Okey, guys. This is literally the last chapter, with fast-forwardness involved.

Unless I become all-magical and figure something else out. But here it is!

It was days. Days since the battle between the Soul Seekers and the Soul Society happened. Days since Ichigo destroyed Minako's powers.

Orihime had healed the wound Ichigo inflicted on Minako, but Ichigo was certain that a scar remained. A scar that-no matter if it was no longer on her flesh-will never disappear.

Things were going to become even more difficult for Ichigo now. The Soul Society was still reeling from the attack of the Soul Seekers and the Quincies were becoming stronger and stronger. He knew that and he had to take care of it.

"You're lost in thought, Ichigo." Minako's voice intercepted his thoughts and he looked at her. They were at their place by the river, Ichigo standing and Minako sitting. He watched how attentive she was to keep her gaze on the river. With a twinge of guilt, he knew she had been through so much. She had been tormented by Arrancars to protect Orihime. She had witnessed Ginjo taking his power and going into a rage, trying to rip his soul apart. She had been abducted after Ichigo was becoming toxic to her and brainwashed into attacking her friends, into being the time bomb the Soul Seekers would detonate to destroy the Soul Society.

All of those events transpired the minute White and Minako made contact inside his soul.

Ichigo was almost jealous of his Hollow for making contact with her before him, but all things considered, she wasn't a draw for him a year ago. She was just the quiet girl sitting a few seats away in school.

"Minako?" His voice came out shaking.

She turned to look at him. "Hm?"

With an irritated groan at himself, Ichigo sat next to her, rubbing a hand over his face. How does this girl manage to do this to him? When he dropped his hand, he sighed. "You read my memories in the Soul Society, right? When you were being controlled?" he asked.

"Yes," Minako answered. She was always honest. It was one of the things he loved about her. "I saw into your memories of me at that time. Your feelings for me changed."

Although it was always difficult for Ichigo to explain himself when she was psychic because she knew everything. "You saw that my feelings changed in the Soul Society, right? It's not…" Pink dusted his cheeks in embarrassment and frustration. "It's not easy."

Ichigo felt warmth slip between his fingers and glanced down at his hand. Minako's fingers were interlaced with his and he raised his head to look at her. Minako returned his gaze with her own steady one. "Ichigo," she breathed. "I'm sure you know it by now, but I love your Hollow."

Of course she did. White knew her better than Ichigo himself in spite of the fact of Ichigo's friendship with her for the past year. He felt his heart constrict.

"But…"

But?

"But I was—I am—falling for you, too," she whispered softly. "You and your Hollow are different in personality, but you are still two sides of the same coin. I can't separate you both like how I did before, because there's nothing to separate. Am I making sense?"

"A bit." Ichigo pulled her against him, his arm winding around her tightly. He wanted to keep her right there, but he knew that with his duties with the Soul Society, he would always be away from her. She knew that too.

"We graduate soon, Ichigo. Have you thought of your future aside from your duty to the Soul Society?" Minako asked.

Ichigo shook his head. "Not really. Because I've been so busy," he answered. "But I think I'll figure it out."

"I hope so. Because I can't jet off with you on your Soul Society adventures with the others anymore." Minako pulled back, a pained look in her eyes, as she turned away. "I guess the confession was a bit pointless, huh?" she murmured shakily. "You'll always be out of my reach."

Ichigo wished he could reassure her. He wished Minako wouldn't feel like that. But she had every right to feel what she was feeling—because he would always be far from her reach. He knew this fact implicitly—because she would be far from his reach as well.

When Minako made a move to stand up, Ichigo seized her arm. Her eyes clashed with his, a questioning look in them. "Your confession wasn't pointless, Minako," he said firmly. "No matter what, I'm always going to come back to you—and no one is going to change that."

Minako smiled softly, but it was tinged with even more sadness. "You always think of others, Ichigo. I love that about you, you know."

"I'll prove it to you." Ichigo's eyes narrowed in determination.

"Then I'll be waiting." Gently, Minako grabbed Ichigo's hand so he would release her, squeezed it, before standing up. Ichigo watched as she walked away, which seem to harden his resolve.

He would prove it to her. He'd find a way.

Fast Forward

It had been about two years since graduation. Two years since Minako had last seen anyone from high school. Tatsuki, Keigo and Mizuiro visited her workplace from time to time, but they weren't very close to her.

She continued working at the café from her high school days and usually ignored any flirtations that would come her way from any single guys that spent a little too much time trying to catch her fancy. None of them were even on par with the one, as her coworker Kana had teasingly put it.

It had been two years since Ichigo had sworn he would prove his feelings for her and Minako hadn't seen him since that day. She knew that with his duties to the Soul Society would interfere, but Minako and Ichigo had only shared a glance during graduation. They hadn't shared any words. After that, everything just seemed to fade into memories.

With a sigh, Minako wiped at her brow, exhaustion creeping to her bones as she gathered her belongings at the end of her shift. "Mina-cha~n!" sang Kana as she glomped Minako from behind. "Why so glum?"

