Okay, first off, I just wanna say thanks to taity and "RG-Guest" for their reviews. That said, I'm really looking forward to seeing what you guys (and by that, I mean all of you) think of this and the next few chapters.
As for the chapter: Well, it's happened again... The final cursory once-over ended up becoming a much more lengthy editing process than I anticipated.
While I wasn't totally satisfied with the previous chapter, I am quite happy with this chapter (as well as the next one). There's a lot going on in this, though it's far more focused this time. I wanted to focus on the key supporting couples (beyond UlquiHime)- in this case, GgioSoi, and RenArachne.
TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW
Chapter XXX:
"Couples Holiday, Part 1"
Soul Realm...
Renji held open the doors as he and Arachne approached the reception desk. The Shinigami finally had gotten some time off from his division duties, and had made reservations for the weekend at a secluded hot-springs inn, to enjoy some time indulging in his relationship with the attractive Arrancar.
The inn really was an ideal place for the two of them to escape. It had been recommended to him by a friend from another division. He'd described it as the perfect getaway, somewhere where couples could spend time together while enjoying some much-needed privacy. Renji blushed faintly at the current line thought, recalling a further addendum regarding the inn: that it was highly recommended to couples, or more specifically 'young couples with lots of energy.'
At present, Renji was out of his black robes and decked out in a pair of jeans and a tight-fitting t-shirt that Arachne always seemed to appreciate him in. Zabimaru was tucked inside the satchel slung across his shoulder. Arachne was similarly out of her usual exotic garb, trading her cleavage-exposing black gown and flowing cape for a sleeveless blouse and a skirt. She was holding her belonging in a satchel under her arm, and her sword was bundled up alongside his own.
Funnily enough, the Shinigami wasn't hearing any of the usual complaints from the normally mouthy Snake and Monkey duo that embodied the spirit of his Zanpakuto...
They stopped as soon as they spotted Captain Soifon and Ggio Vega standing at the front counter of the establishment, as the employee across from them- an older woman clad in a kimono- handed them their room keys. As the female Shinigami and the male Arrancar then turned from the counter, it was just in time to register the presence of the other couple standing at the far end of the room...
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
The Living Realm, Karakura...
Orihime was seated on the couch, next to Ulquiorra, in the living room of the apartment...
It was the very same couch that the Gigai-clad Arrancar beside her had been using as a bed for the last year, since coming to live with her in the Living Realm after the end of the war. It was a less than ideal arrangement for their living situation, and even less ideal for Ulquiorra's vertebrae.
However, the lease on the apartment would soon expire in the next few months, and they were giving serious consideration to acquiring larger accommodations for themselves. If possible, Orihime wouldn't be adverse to simply just relocating to one of the available two-bedroom units. The building was within walking distance of school, and only a short bus ride to either of their jobs. They'd done some checking online in order to get an idea of what was a reasonable price to pay.
Even though all traces of the recent Quincy attack had since been removed, thanks to Soul Society's thorough clean-up effort, the memory of the intrusion still lingered to a degree.
For the moment, however, their immediate focus was on other things: specifically, spending their day off together, just enjoying each others company, in recognition their "anniversary". They'd worked out the date when Ulquiorra had approached her in Las Noches and declared his intentions to her...
"A matter of some importance has occupied my thoughts of late. I find myself... conflicted. I know that I exist to serve Aizen-sama. This was enough... But now, that has changed."
Orihime looked at him- his skin was so pale, like porcelain. His inhuman green eyes were the only part of him that wasn't a monochrome black or white. "Ulquiorra...?" She started, moving toward him.
"You, woman, you have changed everything." He took another step. "I have come to know what it is to desire... Something intangible, but no less real." Another step. "I find myself faced with a choice... the first real choice I have ever had to make: to choose between duty and desire..."
Orihime sighed contentedly at the memory and smiled as smiled as she felt his arm snake around her. She leaned into him, reflecting on how, even with his limited vocabulary, that his words still held such impact and resonance in them as he had spoken to her in her room.
