This is mostly a filler chapter, to be honest. Still, quite a few things happen here. If you're a fan of some of my OCs you'll hopefully like what I've done with them. A bit more worldbuilding for this verse (just some details I thought needed to be clarified). This will also serve as mostly an exit for some of the minor characters, though the final arc is still coming. I'm getting all my ducks in a row... if anyone would like, this is your last chance to guess what's coming!
The final arc begins next week!
Chapter 47. Sands of Time
Time passes. Whether fast or slow, is just a matter of perception. Days turn into weeks, turn into months, and into years…
Following their wedding Ichigo and Rukia spent a week in the Villabu Resort in Miyako Island. This because Ichigo had always been partial to beaches, and Rukia had always wanted to visit one. The suite included a hot-tub, a private pool, terrace, access to the resort's private beach, free breakfast, gardens, a spa, and bicycles in case they wanted to visit other local attractions. It hadn't been at all cheap, but Masaki had been good at investments and taught Isshin well. For them the clinic had been about providing a service, rather than making money.
After that Ichigo and Rukia returned a single day to Karakura before taking the train to UTokyo. With some help of research done by their nakama online while they were on their honeymoon, it hadn't been hard for them to find a modest but nice apartment near campus (both deciding it'd be preferable to the dorms), not just for them, but for Homura and Shizuku. While officially those two might have been Ichigo's siblings, he and Rukia took very seriously their role as parents, and had decided to take the two with them. If anyone found it odd that a newly-wed couple would be living with their two adopted siblings, no one ever commented on it.
As shocking as the revelation of first Kanae, and later on Masaki may have been for the Nakama, it hadn't ended there:
"Where have you been?" Ichigo couldn't help but ask as soon as he had a chance.
"70th District, East Rukongai." Masaki answered calmly.
All who'd ever been to the outer districts of Rukongai, blanched instantly. They knew how bad things were in the outlying districts, everything beyond the 50th was terrible, only getting worse as the numbers went up. Rukia and Renji had personal experience, having lived in the 78th of South Rukongai; same as Gin and Rangiku with the 64th of North.
"Kaa-san…" Ichigo murmured, horrified, he might have just heard stories, but they were enough. "You have to know, you must know, if I had known…"
"Oh… it wasn't so bad." Masaki could guess what had them all so worry. "I got lucky."
"Lucky…?" Even Isshin was serious.
"I was found by a group of children." Masaki explained. "They told me about the good man who looked after them, protected, clothed and fed them as needed. Took me to him. He's indeed a good man. Has taken in all the orphans of the nearby districts, giving them a home, and a family. I can only imagine how hard it must have been at the beginning. Though by the time I arrived he was well established already. Everyone knows him and even the crime-bosses around respect him and keep their distance from him and his kids."
"Who is this good man?" Karin asked, curious, she'd never heard of someone like that, in either of her lives.
"I'd like to know too." Ichigo agreed. "To thank him if nothing else."
"His name's Oscar." Masaki explained. "De la Rosa Oscar Joaquín."
Silence. Every single Nakama knew that name by heart. Even Keeva, who hadn't had a chance yet to join them in one of their 'excursions', knew the name well.
"My abuelo…" Chad gasped in disbelief.
"Oh…" Masaki clearly wasn't expecting that. "You're Yasutora!"
"That I am, Kurosaki-san." Chad nodded. "Sado Yasutora, though my nakama call me Chad."
"Oh… Oscar's gonna be overjoyed when he learns I've seen you!" Masaki smiled brightly. "He's told me so much about you, and to think you're Ichigo's friend. This is wonderful!"
"Would you tell me more about my abuelo Kurosaki-san?" Chad requested.
And of course she did. She took great delight in sharing all kinds of stories, of the things she'd seen, and the things both Oscar and his kids had told her.
Chad had even been able to visit him, had made a point to do so once a year. He never stayed long, not wanting to be a disruptive presence, but it still did him good. And Oscar was happier too, being able to see his grandson once in a while, learning what had become of his life. Even if the old man might not understand how Chad could be so involved with the Spiritual World while still alive (it had taken him a very long time to get his head around the fact that his son was dating a shinigami), Oscar had always been the kind to respect other's choices, and he was so proud of the man his grandson had become…
Masaki and Kanae obviously couldn't stay in the Human World, they were dead, after all, but that didn't mean they couldn't see their families still. Even Ryuuken had put aside his remaining animosity towards shinigami and accepted the pass Ichigo gave him, which allowed him to use the Nagaken Senkaimon to visit. While Kanae hadn't felt comfortable living in the noble Estate, and instead had chosen to settle in one of the Nagaken properties, one in the 3rd District of East Rukongai. As they were official allies of the Gotei, they were paid the same as any shinigami the bounties for the hollows they purified, and the souls they konsoed; which granted them funds to use while in Soul Society. At Ichigo's insistence the money had gone to Kanae (he and his family were nobles, and the Nagaken were quite rich), and she'd seen fit to use it to take care of a bunch of orphans, mostly of the higher districts; most who eventually became shinigami.
Masaki was already on the way to becoming a shinigami herself. It was how Byakuya's people found her, in fact. Someone had seen her name in the list of new cadets to start a few weeks later, and recognized it as the person the Kuchiki Clan Head was looking for. Masaki had been hopeful, that being a shinigami one day she might be able to go to Karakura and see what had become of her family; even if she couldn't go back to that life, she really wanted to know they were alright. She never expected to reunite with them as she did though: at her son's wedding, her son who was a Noble, who'd already taken his father's place… and he and the twins were well known in Soul Society, along with their friends: the Nakama.
"Are you disappointed in us?" Yuzu asked hesitantly, rubbing her hands together nervously.
"Oh my darling!" Masaki cried out, quickly embracing her youngest. "Of course not! Did I expect to find you leading this kind of life? Fighting wars, staring death in the face more times than I ever will? Of course not! You're my children, what mother would ever wish for their children to be in danger thus? But that doesn't mean I'm disappointed in you. In the end I taught you all I could, and what choices you've made that lead you down this path, you made them following the things your father and I taught you… Ichigo is a protector, he's always been. Karin is a fighter, and you… you my darling are a caregiver. You will always care for those you love and will do anything in your power to help them. So in the end, maybe I'm not that surprised you lead the lives you do. Just promise you'll look after yourselves too. That you'll live and be happy. That's all I want."
"Always kaa-chan." Yuzu nodded.
The other two could only nod.
Nemu took a year off (she had a lot of vacation time saved, apparently), during which Uryuu and Ryuuken trained her as a Quincy. The first female Quincy in many generations.
