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).

42. Chapter 42: Aftermath

Chapter 42: Aftermath

Ruby staggered forward, her gait somewhat weary. The siblings caught up to her and Ruby practically allowed herself to slump against them.

"N-nee-san?" called out Ichigo in surprise. She then wearily put her arms around Karin and Yuzu as well.

"…finally I can do this properly. I can hold you three without worrying about the threat of the world being destroyed, the three of you poking your noses where they shouldn't be or even some organization of the afterlife going after you for their own purposes….gods, it's been so long since I've felt this carefree…although it looks like you're the ones holding me up….aha….ahaha…." she chuckled. "….I could definitely use a nice little meal, some sake to wash it down and a quick nap. Maybe someone to cuddle with too" she smiled.

"So….Lord Aizen is really gone then" said Momo, arriving at the scene and catching the attention of Ruby and the Kurosaki siblings. Along with her were Gin and to everyone's surprise, Kisuke. Momo's voice didn't sound particularly appalled or angry at the fact. She merely had a melancholy expression on her face, as if she had difficulty comprehending the emotions she herself felt. Ruby turned around, the small, cross shaped seal still in her hands.

"I see…..so that's…" said Gin, his eyes on the seal.

"Yeah….." replied Ruby. "But….you're mistaken about something, Momo, Gin. Aizen isn't sealed. He's dead"

"…what…? But he's right-" argued Momo, confused.

"No" replied Ruby, her expression serious. "The only ones who know what happened here really are those that are here currently. This is something Urahara-san, myself and Mom agreed upon. If word got out that Aizen was not dead but sealed like this, they would bring him to Central 46, and in their hands, we might as well start this whole thing all over again. Nobody knows that Aizen is immortal. Technically, if he doesn't ever escape his bindings and if the rest of us don't ever mention the real truth, to them, Aizen is as good as dead. And that's for the best"

"Indeed" said Urahara. "A lot of Central 46's actions have directly been the cause of the cascade of events that led to this day and therefore to the deaths of a lot of good people out there. Captain Tosen's case is one such example. And as Ruby-chan says, things never tend to go right when dealing with governments and people with power and influence such as Aizen. And that goes double for someone immortal like Aizen. The TV shows here in the World of the Living sure got that right time and time again" he said.

"…I see. That does make sense. And having seen the kind of things Central 46 does with my own two eyes, I definitely think this is a better option" said Gin.

"That makes sense and all…Ruby-nee, but then it doesn't change the fact that he's still there, sealed but still, there" said Karin, pointing to Ruby's hands. "What do we do about that?"

"Nothing really. We just leave him under someone's care. Either I can hang on to him or Urahara-san can. That way, even if he does get out, both of us have the means to handle him, should the need arise. And we both can maintain the seal in case it weakens" said Ruby.

"Personally, I think you should hang on to it, Ruby-chan. After all, if Aizen does break loose, you're better suited to handle the situation. After all, it was you who technically defeated him" said Urahara.

"…..alright, if you say so, Urahara-san" sighed Ruby. Somewhere in the corner of her heart, she suspected this is what might happen. But she was far from worried. Somehow, she had a gut feeling that Aizen was no longer someone to be concerned about and she was even more convinced that he himself wasn't going to complain as long as he was in her mom's company. Perhaps the others hadn't quite noticed it, but she was sure, as was her mom. In those last moments of their battle, it was evident that Aizen did possess a soft spot of sorts for her and her mom. She would even go so far as to say that he viewed her with a sense of kinship. Perhaps the only one out of all the people Aizen ever knew in his life. In a way, Ruby did feel it was somewhat of a pity, that he could only find someone who truly understood him and could see and talk to him as an equal after more than a thousand years of living as a solitary person.

There was an odd silence that followed after that matter was decided as they all stood looking at each other, wondering about the next things to come.

"So…what now?" asked Ichigo.

"Good question" said Urahara. "For one, I'm interested to know what you two plan on doing" he asked, looking at Momo and Gin. "If I understand correctly, the two of you may have been the most loyal of Aizen's men out of all of them. I did get a quick word about what happened with Momo-chan from Harribel-san, I'm not sure about you, Gin-san"

"Wait a minute, Urahara-san" interrupted Ruby. "Actually.." explained the ex-rose huntress, telling them of the things that happened between Gin and Aizen that she happened to witness. "….I did save him back then and I wouldn't say I'm sure what his motivations were, but even back in Hueco Mundo, he never really did try to harm anyone. I don't think I've seen him kill someone either and even here, he didn't either. It's safe to say that he never really intended to work with Aizen to begin with, which would also make sense considering the bits and pieces I was able to hear from Aizen before he tried finishing him off"

"….well, isn't that a surprise?" wondered Urahara. "You really had us there, Gin-san. I didn't even suspect something like that"

"I mean, could you really blame us? He's got that creepy look on his face like he's just waiting to skewer you or something" commented Karin dryly.

"You're very straight to the point, arentcha? You're going to hurt my poor, poor feelings, Karin-chan" said Gin, sweatdropping. "I can't really help my face ya know. It's the one I was born with. And, it's as you say, Ruby-chan. You did save me, and I don't think I'll feel right in my heart if I can't justify myself". And so, Gin continued to talk about how he met Rangiku one day, collapsed from hunger and how he saved her, which led to the two of them living together and dealing with the difficulties of living in the Rukon district. Following which one day, Aizen appeared, stealing Rangiku's spirit energy to give to the Hogyoku. Which then led to him joining the Soul reapers together with Rangiku so that they would never be in a situation where they needed protection from others, as well as Gin's own personal vendetta against Aizen and his plans to work his way up the Gotei 13, all so that he could get close to Aizen in order to get his revenge for Rangiku. Which led to a series of events that led back to the current day.

"…Honestly, it may sound like a justifiable cause, but there's no doubt that I've done some pretty nasty things along the way. Like helping captain Aizen with his hollowfication experiments on captain Hirako and the other Vizards. In the end, this was nothing more than a selfish quest to get revenge, something that Rangiku herself doesn't remember" he said. To Ruby and even to Yuzu, it was odd seeing Gin that way. In the short time Yuzu had known him and in the few years that Ruby and Summer had gotten to know the man, he had never been so open about his feelings. Perhaps after his goals had been achieved, albeit partially, he simply had no reason to hide them. Or perhaps he was just grateful to Ruby and Summer for granting him a second chance at making things right, especially with Rangiku. But what was definitely certain was that he definitely looked as if a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Which were further accentuated by the softened expressions on his face.

"Now it makes sense…." Said Momo. "Back then, in the Soul Society, before all this began, Rangiku would let slip from time to time about how 'that guy' never spent as much time with her as he did back when the two of them were kids. And during a rare occasion, she mentioned that it was you, captain Ichimaru. At that time, I found it really odd that she would talk about you. Because nobody in the Soul Society suspected that you both had a history together like that. But I suppose given what you said, you couldn't go around flaunting about it to everyone"

"I'm surprised you're not mad at me for betraying captain Aizen. Unlike me, you really did look up to him after all" commented Gin.

"…a while back, maybe I would be. But now, I do understand that people have different paths in life that leads them to very opposite truths and principles, none of which are better than another. And honestly, despite everything I've said and done, I did hold Rangiku-san and Shiro-chan dear to me. Rangiku-san lost one person dear to her already. I'm just happy that Ruby-san saved another from being lost to her forever" replied Momo.

"If only the two of you had been this open about your real feelings from the start" sighed Ruby. "No matter, I'm still happy you're willing to be true to yourselves, even if it happened somewhat too late. So…? What will you do now? I don't want to burst your bubble after all that you've told us, but I don't think the others will be as understanding as we have been"

"I know. But even so, I'm going to turn myself over in. As I mentioned, I have done some pretty nasty things, even if it was for bringing down captain Aizen. And at the end of the day, I'm just glad Rangiku and also Izuru are safe. I do feel bad for the rest, but nothing I can do now can change that. So instead, I'd like to do what I can to make up for what I've caused" replied Gin.

"….I see. Well, I can respect that. But you know Ichimaru-san, if you're going to do that, I don't think going back to the Soul Society is an option. For one, we know that Central 46 loves to pass judgements over others they think are dangerous, sometimes without even checking first. And you were practically aiding someone who KILLED all of them. The new bunch who'll take over are hardly going to be any different. Instead…..why don't you stay with me here in the World of the Living?" offered Urahara, surprising Gin.

"…here…? You don't mean….like Shihouin-san and captain Shiba, do you?" he asked.

"I don't think you have other options. Rather than be wasted away by them, you could do a lot better being here with Kisuke. Well, you won't technically be a part of Gotei 13, but even so, that's still way better than being imprisoned for ever or being executed, wouldn't you say?" said Ruby.

"Ah…well….I suppose so…" he replied, unsure.

"Just go along with it for now and don't think too much. You can worry about small details later. You want to do something to make up for Rangiku-san and the others, don't you?" asked Ichigo. "Look, I may not have know you as much as nee-san did and the others, but I can trust someone she does. So you can be rest assured that whatever happened to you before, it wont be the same now"

And although Gin was still somewhat hesitant, he was willing to go along with it for now.

"What about you, Momo?" asked Ruby, turning to said soul reaper. "Will you also join Gin?" But Momo shook her head.

"No. Despite everything that happened, despite that fact that Lord Aizen was the one who…..I still respect him. I still…..I just can't look back on all the other things he's done for me. But at the same time, I do respect and care for everyone else I've come across as well. Maste…Summer-san, you, Harribel-san, Rangiku-san, Shiro-chan, Abarai-kun, Izuru-kun and all of the others back at the Soul Society. And it would make me happy if I could go back to those days, staying together with everyone in the Soul Society"

"Then..!" started Yuzu. But was interrupted when Momo shook her head again.

"Everyone has their own ideals, values and way of life. Truths that they abide by which has made me completely blind to the world around me. Both Summer-san and Aizen-sama are people I respect deeply. And yet, in the end, both of them see the world in completely opposite lights. But they both came across their own principles and way of lives through many years of seeing, watching and experiencing the world around them. Ironically, whenever Summer-san was with Lord Aizen, he would have the most peculiar expression on his face, one of satisfaction. He would see her as an equal, unlike how he saw me or anyone else. Or when he spoke about you, Urahara-san. He would have the most annoyed and irritated expression on his face at times, but I think even getting such a reaction out of him is something nobody else could do. It just goes to show how much he recognized you as an equal, even if it was someone he disagreed with a lot. I could never...bring that kind of satisfaction to Lord Aizen, no matter how much I respected him or agreed with his ideals. In the end, I assumed one was wrong and the other was right. But I know that's not how it works. Fighting with Harribel-san and Yoruichi-san taught me that. And for that they have my deepest thanks as well. We all need something to keep us going. And that's why…..I want to find my own path and my own way of life. By seeing and experiencing the world and drawing my own conclusion as to the kind of person I really am. Not because someone told me, but because that is what makes me happy" said Momo. "And that's why…..I can't go with you, captain Ichimaru. As much as I wish I could see the others. And Shiro-chan's death was partially my fault. I don't think I can face them after that. But one day, once I'm a better person, once I'm no longer lost, I'd definitely like to meet everyone again, and talk about how we've lived our lives and the things we've seen and experienced"

"….Momo….."

"….I see" said Summer, switching for Ruby. She had a somewhat proud, but melancholy smile on her face. "Personally….I think you demean yourself too much and you place Aizen and myself on a pedestal too high. You've barely began your life whereas boya and I had many, many centuries to reflect upon ours. And yet, you're already more mature than many out there. As someone who once mentored you, it really makes me proud. And there's one thing you don't get, sweetie" she said, going up to her and patting her head. "You may think Aizen was someone who always knew what he wanted. But to me, he was a lost man himself. He was so absorbed in his ideals, it made him blind to the things that he had right next to him. And one of them happens to be right in front of me. If you ask me, you're one of the biggest things he's forsaken in his quest for transcendence" she said. Tears glistened in her quivering eyes as she fiercely embraced Summer, merely bawling out audibly due to her inability to express her words verbally. But Summer could feel it all and they spoke more than mere words could express.

She stayed like that for a while until she could finally compose herself and wiped away her tears.

" I think I'll be leaving now, Summer-san, before I start bawling my eyes out again" she said with an awkward chuckle.

"Leaving..? Where to, Momo-chan? I understand what you want but even you should know that you can't just wander around aimlessly right? I mean, what about things like food, shelter or the like?" asked Gin.

"At the very least, why don't you stay a while? You know, prepare yourself a little bit?" suggested Summer. But once again, Momo shook her head.

"Thanks….but I'm afraid that if I stayed and gave in to temptation, I might never want to leave again. I don't think my resolve is that weak, but it's just that….I don't want to take any chances. As for where, I was thinking…maybe I'll wander the Rukon district. I've only ever seen the 1st district, where the most prosperous souls live. But I want to see it all. So, I think the Rukon is a good start. And then…maybe I'll see some of the real world as well. As for food and shelter, I'm sure I can manage something. It's a good opportunity to learn too" replied Momo. She then went over to Ichigo, Karin and Yuzu.

"Yuzu-chan….we may not have spent as much time as I did with Summer-san and Ruby-san, but I still had a lot of fun when we did talk during our time in Hueco Mundo. You take care, alright?" she said with a smile.

"…will we meet again?" she asked in return.

"Definitely. Next time, let's spend some time with all the others as well" she assured. And then she turned to Ichigo and Karin. "Ichigo-san….Karin-chan…next time, I'd like to get to know you both better as well. I…know it might sound strange coming from me, especially since we were in opposite sides. But even so, I'd like to know Ruby-san's family and Yuzu-chan's family better" she said.

"The feeling's mutual" replied Ichigo "And don't worry about it. I'm not…we're not ones to hold on to hard feelings" he said. Karin joined in with a nod. With a look of finality, Momo finally looked at Gin.

"Captain Ichimaru….um….thanks for everything" she said, "Please tell Rangiku-san…..no….on second thoughts, I'd like to tell her myself one day. But please take care. I hope things go well for you"

"You too, dearie" he replied in his usual manner. She then drew her Zanpakuto, creating a Senkaimon. With one final look, she flashed a weak smile at Summer before disappearing within the gate she opened.

"….was it really alright to let her go like that?" asked Urahara. "I assume the others would definitely ask about her too. Sure, she may not have done as much against the Soul Reapers as the other members of Aizen's army, but…"

"It's fine, Urahara-san" said Ruby. "I believe she deserves a second chance to find her own path. Until now, she was living in the shadow of others. Judging her based on that is just wrong. If she were captured now, she won't ever get that chance. And besides, I'm sure they have a lot more to worry about than Momo. Shouldn't we be going there first?" asked Ruby.

"Yeah, I suppose you're right. Oh dear, this'll be a long, long day, won't it?" sighed Urahara, straightening his hat. "In that case, let's make haste. Ichimaru-san, you're with me. We wouldn't want the others to be attacking you on sight now do we?"

---

"Aizen is dead"

When Kisuke Urahara spoke those words, there were no celebrations, no eruption of cheers from those present nearby. The damage their battle with Aizen caused extended beyond mere physical injuries. Their environment spoke volumes about it and the air surrounding them even more. All that was left were dregs of the battle; minds too tired to celebrate and too injured to rejoice. There were collective gasps and sighs of relief that passed throughout those that heard the enigmatic candy store owner while some others chose to whisper and talk to those next to them.

Seeing as how most had been brought to the same spot after being incapacitated, once Orihime and Unohana healed them all, there was no surprise that there had been some tense, close encounters between some of the parties, especially those between the Espada and the Soul Reapers. But with the captain of the 4th division quickly resolving those issues, things calmed down enough. Following which each person/entity would simply gather around with their own allies while cautiously eying the others. The tense mood however, didn't disappear until Urahara's arrival. Ruby on the other hand, chose to join her comrades first before meeting up with Urahara.

