A while later, the ballroom is beautiful and decorated. Akina came to one staircase, as Yoruichi see her off smiling on, the left side, but waits there. She is wearing a silver-white ball dress. She looks at the other stairs and sees Ichigo there with Shuhei next to him. Ichigo is wearing red royal robes.

"Go on." urged Shuhei. Ichigo nods and clears his throat as he walks down the steps with Akina going down the other. When they got to the bottom and in front of each other, they bowed down as they smiled. Then, in arm in arm, they walked down the final steps. Unohana and Hanataro were on one side of the staircase looking on, all of them were smiling. Unohana then begins to sing.

Unohana: Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends unexpectedly.

In the dining room, Ichigo and Akina were singing as a servant plays the violin.

Just a little change

With a smile, Akina made a gesture meaning she wants Ichigo to dance with her.

Small to say the least
Both a little scared

Smiling, the two made their way to the ballroom.

Neither one prepared,

Beauty and the Beast.

Akina smiles as she gets ready to dance with Ichigo who looks nervously.

Ever just the same
Ever a surprise

Ichigo and Akina danced very romantically. With a smile, Ichigo looks over at Izuru and Shuhei who smiles in approval.

Ever as before, ever just as sure
As the sun will rise

With more confidence, Ichigo resumes dancing with Akina.

Tale as old as time
Tune as old as song

Bittersweet and strange,
Finding you can change, learning you were wrong

Certain as the sun

As Unohana sings, Akina smiles lovingly as she puts her head on Ichigo's chest.

Rising in the east

Tale as old as time,

Izuru and Shuhei smiles excited as they give their master two thumbs up each.

Song as old as rhyme,

Beauty and the Beast

Shuhei told the candlesticks to turn their flames down.

Tale as old as time,

Song as old as rhyme,

Beauty and the Beast

A pair of double doors opened up as the song ends. Ichigo and Akina went outside through them.

Smiling, Unohana looked at the yawning Hanataro. She said, "Hanataro, its pass your bedtime. Off to bed with you."

Hanataro went off to bed. He looked through the doors smiling as he does so.

Outside on the balcony, the two dancers looked out at the stars very happily.

"So, Akina...are you happy here?" Ichigo asked. "With me?"

"I guess so." Akina said as she looks at the night sky. Ichigo suddenly became concern when he notices a sad look on her face.

"Is there something wrong?" Ichigo asked.

Akina sighs as she said, "I liked it here with you but...I miss my brother Kaien a lot. I wish I can see him again. But that's impossible."

Ichigo looks sad as Akina looks down. Then he realizes something and smiles, "Say, I think I have an idea."

Back in the West Wing, Ichigo picks up his magic mirror and shows it to Akina.

"What is it?" Akina asked looking at the magic mirror.

"It's how I found you before. This is a magic mirror, which has the power to show you anything, including those you wish to see. Just ask it."

Akina nods nervously as she takes the mirror. She said, "Okay...I wish to see my brother please."

The magic mirror flashes as it did before and it soon shows an image, making Akina gasped. In it was Kaien in the forest falling to his knees coughing.

"Oh no! It's Kaien!" groaned Akina as the image clears up. "He is sick! He must have got something trying to come over here. I know it!"

As Ichigo looks concerned, Akina continued, "He could be dying anytime soon and he's alone with no one to help him!"

Looking at the rose, which still has 3 pedals attached to it, Ichigo sigh as he said, "Then you must go to him."

"Huh? But I thought..." Akina begins to say.

"You are no longer my prisoner."

Akina looks stunned. "You mean...I'm free?" Ichigo nodded sadly.

"Well, I guess I'd better go and find him before he freezes to death."

As Akina prepared to leave, she realizes that she still has the magic mirror. She turns back to Ichigo and is about to hand it back until he stopped her.

"No, take it. That way, you can always look back and remember me." said Ichigo sadly.

Akina sighed and said, "Thank you for knowing how much my brother needs us." She then hugs him and said, "I'll miss you."Akina made her leave. Izuru came in happily, unaware of what just happened.

"Good work, Ichigo." said Izuru smiling walks up to Ichigo, whose back is to him. "I got to admit. I have my doubts but you prove me wrong."

"I let her go." Ichigo responded sadly.

"Of course, you let her..." Izuru suddenly stopped and looks alarmed as he realized what Ichigo just said.

"Huh? You let her go? As in allowing her to leave the castle? But...but why?"

"Because...I love her." said Ichigo sadly.

Izuru nods in understanding and sadness, eyes with tears in them. "I see. I better let everyone else know about this." As he left the room in sadness, Ichigo sighs sadly

~In the library~

"HE DID WHAT?" yelled Shuhei, Unohana, Hanataro, and Rangiku, and some of the servants in shock as Izuru told them what happened.

"Yes. It's true. I can't believe it, but it's true." said Izuru with a sigh.

"You mean she's leaving?" asked Hanataro sadly.

"This can't be! He was so close!" groaned Shuhei in disbelief.

Unohana sighs as she said, "After all this time, he has finally learned to love."

Shuhei widen his eyes in hope as he said, "Of course! He loves her! That got to break the spell, right?"

"No, no, Shuhei." sighs Unohana sadly. "She's got to love him in return."

Unknown to the group, Hanataro sneak away, looking behind him as he goes out after Akina. No one saw him leave.

"And now...it's too late." sighs Izuru, giving up once more.

Ichigo watches Akina leave with Philippe in hopes to find Kaien before it's too late. Believing he will never see her again, Ichigo did what he can: he yelled as if his heart was broken. Akina will never forget that yell as long as she lived.

"Brother! Kaien, where are you?" asked Akina as she looked around in the forest for him. She turned her head and gasped. She had finally found Kaien lying face first in the snow.

Akina and Kaien finally returned to their home. Once they arrived, Akina lifted Kaien up from Philippe and begin taking him into the house.

Unknown to any of them, a snowman next to the porch was shivering like mad. When he sees them going inside, it crumbled to reveal a very cold Gin. It was a long time waiting for them to return but it was worth it.

"Good. They're back. I gotta get Aizen." said Gin as he rushes to fetch Aizen...and the others.