I was going to make this a two-part epilogue but I just wanted to finish updating this story. I've never done one this long before and I wanted it done. I hope this ties up enough loose ends, and is satisfactory enough. Enjoy.

Epilogue: Born to be Wasted?

A few days later.

"I'm so glad you guys are recovered, but how did you do it?" asked Yoruichi Shihoin, looking around the table at the assembled group of exiled Shinigami.

"In the end, to master the Hollow inside, you must work with it. Just as we work with our Zanpakuto spirits, we have to first earn their respect, and earn the right to use them. In this way we retain the ability to use Shikai and Bankai" replied Shinji, holding back his transformation. After careful discussion with the rest of the Visored, Shinji decided Urahara was about as trustworthy as Aizen. Despite what they owed him, they would retain some secrets. "

"Yeah yeah, it's all god, but what about Aizen? Are we going after him or what?" demanded Hiyori, focused on one thing.

"Aizen is being very careful. However, after hearing reports from Shinji on his pet projects, He is actively hunting us, and we need to keep our heads down. No matter what happens, leave it to myself or Shinji."

"About that, Kisuke" spoke up Shinji, standing now. "I've talked with the other Visored's, and we've come to an unanimous decision."

"Oh?"

"We have to part ways here. If you, Yoruichi or Tessai get caught, you could give up our location. To that end, we're going to go out on our end. Believe me when I say, we owe you our lives. However, this is something we must do on our own. If we fight in this war, we will do it on our own terms. We will not be your pawns."

The Visored glanced aside, but they all nodded in agreement. Kisuke looked at them for a long time, then nodded slowly. "Okay. If that's what you want. It is partly my fault you ended up like this."

"That's right. But with this new power, we have the strength to control our lives once more, and never again be told what to do.".

"That's why we chose Shinji as our leader, because none of us respect him" replied Hiyori, and the others guffawed. He scowled at them, but his heart wasn't in it."

-V-

"So guys, like I said. Now that we've all recovered, I won't ask any more of you. I'm going to prepare for the fight with Aizen. I hope when the time comes you can all be at my side, but I'll understand if you're sick of the fighting" announced Shinji, walking into the warehouse and sitting on an empty crate.

Lisa adjusted her glasses. "Stop being so dramatic, Shinji. We all want payback from Aizen, but there's more to life than vengeance. Me and Hiyori have decided to travel. I've always wanted to go to Osaka."

"Oooh can I come too?" cried Mashiro, bounding into the room and looking hopefully at Lisa.

"Sure."

'Hold on, Mashiro. We wanted to visit Soul Society remember?"

"Aww… I guess so. But afterwards then?"

"Sure."

"You think they'll let you back in?" asked Love, spreading out with the rest of the Visored. "It's time to let it go."

"No. Maybe some day, but for now I just want to see it one more time. Then I'm going to."

"Yay! We'll have so much fun!" exclaimed Mashiro, then calmed down at Kensei's head shaking.

"No. I'm going to go on my own and explore the world. The world is bigger than I thought, and all I know is the Soul Society. Who knows where I'll end up?"

"Sounds very fulfilling, Kensei. I wouldn't mind going to Germany one of these days, but for now I'm staying. We need to train, train so hard that next time we meet that bastard we can take him down by ourselves. Only then can we regain honour."

Love nodded, combing his afro. "Pretty much. By fighting each other, well discover even more about our masks and what they can do. It'll be awesome."

Shinji looked over at their last member, the huge bulk of Hachi coming slowly towards them. "I don't know yet what I will do. Perhaps… take up gardening."

"Well, it sounds like all of you will be having lots of fun, so I'm envious! Feel free to drop by and visit. We may be far apart, but we'll always be the V club."

"No" spoke all of them simultaneously.

Shinji sulked. "Spoilsports."

100 years later.

The night was warm. Hirako Shinji took a sip of water, looking at the kid upside down. He watched the Hollow get destroyed, getting a brief sense of his style. 'Damn, you didn't teach him anything Urahara' thought the Visored, shaking his head sadly.

This kid had power, a tonne of it, and was half-Shinigami, something not even Shinji had heard of before. Only one reason for Kisuke not to tell them about this, and his face darkened. "Sorry, but he's not going to be your pawn anymore. I don't know why you tried to hide him from us, but we're the only ones who can help him now."

Earlier that day.

A cup of coffee in one hand and a newspaper on the table, Shinji Hirako looked every bit the consummate mortal. In her orange shirt and black trousers, the dark skinned woman opposite blended in just as well. "Ichigo Kurosaki, huh?"

"I thought he would interest you. Ichigo is strong, but scared. He hides it well, except I've trained enough people to see the fear" replied Yoruichi, seriously. She stirred her strawberry milkshake with its straw, taking a few lazy sips and looking more relaxed. Shinji pondered it over, looking into his coffee at what he'd been told. This changed everything. "He's learnt everything through brute force."

"He'd get along with Kensei then." Shinji looked at the image Yoruichi sent to his phone of an orange haired kid. He put the phone away. "He achieved Bankai in three days, beat down two captains and destroyed the execution platform In three days? Some kid."

