Final Epilogue: The Victorious

A.N.: This is a request by Mart-kos99. This will be the final chapter of this long epic and I must admit: never had I ever thought it would be so long and so grandiose.
Disclaimer: I don't own Bleach.

So were the fates of the captains who'd tormented Ichigo and Orihime so. Byakuya Kuchiki, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, his homunculus daughter and their deplorable commander, Genryusai Yamamoto had all felt the sting of retribution at the hands of The Defeated. Their fellow comrades made to feel the humiliations the two were made to feel.

But what of the others who'd lost but had found purpose in their defeat? And more importantly, what of those who won? True, Souske Aizen had achieved her goal and obtained godhood but what of Ichigo and Orihime? What of their sacrifice?

For them, their redemption came when Aizen fulfilled the final loose end of their deal that they made; the deal that had cemented the road they walked. For both Ichigo and Orihime, the resurrection of their slain friends would be one that comforted them in their private moments….

Aizen's Fate: The King is dead, long live the Queen !

Shortly after Aizen became Soul Queen
Soul King's Palace

Ichigo and Orihime followed Aizen as she directed them to the cocoon-shaped palace hanging in the sky. They were the only ones that Aizen had brought up from the Soul Society, leaving Kisuke, Isshin and the others behind so they may finish their deal in private. As they walked past the wooden rampart they saw the bodies of the slain Squad Zero members, the Soul King's last line of defense.

Finally, after minutes of walking in silence, they made it to the throne room. Discarding the large crystal lying in the middle of the room, Aizen waved her hand and constructed a throne for herself. She would not simply become entombed like the former King. Sitting down on it, Aizen smiled with her bizarre, strange eyes looking at the two teens. "Ichigo, Orihime." She smiled with all the praise of a kind teacher to them. "You have performed admirably. The two of you have shattered all of my expectations. For that, you're to be commended."

Ichigo took hold of Orihime's hand and squeezed. "Aizen, you know what you promised us…" he started, wondering if this was where Aizen would turn on them.

The new queen nodded and sat up straight in her throne. "I did. I never renege on a bargain once struck. I made you a promise and now it is time I fulfilled it."

Ichigo and Orihime wondered why Aizen tilted her head back and closed her eyes when they felt something bizarre around their feet. When they looked down they gasped as streams of white reishi flowed around them. "Aizen? What is this?"

"This," the queen spoke as she stretched out her hand. "These are the remnants of your fallen friend's reishi. When they perished their bodies disintegrated and became reishi they flowed into the atmosphere. Thankfully, their lingering thoughts and memories still remained in the reishi. And now…" she opened her eyes and smiled. "I shall give form to these thoughts and memories, restoring the bonds that unraveled when death came for them."

The stream of reishi diverged in front of Ichigo and Orihime to form six pillars of light. As seconds passed, outlines formed inside them until Ichigo and Orihime could make out the features of their friends. One by one the lights faded and revealed the newly resurrected figures. Tears ran down both teens' faces as they saw their friends alive and well.

Uryu.

Chad.

Ganju.

Hanataro.

Renji.

Rukia.

The six blinked as they realized they were all alive and looked around. "Where…where are we?" Uryu gasped as he took his first breaths. "I…" he looked down at his hands and remembered the horrifying recollection of choking to death on Mayuri's toxins. "I'm alive?!"

Ganju rubbed his neck, wondering why his head felt light. "What the hell? Where are we?"

Rukia looked around and couldn't figure out where she was. She remembered the Sokyoku incinerating her and then nothing. She was about to say something when she was wrapped in a big hug. "Rukia!" Orihime cried, tears streaming down her face. "You're alive!"

"I'm…alive?" she repeated confused. She looked past her and saw Ichigo, wearing a white outfit and crying tears of joy as well. "Ichigo?" she muttered. The last thing she remembered about Ichigo was the Head-Captain telling her he'd be put to death after she was killed. "I don't understand."