"Why is it so rare?" She questioned one evening. "Being a girl Quincy, I mean."
She was toying with the silver quincy cross hanging from a small chain around her wrist. A gift from Ryuuken… her father, she still had trouble sometimes, referring to him like that, though at the same time she took great delight in it. The cross was an heirloom, it had belonged to Ishida Yumiko, the sister of an ancestor of theirs, who'd died young; the last Quincy woman until Nemu. As for Nemu herself, she couldn't help but play with the cross, even when not using it; not quite used to it yet; though it felt right, more than the empty asauchi Mayuri had gotten her ever had. The best part was that she could use the same purifying arrows her brother did, she'd even made a point to simply not learn to use the executing ones, she had no interest in permanently destroying anyone anyway.
"You remember how we told you how hard it is for Quincy to reproduce?" Ryuuken asked her in a soft voice.
He was kinder to her than he ever was to Uryuu, but the older brother didn't begrudge either of them that. He knew that his father had been suffering in silence for a long time. Reuniting with Kanae and meeting Nemu had given him a peace he hadn't known in many years. Uryuu had even heard comments from some of his father's colleagues, wondering if he'd met a new lady or something, as he was so changed. It made Uryuu snort, wondering what they might think if they knew how close (and how far) from the truth they were.
"Quincy have a lot of reiatsu, so they need to be with someone who has it as well." Nemu nodded. "It's why they'd arrange marriages in the past."
"Exactly." Ryuuken nodded. "Also, because we use our powers in a way that is so different from most, that makes compatibility harder. Finally… having children means bringing life into the world. Quincy powers essentially are about destroying… those two things are hardly compatible. That makes it even harder for children to be conceived. It's why I tried so hard to give up being a Quincy, I wanted to believe that if I didn't use those powers, if I didn't destroy, I'd have a better chance at having children with Kanae." He actually smiled; a small smile, but it was there. "It's also why girls were so rare. Because most girls, from birth, have in them the potential to create life; and like I said, that goal was essentially the opposite to a Quincy's power. And yet… here you are. Both of you, and with your purifying arrows… I hope you, and any future generations, might never suffer the uncertainties we did."
After a year of intense training Nemu was ready. She was still surprised though, when she found her position still waiting for her.
"But I'm not a shinigami!" She blurted out, shocked. "I'm a Quincy!"
The time spent in the human word hadn't just allowed her to learn how to be a Quincy, it had also given her the confidence she'd been lacking. To stand straighter, to speak up, to be herself. She owed a lot of it not just to her family, but to the Nakama… her nakama.
"So?" Kisuke shrugged. "We're all on the same side. And you're as capable of the same duties as you were before. Even more so now, if I understand correctly." He snapped his fan closed, going abruptly serious. "It's up to you, if you wish to resign on your commission. But until then, you're still my fukutaichou… you just took a really long vacation. Though, what's a year among us shinigami, really?" He waited but there was no answer, so he decided to press, just a bit. "So, what will it be Kurotsuchi-fukutaichou?"
"Ishida." Nemu corrected quietly, then straightened up and called in a stronger voice. "Fukutaichou Ishida Nemu reporting for duty, sir!"
"Welcome back, Ishida-fukutaichou." Kisuke nodded with a small smile.
If Kisuke ever had any trouble with anyone else in the Gotei, even (especially) Yamamoto-soutaichou, he never said; and no one ever said anything to Nemu to that effect. Then again, nothing had outwardly changed, where Nemu was concerned, aside from her surname, or the Quincy cross she carried out her wrist. Most shinigami seemed more interested (and shocked) by Yachiru's changed appearance. Who, after learning that Kenpachi was well aware of the truth, had given up her childish appearance completely, instead going around in her teen-aged form all the time (though after the first week her friends of the SWA made a point of helping her get a new shihakushou, one that fit her changed body better). There were also rumors that she'd beaten up half the division when some of the new recruits dare suggest she wasn't deserving of her rank as fukutaichou, no doubts had been left afterwards; though, it was just a rumor…
After much teasing and insisting and cajoling Renji had eventually agreed to taking the position of Captain of the 9th Division. His greatest hang-up being that he wasn't sure he could order a man whom he so admired, whom he'd always called sempai (that being Hisagi).
"Your loyalty is admirable." It was Byakuya who confronted him on the matter. "But mistaken in this instance. Hisagi-fukutaichou isn't ready to be a taichou, and he isn't likely to be in many years to come."
Renji understood why. Tousen's way of teaching… he'd taught Hisagi to fear his zanpakutou. Which, according to pretty much everyone else, was monumentally stupid, as that was essentially the same as fearing themselves. How could they trust their own power when they feared it? Hisagi would never reach his full potential while he saw things in that light, and it wouldn't be easy for him to change his mindset. And while Aizen might be out of the picture for the time being, he hadn't stopped being a threat. The 9th couldn't wait for Hisagi to be ready. Renji and Ikkaku both had the power, though only Renji really had the mindset for it.
"Are you sure I can do this, taichou?"
Just a couple of years before Renji would have never asked such a question, would have never allowed himself to be so vulnerable before Byakuya; before a man whom he'd long seen as a rival, as an obstacle to surpass, as the one who'd taken everything (all he'd left, the last of his family, Rukia) from him. But things had changed since then: since Rukia's near-execution, and the Nakama, and everything else…
"I know you can Renji." Byakuya nodded.
"Then I'll do it." Renji agreed.
Hisagi himself had no problem with Renji becoming his superior, more than once claiming he always knew Renji would get far one day. He'd also taken to training often with Renji, hoping to be able to learn from him how to accept his zanpakutou, and himself.
The biggest surprise was the one Byakuya got one evening. He'd had a late day at the Division, followed by an even longer and more exhausting meeting with his Clan Elders; whom had lately been trying to force their choices upon him… again.
"Kuchiki-sama, you have a guest waiting for you in the garden." His steward informed him the moment Byakuya entered the Main House of the Kuchiki Estate.
"What?" Byakuya blinked. "Who let him in? And why?"
"She." Takahashi corrected. "And I believe Shimizu-san believed the lady to have some kind of connection with you sir, considering what she wears."
