Ehem. This is the last chapter.

There is a sequel planned, which should be put up 4 days from today (today is Sunday), which is exactly the same story but allows me to conveniently skip twenty years or so.

It's been a fun 8 months, full of awkward implications, cursing at 7th graders, psychology, and writer's block galore. Thank you all so much for your support. I hope to see you again on Thursday in "Age of Ignorance."

Kira stood at the entrance of the First Squad area, mind currently on the story that he and Renji had made up, trying to remember the details they decided on and make up ones that they had forgotten. It was what he was about to recite to his friends, he was sure that Renji's statement would not be sufficient, they would have to hear it directly from the source.

"You seem to be back together," Hisagi said, clapping him on the shoulder. It was right after the meeting, and throughout it, Hisagi seemed to be itching to ask something. "Feeling better?"

"Yes," Kira answered generically.

"Renji told us what happened," Hinamori said, nodding at the redhead beside her. "You . . . broke down yesterday?"

Is that what he told them? "Yes," Kira answered, looking ashamed appropriately.

Without hesitation, Hinamori wrapped her arms around her friend's chest, the highest point she could reach, and hugged him. This was unexpected, but not unappreciated.

"It's okay!" she said soothingly, and Kira couldn't help but fake a smile. It was a kind gesture, although it didn't really work. "You don't need to be embarrassed by it!"

"So why is it that you didn't say anything before?" Hisagi asked simply. "I mean, we all get it once in a while, you know? It's stressful, being a Vice-Captain."

Kira hesitated. "I didn't want to say anything against Ichimaru Taichou."

Hisagi sniggered, obviously amused by Kira's answer. "Wow. So you really love your Captain, huh?"

Even before he looked, Kira could tell that Renji had shot him a glance, and turned to stare right back at him, warning him not to say a word. The other two, mercifully, did not notice as they returned to their normal stances.

Things were not the same between Kira and Renji. Kira had been hoping that he would at least make an effort to pretend he believed the same story he had told Hisagi and Hinamori. But there were many more implications in daily conversation than he realized that reminded Renji of what he had seen and what he now knew, and he looked over at Kira at each of these implications, almost as though he were trying to hint to Hisagi the truth. Letting Hinamori know was out of the question.

He had the impression that Renji did not want to bear this alone, that he wanted to have someone else with whom to discuss it, and was therefore, perhaps unconsciously hoping that Hisagi have a similar revelation. But so far, Hisagi was ignorant to this. He was willing to buy their weak story about insomnia only because Kira seemed to be acting normally again. As for Hinamori, all she seemed to care about was that Kira was relatively back to normal.

He also was pretty sure that Renji was angry with him as well as disappointed. But he couldn't for the life of him figure out why, none of this affected him, he only had to keep his silence. Kira could see the anger, but couldn't figure out how to get rid of it. He only hoped that in due time, Renji would accept the reality and live and let live. As much as he may disagree.

"Oh, no," Hinamori said suddenly, looking up at the clock in horror. "I forgot, I have to go pick up something for Aizen Taichou in Squad Seven!"

She waved a hurried goodbye and raced off.

Kira watched her go, thinking of all the times Gin had asked him to pick up something from another Squad. It had been slightly awkward meeting the other Captains face-to-face and even more so to see their opinion of his Captain reflected on their faces.

His problems at home were not doing any better. Though past the fear that someone might find out about them, because someone already had, Kira found that now especially that they somewhat labeled themselves as a couple, Gin wanted more physically than Kira was willing to give him. In retrospect, Kira wasn't sure what he had expected. A simple relationship was already out of the question since they had gone so very far from the beginning.

But Gin almost seemed to go out of his way to express his love at the most inappropriate times. The other day, Kira had been cleaning up the main room with a mind to finish the work and head out to the library to do some research on a few procedures in the paperwork he did not understand. And as he started to sweep up the floor, he felt an arm wrap around his waist and a hand fell between his legs. Kira paused.

"I'm working," he had said in a low voice, breathing slowly to keep his head.

"Take a break," Gin whispered nearly viciously.

Kira had argued back, but of course, in the end Gin had gotten his way. And Kira had started his day late, again.

"Well I gotta go," Hisagi said, and gave a small smile. "Get some sleep, right? And don't worry too much about upsetting your Captain. You're entitled to your rights, I mean he doesn't expect you to stay up all night working." Kira felt Renji's eyes on him once more, but didn't look back at him. "Take care, Renji. Congrats, again, on moving up again." He turned and ran off towards his squad. But his last words stuck Kira oddly, and he turned to face Renji.

"You moved up again?"

Renji shrugged. "Another spot. Yeah." And now he was avoiding Kira's eye.

"That's amazing. Why didn't you tell me?"

He shrugged again. "You had a lot on your mind."

Kira looked at him. "So, what, you couldn't tell me you moved up a seat? It's not like it's a burden, on either of us. Renji!" He called his name because Renji had looked away again. "What is wrong with you? I'm the same person I was two days ago. Aren't we still friends?"

"Of course we are," Renji answered. "It's just a little soon, Kira. I'm sorry."

"I see." He stared straight into Renji's eyes, despite the fact that Renji was making every effort not to look back.

"I should be going, too," Renji said, and turned away without another word. Kira watched after him, watched as he walked away quickly, leaving his friend behind.

He reflected briefly on himself on the night that had started all of this, in which Gin as his Vice-Captain promised to train him privately. He was weak, wanted to be more to Gin than he was, feared him yet loved and respected him; he was afraid that Renji would think him a coward; he had wanted to cope with life the way Hinamori did; and got himself into countless amounts of trouble. Nothing had changed.

But nothing could ever be the same.

Thanks again to everyone who ever gave me a review, thanks to those who sent me fanart websites, thanks to Steph and Max for help on plotlines, and of course to Tite Kubo for making this even possible.