that spread across most of his workspace. He walked back to his chair, collapsing into its plushness.

Rukia chewed her bottom lip. Should she ask him? The question was becoming louder in her head, her inner voice tempting her to speak the words. It was the same question that had been nagging in the back of her consciousness since she left Renji and Ashido at the gates to Soul Society. She had made a flighty connection between Ashido's short speech and the doctor . But, in the back of her mind, she was waiting for that connection. It was the push that she needed to be more pro-active with her emotions. If this was how she would have to do it, then so be it.

Why couldn't she just talk to Ichigo? She had wondered that—sometimes aloud—many times during these past few weeks. Not one minute passed that the young man did not occupy her thoughts. Even after weeks apart, she couldn't push the repressed feelings from her mind. Her entire being ached to tell him how she felt. And yet, here she was, in the clinic adjacent to his house, trying to spill the words from her mouth. Trying to get his father to give her the confidence to express her feelings. She was a fool, and she knew it!

You have to do this! she urged herself. She took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she did so. "How…how did you do it?" she asked hesitantly. Her body collapsed in relief. She had spoken the words she had been dying to ask. It was her first step in a series of steps to repair the bridge she had burned.

Isshin studied her for a few moments. He didn't need to ask her for clarification; he knew what she meant. He had been waiting for the day when she would come to him and ask that very question. How had he become human again? How had he left his shinigami duties behind to be with the person he loved—when that person was a human?

"I begged," he admitted casually.

Rukia waited. And waited. Isshin blinked back at her. "Is…is that it?" she asked, confused.

"Yep," he said, folding his arms across his chest as he leaned back in his chair.

"What? That's it?" she scoffed. "You've got to be kidding me!"

"Well, that's most of it," he admitted. "I practically had begged The General to let me relinquish my powers. And, as hot-headed as he is, he does have a soft-heart. More like a cuddly teddy bear, if you ask me."

Rukia chuckled as Isshin grinned. His smile quickly faded as he remembered his private meeting with Yamamoto. It had been almost twenty years earlier, when he was a devoted captain. He had been one of the best of the Gotei Thirteen—a favorite of the First Division's Captain. It was that fact that allowed him to so easily slip out of Seretei. He had quickly and quietly left his former life behind, excited about his new life with Masaki. He never even looked back.

"It was difficult," he began, his eyes slightly losing their focus, as he remembered a life that had been lost, long ago. "Leaving my friends…my family. It wasn't an easy decision," he blinked, his eyes focusing on Rukia's pale face, "but we do strange thing when we are in love."

Something about the way he said it made Rukia's face flush pink. Had he known about what occurred between her and Icihgo? Was he referring to that? No, she decided, Ichigo wouldn't have shared that with him. She nodded her understanding as Isshin sat in silence for a few moments, contemplating his past. It had been a difficult decision, and he hadn't made it lightly. Masaki was worth everything to him and he was willing to give it all up for her. She had never asked him for it, even after he had revealed his true identity to her. She hadn't even batted an eyelash when he told her the ridiculous story. Instead, she simply threw her arms around his shoulders and cried for him. She had even admitted that she suspected something different about him, which led her to reject his courtship for so long.

Rukia interrupted his fond thoughts, "So…so you just left? And they let you?"

Isshin shook his head. "No, of course not. I was exiled," he simply stated. "I had overstayed my welcome in the living world, which is considered a 'second life' by some. Therefore, Yamamoto was left with no other option than to strip me of my powers and send me packing! It was easy for him, since he was the one who told me about law. If a shinigami spends too much time in the real world, they are exiled as punishment. It was quite simple, in a way. And he was prepared for when they sent someone to come find me." He winked at Rukia.

"But you weren't stripped of your powers?" It was more of a statement than a question. "You purposely violated one of the laws?" She stared incredulously at the former shinigami, waiting for an answer.

"Didn't you?" he countered. She gaped at him, her face burning with embarrassment. Of course he was referring to her transfer of shinigami power to a human soul! He was right, of course. She should have been executed for such treason. "I'm sorry, Rukia, that was unfair," he admitted. "I had all intention of ridding myself of these powers."

When he didn't elaborate, she continued with the millions of questoins in her head. "How did you get your body?" she blurted, having some idea of how he retained his spiritual energy. She winced as his mouth twitched at her blunder.

"Well..since you asked, Rukia…lots of hard work and exercise! Yes, exercise is a vital part to keeping this body," he joked.

"Shut up!" she hissed. "You know what I mean."

Isshin howled with laughter, "I know, I know. I can't help myself sometimes, you know?" He wiped the tears from his eyes. "My gigai, you mean? That I got from Urahara."

