Although Rukia and Byakuya had had quite a full day already, it was hardly close to being over. Rukia healed quickly and went on to battle an Arrancar named Rudobon alongside a few friends including Renji. Byakuya, on the other hand, ended up on the team that went against Yammy, who ended up being the number 0 Espada, the strongest of the lot, in his released form. Both Shinigami teams were victorious against their strong opponents in Hueco Mundo.
The war was ultimately won that day - Ichigo Kurasaki defeated Aizen right outside of the real Karakura Town that now resided in Soul Society. Unfortunately, to complete that task, he pulled out all stops and performed the Final Getsuga Tensho. What that single act meant for Rukia personally was devastating. Ichigo would lose his Shinigami powers and he would no longer be able to see or communicate with her.
Rukia stayed by Ichigo's side for days as he recovered from passing into unconsciousness almost immediately following his battle with Aizen. When Ichigo finally awoke, Rukia was right there by his bedside. He looked up into her beautiful violet eyes that were filled with tears, dreading this final moment.
"Rukia?" he said. "Is this…it?"
She nodded back at him.
"You're fading away….," he noted as he held his hand up to her face.
She didn't reply.
"I'm going to miss you," he said.
"Me, too," she replied. She bowed her head. Soon she was gone to him completely.
Rukia wiped her tears away. She had been trying to prepare herself for this moment ever since she knew it was going to happen. After all, it wasn't the end of the world as far as they were concerned, was it? She could still see him anytime she happened to be in the world of the living. They just wouldn't be able to interact while she was not in a gigai. Then again, now that the war was over, would she even have reason to come to the world of the living?
She made her way to Urahara's shop to use his Senkaimon to get back to Soul Society.
Within a few hours, she was back at Kuchiki manor. Rukia immediately went to her room and immersed herself in a warm bath. It's over. The realization finally hit her. Not only was the war over, but so was an important chapter of her life. She sat there thinking for a while about how she would need to move on to what was next – though a day or two of mourning what she had lost was certainly not uncalled for. That was the least she could allow herself to do.
Her next stop was the kitchen. She was hungry and it was not time for a meal, so she rummaged around the cupboards for something to snack on. She successfully found some leftover rice and meat and swirled them around together in a paste before eating.
Then it was off to the garden to spend some time alone with her thoughts. She went to one of her favorite spots – under a sakura tree by the koi pond right near the bridge.
Rukia sat there for a while not really keeping track of the time. When the sky started to turn pink off to the east, she figured she had probably missed the evening meal. Does Byakuya even know I'm home? I hope he's not upset that I missed dinner.
She noted the sky turning a purple color and the stars were starting to dot the sky. A lone figure walked across the bridge towards her. It was Byakuya.
"Good evening, Rukia," he greeted her.
"Nii-sama, I hope you don't mind that I'm here," she replied.
"Not at all. Are you alright?" he asked.
"I think so," she replied. "It's just been a hard…." she trailed off not really knowing how to end her sentence.
"I know," he replied. "We could all use a small break."
"Have you healed?" she asked.
"Nearly," he replied.
"That's good to hear," she said and smiled just a little.
"Would you mind if I joined you?" he asked.
"Not at all," she said. "This is your garden after all."
"Rukia, you are a member of this family as well," he noted.
"Yes, nii-sama. But it will always be your garden," she replied.
A comfortable silence enveloped the two Shinigami.
"Are you back for good now?" he eventually asked.
"Yes, I believe so," she answered. "Ichigo has lost his powers just as Urahara said he would. I said good-bye to him earlier today. It's just so unfair – he saves the Soul Society as well as the world of the living and the price he pays is that he loses his reiatsu and we can no longer freely interact with him."
"You seemed to like him quite a bit, Rukia," Byakuya said, probing.
"I did. He was unlike anyone I have ever met before," she replied.
"You became a different person upon meeting him," observed Byakuya.
"Nii-sama?" she questioned.
"It was that annoying human who finally brought you out of your shell of sadness and despair. Not only that, he opened my eyes to how my previous treatment of you was not acceptable," Byakuya explained. "As much as it pains me to say it aloud, the two of us owe him much."
"I didn't think you had noticed how sad I was," said Rukia. "Until recently we didn't really talk all that much."
Another pause in the conversation took place as Rukia looked up to stare at the moon. She sighed.
"I can see that you harbor quite a few feelings for Kurosaki," said Byakuya. "Will you be alright?"
She knew exactly what he was saying. "Nii-sama, I am going to miss him very much – and I do love him very much. But to be clear, my love for him is because he is one of my best friends and always will be. He is still human and even so, he is very young. Nothing romantic could ever happen between Ichigo and me."
Byakuya was pleased to hear this from his sister – but, to be honest, he wasn't sure why. When he continually saw how she was with him or how she was when she talked about him, an air of concern washed through him. Ever since Byakuya opened his heart to Rukia after Gin's attack, he had grown to care for her a great deal and did not want to see her get hurt. He was convinced that attempting love between the two realms was just asking for loneliness and heartache. That is, unless she was to eventually give her Shinigami life up for good just as he knew Ichigo's father had done.. Byakuya had wasted 50 years with Rukia and now that he was determined to be part of her life, he didn't want to lose her now.
OlOlOlOlOlO
Life slowly got back to normal in the seireitei. Only regular assignments by low-level Shinigami were now required to Karakura Town and most of the officers of the Gotei 13 recovered, celebrated, and were now working towards the next major effort – filling the empty officer spots left by the traitors who betrayed the Soul Society. Other than Renji, no one else that they knew of had achieved a bankai, but most of the captains agreed that Renji was not ready just yet to be a captain. Byakuya did promise to start training him and, if successful, Renji would most likely be eligible for promotion in about a year's time.
