I want to give special thanks to darkmachines, Hereiam, RG-Guest, Ie-maru and TheBretonBookDragon, and for their recent feedback following the previous update. I'd like to add that Ie-maru's comments sp resonated with me, that I went back and tweaked the dialogue in the final UlquiHime scene. Also, I continue to be delighted and humbled by the fact that 'Dragon' continues to leave feedback in a chronological order!
Warning: This Chapter contains mild explicit Sexual Content, including references to a polyamorous FFM relationship...
TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW
Chapter LXXXVI:
"Reflections, Part 3"
The Soul Realm,
Unknown Location...
"Entrampar!" The word had been spoken, amidst a flourish of Reiki.
Immediately, Renji found himself at a loss as to how exactly to react to this, hence his initial hapless dumbfounded response when the woman standing in front of him had transformed!
It was in that instant, as he looked on, that the broad-shouldered Shinigami took note of how the bone-white segments of her Mask Fragment had expanded to cover not just her forehead, but also morphing downwards to accentuate her jawline, forming six glowing additional eye-slits to her existing ones, all of them a searing red color as she looked on...
A hardened, chitinous exoskeleton covered parts of her remaining humanoid body- the extent of which encompassed both her hands and forearms, all the while as spider-like extensions appeared and curved across her torso, though not the point of covering her breasts!
This new body was enough to give him pause...
To start off, her upper body disappeared neatly into a coat of thick dark fur that encompassed both the woman's newly acquired insect-like thorax and abdomen, while her 'human' legs were replaced by six segmented arachnid limbs, roughly eight feet in length and ending in sharp points. The only breaks in the soft fine fur was of a hard armor-like material- similar to her mask fragment- that featured at key points across her body- such as her new limbs, all encased in the same chitin-like material.
"You're incredible..." Renji murmured, as she moved in and grabbed hold of him, lifting the tattooed Lieutenant up off of the ground, in order to look him in the eyes.
"Arachne?!" He exclaimed as she pulled him in close to her. "W- what are you-?"
"Don't you get it?" The Arrancar countered. "I- I've done what you asked..." The raven-haired female stated darkly, looking to the broad-shouldered Shinigami. "What else could you possible want?"
Her "smile" expanded to her cheeks, parting to reveal more of the woman's mouthful of sharp teeth! Arachne leaned in close, close enough that he could feel her breath on his skin as her elongated tongue extended outwards as she shifted between kissing and lapping at his jugular!
The redhead blushed at the show of affection. "Arachne," Renji repeated, her name slipping past his lips in a half moan, even as he struggled to focus himself and look into her scarlet eyes. "I- I'm not sure what else to say to you..." The Soul Reaper stammered. "That is... other than, what can I possibly do, to convince you that I'm serious- ah- about you, about us?"
The transformed Hollow appeared to consider the question. "How? I don't understand, how can you be so calm, even when knowing what I am?" The raven-haired Arrancar asked in a forceful tone.
His only reaction was to smile softly at her. "I- it's because," Renji started. "The thing I- I know for sure, is you'd never hurt me." He answered matter-of-factly in contrast to his predicament, still clasped in her arms. "Th- the same as how I'd never do anything to hurt you, or anything to make you cry."
Again, she took him by surprise as she captured his mouth in a downright predatory kiss!
In that particular moment, Renji Abarai fully grasped the fact that- if she'd felt so inclined- she could have easily sunk her fangs into him and torn off much of his face!
"There's just one thing," the Lieutenant began, looking into her eyes. "Ah- at the risk of sounding too forward, I can't help but ask..." Renji hesitated, avoiding her gaze. "Right now, what I mean to say, is it even possible for the both of us, to be- well, you know- intimate?"
This time, it was the spider-like woman's turn to blush!
"A- are you insane?!" Arachne reacted as she regarded the captive man, her enlarged mouth agape, as she looked on in shock, blushing furiously. "Just as I have you at my mercy! And I could kill you, here and now- at my leisure, a- and you're seriously thinking about sex?"
Renji blushed, only able to smile bashfully in the face of the question...
After a moment, Arachne glanced down. It didn't take the Arrancar long to spot the subtle bulge in his hakama, prompting her to look back up- except now, smirking. "You really are insane!"
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Huecco Mundo,
Division Fourteen HQ...
Nelliel-Tu had eased into her chair, relaxing and smiling radiantly, even as her voluminous mint-green hair cascaded down the back of her white Captain's haori.
