Day 2 of the Expedition...
Atticus woke up to the sound of what seemed to be a horn of some kind, probably courtesy of Opie and his over the top tastes.
"*yawn* I'd prefer the sound of a guitar... But that's just me. I wonder how Candi's doing" He muttered to himself as he incorporated.
"I'm already up, so no need to worry about me" She replied from outside the tent. "You're dressed up, right?"
"What? Would it turn you on if I told you I'm naked?" He teased her.
"Urgh... I gave you one job!" She became enraged. "What if someone listens?"
"Hahahah... I know, girl, but I wouldn't be me if I didn't mess with you first thing in the morning, would I?" He replied as he changed his shirt and wore his special uniform's jacket. "Besides, I always sleep shirtless, so you should be used to seeing that much"
"Hmph, that doesn't mean I enjoy the view" She crossed her arms, while contradictory thinking: "Although... I kinda definitely do" She blushed a tad for a second.
"Yeah, right. Welp, I guess we'll get moving any second now. I was thinking of taking the front today, wanna tag along?" He offered her as he came out of the tent.
"Actually, I'll gladly take that offer. I'm fed up with that fake-ass girl we met yesterday"
"Really? L'Via? She didn't seem like that type to me" He replied with surprise.
"Oh, trust me, she definitely is. Just a little push and the mask she wears falls off completely" Candi continued. "So don't even think about getting close to her. In fact, I forbid you from doing so"
"Huh? Is that... Insecurity I feel?" He smirked.
"N-No! It's just... She said some weird stuff yesterday and I just wanna make sure-"
"Of what? That I don't fall for her or something? Please, Candi" He stretched for a bit as he stealthily passed by her ear. "You know I only have eyes for you"
She got beet red upon hearing that, so she pulled her hat down.
"Sh-Shut up..."
"So in short, we'll be working together today. Like we're used to" He concluded.
"Yeah... It's way better than with that rattlesnake" She started walking. "So let's go"
"Alright. I'll tell Quilge as we pass by"
And so it was decided, Atticus and Candice were in the front, while L'Via and Dârstor were left in the rear.
Candi seemed to be rather content with that decision, humming happily as she walked through the sand by her partner's side.
"By the way, despite not having a proper bathroom in the camp, you're looking pretty damn fine"
"No need to exaggerate. I just did my beauty sleep as best as I could, and combed my hair an hour before they woke us all up"
"Dedicated as always" He chuckled.
"Well, duh, being pretty takes lots of effort" She crossed her arms.
"Guess I'll never be pretty then, ahahaha..." He scratched the back of his hair. "I'm way too lazy for that"
"Lucky for you, you were born a guy" She reminded him. "As long as you're fairly fit and don't smell, you're good to go for most girls I'd say. Not for me though! I would never think of going out with someone who wasn't my type"
"And what type is that?" He inquired. "One that I fit perfectly, don't I?"
"Dream on" She scoffed. "While you meet minimum requirements, you're definitely not my ideal. You'd have to get serious with the gym for that... Also, you should try sunbathing. You almost look like a cadaver with that pale skin!"
"For real? Damn, I didn't know I looked that bad..."
"I mean... It's not BAD, but... I think you need some sun in your life"
"Well, I'm not a vampire, but I feel like one" He retorted. "Sometimes I sleep all day because I hate the sunlight. Only on summer though"
"Believe me, I noticed. Who do you think had to stay in the pool till late night every summer day cause someone had the great idea to go swimming once the sun had set?"
"I don't know, Bambietta?"
"Yeah, right. Then ask her to accompany you for a night swim next time" She replied cheeky, quickly realizing the mistake. "On second thought, no, don't even dare. I'll kill you if you do that"
"Hahaha, don't worry, I won't" He got closer and put an arm around her, softly groping one of her breasts. "My hands are literally full with this electrifying babe right here"
Candice grabbed him by the forearm and slammed him into the sand.
"I'm done giving warnings. You earned it!" She spouted annoyed as she walked away.
Atticus quickly shook his head quickly to get the sand out of his face and hair.
"Still worth it" He grinned as he gawked at her long legs.
A couple minutes after, they were once again side by side, though clearly the Thunderbolt was keeping some distance.
"So, going back to the topic before, would you like us to go somewhere after this is all over?" He offered.
"Somewhere is a pretty broad term. Besides, being reminded of the pervert you are, I'm having second thoughts" She pouted.
"Oh, c'mon, it's not that bad. What's the point of being with a total bombshell if I can't enjoy what she has to offer?" He replied. "And, I'll make it up to you! We can go somewhere sunny and warm, just how you like it!"
"Hm... I don't know" She frowned. "As much as I like the idea, the best destinations are always filled with people"
"Then I'll find us a Desert Island, easy" He proposed. "Marty Friedman and Jason Becker simply can't be wrong"
"I have no idea of who those people are or where did that come from... But if I'm getting a beach all to myself, I'm in!"
"That's gonna be a little difficult cause you're supposed to share with me though"
"Why? I'm sure that a whole island is big enough for us two to have our space" She pointed out.
"But... I thought we'd both..."
"Of course I'd be sharing with you, geez!" She sighed. "As long as you don't do anything disgusting, at least"
"You have a really low opinion of me, don't you?" He asked, down in the dumps.
"Nah, not really. I've heard most men are total pigs, so I guess you're on normal levels" She shrugged. "Besides, you don't really try to hide it, so I can tell you're being honest about it. I hate those girls who act all pure and shit when in reality they're the kinkiest whores you could think of"
"Damn, that escalated pretty quickly" He didn't see such a strong opinion popping up.
"It's the truth, what can you expect me to say?" She said. "I won't be sugarcoating it or leave my mouth shut just cause some skanks could get offended"
"And that's one thing I really love about you" He beamed at her.
"I know, so no need to make that dumb face" She blushed as she looked away. "Changing the topic... Don't you think it's strange that we haven't found any sort of Hollow in all this distance?"
"I think I saw a couple Hollow creatures in the sand, like lizards or insects of some kind, but they are pretty much worthless"
"Yeah, I think I saw some of those. But, for being their home, it is pretty damn desolate"
"Well, it might not be all that weird regarding Arrancar, since most should be living in Las Noches and its close surroundings but..." He looked around the place. "It's certainly weird that not even lower level Menos seem to be around"
"Are you sure the file handed to you didn't contain intel on that?" She inquired. "I bet you barely looked at it"
"That is a quick assumption... But a correct one, haha" He admitted. "No choice then, I'll give it a closer look tonight"
"Please do! What if the file told us of something dangerous lying ahead we completely overlooked cause you didn't read it properly?!"
"Oh, please. Aside from the higher ranked Espada, there isn't much to worry about. We're both Sternritter, we'll be just fine against the dangers of Hueco Mundo"
"Please tell me you at least read about the Espada we could encounter" She insisted.
"*sigh* I know I'm careless but, really?" He gave her a sad look.
"Hey, you tend to be the laid back type that waits till last moment to improvise"
"Kinda true, but, if I make it work, how bad is that?"
"As long as things work out well for us I don't mind... But I'm still worried that we might encounter a situation where mere improvisation or luck won't save us"
"You're worrying too much, girl, I tell ya" He assured her. "So to make you feel better, I read everything in the files with info about the Espada"
"Anything we should be wary of?"