"I expect so, considering the six of you all came back from the dead."

The six turned around and gasped in mixed responses when they saw the figure on the throne. Renji squinted and could just recognize his former captain. "Captain Aizen? You're alive?"

The woman chuckled before nodding. "Yes. Now then…" she turned to Ichigo and Orihime and smiled.

"I believe your friends have some things to fill you in on…."

Aizen kept her promise that day and after reuniting Ichigo and Orihime with their friends returned them to the World of the Living. Taking Kaname Tosen and the few Espada who were genuinely loyal to her, she would go on to rule the Soul Society until the sands of time ran dry.

The Soul Society would see a massive change under its new ruler. Gone was the random distribution of Souls when they entered the Soul Society. The old archaic laws and regulations of Central 46 were swept aside after Aizen eliminated them for a second time. Now, families were reunited thanks to better record keeping and those who spent their Human lives were thrown into the dregs rather than letting mere chance decide a Soul's fate.

There was a great purge of Soul Reapers who tried to rebel against her but was put down swiftly. Now, the Thirteen Court Guard Squads were dissolved and reorganized as simply the Court Guard Squad, led under the advisement of Nanao Ise and Shuhei Hisagi. The defeated lieutenants were forced to bend knee to their new queen and keep the rebellion in check.

As for the Ichigo and Orihime's newly resurrected friends, they had to quickly adjust to life under the new queen's rule….

Hanataro's Fate: Comforting hands

One year after the Winter War
Soul Queen Aizen's Palace; Unohana's quarters

Unohana sat on the edge of the bed and tried not to shudder in disgust. She'd been called to service her queen again and Aizen had learned all forms of ways to get under Unohana's skin. This time she made Unohana sit down in a mirror and stare at her changed self, her vibrant orange hair on display. She knew this was Ichigo's punishment towards her but she honestly wished he had just decided to humiliate her the same way she humiliated him.

Even though she was resigned to her own personal hell, Ichigo did give her a saving grace.

A hand touched her shoulder and Unohana saw Hanataro sitting next to her, a comb in his hands. "May I?" he asked timidly, gesturing to the brush. Smiling, Unohana kissed his forehead and told him to proceed. Unohana hummed softly as Hanataro combed her hair. Despite everything she'd lost, she'd been given back the boy she'd viewed as a son and she thanked Ichigo in spite of everything for that.

Once Ichigo had explained his and Orihime's actions after his death, Hanataro merely nodded and turned to his new queen, asking him to please spare Unohana from her wrath. When Aizen left the decision to Ichigo on how to punish her, the boy decided to spare her any physical retribution for his sake.

The reactions of the others were mixed. Both Uryu and Chad were completely shocked by how changed both Ichigo and Orihime had become and were even more stunned by the dark turn of events since they'd died. Chad looked at the two with a wary look before telling them he understood, hugging Orihime in thanks. Uryu noted how good Ichigo looked in white and thanked him for avenging his death, only to be stunned further when Ichigo explained how it was Orihime who avenged him. Uryu told the two he approved of their actions and understood that they were in a no-win situation and he would've done the same in their shoes. Ganju as well was glad that Ichigo had taken down the corrupt Soul Reapers, noting how strong the boy had become.

Renji was horrified to learn of the squad's defeat. He'd wanted to save Rukia but he was still loyal to his friends. Still, knowing that what was done couldn't be reversed, he was forced to accept the new world he was reborn in.

Rukia, on the other hand….

The news that Ichigo killed her older sister stunned her and Orihime had to hold her as her legs gave out from the shock. Ichigo told her that he was sorry for what he'd done but Rukia had stopped him from speaking further.

"No…" she'd said, standing up on her feet. "I should be angry at you but…I'm not." She looked away distantly as she remembered her ice-cold sister. "She only took me in out of obligation to her wife. None of the Kuchiki clan ever considered me to be family. I was an outcast and my sister never once looked at me, not even at my own execution." She looked down at the ground with sad, tired eyes. "I'm sorry that Byakuya is dead but…I cannot truly say that I ever had a sister."

