Llegamos a su fin.

To come to an end.

A/N: Well my lovelies, I regret to inform you that this is it. My brainchild has come to an end. Quoted, this is a bittersweet moment. I believe it's fitting that this is my longest chapter in the whole story, and hopefully it ties up pretty much everything. If it isn't worded, it's left for your interpretation. That's what's so great about reading.
So, read!

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Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach, nor its character. Just the ones made up in this labyrinth called my mind.

x Fractured Hesitation x

Bleach © Tite Kubo

Fractured Hesitation © Dia de Luz

Cuarenta y cuatro:

"Dream of a Soul Awake"

Run your fingers through my soul. For once, just once, feel exactly what I feel, believe what I believe, perceive as I perceive, look, experience, examine, and for once; just once, understand.

-Anonymous.

( H O S Y U )

Hazumi wasn't lookin' so good.

Even I could see she was tired to the bone, and she needed that cane about as much as I needed liqueur and Barry had needed cigarettes. Kurosaki had the right idea about her needin' some help, and it was just like that angsty teenager to threaten me if something happened to her. That carrot top needed a bit of discipline- who the hell was he tell to me that I needed to protect my own sister?

Nah, I couldn't think like that.

It was just these damn Hollows that were pissing me off; I wasn't angry at Carrot Top. I stopped myself from thinkin' that he should have just stayed here with Hazumi to ensure her safety himself, because then that wasn't right. I think we all knew that Kurosaki was the one who had to handle that prick Aizen.

But cuttin' through these Hollows seemed to be like a repetitive process. Where one would go down, ten more would surface it seemed. I mean, I wasn't havin' any qualms about slicing some of these things, but that Tottori kid over there wouldn't last a long time. He was a seated officer, right under Abarai I thought, but he was no Lieutenant. And then there was Hazumi's old man Boggnamo, who was fairin' off over there pretty nicely. For a geezer, he was sure flexible. Fast, too. It made me wonder just why the hell he had promoted Hazumi in the first place.

Kido Corps Commander and Grand Kido Chief… my sister.

Well, I wasn't gonna question her ability. Right about now, I wasn't even gonna touch on that topic. Hearing that she had her side carved out by some Espada was enough for me. But that wasn't all I knew. Yeah, I went in the Dangai with Kurosaki and his pops, and Boggnamo was there waitin' for us with Tottori at his side. He sent us two back, but I heard a good chunk of their conversation as I left. Boggnamo wanted to know the status of his second, and it was up to Kurosaki to spill the details about just what exactly went down in Hueco Mundo. By the time Kurosaki said something about her throat being cut, I had heard enough so I just scat with Tottori behind me.

It fell to Hazumi to tell me about some Espada having Reizo's power and his complete signature, and Hazumi was the one who told me that that Espada was the one who carved her side clean of any flesh. That's what that bruise was. And that Arrancar whom she had brought back with her- Itu, or somethin' like that- saved her. So she saved the Arrancar, too.

Wasn't that just a dandy little circle of payback?

I didn't think so.

Because if it was, Hazumi wouldn't have been on the ground as I cut through Hollows, pressing all of her weight against that walking stick. She would have been beside me, and we'd be having some contest to see who could kill the most Hollows. My sister wouldn't have looked so tired and weak and totally beaten, but she would have probably been trying to hit me with that cane while killing these stupid evil souls.

But no, it wasn't like that. So understand that every so often I couldn't help but look to the ground and check on her, just to make sure that she was okay. I felt stupid because I knew that Hazumi could take care of herself, but I now had doubts because of her time in Hueco Mundo. Her side bothered me most of all. Every time I looked at her, my eyes would find that discoloration first, and then her eyes.

Hazumi was never one to care about her looks- as her brother I could say she was pretty damn good looking without having to care. Her hair was long and blonde, her eyes were big and black, we shared the same tanned complexion, and she was fit. And even there standing on the ground was there something admirable about her. Her long hair was now loose and wavy, her dark eyes reflected a stubborn edge. Those black stretch pants were stained with blood- I could see it from even up here- and her top… I wanted that dark purple gone.

But I wasn't a healer.

I was in the Covert Ops, and I would kill just like I had learned back in Soul Society. I'd keep my sister safe. Kurosaki didn't have to tell me that. If Hazumi could go to Hueco Mundo and come back in one piece, then I could at least protect what was left of fake Karakura and the Shinigami that were in it.

Barry's not left…

I couldn't let that affect me now. It wasn't my time to grieve- it wasn't my time. I had to keep telling myself that, because the Hollows wouldn't stop coming. If I stopped, then Hazumi would have to get her ass in gear, and I didn't think that was possible now. It would have been easier for Kurosaki to have stayed here. I bet he would have, if someone else could have taken care of Aizen.