"No reason," Minako replied with a smile, turning to look at her bubbly coworker. "Why are you so peppy?"

"Oh, you noticed! Well, there's some hottie waiting outside who asked for you!" Kana laughed, releasing Minako from her hold. "Said he knew you from back in your high school days, so you two must have some history!" She winked.

Back in my high school days? That could mean very few people, but with how Kana was gushing…and exuberantly, Minako might add…

Could it be?

Minako hurried grabbed her stuff and rushed to the door of the café, her heart pounding. She gripped the handle and pulled it open. Her eyes widened to the size of saucers.

The warm brown eyes. The rare smile. The orange hair. "Been two years, Minako," he said, before his eyes glanced off of the building. "Still working at this café."

Minako felt tears brimming in her eyes in spite of herself. She wasn't sad; no, quite opposite. "Ichigo," she breathed.

Ichigo's smile didn't waver as he held out his hand to her. Minako moved hesitantly before she threw herself against Ichigo, her arms winding around his neck, burying her face against his chest. Ichigo's arms automatically wound around Minako, holding her close to him. He had missed her—the feel of her in his arms, her warmth. Even her tears, although he hated seeing her cry.

"You must have had some battle, huh?" Minako mumbled, pulling back to look at Ichigo. Ichigo ran a hand through Minako's hair, noticing of how long it became in the span of two years.

"Yeah," he muttered. "I came back, though, just like I said."

Minako nodded. "Yeah, you did say that."

Ichigo took Minako's hand tightly in his own. "Come with me," he told her, gently tugging her. Minako nodded, allowing Ichigo to pull her along. He was silent as they walked through the town, not giving anything away before they arrived by the river. The river that began the last chapter of their lives.

"Ichigo?" Minako whispered. "Why are we back here?"

"I said I'd prove it, right?" he replied. "My feelings for you?"

Minako blinked in surprise before her expression softened. "Yes."

Ichigo turned to look at her, his eyes determined, before he reached into his pocket. Slowly he pulled out a fine chain with a simple, silver ring. Her eyes widened. "Ichigo…what…?"

A light pink hue spread on Ichigo's cheeks as he gently took Minako's hand and placed the ring into her hand. "I know it seems bit much, but…" he muttered, averting his eyes briefly before his gaze met hers. "It's a promise. I won't leave you again. I won't give you up."

Minako looked at the ring in her hand before closing her hand over it. She shut her eyes, happiness and a bit of sadness tearing her in two. Ichigo noticed the conflict in her expression, raising his hand to her just slightly. "Minako?"

"Two years, you jerk. You kept me waiting for two years!" she exclaimed, her eyes flying open as she glared half-heartedly at him. "And then you give me this…this ring like it changes everything…"

Ichigo's eyes widened when he noticed tears falling from her eyes. "M-Minako! Don't cry!" he gasped, grabbing her by her shoulders. Seeing the concern and panic mixing together made Minako smile through her tears. "Always such a nice guy. You haven't changed a bit, Ichigo," she murmured. She wiped her at her eyes to stem the flow of tears before she felt warm, calloused hands touch her cheeks and wipe at her still-falling tears.

"I'm sorry," Ichigo muttered. "You're right. Two years, and here I come with a ring like it changes me keeping you waiting with nothing said or done." He then gently took hold of the hand holding the ring. "All I know is that I just…want you with me."

"Ichigo, if you're asking me to marry you, I think you're going about it wrong." Minako laughed weakly.

Ichigo placed a hand on to of Minako's head. "I think we'd have to wait a while for that," he replied. "I just want you to know that this ring is my promise to you. Proof of how I feel about you."

Minako smiled before she pulled her hand from Ichigo's hold. She undid the clasp before pulling the chain around her neck and fiddling with the clasp for a moment before it set into place. Once it was set, she let the ring fall against her chest, the silver cooling her skin. Her eyes went to meet Ichigo's and she noticed that rare smile on his face. "What?" she asked.

"Nothing," he answered before taking hold of her hand.

"I know you better than that, Ichigo. And it's not because I'm psychic anymore," said Minako. She watched as Ichigo raised her hand to his lips and pressed a light kiss against her knuckle, a pink hue dusting his cheeks.

"Nothing at all," he replied. "Just glad I got my feelings across to you."

White could still see everything through Ichigo's eyes and he could still see his queen.

No, no longer just his queen; she was theirs.

That little human who came into another soul, who found him, and was the reason the king and the horse were…happy. White was content, a rare occurenece, to let the king take care of her.

"Better take good care of her," mused White, knowing Ichigo would hear him, but not Minako.

The Hollow didn't recieve a response. He didn't expect one, because he knew-and the king knew-one thing.

They were one, just like she said. And they had what they'd wanted before them right now.

However, White had one piece of advice for Ichigo if they were going to be "sharing" the queen.

"Don't screw this up, Ichigo," he said, fading deeper into Ichigo's soul, laying dormant for the final time.

Meh. I had to give White the last word. Had to. He did see Minako first. XD

I do plan on writing a oneshot for these three that fast-forwards into the future, and that would be the absolute final thing for this pairing.