---

"…..Little..one…?" called out Harribel, surprised. "T….that form of yours…."

"…no way….is that…your resurreccion….?!" Exclaimed Apacci.

"...huh, your hair's longer…it looks nice on you" remarked Sung-sun curiously.

"…oh wow….that reiatsu…..it's at the same level as when Tia uses her resurreccion….!" Remarked Lily.

"How in the world did that happen…?!" asked Mia-rose.

"…and is that Crescent…?" asked Lily.

"Your face…..it's healed too…" remarked Starrk.

The Tres Bestias gathered around Ruby, along with Pesche, Dondochaka, Starrk and Lily while Harribel's hands automatically reached out to Ruby, stroking her face, her eyes looking at the ex-rose huntress as if she was gazing at the face of her own child. Ruby's face was fatigued, but still radiated a kind of peace and wellbeing that completely drove away her own woes and fatigue. The happiness Tier felt from seeing Ruby in her current form was immeasurable.

"It's really only thanks to Ichi in some part but more importantly, a good kick in the back from Masaki, Mom, Crescent, Master and all of my friends that I was able to find peace. Of course, that means you too, big-sis" replied Ruby, lying her head against Tier. "And…of course, it's thanks to you guys too that I was even able to reach here" she said, looking at Pesche and Dondochaka. "But now, it's finally over. Aizen isn't there anymore and we can go back to how things were before"

"So it's really done? Aizen's really gone?! You're telling me you managed to beat a monster like that?!" exclaimed Lily. "All of us, along with that Kisuke guy, that cat lady and that other Shinigami couldn't even put a scratch on him and…."

"Actually, I wouldn't take credit for it at all. It was mostly Ichi who overpowered him. I simply supported him along with Kari and Yuzu…." she said, hesitating and looking away. A sign that wasn't missed by Tier.

"What is it?" she asked, urging Ruby who looked and then averted her eyes again. She remained silent for a while before sighing and giving up.

"Ah, I just can't hide anything from you, big-sis" she said. "You see….Aizen…he isnt really dead. We defeated him but the Hogyoku made him immortal. So we had to seal him after he was weakened. This is him right here" she said, showing the cross shaped seal that now hung from her neck in the form of a necklace. Tier, Nel, Pesche, Dondochaka, The Tres Bestias and Lily stepped back cautiously, but Ruby raised her hand to assure them it was alright.

"Damn monster.." cursed Grimmjow.

"Immortal..?! Oy, oy, you're kidding right..?! I mean, sure, some of us might have hyper regeneration, but no one's immortal…I mean…that would be too…" said Pesche, surprised.

"Actually, I'm not too surprised" replied Ulquiorra, the only one who was calm. "Aizen-sama was already strong as he was and the Hogyoku gave him the means to ascend past anything that is humanely perceivable. In his own words, immortality is merely a human concept born of the fear of death. It simply means that no 'human' means are lethal to Aizen-sama. What surprises me is that you managed to seal him, as powerful as he was. I will admit, though my hunch was correct about Ichigo Kurosaki, I am still surprised to see Aizen-sama fall to his and your hands, and the conclusion at the end of his path"

"Yeah" agreed Ruby. "And it was my silver eyes that finally ended things, surprisingly. When he was there, all weakened, I don't know what came over me but I felt this big urge to use my eyes. And when I did, it's as if the Hogyoku reacted to it and in response, abandoned Aizen for that one moment. And given that he was already weakened, the seal that mom shot into him with Urahara-san finally kicked in and this is what happened. Mom made that seal because in the past, she faced another immortal in our world"

"But wait….your silver eyes…didn't you say that it only worked against hollows and those demons from Hell?" asked Sung-sun.

"True…and that's why I don't understand why it worked either. But….before he was sealed, Aizen was looking elsewhere when my eyes were active. I'm almost positive I head him say something about how the Hogyoku didn't recognize him as its master. But other than that…I'm not too sure. But after that, mom and Aizen had one final conversation and he just…got sealed up" she replied.

"Perhaps the Hogyoku recognized it as a higher power" said Ulquiorra. "One even greater than Aizen-sama in the state he was. After all, it is one that could bend the very rules of the world we live in, such as being able to break the chains of Hell"

"Maybe….but all in all, the end result is that Aizen's finally gone" she said.

"But then why did you….why did Urahara-san say that he was dead?" asked Nel.

"It's….a bit of a long story, but basically, if we told everyone that he was still alive, those in the Soul Society, especially Central 46, wouldn't stop trying to get their hands on him, both because they would see him as an immortal being and also because Aizen was the one who toppled the Soul Society. I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to get their hands on him just so that they could 'experiment on him for the greater good of the Soul Society' or some nonsense like that. He also still has the Hogyoku after all, an object that can literally grant any desire. And that's why I'd appreciate if you all could also keep silent about it" said Ruby. "I didn't feel right hiding this from you, but there's no way I could"

"I understand" said Tier. "You needn't worry little one. We don't really have any reason to be talking about it to begin with. But are you sure the seal on him will hold? I'm worried about you hanging on to him in such close vicinity"

"Yup yup! Our lips are sealed! You can trust us, sister!" said Pesche and Dondochaka in unison.

"Thanks, big-sis. I'll be fine. It was mom who made the seal after all. If anything does happen, we can take care of it. And well….I don't think he'll try anything to catch me…catch us off guard. Our last conversation did end on a somewhat positive note after all" she said, smiling. She then walked over to Grimmjow.

"Someone's grumpy" she said, tilting her head and smirking at him.

"Hmph, in the end, it was over before we even got to do anything. You got to hog all the glory of beating that bastard" he said. "And why the hell should we worry about those losers finding out about Aizen anyways? What're they gonna do if they do find out? It's not like they can take us on in a head on fight for one. If anything, they should be kissing up to us for what we did for them" he said.

"As I said, most of the fighting was done by Ichi. If anything, I was like a minor inconvenience to Aizen compared to Ichi" she sighed. "And wait, you DID fight him, didn't you? Don't go blaming others when you weren't strong enough" teased Ruby, putting out her tongue.

"Damn brat, you really know how to get on my nerves don't you" growled Grimmjow, a vein popping in his forehead. Ruby giggled naughtily.

"Chillax will ya? You'll get better opponents to fight later on. And I know you'll keep becoming stronger and stronger. So don't be cribbing about the small things now. And with regards to your other concern, it's not a good thing to underestimate the Soul Reapers. Yamamoto, Yachiru-san, Ukitake and Kyoraku are all immensely powerful. Not to mention Urahara, who could take us all by himself if he wanted to. He's just that strong. And so are Yoruichi and Isshin. I'm sure we all have seen it first hand by now" she asked. The others nodded in agreement, while Grimmjow begrudgingly looked away. "So yeah. If they really wanted to, they could make us hand over Aizen to them. But….I just can't keep hiding stuff from you guys. That's why I told you. But please, just keep it to yourself. Atleast for now" she said.

"Tch…fine. It's not like I care about what they do to that bastard" said Grimmjow, waving off. "And besides, I'm more interested in seeing how strong you are like this" he said, smirking.

"I know. I could tell since I was here. Don't worry, I'd love to go a couple of rounds with you myself. Look forward to it, 'k?" said Ruby, winking and flicking Grimmjow with her hand in the face, causing said blue haired arrancar to show an expression of embarrassment and mild annoyance, which only further bemused the ex-rose huntress. Ruby then sharply turned her head towards the new source of commotion. "…things seem to be getting quite heated there, and well, mom wanted to meet Juushiro and Kyoraku, so I'm just going to quickly head over and calm things down there. Wait….actually, you guys should follow along as well" she said, going ahead and waving for the rest to come following after them.

"…..was she always like this…?" asked Lily, blinking.

"…she seems a lot more…..chirpier…" remarked Apacci.

"..and snarkier?" added Mila-rose. "Did Summer rub off on her after all this time?"

"Master Ruby definitely is different after those scars of her were healed" remarked Dondochaka.

"…she sure did a number of this oaf for sure fufufu!" giggled Nel, looking at Grimmjow. Tier could only smile.

"It does remind me of the times she was nothing more than an adjuchas but filled with life. It feels as though she may have regained a small portion of that part of her life, if only a tiny bit" she said fondly. Ulquiorra however, raised his eyes.

"Is that so? I do not see anything particularly different about her" he remarked.

"Of course not, you weren't there, so it's only natural you wouldn't know" said Starrk. "In any case, let's follow along for now" he suggested, and they obliged.

---

"Ichigo! Karin! Yuzu!" called out the voices of Rukia and Tatsuki, running over to them before anyone else. The siblings were naturally joined by Kisuke and Gin, who of course were then greeted by Isshin and Yoruichi. Ichigo and the rest were then joined by Orihime, Chad and Uryu.

"So…..did you guys finally do it?" asked Tatsuki impatiently. "And where's aneki?"

"Yeah…it's over. Nee-san wanted to catch up with her friends there, so she went ahead. As for Aizen.." continued Ichigo, giving a brief explanation of the events, including his current form, the battle itself and the outcome, naturally conforming to the version they all agreed on telling everyone else. He was tired himself, and wanted nothing more than to call it a day, so he made sure to tell them just enough without going too much into details.

"I see…so he's dead…." Remarked Rukia, somewhat downcast. "Ichigo….Karin…Yuzu….I…know it must've been difficult for you guys to have delivered that finishing blow. But just know that some people aren't worth hesitating when the moment calls for it. And if you still feel regrets, you know that I'm always there for you guys to share your concerns with" she said.

"Yeah, and you can count on me too you know. I've always had your backs ever since you guys can remember, and now isnt any different. Honestly, I wish I could have shared that burden with you during that decisive moment. But I know I would've just gotten in your way. Doesn't mean I didn't want to be there with you guys up there, trust me. But even I know when something is way out of my league. And I guess helping those injured guys was just as important. Anyways, what I mean is…ah….that….you can depend on me as well" said Tatsuki, placing her hands on theirs.

Hearing that from both of them did nothing to calm them down. Rather, it only made their guilt in lying to them even worse. Ichigo for one, could only look away guiltily. But he knew that with everyone else present in the vicinity, he really couldn't slip up the truth about Aizen no matter how much he wanted to tell them, the two of them who had always supported them during the days his big sister had been away.

"Anyways, let's go meet the others. I'm sure they're waiting to hear some news as well" said Rukia with a smile, leading them towards Unohana, Kyoraku, Ukitake and the others, much to their relief. Kisuke, Yoruichi and Isshin, they spent the next few minutes discussing about various thing; mostly on how to go about burying those that had been killed in the line of duty and giving them a proper send off, restoring Karakura Town to its rightful place, as well as a ton of other different topics for which Kisuke was called upon since Mayuri was no longer alive to complete those duties.

But soon enough, a massive argument had broken out, mostly in the form of outcries from the Soul Reapers upon Urahara showing them Gin and his plans to have his as his aide. While the plan was to reconcile with the others, Ichigo, Rukia, Karin, Yuzu, Orihime, Chad, Tatsuki and Uryu had no choice but to watch from the sidelines while Kisuke, Yoruichi and Isshin tried their best to calm the situation down. And the Head Captain's stubbornness was definitely not helping their case, as it was only egging on the others to finish off Gin where he stood, such as Kenpachi, who was already standing there with a sinister grin on his face. The only ones who weren't participating in the chaos were Unohana, Kyoraku and Ukitake.

"Yeesh, this has really gotten out of hand" remarked Kyoraku, scratching the back of his head.

"Perhaps we should go stop them" suggested Ukitake.

"The real question is why the two of you are here to begin with and not there with Kisuke to dissolve the situation" came a feminine voice from behind them, and they could feel one of their ears being pulled.

"Ow..Owww…That voice…..no..way…..Natsuko-chan…!" remarked Kyoraku,

"Ah…that stings..! Summer-san…..it really is you…!" exclaimed Ukitake, turning his head.

"I'm gone for just a 1000 years and look how much you two have grown!" beamed the eccentric soul reaper. "You've both become big boys now!" She then flung her hand around their necks, bringing them closer to her in a motherly embrace.

"Summer-san….calling us 'boys' at our age is just…" said Ukitake, awkwardly smiling.

"….you make it sound like a 1000 years is a short amount of time, Natsuko-chan.." said Kyoraku in a similarly awkward manner as his companion. But despite her sudden appearance, the two of them allowed themselves to stay that way for a few seconds longer to really take in the fact that the one who was like a mother to them all those years back was here with them again, pulled into the present as if nothing had changed at all in 1000 years. Summer then slowly let go, bemused by the surprised reaction the two in front of them had.

"So….what Kisuke told us really is true then…..you've found your daughter and you've….." said Ukitake, unable to complete his sentence. She looked so very different compared to the woman they used to know. For one, gone was her soul reaper attire and anything resembling the same. Instead, they now gazed upon an arrancar, one whose features matched so very closely to those of her companions. But what stood out was her expression. It was no longer one the exhibited the meekness she had before. Now, there was a certain confidence, a certain clarity that they had never seen her have. Her eyes looked manic and outlandish rather than meek and submissive. But despite all that, that same gentle tone in her voice was present as it had always been.

"Yeah…." nodded Summer. "And I've heard things too, mostly from Yachi" said Summer. "Juu-kun….you look much better now. It seems you've completely recovered from your illness. I'm really happy. You're even a captain now! Who would've thought! And Yachi tells me you're quite responsible and diligent too! Of course, you always were like that even back then. But still, it really makes me happy to see you like this! As for you, Shun-chan.." said Summer, turning to Kyoraku with an angry pout. "You're still the same old naughty boy who keeps causing trouble for the head captain and for Yachi, aren't you?!" she said, pulling his ear more. "And what's this I hear about chasing after women?! I don't recall raising you up to be such a floozy. You didn't even leave out your own lieutenant who happens to be your niece from what I hear?! Shun-chan, I'm appalled! And you Juu-kun! How could you simply stand and watch while he does that?! I expected more out of you, young man, you should be an example to others!" she continued on and on, continuing to berate him and somehow Juushiro found himself getting dragged into it as well, while Unohana continued to watch them with a smile on her face, relishing in the scene that looked no different than it did a 1000 years back.

"Ow…Natsuko-chan…ahahah! Ow! Ow…! Owowowow! Somehow….ow! I can't say I haven't missed this…! Ahahahaha!" chuckled Kyoraku as Summer continued to berate him. "But Natsuko-chan….shouldn't you go an meet Yamaji as well? I'm sure he'll be happy to see you too. And besides….we can't really pacify the situation there like….this can we..?" he asked with an awkward smile. Summer stopped, drawing in closer to Kyoraku, narrowing her eyes and glaring at Kyoraku comically, and then sighed. "…you're right. I suppose it's best if things are resolved first" she said, "But don't think we're done just yet, you two. I still have plenty of things I'd like to say!" she said with a smile, a vein popping in her head.

"Yes ma'am!" came the swift and almost immediate reply from the duo, almost like it was a reflex.

Their attention was brought back to the issue at hand when a loud snapping sound caught their attention. Upon looking, they could see a certain busty, orange haired Soul Reaper woman with a pink sash around her shoulder slapping Gin, her face containing a complex variety of expressions. She even looked to be on the verge of tears. Gin, on the other hand, looked away with an apologetic smile.

Making haste, Unohana, Kyoraku, Ukitake and Summer made their way towards the rest. And with that, Kyoraku and Ukitake along with Unohana did managed to dissolve the situation quite fast after. Though there were still arguments regarding Gin and Urahara's proposition, it all fell flat once after they were reminded of duties that they still had to attend to that took much more precedence than their own personal thoughts. The day had been long, and the loses had been too grave. There were people to mourn, to bury and send off so they could rest in peace. There were words that needed to be shared, bodies to rest and recover, as well as an entire town to relocate. And while the Soul Reapers did have a reaction to the remaining arrancars, Ruby, Summer and Ichigo's intervention helped establish as temporary ceasefire between the two parties, considering that they were the very same arrancars that had helped end the battle with Aizen. And while the head captain did find himself surprised at Summer's presence, he had far too many other things in his mind to really let that sink in. Plus, in his long life as a soul reaper, he was already used to seeing people whom he thought were dead coming back to life. And Ruby and Summer themselves were mentally drained to participate in any other social activities.

