Requiem for the Hollow Rose

by sreshtiyer

After witnessing the death of Pyrrha, white fills her vision and the Rose huntress finds herself in a desolate and bleak place. Confused, lost and still grieving the loss of her friend and her own helplessness, little does Ruby realize that was just the beginning of her arduous journey. Innocent to Mature Ruby. Rated M for psychologically disturbing themes (non-sexual).

43. Chapter 43: Journey's end

Chapter 43: Journey's end

The moment they felt solid ground on their feet again, the first thing that hit them was enormous pressure. Far greater than even the deepest layer of Hell, it was as if a great weight had been placed on their backs, despite the resistance all three of them possessed to high density reishi. But what was curious was the fact that the reishi felt like nothing they'd ever sensed before. It felt neither like a quincy's, soul reaper's, hollow's or even a togabito's reishi.

"You can breathe easy now" said the being, following which, the pressure on them lifted instantly.

"…thanks….?" Said Summer, unsure if the pressure was something he'd created to begin with or if he said that to help them withstand the pressure around them.

"Where are we..?" asked Ruby, looking around. The first thing they noticed was that Ruby for one, was no longer in her gigai. All three of them were separately manifested, with Summer in her soul reaper attire, Crescent in her usual robes and Ruby in her Espada outfit. She could see marble beneath her feet, and they seemed to be in a chamber of sorts. Still, calling it a chamber was underwhelming, since the 'chamber' itself was easily as big as the throne room of Las Noches. A curtain was draped in front of them, diving the room in two. The curtains were now drawn to the side, tied and secured to each side. And standing directly in front of them at the other end of the room was a man encased in what appeared to be a sealing crystal. The man had slicked back dark hair, oval eyes and thin, almost non-existent eyebrows. His eyes were what stood out most, with each one having four black irises. And apart from that, they could see that he had no limbs at all, as if they had been severed from his body.

"You now stand at the adobe of -, also known to you as the Soul King" said the being, now standing beside the man encased in the crystal.

"Th….The Soul King…?! That's him…?!" questioned Ruby, surprised.

"…well….didn't think this would be on my bucket list today but…." Said Summer, raising her eyes. "Not sure I heard his name right though, mind repeating that again?"

"You didn't mishear me, Summer Rose. The name of the Soul King is not something that can be vocally pronounced in your tongue" he explained.

"Hold on…..when you say Soul King….that would mean we're in the Royal Palace….then…how are we here? I thought you need the King's Key to..?" asked Ruby.

"You have my invitation. That is more than sufficient" he replied. "I need only to will it so". Ruby narrowed her eyes and Summer raised hers. He only needed to think about it and they could be here, next to the Soul King? A place that Aizen spent his entire life trying to get to?

Before Ruby could think about how to frame the question in her mind in an appropriate manner, Summer just went for it.

"Not to be rude….…" asked Summer in her usual manner. "…but just who are you? I'm sure you already know, but this place….boya spent his whole life trying to get in here. He almost sacrificed 100000 people for it, just to create something that would allow him here. And…pardon me for saying that I'm just gob smacked that you only need to think about it for it to happen…..if we're actually here…..I'm not even sure how to take in the fact that we're just…..here"

"Patience and you will know the things you need to know" he said. "After your return to Hueco Mundo following the passing of your second mother, I gave you my word that all shall be made clear once you have completed your role. And as such, I have brought you here"

Any further questions the trio might have had were put on hold as they waited for the being to start.

"Who I am is not something that can be expressed in human means of communication, as are a lot of things I wish to convey. But contrary to your beliefs, the ones who truly matter for our discussion are the three of you. Even more so than I or the Soul King. I shall tell that which is needed, and therefore, I shall lay it all down in ways that you can perceive" he said, stretching his hand out. The black tar from his hands gushed out, growing more and more voluminous until it took on different shapes.

"Ruby Rose. During our first meeting, I showed you the fate of your world since your departure and the fate that befell its inhabitants" he said.

"Yeah I remember" said Ruby. "It's a memory I'll never forget….and you said that even someone like me leaving had such a large impact on my friends and family. And you even mentioned how it was because of that reason you brought mom to the Soul Society and me to Hueco Mundo"

"Correct. But did you ever wonder what your fates would have been had I not done that? And the fate of this world in your absence? Surely you must have believed that your home world could have avoided its doomed fate if I had done nothing?" he asked.

"…I did think about it" said Ruby. "But it's not like I could tell anything for sure"

"Even before that" said Summer. "You were the one who brought me here first, even before my sweetie pie came here. What about that?"

"A valid question. But contrary to your belief, Summer Rose, your departure has more to do with this world than your own. For if I hadn't acted, you would have simply met your end at the hands of Salem" he replied, his tone unchanging "In essence, you could say that by bringing you to another world, I changed how causality decided your ultimate fate and the fates of everyone else in this world. But that is something to talk about soon. For now, let me show you how causality causes the events in your home world to play out if you never left your world, Ruby Rose" he said, and the black tar covered them three of them. And from there, similar to how Ruby had seen all the events in Remnant play out all those years ago, they could see. After the fall of beacon tower, the death of Pyrrha and how her own team split up and all of the chaos worldwide that followed. Including Ozpin's next reincarnation, Ruby traveling with Ren, Nora and Jaune, Weiss and her troubles with her family, Ironwood closing the boarders to Atlas, Adam's plan with the White Fang and his assassination of Sienna Khan, the attack on the Belladonna home which was unsuccessful, the attack on Haven academy by Raven's tribe and Salem's faction along with the White Fang and their consequent defeat, following which team RWBY is finally reunited and start their quest for the relics.

On and on the three of them continued to see, following all of the set of events that transpired in their journey for the relics and to stop Salem ultimately, which takes them through ups and down, through all the four kingdoms over the years, with each journey bringing them closer and closer to hopelessness. For with each journey they started, they would lose one of their own and they still had no way to really defeat Salem. It was difficult to watch, even for Ruby who thought she was used to death at this point. Even Summer had gone strangely quiet and Crescent was simply holding on to Ruby the while time, looking away. But in the end, it led to the same conclusion as it did without Ruby's presence, a desolate scene left with the shattered remains of the planet and the brother gods leaving them for good. All of their friends had fought for years, going through situations equally as bad as the ones they had gone through in the previous vision she had seen and in the end, all they got for it was nothing.

"…why…." Asked Ruby, grimacing. "We worked so hard…they….Yang….she dies protecting me…..and Weiss and Blake…they get tortured until they die of….and dad…he…..by Raven…uncle Qrow killing himself…..….. ….why….what did they do to deserve it…?!" asked Ruby, glaring at the being. Summer was looking aside, with a difficult expression on her face, her thoughts still on Tai, Yang, Raven and Qrow.

"Such is the fate of your world. No matter what changed, no matter how many timelines I observed, it was all for naught. But your world is not the only one" he said, the black tar enveloping them once more. This time, they were looking at Earth. "Earth is also yet another doomed world, despite being far more intricate in design as compared to your home world, it suffers a similar fate and this too, is what would have happened without your presence" he said.

This time, they could see the arrancars, her big-sis and the Tres Bestias and how none of her friends were together. Each one was by themself, until Aizen picked them up, far later than when they actually met Aizen. And how cold and indifferent they were compared to the people she knew. Even when they were part of Aizen's army, Grimmjow was only interested in himself and a good fight, Tier was indifferent and cared only for her fraccione, Starrk and Lilynette kept to themselves, and Nel? She met her fate at the hands of Nnoitora and Szayelaporro, where a cowardly strike from the former reduced her form to that of an infant, making her lose all of her powers. People she knew were not Espada now took up that mantle, with a lot of the arrancars meeting very different fates.

The same could be said for Ichigo too. Karin and Yuzu never realized their powers. And the Kurosaki siblings never had anyone to call as their big sister. The events at the Soul Society too, happened far differently than how Ichigo mentioned it to Ruby, as did the entire war with Aizen. This time, though he had been stopped by Kisuke Urahara, a lot of the casualties were on the arrancar's side. Apart from Nel, Grimmjow and Tier and the Tres Bestias, none of the others survived while the Soul Reapers were still alive. And there was no comradery between the three, not until much, much later.

But soon, even that would be for naught. For the Quincy's attack began, their initial attack alone wiping out most of the forces of the Soul Society, including the head captain, Byakuya, Sasakibe as well as massive damage to both the Soul Society and Hueco Mundo, where the Quincy had also attacked. Tier was left barely hanging, as were Grimmjow and Nel. Though the Soul Reapers and the arrancars got some breathing space, it would all be for naught when Yhwach invaded the Soul Society again, this time directly going after the Royal Palace after the zero squad escorted Ichigo and some of the critically wounded to the Royal palace to be treated.

It was an ugly, bloody and long, drawn out struggle between the survivors and the Quincy. And with Yhwach making short work of the Royal Squad, absorbing the Soul King and becoming a near omniscient being, it was only a matter of time before the Quincy were the victors. Many more died even attempting to muster resistance to the Quincy, such as Unohana, Ukitake, Komamura and many other lieutenant and seated officers.

"After merging with the Soul King, Yhwach lost all reason, his mortal mind unable to keep up with being part of an entity which cannot be perceived by human minds. And in that madness, he brought about the end of Earth and the collapse of all the realms, which became his new objective as he continued his war against the Soul Reapers. What he did not realize, was that apart from Hueco Mundo, The Soul Society and the World of the living, he would also be merging the realm of Hell with the other realms" said the being, and now, a new scene played out in front of them. A scene that Ruby, Summer and Crescent would forever remember.

A nightmarish scene, far worse than those she'd seen in the 4th layer of Hell. Familiar landscapes covered with the blood and grime of Hell, with the demons and punishers from the different levels running rampant, skewering, burning, torturing, and killing anything remotely alive, only for those that fell to join the ranks of the damned, their suffering eternal. The Soul Reapers were already exhausted from their battle, and though the Quincy turned to intercept their new enemy, their immortality simply meant that even the Quincy joined the ranks of the legions of Hell soon enough. But the true horror lay in what happened after.

"….No….Karin…Yuzu…Tsuki….Ichi…..Yoru…big-sis…..Nel…." whimpered Ruby, watching as her younger siblings, no older than 14 at the time, being overrun by the various forces of Hell, like a swarm of rats after their prey, as were all of her other loved ones. Though Ichigo, Urahara, Yoruichi and the rest could hold off for a while, given the sheer and increasing number of the Togabito, as well as how powerful the demons were by themselves, it didn't take long before her family and friends suffered the same fate as those she'd seen in the depths of Hell. In that desolate, dead world, the only one left with any semblance of reason were Aizen Sosuke, the overseer of Hell and Yhwach, all of whom were immortal, their suffering eternal and unending. And with that, Ruby, Summer and Crescent were pulled back in to reality. Ruby was hunched over, her breathing hard and labored. Summer was supporting her, despite being shaken herself. It was too much, to see those that she loved go through what she had, a fate she never wanted for them to face. And it hurt because she knew exactly what they would have gone through, since she had experienced it herself. And Crescent was sobbing slowly, clothing on to the hem of her mother's clothes like her life depended on it.

"And as I have mentioned before, in our previous encounter, you have grown strong, mentally and physically to witness the events and experience that befell both of your homes and stay sane. You have performed your role up to this point as I envisioned. Two worlds that were doomed from the start, regardless of what changed. And both abandoned by the ones that created them" said the being. "It is necessary for you to know, so you may appreciate just how significant your role in all of this is and just how your very presence here can bring redemption to both worlds, worlds which are now equally your homes" he said. "What could not be for each world on its own can now come to be because of you, who have lived in both worlds and grown in ways that would not be possible were you denizens of just one world or the other"

"…..and what about you?" asked Summer, her voice firm. "…..all this…..you say you're doing this so what we saw won't happen….but if you're really that powerful, why torment my daughter like this if you can just do it yourself?"

"Because that is not my role, Summer Rose" he said. "Which brings us back to your previous question. What is my role, then? The answer to that lies to the origins of your worlds and the rules that were set in place before their conception" he explained, the black tar shifting once again.

