Hey,

seriously I think my heart felt heavier while reading this chapter than while reading the one before. Somehow the pain children feel while losing their mother is far greater than all of the other ones except maybe by Ichigo's and Byakuya's.

Thanks for recommending the song, I was lisening to it on repeat, but I have to admit it took till the third time till I was actually lisening to words since I was too lost in the story to pay any real attention.

I had not expected Byakuya's sorrow to appear under the form you gave it but I think it fitts to him, as well as Kaein reaction was also a bit of a surprise but again I realized that it went well with him.

I found the presents given at Rukia's funeral beautiful, but I have to ask, where it drawings made from Byakuya to Rukia or ones she had done for him before and he was returning?

The two last scene were much too cute for you to leave us hanging like that! I especially think that I agree with Ichigo about a " sleep-mussed and disarrayed" Byakuya being attractive.

You are doing Nanowrimo? Good luck, I am participating too.

I believe that make you excused fro not updating for the whole month of November, but still I shall be waiting impatiently for the new chapter!

sincerly

I got halfway and broke down. I couldn't take it anymore. Poor Kaien and Sayoran - that just about broke my heart. To see Byakuya crying, I just couldn't hold my tears anymore. I'm sure it was difficult for you to write if it was difficult for me to read. The comforting scenes between Ichigo and Byakuya were great because, and this is my opinion, it held a little bit of brother-n-laws comforting each other, a little bit of bestfriends comforting each other, and a little bit of future lovers comforting each other. Leave it to Kisuke to ruin a good moment, although he and Yoruichi are keeping the kids from finding out about them. If I don't see you in November, good work with everything and Happy Holidays. I look forward to reading more in December.

Happy she's dead, not by a long a shot. I too hoped that they would some how be able to save Rukia, in fact a part of me still wants to believe that this isn't the last of her. This is a story that leaves me feeling many things and what else can I say but I look forward to seeing more.

You know, I very nearly cried. Good job! And I loved this chapter. Poor Rukia. Poor Ichigo. Poor Jyuushirou! (Poor Byakuya, though we didn't see much of his reaction or thoughts in this chapter).

I didn't see that. I thought Ichigo will struggle between his loyalty/love to Rukia and Byakuya next to the end of story. Or do you plan for him to have it hard b/c of her memory?

This chapter has been rattling around in my head for days now, and three words keep coming back to me: Easy Way Out. I can NOT believe Rukia - having lost everything already - has now lost her life.

I truly, deeply apologize because I loathe telling writers how to write their fics, which is exactly why I have held back on reviewing this so far (and my apolgies again for that reticence) but I can't help speaking out at this point. I'm hanging on to this story by a thread, because frankly your writing is stunning, if a hair slow-paced at times. You characterization, imagery, grammer and description are top-notch.

I just don't understand where you're going with all this! I'm am praying that you have a point to this story, because so far all I see is a hell of a lot of suffering - and involving innocent children, at that! - just so that two men can prong each other. That's just does NOT make sense to me, and speaking as a reader I don't want to suffer right along with the characters for no good reason. And I'm an angst whore of the first order! But even an emo slut like me needs some prayer of a light at the end of the tunnel.

I will keep up with this fic because I can't help myself, but I only hope there's a rabbit getting pulled out of a hat somehwere down the line. Again, my apologies for being such a conditional reader, but be fair - it's a hell of a ride you're taking us on, and I just want my time and attention to have been worthwhile. You're writing is incredible, on that I cannot fault you. It's just the subject matter that has me in a twist. EXCELLENT talent, now let's see what you make of it.

I was not expecting Rukia's death. I feel so sorry for Captain Ukitake. Ichigo and Byakuya will hurt and mourn her loss, but I think Captain Ukitake will suffer the most because of the guilt he is already feeling. I don't want him to give up his captaincy either. I don't even know what to say. I hope people won't say that they are glad she's gone because she was just as torn as Ichigo and Byakuya about their relationship and the children. The children are going to be a handful for sure now. You did great work on this chapter, even if it did make me cry. Keep up the great work and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Ok, cause I'm a bitch I will adtmiy that Rukia is dead had me dancing for joy. But then Rukia bashing is a favourite sport of mine. :D

However, I did love this chapter because it is lovely, and really tugs at the heart strings. I thought it was almost inevitable, but I loved how you pitched the emotion, and Juushiro's reaction was flawless. I look forward to more, as always.

x

oh my god!

cant believe rukia died! i was not expecting that! gutted, even though i dont atcually like her...

you are such a fantastic author; i thought i was going to cry at one point there! kudos all over!

:) x

I'm not going to leave a long comment (because it's hard to type through tears), but that was bloody amazing. And terribly tragic. And... *cries*

Sorry again, much delay in reviewing...

Well... I don't quite know what to say about the latest plot twist. I figured there were only a few ways you could go on this, and in the long run, it would be easier if Rukia weren't around, though I would probably say that Ichigo's and Byakuya's guilt, however irrational, would be all the greater and take longer to come to terms with (?), though it wasn't as if they wished her out of existence or anything like that.

I'm glad the hollow situation finally comes to the forefront. I had been wondering what you were doing with that plot element and where it was going, because it kept being mentioned with not much development in the previous chapters.

I liked the Rukia and Ichigo/Byakuya sections. And I think having Hanatarou help Ichigo and Byakuya was a wonderful, because he represents family. ALl the little touches, Ichigo trying not to collapse and realizing that he can after all, Byakuya's reiatsu wavering in and out of control. I was wondering a little about Ukitake bringing up the rear, though I can understand why Ukitake would be so upset, and you probably needed him to find and bring Rukia to the 4th. Also, you started with Rukia as the 13th division fukutaichou, so ending with Ukitake balances that. But I hope we'll see more of the family aspect of Rukia's death and its impact not only on the two men but the entire Kurosaki clan in the next chapter or so.

Anyway, I like this as the start of a new plot arc. I guess, the Rukia death arc? It's a different kind of emotion from the breakdown of marriage and the rediscovery of love, and the winds of change blow again in their lives. It'll be interesting to see what comes of this.

Wow you are very brave to kill off a main character! Congrats on doing it so well. She died how she probably would have wanted to anyway.

Hey stick another chappie or two in, you know we won't mind!

Oh wow. As much as I don't like Rukia as a character, this was heart breaking.

Need to read more, poor Ichi, Byakuya and the kids (

i feel so bad for everyone and just by the title of this chappy i knew that rukia was going to die but you did it for a reason. nice chappy

Heaven! thanks for the warning at the beginning, but still I was far from prepared for such an event...

I dont see how anyone could be glad that she died. God, I cant even beginnto imagine how the children are going to react to this news. And Byakuya and Ichigo were/are on the verge of breaking down just like Ukitake...

The fighting scene was wonderfully writen, it brought over the sense of urgency and desperation Rukia felt. I was tensed up on my chair while reading your chapter.

I wondered about this bond you mentioned. Ichigo has it with his children, Byakuya and Rukia, while Byakuya has it with Rukia as well, and Izuru shares one with Ukitake. Is it close to a spiritual bond to the people you care for?

For me this was a plot twist and I had even been planning to ask what you were planning to do with those Hollows roaming around. If anything I hope Soul Society will be able to crush them.

sincerly