Byakuya had no idea what his steward could possibly be talking about. He wasn't expecting any visitors, and it had been a long day… a long month. There was all the work to be done in his Division, as he and Juno sought to ensure a smooth change in power. And then there were the Elders, who were once again pressing him to find a wife; and with Rukia publicly married to the Head of another Clan he couldn't even propose her children be his heirs anymore. He'd known the moment would come, but hadn't expected Ichigo to make his heritage known so soon. Then again, he also understood why the young man had done it; if there was one thing the two of them understood, it was doing whatever was necessary to protect their own…
In the end Byakuya said nothing else, just made his way towards the gardens. There he found his visitor standing beneath a plum tree, hand extended, almost touching the delicate blossoms. The first thing he noticed about her was her average height, next that she was wearing a plain off-white kimono, long enough it covered even her feet, with small flowers in various shades of purple and a dark violet obi. It was a nice design, but the fact that the garment was made of cotton rather than silk, and looked a little worn on the edges made it obvious that the clothing did not belong to a noble lady. So why then…
It was until then that he raised his head to look higher, about at the same time as the woman turned. The first thing that called his attention then was the long scarf she was wearing, which was actually made of silk; and not just any silk, but wind-flower silk… which probably explained why his staff thought to let her pass at all…
Byakuya blinked as it hit him. That wasn't just any scarf… it was his scarf! His scarf which, the last time he held it, was to place it around the hair of one who'd died but a handful of minutes later. He'd meant the gesture as both a practicality, and his way of showing he cared, in his own way… but she'd died! She vanished in his arms, almost as if she'd never existed at all! He knew her sister still mourned her and he… he had no idea! He didn't know how he felt, or perhaps it was more that he didn't want to stop and think about it, because whenever he so much as tried… how was it possible that he could mourn the loss of someone he barely knew! The girl had been little more than a stranger, he didn't know her for more than a few weeks and yet… and yet the only person he ever mourned with that kind of intensity had been Hisana! And even with her, from the very beginning his mourning had only been half about her; the other half of it had been the loss of his own ideal about love, and the perfect match.
"I hope my presence's not a bother." She murmured quietly. "I may have overstepped, but your staff let me in, said it'd be alright if I waited for you here. And I'd really hoped to be able to see you, talk to you at least for few minutes." She pushed a lock of her behind her ear, nervously. "To tell you something I couldn't, the last time we met."
"What…?" Byakuya couldn't believe his voice was failing him and yet… she was dead! She'd died in his arms! And not just died, she'd vanished entirely! "What did you wish to say?"
"Thank you…"
As she spoke she stepped forward, out of the shade of the tree; there was no moon, but the sky was clear and the stars were shining bright. Enough for Byakuya to take her in fully: her porcelain skin which no longer looked sickly, but instead just delicate; her hair was still ashen, combining all shades from the darkest black to a gray so light it was almost white, except for a single bright red lock which she'd braided and hung in front of her right ear. There was meat in her bones (she was still slim, but no longer looked like skin and bones) and a healthy flush on her cheeks; and her eyes… her light-gray eyes that shone as if they held the very light of the stars.
"Seren…" Byakuya breathed out.
His emotions hit her almost before his own voice did. He didn't move a muscle, and neither his face nor his reiatsu betray anything at all… but she didn't need any of that to know what others were feeling, she never had…
"Oh Byakuya-dono…" She murmured, voice so very, very soft.
She crossed the garden in slow, short steps, Byakuya half-absently noticed that she wasn't wearing any shoes, only strips of cloth wound around her feet and ankles. Just where had she come from exactly? And how long since she'd arrived to Soul Society?
Seren reached him after a few seconds, standing just close enough to touch if he so wished, she raised a hand, placing it so close to his face he could feel the warmth of her skin… though she didn't close the gap, not until he did, taking her hand and placing it against his cheek without even stopping to think about it.
"I'm here…" She whispered, so very, very softly.
"How…?" Was all the managed to ask.
"You." She answered simply. "You saved me Byakuya-dono…"
They were interrupted eventually as a servant announced dinner had been served, and Byakuya insisted that Seren stay for it. She agreed. They didn't say a word through most of it, or as tea was served, until eventually Byakuya stared at her and asked the questions burning inside him: Why had it taken her so long? Was she alright? How long had she been in Soul Society? Where had she first appeared? Why hadn't she looked him up before? Had something gone wrong? Had he done something wrong? Was there something else he could have done to help her and failed to? What had happened to her after she disappeared?! In the end though, he only voiced one question out-loud:
"Have you been well?"
"In a manner of speaking." She nodded evenly. "Though I suppose I must clarify. I've only truly been myself for the last month or so."
"Only been…" He was at a loss as to how to take that.
"You're aware of the curse of the Réalta." It wasn't a question she'd explained it to him.
"Your own power kills you." He summarized.
"Correct." She nodded, a bit stiffly. "There are two lines of belief in this: There are those that think that the Mother from the start gave us powers too great to truly control, because gods are fickle and like to see us humans have trouble. But most think that it was us that made things like this. We were given simple powers, just enough to protect ourselves, but we pushed. We pushed our power and ourselves, past our limits, time and time again… until we became what we are now. So powerful… and so fragile. Réalta Iarann will become stronger… until that strength turns against them. Keeva… if she continues down her current path, the day will come when she'll pass he limits, her power will turn on her, and her body will fail her. She's gotten a taste of it already, injuring herself in a fight. If she continues as she has… one day she will bring herself down, along with her enemy."
Just like she had.
"But you're not a Iarann." Byakuya reminded her.
"No, I'm a Réalta Criostal." Seren nodded. "That means that my power is in the mind." She exhaled. "You know, my mother's family has a history of dementia and schizophrenia, and of medication not working right. Truth is, not a single one of us have ever been crazy… or at least not in the clinical sense. The reality of it is that green and blue are the most common colors in our line, that means empathy and precognition. What do you think happens when a woman loses control of what she sees? When she stops being able to distinguish reality from her visions? When she feels so many emotions, not realizing they're not her own?"
"Others come to believe her crazy."
"Until eventually she comes to truly be thus. My great-grandmother… she was the best Seer of her generation. She and her family lived in the north of Mexico when she was young, during the time of the Mexican Revolution… she used her powers to keep her family, and when possible her town, safe. She did much, too much… by the time she turned thirty she had trouble staying in the present, and shortly afterwards she had trouble distinguishing between past, present and future. The family understood, of course, and her children all did the best they could to watch over her. She had two sons and a daughter. Funny thing that, her daughter had no children, she was so devoted to caring for her mother, she never had time for herself, and I think she might not have wanted to have them, fearing to ever become her mother, it's also why she limited the use of her powers greatly. Her sons had no active powers, then again, no males ever do; but they carried the gene. I'm descended from the youngest, Deirfiúr from the eldest."
Deirfiúr, Byakuya had heard all about her, the cousin that later become a sister, though Seren never said her name. He understood grief well though, and didn't insist.
