"Byakuya!" Rukia exclaimed as a myriad of emotions welled up inside her. She began to feel a mixture of relief, amazement, fear, and appreciation. She didn't know why or how her brother was here or what Aizen would do now, but she didn't really care. She hadn't seen him for such a long time and now, as she was just losing all hope, he appeared as a knight in shining armor, or, in his case, a knight in a sleek, gray business suit.

"This game of yours is over, Sosuke Aizen," Byakuya said with a cold and uninterested tone.

"Oh? Is that so?" Aizen replied in a mocking tone. Despite his initial shock at the unexpected appearance, he didn't seem to lose any of his swagger or self-assuredness.

Before Byakuya could give an adequate reply, his eyes finally found those of his adopted sister, the reflection of his dead wife looking back at him. His eyes narrowed as he noticed the bruises and splotches of blood from when she had struggled against Gin and the rest of Aizen's men. Immediately, Byakuya's eyes narrowed imperceptibly as pure murderous rage filled his insides, though most outsiders wouldn't have even been able to tell.

Aizen could though. "I'm really sorry to have roughed up your sister, Kuchiki. I honestly had no intention to hurt her, but she unfortunately overstepped her boundaries and got in the way. I did what I had to."

"And you claim Kurosaki is a treacherous businessman," Byakuya spat.

"That's because he is. Despite how reluctant your little sister is to admit it, Ichigo Kurosaki is not the man you all think he is."

"In that you are wrong, yet again, Sosuke Aizen."

Before Aizen could form a rebuttal, a loud noise was heard from across the large warehouse space. In the blink of an eye, a large group of police officers rushed into the building surrounding Aizen and his men with their guns raised. Aizen looked to not have expected the intrusion, but certainly didn't look very fazed. He raised his hands, as did the rest of his men.

"Is this your grand plan, Kuchiki? A group of police officers to take me to jail? You do realize you are not the only one who has tried this move. I've been arrested many times and not once have I been convicted. You can take me in, but a court of law will prove I'm innocent."

"I wouldn't be so sure about that," said yet another familiar voice from the shadows. Rukia's eyes widened in shock as she got a glimpse of the long, white-haired man emerging. She couldn't even form words as she saw her boss, Juushiro Ukitake come out among the police force with an unfamiliar older man with long, curly brown hair.

"Well now this is a pleasant surprise. How many more executives are going to come out of the woodwork to save these poor girls I wonder?" Aizen commented cynically.

"It's been a long time, Aizen," said the other man with Ukitake who Rukia didn't recognize.

"Indeed it has, Kyoraku. What brings you here today?" Aizen said conversationally, as if he was discussing the weather and not the borderline kidnapping and abuse that had actually happened.

"Well, I've come to help get Byakuya's company back and put you away for good."

"Oh really? And how do you plan on achieving that goal?"

"With this," the man, Kyoraku, said as he pulled out a tiny silver device. For the first time since Rukia had arrived at the warehouse, Aizen looked shocked and a bit apprehensive. His eyes narrowed.

"Where did you get that?"

"Where do you think? From your not-so-well-hidden-after-all hiding place in your home office."

"You searched my house without a warrant."

"No, there was a warrant," Kyoraku said with a satisfied smirk.

"One I never saw," Aizen commented, his voice betraying his worry. Rukia didn't know what the man with Ukitake had but whatever it was, it could be huge for their case.

"Yes, because you were too busy kidnapping Ichigo Kurosaki's sisters to be home when the police arrived."

Aizen bristled, but then tried to compose himself. "How exactly did you get a warrant? Like I said earlier, my record is clean."

"On the surface maybe, but with enough digging, we had plenty of evidence to get it."

Aizen narrowed his eyes even further. Rukia wasn't really sure what was going on, but her hope was steadily rising as the conversation progressed and Aizen's reactions became more worrisome.

"You see, Sosuke, you'd be amazed what kind of documents a head of human resources can acquire," Kyoraku said as he nodded to Rukia's boss.

"Byakuya Kuchiki and Shunsui have been working together diligently these past few months not to bring back Kuchiki's company, but to put together a case that would bring you down. I did what I could to funnel everything together I thought would be useful from bank statements, personal witnesses, as well as receipts for private investigators. It took us awhile, but what we found was enough to allow for a warrant and what we found at your house on this drive will ensure you spend the rest of your life in jail, Aizen."

"We found all the documents indicating your extensive fraud, as well as the information Isshin Kurosaki was trying to put together before he died. We know about the way you run your business and now, with all this, so will a court of law."

Aizen was speechless for a moment before he said with menace, "Impossible."