"I'm glad you two could pay me a visit," Nelliel started, taking a drink. "It certainly makes for a nice change of pace for us, when compared to our usual arrangement."
While not the first Arrancar to lead Shinigami personnel, the former Tercera had been regarded as the only serious candidate in consideration to lead the newly-formed hybrid Fourteenth Division, with both her nature and disposition being strong factors in her nomination for the post. While during her time as an Espada, she'd been regarded as dour and serious, the overall popular view of her was that she was now regarded as a far more personable individual.
And yet, with all that said, for some, the female Arrancar still made for quite the sight, decked out in the black robes of the very beings that had once been the mortal enemies of her kind. But now, after all that had happened, the garb of the Soul Reapers now fit her to a tee.
"I've never been all that picky." Grimmjow replied with toothy grin. "After all, I'd like to think that it's the company that matters, instead of the location." He added, taking a drink. "And in the end, as long as I'm spending my time in the company of some lovely women, I have no complaints."
Grimmjow smiled, following up by taking a quick drink from the cup in his hand as he looked to the woman across from him. Aside of the two of them, a third figure was present- seated at the table along with the Captain and the current Sexta Espada.
"I hope you're not talking about just any females." The brown-haired female Arrancar quipped.
The three of them laughed at the comment, with the two ladies smiling and watching in amusement as Grimmjow played it off and returned the smiles with one of his own!
"Really, now," the blue-haired Espada replied, moving to fill both their cups. "I can't help but wonder what you two must think of me." He offered, before filling his cup. "I'm not that sort of guy."
Mei Westward simply smiled as she looked on, the attractive brunette Arrancar taking a drink from her own cup and adjusting the feather boa draped across her shoulders like a scarf.
For her own part, the brown-haired Hollow certainly never lacked for attention, with her flowing wavy hair, brown eyes and full dark lashes, and seemingly always clad in tightest dresses that both conformed to and accentuated the curves of her body (impossibly holding up her ample breasts) while also showing the lower half as much of it at the time (thanks to the neckline and the thigh-high slits on either side).
"Honestly, you two," Nelliel-Tu spoke, a twinkle in her eyes. "In spite of everything that's happened, I doubt I could come up with two better companions to spend my evenings with."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Soul Society...
Shinigami Academy, Female Dorms...
Mila Rose was seated alone in her assigned quarters, diligently checking and cleaning the blade of her broadsword-like Zanpakuto "Leona", when she heard a knock at the door.
Looking up from her current exertions, the mocha-skinned woman watched as none other than Kyoko Matarabe entered the room. The blonde, fair-skinned Shinigami reacted with an uncertain look, visible in her blue eyes even as she regarded the dark-skinned Arrancar...
"Kyoko?" Mila Rose started, rising to her feet and moving towards her.
"Mila." Kyoko responded, giving a small smile as she met the other woman.
"Ah- Am I disturbing you?" The blonde asked, the uncertain look remaining.
"No." The Arrancar replied, shaking her head. "On the contrary," Mila continued. "With everything that's going on, I could honestly do with some company about now."
Kyoko smiled, giving a look of relief, then nodded, moving to embrace her. "I- I think I'm starting to get an idea of what it must be like for you." The slender woman explained to her lover as she gazed up into her dark eyes. "The truth is... I've been feeling on edge recently."
"Kyoko," Mila Rose started, setting her sword down as she turned to face her partner. "If you were feeling like this, why didn't you come to me sooner?"
"But I-" She faltered. "I didn't want to burden you with my problems."
The dusky-skinned Fraccion smiled warmly, keeping one hand on the small of her back as she ran the other one through her golden locks, silencing any further comment from her with a kiss. "Kyoko," Mila began softly, as she gazed into her blue eyes. "Regardless of whatever society might say, or the fact that neither of us has a certain type of chromosome, or anything else..."
The smaller woman listened intently as she continued. "The only thing that really matters is us." She stated emphatically. "And if I've learned anything from all our time together so far, it's the fact that we aren't just mates, we're partners." Mila Rose explained smoothly. "And so, whenever you feel uneasy- about anything- I want you to feel like you can come to me."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
The Living Realm, Karakura City...
"It's funny, you know," Uryu started thoughtfully. "When you actually stop and think about things..."