"Hm... Well, it's kinda obvious that numbers 4 to 0 are all truly dangerous. But, aside from that, the only thing I'm worried about given our circumstances are numbers 5, 6 and 7"
"Why?"
"The intel we've got said that they all have jobs based on terrain coverage and exploration, hence they are the ones we're most likely to encounter" He answered. "Aside from that, there is next to none information about their skills and special abilities, let alone their Resurrección"
"So we gotta be ready for anything..." She sighed. "Earning the bread is never easy"
"Indeed, buster. But whatever happens, know that I'm here to protect you"
"Sh-Shut up! I don't need anyone to protect me, especially you! I'm plenty strong myself..." She pouted, a bit annoyed.
"Of course. I'm not doubting you" He clarified. "I just wanted you to know that I always have your back"
"Hmph..." She crossed her arms. "Thanks"
"You're welcome" He smiled as they kept walking. "I'd rather die than see you get hurt, Candi" He muttered to himself.
~~~~ X ~~~~
At the same time, in the Palace of Las Noches...
"Everything's ready for the date you two will be absent" Ulquiorra told the rulers of Las Noches. "I even took the liberty of making a backup schedule in case you cannot return for one or two days"
"Thanks, Ulquiorra. We really appreciate the hard work you did in spite of this coming up on such short notice" Nelliel showed her gratitude.
"It is my job, Nelliel. The least I can do is do it properly" He said in a stoic manner.
"Even so, we're more than thankful for it. I'll try to return as soon as possible" Ichigo added.
"Understood, but also try to enjoy yourselves. I'm sure it's been a while since you last enjoyed an instance like this" He tried to convince them. "Everything will be under control, really. I won't let Grimmjow take the throne, if that's what you're thinking either"
"Hahahaha, no, no... Though now that you mention it, I am somewhat worried about that too" The King laughed. "But I get it. We'll enjoy that time to the fullest then"
"Feel free to. You've both done more than enough for Las Noches as of now" Ulquiorra recognized. "Everyone deserves to rest once in a while"
"Which reminds me..." Nelliel sang. "When are you and Inoue-san getting married once and for all?"
"O-Oh... That... Well... We've been planning it for a while, but we still haven't decided an actual date" He answered. "You know, work's tough as ever and we both need to support you two as much as we can. We only recently found the Pícaro again and must yet find a proper space for..."
"Ulquiorra" Ichigo said seriously. "We've known each other for a while now, so I know how diligent and hard-working you are. Needless to mention Inoue... But you need to learn that some things are simply... Special"
"What do you mean?" He tilted his head a bit.
"You know... Proposing to your girl and marrying her is not something you can simply put aside because of your duties" He clarified. "That is a unique moment in your lives that won't ever come back, man"
"Oh... But she said-"
"I know Inoue-san" Nelliel interrupted. "And just like you, she always puts others above herself, so it's no wonder she'd say things are just fine this way. But trust me, nothing would make her happier than planning the wedding along with you"
"I... See..." He suddenly seemed down after taking into account the weight of the situation.
"Hahaha, it's okay, Ulquiorra" Ichigo tried to ease him up a bit. "You haven't done anything terrible, or a mistake at that... You just tried to do what was best for everyone, and that's really admirable of you"
"But, I think this would be a great time for you to think about you two instead" Nel complemented. "As hectic as things might currently be, we're at peace, and that's simply priceless to state in the history of Hueco Mundo"
"And I'm sorry to say... We don't know how long that will last" Ichigo continued. "So, I really think this would be a great time for you to take this step"
"I... Understand" The Primera concluded. "As soon as you get back then, could I leave my secretaries in charge of my duties a couple days a week so I can start planning the wedding?"
"But of course! There'd be no issue with that!" Nelliel happily agreed. "In fact, I'd love to get to know them better, I rarely even see them"
"Yeah, that's cause they mostly have administrative work, though they are still members of the 'Guardia de la Luna' so they're top notch fighters as well"
"Sorry, what were their names? I think I've seen them once, haha" Ichigo asked a bit embarrassed.
"The blue haired one is called Yin, while her red-haired younger twin is called Yang" He informed them. "Of course they both share surname, so their full names would be Yīn and Yáng Miáo (苗)"
"Oh, I see! Like Yin-Yang, that's so cool!" Nel thought out loud. "I'll totally remember that... Though I might get their names mixed up"
"Don't worry, as you might expect from my kouhai, they won't get upset from a meaningless confusion" Ulquiorra made clear. "Although they might correct their actual name if that's the case"
"Oh, that's totally fine. The least we can do is try to address them correctly" Ichigo replied. "And if that minimum effort can help you get more free time, then you bet we'll do our best!"
"Thank you so much, for everything" He showed his gratitude with a little bow.
"Like Ichigo was saying, it's the least we can do for all the effort you've been doing. Be it in the Palace or in the battlefield, you've always been the best aid we could have. Right, Ichi?"
"Totally. So, as soon as this little outing ends, make sure to get all the time you need. You both deserve it" Ichigo gave him a pat on the shoulder.
Ulquiorra smiled sincerely, feeling unworthy of the friends he had obtained in this second chance he had been given.
"I'll make sure not to waste a second" He said finally.
~~~~X~~~~
Back in the Human World...
A tall dark skinned young man was returning from school alongside a black-haired girl.
"*sigh* School is such a drag at this point..." She broke the ice.
It wasn't strange for them to walk back home together every now and then, but Tatsuki had yet to get accustomed to how silent Chad was, especially in contrast to Keigo. For her, Mizuiro showed a typical standard of communication, in spite of his frequent attention to his phone while talking, but Yasutora was an extreme she had never encountered before.
"Yes" He replied shortly.
"So... Have you been thinking of what you want to do in the future?"
"Not really" He shook his head.
"Oh... It's difficult, isn't it?"
"Yeah" He nodded.
"Haha... It's funny" She continued. "Ever since I was little, all I wanted was to dedicate to Martial Arts, but for some reason, being around all these people with their plain bland dreams of studying, getting a normal job and stuff makes me question if the path I've been set all along is the right one"
"..." Chad listened silently.
"And then there's the fact that my two best friends have literally transcended any idea of normality to the point that even an unconventional dream like mine seems to be the most mundane and common thing" She thought of Ichigo and Orihime. "Like, that's not bad, but it makes the whole situation really confusing"
"I know what you mean" He finally retorted. "Ever since Ichigo became an Arrancar, it's as if the whole world became static. Nothing seems to be that important or life-changing in comparison to those times when we fought side by side"
"Exactly! Like, no matter what I choose or do... It never feels like it amounts to anything... Not anymore" She smiled sadly. "Back then... Every day was pretty crazy, wasn't it? And I didn't even see half the things you must've seen"
"Yeah..." He smiled, staring back at her comprehensively between his messy hair. "But in a way... It might be better that things are calmer"
"Oh, well... Considering how you were living one crisis after another, I have no choice but to agree" She admitted. "This weird feel will only last a while longer and then we'll start accepting this life and enjoying it as it is, I'm sure"
"I hope you're right" He agreed. "Cause I can't deny... That I still miss something about the old days"
"What about Ishida?" She wondered. "He also used to be part of the group in some way"
"I don't know... We still see each other at school. But he has been rather absent lately"
"Yeah, that seems rather odd... But if you don't have a clue, guess no one else knows anything"
"Anyways, I need to be somewhere else as of now..."
