A/N: It's finally come to this!

The last chapter of Lost Angels!

I deeply hope you all enjoyed reading this, and I'm happy I turned it from what was going to be a long one-shot to a multiple chaptered fic.

Yes, it's the last chapter.

I'd like to thank all the have reviewed already(it's not too late to leave a review!) because your comments made me continue writing this story so quickly, since technically it's still summer for me until tomorrow!
Thanks to:
The summer breeze, , Some Kind of Beautiful, Bluishorbs, ironjaw(more than one review!), badluck221, SuperRukia(more than one review!), xwhitemoonx, Tiger Shinigami, None93(more than one review!), megui-chan(more than one review!), zxGenesisxz, xRukiaxx, TremelyMaddest(more than one review!), AvaLuna, DEATHCARNATION(more than one review!), ceiyn(more than one review!), Nekura Enzeru, Allyieh, Mikazuki Mitsukai(more than one review!), and to all the people who left anonymous reviews, because there were a lot of them and some that continued leaving reviews for me!

Disclaimer: The original Bleach is by the original Kubo Tite, and the title of the story is by Gackt, and you should listen to his song LOST ANGELS because it's one of my favorite songs by him that coincidently makes a good mood-song while reading this.

Now, without further ado, here is the last chapter!


Chapter ten: Memories

-

Angels were real.

It was an undeniable fact to Ichigo, although he neither could nor would share it with anyone. Saying such a thing as "Angels are real, I've met one" would make no one believe him.

He chuckled at the silly thought, since they would first declare him insane before believing anything like that, he'd be considered like his father. It didn't matter any way, as only westerners in Europe and North America would even think of angels. They only appeared as an image in manga and television for that lived in Karakura.

But he knew it was true.

Another day of school after summer vacation had ended. His friends asked what he had done all summer, but he couldn't say anything.

He couldn't say about the two months spent with Rukia.

He couldn't say about the time after she was gone, when he felt empty.

He replied to all their inquiries with 'I did nothing' and 'nothing much really'. They all gave him weird looks but accepted his short answer without much questioning (except for Keigo, who moaned and groaned about 'ditching him').

He silently thanked that none of them tried to force him to say anything else; he didn't want to think about it anymore.

Think about her anymore.

But he still did.

He woke up almost every day half-expecting to see a pair of limp wings spewing out from his closet or laying at the foot of his bed.

He walked home, looking up at his window to see if there would be the head of the angel peering outside.

Even at that moment his was thinking of her as he walked down the road. He looked up from the ground and realized where he was.

This is near the tree, where she had always been under.

Where they both met and departed.

He silently cursed at the thought, as he still regretted that night.

He had done nothing for her; in fact, he was more of a burden. She had saved his ass in the end when she lost consciousness from the blood loss. He had left with some minor wounds and scratches.

He couldn't do anything when she was truly helpless, he had just stood as he watched the demon almost cut her wings- if it wasn't for the man.

Geta-sandals, he called him, since he could not remember his name when he mentioned it the first time. He had saved her, killing the demon. He was stunned at the sudden turn of events but he had soon gone back to Rukia, by her side- before he and that woman- Yoruichi, he remembered her name- took her.

They left him there and he just stood there for what felt like hours, not able to process what had happened.

She was gone.

He had met no other angels that came to erase his memories of Rukia. It was a blessing and a curse.

He could still remember the real truth and Rukia, but to not know where she was taken was a knife twisting in a circle in him.

Maybe it would have been better if he did have his memories erased. He wouldn't be agonizing over this, or remember the harsh truth he learned of angels and life-

He wouldn't know of her, and there would be no pain.

He gave a severe scowl and clenched his fists as his stopped in the middle of the street.

No.

He still couldn't forget that.

He continued walking when his gaze drifted over to his right when he saw the familiar shop up ahead, knowing behind it was the scene where everything had happened. He read over the sign once again and stopped.

"Urahara's Shouten… Urahara!" He realized, gaping at the store.

It was then he finally remembered Urahara's words to him that night that he didn't remember hearing.

"Also! Please come by Urahara Shouten sometime, we keep all our items in stock for any citizen walking by in need!"

He strode forward to the shop, forgetting about walking back home to start his homework or see his sisters. He looked at the old-styled door and noticed how despite it being in such a neighborhood where demons came by, there were no sorts of iron bars over the windows to prevent any break ins. Looking past the dust that was able to collect on the building, it looked in decent condition while the rest of the houses around were in shambles.

