Other than owning the cleaning product, I don't own BLEACH.

Editing and proof-reading done by me, so any mistakes are mine alone. Sorry about that.

#1—Beautiful

When Retsu first looked into Isane's eyes decades ago and noticed their hue matching that of soft grey clouds before the rain, her first honest thought was beautiful.

#2—Soft

Her chance comes when she finds Isane fast asleep at her desk, head pillowed by her arms. Isane had finished her work load; the papers neatly stacked to one side. Retsu shuts the door quietly behind her before she gets closer. She runs a gentle hand through mussed silver hair. "Soft," she murmurs lowly, smiling.

Just as she imagined it would be.

#3—Smile

Isane always greatly disliked her smile. It wasn't the small, shy one she's given to other people. Or even the nervous one. It was the big smile, the one she rarely used. It was right up there with her height, with just the virtue of being his smile.

"I think your smile is cute, Unique." Unohana says one night. They're out on the balcony having some tea before bed. It's a special brew, one bought from the human world. Supposed to help a person sleep, or so her captain says. She giggles softly. "A cute smile for my cute lieutenant."

Heat immediately rushes to Isane's cheeks and she ends up somehow half inhaling, half spitting out her tea as she proclaims, "E-eh?!"

(The next night, Isane would look in the mirror and smile. It was still his, crooked by pulling up in the left with a little dimple—the smile of a charmer, her mother's bemused voice says in her memories—and she quickly drops it, still disliking it—

I think your smile is quite cute. Unique. A cute smile for my cute lieutenant.

—but maybe she dislikes itjust a little bit less. Just.)

#4—Snort

If you told Isane a long time ago that Unohana Retsu—the Unohana Retsu, formerly Unohana Yachiru—snorted when she laughed too hard, she wouldn't have believed them.

But now? Now she would've believed them whole heartedly, and it was without a doubt the most adorable thing she's ever heard.

#5—Bearable

If there was one thing besides coffee that made waking up in the morning and extracting herself from the warmth of Isane's body bearable, it was the soft and completely adorable hum Isane let out when they exchanged morning kisses.

#6—Kiss

Their first kiss happens almost two years into the war with Aizen. It's sudden and unexpected, done in a moment of pure unmeasurable relief after Isane and her squad had finally returned after almost two weeks of no contact.

When Isane—tired and ragged and moderately bandaged but alive—gives her a weak but soft smile while they're alone in her hospital room, Retsu doesn't think. She immediately reaches out with shaking hands, cups Isane's face, and slots her mouth against Isane's.

After a brief stillness, the kiss is wholeheartedly returned.

#7—Hands

Retsu loves Isane's hands; broad and warm with long, strong fingers. They're rough from hard work, yet gentle and firm when handling patients. Capable. Despite the size difference, their hands fit to each other, like two puzzle pieces meant to slot together. Perfect.

(Retsu also loves it when Isane's hands are busy after they retire to one of their rooms for the night. How they start touching her all soft and shy like before slowly getting bolder, leaving goosebumps and mounting desire and pleasure in their wake.)

#8—Bit

"I-I can't believe I did that."

The groaned out words are slightly muffled behind two hands as they cover Isane's face. Retsu, straddling Isane's waist, giggles softly. This gets her a soft whine of, 'Re-chan, don't laugh!', which just makes her giggle again. Resting a hand against Isane's collarbone and stroking it with her thumb, Retsu smiles.

"If it makes you feel better, Isane," she says, "I didn't mind it. I enjoyed it." A hint of mischief edges her smile. "Why, being bit by you made me feel like you were claiming me as your own. It was honestly quite arousing."

"R-Re-chan!"

#9—Fight

"Um, 7th seat Yamada-san?"

"Y-yes?"

"W-why are Captain Unohana and Lieutenant Kotetsu sitting with their backs to each other?"

"Ah, th-that's because they had a fight."

"Then...then why are they holding hands?"

"Th-they get sad when they fight."

#10—Comfort

Normally it was Isane who had the nightmares. Normally it was Retsu who would give her comfort.

