Akira's eyes shot open as he bolted upright, his heart pounding rapidly in his chest as he gasped for air. The visions plaguing his eyes quickly faded, replaced by a plain plaster wall. Oh. That's right. He flumped back down, gritting his teeth. He wasn't on the Sōkyoku Hill, white-masked and screaming, but in his temporary residence in the 4th, where he and Ryuji had been bunking together since the Phantoms and the Gotei 13 came to an uneasy truce. Waking up, however, did little to banish the horrors his sleeping mind had conjured. Images of Rukia and Renji's bloodstained corpses, discarded on the hilltop like they were mere trash haunted him, along with visions of Aizen smirking despite his torn throat.

Tossing and turning, he tried to get comfortable again, but sweat soaked his body and sheets, hot and sticky to the touch. Sitting up again, he stared at the window. A soft breeze flowed through the partially opened glass planes, and while it was too light to be the dead of the night, the sun clearly hadn't yet made its way above the horizon. For a moment, Akira contemplated going for a walk, but decided against it in the end. While Hanatarō vouching for them had eased some of the 4th's wariness towards the Ryoka, the healers were still fairly skittish when it came to their guests. Given everything that had happened between the Phantoms and the Gotei 13, Akira didn't want to accidentally step on any toes.

He slumped back down again, but before the frizzy-haired teen could contemplate falling back to sleep, a shuffling noise came from Ryuji's bunk. It seemed Akira's fidgeting had woken him up.

"Y'okay?" Ryuji slurred, batting an eye half open.

"Yeah – I'm fine." Akira smiled stiffly. "Just a nightmare."

Ryuji nodded, rolling over, and his breathing slowed as he fell back asleep. Akira didn't follow suit, however, and instead stared unblinkingly at the ceiling. The skin on his face itched, and while the voices were faint, he could still something whispering dark words in the back of his mind. Picking up a glass of water from his nightstand, Akira swallowed, but the chalky taste in his mouth lingered.

As he fell back asleep, the boy was forced to admit to himself that he was being plagued with something far more serious than mere bad dreams.

…..

On the other side of the Seireitei, Soifon crossed her arms, glaring mutinously at the wooden floor - they were currently holding the first proper Captain's Assembly since Aizen's betrayal. Anger and shame bubbled in the assassin's stomach in equal measure. If Aizen's confessions to Kuchiki and the Ryoka boy were to be believed - which they were - he'd been playing the Gotei 13 for fools for over a century. How on earth did she – the Commander of the Onmitsukidō – fail to see the signs of his treachery for so many years?!

It was a slight relief that she hadn't been the only one hoodwinked. Komamura had offered her Division his full cooperation in light of his friendship with Tōsen, and while Ichimaru's Lieutenant was still under investigation, Lieutenant Hisagi's horror at his Captain's actions was clearly genuine. Plus… well, everyone knew what had happened to Hinamori by now. Aizen had been a popular man, and his betrayal had caused shockwaves.

"Considering the evidence our investigations have uncovered, along with Aizen's unprecedented alliance with the Hollows, I believe we have no choice – the Seireitei must prepare itself for war." Yamamoto broke the silence, slamming the end of his cane against the ground.

Nobody objected. The announcement wasn't exactly surprising. Aizen's dramatic speech as he fled the Seireitei had made it clear he wasn't simply seeking power simply because he could. He wanted the power of transcendence for a reason, and the only plausible motive Soifon could come up with was that he intended to conquer the Seireitei before rebuilding it in his image. The relative peace of the last one hundred years had finally come to an end.

"I believe it may be worth establishing one-on-one contact with Urahara Kisuke." Kyōraku tipped his hat, obscuring his eyes. "What Yoruichi told us was enlightening, but I believe we'll get more solid answers about Aizen's true character from the man himself. Urahara has had plenty of time to think about what makes him click, after all."

Soifon's hands curled into fists at the reminder of her archrival, but begrudgingly, she had to admit the senior Captain had a point. As distasteful as she found Urahara, he'd been attempting to foil Aizen's foul plots ever since his exile. Even she couldn't deny the man's resourcefulness and intellect - he'd almost certainly have information the Gotei 13 sorely lacked.

"I'll talk to Yoruichi-sama about setting up a line of communication." Soifon sighed, the honorific feeling strange in her mouth. A part of her was still furious at the way her old mentor had abandoned her, but she'd found her rage diminishing each day she spent in her former master's presence. "Still, we need to be cautious – Urahara has bargaining power over us, and will likely try and exploit it."

"Exploit it even more, you mean." Across the room, Hitsugaya sighed.

The young Captain looked wretched - dark rings were gouged under his bloodshot eyes, and he held himself gingerly, clearing favouring one side of his body. Soifon was slightly surprised Unohana had even given him permission to be here - the Captain Commander must have twisted her arm.

"Let's not have this debate again." Ukitake sighed, for once a picture of perfect health in contrast to his fellow white-haired Captain.

Hitsugaya gave a one-armed shrug. "Look, I don't really care about the Quincy. God knows I'd have done the same thing in his shoes, and besides, Shihōin had a point when she said he's probably more useful to the Gotei 13 alive. I'm just saying that Urahara's support is clearly conditional. We need to be careful those conditions aren't too steep."

Silence filled the hall as everyone digested his words. The Captain Commander's lips thinned, but eventually, he gave Soifon a nod. "Do what you must. Aizen's threat takes precedence over all."

Yamamoto was clearly as happy about the idea of working with the former Captain as much as Soifon was - namely, not at all. Still, everyone knew they didn't have the luxury of choice right now. Two Captains and a Lieutenant were dead, another was still under questioning, and three more Captains had turned traitor – the Gotei 13 hadn't been this weak in decades. They weren't in a strong enough position to be picky with their allies.

"Now, for the next step in our agenda." The elderly Shinigami's voice rumbled. "Guards – the door."

Her eyes flicked impassively down to the other end of the hall as the shoji screen door slid open, revealing a stupefied-looking Abarai Renji.

The Lieutenant swallowed, before marching into the Assembly Hall and giving the Captains a polite bow. "You requested my presence, Captain Commander?"

