Ahahaha. I'm baaack everyone! So sorry for not updating. School's been a pain recently as well as other issues. Anyway, I kept yelling at myself to update this story, so here it is!

Thanks to IchigoMoonCutter, Anya Seneca Primrose, G27forever, oldie disk224, guest and B000097z for reviewing the last chapter! And a huuuuuuge Zangetsu-sized thanks to everyone who has been reading, following and favoriting! I legit throw a little party every time I get an alert. :D Needless to say, they make my day.

Enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: All Bleach characters belong to Tite Kubo.

Ichigo made his way up the stairs of his shared condo, not particularly happy about the prospect of explaining why he was home early. He was already in a bad mood because he kept thinking of his family, namely his mother and sisters. He sighed when he found himself standing in front of the door. He slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled the key out, unlocking the door. Pocketing the key, he looked around the room and carefully assumed no one was home. The large clock that hung over the TV in the living room read 11:13, which meant Uryuu was most likely on his way to his grad-school class and Chad was probably at his job. Chad owned a small guitar shop where he offered lessons. Ichigo smiled at the thought. Chad's recent pupil, Yuichi, really made a home in Chad's heart. Chad was usually quiet, and he was when he talked about Yuichi, but there was a certain gleam in his eyes.

Ichigo made his way up the stairs and to his room. He crashed into his bed, facedown. After a few minutes, he turned his face to the right and found himself staring at a picture - one of the few pictures he had in his room. He reached out and took the picture off of the nightstand. He stared at it for a moment. It was a picture of a lion stuffed animal. It was the only picture that connected him to his past. He wore a nostalgic smile when he remembered the lion. He had found it in the dump. For some strange reason, he brought it home with him. When he brought it home, his sisters had stared at it for a moment. Karin asked where he found such a ridiculous and girly looking lion. Yuzu had gushed over the lion for several days and even glued a fuchsia colored flower to the ear one day.

"It'll cover the torn ear!" she had exclaimed happily.

Ichigo's eyes softened slightly. Now that he was on the subject and most likely wouldn't get off of it any time soon, he began to really think about his family. How were they doing? Were they still living in the same house? How were they holding up? And as for his father, had he finally let go?

Mom, I'm not a little kid anymore. I'm perfectly capable of-

Screech. Squeal. Thud.

Mom?

He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head, trying to dispel the memory. He felt something prick the back of his eyes. He clenched his teeth tightly, shaking a little. The picture of the lion lay facedown on his bed as he grabbed the pillow on his bed and slammed it in his face. He fell to his side, curling up in fetal position. The memory continued to play in his mind, no matter how much he didn't want it to.

"No… No… NO!"

A soft buzzing sound reached his ears. He rose slowly, looking down at the impression on his pillow and a couple of tear stains. He clumsily wiped his eyes and got up, moving toward his desk. His phone was vibrating incessantly. He peered at the caller-id and did a double take. The timing couldn't have been more accurate. He cleared his throat before answering the call.

"Hello?"

"What's with you, Ichigo?" asked a strong feminine voice. "What? Just because we're not together anymore doesn't mean you shouldn't call anymore, you jerk."

He smiled at the sound of the voice. "You know, most people reply by saying hello, Senna," he said laughing.

"Whatever," she said nonchalantly. "What's been going on? Or do you refuse to tell me anything anymore?"

He moved over to his bed and sat up with his back against the wall. "We're still friends. I've just been… busy."

"Oh? With what? A new girlfriend?"

That was one of the things he really liked about Senna. She didn't hold back on anything. She always spoke the thoughts that were on her mind. Sometimes it wasn't the best choice, but it really lifted the tension sometimes. "No, no girlfriends. None since you actually."

"Really?" There was a hint of shock and disbelief in her voice.

"Yeah. I'm not exactly known for being 'the ladies man', and you know that. Besides, other issues have me tied down at the moment."

There was a bit of silence before she spoke. "Can I take a wild guess and say that this is because of your family?"

Damn. Right on the head. She really knew him. Probably more than he knew himself. The thought was slightly daunting, but he did date her for a good two years. He sighed slowly, sliding down so he was lying down. "Yeah. It's my family."

"Have you talked to them since?"

"Since we were together or since I left? Not that it matters… I haven't talked to them since I left Japan."

"Ichigo, you can't do that to yourself. You came from a good family."

"My family was the only thing I had. And I destroyed it when I was eighteen," he said coldly. "I can't even begin to think of what I would say to them."

Another brief pause. "So tell me, what's on your mind when you think about them? Start with Karin. What do you think about when you think about her?"

