Description: Things are calm now, and Ichigo and Zakuro can finally set into the regular duties of being a Soul Reaper. Zakuro has an unbelievable realization, and decides to act upon it for once in her life.

Rating: K

MewMid: This may be the last chapter I make for this story, sorry it took me so long to update. I love this story still, and I hopefully will get more time towards the end of this semester to write again.

I am skipping the whole, "gigai" thing at the end of the chapter. It is far to tedious, and doesn't add anything to the story. So I hope you all will overlook that minor detail. :]

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It was the calmest day today, the sun was bright, and the air was crisp and cool. The winter war was over. Kurosaki Ichigo had defeated Aizen, and was now home again with his family. Rukia had been acting strange since the end of the war. Deep indigo eyes rested on the garden behind the sixth division, a tiny breeze just moving her hair to tickle her face.

The Sereitei took a while to get back on it's feet, but it was finally up and running. It had been just a week since the final fight, and Orihime had been allowed to return home yesterday after healing the wounded here. Her power had restored lost limbs and saved many seated officers.

Zakuro took a long breath, the cool air making her feel more awake. She had finished her paperwork for the day, and Byakuya had let her go have some time to herself. Everyone was having a relaxing time getting back into the regular spin of things.

Ichigo had been clinging to Gin nonstop, and the wolf girl hadn't seen her much. But that's not who she missed most. Komamura had protected her multiple times throughout this entire ordeal, and through her experiences, she came to realize something. The lean girl's eyes fell to the ground before her, her thoughts taking over.

Zakuro had been thinking about him constantly over the last week. Since they had gotten back she hadn't seen him, and she hadn't missed anyone this much in a long time. These thoughts were now starting to make her heart flutter. The lone wolf didn't want to admit it, but she was starting to have more than just feelings for him. She didn't care that he had the head of a red wolf, she had ears and a tail. Komamura was a better man than anyone she had ever met, no man could compare to him. Zakuro found herself smiling to herself as she turned and began walking down the long outdoor corridor. She had to see him.

…

The cool air made him more comfortable as he sat on a hill, his upper back against the tall tree behind him. The breeze was nice up here on the sunny hill, he had just gotten done paying his respects to Tosen's grave with Shuuhei. The young lieutenant decided to head back to his busy position shortly after, leaving the wolf captain alone on the hill.

Komamura had a small relaxed smile on his face as he admired the peaceful forest around him. He couldn't express how happy he was that the war was over, event though me mourned his dear friend. The sun peered through the treetops around him, only a couple piercing the tree top above him. A small sound approaching him caused his sensitive ears to prick up, he turned his long face towards the direction of the sound.

The sound continued to get closer, he immediately recognized the girl. Zakuro made her way elegantly through the trees, a rather blank expression on her face.

She knew she had to be with him, especially now. It had been too long since she had held someone and actually felt something for them in return. Her heart began to beat quicker with each step she took, her eyes set right on the captain before her. A smile appeared on his face when he saw her, he was rather fond of the girl as well.

Komamura knew he could't be with her, she was more human than he was. Although he had the body of a man, his wolf head would guarantee she would never be with him. He didn't even consider himself a man.

Zakuro walked up the hill and stood in front of him for a few moments, a small smile appearing on her face. It immediately warmed his heart, she had a way of making him feel so protective and special. Zakuro looked at him like no one else ever had. The girl's eyes had a rare look of fondness in them, her lips barely curved into a smile. Her voice was softer than usual as well,

"Hello Sajin…"

Komamura motioned for her to sit down and join him, smiling back up at her. The girl obliged and plopped down beside the captain, a bit closer than normal. He ignored the unusual gesture and looked back up into the tree top,

"How are you Zakuro? Hopefully well, it's been a while."

The girl breathed a sigh of relief and looked over at him,

"I'm fine, but I needed to see you…"

Her words seemed to trail off, almost too quiet to hear. Zakuro felt so exposed, she never had feelings like this for anyone. Sure she had boyfriends, but nothing compared to the crushing weight on her heart now. She wasn't even sure how to approach it. When she was alive, most men just gawked at her and would ask for an autograph or photo. She couldn't express how wonderful it was not to have the pressure of being famous here in the Sereitei.

The violet haired girl's eyes fell to the ground, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't help but smile, it had been too long since her heart had raced like this for anyone. Zakuro knew she had to act on these feelings, or she risked losing him forever. The afterlife was her last shot, after this there would be nothing. Who knows how long she would be here, she couldn't handle doing it without him by her side.

"What did you need to see me for?"

His words were bold yet kind, the small smile still on his face. His gold eyes were upwards still, he knew he couldn't look at her face. Her eyes were too easy for him to lose himself in.

Zakuro startled him when she acted on a previously unfound courage and moved up onto his lap, making him immediately tense up. The lean girl was facing him, his large muscular body beneath her, completely stiff. Komamura felt frozen, he stared at her in disbelief. His huge hands grabbed her shoulders as he spoke to her softly,

"What are you doing?"

The girl took a deep breath, her heart about ready to jump out of her throat.

"It's hard to explain… I just… Haven't felt like this about anyone before."

Komamura mentally kicked himself in preparation for what he was about to say. He knew she couldn't love him or be with him, he was so much bigger than her, and he had the head of a wolf, it simply wouldn't work. A pained sigh escaped his lips as he looked at her with a small amount of desperation in his voice,

"Zakuro… You know this could never… I'm-"

"Better than any man I've ever met or been with. You don't care about my past life, or how famous I was, and you've been nothing but noble and protective of me. It's something I could never have had in the past, but.."

The girl found herself smiling and looking at him sheepishly,

"I'm not anything like my old self."

