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TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW

Chapter XXIV:
"Between the Lines"

Soul Society...
Central Chamber, Assembly Hall...

"When the Ouken became unstable and destructed, an imperceptible rift in the fabric of reality formed at the epicenter of the area it once occupied." Szayel recounted. "Such an event is unique, an instance in which the scientific and the so-called paranormal overlap... Traditionally, these two fields would be antithetical to each other. And yet, now, the scope of what we're faced with has blurred those lines, thus requiring a more holistic approach to dealing with the matter."

Szayel was currently addressing the entirety of the Gotei Council- the twelve other Captains, along with Lieutenant Chojiro Sasakibe representing the 1st Division- in addition to the respective Lieutenants of each of the fourteen Divisions. All together, there were twenty-eight people in attendance- thirty, if you counted himself and his own Lieutenant, Nemu.

"Not long ago, while monitoring the 'anomaly'- as we shall refer it, for simplicity- my team registered what I can only label as a discharge of energy." Szayel went on. "Now, I call it 'energy', purely because that's the closest analogue. However, the truth is, it's totally unlike anything within the known spectrum or light or radiation, or any comparable reiki discipline. But right now, our most pressing concern are the 'pulses'- and I speak in the plural, because they continue to occur."

"If we first accept that the destruction of the Ouken was the catalyst for these pulses, and that they have continued since... Than the lingering matter is 'why'?" Szayel continued. "My own studies of the pulses have led me to believe that these events are in fact an 'engineered' phenomenon, intended to serve some as yet unknown purpose..." He paused. "I say this, because the duration of the interim periods between the pulses are decreasing- at a mathematically calculable rate of progression."

"Presently, the rate of decrease is holding at 2% less than the previous. The period between the first and second pulses we recorded was 30 days, while the period between the second and third was 29 days, 9 hours, and 24 minutes... After that, 28 days, 19 hours, and 12 minutes... And so on." Szayel paused to adjust his glasses. "However, if the rate of acceleration increases to just 5%... Well, then the pulses will become a weekly occurrence within ten months... Four months after that, they'll be occurring daily."

"Tell me, Captain Grantz," Shinji began, folding his arms. "Is there any working theory regarding the purpose of these 'pulses' or the staggered rate at which they're occurring?"

The pink-haired Arrancar nodded. "If there is, indeed, some form of 'guiding intelligence' behind them, we know nothing about them or their motives." Szayel began. "However, I suspect that this gradual rate of progression is indicative of caution on their part, or perhaps the limit of their capabilities."

"It sound almost like some kind of operational window." Captain Ukitake remarked. "Or rather, it could be likened a countdown... But counting down to what?" He mused.

"Perhaps," Shunsui began dryly, with a smile. "a countdown to doomsday?"

"Please, please," Szayel interjected. "We must avoid any kind of fear-mongering, intentional or not... Whatever we are dealing with, we cannot allow any hypothetical implications to color our views."

The Octavio Espada paused to collect himself. "I know... that genuine trust is a rare commodity in these difficult times." Szayel remarked. "However, we must have faith- in ourselves, and in each other." The pink-haired Hollow reasoned. "Somehow, I believe that the unity of this... organization of ours will be a determining factor in whether or not we ultimately prevail."

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

The Living Realm, Karakura...

Dario was seated before the window of the darkened room, illuminated by the light coming in through the window spanning the far wall. He rubbed the back of his neck, through his black hoodie. He looked up, toward the figure standing in the doorway. The pale-skinned, fair-haired man was dressed in a white military-style dress uniform, complete with polished jackboots and a cape.

"My, you seem upset, Herr Halschwach." Dario quipped with a chuckle, flashing a smile as the Quincy entered the room. "Has some problem arisen in your Lordship's scheme, perhaps?"

Halschwach frowned, not replying at first. "The Shinigami have become increasingly active in Huecco Mundo since the failed cou de ta." He replied after a moment, running a gloved hand through his hair, a disinterested expression on his face. "It was the original intention of our Jagadarmee- our 'Hunters'- to conscript the Hollows into a fighting force against the Shinigami." He explained.

"What an interesting notion." Dario commented offhandedly.

Wordlessly, the tall man walked over to the window, only a few feet from Dario's nearby seated figure. The Quincy placed his gloved hand against the cool surface of the glass, casting his gaze from the third floor window, outward- across the empty gravel lot below. "We have since been forced to abandon this part of our plans, in light of... recent events." Halschwach elaborated.