But one night their roles are reversed. One night Isane holds Retsu close, hands running up and down her lover's back. Her heart breaks at the ragged breathing against her shoulder. Isane tucks Retsu's head under her chin and whispers soothing words and soft promises into silky black hair.

"It's alright, Re-chan, it was just a dream. I'm here, I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

#11—Nightmare

Normally nightmares don't bother Retsu. They have never bothered her once in her long, long life. Too scared of you, Minazuki once joked, and both of them had shared a chuckle.

But one night one nightmare did bother her, and continued to do so well into the next day. A nightmare of the old days. A river of blood running from bodies stacked high to the darkened sky, of blood on her face and her hands, and staining the once pristine white of her old haori.

Of Isane's lifeless body at the end of her blade, face pale and eyes empty of life.

Retsu wakes up screaming.

#12—Dream

Sometimes Retsu was pretty sure this was a dream—that Isane was a dream. How could someone like her with such a violent and bloody past, who still retained that streak of bloodlust underneath her calm smile, end up with someone as pure and kind as Isane? Isane who knew everything—everything—about her, and yet somehow still had it in her to love Retsu so much?

Honestly, if this was indeed a dream then Retsu never wanted to wake-up from it.

#13—Blood

Blood never bothered Retsu. It didn't bother her now and it certainly never bothered her when she was once Yachiru.

But when the day came when she saw Isane—her Isane, her kind and beautiful Isane who somehow found it in her heart to love Retsu despite everything—covered in blood while being carried in by a pale Rangiku, coughing it up as it dribbled from the corner of her mouth, as it dripped to the floor from the stump where her right forearm used to be, Retsu never felt so sick at the sight of it.

#14—Freckles

Retsu hated her freckles. It didn't matter they were a faint dusting across her nose, unnoticeable unless someone leaned in really close and the light hit her face the right (wrong) way, she still hated them. What kind of criminal—especially as one such as she—has freckles anyway?!

"Well, I think they're cute," Isane says, smiling at Retsu. She's cupping Retsu's face gently between her two hands. Her eyes are unfairly warm and loving, just a little crinkled in the corners. It never fails to make Retsu's heart melt every time. Then she leans in and gives each freckle a little kiss each, and ends it with a small kiss on the tip of Retsu's nose.

(Okay, so maybe Retsu won't hate her freckles so much now. Maybe. She needs more nose kisses to change her mind, though.)

#15—Praise

Retsu was no stranger to praise. Her looks, her abilities, her skills, her leadership—all was praised almost every single day by both those who worked in her division and those who didn't.

It was different when Isane praised her. She knew everything about Retsu—about Yachiru and her past and still-there-but-very-well-hidden bloodlust. She knew about her scar. She knew, and that's what made it different, so real. Genuine. It never failed to make her feel all warm and tingly inside.

And, okay, yes, it might have stroked her pride, her ego, just a tad when Isane would whisper beautiful and her eyes would be on entirely on Retsu and not at all on those oh-so-eager little girls that often tried to get Isane's attention with their coy smiles and batting eyelashes.

(And may—no,definitely. She definitely loves it when Isane whispers her praises in her ear during their passionate nights. Whispering what a good girl Retsu was for her today and how she's going to reward her, and when Isane does it in that hoarse voice it just drives Retsu wild and—)

#16—Rough

It takes some time and a few talks when they come to the topic. Soft and tender Retsu loved; however, sometimes she just needed something a bit more during intimate times. Something that left her aching in a good way. She's patient; she'll wait however long it takes for Isane.

(It takes almost two months, but it's worth it in the end when Isane's teeth sink into the flesh of her inner thigh with a soft growl, making Retsu cry out in pleasure as she fists tousled silver hair.)

#17—Fanclub

To the surprise of...well, some people outside of the Fourth Division (cougheleventhdivisioncough), Isane herself has a fanclub, and it wasn't just in the Fourth either. Many a time Kiyone has had people in her own division come up to her asking when or if Isane would be visiting.

