Disclaimer; I do not own Bleach or any of the characters, only the two OCs.

To the falling snow,
Please don't stop falling.
Take me away with her.

Everything transient, my voice, my life...
Erase all of them

Until all is white…

- "Soundless Voice", Valshe -

Hey mom, it's me. Ichigo.

I'm sorry it's been such a long time since I last visited your grave. Call it fear or maybe apprehension but I had to take care of some business before I could face you again.

I had to get stronger.

I'm not very sure whether you can hear me or not but I don't really care after all. You said you'd always be by my side so I guess you're listening and snickering right now, aren't you?

I miss you mom. I miss you so much. Every single day of my life.

But the truth is that I am happy, mom. I am finally happy. Dad and Yuzu and Karin are happy too. Although dad never remarried after you died - he is really smitten with you isn't he? - Yuzu and Karin are both building up their families, happily, I guarantee, with two men I personally interrogated and examined from head to toe... Just kidding. What I mean is that they are two very nice men, worthy enough to stay around my sisters.

Yuzu is also pregnant to a girl. She said she's going to name her Masaki, just like you. Touching, isn't it?

Both of them grew up to be strong and independent women with their own jobs and dreams. I can't really describe how proud me and dad are; we're glowing, our chests swelling like hot-air balloons. Silly us, right?

Yuzu had decided from a very early age that she wanted to be a kindergarden teacher and she did so. I don't think she could have picked a better job for her; such calm and loving person like Yuzu is only fit to be a teacher for little kiddies. Karin on the other hand, has become a strong-willed and very successful lawyer. But I guess that's not surprising, is it? With her fighting spirit, she is able to scare all her opponents away.

God, I can't bring my head around how fast they grew up. Hell, how fast I grew up. One day I finish high school and then, I wake up the next day with a medical degree and a stethoscope around my shoulders, saving people's lives. It's... It's so mind-blowing but I love what I am doing and it fills me with joy. After all, I worked hard to get here, I was shoved to the ground so many times I can't even count them... At times, even giving everything up was in my mind, thoughts of "Why am I even doing this?" haunting me but I made it in the end. But that is because of one person, one person that always pulls me up from the ground and shakes the demons out of me.

Grimmjow.

Grimmjow is the love of my life, my soul mate, even though the term makes him nauseous for some reason. It doesn't matter to you that he is a man, right? You always told me that love doesn't know boundaries like gender or age.

He is... I can't describe him in words. He is an incredible person, that he is for sure. Gorgeous, smart, funny, caring in his own, rather special way... He is also a stubborn baka but when he wants to, he is the most loving husband in the world. Yes, husband. He proposed to me and we got married recently.

I love him so much. He makes me feel alive, complete. As if he is the part I had been missing my whole life. Actually, he is what I had been missing on and it makes me so happy that I get to spend the rest of my life with him. Kind of selfish and rather possessive from my side, but he feels the same way, so neither of us complains.

He has this crazy family as well, a bunch of outstanding people whom I love from the bottom of my heart; Emily, the badass demon-mom, his baby sister, Emma the baby-demon, his little brother, Ciel the demon-prince, and his step-father, Byakuya Kuchiki... Although Kuchiki is not a demon, he's pretty devilish too! They all mean the world to me, just like Dad and Yuzu and Karin. They have helped me out and stood there by my side as if was their own child and that... It just blows me away. Me, a stranger who came in as Emma's babysitter, suddenly found myself in their arms more often than not, wishing to see them smile forever, or having them soothe my fears away. I never realized when or how I became part of their family, but I am so glad that I did.

They all went through so much too, mom. Pain, fear, beatings... Emily got hurt so many times but she kept going, kept fighting for the sake of her children. She's a very inspiring figure, that's for sure, her courage unlimited. None of them ever gives up, not even Emma, the little one. And Grimmjow... Hell, he is the most dedicated and passionate person I've ever met in my life. Even though he pisses me off oh so many times and we argue over stupid things on a nearly daily basis, I wouldn't have him any other way. He is just so perfect; he is everything I've been looking for. Lord, I just can't bring my head around how much I love him. Sometimes, I feel so many emotions overwhelm and suffocate me when I'm just looking at him. Damn, I'm falling for him every day, over and over again.