Ichigo walked over and wrapped his arms around her and patted her head. "You're wrong. Before she died, Byakuya told me to tell you she was sorry. She truly loved you; she was just bad at showing it."

While Rukia cried it out in Ichigo's arms, Hanataro turned to Aizen, who'd remained sitting on the throne. "Um…Aizen? Can I ask for something?" When Aizen asked what his request was, Hanataro asked if he could stay by Unohana's side. It was a request that Aizen willingly allowed.

Letting the boy comb her hair, Unohana found a small measure of comfort. When the boy finished she pulled him close, like a mother would to a child who'd come home after being missing for a long time. "Hanataro, thank you," she whispered into his ear before laying back. 'Thank you for staying by me."

"You're my captain," Hanataro said as he hugged her in return. "And you'll always be my friend."

Smiling, Unohana turned out the light and fell asleep with Hanataro in her arms, the two finding purpose in giving each other happiness….

Ganju's Fate: Homecoming

Shortly after the end of the Winter War….
Shiba Home

The wind whistled past Ganju as the large man made his way back home. His hand would go occasionally to his neck, to the spot where Byakuya Kuchiki had decapitated him, and he'd grimace from the morbid memory. But he was thankful to his friends for giving him a new life.

He didn't see any sign of Kognaihiko or Shiroganihiko anywhere and found it to be an odd sign when he found his home; he was even further perplexed to see that firework launching pad was in disarray. Opening the door, he went downstairs and heard sobbing coming from his sister's room.

He opened the door and saw his sister sitting on her cushion, her eyes streaked with tears as she chugged a bottle of sake. The fireworks master was a wreck. Her clothes were ragged and her hair was a mess. To her right was her pipe, broken in half while on her left was a large pile of empty bottles. It was clear to Ganju that in his absence Kukkaku had become an even bigger alcoholic. As carefully as he could, Ganju closed the door and called out to his sister. "Sis?" he said in a low voice. He was expecting for his sister to turn around and slug him or to chew him out.

Instead, when Kukkaku turned her head and saw her brother, whom she'd thought to be dead for so long since the failed mission, standing before her alive and well, she dropped the jug and wept. "Ganju?" she cried as she stared at the young man in front of her. "Am I hallucinating again?" she asked out loud, having seen her younger brother several times when she was in a drunken stupor.

Ganju gave Kukkaku a weak smile and walked over to her. He sat down next to her and put a hand on her leg, letting her know he was real. "Nah, it's me, Sis. I'm back," he said with a confident smile.

Kukkaku, who'd been all alone since dismissing her servants after Ganju had died, threw her arms around her brother's neck and cried. "You…dummy!" she choked as she hugged him. "Why'd you go and leave me all alone?"

The younger brother held his sister and soothingly ran a hand through her hair. "It's alright, Sis. I'm back."

Pulling back, Kukkaku smiled at her little brother. It was the first smile she'd had since she'd heard the news of his death at the hands of the barbaric Byakuya Kuchiki. "Welcome home," she whispered before hugging him again.

Ganju merely smiled and hugged her in return. "It's good to be home, Sis…."

For Uryu and Chad, they returned to the World of the Living along with Ichigo and Orihime. Together the group that was all that was left of Karakura Town relocated to Naruwaki City, where they, along with their saved families, would live out their lives peacefully without fear of retribution from the Soul Society.

But they were not the only ones to follow them to their new home in Naruwaki City. Unlike Kaname Tosen, Gin Ichimaru had opted not to join his leader in ruling the Soul Society. His vendetta fulfilled, Gin decided to come with Ichigo in making a new life in the World of the Living. And he didn't go alone either….