"I always knew I'd lose my mind." Seren continued, more quietly. "Nana Carmen did, and she only played with one color of the rainbow. How could I not? When I'd chosen to become the whole rainbow myself?" She shook her head. "To be honest, I never expected to die, and yet continue existing, somehow." She looked straight at Byakuya. "What you said to me that day… you saved me Byakuya-sama. I will never be able to thank you enough for that."
"How long…?" He began, before trailing of, not sure of the best way to phrase it.
"I don't know." She admitted. "I don't even know how long it's been since that day. You know, of course, that time isn't measured the same way here in Soul Society. In the Outer Districts of Rukongai they don't seem to care at all for it."
"Is that where you were?"
"Yes. Not sure which one I first appeared in, or how long it took me to actually… be, again. I have a sense that I just, wandered, without a proper form or consciousness for a while. Like I was in a sort of limbo. There, and not, at the same time. But eventually I was… real, again. I have no memory of those days because, like I said, I wasn't really myself. I've been told that I didn't speak, that it was like I didn't know how to. They took me to a good man, Oscar-san, who watched over me. He's a good man, he cared for me when I couldn't care for myself. And ever so slowly… it was like my mind pieced itself together, a bit at a time. I remembered how to think, how to talk… eventually I remembered my name, and most of my past."
"Most?"
"Even back in the World of the Living I'd already been in decline. It wasn't just my poor health, no, that was just the most obvious outward sign. I was also slowly losing my mind. I'd forget things: like the date, or the time for an appointment. There at the end I began having trouble recalling my sister… Rachel's, not Keeva's, face…" She exhaled. "Some things came back as I recovered here, some didn't. I remember my mother, what she felt like, what she sounded like, I remember the sadness in her eyes the day we said goodbye, at the airport…"
Byakuya himself could remember what the woman had told him, how she'd known that was the last time she'd see her daughter…
"I don't remember my father's face. I only remember he was kind. He worked a lot, and couldn't be home too often, but he was kind, accepting of my differences, even if he couldn't always understand them. He was supportive of my trip to Japan, even if he'd no idea why I wanted to move so far away… and all I remember of Rachel are her eyes, hard, indifferent, and that she never understood me." She shook her head. "She wasn't a Réalta… I suppose Mama must have been happy about that."
"Your mother knew." Byakuya stated serenely. "She knew you, and accepted you. And while she might have grieved you after your death, she respected your choices."
Seren stared at him, shock written all over her face.
"I accompanied your cousin to the World of the Living, to deliver the news and present our respects to your mother." Byakuya explained. "We were given special permission by Yamamoto-soutaichou to do this. Though she knew of your passing already, as Castelo-san had told her. She also sent her a sculpture you wanted her to have."
Byakuya remembered something else then. Castelo Marie… she hadn't said she knew she'd never see her daughter again, but that she'd never see her again in that life. That difference seemed significant, all of a sudden. She'd also said that there couldn't be goodbyes with family, and that they'd meet again… she'd told them to have faith, because she did… Had she known? Had she known her daughter would find her way to Soul Society somehow? Was such a thing even possible?!
"Was your mother a Réalta?"
The question took Seren completely by surprise, who'd to stop and ponder on it for a moment.
"I think she might have been." She conceded after a while. "She never got involved into things as much as Deirfiúr and I did, she wasn't interested but… but she knew about Réalta and she… she had this way of just… knowing things. I was convinced she must have some degree of precognition most of the time. She'd always say it was just her gift as a mother but…"
Yes, but. Byakuya had thought her to be just a human, the time he met her, he'd sensed no reiatsu coming from her. But then again, Castelo Keeva gave away no reiatsu, her power could only be felt through direct touch, because her power lay underneath her skin. And if Réalta Criostal held their power in their minds…
"Wait a second, just a moment ago, you said… you said my cousin…" Seren's eyes kept growing wider and wider as she considered the implications. "Yailen's here?!"
Byakuya convinced her to stay the night in one of the guest-rooms, before taking her to the Nagaken Estate the following morning, where a most heartfelt reunion took place between the two young Réalta. Yailen crying like crazy, holding onto Seren like her life depended on it. Seren wasn't so demonstrative, but the way her knuckles whitened as she embraced her cousin/sister back said enough.
Ichigo offered her a home in the Nagaken Estate, to which Byakuya intervened, saying she had one already in the Kuchiki Estate. No one mentioned the fact that she'd barely stayed there a night, or that they'd never talked about it. Seren just followed his lead and agreed with a smile, promising to drop by for a visit soon. And thus Seren became a permanent guest at the Kuchiki Manor. She knew that made people curious, especially since she was still wearing Byakuya's old scarf on her hair, almost like a narrower version of her old veil; but she didn't allow the attention to bother her. She tried to give it back, but he insisted she keep it as a gift; he'd grown used to going without it, and had even taken to wearing a modified haori with a high collar recently.
Byakuya surprised her a week later with a special pass to the World of the Living. Since Keeva was already well aware of Soul Society and was a Nakama, the two were being allowed to reconnect. As long as they understood that Seren wouldn't be returning to the living. She could not even stay there for long, as they didn't know how her spirit might react. It was so rare for a Réalta to make it to Soul Society… and a Síoraí never had.
"Sere…" Keeva was crying before she even realized it. "Sere!"
She threw herself so hard at Seren they both almost ended sprawled on the ground, and yet the older girl didn't care at all, she held Keeva back just as tightly, tighter than she had Yailen, whispering into her ear all her love, reassurances of her well-being.
It had been a while since her death, over a year, in fact. She was glad to see that even if Keeva clearly was still mourning her, she wasn't alone, the Nakama had made sure of that.
"I think it's time, my darling." Seren murmured after a while, an arm still around Keeva.
"Time?" Keeva stared at her, curious.
"Time for you to be yourself, your real self." Seren explained.
She raised a hand, pulling off Keeva's white hairband, before running her fingers several time through the still very short hair. It was beginning to grow and show its natural curls, but it was clear Keeva was still hiding. No more.
Byakuya and the Nakama bore silent witness as, with every motion of her fingers, the black seemed to slip off Keeva's hair, revealing red, brighter than even Orihime's had once been.
"I know in the past people have made you ashamed of your natural hair color." Seren told her gently. "But those people don't matter anymore. These people. the ones in the room with us right now, they're the ones that matter, and they will never look down on you for something as simple as the color of your hair… besides, I've always believed it's a rather lovely shade."
"Of course it is." Uryuu was the first to agree. "Like all of her."
