Epilogue

10 years later:

Hitsugaya went back into his office, where Matsumoto eagerly awaited him.

"Finally! It took you ages!" She exclaimed loudly.

He didn't answer.

"Eh? What happened? Did you suggest it?" She asked, almost jumping in her spot.

"I did. Everyone agreed." He said calmly, but she responded with a scream.

"I am so excited, captain! We haven't had a real party in agees!" She overexagerated again. "I will organize the Cherry Blossoms' Festival in the best way possible! Do not worry!"

"I don't doubt it!" He said with irony. "I am more worried about your other duties that you neglect!"

"Captaain!" Rangiku complained. "If I overwork myself so much I will never get married!"

He raised an eyebrow.

"Overwork?"

"Yes! I have to organize the whole festival and you are worried about some pieces of paper. It can wait!" She cheerfully exclaimed. "Now I have to go and tell Hisagi to print all the flyers for the event. He has to do the decorations too…" She said more to herself, while leaving.

Toushiro sat down behind his desk, trying to calm down.

"Why did I take her as my vice-captain again?" He shook his head. Then thought about Hisagi, sympathizing with him.

Kanzaki was writing in the office, while Naoki stood patiently on the sofa, watching her. Kira came in and the little boy jumped enthusiastically, running to him.

"Daddy!" He embraced his leg. Kira bent down to pat his head, smiling.

"Naoki, I have some news that you will like very much. We will hold a big festival to watch the blooming of the cherry trees."

The little blond boy opened his mouth in surprise.

"Yay!" He jumped, moving to his mother's desk, trying to get a more enthusiastic reaction out of her.

When she smiled, he was content enough.

"I will go and tell Yuki! And I will ask her to be my date!" He smiled and ran out quickly, before some of them could say anything.

"Naoki!" Kanzaki tried to stop him to no avail. "To be his date – they are barely children and she is older than him." She sighed.

Kira moved next to her.

"Let them do whatever they want to. As you said, they are just children. Besides, these 10 years won't even be visible when they grow up."

She looked up, reluctant to agree. Perhaps, she still bore some jealousy towards Hinamori. Kira caught her shoulders and gently kissed her cheek.

"You work too much! Making you my vice-captain after Matsumoto left was the best decision, but you need to relax!" He took her hand. "Come on!"

"No, I am not finished yet, Izuru! She tried to protest, but he pulled her out of her chair, embracing her.

"We will finish after we have some lunch!" Kira smiled.

The sound of wooden swords clashing was heard clearly as Momo walked through the trees, feeling the familiar spiritual pressure really close. She made the last few steps before she stopped at the scene that was revealed in front of her eyes.

Toushiro was sparring with Shin, who looked around 10 years old in human age and was smiling. After a few more hits from the little boy, Hitsugaya threw his sword on the ground and went to pick up his son.

"Son, you are getting better with each passing day!" He proudly exclaimed. "You will soon surpass your father!"

"No one can surpass you, daddy!" The boy said and they both moved around, so Momo could clearly see the smiling face of her child. She felt content.

"Boys, dinner is ready! Don't forget about us because of the training!" She cheerfully smiled.

Shin jumped from Hitsugaya's hands. Toushiro took his haori, he had left on the ground.

"We are coming, Momo!"

Around the table, the children were both in a good mood. Shin was happy because of his training results, while Yuki was more excited for the festival coming.

"And Naoki asked me to be his date for the party and I said 'Yes'!" She said loudly.

Toushiro looked at her in shock, almost dropping his fork. Momo was also a bit surprised, but she found it funny, especially when Shin spoke.

"Date? Naoki is a baby and you accepted!" He shook his head.

Yuki pouted.

"He is not a baby! He is my friend. You can also ask Ichika, so that you won't be so grumpy!" She smirked in triumph.

Shin raised his eyebrow, looking like a little copy of his father.

"I don't need a date!"

Toushiro was watching the scene dumbfounded, while Momo was amused. Later, when the kids went upstairs and it was just the two of them in front of the fireplace, Momo sat close to him.

"Toushiro, why do you take it so seriously!" She smiled.

"Yuki is barely a child and she already started having admirers. What will I do later?" He sighed, realizing that being a father of a daughter was more challenging.

Momo laughed.

"Toushiro!"

He looked at her, a little offended by her reaction, thinking that Yuki was growing up oblivious to men's intentions just like her mother.