True, he wasn't the type to let others take care of something so big alone, but if it were a choice between Aizen's demise and Hazumi's safety… I'd fear for Soul Society on that point. Though… he did leave Hazumi here.

I can't think about this shit now. I'm actually startin' to care about Hazumi's relationship with him, and he might not even make it back this time around-

There was a dangerous shift in the air.

The energy levels spiked tremendously, and I only had about a split second to turn my head to see exactly what it was. The only thing I caught sight of was a grotesque, mammoth claw not two inches away from my face-

A sickening crunch resounded throughout the space, and my wide green eyes watched the mutilation disintegrate. The howling wanted to pierce my eardrums. Then there was only black ash.

But the extraordinary trace of reiatsu was still there.

"What the HELL are you doing, you dumb ogre!"

Hovering in the air, now only yards above the remnants of concrete of faux Karakura's streets, I slowly brought my eyes to meet incredulous and infuriated black orbs. I didn't have time to dodge as Hazumi took out my legs in a swift cleave with that damned cane of hers, bringing me down level with her. Now she was the one looking down at me with a sharp pull to her brows. "Don't tell me you're suicidal now!"

That was when I reacted. "What the hell, Hazumi-"

"Don't you 'what the hell,' me! You were about to get your face cut off!"

That claw…

That colossal energy was still around us, and I wouldn't stop looking for it. It was just chillin' in the air, even after the Hollow was blasted-

I blanched as my brain clicked. Bringing my eyes back to Hazumi- she was still yelling?- I interrupted her with one phrase.

"It's you."

She had her mouth open as if she wasn't done shouting, but my words made her stop short and furrow her brows even tighter. With her hands resting atop of that cane, Hazumi leaned forward and looked me square in the eye.

"Well yes, brother. I'm glad to see your sense of identification wasn't lost when you hit your head."

Blinking, I should have seen this coming from a mile away, but shock was still lining my thoughts, "I didn't hit my head, Hazumi…"

And next thing I know a dull thwack signified her cane striking my skull, and I was face down on the ground.

( H A Z U M I )

Hosyu was the biggest dumbass that I had the grace of ever meeting.

He was so stupid that I just couldn't help but hit him. Seriously, it was like speaking with a toddler. With one straying thought, I wondered if the day would ever come where Kurotsuchi would finally create a vaccine against stupidity.

I didn't feel any remorse as he lifted his head with a groan and started sputtering curses and damning me to hell as if it were a daily ritual. It probably was, actually.

"Get up, you useless moron. I won't save your sorry ass next time."

"God dammit, Hazumi!"

"Shut the hell up."

"No, I will not shut the hell up! You fucking hit me! I'm bleeding!"

By now my very stupid brother was standing with a hand to his head, green eyes narrowed dangerously in my general direction. I only shrugged nonchalantly, placing my hands on the steel cane. Bringing my eyes up to the sky, I watched the invasion of darkness spread.

"I believe things are escalating."

"Where the fuck did that come from?"

I gave Hosyu a level look, ready to respond in a brisk manner. Explaining my zanpakutou wasn't a very fun topic for me, because I barely understood the shit myself. And why should any Shinigami have to reveal their own secrets? I thought it morally wrong. So I only said, "I have talent, retard."

"That was not talent. That was damn close to a miracle. How the hell did you just use that gargantuan attack, when you can't even stand without a fucking cane!" His words made my lips curve deeply, and finally I cast a meaningful look to my right.

It took Hosyu a moment to catch on, and with tightened eyes did he follow my gaze to see Kuria-Dei imbedded in the concrete beside me. Her thin blade was easy to push into the ground, but that wasn't what Hosyu was probably questioning. He was most likely questioning just what was happening.

Because where Kuria-Dei's tip met concrete, there was an assortment of veins running on the surface of the broken cement, glowing with an indescribable spiritual presence. Absorbing and taking, then a little give. In a way, it looked a bit grotesque, as if the lines of spiritual energy were veins pumping blood.

"Hazumi…"

"Meet Obsequio Hermoso, my final Bankai." (1)

It felt weird saying it aloud. I didn't even think- the name just rolled off my tongue like I had been acquainted with it for years.

"Y-You…" Hosyu didn't know what to say, but that was okay. I knew what he was feeling, thanks to my trusty Bankai over there. I was very aware of emotions at this point.

Oh, marvelous.

"This is what you did… to Kurosaki…"

"Uh huh."

"Those… things…"

"The lines of spiritual energy gave his heart a little squeeze, yeah."

