Like so many other stories, Bleach will take forever to finish. However, this story needs the ending, which will be available in next year, I hope. While I can't exactly wait for that long, I want to write this story.
And so the ending used in this story is alternative, hence it's an Alternative Universe. It will be referred to in some parts, but never described clearly. The ending is my creation; no one should be convinced that it is what will truly happen in reality.
Anything that hasn't showed up until chapter 200 means that I made it up. You've been warned.
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"It's been a year, hasn't it, Urahara? That's a long time, or short depending on how you look at it."
No response.
"But I suppose, after living for hundreds of years, it's just a wink, isn't it?"
Silence.
"It should be. But I don't know...one year after you're gone, it's just seems so...sluggish. I actually care about how long this year can be."
The grave said nothing back to her.
"If you were here, what would you say to me, Urahara?"
"I know. You'd say that I'm uncharacteristically sappy and that I should just be a jolly cat again. Heh, it still feels lonely."
"Urahara, thanks to you, now I only have one living relative left. Not that I blame you or anything. Because I know...that to you, this is the only thing you can do to pay for your guilt. Because no matter what I had said to you about stop being guilty, you will anyway, after showing your goofy grin and saying that you wouldn't care about the past anymore. But you did, do you? You cared about it so much this is the ending you chose. For the greater good, isn't that what you think?"
The wind howled. She did nothing for that.
"It is not, Urahara. You're just being selfish...just as I am selfish enough to tell all this to a grave marker. Hmph, you must think that I'm stupid. Your body's not even in here."
"But I learn to live on. You used to ignore all my warning anyway. So what's the difference? None, really, except that now I don't have your stupid face to scold around."
"But check this. Now I have the whole Onmitsu Kidou to scold, again. It's like watching time goes back. They rehired me again, so to speak. Just the way before we left. At least now Gotei-13 and Onmitsu Kidou are separated again."
"The three divisions are still captain-less, obviously. I heard they were currently discussing about inaugurating the vice captains as the new captains. I think they're going to wait if they can reach Bankai. Hisagi Shuuhei already does. The two others...I don't know. I don't go to the captain meetings."
"Anyway, anyone could tell that the numbers in all divisions have decreased a lot. I think only less than half-no, less than a tenth-of the original ranks remained. In fact, perhaps only the seated members were left. You could imagine how desperate the captains are to refill their armies."
"Oh, that's right. I forgot to tell you. The new Central 46 devised the law that allowed Gotei-13, Onmitsu Kidou, and Kidou-shuu to act independently under certain important circumstances and to do their own business. Just so nothing like that incident could happen again."
"Eh, I'm drifting. It's not like you'd really care for this things, would you? You'd probably care more about your shop."
"About that one, Tessai-san is in charge. You got one less thing to worry about."
"The other humans? Well, Ichigo is still as stubborn as ever. He still blames himself for letting Inoue to die. That boy is foolishly very emotional. There is no way, not even Rukia, could get him back to being a shinigami. So Rukia had to take care of Karakura alone for him. Yeah, they restore her power. She's still under Ukitake's supervision, going back and forth between Soul Society and real world, between Byakuya's house and Ichigo's house. She's making it a regular habit to do anything in her power to bring the old Ichigo back. But it's useless. That boy has retreated into the deepest part of his self-conscious shell. I still admire Rukia for never giving up on him, even when everyone else has. Isshin is permanently out of business. He said he wanted to keep only one side of him, which obviously means his idiotic one. Quincy and shinigami will always hate each other, don't worry. The others? They're fine. Last time I saw them, they were really good friends with Ichigo."
"Hehe, listen to me, giving a yearly report to a deceased man. Don't blame me. I really miss you, idiot. You and your knack for uniqueness. You and your love for any unusual secret. You and your hat. Everything."
"Rest in peace, Urahara. That's the best you can get, anyway. And I only want the best for you."
