Yes, everyone, I'm still alive. I'm just slowing down.

Good news: It's an update; hoorah.

Bad news: I've been suckered with a number of deadlines I'll be having trouble meeting. Why is this damn little shit so short, anyway?

It was inexcusable, really.

What she did, she knew, was not permitted pardon.

She had, after all, betrayed; turned her back on all that should have meant something to her and her clan.

She had dashed all that she had to hold true upon the ground and trod all over it for the sake of one man called Urahara Kisuke. That one man she had grown up beside, trained and played together with. For his sake, she forsook her position's.

But she had no regrets about that. For a long, long time, she had no regrets.

She did not regret running out on a life of duties, nor did she wish she could return to a life of honorable servitude to the general population. She did not mourn leaving all those who expected so highly of her, nor did she miss those who worshiped her very being.

No regrets at all.

No, she did not miss the little girl who stumbled after her, stuttering and flushing with her nervousness. She did not miss the child who tried so hard to please her with everything she could do.

She did not miss that sweet young lady called Soi Fong, whom she had seen as a baby sister to watch over.

"Why didn't you take me with you...Yoruichi-sama...?"

Neither did she miss the lad of his rich house, struggling so hard to grasp the concept of games. She did not miss him, either; not him, not his stiff schooled formalities, not his confusion at the slightest bit of mirth she targeted at him, not his solemn determination to train himself to keep up with her, just so they could hold onto one - just one - decent round of fun for a while before the elders caught whiff of anything.

She did not miss that innocent little boy called Kuchiki Byakuya, whom she had taught to play tag.

"...this time, I will catch you..."

Not pardonable, what she did, but without regrets. Not forgivable, but without laments. Not excusable, but without mourning of past times.

What had been done, was done. She had lived a hundred years knowing that, and would probably live another hundred years knowing that.

She did not miss, did not lament, did not regret, did not mourn.

She had been around far too long to hold onto such things of mortal origin; things that were inherited from having lived once.

All she had to give those that she left behind to move on, were words that she had to say. And said those words, she did.

"Forgive me, but I have my reasons."

The afterlife was far too long for anything more or less.

Nelia-chan: one can only dream now, can he?

Random Prophet: ...um...what? Well, if you could consider Ichigo and Renji as the French and the bunnies, whatever makes you happy.

ice illuser: I personally found it a little rushed, but I guess that's just me. Still, glad you liked it.

jy: Wow, really? I'm flattered; thank you.

AnimeGirl622: Yes, you're right about the pairing (Heaven and many a fan forbid me pair them with anyone else...) Thanks for that compliment; I'll and get more to write on this favored coupling.
And yes, Renji's been stuck with a lonely life for too long, and I'm not helping him. Heh.
You're also one of those few people who likes that Ryuuken bit; it's another of those chapters I feel was too rushed in doing.

een nihc: Ain't that the truth; I always felt the same way until I acquired my hamster Moonie and the neighbor's kid Kenny came along. As much as both got to me, they grew on me; coming home was better with them around.