"So… why…" It was almost comical to see Hosyu so confused. Basically, Obsequio Hermoso was my true Bankai. From the masculinity of the name, he was a he, yes. It confused me as to why he had just made himself known to me, when I had to train to achieve Bachi no Seken for years. I did not question it, because his arrival gave me the ability to aid Ichigo one last time in this fight, and it saved my brother's life. My zanpakutou appeared the same- the same physical attributes as Kuria-Dei.

But the veins running along the broken cement of Karakura were the differentiating factor of my Shikai and Bankai.

Obsequio Hermoso could suck someone dry of their energy, or he could give as much as he wanted. When I had stabbed Kurosaki with my blade, the tendrils of Obsequio Hermoso wrapped around his heart and started to give my energy to him.

My life energy, because I had no other to spare.

And because of the ability that my Bankai had- taking energy as well- was I able to save Hosyu with a pretty formidable Kido spell. Although… I felt a wee bit guilty that I had to take that energy from an unfortunate Shinigami nearby. Which one, I did not know. They were probably unconscious now, but they weren't dead.

I would have sensed if they were dead.

"You can't fight."

"I know."

That would require taking more energy, and about every Shinigami here barely had enough to survive. Looking at Hosyu, it resembled as if he had a plan dwelling in those deep green eyes of his.

I voiced my suspicion, earning a startled look from my older brother.

"What makes you think that I have a plan, Hazumi?"

"Yours eyes glinted with self-indulgence, you probably called yourself a genius; the lines of your face slanted a bit as your eyes then narrowed, and you tightened your lips unconsciously. Your hand twitched twice- you always twitch when you're bothered. So your plan must either suck, it isn't doable, or there's a catch."

I watched my brother blink a few times, bring his hand to the back of his neck, and just stare at me like I was some alien.

"Did you really just… notice all of that in the time frame of a few seconds?"

Deadpan. "No. I read the signature of your emotions."

"You're an ass, Hazumi."

But I only chuckled at his relieved expression. Having a super genius as a sister didn't sit well with Hosyu, it looked like. But as the howls of the Hollow reached my ears, I sobered instantly.

"What's the plan, brother?"

This time I really did catch Hosyu tighten his lips, "I don't have one."

"Liar," I quipped.

"Then you were right, Hazumi. It sucks, and it isn't doable." He pointedly left out my third check.

"There's a catch."

Hosyu didn't say anything, only looked back up to the sky. I followed his eyes just to see Tottori get pummeled into the side of a building, and Boggnamo save his scrawny ass.

"That plan sounds pretty good now, Hosyu."

"There is no plan."

"Bullshit! Spit it out, you pansy! You're just wasting time!"

Hosyu was no Barry, but he was pretty strategic. I didn't doubt for a minute that he was lying. I knew he wanted to do something, and that's why he did open his mouth and say something that did suck, that it was almost not doable, and it totally had a catch.

"Do you have enough energy to create a barrier… strong enough to enclose all of Karakura," I was just about to interrupt by saying that we had just gone over this, when Hosyu's voice had my face visibly paling, "and to withstand one of Boggnamo's destructive spells?"

-X-

"That is the most ludicrous idea, you know. Let me recap, just to make you feel like more of an idiot. You were saying you wanted me to create a barrier strong enough to not only enclose all of Karakura, but to withstand one of my former Captain's most formidable attacks, and in doing so I'll be protecting Karakura, while Boggnamo is on the outside destroying all of the Hollow in one sweep?"

I said this all in one breath, all the while giving Hosyu the most incredulous stare ever. The disbelief just oozed from my slightly annoyed voice. "Did you eat paint chips as a kid, Hosyu!"

"I told you it wasn't much of a plan, Hazumi!"

I was about to yell at him yet again and probably curse the living daylights out of my brother when a gravelly voice cut me off.

"This is a good plan as of now, Hazumi." It came from behind me.

I unconsciously stiffened, slowly turning to meet Boggnamo's old eyes. There was my former Captain with Tottori not too far off, still fending off the infinite number of Hollows.

"You're agreeing with this, Old Man?"

There we were in the crumbled town with probably thousands of Hollows swarming just yards away, debating on a plan that would no doubt fail. With all of the fallen Shinigami strewn across this broken town, we were just standing there.

"Yes, Hazumi, I do."

"It's unrealistic!" Could they not see that I was ready to fall back onto the ground and just let myself cough up a lung? The pain in my chest was biting and unreal, and I wanted to succumb to it.

"We cannot conjure up a barrier to enfold Karakura in defense- we will run short of energy too quickly. I see logic in the Warden's plan."