"Huh? Sure... I don't mind going alone for-"
While she talked, her friend suddenly felt an unfamiliar presence nearby.
"Tatsuki! Get behind!" He grabbed her by the elbow and stood in front protectively.
"Wha...?"
"Oh, so you noticed me" A young woman said as she came from behind a wall. "I guess your senses haven't become duller, even though days have been so uneventful lately"
She was a beautiful woman of fair skin, grey eyes and rather pronounced curves, although her elegant and conservative outfit didn't give the idea she liked to make use of that fact. She also had short black hair, with a couple grey strands in the center and a long black one falling from the left side.
"Who are you?"
"As a mere servant of the God of Death, I don't think my name is worth mentioning, but I happen to be like you, Yasutora-kun" She retorted. "A common human, with common DNA, just like everyone else... Except I have completely unnatural skills"
"I see... A Fullbringer" He easily deduced. "So, what do you want? Cause I know you have nothing to do with Xcution"
"Ah, you must be referring to Ginjou-san and friends" She chuckled. "Would you really be sure of that? After all, you're just a newcomer. What makes you think they have told you all there is to know about them?"
Chad almost gasped. The woman was cunning in a devilish way, but he couldn't let her get to him.
"Again. What's up?" He insisted.
"Ahaha... I see you don't enjoy small talk. Let's go straight to the point then. Would you like to join me?"
"What?" Chad didn't expect that.
"Huh?" Tatsuki was also shocked.
"You see, I went to Ginjou Kuugo's place to make him the same offer, but he politely declined, so I was wondering if you would have a different opinion" She clarified. "You might want to call me idealistic, but my objective is actually pretty simple: I want to let the world know of the Soul Society"
"Why...? Why would you be interested in something like that?" Tatsuki questioned.
"Because it is the truth. Nothing more, nothing less"
"Well, it might be true, but even as a fact, no one will believe it blindly. Especially if merely a human says so"
"I know, Arisawa-san, but thank you for sharing your point of view"
"H-How...? Did you-" She couldn't believe a woman she had never seen before already knew who she was.
"My, did that scare you? Sorry, I didn't mean to be creepy" She apologized. "It just turns out that I have info on pretty much everyone related to Kurosaki Ichigo. After all, what he did in Soul Society and afterwards simply couldn't be taken lightly"
"Ichigo... So it is him you want then?" Tatsuki thought she uncovered the true intentions of the mysterious Fullbringer.
"Don't be mistaken. While we are interested in Kurosaki Ichigo, we don't require him for this task" She dismissed. "In fact, a person like you would be much more useful, Arisawa-san"
"Eh...? What do you mean?"
"Humanity would never believe in the existence of something greater just because someone tells them of it, no matter how right they might be" She started explaining. "Humans need something. They need proof, or at the very least, a sign that what they are being told is the absolute truth.
In other words, they need a miracle. To behold with their own eyes that what they believed impossible is possible.
That's the part where we come in: Normal humans just like them, who bestow powers unlike anything they've ever imagined, let alone witnessed"
"I don't know what you think you know about me, but I'm utterly powerless" Tatsuki interrupted. "There's nothing I can do that's beyond basic human skill"
"Please, no need to be modest, Arisawa-san. Believe it or not, spiritual awareness is a special trait not many humans have, even more at your level" She revealed to her. "You're the kind of human who easily surpasses the likes of a medium. In fact, with the proper training, I believe you could even become a Substitute Soul Reaper yourself"
"What?" Tatsuki felt a strange sensation. Just as if the whole world disappeared around her as the thought of her becoming a Shinigami filled her head. "Me... Becoming a Substitute Soul Reaper just like... Ichigo?"
"So, in short, you'd like us to join you so we can use our abilities to perform 'miracles' in front of those you want to convince of the existence of the Seireitei?" Chad summarized.
"More or less, yes" She nodded. "But, I don't want to give you the wrong idea. We wouldn't be randomly showing off like sideshow freaks, but actually use our abilities to help those who are in dire need of them"
"I'm not understanding much of this whole thing, and to be honest, I doubt I'd be of much help to you... But even so, I'd like to decline" Tatsuki decided. "It's just... I don't think the public knowing the truth of life and death would benefit the world. It would certainly become a crisis considering how there are large groups of people with different beliefs that would feel conflicted if such a thing occurred"
"But, you said so yourself. The existence of the Seireitei is the truth. If we show them enough proof, wouldn't they all end up believing us? And if that's the case, wouldn't that be better than the current state the world is in?" The woman proposed. "Think about it. No more conflict between human beings due to religious beliefs or a false sense of morality. One certain truth ruling above everyone equally and indistinctly"
"That would..." Tatsuki tried to refute such a claim, but didn't find the right words to do it.
"You were right about one thing" Chad spoke up. "You are idealistic"
"Ho? And why is that?" The woman's smile didn't disappear.
"Two reasons.
First: You are not taking into account that there will always be exceptions to the rule. People who no matter what you do or show them, won't ever change their way of thinking, and will clearly go against the current you're trying to shape.
Second: The crisis that would arise with such a revelation would most likely create violence at some point. Violence that would never take place if such information was never revealed"
"I never said there wouldn't be chaos at first. There's no such thing as a peaceful revolution" The woman retorted. "Even those who have claimed to be non-violent have caused great distress on their oppressors and enemies. Otherwise their conditions would've never changed"
"But there is no such oppression within this-" Chad was about to refute.
"Is that so, Yasutora-kun?" She interrupted. "If we take a better look at the world we live in, it's rather easy to find a myriad of situations where people are being oppressed.
For starters, those who are physically weaker are often abused by their stronger pairs. And this isn't an issue that ends in school, for many thieves and thugs make use of this in the adult world as well, not to mention situations of domestic abuse.
Then, we have a more usual form of injustice in the adult world. The so called "Modern Slavery", at the hands of exploiting jobs with idem bosses, faceless banks with no concern for their clients and unhelpful governments ruled by corrupt politicians.
In addition to that, you have the many who end up oppressed by those who benefit from their addiction and obsession, be it a drug dealer or a pachinko.
And finally, we have a whole other level of atrocities a smaller yet far from unimportant number of people deal with day by day, unable to escape the fate they're currently in"
"Well, all that does happen. It's inevitable, as much as I hate it, but that doesn't mean the whole world is rotten" Chad expressed.
"Of course not, I never said that. However, my proposal would make the inevitable never happen again, or at worst, decrease almost completely" She claimed. "For people would know for certain that their actions have a cost. There would be a confirmed Hell and Heaven waiting for everyone. I don't think such people would continue their filthy behavior knowing the judgement that afterwards"
"That may sound true, but if you really know about the Seireitei, you know you're contradicting yourself right now" Chad had had enough smooth talk. "In spite of knowing all this, there are still people who want to break the rules in order to satisfy their twisted desires.
From what you've said so far, it's clear that you know about Aizen and his crimes. In the same way, I've been able to grasp that Soul Society is far from perfect, and issues you named still occur in it"
"Interesting... You have a fair point right there, but I'm afraid that the revolution we plan to carry out doesn't end at the Human World alone.