Yamamoto's heavy gaze landed upon him. "You have achieved Bankai, correct?"

Abarai's eyes widened, but he quickly gave a nod. "Yeah – Hihiō Zabimaru."

"Very well. Normally, I would demand you complete the Captains' Competency Exam, but as your Bankai was witnessed from a distance by numerous members of the Gotei 13, I believe there is little point. From this moment onwards, Abarai Renji will be promoted to the Captain of the 6th Division. Your haori will be delivered later today."

Absolutely none of the Captains were surprised by Yamamoto's announcement, but Abarai's jaw dropped wide open. "Hold on – I haven't even been a Lieutenant for a year!"

Soifon arched her brow and threw Abarai's words back in his face. "But you've been a Shinigami a lot longer than that, haven't you?"

The redhead tossed his hands up into the air, voice incredulous. "I've only had Bankai for a week!"

"Enough." Yamamoto silenced his protests. "Unless you happen to know of any other Lieutenants who have Bankai, this is non-negotiable. Aizen's betrayal has shaken the morale of the Gotei 13 – we need to show the unseated officers that despite these losses, we are still strong. I am sure you will adapt to your new position in time."

Abarai's lips thinned into a line, but he finally relented and gave the Captain Commander a curt nod. The Lieutenant must have put two-and-two together. No one thought he qualified for the position, not really. Still, Soifon had faith in Yamamoto's decision – he never would have promoted Abarai if he didn't think the former Lieutenant would get the hang of things eventually. Despite his rough and tumble nature, Abarai was a popular officer in both the 11th and the 6th, and even Kuchiki Byakuya had acknowledged his prowess in the end.

"That brings the meeting to a close. Dismissed!"

…..

Retsu had barely left the Assembly Hall before a familiar figure advanced towards her. She was no stranger to Zaraki Kenpachi approaching her – he'd spent months following her like a hungry dog when he first joined the Gotei 13, and she'd given him the exact amount of attention he deserved. Namely, none. This time, however, there was something about Zaraki's demeanour that made Retsu pause. The Captain held himself rigidly, and instead of his usual unwarranted bluster, he wasn't even able to meet her eyes.

"Can we talk?" He sighed, the words coming from his mouth like blood from a stone.

She mulled it over for a moment, but eventually, Retsu her head. "Let's go to my office. Isane can make us tea."

Zaraki looked predictably unenthused by the idea, but nodded anyway – whatever he wanted to discuss with her was clearly important enough for him to put up with the social rituals he normally eschewed. The journey to her Division was silent, and when she poured him his cup, the closest thing she got to a thank you was a grunt. Still, Retsu wasn't going to let her companion's recalcitrance ruin her drink - it was a lovely blend, and she planned on savouring it. Besides, Zaraki could use the time to gather his thoughts – the man was clearly out of his element.

It caught her completely off guard when Zaraki rose to his feet, before giving her a deep bow. "I want you to teach me kendo."

Retsu blinked, lowering her cup. "… Pardon?"

Zaraki pursed his lips, glaring into the distance. "I never really saw much point of it – using two hands made fighting too easy. But… I think I was really just scared. Scared of getting too strong and never bein' able to enjoy the thrill of battle again. It's what that Kurusu kid's Shikai showed me – because I wanted to keep on enjoying fighting, I held back, and it made me weak." For the first time since he approached her that morning, Zaraki looked her dead in the eyes. "Too weak for you to ever acknowledge me… Kenpachi Yachiru."

If she was any less composed of a person, Retsu's jaw would have dropped wide open. He'd just summed up every single gripe she'd had with him since he crawled out of the Rukongai and claimed his Captaincy of the 11th. Instead, she folded her arms and settled back into her chair, watching her fellow Captain with an assessing eye. It had been many a year since someone had last called her by that name, and she wasn't entirely sure if she was comfortable with the emotions it invoked in her.

(They weren't strictly negative, especially when it seemed that Zaraki was finally beginning to open his eyes.)

An age passed before Retsu eventually replied. "… After the Captain Commander's ill-fated lessons with you, the Central 46 passed an edict banning you from receiving training in kendo."

Zaraki scowled. "So what? They're evil and dead."

If Retsu stabbed him at that particular moment, it would not have been because he was the only person she'd ever met who was worthy of inheriting her title, but because his intellect was as vast as a half-evaporated puddle. "That does not mean the commands they issued before Aizen's murder have been rescinded." She chided.

The pout that crossed Zaraki's face was so amusing, Retsu sipped her tea again in an effort to hide her chuckle. He truly was just an overgrown child, wasn't he?

Putting her cup down, the Captain's eye twinkled. "Still… if you saw a swordmaster in action, and happened to learn kendo from observation… well, there's nothing illegal about that."

Zaraki immediately perked up. "So, you'll do it?"

"I'll show you my abilities." She conceded, gears churning in her mind. "Whether you learn from them is up to you."

Triumph glittered in Zaraki's eyes as a savage grin spread across his face. Rising to his feet, he gave her a brusque nod before leaving, presumably to return to his own Division. As the Captain exited her sight, however, the smile on Retsu's face faded.

The timing of Zaraki's revelation was terrible. Both of them would be pressed for time in light of this current threat, and the Captain Commander would put a stop to it immediately the second he caught wind of it. Still… if Retsu could pull this off, it would allow her to right at least one of the many wrongs she'd committed over the years.

She owed Kurusu a thank you.

…..

Rukia curled her toes into the soft grass and basked in the morning sun - Lieutenant Kotetsu had finally seen fit to discharge her that morning, and she was taking advantage of the 4th's beautiful grounds before she returned to her own Division. While her Reiatsu was still perilously low compared to what it should be, now that the 4th knew the true reason behind her loss of powers, it was an easy fix. All Rukia needed to do now was rest and her Reiryoku would replenish itself in time.

The Shinigami had almost forgotten what it was like to enjoy the feeling of warmth on her skin in the wake of Kaien's death, but now, her once-muted senses had returned to their full glory. A few healers hurried about in the distance, but she was otherwise alone, which was a blessed relief. She'd barely had a moment to herself since her pardon between the fussing of the 4th and the constant visits from her friends.