It took me a minute to remember that Hosyu was the warden of the Nest of Maggots, and that was his official title. Weird.

And suddenly the old man cut me off when I hadn't even known that I'd opened my mouth, reading me like a favorite book. "I will provide you the energy necessary for the completion of your Kido incantations."

And the next words that I heard had my eyes widening and my heart giving a hard thump in my chest, causing my eyes to water. I blamed it on the pain in my chest, and not at all regarding my emotional reaction.

"I am at your disposal, Hazumi-sama."

Ito…

She was standing level with Boggnamo, but kept her distance with yards between. The small Arrancar who I had thought was dead was staring at me with those brilliant blue eyes that I had developed a fondness for. Her silk hair was perfect, her porcelain skin pale. But the blood ruined her image. It took me a few tries to actually say her name, because from her unknown status I had deduced her death.

"I-Ito…"

And my feet were moving closer to her, the decisive clinks of steel resounding against rock. Until I was right there in front of her, staring at the willowy girl with liquid-ink eyes. Maybe because it was from all of the death, or maybe I had just lost my mind. For whatever reasons, I willingly threw my arms around the child, crushing her to me in a motherly embrace.

If she was uncomfortable, she didn't express it in any way. Instead, I felt the small tentativeness of glass hands at my back, silent. I sniffed- unable to hold it in, to my chagrin.

"I thought you were dead, kid."

But Ito didn't respond, and I felt that I was embarrassing the girl. I moved to pull away, but her hands would not unlatch. The small girl simply held onto me. And then her harmonious voice.

"I am… happy… to see you are alive."

And then her hands were at her sides. I swallowed thickly as I stepped back, making my cane find solid ground once again.

Because of Ito's sudden arrival, something was vulnerable and changing inside my mind. I wasn't even fazed when I wiped thick liquid from the corner of my lips, or when my hand started to shake again. Instead of concerning myself with my damn ailments, I turned to Boggnamo and Hosyu, letting Ito come to my side.

With my look came two nods of acceptance- the flimsy plan would have to suffice. But my words were the element unexpected, "I will be the one to perform the Hadō spell from the outside."

And there were no arguments.

Instead, I received another nod from my former Captain. Hosyu did not react. He simply stared at me, like he was trying to puzzle together just what was going through my mind. But he wouldn't ever understand my logic.

Simply because there was none.

Don't make a liar out of yourself, Hazumi.

Kuria-Dei's voice was the one that touched my ears, but Obsequio Hermoso was still released, and was currently stealing fresh reiryoku from both Boggnamo and Ito. Just enough to give me the strength to complete this last spell.

I hope I won't, Dei.

Because as I had stated before- I was no Martyr.

Minutes passed as I watched Hosyu take off to fight Hollows in hopes to buy time; he had appeared at Tottori's side for aid. Boggnamo and Ito were with me, sparing the energy they could. I had watched as the old man erected a solid barrier, watched it stretch for miles on end, until it was time. In a quick flash did Hosyu grab Hikaru's arm and drag him inside a small slit before the barrier completely.

And only then were we all looking up at the estranged Hollows outside.

I found it quite peculiar that Boggnamo had designed a barrier to repel them at least until he had room to enclose all of Karakura, and it had worked out so perfectly, too. But I knew of his talents, so I didn't say a word. Instead, I sheathed my zanpakutou and moistened my lips, discarding that blasted cane. But a voice in the back of my head told me that I'd be seeing it in my very near foreseeable future.

I ignored it.

"What spell are you using, Hazumi?"

Looking back at Hosyu, I watched him study me. Boggnamo had taken to sitting down- he was a little worse for ware- and Ito was down as well. She was lying on her back, staring at the flimsy yet solid wall of energy between us and them. Between life and death. Our lives and our deaths. Because this was our last card, I deduced. We wouldn't be doing something as stupid as this if we didn't have anything else.

I spoke to Hosyu, but I did not face him. I took a step forward, looking up.

"Remember that Kido Cannon?"

Silence.

I took another step forward before I took off completely, not giving Hosyu a chance to say something stupid.

The Kido Cannon- high intensity energy weapon that is not reusable, and takes hundreds of Shinigami to man because its power is so fuckin' great. It can destroy dimensions and damage both Soul Society and the Human World simultaneously. It's some serious shit. And I was going to use an attack that painfully resembled the effects of the Kido Cannon- just on a smaller scale.

The spell I had in mind was unnamed and off the charts, but if taught properly, you were told to never use it. Actually, there's really no point in teaching it, because people really don't want you to use it. But I had one hell of a teacher- Tessai Tsukabishi. And he thought I needed to know it, so he taught me, thank God.