Once we have gathered a proper number of followers, our actions will no longer be irrelevant to the Seireitei, forcing it to change in regard to the path we take, but of course, this will be a lot more effective if we have powerful members among our ranks"
"I figured as much, but I'd like to say no, thank you" Sado concluded.
"Is that so? Too bad" She gave a disappointed nod. "I was looking forward to working with you, especially after seeing that you're a lot more than just height and muscles"
"O-Oi! I'm pretty sure that's sexual harassment, and he's still underage!" Tatsuki protested.
"Eh...?" The woman seemed confused by her reply. "I thought I was just stating a fact. I apologize if you mistook that with flirting, but I swear I never intended to seduce him. He's all yours for that matter, fufu"
"Th-Th-That isn't the issue here!" Tatsuki got beet red.
"Jokes aside, we would be glad to welcome you into our organization in the future if you change your mind, so don't fret to contact me if that ever happens" She didn't give up. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to pick a name that will be easy for you to distinguish"
"Thanks, I guess...?" Tatsuki felt awkward due to how insistent she was.
"Thanks. See ya" Chad dryly ended the conversation. "Let's get going"
"Goodbye. Take care, you two" She bid them farewell, not leaving her spot.
"Ah, sure..." Tatsuki said as she passed by her side.
Chad didn't say another word. He just accompanied Tatsuki as he sharpened all senses, just in case the dubious Fullbringer had dark intentions.
In the end however, nothing happened, and looking back, he didn't really feel any sort of danger or animosity from the woman. For some reason, all he could tell was that she was powerful, and most likely, someone he wouldn't like to have as an enemy.
As soon as they were out of sight, Tatsuki couldn't help but bombard questions to her friend:
"First of all, what is exactly a Fullbringer?"
"Like she said, they are Humans with special skills. But to be exact, these skills aren't simply special, but are born from the ability to take out 'souls' from the world around us. Similar to Reiryoku and Reishi, but different in the end"
"And that too, what's that of us? You mean those Xcution people? That Kugo guy?"
"I'm... Not sure I should answer that... But by us, I mean other Fullbringers"
"And where do you come from? Like, what gives you that skill?"
"It seems that the common pattern has something to do with parents. If one of them survived an attack from a Hollow, the child becomes a Fullbringer"
"I see... And what sort of skills do you guys have? Like, I know you can change your body into that battle-like form, but... Is thay what you all do? Can you go through walls like she did?"
"That's one of the interesting parts of Fullbringers. We all have immensely varied skills that have practically no relation with one another. And no, I can't pass through solids, only smash them. That ability was quite fearsome in fact"
"You mean, you've never seen something like it before?"
"Yeah, I guess. You see, the only thing in common Fullbringers have regarding their powers is that they're all resulting of a strong bond we have towards a certain object" He explained. "In my case, it is my skin, my heritage... So my Fullbring manifested in the power to alter it and boost my innate abilities"
"So, for example, if you had attachment to, I don't know, a wooden sword... Would you be able to slash the air or something like that?"
"Maybe... But it's not so simple either" He admitted. "That's why I couldn't help but feel bothered by her skill. I can't think of any attachment that would result in intangibility"
"Hm... And what if it was the opposite?"
"What do you mean?"
"What if instead of feeling attached to something, she felt a strong sense of alienation from the rest of the world? Maybe that would result in her innate skill to become intangible"
"It sounds believable but... I'm not sure it works that way" He accepted his ignorance in the topic. "To be honest, I'm rather new to the whole 'Fullbring' thing"
"What do you mean? You've had this power for a couple years now!"
"Yes, but I didn't know what it was... Not until he found me"
"Who? That Kugo guy?" She insisted.
"Yes. Wait-"
"Ha, I knew it. Why do you need to hide it?" She seemed a bit upset. "You don't trust me enough"
"No, it's not that, Tatsuki. It's just... We're not meant to be openly sharing that stuff, unless you were a Fullbringer too"
"Well, maybe I am a Fullbringer! Just that my powers have not awakened..."
"I don't think so... Not after what Urahara-san said" He recalled.
"What? What did that sketchy dude say?"
"That my powers awakened as a result of being exposed to the Hougyoku when it was inside of Rukia" He told her. "Same happened to Orihime, but in your case... Maybe your Spiritual power was increased"
"Oh... I see" She sounded disappointed.
"Don't feel bad. We still can't deny completely that you could have a Fullbring. I'm just saying it doesn't seem to be the case all things considered"
"Yeah, I get it" She accepted. "But still, who cares if I'm not? You're still one of my closest friends! Ever since Orihime and Ichigo left, I'd say you are the person I've spent the most time with. How can I not worry about you?"
"Woah... I... I didn't know you cared... So much..."
"But of course I'd care. I was always grateful that you always stood by Ichigo's side, and even though you don't talk a lot, your actions tell what a good heart you have" She blushed a bit. "I... I'm happy that I was able to keep a friend like you, and become closer these last couple years"
"I... I don't really know what to... Say"
"Then don't say anything, fool" She answered a bit aggressively. "It wouldn't suit you anyways. Although I gotta admit you talked a lit today. Guess that woman perfectly knew what she had to say to get your mouth running"
"I just... I couldn't let her get inside my head" He confessed. "Something bothered me about her since the very start. That over-polite attitude, those empty yet cunning words, and most of all... That fake smile she had on her face all the time... I just couldn't help but feel something was extremely fishy about her"
"Yeah... Something was definitely off... Yet somehow, I couldn't feel she was exactly an 'evil person', y'know?" The girl commented. "It felt more like... She didn't-"
"...Care about anything" Chad completed before Tatsuki could finish the idea.
"Yes. That exactly!" She applauded. "In fact... When I looked at her... I couldn't help but feel a heavyness in my chest. Like some tremendous sadness emanated from her"
"That too. Her eyes were pretty on first glance, but after a while, I noticed how hollow and hopeless they truly looked"
"I wonder if she has any friends... Well, she mentioned that she was working for a God of Death and knew about the Seireitei. Maybe she's friends with a Shinigami!"
"She did sound like she knew someone of that sort. However, I'm not sure if that was the kind of bond they shared. Her exact words were that she was a servant. That doesn't sound really friendly does it?"
"I guess not" She admitted with a frown. "Now I feel kinda bad. I could've invited her to get an ice cream or just to talk. Maybe she has some issues, I don't know... It's simply not healthy to be left alone when you're dealing with stuff"
"That's true. But still, she didn't give me that much of a good vibe to try that kind of approach either" Chad dismissed. "That whole organization thing sounded rather shady, especially the whole 'Revolution' part. I'm not sure I can trust someone with such thoughts blindly"
"That's true... But maybe she has her reasons for believing those things" She didn't discard the possibility. "Well, it doesn't really matter at this point, but if I ever see her around I'll try to do something about it"
"I won't force you, but I would prefer that you kept your distance, Tatsuki" Chad requested. "You never know with these people, and you don't really have a way of defending yourself if they actually want to harm you"
"C'mon, you really think I'm that weak?" She chuckled.
"You know what I mean" He retorted seriously. "I just don't want you to get hurt. If anything happened, how would I ever be able to look at Orihime or Ichigo in the face again? I... I'd never forgive myself"
"I'm sorry. I understand" She didn't expect him to care that much either. "I just wish I was stronger so that you didn't have to deal with this alone"
"Don't worry. If I see myself in trouble, I won't hesitate to call Ishida for help. If the two of us can't, then I guess we have no choice but to contact Ichigo" He assured her. "You also have Hollow Tickets to visit, right?"