Komamura felt his heart pound when the girl wrapped her arms around his neck and hug him tightly. He cautiously returned the embrace, it wasn't fair. He truly came to care for this girl, but he still felt like she deserved better.

"That may be Zakuro, you deserve so much better. A real man to take care of you."

The wolf girl leaned into him and hugged him tighter, a firmer tone in her voice,

"You are twice the man anyone else is. I couldn't see myself with anyone else."

The wolf captain felt his whole body full of anxious energy, he hugged her firmly. How long had it been since he had hugged anyone? Komamura wasn't sure how long it had been since he had felt so attached to another being. He slowly grabbed her shoulders and moved her around to face the opposite way and pulled her close to him. Her back was against his hard chest muscles, his head now rested on her left shoulder. He wrapped his long arms around her whole body, as if shielding her from the world.

Zakuro snuggled right in and felt more safe than she ever had before. It was as though nothing could touch her, she was separated from others here. His arms felt like the safest place in the world. The warm embrace made them both content with their complicated feelings. His raspy voice whispered to her,

"Then you shall have anything you want from me."

…

It was finally time. A smile appeared on his face as he approached the sixth division office, the girl beside him growing more giddy by the moment. Ichigo could hardly contain her excitement. Izuru opened the door to Byakuya's office. When they entered the cool room, Zakuro was already standing inside, Renji beside her.

Byakuya's cold eyes met with Izuru's, and he nodded to the lieutenant. The blond man stood beside Ichigo, smiling at Renji as they took their respective places. Byakuya took a slow breath,

"Now, you two lieutenants are to escort these ladies to the world of the living. The Head Captain is being very generous and allowing these two to visit their living relatives and friends. He is only doing so because you two remember your past lives. Are the preparations made Renji?"

The red haired man stiffened as his captain addressed him,

"Yes Kuchiki Taicho We are fully prepared to depart."

The two girls were fighting their urge to grin wildly at the idea of going home. Izuru looked over at Renji as the black haired captain finished up his lecture,

"You four are to go to the world of the living. You have four hours to get your business done, then you must return to the Soul Society. Is that clear?"

The lieutenants agreed and the girls followed them as they exited the barracks. The large grassy courtyard behind the barracks served as the location of the senkaimon gate. Renji opened the gate, and all four individuals followed the hell butterflies into the long tunnel. Ichigo couldn't stop smiling as they entered the world of the living.

They were outside the cafe, just a little down the street. Ichigo immediately took off running when she saw the pink building. Izuru stuttered something unrecognizable as she took off down the road, the wolf mew laughed and followed her. Renji chuckled and followed suit, forcing Izuru to do the same.

It was around 4pm, the cafe was about ready to close. Ichigo slammed into the double doors and throttled them open. Many heads turned to look at the loud guests storming into the building.

A tray of treats slid out of Lettuce's hands when she saw the two deceased mews enter the cafe. The green haired mew immediately began to cry as she ran over and hugged Ichigo. The cat girl laughed and felt her own eyes water as she embraced her old friend.

"Ichigo! I can't believe it's you!"

Mint and Purin stood in silence, baffled by what they saw. Keiichiro exited the kitchen and stared at them in disbelief, his heart racing in his chest. Zakuro strode into the cafe elegantly and walked over to the blue haired mew. Mint was visibly trembling, her mouth hung open in shock.

Zakuro slowly reached out and hugged Mint, who immediately began sobbing into the older girl's shoulder. Purin dove in and hugged the wolf girl around the waist and cooed,

"It's really them! I'm so happy to see you na no da! I knew you'd never leave us!"

Keiichiro walked across the cafe and stood in front of the former lead mew, who then rushed towards him and threw her arms around him. Ichigo sobbed happily into the chef's chest, he firmly returned the embrace.

"It's good to see you Momomiya-san…"

Keiichiro knew these girls were dead, how they came to visit was beyond him. Behind him, Mint was asking Zakuro a thousand questions. The oldest mew tried to answer them all as best she could.

Renji and Izuru felt awkward standing in the doorway, staring at the sad scene before them. What few guests were in the cafe were cooing at how sweet it was for the two 'missing' girls to come visit, not understanding the situation.

Then, for Ichigo, time seemed to stand still. A familiar black haired boy came upstairs, followed by the blond manager. Masaya froze, his brown eyes growing wide. Ichigo flinched as if she were going to run to him, but stopped herself. She weakly smiled at him, tears still falling down her cheeks. Masaya shook his head, his mouth falling open in surprise. Ryou stared in disbelief as Zakuro walked over and spoke with him calmly.

Ichigo felt her whole body shake as Masaya rushed over and threw his arms around her. The teen boy began to cry as he hugged Ichigo tightly. The girl hesitantly put her arms around him as well. She missed him, but not in the way he thought she did. She didn't love him. She couldn't love him. Not anymore.

Izuru shifted uncomfortably, looking over to the red haired lieutenant beside him,

"Any guesses as to who he is?"

Izuru whispered, his blue eyes curiously waiting for a response from Renji. The tattooed man shrugged and stared at the hugging former couple,

"Ex boyfriend I guess."

Ichigo then startled Renji when she whirled around to face the lieutenants,

"Can we bring them back with us? Just so they can see what it's like?"

Izuru shook his head for a moment at the girl, a strong hand nudged him. Renji had a small smirk on his face,

"Come on Izuru, Kuchiki Taicho said we only had four hours, but he didn't say we couldn't bring them back with us for a longer visit."

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MewMid: I didn't think I'd keep dragging this story out… but I may make another chapter or two…. hehe. :]

R and R please! :]