"Don't worry! Naoki is a sweetheart. We can't have a better option for a suitor." She smiled, trying to joke, but she was not sure he took it that way.

"Naoki is Kira's son. And the fact that I tolerate him now does not mean that I want us to become closer!"

"Seriously, Shiro-chan!" Momo burst into laughter again, imagining all the thoughts and images of a future wedding that must be running through her husband's mind.

Toushiro looked to the other side, indignant at her inability to understand him.

The festival came quickly and all the Shinigami gathered to watch the blooming of the cherry trees. Rangiku had truly done a superb job with the decorations and the food and the mood was really high. Dressed in their finest clothes, enjoying the peaceful times in the Seireitei, the Shinigami celebrated. With Toushiro's consent Ichigo and Orihime came too, together with their small son, Kazui, who also had Shinigami powers and was a close friend of Ichika's.

The kids ran around happily, showing off their abilities, while sometimes creating a ruckus for the other guests. Rukia and Orihime were talking about married life and motherhood, while Ichigo and Renji were assigned to watch over the children, though only Ichigo did so.

"Renji!" Ichigo exclaimed. "Honestly, you have to do something about your daughter. She is dangerous for the other kids!" The orange-haired man, said honestly, when Ichika's unsuccessful attempt at kido resulted in a few burned hairs on Kazui's head. The boy responded with a smile.

"Don't teach me how to raise my kid, Kurosaki!" Renji said, taking pride in every action of his little girl. "Ichika is just extremely passionate and talented and I don't want to suppress that!"

"I would rather call it spoiled!" Ichigo remarked, their banter continuing.

Meanwhile, Ichika ran to her uncle Byakuya, who was the only one able to control her outbursts, because for some reason Renji couldn't quite comprehend, she adored him. Too bad that Byakuya also adored his niece and scolded her rarely.

"Uncle Byakuya!" Ichika smiled brightly in front of him. "This is my friend, Kazui!" She introduced the orange-haired boy, who smiled warmly.

"Hi, Byakuya!" He waved his hand at Byakuya, before Ichika dragged him away.

Byakuya was left in complete shock, after that greeting. A few minutes later, Rukia approached her brother.

"Are you enjoying the party, Nii-sama?" She smiled, while handing him a glass of liquor.

He looked at her, still completely astonished by the scene that had happened earlier.

"Rukia, you know that I am not conservative. I let you marry Renji and take on his surname, but I warn you that I won't take a Kurosaki in the family." He said seriously, before taking the glass from her hands. Rukia blinked with confusion.

Hitsugaya was watching the party from the sidelines, enjoying his time out of the spotlight.

"Hitsugaya-soutaicho!" He looked back to see Momo approaching.

"Hitsugaya-fukutaicho!" He said in return, loving the sound of her new name.

She moved closer to him.

"Why are you watching from here?" She asked, even though she knew he had never been sociable.

"I am enjoying the calm." He said.

"I have to say that Rangiku-san did an incredible job!" Momo smiled, admiring the scene.

"Yes. This is one of the few occasions when she actually does her job right! I am not sure the whole credit should go to her, though." He took a look at Hisagi who was sleeping on a table in the distance, too tired during the whole night.

"Don't be so harsh on her!" Momo put her head on his shoulder. He smiled.

A few minutes later, Yuki passed by them in her yellow dress with Naoki following behind.

"The kids grow up so fast!" Toushiro stated. "While watching Abarai and Kira, I realized how much I have missed." He honestly admitted.

Momo looked up. She did not expect such honesty from him. Feeling a little bit sorry, thinking back about all the hardships they faced, she took his hands, moving in front of him.

"You know, we can always change that!" She smiled mischievously.

He met her look, confused.

"How?"

"By having another baby!" She smiled, thankful that the dark hid her blush.

"Momo!" He exclaimed, surprised.

"What?"She laughed.

"What happened to your plans about reaching bankai and becoming a captain?" He asked, moving his hands around her waist.

"I can postpone that a bit!" She whispered.

He kept quiet, as she moved her hands around his neck.

"Well, we can work on it!" He answered and she giggled.

Then he captured her lips as she cherry blossoms fell around them.

This is the end of my story, inspired by Bleach! I hope you all enjoyed it, despite my long hiatus from writing! Thank you all for reading and reviewing! Special thanks to the "Guest", who left comments after every chapter, motivating me to continue! I have another story planned and I hope to hear from you again!

Sincerely yours,

Author