The nearby TV screen flickered to life as Ulquiorra held out the remote.
"No! I can't let you do this." Orihime countered, moving closer to him. "You told me yourself that it was pointless to defy Aizen... And you're right!" She implored frantically, more out of fear for him than for herself. "Ulquiorra... I- I refuse to get you killed over me!"
"You don't understand," he replied, taking another step. "In this cold world of eternal darkness, you are... warmth and light." Ulquiorra offered calmly, while Orihime's heart raced as he advanced upon her like a predator. "Because of you, I desire, I thirst, I crave." He spoke, as he unzipped his jacket.
Orihime's eyes widened. "Ulquiorra, what are you-"
Her protest was silenced as he reached out and caught her wrist, gently drawing her to him. Without a word, he placed her captured hand on his now-exposed chest, over his Hollow Hole. She blushed at the contact, and the odd almost 'tingling' sensation she felt on her palm, now so close to this intimate part of himself, that defined him as a Hollow. "You feel it, don't you?" He resumed.
"There is no heart in my chest... And yet, by your own words, the 'true' heart is not something that can be seen or touched." Ulquiorra continued evenly, as Orihime's entire body practically smoldered under his intense gaze. "I confess, this concept is nebulous to me, but... If you are willing, than I will remain by your side so that you might help me reach some understanding."
In that private moment between them, it really was impossible for her to dissuade him from following a course of action she believed would surely lead to disaster for him and heartbreak for herself. Orihime considered this point, wondering just how long she'd harbored feelings for him.
As she pondered over this point, she was pulled back to reality by the sound of the microwave chiming in the kitchen. Orihime swiftly got to her feet, leaving Ulquiorra to handle the remote as she returned to the living room with a bowl of popcorn in hand, which she set down between them as she reclaimed her spot on the couch, nestled comfortably against him.
The wording was a bit awkward, but she had more than understood...
The Espada's hands moved to her waist and he pulled her to him, so that her body was flush against his. "I am not human, and I lack the insight to speak as one... So my vow to you now is as a Hollow." Ulquiorra went on. "If you can accept me for what I am... Then I will always protect you, I will never abandon you, and I will do whatever it takes to prove that I alone am worthy of you." He finished, bringing her delicate hand to his lips and place a kiss upon it.
Orihime smiled warmly, her experience with the Arrancar allowing her to discern the deeper meaning in his words. A meaning, she suspected, that he didn't fully realize. "Ulquiorra, I never knew you could be so romantic." She replied almost teasingly. "I want- I need to believe in you... I need to believe that some good will come of all this." She cupped the sides up his face, looking into his eyes as she traced his 'tear' lines with her thumbs. "You promise that you'll never leave me?"
Ulquiorra nodded resolutely. "I swear."
"Then I accept." She stood up on the tips of her feet, pressing her lips against his. He emitted a noise that sounded almost like a growl to the girl as he snaked his arms possessively around her slim frame, before tilting his head slightly and deepening the kiss. After a moment, they eventually parted and she rested her head against the crux of his neck.
She blushed as the memory, but was quick to quash the feeling. While back in reality, the image on the screen changed, indicating the movie was about to start...
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
The last thing Soifon was expecting was to run into someone she knew, let alone someone from Soul Society that she knew professionally. And yet, there they stood, the red-haired, tattooed Lieutenant of the Sixth Division along with his dark-haired Arrancar girlfriend.
Soifon had been swamped with her duties as the Captain of the Second Division and the head of the Black-Ops Stealth Corps. Really, it was only thanks to the incredibly efficiency of her new second-in-command that she finally felt comfortable enough to be able to entrust the operation of her Division to another. Lieutenant Zhaoshi was proving to be a godsend for her sanity. While she had Ggio to turn to in her private life, it was just as important having someone to ease the burden of leadership.