Before they left however, Orihime yelped rather loudly, getting the attention of those nearby.

"Ah!" She screamed, out of surprise rather than pain. "There's still that! I….I can bring them back!" she exclaimed.

"Back..? Who are you talking about?" asked Yoruichi.

"Those that died! Toshiro, captain Komamura and all the others that died. I…I think I can revive them!" she said, half nervous and half expectant. An eerie silence followed after her proclamation.

"Orihime…..I understand that you're upset about not being able to save everyone. But sometimes trying to help can do the opposite" started Rangiku empathetically. "I know you're a good girl, but it's alright, you can-"

"No, that's not it! I…I remember what Aizen told me about my ability. In that it was something 'At the level of the gods' and 'Beyond mere spatial and temporal reversal' and was closer to rejecting events that happened, and return them to a state before it was altered. He even mentioned in passing that I could revive a dead person as long as my desire to reject the act of death was strong enough. That's why….I think I can bring them all back!" she said excited. The silence was back, and this time, the expressions on their faces was a lot more serious. Hopeful even.

"Well….it certainly does seem plausible. Her ability was granted to her thanks to the Hogyoku, which is an object that can be said to be akin to limbs of the Soul King that were detached from him when this world formed. I too considered it a possibility. I suppose….there's not harm in trying" said Urahara, sweat forming in his face.

"I'm going to give it a shot now!" she said, going over to where Toshiro's burnt and lifeless body lay.

"Soten Kisshun, I reject!" The familiar golden triangular shaped barrier was cast over Toshiro, and Orihime maintained all of her focus and her desire in rejecting that which she saw in front of her. She tried focusing her thoughts about her innate desire to help others avoid a fate similar to what happened to her brother, and how much she never wanted to see such a scene again. Rangiku's hopeful face in front of her only added more to that feeling.

At first, nothing much happened. But then, gasps of shock and astonishment rang out as something within the barrier began to change. The burns were slowly receding. Burnt hair and skin were slowly regaining their former shape, as were any other injuries over the body. Clothes that were absent were slowly returning, bit by bit, over the still forming body.

"…..it's….impossible…." breathed Rukia, hands clasped over her mouth. "He's really…"

"I can't believe I'm really seeing this…!" exclaimed Renji.

"…..!..."

Not even the Espada or the older captains were spared of their bafflement.

"…we've seen her heal wounds before, even break seals that nothing else could break…..but this….this is a whole different level…!" remarked Tier.

"…..level…?! This is beyond fucking human….." grimaced Grimmjow.

"…..Shunsui…..are you really seeing this…?!" exclaimed Ukitake.

"…..as unbelievable as it is, yes…." Said Kyoraku, unable to maintain his composed persona. "…it's no wonder Aizen went through all that trouble to capture her…"

"….No kido comes close to this…!" said Unohana, surprised. "Not even the best of us can restore something that is dead…."

And then, once the burns had receded to a considerable level and the body was healed of major injuries, something moved within the barrier. Toshiro's hands, which were still for the longest time, twitched. And then, so did his eyes, which only added more fuel to the foreboding astonishment they felt. It felt so outlandish, so forbidden. Her whole existence felt so wrong.

"…she's really…!"

"…th….this can't…..this is….wrong…!" remarked Apacci, stunned.

And then, something shifted. Orihime, who had been focused and deaf to the sounds around her finally stirred, still maintaining the shield around her. The world, and even the process within the barrier itself had gone completely still. Blinking, she looked around. It was only then that she noticed that it wasn't just the sounds and her powers that had frozen. The entire world seemed to have come to a standstill. As if time itself had stopped. And nothing she did changed anything, even the barrier in front of her which was part of her own powers.

And then, in that unchanging world, she felt movement. No, it was better to describe it as a presence. But even that was doing injustice. She'd been close to arrancars, soul reaper captains and even around Aizen when he was in his ascended state. She had seen and experienced being around powerful and foreboding spiritual pressures and presences. She even knew what it felt like to face Hell reiatsu from all those times she'd been around Ruby. But this, this was nothing compared to all those times. It was as if the sky had dropped. And she wasn't even sure what she felt was reiatsu at all. She found herself frozen, unable to even face whatever was approaching her. She could feel pain shoot up from her chest, as a consequence of her body's instincts and fear reacting to this thing, whatever it was approaching her. With a shivering body and wide, distraught eyes, she slowly turned around to face the one presence within the immobile world around her.

Standing in front of her was an elegantly dressed middle aged man, with pale skin, slicked back jet black hair, sharp features and emotionless eyes with golden pupils. His gaze was even more unreadable and inhuman than Ulquiorra's and yet, there was no apparent malice within them. Instead, there was only cold indifference. He was dressed in a pure white formal suit and pants, with a pure white shirt worn inside the suit. And around the neck, where his skin was exposed, Orihime could make out some kind of black tattoos that was no doubt only part of the tattoos he had. But what did stand out the most was that he was barefoot, and his feet and hands were drenched in a black, tar like substance that was dripping down as he walked towards her. The tar like substance was staining the hem of his pants as well as around the wrists around his suit. There were places in his suit that were also marred and stained with the same black tar.

"That is not allowed, Orihime Inoue" he said, speaking with the same indifferent gaze. But Orihime couldn't help but be stumped at his voice. It was so angelic, so soothing and calming. It was like a spell weaved around her ears, one that pulled her into a deep, comfortable sleep. It held no malice, hatred or animosity. And yet, it felt divine in a sort of foreboding way. Even though this thing was looking down on her, she could tell there was no condescending tone in his voice either.

"The cycle of life and death are part of the very fabric of the laws that govern the worlds you and many billions live in. All souls are equal in that all are required to follow the same rules no matter their race, origin, efforts or circumstances. You are no different. Though you have been granted the means to do so, it is not within your right to use them to break the worlds that continue to function in harmony" he said, approaching the barrier she had cast over Toshiro. "Consider this a warning. You are but a human soul. Never try to play the role of that which you are not. The next time, the consequences for such an act will be far more severe than the consequences that follow for breaking the laws that make up this world" he said, reaching out to her and touching her in the forehead with his black, tar like substance coated index finger. In that instance, Orihime felt a sensation beyond anything she had ever thought possible to experience Instantly, it was as if her senses were completely overwhelmed, overwritten and overtaken by something. She couldn't tell if anything that was happening to her was real or not. She couldn't so much as describe what was really happening to her. She couldn't tell if she was in pain, in agony, in rage, in sorrow, in happiness or in ecstasy. It was as if she was made to experience the feeling of punishment, atonement and repentance itself. It made her body wildly convulse and the barrier behind her shattered after turning shades of many different colors. In fact, she couldn't so much as tell how long it had been. It felt like it all happened in an instant and yet, it felt as if it was infinite. And just as quickly as it had come, it was gone, and she couldn't even tell if her mind was any different than before he touched her. And yet, the message was engraved into her as clear as day. What he did was beyond anything human senses and minds could perceive.

"Remember my words, Orihime Inoue. This is your last warning. Death is a part of life, and you would do well to accept it as such. Follow the laws that govern this world and you will be welcomed in this world with wide open arms. Failing to do so will mean removing your soul from the karmic cycle of life and death itself, a fate worse than anything you can imagine but a feat that will be necessary to preserve the sanctity of this world's laws and one that I assure you is what awaits in your path should you continue to walk this path" he said, before walking away.

And then, everything went blank. The people around her, the buildings, the world and the universe. All that was left was her, in an endless, pitch black, never ending nothingness. A blink later, she was back. The people, the buildings, the world and the universe around her. Her position was different compared to where she had been. Her body and her mind were still just as fragile and shaken as they had been just a blink ago. The captains and soul reapers around her were wrapping up their discussions and were planning to leave.

"What's wrong, Orihime?" asked Tatsuki, drawing close to her. "Hey…are you ok?" asked her best friend, noticing that something was off about her expression. "One second you look like you got this bright flash of inspiration that always seems to come to you whenever you make your recipes and then the next you look like you've watched the unspeakable horrors under your bed come to life or something. Is everything ok?" she asked once more.

"Eh..?" gasped Orihime lightly, confused. Looking around, from observing the talks that those around her were having, she felt familiar words. In fact, they were saying the same things they said right before she proposed the idea about using her soten kissun to revive Toshiro and the others. Somehow, she was taken back to just before she raised her suggestion. But everything that she experienced and saw certainly did happen. Her body could never forget that kind of experience. So that could only mean whatever happened was real. As real as the lonely, despair filled void she found herself in after that entity left. And that even this was his doing. A warning of what would be.

"No….it's fine. I'm alright, Tatsuki-chan" she assured, putting on her best effort to remain calm. "I'm…just a bit tired after all this" she said. Tatsuki offered a consolidatory smile and pulled her closer. "I know. It's been pretty rough on all of us. It's been a long day too, and well…I can't imagine how it must've been for you having to continuously heal everyone while more and more kept coming. Not to mention all of them" she said, pointing to the dead. "You just stay here and rest, alright? In fact, how about we hit that cake store? You know, the one I said I would take you to after this is done, just the two of us?" she asked.

"…yeah. I would love that, Tatsuki-chan" she replied meekly. Tatsuki didn't fail to notice the reduced enthusiasm in her companion's voice. "Got you loud and clear. Let's just finish up here, and the we can go there the first thing. Cool?" she asked and Orihime merely nodded. Unknown to all, no one would ever come to know about the silent plight the orange haired girl was facing all by herself, and she too wouldn't ever talk about her encounter with the mysterious being until much much later. Though she would never forget the message engraved into her, the whole experience was already beginning to fade slowly, as if that was all the entity every wanted to show her and wasn't interested in tormenting an innocent girl for something she was not guilty of consciously.

And so, after the real Karakura Town was brought back to its rightful place, the tired participants of the battle returned to their own adobes, be it to rest their bodies, spirits or even just to perform the final rites of those that had fallen in the line of duty.

---

After that, the Soul Reapers, having their own duties to follow, went back to the Soul Society, exchanging their goodbyes and assurances of meeting later on, though this was mostly just Rukia, Renji, Kenpachi and Byakuya and the Kurosaki family, Unohana, Kyoraku, Ukitake and Summer and not surprisingly, Yachiru and Crescent, or rather, Ruby. The arrancars were almost ready to go back to Hueco Mundo themselves, but Ruby intervened.

"Now that you're here, you should all stay for a while! Come on, big-sis! Nel! It's not often you get the chance to see the World of the Living, right? Didn't I promise I'd show you around? I'm sure Ichi and the others agree, right?" she asked, looking at them.

"I'm…not so sure, Ruby. For one…we're hollows. Powerful ones at that. Normal humans can't see us to begin with. So how do we..?" asked Tier, but Urahara chimed in.

"You can leave that to me~~! I can arrange Gigai for you so you can spend a little time in the World of the Living~~!" he said, waving his fan. "Of course, I'll also sponsor you for the whole thing! Consider it a small gift from me for all the help you've offered for defeating Aizen"

"Sounds fun! Let's do it, Tia! I've always wanted to see how Rubes lived back when she was with Ichigo and his family!" said Nel.

"That's right. And not to mention, you can finally get all those clothes you've wanted to try, Sung-su, Lily. And you can try all those different foods I've had here too. You've always wanted to do that right? Pacci? Mila?" she asked. Their eyes were literally sparkling, and their mouths were watering upon being reminded of the things Ruby used to talk about for the past few years.

"Perfect! Come on big-sis! It doesn't have to be for too long, you can stay at one of our places for a couple of days, and we'll have a much-deserved vacation to rest our minds and bodies. It'll be super fun too" she said, grabbing Tier's hands.

"Hmm…alright. If you say so, little one" she said, nodding her head.

"Oy….you sure about that? You may be a genius, but you're as dense as a rock when it comes to matters regarding these things" warned Yoruichi, looking discreetly at Urahara.

"It'll be fine~~! I'll just squeeze more money out of the Soul Society for the work they've asked me to do" he whispered back.

"You're really something, you know that….?" Replied Yoruichi, narrowing her eyes.

"This is going to be a long pain in the ass" sighed Starrk.

"Really….? I thought that sounded quite fun" asked Pesche, scratching his chin.

"You don't know the half of it" said Starrk.

"You can leave me out of it" snapped Grimmjow.

"I have no interest in participating as well" added Ulquiorra.

"Party poopers.." snapped Lilynette.

"There's something called courtesy Grimmjow, and this isn't the way to show it" said Nel, narrowing her eyes at the blue haired arrancar. "And Ulquiorra, surely you have nothing to complain about? As far as I know, you're not the type to find these things annoying like this oaf does, so what's the problem?"

"I find such things quite pointless. There is much to be done at Hueco Mundo now that Barragan and Aizen-sama have disappeared. And there is the question of Las Noches and the remaining arrancars" he said. "These are things I would rather be doing than waste time in needless things here in the World of the Living" Ruby sighed.

"Listen" she said. "You've always wanted to learn more about humans and why they do the things they do, right? I'm giving you an opportunity. Heck, you can even learn about the 'heart' of humans that you always keep nagging me about. For one, you can see and experience the things you've talked about with Yuzu and me"

"….."

"As for Hueco Mundo, I'm not even sure why you're fixated on that. Ever since the beginning, before Aizen even took over the place, we've lived and done as we pleased. I mean, sure, Barragan was like a ruler back then too, but for us, it never really mattered. Hollows like us don't need governing like they do here. So then why should this time be any different? Just come along, I'm sure you'll find it worth your time" insisted Ruby. Ulquiorra paused for sometime before answering.

"Very well. If you insist" he said. And with that, Ruby turned to Grimmjow.

"As for you buster, I'm not giving you an option. You can throw that 'I'm too cool for socializing like a decent human being' shtick out of the window for as long as we're here. After all, all those years ago, you did say you would come along with us after everything was over, didn't you?" she asked with a smile, her expressions darkened.

"Tch, only because I had to…" mouthed Grimmjow almost to himself.

"Well, aren't you a sweetheart! I'm sure you'll look just amazing with a set of more civilized clothing. I can't wait!" she chimed, clasping her hands and went on ahead to speak with Urahara and Yoruichi before even waiting for Grimmjow to reply. Nel and the Tres Bestias however were having busy snickering at the blue haired arrancar's predicament.

But the same could not be said for Isshin and Yoruichi.

"Sorry….I'm just not in the mood to be having fun just yet. Don't get me wrong, I really could use a nice meal, a couple of drinks and a long smoke. But I also wanted to visit the 10th division barracks and send off Shiro peacefully. Not to mention consoling Rangiku. Which is why Gin and I will be going over there, after we pay our respects to the Vizards. They didn't want to have a funeral in the Soul Society and decided they'd do it at their usual place" said Isshin.

"Since things are a bit icky with the Soul Society right now, atleast regarding myself, I'll have to say hidden if I plan to see Rangiku again" said Gin.

"Well, I have a cloak that can conceal you, it should be fine" said Urahara.

"Actually, we're going as well" said Ichigo, bringing along Karin and Yuzu. "The Vizards were the ones who helped me at that time, and well….we thought we'd go attend the funerals of those in the Soul Society as well"

"I'm with you there. Personally, I thought I'd go visit Soi-Fon. Losing your entire division just like that can't be news you can just stomach in a single day. And knowing her, I know she could definitely use some company" said Yoruichi. "Sorry Ruby, I know you're doing this for your family and friends so we can relax after this whole debacle with Aizen, so I didn't want to rain down on your plans but…it would be wrong of me if I didn't do this"

"No….I'm the one who has to apologize, Yoruichi. I was being too insensitive" said Ruby apologetically. "Even if they had nothing to do with us, they are people who.." But the dark haired beauty shook her head.