"The universe you live in could be described as a stage, a blank slate for events as directed by concepts and laws such as cause and effect to unfold and to spin a tale as directed by laws and rules. In the beginning, there existed nothing. I, along with several of my brethren, are beings far beyond the reaches of things beyond the universe as you know it. Beyond time, beyond material existence and beyond conceivable concepts. Not truly alive or dead and yet, as something that exists as a form of existence, we were no different than anything in this material universe, because just like anything in this universe, we exist, even if it is not in the same manner. We entered this universe, this stage, in order to set things in motion, to give meaning to this stage and give purpose. We possessed the means and thus, it became our role. For us, those without desire, without 'life', without wants and needs, we could only be defined by concepts, laws or our actions and roles in the things we interact with" he said, and then, the black tar changed shape again, becoming alight, spreading out and sending out clumps of matter, gas and dust outwards. Which then coalesced, forming familiar shapes. Stars, rocks, asteroids, planets and so on. "We set the stage. We built it. And the laws that governed each one. We built the actors, the participants and the landscapes that made it possible, as well as the rules by which all within the tale must act and we also took upon to oversee the same"

"And though we were the creator of worlds and narrators of the tales that happened all throughout this infinite, four-dimensional universe, we too, were participants. We too had our own roles within the tales we set in motion. From the smallest bacteria to fungi to insects to animals to human beings and to being gods for said human beings, we would participate alongside the worlds we created and its inhabitants. Many of the tales of you have on Earth, devised by the humans of old, as well as religion, the many depictions of deeds and events and occurrences and interpretations of miraculous deeds are a testament to such roles. Though their meaning has been lost within time as the knowledge was passed on from one generation to the next, they are just as true as any other. We would take on many forms, human or inhuman, living or non-living. And at times, we would merely exist as a concept which was revered as something extraordinary, or even something such as god, which is merely a term for human beings to call something that exists beyond their comprehension" he said, as the being changed forms, each one matching the organisms he mentioned until he changed to one that the trio were very familiar with. A slim male with curved, segmented horns that arc back over his head and curve upward to a point just over the back of his cranium. His form was a deep purple that seemed to draw in surrounding light and with no features whatsoever.

"..Yo….you're the God of Darkness….!" Remarked Ruby, surprised.

"…huh…so we're literally in the presence of god…." Said Summer.

"No, that is incorrect" said the God of Darkness. "I just told you. I and my brethren are beings that exist beyond concepts such as life or death and material existence. This form, the one you call The God of Darkness, is but an infinitesimal part of me, an avatar, a role that I took for the stage you know as Remnant. Yes, your home world" he said, and the black tar surrounding him took on the shape of the planet that was once their home. "And what you call 'God' is merely a concept devised by your minds to comprehend the incomprehensible and explain the unexplainable. It is a very 'human' concept. And so, the role I took on for the stage known as Remnant was one of God, one in the image as envisioned by humans. A god that was powerful, created the world known as Remnant and yet, existed in a form that human beings could comprehend and relate to. Such as possessing desire and emotion. Things that are unique to human beings and living things. In that sense, I suppose you could call me a 'god'. But this form reflects how you envision one that holds the mantle of 'god'. But I was not the only one. You have also seen one of my own. The one who took on a form similar to mine. Indeed, you even have the eyes my brethren possessed when they took on the form of the God of Light" said the GoD, materializing another figure beside himself, taking the shape of the God of Light.

"And once we were in our roles, we set things in motion, acting in accordance with our current forms. We had emotions, desires, principles and the power fitting for our roles. Creating your world and the may things within it. Formed no differently than your current world. Made from gas, dust and rock around a star, with life starting out very similarly as it did here on Earth. What did change however, was how life evolved. For along with matter, there existed another fundamental aspect. A form of energy, a form of matter that was a result of particles and laws of a higher dimension spilling out to your four-dimensional universe. Those back in your home world called it Aura. Some called it Magic. Some called it Ki. Some called it Reishi. Or Spirit Matter. It existed throughout your universe alongside fundamental particles such as electrons, quarks, and other fundamental particles. And as life evolved from a single cell, as it consumed matter and energy from its surroundings, proliferating and evolving with each step, it would make use of spirit matter and the matter in this universe, combining it in ways governed by evolution, giving rise to life forms that possessed both a body composed of matter as well as spiritual matter. You already know what came from that" he explained. And with that, a fast forwarded version of events transpired on their world, until the point where the moon shattered and the world was left sterile after the brother gods left it for good.

"….so….that's how our world was made" remarked Ruby.

"And by that….you also mean that's how we all died and will die, don't you?" asked Summer. "I mean….with the whole Salem playing the gods and getting herself immortal as a punishment and getting the entire planet wiped sterile no matter how events played out, isn't that right?"

"That is correct. My brethren and I, in the forms of the God of Light and God of Darkness, symbolized different things and pursued opposite things in those roles. He symbolized creation and the pursuit of perfection, progress and the idea that the ends justify the means as long as they lead to favorable and just outcomes. And I, as his opposite, symbolized destruction, the beauty that lies in imperfection and the idea that it is the means that matter, even if the ends do not lead to favorable outcomes and the idea that no matter the circumstance, regardless of nature or causality, you must always be paid what you are owed with no exception. I acted accordingly as my role dictated me to, wiping out clean the planet as retaliation for beings that had turned on their creator. But there is one thing you misunderstand. The terms God of Darkness and God of Light were names and titles you gave us to refer to us. When in reality, our roles were more akin to that of 'Ones that maintained balance'. The things he created as the God of Light, I created the opposite to maintain balance. Life vs Death. Growth vs Destruction. For if I was truly the God of Darkness, the being that symbolizes death, do you believe I could have created life when I revived Ozma in accordance to Salem's wishes?" he asked.

"That…makes sense I suppose.." said Ruby.

"Salem served the brother gods and in return for that selfless service, I only found it fitting that her wish be granted. For she paid a price for which she received no compensation. And when she turned on me with the rest of humanity, I retaliated when they attacked. It is as simple a matter as that, just as I mentioned. And it is the reason the God of Light never granted her wish, despite the deeds she had performed for us in our names. Because if she were granted her wish, then others would follow her example. And then, life would have no meaning at all over death if it meant your loved ones could simply be revived. He saw that as imperfection. A being that could not accept the natural laws of the world it lived in. And thus, as the God of Light, he deemed your world a failed one. But naturally it was merely a role that my brethren was undertaking. To us, all outcomes are just as meaningful as any other. But to the brother gods, a failed experiment and their humane ways of thinking meant that there was always another attempt, a second chance to make things right" explained the GoD, now drawing up a vision of Earth, right next to the Remnant and its shattered moon.

"Though the brother gods were done with the world they once cherished, our roles in this tale were far from done. Following the failure of your home world, the brother gods worked on their creations again, this time improving upon the flaws they found in their previous creations. Remnant as a stage was very simple in its rules and structure. There were no realms, save for the realms of the God of Light and God of Darkness and both existed in the same plane and in the same planet. The soul existed in the same plane as that of the material body, taking the shape of something physical, that which came to be known as Aura. And using the aura in the air, these beings could channel it through their bodies, using it to perform that which you know as magic. Without a soul, one could not be called truly 'alive'. And after death, the soul was simply reincarnated into another, the conditions of its birth depending on the depth of karma engraved in it in its previous life. Karma, which of course, was a concept created by the God of Darkness and reincarnation, which was a concept devised by my counterpart. And once a soul reached equilibrium, when its karmic cycle ended, it would merely be returned to the environment, reduced to nothing more than energy that permeated your world. While this energy would then be consumed by the living to then reform new souls, this energy also took on different forms depending on the conditions surrounding it. At times it would clump together due to the environment, forming solidified minerals, that which you called dust. And at times, it would simply clump together, coerced by its environment to form what you call the creatures of Grimm. This would usually happen when the energy would come in contact with the black pools consisting of the God of Darkness's essence. After all, this energy had no orientation and no preference for what it chose to become. It only followed the natural flow of things, as it should be"

A stunned silence ran across Ruby, Summer and Crescent.

"You mean…..that's what happens in our world after we die…? We're just reduced to…..!" exclaimed Ruby. "Just how far must we be..?"

"And I thought what I went through and what we saw was messed up….." said Summer, a small sweat bead forming in her temple. Her usual jolly demeanor was gone ever since the visions shown to them by the GoD. And now, her face was even more serious than before.

"Your concerns and reactions are expected but meaningless. Because at that state, they are not even shadows of their former selves. It would be akin to mourning for the plants that made up the fuel you use to drive your machina on Earth. Regardless, following the failure of their first world, they aimed to create something that would transcend past the humanity they created together in Remnant. A being that was in all ways superior to humanity as they once existed. With none of their flaws but their superior in every conceivable way. And that is how the being you call the Soul King came to be" he explained, showing a projection of the Soul King in his prime with all of his limbs intact.

"The gods were very sure about their creation. They were certain that the life that spawned from it would be evolved beyond the humans of Remnant. And so, using his arms and legs, four realms were created. The Soul Society. Hueco Mundo. Hell. And the realm of the Quincy, which they now refer to as Wandenreich. And these four realms co-existed and overlapped over Earth, which formed the World of the Living, whose existence was maintained by the Soul King's remaining body. The God of Darkness and The God of Light then created an intricate system of life and death, with a flow of souls in and out of different realms governed by rules far more intricate than what was previously the case with your home world" explained the GoD, with the visions in front of them forming vague spheres representing the different realms.

"That means…they created this world as well" remarked Ruby to herself. "Though the Soul King is the cornerstone that holds this world together, ultimately they're the creators….so that's what Aizen saw…and meant when he spoke of a being 'even greater than the Soul King'"

"But you have seen with your own eyes the fate of this new world. Even though the humans and the other inhabitants of this world originated from a superior being such as the Soul King, the fate of this world was just the same. But the God of Light was done. Despite his and his brother's efforts to create the perfect, harmonious existence, it never came to be. And to the God of Light, it never would. And so, the God of Light and departed for the far beyond. But the God of Darkness would see another possibility. One that came to be only because of his fondness for the imperfections in his creations. A new causality that arose by that which the brothers had avoided before; the coalition of their two worlds. The God of Darkness believed in the notion that one was always paid what one was owed. For the suffering the two worlds had endured, they deserved to be liberated from their linear fate. And that, Ruby Rose, Summer Rose, Crescent Rose, is where you came in. By being brought to this world, you gained knowledge, abilities, experiences and bonds you would not have otherwise, and because you were not of this world, you changed this world in ways that was not possible before, giving rise to new causality for both worlds and therefore, new possibilities and new endings" he explained.

Ruby stood in silence, soaking it all in, as did Summer. This time however, Crescent had a question of her own. She looked upon the God of Darkness's form in front of her, reaching out to him.

"Why my mother you ask? That is simple. Your mother and your grandmother both are silver eyed warriors who were capable of such a task. The same silver eyes with the power of the God of Light's eyes to wipe out the God of Darkness's creations. Out of all silver eyed warriors that exist in your world, only they could survive the ordeals you were put through without breaking, only they could form the bonds and connections that would lead to new outcomes, new causality and new endings. Because of who they were as people as well as their own strength both in the world you call Remnant and Earth" replied the being. Crescent reached out again.

"If I was so powerful, why did I not help you ask? The answer to that is already present as well. 'My' role as the God of Darkness was to determine if my creations could evolve and reach a harmonious state of existence, one that could live, despite its imperfect state without self-destruction due to turning on its own creators or trying to play god. But that is not true in its entirety. This is a new path, one that combines the fates of two worlds that were previously never meant to interact. And so, to make such a thing possible, bringing you here to save this world is something I did to divert such a fate. By altering causality at specific points in your tale, events that would not normally come to took effect. Such as making it so that the probability that you met your current family in Hueco Mundo came to pass once you arrived here. Or leaving an opening in the garganta for you to enter Hell, a place you could never have entered otherwise. Making it so that the location in the Soul Society entered was one where your master, Reiji Ouzumi was the one whom you met. And by sending you to Hell following your encounter with the arrancar named Arturo, I made it possible for you to meet your daughter in the future, which would then lead to the sequence of events that made this outcome of yours possible. For with it, you gained the abilities you needed to get where you are now" explained the God of Darkness.

"And traumatizing my daughter three times by showing her what would have happened otherwise, am I right?" snapped Summer.

"I can understand your anger, Summer Rose. You would even go against the God of Darkness if it meant saving your daughter. But don't forget. That is exactly why you were the only one who could have fulfilled the role you were given. Most would've never recovered from their fate staying in Hell for a million years. And even fewer would have retained their sanity and compassion for their loved ones. But as I said, there has been meaning to your suffering and your suffering shall not go unpaid" he said.