All the taichos knew that the strongest among the remaining Shinigami were most likely the fukutaichos. There were a few others who were seated officers or who were stationed in the world of the living that could be considered as well.
The taichos held an all-day meeting in the squad 1 barracks to work out who they thought were the closest candidates to taicho. There was also the case of the long vacant fukutaicho position in Ukitake-taicho's squad 13. It would be decided then and there who would be brought up to fill the positions.
All agreed on who were the weakest fukutaichos or fukutaichos who just weren't right for the job (such as Isane Kotetsu, who was a healer and not a fighter). The taichos considered both Yoruichi Shihoin and Kisuke Urahara. They were discussed, but quickly dismissed – and not because of their previous banishment by Central 46. Central 46 was still unseated after the earlier massacre and bringing the two of them back to the seireitei would have been easy enough. Kisuke and Yoruichi were both valuable in their current positions and had shown no desire whatsoever to return to Soul Society on a permanent basis.
"So it's decided then," said the soutaicho. "Izuru Kira will be the eventual captain of squad 3. He has performed his duties with great merit in the world of the living. He has run squad 3 very well since the defection and has continually showed great leadership. Juushiro Ukitake will be his mentor and will be responsible for preparing him."
"But soutaicho, shouldn't I be working on preparing a fukutaicho for my squad and not the taicho of another squad?" asked Juushiro in response.
"That is an excellent point. One that I have recently made a decision about," said Yamamoto. "I believe that Rukia Kuchiki is now ready to be a fukutaicho."
Upon hearing this, Byakuya stood up in surprise. His face showed defiance for just a split second before it went back to his normal unemotional state. "Soutaicho, I believe that we discussed this already," said Byakuya.
"I have no issue with that appointment," said Juushiro nearly interrupting his fellow taicho. Although he had respected Byakuya's wishes that Rukia remained unseated, he had felt for a while that she was much too strong to be kept where she was. That decision was hurting both her and the squad and he vowed that if it were ever brought up again, he would voice his approval to promote her.
"Kuchiki-taicho, you cannot disagree that your sister has done an admirable job in several capacities over the last year. She was the main communication thread with our allies in the world of the living. She helped show Kurosaki the correct way to become a Subsitute Shinigami by staying by his side for months on end. She defeated an Espada and several Arrancar after invading Hueco Mundo. Though she has been gravely injured several times, her fighting spirit has never diminished. And she is strong, Kuchiki-taicho. You can no longer deny her this position. If you do not want her to be squad 13 fukutaicho, you must give me a better reason than the fact that she is your adopted sister."
Byakuya thought about everything Yamamoto just said aloud. He remained silent but let the words sink into his psyche. There was no going against this at this point - he recognized that now. "Soutaicho, please allow me one month to train her. If she is to be a fukutaicho, I would like to ensure she is ready," he finally replied.
"You have one month, Kuchiki-taicho," replied the soutaicho. "Now moving on to our last vacancy, there are two finalists for the position that we must discuss. Rangiku Matsumoto and Shuuhei Hisagi."
Toshiro Hitsugaya was the first to speak up both for and against his fukutaicho. "Rangiku Matsumoto is an excellent fukutaicho. She has excellent decision-making skills and although she can be a goof at times, she knows very well when it is time to take things seriously. She would make a decent taicho. Though I do feel it is my duty to warn you of a few details – for one, she does not like paperwork. Also, her focus on everyday tasks is mediocre at best…and she likes to leave work early if possible."
"Ahem," the soutaicho cleared his throat, presumably not liking that the candidate had a few too many flaws for his liking.
Komamura then stepped forward. "Matsumoto is a decent enough fukutaicho, but in my opinion, she is not ready for a taicho slot. Shuuhei Hisagi has not only run his squad since the defection, but he has had to lead the Seireitei Communication publication. He has defeated Arrancar during the winter war which demonstrates his strength and cunning. He is an extremely reliable and mature individual who already commands the respect of those in the 9th squad."
"Komamura-taicho, you make it seem like he is a perfect Shinigami. Does he have any weaknesses?" asked the soutaicho.
"Of course," Saijin replied. "The biggest hindrance to him is his mental state after the defection. He idolized Tousen. Hisagi thought he could do no wrong and looked at life much the same way as his former taicho did. Suddenly his world was in turmoil because his mentor turned traitor. The guilt weighs on him heavily."
"Many of us were disappointed by the defection, Komamura-taicho," said Yamamoto. "Is it something he can overcome?"
"Yes, soutaicho. With new friendships and alliances, I believe forgetting Tousen will not be a problem for him."
"We will now vote," said the soutaicho. "Those in favor of Shuuhei Hisagi to be the eventual captain of squad 9, please step forward."
All of the taichos stepped forward, even Toshiro Hitsugaya.
"I am surprised to see you step forward, Hitsugaya-taicho," said Yamamoto.
"Although I think Matsumoto-fukutaicho has done an admirable job, I believe that Shuuhei Hisagi is clearly the better candidate," said Toshiro.
"Very well then, Shuuhei Hisagi is to be prepared for a taicho position. Komamura-taicho, will you be his mentor?" asked Yamamoto.
"Yes, sir. It would be my honor," said Saijin.
"I will send messages to the new taicho candidates about a mandatory meeting tomorrow. I would like for their mentors to be present as well. Kuchiki-taicho, would you please inform Rukia Kuchiki of the plans pertaining to her before the end of the day?" asked Yamamoto.
"Hai," replied Byakuya.