"Nonsense. Regardless of what happened, as unfortunate as it is, they came knowing that they might fall in battle. They were prepared for that from the day they joined the Soul Reaper academy. And as you say, it's also true that their affairs and yours are completely separate. So, you have nothing to apologize for. Just go out there and have fun. I'd say you deserve it. After so many years of being under him, you can finally start doing things the way you want to without worrying about anything" said Yoruichi.

"…yeah, I suppose. alright, I will. But Ichi…if you'd like, I can accompany you and we can go later" she offered, following which the likes of Nel and Lily joined in to help as well.

"No, it's fine nee-san. You've already done so much for us. We're just dropping by ourselves and offering our respects. We'll probably join in later on as well. It might even help alleviate the mood a little" said Ichigo.

"Alright….but if at anytime, you three feel like talking or anything, you let me know, alright?" she said, and the siblings nodded.

"Yeah. Don't worry, I've called over them to accompany these three instead. I'm sure you'll agree" said Isshin.

And almost as if on cue, a certain group of people that came barging into Urahara's store by using a Senkaimon.

"Yoo~~! Looks like you guys could use a hand!" said Kukaku, flashing a smile.

"Kukaku! You're here?!" exclaimed Ichigo.

"Yup! Uncle called us over, saying you three could use some company while you went around the Soul Society. With me around, you'll be right as rain in no time! Ganju's been waitin' to meet you guys as well. And I'm really lookin' forward to spendin' some time here later on. I hope I can count on my lil cousins to show me 'round town" she said. Tatsuki suppressed an involuntary shudder when their eyes met. With a naughty smile, Kukaku made her way to her.

"Glad to see my student 's been doing well too! So?" she asked, pulling her aside. "How far 've gone with lil Ichi? Hope he lasted as long as he did when he fought Aizen" she asked, winking at her. Tatsuki could feel her cheeks flare up immediately.

"THAT's the first thing you ask?!" she hissed. "Urgh, you still can't read the mood can you…? This is going to be a long day…" she said deadpanned.

"Gyahahahahaah! Come onn~~ Don't be like that!" she laughed heartily, thumping Tatsuki's back roughly a few times. "I'm just messin' with ya! And besides, I'll mostly be with lil' Ichi, Kari and Yuzu. I won't have time to be messin' with ya…..for the most part atleast" She then turned to Ruby.

"So…yer Ruby Rose…amirite?" she asked.

"Hmm..? Yeah, that's me. You're…Kukaku…..right? Ichi's cousin…so that would make me one as well I suppose. Thank you so much for what you've done for him. I'm happy you've come to visit" she said.

"No no, that's what I should be saying to ya. Yer the one who's taken care of them. You have my thanks. And don't you worry about anythin'. I'll be sure to look after them. I've been lookin' forward to it too. And….well, seems like Yoruichi was spot on" remarked Kukaku, a hand on her chin.

"Yoruichi…? Did she say something about me?" asked Ruby.

"Just that yer one helluva gal" smirked Kukaku, putting a hand on her shoulder. Ruby raised her eyes in surprise, and returned the compliment with an awkward smile.

"Now now, don't be getting too playful just yet, Kukaku. There's a whole day remaining and we can have all the fun we want later. For now, why don't we all go to the Soul Society and leave these guys to do their bit?" said Yoruichi.

"Sounds good. 'right kids, let's get goin'!" urged the Shiba family beauty.

"We'll be seeing you then, nee-san" said Ichigo. "And…Tatsuki….you sure you can take care of her?" asked Ichigo discreetly, looking at Orihime. He'd noticed her sulking in the corner, and for understandable reasons too. He'd hoped that by asking her to accompany them might allow her to settle her feelings of guilt, but the girl declined his offer.

"Much better than you can, buster. Don't worry about her. I'll take care of her. You just watch over your sisters" assured Tatsuki, giving Ichigo a confident shoulder tap. Ichigo returned a relieved smile. "Right, see you around later then" he said, following which Isshin, Yoruichi, Gin, the Kurosaki siblings and the Shiba siblings made their way using another Senkaimon opened by Isshin.

"Aneki" called out Tatsuki. "I think…I'll also be leaving" she said. "Orihime….she's….well, she hasn't been handling the whole thing so well. She spent a lot of effort and was healing them constantly, and more and more just kept coming. The number of dead bodies around her didn't help either. So I thought that I'll take her around town to divert her mind. You know, kinda like what you're doing for them. There's this nice little cake shop she always loves visiting. I did promise her I'll take her there once the whole thing with Aizen was over" Ruby nodded her head in an understanding manner. Just from a single glace she could tell that the orange haired girl was not the same, cheery person she knew. The whole time she'd hardly spoken and was just sulking in the corner.

"Right. You do that Tsuki. Let's catch up later today" said Ruby. And with that, Tatsuki grabbed her best friend, leading her out of the candy store.

"As for me, Ryuken has been insistent that I return home immediately. So then, I'll see you around, Urahara-san, Ruby-san" said Uryu, taking his leave.

"I'd love to join you too, but I'd rather just relax for today. I'm rather beat, so I'll be taking my leave as well. Thanks for everything, Urahara-san. Ruby-san" said Chad, following suit.

And that's how it had been. Almost immediately after that, Ruby wasted no time in going on ahead and getting some clothes for her friends and family to get started on while Urahara prepared more gigai for each of the arrancars to use.

Tier wore a simple dark colored turtleneck sweater with black pants, her spiky, blonde hair hung loose. Apacci wore an orange pullover with a grey colored winter cap and jeans, giving her a tomboyish look. Sung-sun wore a pink colored long-sleeved Korean denim jacket with a creamy white top inside, a red muffler wrapped around her neck and a long murky green skirt. Her long black hair swayed loose in the wind. Mila-Rose wore a white colored striped top and a dark colored ombre dress. Nel wore a gray colored jacket with a grey-green colored top and shorts along with long black stockings. Lilynette wore a simple honey colored pullover with a plain t-shirt worn inside and black pants.

Amongst the men, Ulquiorra wore a cream-colored jacket with a deep, red colored checkered interior, a white colored T-shirt and black pants. Grimmjow wore a black colored fur jacket with snowy fur around the collars and wrists. Inside the jacket he wore a deep blue colored round neck t shirt as well as dark grey colored jeans. Starrk on the other hand sported a checkered maroon jacket which was black on the inside, a grey colored vest and a white shirt on the inside, with a grey colored scarf and steel blue pants. Pesche and Dondochaka wore a hay colored pullover with a black t shirt on the inside with pants and a brown jacket with a yellow t shirt, red scarf and blue jeans respectively. What stood out more however, was the absence of masks on each of them.

"I'll say…I'm glad to see they suit you all so well" remarked Urahara, his hand on his chin.

"Thanks a bunch, Urahara-san. We're ready to leave but I still don't see…"

"Yahoohoo!" chimed Summer's voice, startling them all once more. Along with her were Ukitake, Kyoraku and Unohana. Summer looked almost identical to Ruby, since she was wearing Ruby's clothes rather than her Shinigami attire.

"Summer?! You're….!" exclaimed Nel, looking back and forth between Ruby and Summer. "You….two are separate….?"

"Yup! I thought it wouldn't be fun if mom was left out and only I got to enjoy the day and vice versa. And since I couldn't manifest mom yet, I used Urahara-san's tool that helps one to manifest their zanpakuto outside to help give mom a physical form. But even then, that would've only been a spiritual body. So Urahara-san then put that into a gigai. That way, she can enjoy her day with Unohana-san" replied Ruby.

"And of course, I know the Soul Society has their work an' all, but I simply couldn't let Yachi waste away this opportunity to look at the World of the Living. So I dragged her with me. And besides, I thought it'd be a good idea to let these three take their minds off all the depressing stuff. So I brought them along" said Summer, flashing a smile.

"That and to discuss about the future circumstances regarding the surviving arrancars honestly" answered Ukitake. "At first, we were here to represent the Soul Society regarding that and didn't really have any plans to…uh…go sightseeing. We did quickly attend the funerals they organized, but were ordered by the head captain to start looking into these matters. I suppose the recent list of events has left him quite shaken, so much so that he didn't even bat an eye regarding us leaving the proceedings in between. But then again, this was commonplace back in the day during the Quincy wars. To younger folks it might be something surprising, but the three of us are rather used to it, as mortifying as it might sound. But…well…after Summer-san's insistence, neither of us could really do anything about it"

"After Aizen…I….no, we realized that we could do a lot better in case something like this happens in the future that affects not just us Soul Reapers but a whole lot of other groups as well. So we came up with a treaty of sorts as a proposition and wanted to discuss it with everyone present. That of course, includes you lovely ladies as well" said Kyoraku, eying Tier, Nel and the rest.

"What was that you perverted ol-!"

"Haah?! A treaty? With Soul Reapers?! Is this some sort of fuckin' joke?" snapped Grimmjow.

"Delinquent-kun, calm down will ya?" requested Summer, placing a finger at Grimmow's forehead. "It's nowhere near as bad as it sounds. I'd put it more as a 'neutrality' agreement. But leave all that diplomatic stuff for later and just relax with my honeybun for now. You can argue all you want later today when we talk about it"

"Tch"

"And here are some outfits for you as well, mom, Unohana-san" said Ruby, handing them their outfits. "I would've gotten something for you both as well, Kyoraku-san, Ukitake-san, but I wasn't sure about the sizes so….." she apologized.

"It's alright. We weren't planning on going out to begin with. Because there is a lot of work we needed to finish before tonight, mostly regarding the finances and other things we'd ordered from Kisuke. With Captain Kurotsuchi gone, Soul Society has taken a significant hit with no one left to handle the department of R&D. I do appreciate the sentiment however, but you shouldn't let our boring talk disturb your day out" suggested Ukitake.

"Ah…I see. Alright then…" replied Ruby.

"Then…does that mean that Crescent is also..?" asked Tier.

"Uh huh! She's out too! She's not here though. The moment I manifested her, Yachiru appeared out of nowhere and pilfered her away to the Soul Society. She said something about wanting to introduce her bestie to her secret hiding spot and to 'Byakki'" replied Ruby, sweatdropping. "I….still have no idea where she popped up from. It almost seems like she just knows where to find Crescent…"

"Captain Kuchiki's place huh…I feel sorry for whatever the two of them have cooked up for him" said Urahara, unable to suppress his snickers.

"You should probably take into consideration whatever repairs Byakuya might ask you to make after those two are done with his place, Ukitake-san" suggested Ruby, sweatdropping.

"Not just his place I'd say. I'll be surprised if they left Yamaji's place intact…" said Kyoraku. "Of course, I'm only assuming how things would go after what Natsuko-chan told me about her"

"it's always a treat to the eyes to watch children go about their lives" said Unohana with a smile.

"Indeed" agreed Tier. "They have something we can only observe from a distance and not have"

"Well I'm sure they'll be fine. For now, let's focus on what we're here to do Yachi. Come!" insisted Summer, dragging her friend back the changing room. It didn't take them long for them to come out.

"Whoa.." remarked Ruby, awestruck. Though she had been the one to pick the outfits, she couldn't help but be impressed.

"Natsuko-chan….now that's something..!" said Kyoraku. "I have to say, that one takes the cake, Ruby-chan!"

"Mhm..hmm! Indeed…!" remarked Urahara, following suit.

Unohana wore a corset that was amber around the waist and white colored everywhere else, with a red colored long sleeved top with wavy frills around the neck and wrists. Her long, black hair was tied into a long braid left behind her back. Summer on the other hand wore a long, full sleeved grey colored coat with a black shirt on the inside. She left her hair loose, that reached to her lower neck. And on her hair was a red rose.

"Alright then, now that we're all ready, let's go~~!" she shouted with enthusiasm, prompting the rest of them to get ready while Urahara, Ukitake and Kyoraku remained behind to handle other matters.

---

Their day started off normally enough, but what was normal to Ruby and Summer was not so for the rest of the group. For one, their fascination began the moment they got on to the bus that headed for their destinations.

"I noticed these metal carriages when we fought Aizen in the fake Karakura Town but to think they could move on their own…human technology really has come far" remarked Unohana, raising her eyes.

"These are just buses, Yachi" said Summer, sweatdropping. "You can think of them as….hmm…oversized horse carriages that can go much faster than horses and for longer distances too. It does need someone to drive them, just like a horse carriage does so they're similar in that sense. And there are vehicles such as planes that can fly too! And they go thousands of kilometers in just a few hours and seat hundreds of people! Sometimes you can see them when you look up the sky!" she explained.

"Oh I've read about those! They're called airplanes right? They were described as 'Giant Metal Birds that can fly, just like real birds'" asked Nel enthusiastically. Ruby nodded. "And I've seen those too! Cars, I think they're called!"

"Haah?! Giant metal birds that can fly?! Get the fuck out of here" said Grimmjow incredulously.

"SOMEONE could benefit from sticking his head in the books once in a while…" remarked Ruby, facepalming herself.

"Well, this guy can fly, and he's nothing like a bird, so I don't see why a giant metal bird can't" remarked Lilynette.

"But even I cannot fly at the speeds that this 'Airplane' claims to be able to fly. I find it incredibly ludicrous that mere humans can build something capable of performing feats that we as arrancars cannot" said the stoic arrancar.

"We were once human too, Ulquiorra" said Tier. "Though we may not remember it, we have lived in this very world, once upon a time. And what they lack in lifespans and abilities, they make up in their potential for evolving and progressing"

"Still…I'd love to see one" said Sung-sun.

"I'm sure you will, eventually. Those usually tend to fly quite high in the sky, anywhere between 3-9 kilometers above ground unless they're landing somewhere nearby. But if we're lucky, we should be able to see atleast one before we're done today" said Ruby. Things were silent for awhile after that, since they were engrossed in observing the scenery as it sped past them. While Unohana was more familiar with some of the sights, even she found herself gazing at the occasional jogger running across the street, people in what appeared to be vehicles with two giant wheels that a person sat across and pedaled (which Summer said was called a 'bicycle'), or even watching parents take their kids to school, which was something Tier found herself being drawn to. That and the sight of the occasional like of school kids crossing the road, chattering and talking to themselves made it hard for her to avert her eyes from the scene.

Many inside their buses as well as those outside had things plugged into their ears which had long wires running from them to the device in their hands.

"They're just listening to music with their phones" explained Ruby. "See, even I have one" she said, showing her own phone and earphones.

"Music…? But how does something so small play instruments…I don't see any nearby…so then…?" asked Unohana, observing the phone.

"Oh no no, it plays back music that someone recorded via another device. I've read that people play music and the song is 'stored' in some medium, which can then be copied and played back using another device. That way, their song is preserved even after they're gone. It's quite ingenious and honestly I still have trouble believing it" said Nel. "Of course, the illustrations in the books I've seen don't mention anything being this small"

"Why don't you give it a try?" suggested Ruby. "Naturally you need to put on both earphones for the best effect, but you can share it like this" said Ruby, putting on earbud onto Nel's ears and the other onto Unohana's, and then played back a few songs from her playlist consisting of a variety of genres. Unohana was listening to them transfixed, since she played the shamisen herself.

"This is…I've never listened to such musical performances….I cannot even fathom what instruments they use to make such notes…!" she said, surprised.

"Some of them are rather sketchy in their lyrics, but have a good beat" said Nel, tapping her feet along.

"Hey Nel, I wanna listen too! Gimme, gimme!" asked Lily, reaching for the ear buds. Soon enough, everyone had their go at listening to acoustic artistry coming from the strange little device that resembled the one Ruby had to communicate with Urahara from Hueco Mundo. Reactions ranging from subtle smiles, agape mouths, audible gasps, laughs and even whistling along could been seen.

