Disclaimer: I do not own Bleach.

Epilogue

Modern Day

A few centuries have passed. The once dark lord was now a world-renowned doctor, traveling from place to place healing people and defeating evil monsters that dared to roam the earth. Not every monster was under his control, but he damn well made sure that it knew its place.

Yet after all this time, Ichigo always came back to Hoia Baciu Forest where Rukia's body remained entombed in an ice casket, attempting to heal her with her own element, but nothing accelerated it. Her heart would still faintly beat every once in a while to let him know that she was barely alive, but alive none the less.

Today was like many of his previous visits. Ichigo placed a bouquet of white orchids on Rukia's casket. Then, he preceded to stare at her pale face, like always. His grief was ever present, especially when he was in this place. He grieved at what could have been… what should have been. Fate, apparently, wasn't too sure of them as a couple, no matter how many times she threw them together.

"Quit moping, Kurosaki. It's not your fault she's like this. Rukia knew damn well what she was doing when she took the sword meant for you." A familiar voice told Ichigo as it shook him from his stupor. Toshiro came to visit Rukia a good bit as well, and their meeting was nothing unusual nor were the words that Ichigo knew was about to pass from Toshiro's lips. They had been down this road too many times.

"She was doing what she thought was right. She always has, even if I didn't agree with her at the time." Toshiro sighed as he looked at his sister. He longed to speak of her and confirm his theory. Whispers of a winter spirit helping people graced his ears, but he didn't have the heart to tell Ichigo. He didn't want to go breaking the demons heart all over again, not when it was his sister's fault to being with.

"Toshiro, I know that Rukia always had a way of doing her own thing, but this time she was stupid. She had just unlocked her powers; yet, she came to me without extra help. She is the freaking Goddess of Winter! The world needs her. It doesn't need me!" A lone tear fell down Ichigo's check as he fought the depression. Rukia left a whole in his heart that she alone could fill.

Toshiro growled and pulled Ichigo back to face him. "What do you mean the world doesn't need you? She did this because the world needed you more than it did her!""

"Why would it need me when it had you and her in it? The two of you could have prevented so much." Ichigo asked solemnly, still feeling the guilt like it was yesterday.

"We may be blessed with the powers to repel evil and the dead, but you're the only one who can truly keep the monsters at bay and make them obey you. This is why Rukia chose to sacrifice herself. She knew that there was going to be a threat to your life before hand, and she decided that you were worth saving. She decided that putting her healing energy into you was more important than healing herself. Both of your actions that day prevented hell on earth from happening once again. It didn't matter if her part was as simple as stepping in front of a sword to protect you, or you ending the Jailer's life. The world lived to see another day, and with you alive, the world is safe because the monsters are controlled." Ichigo nodded at Toshiro's words. He was being to understand what Toshiro had been trying to tell him at every visit. His almost brother-in-law was one hell of a man.

Brief relief crossed Toshiro's face. He was happy to finally see that Ichigo was truly understanding Rukia's choices after all these years. He placed a tan hand on the vampire's shoulder. Toshiro had one more peace of mind to give Ichigo, "Kurosaki, If you ever thought that I blamed you for this, you were wrong. I don't blame you. You did everything that you could have for her to survive. Your blood allowed her heart to keep beating after she healed you, and her blood allowed you to live."

Toshiro's words brought Ichigo back to that horrific day. Dracul and the Jailer were fighting in a whirlwind of slash attacks and arrows. Both the fighters sustaining injuries, but Dracul's healing was lagging behind due to the Heavenly weapons of the Jailer. He thought their fight would be an even draw until Rukia showed up. She protected him from the arrows, and just when Dracul thought he could return the favor, the Jailer stabbed them both through the back, but Ichigo never felt the sword pierce him that day. Rukia had started healing him instantly as the sword passed through her and into him, thus depositing some of her fully powered blood went into his system, increasing his healing. This allowed Dracul to change into his demon form without the demon taking over. He ripped the Jailers heart out without much of a fight. Part of him wanted to rip and claw the man to shreds, but he changed for Rukia. She was a part of him now more so than ever. A vicious death wasn't her way, so he honored it.