Here- this was where I cut off my thoughts completely.

I was at the edge of the barrier. Just a small wall between me and the Hollows. I was crazy for doing this.

But I did.

I slapped my hand against the wall of spiritual energy and dug my fingers into the side. In doing so, I got a good grip on the dimensions of the barrier. And that's when I pulled my arm back, successfully opening up said barrier and dashing through. Using shunpo was something I did not want to do, because I was already on borrowed energy.

I did it anyway.

I didn't want to look back and see the Hollows chasing me.

I did it anyway.

And that was when I said my prayers- just in case.

"Well… it's been a hell of a run."

Only seconds later did the atmosphere all around me explode in a torrent of scalding fires.

-X-

It was a long time after that I could call myself okay.

In the horde of explosions, I found myself, in all the places I could have been, I thanked God that I had found myself on the edge of everything. What I couldn't do one damn thing about was my sudden incapacitation, so I had taken to falling. Falling through the barrier in which had diminished at that point- along with the majority of the Hollows- and waiting to come in contact with the hard ground.

I never did get to experience that joy, though, because Hosyu had found me and made a nice mid-air catch before it could ever happen. At the time I couldn't find anything wrong with me because I was feeling quite shell-shocked from the explosions happening all around me. The experience was deafening, quite terrifying, and had me scared out of my mind because I simply did not want to die.

I still had no logic in regards to why I had chosen to go on the outside instead of the old man, and I couldn't find the logic in my companions even letting me go out there.

So the next hours went by in one big monochrome blur in which I didn't detect anything except the sky above my eyes. Voices reached me, I answered vaguely, and I stared at the sky. I tasted iron, I felt generalized pain in my torso, and my fingers were numb.

My eyes shut and did not open for a long time.

Barry once told me that I was not entitled to a tomorrow.

That here, I had to work for my tomorrow. She said to me, 'There are no guarantees, there is no security. You should be very afraid. If you live to see tomorrow you should go straight home and kiss your Mother. If you don't have one, then treat your dear ones like they are invaluable, because they are.'

And I always told her, 'Okay.'

Now…

Now I would say something different. I would not say okay.

Because staring down at her tombstone was not okay. Her being six feet under before me was not okay- it was nowhere close. And it was doubly not okay for Mon to be right beside her, at the very end.

At the very end, she had died with the epitome of her admiration, and they had left me in twos.

Who the hell did that to their friends?

Barry did, that was who. It was so Barry. And her tombstone was so Barry, too. It didn't have any nice words on it.

All it said was, 'Barry Nguyen. Friend, Sister, Daughter, Mother.'

No one could ever understand her reasoning for blowing up the ward that night. But I knew. They stole from her, those men. She wanted revenge, that's all. And she got it.

After all, what mother should have to bury her own child?

And Mon's was classic, too. 'Beloved friend, daughter, sister.'

And that was all. At least hers said beloved.

Hosyu must have made them.

The wind blew right by me, but it felt like it blew through me. I felt like my bones were visible and my heart was right there, able for anyone to squeeze and crush and manipulate. I should have felt like that my whole life, because that's what people did to me.

Only now was I feeling it all. After everything, I was standing here at Barry's grave feeling everything. I felt the bite of the wind, but the weather was vague.

Wasn't funeral weather supposed to be rainy?

I didn't even know what to call the weather. It wasn't sunny or rainy. It was just there. Like I was just there in front of these two tombstones that didn't mean a thing to anybody.

They were invisible to Soul Society- and that was Soul Society being merciful. But I was like these two dead people, in a way. I was invisible right now.

I counted the days- it had been twenty-six days.

Twenty-six days is a long time.

"Captain…"

Twenty-six days is a long time to stay away.

"Captain, it's time to go."

Twenty-six days is a long time to be asleep.

"I'm coming."

Goodbye, Barry.

-X-

Soul Society wasn't in shambles like one would expect after a war.

It wasn't some post-apocalyptic creepshow like movies like to portray. It was probably the same, actually. Just a few reiatsu disturbances outside the outskirts of the Rukon districts and a few crumbled buildings and you've got yourself a Soul Society that had survived yet another war.

Aizen was dead. Or whatever. That was what I kept hearing, yet it was very difficult to believe. I believed it, though. I didn't hear about Ichimaru until later- something about his betraying Aizen or something- and I didn't hear if he was dead or alive, but I didn't care as long as Aizen was gone.

