The previous chapter was first time that I exceeded my upper goal of 6000 words. The only reason this is an issue is because I've found that- in my work at least- that there needs to be a "sweet spot" in terms of length- neither too short or too long. I've been posting on FFN for just over twelve years, and I like to think I've gotten pretty good at this. But I still know my limits...

I wanted to avoid things dragging on too long. Ideally, I wanted each chapter to play like a TV episode in the minds of the readers. I worked out a formula in my head that 1000 words would be roughly equal to five minutes of screen time. So a chapter between 4000-6000 words long would equal 20-30 minutes of screen time. After that, it starts becoming harder to maintain the focus... Now, while I have done this a few times in the past, I prefer for it to be intentional- something to denote special occasions, and not just because I happened to overrun.

Lastly, I want to express my thanks to Ayase Reincarnated, Owlus, and Kain101 (shoutout, my brother!) for their reviews. I also want to say thanks to the amazing NovaAlexandra, and encourage people to keep following her in the future.

Warning: Contains Sexual Content.

TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW

Chapter XI:
"The Courtship, Part 2"

Karakura, the Living Realm...

Ulquiorra was in the kitchen, in an apron, dispassionately dicing up vegetables for the curry rice he was preparing for dinner- as this night being his turn. He realized that some people might find his situation amusing, seeing the Cuatro Espada calmly working in such a domestic setting as the woman's kitchen, cooking for a young female human- as if the scene were totally reasonable.

Normally, he would have bristled at the insinuation. But after experiencing what passed for 'meals' in the apartment, the Arrancar was more than willing to pitch in with the household tasks, especially if it spared him the discomfort that Orihime's cooking caused his Gigai's internal systems...

He'd yet to make any sense of how she could eat the things she did, let alone with the joy she seemed to take in consuming the bizarre mismatches of strange foods and highly inappropriate seasonings. At the moment, he was far more concerned with the woman's recent behavior. Based upon her normal day-to-day antics, he concluded Orihime was the type of person that- if one was being complementary- would describe to others as eccentric. Though, Ulquiorra was much more concerned with her recent behavior as of the last few days, which- in his estimation- fell into what he considered to within be the "strange" category when it came to gauging the woman.

Ulquiorra sighed, his expression neutral as he set down the the kitchen knife he had been using and calmly poured the mix of vegetables into a pot on the stove. The Espada added some cooking oil and placed the transparent lid over the top. He then turned to the rice cooker to check the progress of the brown rice he was steaming. After checking the open pot on the stove that held the nicely bubbling curry sauce he'd previously started, he promptly returned to his inner-musings.

Ulquiorra realized he was not the most 'perceptive' individual at times, but he was confident in his ability to read Orihime's moods and intentions on any given day- thanks in part to their time together in Las Noches, when he'd served as the young woman's caretaker, companion and warden...

And yet now, he found himself at a loss to explain the sudden change in her demeanor. A few days ago, the normally cheerful and and openhearted woman had become strangely subdued and on edge around him, as if she were suddenly uncomfortable in his presence. This was particularly vexing, as he'd (gladly) invested quite a bit of his time and energy into gaining her trust...

Yes, mutual trust was crucial, as Orihime was human, and therefor lacked the instincts and compulsions of a Hollow.

Were she an Arrancar like himself- a creature of instinct- then any courtship conducted between them would be based on whether she accepted or rejected him as a suitable mate. But she was Human, being predisposed toward empathy rather rather than animal instinct. Therefor, mere shows of strength alone were insufficient in earning her favor. But he was not one to be discouraged in the face of a challenge- not when it came to the woman- and he'd fully understood the inherent complications in pursuing such an uncommon and compelling creature as she was...

And Ulquiorra was determined to be victorious in his efforts to win her over, to prove his worth as a mate for his Sun Princess! Yes, the thought of the woman nestled in his arms, her body exhausted but satisfied in the aftermath of their mating. His head was awash with images of what it would be like to experience her, perhaps in his Segunda Etapa form... The Arrancar smiled wickedly at the prospect of her body practically melded with his: her supple rosy flesh against hard white skin, running his clawed hands through that luxurious fiery main of hers, her hands moving languidly through the his dark main and against the black fur and fine membrane of his wings?

