AN: Welcome, one and all to the last post of A Bar in Seireitei. It has been just under 2 1/4 years since the first time I posted a chapter, and I'd like to thank everyone whose favorited, followed, or reviewed this story. All of you who have followed since the beginning, and all of you who have only just done so, thank you for putting up with my nearly random update times, and the mistakes I've made throughout the story.

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Epilogue 3: 100 Years Later

The woman cursed her missing umbrella as she forced herself to keep moving through the wind and rain.

She cursed the weather report that had assured her the storm would swing north before it hit the city.

She cursed the bus she had just barely missed, forcing her to walk the three miles from the train to her home.

She cursed the construction forcing her to take a three block detour around the fastest route through the park.

She cursed the shops, which seemed to be turning off their lights one by one as she passed, as if they were forcing her to keep walking through the rain.

She was almost out of things to curse, when she saw a single sign hanging in the next building, declaring the store to be open still.

She didn't even look at the name before she pushed her way through the door and out of the rain.

She took a moment before entering further, wringing out her hair and stamping out the water in her shoes.

"Here," a man in front of her said, holding out a towel.

She hurriedly grabbed it out of his hand and did her best to dry herself off. "Thanks."

"It wasn't a problem at all. Now, I'm sure you didn't come here as a customer, but please have a seat. Nobody should have to walk through this weather, and I'm sure it will clear up soon enough."

The woman looked up and saw the inside of the building for the first time. It was a small place, only enough room for the stools standing empty in front of the wooden counter.

"A bar? I didn't know there was a bar here." She walked over to the center of the bar, letting her hand glide over the wood, and took a seat.

The man gave a light chuckle as he walked behind the bar. "It's a small place, but we have a few loyal customers who aren't going to let us close any time soon."

"Well, thank you for letting me stay. I just quit my old job and the day's just kept getting worse."

"Quit your job? Did something happen?"

"Oh…the manager who hired me left a couple months back. For the last few weeks we've been on our own, but today the new guy came in."

"You two didn't get along, I assume."

She snorted. "The man was a pig, and in his opinion every woman working there was supposed to be thankful that he didn't fire them on the spot."

The bartender felt a twitch in his eye, and he forced himself to take a deep breath. "I assume you didn't let that stand."

"Hell no! I made it very clear to that bastard that I had put more work into that place than any two men, and that he could shove his opinions where the sun don't shine."

"I suppose that would be an appropriate way to communicate your resignation."

"Actually, I didn't quit until he started talking back."

"You expected to keep your job after that?"

"No, but I at least expected him to have the balls to fire me. The man was all talk, he shouted at me for a bit and told me to get back to work."

"And then you quit."

"Nope. Then I wiped all my current work files off of my computer and shredded the paper copies. Then I quit."

"I would've guessed that."

"Sure you would have, sweetie."

The bartender set a martini glass in front of her, filled with a rich brown liquid. "Here, on the house."

The woman eyed the drink suspiciously. "What is it?"

"Chocolate Martini. I haven't made one in a while, but it hasn't disappointed a customer yet."

She cautiously lifted the glass up to her lips and took a small sip. A feeling of warmth seeped into her stomach along with the drink and her lips curled into a light smile.

"Not bad, Mr. Bartender. I may have to recommend you to a few friends of mine, if this storm ever lets up."

The bartender smiled at the compliment. "New customers are always welcome. Just remember to tell them the right name. The sign's hard to spot if you don't know it's there."

"Actually, I never got the chance to see the name. You were just the first place I saw that was actually open."

"Well, for what it's worth, I'm glad you found your way to The Peaceful Firefly."

The woman chuckled. "Kind of an old fashioned name isn't it? You can't even tell it's a bar with a name like that."

The bartender shrugged. "The name came with the place. By the time I bought it, it had run its way through five owners. Apparently, it's been in the lease for the last couple hundred years that the name wouldn't change."

"Kind of odd isn't it? It's not something most people would care about."

"I suppose, but it's never bothered me. The name always seemed to fit just fine."

"If that's how you feel, I'm not going to fight you on it."

Outside, the last drops of rain pattered out on the pavement. The clouds overhead began to drift away, and a beam of sunlight worked its way through the small window on the door.

The bartender looked to the door and smile. "Looks like the rain's clearing up."

"Yeah," the woman said. "I better get moving. I have to find a new job, and make sure I'll be able to pay rent until I do."

"I'm sure you'll do fine. You look more than capable of handling yourself. But if you ever need someone to talk to, stop on by."

The woman gave a gentle smile and walked to the door. Just before she pushed her way out she turned back. "You know, I never got your name." She walked back to the bar and smiled brightly, with the sun shining behind her. "I'm Hotaru."

The bartender smiled, and gave an exaggerated bow. "Yasuhiro, bartender of The Peaceful Firefly, at your service."