The man's expression darkened at this. "Our most recent intelligence indicates that the Shinigami have finalized a... a treaty, of all things, with the monsters of Huecco Mundo." Halschwach continued darkly as he addressed the other man. "This alliance, between the Shinigami and the Hollows... it was not foreseen. And so, it has necessitated that we adapt our strategy."

"How unfortunate." Dario replied, lighting a cigarette. "Though, I must say, I find it rather interesting that this eventuality had not been anticipated," he paused, to take a drag, after he had finished lighting the cigarette. "By anyone within the Wandenreich, not even your all-mighty Lord."

The Quincy turned away from the window. "When your people first reached out to us, proposing this alliance, it was our understanding that you and your fellows would be bringing something of practical merit to this union." Halschwach countered dryly. "And yet, so far, all you have brought is your insults and your heresy." He continued, taking a step towards him. "The Wandenreich is more powerful than you could ever dream of, and you would do well to remember that fact."

Dario met his gaze, and nodded. "But of course."

"The Shinigami's alliance with the Arrancar- with the very creatures that they once pledged themselves to destroy- is merely a temporary setback, nothing more." Halschwach proclaimed. "And it only serves as further proof of the desperation and depravity of Soul Society." His tone became more aggressive as he continued speaking. "Their time of reckoning is fast approaching- when our Empire will at last see its ancient enemy cast down- swept away, like so much dust in the wind!"

The hooded man exhaled, then smiled. "Well, I had no idea that you could be so... passionate. Or, that your people's hatred of the Shinigami ran so deep." He added.

"Indeed." Spoke a deep, slightly raspy voice, prompting Halschwach to turn around with a flourish of his cape, while Dario chuckled softly and took another puff from his cigarette.

From the darkness, a figure stepped out into the room. He was dressed in a long, black hooded coat- that brushed against the floor as he walked- that was totally buttoned up in the front. The hood cast a partial shadow over him, though the Quincy saw that the man's head and neck appeared to be wrapped in a thick layer of bandages- while a pair of black visor-like sun shades covered the eyes.

"Please, Dario," he began, an unseen mouth moving beneath the bandages covering him. "Do try to show more respect for our Quincy allies." The man finished in a muffled, raspy tone.

Dario nodded at this. "Sure, whatever you say, Mr. Crowley."

Crowley then turned to the other man. "And you, Mr. Haschwalsh," he began, addressing the Quincy standing before him. "I assure you that myself and my fellows Brethren are committed to this alliance." The shrouded figure assured. "Like you, we have been studying this City for some time, and we know that the veil between the realms has grown thin here."

Dario rose to his feet. "We've charted the movement and flow of spiritual energy across Karakura, and tracked these spiritual 'ley lines'- if you will- to a number of points..." He inserted, continuing the line of dialogue as he continued. "And we believe that these are the locations that the Shinigami manifest their dimensional portals- where they enter into this reality."

"Have you observed them arriving first-hand?" Halschwach inquired.

Dario nodded and Crowley spoke up. "Yes, in fact, one of the most common locations happens to be quite close to one of the specific targets you mentioned." He replied. "Now, I hope you will relay word of our good intentions." The man continued. "The Brethren are at the disposal of the Wandenreich."

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

"What do you mean 'Ichigo was kidnapped'?!" Tatsuki exclaimed.

Ishida tried to compose himself. "It all started when we were leaving, and he was jumped by this gang outside of the school gates..." The Quincy explained. "B-but that's not the issue. Right in the middle of the brawl... er, this white van suddenly rolled up..." He paused.

"And?" Tatsuki asked sharply.

Ishida winced slightly at his girlfriend's tone. "Well... This van appeared... And before I knew what was even happening, this woman jumped out of it." He went on. "She beat up all the guys attacking Ichigo, then grabbed him and tossed him in the back of her van and drove off!"

"This lady beat up a whole gang of thugs by herself?!" Orihime asked, having just arrived minutes ago after receiving the same text from Uryuu that Tatsuki and Chad had.

Tatsuki was gobsmacked at the news, though Chad kept things on topic. "What did she look like?"

"Well, um, from what I saw of her- and it all happened fast- but she looked like she was, maybe, in her mid-twenties to early thirties..." The bespectacled teen began. "She had dark hair- worn in a ponytail in the back- and was wearing a brown work-cap, with a pair of goggles fixed to it." Ishida fiddled with his glasses as he continued. "She was dressed in a tight long-sleeved shirt and a pair of jeans."