He inhaled sharply, reigning in the base desires of his Hollow nature. Ulquiorra wondered if Orihime could ever truly appreciate the degree of total control he maintained at all times for her. That while his instincts compelled him to roughly take her and claim her as his own, it was what he felt or her- strangely human sensations that only she could engender- that held sway over him. It was because of these feelings that he was able to think of her with such warmth and fondness, more than he previously thought himself capable of.

Still, Ulquiorra realized that no matter how far he ascended, that even the most evolved Arrancar were locked in battle with their darker nature. Though the willingness to indulge varied wildly, from unnoticeable to thinly veiled madness- as in the case of the two Espada ranked directly beneath him.

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Soul Society, Division Four HQ...

Unohana smiled to herself, regarding the man lying on the mat before her, resting on his stomach with his long white hair brushed off to one side. Her white Captain's haori hung on the wall of her quarters, alongside her strange Zanpakuto, while the full-length black kimono (and white under-robe) that made up her Shinigami uniform hung the nearby wardrobe, along with her thick obi. The dark-haired woman was dressed in a simple light blue yukata.

Ukitake blushed faintly under the scrutiny of her gaze. His white Captain's haori, along with his black full-length kimono and white under-robe, hung from fixtures on the wall, alongside his Zanpakuto, near the door. At the moment, Jushiro's feelings of bashfulness were outweighed by the captivation he felt as he beheld the sight of Unohana- clad tantalizingly in a simple pale blue yukata, with her long dark main free of its iconic braid and hanging loose down her back. The serene woman mirrored his affectionate gaze in her own, before she moved to sit down beside him.

"Firstly, Jushiro," she began. "I'd like to know how you've been feeling?"

He smiled. "Better," he replied, chin resting on his folded arms. "It's been a number of months since I last suffered a serious attack." Ukitake revealed. "And with Sentaro, Kiyone, and Lili-chan all making such a fuss over me, I haven't felt too stressed these days."

Unohana nodded. "Yes, well Lilinette is quite fond of you... not that I blame her." She remarked softly, her hands glowing softly with green energy. "Somehow, I'm certain that we've all changed for the better since you invited her and Stark-san to come stay at your family estate." She offered him, before gently pressing her palms into his back. "Speaking of... Lili-san told me that you've been experiencing some aches of late, so I invited you over to take a look at you."

He chuckled, murmuring something that she couldn't quite make out. Given their relationship, she felt no qualms about kneeling over him and straddling his hips for better access, as she worked his muscles while infusing her kido though her touch. "This is a form of therapeutic massage that incorporates kido treatment with it." She explained in a low tone, sliding her hands hands smoothly down the arch of his back, stopping to massage his vertebrae with the pads of her thumbs.

He let out a brief hiss, followed a sigh of relief. "Well, that's a good sign." She remarked slyly as she slid her hands back up, to his shoulders. "I'm glad you approve." Unohana added, her tone now almost teasing as she spoke. In turns, she place one hand firmly on the shoulder and the other one holding the wrist, and carefully pivoted them. First rotating the limb clockwise, then counter-clockwise, as she worked kido into the joints. She grinned as she felt his body relax against her touch.

With this done, she slid further down his hips, only to let out a tiny yelp when he rolled over and caught hold of her wrist. She stilled, his chocolate-brown eyes meeting her stormy blue ones, before he moved to capture her soft lips in a heated kiss. Unohana returned the kiss enthusiastically, giving a small moan when she felt his tongue brush against hers. After a few secants, she felt something pressed against her thigh, through the thin fabric of her yukata, and drew back from him.

She blushed when realization dawned on her, then smiled in understanding. She flashed him a look that radiated warmth and affection. "My, but aren't you energetic?" Unohana asked coyly.

