1995, 10 years later...
"Shuhei! Is it true? Tsuki's finally coming home?"
Shuhei nodded. Just a few months after her first trip to the World of the Living since her academy days, Kaname had tasked her with taking a small contingent of Soul Reapers and investigating Hollow attacks in the western cultures. Squad 12 had requested extra data regarding Hollows and sent some of their researchers with Tsukimori and her men, who were to serve as their guard. And now, after ten years, she was finally coming home.
Shuhei stood with Renji, Momo, Izuru and the others as they waited for the Senkaimon to open. For some reason, he was finding himself anxious to see Tsukimori again.
"It's opening!"
The Senkaimon opened and the black figures started to walk through, stepping through the light and revealing who each figure was.
"Welcome home, everyone." Captain Jushiro Ukitake said, having been tasked with supervising the Senkaimon upon their return. "I trust that your mission was a success?"
"It was indeed. I think Captain Kurotsuchi will be very pleased with the data we've collected."
"Excellent. Good work, all of you. Be sure to report in to your captains and get some rest."
The researchers from Squad 12 hurried off, knowing their captain would be impatient for his results, and the members of Squad 9 who acted as their guard made their way towards the barracks.
"Tsuki!"
Tsukimori was towards the back of the group, having helped carry some of the supplies back, and issued a few orders before turning and getting tackled by Yachiru and Momo.
"You're home!"
Tsukimori laughed, hugging them. "It's good to see you guys." She looked up, seeing most of her friends had come to see her return. "It's good to see all of you." Her gaze found Shuhei, but her heart dropped a little when she saw Rangiku leaning on him.
"You look good, Tsuki." Renji said, helping her to her feet.
"Thanks, Renji."
"Tsuki-Tsuki, you changed!" Yachiru said, pointing to her hair. She circled behind her, touching the now thigh length, wavy smoky blue hair. "It's so pretty! Oh, what's that?" She pointed to the hair pins keeping the remainder of her hair in a bun.
"Always so full of questions, Yachiru." Tsukimori smiled, ruffling her hair.
"Wow, Tsuki, you look gorgeous!" Rangiku said, smiling. "What's this?" She pointed to her forehead.
Tsukimori smiled. "Oh, that. Well, it appeared when I reached bankai."
"You've reached bankai?!"
Tsukimori nodded. "While the Hollows were a bit of a nuisance, there wasn't much to do but train while we kept the researchers safe. I took me... let's see... seven years? I've been working with strengthening it for the last three of our mission."
"That's amazing!"
Shuhei stood off to the side while the others bombarded Tsukimori with their questions. He himself was too distracted by the changes. Tsukimori had gotten a bit taller, had more muscle built up, her hair which had been an inch or two above her shoulders now reached mid thigh and hung in loose waves while the top half was twisted up into a bun pinned with teal crystal pins, her beaded fang necklace had been replaced with a silver and teal crystal one, and a teal diamond shaped mark had taken residence at the center of her forehead. The only things that had remained the same in appearance were her incredibly fair skin, dainty freckles, and silvery blue eyes that made her smile all the more beautiful.
"Shuhei?"
Shuhei was pulled from his thoughts and looked over at Isane.
"You look like you're stunned speechless." She said with a smile. She looked back at Tsuki. "She's grown since we last saw her. It would seem that her time in the World of the Living has returned her to her old self finally."
Shuhei returned his gaze to Tsukimori, finding the same conclusion as Isane.
"We have to celebrate!" Rangiku said. "You've been gone a whole decade! We need to catch up!"
Tsukimori chuckled as they joined Shuhei, Isane, and the others who had waited for their turn to welcome her back. "I still need to report in to my captain, but sure. Let's go out for dinner and drinks tonight."
"Yay!"
"Come on, we should let Tsuki get to her barracks." Rukia said, smiling. "We'll see you tonight, Tsuki."
Tsukimori nodded, watching as everyone returned to their squads. "Good to see they haven't changed."
"Some people don't." Shuhei said. "But then again, some people change so much you can barely recognize them."
Tsukimori looked at him, sensing a hidden meaning behind his words. "It's good to see you, Shu."
"It's good to see you, too, Tsuki." Shuhei replied, managing a smile for her. "Come on, let's get back to the barracks. Captain Tosen will want a full report before you can go anywhere."
Tsukimori smiled at that. "Lead the way, Lieutenant."
"Tsuki, welcome back."
Tsukimori bowed and smiled. "It's good to be back, Captain. I wanted to thank you for giving me this wonderful opportunity."
"You've been away for some time." Kaname said from where he stood by the window. "Take some time to relax, you can get me the report tomorrow morning."
"Actually, sir, I already have it ready. We had some time while we packed up for me to write it." Tsukimori placed it on his desk. "The mission was a success. There were no casualties. The Hollows were a nuisance as always, but it would seem that they are quite different than the Hollows we see in the eastern part of the World of the Living where Karakura Town is. They proved to be a challenge, but nothing we couldn't handle."
"There's something different about you." Kaname sensed. "You have more power, yet your limiter remains in tact and without changes."
"Yes, sir." Tsukimori smiled. "There was a lot of time to train during our mission. The men and I continued to grow our skills and hone our abilities. I myself was able to achieve bankai."
"I see. That is quite the accomplishment. I would like to test your bankai sometime soon."
"Of course, Captain."
"I will deliver the report to the Head Captain myself and inform him of this exciting development. You may take the rest of the week off to re-acclimate into your surroundings. Come Monday, though, I expect you to be ready to return your duties as 3rd seat."
"Thank you, sir. If there's nothing else, I will take my leave."
Shuhei stood in the office with Kaname as Tsukimori excused herself.
"What are your impressions of our 3rd seat since her return?" Kaname asked.
"She's changed, Captain, but I believe it to be for the better." Shuhei replied. "It'll be good to have her back."
"Indeed it will." Kaname picked up the report and headed out of the office. "Take the rest of the week off, Shuhei. You've earned it."
Shuhei bowed, smiling when he realized that Tsukimori's influence still held even while she was gone. Knowing that the others would want him to come to dinner and celebrate Tsukimori's return home with them, he hurried to his room and changed out of his uniform into something more casual- a navy blue yukata with a black obi. A knock came at his door and when he went to answer it, he found Tsukimori waiting and dressed in a blue kimono decorated with white cranes.
"Hey, are you coming to dinner with the rest of us?" Tsukimori asked, trying to ignore his chiseled chest peeking through his yukata.
"Uh, y-ya."
Tsukimori smiled. "We should hurry then. It'll be getting dark soon."
Shuhei nodded, walking behind her as they made their way to the restaurant and trying to ignore how her cuteness was affecting him. 'What is this?'
"Tsuki and Shuhei are here! Now the party can get started!"
Renji looked up and smiled, nudging Izuru when Tsuki and Shuhei came in together. "Look at that."
Izuru smiled, seeing an ever so slight blush on Shuhei's cheeks as he walked with Tsukimori. "I see."
Ikkaku was already nearly as drunk as Rangiku, but he whistled and gave Tsukimori a wink when she reached the table. "Ten years in the World of the Living did you good, Tsuki. You look amazing! Welcome back!"
Tsukimori blushed and smiled, sitting down next to Momo and Rukia. "It's good to be back. I missed you guys."
"Well, now that everyone's here, we've got a lot of catching up to do. More sake!"