"And by that, you mean that none of what you showed will come to pass to my family and friends, right?" asked Ruby.

"That is correct. However, all that has changed, is that both the worlds you cherish are no longer tied to certain doom. Because you now possess the means to change the doomed fates of both worlds. There is a possibility to save them and that falls upon you and your actions. But it is but a possibility, not a certainty. You are already capable enough to end the conflict with Salem that drives your home world to extinction. But you will learn that things are not as simple as they were before the coalition of your worlds. As myself, I find meaning in any path you take, regardless of how things play out and as the God of Darkness, I believe that you will reach that end which brings this long tale to a better conclusion" he said.

"Then…..I'll do whatever it takes to make that happen" declared Ruby.

"And the two of us will always be with her" said Summer, joined by Crescent who sported the same determined look. "Still….why here? You could have explained this to us back at our own place"

"Because there is one that wished to convey his thanks to you personally for everything you have done and will do for the world he cherishes" said The God of Darkness, pointing to the Soul King. "I simply chose a location where I could speak of the things I promised to you, as well as accommodating the wishes of another"

"Ruby Rose….Summer Rose….Crescent Rose…." came another voice, catching them off completely. While the God of darkness's voice was forebodingly divine and conveyed a tone of indifference, the Soul King's voice was akin to that of an angel, calm, soothing and one that conveyed nothing but goodwill. "Nothing I do can express the gratitude I feel for that which you have done for my world. But do not misunderstand. I feel pity for those that could not be saved, those that gave up their lives trying to stop Aizen Sosuke in his ambitions, which if they had come to fruition, would have resulted in the death of this World and the many trillions of souls in it. But that is the way of this world. And though the part played by those that prevented such an act is just as commendable, you have faced far worse than any possibly could, taking on suffering that did not belong to you. Though I understand it was not your will to be here, you still did everything you could to save my world and the souls in it"

There was genuine sincerity and guilt in his voice. Though he could not move a single inch, encased in the crystal seal he was in, though he spoke to them in their minds, all that he held for them was gratitude.

"Thank you" said Ruby. "It would be wrong of me to say that 'I don't mind' when a part of me definitely feels bitter for all that I've had to endure and all that mom had to go through to get here. That's why, I really appreciate your words, Soul King. Because despite having to sacrifice your limbs and remain in the state you are right now, you still only want the best for those in your care. And You've been that way for far longer than either Mom or I have. If anything, I wish I could do something for you as well"

"Your concern is much appreciated child" said the Soul King. "But I do not mind being this way. If not for this, this world and my children in it would not exist. What would truly pain me is if something were to happen that threatened their very existence. And that is why, you have my utmost thanks and it would bring my utmost happiness if I could provide the means for you to go back to your home"

"I see….then, I have one more reason to ensure that I change the fate of our worlds. But…..you want to send us back right now?" asked Ruby. "It's just that…it would be a bit to sudden….I mean, I do want to say goodbye and.."

"But of course" beamed the Soul King. "That is only natural and there is no real hurry. Whenever you feel ready, all you need to do is come back here, and I can send you back" he said. They then felt something pass over their bodies. A strange shiver of sorts. "With this, you, Ruby Rose, Crescent Rose, Summer Rose, have been gifted with the King's Key. It is my gift to you and it will allow you to travel freely between your world and ours. Not only that, you can now travel here once you are ready. Just open a Garganta as you always do, keeping in mind where you would like to travel. And the path to your destination shall open, allowing you to go back and forth as you please. But keep in mind that it is only you who have been given this permission. None others save for you can use the King's Key to enter the Royal Palace"

"The King's Key….?" Said Ruby, looking at her palm. "I don't feel that different...I thought the King's Key would be more like an actual key"

"The term key merely implies that it allows one to open the path to my adobe. The real nature of the King's Key is akin to that of a brand engraved on your soul, one that acts as the Key that allows you to travel here and in your case, travel back and forth to your home world once you find yourself there" explained the Soul King.

"Huh….who knew you could get one simply by saving the world? If only boya knew how nice the Soul King really is…" said Summer to herself with a bemused smile.

"It is always refreshing to see that side of you, Summer Rose. Truly, you never waver even in front of God of Darkness-sama or myself. It is no wonder that you were chosen for this cause" said the Soul King.

"Well….if a god tells me that, then I'll take that as a godly compliment" said Summer. "Still, there is something I don't understand. You said you wanted to send us back but you also gave us this near OP ability. If that's the case…couldn't we go there already? Just thought it would be convenient and well….we don't have to disturb you"

"That will not work as you expect" said The God of Darkness. "Because you forget. Right now, the state of your world is one that is in shambles. When we spoke the last time, I told you that just over an year had passed and many of your family and friends have met fates you wished to change. And that is where my compensation comes in. For all that you have gone through, I told you that you will not return unpaid. I will return you to a point where it will be possible for you to change the fate of your world. For the suffering you and your mother have undergone despite being undeserving of it, you will get that which no one is entitled to get. But as you are now, merely traveling there would not achieve that. But one you have returned there, then, you are free to travel back and forth. And right now, you forget that you are merely souls. You real bodies have perished long ago. Your home world is one where souls by themselves cannot exist without the body. For no matter where you are, you will be subjected to the rules of the world you are in"

"Ah…..right…." said Ruby, the realization hitting her.

"Indeed" continued the Soul King. "But do not let the sour memory of another causality push you down. You have the means now to change their fates. It has been assured to you by word of the God of Darkness himself. And that very thing will be what aids you in your future ordeals. However, before that, there are some others that you need to meet and it is my gift to them for aiding you in your journey here. This is my gift to both you and them" he said. "And remember, once you are ready, all you need to do is return here. For now, please accept my gift"

---

The ground shifted before them once more, and this time, the pressure they felt was far, far lesser than what they first felt when they stopped by the adobe of the Soul King. But what caught them this time was the familiarity of the reishi around them, as well as their surroundings.

An evil, oppressive reishi, which made her blood thrum with fervor. Screams and echoes of the damned. A rocky surface, adorned by a sky that colored wit ha dull red hue. Pools of blood, followed by dull green architecture scattered throughout them.

"Th…this place….this is Hell…!" remarked Ruby, completely taken aback. She instinctively reached for her Zanpakuto. In fact, this place was way more familiar then she thought. For she was at the exact same spot she met her master, in the rocky alcove by the side of a cliff overlooking the landscape of Hell.

"That's a rather pathetic face you're making, stupid apprentice of mine" came the gruff voice of her master.

"M..master…?!" exclaimed the ex-rose huntress, her eyes wide.

"Captain…is that really you…? Then….we're really here…? That's…..rather mean of the Soul King. When he said gift, I certainly didn't imagine this. Well, for what it's worth, I suppose it's rather nostalgic" said Summer, tilting her head. "Still, You haven't changed a bit since the day you picked me up in the Soul Society, captain. For a place like this….you seem to be doing well"

"Gyahahahaha! Well isn't that a kick in the back! You, the softest and more childish person I've ever had the misfortune to come across during the days of war turn out like this. What in Hell's bell did they do to you here?" asked Reiji, amused. "And you….heh, you look so much like your mother. If you didn't have the mask on your face back then, I would've known it was you immediately. Who's the kid?" he asked, peering at Crescent who immediately jumped behind her mother. There was something notably different about her, for she seemed far spunkier and more invigorated then normal. Her eyes kept darting back and forth between the togabito roaming about, and her hands were twitching, as if she couldn't wait to slice them apart.

"Oy…how can you….this is Hell you know….?" Asked Ruby, still trying to make sense of the situation. For one, she was relieved to find out that none of them had their chains, save for Reiji.

"You really are hopeless, you know that? You look much more powerful than when you were nothing more than a vasto lorde, yet it seems that the days of peace have made you soft. Still, for what it's worth, you did manage to leave this blasted place and I'll agree they did a number on you" he sighed. "Relax kiddo. You're in no danger of being tied up here. I just got word from the Soul King before he sent you here. He gave me a quick head's up to let me know that he'll be sending you three here for a little reunion. Said we didn't need to worry about the overseer here messing things up for you or me. That's the Soul King for you" he said. "You're here thanks to him. So you can relax. For now, let's just go over things. So tell me, stupid apprentice of mine, what've you been up to? And you too Natsuko, where in 5 hells did you disappear off to after fighting Arturo?"

And so, having calmed down and understanding the situation, she began talking about her life after leaving her master, slowly at first and then with an enthusiastic smile. The joy of seeing her master coming back to her now that she had no worries about being stuck in Hell once more. And Reiji continued to listen to it all without so much as a word. In between, Summer would drop in as well, talking about her own time in Hell as well as things that happened after. And then, she told her master about Crescent.

"After that, in my inner world, I saw her. I knew who it was the moment I laid eyes on her. But she was all chained up inside me, in a place that looked so very similar to this place. I freed her, and we've been together ever since. She's my daughter, master. You've crossed blades with her countless times when we trained together and heck, even when you mercilessly made me rebuild her here with materials from Hell, you made sure I had a whole army of Togabito chasing after me as well as your reiatsu crashing down on me" sighed Ruby with a smile.

"Huh, that so?" he asked, taking a look at the little girl, who returned his challenging gaze. "Well, she's the real deal alright. I can tell it won't end well for most that try to piss this one off, unless they're reasonably strong. And? You were in the middle of that fight with that arrancar, right? I'll be disappointed if you let yourself get hit with her by your side after that"

"That arrancar was the most powerful one I've ever encountered master…I see you're still as ruthless as ever" she sighed, continuing her story. She had no idea how long it took, but she made sure to take her time and savor her time with her master, one whom she wasn't even sure if she would see again. By the time Ruby was done, her throat was sore and she was sure she had been talking for atleast a couple of hours.

"Hmm…I see. So….you finally managed to beat Aizen. Now isn't that something. Never thought the day would come when the only apprentice I was sure I would ever take under me gets bested by the only exception I made to that rule. Still, you'd better not let that get to you, naïve apprentice of mine. You've come a long way, I'll give you that. But in the end, you still ended up merely supporting the one that actually beat him. Next time we meet, you'd better be the one doing the fighting" he said, looking at her.

"That's…a bit unreasonable, don't you think, master…?" asked Ruby, sweatdropping.

"Well I don't give a damn. Knowing you, I know you'll tough it out and work out something. You did manage to get out of this place after all" he said. "Well…apart form that, your eyes may look softer than when you had that bloodthirsty look on your face, but you haven't lost that glint on your eyes that you had back then. It looks laden with reason rather than that of a deranged maniac's eyes. It suits you. And as for you Natsuko….somehow, coming here might have been good for you. For one, I'll no longer have to hear your childish arguments about why killing enemies during times of war is a horrible thing. Can't count the number of times Yachiru chewed me out for bringing in a complete greenhorn like you. Still…..I'm even more surprised THAT Yachiru completely mellowed down. You're scary, you know that Natsuko?" he remarked, looking at Summer.

"You should've seen how I got her completely drunk the other day! That was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen with Yachi! It's a damn shame I don't have sake here, otherwise I could've seen how a gruff old man like you would get after downing a dozen shots" said a bemused Summer, chuckling to herself. "Say, can you even GET booze here? I mean….I can't imagine you haven't tried something like….I don't know…getting drunk on something brewed from demon parts or something?"

Reiji gave her the most concerned look he could muster, while Ruby looked at her mother and facepalmed herself.

"You're really off your cracker, you know that..?" said Reiji to the estranged mother, concerned. "But well, you're not wrong" he replied, looking away awkwardly.

"Wait so then you HAVE tried it?!" asked Ruby deadpanned, her jaw comically agape.

"GYAHAHAHAHAHA! Never thought I'd see you make a face like that, my cute little apprentice!" he bellowed, laughing in a jolly manner and whacking her on her back as he did.

"And I never thought I'd ever see master make a face like that…." Said Ruby to herself, thinking back on how ruthless and strict her master had been during their days training.

"Still…it's been nice catching up an' all, but you three have places to be and so do I" he said, the chains on his chest starting to glow slightly.

"What's that…?" asked Ruby.

