A super short and super sad chapter where Ichigo has to leave everyone as he goes back to Karakura Town. Two reasons why this chapter is important. One: You get to see everyone acting all sentimental. Two: You get to see Kon again after his mysterious disappearance from all the other chapters! And yes, he's still the same old stubborn Kon! Enjoy the chapter!!

Saying Good Bye

Rukia's eyes traveled from her glistening tiara all the way to the bottom hem of her new dress. Her tailor, Uryu Ishida, had just finished making the very last adjustments on the gown. Rukia swiftly twirled around and let the skirt flow up as she twirled. She wore an off the shoulder dress and a tight bodice that hugged from her chest to her waist. The rest of the cloth flowed down to form the skirt and several layers were added to give it a poof. The sleeves were also off the shoulder and it flowed on her arm till a slit was made at the elbow. She also wore a sash along with the dress that shone with white brilliance. Her entire dress was made entirely of shades of purple with each skirt layer a different shade. Her sleeves were lavender and so were most of the designs on her bodice. She had her dark raven hair pinned up by a large jeweled clip. Rukia also wore her sword, Sode no Shirayuki, at her waist with her entire gown. She really looked like royalty now.

"Rukia! You look so beautiful!" Naori gleefully commented, causing Rukia to blush all over.

"You look cute too!" Rukia replied back in the same giddy manner.

Naori smiled back and she also twirled around to show off her gown. She wore a sparkling midnight blue gown. It was a spaghetti strap dress with the scrunched up bodice ended just below her chest. The rest was made of sparkling cloth and dark blue satin that flowed all the way down to the floor. She also had transparent yet still sparkling sleeves at started from the spaghetti straps and ended just at her wrists. She had also worn a sash like Rukia's, except it was green and a star connected the ends at the top of her shoulders and the other ends were tied at her waist. Her dark blue hair was partially put into a ponytail with a golden pendant holding it back and the ends of her side bangs were clipped with golden beads that perfectly matched her eyes. She looked almost as dazzling as Rukia.

Naori faked a curtsy to Rukia. "Why thank you!" She mimicked one of those high-class people and both sisters laughed in glee.

Meanwhile…

On the floor above the two girls, which could be accessed by the grand stairs on the side, there were Ichigo and Byakuya talking about serious business. Byakuya kept a super straight face that it even made Ichigo nervous on what he wanted to talk about. Ichigo kneeled on the floor before Byakuya and vice versa as they began to talk. The room was spacious, but it needed a couple of decorations here and there.

"You summoned me Byakuya?" Ichigo asked.

"Please refer to me as "Kuchiki-sama." Byakuya muttered in an irritated tone. "Yes, I have summoned you to let you collect your reward. Here are the five billion yen as promised and my apology as well." Byakuya pushed a suitcase full of cash towards Ichigo.

Ichigo stared down at the load of money before him and he slowly pushed it back to Byakuya. "I accept your apology…but I don't want the money." He s honestly said.

Byakuya suspiciously eyed Ichigo with intent behind his face. "Is there something else you want then?" He asked.

Ichigo sighed and glanced away from Byakuya's stare. "It isn't something you can give…" He mumbled to Byakuya.

Byakuya continued to look at Ichigo with a confused look. How was it that a man changed from conning for the money to refusing it when given? "Why do you not want the money now?" Byakuya asked. "You were the servant boy, weren't you? You saved Rukia, Naori and, I. Also, you restored my lost relatives back to me. Yet, you want nothing in return. Why the change of mind?"

"It was more like a change of heart." That was what Ichigo said before leaving the room. He gave a short quick bow to Byakuya before exiting.

Byakuya arched a brow at the boy, still visibly confused. Moments later, he finally figured it all out. It seemed like Ichigo wanted something that was worth more than money and probably all the money in the world. Byakuya wondered if he would allow it…

"Kurosaki!" Byakuya called out to Ichigo and tossed a package to him. "Do me a favor and toss this piece of junk out."