Keeva had gone back to using her hairband, but she hadn't dyed her hair again, and even allowed it to grow a bit, though no more than brushing her neck, she didn't want it to get in the way when she had to fight after all.
Seren wasn't sure when exactly she'd gone from the Kuchiki guest, to Byakuya's friend, to his intended… it was something that just kind of happened. One day, a year almost to the day after their reunion they were standing in the garden, under the blooming plum and cherry trees. She was wearing an ivory silk kimono with a pattern of lavender on the lower half and a dark purple obi; while he wore a midnight blue one, both of them side by side… when she remembered Yailen's words, seemingly so long ago…
"I saw you." The older girl had declared. "In a beautiful garden, flowers fully in bloom, standing before a very handsome man dressed in midnight blue, his hair is the darkest black, like onyx, his eyes a perfect blend of blue and gray. He's a gentleman, a protector, a warrior… you will learn all this, and more, with time…"
When the moment came and he offered her his hand, she just smiled and said yes. It would seem she was meant to find love after all… and it was as perfect as she always dreamed.
xXx
Ichigo and Rukia finished college, got their Master Degrees, and then returned to Karakura, where Ichigo began working as the school counselor in the very high-school he'd graduated from, while Rukia wrote a column for a magazine and gave classes at the Shin'ou Academy twice a week. It was something the Soutaichou had decided should be offered as an elective, so those shinigami who wanted to do missions in the Human World were better prepared for it. Rukia had learned a lot in her years in Karakura and Tokyo, and understood how shocking even the most simple of things could be for a shinigami, especially someone who'd either been born in the Soul Society, didn't remember their human life, or had simply died so long ago that the world was completely different from what they might remember.
Homura and Shizuku had gone through middle-school and high-school while in Tokyo, and while they hadn't decided if they wanted to actually go to college, they planned to take a few classes and find a job in the meantime.
Ryuuken died unexpectedly a year after Ichigo and Rukia's return to Karakura. It wasn't anything spiritual related. He'd been on a train bound to Shibuya for a medical conference when a big earthquake hit. It was bad enough that several shinigami squads were working overtime, trying to handle all the souls needing konso before they turned into hollows, as well as all the hollows that the sudden surplus of souls in certain parts of Asia were causing. It took hours for a team to be sent to the outskirts of Shibuya, mainly because of all the areas where the 12th Division reported trouble, that wasn't one of them.
It was Nemu who found her father inside a cave, along with all the other spirits of those who'd been on the train, he was blocking the entrance with one of his Quincy techniques, which was why they weren't having trouble. He knew he was dead (not the least because he could see the broken chain in his own chest), but it didn't bother him. He knew his son had his future assured, and being dead meant he'd have the chance to spend more time with his wife and daughter, so what was there to regret?
Uryuu sold the hospital to his father's colleagues (on Ryuuken's advice), investing the money for the future. He was a famous designer, working purely by commission, creating unique pieces, mostly dresses and formal kimono. His very first piece, the one in his portfolio that kept calling attention even years later being the wedding kimono he'd made for Rukia. He still lived in the penthouse he'd once shared with his father, though he wasn't alone… Keeva was with him.
Neither of them knew when it began, or how. They just started sort of drifting together. They'd train together, Uryuu helped her with her studies as Keeva wasn't very good at the sciences. Then the rent went up and it became near impossible for Keeva to keep her apartment. It was supposed to be a temporary measure, her staying with him, but after a few months they were so comfortable that he just told her to finish unpacking and stay.
During the first few years Uryuu had made clothes mostly for his friends, and their friends. But once he was done with his chosen classes and began trying to make a name for himself… he was told he needed to have a portfolio, even if his objective was to create custom-made pieces, his prospective clients needed to know what he could do. And aside from the pictures he had of Rukia in the wedding dress, he never cared for such things. Also, most of the others didn't want pictures of them to be used thus. Keeva agreed (according to her, it wasn't like she'd anything better to do, and she wasn't shy at all so…). She tried on all sorts of clothes made by Uryuu. Mizuiro did the photographing. And it was a hit. The clothes were beautiful, and so was the model; with her short bright red curls and gray eyes, she was considered exotic in Asia. Other designers and companies got in touch, wanting her to model for them, but as she saw it as doing a favor to her boyfriend, rather than a job, she refused.
Mizuiro managed to find the place where he shone, thanks to them. What began as a favor eventually became his chosen profession when he realized that he was good at it. He could take photographs of places, but mostly of people, and they liked them (it didn't hurt that in the process he got to meet all sorts of people, women, and they liked him too…).
Keeva herself, while she would model Uryuu's designs for his portfolio, she actually worked as a police officer. It was what she liked to do, and how she felt she was most useful. Uryuu was very proud of her and told her so repeatedly… especially the day he asked her to marry him…
Keigo had lazed about at home for a few months before his sister ordered him to find a job. He was never any good at the academics, but he was observant when he really applied himself, and he was a decent fighter when no special powers were involved. So in the end he took a job as a guard with a private security company. It was a good job, and it allowed him to get into many places, and report to the other Nakama whenever he saw anything suspicious.
Chizuru worked as an operator at the 119 offices (Japan's version of the 911). It was a good job, with good hours and a decent salary, and whenever she picked up on something suspicious she'd text her nakama about it.
Chad hit the road with his band and they had a few good years, getting to see many cities in Japan, and even a few in China, Taiwan and South Korea during their tour, until eventually some of the other members decided it was time to settle down. So Chad, like all other Nakama, chose to return to Karakura. There he took to working in the local music study, helping new bands who were still waiting for their own big chance. He also played the guitar at a local coffee shop sometimes. He and Isane were still together, though in no hurry to do more than date and visit each other on their days off. They had no plans on starting a family any time soon, probably not before Chad joined her in Soul Society, they weren't in any rush.
Tatsuki went to many different tournaments, becoming known as the strongest woman in Japan, and the second best in Asia (she came close to winning that too, until she realized she was beginning to use reiatsu, and that wouldn't have been fair to her opponent). When her old master retired he offered her his dojo, as he was moving to the country, she accepted. It was convenient, as the dojo had an apartment above, so she got a home as well. Renji visited whenever he could, which regretfully wasn't as often since taking captainship of the 9th, and they even went as far as marrying (with a fake identity Kisuke set up). They were happy. Tatsuki sometimes considered just giving up on a human life at all, and she knew she might end up doing it someday, especially if she ever became pregnant; because while she might be willing to do a long-distance marriage, she knew there was no way a family would work like that. And it wasn't like she didn't know what awaited her on the other side anyway.