-------------------
Rangiku suppressed her yawn. The vice captain of the first division, somehow acting as the leader of every vice captain meeting, was just the same as the captain, boring. She looked at the clock, again. She could tell that most of the others were looking at the same direction too, probably with the same expression.
They were more than glad when he left, and it was no surprise when most of the vice captains-exception of Nemu, Yachiru, and Nanao-remained at where they were. Shuuhei was peeking a bit through the door.
"Okay. Coast is clear", he declared, closing the door tightly.
"Oh, finally!" Iba said, rubbing his hands together, "he sure takes longer each time, doesn't he?"
"You are not planning on more parties, aren't you?" Hinamori asked coldly.
"Oh, come on! Loosen up and join us, Hinamori-san. It will be fun", Kira said, oddly cheerful.
Rangiku frowned at him. "Have you drunk anything before getting here, Kira-kun?"
"Not much, really. Whose turn is it now?" His face was red. Hinamori scowled at all of them. She said nothing.
Shuuhei pulled a hidden safety box on the wall. "Mine. Here, catch."
He threw a bottle to each of them.
"Kirin?" Iba asked. "Don't you have any better taste?"
"Take it or leave it", Shuuhei said dryly, "it's the only thing I have."
Iba shrugged. "As long as it's free."
Isane sighed, not caring about the one in front of her. "You know, if they know we're doing this instead of anything else, they're going to kill us."
"No worries. Let's see", Iba counted with his fingers, "the old-whoever-that-is has gone. The puny pink-haired is also gone. And so are the glasses, the quiet one, and Kotsubaki."
"What makes you sure I'm not going to tell anyone about this?" Hinamori arched an eyebrow.
"Because you are enjoying it anyway", a very drunken Kira mumbled. Then he shouted, "Hey, it's nearly been a year! Let's celebrate the three months of Gin's death! Woohoo!"
"Yeah! Who cares about him? He's better off dead!" Rangiku yelled, throwing the empty bottle across the room, narrowly missing Shuuhei's temple. He ignored that, instead looking nervously at Hinamori, whose face was twisted in cold anger. He gulped.
"Never mind them, Hinamori-san! They're just drunk!" He said hesitantly. He was surprised when she opened the bottle and drank half of it.
"Okay...I guess that's okay then. Kotetsu-san, aren't you drinking?"
"Not really. Taichou actually ordered me to stay here and watch in case anything goes wrong", Isane grumbled, "But apparently things have been wrong long before I realize it."
"Then you should just join us. When you're in mud", Shuuhei took a swig, "you might as well play with it."
"Ooh...nice words. To all whose relatives are dead thanks to the traitors", Rangiku slammed her fist on the table, "let's drown our sorrows."
Isane watched the bottle in front of her. "Kiyone..." She muttered, finally giving up.
"They deserve it! I mean, the traitors anyway", Hinamori uttered, the effect of the drink showing, "They are better off dead than anything else! Especially that deceiving, low-life, evil, mean, backstabbing, Aizen!"
"Errr...If that's okay with everyone, I need to leave", Matsuda Akechi-the new second division vice captain-said sadly.
"Why?"
"Well, taichou will really kill me if I'm late again", he shrugged.
"Naahh...that's but empty threat", Iba slapped his back, "I'm sure she'll forgive you."
"You wish", Matsuda muttered, "She always said, well, implied how I'm more efficient than the previous one."
"Ohmaeda? I won't blame her", Isane eyed the bottle, calculating how much she could take without getting drunk, "He was lazy."
"At any rate, I don't want to disappoint her", Matsuda concluded.
Hinamori chuckled. "Is that admiration I saw? Idiot, don't ever admire anyone, take my words for it."
"I don't--"
Shuuhei covered his mouth. "Shut up. Just let her be", he muttered.
"Anyway, don't worry about it. Soi-taichou's probably doing the same thing with Yoruichi-san. Who knows?"
"Admiring?"
"Drinking, idiot. Refill please, Shuuhei."