"Oh, those. Yeah, I have a couple" She remembered. "Orihime gave me some last time she came to visit... Which was like ages ago, haha" She chuckled sadly.
"Why don't you just go see her?" He inquired, seeing how nostalgic that made her.
"Have you used yours to go see Ichigo?" She asked back.
"Uh... I guess not" He realized the issue.
"I just think that if they haven't contacted us they're way too busy, so there'd be no point in visiting them either"
"Yeah, I felt the same" He agreed.
"So in the meantime, let's deal with the stuff we have here. We still have to nail the upcoming exams, right?" She reminded him.
"Yeah... I could use some help with that" He admitted his academic performance wasn't the best.
"Me too, so don't worry, I already talked to Mizuiro. He's always in the top scores nowadays so I'm sure he can give us a hand" She eased him up on that. "I'll make sure that Keigo behaves and doesn't distract us. Besides, he seriously needs to focus in order to get anything in his head"
"Yeah... But he wouldn't be as funny otherwise" Sado smiled.
"True... He's annoying at times, no... All the time. But still, he wouldn't be him otherwise" She agreed with him.
Chad realized they had just arrived by her home.
"Looks like we got here already" He pointed out.
"Oh, you're right. I didn't notice since it was such a fun talk!" She smiled. "Thank you for coming all this way instead of doing whatever you had to do"
"It's nothing. After that unexpected encounter, I thought it'd be best to make sure you arrived safely"
"Still, I appreciate it a lot. I hope you get back safely too" She wished him.
"I'll be alright, really"
"Still, be careful, Chad. Cause I would also be very sad if something bad happened to you"
"Y-Yeah... I'll keep that in mind" He started walking his way back. "See you tomorrow"
"Sure!" She waved her hand.
~~~~ X ~~~~
In a mysterious laboratory...
"It's great to see you back. How did everything go?" Tokinada inquired.
"I made contact with Xcution and Kurosaki Ichigo's friends. However, none of them were interested in joining the cause" The Fullbringer woman replied.
"*sigh* A pity, but it's to be expected" He easily accepted.
"Still, I think those last two might be interested in working together if Ginjou acts like we presume, especially the girl" She added. "That's why I decided to give her a little push. After all, she is no normal human. With a bit of effort and the right tools, we can assure a rapid growth"
"Ah, so then we'll go with the Substitute Shinigami plan?" He wanted to confirm.
"Exactly" She nodded. "I'll try to make contact with her alone as soon as possible. That will help convince her of taking that path. Did Kagerouza finish what we need for that plan though?"
"I'm not completely sure, but you can go ask him yourself"
"I'll do so later then"
"Sure. You're doing a great job so far, Aura"
"Thank you, Tokinada-sama" She accepted his gratitude. "The future looks... Crazy. Chaotic. And that mess couldn't be any more fun" She finally thought.
~~~~ X ~~~~
In a certain building...
"Ah, so you decided to come by" A cheeky man's voice was heard.
"I intended to come before, but after a certain event, I decided I simply had to" Chad said.
"Oh, so you met that 'Ghost Girl' too?" The man went to offer him a glass of orange juice. It was Ginjou Kuugo.
"Yeah. Although I wouldn't say she was exactly a girl" He retorted.
"Haha, don't let her looks deceive you. I'm sure that chick's not older than you are" He clarified. "But more importantly, what did she want?"
Chad told him about the whole encounter.
"Hm, I see" Kuugo finally said after hearing it all. "So she really wants to create that organization"
"Are you worried about it?"
"Nah. I couldn't care less, to be honest" He carelessly retorted. "I'm just worried she'd end up using us all for some twisted purpose, nothing more"
"Yes. It felt like that could happen. Any hint on what might be the source of her Fullbring?"
"No idea" The leader shook his head. "I've never seen anything like it. But knowing about the skills of everyone here, it could be anything"
"True" Yasutora agreed.
"But that aside, I'm glad we share the same thoughts about that peculiar woman" He said as he sat back on his couch. "Although if you feel like helping her, I don't really mind, but don't expect us to follow you, let alone to drag anyone from Xcution with you"
"Of course. I'd never do such thing"
"I know you wouldn't, kid. So relax, you're home"
"Actually... I was thinking I could do some training today. After feeling her strange yet powerful presence... I'd feel more at ease getting a tad stronger at least"
"Ah, so it's about that, sure. Yukio is in the other room, playing, like always" He informed him. "I'm sure he'll have fun helping you with training so go ask him right away. Besides, a bit of social interaction would be great for him"
"If you say so" Chad went to the room in question. "Thanks, Ginjou-san"
"It's nothing. Have a good training"
~~~~ X ~~~~
In some dry land outside the Gotei.
A defeated Ikkaku was panting heavily, one knee on the ground after sparring with a certainly powerful Lieutenant.
"Oi, this isn't like you at all" The red haired Lieutenant said bothered. "C'mon, use your Bankai with me, otherwise it won't be worth it"
"Tch... Don't get cocky, Renji" The bald Shinigami spat back. "That's for fighting my Captain only. Besides, it's broken... I can't hold it for as long as I'd like anymore..."
"Is that so? I'm sorry" He apologized.
"But... If you really want some serious training, why don't you ask the Captain himself?"
"Please, you know how that will end. I want some good training, not a fight to the death" Renji chuckled. "Besides, the duel is in three days. I can't afford to get teared apart at this point"
"Yeah, I get ya... But in all honesty, dude, I think you're pretty much ready" Ikkaku stood up with the help of his awakened Zanpakutou. "I mean, you completely beat me without breaking a sweat"
"Yeah, but you weren't 100% serious either, were you?"
Ikkaku became extremely serious.
"Make no mistake, Abarai. The fact that I didn't want to kill you doesn't mean I didn't give it my all" He made clear. "In the same way that looking for a fun battle doesn't mean you stop focusing or limiting your strength. That's only a possibility for monsters like the Captain. Mere Shinigami like us can't afford to lose focus in battle, ever"
"Oh, I... I'm sorry, I understand" Renji bowed in standing position to apologize.
"*sigh* Don't sweat it. It's not that big of a deal" He told him. "Just don't ever claim such a thing in front of a member of the 11th Squad. There's no bigger pride than battle for us"
"I'll keep that in mind" The red-haired assured. "Thanks for your help today"
"No problem. Now if you'll excuse me, it's almost my turn of taking care of that brat" He looked annoyed.
"Brat? What are you talking about?"
"Oh, you didn't know? The Captain took in a kid from the slums of the Rukongai, the lowest of the low"
"For real?! Captain Zaraki?! Why...?" He was astonished.
"Cause the cheeky bastard attempted to kill him nonetheless" He answered. "We went there in the first place cause there were rumors of a serial murderer killing Shinigami during night rounds in the area"
"Wait... Why didn't I know of this?"
"Heh, that's the funny part. Actually, Hisagi got hold of that info, but the higher-ups told him not to dare mention it in the news. Since your duel with Captain Kuchiki is drawing near and it's an event for nobles and such, they wanted to keep that sort of information out of the public eye, so don't let it slip"
"Okay, but... Are you telling me this kid was behind the murders then?"
