"Last night, ten masked figures invaded the Seireitei. Somehow these strangers managed to sneak past security and make their way to the Senzaikyu. Once there, it was reported by guards that they managed to crush any attempt they made to fight back. They left soon after with the Espada now in their custody. No Shinigami were severely injured in the assualt. The leader of the group was said to be a strange silver-haired girl that lacked the Spiritual Pressure of an Arrancar, and instead appeared to be a Whole. Searches have commenced, but no clues have been found."

It was the third time she'd relayed the message, and still Ichigo stared at her in disbelief. She rolled her eyes impatiently. "Well, are you going to say something?"

"Do you... do you think it's her?" He said it softly, as though speaking too loudly would make the possibility go away. He searched her eyes, looking for any clue, any whisp of hope he could grasp on to.

Rukia smiled slowly, nodding. "Yeah. I think it is."

His breath left in a rush as he slumped back against the wall. He'd done his best to push everything that had happened behind him, tried to forget that terrible place, tried to forget her. The world never would let him be, would it? Not to say he wasn't... glad? Relieved? The words just didn't seem to match, didn't seem to properly convey just what he was feeling.

"Are you alright?" Rukia asked softly. She sat at his desk, across from where he was on his bed. It had been a month since he'd returned home. "I'm sorry, but I didn't want to wait to tell you. It just felt like... if you healed too much... the truth would break you even more in the end." She leaned back, crossing her arms over her chest and biting her lip.

His return had been decided almost immediately after the rescue of the prisoners. Ichigo Kurosaki would be going home. He would finish his healing among family and friends. To her surprise, Rukia had been sent to stay there, which she soon learned from Renji was the doing of none other than Byakuya. He was forgiven instantly, of course.

Upon his return, Ichigo had been met with the overwhelming joy of his family. One couldn't explain what he felt in the moment, though Rukia could see his expression change from bewilderment to recognition, and then, though he'd never admit it, to tears. She had watched him embrace his sisters, promising them over and over again he'd never be gone for so long again.

"No... it's alright." Ichigo said softly. He felt strangely numb now, as though he couldn't let her words sink in. "Thank you, Rukia." He swallowed thickly and looked away, looking as though he wanted to say something more but unable to.

"Ichigo... I wanted to thank you, too." The words were out before she could stop them. Suddenly, they were flooding out of her, the things she hadn't told him, the things she was afraid to. Seeing him in a moment of weakness... well, she had nothing to lose. They could be weak together. "Thank you for remembering me. Thank you for not giving up, when I know so many others would have. And thank you so much for being you through this all... thank you for being the stubborn ass you are and healing..." She gulped, hugging her shoulders as she began to shake. "Just... thank you for coming back, Ichigo."

Ichigo leaned forward suddenly. Before she could tell what he was doing, he'd gathered her up in his arms. He held her there in his arms while she cried against his chest, her shoulders shivering violently. He pressed his lips to the top of her head, closing his eyes as he felt her melt against him. It was the other way around, for once. As her tears dappened the fabric of his shirt, he pulled her closer, wishing with all his heart they could stay that way.

When her sobs finally subsided and she slumped against him, he still didn't let go. She didn't push him away. "How long will you be able to stay?" He asked her, his arms sliding away from her as she raised her head and looked up at him. "Will the Soul Society call you back again soon?"

Rukia didn't reply immediately. She studied his face, noted absently the way his eyebrows twitched when he was trying to keep control of his emotions. Saw how his eyes narrowed and his lips tightened in worry after she didn't reply for some time. "I'll stay as long as I can." She said finally, her voice somewhat hoarse. "I'm not finished with my mission yet, to help you heal and get on with the part of your life that's still normal. But..." Her hands clenched in the fabric of his shirt. "But... I don't want to leave, Ichigo. Never. I can't... I can't let something like this happen again..."

"Isn't it the guy's job to protect the girl?" Though his words were teasing, his face was solemn as he wiped away a fresh tear that spilled down her cheek with his thumb. She held his hand to her cheek, and he smiled softly. "I'll be fine, Rukia. Even when you do have to leave, just request being sent to Karakura Town more often in the future. I'll be waiting for you."

There lips touched for the second time, soft and tender, coveying a thousand feelings they weren't able to put into words, not yet. There would be plenty of time for these feelings to develop into the words both yearned to whisper, plenty of times for the feelings to grow. Suddenly, it didn't matter who was protecting who, whose fault this or that was, all that matter was this moment, their hearts warm and their bodies close.

All thoughts of gray stone and red blood were gone.

"Erm... Aiko-sama, was that really a good idea...?"