Gin & Rangiku's Fate; The Elusive Fox

One year after the Winter War….
Naruwaki City; Gin and Rangiku's home

In a quiet suburb, near a certain clinic, Gin walked into his home and saw his girlfriend waiting for him, the woman wearing an apron as she took out some muffins. "Hey, Rangiku, good news! I just got back from the publisher!"

Rangiku looked up and raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me, they actually agreed to publish another of your books?"

Grinning from ear to ear, the foxy rogue reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a book that read Foxy Tactics. "Yep! I think this'll be a bestseller too!"

Rangiku merely chuckled at her boyfriend's enthusiasm. After relocating to their new home in Naruwaki City, Gin had laid down his sword and found a new calling in writing. Rangiku supported him but to a certain orange-haired boy's dismay, Gin found his creative aptitude in the field of erotic writing.

Gin opened up the book and wrote his signature on the first page. "Heheh, I know what to give Ichigo on his next birthday now…."

Smiling, Rangiku walked over to her boyfriend and hugged him tightly. It'd been hard to accept the facts that'd been laid bare to her but she knew she would be alright as long as she had Gin. Unlike her captain, Rangiku still retained her powers for when Gin wanted to have some public fun and nobody could see them. She would often go to Kyoraku's teashop to check on her captain and was at least hopeful when she saw him adjusting to life as a normal human. For her, she'd gotten a job at a bakery alongside Orihime and the two had become good friends despite any lingering animosity.

Gin grinned from ear to ear as he leaned in close, whispering into Rangiku's ear. "So, Rangiku. What do you say we go and find some…artistic inspiration?" he suggested, his hand going southward to her rear. One of his favorite hobbies was turning into a Soul Reaper and spying on people for inspiration (or so he claims).

The strawberry blonde kissed Gin and smiled. "There's no turning you down when you want to go being a voyeur, is there?"

Gin's eyes opened up, revealing the loving blue orbs that Rangiku had fallen in love with. "Never."

And what became of Ichigo's kind captor, Jushiro Ukitake? Unlike the others she took her banishment with grace and, like Kyoraku, had found a new calling in her exile….

Ukitake's Fate: The White Nurse

One year after the Winter War
Naruwaki City; New Kurosaki Clinic

"Jushiro!" Isshin called out from his exam room. "Could you bring me another bag of ice? Her swelling's coming back."

The depowered captain entered the room, wearing a nurse's outfit with complimented little girl with a sprained ankle. She smiled at the girl and in return the girl smiled back. Walking out of the room, Ukitake closed the door and sighed.

Like her best friend, Ukitake had been put into a Gigai and had been sentenced to life as a normal human. Though she missed being a captain she had become accustomed to her work in assisting Isshin at his new clinic.

After relocating to Naruwaki City, Isshin and his family had moved into a new home which was converted into a clinic like their previous one in Karakura Town. Thankfully Isshin had some backing by Ryuken, who was away from Karakura Town during the invasion, and it seemed that with his son's resurrection whatever bad blood between them had ended. Ukitake would find the former captain and Quincy chatting outside on the patio while the latter had a smoke.

Ukitake would sometimes check on Toshiro and Kyoraku at the man's tea shop, stopping by every now and again to have tea with her best friend. She was pleased to see that the man was taking exile well, especially with how well his tea business was booming.

But what surprised Ukitake the most was when Ichigo and Isshin offered Ukitake to stay with them after Aizen banished her. Isshin offered her a job to be a nurse at his new clinic since they were going to need help settling in to their new community. Because of her time under Captain Unohana's care, Ukitake knew a bit about medicine and gladly offered him her aid. She was a welcome addition to the Kurosaki family and after a time both she and Isshin grew close to where both Yuzu and Karin started to wonder behind closed doors about them.

Despite everything, Ukitake was thankful for Ichigo's mercy, the boy responding to her kindness in kind and was happy to just be alive….

