Karin stood in front of a familiar guardrail, staring over it as the sun inched down. It was blood red this evening, bathing the town below her in a vermilion hue that accented the destruction. Karakura town was in shambles. The great final battle of the winter war had taken its toll on the town, leaving the confused inhabitants to pick up the pieces. Of course Karin knew what had happened, her brother being one of the main players in the final battle.

I wish I could've helped. She had no shinigami powers, although they told her she had the potential. But that didn't matter at the moment. The shinigamis had won, defeating Aizen in his one moment of weakness when Hinamori and Gin killed each other in a blinding flash of power. Life would go back to normal, Ichigo-nii disappearing at random times, her father acting like an idiot (although he might change considering they now knew his secret), Yuzu trying to maintain some semblance of order in their crazy house. Rukia would probably stay; Soul Society needed someone to keep an eye on her stupid brother.

Life goes on. With that final thought, she pushed herself off the guardrail, and walked away.

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Toushirou watched the sunset, marveling at its beauty. He remembered sharing the sunset with a girl, playing soccer with that same girl, saving her life. Aizen was dead. Hinamori was dead. Many others had died, but the loss of the second had stung him deeply. But no matter. He was the tenth division captain, considered one of the smartest and strongest shinigami in sereitei. He had to get back to his squad, get back so as to pull together the shattered remains of soul society, continuing to protect those who knew nothing about their protectors.

One person knew. He wanted to see her again. With her, even though she knew who he was and the power he wielded, he was just a kid. More of a teenager, and of course not just a kid, but her presence lifted the weight of his responsibilities off his shoulders allowing him to shrug them back and relax. Ironically he had only met her once.

But now things had calmed down, and with the authority of a captain, he was determined to make himself a friend. One not blinded by the flash of rank or power. One who wouldn't use him. Someone like Matsumoto, but without the need to keep the distance appropriate between captain and 2nd in command. It was a new type of goal for him. He intended to succeed.