The opening of the door the next morning had both Rangiku and I rushing towards it. However, to my greater terror, only Gin had returned. Behind him… was Sosuke and Kaname. Sosuke appeared deeply saddened by something.

"Akalia—"

"Where is he?!" I demanded, frantically cutting Sosuke off as I grabbed the front of his robes. "Where is Shinji?!"

"Akalia… he… he didn't make it," Sosuke told me. I released him in my shock, stumbling back from him.

"Akalia!" Gin and Rangiku said, quickly moving to grab my hands. Quickly, I shook them off, feeling my heart shatter within my breast.

"Stay away!" I commanded them both, instantly causing Gin's eyes to open in alarm… and Rangiku to approach me in pure confusion. "Rangiku, away from me!"

I clutched my head, feeling my blood start to boil. A scream tore from my throat, tore from my very heart, the sound changing to something like an inhuman roar! All around me, my energy fluctuated wildly, turning black with its poison!

"What's happening?!" Rangiku demanded, horrified.

"It can't be!" Sosuke was saying, horror in his own voice. Abruptly, the doors were thrown wide open, a white-haired captain rushing towards me. He wrapped his arms around me tightly as I screamed.

"Not now, Vasilysa!" Jushiro yelled to me, trying to be heard over my roaring. My skin was hardening, the burning spreading through me like a wildfire. "Don't you dare give in! Vasilysa! Who am I?! Tell me my name!"

"Ju… JUSHIRO!"

My monstrous roar was accompanied by another dark pulse of power, nearly causing Rangiku to faint as she looked on in horror.

"Listen to me!" he yelled at me again. "Listen! You told me you can hold off if you had but a powerful reason! Buy that time! If not for yourself, then do it for the two lives you carry!"

"What is he talking about?!" Rangiku was crying. "What is happening to Akalia?!"

Two lives… Children…

"M-my… children…"

Abruptly, all my strength vanished… and I sank into darkness.

Third Person POV

Everyone in the room was staring at the now unconscious Akalia in Jushiro's arms. Rangiku was in hysterics as Gin struggled to calm her. Sosuke was in pure shock and Tosen… Tosen revealed nothing of his thoughts.

"What just happened?" Sosuke finally asked. Jushiro sighed heavily, laying her down on the couch.

"Akalia… is not a Soul," he answered. "Akalia is a Halfling, born half hollow. I was afraid this would happen the moment I'd been told that Shinji and the others had become hollowfied…"

"What do you mean?" Rangiku asked, finally somewhat calm. Jushiro gave her a sad smile.

"Halflings are only kept sane and human by their hearts, which they can only give away once," he explained to her. "If that heart is broken… it is lost, along with their sanity. A halfling's hollow blood will rise up and devour them, turning them into mindless killing machines… that cannot be stopped easily."

"You told her to hold on," Sosuke prompted.

"A Halfling can postpone the transformation, but only for a time," he explained further, a frown on his features. "Not even she can know how long she'll have when she wakes… but I hope fate is on her side enough for her to carry those babes full term… and raise them for a short time… though I believe that might be far too optimistic."

Jushiro looked down at Akalia sadly.

"Without Shinji to stabilize her… she will die."

Akalia's POV

The soft sounds of people whispering woke me slowly. Blinking to get used to the sunlight streaming into my room, I saw Gin, Rangiku, and Sosuke by my bed.

"Guys?" I asked, making all three sets of eyes fly to me.

"Akalia!" they all three chorused, rushing over to me. Rangiku was in my arms in seconds and I took a look around. I was in the fourth…

"Sosuke… where is Jushiro?" I asked.

"He told us to bring you here until you woke, to keep your children healthy," he told me. "They were absorbing your reiatsu to the point that you had to be given some."

I smiled ruefully.

"That always happens with my kind," I said softly, realizing they knew my secret now. "That is why we have to stay with those that have energy to spare, to keep them stabilized…"

I slipped open my robe, much to the blush of Sosuke and Gin… until they saw where my heart was.

"What the…" Sosuke said, reaching forward to feel the start of my hollow-hole, a mere pinkie-sized hole at the top of the circle it would soon become.

"That is my timer," I told him. "With every passing day, that hole will grow. When it is fully grown, I will become a hollow… I won't have a choice."

I looked at the bed sadly.

"I need to be alone for a few so I can speak with Ada," I said softly. "I need answers… and only he can provide them."