"Urahara?" she echoed. Of course! He was the one person who could have helped a shinigami transition into the living world! He is the only person capable of creating a gigai that would repress reiatsu without draining it. Why didn't she think of that earlier?

"Yup, the one and only. That bastard has a solution to practically everything. He knows the protocol for exiling a shinigami, but that sneaky scientist found a way to avoid it. He gave me a gigai that managed to seal my powers—making me practically untraceable to other reapers. But it did not drain my spiritual energy, as you can see. I was unaware of that at the time, of course."

"I know all about his inventions," she replied icily. She remembered all too well the gigai that Kisuke had given her after she had transferred her powers to Ichigo. Isshin looked at her questioningly. She waved her hand, as she explained, "I had transferred my powers to Ichigo and was in need of a gigai. That pervert gave me one that slowly drained my reiatsu. It also had the Hogyoku buried inside of it. So, once my powers were drained and I was permanently sealed inside the body, his despicable invention would be lost forever." She shivered from the memory of the destruction that small creation had caused in both Karakura, Seretei, and Hueco Mundo.

"Ahh, yes, I've heard that story," he rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "But, you know, I understand why he didn't seal my powers," he offered.

Rukia looked at him questioningly. Isshin continued, "I think he always knew the Winter War would occur. And every shingami captain would be needed, including an exile like me."

"I assumed as much," she nodded as he confirmed her suspicions. "So when did you figure out that your powers were still accessible?"

"The day she died," he whispered his eyes slipping out of focus. "I wanted to chase that bastard hollow down. I went to Urahara's in a rage; I wanted revenge!"

"And he released your soul?" she asked tentatively.

"Something like that," he replied softly. He could still remember the nauseating vulnerability he had felt as his soul was expelled from the human shell. In that current state, he was too weak to chase Grand Fisher; he was too fragile to kill the hollow that had murdered his wife. If it weren't for Kisuke, he may not have been able to bottle that rage. Instead of thinking about his three motherless children, he had only focused on revenge. It was the mysterious shopkeeper that persuaded him that his day would come. He would avenge his beloved wife's murder.

It was that same emotional rollercoaster that had allowed him to regain a little of his power. Bit by bit and year by year, he slowly felt his powers returning. It wasn't until Grand Fisher had returned, in Arrancar form, that he had been able to expel his spirit from the physical body that Kisuke had created for him. He still remembered the feeling of freedom as he regained his former powers. It was something he had missed so much. Something he could have used to save her…He shook his head. He didn't want to dwell on that. It wouldn't change anything.

"D-do you ever regret your decision? To become human, that is...," Rukia asked, her intent becoming more clear.

Isshin studied her face for a moment: her lips were pursed in anxious interest and her body posture illustrating her attentive nature. His answer was important to her; he could see that.

"Yes," he sighed, closing his eyes. He could tell from the way her face fell that it was not what she wanted to hear. "If I had remained a shinigami, Masaki would still be alive," he clarified his earlier answer. "But, had I never become human, then my children would not be here. And they mean the world to me, and meant the world to Masaki." He hoped Rukia could understand this.

"I'm sorry," Rukia murmured, realizing his thoughts. She knew that there would be no Masaki waiting patiently in Soul Society. She was lost in the depths of Hueco Mundo—her soul consumed. Perhaps…Rukia thought to herself…no, don't give him that hope. I'm sure he has thought of that! She remained silent, thinking about what Isshin had shared with her. So he had merely broken a code--leading to his exile and subsequent life in the human world. Not a bad concept! she concluded. She continued to think about her current situation. What were her options? Could she do it? Would she be able to leave everyone? For him? Maybe it was premature...but maybe in time...

She stood, after minutes of contemplation. "Thank you, Isshin," she whispered hoarsely.

"Are you leaving? Already?" he asked in his usual cheery tone. It was as if the entire conversation had never occurred.

"Yes. I have some things to…er, think about," she replied, her eyes downcast. The decision about her future weighed heavily on her mind.

"Let me know if I can be of any help," the elder Kurosaki called out as she disappeared through the wall. He smiled to himself, as he picked up where he had left off before the interruption.

He chuckled to himself, "She's gonna have one hell of a time getting Byakuya to agree to that!"

The door creaked as it slowly opened. Karin's eyes grew wide; she had been awake for some time. The young girl had felt the spiritual pressure for a brief moment, but she was sure it was her.

"You came back," she whispered, still facing the wall. She felt the slight weight at the end of her bed. A hand patted her thigh.

"I made a promise, didn't I?" Rukia replied softly, casting a worried glance toward Yuzu. She was sleeping soundly, her dark blond hair splayed across her pillow like a golden halo.