"And there was a logo on the front of her shirt," he flushed slightly at this. "Una... gi... Yeah, that's it, it said 'Unagi'- written in English, across her chest." Ishida finished, visibly blushing now.

"Wow, good job there, Uryuu." Tatsuki quipped. "It's a good thing you were paying so much attention to her chest when this all went down." The dark-haired tomboy chided.

"Eel?" Orihime mouthed to herself.

"Sounds like a company logo." Chad remarked evenly. "If it's a local business, then Urahara-san might know something about who this woman is." The swarthy teen reasoned.

"Oh, good thinking!" Orihime exclaimed, as she retrieved her cellphone. "Ulquiorra is working with Urahara-san right now, so I can call and ask him about this." The redhead declared as she brought up Ulquiorra's number on her contact list. "Okay, I'm dialing him right now."

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

Ulquiorra was seated at a table, looking over documents, in one of the many rooms in the sub-structure beneath Kisuke Urahara's Candy Shop and Convenience Store. The Espada, disguised in his gigai, ran a hand through his thick dark hair as he analyzed and translated a document.

Green eyes widened slightly as the room was suddenly filled with a digitized melody, prompting him to turn to his nearby cellphone. Ulquiorra retrieved the phone, a brief glance at the touch screen revealing that it was Orihime who was calling him. Mildly curious as to why she would be calling him, he tapped the 'pick up' graphic and held the phone up to his ear. "Yes?"

"Ulquiorra, you're not going to believe what happened!" Came Orihime's voice over the line.

Elsewhere, Kisuke Urahara was casually looking over financial documents, when he was alerted to the sound of someone entering the shop- through the door connecting it to the hidden facilities. The scruffy blonde turned toward the doorway of his small office in the back of the shop, meeting the figure of the disguised Espada, presently in his employ, with one of his usual leisurely smiles.

"Aw, Ulquiorra," Urahara began in a cheerful tone. "Is there something I can do for you?" The former Shinigami inquired, meeting the dour look of the Espada with his usual smiling visage.

Ulquiorra made a sour expression and closed his eyes, as if what he found the words he was about to speak repugnant, before shaking his head. "It would seem there's been an... incident," he paused as he chose his words. "...an incident involving Ichigo Kurosaki."

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

Soul Society...

Onigiri approached Nelliel, the blue-eyed, crimson-headed Arrancar quickly falling in-step with her as they made their way to the temporary hub of the 14th Division. "Captain Obberschank." He entreated, gaining the attention of the mint green-haired former Tercera Espada.

She met his icy blue eyes with her stormy gray ones. "Yes Lieutenant?" The female Arrancar began, her tone was subdued, but curious. "Is something wrong?"

The wild-haired swordsman spared a few quick furtive glances, which only served to further peak her curiosity, before looking back to her. "My Lady, before I departed from Huecco Mundo, I was present, along with many others- including Grimmjow Jaegerjacquez- when Ellsingar was summoned."

"Who is this... 'Ellsingar'?" Nell replied.

"She is..." He paused. "She is the Harbinger, the one who seeks... 'rapport' with the Skjein." Onigiri folded his arms across his chest, trying to find the right words. "It's difficult to explain... The Skjein is the 'tapestry', the story of the cosmos- formed by the threads of fate that tell the story of everything... The past, the present, and even that which has yet to be."

"You're saying she's a prophet?" The Captain asked, her tone measured. She mentally noted that the female Arrancar's name, as well as both the name and concept of this tapestry seemed almost Nordic. But then, the Hollow identity had always seemed more inclined to 'Western' thoughts and ideas.

Onigiri nodded. "Yes, that is a good word..." He continued with a smirk. "For most eyes, the Skjein is comprehensible, almost certainly madness-inducing." The warrior paused. "But Ellsingar, her eyes can see the individual threads, at least to a degree... And bits and pieces of the 'stories' within them." The Arrancar explained. "When she cast her sight upon the Skjein, she spoke of a great danger- she warned of an all-consuming darkness, that grow to threaten all life."

Nelliel regarded him for a moment. "And it is your belief that the 'pulses', from this rift in reality, that Szayel Grantz speaks of are in someway linked to this 'darkness' that she foresaw?"

"Yes." Onigiri replied, nodding emphatically. "We must move cautiously in the coming days."

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

The Living Realm...

