EPILOGUE
1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS LATER

Gin was currently standing on Squad Three's platform, the head captain and Izuru standing on both sides of him. Rangiku was sitting in the front row, a hand slowly waving a fan in front of her face, the sun reflecting off a small gold band that rested on her finger, while her right gently rubbed the well defined curved bump in her stomach now that she was about four months pregnant. Hisako sat beside her with a smile while watching Byakuya bounce a now six month old Kaemon on his knee, the little boy giggling merrily at his father while reaching for his bangs that hung in his face by the kenseiken. The little boy's bright onyx/blue eyes were curious as he reached atop his head of black curls, trying to swipe off a butterfly that decided to land there. Byakuya gave a soft chuckle and reached out a finger, letting the butterfly crawl onto it. He lowered his finger in front of the toddler's face, watching in delight as the young boy giggled and now reached for the colorful bug. But when it flew off, the boy pouted his lower lip and began to whimper, his eyes closing as he collapsed onto Byakuya's chest and beginning to wail. Hisako quickly improvised and plucked a yellow flower that was growing in the grass beside her chair. She held it up in front of Kaemon and his crying settled, replaced by curious coos as he took it and looked over the strange, smelly thing with green leaves hanging off it. He shined a toothless grin as he cackled, tossing the flower at Byakuya's face. Rangiku and Hisako both giggled, enjoying the little show Kaemon was giving rather than watching the ceremony. Eventually the little one tuckered himself out and his eyes began to droop closed. Byakuya hugged the infant to him and cradled him as he began to slumber, a thumb in his mouth and the other hand securely around Byakuya's thumb. Hisako sighed, looking at Rangiku, "Kaemon wipes himself out by doing the smallest things."

Byakuya chuckled, "He's just a baby Hisako." she rolled her eyes, hitting him across the shoulder.

"I can see that." Rangiku enjoyed listening to their conversations.

"Whew, but it is tiring." Byakuya stated as he shifted Kaemon to his other arm.

"It's called parenthood Byakuya." she said while stroking the infant's black curly hair. Rangiku looked down at her own belly, wondering what her child would look like. She guessed that it would have her hair, and Gin's eyes and fox-like smile. She felt a little kick and smiled, putting a hand on her stomach as Gin's name was called for him to stand.

/Yes, that's your daddy up there./ She giggled silently when she felt a few more kicks.

Rangiku directed her attention back to the stage, where the head captain cleared his throat, "And now, we will once more bestow Squad Three unto Gin Ichimaru. Lieutenant Kira, the haori, if you please." Izuru nodded and opened a box, lifting out a crisp haori with the symbol three on the back. Izuru smiled while helping Gin into his old haori. Gin chuckled once it was back on his shoulders.

"Oh yes, I've missed this." that brought a few laughs from the audience as Gin straightened the haori down. There a large sound of clapping arose as people stood, Rangiku's eyes shining brightly once more as she grinned at him, getting a wink in return. Gin turned to the head captain, bowing slightly, "Thank you head captain, and if you don't mind, I will now go kiss my pregnant wife." Rangiku giggled as he flash stepped to her and had his arms around her in an instant. He kissed her tenderly, "I told you it would work out." brushing a stray bang from her cheek, he tucked it behind her ear and trailed his hand down her shoulder, eventually going far enough so he could lace his fingers with hers. Her eyes and smile softened as she took his hand an placed it on her belly, on a particular spot where they could feel a little kick.

"Yes. This is proof." she pointed to her belly, making him laugh, "He's been kicking non-stop since the ceremony began." she said, looking down at her growing belly. He chuckled, caressing her stomach with a warm hand. Hisako came up behind Rangiku with a wide smile on her face.

"Congratulations!" she hugged Gin as Byakuya came and stood by Rangiku, Kaemon awake again and kicking his little legs as he reached for Gin, "I think someone wants to see you." Hisako took Kaemon from Byakuya and gave him to Gin. Kaemon cackled as he played with the locket around Gin's neck, cooing with wide eyes as he flipped it over again and again.

"He has your smile Hisako." Rangiku patted Kaemon on his head.