"What do you mean?" Tatsuki asked, perking up in the moment, the dark-haired tomboy looking to the young man from her seat on a nearby soft. "Is something bothering you?"
The bespectacled Quincy was looking out the window- onto the garden in the backyard- while the sporty young woman was seated on a low-set leather couch in a western-style parlor, which she could imagine to be one of many within the ground the expansive Ishida household.
Turning to face her, he shook his head. "No," he started. "I mean, nothing more than usual."
With that, he silently moved to sit down beside her. "The truth is, that recently, I've been doing a lot of thinking... about a lot of things." The younger Ishida commented. "What about you?"
Tatsuki took a moment, before nodding in agreement. "To be honest, I've been thinking about a lot of things, recently." She elaborated. "About Ichigo and all of the feelings I used to have for him, about my friendship with Orihime, how I've changed as I've grown up... and, of course, about us."
On speaking the last word, the athletic young woman looked to the glasses-wearing youth seated next to her and offered him a gentle smile. "Uryu," Tatsuki started. "You've been very good to me."
"Tatsuki?" The young Quincy asked curiously, even as she placed her hand on his.
"I'm pretty confident that both of us have done a lot of thinking, and while... maybe, we might have thought-at some point- we would end up with someone else," Tatsuki remarked. "I think the reality of everything that's happened, is that we've been good each other."
She paused, surprising Uryu as she moved to rest her head on his shoulder. "And, in the end, for as much as you've been good for me," she went on, smiling to herself. "I guess the one thing that I'd like to hope for, is that I've managed to be just as good to you."
"Tatsuki," he responded, tilting her head up. "Trust me, you've been very good to me."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Division Ten HQ...
The Captain of the Tenth Division, Toshiro Hitsugaya presently found himself at something of a loss as to explain just how exactly he'd wound up in his current situation...
And yet, never the less, here he was, resting on his side, on his bed role, as he wordlessly looked at the woman that lay across from him. The young man watched as she smiled so sweetly at him.
Toshiro had long ago since accepted the fact that he was, be it by fate or some other power, inexorably linked to this woman, perhaps even from the first moment they'd crossed paths. Even after all this time, he could still recall that day, back when her hair was short and he was just a confused brat.
Still smiling, Rangiku's blush remained as she reached down and took Toshiro's smaller hand into her own, gently guiding him towards her. He didn't offer any protest or resistance, first as his palm brushed against the sash around her waist, before slipping beneath the fabric of her black robes.
If he hadn't already been blushing before, than he most certainly would have now, the moment that he registered that his hand made contact with what he understood to be the simple undergarment she wore beneath the flowing black hakama that covered her lower body.
In the back of his mind, Toshiro was struggling to work out how exactly the two of them had managed to find themselves in such a predicament. To the best of his abilities, he was able to recall that he'd been feeling particularly strained due to his duties and in need of an outlet for his bottled-up emotions. And, so he'd been far more susceptible to his Lieutenant's affections. After all, Rangiku was the only person with whom he felt comfortable enough with to allow himself the luxury of letting his guard down. And there was also the issue that he felt an overwhelming desire to be comforted.
Meanwhile, Rangiku was content to quietly observe as the white-haired youth at first gave a look of surprise, which was then followed briefly by that of mild indignation, before his face finally settled into an expression of seeming acceptance in the face of everything.
To the embarrassment of the young Captain, he couldn't help but marvel at the supple warmth he felt- almost without meaning to- as his fingers slipped deftly and effortlessly beneath the undergarment and moving onto the heated flesh of her nether region. But even more galling for him in that moment was the manor in which his pulse jumped, not to mention the sensation of his own arousal!
By this point, the young snowy-haired Captain had long since resigned himself to the fact that there was a connection between him and the buxom strawberry-blonde woman. At the same time, Hitsugaya marveled at the sudden heat that he now felt against the tips of his fingers, right before he cautiously started to slowly dip them deeper into the welcoming slick warmth of her depths...
For her own part, the Lieutenant gasped, arching her upper body stiffly and encircled her arms around him, even as as she gazed down into his aquamarine eyes with her own storm-cloud blue ones.
Under his skillful touch, his fingers practically dancing over the heated and unyielding softness of her inner core... Such that it wasn't long until the strawberry blonde climaxed, crying out as she hugged the youth against her- the hot delta of her thighs clamping down and entrapping his hand!
