Seireitei- 4th division

"I can't believe that we actually managed to win, said Shūhei"

"You said it, said Katsurou"

The two friends were sitting in a room at the 4th division and both had just got their injuries healed.

"Any news on your father yet?"

"No. It's been three hours since we got home and captain Unohana is still working on him.

-Hopefully she'll come and inform me soon. I'm really worried about dad. That damn Arrancar really injured him bad, as if his lungs weren't already weak as it is"

Then, the door opened and Retsu entered the room.

"How are you two doing?"

"Very well captain Unohana"

"That's good lieutenant Hisagi.

-What about you lieutenant Ukitake?"

"I'm fine"

Retsu could see in his eyes that something was bothering him and she knew exactly what.

"Lieutenant Ukitake come with me"

"Right. See you later Shūhei "

Katsurou stood up from were he sat and followed the captain out of the room.

"I'm glad to say that captain Ukitake will make a full recovery. His injuries were really bad, especially because that Arrancar hit his right lung. But thanks to the emergency healing you did on the spot and the healing I did, he'll be just fine"

"Oh thank you so much for helping him, captain Unohana"

Katsurou bowed as a way to show how grateful he was.

"There's no need to thank me, I was just doing my job.

-He is asleep right now and will probably not wake up until tomorrow but you can still go in and see him"

"Right"

Retsu gave him a gentle smile before she showed him to the right room.

"Here it is. I need to go and check on captain Komamura but I'll be back later to check on captain Ukitake"

"I understand. Thank you again captain"

With that, Retsu walked away while Katsurou entered the room and saw that Jūshirō was asleep just like she had said.

Katsurou gently pulled the quilt up a little before he sat down. Not long after that, he fell asleep right there in the chair next to his sleeping father.

When Retsu came an hour later she couldn't help but smile a little when she saw Katsurou asleep with his arms and head on the bedside, one of his hands really close to his father's.

She did her check-up as quietly as she could and before she walked out again, she placed a blanket over Katsurou.

The next morning.

Katsurou woke up by the feeling of someone trying to shake him awake. He opened his eyes and looked to the side. All he saw at first was a blur of pink and black.

"Good morning kiddo"

"Uncle Shunsui"

His vision focused and the person standing there was indeed Shunsui.

"Unohana told me to wake you up so you could get something to eat. She heard your stomach growl earlier when she was here"

Katsurou was about to say otherwise when he actually started to feel hungry. He hadn't eaten since before they went to fight in the fake Karakura town.

"I guess that's a good idea"

"Let's go then. We'll hurry up so we're here when Jūshirō wakes up"

"Right"

The two left the 4th division barracks to find a place to get some food and about an hour later, they came back and meet Isane.

"Captain Kyōraku, lieutenant Ukitake good timing. Captain Unohana was just checking on captain Ukitake and she believes that he will wake up soon"

"That's good to hear lieutenant Kotetsu, said Shunsui"

The two walked into the room and Katsurou sat down on his father's right side while Shunsui sat down on the left side.

After a while, Jūshirō slowly opened his eyes and looked at his son and best friends.

"Suro...Shun"

"Don't talk too much yet old friend. You're still weak"

"What...happened?"

"That Arrancar kid impaled you, injuring your right lung. Suro gave you emergency healing on the spot and then Unohana worked hard heal you both there and when we got back"

"You had both of us really worried dad but captain Unohana said you'll make a full recovery"

Jūshirō looked at his son. On the outside he seemed very calm about everything but his eyes said something else.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to worry you"

Katsurou looked at Jūshirō before a slight smile made its way over his face and hugged his father very gently.

"It's okay dad, don't worry about it.

-It's after all not the first time I worry about you"

Shunsui chuckled at those words and when they released the hug, he placed a hand on Jūshirō's shoulder.

"But try not to make it happen again okay"

Jūshirō gave his friend a smile and a nod.

"I'll do my best"

The other two smiled when he said that and then, a Hell Butterfly came in from the half opened window and landed on the lieutenant's shoulder.

Katsurou held out his hand so the butterfly flew over to it and he listened to the message.

"Who is that from, Shunsui asked"

"Shūhei. He and the others are going to celebrate our victory and he wants me to join them"

He waved a little so the butterfly disappeared before standing up.

