Note: This chapter features a big leap forward in the storyline, please review and let me know what you think. Thank you!

WHEN THE SNOW FALLS
by Yih

Chapter Thirty-six
Fast Forward

95 years into the future…

This was her final mission as the 3rd seat of Squad 13. After this last solo mission, she would retire having served nearly a hundred years as a shinigami. It was somewhat of an accomplishment, nothing compared to the hundreds of years that Ukitake-taichou and some of the other Taichous of Gotei 13 had served. But that was all the time that Byakuya and her could wrestle from the Elders before the inevitable.

It wasn't like she didn't want to have a child of her own, a son that looked just liked her beloved Byakuya. It was what she wanted more than anything, but she hadn't wanted to give up being a shinigami as well. Yet she knew how improper it was, for one of the wives of the Four Great Noble Clans to continue as a shinigami or in another vein of work. She had to retire and stay at home once she had conceived.

It had been wonderful years, to be a shinigami, especially in Squad 13. She would miss them all, Ukitake-taichou and Kaien-dono.

This was her last bit of service as a shinigami and she was undertaking a mission that could have assigned to any unseated officer. She had decided to take this because it would hardly be challenging for her, and that was the benefit. She knew Byakuya worried about how brave she was and how she would leapt into action and give it her all to protect others and to help turn the tide… but she knew how to keep herself safe if she had to.

And she had a reason now. Rukia pressed her hand to her still flat abdomen. She had not told Byakuya about her present condition because she wasn't certain. She was relatively sure she was pregant. She had missed her period for a week or so now, but maybe she was just late. She did not want any false alarms, not when she wasn't even supposed to try until after she retired.

Rukia didn't know at first why she had decided to be reckless, to allow herself the chance to become pregnant before she was required to. She knew now why. It was easier to give this up – she held the hilt of Sode no Shirayuki in her hands – if there was something waiting for her, especially a baby of her own.

But to retire and try unsuccessfully to get pregnant and to fail! That would be horrible. She was glad she had done it now, especially since she was pretty sure she was indeed pregnant and after this mission she would hang up her shinigami robes and consent to be the proper wife of the Head of the Kuchiki clan.

She would miss this, but Sode no Shirayuki would forever be her zanpakuto. Nothing could take away their bond and she was proud of all that she had accomplished with him by her side. And while she might not be a shinigami anymore, it did not mean she had to give up practicing her skills.

Rukia nodded at the hell butterfly that hovered above her and the senkaimon was opened. She took a deep breath and rushed forward – it was time to begin her mission…

-

"Byakuya-sama," Takahiro greeted after he had been shown into the Taichou's office by the red-headed fukutaichou. "You requested a meeting?"

"Indeed," Byakuya stated, lifting his head from his work, "please sit."

Takahiro took a seat in front of Byakuya's desk. "What is it that you would like to discuss?"

"My wife," Byakuya said.

"What of Rukia-sama?" Takahiro inquired.

"Her one hundred years is almost up," Byakuya remarked. "Then she will become a proper wife of the Kuchiki clan, as was the agreement made so many years before, and bear the necessary heir."

"What is your concern?"

"Once Rukia has had the baby and spends a few years caring for him, I would very much like to have the Elders reconsider her permanent retirement from duty as a shinigami. We live for so many years that I am certain that Rukia would not be satisfied living as just my wife. She was meant to be a shinigami and it is such a huge part of her life that I would not want to take that away from her. I am sure knowing that would please her very much."

"To be a shinigami is to be in constant danger," Takahiro responded, "are you sure you want that for your wife and the mother of your children?"

"I want whatever makes her happy," Byakuya said. "Rukia is a very talented shinigami. I trust her abilities. I believe that soon enough she will achieve her bankai. She is very close as it is and once she has reached that pinnacle, it will be extremely hard to keep her from being further promoted."

"Unless she were to retire permanently," Takahiro stated.

"I think if she were to stay at her post, as the 3rd seat of Squad 13, she would be able to manage her duties easily enough. She has become the de facto teacher for the incoming shinigami and it would not require her to be constantly busy. She would be able to do both and I am sure Ukitake-taichou would be accomodating."

"You are pushing this issue very strongly," Takahiro noted. "Has Rukia been dissatisfied with her impending retirement?"

"She has not spoken of it, actually," Byakuya admitted. "But I know she would miss being a shinigami."

"Sometimes, you cannot have everything that you wish," Takahiro replied.

"And yet, you still must try," Byakuya said softly.

Takahiro inclined his head. "I will mention it to the Elders at an appropriate time. I think it would be easier to sway them once the heir was born. They would likely give in to whatever request when the inheritance has been ensured."

"Takahiro," Byakuya murmured, "you have been the Head Elder longer than I have been the Head of the Kuchiki clan and you have seen me grown up."

"I have."

"I want to do everything in my power to make Rukia happy, is such a thing a crime?"

A/N: This chapter was really fast because of all the encouraging reviews (and because it was the weekend and I took a study break to quickly write this up)! Thank you so much for all your continued support. Please let me know what you think about the chapter and any suggestions and thoughts on what you think will happen next would be highly appreciated! I had planned to do this all along, after watching Turnback the Pendulum arc. It took a little longer to get to this point than I thought it would, but I like developing everything at the pace it needs to go rather than rushing it.

I hope those that got the complete "Wedding Night" omake enjoyed it! If you didn't review and let me know and I'll send you the omake via pm.

Released: 3/29/2009