Everything about the fateful battle boiled down to the choices that each of the fighters made. Choices that let the world know monsters are not all bad, humans are vengeful, and demons can change. We make choices based on the needs of the many rather than the desires of the few. These choices turn the ties of battle and determine the world's fate.

"Ichigo, can you hear me?" Toshiro asked, bring Ichigo back to the present. "I know what you are thinking about Ichigo, but don't. It's best for you to live your life to the fullest until the winds decide to change."

"I have lived how she would have want me to." Ichigo countered.

"Well, we'll see soon enough if what you say is true." Toshiro said right before he vanished into a cloud of snow.

"Toshiro! Get your ass back here and tell me what the hell is that supposed to mean!" Ichigo yelled at the empty spaced filled with snow.

Ichigo looked down at Rukia. "Your brother is a cryptic, weird man, Rukia." He said with a laugh. "Anyway, I need to get back to work. I have a 12-hour shift at the hospital coming up, and I plan to save as many lives as I can." He told her with a smile

Ichigo placed a kiss on the ice casket where Rukia's lips were. "Sleep well, butterfly. I love you."

"Ah, Ichigo! You did such a wonderful job on the bypass surgery!" Isshin Shiba stated proudly at his pupil. The older man clasped Ichigo on the shoulders as he steered him towards their office.

"Well I did learn from the best, old man." Ichigo said with a smirk. His words were true, but Isshin was one of the many doctors that taught him over the years.

"I think you deserve a hug for a job well done!" Isshin said just as he launched himself at Ichigo who side stepped him. "Why do you have to be so mean to me?" Isshin chided playfully as landed on the floor with a thud.

Just then the door opened to their office, in walked Isshin's wife Masaki, his older daughter Karin, and twins Yuzu and Kaien.

"Ichigo!" The children launched themselves at Ichigo, who gracefully fell to the floor, in the pile of laughter.

Everyone laughed, enjoying the family bonding time. Although, Masaki though was worried they would crush Ichigo,. "Kids, get off of Uncle Ichigo now! Isshin, that means you too! Don't think I didn't see you sneak in a tackle with the kids!" She chided.

"But Masaki!" Isshin groaned as he and the kids removed themselves from the dog pile.

"No buts! Ichigo is your partner! You need to be nice to the boy!"

Ichigo snickered as he watched the reincarnation of his mother. He felt at peace knowing that they had happier lives this time around, and he was prouder that he could help them as Isshin's partner. He was also living up to his promise to Rukia. He lived in the light now, and he saved people rather than kill them. Although, he did still track criminals for their blood and deliver them to the police. No one caught or questioned him. His vampire powers helped him live normally and avoid being detected.

Masaki pulled Ichigo from his thoughts, "Are you coming home to eat with us?" She asked him.

"No, I have plans." Masaki could tell Ichigo was lying, it must have been from her being his mother in another life time.

"You really should just ask that girl that you pine for to marry you and put you out of your misery." Ichigo knew exactly who Masaki was talking about. She had seen a drawing of Rukia that he kept on his desk.

"It's a lot more complicated that just that. Our lives never seem to meet up at the right time," He replied with a sad smile.

"If it's fate, then it will work out." She replied confidently, giving him a motherly hug in which Ichigo returned it.

"Go enjoy your supper! I promise I will stop mopping, mom!" Ichigo told the Shibas as they all harassed him to join them once more before they left. Masaki gave Ichigo one last smile before they left. The Shibas had adopted him without a second thought once they found out Ichigo had no living family except for a long distant girlfriend who lived in a remote location.

Once everyone left, Ichigo turned to glaze out the window. Masaki's words played in his head. "Fate?" Fate had always been a cruel mistress to him. Why would she start being nice now?

A few weeks later, rumors reached Ichigo's ears of rogue demon attacking people in the small, neighboring village. The vampire lord took off instantly. He refused to have demons killing innocents in his territory.

Ichigo tracked an odd source of power until a loud howl pierced the air. He emerged into a clearing, and he saw twenty demons surrounded a beautiful girl with white hair and pale amethyst eyes. Her kimono was pure white with snowflakes dancing around her.