He smiled, brown eyes narrowing. "For you, Retsu, always." Ukitake replied evenly, his hands on her hips, holding her warm body against him.

"Well then," she replied softly. "Who am I to deny you?" She asked in breathy tone, leaning in to share a quick kiss with him. She sat back up, her thighs still straddling his hips, and reached down to loosen the sash around her waist. Unohana pulled the front of her yukata open, the light blue material sliding from her shoulders, the sleeves pooling above her elbows, revealing herself to him...

Unohana's normally pale skin was already becoming flushed, taking on almost light peach tone as her body grew warmer. She had the curvacious figure of a mature woman- full breasts that were capped off with dark rosy nipples, wide hips and long elegantly shaped legs, and a forest of soft dark hair covering her mound. Ukitake felt his arousal intensify as he admired the gorgeous woman sitting astride him. As if sensing his desire, she leaned down- pressing her supple body against his- running her hands through his long white locks as they kissed in relative silence.

Ukitake swiftly sat up, intertwining his fingers with hers as he urged the woman to lay back on the mat, planting a kiss on Unohana's lips. With that, he began to slowly move his attention downwards, leaving a trail of kisses from her jaw, down her throat, then cupped one of her breasts in his hand. He captured her nipple in his mouth- while his hand kneaded the other breast. He leisurely circled his tongue around the sensitive bud, teasing her nipple into a stiff peak. Satisfied with his progress, he placed a kiss on the other breast, then moved lower- kissing the ticklish flesh of her stomach.

She snapped out of her haze when she felt him move lower. "Jushiro, you don't have to-" She tried to protest, her cheeks flushed crimson at his intent.

He looked up, flashing a deviously handsome smile and shook his head. "It's no problem, Retsu," he replied softly as he looked into her eyes. "I want to."

Unohana blushed at the earnestness of his tone, but quickly nodded and relaxed, giving him access to the part of her between the juncture of her thighs. Ukitake paused, then leaned in to place a kiss on her sensitive clit- before gingerly circling his tongue around the exposed bud. She let out a strained gasp, the fine muscles in her inner thighs convulsed under the stimulation. Among the many things she could praise him for, was his ability to stir up a frenzy in her body, and he'd become quite adept at eliciting a climax from her purely with his hands and mouth.

One reason for his insistence on this particular matter was due to his own insecurity over his stamina- given the strain that his condition sometimes forced upon him. Unohana would never judge him for not being able to last through the entirety of their coupling, and he had believed her when she said as much during one of their nights spent together. And yet, his male pride drove him to ensure that she was able to fully experienced the same degree of pleasure that her body granted him...

With slow deliberate motions, he brushed a finger teasingly along her slit, before adding a second one as he continuing stroking her soft folds in slow deliberate motions. His hand quickly became slick with her juices as he continued for a few more moments- an eternity for Unohana. Satisfied, he inserted his digits inside her. He forked his fingers, brushing against a particularly sensitive spot, causing the dark-haired woman to gasp and buck her hips against his hand. With his free hand still wrapped around her thigh, he leaned in to capture her bud between his lips- gently stimulating her as he thrust his fingers into the slick warmth of her sex.

He eventually withdrew his fingers from her, briefly noting how wet she was. Ukitake reached down to undo the ties of his black hakama trousers. Unohana silently watched as he positioned himself between her thighs, smiling inwardly at the sight of the dark hair below his waist, like his eyebrows- a poignant reminder that his hair hadn't always been the vivid white that everyone knew. He braced himself before he thrust inside her. The sensation was hardly sudden, but it was very pleasant. She smiled happily, as she savored the feeling of having the person she most adored inside her.

Ukitake's body tensed and his brow furrowed as he struggled to compose himself. Unohana reached up to place her hands behind his neck, leisurely pulling him into a kiss. Slowly, she began to rock her hips against him, prompting him to draw his hips back, then plunge back into her. He gradually built a slow but steady rhythm as he moved inside of tight passage. "Retsu..." He uttered, eyes tightly shut as he continued moving within her. "Your body... it feels so good."

