I stood beside Ichigo Kurosaki, the Deputy of the Thirteen Divisions, looking over the Pillars of the Fake Karakura Town. "Are you sure everything will be alright, Kurosaki-senpai?"

Ichigo gripped his Zanpakto, Zangetsu, which was strapped to his back, and looked at the vast sky uneasily. "The Pillars should be under good care; you needn't worry."

To be honest, I wasn't concerned about the Pillars.

I was concerned about the Shinigami guarding them.

Shuhei Hisagi was guarding the First, and most important, Pillar. If he was defeated in combat, the Fake Karakura Town will disappear completely and the Real Karakura Town would come back.

I couldn't help but admire how confident he looked. The wind ruffled his spiky black hair. The sun glinted off his dark grey eyes. The three scars extending from his right eyebrow to his cheek seemed darker than before. Tattooed on his left cheek were a blue-grey stripe and the number "69". Today, he wore his black sleeveless Shihakusho with his lieutenant insignia tied to his left arm. His Zanpakuto, Kazeshini, hung at his right side.

I glanced over at the Second Pillar, where Izuru Kira was sitting, his blue eyes closed. His shoulder-length blond hair fell over the left side of his face. His lieutenant insignia was concealed underneath the standard black Isho. His Zanpakuto, Wabisuke, was placed in front of him. His engagement ring, a plain silver band, adorned his left ring finger.

I shifted my gaze to the Third Seat of Division Eleven, Ikkaku Madarame, who occupied the Third Pillar. The posture that he had was of a warrior who had just defeated his opponent in battle. His bald head shone in its..."glorious splendor" (which I don't see). His brown eyes seemed to shine red, almost as if the crimson marking on the outer corners of his eyes had transferred into the irises. His mouth was tipped up in an intimidating smirk. His Zanpakuto, Hozukimaru, was unsheathed and in his right hand.

Finally, I turned to look at the Fourth and final Pillar.

Yumichika Ayasegawa was calmly gazing up at the sun, as if the position of a Fifth Seat in the Eleventh Division has been lifted from his shoulders. His chin-length blue-black hair was tucked behind his right ear. The five feathers he had were in his locks, as usual. His eyes changed from pink, to amber, to pink again. His Zanpakuto, Ruri'iro Kujaku, was nowhere in sight.

I slipped my hand into my Isho pocket and sighed in relief. Phew...They're still there. I wonder what I'd do without them...

Turning my back on Ichigo, I started for the Pillars.

The Third Pillar was the closest; I bolted up the stairs and onto the Pillar's platform.

Ikkaku turned. "Unohara, what're you doing here?"

I held up an onyx pendant. "Madarame-senpai, I just wanted to wish you luck."

He snorted. "I don't need luck when I got strength."

I approached him and clasped the necklace around his neck. "Strength doesn't make up for anything but strength. You need endurance, too."

Ikkaku looked down at the locket. "Uh...well...um...arigatou..."

I smiled. "Open it only if you need to."

"What will happen?"

"It's hard to say exactly, but some sort of help will come."

Before Ikkaku could reply with a retort, I shot through the air and landed on the Fourth Pillar. "Ayasegawa-senpai!"

Yumichika looked over his shoulder. "Yes, Rozu?"

I straightened the feathers in his hair. "You seem too at ease."

He smiled. "If I worry, I'll get white hairs."

I couldn't resist the urge to roll my eyes. "You've been alive for...at least two hundred years. What are you talking about?"

Yumichika shook his head in mock disappointment. "Beauty can't be achieved in one day, Rozu. You should know that; after all, you're engaged to a lieutenant. The radiance that flowed from you attracted Lieutenant Kira and his family's attention."

I looked down and pulled out a small vial filled with silver dust. "Anyways, this is for you."

He inspected the vial carefully. "Isn't this enchanted suna?"

I nodded. "One sniff and your skin will be completely impenetrable. Your enemies will have a hard time defeating you."

Yumichika placed it in his own pocket. "Arigatou."

I smiled. "You're welcome."

I raced off to the Second Pillar. My heart pounded twice as fast as it should.