Friends… how odd to not feel guilty using that word.

Of course, her moment's peace was soon to come to an end. She picked up the agitated swirl of Renji's Reiatsu well before she saw him. Rukia caught sight of some of the 4th's Shinigami exchanging frightened glances, and with a sigh, she decided to give the poor people a break. Marching away, she greeted the Lieutenant at the Division's gates.

"You're going to give half the Division a heart attack storming around like that. Captain Kenpachi dropped in earlier this morning, you know – they've had enough frights for the day."

Renji rolled his eyes. His expression quickly grew troubled though, and he swept a hand through his hair. "Is there somewhere quiet we can talk around here?"

Frowning, she nodded, and brought him back to the sunny patch of grass she'd been resting on before. Plonking herself down on the ground, a giggle escaped her throat when Renji did the same. Given his tattoos and brawny figure, he looked utterly ridiculous when he crossed his legs like a schoolchild.

"What's got your knickers in a twist?" Rukia asked coyly.

"My what in a what now?" Renji wrinkled his nose.

"It's a human saying."

"… Why are the humans twisting their underpants?"

Rukia beamed. "I have no idea!"

Renji shook his head before sighing. "Weirdos. Anyway, uh…" He took in a deep breath, brows furrowed. "I don't think there's a good way of saying this, so I'm just gonna cut to the point – I've been promoted to the Captain of the 6th."

She blinked slowly, jaw dropping open as Renji's words sunk in. After a moment's shock, however, a smile crept onto the Shinigami's face. "Congratulations – I'm sure you'll do a good job."

"You're not upset?" Renji frowned, lifting his head.

"No." Rukia answered, before her expression turned serious. "Are you?"

"A bit." Renji's shoulders slumped. "I've been fighting for this ever since I joined the Gotei 13, but… now that I've got it, it doesn't feel like much of an achievement. Izuru is under investigation for treason, Momo is dead, and I never even beat Captain Kuchiki in the end – he spared my life before sacrificing himself to save yours. Hell, the only reason I got promoted was because we're down five Captains and they needed to fill out the ranks."

Rukia nodded, heart panging in sympathy. She knew all too well what it was like to receive a privilege undeserved - the newfound prestige she'd been given following her adoption into the Kuchiki Clan had always felt a bitter taste in her mouth. Those who knew about her past had viewed her as an interloper, and those who didn't put her on a pedestal, far out of reach to any normal Shinigami.

"I understand. For what it's worth… I think Byakuya would have wanted this." As Renji blinked in surprise, Rukia continued. "He acknowledged your prowess after your fight with him, didn't he? While I doubted he ever planned on you becoming Captain so soon, I don't think he would have promoted you to begin with if he didn't think you'd be capable of taking his place one day."

Renji frowned "You reckon?"

"I do. He never really voiced his motives, not until the very end, but he didn't do anything without reason. I won't tell you to be proud of your promotion, but you shouldn't view it as something shameful, either."

As her words sunk in, Renji's Reiatsu finally began to settle. "Thanks, Rukia." He grinned. "I can't promise that I won't make any mistakes, but I'll at least try to be a Captain he can be proud of."

"Good luck - I believe in you." She smiled.

He shot her one last affectionate glance before disappearing in a flash of shunpo, most likely heading off to break the news to the 6th. Her privacy was short-lived, however – Renji clearly wasn't the only one who intended on having an awkward conversation with her now that she had been discharged.

This time, Rukia saw Niijima Sae well before she felt the woman's Reiatsu. The prosecutor had abandoned her Shihakushō in favour of a black turtleneck and a pair of dark slacks – Ishida had apparently been spending his free time preparing the Ryoka for their return to the World of the Living. Still, while Sae's clothing was in line with the outfits Rukia had seen her wear in the World of the Living, her demeanour was not. The second she laid eyes on Rukia, her expression grew queasy, and she approached the Shinigami with all the fear and hesitation of someone marching to the gallows.

"Kuchiki-chan. I…" Sae's lips quivered, and Rukia was mildly worried she was about to be sick. The prosecutor then suddenly dropped into a deep bow, head so low it almost touched the earth. "I'm here to offer you my sincerest apologies. I know… I know my words won't be able to undo any of the harm my actions caused you, but…!"

Oh, so that's what this was about - she'd heard from the grapevine that Sae had been the one who'd destroyed Byakuya's Saketsu and Hakusui. Rukia blinked, a wave of surrealness running over her as Makoto's sister continued her long, rambling apology. It dawned on her that this was probably exactly how Akira felt as he watched her break down over Kaien's death. Hmm. I really owe him one, don't I?

"Niijima-san." She interrupted Sae before the woman could continue torturing herself. "I mean this in the nicest way possible, but this situation really isn't about you."

The prosecutor slowly lifted her head. "… Excuse me?"

Rukia mulled over her words, watching the pale clouds that drifted through the morning sky. "Yes, perhaps if you hadn't destroyed my brother's powers, he might still be here today. But if you use that logic, you could easily argue that Byakuya is equally culpable for his death. After all, if he'd let Akira go, you wouldn't have hurt him in the first place. In fact, you could even place the blame on Akira – my brother wouldn't have died if he'd just left me to my fate. You could even argue what happened to Byakuya was technically my fault – if I hadn't needed to transfer my powers to Akira in the first place, none of this would have happened."

"But that's…" Sae frowned, brows creasing.

"Completely ridiculous, and you know it." Rukia pointed out. "You didn't do anything wrong, Niijima-san. You made a logical choice based on the information you had available at the time. In fact, you made a kind one – you went out of your way to try and spare Byakuya's life, even though you knew he would not have extended the same mercy to you. There are only two people I hold accountable for his death, and those are Ichimaru and Aizen."

"Are you… are you saying you forgive me?" Sae's voice was tentative, like she could barely fathom Rukia's words.

"Niijima-san." The Shinigami placed her hand on the taller woman's shoulder and smiled. "I'm saying there's nothing to forgive. Now, quit brooding – I know from experience it doesn't help. The only thing you're likely achieving is worrying Makoto."