"Why did it take so long, Rukia?" Karin asked, rolling over to make sure she was not dreaming.

Her eyes fell on the odd black uniform she had seen on both Rukia and Ichigo. She immediately knew the answer to her question: Rukia was in Shinigami Mode. Her eyes continued to scrutinize the young woman. She noticed that Rukia had lost weight, her slim frame more bonier than Karin remembered. Her eyes had also lost some of their former light—becoming darker, as if filled with an endless sorrow. She was suddenly concerned by Rukia's appearance.

"You look like crap!" she said shrilly. "What happened?"

"I've been busy," Rukia replied, her voice low. She nervously glanced at Yuzu. "I just wanted to come by and see you. I've missed you," she said honestly.

"I missed you too! Are you going to be staying with us? Finally?" hope filled her usually-solemn eyes.

"I…uh…well, Karin..," she began, her voice shaking with emotion.

"We always wanted an older sister," Karin confided, mischievously. "Besides, it would be nice to see Ichigo be something other than a grouch. He's always happy around you. He misses you, you know. He may deny it, but I can tell. I can always tell. His eyes are different when he's without you." She looked at Rukia, her eyes pleading for her silent cause.

Rukia reached out and tousled Karin's black hair. She leaned down and kissed the young girl's forehead. "Thank you," she murmured against her skin.

"For what, Rukia? Why aren't you answering me?" panic filled her voice.

"I have to go, Karin. I have some things to take care of. I wanted to make sure you are doing well," she replied softly, avoiding Karin's question. She knew the young girl would not be able to comprehend how much her words meant to Rukia. It had melted her soul, an experience that was both painful and humbling at the same time.

"But, Rukia!" Karin cried, tears spilling from her eyes.

"Go back to sleep, Karin," Rukia softly called as she disappeared through the wall. "I'll see you, again. I promise." In an instant, she was no longer in the room, leaving Karin to stare at the empty wall. She sighed her frustration, but she knew Rukia kept her promises.

Rukia stood in the street outside of the family's home, staring at the familiar window. She had climbed through it dozens of times, but it still held that same magical appeal. She sighed her loneliness. She wanted to talk to him. She missed his company, despite their constant arguments. They understood each other, and that was what she loved most about him. She couldn't deny that she wanted nothing more than to be by his side for as long as he would allow. She felt her heart race at the thought of his arms around her waist, his fingers running through her hair, his lips brushing her own. Those same thoughts had been haunting her for weeks, keeping her from much-needed sleep.

She had been agonizing on how to resolve these feelings. It could never be. Their relationship was taboo--it was forbidden. She only knew of one instance in which a shinigami had given up his life to be with the human woman he loved. That exception was Ichigo's father.

She had wanted to speak to the elder Kurosaki, to know how he had accomplished it. She wanted to know if he thought it was worth it. His answer, while honest, had helped her to make the decision. Now, she would have to remain strong. She cast one last, longing glance at the familiar window as she turned and disappeared into the night.

Ichigo's opened his eyes. They slowly adjusted to the darkness of his bedroom. It had been brief, but he was sure he had felt it. They tiny blip of spiritual pressure was both close and familiar. So familiar.

Was she here? Why had she come?

As quickly as the sensation had appeared, it was gone. He scrambled toward his window. His heart raced as he peered out into the moonlit street, where he had felt her presence. He thought he had seen something glisten in the moonlight. But when he blinked, it was no longer there. The sinking feeling in his chest replaced the momentary hope that had swelled inside of him.

"Quit dreaming," he growled to himself, as he angrily gripped the window ledge. Why must he always think about her? She was all he thought about, despite the smiles and brave faces he put on each and every day. Seeing her in the park that afternoon had nearly broken his heart. It had taken everything he had just to remove himself from her presence. He wanted to scoop her up and run far away—to a place where it could just be the two of them. Maybe then, she would acknowledge her feelings. Maybe then, they could be happy. His heart ached for that happiness.

He silently cursed at himself as he returned to his bed. You're dreaming, he told himself. It was wishful thinking, it had to be. He stared at the ceiling, as his eyelids grew heavy with sleep.

The tiny ice particles continued to sparkle in the fading moonlight, as they melted into tiny droplets of water. By the time Ichigo was comfortably slumbering, those watery droplets had evaporated, mere memories of their solidarity--the only indication of Rukia's momentary presence.

I'm climbing in reviews, how I love you guys! Please continue to read and review! It really does make me work faster :D

TO MY REVIEWERS: you have all made my night!

ENJOY! (and have a good weekend!)

PS: I apologize for any glaring errors. I'm falling asleep as I edit this, but I wanted to get it posted for everyone! I figured errors are a small sacrifice, no?