Ukitake wasn't the only new addition to the Kurosaki family. Keeping to her promise, Orihime had brought Yachiru with them to their new home. Aizen had put several restrictors on her to contain her powers but at Ichigo's insistence did not completely seal them away. Though saddened by the death of Kenpachi, Yachiru would soon come to call Ichigo and Orihime her father and mother….

Yachiru's Fate: A New Shoulder to Occupy

Six months after the Winter War….
Naruwaki City

"YAYYY!" cheered Yachiru Kurosaki as she sat on Ichigo's shoulders, her newly adopted father carrying her as they walked through the Ban Festival. Yachiru wore a bright pink Yukata and had a ball of cotton candy in her hand. "This is fun, Ichi!"

Ichigo looked up and smiled at the happy girl, taking her hand and squeezing it gently. Yachiru had been angry at Ichigo at first for the death of Kenpachi but after a few days she started to talk to him and after spending time with Yuzu, Karin and Isshin had warmed up to the family. Yuzu and Karin were delighted at their new family member, Yuzu calling her "A cute ball of cotton candy" while Karin was more or less shocked that Ichigo and Orihime were adopting her; though that was nowhere near the shock of learning their home was destroyed or that Orhime was pregnant with Ichigo's child.

Ichigo and Orihime had inquired to Kisuke about whether or not Yachiru could materialize Kenpachi again but they became deeply saddened by the news he gave them.

"Unfortunately," Kisuke said, having set up a new Urahara Shop near the Kurosaki home, "Yachiru subconsciously created Kenpachi in a desire for safety and companionship. Now that she knows that Kenpachi isn't real, she can't manifest him anymore. And even if she did, it wouldn't be the Kenpachi Zaraki who saved you two," he said with a sad expression. "Further, now that the two of you have adopted her and taken on the role of her mother and father, Yachiru's need for companionship has diminished." He took off his hat and sighed. "All I can tell you is to make Yachiru feel as comfortable as possible."

To that end, Orihime had strived to become a role model for Yachiru, even as she gripped with the looming concerns over her own pregnancy. After a few weeks of spending time with the kind Orihime, Yachiru had come to call Orihime the mother she never had and treated Yuzu and Karin like her sisters.

Setting Yachiru down from his shoulders, Ichigo sat down on a bench at the park and smiled as Yachiru took a bite out of her cotton candy. Only he and Yachiru had gone to the Bon festival as everyone else was busy. "You okay, Yachiru?" he asked as she sat down next to him.

"Uh huh…" Yachiru stared at her cotton candy forlornly before looking up at Ichigo. The young man had noticed that Yachiru had been uncharacteristically quiet through most of the trip to the Ban Festival. "Um…Ichi?"

"Yeah, Yachiru?"

The little girl blushed before taking hold of Ichigo's hand. It was quite the cute scene, the girl's tiny hand holding his. "I had a dream about Kenny last night…."

Ichigo blinked, nervous about where this might go. Yachiru had refused to talk about Kenpachi in front of Ichigo ever since he killed him. "What happened?" he asked out of concern.

"He…he told me that he had a good fight with you…and that I shouldn't be mad." She looked up at Ichigo and her red eyes started to cry. "Ichi…I miss Kenny…."

Ichigo wrapped an arm around Yachiru and hugged her. "I miss him too, Yachiru."

"Ichi?"

"Yes?"

"Can…can I call you Daddy?" the little girl asked timidly. She'd gone to a normal school and while it was hard for her to adjust at first the one thing that had lingered over her was when she heard her classmates talk about their parents. "I think Kenny would like it if you were my Daddy…."

Pulling the little girl into his lap, Ichigo hugged her tightly and smiled lovingly at her. "Nothing would make me happier," he replied, satisfied that Yachiru had finally overcome her anger towards Ichigo. He wiped the tears from her eyes and gestured to the festival. "Wanna play some games?"

"Sure, Daddy!" Yachiru squealed, hopping off Ichigo's lap and darting towards the festival.

Chuckling, Ichigo got up and followed his adopted daughter, taking hold of her hand as he led her away from the bench…..