--------------
The second division's main office hadn't changed since Yoruichi left. There were still piles of papers on the two desks in that room, and behind that so many piles, completely hidden and unseen was Soi Fong, whose head was bent and her brows furrowing.
"Busy as ever, eh?" Yoruichi observed, sitting on Matsuda's empty chair.
Soi Fong didn't immediately reply. She wrote something and removed the paper in front of her onto another pile, and took another one from another pile.
"It wouldn't have been this much hadn't that kid decided to skip work", she muttered angrily.
"Ah, well, it's your own fault to allow the vice captains to do what they wish."
"Honestly I wouldn't have in the first place. If it were not for the high body count..."
The cat was now on Soi Fong's head, who quickly threw her away.
"What if the body count was high? Is it a trouble?" Yoruichi grumbled, pacing around Soi Fong's chair.
Soi Fong glared at her, not for her words but for the irritation of being jumped on the head again.
"It's supposedly unnerving", the captain remarked dryly, "the vice captains' spirit is falling dismally."
"And that's enough reason to loosen the grip?" Yoruichi eyed Soi Fong's head. Soi Fong did the same thing to Yoruichi.
"Everyone has softened, Yoruichi-sama", Soi Fong seethed, "but I won't if you keep teasing me."
"After all these years, I thought you would have at least changed", Yoruichi commented, "but apparently, you can't even relax for a bit."
"I have 'relaxed' enough."
Soi Fong stared at the piles as though the only thing she wanted right now was burning all of them to ash with her glare.
She sighed and settled for getting to the door instead.
"Yoruichi-sama, I need to check the school. Do you want to come?"
"Since I have nothing better to do..."
"Just don't jump on my head."
"Ah, you're no fun."
----------------
Shuuhei had had a bad feeling a minute ago. It now manifested in the form of Hitsugaya, who cleared his throat loudly.
"I wish", he said coldly, "you could all understand that the freedom we give you isn't meant to be like this."
"We have finished what we should do, Hitsugaya-taichou", Hinamori said boldly, unnerved, "and we are still within the 'curfew' you set us."
"Regardless", Hitsugaya persisted, "this kind of behavior is acceptable at first, and despicable if prolonged. Matsumoto."
Rangiku sighed dejectedly. "You sure know how to spoil the fun."
"Hinamori-fukutaichou", the tenth captain addressed the said girl, "you are currently the first authority of your division. You should mind that."
"Obviously you know much more about it, don't you?" Hinamori scoffed.
Shuuhei looked panickedly at both of them as they exchanged glares.
"Okay, okay, we understand. We'll return right away, right?" He said menacingly to the others, daring them to go against him.
"No prob", Iba shrugged.
Hitsugaya averted Hinamori's glare. "Matsumoto."
"Yes, taichou..."
The fifth division vice captain was still staring angrily at the door before storming after them.
"Are they always like that?" Matsuda asked quietly after a long moment of silence.
"No...But you see, newbie, a lot of things change after last year."
"Too much", Shuuhei agreed, "Especially Hinamori-san. She is definitely not the same."
"If you're wondering how different things are", Isane said, seeing Matsuda's worried face, "Let's say that everyone's more relaxed and serious at the same time."
Matsuda made a face. "How?"
"Why, Hinamori-san's an example. Your captain's another thing. Hey, I am."
Matsuda looked confusedly at Shuuhei.
"Where have you been the last one year?" Was the response he got.
"In the academy..."
"Oh. I forgot. Lucky you."
--------------------
"Taichou? I know you're angry or whatever--"
"Matsumoto, when I clearly said I wanted you to come straight to the office after meeting and you deliberately forgot about it, should I not be?"
"Deal with me later. What about Hinamori?"
She could see Hitsugaya's shoulders tensed. She had to pick her words carefully now.
"What about her?"
"She's your friend. Should you be that cold to her?" Rangiku secretly prayed this was one of the days when Hitsugaya was considerably softer.
Hitsugaya stopped walking and turned around sharply, nearly knocking into Rangiku's front.