"What have we here...? A nosy little magpie, perhaps?" The figure remarked, as he stepped out of the shadows, into the center of the room. "Are you a magpie or a man?"

The man looked up at the figure, as sweat trickled down his temples. His wrists and ankles were bound to a wooden chair with zip ties. Another man, dressed in a black sports-coat (over a white t-shirt) and a pair of dark slacks stood behind the chair, hovering over him, his gloved hands gripping the man by the shoulders and holding him in place, as the figure approached him.

"Wh- what the hell are you?!"

The figure was clad in a full-length dark black coat (buttoned all the way up to the collar), black boots and a pair of gloves. His head was concealed under what appeared to be a black balaclava, with a wide-brimmed hat (with a flat top) situated atop his head, with the face concealed behind what looked to be the white mask of a midevil "Plague Doctor"- extending outward like the "beak" of some giant bird- his eyes hidden behind opaque red lenses set in the eye-sockets of the mask.

"Why, I'm a Doctor, of Course." He replied.

The masked figure turned away from him, opening up a set of tools. "Be sure to hold him still, Hans, we don't want thing getting messy." He instructed the other man. "And now," the man began, holding a medical instrument in his gloved hand, "tell me, my dear fellow... Is it safe?" He asked coolly.

"W-what?"

A brief, muffled chuckled came from behind the mask. "Is it safe?" He asked again. "I can't heal you if you don't first tell me what's wrong with you..." He paused. "Now, is it safe?"

The man identified as "Hans" held him down as he tried to struggle, all while the masked man moved towards him, the light glinting off the instrument gripped in his hand.

"Now now, just relax..."

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

Division Ten HQ...

Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya was firmly aware of how the vast majority of people around him perceived him, that regardless of his rank or power, his youth was the first thing that came to mind.

Not that he'd cared... After all, as long as those serving under him followed his orders and showed him the respect he was due, than he was content to leave them to their inner musings. He'd made a point not to think of himself as the 'boy captain', but as the Captain of the Tenth.

Not that any of this was helped by the fact that other Captains, the very people who should have been supporting him in his efforts to maintain an air of authority, were undermining him!

Chief among them was the two most egregious culprits- Captain Shunsui Kyoraku and Captain Jushiro Ukitake of the Eighth and the Thirteenth Divisions. The former often teased him, mainly about the fact of how 'unfair' it was that 'a boy' like himself ("Toshiro-kun", as he called him) should have 'Ran-chan' as his Lieutenant. While the latter was regularly trying to present him with candy or some other such nonsense, also while addressing him as "Toshiro-kun"!

Hitsugaya sometimes wondered how the two of them, and others more generally, would view him if they actually knew him. That in spite of his youth and young-looking appearance, that his thoughts and interests were anything but childish! Even better, how would they and all the others react if they knew what he got up to with 'Ran-chan' when others weren't around...

He smirked and leaned back, thinking to himself that it might almost be worth it, just to see the looks on their faces- on everyone's faces, especially the men- if they knew unequivocally that Rangiku and he were involved. Oh, how he sometimes longed to make clear to all the hyenas lusting after her that she was most definitely not on the market, as it were. Would they be jealous? He hoped so! If nothing else, the men wouldn't look at him as a clueless boy anymore. Hell, they might even be impressed!

His pen set aside, he felt a wave of smug pride wash over him. After all, he knew what her lips tasted like, same as he knew that her strawberry-blonde locks were just as silky to the touch as they appeared, and that the scent of her body was indeed as sweet as they imagined it to be.

Yet, there were things he knew about her that he wanted to keep to himself. Like how she could be so sweetly shy or even bashful at times. Or the way her cheeks flushed a lovely rosy shade of pink when he kissed her knuckles, and how she closed her eyes as she waited for him to kiss her- those pink lips parted ever so slightly, and her cheeks flushed, before he finally closed the gap between them.

Sooner or later, he was going to have to make things clear about the two of them. And if he was honest with himself, a part of him (likely spurred on in-part by Hyorinmaru) liked the idea of finally dropping all pretenses and 'busting some heads' in the name of Rangiku's honor.

After all, what the saying...? "A man gotta do what a man's gotta do?"

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

Dario slid open the heavy doorway, and ventured out onto the gravel lot, his steps underscored by the crunching sound of tiny rocks- rubbing against each other, beneath his tennis shoes. He paused, taking one last drag off his cigarette, then dropping it and grinding it underfoot.