Rukia and Renji found themselves in a Soul Society they no longer recognized. After some deliberation, the two decided to follow Ichigo and Orihime and live in the World of the Living, keeping stray hollows at bay. For them, the choice was painful. Due to Rukia's "lawful" execution and Renji's attempt to stop it, they found themselves ostracized by their former friends, the surviving lieutenants, who wanted nothing to do with them. Truth be told, Rukia was glad to no longer be in the Kuchiki Clan; Aizen purged them after they helped instigate the rebellion, which made little difference if she was accepted there or not.

Leaving the Soul Society for good, the two moved into a new home next to Ichigo's house. There, Rukia took up a new last name….

Rukia & Renji's Fate: Red Monkey and the White Rabbit

One year after the Winter War….
Abarai House

Rukia Abarai hummed happily as she scribbled away, her studio filled with cartoonish drawings of Chappy. Much to Ichigo's annoyance, the small woman had found work as a graphic artist. Apparently, her childish drawings were a big hit for children and she worked to create more art.

On her desk, next to the piles of drawings she'd sketched and the photo of her wedding day with Renji was a photo of her sister, Byakuya. Every now and again Rukia would glance at it and frown. She may not have felt loved by her sister but Byakuya had taken her in and gave her a home. Part of her missed her older sister but knew that Ichigo did what he had to. Even she could tell that her sister's moral compass had spun out of control by the time she was put to death.

The door opened behind her and her husband walked in. Renji had also gotten a job as a designer for sunglasses, which were a surprise hit for the public. "Hey," Renji greeted, walking over to his wife and putting a hand on her shoulder. "What are you up to?"

"Oh, just drawing," Rukia said, looking away from Byakuya's photo.

Renji saw the picture and frowned. Unlike Rukia, he truly hated Byakuya. The woman never treated him with much respect and had cut him down without listening to him at all. It still chilled him the way he remembered being cut to ribbons by her Bankai. Privately, he told Ichigo that he approved of what he did, stating that Byakuya was too cold blooded to ever be a captain.

Ignoring the photo, Renji looked down at the drawing and chuckled. "You know, even with all your fame, your drawings are still terrible."

When everyone saw the black eye Renji had the next day, they all said the same thing: he had that coming….

With his shop now part of a massive hole in the Soul Society, Kisuke Urahara relocated along with everyone else to Naruwaki City. Setting up a new Urahara candy shop, he settled into the slow life he'd gotten accustomed to during his exile. Yoruichi, after reuniting with her brother in the Soul Society, moved in with him along with Tessai, Ururu and Jinta. Yoruichi would often pop on by Ichigo's house to see if he and Orihime were doing okay, sometimes for a little something more.

But they were not the only ones to move into the new shop. As a final "Screw you" to his former subordinate, Kisuke had new experiment and Yoruichi soon found herself in a similar position as Orihime….

Kisuke & Yoruichi's Fate: Humble Shopkeepers

One year after the Winter War
Naruwaki City; New Urahara Shop

The babies cries woke Kisuke and Yoruichi, the two sleeping together on a cozy futon. "Your daughters need you," Yoruichi groaned as she rolled over.

"Before sunrise, their your daughters," countered Kisuke, who chuckled before sitting up. Throwing a robe around him, he walked into the infants room. He went to the crib on his right and picked up the girl inside. "There, there, Nemuri," he said softly before grabbing the baby bottle to feed her.

After listening to Orihime's tale of how she defeated Mayuri, Kisuke felt a bit saddened by the loss of his daughter, Nemu. For all intents and purposes she was Mayuri's masterpiece and he'd so casually thrown her away. Out of pity and out of a desire to get one last insult in at his deceased former friend, Kisuke restarted Project Nemuri and developed Nemuri Hachigo. She'd be put into a Gigai so that her powers would be suppressed, at least for the time being. But he cared for his new creation with equal care that he felt for Ururu and Jinta, who already adored their new sister.