The only Espada I could think of that was still living were Yammy Riyalgo and Grimmjow Jeagerjaques, and I didn't know at this point. I discarded the very thought of them, actually. But there was one Arrancar that I didn't want to forget. I had asked Hosyu about her, and he said in a very discreet way that she was more or less residing in Barry's warehouse. Off the radar. Urahara's name had somehow made its way into that conversation, as well.

I found that very fitting, somehow.

Ito deserved it.

Hilo Boggnamo had been in intensive care post our final strike, and he emerged just days before I had. He had prepared the militants of the Kido Corps for their new commander, and there I was with my shiny new job.

I was standing before a lot of people in the central barracks for the Kido Corps, looking at them all and debating whether to say something important or not. The atmosphere wasn't really tense; I just felt weird standing in front of so many people who were waiting for me to say something cool.

Dead silence.

I finally thought of something to say.

"Speeches are dumb. 'People will forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.'"

And I stepped off my little soapbox for the evening, staring back at the faces of hundreds of Shinigami. Confusion swept over the crowd- I could vaguely sense it. They had been expecting a big speech- Boggnamo had given a long speech.

But then, there was clapping amongst the silent crowd.

Just one set of hands- followed by more.

Then more. Then, I guess it was the whole room clapping, and some guys in the front even whooped and hollered. I cracked a smile as the whole room started to buzz with noise, laughter and whistles and smiles. This was a new era in the history of the Kido Corps, and I knew right away that this would go down in the books.

But I didn't care- I only cared that everyone wasn't so stoic and formal now.

"Captain…"

Blinking my black eyes, I inclined my head a fraction to see my Lieutenant coming up to stand by my side.

Baby blue stared down at me.

I snorted a laugh, "So now you've decided to address me formally, Tottori. Hell, that's great."

A few seconds passed, and finally the cheeky boy scoffed, crossing his arms and pinching that cute face of his. "I was just going to ask if you were alright."

I waited to answer as I felt people filtering out of the room to presumably break out the alcohol. People passed by, whispering or just outright talking. Two women walked right by me, trying to keep their voices low. "I heard emotions were the Commander's specialty, with her zanpakutou and all…"

"Her speech was fitting, then."

My lips quirked infinitesimally.

Hikaru noted this, but I didn't see the way his eyes softened.

The day I had woken up from my extended sleep, Boggnamo had informed me of all of my duties that I was to preform as the new Grand Kido Chief. One of those responsibilities was to find a new second, in time of course. But, like the efficient girl I was, I went straight to the boy who I knew would not turn me down.

Hikaru Tottori was efficient in his work, strict enough to handle himself, and he could hold his own against others.

No thanks to me, he says.

I think that's total shit.

"Hazumi?"

"Hmm?" I was watching everyone have a good time, post-war. Celebrating the war's end, and the beginning of another Commander.

"What are you going to do now?"

I didn't answer Tottori for awhile.

I just watched.

"Are you asking me if I'll still fight if it comes to it, Hikaru? Because I will."

"You use a cane."

"Are you being fresh?" It was my new favorite quote.

"Tch. No… But… ahh, what about your lungs?"

I turned my eyes back to Hikaru, who was staring at me with a frown. The boy looked genuinely concerned, and I guess he had the right. He was my new second, and I did fall into… I guess a coma for a day short of three weeks. And I was still his mentor- I had a lot to teach him.

Sighing, "The final diagnosis is permanent scarring to the tissue of the lungs and liver."

"Well that's problematic."

"I'm not some frail old-timer, Tottori. You better remember that."

"But how will this affect things?"

Sighing, I brought a hand to the back of my head. He sure was being picky tonight. But I guess he had to, since we'd be spending more time together now. I almost snorted at that thought.

"It means I won't be the one who's gonna be teachin' you to wield a sword anytime soon. Ask Hosyu for help with your shunpo and hakuda skills."

I started to turn, finding my feet carrying me away from the commotion. The clink of my steel cane resounded from beneath my feet, and I already found myself getting used to the sound.

"Oh, and Tottori?" I had stopped at the door, calling back to Hikaru over my shoulder. Upon seeing his big blue eyes on me, I felt my lips curl into a nice grin.

"Make sure to find yourself a nice third seat, alright?"

And I was out the door before he could even question me. Because really… we did need an efficient third.

Who else would take care of all the work when Tottori and I were off in the Human World?

Stepping through the gate brought a crisp gust of air that had the nerve to slam right into my face, causing me to scrunch my black eyes in distaste. Sputtering unintelligible nonsense, I listened as the portal closed behind me and I was once again in the boisterous Human World.

My feet were moving even before I knew it.

And as I walked, I let my mind wander. I realized that no one could tell me what to do any longer, what with my position in Seireitei's military now. I was at the top. That was pretty cool. No one could get on me for 'insubordination' anymore.