His face, now buried in the valley of her expansive cleavage as she let off a pleasured trill of cute little gasps as she rode out the orgasm, his chin nestled between her plump breasts. His face turned a deep shade of red as he felt her release- slick and warm on his fingers. Slowly, the woman came down, as he looked into her eyes- all the while, painfully aroused- before leaning in to kiss her.
"God, Ran, just now, you're so fucking beautiful..." He murmured aloud, himself taken aback by his sudden cursing, his voice muffled as he spoke into her sweat-slicked cleavage.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Division Six HQ...
"I have something that I would like you to look over."
"Wa- what's this?!" Rukia had exclaimed, upon opening the folder passed to her.
The slender woman's dark eyes turned wide as she stared at the contents...
Inside of the tan folder, paper-clipped to the inner front flap, was an 8"x10" photograph: depicting the smiling visage of a youthful-looking man, sporting a thick full mop of wavy dark hair, with golden eyes and a dusky complexion, and flashing a boyish smile as he looked off to the side.
She looked to her brother, now visibly blushing.
Byakuya met her gaze with one of his usual unreadable looks. "His given name is Haruki, and he is a direct relation to Yoruichi Shihoin." He explained in usual steady tone. "Beyond that, he also posses a minor link to the Kyoraku- by way of his mother being a distant cousin of that family."
Rukia glared at him incredulously. "So, I'm fated to be nothing more than a pawn for the family?!"
The nobleman shook his head. "No, quite the contrary." He responded. "Though a union between yourself and Haruki-san would certainly be advantageous and go some way to restoring the standing of the Shihoin-clan, I have it on good authority that he is already quite taken with you- so far by reputation alone."
The slender woman was at a loss at to how to react. "And what then, is this already a done deal?!"
"Again, this is far from being finalized." The noble replied. "This is simply an Omiai, nothing more than a preliminary meeting between between the two of you." Byakuya explained. "But then, it will be incumbent upon me- as your elder brother- to ensure that a suitable kimono is prepared."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
"You really are insane!"
"Well, I mean..." Renji began hesitantly, looking into her multiple eyes. "Come on, Arachne, don't tell me you aren't even just a little bit curious about what it would be like?" The grinning Lieutenant asked the transformed woman, even as she held him aloft- clasping him in her arms.
Several secants passed, as the exotic female- resplendent with her pale wan skin and her flowing raven locks- appeared to consider what he'd just said, before blushing once more.
"You're incorrigible, you know that?" Arachne fired back with a glowering look. "Alright then, fine, if that's the way you want to play it, then..." She continued. "Just don't say I didn't warn you."
With that said, she drew him in close to her and kissed him roughly on the lips, enjoying the moment and savoring the contact. "What am I going to do with you?" She mused. "I mean, if I didn't know you as well as I do, than I might just think that you had some sort of death wish."
Without another word, she deposited Renji back on the ground, before then taking his hand in hers and brought it to rest- palm down- against her firm stomach as she shifted her posture...
Once again, Renji couldn't help but find himself in complete awe of the truly exotic woman that now stood before him, to the extent that he could do little more than dumbly comply as she guided his hand lower down her body, till her could feel the surprisingly soft dark fur...
However, he was swiftly snapped out of the momentary stupor he'd let himself be lulled into as soon as he made contact with an all too familiar slickness and warmth!
"Just remember," Arachne whispered as she leaned in close. "You're the one who asked for this, so you only have yourself to blame if this doesn't play out the way you hoped."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Gasping for breath in the wake of her orgasm, Rangiku Matsumoto was forced to bite down onto the fabric of her Captain's robes to muffle her voice- so as that her cries of pleasure didn't alert anyone else in the Division- as she rode out the aftermath of her orgasm...
Even now, with her heart pounding, part of her wondered if Hitsugaya was really this good. Or, rather, if the effect on her was more to do with him and their relationship. However, in the end, she suspected that the truth lay somewhere in between the two possibilities.
Still gasping for breath, the strawberry-blonde gradually looked downwards, meeting his gaze as he looked upwards to her, still buried in her considerable cleavage. "Ah, Cap- er, no... Th- tha's not right, I mean Toshiro," Rangiku corrected in a breathy tone. "Toshiro, I- I should pro'lly return the favor."
"Wha-?" He replied, his eyes wide. "No, that's not necessary."
She gave a crestfallen look. "Shiro," Rangiku began in a low husky tone so erotic it only served to add to the problem, while gazing into his frosty sea-green eyes. "...Do you not want me to touch you?"