Ichigo shrugged and took the package with him. It was very long and slender and it was wrapped with fine black silk. Ichigo held onto it as he made his way down the stairs where he encountered Rukia going up.

"Hello Ichigo." Rukia curtly greeted him.

"Hello…Rukia." Ichigo replied in the same fashion.

"Did you get your reward?" Rukia grimly asked to her once friend. Though she was positive he took it, inside, she wanted him to say he refused it.

"My business here is finished." Ichigo smugly replied and continued to walk right past Rukia. "It's been nice…for both of us, Rukia."

"Sir!" One of the gentlemen said to Ichigo. "You are to refer to the princess as "your highness" and you are to bow before the princess."

"No, that's not necessary." Rukia tried to say.

"No, it's perfectly fine." Ichigo quickly cut her off. He gave a modest bow to Rukia. "Good bye, your highness." And with that, Ichigo walked away from Rukia not once looking back to meet eyes.

Rukia sadly watched him leave. An urge within her told her to follow after him. It told her to plead him to not leave. It told her to get to Ichigo as fast as possible. Rukia didn't know what to do! Instead, she just watched him walk away from her. "Good bye." Rukia whispered.

Meanwhile…

Renji fixed about the last strand of hair on his spiky ponytail. He smoothed out his black kimono uniform and secured the lieutenant badge onto his arm. He seemed a little uncomfortable putting that badge on since it's been a long time since he last worn it. It was lucky enough that his captain still accepted him back as his lieutenant even with the long absence. Renji glanced at himself one more time in the mirror before deciding he looked all right. He was just accompanying his captain to the ball after all.

Kon was also with Renji and he was helping him decide the glasses. Kon was shuffling through a bunch of shiny glimmering glasses until he found a good pair. "I think these will work." Kon said and tossed the sunglasses to Renji.

"Hey! Hey! Hey! Those are expensive!" Renji complained and frantically caught the sunglasses. After, he adjusted them onto his forehead and tried on the look to see if it looked appropriate.

Kon snorted at how girly Renji was acting and he put on his royal sash. That was his costume to get ready for the ball and he must say, he looks rather dashing. It was probably good enough to score some ladies there. He stood at his pedestal and just stared at his pretty reflection.

Suddenly, Ichigo came in and he stopped in his tracks when he saw Renji and Kon. "I-uh-came to say good bye." Ichigo muttered out as he came in and closed the door. "I see you took your position back as lieutenant."

Renji nodded and replied, "But Ichigo, you're leaving already? You know you're making a mistake."

"Trust me." Ichigo firmly said to Renji. "This is the right thing to do."

Renji went up and gave a pat to Ichigo back. It was their way of hugging since actual hugging was a bit too weird for both of them to do. "Good luck in Karakura Town." Renji wished for Ichigo.

"Good luck being Mr. Stone Face's lieutenant again." Ichigo whimsically replied back to Renji and patted his back as well.

Then, Ichigo glanced over at Kon who was just staring down at the floor. Kon's face only showed a mixed expression and he looked like he didn't know what to say. Finally, Kon looked back up at Ichigo and loudly growled out, "Hah!! It's good to finally see you gone! Now onee-san will be all mine and you'll be out of the way! There's nothing you can do now!! Good riddance!! And never show your face to me or onee-san ever again!!!!"

Ichigo gave a steady grin at Kon and went up to pat the stuff animal's stubborn head. "Yeah, I'll miss you too Kon."

Kon just grumbled something inaudible and he turned away to not meet eyes with Ichigo. He folded up his arms against his plushy chest and continued to stubbornly mope.

The door behind Ichigo suddenly opened up and two figured walked in. Naori came in wearing her brilliant sparkling dress while Hitsugaya came in with an entirely different attire. He wasn't wearing the old clothes that he traveled in. He wore the exact same black kimono uniform as Renji except he wore a white haori with the symbol ten written on it as well. He also had Hyourinmaru with him, except he had to hold his sword in his hands since it was too tall for him to wear on his waist. He had also lost the old band that kept Hyourinmaru secured on his back.

