And finally, the epilogue. I really, really enjoyed writing this part. Thank you, all of you, for your support and for reading and for especially for all the lovely reviews which really helped keep me writing. Love to you all!

Thanks especially to reviewers: PunkRockHolly, cool guy 33, capslock-nanao, Tinni, Ayamichan34, Lovely1, blackteaplease, Rizeru, Lady Drama, MissTeak, Solar Kitty, karathemurphster, DellaNotte, TeenageNeko, Alicia, and Mihara-chan

Dedicated to all of you who enjoyed the story!

Epilogue

It had been a long time since Izuru had last been to the world of the living, not since before he became the captain of the third squad. The beach post was almost a vacation for him, would have truly been one, if not for the occasional hollow, which was just what he intended to use the post for. He thought he deserved it; he was certainly overdue the vacation, at least.

Izuru walked along the shore, enjoying the feel of the cold, wet sand between his toes, the sun hot on his back.

"Izuru!" A voice said, "Get back here!"

Izuru whipped around and stared. A little boy with silver hair and blue eyes was running towards him. The child grinned such a familiar, wicked grin that Izuru gasped. He had to be the reincarnation of Ichimaru. Then a little girl joined him; she had beautiful strawberry blond hair, and for a moment, Izuru thought true love had truly blessed his old captain. It passed quickly; the girl's eyes were not the same pale cornflower blue.

But who had called his name?

"Izuru, don't you dare get your sister to run off with you too!" The voice called.

Hand and hand, two people walked towards the children. This time, a tear slid down Izuru's cheek. There was no doubting who this couple was.

Matsumoto was heavier than he remembered, but then he realized she was pregnant. She would be Ichimaru-san now, if that was indeed his old captain's new name. Ichimaru startled him, though; his eyes were open, matching the greeny-blue of the two children. His smile was still there, but relaxed now, genuine.

"Get yer butt over 'ere, Izuru," Ichimaru said.

The little boy ran to Ichimaru and Izuru realized the child had his name. Maybe, on some level, they had remembered him. He felt impossibly honored.

Ichimaru stopped in front of him. "Do we know you?"

Rangiku nodded, "I'm sure we've met before."

Izuru smiled and said, "No, not in this lifetime anyway." He walked on a ways and looked back, watching the family. Izuru felt like crying again, in joy. Some twist of fate had brought Ichimaru and Matsumoto together again, but this time, things had gone the way they were meant to.

Well, what'd you think? And who do you think Izuru's significant other in this is? (Nope, there's no hint nor mention of it, anywhere in the story, just curious what you think!)