Shortly before they had departed, Soifon had divested herself of her braids. Since she'd begun growing her hair out, the distinctive twin lengths were fast becoming an impediment to her, especially as they were almost entirely decorative and didn't match her hairline. Her hair was much the same in the front with the blunt-cut bangs left intact. However, the hair on the sides was still catching up with her collar-length hair in the back, jutting outward slightly over her ears rather than falling straight.
The petite woman was dressed in a green tunic, with white sleeves, and gold fabric adorning the cuffs and along edges from the collar to the hemline. She also wore a pair of white leggings and slippers that matched her tunic. Suzumebachi was tucked away into the duffel bag she had with her. By comparison, her male companion's thick black main was pulled into its usual braid in the back, with the same loose bangs framing his features in the front. Ggio was dressed in a loose-fitting white shirt that buttoned up the front, along with a pair of dark gray pants and sandals.
"...Captain Soifon?" Renji began after a moment, more than a little confused, breaking the silence between them while Arachne simply looked on.
"...Lieutenant Abarai?" Soifon replied, her own expression mirroring the look mild confusion visible in the man's face, as Ggio kept silent while standing at her side.
And then, Arachne finally spoke up, breaking the silence- and ice- as she advanced to introduce herself to the bewildered petite woman. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Captain Soifon." She began with a toothy smile, clasping her smaller hand in hers. "My name is Arachne Von Gewindes. And it's a great honor to finally have the chance to be in the presence of another female warrior- especially, one so powerful and respected as yourself." The Arrancar added enthusiastically.
The overture seemed to have worked, as Soifon eventually managed a smile. "You- you, uh, flatter me, Von Gewindes-san." She managed. "And you as well, it's a pleasure to meet you."
"Please, just call me Arachne."
With the women having taken care of the respective greetings, both Renji and Ggio gave mutual sighs of relief as their partners/counterparts smiled and shook hands. The dark-haired cat-like Hollow looked over to the much taller Shinigami, giving the inked man what he hoped was an appropriately disarming smile for the situation. Thankfully, the effort was successful, as the redhead just awkwardly rubbed the back of his scalp and responded with a smile of his own.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Orihime and Ulquiorra sat on the couch watching the story unfold before them...
The young woman had initially been surprised when Ulquiorra had first revealed that he'd purchased something purely for himself while at the video store in the mall, when she was picking up her regular weekly manga publications, but curiosity had soon won out. Especially so when he mentioned to her that they should set aside some time to watch the DVDs he'd bought.
The opening scene of the movie had been of a man- fair-skinned and scruffy-faced, with intense blue-gray eyes and medium brown hair that touched at his collar in the back. He was watching an American wrestling match taking place in New York, back in 1985.
It wasn't long before he flashed back to another time: specifically, fifteenth century Scotland. The same man was alive in this time, albeit now sporting flowing hair and clad in furs and a tartain kilt, despite it being over four hundreds years before the time of the first scene. He was going off to war, alongside his kinsmen- the Macleod Clan (pronounced "Ma-Cloud") to fight warriors of the rival Frazier clan in the Highlands. Among the Fraziers, one man in particular had stood out...
Orihime instantly found the man frightening. Even without his skeletal armor, flowing cape, and skull-shaped helmet with it's long crest of black feathers, he was still extremely intimidating. He was tall and imposing, and his pail complexion was dominated by a pair of penetrating dark eyes- set below hairless brows- along with sharp cheekbones and a broad jaw, and he spoke with a deep voice. He instructed the Fraziers to ignore a single man, named Connor Macleod, who he intended to kill himself.
While the Fraziers went out of their way to avoid Connor, the intimidating man made a b-line directly towards him, dismounting from his black horse when he spotted him. Connor held his own blade aloft and charged the monster, only to end being pierced by the armored warrior's massive longsword, who twisted the blade within him as he declared "there can be only one!"
The "flashback" ended with Connor's fellow kinsman Angus and a number of others all tackling the large warrior and separating them from each other. Though, Connor's wound proved to be a grievous one, and he fell to the ground- his eyes glazing over as he stared blackly up at the sky...
