Chapter Twenty-Eight: Epilogue

"Kazu," cried Karin, as she walked into the small hospital room in the Fourth Division, "you look great!"

Kazu was sitting up in bed. He smiled broadly to see Karin.

"He must be feeling better," said Jiro, who was sitting on a chair next to Kazu's bed, "he's been complaining about the food."

"How about you, Karin?" asked Kazu. "I heard the Captain-Commander asked to see you." Karin nodded solemnly.

"So," chimed in Jiro, "you're going to tell us, right? Come on! What did he say?"

"Nothing," she replied, with a hint of a grin. The boys stared, open-mouthed, in shock. She laughed. "Nothing, except that I'm now officially Fourth Seat of the Tenth Division."

"I'd have given you your own division," said Kazu, in all seriousness. "I mean, your bankai was incredible!"

"Thanks, Kazu, that's sweet. I'll be sure to tell that to the Captain-Commander!" Jiro and Kazu laughed.

Karin looked around the room, taking in the piles of flowers and gifts that covered every available surface. "Who sent all these?" she asked.

"Kazu has a few female admirers," said Jiro. "Word's gotten out that he killed a few Arrancar and was wounded in combat. Now all the girls at the Academy think he's cool." Kazu smiled broadly.

"What about you, Jiro?" asked Karin. "Don't they think you're cool, too?"

"He's taken," said Kazu, grinning.

"Really, Jiro," said Karin, "who is it?" Jiro didn't have a chance to answer. At that moment, Hina came running into the room, threw her arms around Jiro and kissed him. Realizing that Kazu was awake and that Karin was standing there, Hina quickly released Jiro and turned red.

"Karin," said Hina, "I didn't realize you were…"

"I'm glad to see Jiro's finally getting the attention he deserves," laughed Karin, turning to leave the room. "I'll be back tomorrow to see you, Kazu. In the meantime, Jiro, you make sure he listens to Unohana-taicho and eats his food, okay?" Jiro, slightly red-faced, nodded. Karin left the room, smiling broadly and headed down the hallway. She poked her head into another room, about six doors down from Kazu's.

"They're letting you leave already?" she asked, surprised.

"I've had enough of this place," said Renji, scowling and putting on his sandals. "The food is terrible."

Karin laughed. "I've heard that one before."

An attractive female shinigami walked into the room. "Abarai fukutaicho," she said, chastising Renji, "Unohana-taicho hasn't released you yet. Please get back into your bed."

"Okay," he said, his scowl now replaced by a grin. "But only if you tuck me in." The shinigami blushed slightly, but obliged.

"Looks like you're back to your normal self, Renji," said Karin. Then, turning to the Fourth Division squad member, she said, "If he gives you any more trouble, just let me know. I know how to make him cooperate." Karin smiled and touched the hilt of her zanpakuto.

"Thank you," said the surprised shinigami, unsure if Karin was serious or not. Karin laughed as she walked out the door, waving to Renji.

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Karin arrived at the Tenth Division about ten minutes later. She walked into her office and picked up a pile of papers, doing her best to stack them neatly. It wasn't an easy task. Matsumoto had sat on them earlier in the day, as she had perched atop Karin's desk to tell her about what her new duties would be as Fourth Seat. The result had been a pile of crumpled papers. Karin headed down the hallway to Hitsugaya's office to deliver the stack of completed paperwork.

"Hitsugaya-taicho," she said, as she walked into his office.

"Kurosaki," he replied, looking up from his own stack of papers with a twinkle in his turquoise eyes. He stood up and walked over to the door, closing it behind him. "We need to talk about your role here at the Tenth Division."

"Really?" she asked, as he headed back over to his desk. She stepped in between him and the desk. "And which role would that be?"

"Your role as Fourth Seat, of course," he said. She moved closer to him.

"And other than what Rangiku has already told me, what do I need to know?" she asked, now inches from his face.

"No special treatment, of course," he said.

"I wouldn't let you," she said, simply.

"No hiding our relationship, either," he said.

"Why should we? Everyone knows, anyhow," she laughed.

"Then there's just one thing," he said, the edges of his mouth turning up as he spoke.

"What is that?"

"This," he said, taking her in his arms and kissing her.

"I think I'm going to like this new job," said Karin, smiling broadly.

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Later, Karin lay on one of the benches in the garden outside Hitsugaya's quarters, her head in his lap. The stars were out in number, and Karin stared up at the sky. She felt at peace, happy.

"Karin," said Hitsugaya, stroking her hair, "what you did to release Xiomara's souls…it seemed so peaceful."

"Every soul deserves a peaceful release," said Karin, "even those trapped inside hollows."

"I understand that now," he said, looking down at her. "But even if all shinigamis had your ability, Karin, I'm not sure they would use it as you have."

"I know," she said, with a small sigh. He bent down and kissed her briefly.

"Teach me," said Hitsugaya. She sat up and looked at him, surprised at his request. "Please, Karin."

And in his eyes, for just a split second, Karin thought she saw the little silver-haired child, eyes wide with wonder, smiling as he reached out to take her hand.

Fin.

Author's Note: A number of folks have asked me about a sequel, which I definitely am considering! If you have any brilliant ideas for what you'd like to see as a plot line, please email or PM me! Also, I'm always open to story ideas in general - please feel free to contact me and make suggestions. Thanks! -Lex