During the conflict in fake Karakura, Mon had mentioned something about my insubordination to me, but I had discarded it without a second thought. But when I had woken up, Boggnamo had mentioned it.

He told me, 'Because of recent events, I will over look your unprofessional insubordination weeks ago. You were to not go to Hueco Mundo, and you did. You could have been killed. However, there are more important matters at hand.' And then he was off on his little rant about how I should set an example, blah blah blah, be good to my subordinates, blah blah blah, etc etc.

Our chat was real productive.

But I had already done one thing that no other Corps Commander had done before- I had assembled the Kido Corps' militia. If there were to be another war anytime soon, Soul Society would have the last part of their military in combat, not just on the sidelines and recovery.

A very familiar and striking reiatsu chose to pound my skull in that next second.

It had my feet stopping in their tracks, and very slowly did I lift my head to get an eyeful of Karakura High. Squinting as the sunlight hit my eyes, I wriggled my nose and craned my neck to look up at the tall building.

Last time I had been here, I didn't even go into the building.

Hah.

I chose to put on my Gigai just before I had exited the Dangai, so there I was. Standing in Karakura's uniform outside of the school. Three weeks was a long time to disappear. I felt a trickle of anticipation run up my spine, and with a heavy sigh, my foot went forward, followed by another.

Just as the bell rang.

Three weeks is a long time to be asleep, Hazumi.

I was still as I watched kids pour from the doors of the now noisy high school, my eyes in search for one particular mop of orange hair. I stood there for a long time, leaning on my right side casually with my silvery cane. But as the minutes ticked by, I saw no orange hair. I saw no trademark scowl that I had become accustomed to.

Ichigo was not there.

That fact had my lips slipping to a frown, and my black eyes blinked a few times. I had felt his reiatsu, but I as I realized that he wasn't really there… I chalked it up to being tired.

So with a heavy heart- really, Hazumi?- did I turn, picking up my cane and walking off.

-X-

The park was nice at sundown.

It was nice, sitting there and watching the sun dip into the solid horizon. I had the perfect view. I had sat there for a long while, watching each color fade into nothingness. It was almost dark, but there I sat. It was windy and a bit cold, but nothing compared to my sudden exhaustion.

I was tired.

Heaving a breath, I dropped my head so I was staring at the ground, leaning forward so my hands were still on my valuable walking stick. The grass was slick with water- it had rained recently.

I closed my eyes for a long couple of minutes, letting my mind go blank. But that didn't last for long. My thoughts always went back to that mop of orange hair. His tawny eyes were staring back at me even through my closed lids.

This was ridiculous, but I wasn't fighting it anymore. I wanted to see the kid so bad that it almost physically hurt. I knew it was all mental, though. So there I sat, trying to gather myself enough to decide whether to get to Urahara's or Ichigo's. I hadn't capped my reiatsu, so it was flowing freely throughout Karakura.

I was perfectly traceable if need be.

I didn't expect Ichigo to catch on right away, because he always sucked at that kind of thing, but I thought at the very least he would notice. But there was still no sign of the boy. So there were only two conclusions that I could truly come up with. Either Ichigo was really that dense and truly couldn't sense me, or he really did not want to see me.

That left me to decide my destination.

Furrowing my brows, I was about to just toss my cane aside and probably go kick that tree over there when I heard it.

My name?

Blinking, my black eyes scanned the park, watching the last rays of sunshine leave. Almost dark. That was kind of creepy. But then I heard it, this time coming more clearly.

"Hazumi?"

And my cheeks unconsciously flushed as I finally identified the voice. Not seconds later did the boy come into my line of sight, and I almost jumped him then and there.

Ichigo stood there clad in casual jeans and a white t-shirt with his hands in his pockets, blinking at me as if I weren't really there. It was then that I realized just how much I had missed him. His tawny eyes were staring at me, not giving away too much expression except mild surprise, and his face was shadowed in the sunset.

I had to force myself to say something.

"Hey," came my soft response.

The boy was quiet for a few moments before stepping closer to my bench.

"Is that really you?"

I couldn't help but let my lips quirk just a bit at his ridiculous question, fighting back a dry remark.

I didn't win that battle. "Well I don't know, Ichigo. Who else would it be?"

Silence. Yeah, he was still an idiot. Even though it was almost a month-

"You're here."

I had to blink at the proximity. When had he approached me so? Narrowing my black eyes, "Well of course I am, nimrod. Where else would I be?"

But he didn't answer like I had expected of him. He was just standing in front of me, and I had to squint because of the sun. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore, and I stood, getting a good look at his eyes at last.