"Yes, but everything else is his fathers." Kaemon looked at his mother, "Yes you do. Say I look like my daddy!" she tickled him, making his giggles grow as he hid in Gin's shoulder, "Where he gets those curls, I have no clue." A little yawn came from him as he finished looking at Gin's locket. Hisako took him back and held him on her hip, letting him fall asleep on her shoulder, "I swear, all this child ever does is play and sleep, and yet he's growing like a garden weed!" Byakuya smiled, something that had been more common since Kaemon was born, as he watched his son slumber peacefully.

"Hey, I'm not the one feeding him." Byakuya said in defense. Hisako rolled her eyes, passing a glance at her husband.

"Nor do you change him either. You do all the playing." Rangiku laughed, patting her stomach.

"I can't wait for this little one to get here. Maybe Kaemon and this one can be playmates." Hisako nodded, and the two started talking about different names if it was a boy or if it was a girl. Their husbands shook their heads as the giggles and suggestions kept coming. Gin watched as the sun hit Rangiku, illuminating her already glowing features as she stood there with Hisako. He couldn't get over the miracle that kept him alive and with her. He didn't know what god was out there that was watching over him, but he thanked them every day, with every kiss he gave Rangiku and every kick his child made in her stomach. Every night he would sit with her on the couch, in dead silence, just enjoying each other's company as he watched in awe, how she would change as her belly grew bigger. He would smile at her, while she hummed and softly rubbed her stomach, asking him what gender he thought the baby was. He was happy either way, as long as it was healthy when it was born. Rangiku would lean against him and agree, but she would confess that she secretly hoped it was a girl, so they could both bug Captain Hitsugaya. Yes, she was back to her old self, like Gin had hoped. No that they were married, he could finally hold her like he wanted to in Rukongai, caress her like he dreamed of, love her without a chance of heartbreak. And now, now he was going to be the father of her child.

An unexpected tear slipped from his eye. He was glad Yamamoto set up the scheme to pretend that his memories were erased. His memories were a constant reminder of how he would never break her heart again. He would never be that stupid again, he promised himself that. Kami… he was going to be a father. The pride in knowing that swelled in his soul. He had thought about becoming a father when he was younger, but when he became a soul reaper and under Aizen's control, he gave up on that thought. Now, three years later, his dream is coming true… and with Rangiku. That single thought sent him soaring. He never wanted to sleep now. Reality was finally better than his dreams could ever be. He would rather stay up while Rangiku was asleep, feeling the little life with his fingertips as it kicked away. Often Rangiku would wake up beside him, and would crack an eye open and ask him what he was doing. Being the 'funny' man he was, he would say that he was feeling their little fox cub move around.

Wiping away the tear before anyone could see, he smiled and put his hand on her shoulder, "I guess we better get going. I have a surprise I need to show Rangiku." oh, and what a surprise it was going to be. With goodbye hugs and a coo from Kaemon, the couples parted ways. Gin took Rangiku's hand and started to drag her across Sereitei.

Gin, where are you taking me?" she giggled while being dragged along the streets.

"It's a surprise! Like I said, ya just gotta trust me!" with a sigh she began to run beside him. At about the edge of Sereitei, she slowed down, out of breath.

"Wait just for a minute. I can run as much being pregnant." with a chuckle, Gin took her pink scarf and tied it around her eyes, blindfolding her, "Hey!" she screamed when she was swept up in his arms, giggling with her head swayed back as he flash stepped with his wife of five months into Rukongai, her arms tightly around his neck.

"You'll see! Just hold on!" a few more minutes he finally slowed down, coming to a stop, "We're here." he placed her back on her feet, "Now, a week ago, the head captain came in and gave me an offer I couldn't refuse. Since we are adding to our family in a few months, he thought we would be needing some extra room. So, he gave us this." he took the scarf off around her eyes and the blue orbs went wide, a gasp coming from her mouth has an hand covered it.