Retsu honestly found the fanclub amusing when they aren't hogging all of Isane's time. And even more honestly, she was very smug since out of all of Isane's fans she was quite obviously Isane's Number One Fan.

#18—Plushie

Isane spots it when Rangiku takes her and some others shopping in the Human World. Smiling, cheeks turning pink, she takes it from the shelf. She gives it a jiggle and giggles when the googly eyes bounces around their casings. She buys it and hides it deep in one of her shopping bags before running after the group.

(Later on, after retiring to her room, Retsu lays on her back and holds up the manta ray plushie above her face. It's adorable, sea-green in colour with a paler green for its underbelly, and has blue googly eyes. She smiles, cheeks gaining a bit of colour, and giggles before hugging it to her chest and closing her eyes.)

#19—Cuddles

"Re-chan, we need to get up."

"No. No work. Only cuddles."

"Re-chan—"

"Only. Cuddles."

#20—Ears

In a rare moment where Isane makes Retsu blush, the taller woman takes pure delight over the way the tips of her lover's ears turn red. She smiles and presses a kiss to one. She giggles as the flush goes darker and Retsu mumbles her name in an almost whine-like tone.

#21—Jealous

"You're jealous," Minazuki says through their link.

Retsu ignores him, trying to focus instead on her tea. A familiar giggle draws her attention. Her dark blue eyes narrow when she sees Isane blush at something the blonde Arrancar—Harribel, wasn't it?—says to her. Her lieutenant rubs the back of her neck before gripping it, all with a slight crooked smile.

The blonde Arrancar reaches out a hand and tucks one of Isane's braids behind her ear. As it pulls back, her fingers brush almost tenderly against Isane's cheek. Lingers there, even.

Isane's face instantly goes bright pink. The Arrancar's eyes crinkle in the corners.

The cup in Retsu's hands cracks.

#22—Childish

Nobody would ever believe it if they knew Retsu Unohana—Captain of the Fourth Division, famed medic, former criminal, former Captain of the Eleventh Division, and First Kenpachi—could be such a child sometimes.

But Isane did. She knew better than anyone else what's underneath Retsu's fair and beautiful appearance and calm smile. Underneath was a woman who pouts and sulks if Isane doesn't give her a morning kiss. A woman who likes to push Isane's buttons in subtle ways. A woman who loved to claim Isane's lap even if Isane was reading a book or finishing off paperwork before bed.

And if Isane was allowed to be honest? She wouldn't have her Re-chan any other way.

#23—Growl

Pushing her captain against their bedroom wall, Retsu's back to her front, and her pinning wrists above their heads with one hand, Isane leans in with a growl and nips sharply at one of Retsu's ears, getting a needy whimper from her lover.

#24—Shaking

For the first time since she learned to heal, her hands are shaking. They're shaking and she can't stop them. She needs them to stop. She needs them to stop right now because it's important and she's desperate because if they don't then she'll lose her, and losing her will kill her slowly for the next decade and why won't they stop?!

#25—Innocent

If it wasn't for the fact that Isane knew Retsu had something to do with half the Eleventh Division members—members sent to the Fourth after a group training session went wrong—having the words 'remember the basics' or even 'dodge better' written on their faces in ink while they were knocked out, the innocent look would've worked on her.

#26—Sulking

It takes Isane almost half the day for her to realise that the reason why Retsu was sulking—and yes Retsu was indeed sulking even if she wasn't showing it outwardly—was because a certain morning kiss had been forgotten in a mad dash to get to an early morning lieutenants meeting.

#27—Steel

There's steel within Isane. It's hidden deep beneath her timid nature and insecurities, hindered by them. It was untempered, not yet forged in fire. But one day it will. And Retsu was willing to be the blacksmith that forged such a beautiful piece that would become Isane's future self.

#28—Secret

Isane was keeping a secret. Her kind-hearted lieutenant, her sweet Isane, was keeping a secret. And it wasn't a good one, Retsu could tell. It was in the tightness of her eyes, the stiffness of her shoulders, the clenching of her fists. It was in the way her normally soft, slightly timid movements were now jerky and tense.