He was silent for a moment. He cleared his mind and pictured her face. After a moment, he had his answer. "Football and sarcasm."

Senna laughed. "Of course. Now how would you work that into a conversation?"

"Well her favorite teams are Arsenal and Real Madrid, but I think she only likes Arsenal because of Özil-"

"It's always saddening when a player transfers. I remember when Xabi Alonso transferred from Liverpool to Real Madrid," Senna said wistfully. "Alonso was among the likes of Stevie Gerrard! And then he went to a team that doesn't play actual football."

He quirked an eyebrow and smirked. "If I ever make this call, remind me not to do it around you. She hates Liverpool."

Senna playfully flipped her hair. "Your sister has really bad taste in teams, but, anyway, you sound like you know what to say to her. Now what about Yuzu?"

"Umm… Well she liked to play with the bear I had. It was named Kon, but she called it Bostov - God knows why. Anyway, she also really liked to sew and make all sorts of accessories, dresses and shit."

"Good," she said softly. "Now how would that be tied into a conversation?"

This answer came to him a little more readily. "Well I heard there was an eleventh season of Project: Runway that came on Lifetime recently. I would ask her if she's seen it." He smiled softly. "She swore she would never watch that show when her favorite designer, Mondo, didn't win."

"Alright. You seem to know what you're going to say to your sisters," she said cautiously. "Now how about Mr. Kurosaki?"

Ichigo stayed silent for a while. He really didn't know what to say to his father. What do you tell your father after about fifteen years of being away from him?

"If you could say anything at all… what would it be?"

He opened his mouth and then closed it, not entirely sure he wanted to say what was on his mind.

"We can come back to this one if-"

"I would tell him that I should have been a better son," he said quickly.

It was silent on both ends. He was kicking himself for saying that, but it was already done. He bit his lip, mentally picturing how Senna was reacting. Senna was particularly sensitive to the topic. Memories of her own were probably racing through her mind as they sat in silence.

At last, he heard her speak. Her voice was slightly strained now. "You shouldn't say things like that, Ichigo. You're an amazing guy and I'm sure Mr. Kurosaki would be more than ecstatic if he got a call from you."

"That's where you're wrong, Senna," he said softly. "I'm the reason for his pain and suffering. I'm the one who ruined his life. I'm the worst son a father could ask for."

"You're only mistake is leaving home and not speaking to your family," she said firmly. "You can't live in the past anymore. What's done is done. There is no changing what happened. The only thing you can do now is move on and make amends."

"You don't know what it's like," he said coldly.

She let out a laugh of mirth. "I don't know what it's like? Oh, Ichigo, this is how I know you aren't thinking straight. Remember how we first met? You instantly opened up to me. And why? Because I was in the same situation as you. You - you know who your family is. I don't. My memory only goes back to my college days. I can't remember a single thing before then. You think you're a miserable excuse of a child? At least you can remember your family. What kind of daughter forgets who her family is?"

Ichigo let out a whoosh of air, knowing he had unintentionally pushed a button. He should have known better than to pull the family card with Senna. As far as family issues when, she took the prize. He sat up and ran a hand through his spiky ginger hair. "Listen, Sen, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said all those things. This just - really has me rattled. I've never thought about them so much. It's all so sudden too. I just remember waking up and thinking about them. It was a random thing. I actually got sent home from my job because of this."

"Really? You were that distracted? Wow. Things are pretty serious."

"Yeah. They are."

"Hmm. Alright. I gotta go now. And don't be surprised if you see me on your doorstep one of these days."

"Sure."

"I'm serious. We haven't been in touch for a long time and I can tell this family thing is really bothering you."

"Senna-"

"Don't 'Senna' me. I'm coming over one of these days and that's that. Be sure to tell Uryuu and Chad I said hi."

The ginger sighed, knowing Senna had won the argument. "Fine. I'll tell them. Bye."

"Bye."

Ichigo clicked the end call button, tossed his phone on the other side of the bed and flopped on his back so he was facing the ceiling. He closed his eyes and exhaled slowly.

"Reconnecting, Ichigo?"

Without opening his eyes, he was able to tell who the owner of the voice was. "Kind of. Grad class over for now, Ishida?"

The raven haired student pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, glancing at the ginger who lay on his bed. "For now. I'll have to go back at around seven. Remember? Today's Wednesday."

"Must have slipped my mind."

"How could you forget the day? There's a calendar on your nightstand. And it's on your phone."

"Oh, god forbid I forget what day it is."

Uryuu ignored Ichigo's last comment. He walked into the room and looked around. He saw the screen of Ichigo's phone flash. If he squinted, he would be able to see Senna's name followed by a text message. His eyes widened slightly. "You're still in touch with Senna?"