Again, he blanched at her remark. "It's not that, Ran..." Toshiro replied. "It's just, I don't want you to ever feel like there was any pressure on you to do something." He went on. "I mean, just knowing that I'm making the most important person to me feel good is more than enough."
Rangiku smiled, filled with emotion and happiness at his comment, before nodding. "Toshiro... I- I wouldn't be willing to do this if I didn't want to." She remarked, before she reached down to cup him through the black fabric of his hakama. "After all... It's like you yourself said earlier: I'm happy just knowing that the person I lo- er, the person that's most important to me, is feeling good."
Toshiro grunted, feeling his Lieutenant's soft hand slide skillfully against him. There was a small part of the Captain that was- well, to be honest- ashamed of his present state, while another part of him felt somehow pleased, even as he was caught in the grip of the gorgeous woman 'attending' to the painful stiffness hidden beneath the fabric of the hakama that he wore.
Moments later, the young Shinigami felt as her hand moved and slipped beneath the black material of his Shinigami uniform. Now, only his fundoshi remained in the way, the thin fabric serving as the last barrier between the soft palm of her hand and the flesh of his rigid member!
His face still buried in the luscious valley betwixt her ample breasts, his hands clamping down as he gripped the black fabric of her robes in a vice-grip, all the while she in-turn gripped his hardness and started to slowly and gently stroke him through the material of the undergarment...
This time, it was Rangiku Matsumoto's turn to give a satisfied look, reveling in the knowledge that her beloved Captain was getting off because of her, that he was taking pleasure from her efforts.
"I know you don't like it when I call you 'cute'," she started, eliciting a muffled growl of annoyance from the younger Soul Reaper nestled against her even as she stroked him. "But, seeing my adorable Captain like this..." Rangiku went on. "I- I'm just so turned on right now!"
Somehow, the sudden admission of his Lieutenant- something that undoubtedly would have normally pissed him off- instead, provided what would turn out to be the final push for him...
Toshiro's eyes snapped shut as his entire body went rigid, as he finally reached his limit, climaxing as Rangiku diligently stroked his length. Drawing back, he gasped, only for the buxom strawberry-blonde to move in and capture his lips in passionate kiss- pleased as he readily returned the gesture!
"Damn, woman," he cursed through grit teeth. "You really are insatiable!"
She merely smiled playfully. "And yet, you wouldn't have it any other way."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Back in the Living Realm...
The small brass bell sounded off with a musical clatter as the shop door opened, instantly alerting all those in the building to the arrival of Yoruichi Shihoin.
The imminently exotic woman, resplendent with her uncanny golden eyes, dark skin and her flowing dark purple mane paused as she stood in the front of the shop. Her hands came to rest upon her hips, as she took a moment to relax her posture and let out a protracted sigh...
"Shihoin-san?" Tessai Tsukabishi inquired of the woman. "...How are you?" He asked her tentatively, while Jinta Hanakari and Ururu Tsumugiya looked on from their respective vantage points.
The shape-shifting noblewoman took a moment, before nodding. "Tired." Yoruichi responded after a moment with a weary smile. "More than anything else, right now, I feel... tired."
In that same instant, Urahara emerged, smiling and appearing ready to welcome her...
"Yoruichi!" The scruffy, disheveled man offered with a smile. "My dear," Urahara continued smoothly, stepping forward to greet her. "Merely from overhearing what you've relayed thus far, as well as what I know of the situation, it sounds like you've had a very long and taxing day."
He took her hand in his as she flashed a flirtatious smile. "How well you know me."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Arachne, still in her distinctly arachnid-like Resurreccion, regarded Renji, while she glared almost ominously at the Shinigami now before her in that moment...
The next thing either of them knew, she moved in to kiss him- but not just any kiss! To the contrary, this was no ordinary kiss, this was primal and forceful! The way she held him to her, her arms wrapped around him in an overpowering embrace, that fact of the matter was that- even as her lips collided with his own in a crushing gesture- the female Arrancar very much had him at her mercy!
The kiss was protracted and hungry, and it went on for a moment. Eventually, though, after she finally withdrew, the Arrancar blushing and her pulse racing as she caught her breath. Her Shinigami paramour was left in very much similar state in the immediate aftermath, his face flushed as he too similarly tried to catch his own breath... And in the moment, he was struck by how incredible she looked!