Whatever it was, Retsu was more than willing to help her with it, so long as Isane was willing to tell her.

#29—Puppy

Let it be known that when Isane Kotetsu is sad or pleading or disappointed, she pulls off the most devastating puppy dog eyes that ever existed.

Let it also be known that she doesn't even know she's doing it.

("...Fucking hell, Retsu, you've got a puppy in shinigami form!" Yoruichi exclaims in awe, eyes wide. Retsu could only nod dumbly in agreement, watching Yoruchi's young bodyguard Sui-Feng get back into bed with Isane's help after folding like a wet paper towel to Isane's disappointed puppy eyes.)

#30—Ink

"U-um, Re-chan?"

"Hm? Yes, Isane?"

Isane swallows thickly, cheeks slow going redder and redder, and nervously gestures at Retsu's hips. "Y-you're not going to wipe them off?"

Pausing in dressing herself for the captain's meeting, Retsu looks down at her mentioned body part. On either hip were five inked finger prints. The black ink stood out against her pale skin. Retsu's stomach curled in pleasure at knowing Isane left those there.

Retsu smiles at her lover, just a hint of mischief in her eyes. "You know what, Isane? I think they can stay for a little while longer." She winks. "After the meeting."

Isane's face instantly goes red.

#31—Glitter

Isane bites the inside of her cheek.

"Isane, don't you dare."

A small giggle manages to escape before Isane could stop it.

Dark blue eyes narrowed at her.

Isane smiles apologetically. She reaches over and wipes away some of the glitter from Retsu's cheek—which, honestly, is nothing compared to the rest that currently covers her lover from head to toe. And thankfully it was only just glitter.

Yoruichi was feeling merciful today, it seemed.

"I told you Yoruichi-san would get her revenge if you wrote 'Be Faster' on her face, Re-chan."

#32—Protective

Retsu finds it amusing, adorable, and heart-warming when she wakes-up and sees that Isane was wrapped protectively around her, as if to protect her from any attackers who where either ballsy or just outright dumb enough to try and assassinate her in her own room.

#33—Blush

Retsu doesn't blush. She doesn't blush and even if she did, she wouldn't show it so easily.

That being said—when Retsu saw Isane growl at an unruly and verynoisy patient, and stand to her full height with a fierce glare on her face, she did indeed blush. When Isane physically removed the (healed) patient from the division, that blush got darker and spread to the tips of her ears.

#34—Depths

There are hidden depths to her captain. Isane knows how deep they are underneath that calm, motherly like smile and steady, healing hands. She knows that smile can be as bloodthirsty as any fighter's and those hands can draw blood faster than any blade with just a twitch.

Isane isn't afraid of those depths. She loves them and lets Retsu know every night and every morning.

#35—Reincarnation

Retsu finds Isane's reincarnation on the anniversary of her death. Honestly, she doesn't know whether to laugh or cry or do both. She barely manages to hold herself together when Isane looks at her with those familiar, beautiful, dearly missed grey eyes...with not a single glimmer of recognition in them.

#36—Early

"Re-chan—"

"No."

"...It's acaptain'smeeting."

"Not an important one."

"It's still a meeting."

"Then it shouldn't have been scheduled so early then. The Captain-Commander knows by now I don't do early meetings."

"…"

#37—Ticklish

"You're ticklish."

The words are said in a breathless laugh. Honestly, if Retsu wasn't quite taken by just how Isane's voice got so breathless—along with her tousled hair and kiss-bruised lips—she would have huffed at that certain glimmer in Isane's eyes. A familiar glimmer.

Instead, Retsu reaches down and grabs the hand that curved around the back of her knee, and brought it back to her hips. Honestly! Of all the times for Isane to find out her tickle spot! She shivers as Isane's thumb starts stroking her hipbones. Reaching up, she lightly pinches Isane's cheek.

"Don't you dare tell Yoruichi," Retsu grumbles, leaning in as she lets go of Isane's cheek to wraps her arms around Isane's neck. Her eyes narrow. "And don't you dare move your hands from my hips again."