She continued to hold onto him, her body rocking. "I... I'm feeling good too, Jushiro." She whispered softly into his ear. Unohana soon felt her lower abdomen and inner thighs start to tingle, than convulse as little spasms of pleasure started rippling through her body. She was vaguely aware of him letting off a muffled curse as her inner walls clamped down on his shaft, and she let out a cry of pleasure as she climaxed. Spent, his body fell limp across her, his cheek pressed against the softness of her breasts, as he came- shivering lightly as his seed spilled inside of her.

A long moment passed between them, the two of them breathing raggedly. She allowed a small smile, gently stroking the locks of his white main. "You know..." She murmured.

"Hmm?" He managed, looking up at her.

"I'm not sure how healthy it is for you to be exerting yourself like this." She mused thoughtfully, while absently running a hand through his hair.

Ukitake chuckled and shook his head. "I'd say... it's worth the risk." He replied, still resting his head on her bosom as she cradled him against her.

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Rangiku turned away from the large stone monument, only to be greeted by the figure of her youthful Captain, standing calmly before her. Unlike usual, there was no scorn visible in her Captain's features, but rather a look of sympathy as he stood before her.

"When you didn't report in with the Tenth, I figured you might be here." The white-haired young man remarked coolly. "Tell me, Lieutenant, does it get any easier?" He asked, hands tucked into the pockets of his white coat, as he walked up to her.

"Captain?" The strawberry-blond asked uncertainly, as one of his hands came to gently rest on her shoulder, his gaze turning toward the monument.

Hitsugaya turned back to look at her, moving a hand gently to rest on her arm as she slowly rose to her feet beside him. "The loss, that is." he offered her in an uncharacteristically soft tone she was coming to know as of late. "We've known each other for a long time, Matsumoto... And I know you, and I know you're still dealing with the loss of your best friend."

He paused briefly. "I can't imagine that I'd have behaved any differently, were I now in your position- if I had lost Lieutenant Hinamori..." Hitsugaya admitted, slightly uneasily.

Silence fell between them, then she eventually gave a small smile. "You're right, Captain." She replied with a short nod. "But as to your question," she continued gently. "Loosing someone close to you never gets any easier... The pain just lessens with time." Rangiku offered.

The youth nodded sympathetically, before turning away. "Well, as you're Captain, I want you to know that if you ever want to talk about it, then-"

His words were suddenly interrupted when Rangiku circled her arms around from behind, pulling his smaller form to her's, in an embrace. "Matsumoto..." He began halfheartedly, lacking the will to truly reprimand this breach of protocol between them... not in light of recent events.

"Thank you, Toshiro," Rangiku began softly. "You always know just what to say." The busty woman offered him, as she held him in her arms. "You really are an exceptional man."

He blushed faintly, feeling the warmth of her formidable bosom and her heartbeat against the back of his head, through his soft snow-white hair. "Matsu- er, Rangiku..." Toshiro began with smile, he was still getting used to knowing when address her as his Lieutenant and otherwise. "You know, you really cam be impossible sometimes." The youth finished with a chuckle, relaxing against her.

The two of them remained like that for a while, in the courtyard, savoring the simple feeling of physical warmth that existed between them...

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Soul Society, Division Two HQ...

Soifon narrowed her dark eyes, then launched a sharpened kunai with a flick her wrist, embedding the end of it in the center of the circular target across the room. The handle wobbled slightly, set amidst the others kunai she'd thrown at the target. Satisfied that she'd fully recovered from her injuries caused by the explosion of the Ouken, the slender woman relaxed, as she clenched and unclenched her fist.

With lightning fast speed, she whirled around and threw another blade- the sharp kunai sailing across the room and sticking in the wall... Mere inches from where Ggio Vega stood. "You?!" Soifon snapped, fixing him with a death-glare that would have struck fear in most men.

