8 months later...

Tsukimori was tasked with going to the World of the Living to assist in dealing with a large group of Hollows. She and a few others traveled through the Senkaimon and when they reached Karakura Town, they saw that there were Hollows everywhere.

"Some idiot set off hollow bait, and they're arriving by the truckload!" One of the Soul Reapers stationed there said as they arrived.

Tsukimori issued orders to her men and watched as they quickly got to work. Turning towards a nearby Hollow, she stopped when she heard a voice behind her.

"Between the two of us, we should be able to take them out without too much difficulty."

"What're you doing here, Lieutenant Hisagi?" Tsukimori asked. "I thought you were too busy with paperwork to join this mission."

"I'm not always stuck in the office doing paperwork, Tsuki. Did that ever occur to you?"

Tsukimori rolled her eyes and drew her zanpakuto. "What's wrong with you? Rangiku turn you down again?"

"As if you'd care." Shuhei said, nonchalantly. "Anyway, I'm gonna do my job, which is to kill these Hollows. Don't know about you though."

With that, he proceeded to the nearest group of Hollows and started taking them out. Tsukimori frowned and did the same. She ignored everything else and rounded on the nearest hollow, decapitating it with one swipe before the next met a similar fate. She spun, dodged and swung her zanpakuto, releasing her shikai, ending the unfortunate existences of hundreds of Hollows with Suisei danmaku.

Shuhei had hoped this mission would help Tsukimori blow off some steam and release the pent up emotions she had been holding in for months now. She seemed to be doing fine on her own, but when she became encircled by a particularly large group, it became clear that she needed help.

Tsukimori was beginning to feel overwhelmed when the nearest Hollow faded, as did the one next to it. In rapid succession, the Hollows surrounding her vanished and

Shuhei stepped out in front of her.

"You alright?"

"I'm fine. I had it handle, Lieutenant." Tsukimori looked away.

Shuhei shook his head. "When are you going to stop being so stubborn?"

"When are you going to stop treating me like I'm so fragile thing?" Tsukimori retorted, glaring at him.

"Tsuki..."

"Whatever... As if you'd have any time for anyone but Rangiku."

Shuhei sighed, watching as she took off after another group of Hollows, making quick work of them before moving on to the next group. 'That's not true, Tsuki...'

Tsukimori felt horrible for how she had been towards her friends, especially Shuhei, since Yoshirou died. But she needed to focus on the task at hand before anything else. When she finished with her group, she sensed three gillian appear and looked over at Shuhei, who was quickly falling to the losing end of the battle. She rushed to his aid, calling out, "Sutabasuto!"

Shuhei turned and shielded his eyes from the blinding light that emanated from her attack, glancing through the cracks between his fingers and seeing her release her Kirin no hi- setting the gillian and the remaining Hollows ablaze with holy fire.

"Huh, thanks." Shuhei said as he panted. He looked at Tsukimori as she sheathed her blad and stood still, gazing at the horizon. "Tsuki, listen..."

"I'm sorry."

"What?"

"I'm sorry for shutting everyone out. I'm sorry for shutting you out." Tsukimori looked at him over her shoulder, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I'm so sorry, Shu..." She turned away and made to go off somewhere alone to collect herself, but Shuhei suddenly appeared in front of her and pulled her into his arms.

"No more running, Tsuki." He said, holding her to him. "Come back to us." He closed his eyes, his hold around her tightening ever so slightly. "Come back to me."

Tsukimori's eyes widened at that and she let her tears fall, crying into his chest as he held her and finally letting go all of the grief and anger she had kept bottled away for months.

Shuhei held her and let her cry for as long as she needed, dismissing the others and promising to be right behind them.

The sun began to set in the World of the Living and Tsukimori finally had quelled her tears, pushing back from Shuhei's chest.

"Feel better now?"

Tsukimori nodded. "Your uniform is soaked. I'm sorry."

Shuhei lifted her chin and looked down at her, offering her a gentle smile. "It's alright. It'll dry off soon. Besides," He reached up and wiped free the remnants of her tears. "It's worth it for you."

Tsukimori smiled at that, leaning into his hand as it rested on her cheek. "Thanks, Shu."

"For what?"

"For everything."

Shuhei chuckled at that and hugged her. "You needed time and we knew we needed to give it to you." He looked at her. "You ready to go back?"

Tsukimori nodded, taking his hand when he offered it. "I'm ready."

Shuhei smiled, interlocking his fingers with hers and leading her through the Senkaimon, leading her back home.

Upon returning to their barracks, Shuhei and Tsukimori went to report in to their captain. They made a full report and Kaname was pleased to "see" that Tsukimori was on the mend finally and starting to act like her old self. After meeting with the captain, Shuhei walked Tsukimori to her room and made sure that she was OK before leaving her alone and going back to his own room to get changed. As he settled in for the night as he went over everything that had happened since Tsukimori had come back into his life.

Tsukimori had brought a new light to his life the first time he had met her. She made his day better, worth looking forward to. He had grown to care for her a great deal, even as just friends, and was disappointed when it faded over the years since the last time they had seen each other. And when she returned to the Seireitei and joined Squad 9, that light seem to return. She helped as much as she could with chores, paperwork, and training, quickly growing accustomed to her new surroundings. She was trying her best to overcome her anxiety with crowds or groups of people and had done well since joining the squad. And he was glad to see that she wasn't as shy as she used to be, but had maintained her gentle, kind, caring, mature, respectable, responsible, protective, nurturing personality. She had become more outspoken and engaging, improving her social skills little by little with the help of her friends. Things had become much easier going and less stressful with her around, and the more he thought about it the more he realized that he really enjoyed her company.

Off in her room, Tsukimori was curled up asleep in bed, finally sleeping peacefully for the first time in a long time. She was in such a deep slumber that she didn't notice when Shuhei had come to check in on her after a few hours.

Shuhei smoothed back her hair and pulled the covers over her, smiling when he saw her smile in her sleep and respond to his presence and touch. "Sleep well, Tsuki."