"It's my time to leave Hell" he explained. "Well, it's damn near impossible to tell time here, but Soul King-sama gave me some info on that. Turns out I'd already served me sentence here long before you came. But he said I was kept here just so that I could train you and help you leave this place, as well as this little meeting of ours once Aizen was done in. After listening to you, it makes sense. I for one, never would've dreamt in my wildest dreams that my idiot apprentice was going to save not one but two worlds"

"Master…."

"So that's what it was" said Summer. "It makes sense I suppose. I mean, sure, Yachi and the others like her from the days of the war weren't exactly the goody two shoes type, but I did think that captain Reiji's stay in Hell was a bit suspicious. So your extended stay here was also his doing"

"Yeah, he said it was the 'great creator's doing. But he also told me that as a result of overstaying here, I'll be compensated by giving me a position akin to that of the overseer in another world. He said it was similar to being one of the gods that governed this new world, wherever or whatever it is. It's not my style, if you ask me. I'd rather prefer to live my life a your regular passerby than the boring life of a god who only watches over people and can occasionally do something other than just looking. But that means we'll probably not be seeing each other again. It's a damn shame really. Doesnt really feel like being a god is all that great if you can't even meet the people you want" he said. "Come on, don't make that face. You should be happy your master is getting off this hellhole. And here's some final words of wisdom before I check out. I know you've been through some tough shit. And I know you've been told it doesn't really end well for those friends and family of yours back home. But you. I've told you back then and I'm telling you now. You falter, you hesitate, that's it. You don't need Yhwach, Aizen or any other loony out there take out your family. You'll be doing that yourself. You've been through things no one can even imagine. Take pride in that and use that in reminding yourself that you can come out of any other situation you face. And you'll be fine. As for you Natsuko….well, I don't really have much to say. It's ironic. Back then, you never listened to me and now, you don't need to. You're a bit loony yourself, but maybe that's your saving grace. Just take care of yourself and your daughter and granddaughter"

"And you.." he said, looking at Crescent. The two then stared at each other. And then, a flash and steel met steel, with Reiji's zanpakuto locked with the scythe manifested by Crescent. And then, just as quickly, Reiji sheathed his weapon. "There's the same, old kicker" he said with a satisfied smile. "You'll be fine too with a swing like that. Won't be surprised if you're the one taking care of my stupid apprentice one day" he smirked. The glow in his chains grew stronger, until the chain completely disappeared. Now, his body was slowly glowing as well.

Ruby ran forward, tackling her master in a hug from behind.

"See you…master. Thanks for everything" she said, with a small smile. "Please don't try to concoct booze from questionable things lying around again, will you? As a god, try and maintain some face, wherever you go. At the very least, try getting booze that won't make me have the same face I just did moments ago" said Ruby, exasperated.

"Heh….no promises, kiddo. I'll try" he said and Ruby could no longer feel her arms around his familiar profile. All that was left was an ethereal glow in the place where he had been.

And with that, they too could feel the familiar pull calling them to another place, away from the landscape that once plagued and yet, changed the life of Ruby Rose.

---

Ruby could feel solid ground at her feet again, and as before, the pressure felt vastly different from the last place she had been. This time, it was calmer, a lot weaker but recognizable all the same.

"This feels like…..the Soul Society…" she told herself.

"I have taken the liberty of returning you to your artificial body" came a voice in her head. It was the voice of the Soul King. "I shall take my leave of you for now. Oh, and if you have been wondering, not more than a few hours have passed since God of Darkness-sama brought you to my domain. Enough time that your siblings could join you as they were returning home, as well as some others. I hope you find this last gift to your liking" he said, before the voice completely left her. And indeed, her mother and daughter were nowhere to be found, but an affirmative confirmation from the two within her confirmed that she was indeed back in her gigai, as well as the clothes she wore.

"Nee-san….?!" Called out Ichigo's voice, surprising her. Looking around, she saw Ichigo, Tatsuki, Karin and Yuzu still in their school clothes, looking at her just as confused as she was. But it wasn't just them.

"Huh…? One second I was wrapping up work at the clinic and now I'm at the Rukon District…what the hell's going on..?" asked Isshin, still in his lab coat.

"I'd like to know the very same" came a stern voice, and a man in a plain grey suit, thin frameless glasses and a light blue shirt with a tie adorned with Quincy crosses. Looking around, they found themselves in what appeared to be a small settlement, with cottages in a grassy expanse of land, with dirt paths connecting each of the cottages to a path that went through the woods around them.

"Ryuken…? You're here too…?!" asked Isshin, surprised.

"Well…..I was brought here by the Soul King, and I'm assuming he's the one that brought you here as well" replied Ruby.

"Wait…..Soul King….? You mean THE Soul King…?!" exclaimed Isshin.

"Uh huh. I was in the Royal Palace with him and he's the one who sent me here after I spoke with him" replied Ruby. "Though….I'm not sure why here. He said it was a gift"

"Wait wait wait….hold on nee-san…..! What the heck do you mean by 'at the Royal Palace'…?! When in the world did you go there..!?" asked Ichigo, surprised.

"I'll say…you can't drop a bomb like that without some explanation, Ruby-nee!" said Karin.

"More than that…..don't….don't you need the King's Key…? You know…the thing that Aizen was trying to make by destroying our town..?" asked Isshin. "So then…how can you just 'go there'?"

"Well…it's a long story" replied Ruby. She and the rest were soon interrupted when someone exited the cottage nearest to them. A figure walked out, sporting a surprised look on her face upon looking at the people in front of her. Any chatter amongst the siblings and the adults went completely silent and almost all of them had their breaths taken away. The woman had brown eyes and fair skin and long, light, wavy brown hair down to her back which was tied in a knot in the back and had bangs down to her chin in the front and wore a plain dress.

"My…..now this is a pleasant surprise" she said, her voice gentle and her face sporting a sweet smile.

"M..Mom…" stammered Ichigo, his eyes wide as he took a step back in surprise. He nearly fell back if not for Tatsuki supporting him, who looked just as surprised as he did.

"Mom….is that really….?!" Stammered Karin.

"You were…in the Soul Society….?" Asked Yuzu, surprised.

But before anyone else could move, a figure dashed past them in a blur, throwing her arms around the woman and burying her face in the woman's chest. The woman gasped in surprise at first, and then smiled gently at the one embracing her, stroking her head softly.

"Masaki…." whimpered Ruby.

Following her lead, Karin and Yuzu ran forward next, followed by Ichigo, the trio embracing Masaki alongside Ruby.

"And you're just in time for tea too" replied Masaki. "I can see you're just as surprised to see me as I am. Still….I never thought I'd ever see my darlings again. And you've even brought little Tatsuki, Isshin and Ryuken with you. Why don't you all come on inside? It's a little cramped, but I'm sure there's enough space for us to sit and catch up" she suggested.

Following which, Masaki took them inside her little cottage, which had a cozy living space with some simple furniture, a quaint fireplace, a comfortable rug laid out on the floor, some shelves with books and some plants by the window side.

"It's quite a lovely place isn't it?" asked Masaki, smiling. "Seven years ago, after that night, I found myself here. And as any other soul, I merely did what I needed to do to fit in. I do miss being back home, but I'm not complaining about this place either. The neighbors are lovely, there's nature surrounding you everywhere, and I even have a nice little garden in case I get bored. And to be fair, I do sneak out every once in a while to the other Rukon Districts and sometimes to observe the folk around the Seireitei. But…I won't lie though. It can get boring at times. It's not like the World of the Living after all. There's no TV or Radio or internet or anything of the sort. Not even places to go sightseeing here" she said. She then walked over to her children.

"So..? What've you four been up to? I imagine you have much more interesting stories to tell me than my plain old life, don't you?" she asked them with a smile. "Ichigo….you've really grown up since the last time I saw you. And I see you're still in your uniform. Did you come to see me straight from school? I'm really happy sweetie, but I always tell you to wash up after school, don't I? Looks like that part of you still hasn't changed at all, fu fu fu! And you've even brought little Tatsuki with you! She's even picking up on your habits, even she's in her uniform!" she said, looking at Tatsuki.

"Aunty….."

"You've grown up to be a fine young woman too. I still remember you running around Ruby with a huge grin on your face. And all those times you'd take care of my darling whenever he came home crying. I've no doubt that part of you both still hasn't changed a lick. As I thought, my darling was always in capable hands" she said with a childish grin.

"M..Mom…it..it's not like that…!" said Ichigo, embarrassed while Tatsuki blushed and looked away. Normally, his face that would have a permanent scowl, one that almost all of his friends teased him for and one that got himself misunderstood as a person. But in front of her, and only her did the orange haired teen's face show a very different expression; one that was a lot softer and reminiscent of his expressions from his younger and happier days. Masaki then darted over to her two younger daughters, hunching over in front of them.

"And look at how much the two of you have grown! The two of you were this small the last time I saw you and now, you're two lovely young ladies" she said, placing her hands on them and lifting them up, one on each shoulder.

"M..mom we're not…!" said Karin with an embarrassed expression as she was held up like a toddler by her mother. Yuzu on the other hand didn't mind at all. "Whoa…you can lift us both up..you're really strong like onee-chan said, mama!" she said with a wide smile.

"So? Who's the one that does the cooking? Little Karin or little Yuzu"? asked Masaki. "Knowing your father, I'll be honestly surprised if he decided to pick that up after I wasn't around! Or….wait, maybe it was your big sister! Knowing how my sweetie is, I'll be even more surprised if she let anyone else help her while she was around. Or was it you Ichi?" she asked.

"Ah well….It's a bit complicated…" said Ruby, "I mean…I'm doing it now, but when I was in Hueco Mundo, it was pretty much Yuzu….from what I hear atleast"

"I knew it!" said Masaki. "It's good to know I still haven't lost my touch!" she said, putting down her two daughters. "Which of course brings me back to you" said Masaki, going over to Ruby. "You look just as pretty the day I last saw you. And I can tell you've gone through a lot along the way. And I have no doubt you've done everything you can to keep that silly promise of mine. Otherwise, I wouldn't be getting such strong spiritual pressure from your three siblings. Surprisingly, little Tatsuki has a good deal of reishi too. Not to mention this lovable oaf" she said, pointing at Isshin. "Your eyes look much better now, and you have a lovely expression on your face" she said, stroking her face, noting the lack of scars. "I imagine you've found your peace. And yet, you do look like you have a lot of things to tell me"

"You have no idea…" said Ruby, giving a bittersweet smile.

"Yo..you could tell…? About our…" asked Ichigo.

"Why wouldn't I be able to? After all, even if I couldn't sense your spirit energy, I know Ruby would've done all she could to keep that silly promise of mine. It was a small wish I had, and yet, all I can say is that I'm blessed to have someone like her in my place after I left. But why don't I hear it directly from you? Otherwise, your mom will just keep on ranting on and on the whole day!" she grinned.

"Yeah, you're right mom. We were really young back then, but I still remember those times when you and Ruby-nee would be stuck to each other like glue" said Karin. "You haven't changed at all either. I still don't know how and why we're here, but…I'm right now, I don't really care. I'm just happy we got to see you again, mom" she said. "For one, you have no idea how annoying he gets everytime he gets reminded of you! The first thing he does is go and cry his eyes out to that poster of you and Ruby-nee he's still kept in the hall!" said Karin, looking at Isshin. "And then he still shamelessly goes all bug eyes and acts like a perverted old man whenever he spots a woman in front of his eyes!"

"Ho..? Is that true, dear?" asked Masaki with a dangerous smile, her expression darkened. "Well, I suppose it can't be helped, now can it dear? After all, your dear wife wasn't around and I can completely understand if another young flame caught your eyes. After all, your dear wife isn't exactly in her springtime of youth, now is he dear?" asked Masaki, sporting the same scary smile and placing her hand on his shoulder.

"No…you're still my number one…I swear…" said Isshin deadpanned. "And you're still really young"

"Oh ho ho ho! Now isnt that sweet, darling" she said, leaning in closer and gently kissing him. "I've missed you too dear" She then walked over to Ryuken.

"Ryu-chan, you still have that scowl pasted on your face just as ever. How's young Uryu doing?" she asked.

"He's well. As are you, from what I can see" came the reply.

"Loosen up a little will you? We haven't met in a lifetime and you're still acting like I'm a complete stranger. I AM your cousin, you know? You COULD give me a hug atleast" she said in a sassy manner.

"Th..that's alright. I am glad to see you doing well, Masaki. Trust me" he said.