Izuru spared a glance at me. "Rozu, you shouldn't be here. It's dangerous, and you might get hurt."

I huffed. "I can take care of myself, Ki-I mean...Izuru. It's not like I have a Zanpakto for no reason."

He let a small smile quirk up the left side of his mouth. "I know, but I can't help it; I need to warn you."

I took his Zanpakto and tied a charm on the tsuba before handing Wabisuke back to its rightful owner.

Izuru looked at the innocently dangling charm. "This doubles the amount of damage dealt to the opponent, correct?"

I replied, "Yes. I thought it would be helpful because your Shikai doubles the weight of anything it hits, so why not double the damage?"

He let out a satisfied sigh and tied Wabisuke to his waist. "Arigatou, Rozu."

I turned. "Well, I better get going."

"Wait."

I didn't hear Izuru get up, but I felt his hand close around my right wrist and pull me around.

Before I knew it, I was in his arms, lips locked with his, my arms resting against his chest.

Somewhere near, I heard a crowd of "Aw~"'s and dreamy sighs.

A few seconds later, he released me, and murmured, "You better get going."

I blinked a couple of times before my brain registered what he just said. "Oh...right..."

Out of habit, I reached into my pocket again. Shuhei...were you watching what happened now? If you did...I don't know what to say...I probably let you down...

I slowly made my way to the First Pillar.

Shuhei had his back facing me.

Hesitantly, I advanced and secured an explosive armband to each of his arms.

He made no move to stop me.

With dawdling fingers, I slid a matching choker around his neck.

Accidently, my hand brushed against his hair.

He stiffened.

I squeaked and backed away.

In the quiet, beautiful alto he spoke in, Shuhei murmured, "Why...?"

My eyes started to tear up. "Shuhei...I..."

I bowed quickly. "I'm so sorry!"

Shuhei turned. "Why are you sorry, Rozu? You did nothing wrong."

I stood still for a moment. "...I..."

Suddenly, I bolted forward and hugged him tightly.

Words tumbled out of my mouth. "Shuhei, I did something wrong-I forgot our agreement. You have to understand, I kissed Izuru back. I committed a crime that a lieutenant shouldn't do. I love both of you, and it's impossible to keep from hurting you like I am now. I'm engaged, yet my heart belongs to another man."

The end of my sentence faltered as sobs took over.

Shuhei held me close. "Shh...It's okay...Don't cry, baby..."

I clung onto his sturdy frame, shaking and breathing hard. The diamond-encrusted band I had on my ring finger felt heavier.

These realities...Can my vow actually have the same properties as Wabisuke? Can Kira-senpai hear my cries of anguish every night when I think about Shuhei? I know the Third Division's crux is the marigold, the symbol of despair, but...do the members strengthen from that distress?

My forbidden lover lifted my tear-stained face and looked lovingly into my green eyes. "Remember when the first time we declared our love for each other?"

I ceased to cry and whispered, "...I do...We were only fourteen..."

The left side of his mouth tipped up into the smirk I loved. "How long did that love last, Rozu?"

The tears on my cheeks instantly vanished. "More than a century..."

"And tell me why it lasted so long."

The dull copper color in my hair brightened. "...It's true love..."

Shuhei leaned down so I felt his breath against my lips. "It still is."

Then, the words I wanted to hear escaped from his beautiful mouth.

"I love you, Rozu. Even if the day turned to night, even if the sun didn't peek out of the horizon, even if the moon didn't come up, even if the stars didn't twinkle, you're the only thing I need."

The love that was hidden behind my eyes appeared; I was speechless.

Shuhei sealed our fate the instant his lips crushed against mine.

The soul reapers below us gasped in shock and a wave of murmurs passed through the crowd.

I didn't care, and Shuhei made it obvious he didn't care either.

We kissed each other roughly, tongues clashing, hands buried in the other's hair.

Shuhei nipped at my bottom lip, just how I liked it.

In response, I licked the scar on his upper lip.

His grip on my waist tightened.

Suddenly, shredding noises were audible.

So what did you think? :D Leave a review! It's greatly appreciated! ~Artemis