"Welcome, all of you. These past centuries, especially the last few years, have seen more bloodshed than most of Soul Society's history put together. Aizen's schemes led to the hollowfication and wrongful exile of many of our finest warriors, and finally, war with Hueco Mundo. Then, just when we had recovered from that tragedy, the Sealed King Yhwach returned to exterminate Shinigami and Hollows alike." Captain Commander Shunsui Kyoraku smiled sadly at the group he was addressing.

"A Shinigami with great power and a greater mind. A Quincy with a thousand years of hatred. These conflicts only end with death. And the reward is trivial in comparison. For this reason, the Soul King has approved the creation of a new organization, on equal footing with the Central 46. This new group will consist of delegates from every faction in our worlds. Together, they will work to find compromise and make peace so that senseless bloodshed can be avoided in the future. The Central 46 and, by extension, the Gotei 13 have been commanded to lend you our full support in any way we can. The name of this group, as proposed by its founder, is the Delta Division. Now, allow me the honor of introducing the chief ambassador for the Shinigami, former Captain of the Twelfth Division and Founder of the Shinigami Research and Development Institute, Kisuke Urahara." Shunsui stepped aside and allowed the younger man to take his place in front of the group.

"Thank you, Captain Commander. First off, I think I should tell you I'm not a perfect man. I know there are some who see my achievements and believe I can do no wrong, but I would like to tell you all from the start, that just isn't true. I've made as many foolish choices and mistakes as anyone else. More, probably. And many of mine have been far worse simply due to the knowledge and power I am capable of putting in to them. None of us are perfect. That is why none of us can do this alone. This group has been created so that we can work together for peace. So that no one has to shoulder the burden alone, and to balance each other. To cover each others faults with our own strengths. I'm honored to have been chosen to represent the Shinigami. Tessai Tsukabishi will serve as my second and take my place in the event I am unable or unwilling to carry out my duty." Urahara gestured to the tall man. "With that said, I look forward to working with all of you. Now, meet the representative of the Quincy, Ryuken Ishida."

The introductions continued on for a while as each of the representative groups took their turns. Many already knew each other, if only by face and name, but few truly knew what the people surrounding them truly thought and felt.

Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck and Gantenbainne Mosqueda represent the Arrancar. Ryuken and Uryu Ishida represent the Quincy. Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi represent the Shinigami. Love Aikawa and Hachigen Ushouda represent the Visored.

Once they have formally met each other, they begin to discuss a plan of action for the Delta Division. Urahara reported some of his latest theories, which if proven, would completely change the way Shinigami looked at Quincy and Hollows. Love suggested the addition of ambassadors for the living and the non-Shinigami souls in the Rukongai. Nelliel proposed that they should have occasional meetings open to the public of each of their societies in order to stay connected with those they were trying to make peace for. Ryuken drew up a schedule for their future meetings, both private and public, and recorded all plans and decisions made during their first meeting.

When it became clear no further progress would be made that day, the group separated. Urahara and Uryu were the only ones remaining in their newly constructed meeting hall.

"It was a good idea. I think it might just work." Urahara grinned.

"Yes. They all have the drive I think we need to move forward on a new path." Uryu looked around the meeting room. "You designed this?"

"I did. Each section of wall leads to a different world. This building is actually suspended outside of any world, sort of like the Dangai, only without the compressed layers of time. They all use my Garganta technology instead of a Senkaimon so that they can be traversed without a hell butterfly. One wall for the Living World. One for Soul Society. One for Hueco Mundo."

"It's a clever idea. That way, no group can lay claim to it on the grounds that it resides in their dimension." Uryu raised a hand and tried to summon his bow. "Neutralized powers within the building?"

"Exactly. For everyone. Internal power is contained and maintained at a low enough level to prevent them from burning up from the inside, and external power is sealed or expelled. The only Reishi that can enter this building is that which constitutes a spirit body. It is completely made of living world materials."

"You've thought of everything, haven't you?" Uryu dropped his hand and smirked. "Good. If we have open meetings and allow Hollows, Quincy, and Shinigami into one building, we need to be able to minimize the damage they do."

"Exactly. Although I believe the majority desire peace, there are certain to be those who prefer war. Blood-lust is not a trait of Hollows alone."