Renji looked a little freaked out and he immediately went into a position that soldiers of an army use. "Good evening Captain Hitsugaya!" Renji said.

"At ease, Renji." Hitsugaya replied and Renji relaxed after that.

"Well, I see somebody finally took the job." Ichigo said and playfully jabbed Hitsugaya in the shoulders. "So Toshiro, how is it to be the new 10th Division captain?"

"Well, I just found out my lieutenant is a complete lazy ass." Hitsugaya muttered and flicked away Ichigo's hand. "By the way, you are supposed to refer to me as "Captain Hitsugaya" now, not "Toshiro." I'm a position of authority you know."

Ichigo shrugged at the request. "I really don't see the difference."

Hitsugaya was about to retort something smart back when he spotted the suitcase in Ichigo's hands. "So, you really are going to leave?" Hitsugaya asked in a soft voice.

Ichigo nodded at Hitsugaya. He was about to reply when he suddenly heard a whimper coming from behind Hitsugaya. Hitsugaya moved out of the way to reveal Naori on the verge of tears. Naori looked back up to Ichigo and right at that time, she finally broke down. "Waaahh!!! Please don't leave Ichigo!!" Naori cried and she ran up to Ichigo and tightly hugged his waist. "Please don't leave!! Everyone's going to miss you!! Renji will miss you! Hitsugaya will miss you! Even Kon will miss you! I miss you!! Rukia will miss you!! So please don't leave us!!"

Ichigo gave a small smile at Naori. She was crying to him and hugging him like a little sister would to her brother if he would leave her alone. It was cute for Naori to feel for him like a brother. Ichigo gently pushed Naori away and he knelt before her so their faces were facing each other. "I'm sorry Naori, but I have to leave. It's better this way."

Naori shook her head with her tears flinging around showing that she greatly disagreed with it. She continued to cry and tears came rolling down her cheeks. She tried to wipe them away with her clenched fists.

Ichigo gently wiped away the tears with his own hands and he placed his hands back on Naori's shoulders. "Don't worry, I'm going to be fine!" He lightly reassured the little girl. "Things like this will always happen. You just have to be strong to get by. So please, be strong…for me. Okay?"

Naori nodded as her tears slowly began to disappear and Ichigo stood up again to leave. Hitsugaya walked up to Naori and dragged her away from Ichigo. "You're such a crybaby." Hitsugaya mumbled to Naori, trying to lighten up her mood. "But you're not as bad as Bed-wetter Momo."

"Shut up Hitsugaya!" Naori stammered out and did her best to get rid of her reddening eyes.

Hitsugaya did what seemed right and handed her a handkerchief for her face. He wanted to remind her about his title, but it seemed like she was too overwhelmed to hear him again. He then looked back to Ichigo, who was getting ready to leave. He already had his coat and hat on and his suitcase was already packed up and ready to go. Ichigo noticed Hitsugaya was looking at him. Hitsugaya walked up to Ichigo and placed out his hand. "I guess…this is good bye."

Ichigo nodded and gripped onto Hitsugaya's hand with his hand. They both firmly shook hands before releasing. "Yeah…good bye Toshiro."

"Captain Hitsu-"

"Yeah, yeah." Ichigo sarcastically said and he walked out the door, waving back to all of his friends. He was waving back to all of them, but he didn't turn back to them to meet eyes. It would have been too painful to bear. It would be hard to finally say farewell to people he had bonded with most and had strong ties with. It would be hard to let them go forever. That's why he didn't glance back when he said good-bye to her.

Did I surprise anyone? Yes, I made Hitsugaya a captain because he's suppose to already be a captain and he is too good to not use his sword other than a training dummy. (Though it seems to always be the other way around) Renji's back to being a lieutenant and you get to see Rukia and Naori in pretty dresses! And you get to see Naori cry and act like a complete girly girl. Heh and guess who's the lazy ass as Hitsugaya's lieutenant?

Anyways…you know the drill…review!!!!