This is the epilogue! You don't HAVE to read it, as it's not mandatory for the story but if you'd like to know how the characters are doing after the main story here it is! :)

Epilogue

"Ururu! Wake up!" Tsumugiya Ururu slowly, reluctantly opened her eyes and groaned. She rolled to her side and looked at her clock. 9:09 AM.

Ururu's mother opened the door to her room. "Wake up, Ururu!"

"It's so early, Mom," Ururu whined. "It's Saturday. Why did you wake me up so early?"

Her mom rolled her eyes. "Don't you have that book signing at like 9:30? You're gonna be late at this rate."

The gears in Ururu's brain turned. She jolted up. Shit! She did have that book signing. Quickly, she changed out of her pajamas into a white long sleeved shirt and jean shorts. It was that nice time in spring where it was neither hot nor cold.

Ururu furiously combed her hair, brushed her teeth, and washed her face. She grabbed a pastry from the fridge and her book. "Let's go."

As her mom drove her to the Karakura Bookstore, Ururu wondered how she could forget about the book signing. Ever since she heard about it a couple of weeks ago, Ururu had been dying to go. Just last night, she'd gone to bed, wondering what she'd say when she met the author.

They arrived at 9:26. They were almost five minutes early and there was already a line forming. Clutching her book to her chest, Ururu waited with her mom. As they got closer and closer to the front, Ururu looked down at her copy and stared at the image of a beautiful raven-haired woman with lavender eyes in a white dance costume.

Rain Dried by White Moon, by Kurosaki Ichigo. Ururu had first seen in the book a few months ago at the bookstore. It was best-seller, apparently, though nearly every book claimed that. What drew Ururu to the book was the beautiful woman. She couldn't remember the last time she saw such a pretty woman. Heart pounding, she'd picked up the book and read the summary on the back. It seemed interesting enough, so she bought and since then, it'd become her favorite book.

She reached the front of the line. Sitting at the table was the handsome orange-haired author, Kurosaki Ichigo. Next to him was the beautiful woman on the cover: Kuchiki Rukia.

Kurosaki Ichigo smiled. "Hello. You're the youngest person I've seen at these events. How old are you?"

Ururu swallowed. "Fifteen."

"Ah, fifteen. I remember being fifteen. That time feels so long ago." Kurosaki Ichigo extended his hand. Ururu handed her copy to him. She watched as he opened up the book and held his pen over the blank backside of the cover. "What's your name?"

"Tsumugiya Ururu." Kurosaki Ichigo signed it. His signature was neat and elegant.

"Would you like me to sign too?" Kuchiki Rukia asked. Her voice was beautiful. Ururu nodded. Kurosaki Ichigo slid the book to her, and with her pen, Kuchiki Rukia signed is gracefully and quickly. "Here you go," Kuchiki Rukia said as she gave the book back.

"T-Thank you." Ururu read the note.

To Tsumugiya, Ururu,

From, Kurosaki, Ichigo

& Kuchiki, Rukia

"How did you start reading?" Kurosaki Ichigo asked.

"My Japanese teacher recommended it," Ururu lied. Well, it wasn't a complete lie. Just a few days after buying it, her Japanese teacher mentioned the memoir in class, praising it as one of the best-written books she'd read.

"I still can't believe teenagers are reading this," Kurosaki Ichigo said with a laugh. "I'm flattered. Thank you. Have a nice day!"

"Thank you, you too!" Ururu replied a little too quickly and closed her book. Her mom thanked Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia before they turned and left. Ururu smiled to herself.

"Well, that was fun," Ichigo said two hours later as he and Rukia entered his house. He put his bag down and stretched.

"That high schooler was nice," Rukia said. Ichigo pecked her lips. With a giggle, Rukia led him to the living room couch. She snuggled against him as Ichigo wrapped his arm around her.

Three years had passed since they were at Las Noches. Two months after Yuzu's wedding, Ichigo and Rukia permanently checked out of Las Noches together, and were now living together. Rukia became a dance teacher at the conservatory. A few months later, Toshiro followed and started managing his business again, though he worked less hard than before. Rangiku started taking psychology classes at a community college and was getting her degree soon. "I want to work at Las Noches and help people," she'd said.

A year after being released, Ichigo published his memoir, Rain Dried by White Moon. It became a huge hit. However, he didn't want to become a full-time author, so he still worked as a doctor, only occasionally running events for the book. The Kurosaki Clinic did attract a lot more patients, though.

Just five months ago, Kenpachi himself was finally released. According to Kenpachi, he decided to try to get better after Toshiro left, since he didn't want to be alone and having a relationship with Unohana would've been impossible had he stayed. Before Ichigo left, Kenpachi finally told him his story: his mom had left him and his alcoholic dad as a child. The troubled Kenpachi rarely went to school and often got into fights. He'd dropped out of high school in his senior year and joined a local yakuza. He eventually became leader, and he and his gang would commit many crimes to earn money. After getting into a fight over money with a member, Kenpachi stabbed him over and over again. The man survived, but Kenpachi was deemed sick for his penchant for violence and was forced to go to Las Noches. Now, he was working as a parole officer and apparently, he and Unohana were actually going on a date soon.

"We genuinely became friends," Kenpachi had said. "I asked her out recently and guess what, Ichigo! She fucking said yes! She did that!"

Rukia turned on the TV. The news popped up, discussing the one and only Aizen Sosuke. In his memoir, Ichigo mentioned Rukia and Aizen's confrontation. Of course, people began debating whether the famous Aizen Sosuke actually paid the judge to send Ichigo to Las Noches. Both Ichigo and Aizen got a lawyer, and after many trials in court, Aizen was finally recently convicted guilty once more former patients came forward about their experience with him. He was forced to resign-with Unohana taking his position-and was now serving time for ten years, along with the judge he paid.

"The judge that Aizen collaborated with just released a statement about his innocence," The news reporter stated.

Rukia switched the channel. A comedy show aired before them.

"The Aizen thing is so long ago, I don't really wanna think about it," Rukia said.

"I get that," Ichigo said. "It's weird to remember. Everything feels so long ago."

"It's crazy," Rukia agreed. "But everything's peaceful and happy now. Orihime and Grimmjow are married, and we're good friends with them. Chad and Tatsuki are married. Mizuiro is engaged to Sakura. Yuzu is pregnant. Jesus it sounds like the extremely cheesy ending to a drama."

"I like cheesy," Ichigo said. "Cheesy is happy."

"It is nice," Rukia admitted. "It's just hard to believe it's happening. Before I met you, I thought I was going to spend the rest of my life in Las Noches."

"I was so different before I met you too," Ichigo said. "Though I didn't realize it, I always had this lingering sadness after Mom died."

Rukia smiled. "I guess every cloud does have a silver lining."

"Look at you, being all cheesy and dumb."

Rukia playfully slapped Ichigo. "Shut up." She paused. "Hey, guess what."

"Hm?"

"In exactly one week is the day we competed at the dance tournament."

Ichigo smiled and touched his lips to the top of her head. "I know."

For several weeks, Ichigo had been anxiously waiting for the third anniversary of their participation. Because on the day of the dance tournament, he planned to take Rukia to the conservatory to watch the dances.

And once the competition ended, he planned on proposing to her.

-THE END-

Well that was cheesy lol. Nevertheless, I hope you all liked it! Thanks for reading! xoxo