"… Right." Sae blinked, still clearly processing what had just happened. "I… guess I'll leave you to it, then." She took a step away, before hesitating and flashing Rukia a soft smile. "For what it's worth, I'm glad you're still with us today."

Rukia returned the gesture. "Thank you, Niijima-san. Truthfully, so am I."

As the prosecutor departed, Rukia's eyes lingered on her back as a sense of déjà vu came over her. That conversation really had just been like interacting with her younger self, hadn't it? Hopefully, Rukia's absolution would help the prosecutor let go of her guilt far sooner than she had. A thought suddenly flashed through the Shinigami's mind, and Rukia bit her lip, stomach churning in guilt. Not because of Kaien's death for once, but because of how she'd behaved afterwards. Sae had been brave enough to look Rukia directly in the eye and apologise, and yet the Shinigami had never mustered enough courage to do the same to Kaien's kin. Rukia had made up excuses, telling herself her presence would only cause them more pain – who wanted to speak to their brother's murderer, after all – but truthfully, she'd just been afraid. Afraid of their hatred and scorn, and afraid that maybe, just maybe, they'd actually end up forgiving her.

Rukia squared her shoulders and walked out of the 4th. As she made her way towards the Rukongai, a rueful chuckle escaped her throat. She couldn't help but think of Hisana's plea to Byakuya – it looked like self-flagellation ran in the family.

Whether Kaien's kin forgave her or not… truthfully, it didn't really matter. Rukia would happily bear their hatred if that helped soothe their grief. Either way, it was time to put the last of her sins to rest. Finally, she was going to let go of her past and move towards the future.

…..

Ann was thankful that despite Makoto and Ishida's horrific experience with the 12th Division, Kurotsuchi's depravity wasn't shared by most of his former underlings. She'd tentatively approached Nemu one day, butterflies in her stomach and a favour on her lips, and the Lieutenant had happily offered to help her out. Okay, happily was an overstatement, but she hadn't seemed offended either, so Ann would take it as a win. That was how the blonde had found herself in District 18 of East Rukongai. The rice paddies and fields surrounding the Seireitei's outskirts had faded away once she'd crossed over into District 15. They were replaced by a broad, thick woodland, populated by small hunting villages. It was on the outskirts of one of those very villages that she found Shiho.

Her friend was humming a vaguely familiar tune, a large clay jug in her hands as she collected water from the river. The yukata she wore was plain compared to the ones she'd occasionally worn in the World of the Living, but the blonde supposed that wasn't too surprising. Shiho had only ever worn them for festivals, not day-to-day life. Her long black hair also fell down past her shoulders, swaying unrestrained in the breeze - it seemed she hadn't tied it up again after giving her hair tie to Ann. Despite how radically different she looked though, it was still Shiho.

"Hey!" Ann yelled, a huge grin splitting her face as she jumped over a fallen tree and approached her friend.

When Shiho turned around, her expression was warm, but there was no familiarity in her expression as she set eyes on the blonde. Ann faltered for a moment, something cold and unpleasant beginning to churn in her belly, but it quickly abated when her friend suddenly lit up and gasped.

"Ann!" Her task forgotten, Shiho charged to the blonde's side and pulled her into a hug. "What are you doing here?" She pulled away, frowning. "You're not dead, are you?"

"Nah." Ann smiled, a wave of relief crashing through her. "Just visiting!"

Shiho arched a brow, a gesture so familiar Ann could have almost wept. "Uh, I don't think that's a thing you can do."

"It's a long, long story." Ann laughed, eyes twinkling in mischief. "But, hey, I've got the time!"

"Why don't we go back to the village?" Shiho suggested. "Everyone would love to meet you!"

"Sure, sounds good!"

The two girls chatted on their way to Shiho's new home. The small town she lived in was nothing fancy – just a series of wooden cottages nested amongst the trees – but as she dragged Ann around, animatedly pointing out people and places, everyone greeted them with a sparkle in their eyes. Something in the blonde's shoulders relaxed. She'd heard some horror stories about the Rukongai, but it seemed it had treated her friend kindly.

"Here's my home – I'm living with a couple called the Kandas. Their foster son went to the Academy, so I'm staying in his room for now. They're planning on building an extension though once the weather's cooled down a bit!" Shiho explained, opening the door to one of the huts.

The cottage was plain, with roughshod furniture and spartan decorations, but it was a home, as opposed to simply being a house. Small wooden dolls and figures lined the windowsills, and there were faint markings carved into the doorframe - Ann could tell they'd once been used to measure a growing child's height. Shiho offered her a chair, and finally, Ann got the chance to explain what had happened over the last few months, from the Phantoms' vengeance against Kamoshida to Rukia's kidnapping and subsequent rescue. As Ann told her tale, however, she felt a slight trickle of unease. She wasn't too surprised she needed to remind Shiho about Akira's existence, given they'd barely met, but that was hardly the only odd slip in her friend's behaviour. For one, the revelation that Ann had become yakuza-fighting buddies with Niijima Makoto of all people should have sent Shiho reeling, but she only reacted with a surprised blink.

In the end, Ann eventually asked what was up.

"The World of the Living… it just seems like a lifetime ago, I suppose." Shiho admitted wistfully. "Each day I spend here it grows further and further away."

Something lodged in Ann's throat, and she swallowed it before shooting her friend a strained smile. "I suppose that's for the best - it means you won't be eternally disappointed you missed the ending of Featherman Victory!"

She ended her sentence with a laugh that sounded fake even to her, but Shiho didn't call her on it and instead resumed her story about the latest piece of local relationship drama. As Shiho continued her tale (which was a riot, honestly – she'd always been great at telling tales), something panged in Ann's stomach. Her friend hadn't been this happy or animated in the World of the Living for a long, long time before the lead-up to her death.

Shiho's truly moved on, hasn't she?

The revelation was bittersweet. A part of Ann was relieved - Shiho had made friends and family, and Kamoshida was nothing more than a bad memory. One day, he wouldn't even have the dignity of being that. When they left the hut though, Ann pulled her friend into a tight embrace and drank in every inch of her presence. Because deep down in the depths of her heart, Ann knew this was the end. It was where the bitterness came in - while each step that Shiho took away from the World of the Living would also grant her happiness, it would also take her away from Ann. Their paths had split, and would only diverge even further until both girls were nothing more than strangers to each other.