"Well, if you so. I'm not giving second chances, so take it while you can" she winked.

And so their talk continued, with Ichigo, Karin, Yuzu and Tatsuki telling her about their daily lives, from the most mundane thing to the most eventful things that happened in their life. It was like meeting up with Ruby all over again, back when she visited her siblings after leaving them for six years. And just like with Ruby, the kurosaki family felt Masaki was no different than how they remembered her back in the day. Despite everything they had gone through, despite the fact that Ichigo, Karin and Yuzu were powerful beings in their own right, Isshin who was also now a soul reaper, Tatsuki who now had knowledge about the spirit world and was formidable herself, Masaki whom they knew to be a powerful Quincy as well as Ruby, who was now vastly different than before. And yet, in front of her, they were none of that. To Isshin, she was the irreplaceable love of his life, to Karin, Yuzu and Ichigo and even to Tatsuki, she was the same, gentle mother from their childhood, and to Ruby, she was one of the most irreplaceable people in her life. She listened to them all with fervent enthusiasm and happiness, reacting with things such as 'Oh my..!' or 'You did…? I'm so proud..!'. More so than their adventures, she was happier when her children spoke about mundane things about their daily lives, such as exams, friends or even the occasional times they went out for lunch or dinner. And when it was Ruby's time to speak about her own life following Masaki's death, she spared no detail either, making sure to take her time talking a lot about her friends and family in Hueco Mundo. Which naturally meant about herself as well.

"And then I could finally talk to my honeybun!" chimed Summer, taking over for her daughter. Masaki raised her eyes in surprise.

"Oh….so it really is you..! I remember Urahara-san mentioning how you were part of Ruby's soul and I always wished she would get to meet you one day. It seems that really did come to pass" replied Masaki.

"Sure did! And let me say that I'm just as happy to see you. If not for you, I wouldn't even be sane enough to talk. Thank you for taking care of my sweetie pie, as much as you have me" she said, a tone of sincerity that was rare to those who knew Summer.

"Nonsense. I did what any other person would. And she's such a lovely girl. Not to mention everything she's done for Ichi, Kari, Yuzu and Tatsuki. She's just as much of a family to me as they are and that goes for you too" said Masaki.

"You got that right, sis! I even introduced myself as Ichi's aunt when I first met him! You should've seen the look on his face!" she snickered, and Masaki joined in.

"I'm sure anyone would have that reaction!" protested Ichigo comically.

"Oh and I'm not the only one! You're still yet to meet the most adorable girl you've ever seen. I'm sure it'll make you change your mind about Karin and Yuzu! Just hold on a sec" said Summer, switching back to Ruby who then manifested Crescent. "Masaki….this is my daughter, Crescent!" she said with a smile.

"Oh my!" gasped the Quincy, a hand on her mouth. She then picked up the red haired girl, bringing her upto her face. "My Ruby became a mother! And what a sweet girl she is! She looks just like her mom and looks just about as old as Karin and Yuzu were back in the day!" cooed Masaki, caressing her and playing with her, which the girl enjoyed, apparent from her expressions.

"Yeah. It was a while before that happened though. But it was in the middle of this battle, you wouldn't even believe!" said Ruby, continuing her tale as Masaki sat back down with Crescent at her hand, occasionally playing with her as she listened.

Time passed by as Ruby continued her tale, along with the rest talking in between. They would go off topic at times, usually when Masaki would get excited upon hearing something and cooing over her family about the same. But all in all, it was a time that made them completely forget anything and everything around them. Like nothing had changed at all in the past 8 years and that she was with them just the same as always and the time changed from afternoon to evening. They spoke about Aizen, and the entirety of the winter war and all the casualties, damages and loses that came with it, as well as the aftermath. Ruby could sense the empathy she felt from Masaki, as well as the concern that washed over her when Ruby started talking about her children and husband getting involved in the fighting, followed by the instant relief that followed once she spoke of the times that followed. And while she did genuinely feel sorry for the soul reapers that had fallen, the relief she felt for her family and those that survived overcame that feeling.

"Well, that got depressing fast" commented Summer casually, munching on the snacks Masaki laid out for everyone. "But you know what sis? The times that followed after were wholesome enough to blow all that away to the wind" and she spoke of the several months that passed by, talking in detail about their regular, mundane lives again, this time with her, Ruby and Crescent staying as family, which made the brown haired Quincy immensely happy.

"And well, suddenly I find myself yeeted into the Royal Palace along with my daughter and grand-daughter and we finally meet this god-guy I was talking about earlier, you know, the one responsible for bringing us to this world and well, basically he explained that were brought here to save the world and our own home world and how we were part of some grand plan he had and stuff like that. It's not important really. After that, the Soul King, whom I find out is actually a really nice chap, sent us to Hell to reunite with Reiji first and then here" she said casually. "Crazy, right? I mean what a day!"

"I'm...not even sure where to react in all this Summer-san…" said Tatsuki, sweatdropping.

"I would start at the part where she casually mentioned being yeeted into the Royal Palace" said Ichigo, deadpanned.

"So….you were summoned to this world by this god….you mean…like an isekai anime or something?" asked Karin.

"Exactly like an isekai! Huh, I didn't really think about it like that and now…it totally feels like one!" agreed Summer.

"So wait…does that mean you'll be leaving back to your world Summer-san?" asked Yuzu, concerned.

"Huh..? Oh no no no! I mean sure, we will at some point, but it's not like the Soul king gave us a time limit. And besides, he said we could go back and forth whenever we wanted, so even if we do go there, we'll be back soon enough. I mean, we might spend some time there first, you know, to catch up and all that. But I want to show you my home world just as much as how much I want to introduce my family and friends there to this one. At this point, it's no exaggeration to say that this place is just as much as a home to us as Remnant. Just think of it as one of those times we stay over at Hueco Mundo for a couple of weeks" assured Summer.

"Oh ok…then it's fine I guess…" said Karin.

"I can't wait to see your home world!" said Yuzu.

"Yeah, me too!" said Tatsuki.

"I still can't get over you calling the Soul King, you know, the one we ALL know to be the most powerful being in existence a chap?" said Isshin, sweatdropping.

"Oh I'm sure it's fine dear. You know, a lot of times these 'godly' beings appreciate being treated no different than any other person. I'm sure the Soul King gets tired from time to time being talked to as if he's an unapproachable thing too" said Masaki.

"It did feel that way" agreed Ruby. "And he was even kind enough to bring us all in. Seriously Masaki, if I'd known you were right here in the Soul Society, I would've come to see you long back. You could've come and visited you know! Or even given me a hint with your reiatsu or something" she said, pouting.

"I know how you feel, Ruby-nee. But it's fine, isn't it?" said Karin.

"True. Now all of us can truly be together like family" said Ichigo. "I still can't believe it myself, that I'd ever get the chance to see you again, mom" he said. "After that night….I…I could never get over the fact that I was practically responsible for what happened. But now…I can finally do things right. Just like old times, you and nee-san can be with us. We can spend time like family again" he said.

"Yeah!" said Yuzu. "I can finally get to eat mama's cooking again! And this time, I can even help her out in the kitchen!"

"That's the first thing you can think of Yuzu? I've already planned so many different things I want to do. First thing though, I really want to introduce Nel, big-sis and all of the others" said Ruby. "It's getting late anyways, so why don't we head back?" she asked.

Masaki remained strangely quiet, a cue that wasn't missed by those around her.

"Masaki..?" called out Ruby again.

"I'm…sorry sweetie. I can't do that" she replied.

"What do you mean?" asked Ruby. "Oh, you mean you have some unfinished work here? That's fine, it doesn't have to be today. I just meant that now that I know you're here, we can..?"

But Masaki shook her head, interrupting her. "No, my darlings. I can't go back to the World of the living" she said. Ruby's expression soured, as did Ichigo, Karin and Yuzu's. Isshin had an apologetic expression on her face, while Ryuken adjusted his glasses, sighing.

"But why…? Is there some reason?" asked Ruby. "Or is someone stopping you from leaving?" But Masaki shook her head.

"Listen to me, sweetie. There's a reason I stayed here in the Soul Society and not come back, even though I could have anytime. No matter how my current form looks like, no matter what I am now, it doesn't change the fact that I'm dead. This is where I belong now. No matter how much you or I wish otherwise, we can't change that" she said, her hand on Ruby's cheek.

"But…you're here! In front of us, where we can see you! Where we can reach out to you! You can't just tell us to pretend like you don't exist anymore right?" protested Karin. "Please…mom…we'll do whatever you want, just come back home…"

"Mom…I…I don't think I can ever lose you again….please…" said Ichigo, with a pleading look on his face.

"That's not right my darlings" she said apologetically. "Listen to me carefully. We have limited lifespans and no one knows when we might die. And that's why our lives are so meaningful and why we try our best to live our lives to the fullest. And that's why the emotions and bonds we have for our loved ones are so meaningful. I have no doubt you felt more pain when I died that I did from being separated from you all these years. You felt a lot of guilt, regrets and sorrow. Especially you, who even took it upon yourself to fulfill that silly promise of mine" she said, looking at Ruby. "But that's why its so precious. And that's why I had to stay here. Because otherwise, it would be an insult to the tears you shed for me. It would be the same as me undermining all of those emotions and feelings you felt for me. And I could never, ever do that. I know it's not fair, but sometimes, we just have to be reasonable sweetheart. Because that's just how things are"

"Why should I be reasonable all the time?! Am I not allowed to be selfish for once? Is that so wrong?!" asked Ruby, grimacing. "And besides….you're the one being unreasonable Masaki! No matter what you say, this is a world where we have an afterlife where people CAN exist and live. And those lucky enough can even go and visit them, making up for any regrets and lost feelings they could not convey while alive. This IS how our system works, so I'm the one following the natural way of things here!"

"No, you don't have to be reasonable all the time and no, you aren't wrong. But using that same reasoning, I don't have to be reasonable either. You're right, regardless of what I wish for, this is how our world functions. And yet, I continue to pretend that it doesn't. Because otherwise, life and death would lose all meaning. You would start to take things for granted simply because you could visit them in the afterlife even if those precious to you died. Normally…given how infinitely big the Rukon district is, finding someone even if you know which district they live in could take centuries. Enough time that you forget who it is that you were looking for in the first place. The fact that it took the Soul King's power for us to meet proves that. But that's human nature. With time, we can recover from anything. We can move on. But this…...in this case sweetie, your heart would never move on from me. You would always try to bring me back, always try to keep things the way they were before. Unchanging and stale. It can no longer be called living. And my presence would be a constant reminder of that. If I go with you, I'll only be a constant source of regret of things that were and how they aren't so anymore. And I could never allow that to happen. Not to anyone, and especially not to my family" said Masaki with a sympathetic look.

"That's just….that's just…I can't….no matter how deep I found myself buried or how much shit the world put me through….in some form or another…you've always helped me out….if not for you, I would've never recovered my resurreccion and gotten past my regrets…if not for them, I would never be where I am….and you're telling me I should just….!" Protested the ex-rose huntress, hanging her head.

"And that proves my point, doesn't it?" said Masaki softly, stroking her head. "Even without me….no, especially because you cherished our short time together, you were able to use that as your strength to overcome the hurdles life threw at you. And with that, you could get over your regrets and guilt, BECAUSE you valued me and our times together. You were able to move on, and mature. And it's not just you" said Masaki, going over to Ichigo, Karin and Yuzu.

"The three of you are no different. Even without me, you were able to mature and grow, taking up responsibilities that went beyond your physical age, because it was your way of moving on. You learnt to live without relying on me or being held back by my death. Yuzu…despite being so young, after I was gone, you were already taking up my role around the house and making a home for them. And this was even before your big sister was there. As for you Karin, you remained strong and faced anything that came your way without making a single complaint. You put up with the difficulties you had growing up without a mother, just so that everyone didn't feel I was really gone. And you Ichigo….you've made me proud as well. You were such a crybaby back then, always leaning on me. And now, you've become a strong, responsible big brother to these two, not to mention saving the whole world from a certain disaster. And all of this you achieved because you were able to move past me" she said. "And I know you'll keep doing just fine even without me"

"No….I..I won't….!" said Ichigo adamantly. "You're telling me I can't move on if you lived with us because you would be a reminder that death has no meaning. But….the same could be said now. Now that I…we know that you're here….we'll just keeping thinking about how you're here and not with us back home. Even more than if you just stayed with us. And even if you made us go away now…we'll just keep coming back, just like you said. I'll….I'll never just pretend that I can never see you ever again mom!" said Ichigo, hugging her tightly, afraid of letting go.