They all nodded and took their leave, letting me be alone for a while.

"Ada… answer me," I said softly… then waited and listened.

Third Person POV

Abruptly, three pairs of eyes shot to the door, feeling the spiritual pressure from within vanish completely. All three raced into the room, only to cry out in alarm!

Where their friend had once been, rested two small letters, one addressed to Gin and Rangiku, and the other to Ginrei Kuchiki. Their alarm had summoned Unohana, who quickly handed out the letters and dispatched her third seat to deliver the one to Ginrei.

"Call the twelfth," she said. "I want a full investigation done on her disappearance."

"Yes, ma'am!"

"I have some troubling news," Yoruichi stated, walking down the ladder to where the ex-captains and ex-lieutenants sat. "The Soul Society was told that all of you were to be killed on sight as you all have become hollows. Sosuke Aizen has taken the Captain's Exam and become the new Captain of Squad 5, Gin his Lieutenant. Tosen has taken his place as the Captain of Squad Nine. And lastly, a great mystery that no one seems able to solve. Akalia Kuchiki… has vanished without a trace. Sosuke, Gin, Rangiku, Ginrei, and Jushiro seem to know something, but none of them are talking to anyone about it."

Shinji's hands were white as he clutched his fists.

"The day you die… so shall my Master." Shinji quoted, his voice barely above a whisper.

"What?" asked Kisuke. Shinji didn't answer and fell to his knees, slamming his fists into the ground, tears slipping down his cheeks. "Shinji!"

"Dammit!" he swore. "DAMMIT!"

His energy began to fluctuate around him so strongly, even the others could feel his grief within it.

"VASILYSA!"

It had been nearly a year since Akalia had vanished. Gin and Rangiku had continued to live in her home, but kept her and Shinji's room completely off-limits to everyone, the mere sight of it filling them both with grief.

"Gin?" came Rangiku's quiet voice. The boy turned and saw the still unopened letter in her hand. "I… I think it's time…"

Gin sighed and nodded. Slowly, they both sat down on the couch… and started to read.

To my beloved children, Gin and Rangiku,

Do not be troubled. I am not gone, not completely. Ada has decided that,

for my own safety, I must leave the Soul Society behind… and this time

as well. I don't know how far into the future he is sending me,

but know that I will find you if I can. He means to send me away from here to

a place and time where my children will be safe to be both born and raised. I tend to trust him.

Rangiku, my beloved daughter, you will grow into a stunning young woman.

I've seen it. Never lose that love of life that you have or that strong spirit. It is what I cherished most about you.

Gin, my dearest son, I know the real reason you are doing everything that you

are. Ada told me. I support you, whole-heartedly. Please be careful

and safe… and remember, your mind is the greatest weapon you have.

My home is yours to care for and live in until I return, as I have explained

to Ginrei. I hope I will not be gone long, but if I am, I'm sorry. I never wanted

to leave you like this, never wanted to leave you at all, but with my timer… I suppose the choice is no longer mine.

Take care of each other. Support each other, even when their actions don't make sense. I'm counting on you.

All my love,

Akalia

The two kids were dabbing at tears in their eyes, missing the woman they would almost call mother… like a piece of them had vanished with her… and yet, now they felt hope.

Akalia would return.

100 Years Later

A soft knock on the door caught several pairs of eyes. The knock came again as Tessai opened the door.

"Forgive the hour of this visit, but I am seeking one Kisuke Urahara," came a muffled female voice.

"Of course," he told her, ushering her in out of the rain. She wore a full-body cloak, making it impossible to see her at all, though she was dwarfed by the sheer size of Tessai.

"You were looking for me?" Kisuke asked, looking at the newcomer lazily. There was a soft chuckle.

"You haven't changed a bit, Kisuke," she said, shrugging her hood down. Gasps of shock and disbelief came from both Kisuke and Yoruichi.

"Akalia!"

To Be Continued…

Ah, the ending of the beginning... What will happen now? Shinji believes Vasilysa is dead. Vasilysa WILL die once the timer runs out... but will she have enough time to have her children safely? Will Shinji get to see her again before she dies or will she choose to keep him in the dark? Will Shinji ever meet his family or learn all of her secrets-including those yet to be revealed? Is this the end of their so-called happily ever after?

...

Ok, I'm done being absurdly dramatic. Please let me know how you feel about all this and I'll post as soon as I'm done fixing the next chapter!

Viper-Sindel