He turned to see Hawk appear. "Hey, Dario, I'm all out, spot me one." He called, prompting the man to eventually nod and wordlessly toss his pack of cigarettes- lighter and all- to him. "Thanks," he replied, catching it. "So, c'mon then, what's your take on these guys anyway?" He asked, as he removed one of the cigarettes from the pack and lit it. "They any good?"

Dario clicked his tongue, mulling over the question. "Well," he started. "Let me put it this way- there's certainly a hell of a lot of them." He replied with a small smirk. "That, and I got the distinct impression that they've been preparing for very long time- secretly building up their numbers, all while plotting the downfall of the Soul Reapers..." He paused. "Their hatred for the Shinigami seems to be the singular focus of their very society for countless generations."

Hawk tossed the packet of cigarettes back to him. "Yeah, about that," he began. "This whole situation sounds kind of fucked up." The man replied. "I mean, I get that they don't like 'em. But it's like they've taken their hate-on for the Shinigami and turned it into some kind of religion."

The man in the black hoodie nodded. "You're closer than you realize." He spoke. "There's a lot of bad blood between them." Dario continued. "Conflicting philosophies, and all that." He turned to leave the lot, with Hawk following behind him. "Eventually, they fought, and the Shinigami won- drove them so deep into hiding after that, that they assumed there were none of 'em left."

"And now, they want revenge." Slash declared, standing before the two of them. "Sid and Nancy have arrived- they're in the city, along with Lenny and the others." He revealed. The man was dressed in his usual attire, including his long coat, with his dark hair- as always- pulled into long dreadlocks.

"You got any opinions about this, eh Slash?" Hawk asked.

He regarded the other man for a moment. "As long as they remain of some use, I could care less about their vendetta with the Shinigami." He replied calmly. "No doubt, they view us in much the same way, they're using us- but then, we're also using them."

Dario chuckled. "And in the end, we all get we want, and everyone's happy."

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

"A logo with an eel and 'Unagi' written in English?" Urahara replied, while a look of genuine surprise briefly graced his features, eliciting a nod from the dark-haired Espada. "Yes, in fact, I happen to know who you're looking for..." The scruffy blonde continued, as he rose from his seat. "It's the official logo for 'Unagiya Services'." His clothing was limp, obviously not having been ironed in some time.

"You know of this... this company?" Ulquiorra countered disbelievingly.

"Oh yeah," Urahara began as he made his way over to a nearby filing cabinet. "Despite what you think of me and how I run my operation, I still happen to own and manage a local business." He remarked as he pulled one of the drawers open. "In this day and age, with ever-increasing foreign encroachment, it's even more important to keep small local businesses running and healthy." He explained with a smile as he sorted through the files. "Both Unagiya Services and Urahara Goods happen to be official members of the Karakura Local Business Guild." The man explained with a smile.

"Aw, here it is." He announced proudly, before producing a file from the drawer, which he then opened and began looking through. "Let's see... Okay!" Urahara exclaimed. "Unagiya Services... Owned and operated by a Miss Ikumi Unagiya." He recounted, adjusting the brim of his hat. "It's a rather unusual company... They, er, I suppose you'd call them a jack-of-trades type. "Really, the best way I can think to put is to that... If you have something you need done, than you go to them."

He handed a small card to Ulquiorra. "The address listed here is the location of the shop, so you should be able to find them." Urahara reasoned. "I mean, Unigiya-san can be- let's say- 'eccentric' and perhaps a bit forceful at times..." The blonde man paused "But I highly doubt, regardless of her actions, that she harbors any sinister or untoward motives toward young Kurosaki."

Ulquiorra nodded. "I'm sure that will come as a great relief for them."

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

Division Two HQ...

Soifon has recently arrived at her Office, and was now seated at her desk. "I hope you can appreciate the significance of the post that I'm offering to you," the slender woman began. "as well as the fact that I am extending this offer to you, Zhaoshi?" The black-ops leader continued.

"Indeed, a great honor." The man replied, bringing his hands up- left hand closed and right hand open- as he brought them together and nodded in salute. "After I became aware of my powers and eventually was enrolled in the Shinigami's academy, I hardly could have imagined that I would be considered for such a prestigious position as the one you've presented me."

Zhaoshi knelt down. His long black hair was drawn into a braid in the back, while a headband adorned his brow, framed by dark forelocks on either side. He lacked facial hair on his slender features, and had dark near-black eyes. The sleeves of his black kimono were tucked into layered forearm gauntlets, with the legs of his hakama tucked into similar leg-guards below the knees. "Lady Suifeng, if you deem me to be worthy, then I cannot refuse the honor." He finished.