Isane's second breathless laugh is almost immediately swallowed up by Retsu's mouth.

#38—Afraid

"...You're not afraid?"

Retsu's voice is the smallest Isane has ever heard it. Those beautiful blue eyes are looking at her all wide and terrified. Her bloodied hands are white knuckled around the hilt of her zanpakutō.

Isane has never once seen her captain look so...fragile before. Like she'll break at the slightest word—at the slightest rejection. When she reaches out a hand, Retsu actually flinches, andIsane's heart just breaks at the sight.

"No, Re-chan," Isane says softly, cupping her lover's cheek. Her thumb wipes away a streak of blood. Grey eyes, firm and loving, stare into frightened deep blue. She leans in and rests her forehead against Retsu's. She closes her eyes when a pale, shaking hand reaches up and curls almost desperately around the back of her neck.

"I can never be afraid of you."

#39—Hoodie

If there's one piece of human clothing Isane loved the most it'd be the hoodies. Perfectly loose or baggy, warm, and in various styles and colours. She already has four in her closet; two zip-up and two pullovers. One of them even has a cute cartoon tiger on the front.

When Isane wakes up one morning, she smiles drowsily at the sight of Retsu in one of her hoodies sipping coffee at her desk.

#40—Hair

Almost two—or was it three? Retsu couldn't keep track—weeks after waking up from her coma, Isane finally manages to visit her. Her...former(?) lieutenant apologies profusely, but Retsu gently waves it off. They've just barely survived a war. The number of dead was high, almost bypassing the living, and the injured was half that. It was understandable.

Retsu smiles weakly. "Your hair has grown." It was longer now; a finger tousled, almost shaggy mess of silver locks falling to the nape of her neck. Her braids were absent. It looked just as soft as ever, and Retsu's fingers twitched with the want to touch and pet.

Isane runs a hand through her hair, chuckling tiredly. Her smile is small, a mere quirk of the lips. There's heavy dark bags under her eyes. Retsu feels a stab of guilt. "More about me too busy to get it cut over a desire to have it like this."

"It looks good." Using what strength she has, Retsu reaches out and rests a shaking hand on Isane's head. Her fingers sink into the hair, nails lightly scratching the scalp. Isane sighs softly, eyes closing. Her face relaxes, features softening. Retsu smiles gently.

She was right; it was just as soft as ever.

#41—Future

It was Kurotsuchi's fault, the damnable man. Personally, Retsu couldn't wait for the inevitable day that quincy friend of Kurosaki's would turn the mad scientist into a pin cushion with his arrows. All those poisons she had to make cures for at six in the morning…

"I feel like I've lost you, Re-chan."

The familiar amused voice drags Retsu from her day dreams of Kurotsuchi-free days. She smiles apologetically at the woman sitting across from her.

"Sorry, Isane. Please, continue."

Isane—future Isane, brought here by a something a scientist dubbed the Future Bazooka which replaced someone with a randomly selected version of their future selves for five hours—smiles at her. She's wearing a sleeveless captain's haori; her hair is longer and her braids are gone; and her right arm was bandaged from fingertips to just above her elbow.

Future Isane chuckles softly before returning to her story. Retsu's eyes are dragged to her hands while they're holding a tea cup—specifically the left one.

In the afternoon light, the plain silver wedding band glints prettily on Isane's finger.

#42—Past

Retsu glares at her past self and growls, "Get off."

Unohana Yachiru smirks and tightens her hold on Isane's neck. She rests her cheek against a strong, broad shoulder, and nuzzles against it, her eyes filled with challenge. She taunts with a smirk, "Make me."

Retsu growls again, eyes flashing, as her hand rests on the handle of her sword. Through their bond, she could feel Minazuki stir at her touch, her growing annoyance, her wish for violence.

Isane, meanwhile—poor, poor Isane who currently had her lover's bloodthirsty past self straddling her lap, arms looped around her neck—could only gulp as a bead of fear sweat drips down the side of her face.