Beyond that, there was the equally impressive and alluring fact that Arachne was able to effortlessly hold the weight of the fully-grown man aloft- seemingly without effort, no less!
"Honestly, I don't know what you expected," Arachne spoke intently to the tattooed Shinigami as she held the redhead in place. "But you- your pride- you've got my blood up!"
It was with that, that Renji realized that he didn't have much say in what was about to unfold...
"I plan on fully enjoying myself!"
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Back in their apartment, Orihime couldn't help but smile as she fully extended her arms upwards and arched her back, stretching as she let off a contented sigh.
At the same time, now back in his Gigai, Ulquiorra appeared almost hesitant as he watched her...
And of course, the uneasiness in both his expression and body language of the disguised Arrancar was was hardly lost on the young woman, as she turned to meet the gaze of his piercing inhuman green eyes with that of her own brown ones. She smiled, and moved to close the gap between them.
Taking his hand, she looked him in the eyes. "You're still thinking about that, aren't you?"
He closed his eyes, taking a moment. "How could I not, I hurt you?"
Orihime merely smiled and shook her head. "Honestly, you worry so much."
Ulquiorra responded to this with an almost peevish look. "You really must understand my position," The dark-haired man responded. "Such unseemly behavior is unbecoming of a mate," the pale-skinned, disguised Arrancar started. "What I did to you... it was inexcusable!"
"I just can't get over the fact that I'm the only person who gets to see all of these other expressions of yours that you normally keep hidden around other." Orihime remarked. "I'm the only one who has the privilege of knowing the real you- your jealousy, outrage, and your passions..."
"In the case of everyone else," the redhead went on. "Well, truthfully, you might as well be a statue carved out of marble- a handsome one, but still a statue, regardless."
This was enough to cause Ulquiorra to raise a dark brow, and even give a small smirk- which told the young woman instantly that the previous air of tension was gone.
"Even after all this time," the Arrancar started coolly, relaxing. "There are still moments when I can't help thinking about just what a strange woman you are."
"Think about it," Orihime began with a playful smile, draping her arms around his shoulders as she gazed into his eyes. "All you did was act on your instincts." She continued. "Do you really think that that bite was the reason I fainted?" The redhead asked. "You know I'm stronger than that."
"Maybe I am strange," the young woman went on. "But then, I think being strange is a lot more fun, especially if it's part of the reason why I find your Hollow nature so attractive." Orihime continued as she ran her hands through his hair. "The truth is, I fainted because you did such a good job."
This prompted Ulquiorra to encircle his arms around her waist. "Of course, how silly of me... I should have considered you were the sort of woman who'd enjoy being bitten by a Hollow."
The buxom girl smiled. "I think we both know that's part of what makes me so interesting."
"Indeed." He countered with a nod. "I just hope you appreciate the significance of that, that you're the only one with whom I've ever been able to be the person I've discovered I am."
"Oh, don't worry." The buxom female spoke. "I've never regretted getting to know you."
With that, she leaned in close and the two shared a kiss...
(- End of Chapter LXXXVI... -)
Okay, I want to be honest with you guys about the scenes between Toshiro and Rangiku... First off, I'll start this off by saying right out of the gate I knew that neither of the characters in the pairing were emotionally and/or mentally to be having sex. This is why I wrote them more like two teenagers fumbling their way through the early stages of an intimate relationship. I even went back and tweaked the writing to make their scene less overtly sexual.
And finally, I'd like to address a few points brought up by RG-Guest: To start with, I think you did a pretty good job of putting my feelings into words when it came to the whole biting issue. It comes across as hardly surprising to me that it's common for the Arrancar to be depicted as "marking" their partners, and I just had this image in my mind of Ulquiorra biting Orihime. I really liked the idea that even someone as eternally serious as Ulquiorra could slip into a purely instinct driven state, if only even for just a moment- that he's just that passionate when it comes to Orihime.
Now, I'm even more interested in what people think of the continuation of the scene between Byakuya and Rukia, in which he sugests an "Omiai" for her and a potential suiter. I liked the idea that under his super serious and stoic persona, Byakuya can also be witty and even a bit playful when he's interacting with the people he feels comfortable around. And this isn't the last we're gonna hear of Hiruki. Byakuya will also have some further development in the chapters after the main story wraps up. The Epilogue is gonna be full of fluff and feals and commedy!