Thank you all for reading The Unexpected Wind That Blows. I hope you've taken as much pleasure from it as much as I did. It feels sad to think this fic has come to an end.

Chapter 23

Epilogue

Rain poured down as Isshin placed a bouquet of flowers in front of the newly set grave. He looked uncharacteristically solemn, and guilty. He tilted his head up to the rain, not knowing if the wetness that ran down his face belonged to the sky, or if they were his own tears.

"It's my fault you're dead. I promised Masaki I would protect any future son-in-law we had, and despite how everything worked out, I did hope you would be the one to care for my son…but I know that could never be. If I had foreseen this path all those years ago, I may have done something differently. Anything…"

"He made his own decision, Isshin," Kensei said grimly. "We must accept that and remember him for all of the good times we shared with him. That piece of him will live with us forever, kept safely within our hearts."

"Perhaps that is for the best," Isshin agreed. He looked over to the man who knelt right beside him. Someone he did not know joined him. "Did you know Ginjo well?"

The silver-haired man did not answer for a moment.

"No. Truth be told, he probably forgot about me, for I was simply a child whose life he changed for the better," Kensei replied. "However I cannot bring myself to forget that singular act of kindness. Without it, I would have died a street rat long ago."

Isshin smiled in understanding. "So that is why you remained quiet throughout this entire time. You hoped that the man we hunted was not the one who saved you. You wanted to protect your image of him."

"Indeed, though I found my own closure." Kensei turned to Isshin curiously. "How are your sons doing?"

"Shiro is fine; Gin hardly lets him out of his sight now, but it works well for them. Ichigo still retains a few emotional problems from the ordeal, although he is making a strong recovery. I think the only thing he currently struggles with is the sound of gunshots. Not that I blame him." Isshin scowled at the grave. "You listening, Ginjo? I don't know if you care about Ichigo's happiness, but I'll be kind enough to let you hear what he has been up to without you. He's going to mate those three you saw before. Then he's going to go back to school and live a happy life."

The wolve and the Slayer waited in silence for a response.

"Oh, so you're not even jealous? At least show us whether or not you approve," Isshin ordered irritably. "You owe us that much."

A breeze blew past them, carrying a sweet smell of blossoms and the rain. A few seconds passed, and then a shower of wet petal poured onto Isshin's lap. Isshin lifted a few up into his hands, staring at them with an unreadable expression.

"I think he approves," observed the silver-haired man. Isshin's fingers clenched into a fist, the last of his lingering anger slipped away. He bowed to the grave, relieved that his friend had finally returned to his original state of being, even if only in the afterlife. Isshin said a simple farewell of thanks, then he departed from the place of mourning.

Kensei remained. He prayed before the gravestone, the child's heart within him gladdened to see one last miracle from his proclaimed hero. That hero's memory would now remain untarnished in his eyes. For as long as one person still remembered Ginjo's good deeds, it could be said that his soul tried to follow his friend's all of those years ago. He had been trapped to a hollow body that carried out evil deeds; and now…he was free.

。o.0.o 。o.0.o 。

~Stark's Room~

Ichigo watched Stark reading a book on the bed. It still amazed him to think that this man had actually survived the night of Ginjo's defeat. Moe had taken Stark's gun, fully intending to kill the man. What Ichigo had not known that night was the fact that Stark still possessed one more gun on his person, and this the wolve quickly whipped out before Moe could kill him. A bullet burrowed right between Moe's eyes, slaying the accomplice once and for all.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Ichigo asked worriedly. The brunette put the book to the side, smiling a little.

"That should be my line," he joked. His grey eyes softened. "I'm well enough to go through with this, Ichi. I promise."

Ichigo looked down at the hand offered to him. The seventeen year old took it, squeezing it briefly. His phone vibrated abruptly, making the boy growl in irritation. He let go of Stark's hand and drew out the device, reading over the text message from his father. His jaw dropped.

"Dad says that Ginjo approves of my choice to mate with you all."

Stark looked confused. "What?"

Ichigo re-read the message, unusually contemplative.

"Dad told me that Ginjo used o be a really great guy, kind and considerate. Maybe dying healed him, and he wanted to give Dad a sense of closure."

Stark sat up carefully, leaning forward to tug at the hem of Ichigo's shirt. The teenager looked up into his lover's face, frown smoothing away as his face was cupped between the two large hands. Stark stared into his eyes, before pressing a gentle kiss against his forehead.

"Maybe so," he murmured. "But it sounds just a little bit weird."

Ichigo chuckled in agreement. To him, Ginjo would always be the bad guy, the one to almost ruin his life and those of his lovers'.

The door opened wide to let in Grimmjow and Aizen. Surprisingly, the blue haired wolve entered more cautiously and respectful than he would have barging into Aizen's rom.

Aizen, of course, noticed this. However his irritation was replaced by warmth as he saw Ichigo's peaceful face, and Stark's sign of health. He loved them both very dearly (though he loved Stark more as a brother than romantic interest).

"Is everything ready?" Grimmjow asked. His blue eyes danced playfully. "You two weren't trying to start without us were you?"

"No," Ichigo replied in a clipped tone. He then felt his stomach rise up in a flock of fluttering nerves. Aizen saw the sudden apprehension rise in Ichigo's face. He moved to sit beside his young lover, taking the young man's hand in his.

"Don't be afraid," Aizen told him. "We're right here with you."

Ichigo looked over at Grimmjow, who joined the trio on the bed. He nodded slowly, in jerky movements. One by one the Alphas moved their hands so that they were either intertwined with Ichigo's or touching his hands. The seventeen year old was relieved that they all shared the same quick tempo as his heart. He knew they were nervous too.

"Take a deep breath, and close your eyes," Aizen instructed softly. Ichigo obeyed. He waited in suspense, when he felt a gentle kiss being pressed against his mouth. He smiled uncontrollably, suddenly realizing that he was finally going to be with the ones he knew he had nothing to fear with them by his side.

。o.0.o 。o.0.o 。

~Two Days Later, Karakura's School~

Ichigo and Shiro walked up to the front of the school, dressed in freshly cleaned uniforms. They ignored the whispers their former classmates cast about. Instead they laid all of their attention to the gargantuan obstacle poured out before them.

"So…school?"Ichigo said jokingly. Shiro glared at his younger brother.

"More like Hell at this point," he retorted. They stared at one another before laughing. It felt good to have normalcy in their life once more. They were confident that the worst was now behind them and they could live as they wished.

But even if there were a thousand more tribulation to come, they no longer had the stand alone.

Once again, I would like to thank all of you for your support and advice. I really appreciate it!