#43—Revenge

Revenge is a dish best served cold, as the saying goes. It's best to pay someone back later in time, Retsu thinks, than to do so immediately. It was a far cry from her former thought, but with age comes change. It's the reason why Kurotsuchi was still breathing. Retsu would quite happily give some of her plans to Kurosaki's quincy friend, so long as he lets her take part.

(She's had to deal with the captain and his poisons and experiments for decades. She needs—no, deserves to have either the first or second hit, dammit.)

Revenge is also a dish best served passive aggressively, which is why she sent Kurosaki on an "errand" that required him to walk past the Eleventh Division where her brute of a successor was currently training.

Isane, of course, realises this the moment she sees Kurosaki runs past the Fourth swearing loudly. Kenpachi follows by a second later, a battle thirsty grin on his face. She turns and just manages to catch the uncharacteristically sadistic smirk that comes briefly to Retsu's face.

"Re-chan, no."

Retsu looks at her and smiles softly. She reaches up and strokes Isane's cheek tenderly, making her sweet lieutenant blush softly and her eyes go half-lidded. Retsu coos, eyes shining with love.

"For the way he broke your ribs? Re-chan, yes."

#44—Surrender

Isane's form is no longer what it once was, but Retsu would be damned if she called her lover a beast. Even when her armoured claws rake against the bars of the cage, even when she bares her fangs in a fierce snarl, Retsu will never call her anything but Isane because—

Because calling her a beast will be too much like surrendering. Retsu stares at her lover as she growls at Kisuke when he comes near. Her fists clench when Isane howls, the sound akin to a tormented soul in agony.

And I refuse to surrender.

#45—Gift

Retsu looks at Isane with wide eyes. "H-how?" she asks softly, holding her gift in lightly trembling hands.

Isane scratches her cheek, blushing softly. "I promised Rukia a favour if she helped me." She smiles. It's that beautiful lopsided smile with its adorable dimple. The smile that never failed to make Retsu's heart race. "I hope you like—"

The rest of Isane's words are overtaken by a squeak when Retsu flings herself at her. Two arms wrap around her neck just as two legs wrap around her waist, ankles locking behind her. Isane scrambles to quickly get a hold of Retsu, just as the older woman pulled her down for a happy, very excited kiss.

Behind them, Retsu's gift flutters to the ground; a hand-written coupon letting Retsu request one (1) fight from Kurosaki Ichigo for this year.

#46—Tears

"R...e...tsu…"

The words are low, guttural, and duel-toned—but she would recognise that voice anywhere.

Sitting in front of the cage, Retsu bites her lip to stop a sob from escaping. Not now. She can't break now. Not when Isane needs her the most. She swallows thickly and, ignoring Urahara and Hirako's earlier warnings, reaches past the bars into the cell. She reaches out to the slumped form on the floor, and strokes what hair has been left unhollowfied.

Isane groans and whimpers, as if in pain. And no doubt she was. Hirako hadn't spared any feelings when he described the agony of being hollowfied that night decades ago. His bluntness has been oddly refreshing to Retsu. She needed to know everything that was happening to Isane, even down to the most painful detail.

Through the eye holes of the snarling mask, gold eyes stare back at her with just a hint of recognition. Retsu feels the ball in her chest tighten and her eyes sting.

"Ret...su," Isane croaks out. Then her eyes close, her breath deepens, and suddenly she is in slumber. Retsu continues to stroke her hair.

"I-I'm here, Isane, I'm here. I won't leave you, I promise."

In silence of the lab, Retsu doesn't let herself sob.

But she does let her tears fall.

#47—Dry

With the proper research, a professionally made presitation, and just one calm smile that was so terrifying even Yamamoto wouldn't dare try to argue against her, Retsu managed to get permission and the necessary funds to build a zen garden within the Fourth Division to better help heal the patients and provide a calm space for her fellow healers.

However in two days, Retsu was kinda, maybe, sort of regretting this idea.

The reason why was in the form of her adorable lieutenant. Isane, with her ever helpful nature, had volunteered to do some of the heavy lifting. Isane was strong. And Retsu knew from, ah, personal experience how strong her partner can be.