Back in the then present of 1985, the man known as Connor hastily exited the stadium and made his way into the underground car park, only to be confronted by a red-haired man- clad in a contemporary business suit and dark sunglasses, and wielding a single-handed rapier of an exotic design.
"Macleod!" The man called.
"Fazil," Connor replied. "wait-"
But the man didn't wait, wasting no time in instigating a surprisingly acrobatic sword battle between the two of them, with Connor drawing an exotic katana from his old trenchcoat to defend himself...
What next unfolded on the screen was an impressive, and surprisingly acrobatic, battle between the two swordsmen in the car park. At first, the attacker appeared to have Connor fully on the defensive, as they crossed blades in a flurry of sparks. This man, addressed as "Fazil" as he was called, even managed to briefly disarm Connor during their battle, forcing him to scramble to retrieve his fallen katana.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
After their initially awkward run-in at the resort, Arachne's openness towards the female Shinigami had warmed the normally prickly woman to the situation. In fact, things had gone so well from that point on that the two couples had found themselves split up and regrouped by gender in the separated baths.
The truth of the matter was that the two differing couples had come to the place for the same reasons, chiefly to get away from everything else and just enjoy themselves. And so, Arachne and Soifon ended up in the women's baths, with Renji and Ggio in the men's baths...
The two men had seemed to hit it off with little trouble, though Soifon still felt some lingering unease as she sat across from the Arrancar. The lithe woman's collar-length hair ghosted just above the water, while the more exotic female's long silky locks were submerged, like underwater tendrils.
The smaller woman wasn't quite sure just what it was that was preventing her from relaxing while in the other woman's presence... Though, the sight of the female's much larger 'assets', seated across from her, half-submerged in the steaming water, certainly wasn't helping her to cope with the long-standing insecurities about herself that still nagged her even to this day.
She may have been an Arrancar, but she still had the sort of figure that any man would go crazy over, regardless of her species. Where as Soifon, at least in her own estimation, was cursed with a small body and the meager breasts and narrow hips that came with it. She'd never had cause to feel insecure about her body... but now, well, things were different. And what was she when compared to the full round breasts and wide hips of the woman sitting across from her...
As if sensing the other woman's lingering unease, Arachne spoke up. "Captain, unlike the rest of your female associations, there's no professional connection between us." She began. "So there's no need for you to keep up appearance with me." She spoke. "You can just be yourself around me."
A moment passed, then the petite woman nodded. "Yes, you're right." She replied. "It's just that... I've spent so much of my life living up to others expectations of me, that I'm only just now starting to figure out who the real me is... and how to be that person." Soifon admitted.
"Though," she went on. "Having Ggio in my life, living this past year beside me... has certainly been a major help to me..." Soifon went on, blushing faintly as she spoke. "I'd like to believe that having him in my life has helped me to open up as a person." The Shinigami concluded with a slight smile.
Arachne smiled back, nodding knowingly. "Indeed, Miss Soifon," she replied. "I've always believed the greatest pleasure in life is simply being with someone who makes you happy, who completes you."
Soifon eased back, sinking a bit deeper into the water. "Please, just call me Soifon."
The spider-like Arrancar smiled. "In that case then, thank you, Soifon." She replied as she made herself comfortable, and Soifon closed her eyes, the two women falling into a comfortable silence.
Eventually, Soifon opened her eyes, confirming that Arachne's eyes were still closed. She decided to seize her chance, as it were, to get a better look at her. The Arrancar's breasts were firm and round and glistened slightly with perspiration, and (from what she see of them) the nipples were darker than hers. A pair of full hips and long legs resided beneath the surface.
Just then, a pair of deep crimson opened, meeting her own. "Sorry, I..." Soifon hesitated, embarrassed at being caught staring. "It's just you're so tall and curvy, especially compared to me, so I figure it must be nice having a body like yours." She admitted to her.
Again, Arachne smiled. "Soifon, at the risk of seeming forward..." She started. "Tell me, has Ggio ever expressed anything other than his utmost desire for you?"