"Gin… it's beautiful." tears spilled from her eyes as she walked towards her new house. It was painted a soft light blue color, with white shutters and a green lawn and bushes full of red roses, "It's beautiful." she repeated as she ran back to Gin and hugged him, "Let's go look!" he nodded and linked arms with her, strolling past the rose bushes that lined the sidewalks. He reached down and plucked a rose, then took off the thorns and stuck the flower behind her ear. He pulled a key from his pocket and unlocked the wooden door. The second she heard the lock click, she jerked the door open and rushed inside the foyer, gasping as she looked in every direction. The walls were painted a very light yellow, with white doorframes and white bookshelves, dark blue curtains with vivid yellow daisies splattered on them hanging in front of the windows, pulled back in the middle to let some sunlight in. There was a beautiful piano in the living room, made from the finest carved wood and was sitting in the middle of the back wall. Rangiku always loved the piano. Even though she could only play a few songs that Orihime taught her, she fell in love with the instrument and wanted one terribly. Captain Hitsugaya had told Gin, so he immediately went and bought the finest one in the World of the Living, then brought it back secretly and hid it (how is still a mystery) until the house was paid for and they started moving things in. The couch was a dark blue, matching the curtains by having little yellow flowers scattered about it. There was a small recliner under the window, a simple white color, and was so stuffed with cotton and cushions you could probably sink into it. Rangiku turned and marveled at the kitchen. It was also a pale yellow, with blue hand towels and beautiful appliances and cookware, along with cookbooks, also from the World of the Living (Gin found a Williams & Sinoma magazine). She explored the den, where there was yet another couch and double panel doors to the backyard, and on the next wall over there was a wall sized window looking out at the distant fields and mountains. It looked like a home from a magazine! Not something that you find in Soul Society. She thought it looked like a home in the countryside. The carpet was an off-white and was soft to the touch, something Gin picked out because if the baby ever fell he would land on something soft. There were two more recliners in a dark red and a dark blue. The red one had a baby swing beside it and a coffee table in front, a few new baby items sitting on the glass top table (Gin was still baby-proofing the house)

She eventually traveled upstairs to the bedrooms. Upstairs, the first room she saw was the dark, blood red master bedroom, filled with a walk in closet, a king sized bed with crimson sheets, two dressers, one with a mirror (you can guess who's that is) a few floor lamps, a bassinette, another rocking chair, and the master bathroom. The master bathroom was a dream! It had white marble tiles, a white jacuzzi tub, a white toilet, a separate shower, and two sinks. The bathroom was also the blood red, with white cherry blossoms painted onto it. She walked back into the bedroom and sat on the bed. The soft mattress literally almost swallowed her up into its down stuffing. When she looked to the side, she gave a tiny, almost inaudible gasp, standing up and walking to the wall, where a 17" by 25" picture hung in front of her. It was the picture from that party. The one she pulled out of her dresser the night Gin came home, "Do ya like it?" whispered Gin, putting his arms around her shoulders as his chin propped on the crown of her soft orange hair. She nodded, fighting back tears from either the hormone changes or her happiness. She chose the latter reason and began to bawl.

"It's amazing!" she turned to him and hugged him, crying as he pet her back, "But how are we going to pay for this?" Gin grinned, tucking that stupid stray hair from her face.

"Like I said, Yamamoto got it already paid for. Besides, he said that there doesn't need to be a baby crying at Squad Three's barracks at night and messin up everyone's sleeping hours." she giggled, "Come see the baby's room." he led her down the hallway until they stopped in front of a closed white door. He turned the doorknob and opened it, slowly walking her inside. Her eyes lit up and her tears stopped as she looked at the room in awe, "Since we don't know what gender the baby is yet, I thought we could just paint it green. What do ya think?" she nodded. The room was a soft mint/grass green color, birds of every color painted on the walls as they had their wings spread in frozen flight. The crib was a pure white, with a mobile above the head, the little seashells slowly rocking as the breeze from the open window blew across the room, past the yellow curtains and into the mobile. There were little stuffed bears and elephants, as well as rabbits (courtesy of Rukia) lining the crib and tucked into a basket beside it. There was a wood changing table, a small shelf beside it packed with the materials needed to change a diaper. There was a dresser with little clothes in it, ranging from newborn sizes to infants of 1 year, from Rangiku's recent baby shower hosted by the Soul Reapers Women's Association. Little blankets were neatly folded and stacked in a drawer, each with cute little animal or flower designs. She sat in the rocking chair and studied the room. Gin was still standing at the doorway.

"It's flawless. I'm at a loss for words." a hand propped itself on her stomach, "There's so much room here." he nodded, walking in and sitting in the floor beside the rocking chair, "There's no way to thank the head captain for this."

"He said not ta worry about it. Besides, we did need the extra room anyways. Why not just thank him and accept this beautiful house without questions?" she shrugged, looking out the windows at the cherry blossom trees as they swayed with the breeze, "And, there is an extra room down the hallway~." he sang slowly in her ear, making her giggle and turn her head in his direction.