Putting Nemuri back into her crib once she fell asleep, Kisuke move crib on the right and picked up Yoruichi's daughter, Soi-Fon. Named after Yoruichi's fallen friend, the tiny baby cried before Kisuke refilled the bottle and fed her.

Though she had her mother's dark complexion and purple hair, there was a bit of contention as to who her father was. Isshin could swear that this was Ichigo's baby while Tessai in the kids thought the child resembled Urahara more. It didn't bother Kisuke that Yoruichi had a few steamy nights with Ichigo; he wasn't exactly in a committed relationship with her. Still, he cared for the baby and would love it as his own. He thought about doing a paternity test but decided against it, figuring it didn't matter.

Once Soi-Fon had fallen asleep, Kisuke put her back in her crib and went back to sleep, another day of keeping his shop running ahead of him….

As for Ichigo and Orihime, their road reached the end of its bloody path shortly after they relocated to Naruwaki City with his family. Their classmates were all confused as to how they escaped the destruction of Karakura Town but accepted Ichigo and Orihime's lie. Tatsuki was shocked at Orihime's return and was even more shocked to hear that she was pregnant with Ichigo's child. She and her family had also moved to the city, where she stayed close to her best friend's side.

Deciding that he should own up to his responsibilities, Ichigo proposed to Orihime, who readily accepted it. But they were never truly free of Aizen, who'd routinely summon them to her palace to briefly chat with her two protégés or indulge in a night of debauchery, which much perplexed the couple since they didn't quite fully understood why a goddess would indulge in the pleasures of the flesh. The two became married and waited for the fateful day to arrive, the day they'd both longed and dreaded for….

Ichigo and Orihime's Fate: And Baby makes Three

Seven months after the Winter War….
Kurosaki Clinic

The clinic was closed for the night but that didn't mean it was not active. Isshin and Ukitake had their work cut out for them when Orihime started to go into labor, moving her to a comfortable room. Yuzu, Karin and Yachiru were told to wait outside while he and Ukitake delivered the baby.

Ichigo stood by his wife's side, holding her hand as she went through wave after wave of pain, her contractions making her wail from the agony. Orihime knew that childbirth was painful but nothing prepared her for this. Throwing her head back against the pillow, Orihime cried out as she clutched Ichigo's hand in a grip so tight Ichigo could feel his bones crack.

"Push!" Isshin told his daughter-in-law. "I can see the head!"

"Grahhhhhh!" Orihime shouted as she pushed with all her might.

"Hang in there, Orihime!" Ichigo told his wife. "You're doing fine!" His father had told him there should be no complications when Orihime gave birth but he was still scared for his wife and child.

Just when everyone thought their ears were going to bleed from Orihime's screams, a new sound filled the room. "It's a boy!" Ukitake told them as Isshin wrapped the newborn in a blue blanket. The infant took its first cries into the world, much to the delight of everyone.

Carrying his grandson over to Orihime, Isshin handed the baby to her. "Here, Orihime. It's your son."

"A boy…" Orihime breathed as she stared at the child in her arms. The baby looked up at his mother and reached for her with his tiny hand. "He's so precious…" she said, tearing up from the joy. She'd suffered so much and had endured nightmares that had scarred her deep inside. But the sight of the baby in her arms made all of the pain she'd endured melt away in an instant.

"He's beautiful," Ichigo said as he sat next to Orihime, looking at his son. "What should we name him?"

"Kazui," Orihime replied, holding the baby close. "Little Kazui Kurosaki."

Husband and wife hugged each other as they blessed their newborn baby. They'd both suffered tremendously and had sacrificed much. But in the end, they'd earned happiness and would live out their lives as happily as possible….

The End

A.N.: This is the end of the Defeated. What happened to everyone else? Who cares, I'm in need of a nap. Thank you to everyone who reviewed and gave me feedback. Mart-kos99, I hope you're satisfied. Till next time!