"It was great seeing you, Ann – really great." Shiho smiled, carefully promising no later. Judging by the wistfulness in her eyes, she was just as aware as was Ann that they would never see each other again.

"… Yeah, same. Goodbye, Shiho – you'll always hold a place in my heart." The blonde beamed, wanting her friend's last memory of her to be a happy one.

With that, she turned on her heel and shunpoed into the distance. To her credit, Ann didn't cry until she was halfway back to the Seireitei. The tears started as a slow dribble, before turning into a deluge, and her run came to a halt. Giving up, Ann curled up on a hilltop and sobbed like she hadn't in months. Despite her grief, her body only had a finite amount of water in it, and eventually, there was simply nothing left to cry. Sitting upwards, she rubbed her eyes on her arm, the warm liquid smearing across her skin. She blearily fluttered them open, and the blond was not at all surprised when she saw she was no longer in a field of grass, but standing on the catwalk in her inner world.

Shinkubi watched her, interest shining in the spirit's eyes. "What now? Do you still intend to live with twice the ferocity to atone for Shiho's lost life?"

"No." Ann shook her head. "Don't take me the wrong way – I'm still going to live my life to its fullest, but this time… I'm not going to do it for Shiho's sake. I'm going to do it for mine."

Shinkubi's eyes glittered in approval. "An interesting answer, Ann. I look forward to seeing where this new path takes us."

…..

Makoto had dismissed the Seireitei as being rather monotonous during their infiltration, but now that she had the time to explore the place at her own leisure, the brunette realised that it wasn't simply the same old white-walled, golden-tiled buildings copied over and over again. Taking advantage of the summer's end, her father had organised a small picnic in a picturesque corner of the 13th. As she approached, she smiled at the sight of him laying out a checked rug over a grassy knoll that looked out over lilypad-dappled lakes crisscrossed with wooden bridges.

Isao straightened up as he saw her, a smile creeping across his face. "Makoto! Glad you could make it – and I'm not just saying that because you brought the food."

A laugh peeled from her throat. "I wouldn't have missed it for the world."

Despite her high spirits though, Makoto's stomach suddenly twisted, and not out of hunger. This would be the last meal they'd share as a family for a long, long time. Shaking her head, she placed her basket down. The brunette wanted to enjoy this while it lasted, instead of wallowing in her grief.

it was clear Makoto wasn't the only one having those sorts of thoughts, however, as Isao's smile faded slightly. "No Sae?"

Makoto frowned. "She said she was going to come."

Thankfully, her sister hadn't been speaking empty words. Makoto had only just finished laying out their bento when Sae flashed to the bottom of the hill. "Sorry I'm late." She apologised. "I had some business with Kuchiki-chan."

"Really?" Makoto blinked. While she knew her sister had met Rukia once, she wasn't aware they were anything more than distant acquaintances.

Sae looked away, folding her arms. "… I wanted to apologise about what happened to her brother."

Oh. A pang of sadness ran through Makoto – her sister had taken the news of Kuchiki's death poorly. She'd attempted to feign happiness around the others, but whenever she thought no one was looking, the smile had dropped off her face and her eyes looked eerily dull.

Isao watched his daughter in concern. "It wasn't your fault, Sae."

"That's pretty much exactly what Kuchiki-chan said after she told me to get my head out of my ass." Sae announced, primly taking a seat.

Makoto's brows rose. Well, she supposed that had wrapped up happily enough. Thankfully, the conversation moved to lighter topics from there. Her father talked about the inner workings of the 13th Division compared to the Tokyo PD, and she engaged with interest. While some parts of the Gotei 13's systems were antiquated as expected, others things were handled in much the same manner as modern Japan. As gripping as the conversation was, however, Makoto occasionally found her attention slipping, as her heart began to quietly ache.

For the first time in so, so long, her family finally felt complete again. Yet by the time evening came, it would all be over. She felt a pang of guilt at the thought – Sae had always tried her best, but her work at the SIU was gruelling. When the prosecutor was home, she was too exhausted to do much of anything, and the youngest Niijima had simply gotten used to spending her time alone. It seemed Makoto wasn't the only person dreading the return to the status quo – while it would take more than a week to mend the relationship between Sae and her father, her sister kept on glancing at him with a worried frown on her face, almost as if she was afraid he'd disappear the second she looked away.

In the end, Isao was the one who broached the elephant in the room. "I know it's going to hurt when we go our separate ways this afternoon – god knows I've missed you two so much – but both of you have so much to look forward to. There's so much life you haven't yet lived, and I want you to embrace every second of it, not dwell in the past. As much as I wish I could be there with you, I know you'll both be just fine without me – I'm proud of you, you hear?"

A sheepish grin crept across Makoto's face, as she blushed. "Thanks, dad."

In contrast, Sae frowned, looking to the ground as her brows creased. "… Honestly, I don't think there's much to be proud of." As she watched the smiles drop off her father and sister's faces, she rephrased her sentence. "Makoto is doing well, but… I guess I'm not so content with my own achievements."

Makoto blinked, taken off-guard by her sister's confession. While the brunette had always been a good student, she was hardly a prodigy like Sae was. While her sister had been more willing to disclose her insecurities once they came to each other about their respective spiritual abilities, Makoto hadn't realised they extended towards her non-spiritual life.

Isao seemed as surprised as she was. "You've managed to earn a position at the SIU, Sae – that's a hell of an accomplishment considering your age."

"Perhaps on paper, but it doesn't feel like one living it." Sae huffed, crossing her arms mulishly. "I put blood, sweat, and tears into my job, and it's still never good enough, while my male colleagues get twice the acknowledgement for doing nothing at all! For god's sake – I was so busy trying to earn just an ounce of recognition, I didn't even notice Makoto had joined a group of supernatural vigilantes!"

Ah – so this was about Sae's job. Makoto was intimately familiar with the topic by now. Sae tended to be relatively honest about when she had a bad day, which was nearly all the time. Truth be told, she was perhaps a bit too honest. Even though she vented about it frequently, it didn't seem to lighten Sae's mood at all, and Makoto always left those conversations feeling uncomfortable. Still, given the primary case her sister was working on, the brunette thought she might be taking things slightly out of proportion.