He pushed the door open to hear a bell. He looked up to see a small chime connected to the door, ringing when the door opened. Walking in, he looked around to find the room empty of people. The lights were on, and he could see the aisles filled with different products and toys. He noticed a lot of the toys seemed to have the same character on it, looking like a rabbit. He picked up a package of cell-phone straps of it when he heard someone near.

"Welcome." Ichigo looked over to the front of a store to see small girl. "Please look around."

"Oh… Thanks." Ichigo said. He remembered why he was there and said, "…Isn't there a weird, old man that runs this store?"

"Yes." She answered.

"…Where is he?"

The girl remained silent staring at him with sad-looking eyes that poked through from the bangs in her face. He fidgeted in his spot, waiting for her to say something. She finally moved as she twirled around and walked toward an open door he guessed she came out of before.

"Jinta, wake up Kisuke-san. Someone is here for him." She called in a small voice. Ichigo then heard a young boy's voice answer.

"What?! No, you go wake him up! Who is this person that wants him?" He yelled, walking out to see who the girl was talking about. He saw Ichigo and stared at him, staring at his orange hair.

"You have weird hair, old man!" He exclaimed, pointing at Ichigo.

"W-what?! You're the one with the red hair- and who are you calling an old man?!" Ichigo yelled back, a vein bulging. The boy turned away and ignored him, making him even more annoyed. "You little brat-"

"Jinta, are you having a nice conversation with our good customer?" Ichigo froze and gaped as a large man appeared. His glasses glinted when he looked over at Ichigo. "Hello, and welcome to the Shouten. You may call me Tessai, it's very good to meet you." He gave a polite bow.

"T-thanks… But where's Urahara?" Ichigo asked once again.

"I'm right here, Kurosaki-san!" The cheerful voice yawned as Urahara walked through the doorway.

"Urahara!" He started, but he interrupted him.

"Kurosaki-san, it has been quite a while since we last met, why did you not come any earlier?" He asked innocently.

"What happened that night?" Ichigo ignored his question, and instead glared at the shopkeeper. Urahara saw the serious urgency in his voice as he looked at him confused. "Where's Rukia?"

"…I see then, not only have you not had your memory erased, you're still adamant of moving on?" Urahara commented, Ichigo saw a glint in his eyes and a small smile.

"Of course I would, now explain!" Ichigo yelled at him.

"Yes, yes, Kurosaki-san, I shall tell you then. Come with me." He turned on one leg and walked back through the same door, gesturing Ichigo to follow him. He complied as they went down a narrow hallway past a few open doors with empty rooms.

He brought Ichigo to a small room with a square table in the middle and cushions all around to seat six people. Ichigo sat down as Urahara kneeled down on the other side, facing Ichigo.

"Now, Kurosaki-san let me…"

"What happened to Rukia?" He interrupted, glaring at him.

"No need to demand, Kurosaki-san, I will tell you. You have to wait because I must explain everything to you." Urahara took out a wooden fan and opened it up, fanning himself.

"Explain what?" Ichigo asked, confused.

"Explain why we had to take Rukia-chan away." Urahara answered. Ichigo was about to retort when he decided against it, and closed his mouth as he stared at the man.

"The demon you encountered that night… he mentioned how Rukia-chan was a fallen angel, right?" Urahara asked. Ichigo nodded.

"Do you know what a fallen angel is, Kurosaki-san?" He asked. Ichigo hesitated, but answered.

"An angel… that has sinned."

"Correct!"

"I already know this."

"But did Rukia-chan ever admit she had?" Urahara asked him.

"No, not until that night." Ichigo said feeling slightly uncomfortable.

"That's because a fallen angel is an exiled angel from Society Above. They are grounded if they are suspected of breaking a law. Unless there is proof they did so, they will not go to purgatory. One thing the angels do is watch over the fallen and angel and listen if they will admit to their sin. They know if they really did commit a sin, they will speak it out loud sooner or later.

Rukia-chan admitted to breaking a law, and it most likely was heard, but my fabulous self and my partner, Yoruichi, saved her and we took her in hiding with us, where no angels will find her."

"What would have happened to Rukia if they caught her?" Ichigo asked, but he felt he wasn't going to like the answer, judging by Urahara's grim face.