"Here you go" said Ruby, putting them on Grimmjow's ears who had been rather skeptical to try them on at first. But after much insistence from Tier, Nel and even Starrk, he agreed reluctantly, if only to satiate them. And then, she tried her best to suppress a smile from adorning her face as she scrolled all the way to the playlist marked 'Slayer', cranked up the volume to max, scrolled all the way until she found the song she was looking for.

"Enjoy" she said with a smirk, and then pressed the play button. For the first few seconds, nothing happened. And then, his eyes flew wide open as he continued to listen with greater fervor. The song was loud enough to be somewhat audible to those in the nearby vicinity, which made many throw questioning looks at Ruby.

"What in the blazes is that?" asked Sung-sun, narrowing her eyes.

"It sounds like people getting their heads ripped off" remarked Mila-rose.

"Oh…you put on Slayer…." Remarked Summer, sweatdropping. "Kinda fitting for delinquent-kun I guess? Ahahahaha…"

"This is music…?" asked Unohana. "I never realized that the screams of the damned along with screechy notes made for music amongst today's humans. How many people have died for this cause?"

"That's….not how it works Yachi…." Said Summer deadpanned.

"That's a genre of music called death metal" explained Ruby. "It's…..not for everyone for sure, but it sure gets your blood pumping right?"

"Metal…? Do you mean to say that they make music with death and metal?" asked Ulquiorra. "I am not sure I understand how that is physically possible. But 'death' amongst humans is synonymous to 'death incarnate', which would mean the Soul Reapers. Does that mean this 'music' is made from the screaming cries of dying Soul Reapers and their zanpakuto, which would be where 'metal' comes from? I must admit, that is both rather pretentious and impressive for mere humans to accomplish"

"That's…not it…it's complicated…" said Ruby, sweatdropping.

"And what's with the lyrics..? 'Ingrate souls condemned for all eternity', 'Obtained by immoral observance a domineering deity' , 'The loss of all hope and your dignity'….doesnt sound like something normal to say" asked Lilynette. "And….those other parts….."

"….it's…not like we listen to this often you know. That's why I said it's an acquired taste…" said Ruby deadpanned.

And once the song died down, Grimmjow had the widest grin on his face, his eyebrow narrowed menacingly.

"I don't know what the fuck was happening there, but that really got my blood boiling! I wouldn't mind listening to this while I try ripping Kurosaki a new one! Or you for that matter, Ulquiorra! In fact, why don't we ditch them and have a go?" he asked, cracking his knuckles.

"…..of course…" sighed Ruby, shaking her head. Of course it would be something that would get this muscle head all riled up. It was NOT the reaction she was expecting him to have and yet, it perfectly suited him.

"There will be no such thing" said Ruby, a vein ticking on her forehead. "And I'll rip YOU a new one before you touch Ichi" she said, grabbing her phone back.

"Hey, what gives! I was just getting good! Damn brat, you're the one that put that thing on my ears, now you want it back when it was just getting good?" he asked.

"We're here to have fun, not rip things to shreds. You can rip things to shreds all you want after we've gone back. For now, just behave" she said, giving him a light bonk to the head. "And remind me never to make you listen to death metal again when people are around" she sighed.

Things continued on silently after that, with some were glued to the windows as they watched the scenes on the outside, while others, like Nel found satisfaction in observing the things around them, which Ruby and Summer would then explain.

"Well this is our stop" said Summer, grabbing Unohana. "You boys and girls go on and have fun while us old ladies go and do our own thing" she said. "We'll meet up later tonight around 8. See you sweetie!" said Summer, getting off while Ruby and the rest stayed behind.

"Why aren't they coming with us?" asked Lily.

"Mom said she wanted to spend some time with Unohana-san since it HAS been a while since they've had some time to talk to themselves. It's fine. We have a whole lot of different activities to do today, and I'm sure mom wouldn't be as interested in those as you guys will be" assured Ruby. They travelled for a while until they reached the trekking trails of Karakura Town.

"We're going for a short trek in the woods! There's actually a lot of stuff to see here!" she said, urging them all to follow her. While bushes, trees, streams of water and even a waterfall were nothing new for the Espada, all of it put together certainly was. To begin with, they were only ever used to seeing eternal nights, endless white sands and even within Las Noches, more of the same albeit with the bright skies of the World of the Living. But even there the sky used to be the same throughout the day. Whereas here, it was completely different. The skies were overcast, with clouds covering the sun just enough that it gave off a certain melancholy feeling as they were surrounded by the greens and browns of trees and bushes. The sounds of water running nearby, animals in the undergrowth and birds in the sky gave it a truly ethereal feeling. Even as they walked along the path, they couldn't help but be genuinely moved by the whole thing.

"You've been seeing this everyday when you stayed here, right?" asked Lily, as she ran her hands across a few leaves.

"Well, I wouldn't say everyday but yeah. I did come her every now and then" she said.

"It's so different from Hueco Mundo" remarked Nel. "I would love to be able to travel around like this, going where I liked, scaling woods, mountains, glaciers and deserts" she said.

"And to think this is but one of the many sights out in the World of the Living to behold" said Tier, running her hand across the small stream next to her.

"Sound like a nice place to take a good nap" said Starrk, and Lily facepalmed herself.

"It'd be fun to go hunting out like this" said Grimmjow. "Using the trees to stalk your enemy and fight using the environment. It reminds me of the time I lived in the Menos Forest"

"Of course you'd say that" sighed Ruby. "Unfortunately for you, in that gigai of yours, a real jaguar can easily tear you to pieces and has a better chance of 'fighting' prey here. But sure thing big boy. You do act like one whether you're in a gigai or not, so who knows, maybe you'll be able to make some feline friends here. Not that you'll find jaguars here to begin with" snickered Ruby.

"Maybe this guy can speak bat" said Lily in a similar manner, looking at Ulquiorra.

"I cannot communicate with bats, if that is what you are implying" he said in his usual stoic manner.

"Just shut up and enjoy the sights, will you?" barked Mila-Rose at Grimmjow and Ulquiorra. They spent the next couple of hours there, walking, occasionally talking but mostly observing things around them in silence.

"Phew! I'm beat! That was a good way to start! Let's get something to eat!" suggested Ruby, and they took a bus back to the city, heading to the town center until they reached a certain place. "This is one of my favorite places to eat! The latte and cinnamon bun combination is to die for. Usually I prefer tea, but with sweets nothing hits the spot like a cup of coffee. You can get decent lunches nearby too and seeing as how it's almost 12, I thought it would be a good time to grab a bit to eat. Order whatever you want! Oh…wait. You guys might not know how to. Just let me know what you'd like and I'll get it!" said Ruby. She then promptly got a good portion of the store booked for them, getting them all places to sit. A few minutes later they were all seated with food in front of them that ranged from a wider assortment of things such as sushi, a bowl of rice with vegetables, noodles, spring rolls, onigiri and so on, followed by coffee and cake/buns for dessert.

"Whoa…..this is so good!" exclaimed Mila-rose as she slurped her ramen. "How the hell do sticks of dried wheat and boiled water make something this good!"

"I don't think I can ever get tired of this!" repeated Apacci, ecstatic as she swallowed her spring rolls.

"Yum~~my!" said Pesche and Dondochaka, eating their plates of sushi.

"My…!" remarked Nel, eating her vegetarian sandwich. "This is so much different compared to anything Aizen or Summer have ever given us!"

"Well, we didn't have the chance to make that many things with what we had…" said Ruby with an awkward smile. "..Somehow I'm not surprised that Nel and Pacci aren't eating meat, given that they're based on herbivores…and Sung-su's really digging her omurice….even in their Gigai, they can't seem to be able to forget their arrancar instincts…."

"This is quite delectable indeed" remarked Tier, eating her salmon sushi. "I'm envious of you little one. To think you had the chance to experience this for nearly a year"

Grimmjow didn't say much, and was instead focused on eating his portions of sashimi.

"You're quite the messy eater" sighed Ruby "I'm happy you like it so much but please try to eat more properly will you?" she requested with a scary smile, closing in and then licking off a piece that was stuck to his cheek, which caused the blue haired arrancar to drop the piece he'd been holding in his hand. "Keep eating messily and I'll keep doing that until you have nothing left on your plate. Got it?" she said, maintaining her smile. Ruby wasn't childish enough to try doing that to him in public again, and while it was fun teasing him, she knew that the blue haired arracnar was a little low and humor understanding the same, which had worked to her advantage. Because though Grimmjow didn't say much else, he did make a conscious effort to reduce the mess. Nel, Lily and the Tres Bestias snickered while those around them were looking at them cautiously.

"Those damn humans, how dare they-!"

"You try raising one hand at them and I'll keep licking you until your soul itself is pushed out of our gigai out of embarrassment" whispered Ruby with an even scarier, sweet smile. "If you don't want me to, then by all means, do so by behaving properly" she said.

"Hrrggh scary" commented Starrk dryly. "Well, the most troublesome one doesn't seem to be doing so bad atleast" he said, looking at Ulquiorra. And indeed, he was infact the most polished of the lot, quietly eating his food and even going out of his way to avoid making a mess.

"How is it?" asked Ruby.

"….different. Salty. Sweet and Spicy. But I do not dislike it" he said in his usual manner.

"That's….a start I guess" chuckled Ruby, and then continued on to eat her own meal. Time passed by until they were all done and full.

"Now's the exciting part that you've all been waiting for! Even I lose track of time whenever I go out for this! But luckily, we have time to spare and money as well!" said Ruby. While her friends were left guessing, little did they realize that her words weren't necessarily applicable to everyone.

"And..? How's this 'fun' exactly?" asked Starrk, as Lilynette handed him another bag.

"Oh please it's still way better than you napping all day! And besides, nobody said you couldn't look around" said Lily, putting out her tongue and rejoining Nel and Tier.

"M..master Nel…" cribbed Pesche, holding on to yet another bag that Nel handed him.

"Just one more Pesche, I promise!" she said goofily, before giving another set of clothes for Dondochaka to hang on to. "I still have to try those three, so keep them separate, 'k?" she instructed.

"….yes master Nel…." Came the dejected reply from Dondochaka.

"Oy! You fuckin' done or what?!" rasped Grimmjow, his arms resembling a cloths rack. "And why do you need clothes anyways?! Don't you already have plenty of them?! I don't see why you need more than one to begin with, but this is just ridiculous, woman!"

"Oh shush you overgrown cat" waved of Ruby, swapping clothes from his arms. "It's not for me, its for big sis. And besides, I find pleasure in things other than our crazy battles so just stay put and indulge me for a while. And besides, this IS fun. I just didn't say it would be for everyone, now did I?" she said, putting out her tongue. "Oh, we can check out clothes for you as well. It's only fair after all. Provided you're interested later on that is. Don't cry later on when we have nice outfits to wear and you're stuck with your lame Espada outfit" she said, going inside the trial room. Ulquiorra on the other hand, it seemed, completely accepted his role as a human clothes line after persuasion from Ruby. She even egged him on saying that he wouldn't have a better opportunity to stand and observe how people around him behaved since many did seem to be eyeing at him. Starrk, Grimmjow, Pesche and Dondochaka on the other hand were not taking it as well.

"Whoa, this one's good too! How the hell do they make something this fine?!" remarked Mila-Rose.

"I didn't think I would ever find interest in clothing…but I'll admit, they know how to suck you in" said Apacci.

"Ruby, think I can try that gown?" asked Sung-sun.

"Sure! Here! Oh big sis, that looks great on you! I'll get it for you! Have you tried this one yet?" asked Ruby.

"No but….little one, are you really sure? I do not mind indulging you in buying these outfits but are these really necessary? I do not mind wearing what I have" said Tier.

"It's fiiine~~, Tia! I really think you should let loose sometimes! We won't ever get a chance to do this, probably forever! Honestly, I don't know what I would've done if I hadn't ever met you!" chimed Nel, pinching Ruby's cheeks and getting her in a bear hug.

"Ack, Nel, ahahahah…!"

"Harribel-sama, please try this!"

"No, don't listen to that gorilla, you look better in this!"

"Oh please, Harribel-sama looks way better with this one"

"What?! No no, that would suit Ruby better! Tia would be better off with this!" said Lily. "And it's cheaper too!"

In the distance, Starrk, Grimmjow, Pesche and Dondochaka let out a collective groan while Ulquiorra continued to observe unabated.

After what felt like an eternity, they were finally done and it was already twilight. While the men hadn't spent nearly as much time as the girls had shopping, Ruby did keep good on her word and got them a couple of outfits to wear, mostly as her own selection. Apart from that they visited a toy store (which Lilynette wanted to see and later got embarrassed about the whole thing), a book store (which Nel found the most interesting and even brought a few books with her), a bowling arcade (which Ruby thought would get their collective interest since it was a physical activity and something everyone could do but soon realized when they all found it too boring after getting strikes on every single turn. The girls however did seem to enjoy it a lot more than the men) until finally they landed up at a park overlooking the river. By now, a lot of other families, kids and even teenagers were scattered all over the place, having picnics, taking photos or even simply gathering in groups and playing football. Ruby and her companions took to the ground, stretching their legs and watching the setting sun and the humans around them.

"So..? How was it?" asked Ruby, letting the rustling winds take away the fatigue and excitement that followed her throughout the day.

"…..honestly, I wish I could live here" said Nel. "I don't think I've ever….'lived' as much as I have today"

"The food….I don't think I can go by eating hollow souls anymore" said Mila-Rose and Apacci.

"Don't think I'm ever going to wear my Espada outfit" said Sung-sun. "Oh but your town is absolutely pretty Ruby. I'm surprised we've only seen a part of everything there's to see"

"Indeed. Today has been rather memorable" said Tier. "Thank you little one. I'm truly happy for what you've given for all of us"

"Well, I know I'm going to be visiting Ichigo much more often now, if it means I get to come here everyday!" remarked Lily.

"Everyday?! You're kidding right? You know how much of a pain in the ass that would be?! Though…I must say, it's got some really neat places to rest and relax. It's a lot more calm here than Hueco Mundo or Las Noches, I'll give you that"

"Hmph, I suppose it was fine for what it is. Though the next time, I'd rather be at one of those 'fight clubs' than go picking flowers or clothes or some shit. Heh, in this body, fighting has its own fun. I bet I could beat Kurosaki like this!" he smirked, earning a sigh from Ruby.

"….it has been rather informative" said Ulquiorra. "So this is what humans are like everyday…..I would not mind observing and learning more about them" he remarked. Ruby raised her eyes, surprised that Ulquiorra and even Grimmjow were so….positive about the whole thing. A few years ago, none of them would have ever said such things.

Ruby couldn't help but stare at her family and friends, the memory of their earliest days from 100 years ago overlapping with how they appeared to her now. She instinctively walked over to that very same spot that had changed her life seven years ago, with the setting sun just the way it was all those years back. Back then, she was right here with Masaki, still mentally unstable and weak, still in doubt. And back then, Masaki had been her salvation. It was her that pulled her out of that abyss, enabling her to be here today. By placing that rose on her head, it was Masaki who taught her to look at herself in a new light. And today, she had helped her family and her friends look at themselves and the world around them in a new light. It was almost as if with her death and Ruby's salvation, Masaki had passed on a part of herself to Ruby, so that she could one day do the same for her own family. And when she looked at her face, lit by the setting sun and reflected off the surface of the water, she found herself staring at a very different person compared to seven years ago, a person brimming with confidence, maturity, peace and more importantly, joy, when she noticed the familiar forms of herself and her savior. Little did they know that by showing how much they had changed thanks to her they had also brought Ruby an irreplaceable kind of inner warmth.

"Thank you for everything….you guys…" she replied, turning back to them and giving them the warmest of her smiles from the bottom of her heart. "I'll never ever, forget this day"

Tier, Nel and the others looked at her confused.

