After this chapter is the Epilogue. Hope you enjoyed the story ;) - Krystal

Chapter 16

Rin leaned on her Bankai weapon heavily, panting. She had an exhausted smile on her face.

"This'll make things a lot easier, now that mostly all of the Menos are dead. The others can take care of the remaining few... They won't be getting in our way when we finally deal with the giant mushroom-thing," she said, straightening.

"Yeah. If it grows anymore, it'll swallow up Karakura Town," Daisuke said, concern in his tone. "All those innocent souls will be destroyed if we don't stop it in time."

"Who cares?" Akuma snarled. "It's just another goddamn chore."

"Admit it, Akuma," Rin spoke, her eyes narrowed. "You don't want those people dead just as much as everyone else. You're a fucking softy."

"Fuck you! Don't tell me how I think!" The other snapped.

"You only say that because it's true." Their argument was interrupted when Byakuya appeared beside Rin. He rested a hand on her shoulder. She glanced at him questioningly, seeing the worry in his eyes.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

"Why wouldn't I be?" For once, she didn't sound irritated or sarcastic. "I'm the one who should be asking you that, anyway. Idiot, you used up a lot of reiatsu closing that garganta. You're screwed if we're attacked by strong enemies."

"I will be fine. I am sure that the rest of the fight is up to Kurosaki Ichigo, not us," he replied, setting her worries at ease for the most part. They glanced at the mushroom-thing. Red lightning thundered around it as the rate at which it was growing increased. A sharp spike of reiatsu pressed down on their shoulders. The woman frowned.

"Kurosaki must be screwing around with raccoon face in there." As she spoke, cracks ran along the length of the mushroom-thing, emitting reiatsu. But it wasn't the heavy black hollow reiatsu. Rin held her arm in front of her face, protecting her eyes from the wind stirred up from the power. A pure white light blinded everyone. When everything cleared, the mushroom-thing was gone as well as the hollow reiatsu. Rin was doubled over, hacking harshly. Byakuya placed a hand on her shoulder, but she straightened before he could ask. She was still coughing.

"I'm fine... I think O swallowed a bug..." She spoke in a hoarse voice.

"...You have ruined the moment."

"Shut up..."

"Guys... Just stop fighting for a second and look. Isn't that Kurosaki-san on the island down there?" Daisuke butt in. "And Muramasa is with him. Something has happened."

"Come, Rin. We shall join them." Byakuya disappeared. With a sigh, Rin turned and followed him, sealing her Bankai beforehand. They landed on the island beside Rukia and Orihime.

"Nii-sama!" Rukia exclaimed as everyone turned to the young woman's adopted brother.

"Byakuya..." Ichigo murmured, appraising the older man.

Clouds above broke into rain. Lightly at first, but it grew harder. Rin wrapped her arms around herself, but she didn't complain. Her husband stood with his eyes closed as the rain drops slid down his face. The ground was soon soaked as the storm grew worse. All around, the zanpakuto glowed before disappearing. Rin rested her hand on her remaining katana, closing her eyes.

"Futago... If only you could join us..." She whispered beneath her breath. Luckily, the rain was there to hide her tears.

"Kurosaki Ichigo," Byakuya's voice made her open her eyes, "this will be my second time thanking you. I appreciate your help."

"That's not fair..." Rin said, though it was without ire. "Why don't you ever thank me?"

"Come along, Rin. We must return to Soul Society. If it pleases you, I will 'thank' you back at the manor." He smirked down at her. It widened when her eyes lit up with excitement.

"I like the sound of that!" She purred cheekily.

Aika smiled up at the clouds. She had come to join the others now as well.

"You know what would be better than rain? A big old thunderstorm!" She exclaimed.

"Aika, I think you need to seal your Bankai now." Toshiro sighed.

"What? Why?" She asked innocently.

"No, Captain!" Rangiku protested. "Aika's so much funner when she's like this!"

"I've got an idea! Let's run through the forest naked!" The short woman suggested to her friend.

"Yeah!"

Hisagi, who just happened to bear witness to the comment, covered his nose when blood burst out. Rin waved her hands out in front of her.

"No! Not again! I am not chasing after you guys again! Seal your Bankai! Seal it, now!" She ordered.

"Aw~! Spoil sport!" They whined in chorus.

"You mean this has happened before?" Ichiami exclaimed. "Why wasn't I told about it?" He whined.

"Don't worry about that wet blanket, Rangiku!" Aika cheered up her friend. "When we get back to Soul Society, we celebrate!"

"Can't you celebrate with your clothes on?" Rin muttered.

"No! No we can't! You can't make us!" Rangiku yelled. Nearby, Hisagi fainted.

"Why do I have to have friends like this?" Rin groaned, her head in her hands.

"Why don't I have friends like this?" Ichiami shouted, wiping the drool off his chin.

"Come on Rin! You joined us last time, and you had fun!" Aika said to her friend. Ichiami fainted when he heard this. The woman went red.

"S-shut up! I was drunk!" She protested.

"Well, then tonight we get drunk again!" Rangiku cried. Nearby, Byakuya was staring at Rin with a dreamy look on his face. His wife, running through the forest... Naked... It was all he could do not to lose his composure and smile. Just then, her foul language brought a rather abrupt end to the fantasy. He sighed, frowning in slight disappointment over the ruined moment.

Soi-Fon glanced at Daisuke, who was standing beside her and watching with a blank look on his face.

"Is this why you don't mind chaperoning?" She questioned. Daisuke blushed, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly.

"Uhhh... It's a tough job. I mean, someone's gotta do it!"

"I'm sure."

"Is this what you guys do when you're not working? What the hell? It's a wonder that you get anything done!" Ichigo exclaimed, staring at Rukia in horror.

"Ichigo-kun~! You should join us!" Rangiku purred.

"What? Hell no!"

"It's only healthy for a young man to be curious..."

"Dammit! Adjusting your top isn't going to make me say yes!" Ichigo snapped, covering his eyes. Rukia sighed, rolling her eyes.

"You're peeking again."

Aika dashed over to Toshiro, glomping him.

"You'll join us, too, right, handsome~?" She purred.

"Aika... Seal your Bankai."

"I will if you say yes!" She said sweetly.

"You know you want to, Hitsugaya!" Rin purred. "And this way you can keep an eye on Rangiku."

"What would make you think I'd want to?" Toshiro growled. Rin smiled when she noticed that he hadn't disentangled himself from Aika's embrace. He glared. "What is it, Asaje?"

"Nothing!" The woman replied, still smiling. Toshiro looked back at Aika.

"Fine," he said as she sealed her Bankai.

"Yay!"