"No, not impossible. You see, Aizen, you did an admittedly good job of covering your tracks, but you left just enough clues for us to follow the trail and get what we wanted. Now, your time is up. You will be put under arrest, given a trial, convicted immediately, and will spend the rest of your days in jail for what you've done not only to Byakuya Kuchiki and Ichigo Kurosaki, but to Rukia and Ichigo's sisters as well," Ukitake said, a rare edge of anger creeping into his voice.

Aizen couldn't form another sentence as he was handcuffed by the police and taken away. There would be more details to hash out during the trial, but Ukitake and Kyoraku, who Byakuya had been working with tirelessly for months, knew that they would come out on top.

Rukia couldn't even begin to form a reaction as a few police officers rushed over to her and Ichigo's sisters to make sure they were all right. They began untying poor Yuzu and Karin who looked just as shell shocked and confused as she was. Upon seeing her injuries, one of them called for an ambulance as people began to rush around, gathering evidence and taking Aizen and his men away.

"Brother," Rukia called softly as Byakuya came over to her.

"Are you alright, Rukia?" he asked with what could only be considered the closest thing to brotherly affection and concern Byakuya could manage. He wasn't the best at displaying his emotions.

"How did…why did…what-," Rukia stammered before her brother interrupted her babbling.

"I've been planning this strike with Shunsui Kyoraku, one of my business associates, for a very long time, even before the company went under. We've been waiting for the most opportune time to put our plans into motion and, once we got word of the Kurosaki sister's disappearance through some of Ukitake's friends in the police force, we came immediately. I wanted to tell you, but it would've been dangerous. You had to be kept in the dark."

"I-I don't know what to say," she spoke truthfully, the entire situation and its outcome still registering in her brain.

"Don't say anything. Just know that we've won. These past almost two years have been difficult for both of us, but hopefully that will all begin to change. Now, we need to get you to the hospital," he said before he helped her to her feet. Yuzu and Karin followed after the siblings with the help of Ukitake and Kyoraku who had come over to check up on them, even though they were in great shape compared to Rukia. They were also at a loss for words at what had just transpired and couldn't think of anything to say.

As they exited the building, Rukia was shocked to see dozens of flashing red and blue lights as detectives and policemen ran about. Eventually, Byakuya led her toward an approaching ambulance, when suddenly a familiar silver sports car came careening around the corner before it came to a quick stop in the middle of everyone.

Rukia almost cried in relief when a familiar orange head of hair emerged quickly from the car and looked frantically about. Not long after, Ishida and Orihime also exited the car, but at a much less desperate pace.

"Brother!" Yuzu called, just as policemen were trying in vain to get Ichigo to leave the scene. Both her and Karin rushed forward as Ichigo's head twisted in recognition and he ran to meet his little sisters. They met quickly and immediately Ichigo took his sisters up in his arms and hugged them both tight. Yuzu cried and Karin stayed silent as they reveled in the security of their big brother's arms. Rukia hadn't been expecting to see him here. She hadn't known if Ichigo and Uryuu would figure out where they were or if they even knew something was wrong. Apparently, by the way Ichigo had looked when he got out of his car and began to look frantically around, they had definitely known something was going on and apparently he had assumed the worst.

Rukia looked on with affection at the scene, holding herself back from joining them as she tried to let them have their moment, despite how badly she also wanted to feel the comfort of Ichigo's embrace. Seeing him here, looking like his entire world had fallen apart and then was immediately pieced back together at the sight of all of them safe, made her head swim with an unidentified emotion. Her heart practically swelled at the sight of him comforting his poor, innocent sisters who had been caught up in a political, business mess unnecessarily. She was so caught up in the scene, she hadn't even noticed her brother's curious and pointed stare.

Suddenly, Yuzu leaned back and told her brother something that caused his eyes to widen and his head to quickly look around as if he was searching for something.

When his eyes locked immediately with hers, she knew she was that something. Yuzu and Karin seemed to understand and untangled themselves from their brother's embrace, as they seemed to give silent permission for him to go to her. She couldn't help the emotions running through her as she watched him start to quickly run over to where she stood, intent on doing one thing.

Without her permission, small tears began to lightly fall as she realized that they, through the help of some friends, had finally done it. After all they tried to do and all the trouble they tried to navigate, they had the help of invaluable allies against one of the biggest threats either of them would ever experience. Together, they had gotten enough evidence, had searched long enough hours, and had devoted enough time to seeing the devious Sosuke Aizen fall. She couldn't contain her happiness at what that meant for all of them, including her own brother as well as his own personal allies.