"Exactly, and as you might imagine, he didn't kill what you would call small fry. They were full-fledged Shinigami of the 11th Squad"
"Eh...? But how-"
"That's why the Captain tossed everything aside and went straight to District 80 in North Rukongai. He decided to meet the Devil himself, but none of us ever believed it would be an Imp at that, hahahaha. Life is full of surprises, isn't it?"
"Wait, so the kid actually put up a fight?"
"He sure did. Of course, the Captain didn't remove his eye patch, but nevertheless, it still is quite a feat to scratch him"
"Scratch him? Wow. How old is he?"
"I don't know. 9? 10? It doesn't matter really, but he's not even a teenager"
"Holy shit... And it's safe to raise that kid in the 11th Squad?"
"What do you mean?" Madarame frowned.
"No-Nothing in particular, just that, a barrack might be a bit too much for a kid, don't you think?"
"Nah, I get what you mean, but worry not. The Captain Commander told us to keep him there for a while and try to teach him basic stuff. He really is a wild child, so it's been a rough process" He explained. "If he had been left in hands of the Captain alone it truly would've turned into a disastrous outcome"
"Ah, so it was a decision from Captain Commander Yamamoto. He probably intends to educate him and send him to the Soul Reaper Academy eventually"
"Maybe. But I know a beast when I see one, and that kid is most certainly a savage one. Who knows? Maybe he'll be known as the third coming of the Demon eventually"
"Really? Wow... I need to see him with my own eyes one of these days then. How do you even take care of him in fact?"
"It's not as hard as you might think. The truth is that he behaves rather well in the barracks. All you gotta do is spar a bit with him when he has an excess of energy and show him who's the boss. Wild beasts require tough love, y'know?"
"Well, it sounds like the only way to get around with him, heheh" He chuckled. "Coming from such a place... Does he have a name?"
"Yeah, though he had no surname to go by, so the Captain named him after the area of the Rukongai where he came from"
"Huh? Then... His full name would be...?"
"Exactly" Ikkaku returned his Zanpakutou to its base form and started heading back. "His name is Zaraki. Zaraki Tourou (更木 螳螂)"
~~~~X~~~~
Back in the endless desert of Hueco Mundo...
Atticus finished his plate of Bratwurst and french fries with a hint of sadness as there wasn't more.
"*sigh* I'm grateful that Quilge's men do their best efforts in such a delicious meal for us officers, but the quantity still leaves me a bit disappointed" He smiled sadly.
"Are you serious? I'd say this is way too much for dinner..." Candice retorted as she finished one Bratwurst and ate a couple fries. "I can give you the rest if you want"
"Woah, you really mean it?" His purple eyes seemed to shine.
"Well, yeah. I'm definitely not a fan of heavy meals, especially for the night. It's not good for my sleep" She crossed her arms. "Besides, I wouldn't be so cruel to take back my offer" She grinned.
"You're the best, Candi!" He took the plate and started munching right away.
"Ugh, so nasty..." She thought as she stared at him while eating, getting dirty due to the fast and careless way he fed himself. "Is what I would say... But he shows so much enthusiasm it actually seems cute"
"*munch* *munch* D... *munch* Dârstor!" He shouted in between.
"Mr. Arctopus" The grey haired Soldat came out of nowhere, actually freaking out Candice.
"*munch* Beer... *munch* pleathe..." He was having trouble swallowing without something to drink.
"Right away" The Soldat opened a bottle of craft beer, pretty common in the Wandenreich, and passed it to the Sternritter.
"*glug* *glug* *glug* Haaa... That's the stuff" He smiled after finally swallowing.
"No... I take that back. He's definitely a wild boar" Candice finally thought after witnessing that.
"Thanks, mate" Atticus gave the empty bottle back to Daxx.
"No problem, Sir. Anything you'd like, Miss Catnipp?" He asked her.
"No, don't worry" She denied. "I've lost any hint of appetite I might've had"
"Okay, then. I wish you two a good night then"
"Thank you. Same to you, and tell Miss L'Viaquez if you see her" Atticus wished them.
Candice rolled her eyes at the mention of the female Soldat, but Atticus didn't notice.
The two prepared everything for the night and went to bed right away. The next day was supposed to be the final one, hence the most important part of the journey.
However, one of the two Sternritter couldn't sleep.
"*sigh* Is it normal that today was so much fun?" Candice thought as she embraced her pillow in the sleeping bag. "Like... Why would I feel like that? I'm always with him ever since his Majesty gave me this job. There's nothing special about hanging out with him and yet... Ungh... I can't even think properly. So cold..." She shivered. "I didn't bring my Winter pajamas cause I thought it'd be too much, but *shivers* it would've been ideal. Now there's nothing I can-"
"...if you're feeling lonely at night, you can always come to my tent, alrite?" A voice resonated in her head.
"That idiot... Who does he think he is getting in my head at such a time?" She frowned as she blushed brightly. "Of course he was just messin' around. There's no way in Hell he was serious about that... Or that I'm even considering- Ah... Ah... Tsu!" She sneezed cutely.
"This is bad... I might catch a cold if I don't do something" She became worried. "Maybe... It wouldn't be too bad after all. I mean, the sleeping bags are pretty big, so it's not like we'd be sticked together. And again, I wouldn't be doing it cause I want to but there's just no other choice! If I get sick, my physical condition will be affected, yes, it's all for keeping my top-level performance. There's no other way I'd even be thinking of doing such a shameless thing...!"
She concentrated to feel the Reiatsu in the area.
"No one seems to be around... And I know for a fact that his tent is next to mine. Besides, even though I didn't hear who was on watch tonight, there's no way that bitch is on duty two nights in a row" She thought about L'Via. "Although... If she truly likes Atticus... I'd love seeing the expression in her face when she saw we're that close, heheheh..." She grinned maliciously. "Nonono... That's not entirely true, or the purpose at hand. This is simply... A basic survival tactic. I have no other choice"
As soon as she exited, the cold wind made her realize it was now or never.
Without making a sound, she closed her tent and went as fast as she could to the next one, though upon arriving...
"What? Why is this thing half open?" She wondered, a couple possibilities coming to mind in a flash. "Did he just forget? Or did he come out? No, I'm pretty sure I felt his Reiatsu here when I checked and that was only a second ago! Then why...?"
And then it struck her, like a thunder in her mind:
"No... No way... Is it possible that he was expecting me?! No no no no no no no no no. There's no way that's the case! He's not that smart... Is he...? But then why would...?" And one final possibility hit her like a truck. "No... That's even worse..."
"...and tell Miss L'Viaquez if you see her" She remembered him saying.
"Are you telling me that was some code? Did those two already meet without me realizing it? Or... Maybe he just wanted to see her in private and this is his way of inviting her in case she actually showed up?!" She suddenly felt unprecedented rage and anxiety product of the uncertainty of the situation. But in the end, there was only one way of really finding out. "The space is big enough for someone to enter without trouble. If he's awake... It means he was actually expecting someone. Period" She concluded. "If you're awake... I'll never forgive you" She promised herself with teary eyes as she entered the tent. "Never"
"Zzzz..." Atticus was sleeping soundly, one leg outside the sleeping bag, comfortably receiving the cold breeze from outside.
"Are you kidding me?!" She felt like raging a storm inside the tent to express how baffled she was. "All that thinking, all those possibilities, and you're gonna tell me he just sleeps like this cause he likes the cold air?! For fuck's sake..."