Ichigo opened his eyes, looking up at Uryuu. His gaze fell on his phone, which had gone dark. He mentally facepalmed himself. "Uh, yeah? Why?"

Uryuu's gaze lingered on the phone. "Oh, nothing," he said loftily. "I just thought things were over after you guys broke up. You do remember why you guys broke up, don't you?"

"Of course I remember," Ichigo snapped. "That doesn't mean we can't be friends."

"Not that. I meant that it was a pretty… awkward break up. You breaking up with her because she was a little reckless? C'mon Ichigo."

Ichigo leapt up, clearly angry. "SHE WAS ON TOP OF THE EIFFLE TOWER. SHE WAS ACTING LIKE IT WAS A FRIGGEN' TREE AND NOT A GINORMOUS BUILDING."

Uryuu backed away a little, starting to regret coming into Ichigo's room. His real intention was to ask why Ichigo was home early, but under the current circumstances, he figured he would forgo that question. He held his hands up, "I understand. You were worried about her and you couldn't handle how she would go on the tallest building she could find and deal with her problems."

The ginger turned around, facing the wall. "Back then… I was in love with Senna. But we had a fight one day. I can't even remember what it was about, but she was furious with me. Before I knew it, I was staring up at the Eiffel Tower to see her waving down at me from the top. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if she got hurt because of me." He turned around to face Uryuu. "But things have changed since then. Senna's just a friend now."

Uryuu nodded, making his way toward the door. "Alright. Senna's a friend. I'll be in my room. I've got a several chapters to read."

"You go do that."

When Uryuu left the room, he thought about his relationship with Senna. It had been about five or six years since then. He was about twenty-six years old and she, three years his junior. They had met at the local supermarket. He remembered how she stood out because she was a college aged girl who was squealing over the different colored ribbons and seeing how each looked with her violet hair. He smiled lightly at the memory.

She had turned to him and asked him which one he preferred, yellow or red. He said yellow, but she ended up picking the red one. Eventually, their relationship went from being strangers to friends to a little more than friends. Senna was able to chip away the ice that surrounded his heart after he left his hometown. He was able to love someone again. Senna was so easy to talk to and to open up to. His relationship with Senna lasted two years.

He glanced at the door guiltily while slipping his hands into his pockets. Uryuu had his facts wrong for once. Ichigo hadn't broken up with Senna because she was reckless. He knew about her habit of climbing buildings - she insisted that it was because she could be closer to the sky. He knew about that obsession of hers. No, the real reason he broke up with her was because he was happy with her. Too happy. He began to wonder if this was how his father felt when he was with his mother. Painful memories would flit in and out of his mind when he was with her. It was then he knew that he didn't deserve Senna's love. How could he accept Senna's love when he had gone and destroyed his father's love for his mother? How could he love Senna when he was the reason his father was all alone in the world.

Ichigo looked up at the ceiling, feeling a familiar wetness in his eyes. "I'm sorry, Mom," he whispered with tears running down his cheeks. "I'm sorry for killing you."

Rukia held André and Gigi's hands as they crossed the street together. Shortly after ending their conversation with Momo, Rukia finished feeding her children breakfast. She insisted that they hurry and leave so they could get to Paris and Versailles quicker. In reality, after she realized she was still in love with Gerard, she wanted to be as far away from him as possible. She didn't want to bear the burden of being in a one-sided relationship with her ex-husband. Gerard had been the one who had cheated on her for seven months. She doubted that he would have told her. No, he only told her because he was caught in the act.

They looked around for a bus or a train that would be able to take them to Paris. They weren't having any luck so far, so Rukia was able to mull over her thoughts. She found herself wondering what he was doing. Was he sitting in their house on their sofa, thinking about what he had done? Or was he simply out with another woman like the night before.

She clenched her teeth when she thought about the possibility. How could he? How dare he? He was a father of three children and a husband who had been married for over seven years. How could he make such a decision? What went through his mind when he was with another woman?

When she thought of these things, she envied her late sister's luck in marriage. Byakuya had loved Hisana with all of his heart. It had been five years into their marriage when Hisana had died of illness. Rukia remembered how broken Byakuya was then. Hisana's death had a profound effect on him. He was always soft-spoken and reserved, even when Hisana was alive, but when Death took Hisana, Byakuya seemed so lost. He was even more reserved and less prone to speaking. He would only speak if he was spoken to.

