"Forgive my rudeness Commander, but four months is way too long! Please! Please just consider the circumstances!"

Hidden behind the Groom's tent was both Rina and Commander Captain Yamamoto. The party alive with high fever as the festivities were now taking place, it was a shame the bride would have no part of it.

"Your marriage to Sousuke Aizen should not deter you from your duties, Haruko Rina. Know your place." Yamamoto wavered in a warning tone.

Rina clasped her hands into a tight fist. Dressed in beautiful white silk robes, hair and makeup done into perfection showed little fight to the Commander's ever focused eyes. The Commander was always known as a firm and spine chilling man, who's deciding words were always final with little remorse.

"Your shihakusho (Shinigami robes) have been placed in the bridal tent. You are to leave immediately."

"I … I won't be able to do this Commander, I can't. Four months … Sousuke … What do I say –"

Rina's heart nearly jumped out of her chest as she received a firm whack across her back, making her stumble forward onto her knees. She looked back in shock as her Captain, Kenpachi was glaring down at her in disgust. She knew that look, and she would not dare defy it. She quickly straightened herself up, kneeling down in front of the Commander Captain, as she bowed her head deep into her chest, "My sincerest apologies, Commander. I understand the situation and will leave immediately."

"My my, a wedding party without the Bride, Aizen Taichou?" Gin cooed, teasing towards Aizen.

Aizen and Gin stood by a table, sipping on drinks as they were watching the crowds of Shinigami's enjoy this rare occasion to their heart's content. The night sky nearly unseeable due to the amount of paper lanterns scattered across the large area, many tables lined the perimeter piled high with food and drinks. Aizen's eyes searching through the crowds, looking for Rina, but she was nowhere in sight. He took another sip of his drink, slamming his cup onto the table. Gin's fox like smile slowly thinning out.

"Would you like me to look for her, Aizen Taichou?"

Before he could give an answer a deep voice called out to him, "Sousuke!" Gin and Aizen's eyes turned to the source as Kyoraku and Ukitake waved happily to them in the distance. Kyoraku tipped his straw hat with one hand, holding a bottle of sake in the other. "Congratulations on the wedding!" His smile gradually fading as he had picked up on Aizen's displeased face, Ukitake was now the one to speak up, "Everything alright Aizen Taichou? If I'm not mistaken, this should be a happy occasion." Aizen pushed his thick rimmed glasses up his nose, being cut off yet again.

"It's because his wife has been assigned."

"Oh! Zaraki Taichou!" Kyoraku chimed. "Assigned? At a time like this?"

"Leave it to that old geezer to decide something like this."

Ukitake let out a friendly laugh, "What's this? Are you actually feeling bad for someone else, Zaraki?"

Kenpachi turned his head away, obviously not wanting to answer the question. Turning his gaze towards Aizen, as Aizen's face was unmoved by his announcement. 'Tch. This guy. Always needs to look cool even after I told him his wife will be leaving.' Kenpachi thought to himself. Yachiru now popping up from behind Kenpachi's shoulder, "You should go say bye to her. She's in her tent, she's about to leave." All eyes now on Aizen, everyone awaiting his answer in suspenseful silence. "If she wants to leave, let her. I understand." He muttered, walking away.

"RINA!" Rukia and Matsumoto yelled out in unison, pushing the tent's flap out of the way. Rina's back was turned towards them, dressing herself into her black Shinigami robes. Rukia's voice now roaring inside the tent, "Is it true?! You'll be leaving for four months!?" Rina answering in a flat tone, continuing to dress herself, "It's true."

"You can't! You just got married! Did you tell Zaraki Taichou about this?"

"It was a direct order from the Commander. There's nothing Zaraki Taichou can do." Rina's voice of obvious disappointment, now facing her two troubled friends as Rina let her black hair free, slipping the pins out. She waved her head from side to side, letting her hair loosen itself out. "Please, watch over him. He's not taking it too well." The tone Rina used on the word 'him' obviously meant Aizen.

Rukia and Matsumoto watching Rina prepare herself for departure with long faces, sharing the unfortunate pain their friend had to go through. "We will." Rukia assured her. Rina now fastening the sheath of her yellow handled Zanpakuto by her side, exhaling a disappointed breath. "I'll see you girls in four months." Matsumoto and Rukia rushing into Rina, wrapping their arms all around eachother in a tight hug. "We'll miss you." Rukia soothed. Matsumoto now pulling back as she declared in a proud voice, "I'll make sure Aizen Taichou won't forget you! I'll keep him in his place!" The three girls shared a light laugh together, pulling away.