After finishing high-school Karin went on to play football professionally, participating in two international championships, before a bad leg injury cut her career short. Her sister was able to heal her in no time, but the injury had been bad, and during a big game… Karin knew she couldn't just go back. Too many questions would have been asked. So she retired and began coaching other teams, eventually drifting back home and doing that for the local amateur team. It was the kind of job where they'd have never been able to afford her, if she'd insisted on being paid what she was worth (even though her career was relatively short, she'd been quite well known, still was), but she wasn't doing the coaching for the money. She had enough of that, thankfully. So she coached young teens and helped Yuzu out when necessary. She and Toushirou were still going strong, even if each of them lived in different worlds.
Yuzu for her part, like with Ichigo, Ryuuken had advised her against becoming a nurse. While Yuzu might have a knack for it, it'd have broken her heart in the long run, seeing so many sick people, especially children, and not being able to interfere (and she really couldn't have, it would have drawn too much attention). So in the end she went to culinary school instead. She was awesome at it, and when Isshin decided it was time to retire (it was beginning to become a bit too obvious that he wasn't aging properly), they closed the clinic and turned that area into a bakery where Yuzu could sell cakes, muffins, cookies and everything else she could think of. It was so good that in a very short time she was getting clients not only from Karakura, but even the nearby towns, and people kept asking if she had delivery service, until Homura and Shizuku offered to handle that part for her, making the Kurosaki Bakery truly a family business.
Despite retiring Isshin didn't leave the Human World entirely, he'd promised Masaki not to for as long as at least one of their children had a life there. He had no doubt the day would come when they chose to move on. Ichigo and Rukia were already married, and while it might not be so obvious yet, they weren't aging properly either, it'd become noticeable eventually, perhaps in a decade more or so. Karin was in a committed relationship, and Isshin knew that while coaching kids and teenagers might be fun for her for the time being, one day it wouldn't be enough. Even Yuzu, while she was the only one with no real ties to the spiritual world (her own relationship with a certain shinigami seemed to have fallen through at some point), Isshin knew that the day both of her siblings chose to leave for Soul Society permanently, she'd follow. As would he.
Orihime and Ulquiorra were doing well in Soul Society, they married shortly after arriving, and a couple of years later Orihime gave birth to a little girl with dark auburn hair and the greenest eyes anyone had seen; she was named Amaya. Nagaken Amaya, the first Nagaken child (even if she came from parents adopted into the clan) to be born in many years (they didn't count Ichigo and the twins as they hadn't been Nagaken at the time of their birth). Grimmjow, Tatsuki and Sui-Feng shared godparent duties… which made things quite interesting at times.
After her conversation with Tatsuki Sui-Feng truly made an effort with them all, not just in connecting with her once princess and sister again, but even with her old lover… there were days when she and Grimmjow would spar together, when he'd help her drill her division, or even on missions… and others when he'd do or say something that had her going after him with near-murderous intent. It was strange, and most of Seireitei didn't really understand it, but most chose to just stay out of it. Yoruichi for her part found it extremely hilarious; and she was happy that Shaolin was finally allowing herself to be happy.
Masaki graduated from the Shin'ou Academy in three years. Not exactly a record, but still quite remarkable. She had several offers from a number of Divisions, especially from the 4th, as it was known that she had experience as a healer, and was a kidou specialist, her zanpakutou Himiko took the form of an asuzayumi, or an ancient miko bow (which caused a bit of a stir, with some wondering if she might be a quincy, even though she bore none of their crosses, and Himiko was a zanpakutou that took the form of a small tanto when sealed). In the end Masaki might have been the daughter of a doctor, and the wife of another, and she might have a nurturing nature, but she wasn't a doctor herself, and had no intention of being one. She chose the 13th Division because she liked Juushirou, and her instincts told her she'd be of most use there. Also, because it was the Division that had the most communication with Seireitei's allies in the Human World (the Nakama and the Visored; the Fullbringers' liaison being of the 10th).
Six years after that, Juushirou called her into his office:
"I'm afraid I've done you a disservice, Masaki-san."
As opening lines went, that was certainly not one Masaki had heard before, or one she ever expected to hear. 'Masaki-san', that was what everyone called her, either to differentiate her from her children (even though most of them answered to the compound name of Nagaken-Kurosaki nowadays), or simply because they saw her as friendly and easily approachable. It wasn't that they didn't know she was technically a noblewoman, if only by marriage, the wife of a previous Nagaken Clan Head; never mind how that ended, ever since the revelation of Ichigo's heritage everyone knew the truth of his parentage, and Isshin's whereabouts. The Gotei did nothing about it, writing it off as a noble-matter, and thus none of their business; the Nagaken only cared about the fact that they had a Clan Head again (and a Lady, with Rukia, and several new and quite powerful members thanks to recent adoptions); the Kuchiki only cared in that, thanks to Rukia having been a Kuchiki they could claim a connection with the most powerful Clan in the Soul Society (and even with their still limited numbers, no one doubted that they were, indeed, the most powerful); and the rest just didn't care at all, or at least they pretended not to.
"Taichou?" Masaki didn't understand what made her captain believed he'd done her a disservice.
"You're an incredibly gifted shinigami, Masaki-san." Juushirou elaborated. "I'm sure we both know you're wasted as a 15th seat, even if that was the best I could offer you at your graduation. I'm aware you got better offers from Retsu-san at the 4th, and Hitsugaya-san at the 10th."
"I am where I want to be taichou." Masaki answered calmly, and she truly believed that.
"True as that may be, it doesn't change this old man's wrongs." Juushirou shook his head. "In an attempt not to commit the same mistakes I may have in the past… I may have still made the very same mistake, just in an entirely different way this time."
"I'm afraid I don't understand, taichou." Masaki murmured.
Her greatest achievement, which she'd had while in her last year at the Academy, was finding a way to mix human medicine and shinigami healing techniques, something no one had been capable of before, and which was believed to be impossible; as human medicines were meant for the body, and they were spirits. But Masaki proved them wrong. It was why Unohana had been so insistent in Masaki joining her squad, going as far as offering her her recently vacated 3rd Seat (the officer in question choosing to retire when realizing he'd never reach a higher position in that squad, and he didn't have the right disposition for any other). But Masaki, as proud as she was of her accomplishment, didn't want to be a healer all the time (and had no interest in scientist work, though Kisuke had offered her a place in his Squad as well).
