[That brief second of pain is reflected on Jyuushiko's face as well - the losses themselves are bad enough. To see them destroy her second like that is almost more than she can handle. But she's the older one, she's weathered losses - and Rukia needs someone to be strong for her right now.

She shifts forward a little more, wincing as the motion pulls at half-healed muscles, but finally she's close enough to get an arm around Rukia's shoulder, pulling her a little closer in a half-embrace.]

Our lives have a lot of 'should haves'. Particularly right now.