1985, 3 years later...

"Captain, here's the last of the paperwork."

"Please give it to Lieutenant Hisagi to review."

"Of course, sir." Tsukimori handed Shuhei her paperwork, then turned back to her captain. "Will there be anything else, sir?"

"No, that is all."

"Very well, sir." Tsukimori bowed before turning to leave, stopping for a moment and turning back to him. "Captain, may I ask a favor?"

"What is it?"

"It's been some time since I've taken any time off. I'd like to have the rest of today and tomorrow off, if that would be acceptable?"

"Of course, Tsuki. You work yourself too much." Kaname offered her a smile. "You should take our lieutenant with you. He works himself more than you do."

Shuhei looked up at that. "Captain?"

"Why don't you finish your paperwork for today, then take a few days off?" Kaname said to him. "You both could use it."

"If you're sure, sir."

"I am."

Tsukimori smiled and bowed. "Thank you, sir." She looked at Shuhei and bowed her head before hurrying out of the office.

It had been three years since Tsukimori had joined Squad 9 and she found that it had been a great improvement in her life. She had worked with her captain and Shuhei on her anxiety issues, having even visited Captain Retsu Unohana of Squad 4 for an emergency anxiety medicine just in case, and found that she was getting much better every day.

In those three years as well, she had reconnected with Renji, Momo, and Izuru and even became friends with Rangiku Matsumoto- lieutenant of Squad 10- and a few others from different squads.

She trained with her squad, honing her abilities and mastering new techniques. She would often spar with Shuhei, just like their academy days together, and found that she was a much better match against him that she was before.

But now, with her days off, she was going to take full advantage of them and visit Yoshirou and spend time with her friends.

"Hey, Tsuki! We still on for later?"

Tsukimori turned to see Rangiku and Momo waving to her. "Ya, just going to stop by home first."

"Sounds good. We'll see you then!" Rangiku said, grinning.

"I hope Yoshirou is doing well." Momo said, smiling.

"Who, the guy that raised her?"

Momo nodded. "It was difficult for her to get used to being at the academy after spending all of her life before that alone in solitude with just Yoshirou. Renji, Izuru, and I tried our best to help her, but we couldn't do much. Not like Lieutenant Hisagi could."

Rangiku's interest peaked at that. "Oh? Do tell me more!"

"When Tsuki first encountered her zanpakuto's spirit, it took a great deal or energy out of her. She started private lessons with the instructors and Lieutenant Hisagi was her private tutor. It seemed like he was the only one who made her feel safe and calm around so many people. We never could figure out why that was, otherwise we could have helped her better once he left the academy."

"I bet I know!" Rangiku grinned. "She had a crush on him!"

Momo looked at her, an expression of bewilderment present. "You don't think..? Could she have...? I wonder if she still..." She broke out into a grin. "That's so cute!"

"We are so asking her about it later!"

Yoshirou sat on the porch of his cabin, enjoying the warm weather and the gentle breeze lilting through the forest. He contemplated a life without Tsukimori, finding he had grown used to raising her, watching her smile and laugh and play, teaching her to cook, preparing her for the academy, teaching her how to heal with herbs as well as kido. It was strange even after a few years to return to a life of solitude, but he was grateful the villagers would come to visit him.

A rustle came from the trees and he smiled when he saw Tsukimori stepped into view. "Welcome home, dear."

Tsukimori smiled, hugging him and sitting next to him. "I brought something for you." She set down the pack she was carrying and opened it to show him the vast number of sweets she was able to procure. "I know you love sweets. These ones are new, as are these and these, then I made sure to get your favorite, too."

Yoshirou smiled. "Thank you."

"I'm sorry I haven't come to visit sooner. It's been really busy at work and with my captain being blind, paperwork can be challenging."

"Blindness is not a weakness, but a means to heighten all other senses." Yoshirou said, taking one of the sweets.

"Captain Tosen is amazing. His blindness never gets in the way of anything. I think he was born blind, so he's had to hone his skills and senses to overcome that. He is an inspiration to many, not just the squad."

"Oh my, these are fantastic!"

Tsukimori looked over at Yoshirou, laughing at how child like he was being about his sweets. "I'm glad you like them."

Spending a few hours with Yoshirou was definitely something that Tsukimori needed, but she wished she could stay longer. As she bid him goodbye and promised to stop by again soon, back in the Seireitei Shuhei was joining some of the other lieutenants for drinks- something he rarely did because of how much he worked.

"So, Shuhei, how's Tsuki been doing since joining your squad?" Renji asked.

"She's been doing really well. It's almost like back when we were all still at the academy. She's been training with the squad, helping them with long range ballistic style attacks, and she's been sparring with me in her free time. She's really improved over the years."

Renji and Izuru looked at each other, smirking. Shuhei noticed this and raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"What?"

"What, you never noticed?"

"Noticed what?"

"Never mind, it's best you figure it out on your own."

"Would someone tell me what you two are on about?"

Renji and Izuru just laughed and teased Shuhei over something he didn't know but should only if he figured it out himself. Shuhei rolled his eyes, sitting back in his seat and sighing in annoyance. He looked out the window and wondered what Tsukimori was doing and if she was.