The feeling of true relief was something foreign, yet present now. Mixed with a hint of worry nevertheless.

The bloody war against the Quincies finally ended. Many lives were lost and the weight of it felt like one had the whole world on their shoulders. It was something that hurt a lot, punched the air out of one's lungs with each breath that was taken.

Yet that didn't mean happiness wasn't allowed to be the soothing balm to this.

Jushiro had almost sacrificed himself for basically nothing, or at the very least, a few seconds more of the world's stability. Even so, it wouldn't have been a long term solution. Luckily, you were able to keep the Captain of the 13th Division to do it back then, which in the end, saved his life.

Now things were going better. You and Jushiro married just a few months ago, adopted two children from the Rukongai Districts, of course two that were at least able to sense Reiatsu.

The Gotei 13 are still being rebuilt, now with Shunsui as the Head Captain. It's been 13 months since the incident.

"Love? Sunshine?" Jushiro called out as he peaked into your office, a small smile playing on his pale lips. As his spouse and another Shinigami, you also had work to do. Even if he was sick with his tuberculosis that acted up from time to time, he was as protective as any husband might be of his spouse and children, even if he wasn't as bad as some other people might be. He was still a gentleman after all, who was scared to even touch too roughly. He stepped inside, two cups of tea in hand as he approached.

The children were just outside, playing in the garden of the 13th Division. The sun was high and the air fresh with the scent of lingering spring. What a day to be still alive.