"What you doing here?!" Soifon fumed, her muscles tense as she regarded him. She lowered her empty hand and took on a defensive posture. She was fed up with whatever game he was playing with her, and his constant presence had her perpetually on edge- unsure of what do.

The feline Arrancar paid no heed to the razor-sharp throwing implement that had narrowly missed him only a moment earlier, and flashed her a cat-like smile as he moved to greet her. Much to Soifon's utter annoyance and frustration, the unflappable Hollow seemed totally unmoved by his near-assassination at her hands. Sadly, his enthusiasm was lost on the black-haired woman.

"I just came by to see how you were doing." Ggio chirped, to her annoyance. No matter what she did to drive him off, he remained an irritation in her day-to-day life. "I noticed you've been on edge lately, so I wanted to come see if I could help you." He offered in a thoughtful tone.

Soifon had no time for his nonsense, and even less patience. Whatever he was doing- for she still wasn't totally certain of his objectives- she'd had more than enough. With lightning fast speed, she vanished in a momentary blur of Shunpu, then reappeared in front of him, brandishing Vespa- the sharp point scant centimeters from the smooth surface of his throat.

"Now you listen," she intoned darkly. "I don't know what you're playing at, or what you possibly think you have to gain from all this," Soifon continued menacing. "But whatever it is... I'll tell you right now that it's not going to happen!" She fumed, pressing the stinger tip of the weapon into his throat, though not with enough force to yet break the skin.

"Miss Soifon...?" Ggio asked uncertainly, though more from confusion then from the fear anyone other than himself would have been experiencing in such a confrontation.

She fixed him with a frosty glare. "There's just one thing I'm curious about- why?" Soifon demanded in a steely tone. "To constantly be following the Commander of the Stealth Division... I would have killed you by now, except you're clearly too stupid to be an assassin!" She sniped. "Now, I know Hollows and I know men," she spat the last word. "And since you're both, something tells me that you're juust stupid enough to think I could ever be... interested in you."

"Given how you animals think..." Soifon continued. "You might believe that if you keep chasing after me for long enough, that I'll finally just give in." The Captain reasoned. "But I'll tell you right now, that I will never lie back in submission and spread my legs for you." She declared darkly.

Soifon expected him to be intimidated or crestfallen by the declaration, but his only reaction was blush faintly and briefly avert his gaze from her. "Milady, I- I am... attracted to you, but it would be improper to expect such a thing of you, not when I have yet to earn your... favor." Ggio replied bashfully, shifting his stance from one foot to the other and back.

Soifon held her ground, keeping him at blade-point, but the anger and suspicion that had driven her up til then, dissipated in the wake of his response.

This was not what she had expected...

"What...?" Soifon replied softly. Thanks to her training, she had gone into this confrontation prepared for any number of possibilities, the most obvious involving some measure of violence.

"I know how I am..." The ex-Fraccion replied. "I'll never be clever, or all that powerful, but... I couldn't help but want to pursue you once I saw you." Ggio revealed, still blushing. "Your body, your feminine scent, your strong spiritual aura... It was all too strong for someone like to me to ignore."

Suddenly, and for reasons that she wasn't entirely comfortable with, Soifon became aware that she was blushing at that moment. Then, for similarly 'uncomfortable' reasons, she withdrew the 'sting' of Vespa from his throat. "Fool..." She muttered, feeling embarrassed. The lithe Shinigami paused, looking into his keen yellow eyes, unable (or unwilling) to put a name what she felt.

Ggio smiled disarmingly at her, and she responded by muttering the same slur she'd previously thrown at him, but with much less conviction...

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Orihime sighed, resting her elbows on her desk. She'd been preoccupied, of late, trying to make sense of the surprisingly potent feelings she'd become aware of since waking up from the strange dream she'd had that fateful night. She'd been distant towards Ulquiorra lately, just as she knew she wasn't being fair to him, but she wasn't ready to confront him over the matter...