"Are you leaving now?" Yachiru asked from the tent entrance. They all turned to look at her, as she seemed to be holding something in her hands. "Looks like. Be good, okay Yacihru?" The pink haired girl now puffed her cheeks in protest, "I'm not a little kid, Rina!" Rina gave out a light chuckle as Yachiru came closer to her, holding her hands contents out. "This is from the Commander. He said it's a key to an apartment, your cellphone and a change of clothes."

Matsumoto snatched the article of clothing out of Rina's hands, as both her and Rukia inspected it closely. "What is this? It looks like a school uniform." Yachiru nodded her head in elation, "Yep! Rin-Rin's going to be playing a high school student!"

"WHHAAATTT?!" Rina, Matsumoto and Rukia cried out in unison.

"Hm. Your assignment is in some town. Starts with a K? I think?" Yachiru pondered, tapping her index finger on her chin. "But you'll be assigned there."

"Is it about hollows?" Rina asked.

"The Commander just said it's of the utmost importance. I don't even think Ken-Chan knows much about it."

'Well that's reassuring…' Rina thought to herself in dismay.

"Good bye, Soul Society." Rina quietly whispered.

This was going to be Rina's first assignment in the World of the Living, and she wasn't going to lie, she was a little nervous. Even after the many unnecessary hollow slaughtering expeditions with her squad, she was more afraid of actual humans residing in that world than blood thirsty hollows themselves. She turned back around, walking forwards towards the towering Senkaimon, guarded by two Shinigamis on each side.

"What? No good bye? I'm gonna miss your handsome face?"

Rina spun around, greeted by the two beaming faces of Yumichika and Ikkaku. These two best friends who she saw as protective older brothers that constantly kept a close watch on her. Though not easy convincing them she did have fight within her because she was female at first, though after many friendly battles and hollow expeditions those expectations of Rina were shattered in an instant. Proving that Rina was more of a guy's girl than a girly girl.

Rina returned the smile as Yumichika and Ikkaku walked closer towards her, wearing the same sympathetic faces that Matsumoto and Rukia had after hearing the news. Rina was hoping to leave Seireitei with the least amount of given good byes, but it seemed as if people were just seeking her out to say their final farewells.

"Sorry guys. I didn't mean anything by it. I thought it'd be easier to leave without saying anything."

Ikkaku placed his hands behind his head, as he cocked an eyebrow up, "Ehhh? You're making it sound like you're leaving forever."

Yumichika now adding a teasing remark, "Well we don't know what'll happen to her on the other side. She might actually never come back."

Ikkaku hastily slapping a firm hand over Yumichika's head, "Idiot! Don't say stupid things like that!" He turned his head towards Rina, flashing a confident thumbs up, "Don't worry Rina! You'll do great!"

Rina gave a respected bow towards the two of them, "I'll try my best! Thank you both!" Rina's eyes widening as she straightened up from her bow, the feeling of glee nearly bursting from her heart as Aizen was standing behind both Ikkaku and Yumichika. The two best friends now nudging elbows at eachother, telling themselves it was time to make their leave. They both gave short bows to Rina and Aizen as they started to walk back to their quarters.

Aizen took Rina's hands into his, smiling down at the wedding ring she had worn proudly on her left hand, raising her left hand up to his lips as he placed a soft kiss on the cool wedding band. "I'm sorry things had to turn out this way, Sousuke." Her heart fluttered seeing his gentle smile take over, "Then should I fake your death right here, so we can both run off to the World of the Living?" Rina's face flattened of disbelief, 'Sometimes he can be so weird ...'

Rina etched these final moments into her mind. The starry night sky above them and the faded blaring music off in the distance was going to be her last reminder of their long awaited wedding day. This moment couldn't be any more romantic.

Aizen reached over, now slipping Rina's wedding band off. "Sous…uke?" Rina muttered in confusion. Rina carefully watched him as he reached into the pocket of his robes, pulling a silver chain out, skillfully slipping the thin chain through the wedding band. He walked behind Rina, securing the clasp behind her neck, "It would be odd for a high school student to wear a wedding band." He answered, returning in place facing her again. "Words can't describe how much I'm going to miss you, Sousuke."

He reached his hand out under Rina's chin, lifting it up as their eyes met, "Then don't say anything at all." Embracing his new wife into a tender kiss.

A kiss Rina would cherish forever.