"Do you really think you will be able to find a way to make peace with Hollows that have not removed their masks?" Uryu asked. He had listened to several of the theories the man had gone over, but of all of them, he had been most surprised by that.

"Maybe. At least with Vasto Lorde. They have the highest reasoning powers. I think it may be possible, but it will take time. I need to speak to Mayuri about collaborating on the research."

"Good luck..." Uryu suppressed his urge to make a disgusted face at the mention of that man's name. "I should get back to the Living World. Orihime will be worried if I am too late."

"Just walk at the wall and it will send you home." Urahara waved farewell to the young Quincy king.

Now alone, Urahara closed his eyes and leaned against one of the walls that did not contain a garganta. Convincing his old assistant to help him would be a challenge, but not necessarily impossible. They had worked together during the war as if no time had passed, but that had been a desperate rush for victory, not a drawn out plan for peace.

He had almost dozed off, his thoughts and theories running circles around his head, when he felt another presence beside him.

"What are you doing here at this hour, Hiyori?"

"Shinji finally asked me to marry him..." The short Visored sighed and slid to the floor. Urahara slid down next to her, mirroring her pose with his arms crossed over his knees.

"Did you say yes? I know you've been waiting for this for a long time."

"Not yet... I pretty much told him to ask me or else, but now... Damn it, I keep wandering if he ever would have on his own or if he is just giving in because I was too pushy!" Hiyori growled and stomped one foot angrily, nearly flinging her flip flop from her foot.

"Of course he would have. You probably don't remember that he was the first to awaken after the Hollowfication, and he didn't leave your side once until you awakened. You two were from the Rukongai, weren't you?" Urahara looked over at his former Lieutenant.

"Yeah... He was from district fourteen and I was from out at district fifty six. The first time we met, he said I looked like some feral monkey let loose in a town for people. That was the first time I ever slapped him with my shoe." Hiyori let out a small laugh. "He did feed me though. I would have probably died without him. I'd like to think I saved him as many times as he saved me though."

"Humble as always." Urahara laughed as the girl buried her fist in his side. "Just kidding, Hiyori."

"Still deserved it." She retracted her fist and then stretched out her legs. "You guys are going to make a better world for us, right? Or children won't be put to death for being born part hollow? They will be able to grow up without being slaughtered by Quincy and Arrancar and Shinigami and whatever else is lurking out there?"

"Yes. We're going to make that better world for your children, Hiyori."

"Thanks, Captain." Hiyori pushed herself to her feet. "I should go talk to Shinji about when we're going to have our wedding. He'll want it to be during the summer while the Living World is out of school, so that doesn't leave us long."

"I expect an invitation!" Urahara waved to her. It always made him feel a bit better about his life when she called him Captain. It was her way of acknowledging that she had accepted him. That he was a part of her life now, even if he was no longer a Captain.

"Yeah, yeah. Make sure Mayuri looks like a human or I'm gonna kick his ass!"

Line -

"You'll come and visit at least every other weekend, right?!" Yuzu clung to his arm, looking up at him with wide, pleading eyes. He sighed and nodded reluctantly.

"Alright, fine. I'll come and visit you at least every other weekend. But that doesn't mean I'm going to stay the whole weekend, or put up with Goat Chin's shenanigans! It's bad enough that you guys told him my apartment address..." Ichigo crossed his arms. It was hard to pretend to be mad at his sisters. Especially Yuzu. She was just too kind.

"It was either that or he was going to hire a stalker to find out. I thought you'd prefer not to have any members of the Stealth Force looking in your windows." Karin shrugged. Ichigo shuddered. She was right. And he would be shutting all of his curtains now.

"Alright, that was the last box. We should get out of here before your father gets back." Mizuiro said from the door. Ichigo nodded and gave each of his sisters a final hug before following his friend out of the house. Keigo sat on the back bumper of the large van they had rented obtained from Urahara's shop. Chad leaned against the side of the vehicle, watching the clouds go by in silence.

"It's not to late to switch schools! You can still spend the next four years with us, Ichigo!" Keigo called out in his most enticing impersonation of a used car salesman. Ichigo shook his head.

"If we all go to the same place, Hollows will be crawling all over the place like ants. If we split up, then the Shinigami covering the different areas will be able to handle it. I won't be able to fight Hollows full time and study in college at the same time, so we have to minimize how many we attract." He had explained it to them several times already. He had them all gather after their graduation and coordinate what schools they had been accepted to with what they wanted to study, how close together the schools were, and how powerful each one was. In the end, Keigo and Mizuiro, Tatsuki and Chizuru, and Orihime and Uryu were the only ones going to schools in the same towns. None in Karakura.