"Why are you thanking us? If anything, we should be saying that to you" replied Nel. "What you've given us today is something that worth more than anything we've ever been given in our lives"

"Heh, in fact, I wouldn't mind if you want to keep giving if it means so much to you" replied Lily. "In fact, I'd swap places with you; you can be with this sleepy old man while I can enjoy the World of the Living with Ichigo, Karin and Yuzu"

"And just who are you calling a 'sleepy old man'?" argued Starrk.

"And besides, I doubt people would look kindly to a kid like you staying with Ichigo. People might start assuming he's a lolicon on something" replied Sung-sun sharply.

"I'm not a kid! So why the hell would that make him a lolicon?! And weren't you supposed to be on my side?!"

"Oh? I never mentioned anything of the sort. And it's not as if your looks reflect your age. You can't mistake the humans for thinking you're nothing but a child. After all, you WERE the one who went to that store for children" she replied.

While their banter continued, Ruby merely smiled it off, accepting that while they may not see it that way, she would forever be grateful for what they've given her that day. But she wasn't done just yet.

"There's just one last place for us to be before we wrap up. And I'm sure it'll be a blast. We'll have to make a small trip though. But it'll be worth it" said Ruby, taking them towards Urahara's store first. Upon arriving there, Ruby and her group found the store empty save for Urahara.

"Summer-san went ahead, so did Kyoraku-san and Ukitake-san. You're the last ones left" he said, leading them to a Senkaimon he had opened. Following which, Ruby and the others made their way to Kukaku Shiba's home.

---

"So….what exactly are we doing here..?" asked Grimmjow, looking at the massive group of people within the Shiba household. Apart from Ruby and her family, Kyoraku, Unohana, Summer, Ukitake, Isshin, Yoruichi, Urahara, Ichigo, Karin, Yuzu, Kukaku, Ganju, Yachiru and Crescent were also present. Laid out in the center was a huge assortment of foods, drinks and snacks, along with speakers at the end of the wall.

"You don't end a fun day like this without some nice food, drinks and a little music! It's a rare chance, so I thought I'd let you all experience how we party in the World of the Living. Now that Aizen's gone, I thought there wouldn't be a better way to celebrate!" said Ruby with a small smile. "Though….I do give credit to Urahara-san for making this possible. And to Kukaku of course!"

"You've really gone all out huh?" remarked Isshin. "I don't think I've seen your little shack this loaded ever"

"Yup! It's for times like these that makes it all worth it in the end! So let's all just drink, booze and dance like there's no end to tomorrow!" cheered Kukaku.

And while Kukaku said that, nobody was quite yet at the same level of enthusiasm she was at, except for Yachiru and Crescent. For one, Ukitake and Kyoraku wanted to put forward and talk about their proposal to remain neutral towards Ruby and her Espada family and friends, as long as they don't attack the Soul Society. In fact, Ruby and the others were even allowed to visit the Soul Society under the same conditions (should they ever want to) and in return, only asked that Soul Reapers be allowed to fight and train against hollows in their native land so as to train better. As part of that, they were even requested to be allowed to spar with Shinigami at captain or lieutenant class at times for there would be no better opponents for them to face, grow and mature. But Ruby and her friends were welcome to refuse at any time.

"That's fine with us. In fact, I'd say that you're being rather generous" said Nel. "In fact, being allowed to visit the Soul Society by in itself is a big thing. Compared to the endless deserts of sands we have, the Soul Society will be a nice change of scenery. And of course, we have no intention of causing you any trouble"

"That's surprising" said Ukitake. "I didn't think you would be so quick to accept such a proposal. I assume most hollowkind would be repulsed at the idea of even being allies with the Soul Reapers"

"Though that might be true for some of us" said Tier. "Each one of us have our own principles and things we live by. And not all of us enjoy fighting. So when given an option wherein we can avoid it, there is no reason for us not to take it. And some of you are dear to Ruby and her family. So it's only natural that we would avoid conflict with those entities as well. That is all there is to it"

"And you've even been nice enough to allow us to fight once in a while. I would've been pissed if that wasn't the case. But this way, I can fight you all I want without anyone telling me shit about it" said Grimmjow. "And I already have quite a few on my list that I'd like to fight against"

"I see…..well, I suppose you were right after all Natsuko-chan! And to be honest, I'm happy we've come to an agreement. Of course, I shouldn't be that surprised too I suppose. Ruby-chan is Ichigo's sister and you were one of us. Not to mention, even Lieutenant Kusajishi has become quite fond of your granddaughter. Maybe this was all inevitable!" he said with a hearty laugh and extending his hand towards Tier and the others, who then shook them in return. "And of course, in the face of such lovely ladies, I can't really think about having to be on bad terms, now can I~~?" he said with a goofy, perverted smile.

*BAAANG!*

"Don't be touching Harribel-sama so casually you damned pervert!" shouted The Tres Bestias, collectively bonking Kyoraku to kingdom come.

"How naughty of captain Kyoraku to break the treaty just seconds after it was made! That is rather unbecoming of you, wouldn't you say captain?" asked Unohana with a smile, her aura spilling out once more.

"..I..Indeed..! How careless of me..! I suppose an apology is in order!" stammered the 8th division captain, apologizing and grabbing a drink for himself.

"Well…I'm glad we don't have to deal with her for one" said Starrk.

"It feels good to have such people on your side" agreed Nel.

"Yeah….anyways, now that that's over, why don't we start?" suggested Ruby.

"I call dibs on the pizza!" called out Summer, dashing for the nearest piece.

"Heey! No fair Granny Rosy! That was my piece!" called out Yachiru, pouting. Following which Crescent stroked Yachiru consolingly and offered her a burger, which she happily accepted.

"Looks' like we can finally start!" cheered Kukaku, grabbing a slice herself as well as a bottle of beer. "Don't hold back!"

"Let's put on some music as well" said Yoruichi, turning on the speakers and connecting the device Urahara gave her.

"Big sis! Here!" offered Ruby.

"How curious….this seems to be very different from the food we ate earlier this morning in the World of the Living, Natsuko"

"Of course! These are…"

"Ruby…what are these…? Do you eat them like this or with something else..?"

"What's that liquid…? It looks like blood…"

"Oh that…? It's called Wine, it's alcohol.."

"Urgh..what is this crap?! This thing tastes like shit!"

"That's just beer…."

"We've got drinks without alcohol for you three, so stay off those" said Isshin.

"We know dad, and we don't want any either" said Karin.

"Hey watch it! You nearly made me drop my plate!" said Ichigo, pushing away Ganju.

"You're the one in my way dumbass! You beat it!"

"Huuh? The fuck do you want?" rasped Grimmjow after Ganju nearly crashed into him.

"Ah dammit of all the people it had to be this guy…!"

In the midst of all that, Ulquiorra walked over to Yuzu, fishing out something from his pocket.

"Now that the battle is over, I shall hand this back to you" he said handing over Yuzu's hairclip. "However….I still fail to see the reason you made me hold on to one of your belongings. I'm an unable to determine how it came to my aid during my battle" he said. Yuzu sighed.

"No…it probably didn't. But it's fine….I'm just happy your gave it back to me intact" she said. "D…don't worry, it's fine! Really! You should just go and have fun with onee-chan and the others!" she suggested.

"….very well, if you insist" he replied, before going back to the others. Karin came over, patting her shoulder.

"It's fine, Yuzu. Maybe one day he'll get it. For now, why don't you just hang out with us while those guys do their thing?" she asked, to which Yuzu nodded and followed her sister.

And the night continued in a similar manner with a lot more bickering, shuffling around, light chattering and noise, with the food in the room slowly disappearing and the booze canisters gradually becoming scarce. It only took a measly few hours before the noises died down and the occupants of the room settled for more peaceful means of enjoying the night. For one, the adults and the children of the room had pretty much taken to themselves, with Ichigo, Karin, Yuzu, Yachiru and Crescent spending time by themselves while the rest of the adults allowed the alcohol and the atmosphere to do the talking.

"Aah…what a strange feeling….I…feel rather tipsy…" remarked Tier in a lost manner to herself, her face flushed and sweating.

"…Mnnnnnnnn….Tia…that was fun…..we should totally dance once more…..!" cooed Nel, grabbing Tier's arm rather sloppily, only for the blonde arrancar to decline her offer on grounds of being to tired.

"Damn gorilla…..what's with tripping me all the time…?" questioned Apacci, looking at Mila-Rose.

"Huuh…..? You're the one who kept getting in Nel's way to try and partner up with Harribel-sama so why shouldn't I..?" she replied. "And besides…are you sure you didn't accidently trip yourself getting drunk…?"

"….how uncivilized. And it appears BOTH of you can't hold your liquor" said Sung-sun, still sipping some wine.

"…Oh yeah?! Now you're just askin' for it!" the two of them replied, grabbing more alcohol.

"Ahahahah you might want to slow down on the alcohol you know! You'll never realize until it hits you" advised Ukitake with a goofy smile.

"True….and that's one example right there" said Kyoraku, pointing towards Summer and Unohana.

"Yaaaachhhiiiii~~~~~! Here-! More more…!" slobbered Summer, literally forcing another shot of vodka on Unohana, who was clumsily trying to decline her.

"…Natsuko…I'm rather intoxicated already, and I believe you should take it a bit slowly too…." She replied but not before Summer downed the contents of the shot glass down Unohana's throat.

"Eheheheh! One more down the drain!" cooed Summer, putting her shoulder around Unohana. "Hmmm….that was super fun….thanks for coming along Yachiiii…"

"And then you have these dumbasses.." said Lilynette, kicking an already unconscious Pesche and Dondochaka who had already passed out long before. "Man….you get to enjoy this stuff once in a while and they do it sleeping as usual. What a waste.."

"Well I don't exactly blame them. This is pretty strong stuff. I have to say, thanks for the company, Captain Kyoraku. This was rather enjoyable" said Starrk.

"The pleasure's mine! I always appreciate another sake enthusiast!" he replied and the two clinked another glass of booze before downing it.

"Still…..that was atleast a dozen shots of the strong stuff…..you arrancars have some crazy tolerance…" commented Isshin, who was rather drunk himself.

"I haven't had a celebration this fun in ages….ah…that hits the spot" said Kukaku, taking another shot. "Never thought I'd find people who can actually keep up with me when I'm serious….and you guys look ready to go for more rounds…"

"So…..this is how you humans celebrate? By intoxicating yourselves in poison and allowing yourselves to be so vulnerable that you are at the edge of life and death only to realize that you are in fact at a safe haven, which then gives you a feeling of euphoria? That is a rather contradictory way of celebrating life. Still….I am surprised that this poison has such a lasting effect on me. Although I am in a gigai, I am an arrancar regardless. To think you humans can make something this potent…..perhaps I should re-evaluate my opinion regarding your strengths. Maybe Tier Harribel was right in keeping you where you are…" went on Ulquiorra, in his usual stoic voice. But it was clear he was influenced by the drinks he had, for he was being far more open about his thoughts than usual.

"Urgh, just turn off your analytical brain for once will you? And it's not exactly alcohol...I mean poison...but then they do say that alcohol is like a poison...huh..? Anyways, this is a time to enjoy, so don't think too much about it" said Nel, her words disoriented. "Tia…! One more!"

"….alright…just the one.." said Tier, and the two shared another shot.

"That is true" said Ukitake. "Although….I have to say, I am rather surprised myself. Never did I imagine I'd ever be here with arrancars and drinking myself silly. Honestly, unless someone told me, it wouldn't have occurred to me at all"

"Makes you appreciate the finer things in life doesn't it?" asked Kyoraku. "Even in the Soul Society, we have it loads better than those in Hueco Mundo. For one, we actually have environments and structures resembling the human world, as well as traditions and events, even if they are a few centuries out of date. Honestly, it makes you forget you were ever dead. But being surrounded by nothing but white sands…to tell you the truth, I'm rather glad to know that you guys finally got to experience what it means to be alive again.."

"…..Indeed. Today has been rather enjoyable for me as well. I got to experience a lot of different things and see a whole new world, one that was right in front of my eyes. Despite the long years I have lived in the Soul Society, my only regret is that I did not get to see them sooner. And for that dear Natsuko…..I'm forever grateful to you…" said Unohana, carelessly caressing Summer who was enjoying the same with a drunken stupor. "...and I cannot even begin to fathom how that feeling must be for you, Tier"

"True…" said Tier. "All our lives…all that we've ever known was what our instincts told us. And then….we met her. Little one. She showed us what can be of our plain lives. And then, that feeling became natural. And today….I was able to see it all, like a human being. It would not be wrong to say that I desire being one once more. To be together with those like me, and start a family. Perhaps have a few children and raise them, being a doting mother….perhaps for the first time….I was envious of human beings and what they have, for they had something that I could never have"

"….looks like you're being quite open about this today, Tia.." said Nel. "…but I'm happy to see you talk about it. Because I'm feeling it too. Today…..was magical. I've always been a….free spirited and carefree person. I loved to ride the winds, explore the world out there, meet new people, make friends, and then onwards and forward. Even in Hueco Mundo. The life of a nomad was perhaps what you could describe it as. But then…..I learnt there was niceness in the few milestones you stop by. Scenes that you can admire as you pass them by. Something she taught me and something you taught me, Tia" she said. "But you know….I wont lie. If you ask me, I don't think of our ageless existence as a blessing. To me, it's a form of limitation. In fact, if I could ditch all of my powers and abilities and just return to being human….I'd probably do it"

"You would give up all this….all of what you have just to go back to being a mere human? Have the toxins in the drinks you've consumed deluded your mind, Tier Harribel? Nelliel?" asked Ulquiorra. "Why would hollows such as yourselves, whose primary instinct should be self preservation, think about returning to something so mundane? Something that might as well be death?" asked Ulquiorra.

"…Mundane? Now why would you say that, Ulquiorra-san?" asked Kisuke, his face planted on the ground as he was kept on the floor by a drunk Yoruichi who planted herself onto him and started drawing on his face.

"Hooy…..stay still! I have to finish drawing the whiskers on this side!" purred Yoruichi, her eyes narrowed in mild annoyance. Her face was extremely flushed and she even seemed to be having difficulty looking straight.

"Ahahaha sure thing, Yoruichi-san! Everything they've said points out to how much we simple humans have enjoyed life over the powerful existence of hollows. There are pros and cons to everything, and to them, the powers that come along with being arrancars isnt nearly as worth as the life they can get to live as humans" replied Kisuke.

"Indeed….we may pride ourselves as being 'Superior' and what not, well, atleast some of us" said Kyoraku. "But even we take joy in imitating the simple things humans do. Such as drinking sake. Or watching plays. Or making love, which, in fact, has no biological purpose for us souls since only living beings made up of flesh can truly reproduce"

"And yet, in the end, we are all human, one way or another. Be it because of the souls that make us up, or because we look exactly like them" said Starrk. "Which makes me appreciate our time sharing drinks together even more. Care for another round, captain?"

"Hoh boy….one more? Geez, don't think I'll be going back to the division anytime soon. Oh well, might as well. It's not often that I get to share drinks with another like minded arrancar. And Nanao-chan's gonna kill me anyways at this point. So I might as well get the most out of it" he said, pouring the two of them drinks.

"You've been strangely silent, dear Ruby. Has the alcohol hit you too strongly?" asked Unohana with a smile and half open eyes. "Seeing you like this reminds me of how much you resemble dear Natsuko and yet how different the two of you are"

"I'm fine Unohana-san. I'm just taking it all in. Its been…..one long ride even for me. Ah…I'm happy….to see you all like this. Compared to when I first saw everyone and now…I'm glad that we can all sit together like this and exchange ideas and thoughts and things about life. But this is your day after all. I do like to observe from the sidelines from time to time. And personally, I don't think I shouldn't be taking up your time to get to know each other" she replied. "Although….I think I want some fresh air as well. I'll let you guys enjoy with each other for a while longer"

"Wait you're going out?! Already? It's only 1 AM! Come onnn!" called Kukaku, sounding disappointed that Ruby was leaving. "The night's still young and we've plenty of booze and snacks left!"

