He nodded. These were things he logically knew, but it still hurt him to be blindsided by this -- to have her ripped from her death, and have his own progress with accepting her death be shattered so suddenly. "She was so happy, you know. So resolved to die. She was at peace with it and the life she lived. It just isn't fair..." Sougo's fingers tensed around the cup in his hands. He was mulling over it, brooding even and if he continued to do that, he would never leave his spot in this chair.

"You said it yourself, she needs protection. And I can't do that alone..." he looked over toward Hitsugaya slowly, abandoning all of his pride to ask this question. "Will you do it with me? Be my weapon again? You're the only one that works. The only one I can count on."