PREVIOUSLY ON CHAPTER 15

Yuki was stuck in the doorway with waves and waves of tears streaming from her eyes. She took a few steps forwards before it became a full on run and she dove at the woman's open arms.

MOVING ON. . .

Yuki is now snuggled into the woman while still crying her heart out. She clutched on the woman's clothes and the woman just continued to comfort her by rubbing circles on her back.

"Hey, stop crying now. How are we gonna talk if you're crying?" The woman said and Yuki lifted her head and looked at her

"Hahaue, I *hic* m-m-missed *hic* you." Yuki said in between sobs

The lady, which turned out to be Yuroichi Shioin, chuckled and hugged Yuki tightly

"I missed you as much, my kitten." Yuroichi said

"Oy oy, Yuroichi. Don't hog Yuki all to yourself. I missed her too." The man said

"Sorry, Kisuke. But this is a mother-daughter moment. Don't ruin it." Yuroichi said

"She's not even your real daughter." Kisuke mumbled to himself

Yuroichi laughed and patted Yuki on her head. Yuki looked up to Yuroichi with red, swollen eyes.

"Kisuke wants to say 'hi' to you too, kitten." Yuroichi said and pointed at Kisuke

Yuki looked at him and Kisuke waved. Yuki laughed and started crying again then crawled on top of the table to go to him. Kisuke welcomed her with open arms and Yuki snuggled towards his warmth.

"Ah, your hair is still the same. Fluffy as ever." Kisuke said as he ran his fingers through her hair

Yuki looked at him and gave him an angry pout.

"What?" Kisuke asked

"Why did you stop visiting me? I waited for almost 100 years for you to return but you didn't. All of you." Yuki said

Kisuke glanced at Yuroichi.

"Well you know, Yuki-chan. There has been a lot of things going on that time. Bad things to be exact." Kisuke said

"After those bad things happened, we suddenly got so busy that we didn't get to visit you anymore." Yuroichi continued

"What kind of bad things?" Yuki asked

"That's a story for another time. For now, let's talk about you." Kisuke said and adjusted Yuki on his lap

"How are you?" He added

Yuki gave him a warm smile and her tail began swishing.

"I'm good! I was happy this past few days. Although I still get a little lonely because I miss all of my friends and the times we spent together but now I got to see my Hahaue and Ki-san, I'm happy! And guess what!" Yuki energetically said

"Okay, what?" Kisuke asked with a chuckle

"I got inside Seiretei!" Yuki said and jumped on top of the table

Both Kisuke and Yuroichi's eyes widen after hearing her declaration but it eventually was replaced by happy and relieved expressions. At least she isn't living under that tree anymore. She's far away from danger.

"You're living inside Seiretei, huh? Who brought you there?" Yuroichi asked as she got Yuki off the table and make her sit beside her

When Yuki is about to answer, Tessai entered the room with snacks and tea for them. Yuki got milk and some cookies. Tessai left after serving the snacks and beverages not after everyone said their thanks. Yuki then continued telling her story.

"Yama-jii took me in after he saw me under the tree. Then after that he allowed me to live in the Squad 1 barracks and at the same day I met the Captains. Not personally thou. Then Yama-jii said he will place me in the squad of my liking thus started my touring of Seiretei meeting the squads personally." Yuki paused to take a sip of her milk

"I just finished my tour yesterday. Now I have to pick." She finished

"So you're a shinigami now, huh?" Yuroichi said and ruffled Yuki's hair

Yuki giggled and kept eating.

"Have you chosen a squad yet or are you still thinking?" Kisuke asked

"Still thinking, Ki-san. I'm stuck picking between six squads." Yuki answered

"Wow, that's a lot. Let me guess, you found people who interest you in those squads, right? And you're having a hard time picking because of them." Kisuke said

Yuki nodded and took another cookie.

"Actually, I found three masters there. Both noble and a contractor to the Ice Queen. Also an interesting guy, a place to live in and Chichiue!" Yuki said happily

"Chichiue? You found your Dad?" Yuroichi asked surprised

"Not the actual one. A close second." Yuki said

"Oh? So you gonna replace me now?" Yuroichi asked with playfulness in her tone

Yuki immediately looked at her with surprised eyes and an open mouth.

"No I won't! You're still my Hahaue! I will never replace you!" Yuki said with flailing arms and looking very guilty

Yuroichi let out a hearty laugh and scooped Yuki in her arms as she stood up.

"You're still adorable as ever!" Yuroichi said and began tossing her in the air like some parent would do to a little baby

Yuki kept on laughing and giggling and Kisuke laughed along too.

To anyone who doesn't know them on a personal level, what they're doing is like a normal scene of a happy family. A family that Yuki yearned for so long and also for so long before she gazed on it again. Yuki has never been this happy in her entire life. Seeing the woman who volunteered to be her mother and a friend who thought her all the knowledge she has again is truly overwhelming for her that she can't help but express it to tears again.

Yuroichi halted her tossing when she saw her kitten cry and she knew it was from happiness. She hugged Yuki tightly and she can feel her tears on her shoulder. Yuroichi looked at Kisuke and the man understood what she meant. He stood up and gave Yuki a pat on the back.

"Hey, Yuki-chan. Wanna play a game?" Kisuke asked

Yuki slowly looked towards Kisuke who is giving off a knowing smile and Yuki nodded her head. Maybe a little game can help her thoughts get back on track.

TIME SKIP

"Wow, it's so wide!" Yuki said in awe as she scanned the entirety of Kisuke's suppose-to-be basement.

"Yep, it is. Perfect for playing games." Kisuke said and poked Yuki with his finger

"And you're it." He added before he used shunpo to get away

Yuroichi did the same and Yuki's eyes widen. But it then turned into a smile and she began chasing them playing their version of tag.

Laughs, screams and the occasional explosions were heard in the field. The happy times Yuki spent with her Hahaue and closest friend was relived once more. The event that Yuki thought would only be possible if she dreamt about it so hard is here right in front of her.

The smiles she longed to see after 100 years of abandonment from her make-shift family is very visible now.

The cheers and laughs that only her memory can play is now ringing in her ears in full volume.

The caresses and hugs that she thought her skin forgot was now burning on her like fire but fueled with nothing but love and longing.

It brings enlightenment and nostalgia to Yuki that everything else is blocked out and only this moment exists. She dared not think of anything else for she believed the magic of the moment will be gone.

This moment of bliss is the utmost importance and nothing else in the world can distract them from it.

After there game of tag, Yuki decided to have a little dip on the hot spring inside the basement. Together with Yuroichi, a mother-daughter bonding is commencing. Kisuke decided to leave them alone for a while and take a look at the shop.

"Hahaue what should I do?" Yuki asked as she was leaning on Yuroichi

"About the squad picking?" Yuki nodded her head

Yuroichi ruffled her hair and began washing it.

"Well you can only answer that yourself but I can give some advice."

"Pick the one where you think you will be happy. Put everything else aside and just forget about obligation and stuff. Think about happiness and where your heart leads you. And I am sure wherever that is, it will make you happy." Yuroichi said and kissed the top of her head

Yuki thought about what her Hahaue said.

'Think about happiness and not obligation? Hmmmmmm, I wonder where that is?' Yuki thought and she dipped deeper in the water

Then it hit her.