Standard disclaimers apply to the fictional characters of BLEACH used in this story. They are the property of the esteemed Kubo Tite-sensei, and I have no claim over them. Please don't sue.

-x-

With her back turned to him and the warm laundry held in her arms, Kanae couldn't help but ask, "Would you have been happy?"

Ryuuken leaned heavily against the balcony rail and eyes focused on the ceiling above him. An unlit cigarette drew circles in his right hand as he pondered over her question. She clipped the shirt onto the line and looked over to him imploringly.

"I don't know," he answered her with clarity in his navy eyes. "Maybe I would have, maybe I wouldn't have."

Unable to hold their eye contact, she turned back to the shirt she just hung and grasped the hems tightly. She couldn't stop her voice from hitching when she asked another question. "Then are you happy?"

"Why are you suddenly asking all of this?" He stared at her back in confusion. She had been acting strangely since the beginning of the week just when he thought that they returned to a time of almost-normalcy.

None of her reasons mattered nor were they worthy of being spoken lest she climbed out of her doubts and depression by herself—she knew that. But she needed that reassurance, just this one time, just right now, in order to move on and to stand up for herself once more. Kanae wrapped her arms around herself in a moment of weakness unbefitting of Quincy blood before another and her words trembled with plea. "Please, Ryuuken-sama, I need to know: are you happy with m—us?"

Silence stood between them and her heartbeat echoed in her ears. A gasp tinged with a sob escaped her lips when she felt him take a strong step forward and ensconced her in his arms. It was warm and safe.

He pressed a long kiss against the back of her neck and interlaced his right hand with hers. Together their fingers moved down to her abdomen and pressed against it gently. Squeezing his hand, she shivered as his lips brushed up to the other shell of her left ear.

"There is no other I rather have at my side."

-x-

AN: Time waits for no one. I can't believe it's been over 14 months since I started this story. Thank you all for your continuous love. It'll be a lovely ride in the near future, so please anticipate!

Thank you my readers and reviewers for your reviews, Nessie910, DrkSpphrGT, Amulet Misty, Idyllicdream and Isame Kuroda.