"To be fair, the culprits to your cases typically aren't Hollows." Makoto pointed out. "You're not normally saddled with an unachievable task."

"That's true, but… it's not just that. I've been thinking a lot about this lately." Sae frowned, looking at Isao. "Perhaps it was different in your day, but in my experience, the criminal justice system isn't about protecting innocents or rehabilitating criminals. It's all about results. I enjoy parts of my job – I like the challenge, and I am good at what I do, but… I don't really feel like a hero when I win a case, and sometimes it's the opposite."

Makoto felt a wave of sympathy for her sister. The dissonance between what she'd imagined justice to be versus what it actually was had plagued her for a while too.

Isao put down his tea. "Sae. The criminal justice system has always been like that. Why do you think I always tried to instil the importance of true justice in you two?"

"Wait… you agree with me?" Sae's eyes grew wide at Isao's uncharacteristically cynical admission.

"There's a reason I wasn't that annoyed when I heard about Makoto and the Phantoms." Isao confessed. "I think most people join the police force with good intentions, but intentions matter little when the entire system is corrupt. It's hard to prioritise doing what's right when the only thing your superior officers care about is numbers."

"… Why didn't you ever tell either of us you felt that way?" Sae furrowed her brows.

Makoto couldn't help but agree - she'd always thought her father had been proud of his work, a successful champion of justice. To hear that he'd grappled with exact same dilemmas both of his daughters were currently facing was mind-boggling.

"A lecture about the failings of the justice system isn't exactly an appropriate bedtime story, is it?" Isao chuckled ruefully. "Besides, when you got older, I didn't think I needed to – you've always been a bit of a cynic."

Sae pursed her lips, but nodded – it wasn't like Isao was wrong. Makoto, however, still had questions of her own.

"How did you manage to reconcile it?" Makoto asked, curious. "Your feelings about the criminal justice system versus your role as a detective, I mean."

Isao rubbed his chin. "That's a good question. As flawed as the police force is, to a degree it's necessary. Societal order isn't worth more than doing what's right, but it's still important, and sadly the risk of punishment is needed to keep some people in line. Plus, while a lot of awful things happened in the Tokyo PD, we still achieved some good – breaking down crime rings, sex trafficking operations, and the like."

Makoto nodded, mulling over his words as images of Kaneshiro's club crept to the surface of her mind. She shuddered – a world where men like that were allowed to run unopposed would not be a good one at all.

"Still…" Isao continued. "To some degree, I didn't. I tried to stick to my principles as best as I could, and while I'm happy with what I managed to achieve in my life, there was a reason I never got promoted beyond detective." His expression grew wistful. "It probably contributed to why I grew so devoted to Hollow-hunting in the end – I felt like I was tangibly achieving something good without needing to dip my hands into evil."

On that solemn note, a cloud drifted over the sun, causing a shiver to run down Makoto's spine as the once-picturesque hillock was painted in darkness.

Isao frowned, staring upwards. "It's getting late." He sighed, and while a soft smile crept across his face, his eyes were sad. "It's probably time for you two to get ready to go home."

Makoto's breath hitched in her throat as her hands balled into fists. He was right though – by the time they cleaned up here and gathered their belongings, it would be time for the Ryoka to leave. The Niijimas rose to their feet, Isao rolling up the picnic rug while Sae and Makoto dealt with the dishes. While they'd done a good job at keeping things happy, now that their time was at an end, a notable pall hung over the family.

"Before you go…" Her father gave Sae's shoulder a pat. "I've got one last bit of advice. While my biggest regret will always be letting you down, my second biggest regret was that I didn't spend nearly enough time with those I love. No matter how much you care about your job, it sadly doesn't care about you. Trust me – that's a lesson I learned from experience." Isao chuckled. "I'm not saying it's not important – people who say money doesn't buy happiness are lying out of their teeth - but it's not worth sacrificing your health or morals for."

Sae pursed her lips, contemplating his words. "You know… maybe once the Vanishing Incidents are solved, I might take some leave. Go on a road trip, or something."

Makoto turned to her sister, eyes shining. "Oh! We could always hire some motorbikes and travel down the coast – I'll have my license by then."

As Sae perked up, her father blanched. "Oh no – absolutely not. Those things are death traps."

"But they're cool." Sae rightfully counter-argued, and if this was court and Makoto was the judge, she would have won her case right there and then.

It turned out that a silly, no-stakes argument was just what they needed. The prior gloom evaporated as they bickered over the pros and cons of various motor vehicles. Amidst the light-hearted banter, Makoto found her thoughts drifting back to their conversation about the justice system. As strong as her conviction in the Phantoms' righteousness was, she knew they were a stop-gap measure at best. There were only seven of them, after all – five if you didn't count Rukia or Uryū. They couldn't single-handedly eliminate crime across the city, and as they grew older and started having careers and families, they would have even less time to devote to their vigilante activities.

Their actions wouldn't change society unless they managed to overhaul the system itself. Resolution burning in her chest, Makoto made a vow. When she had been a small child, she'd wanted to follow in her father's footsteps, but that wouldn't be enough. She wouldn't just follow him – she would surpass him. The brunette would buckle down and study, learning all she could about their criminal justice system, until she developed the knowledge she needed to burn down its corrupt foundations down, and create something better in its place. A system that wouldn't ruin the future of someone like Akira while allowing men like Kamoshida to be all but untouchable. A system where people like Sae and her father could strive for true justice, as opposed to being mere cogs in a machine.

As they walked back towards the 4th, a smile crossed Makoto's face. Finally, she'd figured out the path she wanted to walk. Akira, Rukia, Uryū, Father, Sae… thank you all for helping me find my justice.

…..

Akira winced as Ikkaku sent Ryuji flying through a window. Admittedly, it wasn't as bad as it could have been, given the blond had already been defenestrated ten minutes earlier and therefore had already removed most of the glass from the frame. The boys had decided to spend their last day in the 11th - by the time Akira woke up again that morning, the rest of the Phantoms had gone off to do their own thing.