What's more, the memory of her conversation with Ichigo earlier that very same day about what would happen when all of this was over came flooding back to her with stark clarity.

"When this is all over, I promise I'll tell you everything."

Rukia turned to look at him skeptically. "When this is all over? That could mean two very different things," she told him. Aizen could be stopped and everything would be fine once it was done or Ichigo could be bankrupt and possibly in jail and they would all be left with nothing.

Ichigo looked determinately at her. "I mean when Aizen's ass is sitting in some jail somewhere and you and your brother are running the Kuchiki Company, I'll tell you everything."

"Really?" Rukia asked, still unsure if that would ever happen.

"Yes, I promise," he said before a thought came to him and he continued. "Also, when that happens," he said, his determination never once wavering, "I'm going to take you out on a real date. Not one where some snake-like prick is stalking you or where you hate my guts for opening a door for you," he paused, and Rukia couldn't help but smile at that memory. "But a real, honest-to-god, date. For a real relationship."

He had then gone on to promise her that he would wait until they won before he kissed her, to make sure that nothing got in their way once they were finally together. Well, she realized as many different emotions flooded her brain, they had certainly won.

Ichigo's arms wrapped tightly and securely around Rukia the moment they met each other, amidst a myriad of policemen and their respective siblings. She, however, didn't even realize it as she and Ichigo were wrapped up in their own little world. He practically squeezed the life out of her as he held her to himself, one hand protectively across her back and the other cradling the back of her head. For the first time in a very long time, she felt totally and completely protected.

"I'm so glad you're alright," Ichigo said breathlessly as they continued to hold each other, oblivious to the world around them.

Rukia couldn't stop the tears falling down her face as the stress and anxiety of the past few months, and really the past year or so, crashed down upon her. Every bottled up emotion was bursting forth with gusto.

Realizing and understanding what was going on with Rukia's emotions, Ichigo started to whisper reassurances in her ear.

"It's okay, now. I'm here," he repeated to her. It still baffled Rukia how comforting this seemingly arrogant and cocky rich guy's presence could be. Though, when she really thought about it, she knew that his façade of arrogance was nothing more than a tool to keep the world, and by extension whatever troubles that it produced, far away. Just as this crazy man had managed to chip away at the walls surrounding her injured heart, she too had weaved her way inside his. The realization caused even more emotions to flood over her. She felt strange for letting them out so publicly, but in Ichigo's embrace she found she didn't really care.

Once she had calmed herself enough to slightly back away from where her face was buried in his chest, she looked up gratefully into his eyes and saw glimpses of the emotions boiling inside her. "It's over," she finally said.

"I know," he replied with a reassuring smile before he blessedly, finally, surprised everyone around them, aside from herself, and lowered his lips to hers as they shared the first of what she knew would be many, many kisses. She grabbed onto his suit jacket and kissed him back strongly, their lips melding together perfectly as if they were meant for only this, hoping to show via physical affection everything she was feeling inside. He seemed to get the message as she could feel him smiling against her lips, too deliriously happy to care about being passionate. It didn't last very long, nor was it very elaborate, but it was just what she needed to solidify everything she had long since known she felt towards this man.

They pulled back and smiled at each other, reveling in the moment before Ichigo's face suddenly turned into a frown once he finally got a good look at her. "What is it?" she asked in confusion, surprised at his quick change in temperament.

She realized then that he was staring at her slightly tattered clothing and the scratches and bruises that were on various places all over her body. The look he was giving her wasn't of anger or resentment, but of worry and protectiveness. "You're injured," he said with concern.

Rukia sheepishly looked down at herself and then back up at Ichigo, trying to reassure him, though she knew he wouldn't stop worrying about her. "It's nothing."

"It sure as hell doesn't look like nothing. We need to get you to the hospital," Ichigo said, quickly switching into over-protective boyfriend (she shivered at that title) mode.

"That is what I was trying to do," a voice spoke up from behind the pair. Rukia inwardly groaned when she realized her equally protective older brother had witnessed their entire exchange. By this point she had figured Byakuya knew enough about their situation to know that they were working together, but he probably had no idea the extent to which their relationship had gone.

Well, she realized as she noticed his suspicious glare, he certainly knew that now.

Talk about a mood killer she thought to herself, the emotions of the day making her shake her head and smile at the absurdity of the situation. Perhaps she did need to go to the hospital quickly.