As soon as she calmed herself, she did her best to silently join Atticus in the sleeping bag.
It wasn't too difficult, given that he slept like a trunk and a whole side of the bag was unoccupied, but she was still worried of doing something that might awake him.
"It's simple... Just enter the bag, get your hours of sleep, wake up an hour before the rest, and go back to your tent like nothing happened. Simple" She told herself.
And just like she predicted, the first step was a success.
"Yes...! He didn't notice" She let out a calming breath. "Now I just have to get some sleep"
A couple seconds after closing her eyes, she couldn't help but realize a bewildering detail.
"Wow... I can't believe it is this warm in here. I'm pretty sure his bag was twice as thin as mine yet, it feels like I'm in a cozy bed like at home" She thought amazed. "No wonder he needs to leave a leg out. But can a human body really be this warm by itself? We're all supposed to have the same body temperature... But then why is it so comfy in here?" As soon as she realized that fact, she started feeling embarrassed. "Ok, that's enough! Stop thinking or you'll never get enough rest. Maybe looking to the other side instead of his helps"
She changed position, facing towards the tent.
"Much better..." She closed her eyes and concentrated in falling asleep.
However, she never expected what such a decision would bring upon.
A soundly sleeping Atticus suddenly identified a distinctive smell nearby.
"*sniff* *sniff*" His body came closer to the source. "C... Candi..." He muttered.
"What?!" Candice immediately opened her eyes in shock. "Why did he wake up? I didn't make a sound!"
"Zzzz..." He went back to breathing peacefully as he slept.
"Wait... Is he still asleep?" She wondered as her heart raced.
Really carefully, she gave a quick look behind.
Breathing: Calm.
Mouth: Closed.
Movement: Almost static.
Eyes: Closed.
Atticus was certainly asleep.
"Phew... That scared the shit outta me!" She calmed herself a bit, but something still bothered her. "Wait, is he dreaming of... Me?"
She could swear that he had called her name a moment ago, but now seemed really silent.
"I might've imagined it. Guess I'm still a tad freaked out about the whole situation" She dismissed.
However...
"Ca...ndi..." He said it again, and this time, a pair of hands caught her by the waist.
"Eek...!" She muted a squeal. "What is he...?!"
"Mm..." He smiled in his slumber. "Much better... Zzzz..."
"Oh no, this is bad, really bad!" She started sweating coldly. "It looks like he actually is dreaming of me. How sick can that be? But even worse... He's actually touching me!"
"You're... Cold..." He murmured, his dreams actually becoming accurate with reality thus far. "Great..."
He pulled her towards him, embracing her like a pillow to warm her up as he refreshed himself.
"You gotta be kidding me...! This can't be happening! How... How can he mess things up this badly while asleep?!"
Atticus continued to smile as he softly pressed her body against his though, having no clue whatsoever of what was going on, while Catnipp's temperature rose more and more with the awkward situation she got herself in.
"Feel... Zzzz... Better...?" He asked in between a sleeping breath.
"Kgh...! Now is not the time to be considerate, you dumbass!" She was grinding her teeth at this point. "Although... Any hint of cold has completely disappeared... And this position, as embarrassing as it might be... I kinda like it" She admitted to herself as she blushed. "It's a warm and protective embrace. I... I guess I could get used to-"
His hands suddenly grabbed her bust tightly, squeezing her goods without any shame.
"Ah... So soft..." He muttered as drool fell off his mouth.
Without any second thoughts, Candice slapped him in the face as hard as she could.
"W-What the...!" Atticus woke up in the worst way possible.
"Drop the act, you swine! I know what you were doing!" She whispered, but her tone was clearly aggressive.
"Candi?! What...? What the Hell are YOU doin' here?!" His whispering tone was more of surprise.
"As if you didn't know! You were planning for this all along, weren't you?!"
"I have literally no idea what you're talking about!"
"Oh really? Then explain to me why the fuck you were... S-S-Squeezing me and groping me like an animal!" She was completely flustered.
"Wait... You mean I did that for real?" He blushed as well.
"Any more real and you would've ripped my clothes off, you fucking pervert!"
"Shit...! I... I'm sorry" He said in a truly honest tone.
"Yeah! And... Wait, what?" She noticed his tone was sincere.
"I... I thought I was having just a really awesome dream... But I never meant to do something like that... Not without your consent at least"
"I see... I guess you really were sleeping" She believed him now.
"What else would I be doing?"
"Well... Ever since we started going out... You step off limits quite often so... I thought you had pretended to be asleep to take advantage of me"
"What? For real?" He felt really sad and disappointed. "Do I really seem like that kind of guy to you?"
"I mean, no! But..." She tried to find an explanation that wouldn't hurt his feelings. "It's just... I remember that you teased me back home about this, so I thought... It might've been some sort of plan you had"
"That was just a joke, I thought it was obvious" He retorted. "I never thought you'd actually take that as an offer"
"Well, I did... And... I'm sorry" She decided to apologize. "I shouldn't be blaming you when I was the one off limits..."
"*sigh* It's okay. I have been stretching our trust a little bit lately" He took responsibility. "It's just... I feel so eager to get closer to you" He smiled.
"Do you... Really mean that?" She looked him in the eye.
"Yeah. It's only that, it feels so right to be with you... I simply can't help it" He chuckled. "When I look at you, I just wanna hold you in my arms, girl. Cause when I did last time, I was sure that you could fill that void inside that I hate so much"
"You don't need to exaggerate..." She tried to look away.
"I am not. I really need you that much" He held her hand, getting her to stare back at him once again.
"Atticus..." She felt guilty all of a sudden. "Sorry... I... I think I was just being paranoid"
"It's alrite. I was just worried that you truly had such a low opinion of me"
"I don't like it when you tease me with the physical stuff... Especially after I told you to be careful and keep this a secret. But I don't really believe you're a disgusting person"
"Well, that's a relief"
"Although, I'm kinda curious. What exactly was your dream about?"
"Oh, that... To be honest I don't remember everything clearly, but I do recall smelling a sweet scent, and then a silky touch in my face" He tried to remember. "After that it was a tad confusing, but what I remember is that you were feeling cold, so I decided to hug you and warm you up. A bit later... Things got a bit crazy, but there's no need to go into such details, right?"
"No, no. I... I think I might have an idea" She understood what he meant. "But from the way you tell it, I guess it really was my fault after all"
"What do you mean?"
"When I got in the sleeping bag, I guess my hair must've ended up close to your face" She explained.
"Ah, that makes sense. No wonder I ended up dreaming of you, haha..." He laughed at the odd outcome. "I could never mistake that delicious scent"
"Oh, please, it's just high quality products. Anyone could buy the same and replicate it easily"
"You sure? Cause I think the whole mix is a pretty unique creation"
"It's not so hard, really. I always start by using the apple-cinnamon shampoo for repair purposes, then a bit of the caramel toffee shampoo for it to be bright and swift, then I use a tad of Royal jelly-based conditioner to avoid frizz and support the repair process of the first shampoo, and after getting out of the shower I use a couple drops of French vanilla and argan oil to hydrate and comb it properly. That's pretty much it, unless it's spa or extra care day, then I use a couple more products"
"Yeah... I think it's a rather unique brew so far. But in the end, for me it's just like smelling the sweetest cotton candy ever ahahaha" That talk made him remember something of the past. "That reminds me... I'm really sorry for what happened to your hair when we first met"
"Huh?" She didn't get it at first. "Oh... You mean that time Haschwalt slashed it" She frowned a bit. "I can't deny that totally pissed me off at first"
"You didn't even talk to me for like a week, and when you started talking it was either to scold me or give me an order" He chuckled nervously.
