This is the final chapter for Potentia De Mens. It's been a really fun trip, writing this story, and I'm very happy how it came out. This originally was supposed to just be a one-shot, meant to fill in the time that I was waiting for my novel to be accepted by someone for publication. Then it turned into so much more and here we are!

I know this epilogue might be a bit dissatisfying, but I was aiming for it to have the same feel as the ending to Chronicle. Don't worry, if you haven't seen it it doesn't spoil too much. Really nothing, just the setting. If you haven't seen it, then go get it! It came out on DVD last Tuesday! I bought the lost footage edition, and have watched it like three times already! It's so amazing! I recommend you watch it, and then you can understand this story so much better.

I might do a sequel. There is going to be a sequel to Chronicle, and as such it would only make sense for me to do a sequel to this right? Though I might do the sequel before the Chronicle one comes out, that way it'll be one hundred percent my own. Let me know what you think!

Now, without further adieu, the Epilogue to Potentia De Mens!

Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach or any of the characters associated with the Anime/Manga. They belong to Tite Kubo and Shonen Jump Magazine. Please support the official release.

-Epilogue-

There was a loud clicking sound, followed by a frustrated grunt as total darkness controlled the screen. Then came a sigh, and then a light appeared and suddenly Ichigo's face appeared solely in the camera's view. He had on a wool cap, wearing a baggy blue winter coat with a green hiking bag strapped securely to his back. He looked into the camera, and then off to the side a bit, checking something before stepping back to reveal the snowy mountains behind him.

"Hey, Renji." Ichigo said, smiling weakly, sadly. "I know this is really weird to do...with the camera and everything. But I wasn't sure how else to bring some closure to myself for...what I did."

He gave a frown, mulling over his actions from that fateful day. His amber eyes shone with sorrow, and he closed them to sigh, his breath misty in the cold air, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry Renji...I really am." He said, staring into the camera. "That day...that night...I had no other choice. I hope you understand that. You were out of control and...I had to stop you."

A calloused hand ran over Ichigo's wool cap, his scowl deepening as he looked off to the side, staring at something that the camera couldn't see.

"I know you aren't a bad person." He said finally after a moment of silence. "I know that...and so does Rukia. We don't blame you for what you did. You were the victim in everything, not us. We...I should have been there for you more. All those times I said 'just let him deal with it' were mistakes. I should have stood up to your father, should have been by your side when you were facing those bullies. I shouldn't have left you alone like I did. I realize that now...

"And I'm sorry for taking Rukia. I knew you loved her, I knew. I encouraged you to tell her for years, only to take her away from you. And I'm sorry. I couldn't help myself...ya know? I loved her too...and I tried to hold it in, tried to suppress my feelings so you could have her. But when she confessed to me...you understand right? I'm sure you would...if only you weren't corrupted by this power..."

Ichigo clenched his fists, staring down at the ground in anger. "I'm not sure what this power is...where it came from or why we were the ones who were destined to obtain it. But I plan to figure it out." He looked back up into the camera with determination. "After...that day, after I healed, I went back to the hole. It was sunk in. I tried to burrow inside, but there was nothing there. I think those black vans took it...whatever it was. I still don't remember that night in a whole...but I remember enough to know there was something there that did this to us.

"I will figure out what did this to us. I plan to use these powers to do that, and I promise to help people. I've been traveling...I couldn't stay in Karakura after what happened...I visited my father and sisters of course, told them I loved them before flying away. I've been to a lot of places. Paris is really nice in the summer..."

Ichigo gave a wry smile, staring into the camera. "I'm sure you would have loved it. I know Rukia did..."

Just then, a black dot appeared in the sky, and Ichigo turned to it, as if having sensed that it was there. The black dot continued to grow, coming closer until a figure was made out. Ichigo took a step to the side, letting the figure land in the snow next to him.

Rukia wore a lavender scarf around her neck, dressed in a purple winter coat zipped up to her chin and had on a matching hiking bag to Ichigo's strapped to her back. She looked up at the camera, and then to Ichigo.

"What are you doing?" She asked him.

Ichigo flushed slightly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I'm saying hey...to Renji." He gestured to the camera.

Rukia frowned, turning to the camera as it stared at the two of them motionlessly. "Oh," She said lowly, her eyes shining with sadness as she turned to Ichigo. "That's why you bought this thing..."

Ichigo nodded. "Yeah..." He turned back to the camera. "Rukia was just in the next town over, picking up a few supplies for the two of us. We have to fend for ourselves now, because we can't stay in one place for too long. But it isn't that bad...we get to see the world."

"Did you tell him about Paris?" Rukia asked, smiling slightly at Ichigo.

He nodded. "Yeah, I told him." He said, smiling back at her. "We should be going...huh?"

Rukia nodded slowly. "Yeah...it's really cold here, and it'll be dark soon. I found a nice hotel we could stay in for the night."

Ichigo sighed, his breath blowing out in front of his face. He looked up to the camera, smiling softly at it. "I guess this is it..." He said. "I just wanted you to know Renji...we don't blame you for what you did. Right, Rukia?"

She shook her head, turning to the camera. "Of course not...everything that happened wasn't your fault. It was ours. Mine, I should say." She averted her gaze. "If I had known you felt that way...I wouldn't have just thrown my feelings at your face like I did...I'm sorry Renji."

Ichigo reached forward, taking her hand in his own, their gloved fingers intertwining together. "Rukia..."

She wiped away the tears that were welling up in the corners of her eyes. "Sorry...can't help myself." She chuckled dryly, sniffling.

"It's okay..." He said. "I understand."

She shook her head, clearing her throat. She turned back to the camera, and smiled gently. "I hope you can forgive us Renji. I really hope you can..."

"Like I said," Ichigo spoke, looking into the camera. "We will figure out what happened to us down in that hole. We'll bring peace to your memory, I swear it."

Rukia nodded in agreement.

"This is goodbye then..." Ichigo said. "I hope that, wherever you are, you can finally be happy."

"Goodbye, Renji." Rukia said.

"Goodbye," Ichigo said as well.

They both smiled at the camera for a peaceful moment, and then turned away. Rukia leaned against Ichigo as they walked away from the camera through the snow, leaving it be as they crouched slightly and launched into the air together, soaring off into the sky as the camera continued to record the tranquil snowy mountains.

-End-