AN: Okay okay! By popular demand, the Epilogue. I wasn't planning on doing a sequel otherwise I would have left it off where they discovered Tsuneo was alive and add in a few other things. However, I have changed my mind. More on that at the end.

FYI: Tomoko means a friendly, knowing and wise child.

Epilogue

10 years later…

"Come on Tomoko," Rangiku said.

"Mom, Tsuneo's not done training, yet. Dad just put his mask on," complained the orange haired, blue eyed nine year old girl. She was elegant and graceful like her mother, but headstrong and sometimes arrogant, like her father. A perfect match for her best friend, who she swears she will marry someday.

Rangiku and her daughter looked out over the frozen clearing. Her husband, Ichigo was about to spar with Tsuneo in hollow form. Tsuneo's relationship with his hollow was different then what Ichigo has with his. While Ichigo and his hollow is a master/servant type, Tsuneo shared a friendship with his hollow. The hollow knew he was powerful and knew there would be times he would be able to come out and wreak havoc, especially when they encountered other, stronger hollows. He was happy with that. They were equals.

Toshiro came off the field. While Tsuneo's hollow was powerful, Tsuneo had power in his own right. While not as strong as Toshiro, yet, he found his Zanpakuto at age five and was easily able to kill off the average hollow. And hollows they fought. No matter where they went, it was guaranteed they would run into some. It couldn't be helped with the two kids leaking their spiritual pressure like a faucet. At least Ichigo finally learned how control his.

"Good workout, Taicho?" Rangiku asked.

"It's Toshiro." He said absentmindedly. He knew Rangiku had a hard time breaking a habit she didn't want to break. However, he still gently reminded her. "Yeah, he's improving. I'm not worried about his attacks as much as I am his defense."

"Uncle Shiro?" Tomoko started. She was the only one he would now allow to call him by that name and only because that was the way she said his name when she first learned how to talk. "Will there be enough time for Tsuneo and me to go for a walk before we leave?"

"Maybe a short one, you know we have to get going after lunch," he said.

"Yeah, before the ones who want to hurt Tsuneo get here." She said all knowingly. She had a look in her eye. Toshiro noticed her fingering her own Zanpakuto, which appeared recently, as she talked. Toshiro shook his head, she was so much like her father; that determination of wanting to protect.

It's been like that since she was born. Tsuneo took to her right away as she did him. As babies they would fuss if they were separated, like close twins. They grew together as did their bond with each other. When Tsuneo's Zanpakuto came out, he held it above her head and swore to protect her. As their parents recovered from heart attacks, Tomoko (age 4) declared he was to be her husband when they grew up.

Toshiro smiled at the orange hair girl who was wise beyond her years. The adults were always upfront about the dangers they faced with their kids. While they held back some information, they knew who they were, what their role was and that others were after and would always be after them. If not Tsuneo for his powers, then Tomoko for her power over Tsuneo.

"But I cleaned the area already, mom!" said a stubborn 7 year old Tsuneo. They had finished training hours ago and were ready to leave for the next place. It was Tsuneo's turn to take care of the ice and snow before they left.

"Tsuneo, if you cleaned it properly I wouldn't still see ice in the trees, would I?" Rukia replied, "Come on, there's not a lot left but you know we can't leave clues for them."

"But mom," he started to whine.

"Come on, Tsuneo. Let's finish so we can go for a walk. You DO want to walk with me?"

"Ok!"

The kid didn't have a chance. Toshiro smiled, neither did he when it came to a certain raven haired little woman. While Toshiro gained some height over the years, Rukia, sadly, did not. She was the same 4'8" while Toshiro shot up to 5'6". While still short compared to Rangiku and Ichigo, he was happy with it. Speaking of his raven haired woman, Toshiro walked over to their current RV and found Rukia inside preparing lunch for everyone. He snuck up behind her and slid his hands around her waist.

"Stop it, Ichigo, you know Toshiro will be done training soon," she said. Toshiro pulled her closer and put his head next to her ear.

"Oh, come on, midget." He said in his best Ichigo voice, which wasn't all that great. Rukia laughed and turned around and embraced her husband.

"How did the training go?" she asked as her eyes met his.

"It went great. He's coming along on his defense quite well. What's for lunch?"

"Tonkatsu and miso soup," she said as he bent down and touched her forehead with his. "Is that ok or would you rather have something else?"

"I'd rather have you," he said as she blushed.

"Where are the others?"

"Busy," he said as he traced her face with his fingers. He brushed her lips with his thumb and continued to trace her jaw line.

"To-shiro," she whispered as she pressed her small body against his. She placed tiny kisses along his jaw and down the side of his neck. He rewarded her with a small growl or was it a moan? She never did figure out which, but she knew it was a sound she loved to hear. He picked her up and carried her to the back bedroom.

