This is the final chapter. The epilogue, if you will. Don't worry, I plan to write a sequel~

Minako had stayed in the hospital over the next few days, and Orihime went to visit her after school. Ichigo figured that would be the best course for Minako; Orihime was exactly the comfort she needed. Orihime would come back, looking sad, telling them that when she would enter the room, Minako would be crying, but wouldn't talk about why. Ichigo had already known why she wouldn't talk about it, but wasn't going to bring it up.

One day, after the final bell rang, Orihime didn't gather her things quickly to rush to the hospital. "You're not going today?" Uryu asked her. Orihime shook her head. "Minako-chan is getting discharged today. I figured she wants time with her family," she said.

Uryu nodded. Ichigo tried not to flinch. He felt he was to blame for Minako getting involved in any of this. But he wasn't going to relay the worry to his friends. He waved goodbye to his friends and headed home.

Ichigo was walking beside the river when he noticed her. Her black hair was being toyed with the slight breeze, hiding her face, but he knew it was she. He walked toward her quietly, and took a seat by her side. She didn't flinch. She must have known it was he.

It was quiet between them as they just watched the river. Ichigo opened his mouth to say something, but Minako beat him to the punch.

"I'm sorry."

Ichigo blinked at her. "What for?"

"I separated you and White too much. I forgot you both are one in the same." Minako's eyes filled when she mentioned White, but she didn't let her tears go. "I…fell for the beast that was hiding in your soul. Isn't that completely stupid?"

Ichigo shook his head. "It's not stupid," he muttered. "You were…used to White. I get it."

"No, Ichigo, you don't," Minako whispered, her tears finally breaking free. "The fact that he's a part of you doesn't change. It's cruel…that I feel something for one side of you instead of you in your entirety."

Ichigo looked away, feeling a blush rising in his face, before he rubbed the back of his head. "Don't worry about it, Minako. The fact is that everything is over now. And White's…" he stopped. Minako's eyes were on the river, glowing with sadness, and he didn't want to make her feel even more pain. He looked at her. "He made me promise to keep you safe," he added. "Like I wouldn't have done that anyway. You're his princess, after all." A more important distinction than I realized…

Minako looked at him through her teary eyes. Ichigo reached for her hand, his fingers curling around it gently, squeezing it in reassurance.

"I'll always protect you," he told her. He felt her fingers curl hesitantly around his hand, and he watched as she pressed her forehead against her knees. Her voice was soft, her breaths hitched from her quiet sobs.

"Thank you, Ichigo."