They were liquid bronze.

I didn't have time to identify the exact look on his face, because Ichigo then chose that moment to wrap his fingers around my forearms and pull me forward with a small tug. That was all it took- a small tug. I was still falling forward and into his chest as his cheek grazed mine, his skin barely skimming my flesh. His warm breath was a small murmur in my ear, but I heard it.

It had my heart wrenching painfully, too.

"They didn't know when you would wake up."

I would have said something, anything to get rid of that pain in his voice, but Ichigo was ahead of me. Before any words of solace could even form in my mind, I felt the boy's skin brush mine again, and then his lips were on my neck.

Words died on my lips, replaced by a sharp intake of breath as he placed a trail of small, seemingly gentle kisses down my neck. And when he reached my collarbone, it was all I could do to keep my knees from giving.

When the boy brought his gaze back to mine, I just stared at endless bronze. It was difficult not to, with the way so many emotions flickered right on by. But the last one ended with his lips on mine, and his arms curled tightly around me.

With a warm sensation flourishing from the tips of my fingers down to the bottom of my stomach, I pressed myself against him and tangled my hands in that mop of orange hair of his. It was until I had started to feel lightheaded that I had to pull away, my lips hovering just over his. But as soon as we separated, the boy placed a multitude of kisses across my jawline, and before I knew it my lips were moving against his yet again.

I had missed Ichigo, more than I knew.

It was like a hole had carved its way into the center of my life. It was an odd feeling- I had never needed someone like I needed this. I was surprised to even admit to myself that I needed him.

But I did.

And finally he pulled away, winded just as I was. His deep breaths were refreshing; I found myself in a trance, synchronized with his breathing. I didn't even realize. With a whispering laugh, I let my head fall onto Ichigo's chest, enjoying the feeling of his hand against the back of my head.

His fingers were weaving their way through my mess of blonde hair.

It was awhile before I broke our harmonized silence. "I thought you were avoiding me, when I first came to town."

I felt his hand pause for a second before burying itself in my hair again.

"I was with Urahara-san."

Something about his voice- besides how thick it was, that is- had my mind backing up and pausing at that statement. "Yeah? What for?"

But he was silent for those next few moments. When I didn't hear a response, I slowly lifted my head to try to meet his eye. He was looking off to the trees. "Ichigo?"

And here he only frowned, finally bringing his gaze back to me.

His eyes were weighted. "I was with Urahara… because I was convinced that I was to go to Soul Society… and see just what the hell had happened to you."

This had me quiet for a minute.

"You… didn't know?"

Here he scowled, "I was only told what I needed to know."

"And what was that?"

"You had overexerted yourself, again. You fell into a fucking coma, because you couldn't sit still for five minutes."

"I'll have you know I laid there on the ground for about thirty minutes, thanks."

Excuse my tone if it was a bit indignant, but it seemed Ichigo would never learn.

Sighing as I saw his lips curve downwards, I brought my hand to his cheek, directing his eyes to me. "I feel like I've repeated myself about a thousand times with you, you know. So I'm just not going to say it to you anymore."

The boy couldn't help but raise his brows, "Oh, really?"

I nodded decisively. "Yes, really."

"Huh."

Frowning, "What?"

And I could have sworn that I saw his mouth curve, almost unnoticeable. "Nothing, it's just… I thought the day would never come."

"Oh shut up."

And he actually laughed. There were only a handful of times that I had been witness to such a sight, but I'd never get used to it. I found that I quite liked it, and Ichigo needed to do it more often.

Dusk was still upon us- the sun wasn't quite done setting yet- but it was getting there. Eventually I did loosen my grasp on the boy, and he did with a bit of a begrudging stare in my general direction. Going for my cane, I noticed Ichigo was staring at it a bit strangely. I commented on his weird look, and it turn he only blinked.

"You really… have to use a cane?"

Oh boy. I could tell where this was going fast.

And apparently he could, too, because he voiced his next opinion. "You really are a grandma!"

"OI! I don't see you complaining!"

Blinking at me, I could see Ichigo was mildly surprised that I would say such a thing. I merely offered a challenging curl to the lips, an overall smug demeanor setting it. It seemed that I had finally beaten the boy in verbal warfare.

And recognizing his defeat, my sub Shinigami quirked his lips. "Old Hag."

And I offered a full-toothed grin in return, taking his now outstretched hand. In a swift movement, the boy had hauled me onto his back, making it very convenient for me to travel. His arms wrapped around my legs, securing me in his grasp. Still having that warm grin coating my lips, I leaned down to murmur in his ear, just so he could hear me.

"Idiot."

FIN

(1) Beautiful Gift.

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