I'm such a love-sick idiot aren't I?

We live together in America, me and Grimmjow I mean. Although it hurts me that I had to be separated from dad and my sisters, I built my life there, my job, my career, my second home. Besides, they all have their homes now and they live their own lives, much like what I am doing so it is fine, isn't it?

I came to Japan for this summer to see you. I want to cry mom, every time I come to your grave but I know that you don't want to see me crying. Besides, I'm not the same weak little kid that used to cry over everything anymore. Those pale hands of mine that used to clutch your skirt in fear, have finally learnt how to wipe away the tears... It wasn't an easy thing to do, that's for sure, because I had to go through a lot of good and bad things before I was able to stand on my feet on my own and pull other people up too. I struggled, I suffered but I think pain makes you a better, kinder person. Isn't that right? Because life has so many surprises for us, we are never prepared for them.

One of them, the very early one, was the night I lost you...

In the past, I used to blame my weakness for your death. Although, I'll never forgive myself for not being able to protect you, I think... I think I've learnt many things along the way and I've finally matured. Instead of wallowing in self-hate, I came to embrace and appreciate the sacrifice you made for my sake. Even though I don't think words will ever be able to describe how grateful I am that you gave your life for me, I'll give it a try...

Thank you mom. Thank you for protecting me. Thank you for all the things you taught me. Thank you for bringing me to this world.

I still have a lot to learn, mom, but I won't give up. I never give up. I'll live my life to the fullest with no regrets. For your sake. And for Grimmjow's. And dad's and Yuzu's and Karin's and Emma's and Emily's. Even for my stupid best friend, Renji. For the sake of my new, still growing, family. For the sake of these wonderful people who want to see me happy. Because they'll do the same for me.

I talk too much, don't I? I really hope you don't mind my rant... It's only because there are so many things I want to tell you and they're suffocating me... But, there is one thing I have to make sure you know; I never stop thinking about you. So don't you ever fear. You have a place in my heart that no one else will ever concur.

I miss you, I miss you like crazy. Sometimes... Sometimes I wish I could see you one more time, just one more time so I could introduce you to all these people that mean so much to me. And I know you'll love them because they're amazing... Damn, I sometimes wish I could hear you scold me for being noisy or for eating too much. But most of all, I wish I knew that you're proud of what I have become; I wish you could look me in the eyes, ruffle my hair and tell me that I did well. I only achieved all these things because you gave your life for me and I don't want to disappoint you in any way... But I guess things are how they are supposed to be now, right? As I grew up, I came to realize that I may not have gone where I intended to go but I think I ended up where I needed to be. Because all I see around me are smiles. The smiles of the people I love and keeping these smiles on their faces somehow feels like a purpose. We all have a purpose in this life, this place where we need to be...

Right mom?

I am sorry but I have to go now. If I stay any longer I'll burst into tears and I don't want you to see me cry and worry. Just know that I'm happy. I'm really happy and grateful for everything.

I just... I miss you mom... A whole lot. But I hope that you are happy too, wherever you are. Watch over us, will you? Only when you have time, no pressure, okay?

So, I guess I'll... I'll see you later.

I love you, kaa-chan.

Forever.

THE END.

I can't believe it's over. My first story is finally over. Kinda sentimental, isn't it? To be totally honest, I am bawling my eyes out right now. Why? Because I fell in love with these people and I fell hard. I love everything about them, their quirks, their flaws, everything. So, it is natural to be sad now that their story is - in a way - ending.

On a final note, I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart everyone who stuck around to read, review, favorite or follow this story. I'm so grateful you spent some of your time for this. It means more than you'll ever know. Thank you! It would make me incredibly happy to know if you liked my work now that it's finished. In the meantime, I bid you farewell and thanks again for everything!

Love,

Queen.