"What?" Aiko spun on her heel to face Juno, who was looking over his shoulder uneasily. Since Aiko's rule had begun, the young Arrancar was always her second-in-comand. The logic and sturdiness behind her kindness and wisdom, he had knowledge about Hueco Mundo and had proved a valuable asset in negotiating with Hollows in the area. That and, though they'd never admit it outloud, they enjoyed eachother's company.

"I said, do you think that was really a good idea? Rescuing the Espada?"

"We didn't rescue them..." Aiko waved her arms around, looking for an alternative as an excuse. "We're just... rehabilitating them."

"Then we did rescue them."

"Yep." The girl grinned, then her expression solemned again. "Why? Do you think it wasn't a good idea?" Aiko, despite her constant teasing of the boy, greatly valued his opinion when it came to things like this. Despite all her compassion and understanding, she tended to be rather naive and rash when it came to making big decisions.

"I just don't really understand your motives." Juno frowned. "What good will it do keeping them here instead?"

"Eh?" The silver-haired girl blinked, tilting her head to the side. "Well, I just didn't really like the conditions they were kept in there."

"...That's it? That's your reason for rescuing them? Certainly you don't believe you can convince all of them to change their ways?"

"Who knows? Some of them would change willingly. Others, like the blue-haired one, are gonna need time. But I do believe that if we try hard enough, we'll be able to show them they don't need to live the way they did, in constant battle. I don't believe that's all they're good for." Aiko sighed, scratching her head and shrugging nonchalantly. "But, whatever, you know. Maybe it wasn't a good idea."

"You don't mean that." Juno grinned, falling in step beside her as they continued down the hall. That was something he admired about the young soul. No matter what happened, she never doubted her decisions. "And I'm sorry for questioning you about it. I know you know what you're doing."

"I wouldn't say that." Aiko smiled softly and was quiet for a long moment, which was rather uncharacteristic. "Ichigo was always like that, you know. He never showed if anything bothered him. Always acted like he knew what he was doing."

The two walked in silence before Juno finally spoke again. "Hey, what will happen if they find out who took the Espada?"

"No need to worry." Aiko grinned. "I met an old friend. She just happened to be standing guard that night."

"You don't mean...?"

"Yup. Rukia Kuchiki. I introduced myself, and I guess Ichigo must have talked about me, because she seemed really surprised. She pretended not to know that we were breaking in and made a cover story. I don't think they'll be find us any time soon." The girl smiled. "You know, she was everything he said she was. She was really amazing."

Juno snorted and bumped her shoulder playfully. "You're amazing." He told her. "You're the one completely rearranging Hueco Mundo and 'rehabilitating' Espada that obviously won't be giving in any time soon. Honestly."

Aiko blushed slightly, but turned her face to hide it. "Idiot." She muttered. "You've been helping me."

"But I do have a question. Do you... do you wish it was you?"

"What?" She looked at him curiously. "What are you talking about?"

"Do you wish it was you who would end up with Ichigo, not Rukia?" For some reason, the words were thick on his tongue. He was afraid of her answer. It was obvious she'd once been in love with the substitute Shinigami, and he was hoping against all hope that wasn't still the case.

She snorted sarcastically. "You kidding? He's way too old for me. But seriously... I don't think so. I mean, meeting Rukia in person, seeing what he saw in her, it was pretty freaking obvious they fit together like two puzzle pieces. That, and I've got responsibilities now, and so does he."

Juno felt his shoulders relax, though he told himself it was ridiculous to be relieved. "So you're moving on?"

"There was nothing to move on from. Ichigo will always be my mentor, I believe. That's the way I'll always remember him."

"Yeah, you're pretty amazing." Juno murumured, softly enough that she didn't hear him.

"So, this is it, then." Aiko had a bit of a skip to her step now as they neared the gates that led down into the prison where the Espada were being held. "I don't know about you, but I'm really ready for a change in this place."

The end, everybody! XD

Thank you so much, every single one of you, from those who just started reading recently to those who have been with me from the very beginning. You've all inspired me with your encouragement and support and helped me complete a story I can confidently name 'succesful'. I truly believe that through this, I grew not only as a writer, but as a person as well. Ha, who said a thirteen-year-old couldn't make it on Fanfiction?

My reviewers: hitsugayatoshirou1220, LAWLS117, Miku Alli, KitElizaKing, djAngelynn, Ebbie54, I am myself, Mari Kia Resha Aishteru, Suyi, Gareth1989754, kiyari817, advancehater, Shannon Hitsugaya, laari w. black., oh, Bleached-Whale, and PoisonFish.

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