Ever since they declared a truce with the Gotei 13, most of the Phantoms had been busy. The frizzy-haired teen's wounds had kept him bedridden for most of the week, Ann had been busy tracking down Shiho, the Niijimas were attempting to make up for lost time with their father, and Yoruichi had basically been spending all her time in either the 2nd or the 1st Divisions. After a couple of days of vicious debate, the Gotei 13 had decided to pardon Ishida, reluctantly confessing that the Seireitei had given their men permission to use lethal force first. In reality, that meant Yoruichi had refused to cooperate unless the Quincy's freedom was guaranteed, and the Captain Commander was in no position to refuse her demands. Still, Unohana had politely warned Ishida it would be a good idea to keep his head down, and the Quincy had sensibly decided to stay in his room.

That left Ryuji as the sole member of the Phantoms with nothing to do. He didn't know anything about criminal investigation, and would therefore be no use to Yoruichi and Soifon. His Kidō was appalling – let alone his Kaidō – so unlike Akira once he recovered, the blond couldn't help out in the 4th. Instead, he'd ended up wandering through the Seireitei until he found himself in the 11th, where he'd apparently spent the last week training. After his loss against Komamura, Ryuji had been determined to get stronger, and the battle-crazy Division was more than happy to lend him a hand.

"Another round!" Ryuji panted as he leapt back through the window. "I'll take you down this time for sure!"

To Ikkaku's credit, he didn't point out that the blond had said the exact same thing the last three times before he'd gotten his ass kicked. The bald man merely gave Ryuji a wicked grin. "Bring it on!"

Akira shook his head in fond amusement, settling back against the wall. Ikkaku's partner, Yumichika, had offered to spar with him if he liked, but the teenager had declined. He'd given an excuse about how he was too tired after helping out in the 4th the other day, before pointing out that as someone who favoured Kidō and tricks, a member of the 11th probably wouldn't have a good time sparring him. While none of that was a lie per se, it hadn't exactly been the whole truth either. After the debacle on the Sōkyoku Hill, the mere thought of picking up his Zanpakutō again made Akira feel ill.

"Having fun?" A familiar voice echoed over his shoulder, snapping him out of his thoughts. He turned around, grin spreading as he set eyes on Rukia.

"I see Kotetsu-dono has finally released you from her clutches." He joked.

The Shinigami shook her head affectionately. Despite his quip about the Lieutenant, Akira had to admit Rukia looked healthier than she had in a long, long time. She was still wearing a casual kimono as opposed to her Shihakushō, but there was colour in her cheeks and a light in her eyes. While it was still low, he could sense her Reiatsu clearly for the first time in ages - it was bright and crisp like a winter's morning.

"I was discharged a few hours ago, as a matter of fact." Rukia explained. "I would have visited you earlier, but there were a couple of tasks I needed to finish first."

She opened her mouth, but was interrupted when a large cheer burst out amongst the Shinigami spectating Ryuji and Ikkaku's fight. Glancing to the podium, Akira saw that the latter had suplexed the former.

The teenager arched a brow. "… Maybe we should go somewhere quieter."

"Agreed." Rukia laughed.

In the end, they settled down on a bench placed in a street not too far from the 11th. While the occasional Shinigami walked by, they didn't even bat an eye at the former criminal and dangerous Ryoka.

"Renji got promoted." Rukia started with no preamble. "He's taken over as the Captain of the 6th."

While it was good news on paper, Akira couldn't help but frown at the reminder of Rukia's deceased brother. "How are you holding up?" He asked, brows furrowed in concern.

Rukia leant back, silent as she stared at the fluffy white clouds drifting through the sky. The Shinigami took a moment to gather her thoughts. "It's complicated." She eventually announced. "Byakuya was always aloof and distant – he never looked me in the eyes. Now that I know the truth, he was likely just grieving Hisana, but… I thought it was because there was something wrong with me. That I was a burden he regretted ever taking into his family."

Akira's frown deepened. As he mulled over the late Captain, something conflicted twisted in his belly. It was clear that he'd cared about Rukia in the end - he'd died for her, after all - he wished Byakuya had shown her that love during his life.

It seemed Rukia shared his sentiments. She sighed, a hint of darkness entering her violet eyes. "Truthfully, I don't think I'm mourning him as much as I'm mourning what we could have had. With the secrets that strangled him cut away, I think we could have finally become an actual family. But now, that will never happen."

Akira nodded, but didn't reply. There were no magic words he could say that would heal the tear in Rukia's heart, and as the duo settled into a contemplative quiet, he didn't think Rukia would have wanted them anyway. She wasn't looking for conversation or commiseration – just to be heard.

Eventually, the Shinigami broke the silence. "I'm going to leave the Kuchiki Clan."

Akira snapped upright at her announcement, surprise shining in his eyes. "Really?"

He wasn't exactly an expert in Seireitei politics, but by now he knew damn well how prestigious Rukia's Clan was. Then again, he was also bitterly aware that she had been deeply, profoundly unhappy living in their midst.

She nodded. "Ginrei-sama – Byakuya's grandfather – was always kind to me, but his health is beginning to fail. Once he's gone, well… to be frank, I can't see the point in staying. Nobody wanted me to join the Clan except for my brother - even Ginrei-sama thought my adoption was excessive, and he's one of the better ones. Why should I stay in a family that actively scorns my presence, now that I know what a proper one feels like?" Her expression softened, and she rested her hand on top of Akira's. "The Phantoms… you showed me what it was like to be surrounded by love. Now, I want to find that in my world."

"Rukia, I…" His lips wobbled, as something melted inside him. "I barely know what to say to that, honestly. I think I'm honoured."

"You should be!" The Shinigami affectionately nudged his shoulder. "Besides… I know you know what it feels like. The Phantoms are your family too."

Akira's smile grew misty. She was right, wasn't she? They hadn't even known each other for half a year, and yet their bonds were stronger than anything he'd ever felt before in his life.

"Actually, I suppose that's what I really wanted to talk to you about." A faint dusting of pink coated Rukia's cheeks as she looked away. "Once I leave the Kuchiki Clan, I'm going to need a new family name, and, well… I was wondering if I could use yours?"