"Thanks Kuka, but I did have plenty of fun. I'm tired from fighting Aizen as well, and well….I did go a bit wild there and ahem…indulge myself quite well" said Ruby awkwardly, pointing to her messy clothes, frayed hair and flushed face. "Ahahah Yoruichi took so long to let go of me and now poor Kisuke's getting the other end of it.." she commented. "Not to mention you too….but yeah. I just need some fresh air, and I'm worried about that overgrown cat who left us sometime back. Don't worry, I'm sure he's around here, but if I don't return, don't worry about me and just enjoy yourselves" she said.

"Alright sure" she replied. "She did a number on me too, that Yoruichi. She always gets like that when she gets drunk, but it's always fun to watch her face the next morning. Anyways, don't take too long finding that cat of yours and come back soon, you hear?" Ruby gave a quick nod.

"Cat…! That's right..! Who's the cat now, Kisuke…?!" called out Yoruichi in a stupor, pawing at his face before going back to her drawing. Kukaku lazily waved her off while the others continued their discussion. Ruby slowly navigated around the sleeping children and the unconscious Tres Bestias, Lily, Pesche and Dondochaka, making sure not to accidently wake them up as she made her way upstairs and to the outside.

Fresh air hit her like an ocean wave, washing out the smell of booze and food that was lingering in her nostrils from being in the room for so long. She stretched out her legs lazily, fighting off the tipsy feeling in her head. She looked around for signs of the blue haired arrancar. But the moonlight was making it difficult to make out features. And so, with a bit of effort, she tried her best to sense his spiritual pressure, finding success a moment later.

"Huh…..I can't believe my ability to sense reishi had diminished so much just because I'm drunk….it's really done a number on my senses…" she told herself before she made her way to the blue haired arrancar. Grimmjow was sitting with his knee folded on the ground atop an elevated mound just close to Kukaku's house. He had a rather tense expression on his face, like he was contemplating something.

"Yo" called out Ruby, sitting close to him. "You look worried. What's bothering you?" she asked softly.

"….it's nothing, I don't need you to worry about me. Just go and be having you fun back there.." he said, waving her off.

"How can I have fun when I know you're out here, cribbing about something" she asked once again. She was far from being annoyed or irritated at his behavior. She knew better than anyone how he was during certain times. She'd been with him long enough that she could tell that something was bothering him. "Tell me" she asked him slowly, putting her hand over his slowly. "I won't think any less of you, nor will I make fun of you. Whatever it is, just tell me" she asked. "I won't leave until I've heard you"

"….." Though he didn't say anything much, he didn't try pushing her off either. And true to her word, she continued to stay there, waiting for him. Finally, he spoke up.

"I don't like it one bit…" he said, looking away. "This is…not us. This foolish, carefree place, Harribel talking about kids and shit, Nelliel making that face, Ulquiorra talking about rethinking humans and crap like that….I don't like it one bit. I never want to see them that weak ever again and fawn over those things from the World of the Living like nothing ever matters…."

"Why?" asked Ruby slowly. "Why don't you like it? After all, they're happy, aren't they? You….were happy, weren't you? Despite what you said and did….despite how embarrassed you were, you liked it, didn't you? Spending time as a human being, getting to do things you've never done before, why do you think that's so wrong?"

"And that's the fuckin' problem! I'm Grimmjow, the 7th Espada, King of the Menos Forest! I'm supposed to be a feared arrancar. Nelliel is supposed to be someone for me to reach. Harribel is supposed to be a cold, dominating arrancar capable of beating down even the worst of the Soul Reapers. Ulquiorra is supposed to be someone for me to overcome! And yet….they go around doing things like that make them look so weak. How the hell can someone of their level stoop so low?! Where the hell is their pride?! And…..to think that I would be….that I would find these things…..damn! This is all your fault….for making me go along with all this…" he said, gritting his teeth.

"And who says they still aren't all that? And who says that they've given up on their pride? Why do you think that doing these things demeans their name? In fact, being able to act human while preserving their ruthless strength is something that shows how powerful they really are, and how much control of their emotions and instincts they really have. Otherwise….we'd all just be savages, Grimmjow. Savages who can't even keep our instincts from telling us what to do" said Ruby. "So tell me…..is that really what you want to be Grimmjow? A savage that can't do anything but fight? I know there's more to you than just a brute who knows nothing but how to fight. You're proud and strong, but you're also protective of those you claim, of your territory, you fight and argue, but you can learn to live in a group, you can get along with others. Like Nel, like big sis. And you can help those that looked up to you. Like you helped me when I was nothing but an adjuchas. You can listen to me and do things even when you don't think they're worth it. Like handling Ichi and the others. And….today, I was most happy to see you like this. Because it showed me that you have other sides to you that you simply couldn't show because the circumstances around us didn't allow it. You like death metal. You can be a real ass but you still waited for me when I was out shopping. You make a mess while eating but even you can learn how to be civil. I was….really happy to see you like that. To me, it showed that you'd looked past judging others based on strength alone. And that you could find some semblance of satisfaction in doing other things as well"

"…..But that….that's not…" argued Grimmjow. "It's easy for you to say all that when you get to be the one who defeated Aizen and I….no matter what I did, I couldn't even put a scratch on that monster. And even to Kurosaki when he'd become that monster. I'll…I'm not like Nelliel or Harribel who can just kiss up to my weakness and live it it..it's like….you won't understand…you could never…"

"Oh…?" asked Ruby, narrowing her eyes. "You think I don't know? Are you telling me that, after all the time we've spend together?" asked Ruby. Grimmjow only turned away. "You and I both know that this is you just making excuses to yourself just so that you can avoid calling yourself weak. Tell me Grimmjow…are you really that weak that you'd continue blaming others for your weakness rather than confront it head on? The man I know and grew fond of….is not that weak. I think the booze is making you say all this to me, but don't ever let me catch you uttering something like that ever again. Got it?" she asked, her sharp eyes locked with his blue eyes, making him waver.

"…..fine…." he said. The duo were silent for some more time, continuing to settle their thoughts in each other's company.

"Better..?" asked Ruby.

"…I'll be fine" he replied.

"…Well, you do sound better compared to before atleast" said Ruby. "….thanks for telling me, whatever it was. I'm glad the booze made you loosen up, if only a little. And Grimmjow, whether you're strong or weak isnt defined by what you think lowers your pride. For one, doing the things you like certainly won't. If you're strong, you are strong regardless of if you liked death metal or if you liked to have a family like big sis does. So don't let those things drag you down. After all, if you're supposed to be a king, flaunt your desires and persona like a king does, without worrying about what the world might think about you" she said. "Be proud, but at the same time, tell yourself that its ok to do what you like and explore things beyond fighting. You'll already start noticing a difference" she said.

"Is that what you do?" he asked.

"Uh huh. I did enjoy my time with everyone down there, didn't I? And besides…..I know you'll become stronger. More and more" she said, placing her hand on his shoulder and giving him a small pat. "Big-sis, Nel, I, Ulquiorra and Starrk have no interest in gaining strength. They've all found meaning in other things. But you still have that drive. To do something. To achieve something. And you're earnest about it, to a fault even I'd say. I do appreciate it though. It gives me inspiration to do the same too. And I know you'll catch up to us in no time. You'll become stronger than me, Nel, big sis, Starrk and even Ulquiorra. I know you will. And who knows, maybe….you'll even reach the levels that Aizen and Ichi did" she said.

"You really think so? Beyond Aizen….is that even…?" he asked, surprised and excited. He expected Ruby's silver eyes to mock him, to tell him that it was all just a joke. But it never did. Instead, she only gave him a confident smile.

"Of course. Because I know how much it means to you. And…I believe in you. Just as much as I believe in big sis, Nel and all of us. We….all have gotten through so much. That's why, I think you can too. And…." She said, leaning in close to him. "I'll help you get there as well, however I can" she said, planting a kiss on his cheek. But once she did, in her drunken state and in his awkward seating position atop the grassy mound, they both ended up tumbling down, grabbing each other and rolling, until Ruby was on the ground with Grimmjow looking at her intently. Though she looked vulnerable, soft and weak in her current state, her eyes spoke otherwise. Despite what her current state looked like, she was strong, fierce and protective. But beyond that, she could help him reach heights beyond anything he'd dreamed possible. And she would do it too. No matter what it took. Because that's the kind of woman she was. And….just like with everyone else, she was the only one who could make the whole world seem like it was alright, even when it was going to hell. But Grimmjow would no longer see it as a sign of his own weakness, that he depended on her. No, he rather saw it as a source of strength. Because she had taught him what it meant to feel things beyond primal aggression, to enjoy things he never knew existed, all while promising to be a part of his strength no matter if the world really did go to hell. It was a bond they shared, and it only belonged to him.

"Heh…" said Ruby, breathing heavily. Grimmjow could smell the stench of alcohol from her labored breaths. "You know…I never thought I'd ever be with a guy like you. I always thought I'd find some nice guy, perhaps someone responsible and told me fairy tales from time to time, was a good cook and an overall nice guy. Never, in my wildest dreams, did I imagine this. You're brash, proud, wild around the edges and have terrible manners. But…..you would always scold me, question what I was doing, shout at me if I did something stupid and you….didnt change how you were just because I was there or somebody else. Maybe that's what I liked about you. Because that was something I've always wanted to have. To me, you were just as strong. But…" she said, forcefully grabbing him, digging her hand into the back of his chest and holding him down. "Everything in life is a struggle, no matter what you are. And this is no different. If you want to claim me as your own, you'd better fight for it. And I'll do the same. If you win, I'm all yours. Otherwise….." she said, pulling him forcefully, bringing her face really close to his. "You can forget about the others if you can't even claim the woman you're interested in with your own two hands" she said.

Ruby couldn't remember how much time passed after that, but before she knew it, the rays of the sun were flittering through the think slats of the room she found herself in. She did remember moving herself and Grimmjow inside where everyone was at some point, evident by the blacked out adults sleeping in various different positions, some even on top of others, such as her mom who looked as if she'd literally collapsed on top of Unohana, wearing a goofy smile on her sleeping face. Grimmjow himself was fast asleep, as were Ichigo, Karin, Yuzu and everyone else. Even Ulquiorra, to her surprise.

"Or maybe he's just passed out" she thought to herself. Fishing out her phone, she quickly checked the time. 5:45 AM. It was still way early in the morning than she thought.

"Definitely can catch some more sleep" she told herself. Her head was throbbing uncontrollably. But even a bad hangover was nothing compared to everything she'd gone through in her life to finally reach this point. Things were going to be well, and she could finally be with both of her families and others with no repercussions or things looking in the background. And even if something did happen, she had people with her to face whatever came across her way, together.

And so, just as how the night had passed by, the day passed by, with the adults putting themselves together after a long, long battle and an equally long night. Summer and Crescent returned to Ruby and respective goodbyes were said, with the Soul Reapers going back to their respective divisions and the rest returning to the World of the Living. Though Yachiru was especially unhappy that Crescent was going back, Ruby's promise that she would come over to visit did console the pink haired girl. While Ruby's friends returned to Hueco Mundo, she stayed back, wanting to spend her days with the Kurosaki family to make up for the 6 years she was away from them, to which Tier and the rest happily obliged.

Naturally that didn't mean she made her stay with her siblings permanent, for she would often frequent between Hueco Mundo and the World of the Living.

And before she knew it, a little more than a year and a half had passed.

---

Although there was a certain excitement in the air within the Kurosaki household, it didn't deter Ruby Rose away from what had become her daily routine.

"Yuzu! Kari! Ichi! Breakfast's ready!" she called out.

"I'm ready, Yuzu's just about done" said Karin, taking up her place within the table. "Oh and Happy Birthday, Ruby-nee" she said, throwing a hug. "Hope you haven't gotten any plans for today evening"

"Thank you! And no…actually, well, Yoruichi did ask me to join her at Kisuke's place today evening too….dont tell me you guys have…"

"Ah, she already asked you?" questioned Yuzu, appearing at the dinner table. "Happy Birthday Onee-chan!" she repeated, hugging Ruby.

"Thanks Yuzu" she replied. "So that's why you guys were scurrying around his place yesterday"

"Ah….you saw that?" asked Karin awkwardly. "Well…it still doesn't spoil anything. So…just be there, ok?" she asked.

"Sure. It's not like I have plans or anything" replied Ruby. "Anyways, you guys are running a bit late. Hurry up and finish eating before it gets cold. Ichi….you done yet…?" she called out.

"Happy Birthday, Nee-san" said Ichigo, wearing his school uniform with a bag slung over his back. "As you can see, I can get ready just fine, even if I do wake up a bit late" he said.

"Thanks Ichi! Still, I don't want you to be making it a habit" she sighed. Ruby took another lost glace at the siblings as they were gobbling up their breakfast. Since the past several months, things had been rather uneventful but peaceful. In 6 years, none of her friends had really changed all that much but in the last few months, her siblings had grown up so much. Karin was taller, older, her hair now worn in a short ponytail. Yuzu was the same, with her hair now shoulder length, worn in twintails and she was even taller than Karin, thinner than her. Ichigo on the other hand looked more or less the same, though he did grow taller and had sideburns. She, on the other hand, had looked more or less identical as she did before, which she thought was normal since she was in a Gigai. It was such a short period of time, and yet, it was gone before she knew it, and things were no longer the same as they had been before.

And it wasn't just them who had changed. To her, her siblings were growing up like regular humans were and to her, that was normal. But what truly shocked her was how much her own friends and family had changed ever since that night after Aizen's defeat in just a little short of two years.

Given that Soul Society had granted them some sort of safe passage, Starrk would often visit captain Kyoraku, be it for a session of cards with Ukitake and captain Unohana or simply laze about under the sun to talk about the mundane things in their lives. Something that truly shocked Nanao at first, but over so many months, she eventually got used to it.

Lilynette would often visit the Kurosaki siblings, especially Karin and Yuzu. Though Lilynette was several centuries older than them, she found satisfaction in joining them in the activities they did, such as playing baseball with their friends and such.

Nel would frequent Urahara's store, often going out on trips by herself and exploring the different places and cities. She would go solo for the most part, but occasionally she would have company, for which she was just as grateful. Usually it would be either Ruby or Yoruichi or even Ichigo, but often she would also take along Orihime and Tatsuki as well, for the three had developed a sort of special kinship, especially since Nel was the one who visited Orihime and took care of her during her time in Hueco Mundo, apart from Ruby for the most part. Nel would even have sleepovers with the two, often staying at either of their places. And to fund her trips, she would work parttime at Urahara's store, something for which he was grateful for too.

Tier would drop by at times too, most of which would be to work part time at the nearby nursery, a job which she put her heart and soul in. And it was always a pleasure for Ruby to observe her big-sis with a genuine smile on her face as she was surrounded by kids. At times the Tres Bestias would watch over her, but for the most part, Tier preferred that her times at the World of the Living be given solely to herself.

The Tres Bestias, on the other hand would mostly be content visiting Ruby, at times to simply share dinner with the Kurosaki fmaily or at times to go explore the city.

But a peaceful life wasn't all that defined the current lives of the arrancars. Because another part of it pertained to the request Kyoraku made to them as part of their agreement. Which was to engage in friendly matches in order to help improve and train some of the Soul Reapers. The arrancars didn't particularly mind, for it was a good way for them to keep their skills sharp, as well as let go of the guilty feeling that they may have been indulging themselves in peaceful times just a bit too much. The most enthusiastic ones would unsurprisingly be Grimmjow and Ulquiorra.