"Why the hell are you singin? Who said I wanted another kid?" he pouted, moving to his knees.

"Awe, but we have so much fun." he whispered while nuzzling his nose behind her ear, kissing the ear's edge while nibbling on the soft earlobe, causing more giggles to come from his entertained wife.

"Do we? Or am I just faking?" he arched an eyebrow, a golden red eye opening.

"Your face shows all my dear." his fox smile growing as a slender finger traced her amused smile, "I know you pretty well to know if you're faking or not." his lips pecked hers, "Besides, ya know ya can't resist me." his eyes looked into hers smugly, a corner of his lips curling up slightly when she huffed and crossed her arms.

"You can't prove that." chuckling, Gin stood and sat on the chair's arm, putting an arm around her shoulder as she gazed at the blossoms outside, "Aren't they pretty?" her soft features tilted to the right, trying to see out further.

"Yes. You are." her head jerked back to his, a blush gracing her pale pink cheeks as he melted to him. His free hand went to stroke her stomach gently in circular motions, "And I bet you will be too." she placed her hand on his, her thumb moving over his knuckles as he continued to move it across her belly. She suddenly felt tired from the day's activities, and she slowly descended into a light slumber, leaning against him as she steadily breathed. He heard her deep breathing and smiled when he looked down to see her asleep. He stood up and put an arm under her knees and around her shoulders, lifting her against him. He walked to their new bedroom and laid her on the bed, eventually getting her under the red sheets. He climbed beside her and rested his head on the crown of her hair, an arm sneaking around her waist to rest on her belly again as he snuggled closer to her, "I love ya baby." he barely whispered to her as he too took a nice afternoon nap.

Seven months had now passed by; trust was once again gained, happiness was restored, and a new baby girl, about a month old now, had arrived. Rangiku decided to name her Kitsunko (fox child), because she had her father's fox like smile, as well as his silvery white hair. She had Rangiku's powdery blue eyes and milky pale skin, a perfect combination for the little girl as she smiled and cooed at everything around her. Momo, Rukia, and Hisako fawned over the infant, all making a big fuss over who would hold her next. Even Kaemon took a liking to her, grinning at her and laughing every time she laughed, and even let her hold the small seaweed ambassador plushy he had. Hisako and Rangiku would wink at each other and smile, their husbands standing behind them confused and curious at the winking gestures their wives would give each other. Kitsunko would give the biggest cries if she wasn't held by Gin if he was in the room. She would cry and cry, reaching out her arms to him, but her cries would die down once she was safe in his hold. She would begin to coo and gurgle, reaching up her tiny hand to pat his smiling face. What attracted her, which was strange to him, was his scarlet red eyes. A few people he knew hated his eyes, saying that they looked like evil was inhabiting them, but Kitsunko, she loved the red orbs. When he opened his eyes towards her, she would shine a toothless grin and kick her little legs beneath her pink blankets. She would also reach out and play with the locket that still hung around his neck. When she grew to a few months old and began teething, that locket became the main teething ring, not that Gin minded.

Rangiku was stunned one day when she came home with Kitsunko to find the whole house almost completely covered in bubble wrap. She caught Gin in the act before he got to wrap their bedroom, and she was even more surprised to find Byakuya helping him. When she told Hisako, she laughed and told her how Byakuya did the exact same thing, only Byakuya went overboard and even wrapped all the trees and fences in the backyard, since Kaemon could waddle and figure out how to slide the back door open and tumble outside. Rangiku would burst into laughter, her little Kitsunko still managing to nap. There would soon be a tap on the door and an eager Gin would walk in shortly after, waving at Hisako while kissing Rangiku on the cheek. They would all stand and go for a stroll in the gardens afterwards, watching as the cherry blossom trees sprinkled petals on them. Rangiku sighed. This, was how life was supposed to be.

OMG! ITS FINISHED! *cries* I thought Kitsunko would be a cute name since it means "Fox Child". Haha. Gin's little fox baby!!! :) I know, it's weird to have him re-positioned a year and 2 months after the little fight, but I thought it just needed some time to have his squad's trust back. I have edited chapter 6 in a few areas so if u want to go back and read it feel free to. :)

Review Review Reviw PLEASE! :) I may put up a sequel!!!! :)