Unfortunately she completely forgot that it was summer and thus Isane would be working in the heat. Now here she is, watching her partner from the shadows as Isane picks up a stepping stone. The lean muscles of her arms ripple, a light sheen of sweat covering them both. A droplet of sweat roll down the side of her neck.

Retsu swallows thickly, her mouth suddenly incredibly dry.

#48—Tiger

"If this didn't make you ten times more adorable, I'd be marching down to the Twelfth right now," Retsu muses, lips curled in a smile as amusement glimmers in her eyes.

Isane pouts as she blushes. On top of her head, two silver tiger ears twitch and flicker about at every noise. The pout disappears when Retsu reaches up and starts scratching the back of one. Grey eyes flicker close. A small chuff starts coming from the lieutenant.

Retsu giggles softly and starts scratching behind the other one. The chuffing steadily gets louder and deeper with each scratch.

#49—Trust

It will forever amaze Retsu how Isane can still trust her even after learning the truth. She had been prepared for Isane to be scared of her. For the ending of their relationship. For the morning she would see a request transfer document on her desk with Isane's name at the top.

She hadn't been prepared for Isane to still want to be with her, much less still trusting her. To love her as fiercely and devotedly as she did before. To cradle Retsu's face in her hands and kiss her like she was someone precious and not a former murderer with blood on her hands.

("It doesn't change anything, you know that right?," Isane says as they lay in the dark, entangled together in the aftermath of their love making. The air is musky and sweat cools on their skin. Long fingers stroke through Retsu's hair as her head lays on Isane's chest. "Whether you remain Retsu o-or go back to Yachiru, I'll always trust you."

Retsu inhales a little sharply, feeling the sting of tears in her eyes. Yet warmth spreads throughout her entire body. She tries to press herself closer, impossibly close, as she clings tightly to Isane, never wanting to let her go.)

#50—Ending

Retsu always thought her ending would be at the end of a blade. Her legacy as Yachiru would be passed on to Zaraki. She would bleed and she would die to make him whole—to make right her great sin. Then her soul would be reborn in the human world where she would begin anew. A cycle continued.

Isane never gave much thought about her ending. Living in Rukongai—surviving in Rukongai—and trying to raise her little sister after the deaths of their parents had occupied her mind. Even when she entered the academy, even when she graduated and joined the Fourth Division, she never once thought about her ending.

But now, years later, something changed in them. They changed.

Suddenly, Retsu found another ending in store for her, so long as she had the courage to step from the path she had previously set, and grasp it tightly with both hands.

Suddenly, Isane started thinking beyond the present, about a future life somewhere in a pleasant home, of living in comfort and security and little to no worries with the woman she loved.

It might not be today or tomorrow. It might not be this week or this month. It might not even be this year or this decade.

But.

Somewhere out there, in the oncoming dawn of a new day, there is an ending. There's one just for them and them alone, and it's waiting for them.

They'll do their duties, Isane and Retsu. They'll fight and they'll bleed and they'll patch each other up. They'll argue with each other and lean on each other. They'll laugh and they'll cry, and they'll clutch each other tight every night because somewhere out there is an ending for them, and dammit it all if they aren't going to make it a happy one for themselves.

Wow, it's been...years since I've written something, and the first thing I write is for an old OTP from an old fandom, which was also fandom I wrote my first story for. Ha, wow. And on Isane's birthday too! Triple wow!

Right. So. For those of you who still follow me—I will be finishing the Ice Art Week I started decades hasn't been the greatest for me since starting that story, so apologies for the super-duper long wait on that.

Okay, enough about that. This story is quite honestly half-based on all my headcanons I've got for UnoIsa and the characters themselves. And also a way for me to ease my way back into writing.

If anyone wants to chat about UnoIsa, I'm more than willing to respond. You can DM or ask me on tumblr. I have a twitter but after everything is happening I honestly don't go on there much except for a couple of friends who still use it. You'll find the links on my profile page.

Now in the words of a certain captain: bye-bye~!