Outside the sparring match was just about completed. Rangiku and Tomoko were captivated by the men as they fought. Over the years, Ichigo's hollow tried to understand the different kind of relationship the other had with its master. Although it will never be the same, they did reach an understanding. Ichigo does the boring stuff, his hollow can do the ass kicking as long as he behaved.

Masks off, the guys left the training ground. Tsuneo turned and surveyed the scene and watched as the ice started to melt.

"I can make it go faster!" Tomoko offered, drawing her Zanpakuto.

"Absolutely not!" Ichigo said.

"No!" Rangiku said at the same time. Tsuneo found interest in a snowflake on the ground.

"You remember what happened the last time, you nearly burned the entire forest down!" Ichigo continued, "You are not to draw until you've had enough time meditating and can control your fire."

"Uncle Shiro put the fire out; I don't see the big deal. But fine." She said pouting.

"Ready for our walk, Tomoko?" Tsuneo said in his low voice. He had a cold exterior like his parents and those eyes of his told you he was serious. He loved and respected his family and despised anyone who would think about tearing them apart. He had a fun side that he rarely showed unless Tomoko was there.

Ichigo put his arms around Rangiku and kissed her. They turned and watch the little ones start out on their walk. They never went further than a few flash steps, but it gave them time to be "away from the parental eyeball" as Tomoko puts it.

"Those two are something else."

"They're going to be a force to be reckoned with, that's for sure. Fire and ice."

"What do you think of that last message?" Ichigo asked, turning his attention towards his wife.

"That the Hogyoku was found but not by the shinigami? I don't know. That Urahara can be a cryptic bastard sometimes."

"What gets me is why he wants us to return. I have my doubts."

"You think someone got to him and is using him to get us back?"

"It's not totally out of the question. Let's face it, we wouldn't have gotten as far as we have without his help."

"And Byakuya's money," Rangiku added.

"Yeah."

"Rukia doesn't trust him."

"Can't say I blame her for everything he's put her through."

"Toshiro doesn't trust the message. He thinks there's something behind it."

"Which is why we're on the move again, eh?"

"Well, we should make Nayoro by nightfall," she looked at her husband, "Do you get tired of this? Do you wish you made a different decision?" Ichigo was surprised at the questions. He put his hands on either side of her face and looked deep into her eyes.

"No," he said firmly, "I am where I want to be, with you, with Tomoko, with Tsuneo, with Rukia, with Toshiro. You guys are my family and closest friends. I love you, Rang."

"I love you, Ichigo."

The door to the RV opened and Rukia came out, squinting at the midday sun. She looked over at Ichigo and Rangiku and smiled.

"Lunch is ready whenever you two are," she said.

"Mom, mom!" Tsuneo called out. Panic chilled as it ran through her veins, no matter how much distance, or time they put between them, Rukia found that she couldn't escape her nightmares, couldn't escape the constant sense of dread. She looked over to see Tsuneo and Tomoko come running over with something in their hands. Ichigo heard the sense of urgency in Tsuneo's voice and stood beside Rukia as the kids reached them. "We found this down by the stream," he said as he handed something to his mother.

Rukia took it and gasped. She covered her mouth with her other hand, "No," she whispered. She handed it to Ichigo as she looked at him, pleading with her eyes for him to tell her it wasn't what she thought it was. That it could have been there for a long time, anything to reassure her growing fear.

Ichigo took it and gasped as a chill ran down his spine. Toshiro came out of the RV and looked at his panic stricken wife. His heart stopped for a second when he saw what Ichigo was holding. "Hollow?" Toshiro asked, hoping.

"Espada," Ichigo confirmed.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm also sure they left it as a calling card."

Tsuneo put his hand over one of his mother's. He looked at the mask his Uncle was holding and the expression on his face. He turned to his dad, "What's going on? What's an Espada? Are they stronger than an Arrancar?"

Toshiro closed his eyes and thought. Rangiku packed up everything that was outside and shoved it into the underneath compartment of the RV. She ushered the kids inside telling them to get something to eat while the adults talked. They would explain it all after they ate. She saw it, she knew. They all knew. Espada meant the Hogyoku was involved. They also all knew it breached their barrier and no one felt a thing. Not a hint of reiatsu.

Toshiro looked at Rangiku, then Ichigo, finally Rukia. "Karakura then?"

"Yes," Rangiku said.

"Yes," Ichigo followed.

They looked at Rukia who was looking at the ground. Toshiro pulled her in his arms. She closed her eyes as she laid her head against his chest and shuddered.

"Yes," she whispered.

AN: As I wrote this over the past few days, I came up with a whole new plot. That's the reason why I left the semi-cliff hanger. SOOOOO… look for a sequel that I wasn't planning on writing, but will cause this is too good to pass up. Not titled yet and I'll be working on the outline as I kick out my short story and another chapter story.

As far as Choices and Consequences…it's complete! Again, thank you all!