Rukia always felt guilty when she was around him. She felt that her being there reminded him of Hisana and brought memories. She would spend less time in the house and more time outside. One night when she was walking through the door, she was surprised to see Byakuya sitting on the sofa, as if he was waiting for her.

"Where have you been, Rukia?"

She tilted her head to the right, thoroughly confused. "I've been out, Nii-sama."

He stood up and walked toward the large clock that hung over the mantle. "It's past nine o'clock. You know you're supposed to be home by eight thirty."

She walked away, toward the stairs. "Sorry," she said softly.

"Rukia… look at me."

There was a hint of despair in his voice. Her hand was on the banister. She gripped it tightly as she turned around, shocked to see his pale and ghostly looking face. She hadn't been around the house much since Hisana died. She just noticed how different he looked. His cheeks had sunken in a little and his eyes were glassy - most likely from the tears he shed.

He slowly made his way over to her, scaring her a little. She didn't know what he was going to do. Her heart began pounding in her chest when he finally reached her. He wrapped both arms around her small frame and enveloped her in a tight hug. Her eyes widened when he slowly ran his fingers through her hair.

"Rukia, you are all I have left. You have come home late for the past month and I am worried that you will not come home - just like Hisana."

Tears cascaded down her cheeks when she felt her shoulder dampen. She returned his hug, clutching the fabric of his t-shirt tightly as she spilled the thoughts she had thought since her elder sister died. "I thought… If I spent less time in the house, you wouldn't be reminded of Hisana. Because I look just like her. I thought… my being here was a burden."

He pulled away from her and looked her in the eyes. "Never think that. I won't deny; you bear a striking resemblance to her, but your presence is not a burden to me at all."

It had been a while since that day. She remembered still being in high school. It was the summer in between her last year of middle school and her freshman year in high school. It had been a good seventeen years or so since Hisana had died and Byakuya hadn't even looked at a woman like he looked at Hisana. In his mind, Hisana was the only woman for him. He would feel like he was betraying Hisana's memory if he spent the rest of his life with another woman, not that he wanted to. Byakuya was a quiet man who preferred a quiet life.

"Mama, you almost crossed a busy street!" exclaimed Hisana.

Rukia jumped slightly at the sound of her eldest daughter's voice. Her eyes widened when she realized her children were standing behind her, looking past her at the many cars that were on the street. She turned around and felt her shoulders slump forward. What was going on with her? Was she losing her mind already? If she wasn't careful, she would lose her life before she made it to Byakuya's. She had to stop thinking about the past. Thinking about the past wouldn't get her anywhere.

'What's done is done,' she thought as she gripped her children's hands firmly. She looked at the traffic signal and waited to make sure the street was clear before crossing. 'It's in the past and there's no undoing the past.'

As Rukia began to gain control of her thoughts, she walked with a little more confidence in her step. Gigi, who was holding Hisana's hand, looked around as they walked to the bus station. She turned around and stared at the small backpack that she was carrying on her arm. Her eyes fell on the small suitcases that they were all carrying. "Hisana," she whispered. "When will we see Papa again?"

Hisana absently blew at a strand of hair that was in her eyes. She didn't know how her mother was able to tolerate it. She would have to secure it with a clip when they stopped the next time. She turned to her younger sister. "I don't know, Gigi. I think this is a long vacation at Tonton Byakuya's house. Remember how they argued yesterday?" she asked in a hushed whisper.

Gigi's indigo eyes widened when she remembered what had happened the night before. Her mouth was a round 'o'. "Oh yeah." She stayed silent for a minute and then spoke again. "But I miss Papa!"

Hisana nodded in agreement. "Me too. We were going to have our special breakfast today. Papa always made the waffles and I poured the juice. He would tell me that I was the best 'juice-pourer' he has ever seen." She wore a small smile. "I can't wait until we see Papa again."

Although Hisana and Gigi made sure to whisper so their voices wouldn't carry, it did carry, and Rukia heard every single word. She gripped Hisana and André's hands a little tighter. André began to squirm a little, but she wasn't paying attention.

Her daughters had no idea what their father had done for seven years. They saw their father as any child would and she knew André felt the same way about Gerard. Her heart tightened a little when she heard Gigi say she missed Gerard and how Hisana said that she couldn't wait to see him again. They didn't know that the night before was most likely the last time they would ever see him.

*braces self for angry IchiRuki shippers* I personally think Senna x Ichigo would be adorable, but I'm an IchiRuki shipped through and through. Most of the time. lol. I'm working on my update speed so the chapters should (keyword: should) be up sooner than they have been in the past. Read and review! Constructive criticism is always welcome!

I hope my American readers have fun with tomorrow's Super Bowl!