"Send her to purgatory. It is a very bad place for souls, even worse for angels. Her wings would have been ripped off and she would have to live there for hundreds of years before finally descending to Hell." he told him.

"B-but her wings are already dead!" Ichigo said.

"But they are still connected to the rest of her body. The muscles might have been killed so she cannot move them, but there will be pain if they were ripped out, since there is still living tissue and nerves where her wings and back are connected." Urahara said, seeing a sweat roll down the side of Ichigo's face.

"…Rukia…" Ichigo muttered.

"We also advised you to leave quickly, because Rukia-chan had admitted to having a relationship with a living soul. The angels would find that demon and you still there at the scene of the crime. Even if you were not the living soul she was talking about, you knew about her, and about angels.

You would have left without single memory of what had happened to the time you first learned, Kurosaki-san. I told you to forget about it yourself and move on, because if they were to hear you speak about angels to the public, they would find you then and do the same thing." Urahara said, eyeing the boy.

"I haven't said anything." Ichigo said.

"Of course, or else you wouldn't be here!" Urahara gave a laugh and fanned himself some more, looking amused.

"…How do you know all this?" Ichigo asked, looking at Urahara. "Are you a…?"

"Oh no, I'm just a very handsome shopkeeper!"

"But you have to be…" Ichigo muttered, pointing at him.

"Do I have wings on my back, Kurosaki-san?" Urahara asked.

"N-no…" Ichigo answered.

"You see, I am also a scientist, Kurosaki-san. That was how I was able to save Rukia-chan and hide her from the angels." He said.

"What did you do to her?" Ichigo asked earnestly.

"I simply gave her a human body." He said.

"What?" Ichigo said, startled. "But, where would you get a human body?"

"I created it. Like I said, I am also a scientist, Kurosaki-san." Urahara said with a smile dancing on his lips.

"So her wings-?"

"They are sealed away. Even in the body as a living soul, she still keeps her soul and everything she can do as a fallen angel, except her little powers are weaker." Urahara finished Ichigo's sentence.

"Where is she?" Ichigo asked for the umpteenth time. Urahara finally decided to answer him this time.

"I'm surprised you don't feel her now, Kurosaki-san, like I said, she still holds all her powers as a fallen angel only weaker, which includes feeling a trace of her presence." He smiled. Ichigo gave him a befuddled look before his eyes widened.

Presence…

He turned all around in the room when he saw a second door opposite from the one he entered. He stood up and strode to the door, sliding it open. It was outside, where he could see the back of the Urahara Shouten, looking out to the tree.

That presence…

He sprinted out of the house and towards the tree when he noticed a silhouette appear, not unlike that first day.

Rukia's presence…

The figure was thinner, though, with nothing large overhanging on one side. It stood still under the tree, not seeing him hurtling toward it.

Rukia…

He could see the clothing of a sundress that flowed down to her knees behind her, where he could finally see her back without the wings. She must have heard his loud footsteps when she turned to see who it was. He could see her eyes widen in surprise as she stared at Ichigo, still sprinting to her.

"Rukia!" He yelled, slowing to a stop a meter away from her. He was panting a little from the sudden exertion of sprinting, but his eyes were focused on Rukia. "Rukia… you're okay!"

"Ichigo…" She stared at him in surprise, staring at him with a confused face. "What do you mean 'I'm okay'? Of course I'm fine you idiot! My question is why you disappeared for so long… I don't even know where you live, so I could never visit you." She looked at him weirdly. Ichigo froze, and stared at her.

"What…. You know where I live! Hell, you spent more than a month in my closet!" He exclaimed in disbelief.

"The hell, your closet? Have you lost your brain while you were gone or something?" Rukia raised a brow. She stepped forward and rapped on his head like he was a door.

She can't remember…?

"Stop that, you midget!" He complained, grabbing a hold of her wrist.

"Excuse me?!" She exclaimed, her mouth twitching at his last word. Ichigo suddenly felt a sharp pain and hunched over, grabbing his shin.

"What was that for?!" He ground out, glaring at her.

"For calling me a midget, you idiot!" She scowled back at him.

This isn't how Rukia acted before… What happened?

"Rukia, you have to remember when you were at my house, you were staying with me after that demon attacked us." Ichigo said, but then he noticed no sign of recognition reflected in her eyes, she only looked confused by his statement.