His eyes widened, Rukia's words catching him utterly off guard. "Wait – seriously?"

"Of course I'm being serious – I wouldn't ask you something like that as a jape!" Rukia blushed furiously. "In my time in the World of the Living, you were like a brother to me. I thought it would be a nice reminder of our connection – that those who love me are out there, even if we're worlds apart."

"Kurusu Rukia." Akira lips turned up in a beatific grin as he held a hand over his heart. "Yet again, I am honoured."

A smile crossed his soul sister's face as she enveloped him in a hug.

…..

There was a small crowd waiting for them at the Senkaimon as the Phantoms finally got ready to depart. The first person Akira saw was Renji, who gave him a lackadaisical salute - his Lieutenant's armband was gone, replaced by a white haori. Next, Unohana and Isane gave him a polite bow as he passed them, likely in thanks for the way he helped out the 4th over the week. Hanatarō had come as well, and Ryuji high-fived the smaller Shinigami he said farewell to his temporary jogging partner. Meanwhile, on the other side of the clearing, Isao gave his daughters a hug which they returned in kind.

As the Niijima family said their goodbyes, Ukitake walked towards the frizzy-haired boy and his friends. "Kurusu-kun, Sakamoto-kun, Takamaki-chan – may I have a word?"

The trio blinked, surprised at the Captain's approach. While Ukitake had approached the Phantoms after Aizen had left, thanking them for their role in Rukia's rescue, none of them had seen him since.

"Uh, sure." Ryuji scratched his head. "What's up?"

"My apologies, but I'd like to ask the three of you for a favour." Ukitake explained, and there was something in his expression Akira didn't quite like.

"… What is it?" The boy asked warily.

"I suppose I might as well be frank." The Captain sighed. "Given the ruckus you kicked up in the Seireitei, there are a lot of Shinigami unhappy that we're letting you walk free." He raised a hand, cutting off their protests. "Don't worry – I understand that Kurotsuchi crossed a line, and I don't blame you at all for what happened to Byakuya. Still, a show of good faith from the Ryoka would do a world of good to soothe some of your naysayers' fears."

Something lurched in Akira's stomach. "You don't want us to help fight Aizen, do you?" He couldn't stay here in the World of the Dead – if he did, he'd violate his parole. He was a human, and wanted to live a human life.

"Oh, no, nothing like that." Ukitake laughed. "Quite frankly, I think the sooner you leave the Soul Society, the better. Here."

The Captain withdrew three wooden badges from his haori and passed them to each of the Shinigami Ryoka. Akira examined it curiously. It was decorated with a strange skull motif, and fit perfectly into the palm of his hand. Attached to it was a small chain – if anything, it was less like a badge and more like a keychain.

"They're Substitute Shinigami Badges." The Captain explained. "They function similarly to a Gokon Tekkō – they'll allow you to exit your physical bodies and continue your work as Shinigami."

As the trio examined the gifts, Ishida pushed up his glasses, a frown donning the Quincy's face. "Hold on – you're giving them the ability to use their powers at will? If anything, I thought you'd be asking for us to put down our weapons and leave things to the Gotei 13."

The white-haired man sighed. "Truthfully, I'd much rather be asking you to do that - dealing with lost souls is our duty. Still, given the circumstances, the Gotei 13 needs all hands on deck. If you three can continue to protect the Shibuya ward, that's several Shinigami we can deploy elsewhere. I won't ask you to do this forever, but…"

Akira shook his head, his hackles lowering. Compared to what Ukitake could have asked, this was practically nothing. "I'm happy to continue fighting Hollows while the Gotei 13 is dealing with Aizen."

"Yeah!" Ryuji beamed. "We're so strong now, we can mop the floor with any Hollow!"

"Any normal one, anyway." Ann sighed, shaking her head. "Still, I'm happy to help out, Captain Ukitake. It's a small price to pay to keep the Gotei 13 off our backs."

"Thank you." The white-haired man beamed in satisfaction, before his expression dimmed. "While we're on the topic of Hollows, Rukia told me about the one committing targeted attacks in Shibuya. Unfortunately, as you've probably gathered, we don't have the manpower to address it currently. Please keep an eye on it, and once the Aizen situation is dealt with, we'll try to send a Captain around."

The White-Masked Killer… Akira frowned. He hadn't thought about them in weeks. Still, while Ukitake's news wasn't ideal, he supposed it made sense. I wonder if we'd be able to handle him ourselves by now? He then remembered his disastrous clashes with Unohana and Aizen, and swallowed. Probably not.

As the Captain retreated, a different member of the 13th Division took his place – Rukia. As the Niijima sisters re-joined the rest of the group, everyone's eyes fell upon her – the woman whom they had come here to save.

(And save, they had.)

"Are you sure you don't want to come back with us?" Ann pouted. "It's going to be so boring at home without you."

Rukia chuckled, her eyes trailing off in Renji's direction. "I'm sure. I have friends here who I've neglected for far too long." A mischievous smirk crossed her face. "… Besides, I'm sure Ryuji will be more than happy to finish the rest of Love in Tokyo with you!"

"Really?" Ann beamed, eyes sparkling as she turned to the blond "I'll be holding you to that, Ryuji!"

"What?! No!" He squawked, utterly horrified. "Watch your schmoozy rom-coms with someone else!"

The Phantoms burst out laughing, and Akira was only brought back down to reality when a breeze ran through the air. The doors of the Senkaimon had finally been opened. The portal shined with a brilliant light, casting a golden glow over each of the Ryoka. A bittersweet pang entered his stomach – it was time for them to go home.

"Goodbye, Rukia." He stated, expression soft as he looked at the woman who had completely changed his life. "See you later."

A knowing smile crossed her face as the Phantoms entered the light. "Until next time, Akira."


Just a bit of forewarning that Kenpachi and Unohana's deal isn't going to be exactly the same as it is in canon. There will also be some changes to his Zanpakutō, but I'll talk more about that when it's actually relevant. On that note, that was the final chapter of this instalment in the series! The prologue for A Heart of Rain and Snow, the last entry in the Death and the Trickster series, will drop sometime next week.