"I guess I'll go join them for a while"

"Do that Suro"

"Yeah, I'll keep your father company for a while"

Katsurou smiled and nodded at the two before he walked out of the room.

Just as he was about to walk out of the barracks, Isane came up to him.

"You going to meet up with the others as well Isane?"

"Yes, everyone is stable so captain Unohana told me to take a break"

"Let's go then"

The two lieutenants walked through the streets to the café were they usually meet up when they had time-off.

"Welcome, said a waitress"

"Thank you, said Isane"

"Are the other lieutenants here, Katsurou asked"

"Yes sir, they're over there"

"Thank you"

They walked over to where she had pointed and found Omaeda, Izuru, Renji, Tetsuzaemon, Nanao, Shūhei, Rangiku, Ikkaku and Yumichika.

Katsurou sat down next to his best friend and Isane next to Nanao. They all then ordered either Sake or tea to drink as well as something small to eat.

"Well guys, we did it, said Izuru"

"Yeah, we defeated the Arrancars and made sure that both Karakura town and the Soul Society are safe from them, said Shūhei"

"And don't forget that Central 46 is going to pass judgement on Aizen any day now, said Renji"

"So cheers to our victory, said Rangiku"

Everyone picked up their cups and raised them.

"KAMPAI!"

A week later.

Katsurou was on hsi way back to the 13th after leaving a few reports to other divisions when he saw Yachiru sit on a wall.

"Yachiru what are you doing without Captain Zaraki?"

"Kenny is being scolded by Gramps along with Byakki and Shun-shun"

"That's right, those three lost their Haori in their battles against the Arrancars. Yamamoto is very strict when it comes to that.

-This I have to see"

Katsurou went to the 1st division and hid his spiritual pressure so Yamamoto or the three captain wouldn't sense him before sneaking onto the balcony outside Yamamoto's office.

He was surprised to find his father there but figured he may had acompanied Shunsui there.

The two then heard Yamamoto yell.

"You idiots!

-Each of you is telling me you've lost your Haori. Damaging it is one thing but losing it is outrageous! How can the three of you stand there looking so nonchalant about it!"

"Head-captain you make too much of this situation, said Byakuya

-In the end, they were just cheap coats"

"You think that is going to resolve the situation?! That's not even the primary thing I'm concerned about here! And for your information, those were anything but cheap!

-Battles are not just about winning. What do you people think a captain Haori is?!"

"A royal pain, said Kenpachi"

"A cheap garment, said Byakuya"

"A fashion statement, said Shunsui"

"You're nothing but a bunch of ignorant baboons!"

Outside, the two 13th division leaders decided to leave before Yamamoto noticed them.

"The head-captain at least seemed to be in good spirit"

"You're right Suro. It's been ten days since the battle and since he lost his left arm.

-I was worried he would see himself as crippled and lose his spiritual vitality. But his strength seems to be back so that's a relief to me. There's no Soul Reaper here who's able to take his place"

"You're right"

"Have your heard about Ichigo by the way?"

"Yes. He's going to lose his powers just because he helped us defeated Aizen"

"He is the greatest allied the Soul Society has ever had and now, he'll lose his powers as a Soul Reaper"

"Do you think we should send Rukia to the world of the living with him and the others?

-She is his friend and I think she would like to spend time with him until his powers vansihes and with that, he ability to see her"

"I was actually thinking about that myself"

"Then we'll let her go with them"

A few hours later: 13th division.

Katsurou was sitting in his office when there was a knock on the door.

"Come in"

The door opened and Rukia came in.

"You wanted to talk with me, sir"

"Ah yes"

Rukia walked over so she stood in front of his desk.

"The captain and I have decided to let you go with Ichigo and the others back to the world of the living"

"Huh"

"Ichigo is your friend and we thought that you deserve to be with him until his powers vanishes and with that, his ability to see you"

"Thank you so much sir"

Rukia bowed out of gratitude and Katsurou smiled at her when she looked up at him again.

And so, the war with Aizen had come to an end with the Soul Society as victors. Aizen was sentenced to 20,000 years in the lowest level of the underground prison, Muken.

But despite the victory, there was some sadness since the Soul Society was going to lose its greatest allie, Ichigo.