-V-

Shinji sat on the floor of the warehouse, drink in hand and a laptop balanced on his lap. Rose lay sprawled out on the dingy sofa, Love asleep on top his magazine. Zanpakuto on the floor and the singed smell of spilled reiatsu around them made Shinji shake his head. The empty beer bottles were telling. "Lazy bastards. Get up, you need to listen to this call too."

Love snored, and Rose rubbed his eyes. "Five minutes…" muttered the blonde haired Captain just as Shinji heard the notification ping on his laptop. He took out a rubber band and flicked it at Rose, causing the Shinigami to jump and tumblr off the couch onto Love who woke up cursing. Their leader chuckled as they scuffled, typing away.

-V-

"And we're connected. OK, V club, I've called this meeting-"

"That's a stupid codename, Shinji. Get to the point; we were about to visit Tokyo tower. It's closing soon!" yelled Hiyori's voice from the speaker, her face angrily looking into the webcam. Lisa and Mashiro sat in the background, waving. Well, Mashiro was waving. Lisa just read her magazine, giving a single wave. A heavy shape appeared from behind Shinji, walking over to separate the two Captains on the floor. A second screen revealed Hachi, sitting in a steam room in a loose fitting towel.

"Glad your priorities are in order, guys. Anyway, I have big news. I've found another Visored."

There was a long silence, the three guys with Shinji appearing shocked. The girls took in a deep breath simultaneously; even Lisa put her magazine down.

"No fucking way!" yelled Hiyori, looking even more furious. "If this is a joke, Baldy, I swear to God-"

"It's for real. His name is Ichigo Kurosaki, and he has a Hollow mask. His reiatsu is identical to ours."

"If this is true, we would have felt it, even from across the country" spoke up Lisa, getting closer and moving Hiyori away.

"He's probably been repressing it until now" suggested Hachi quietly, everyone's attention drawn to him despite the calm tone. "A sad fate for a child to become like us. Something in his fights must have unlocked it."

Shinji nodded. "Most likely; his invasion of Soul Society must have taken quite a toil on him. Not to mention, Urahara is behind the kid's training." He refrained from using the ex-Captain's name with an honorific, worrying it might incense Hiyori. They hadn't spoken for ten years before yesterday, and after thinking it over, he decided that to Urahara they weren't friends in so much as tools.

"We can't trust that sandal wearing freak! It's no doubt part of his gazillion million bullshit plans!" shouted Hiyori, pushing back into view. Behind them Mashiro kicked her feet lazily in the air, lying on her front and looking disinterested.

Shinji winced at Hiyori's loudness, and waited for her to calm down. "Yes, which is precisely why we need him. Urahara wants to use him, but he can't understand what the kid is going through. He can be a valuable ally to us."

"So recruit him then, why are you calling us?"

"To tell you about him, and also that we need to get back together in the meantime."

Kensei shook his head. "Shinji, we agreed not to stay together for too long. Aizen is still out there."

"Yes, but not as a Captain" clarified Shinji smugly.

"What? He got demoted?" asked Mashiro, looking upside down into the screen.

"No. He revealed his true colours, and left with Gin and Tousen. With the Gotei 13 hunting him, he won't come into the world of the living unless he has an army. We have three months until the war."

"Alright. This is getting serious. Hiyori, Mashiro, we're going back" spoke Lisa matter of factly, standing up and giving the men a good look at her legs. Shinji tilted his head, admiring the view and frowned as Hiyori's face filled up the screen again.

"It's no fun without them here, but don't screw around with this, baldy."

"Love you too, Hiyori" replied Shinji, rolling his eyes and kicking them from the conversation. He chuckled, imagining her freak out. "Hachi, you OK to make your way back?"

"I'd already been planning to do so. Tessai has kept me informed. But are you serious about this?"

"Hachi. I've been serious about this from the beginning. If you don't think so, then doubt away" retorted Shinji, eyes becoming serious. "Things have improved, but Aizen… a hundred years it's been, and in that time, I've not once forgotten what he did to us, and how it was my fault." He shut down the computer, leaning back and letting out a long breath.

"Be careful. A heavy burden can put a strain on one's back" commented Rose, wide awake now and contemplative. Love looked over at Kensei, who looked at Shinji. "These are lofty goals."

"Guys, seriously" objected Shinji, pushing himself up but put back down by Kensei, the Shinigami spinning his Zanpaktou.

"He's been training all this time. I've talked to him, and if anyone outside the Gotei 13 can hope to lead a fight against Aizen, it's Shinji."

"Wow… that's… wow. Right, this is what we've been waiting for. Once Hachi gets here, build up some more barriers. We're buckling down here, and I want all of us to be combat ready." He stood up, just catching the laptop in hand as it fell and giving a high pitched yell of surprise. Strolling towards the door, Love raised an eyebrow behind his sunglasses.

"Where are you going?"

"I'm off to school." Shinji looked back, and grinned.

And that's it, the proper end. I really have never written a fanfic this long ,and I am really glad I got this far. I will be writing more Visored stuff, but for now, Visoreds: Origins is concluded. I hope you enjoyed it, and as always, any feedback is appreciated.

-WT