"Usually..." she agreed in a quiet voice. "It's the other way around now." Rukia felt too much, and it was painful beyond belief. If she could at least think of something to do, a goal to shoot for, maybe that would let her move on.

But the grief seemed overwhelming. Not even Kaien's death had affected her this badly, and it felt like her heart was irreparably broken. How foolish she was...

Petting Repede did make her feel a little better, though. She'd always liked the big dog, and it was nice to know he cared about her. Yuri cared too, in his own weird way. She was glad he was with her, and that he understood her irrational behavior.