"I never said you couldn't visit me" she said with a soft smile, making Ichigo slowly lose his grip and look up to her. "Oh? Did I say something wrong?" she asked.

"But..but you…" stammered Ichigo.

"I only said it would be wrong of me to come stay with you like the old days and pretend as if what happened that rainy night never happened. I never mentioned a single thing about you visiting me once in a while" she said.

"Th…then..!" said Tatsuki.

"Because I don't want to be completely unreasonable as well. As you said, in this world, this is how things work. And as you said, no matter what I do, I know you'll just keep coming back again and again, losing focus on your own life. That's why, I don't want to completely deny what you said" she said. "Come here" she called out, waving her hand at her children and Tatsuki. She then grabbed them in one big hug.

"Listen to me very carefully, ok? This is my life now. As much as I dislike admitting it, you aren't my little ones anymore. You're all grown up, with your own life to lead and look forward to, as do I, no matter how simple it is here. Live on, study, go to work, find your own family to spend your life with, laugh and cry with them, like I did with your dad, and then, don't join me anytime soon, ok? Ichigo? Karin? Yuzu? Tatsuki? Ruby? And then, once you've grown old and come of age, I'll be waiting for you here, just the same as always. You're always welcome to visit me at any time, but that deosn't mean you can practically live here. So, here's what we'll do. You know what they say about paying your respects to the dead when you visit their grave and how you want to receive their blessings. Well, lucky for you, your mom is right here. So instead of my grave, on that day, I'll be waiting for you, and you can tell me everything you've gone through and the things that you look forward to. Is that fine?" she asked slowly.

Though the siblings remained silent for the longest time, Karin nodded first, Yuzu, although teary eyed, nodded next. Ichigo merely buried himself in his mother's embrace before saying. "Yeah….mom.." slowly. Masaki then turned to Ruby.

"The last time…you asked me to promise you something unreasonable and you're doing it this time as well…..you're horrible….you know that Masaki…" said Ruby with a bittersweet smile. "But fine….atleast this time it's not nearly as unreasonable as the last. I'll keep my word and I'll definitely visit you every year. But you better keep your word as well and stay right here. Otherwise….I'll never be away from you again" said Ruby.

"Of course, sweetie" said Masaki. "And just like last time, I am going to ask you what I did the last time. Back then, I told you to go visit your friends and family back in Hueco Mundo. And this time, I'm asking you the same. Don't delay going back to your home world. The Soul King may have given you the time, but you've suffered so much to be able to one day go back and visit them. I know you care for them just as much as you do for the people here. So….I want you to go there after this. Will you do that for me?" she asked.

"…I….." hesitated the ex-rose huntress, but sighed once the brown haired Quincy maintained her gaze. "I really can't turn you down, can I? Fine…I'll do it. But in return….I want you to let me stay with you, just for tonight" she said.

"Me too!" added Yuzu.

"If Ruby-nee's staying, then I'm staying as well!" added Karin.

"And the two of us will be as well!" said Tatsuki and Ichigo.

Isshin looked at the kids, his eyes raised and then he sighed. "Guess we're really doing this then. Fine, I knew this is what you might've been thinking, so I didn't try looking for you when you made it so clear that you didn't want to be found, no matter how badly I searched. But oh well, if they're staying over, don't see any reason why I can't. And besides, I can't deny the chance to be with me dear wife now can I?" he said. "And that means you're staying as well, Ryuken"

"….fine…" he sighed. "So much for a peaceful reunion"

"Oh don't be like that Ryu-chan!" grinned Masaki. "You're always so stiff! I know I told them to keep off from visiting me to often, but with you, I need to tell you to definitely come and see me once in a while. Because knowing you, you would've stayed away knowing it will be for the best. So I'll be waiting every year for you to come and see me, ok?"

"You have my word" he said. "Now can I go home Masaki? I'd rather see you when you're not with him" he said, pointing to Isshin.

"You still haven't gotten over your bitterness over my darling Isshin have you?" sighed Masaki. "But this is a special occasion. I've always accepted your thoughts on the matter, but today, you're going to sit back and behave for a while. Otherwise, I'll be sure to tell Ichigo to tell Uryu all of your embarrassing secrets. Is that understood?" she said, giving her signature smile.

"He has nothing to do with this and you have my word. So please do not do something that unnecessary, Masaki" he said.

"That's the way! Anyways, I'll start preparing dinner while you talk!" said Masaki.

"I'll help!" offered Ruby.

"Me too! I really wanna show mama how much I've improved!" said Yuzu.

And so, another memorable night passed by for the Kurosaki siblings, Tatsuki, Ruby, Masaki, Isshin and Ryuken, marked by small talk, some bickering, teasing but an overall happy and unforgettable night. This was made even more prominent when dinner finally arrived, with the entire group sitting outside under the blanket of the night sky, eating food made by their mother (for Ruby, Yuzu, Karin, Ichigo and even to Tatsuki) and by his wife in a long, long time (for Isshin). Even Ryuken couldn't help but openly express appreciation. And though the younger ones wanted to spend as much time as they possibly could with Masaki, knowing that they would have to go back to the World of the Living the next day, the exhaustion from school and the events of the day caught up to them, causing them to fall asleep slowly by Masaki's side. Ruby carried them over to the fireplace where it was warm and the children could sleep without feeling too cold.

Ryuken thanked Masaki for the food, talking to her for a while by themselves before he left back home with the help of a Garganta opened by Ruby.

Isshin spent a couple of hours with his wife as well, taking the time to catch up to the many long years they stayed apart, before he agreed that any longer would be bad for his mind, knowing that he would be tempted to stay longer if he delayed going back anymore. And so, with a heartfelt embrace, Isshin kissed his wife goodbye before promising her to take care of their kids in her place, following which he opened a senkaimon back home.

"Aren't you sleepy?" asked Masaki, as she stroked Ruby's head as she lay in her lap. Crescent couldn't resist not joining in with her mother, and so, she put her head down on the other lap. The rest were already sound asleep. Neither the Quincy nor the arrancar could get any more sleep. And so, so as to not disturb the others, they were outside, sitting by the garden.

"I don't sleep all that much nowadays" she said. "Not in a bad way though. You could say that I don't need too much sleep. But I do enjoy it when I do sleep soundly. It's refreshing" she said.

"Then…let me help you with that" she said, softly beginning to sing, just as she always did almost nine years ago, back when Ruby's mental state was still fragile and recovering from trauma. And just like then, Ruby's eyes began to slowly close the moment her soft voice filled the room.

"~~Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein~~"

"~~Und das heißt~~"

"~~Erika~~"

"~~Heiß von hunderttausend kleinen Bienelein~~"

"~~Wird umschwärmt~~"

"~~Erika~~"

"I haven't heard that song before…." murmured Ruby slowly.

"It's…..something they used to sing back when I was in the Wandenreich, before I met Ryuken and his family. They used to sing this whenever we had army marches with the Sternritter" said Masaki, continuing to hum the tune.

"It sounds very…patriotic. But somewhat…..uplifting. Like If I listened to it, I'd probably find myself very motivated in what I was doing. I can see why they'd use this for army marches…" said Ruby. "But why the sudden talk about your past, Masaki? I thought…you weren't that comfortable talking about your times back there. Even singing me a song that reminds you of those times…"

"~~Denn ihr Herz ist voller Süßigkeit~~"

"~~Zarter Duft entströmt dem Blütenkleid~~"

"~~Auf der Heide blüht ein kleines Blümelein~~"

"~~Und das heißt~~"

"~~Erika~~"

"You know, it may sound like it, but this song is really about a soldier singing about the love of his life. He compares her to a flower called Erika, or known as "The Heather Flower". So in reality it's actually a song about love. But the soldiers loved it so much that it became our marching song just because it goes so well in rhythm" explained Masaki, a hint of fondness in her voice. "You know…it's not that I regret my days back at the Wandenreich. I had many friends, people who were as good as my family and people whom I looked up to even back then. The people no different than the people I met here. Back then…." She said, looking down slowly, almost recalling a fond memory "I had a different name" she said. "Masaki Kurosaki is my birth name, but this…this was also just as much my real name as my birth name"

"A different name…?" asked Ruby.

"Uh huh. Not even Isshin knows about it. To me, it's a name that brings both fond, happy memories as well as bitter ones. It also reminds me too much about the person I was. And my heritage" she said. She then took a deep breath. "Hildegard"

"Hilde..gard…" repeated Ruby, slowly.

"Yeah…it's our secret, ok? It was….a name given to me by His Majes...Yhwach himself" she said. Ruby gasped, shifting suddenly.

"It's alright, sweetie" she assured, stroking her head again. "You know….back then, I was a very different person. Not so much in terms of how I behaved but….well…you could say that….I always believed in those around me. Rather blindly even. I looked up to people. And I believed that I was given the abilities I had for a reason. Perhaps for the greatest reason in the world. To save people from evil. To ensure peace throughout the world. That was what we were told. It was something of a motto even. His Majes…..Yhwach would often give lot of speeches, talking about how our very mission, the reason for his and our existence was to wipe out evil, to protect the land we and our children lived on and how we Quincy were a noble race with the power to do so. He would talk about how our reishi, which is even denser and for a lack of a better word, 'purer' than even Soul Reapers was a gift for the same mission. But you know…many may not know this, but he hated unnecessary violence more than anyone. He believed in ending battles in the shortest possible way. And he did indeed deeply care for the Quincy. He would mourn even the weakest of us when they passed. And he was fierce when it came to protecting our honor and our land. It had us convinced. All Quincy were ready to throw away their lives for such a noble undertaking. And….it was something that I believed in too. Not so much in the fighting part, but rather the notion that my abilities were meant to save the world from evil" she said.

Some more time passed by as Masaki continued to slowly hum the song, while Ruby waited for her to continue.

"But you know…..because of that….he was rather extreme. When I say evil, I mean Hollows of course, and those meant for Hell. Now because nobody really escapes Hell, they were never his enemies in the truest sense because they never existed outside Hell. But the hollows…..his extreme hatred of them would be seeped deep into all Quincy. To him, any means were considered ok as long as they proved effective in exterminating their kind from the face of the Earth. After his battle with the Soul Reapers, he remained sealed for 900 years before his pulse awakened, and then another 90 years before he gained his intellect. But his ideologies had always been present ever since he existed. They were preached and passed down through generations. And after he finally gained his mind, though he still needed to recover his powers, his charisma and presence alone made all the difference" she explained.

"Masaki….."

"And I…..I too….looked up to him. He was….." said Masaki, clutching Ruby's hand. "I aspired to be like him. In serving him. He regained his intellect around the time I was 6 or 7. A time in one's life where someone like him can be a major inspiration in your life. I worked hard, making sure to put my heart into what I did. And Yhwach would praise me for it personally. Soon enough…I was powerful enough to be assigned to him personally, despite my young age. You see….the Quincy were extreme in their need to meet their ends. To them, the end justified the means. And they could not accept the fact that Soul Reapers, whom they considered 'tainted protectors' bested them in battle. And so, they did everything they can to increase their worth as a race. And the one major thing they did, making use of the 1000 years it would take Yhwach to awaken was to…selectively pair strong Quincy with each other, giving offspring who would inherit traits of both parents. Those that weren't strong enough were made so through spartan training and breakthroughs in science and experimentation. And then that offspring would be paired with another equally powerful offspring, and thus, imagine if they did that for centuries…" said Masaki, her tone ominous. Ruby gulped and felt disturbed at the same time. It was so morally wrong. This was just the same as treating living beings as lab experiments. As nothing more than numbers.