She needed time to think it over, but she was worried how long she could keep up her evasive attitude with Ulquiorra before he might start to think that she was spurning him. He was perceptive, especially when it came to her, and he was also intelligent. There had been so much progress in their relationship, built upon trust, and Orihime worried that she was jeopardizing things with her inaction... How long would she have before he started making conclusions of his own?

He'd approached her the other day, asking about her shift in behavior. She'd evaded his questions, but she knew that Ulquiorra wasn't satisfied with her noncommittal reply. Orihime heard the school chimes sound off, and retrieved her school bag from the fixture on the side of her desk. It was the last class of the day, and she knew she would be walking the halls alone, since Ulquiorra tended to slip out of class with little fanfare- to later meet her outside, at the gate. He always made a point of drawing as little attention as possible, especially in regards to unwelcome conversations...

She blushed, thinking back to how quickly the other students- particularly the girls- had deduced that Ulquiorra and herself were a couple. He had said nothing to confirm it, but anyone could tell from the way he moved around her, the way he looked at her, or the close proximity he kept when speaking to her, that there was something between them. Orihime silently wondered if she really did harbor any kind of fantasies or scenarios about the two of them. Certainly, she held no desires to find herself in a degrading situation like the one that had played out in her dream!

But maybe there was something that she desired... She trusted Ulquiorra, she felt safe around him, that no matter what, he would be there if she needed him. He always had this air of calm and quiet strength about him- this unspoken confidence that showed in his actions. And, Orihime realized, that he would fight for her without compulsion. No, not simply to protect her, but for her. She was suddenly struck by the memory of when he fought Ichigo. He'd sensed the teen's inner Hollow, and likely knew something of the feelings that she'd once held for him...

Orihime felt a chill that stopped the teen in her tracks. That wasn't just another fight... For Ulquiorra, he was fighting Ichigo- who he perceived as his 'rival'- over her! Realization gradually dawned on her that what existed between them wasn't a relationship, not in the human sense that she- as a human- would view it, but something deeper- something primal... She wasn't just his girlfriend, she was his mate.

The young woman placed her hand over her chest, as her heart raced. And suddenly, the idea that the powerful Arrancar- normally so cold and aloof- could harbor such raw emotions for her... to Orihime, the idea suddenly became strangely exiting.

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Soul Society, Division Four HQ...

Hanataro let out a mild sigh as he finished sorting through a number of reports. Normally, this would have been a simple enough task for him to complete. However, there was a lingering 'distraction' in the form of a decidedly bored Lilinette. For unknown reasons, the young female Arrancar had latched onto him at some point, often trying to wrangle him into as serving as her foil/cohort whenever she was bored or suddenly found herself in desperate need of a change of scenery.

And since he wasn't the sort to deny her company- if he even had the choice- he'd ended up keeping the female half of the Primera company on a number of occasions. Despite this, Hanataro wasn't really sure how he should view the dynamic between them: friends, brother and sister, her pet/toy?

All three possibilities were bewildering, in their own ways... Lilinette could be nice to him, in a pushy kind of way. But she could just as easily become overbearing towards him, and the concept of personal space or modesty either meant nothing to her, or simply didn't register with her. He'd lost count of how many times she'd sat down in front of him (legs akimbo) or simply just flopped onto her back, with no concern for how her skimpy attire factored into these thing. Similarly, she had a disconcerting habit of 'draping' herself over him- usually over a shoulder or against his back- while she talked to him.

Every time it happened, he felt both confused and oddly excited, which had done nothing to help him keep his composure around the uninhibited girl. Presently, Lilinette was behind him, arms draped over his shoulders and her body pressed against his back, as she spoke. She couldn't see the bright crimson flush of his face, and so was oblivious to the inner turmoil he was experiencing. The gentle swell of her burgeoning breasts against his back was setting him on edge...

"If I don't constantly badger him, Stark 'll just fall asleep." She complained. "It worries me... I mean, I don't miss the War or anything like that, but it's like he just wants to turn into a statue now that there's no longer someone around to tell him what to do." Lilinette continued. "At this rate, how is anyone going to take the Primera seriously? He might not care, but I do... because I'm also the Primera, and I have enough trouble getting people to take me seriously as it is."