"Is that a reason to allow such behaviors, especially at times like this?" His tone was as cold as Hyourinmaru. Rangiku's hopes were thoroughly dashed.
"Don't you see taichou? She needs you at times like this!" Rangiku said exasperatedly.
"Hinamori-fukutaichou is more than capable of taking care of herself", Hitsugaya turned around, walking even faster. "That is no longer of my concern."
Rangiku ran a hand on her hair, a habit she often did when she didn't want to express her frustration in words. She jogged after him.
--------------
Two grave markers stood side by side. They were the only ones on that hill.
And in front of them, the frequently visiting Komamura Sajin was once again there, sitting as usual in front of them. His beast-like face was once again filled with sorrow.
"In the end, we still failed to open his eyes", Shuuhei muttered, coming up from the side.
Komamura didn't even have to turn around.
They passed the moments in silence, watching memories dancing in their heads.
"He was already blind from the beginning", Komamura grunted, "I was foolish to think of it otherwise."
Shuuhei shook his head. "At first I thought he was a blind man with an ability to look beyond appearances. Apparently, we are both wrong on that."
Komamura nodded. "He was truly the only man able to see beyond what I look like. But he failed to see the truth with his 'eyes'."
"Tell me, Hisagi-san, what is the world's truth?"
Shuuhei was completely surprised by the random question. He grimaced.
"Definitely not what Tousen defined."
"Yes...that would be blind."
---------------
The door creaked slightly with one eye visible through the gap. It creaked again, and this time the whole body slipped through soundlessly.
"You are late again, Isane."
Isane shuddered. She quickly bowed to her captain.
"My apologies, taichou. I was distracted."
"As it seems to be a habit lately." Unohana showed neither anger nor smile. It was a trait Isane often cursed.
"I am terribly sorry, taichou. I-I haven't been able to control myself lately", she hoped it would kept Unohana from saying anything else.
"Isane, you are the vice captain of this division", Unohana said firmly, "You should know how our division is as a result of the events one year ago. You should have known that you ought to set examples for the new members."
Isane winced visibly. "I'm really sorry."
Unohana gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Then you won't repeat it again. It is a bad habit to drown your sorrows in alcohol."
"You know?" She shouldn't be surprised, but she did anyway.
"The captains have made a unanimous agreement to tolerate most of the actions the vice captains do", Unohana's lips curled, "coming a bit late after their meeting being one of them."
Isane was frozen.
"Sit down, Isane. We have a lot of work to do."
"H-Hai, taichou."
----------------
"Don't you hear it? A captain's coming!" Akira said, excited.
"Which one? Is it the captain of the eleventh?" Ryu abandoned his banter with Murasaki and turned to his glasses-wearing friend instead.
"Nah, not him, I think", Akira said, fixing his glasses.
"But, why would any of them be in here?" Mika mused.
"They probably just want to observe possible recruits", Idaten muttered.
"Yeah, probably to pick you anyway. Maybe the rest of us will be left out seeing as how we failed that Hollow raid test." Ryu slumped in his chair.
"You don't have to say that again..." Mika agreed, also looking dejected.
"Especially in front of a bed-ridden man", Akira said mischievously.
"All right, enough picking on me..."
"I think we should give Murasaki some time to rest", Idaten said firmly. They obeyed her and left Murasaki with his bed.
"Murasaki--"
"Oh, stuff it. It was our fault to be running off like that", the sick man grumbled.
"If I had gotten there faster--"
"Sheesh! Who can be faster than you? Not even any teacher here can be that fast!"
"That's exaggerating..."
"The point is, you have saved my life and forgiven my stupidity, so spare my pride. Okay?" He grinned.
"If you insist", she said calmly, though her eyes showed relief. "Get well soon."
"I will."
"..."
"Gone already? What a speed demon...I swear...and it's just her second year too...but acquiring shikai...and those high level kidous...although her face sure is odd, almost like a Hollow..." He propped his pillow and laid his head on it.
"Murasaki, are you sure it's okay with you?"
