𝐈 𝐊𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐝

ix | haec olim reminisse iuvabit

translation — "one day, this will be pleasing to remember"
song recommendation — bummerland by ajr

" bummerland

here i am

better nix my summer plans

bummerland

give a cheer

'cause you're only going up from here "

twelve years ago, 2011
karakura town

The confined Quincy king...

regains his pulse after 900 years.

His mind after 90 years.

His strength after 9 years.

And...

~ — — — ~

Tamaki moved through the familiar surroundings of Karakura Town, eyes narrowed as she made her way towards the multiple Reiatsus that came from Hollows and two very faint Reiatsus of injured Shinigami. Can't get a break, can I? She thought to herself as she drew the katana of Zangetsu and threw a Getsuga Tensho at one of the Hollows.

She landed on the roof of the building not too far from the wide-eyed male Shinigami. She glanced over at him. "You're a new face," she noted, making him jolt. "Just assigned, I'm guessing?"

He nodded numbly.

"Well, you're gonna have to get used to all of the Hollows," she continued as she shifted her grip on her Zanpakuto. "It's normal around here."

With that said, she quickly began dispatching all of the surrounding Hollows, not leaving the chance of one still being alive. She needed to get the two rookies healed by Orihime and every second wasted was a second lost to saving them.

She quickly stopped the last Hollow from snatching up the male Shinigami with Zangetsu, giving a dark smirk. "I'm gonna finish this up quick, yeah?" Her grip tightened as light blue sparks danced around her body and her eyes glowed in the dark. She briefly knocked the Hollow away before gripping the Zanpakutō with both hands, raising it above her head. "Getsuga..." The blade became surrounded with black and red energy as she prepared to bring the blade down. "Tensho!"

The attack sliced the Hollow in half and it disappeared, Tamaki finally relaxing as she felt no more Hollows around.

"W-Who are you?" the male Shinigami stuttered out.

She rested the katana against her shoulder and glanced at him. "Kurosaki Tamaki," she said with a small grin. "Substitute Shinigami."

~ — — — ~

Two days later, Tamaki's eyes drifted towards Yuki after hearing him groan and ask where he was. "You're free to go if you're awake," she said, causing him to turn his head, seeing her sitting at her desk on her laptop.

Suddenly, Orihime opened the door to Tamaki's room with a tray of bread (most likely leftovers from her job), saying, "We're here! I brought some delicious bread." She walked into the room with a bright smile and saw Yuki sitting upright in Tamaki's bed. "Oh, you're awake! Thank goodness!"