"Yeah, I know... Are you really leaving after college? Why go in the first place?" Keigo hopped to the ground and got into the van. Chad took the driver's seat with Ichigo in the front passenger seat. Mizuiro sat next to Keigo in the second row of seats. Chad would drive them out to Ichigo's apartment, then back in to Keigo and Mizuiro's dorm, then through Karakura and on to his own apartment. The van would stay with him until the next summer.

"I'm going because... It is just something I have always felt like I had to do. And with everything that has happened, one more experience that at least resembles normal will be good for me. And who knows, I might get stuck in the living world with no powers like my dad did, and a college degree will come in handy!" Ichigo looked in the mirror and watched his house vanish from sight as they turned a corner.

The four talked about their upcoming classes and what they looked forward to and feared in the coming years. Of course, Keigo's loudest complaint was that his friend was abandoning him and Mizuiro was a terrible wing man, so he was never going to get a date.

"Guys... There is one thing I haven't told you. When I graduate and go to Soul Society... I'm never coming back. I won't be able to. I promised Zangetsu that we would merge again, and when that happens, it will be dangerous for me to come in to the living world. We will probably never see each other again." Ichigo clenched his fists at his sides, waiting for his friends to yell at him. Instead, Chad let out one of his rare, quiet laughs.

"We're going to Soul Society with you. We've already enrolled in the Shinigami Academy." Chad smiled serenely as his best friend's eyes widened at the revelation.

"Oh, uh, surprise!" Mizuiro said from the seat behind Chad.

"The girls are in on it too. Apparently we all have enough spiritual energy to make it in now. Even my sister..." Keigo made a face of horror.

"Huh... That makes things a lot easier to deal with..." Ichigo grinned and flicked a switch beside his seat, collapsing the contraption back on Keigo. He stretched and folded his ahdns behind his head, striking a pose of complete relaxation.

"Ichigo! You're crushing me!" Keigo squirmed unsuccessfully.

A few hours later, Ichigo was waving goodbye to his friends. They had moved his few boxes of belongings in to the spacious apartment, now it was up to him to unpack everything.

"It's about time. I thought you got lost." The voice from the window made him smile.

"You're one to talk. You can't even read a map!" Ichigo turned to the window and caught the black haired Shinigami as she tried to jump to the ground, instead hugging her tightly and then depositing her on the kitchen counter. "I missed you, Rukia."

"I missed you too, Ichigo." Rukia swung her feet gently as she looked around the apartment. "It's bigger than I thought it would be."

"Well, I did spend all summer getting the salary of a Captain, and your brother is paying half of it." Ichigo began pulling things out of boxes and putting them in cabinets. "I still can't believe he is allowing this."

"Uh... About that... Strictly speaking, Captain Ukitake and Renji are the only ones who know I am staying with you. My brother only knows I am staying in the living world and the money is going to cover living expenses and tuition." Rukia said innocently. Ichigo froze.

"So... Your brother, expecting to visit his little sister, may show up and be less than pleased to find me answering the door?"

"That... is not unthinkable." Rukia acknowledged.

"You're trying to get me killed, aren't you?" Ichigo shook his head. If the Captain of the Sixth were to show up, he would just have to do his best to remain calm and explain. Alright, that was a blatant lie. He would have to run, very, very fast.

Line -

Ran-chan.

I can never put into words how much it pains me to write this. I can only hope that I succeed in my mission before my guilt out weighs my conviction. The evils Aizen has committed, and plans to commit, are beyond comprehension. And I have been a part of them for many years now. I console myself with the fact that if I were not doing his bidding, someone else would. I must continue down this path. One more person fighting him head on would never make a difference in his downfall, but perhaps one person fighting from the inside will.

I won't ask you to forgive me. I don't deserve that. But I will ask that you do one thing for me. Live well. Be happy. Never forget, I love you with all my heart. You are my world, and my reason for fighting. Even if I die, or spend all of eternity in a cell for what I have done, I will not regret it, so long as you are safe, and have a chance to live free and happy.

Let your friends help you. Don't cry alone, and don't let happiness pass you by waiting for me. Smile.