Juushirou had been the first shinigami to benefit from the results of Masaki's experimenting (and Unohana applying the knowledge gained, to the white-haired captain's specific ailment); and while he'd always have a somewhat delicate constitution, as a result of all the years he'd spent sick, he hadn't had an episode in more than two years (Shunsui and Nanao both were absolutely grateful for that as well).
"Some years ago I met another very gifted young shinigami." Juushirou elaborated. "He'd such potential that almost from the moment I met him I knew he was the kind of man I wanted to take over the 13th one day. I managed to convince him to take the position of my lieutenant, after only five years, even though he believed he might not be ready, that it might be too soon… I believed in him. I believed in a future with him as my successor… a few years later I bore witness to the tragedy that was his death. A tragedy that forever marked both myself, and Rukia-san… You remind me so much of Kaien, Masaki-san…" He closed his eyes tight, briefly. "I know most people are reminded of him most when looking at your son. Their similarities are shocking. Which I suppose should come as no surprise when one takes into account that Isshin-san's mother was a Shiba." He shook his head, that wasn't important. "I was shocked the first time I saw Ichigo-san… but it's you that reminds me most of him. In your skill, your potential, in your kindness, your willingness to be there for everyone… for me. It's those similarities that have kept me from giving you what you truly deserve, Masaki-san." He exhaled. "I thought I was doing right. I've always feared I may have pushed Kaien too hard, too soon. Should have listened to him more, when he was uncertain about taking the position as my fukutaichou… I failed to listen to him back then. But, as has been pointed out to me recently, what I'm doing with you is, in some way, exactly the same thing. Because by not even acknowledging your potential, I'm not even giving you a chance to make an informed choice at all."
"Taichou…" Masaki murmured quietly.
She thought she knew where he was heading with that very convoluted speech, but she couldn't be completely certain… and then the captain pulled his hands up from where he'd been keeping them, hidden beneath his desk; in them he held a white band with a wooden plaque that had the insignia of the 13th Division carved in it… the fukutaichou armband.
"This is what I believe you deserve, Masaki-san." He explained, placing the armband on the table between them. "I think you have the power, the skill and the mentality to be the second in command of this Division. But I'm not going to ask you to take it, because I don't want to make you feel like you have to take it. Like you owe me, or anyone else, anything at all. It is an offering, and it will stay that way. The choice will always be yours."
Masaki thought she understood, she also thought Juushirou was wrong.
"I will be honored, to take this, taichou." Masaki bowed her head, as she took the band. "But I think you're wrong. If Shiba Kaien was anything like Isshin, or like Ichigo, there's no way he'd have ever done anything he didn't want to. And that includes both taking this armband and all it implies, and going into a fight he probably knew he might not be able to walk away from. Our Clans do not breed foolish men. So I will take this armband, and the rank it represents, in the same way I'm sure my predecessor did, and hope to be able to do you, and our Division, proud."
With that said she stood, in a few quick, swift moves arranging the band around her arm, before before bowing deeply and turning to leave the room. She had to finish her current paperwork, vacate her old quarters, see what state her new ones were in…
"Masaki-san…" Juushirou whispered, mostly to himself, as he watched her go.
"You're right, she's a lot like him indeed."
The white-haired captain wasn't even surprised to find Shunsui suddenly there.
"Won't Nanao be looking for you?" Was all he asked.
"She knows where I am." Shunsui nodded. "We were both worried about you."
"I'm alright." Juushirou assured him.
"Yes, you are." Shunsui agreed, stealing a kiss.
It wasn't a too well-known fact, but the usually boisterous, carefree (and at times drunk) captain of the 8th Division could be serious when he thought it necessary. He'd liked Kurosaki-Nagaken Masaki almost from the moment he met her, and it wasn't only for her connection to Ichigo, a man whom he respected, or Isshin, his old friend; not even for what she'd done that had helped heal the man he loved most, and ensuring he and Nanao wouldn't lose him before their time; he respected her because she was a good woman, with a good head on her shoulders, who honestly wanted to help people. And she had, so many times, in many different ways. What she'd just done… it wasn't just accepting the lieutenant position, which would help lighten Juushirou's load, and improve things in the Division and the Gotei in general, but what she'd said to Juushirou. It wasn't anything new, nothing he hadn't heard before, but for the first time the look in his lover's eyes told Shunsui that the words might have truly reached him. Perhaps one day soon he'd finally stop blaming himself for Kaien's death…
xXx
"You may kiss the bride."
There was considerable cheering as Uryuu bent his head to kiss his appropriately blushing bride following those words. Unlike Ichigo's and Rukia's wedding (either of them), or Orihime's and Ulquiorra's, both which had been traditional shinto ceremonies, Uryuu and Keeva had a more western-style one. This because, while the Ishidas might have been living in Japan for several generations, they still held onto their German roots in some ways, including their marriages.
Theirs was a small affair, with Ichigo and Seren serving as their wedding witnesses and only their nakama and families in attendance. Masaki, Kanae, Ryuuken and Nemu were all present; the former three in special gigai that changed their appearance slightly, and under assumed identities that allowed them to pass as their children's aunt/uncle from another country. Seren and Yailen were in such gigai as well, though with them it was even easier, as everyone knew that Keeva had family in the US, but had never seen them; it wasn't even a problem for Seren to claim to be her sister (the chances of anyone ever meeting Rachel were practically nil).
The party began winding down around midnight, when someone, probably Keigo, insisted that they open the wedding presents. Keeva agreed with a giggle as she took a sip from her glass.
"Are you drunk?" Ichigo asked, as he'd never heard her giggle before.
"Not at all." Keeva assured him, letting him smell the contents of her glass. "It's sparkling juice. The wine didn't agree with me earlier, and I've never been much of a fan of it anyway, so…"
Most gifts were simple things: trinkets and other small things with sentimental value, though a few stood out: there was Isshin's gift: a week in the same resort in Okinawa where Ichigo and Rukia had spent their honeymoon. Nemu's was particularly shocking, as while at first sight it looked simply like a stamp, the design was very particular in that it had the kanji for Nakama, surrounded by miniature representations of each of them.
"What's this?" Keeva asked, curious.
"It's a special stamp." Nemu explained. "When reiatsu is channeled through it properly it will create a sort-of tattoo on the person to receive it."
"Well, as cool as that image looks, I have a feeling there must be more about this tattoo." Keeva commented with a small grin.
