I rolled the kink out of my shoulders. Karl reached over to knead his strong fingers into the tight knot, and I sighed with relief.

We turned to the new death reapers. Some were blushing with our obvious intimacy, others watched with narrowed gazes. Karl said, "Officer Ichimaru has demonstrated the basics of purification. Any questions?"

"Is there a need to pair up in the field?" one blond girl asked.

I fielded the question. "Now, with another great war drawing nearer, there will be more hollows and they will be far more powerful – the strong negative atmosphere create the ideal environment for powerful hollows."

Karl and I addressed their other concerns before we returned to Fegefeuer. As we strolled to the Division Office, a messenger stopped me in my tracks. "Ichimaru, sir! Urgent correspondence from Soul Society sir!"

I waved off the sirring. "Thanks, Max."

Karl snaked an arm about my waist and pulled me close. "What's up, lover?"

"... They want me home tomorrow," I said, after scanning the letter, written in a flowing script unfamiliar to me.

"What?" Karl was aghast. "So fast? We're just into the third month after they invaded Luxembourg!"

I tilted my head and kissed Karl on his strong, mustached mouth. "Karl, you know this day would come. I am of Soul Society after all. And I've been here ten years – I should be getting home."

He grouched. I smiled to myself – the big lug would sulk, but he could easily be distracted. He would need to be distracted. After all, I was the only one in Fegefeuer who could tame with his volatile temper. If I let him stew he would rain his frustration on whatever unlucky soul came to him first.

However, when it came to sex, Karl Bauer was a puppy dog in my hands. As I moaned his name aloud while he thrust agitatedly into me he softened his anger.

"I don't want you to go, Gin," he muttered rebelliously. "You'll forget me the instant you see your old flame."

"I've been with you for the past eight years, Karl," I said, nuzzling under his prickly chin. My fingers danced over his golden-tanned skin, loving the way his arm muscles feel. He tucked me closer to him, his strong hands leaving little bruises on my pale skin. Then he rolled on top of me, his lips crushing my mouth and his legs parting mine. Weakly I protested, but he was insatiable, being too aware that the next night I would be far away and unavailable.

I spent that night easing his separation anxiety, but as I rested my head on the soft pillow beside Karl's for the night I couldn't suppress the thrill of fearful anticipation.

Ten years, Aizen-sama. Finally it's drawing to an end.

XxXxXxXxXxXxX

Kapitän Wolfric Hartmann was mired in a captain's meeting and sent Karl to see me off instead. I suspected the good captain of growing a sensitive core, but I didn't probe. Hartmann was gruff but fair, and over the ten years I had grown to respect him.

Karl was silent as he walked me to the gate. When we reached the officer calibrating the coordinates wisely left us alone to say our goodbyes.

I pulled his dark head down to kiss him. He responded hungrily, and I was touched to feel a slight dampness near his eyes. "Karl, love," I reassured huskily, "you'll find someone better."

"I could request a permanent transfer."

"You wouldn't leave Fegefeuer even with a moon-sized crowbar, Karl," I laughed shortly. I leaned against his broad chest and hugged him. Despite his occasional bouts of bad temper and his general obtuseness, Karl was a tender lover and a gentle bear of a man. He tucked me under his chin, returning my embrace. I could feel the rumble of his unsaid words, and I kissed him again, my tongue tasting the full flavor of his mouth.

I was eager to go home, but Karl had made the long decade tolerable. I would miss him.

XxXxXxXxXxXxX

The scent of Soul Society...

I breathed in, aware that I had to readjust my internal clock to the hours kept here. I had left mid-afternoon, and it was full night here.

There were differences, minor but telling. For one thing, they had finally adopted light bulbs instead of burning torches.

"Ichimaru Gin, returning from Fegefeuer, on orders." I showed the letter and they waved me through. I let my senses expand, to put on the landscape like a cloak the way Kapitän Hartmann taught us. Almost immediately I sensed him.

There you are.

With a grin and a bounce in my step, I flash-stepped to my home in Rukongai. I had to freshen up before I headed to the corner.

There you'll be.