"But we didn't care. Our motto and Yhwach's ideologies had brainwashed us into thinking that it was all for the greater good. I'm sure you must've wondered at some point, right? How someone like me, who had such an aversion to fighting could possess powers that rivaled even arrancars. Well….this is the reason. And that's why, combined with my own efforts, it didn't take me long to reach the pinnacle of our forces. Yhwach was extremely pleased and proud. He considered me like his own. He even gave me the name 'Hildegard', derived from the words that meant 'battle' and 'protection'. I was provided the rank of General of the Sternritter, the cream of our armed forces. But to me, that didn't change how I saw them, the people I'd grown up with. And they didn't view me any differently as well, outside of official army drills. 'Fraulein Hilda', they used to call me, though I was nothing more than a young girl no older than Crescent" she said, looking up with a nostalgic smile. "At that point, that name became something very dear and precious to me. And I never thought I would ever want anything more again. Until…..that happened" she said. Masaki's hands were holding on to Ruby's tightly now. Ruby could swear they were shivering.

"Masaki….it's fine, if you don't feel comfortable…" started Ruby, but Masaki shook her head.

"I'll be fine. I just thought….you always shared your troubles with me. So this time, I was hoping I could share some of mine. I just wanted to, when I had this chance, just this once" she said. "I was leading a group of Sternritter for another mission. Regardless of my abilities, I was still a young girl, and still learning about the horrors of real war and bloodshed. We were tasked with eliminating some hollows that had wondered in and I was only ordered to observe. There were two arrancars leading them. It was my first time seeing arrancars. They looked so….human. They were just a pair of girls. No older than you were when I first found you. Completely different from the monsters we were told they were. They weren't nearly as strong as you were, but those under my command were many more times stronger than them. In theory, I didn't even need to interfere. But…I hesitated. They looked so human, so much like us. And they looked so hurt and afraid. But they were fiercely protecting the hollows under them, just like how I was protective of my own. But the Sternritter under me were ruthless in their need to finish off evil. It's all they knew and all they had been taught since they were born. They could not see their enemies any other way. And yet, the arrancars wouldn't let go. They even offered to retreat peacefully, they begged, but no matter how much the battlefield was dyed in their blood and guts, no matter how much they screamed or wailed, the soldiers under me were not having it. I still….think about it at times. It was like a scene from Hell. Being that I was such a young girl, I'd never seen bloodshed to that level. In a way, it was training for me as well as a true leader to our forces. And yet, those under me were indifferent, cold, savage, the only thing on their minds was the mission entrusted to them and their noble goal"

"Finally…after what seemed like hours, it ended. I…I couldn't react. Though we were successful in our objective, seeing those that I grew up with become such…savages, being so cruel….I wondered if this is how the Soul Reapers had been slaughtered back then, and if we had the same apathetic look on our faces as we did. After that incident, it was as if something snapped within my head. I couldn't look at the faces of those around me without picturing that scene, despite them being my family and close friends, despite how peaceful they were around their own kind. It was driving me crazy. Suddenly my powers, my title, my name…they all felt so disgusting. They felt like curses. But they could still be of use. Using them, I requested to be sent to Ryu-chan's house in Japan, whom Yhwach was aware was my family. Naturally Ryu-chan's mom was delighted for I was such a prestigious Quincy coming over to stay at their house. I put it off as wanting to experience school life. It was a favor Yhwach saw no harm in granting for one he considered his own. I would still need to command our forces from time to time, but otherwise, I was mostly in Japan. And the rest…you pretty much know" she said, taking a deep breath.

"After that, I really came to my senses you could say. I grew to despise fighting as a whole. I loved the normal life I led as a human. I slacked off on using my quincy abilities, something that really irked Ryu-chan's mom. But I didn't care. I simply couldn't bring myself to go back to that state again. And then, I met Isshin, years later, who would forever change my views on everything. Who saw me as nothing more than a normal girl. It made me so happy. Because he saw me for who I was, not caring out my past or my background. And so did my little darlings. And you" she said. "After I was infected by White, any fondness or pride that Yhwach had on me was gone, like it never existed in the first place. He hated me, considered me tainted and nothing more than an evil existence. That's why, even though I was a pure blood Quincy, I had my powers taken away by his Auswählen. To him, it was all that I was useful for" she said, taking a long, deep breath and finishing. "It's really ironic, isn't it? In the past, such a fate would've been the worst thing I could have imagined. But that night...somehow, I felt nothing even as the Auswählen hit me. I felt quite liberated in fact. I thought...if I survived, I finally might be able to live truly being what I pretended to be. A normal human being. And fate has a twisted sense of humor as well. I ran away from it all because I despised the power I had and the methods the Quincy used to achieve it, and my past self. And yet, I ended up falling for a man who was one of the most powerful beings in all of Soul Society at the time. And because of that, my darlings were born with abilities far greater than either of us would possess" she said with a sad smile.

It was a revelation for Ruby, and many different emotions were welling up within her, combined from the emotions she could feel from Masaki herself. Up until that point, Ruby had been the one who relied on Masaki for all of her nightmares and suffering. And today, it was Masaki who needed the same. Ruby got up, hugging Masaki tightly.

"Masaki….you've always been there for me. No matter how bad it got for you or for me. And today….I'll do the same for you. Thank you for telling me. I'll always be….I'll do everything I can to help you" she said. "And you don't ever have to worry about Ichi, Kari and Yuzu. You've raised them well and they're a lot more mature than you think. They'll be fine, and I know they'll use what they have as they were intended, in a way that would make us both proud. And I'll be there to guide them as well"

"You've already done enough by listening to my depressing tale" she said. "It's no longer something that plagues me. Because Isshin, Ichi, Kari and Yuzu gave me something far more precious than that. They showed me that I could also live as nothing more than an ordinary human, as nothing more than a mother to a loving family. And you...that day, when I picked you up on that river bank, I felt as if I could correct my wrongs from my past, if only a little bit. And before I knew it, that arrancar became indistinguishable from my own family. And that arrancar was no different as a human being as I was. You showed me that. I didn't even have to use my powers as I did. But I do feel like I have a huge load off my shoulders. So thank you, sweetie" she replied. "But I didn't tell you this because I was looking to feel better sweetie. Far from it. I know that the Quincy will eventually make their move. They have been waiting 1000 years for this. And I knew...that Ichi, Kari and Yuzu will end up getting involved thanks to the Quincy blood and their latent abilities one way or another. And I know you'll do anything to protect them. That's why...I wanted you to know"

"Masaki….I promise. If I ever meet him….if it ever comes to that, I'll protect our family from them. And I'll protect you from them. I'll never let anything happened to you or any of us. I'll never let you face your horrible past, and if it ever came to the point where you had to, I'll be there with you" she said. "Now I understand….why you never wanted Ichi and the others to be involved in the spirit world. I'm so, so sorry. Seeing them like this….it must really be painful" she said. Masaki shook her head.

"You're my precious family. You could never cause me pain" she said. "That's why, you've already done enough for me. I'm the one that feels bad now telling all this to you. But…I suppose I can't deny that I also wanted to share my own past with you, since you always shared everything with me. Something before you left, I suppose. In a way, I just wanted you to know about it all, so that it will be of help to you at some point. But don't let that dull your mood. You have an exciting time ahead of you. You finally get to go back home. An old lady like me shouldn't be in the way of that" said Masaki.

"Don't worry Masaki….it won't be. Thanks again for telling me. If anything, I'm just happy you feel better now. And besides….you're not an old lady. You're still as charming as ever" said Ruby, smiling to uplift the mood around them and diverting the topic.

"Tee hee…thank you. We've stayed up quite late, haven't we? Let's both try and catch some sleep, shall we?" suggested Masaki, and the two moved inside the cottage. Wrapped in each other's embrace, the two slept soundly, their thoughts clearer than ever and their minds at peace, with any troubles on their mind at the time gone.

The next morning, Ruby, Tatsuki, Ichigo, Karin and Yuzu bid farewell one final time, with Masaki giving them hugs and kisses, wishing them well and asking them to take care of themselves. Yuzu was tearful, Karin remained strong, while Ichigo had a satisfied smile on his face, which Tatsuki shared. On that day, the siblings could finally find closure to their mother's death, as did the ex-Rose huntress.

After Ruby escorted them back home, the siblings were in a hurry to freshen up and make it to school on time, after deciding to meet up with everyone to announce Ruby's departure at Urahara's hideout later that evening. Although nothing else was planned for the day, Ruby couldn't help but feel anxious and excited, knowing her long, long journey in this world was finally at a point where she would be returning home. The day itself seemed to stretch on forever. She considered preparing things to take back, but then realized that she probably wouldn't be able to take any items if it was her soul that would be travelling back home.

But finally, it was evening. She promptly made her way to Urahara's hideout, along with Isshin, Yuzu, Karin, Tatsuki and Ichigo. Once they made their way inside the hideout, they could already see Urahara, Yoruichi, her big-sis, Tier, Grimmjow, Starrk, Lily, the Tres Bestias, Starrk, Ulquiorra, Unohana, Rukia, Yachiru, Kyoraku and Ukitake, along with Orihime, Uryu and Chad.

"So?" asked Nel. "Something happened?" she asked.

"Yeah.." said Ruby. "There's something I need to tell everyone" she began, giving them a short but brief version of her time at the Royal Palace, meeting the God of Darkness, The Soul King as well as the chain of events that pertained to her role in stopping the end of both worlds, and how it all came down to her departure back to Remnant.

"But I can come back at any point, and I can bring you there, as well as my family and friends from back home here" said Ruby. "I just wanted to tell everyone before I left" she said.

There was a stunned silence, mostly from the Soul Reapers. It was understandable, considering that one did not simply talk about meeting the Soul King as if it was just another walk in the park. Even more surprising was the fact that the Soul King had a creator, a being even higher that the Soul King was.

"The...the Soul King you say...?! You really met him in person...?! Not even many of the captains have seen him...I doubt anyone beyond the Zero squad has...!" said Rukia, surprised.

"I know, it got me pretty hard when I first heard it as well" agreed Isshin.

"To be personally thanked by the Soul King himself and then being granted the King's Key...the permission to visit the Royal Palace…..I have to say, Natsuko-chan, I'm...not sure what to even say..." said Kyoraku. "It's an honor almost nobody gets"

"Not to mention…to think that you were literal cornerstones in stopping Aizen and all that is to come…." Said Unohana. "Even as old as we are, we always learn something new and unbelievable everyday"

"If the Soul King, the most powerful being we know of was created by this God of Darkness and God of Light…I can't even begin to fathom how inconceivably strong these beings are" said Ukitake.

"But…..as shocking as it is….it makes sense, considering everything" said Urahara. "Interesting….the God of Darkness and God of Light, is it? If I'm not mistaken, wasn't Remnant created by them as well?" he asked.

"Uh huh"

"I see…then, I look forward to the day you invite me over, Ruby-chan. I'm sure I'd love to spend some time there" said Urahara with a smile.

"Oh and yeah...since I can't take this with me...Urahara-san, I'll leave it with you" whispered Ruby, edging in closer to him and passing along the seal that hung from her neck discreetly without anyone noticing. The eccentric shopkeeper gave her a subtle thumbs up before pocketing it.

"You'd better get something nice for me. And you'd better show me around as well" said Yoruichi, putthing her arm around Ruby and flashing her a smile.

"You bet, Yoruichi!" replied Ruby.

"Will you be gone long? Will I get to come with you? What about Rosy?!" asked Yachiru.

"It'll be fine. As I said, I can come back anytime. I might take a while at first, to catch up and relax. But I do want to show you all my home as well. So I'll definitely be back" she assured.

"Well…ok.." said Yachiru. "Then…next time, I want to go with Rosy!" she said, to which Ruby nodded. She then turned to her arrancar friends and family.

"You've all been strangely quiet. What gives?" asked Ruby.

"It's nothing really. We've always known that you'll one day return to your home. We're happy about it, in fact" said Tier, patting Ruby's shoulder. "You deserve it, little one. And now that we know you can come back and forth as you wish, it's not too different compared to when you stay with your siblings, is it?"

"I…guess not" she said.

"True. So…it doesn't feel all that different. In fact, it feels like you're simply taking a vacation to another country for a couple of weeks. You just go and take your time. We'll be fine here" said Nel. "Although….this oaf might be a bit cranky about it for a few days. Don't worry though. You know he'll be fine. We'll make sure of that" she winked. Ruby chuckled.

"Be sure to get me some nice souvenirs, will ya?" asked Lily.

"And of course, if you ever need our help, we'll be here" said Mila-rose.

"Yeah. In fact, we can look after Ichigo, Karin and Yuzu if you're worried about them" offered Sung-sun.

"Come on Sung-sun, we're not THAT bad, we can take care of ourselves you know, even without Ruby-nee" said Karin.

