Ichigo froze midway of petting the Chocobo. He hadn't really been thinking when he said that, not intentionally, and now that he thought back it sounded a little harsh. Rukia had possibly been on her own all this time, unable to go home and now that he showed up he was being a bit selfish.

He withdrew his hand from the bird, his hands back at his sides as he looked off a bit. Embarrassed at his shortsightedness, his hand came up a moment later to rub the back of his head as he kept his gaze averted.

"Shit. Sorry, I... I didn't know you were here for that long."