If Ichigo had a heartbeat, it would have stopped at this moment. He wasn't sure if he was seeing Rukia, or if he was hallucinating her.

White light shot out around the girl. Half of the demons froze, their pieces of them shattered into the air while the other ones attempted to flee. Whirls of mist tracked the demons and pulled them back to the girl, who ended their lives with a flick of her wrist. Then, she turned to face him.

There in all her glory was Rukia… A living, breathing Rukia in all of her power. The true Snow Queen. Ichigo had a strange urge to bow to her. She was literally breath taking.

"Are you here to kill me too, butterfly?" He asked as her amethyst eyes landed on him. His mouth dropped at the power radiating off of her.

"Ichigo Kurosaki, is that how you greet me after all this time? Here I was expectinging flowers or at least a hello kiss, but no! All I get is a lack jawed idiot! I really should kick your -!" Rukia was cut off as Ichigo kissed her as if his life depended on it. She could taste his need, the relief knowing she was alive, but most of all, she could taste his love and desire. He was one thing that she would never get tired of.

"You're real…" He murmured as she pulled his lips back to hers, bruising them. Rukia hands ran down his muscular back. She missed having him this close, but their reunion needed to be a bit more private.

"Hang on!" She said right before she transported them to an old Japanese styled temple, hidden in the mountains.

"Where are we?" Ichigo asked in shock as he took everything in. The temple was simple, but the view before him was breath taking. They were hidden in the snowy mountains, protected from the world.

"You are at my ancestral home." She stated simply as she grabbed his hand. "We have so much to catch up on… so much to explain." Rukia murmured, but she pulled him closer. She wanted to greet him properly, but she also knew there were questions that he needed to ask.

"How were you able to recover all your power?" Ichigo asked, slightly confused. Rukia went from being in an ice casket to being in her goddess mode within weeks.

"This place calls to winter gods. It's a seat of our power, and I can come her in my dreams, even though we are in the flesh right now." She murmured as she led him to a massive pile of pillows on the floor. Ichigo's face became crestfallen at Rukia's admittance. She knew he was disappointed because she didn't visit him in his 'dreams'.

"I have been physically here for a few weeks, Ichigo. Toshiro heard rumors of a winter spirt helping people and found me. He wanted to make sure I had all my powers in control and wouldn't relapse before I went off to you. He didn't think you could handle if something happened to me again." She told him. He had a cute annoyed look on his face. "You see, the more I helped people, even if I were just to whisper in their ear, the more people began to believe again. Their beliefs added in healing me."

"I guess I can forgive you." Ichigo growled as he tackled Rukia to the pillows. "You were away for so damn long, butterfly. I missed you."

Rukia placed a hand on Ichigo's cheek, and he leaned into her warmth. "I missed you too."."

"You know, I was just thinking fate hated us. I couldn't understand why she didn't want us to be together when we always found each other.."

"You should know that fate makes things happen in her own time." Rukia replied with a smile.

"Yeah, she always left me wondering where would Dracul be without his Snow Queen."

"You were fine without me, but you did mop too much!" She teased, and he looked away from here. "Don't pout, Ichigo" Rukia kissed his cheek, only for her lips to be caught with his.

"Fine… But you have to make it up to me." He told her as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer.

"And just what did you have in mind, Ichigo Kurosaki?" Rukia asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Forever. You have to spend forever with me… us." He told her as he inner voice reminded him that he was more than just one person.

"Deal." She told him as their lips met once more. "The world shall always know the Legend of Dracul and his Snow Queen."

The next day in Tokyo, people looked all over for Dr. Ichigo Kurosaki because he was supposed to be on duty, but not a trace of him could be found. That was until a fairy graced everyone who knew the Ichigo Kurosaki with a lovely memory of a happy doctor who moved away to be with his wife. It seemed fate had finally decided the two lovers had enough, and she granted them a life together.

To all my readers and to the ones who haven't found this story yet, I hope you enjoyed it! I can't thank you enough for all the reviews, pms, favorites, and followings that this story has received. Y'all are awesome!