Gin

Rangiku folded the letter and sighed. It had been two years since he died. Two years exactly. The letter had been found on her pillow when she returned from his funeral. She had no idea where it had come from. She doubted Izuru could have kept such a secret through everything. Her own captain... Well, she would not say it was impossible, but beyond unlikely. Regardless, she had long since accepted that Gin laughed at the idea of conforming to the widely accepted laws of possible and impossible almost as much as Ichigo.

"Oh Gin... I would have been happy if you had just stayed by my side..." She kissed the letter and slid it into the top drawer of the short table by her bed.

"Matsumoto! You've got a mission in the living world! Get out here!" Her captain's irritated voice interrupted her musing. That's right, I agreed to go with Shuhei... I forgot what day it was... I really just want to sulk, but I did promise... Okay. Up, Rangiku! She forced herself to her feet and took a moment to straighten her clothes and run her fingers through her hair in front of the mirror before grabbing her Zanpakuto and joining the others.

She saw her captain's expression soften when he caught the haggard look in her eyes. He never forgot that the man who had once been labeled a traitor had meant everything to her. Shuhei looked guilty.

"I realized I had forgotten... I'm sorry for asking you to go with me today. I can find a substitute, if you would prefer..." The tattooed man looked away from her. She shook her head.

"No, I'm alright. I need to stop sulking. A mission in the living world will be good for me. Keep my mind off the past and on the present." She stepped out the door and into the sun, stretching and feeling the breeze on her skin. She smiled. This is what you wanted... My smile? Well, you better be watching, cause I won't promise to come out and let you see it if you miss it!

Inside, the white haired captain held back the newly appointed captain of the Ninth Division.

"Hisagi... I expect my Lieutenant to be back in one piece. And, if possible, a bit happier for the experience. She is fond of ice cream in the living world. Take her shopping. I'll reimburse you for anything she buys." Toushiro said quietly. "And get her to talk about it. Don't tell me a word about it. But it will be good for her to let it out, and I'm not the right person for that."

"Yes Captain Hitsugaya." Shuhei said, looking over his shoulder at the door. "A lot of people wonder why she would stay a lieutenant with a captain so cold, but I am glad to see you care about her."

"You are a shining ray of hope for her to recover from losing Gin. If you break her heart as well, you'll find out just how much I care about her, and just how cold I can be. Now, get going." Toushiro gestured toward the door.

"I would expect nothing less." Shuhei smiled. Since his promotion, he had found his opinions of the captains changing slowly as he interacted with them as equals for the first time. And as those long held views of his superiors changed, he grew to like the youngest captain more and more. His no nonsense attitude, strong sense of right and wrong, hot temper, and level head in battle... Even his white hair. He reminded Shuhei of his hero when he was only a child. Kensei Muguruma.

Line -

"C-Captain!" Omeada jumped at the sudden entrance of his superior. He quickly hid the bag of crackers he had been eating stood at attention, waiting for the wrath that was sure to be dropped upon him.

"Hm? Oh, you. Take today off. No training today." Soifon waved dismissively at the man. He stared in shock. A day off? That didn't happen. If he was to receive time off, he would have to request it a month ahead, and then he would have to toe the line for that month or risk having it revoked. She wasn't even wearing her white haori.

"Uh... Captain? Are you feeling alright?" Omeada was not eager to question here sudden generosity, but he was also completely loyal to her, and if there was something wrong with her, he would always be there to help.

"I'm perfectly fine." Soifon smiled happily. Her lieutenant's confusion and concern only grew. Soifon smiling? Handing out time off without a literal fist fight? Out of uniform in front of a subordinate? Was she humming?! A door opening drew the attention of both ninjas. The large man immediately turned his red face away from his captain's open door.

"Little Bee, what are you doing up so early? I thought you were going to give the division the day off..." Yoruichi yawned and stretched, wearing nothing but Soifon's white haori, which was riding dangerously high due to the stretch.

"I was going to fix breakfast and surprise you after I told them to take the day off. Why are you up so early?" Soifon was not at all fazed by her idol's lack of clothing, nor the impressive shade of red Omeada had become.