Grimmjow would visit Soul Society and the World of the Living for said purpose; when he was in the Spirit World, he would fight against the likes of Kenpachi (who the rest agreed finally found his match regarding their lust for battle), Kyoraku, Ukitake, Ruby, Tier, Ulquiorra, Renji, Byakuya, Ichigo, Karin, Yuzu and so on. Most of these opponents were also ones that Ulquiorra fought, except that the Head Captain would at times take part in battles against Ulquiorra, something that would irk the blue haired arrancar. Grimmjow would visit the World of the Living as well in a gigai, challenging Ichigo to fist fights (which he would be happier about, since it gave him a chance to fight the orange haired soul reaper and realistically win and it was a new way to fight in general) or spend time with Ruby (which were usually initiated by Ruby). Ruby sighed at the thought, though it did bring a small smile to her face. In that short time, Grimmjow was less apprehensive about spending time with Ruby, and even secretly felt comfort in her company but naturally his pride didnt allow him to show it. Ruby would often have fun teasing him, a memory that always made her mood improve.

Ulquiorra didn't drop by nearly as often, and when he did drop by, it would mostly be to observe people in their daily lives, usually accompanied by Ruby or Yuzu, which the latter took upon herself as a sort of personal responsibility. However, he did pick up interests in a lot of literature, specifically those that apoke about human nature. He would often like listening to classical music, watch theatricals as well as read a lot of similar literature. Not to mention his interest in Opera.

And it wasnt just the arrancars that had changed. Many in the Soul Society had as well. For one, many of the positions were still vacant, but some had been filled in. Rukia was now the Lieutenant of squad 13, and because of a lack of captains in many divisions, Renji was promoted to Captain of Squad 10, a position he declined initially, since he wanted to continue being Byakuya's subordinate. But a quick talk from both Kuchiki siblings convinced him to take up said mantle. Naturally he had difficulty adjusting in his new post, especially considering Rangiku for one, whom he considered his companion and his equal was now also his subordinate, as was Rukia. But eventually, such boarders didnt matter to him. Shinji and Hiyori had more or less settled in, and though the loss of all of their Vizard companions did haunt them, they now had people they could rely on for support. Isshin, Yoruichi and Kisuke were sent invitations to take up captain class positions multiple times and all times they declined. With each iteration, the Soul Society would increase the incentives offered to them, but nothing would change their minds.

Gin had more or less accepted his role as an assistant at the Urahara store, and in fact seemed to genuinly like working at the eccentric candy store. He and Rangiku would catch up often, with Rangiku doing so discreetly without telling any of her superiors but those close to her were fully aware of it and understanding of the same as well.

Her mom would visit Soul Society often, usually to spend time with Unohana, Kyoraku or Ukitake and at times, to discuss matters with the Head Captain. But she would go about visiting the other Soul Reapers at times as well, and at times she would simply visit Kukaku and Ganju just for the sake of it.

Crescent, on the other hand, became quite well known amongst many in the Soul Society for being the one that Yachiru was always attached to and being just as crafty and mischevious. Though some were aware of her background as the manifestation of Ruby's hell reishi, most others only glimped at her for a brief moment before she would disappear and something in their vicinity either disappeared, was turned into a rather nasty prank or simply broken. This was especially prevalent in the case of Byakuya, who now hired even more workers to keep the two out of his mansion, only for Yachiru and Crescent to find even better ways to outwit the 6th division captain and turn his mansion into their personal playground. but even more than that, she too, would often call over Yachiru to play with Yuzu and Karin in the World of the Living whenever they did go out to play.

As for Aizen, his seal hadn't broken or shown any change whatsoever since the seal was created. How did she know? Because ever since that day to the current one, the seal still hung on her chest like a sort of pendant, and only her trusted comrades and Urahara's trusted comrades knew the truth about it.

One might argue that such a peaceful lifestyle was unbecomming for the arrancars and for Ruby herself. But it was a peace that Ruby wholeheartedly appreciated. For one, Ruby had no complaints about her siblings leading ordinary lives, going to school, going out with friends and spending time as a family. But this time, there were no barriers between them, no secrets about their origins or powers. She felt she was finally fulfilling her promise to Masaki. And personally, she was immensly grateful that her friends and family got to experience the same kind of life she finally got to see with her siblings.

"Bye Ruby-nee" said Karin, hastily putting on her shoes and waving goodbye, interrupting her thoughts.

"See you later, Onee-chan!" said Yuzu, joining her sister.

"Right...I'll probably be coming home with Tatsuki, Orihime, Chad and Uryu. They thought it would be better for us to head here first before we went to Urahara-san's place" said Ichigo. "Then...see you nee-san" he said, leaving with his sisters.

"Take care you three!" said Ruby with a smile, giving them a collective hug before watching them go. Isshin retreated to his clinic to start a new day of work, while Ruby started finishing up some of the smaller chores left around the house for the next couple of hours before deciding to take a small breather in her room.

Ruby chuckled to herself when she remembered her siblings and Isshin wish her for her birthday. Honestly, she'd felt no different about it, because today felt like any other day. And personally, she didn't quite feel like she needed to celebrate with grandeur. A small gathering with her close family and friends, talking about stuff, eating, drinking and simply having a fun evening being in each other's company. Now that sounded like heaven, she told herself.

"Ahahaha! Back then, you'd always use the fact that your birthday was on the same date as halloween and literally get all of your friends to give their treats to you" said Summer.

"Ah, don't remind me..." said Ruby, burying her face in embarrassment.

"And now, it sounds like something Crescent might do! How the times have changed! Or perhaps this is just things coming full circle?" wondered Summer.

Ruby had no reply to give, save for acknowledging the same. Indeed, it had been one long ride. Good things, bad things, average things and life changing events. She had seen and lived them all. As she lay there, sitting by the window of her room with her knees tucked in, she could feel her mind slowly drift off, her thoughts slowly mellowing out. Ever since Aizen's defeat, she had been able to gradually sleep better. Sure, she still had nights where she would wake up in cold sweat, and some nights where she would stay awake, unable to get even a wink of sleep, but those nights were rare and for once, she was finally able to sleep in her bed rather than sitting against the wall. Though her personal preference was still to sleep sitting against the window with her zanpakuto by her side or the times when Grimmjow was there, to sleep at his side, sharing his warm embrace. Before she knew it, soothing waves of comfortable sleep kicked in.

Soon, everything was dark, and she was no longer within the confines of her room in the Kurosaki household. A familiar feeling, one that she had encountered exactly once before and that was almost eight years ago, back when she had just returned to Hueco Mundo after Masaki's death. A familiar presence made itself known, except this time, she wasn't alone. It was as if her mind was still lingering between sleep and being awake.

"The time has come, Ruby Rose, Summer Rose, Crescent Rose" said a voice, one that was unmistakably the same voice as the one she heard back then. The one that claimed to have been responsible for her presence in this world. Almost as if responding to that voice, her mind snapped awake, and she found herself in a similar dreamscape as she did the last time, except that her mom and daughter were also there.

"That's new" Summer remarked to herself. "I've never seen this in your head before, even when you had nightmares..."

The could hear the sound of someone approaching. What looked like a silhouette took shape, taking the form of a well dressed, elegantl looking middle aged man, with pale skin, slicked back jet black hair, sharp features and emotionless eyes with golden pupils. His gaze was even more unreadable and inhuman than Ulquiorra's and yet, there was no apparent malice within them. Instead, there was only cold indifference. He was dressed in a pure white formal suit and pants, with a pure white shirt worn inside the suit. And around the neck, where his skin was exposed, they could make out some kind of black tattoos that was no doubt only part of the tattoos he had. But what did stand out the most was that he was barefoot, and his feet and hands were drenched in a black, tar like substance that was dripping down as he walked towards her. The tar like substance was staining the hem of his pants as well as around the wrists around his suit. There were places in his suit that were also marred and stained with the same black tar.

"You...you're the voice from before! You're the one...that brought me here" stated Ruby. She readied her guard, but such a thing felt pointless. Because whatever this man or entity was, it dwarfed anything they'd ever faced. Nothing compared, not even the presence of the will of the left leg of the Soul King back in Hell. And, he'd shown no reaction to her actions.

"That is correct. I am indeed the one who is responsible for summoning you and your mother to this world. In our last conversation, I promised you that all will be revealed when the time arrives. That time is now. I refrained from appearing in front of you to give you time to adapt to the aftereffects of your battle with Aizen Sosuke. And now, it is time. But this is hardly the place for such a juncture. If you take my hand, I shall take you there" he said, extending one of his tar coated black hands. Ruby, Summer and Crescent continued to observe the man.

"That's...a bit sudden, don't you tihnk?" asked Summer, keeping her cool. "It's a bit hard to say yes or no to that when the kids are going to be back soon from school and others are waiting for us, don't you think?"

Crescent on the other hand, continued to observe the man in silence. There was a strange sort of pull from his golden eyes, eyes which were the same color as her own. She couldn't tell if what she felt was submission to a higher power or something else. She clung on to the hem of her mother's clothes and to Summer's.

"Of course I am well aware. I know that you have time before you resume your duties. More than enough time for us to be done. And you also know that time is a meaningless concept to me. But more than anything, you have nothing to be apprehensive about. If I truly meant you harm, I would not need to go through all this to do so. I am one that keeps my word. So you have nothing else to think about save for what was told to you. And I can also assure you that it will take no longer than the time it takes for your siblings to return" he said. "And, you have been seeking this, have you not? A chance to know the reasons for your presence here and all of the events that have transpired following that. As well as the fate of your other daughter and everyone else amongst your family and friends in your home world"

There was some sense to what he said, and honestly, though it may have been sudden, being given a lead to what could be their only chance of returning to Remnant was hard to ignore. Though it was sketchy, they felt an odd sense of assurance that this entity did mean exactly what he said. And as he mentioned, he could've killed them if he so wanted instead of going through all this trouble.

"...Alright. We accept" said Ruby, first taking Crescent and Summer's hands and then the hand of the mysterious being.

---

Well, there you have it folks. My longest chapter to date. Next chapter marks the final chapter of this arc. There are some important encounters and events, look forward to it! But after that, we'll finally be starting the Remnant arc!

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Response to reviews:

Kokomo: Indeed. Yeah that's a valid question. In terms of power ratings as they stand now, nobody in RWBY has even the most remote chance of beating even the weakest Quincy sternritter. But well, how it works out is what remains to be seen. As for Salem, I would say it depends. Salem is nowhere near as cunning as Aizen or Yhwach. Heck, she's not even that strong. She only has her immortality going for her. I would say that most of the main antagonists would find one way or another to break her.

Argorok: Thanks a lot! Yeah she will. Next chapter is the final chapter of this arc. After which is the one everyone's been waiting for.

rama alif: Thanks! Next chapter for sure. I know you want to see her go there soon, but we're there. Almost. As for updates, I usually update once every two weeks as it stands. But sometimes I do write chapters that are like 20k words long, so I think its a necessary tradeoff.

Lucian Naruto: I would say something along the lines of worthy adversary. They were in opposing sides after all. If Aizen and Summer of now had met much earlier, I'm sure he would've genuinly seen her as a friend.

Spellflame: I would think so. I mean, the GoD literally distroyed a portion of the moon just by passing through it. That speaks volumes about their power. And the same GoD annhilated the lifeforms of all of Remmant in a single second. Nope, Salem is vastly weaker than Aizen. She only has her immortality going for her. Otherwise, she's pretty weak. A captain class soul reaper could defeat her but not truly kill her. Yup, she did.

NinjaGogeta: I completely understand. You're right. I wish...I had written more dialogue between them. The word limit was approaching and I was conflicted between what to write and what to leave. And well, as you said, Ruby has been the main focus of the story so far, so I thought Summer could use a little screentime in main events here and there too. But I assure you that Ruby is still very much the main protag. But...that's not to say that conversation with Aizen was their final one. So the chances are still there.

Ahaha true! Not my intention to be honest, but objectively speaking, she's really not that much of a treat to Aizen. Ichigo was the main threat and Ruby was more of a support for him. Another reason I would say is that I didnt want the story to focus on her and make her stand in the spotlight all the time.

Thanks! I did a bit of thinking about it and that's what I arrived at. People do seem to like it, I'm happy.

I really do appreciate you taking time to give a detailed review, it definitely helps me refine my future chapters better, and I mean that quite sincerely. And I'm really happy to know you look forward to more and hope I can continue to keep things interesting!

David Alejandro Gmez Fernandez: A good theory, the true reason will be revealed in the next chapter. I have given this part quite a bit of thought and can only hope that it makes sense when people read it.

Fregreg: Thanks a lot! Always glad to hear from you. Well...not quite. I would say that was more of a temporary happenstance. At that point, when Ruby's eyes were active, her glowing silver eyes and AIzen's weakened state meant that Ruby at the time was a higher authority. Or atleast had access to a power that was a higher authority. It's mostly because her silver eyes are literally from the GoL, as are the other silver eyed warriors.

firewyrn2: Yeah and that's what I wanted to go for.

Guest: Well, I suppose that does sum up how the characters have behaved, atleast going by the show. My aim is to see if they can improve upon those traits of theirs and grow over time. Let's see.

L4 of the WEST: Haha thanks! Same here. After I started writing this, which by itself is such a time consuming and tiring process, I've kinda mellowed down on reading other stuff. Thanks a lot!

ranjira1988: Thank you so much!

Sturmeye: Thanks! Hadn't noticed that it was!

Vedahzii: Thanks! Ahaha that would totally go along with Summer or Urahara's eccentric style! I wouldn't be surprised if someone even sarcastically called it the 'Brother-sister Kamehameha'!

ThelonewolfNT: Thanks!

Kitsune Obsessed Freak: Yeah she did. Yeah you're right. Seems I was mistaken. I think the appropriate word to use there would be 'chop' or something to that effect. Thanks for pointing it out!

RandomName3064: Thanks, glad you felt it was so! Yeah that's true. One can only hope how they plan to cope up if the TYBW arc is up next. The power difference between the two are ridiculously large. Oh yeah I did. Didnt think the next arc would be about hellverse, but I'm not complaning. Though...I will not be using the stuff from the new arc, since I've already established how Hellverse works in my story, way back in chapter 8. So it would just lead to me retconning my story. Thanks! I thought a lot about how to write his Bankai, and it seems to have paid off!

Monster King: Thanks a lot!

Xeno01: Thank you! Yup, if only he had trusted someone, it might have worked out better. But the fact that he's alive is itself a big change from canon. Now, he has a chance to make things right. No no, he wont be. Indeed and that was what really trumped him. In that he really was truly 'alone' in his plans. He relied on no one, and manipulated everyone else to act in a way that he deemed fit. Very different from Urahara, who believed in others and their potential.

No, she isnt an intellectual. But she has also seen and experienced things that no one possibly can, when she was in hell. What I really wanted to show was that she has a far, far broader insight to things than anyone else. She's seen the lowest of the lowest, so she is far more accepting of things. Of course that also means she's a lot more composed and matured that most. But you know...there is one thing I do agree. I might have made her and Ruby too 'ideal'. They're loved and admired by almost all. It's not necessarily a bad thing, but I think it neednt have been the case. But oh well. It doesnt mean that it's something detrimental to their character, which is what I really want to focus on in the story. I wouldnt say she's the owner of the Hogyoku. It simply happened that at that moment, when Ruby's eyes were active and Aizen was severely weakened, Ruby was the superior authority. So for that moment, the Hogyoku rejected Aizen, which then cascaded with his other physical conditions and led to the seal kicking in.

MaxHD2490: Thanks! Yup and we're almost there, just one more chapter to wrap things up for this arc. And even I'm looking forward to writing those initial parts of the Remmant arc.

Cinder...will be a nobody for Ruby. I mean, she's seen people she hates far more than she could ever hate Cinder for what she's done. And Ruby is a lot more different too. But you know what they say, sometimes, indifference is far mroe painful than acknowledgement.

Le type qui passe par la: No, they done. I will try to keep Ichigo's powers as close as possible to what it was in the TYBW arc.

Maybe. The thing is, I dont want to make Ruby too OP. Otherwise, there is no way for her growth to show up in the story. But we shall see.

That's fine, no worries! I think your english is quite fine!

NEGATARO: Thanks a lot as always! She will, just another chapter to go!