"Gyaa! Don't scare me like that!" He yelled at her.
"Sorry, but I overheard your rants--"
"Ah, get out already."
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The shinigami in training's had been having fun before, Yoruichi could tell, but as soon as they arrived in that school...
"Seems like someone has pressed the stop button", the cat muttered.
"The what?" Soi Fong said absently, staring at some frightened freshmen.
"Oh. It's just a living world thing." Apparently, the woman next to her was the button. "Soi Fong, stop scowling at them. And conceal your reiatsu."
"Yoruichi-sama, I don't. I have concealed my pressure, if you haven't noticed."
"Oh...your robe?"
Soi Fong snorted. "If this is how they act right now, then they won't survive later on."
"But if you're here for surveillance shouldn't you be inconspicuous?" Yoruichi asked, concerned if her former subordinate had forgotten all her trainings.
Soi Fong opened her mouth, but closed it again. She picked the cat without warning and stepped into a shady place under a tree.
"You don't need to tell us how much you want to join his division...it's easy. Just narrowly pass your final exam--"
"What? Don't be kidding! The eleventh division is the strongest--"
"And the stupidest, I heard", Akira said flatly.
"You two, that's not important. Say, why's everyone so quiet?" Mika asked, seeing all the frozen students.
"They're probably acting nice to show a good first impression. Wimps", Ryu said haughtily.
Yoruichi--probably Soi Fong too, judging from her deep frown--had her eyes on a particularly familiar woman. Except for the solid white half-face mask with a gap preserved for the mouth, Yoruichi could swear she had seen her somewhere else before, albeit she was sure the mask hadn't been there in the first place. Then when the cat saw the scar which neatly divided the watched's face into two, she just had to blink twice. It would be ridiculous to see a ghost in a Soul Society when the viewer was already one technically speaking.
Yoruichi turned to Soi Fong, demanding explanations. She got none since Soi Fong was apparently deep in thoughts.
The group was still trading banters, oblivious to two set of eyes watching them and nearly eyes in that place staring frightfully at one particular tree.
"When will you be? Probably the weak fourth division", Ryu taunted.
"Hey! I can fight, you know!" Akira retorted, his face reddening.
"That's why you'll end there. Because you can only fight half as good as I am", Ryu scoffed.
"You two! Idaten-san, please, say something?" Mika looked hopefully at her.
"Kusanagi, you're still here?" Akira said, mildly surprised. "I guess I can never really tell if you're here or not. What are you staring at?"
For Idaten's red eyes had been trained onto the very same tree and exchanging glances with another pair of eyes.
"Soi Fong-taichou", she muttered.
"Who!" Her three friends yelled simultaneously.
The said woman stepped out of the shadow. Mika gave panicked look at everything but her.
"K-Konnichiwa", Akira stuttered, while Ryu just nodded nervously. Idaten apprehensively kept her eyes on the two unusual visitors of the court.
Soi Fong ignored all of them. Her expression was unreadable as usual, but her eyes told many things, including disbelief, anger, and sorrow.
"What are you?" She demanded suddenly, her tone fierce.
The trio flinched. Idaten merely frowned. The question was utterly rude and uncalled for, not to mention completely random for a person she had just met.
Unless...
"What do you know about me?" She countered, as polite as possible.
Yoruichi nudged Soi Fong unnoticeably. "Now is not the time."
The bell rang, signaling the end of break time. All students in that place (for the first time in their life) gladly ran into their classes, including Idaten's three escorts (Ryu had to drag Mika).
Soi Fong's jaws tightened, and somehow Idaten felt something bad was bound to happen.
"We'll meet again", the short captain said curtly.
And the strange visitors were gone.
Idaten sighed. As much as she was glad to find a likely hint about her past, it was the opposite of comforting.
She drifted to her next class, not caring about being late at all.
She didn't need to. In a few uses of shunpo she was already there before the teacher, with many students complaining out loud how badly she startled them and three of them looking at her all of the time.