"The bed's a lot colder without you. I'd rather have my heater than breakfast." The noble woman smirked, beckoning suggestively. Omeada could not justify staying another moment. He decided it would be in the best interest of his continued breathing to exit immediately and ensure no one else entered the office area for the rest of the day. Just before he had closed the door behind him, his captain addressed him and he heard a hint of her usual tone through her happiness.

"If one word of this leaves this room, I will cut out your tongue with Suzumebachi."

Several members of the second division learned that the large, incompetent man could flash step as well as one would expect of a highly ranked member of the Stealth Force, when properly motivated.

Line -

"You alright, Juushiro?" Shunsui gently pried the empty sake bottle from his friend's hand and led him to his futon in the corner of his room. "How many bottles have you had today? I know you hold your alcohol better than I do..."

"I lost count..." The white haired captain sighed and pushed his hair out of his face, searching in vain for something to tie it back with. His friend handed him one of his own hair ties and then sat beside him. "I went to the Fourth Division for a treatment today... It hadn't really sunk in that Retsu was gone until now..."

"Ah, I get it now." Shunsui smiled sadly at his friend and put an arm around his shoulders. "Did you ever tell her?"

"No... I kept waiting and hoping that I would finally get better... I waited too long, Shunsui..."

"You will get better, Juushiro. And I think she knew, even if you never said it." Shunsui lifted the hat from his head and tossed it to his desk, then fell back and crossed his arms behind his head. His friend sighed and followed his lead. "You should send a hell butterfly to your division so they don't worry."

"I am far too drunk to be issuing orders of any kind, even to butterflies..." Juushiro put a hand over his eyes. "I haven't drank that much since our academy days..."

"You always could drink me under the table without breaking a sweat." Shunsui yawned. "I'll send the message, then." He called a hell butterfly to him and dismissed it to the Thirteenth Division with his message.

"Do you think your Lieutenant will be mad about me staying here? I know she can be strict about thing. I may count as an unnecessary distraction from your work."

"First, you're my best friend. Making sure you're alright is necessary. Second... Nanao has been avoiding me lately... I don't know why, and when I try to ask her, she changes the subject and escapes as quickly as possible..."

"You need to tell her soon... Don't wait like I did. Even with the war over, we're soldiers. The people around us can be taken away at any time." Juushiro yawned closed his eyes.

"You're right. I'll tell her as soon as I find out why she is avoiding me. Get some sleep. I'll make sure no one disturbs you." Shunsui rolled lazily to his feet and walked to the door, taking one look back at his friend before leaving the room.

Now to find Nanao and have a long talk with her.

Line -

"Please, Dad!" Karin begged, proving, possibly for the first time, that Yuzu had not inherited all of the family's puppy-dog-eyes genes.

"Absolutely not. Eighteen is too young to leave the living world and become a soldier! You haven't even begun living your life yet! You have to stay. At least until you finish college, just like Ichigo did." Isshin remained adamant. There were few things in the last eighteen years that he had refused to his daughters, but this was one thing her knew Masaki would have agreed on.

"I already have a place in the Tenth Division! All I have to do is make it through the Shinigami Academy! What good will a college degree do for me there?"

"It's not about the degree. It's about the experience. They are four of the most important years of your life. Where you learn what you really value in life and decide where you want to go in the future. You're still too young to give up on this world just yet. Four years. Four years, and if you still want to join Ichigo in Soul Society, I will allow it." Isshin offered. It was the best he could do. He knew, if she decided to go against his wishes, there was not much he could do to stop her, and he would never use force to get his way. Not with his daughter.

"Fine... But I'm not going to change my mind. Five years didn't make a difference, four more won't either." She sighed in defeat and slowly made her way up the stairs. Isshin watched her go and shook his head. She had inherited her mother's stubbornness, as well as his.

"Dad... You aren't going to Soul Society yet, are you?" Yuzu's head peaked out from the kitchen. He shook his head.

"No, not yet. A human lifetime is usually pretty trivial to the Gotei 13. I may stay here as long as you or Karin do. You aren't going to beg me to let you go now as well, are you?"

"No. I want to stay here for a little longer. I was hoping I could learn enough to be a doctor, then maybe take lessons from the healers in Soul Society. I would like to be there with you all when I'm ready, but I don't want to fight..."

"Then I'll teach you everything I can to make sure you never have to!" Isshin grinned and scooped the girl into his arms, hugging her tightly. "Now go drag your sister down here. We'll be late for Ichigo's graduation!"