She nodded. "Then be sure to address me by my rank, Lieutenant." Soifon replied. "As for my name, I am known 'Soifon' here, my real name would only confuse the others." The female Captain added, with just the slightest hint of a smirk at the last part. "Here, this badge is the proof of your new Office." She finished as she handed him his Lieutenant badge across the desktop.

He bowed his head and saluted again. Soifon returned the gesture, giving him a simple nod of her own, before he rose to his to his feat and- with a final bow- turned to leave.

Soifon started looking over the official Division documents. However, when she was only about half through them, she felt a familiar unease. The lithe female blushed faintly in realization, before setting the document in her hands down. "I wonder... where Ggio is right now?" She mused with a smile.

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

By the time the assembled search party of Ishida, Tatsuki, Chad, and Orihime had managed to locate the business run by the woman who'd duct-taped and shanghaied Ichigo, the four teens were greeted by a rather underwhelming sight upon arriving at the small two-story corner shop...

That of Ichigo, with a broom in hand, calmly sweeping the floors. The orange-haired looked up from his work, the expression on his face somewhere between apathetic and mild annoyance. His total non-reaction to their sudden arrival, combined with the lack of peril or urgency in his demeanor, lead to a tangible silence falling over them all. It was eventually broken by the sound of another voice, just out of sight, calling to Ichigo- prompting all them to turn toward the foot of the nearby stairs.

The woman was much as Uryuu had described her- dark-haired and buxom, clad in a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved shirt that hugged her figure, with the word "Unagi" (written in thick black letters) and a cartoon eel scrawled across her chest. She kept a gloved hand on the railing as she descended the steps, the whole way moving with a confident stride and alert expression.

"Hey, Ichigo, what's all the commot-" Ikumi began, only to stop mid-sentence. "Oh, I see! These must be friends of yours from school!" The the dark-haired woman declared, earning a halfhearted nod from the orange-haired teen. "Well, sorry to have troubled you all, but you'll be happy to know that we had a nice productive talk, and I'm proud to say that Ichigo-kun is now my employee."

With that, four sets of eyes turned to the youth in question. Ichigo shrugged. "Yeah, so," he began in a dull tone. "I guess I've got a part-time job now."

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

Division Four HQ...

Captain Retsu Unohana entered her office, only to stop in her tracks- just a few feet into the room- as she closed her eyes and tried to maintain control of herself as her stomach burbled and churned. Before the female Captain could even begin to formulate a response to the unwelcome feeling, she was forced to abruptly exit the office- at the behest of her own body...

Not long after this, Lieutenant Isane Kotetsu would arrive, only to be met by the sight of the door left open and office. Instantly, the tall silver-haired woman knew that something was amiss with the scene. And so, after leaving the stack of folders she'd been carrying in the office, she closed the sliding door and promptly set out in search of her wayward Captain...

Isane eventually located her Captain in the nearby restroom. The normally serene-looking woman was hunkered over the lavatory. She looked pale, kneeling as she was, beads of perspiration on her temples, and strands of her dark hair falling loose from her braid and clinging to her forehead. Unohana wiped her mouth, before looking to her Lieutenant. However, she didn't respond as their eyes met.

"Captain...?" Isane began. "What's going on, what's wrong?" She asked as she moved to kneel beside the older woman, her medical training kicking in. The female Shinigami looked tired... Worse then that, she looked exhausted, as if she'd been concealing the extent of her ailment.

"Sudden bouts of dizziness and nausea in the morning..." Unohana recounted. "Isane, I... I've been working in medicine long enough to know what the symptoms mean." She replied, accepting a damp washcloth from the younger woman. At this, Isane blushed as realization dawned on her.

"W-wait, you mean...?" The Lieutenant began.

The woman nodded. "Yes." She replied, wiping off her brow. "I'm no spring maiden, I've been alive as a soul for almost three-quarters of a millennium... And I thought that I'd seen or experienced everything there was by now." She paused, taking a breath. "And yet, at my age, I suddenly find myself faced with something that I never would have imagined possible- especially after all this time."

"Captain...?" Isane inquired, silver brows raised, already knowing the answer.

Unohana smiled wearily to herself, took a moment, and nodded. "I'm pregnant."

(- End of Chapter XXIV... -)

Happy New Year Everyone!