"There is." Nemu nodded, taking a deep breath before explaining. "It's long been acknowledged that when a person dies, the soul must be konsoed in order to move on into Soul Society. That purifies the spirit of its human life, before sending them into the spiritual world, somewhere in Rukongai. Aside from the complications of having no idea where any given spirit might end up, I know there's one other thing that has bothered many of those present here: the possibility of forgetting your human lives. It's why Orihime-san's presence was requested the day Otou-san died. So she might use her powers on him like she did in herself. But what happens when Orihime-san cannot be there? Or when someone else, a shinigami who for some reason doesn't recognize one of you, finds your spirit and gives you konso? Or worse even, if there were to be some kind of emergency and you cannot wait for her to arrive…" She took a deep breath before she lost it, she'd been so worried… about the possibility of losing her family, the family that took her so long to find… "So I created this. The tattoo will not form in your physical body but your spiritual one. When you die, all you need to do is send some reiatsu into it, and it will activate. Also, if you're found by some unknown shinigami and he does konso on you, that will make the tattoo react too. It carries a very special kidou that will protect your memories when you go through the dimensions. Also, while I couldn't devise a way to control where you arrive, it also has a homing beacon through which I will be able to find you. That way we'll be able to send someone to wherever you might appear and get you home as quick as possible and…"
She didn't get the chance to say anything else as Uryuu was suddenly hugging her tight. While he'd never admit to it out-loud, it was indeed something that had worried him in the past. That something might happen, that he, or Keeva, any other of his nakama might die, and they might not be able to find one another. While finding Seren in Soul Society had been a blessing, letting them know that Réalta could go to Soul Society, if they just let go of their human lives before their powers fully destroyed them (something that was reinforced when, at some point, Skye Kotori revealed she herself was a former Réalta). The possibility of getting lost in Rukongai, of forgetting their loved ones before finding them again, had been a daunting one; until his sister solved the problem with her invention.
Before the end of the night all still living among the Nakama had used the stamp on themselves. Thanking Nemu profusely for her gift.
The last gift, surprisingly, was a joint one from Ryuuken and Seren. It was a thin necklace of what looked like silver, delicate looking but strong, and from it hung a small, round medallion, made of onyx, that on one side had the Quincy cross inlaid in bright blue, and on the other the Réalta star in sparkling silver.
"It's beautiful but… why?" Keeva asked, curious.
None of the dead had given them any gifts, as all they could have had to give had already been delivered as part of the inheritance. Even the cross of the Master Quincy. It had been recovered by a shinigami at Ryuuken's request from his body, and he'd handed it personally to his son before crossing over into Soul Society. Seren herself had left almost everything to Keeva (except for the bequests she'd left for Byakuya, and the figurine for her mother) upon her own death. The medallion was unexpected. Especially as it reminded them both of Seren's Réalta pendant (which Byakuya had returned to her days after their reunion, and she'd gone back to wearing around her neck, this time openly, the scarf around her long hair and down her back.
"Consider it an early present of sorts, sis." Seren stated with a small smile, before throwing her arms around her little sister and whispering in her ear. "Congratulations mummy…"
Keeva swayed sharply the moment Seren let go of her, Uryuu reacting instinctively to catch her before she collapsed, right as her legs folded beneath her.
"What…?!" He stopped short of accusing anyone, knowing there was no way Seren would ever so much as think about hurting Keeva
He was at a loss as to what was going on, they all were, until they saw where Keeva's hands had strayed to: her stomach. It was still flat beneath her simple but elegant wedding dress (the one Uryuu had not designed, for once, in order to keep with the tradition of the groom not seeing it) and yet those with the sharpest spiritual senses could suddenly feel it. It had been there at the back of their minds for some of them, they just hadn't known what it was until then…
"You're pregnant…" Uryuu gasped in disbelief.
"I'm pregnant…" Keeva mumbled a moment later in confirmation.
After so long believing, fearing, that the day would never come, that she'd never have a family of her own… she was a wife, and in a few months she'd be a mummy…
The party came to an end almost immediately afterwards, Keeva and Uryuu were still lost in the news of their future parenthood, and they had a flight to catch in the morning to Okinawa. Nemu opened a Senkaimon for those bound to Soul Society, while the rest decided to walk home. It's not like they lived that far away, any of them, and even if it was past midnight, they had none ever been the kind to fear the dark.
Most had split several streets back, leaving just Ichigo, Rukia, Homura, Shizuku, Karin, Yuzu and Isshin, when there was something, like some kind of shift in the night air, Ichigo, Rukia and Karin froze first, the rest stopping a couple of steps later.
"Is everything okay?" Yuzu asked, curious.
*Can't you taste it Yuzu-san?* Muramasa asked quietly inside her Inner World. *The sudden tension in the air?*
She couldn't, not like she suspected her siblings and Rukia could. Then again, they'd always been more powerful than her, it was something she'd come to accept a long time ago.
*Not stronger just… a different kind of strength.* Muramasa qualified.
"You feel it, don't you?" Ichigo asked his wife and sister, though he knew the answer already.
"Ichigo? Rukia? Karin?" Isshin questioned, confused.
"There's a storm coming." Karin murmured, eyes lost in the horizon, as if seeing something no one else could. "It's gonna be big… and it's gonna be bad…"
"We'll be ready for it." Ichigo stated, in a tone that admitted no contradiction.
It was insane to even think about making such assurances and yet, what other option was there?
xXx
In another place, another plane of existence, blood was slowly but surely staining the usually pure white sands… the blood wasn't red, but that should have been expected, as the individual slowly but surely bleeding out wasn't human.
"This is how it must be Nel-chan…" He murmured.
"Are you sure about this?" The green-haired statuesque female before her questioned.
"Just look at me," he signaled to his heavily injured body, the useless arm hanging beside him. "I'm no use to you like this. I was never a fighter, not as a human, and not as a hollow, but now… now I'm a liability to you."
"No, you…" She tried to deny it, but deep down she knew he was right.
"I am." He cut her off. "But it's more than that. If it were just a matter of fighting to the bitter end I'd do it. But I do believe I can be of more use this way. If I can make it to the Other Side in time I may be able to give them a warning. Then, maybe they'll be ready before He arrives…"
"You're asking me to kill you."
"I'm asking you to free me. I know it's a lot to ask of you, and if there were anyone else…"
"No, I… I'll do it. You're putting a lot of trust in something we don't even know will work."
"I believe." He said simply, because in the end, what else could he do?
Inhaling deeply, Nel drew her zanpakutou, raising it and pointing it straight at the male before her. Who smiled at her.
"Goodbye Nel-chan…" He whispered softly the instant before the zanpakutou pierced him.
She watched his body slowly turn into reishi particles, raising into the empty sky, closing her eyes as they disappeared completely, two words crossing her lips in the softest whisper:
"Goodbye, Sora-kun…"