"You know what I'm talking about, Taro." The Arrancar continued. "No one takes you seriously when you're young an' small." She paused. "Except, you're a guy, so I doubt it's as bad for you. It's the same with the Arrancar and the Shinigami- guys come in with an advantage." Lilinette reasoned, failing to perceive the irony, given how much trouble the young man had endured over the years.

Hanataro inhaled sharply, which caught her attention. "Lilinette," he began with effort, silently grateful that she couldn't see his face as he spoke. "You keep saying we're different because I'm a guy... But you never treat me like one." The young Shinigami offered sharply.

"Whaaat?" She groused, annoyed by his sour tone. "What are you talking about- what the heck is that even supposed to mean?" Lilinette snapped. "You're practically a kid compared to me, and I sure as hell don't owe you anything just cuz I'm a girl!" She replied.

"That's not the problem!" Hanataro countered, clearly frustrated. "You never think about anything you say or do around me..." He retorted, turning around suddenly, causing her to topple off him to the floor as he turned to glare at her. "You never think about what it's like for me, you don't take me seriously!"

Lilinette looked at him, her visible eye wide in confusion. "Okay, seriously, what crawled up your ass and died today Hanataro, because you're really starting to piss me off!" She exclaimed as she quickly got up and moved to confront him, her face now right in front of his.

"How can you be so dense?!" He retaliated, continuing with his rant before she had a chance to protest the remark. "You're not just an Arrancar, just like how I'm not just a Shinigami- you're also a girl, and I don't like being treated like I'm not a guy!" He explained. "You really should think more about what it's like for me when you're so close..." Hanataro trailed off, suddenly blushing at his declaration.

What happened next surprised him... Lilinette fell silent, as if processing what he'd just let slip, then her mouth went agape- followed by a similar crimson blush staining her features. Realization now seemed to have dawned on her, along with a sudden sense of embarrassment. Silence fell over the two of them, neither one able of willing to look the other in the eyes.

"So," Lilinette finally began, arms folded in front of her, not looking at him. "how long?" He blanched at the question, prompting her to elaborate. "How long have you been... 'aware' of me?" She asked.

He didn't look at her. "For a while," Hanataro replied, red-faced. "I may be young, b-but I'm still a guy, and..." He fumbled over his words. "A-and you're... more of a girl than you realize."

Both of them were blushing darkly as the silence once more resumed between them. Hanataro's hands were clenched on his lap and he was staring down at his knees. Lilinette's arms remained folded across her chest, while her partial gaze veered firmly to her right.

"For... Hanataro to notice such things," Lilinette remarked. "Must mean that you're not the clueless cub I thought you were?" She finished, looking at him.

He was surprised at the use of his full name. "Maybe, but I'm no 'wolf' yet... Though, with your help, I might be one, someday." He paused, still blushing. "If you think I can... and if your interested?"

Lilinette smirked, hearing his hopeful tone. "Sure... You're still got a lot of work, but you can become a strong wolf- down the road- if you work hard." She reasoned coolly.

He smiled bashfully, and the two youths quickly came to an understanding.

(- End of Chapter XI -)

I really like the frustrated adolescent dynamic between Hanataro and Lilinette that's developed during the course of this story. I don't subscribe to the idea of Hanataro as this glum comedy doormat. I prefer to explore his potential as a character, rather than as a punchline. And I was inspired to explore this pairing after reading another work by the prolific writer NovaAlexandria.

And what can I say about Ukitake and Unohana... Other than that I love them both, and love the idea of them as a couple even more! I stick by my earlier remarks that Jushiro is an exemplar of goodness and moral strength, along the same line as Gregory Peck. He's the rare, unflappable hero that we all admire and aspire to be like (or we should), and proof that going gray/white isn't the same thing as getting old! Hell, I turned thirty last year, and my hair's been going gray since I was nineteen... but maybe that's more a guy thing XD.