"Yeah! I think onee-chan deserves some peaceful time after all this. You just go on Onee-chan! I promise we'll be fine!" said Yuzu.

"Everyone….!"

"Well, doesn't look like you'll need anything to take home. That's convenient" said Starrk. "I suppose we'll see you in a few weeks. Or maybe a couple of months"

"Hmm"

Ruby spent a few more minutes, talking around and saying her goodbyes to everyone, as did Summer.

"I know you'll get lonely without me Yachi, but hang in there!" said Summer, rubbing Unohana's head with a goofy smile.

"Even now, you still won't give up on your antics, do you Natsuko?" sighed Unohana.

"Nope!" she grinned.

"Just get going before I start missing your eccentricity, will you?" she said with a small smile.

"Yeah…I suppose we should" said Summer, switching out to her daughter and opening a garganta. "This is it then" she said, going over and hugging everyone and saying her goodbyes, starting from Unohana, Kyoraku, Yachiru, Ukitake, Urahara, Orihime, Chad, Uryu, Isshin, Yoruichi, who held on to her for a bit longer, playfully caressing her head and asking her to bring back something interesting, followed by her arrancar family and friends who all took their time to make sure they hugged her enough.

"Don't be missing me already, k'?" Ruby teased, kissing the blue haired arrancar.

"Ju..just keep going already!" insisted Grimmjow, looking away embarrassed. It wasn't the first time she'd kissed him and at this point, he didn't make much of it. When they were alone atleast. But being seem by others was not something he could still get over.

And then finally, Ruby went over to Tatsuki, Yuzu, Karin and then Ichigo who were standing alongside Rukia.

"Study well and just go about your normal lives without worrying about me or anything that happened yesterday, ok?" she told them, rubbing their heads and planting small kisses on their foreheads, before turning to Rukia.

"Rukia...I'll leave them in your hands as well" said Ruby, placing her hands on hers.

"Yeah...they'll be fine. I just wish you safe travels, Ruby" she said, returning the favor.

"Yeah...we'll be fine, nee-san" said Ichigo.

"Take care Aneki...and don't you worry. I'll be there for them in your place all the way!" said Tatsuki.

"In that case…I'll be off then!" said Ruby, sporting a beaming smile back at them as she ran forward.

"See you~~!"

"Take care~~!"

"Bye bye~~!"

---

Ruby could still hear the cries and goodbyes of her friends as they slowly drowned out as she travelled further and further away from her. Indeed, technically speaking this did feel like being sent off on a journey to another land for a vacation. But it didn't make her forget how significant it was to her. She was running for what felt like several minutes, significantly longer than any other time she'd travelled inside the Garganta. And then finally, she found another crack in space, through which she jumped in and found herself in the familiar looking adobe of the Soul King, with the being in the God of Darkness's form standing next to him.

"I'm ready" she said.

"Very well" said the Soul King. "Then, let us begin"

"Before that…Soul King….I just want to say…thank you, for the gifts you've given me. I will forever be grateful for what you have done for me, my mom, my daughter, my master and my second mom" said Ruby.

"It is but as a small compensation for your role in protecting this world. It brings me happiness in doing so. As will my next gift in sending you back to your world" he said.

"Since you do not possess your current living body, and since Summer Rose and Crescent Rose do not have bodies of their own either, you will be sent to inhabit your own body, thereby granting you 'life' once more and the chance to change the fate of your world from a point where it becomes possible, essentially merging with your younger self's soul. Your mother and your daughter will continue to exist alongside you, and you will be able to freely switch between yourselves just as you have till now. Similar to how Ozma and his reincarnations can switch between themselves in the same body. However, unlike his curse, you will not assimilate each other and can still maintain your individualities" said the God of Darkness.

"Wait…couldn't you just give my mom and Crescent separate bodies?" asked Ruby.

"I could, but that would mean cutting your power and their powers to a third. They are part of you and your core powers as an arrancar. Even if they have different forms, do not forget that they are a part of your soul as you are now. If I did that, you would no longer have your powers as an arrancar, you would be reduced to the power you possessed as a vasto lorde. It is not something I would suggest" he said.

"It's fine sweetie" said Summer. "Let's not do something that we may not be able to change our minds about later on. We'll work something out. And if you ask me, I don't think neither of us wants to leave your side" she said. Internally, Ruby could feel Crescent nodding.

"…..well, alright. I suppose its fine then" sighed Ruby. "Then…I have nothing more to say. We're ready" she said.

"Very well. Since you as souls are much more intricate as an existence compared to souls in Remnant, your souls will conform to the rules of Remnant when I send you over and your body eventually will change accordingly. But I think it's best that you find out that yourself. With that said, you have my best wishes" said the Soul King, and Ruby could feel a familiar pull taking over her, the same the she felt when she was first summoned to the adobe of the Soul King.

And then, everything went black.

---

"….!..."

With a sudden movement, Ruby Rose's eyes flew wide open, her arms reflexively reaching outward. The fabric that lay over her slid off, and several things assaulted her senses all at once.

She was in a room. A familiar room. A cloth covered the top of her bed she found herself in. The air felt very different. She could feel reishi everywhere, in all different forms and amplitudes. She herself felt odd. She slowly slid herself off, making sure not to making any noise as she quietly stepped down from the top bunk.

It was all back. The desks in front of her, by either side of the door. The shelves of books above them and to the side, one for each member of her former team. The mirror on the right and the large window behind her, below which there was another row of shelves.

But naturally, the thing that stood out the most were the figures still sleeping within the other beds.

"Weiss…Blake…Yang…" she whispered to herself ever so softly, her hand covering her mouth from sheer surprise. Emotions welled up within her as she reached out to them in longing, but stopped herself in fear of waking them up.

It felt so odd, looking at the forms of her friends. It was as if they'd been pulled from her memories of so long ago and placed right in front of her, as if nothing had changed at all. And to Summer, the daughter she hadn't seen in a million years was right there, in front of her, sleeping soundly and peacefully.

But this was not an illusion. This was reality. Her current reality. As if to confirm the very same, she slowly opened the window to her room, quietly exiting her room through the window and closing it behind her. As by guided by her unconscious mind and practiced movements, she leapt, creating footholds in the air as she would back on Earth, going all the way to the top of the building. And right there, she could see the familiar sight of the broken moon shining down on her.

"Mom...Crescent...are you...?" she called out to herself.

"We're here sweetie" said Summer, answering her question. "Sorry I didn't say anything. I'm just...taking it all in. It has been a million plus years after all since I've been here. And my little sunshine...she's right there, sleeping like a baby, just as I remember her. I've seen all those visions of her in Hell, and everything that happens to her in all those other realities, whose only purpose was to...well, you know it yourself. But now...she's right there, where I can cuddle with her and hug her. I know we played it off cooly, but...this is really something.."

Indeed, this was no dream. This was reality.

Ruby Rose was back home. They were back home.

Part 1 - End

---

Afterword

Hoh man, we're finally here! I never thought I would get here when I started it an year ago. It's been a journey for me as well. One that wouldn't have been possible without your support as readers, so a big, big thank you for all your support and encouragement! I want to take this chance to talk about a couple of things which I know you'll find interesting.

Regarding this chapter atleast, I did want to include some more things, such as the limbs and the manifestation of the will of the limbs of the Soul King and their connection to the Soul King. Not to mention about the gods themselves. But I avoided it for now since I thought it would be needless exposition when it adds nothing significant right now to the characters and to the flow of the story. So I chose to introduce that information at a later stage in a better way. Because as it's mentioned in this chapter, they aren't the central characters of this tale.

And then, about the story itself. You'd be surprised to know how MUCH this polished version of the story differs from how I originally thought it would go when I first pictured it in my mind before posting chapters here.

It started off similarly, but Ruby's story in the 'draft' version was a LOT more depressing, twisted and darker with the descriptions of the messed up stuff happening to her a bit more descriptive than they have been in this polished version of the. Nothing in the world is as 'kind' to her in the initial draft version, and it almost makes her feel as if the whole world is against her until much much later. In fact, in that version, she only really found some solace after she learns of her resurreccion's name. Until then she literally had no one after being captured by Szayelaporro; no Tier and her family (well they were there, but after coming to HM, she pretends as if she doesnt know them and they dont recognize her either), she has no Summer, no Crescent and Ichigo resented her even more because he believed she killed Masaki. But...well, you can see how inconsitent and illogical that would have been when you try connecting the events in order and how little character development would have been there for many of the other , there was also the M rating to consider, which I'm aware is a 16+ rating and not 18+ rating in this site, so that in itself would've meant I needed to tone it down a bit.

Which is why I'm really glad the polished version I posted here is what it is. And it wouldn't be possible without help from a lot of different people and readers who have given me references, help with spelling, Grammar and suggestions regarding things. D'nnome for one has been a constant source of help with him helping me beta-read chapters. I'm also grateful for the help from Anonfluence in the form of references for the past couple of chapters. Lucian Naruto has been a great help in giving me some interesting background info on RWBY lore, which albeit hasn't been used yet, I'm sure will be extremely helpful reference for the next arc. Of course, I can't leave out the countless reviews I've gotten over the entire lenght of the fic, both via the review system and via PMs that have been a major source of encouragement and support.

At first, my plan was to actually write this story as two seperate entires here, one called Requiem for the Hollow Rose and the other called Redemption for the Hollow Rose. But I decided to keep them all in one place where it's convinient to read and follow updates. And I do kinda like Requiem over Redemption, so there's that as well.

Anyways, that's way more than I planned to say, so I'll stop here. Needless to say, the next chapter onwards, the focus will be on Remnant and its players!

RESPONSE TO REVIEWS:

L4 of the WEST: Yeah it was needed you could say, and this chapter is pretty much the same, wrapping up the loose ends and setting up a couple of things for the future arc.

cassnova5424: And we're finally here! Haha indeed! But you'll soon see that they have things much more..apparent to be reacting to before they even get to her kid.

hunterlife: And the wait is done!

rama alif: We're finally here!

Argorok: Thanks! She's finally back home, and next chapter, we'll find out in its entirety!

NinjaGogeta: Yeah that's kinda how I felt it should be. True, the being is a lot nicer and more on the rational side. True, they're one of my favourite genres too. And now, we're finally here. This chapter had two big reunions as well. I always appreciate feedback which is constructive and helps me improve next time, even if it's 'blunt', for the lack of a better word. Because it shows that that person wants you to improve and has expectations from you, which to me is a great thing. So thanks a lot! Haven't read Hitman Reborn, but I agree with your point here.

Monster King: Thanks!

firewyrm2: True. That's why Nel was so confused in her drunken state. I see. It's rated fairly decently in MaL, might check it out! Right now, nobody save for themselves. But the others will join her and visit at some point, as will people from Remnant to Earth.

ninguem248: I'm happy you're that expectant for the next arc and well, we're finally here!

EddBlackheart: In canon, yes. But actually, when I wrote this, I have a whole different scenario for bleachverse in my fic. I haven't mentioned it now because I felt it might be needless exposition, since it's not a major plot point at the moment. But all I can say is that I can assure you I have a valid and logical explanation for why it works. If you're still interested, I can of course explain it to you via a PM and we can even discuss out thoughts regarding the matter.

Loktar: Thanks, that means a lot to me! Of course I wll!

ranjira1988: Ahaha yeah!

Imperial warlord: Thanks a lot!

PUSSYSMASHER: Thanks! I personally like that battle as well, and I'm just as pleasantly surprised I was able to write it that way! Well, it the slayer bit was only an example. True, I could've used any other band. But yeah, it was simply to play a gag, so I didnt think too much about it.

Fregreg: Yup and there were a couple of important interactions left, which of course I wrapped up here. Yeah, that would be fine.

MasHD2490: Summer and Raven will have their moment, I assure you. I don't plan to side track Raven at all. And yeah, you're right. After everything she's gone through, the likes of Cinder are nothing to Ruby, both power wise as well as how much of an effect Cinder has on her. Which can be even worse than giving a damn about her, atleast to Cinder.

Kitsune Obsessed Freak: Yeah that was a mistake on my part. I really should change that, and it was something I misunderstood. But it was a small mistake, so I didn't feel like changing the document and then the chapter for just that. But...I suppose I could do it when I get time. And of course be mindful of using the correct slang from the next time onward. Thanks for pointing it out, much appreciated!