"Demon, what? Ichigo, I think you're really going crazy…" She stared at him, slightly worried.

"Rukia…" He muttered, but said nothing else. Rukia stared at him, but he hid away the pain he was feeling. She saw he was hiding it, but decided not to prod him about it, and straightened back up when she saw something behind him.

"Urahara!" She exclaimed. Ichigo looked over to see the man sauntering over to the two.

"Kurosaki-san came wondering where you were Rukia-chan; have you two caught up with each other?" He asked.

"Ah."

"Well, I think Yoruichi is back and Tessai has prepared dinner, so I think it's time to return. If Kurosaki-san would like, you can stay for dinner." He said glancing at Ichigo.

"S-sorry, but I have to get home, Yuzu will probably worry." Ichigo apologized.

"Alright Ichigo! Well, hopefully I'll get into your class at- Karakura High School!" She stared carefully at the crest on Ichigo's sweater.

"W-what?" Ichigo stuttered.

"I'm going to be in your class! Simple as that, I have to go to school you know." She looked at him like he was being oblivious on purpose. "Well, see you later, Ichigo!" She walked away, back to the Shouten." Urahara and Ichigo remained in silent and still for a moment before Ichigo exploded.

"What the hell happened, Urahara?!" Ichigo yelled, furious. Urahara jumped back and held his arms to protect himself from Ichigo.

"There's no need to yell, Kurosaki-san…" He gave a nervous chuckle.

"What did you do to Rukia? She remembered me fine, but nothing else! She didn't remember staying at my house; she didn't remember the demon…" Ichigo demanded, trying not to let the desperation in his voice become obvious.

"I can explain, Kurosaki-san, please calm down…" Urahara assured.

"Okay… so what happened?" Ichigo muttered, still glaring at him. Urahara sighed, and Ichigo noticed the wearied expression on his face.

"I was able to successfully transfer Rukia to the human body, but then I sealed away her memories. I was thinking you wouldn't appear again so it was better she did not know of her life before. Of course, you appeared and something triggered inside of her, making her remember you. Of course the real memories of you were surrounded about her being an angel, so it seemed she created different memories of how you two have met. It seems you two are friends, but whatever you two have experienced with the demons or with angels, she cannot remember." He said.

"You… sealed her memories?" Ichigo whispered.

She remembers me… but what does she remember of me?

"Can you unseal them, Urahara?" He whispered.

"I can." Urahara answered. "It would also be for the better, too."

"When?" Ichigo asked, but he saw the answer on Urahara's face.

"It'll take me a while. I never sealed memories in the intent of unsealing them." Urahara explained.

"…I see." Ichigo whispered.

"No worries, Kurosaki-san! All that matters is that she's safe from the angels and Society Above. Even better she could actually still remember you! That would have broken your heart if she didn't know you at all, wouldn't it?" Urahara said in a cheerful voice, patting Ichigo on his shoulder.

"Ah." Ichigo replied, giving him a weird look. "I better get going then. Yuzu really will get worried." He turned and started off to his house. Urahara said nothing else except a good bye and something about Rukia in the school uniform skirt- he couldn't hear his rambling anymore when he found himself back on the street of the shambled houses. He was about to hurry home when another voice stopped him.

"Ichigo!" Rukia's voice called out. He turned and stared at her she stood outside in front of the Shouten.

"What? He called back.

"You better come back, or I'll kick your ass when I finally get my school uniform!" She threatened, but he could see a smirk gracing her lips.

Ichigo was still a little shocked at this more emotional Rukia, but he could still see it was her… If only a little different.

She was more human.

He chuckled and returned the smirk, looking back into her familiar eyes, as she did the same with her familiar air of confidence.

It still felt familiar.

"Yeah."

-

FIN



A/N: If you are upset/angry/saddened/unsatisfied with the ending, I'd like to say that please do leave review about it, but I'll also answer now because I was actually thinking of writing a sequel to this with the continuation of where this leaves off! I can only say it will probably take me more than one season to write it though because it was a an idea I thought up in the middle of writing this and decided to come back to this and write the sequel when I could again, as I have only thoughts and ideas for the sequel.

Do you want a sequel to this? If you do/don't, leave a review- even if you do not wish to answer this question, do leave a review!

I really hoped you all liked reading this, as it has to be my favorite story since I've been able to finish it!

Until next time!

-Tamas