"You earned that, so don't complain" She pouted.
"I know. So I wanted to apologize now that I know how much it means to you"
"Thanks. Although I didn't really hold a grudge for that anymore. It's been a while since that happened after all" She chuckled because of the odd timing.
"Haha, I tend to remember all kinds of past stuff out of nowhere, so since I was reminded of that, I thought the least I could do was to apologize"
"Thank you, Atticus, for caring that much" She smiled at him sincerely. "Now, close your eyes"
"Why?"
"W-Why else? Cause it's late and we gotta sleep for tomorrow" She got weirdly upset.
"O-Oh, okay..." He thought it was a weird reaction, but agreed in the end.
After closing his eyes, he felt a soft touch on his lips that made him open them again.
Candi's face was right in front of his, smiling with a bright red tone on her face
"Thank you for today. It was fun hanging out and... You didn't judge me for showing up here like this"
"Why would I? It's my fault you did in the first place" He retorted. "I guess you were feeling cold after all"
"Yeah. I was..." She placed her body on top of his and licked her lips. "But not anymore"
Atticus embraced her tightly as he kissed her passionately, massaging her back as she held tightly onto his back, not wanting to let go of him for as long as possible.
They made out until the air became scarce, but even between pants and breaths, their bodies weren't separated for even an instant.
Candice couldn't see her own face, but she knew that the smile she had was one only meant for him to see, for she still felt weak to show her true emotions so clearly, but at the same time, made her feel at ease that she could be her true self around him.
Even after the first time they had shared a moment like this, she was still paranoid and skeptical about the further development of their relationship, so she didn't feel completely right with his sudden approaches, but at the same time desired that sense of closeness as much as him.
"Hmnnn... *smooch* I know what you're thinking" She told him after a kiss.
"Oh really?" He grinned maliciously.
"Okay, now you're scaring me, so no" She changed her mind.
"Candi... You really think I'd try anything you didn't like?" His smirk didn't disappear. "I know you. I know what you really like. And I know that even those times you hit me... Deep inside you were craving for me to continue"
"Th-That's not-"
"Not true, you say?" He bit her lip harshly.
"Argh... That hurts!" She complained, but immediately. "Do it again... Only, a bit more gently"
"As you order, your highness" He complied, and after pulling her lip with his teeth he went back inside her mouth to devour it whole.
"For fuck's sake, Atticus..." She thought with difficulty. "When you kiss me like that... Wrapping that naughty tongue around mine... I can't even think... Properly...!"
He let go of her when he felt her heart racing so fast that it was obvious she needed a break.
"Itadakimasu..." He said as he licked a bit of leftover of her saliva from his cheek.
"*pant* Is it really that tasty?" She teased.
"You bet, buster. As sweet as an apple pie" He caressed her cheek gently and gave her a smooch. "I really really really really like you"
"Oh, really? I would never have guessed" She giggled. "But... I'm happy to know it goes both ways"
"Certainly"
"That said... As much as I'd love to take things up a notch, I think this is as far as we should go given the circumstances"
"I understand. I didn't think you'd let me go this far even"
"Neither did I, but you turned out to be frighteningly persuasive" She admitted. "I... I'd be happy to try more things as soon as we get back home. Though don't get cocky! It's not like I'm head over heels for you or anything... So you better not piss me off!"
"I'll take note of that"
"And one last thing"
"Hm?"
"Don't you dare let go of me" She hugged him tightly as she rested her head on his bare chest. "I get cold easily"
"I know" He caressed the back of her head gently. "That's one of the things I totally love about you"
"You freak" She chuckled.
"I know, hahaha..." He smiled broadly. "Good night, Candi"
She went towards his face one more time, kissing him goodnight in the proper way.
"Good night, Atticus" She went back to her spot on his chest and fell asleep shortly after, purring like a cat as Arctopus continued petting her softly.
And yet another long break in between chapters, go-me-na-saiiiii.
Still, I gotta say I'm killing it academically lately, in spite of the awful system of online classes, so it's been for the better (at least for me).
In return, I decided to bring you all a longer chapter than most with lots of different things going on, so I hope you enjoyed it.
A Metal culture detail I should mention is regarding one of Atticus's phrases. Jason Becker and Marty Friedman are two guitarists who once had this Speed Metal Shred band called Cacophony, and one of their songs in the first album "Speed Metal Symphony" is called "Desert Island", which basically speaks of a guy that's fed up of the city so he decides to go live to a desolate tropical island somewhere in the middle of the sea.
The other little detail I'd like to add is that Yin and Yang do not have a canon surname, so I gave them one from a pretty cool Chinese guitarist because, aside from being memorable for me, "Miáo" sounds a lot like "Meow" and both are neko-looking Arrancar so I thought it was just perfect.
Without anything else to add, I hope I can get next Chapter done asap, but I'm pretty busy these couple of weeks, so no promises on that!
Evhron out.
In the Catnipp x Arctopus residence for interview purposes...
"So... Today I've invited a guest for this section, cause why not? So I'd like everyone to welcome Aura-san to the story"
Applause and cheers from an imaginary crowd*
"Thanks, everyone. I didn't expect such an invitation, let alone this positive reaction" Aura bows a bit. "I really appreciate it"
"It's nothing... So, to explain things a bit, Michibane Aura is another character from the Bleach Light Novel CFYOW, and she is a Fullbringer of fearsome power"
"How flattering, but I don't think I'm that special"
"She's just some kind of ghost girl, right?" Candi comments as she crosses her arms. "I don't get the hype"
"Well... Probably BBS developers thought like you, Candi, cause they did nerf her terribly as an in-game character" Atticus adds. "In spite of all her cool feats, once again the developers did whatever the fuck they wanted and screwed up what could've been one of the most cool and unique characters in the game"
"I think you're overestimating me a bit, Arctopus-san" Aura softly chuckles.
"Nonsense. Anyone who read the novel knows how cool you are, Aura-san, so no need to be modest"
"Well, thanks for that" She smiles. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I should get going. Tokinada-sama must be expecting my return"
"Sure thing. Take care, Aura-san. I'm looking forward to the surprises you have in store for us in this story. And for those of you who got curious and wants to understand the "Aura hype', you should go right away to the net and order the original copies of CFYOW. The 3 volumes are already translated and all, so there's no time to waste! We already got an Anime adaptation of "Burn the Witch". I'm sure we can get at least a couple movies based on CFYOW if sells go well, so make sure to show your support if you're interested"
"I couldn't agree more. See ya" Aura bids farewell and walks to the door.
"Candi, could you please open the door for her?"
"Er... Looks like she just went right through it" She says a bit in shock. "It's kinda scary in fact"
"Then can I sleep with you tonight? You know, to avoid nightmares and stuff"
"Dream on, Atticus. I'm not sharing my bed with you"
"No? Too bad... We'll just have to wait for future plot development then" He bats an eye.
"Eh...?" She gasps.
"See you soon!"