Before she could offer any more reassurances to the two very overprotective men in her life, Orihime rushed over, began bawling her eyes out as she squeezed the life out of the already injured Rukia, causing even more of a scene as Ichigo, Byakuya, and Ishida all tried to get her to let go of the petite woman who was clearly in pain from her friend's embrace, until Rukia was practically whisked off to the hospital, the rest of the night becoming a blur of doctors, detectives, and very worried friends.

As things began to settle down, and the exhaustion finally set in, Rukia was left alone in her hospital room (Byakuya had insisted she stay the night just to be sure she was going to be alright despite the doctors frequent assurances) with her brother, Ichigo and his sisters, as well as Ishida and Orihime.

The latter pair said they had to get going since they were also exhausted after the long day they had. Rukia thanked them again for everything and was left with one final, not nearly as tight, hug from her roommate and best friend before they left. Then, Ichigo's sisters began to shower Rukia with praise and appreciation. Apparently, they had explained to their older brother many times how brave and selfless Rukia had been and how determined she was to save them, even going as far as sacrificing herself for their sake. Rukia tried to modestly play it down, especially after all the unwanted attention she had gotten all night, but Karin and especially Yuzu would have none of that. Ichigo remained silent as his sisters retold the story and gave even more thanks, though a content smile never left his face.

Eventually, Byakuya could tell that the constant fawning was becoming a little too much for the already frayed Rukia to handle, so he suggested that Ichigo take his sisters home so they could also rest. There was still a lot to be done concerning police interviews and other similar things and they needed to be prepared for the coming days as the whole situation with Aizen was investigated.

They began to leave the Kuchiki siblings, but Rukia stopped them as they were walking out the door once she noticed Ichigo's hesitant-to-say-goodbye glance.

"Brother, do you think I could talk to Ichigo for just a minute…alone," she asked. Byakuya narrowed his eyes at the request, apparently still coming to terms with whatever relationship his sister and the young business executive had, before he sighed and relented.

"Fine, you can have a few moments," he said before he followed Yuzu and Karin out the door, not once looking back at the pair left behind in the hospital room.

Ichigo, despite Byakuya's clear distaste for him, looked happy to finally be alone with Rukia. "Wow, a few moments. Maybe next week he'll let me take you to prom," Ichigo joked as he walked back over to Rukia's bedside and sat down in a nearby chair.

Rukia lightly laughed at that. "He can be a bit protective," she said with a small smile, before a thought occurred to her and her face became more somber.

Ichigo noticed immediately. "What is it?"

Rukia shook her head. "It's just so strange. I used to think Byakuya was ignoring me, but in reality, he had been working so hard for so long just so he could protect me. So he could provide for me. I had no idea."

Ichigo gave a knowing smile at that. "Yeah, big brothers have a tendency to want to do stuff like that for their little sisters, adopted or not."

Rukia smiled contentedly at that.

It was silent for a moment before Ichigo spoke up. "So, about that date we discussed," he said with a familiar smirk.

Rukia almost rolled her eyes at him. Instead she spoke with confidence. "Dinner Saturday?" she suggested.

"Followed by dancing?"

"Sounds perfect."

"Good. I'll pick you up at eight," Ichigo said before he leaned over and planted a quick, yet confident kiss on her lips. When he pulled back, Rukia saw that he was shaking his head, almost in disbelief.

"What?" she questioned.

"Nothing, it's just that…well, I can't believe I get to do that now," he said happily.

"Me neither," she replied similarly.

They stared at each other, feeling more contentment and happiness in that moment than they had in awhile. Eventually, Ichigo sighed and rose from his spot at her bedside. "Well, I should get going. Wouldn't want your brother shooting me before my hot date on Saturday," he told her with that familiar swagger of his.

"Mm, wouldn't want that," Rukia affirmed jokingly. "See you Saturday," she said as he exited the room. She knew she would see him before then, of course, but she liked keeping up their little joking act.

"Eight o'clock," Ichigo affirmed as he reached to open the door.

"Don't be late."

"Wouldn't dream of it," he said with a genuine smile before he exited the room and closed the door behind him.

Rukia couldn't for the life of her stop the silly grin from completely overtaking her face.

Damn that wonderful, fantastic man.

Yay! It finally happened! Hope you guys liked all the Ichiruki fluff in this chapter. If not, well, then you're not going to be happy with the next one because it's even worse ;) PLEASE leave a review to let me know what you thought! Your positive feedback is what pushed me through this entire story and it would be nice to have one last quick burst as I finish it up. There is only one more actual chapter and then an epilogue and this story is DONE. That's insane. Also, I realize there are still quite a few unanswered questions and don't worry, I'm planning on answering all of them in the next chapter which should also hopefully be out fairly soon. Remember, REVIEW!