Soifon's blush darkened, but she shook her head. "As I thought." Arachne continued gently, while she addressed the woman across from her. "You see, there's more to being attractive than just looks, it also takes confidence and a certain poise- both of which you have, as a Captain."
"Now, as to looks... Well, beauty is subjective." The Arrancar paused. "But it's quite obvious that Ggio finds you very attractive." Arachne continued. "And considering how powerful you are, I think it says a lot that the tiger was willing to risk his very life to win your favor."
At this, Soifon smiled softly. "He's nothing like what I expected." She began. "I've always had a hard time trusting others..." She paused. "And I didn't know what to make of him, or how to react... I mean, I'm not an Arrancar, I've never been courted before. How was I supposed to react..."
"It wasn't totally dissimilar with Renji." Arachne replied with a knowing smile. "Not being a Hollow himself, he was unprepared in certain regards... But he learned quickly." She added salaciously.
"It's funny..." The Shinigami commented. "I don't think any of the men around me would have had the nerve to approach me... Knowing my reputation within the Gotei 13, they probably thought I'd castrate them just for suggesting the idea." Soifon reasoned. "But Ggio, he was different... And even though he knew I could kill him with little effort, he still persisted."
"Perhaps a fresh perspective was needed, an Arrancar perspective?" Arachne offered.
"Maybe you're right." Soifon replied bashfully, silence briefly falling between them. "So... As long as we're both being all out in the open with each other." The woman continued. "How are things between you and Lieutenant Abarai?" She asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
"In a word," Arachne replied with a smile. "Wild."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
The two watched the scene played out, as Connor reclaimed his sword, and reengaged the other man in a frenetic duel... All the while, Orihime observed with quiet amusement, as Ulquiorra watched the fight intently, his green eyes taking in every move of the two blades.
Finally, Connor succeeded in disarming Fazil. Their eyes met for an instant, and it that brief moment, something unspoken passed between them, before Connor then wordlessly took his head... only for the decapitated body to crackle with energy: blowing out lights fixtures, triggering sprinklers, and setting off car alarms in the process- before this "energy" entered into Connor.
Connor then hid his sword and tried to get away- his flight from the car park inter-cut with flashbacks to the past, of himself "dieing" from his wound, then as his miraculously recovery was linked attributed to him being in-league with the Devil, and his banishment from his village... Spared death thanks to the intervention of his kinsman Angus, who swore never to forget.
In 1985, an old sedan cruised across the Brooklyn Bridge in the night, all while a woman gave a news report over the radio inside the car:
"...reports are now coming in: of the discovery of a decapitated body, lying in a pool of its own blood, next to the victem's own severed head. A head, which as of now, has no name."
"I know his name." The driver rasped sardonically, as he produced a cassette from his pocket, which he inserted into the side-loading deck player. The car quickly filled with the Queen's Gimme the Prize, as the driver was then revealed to look uncannily like the man who'd stabbed Connor!
It was at this point, that Orihime suddenly realized that she somehow understood what the people were saying in the film... Despite that it wasn't dubbed and the subtitles had never been enabled!
When Orihime related this discovery to the dark-haired man seated beside her, his only response to this revelation came in the form of a knowing smirk and a slight chuckle. She'd quickly discovered that one of the few expressions he regularly gave (aside from disinterest), was this little sly confident smile, that made it instantly clear that he already knew what you were about to tell him.
Not that this was the only look he gave, but as far as Orihime was concerned, it was definitely one of the more infuriating things about him- about as close to smug as she'd ever seen him get. After a bit, he relented and responded. "Urahara believes I possess a form of empathic telepathy."
Ulquiorra continued. "He alerted me to this ability after subjecting me to an extensive aptitude test, in which I achieved a perfect score on the language spectrum." He continued. "It would seem that I have the ability to instinctively understand the meaning of words, through a form of telepathy." He gestured toward his head "As a result, my brain translates what I hear, in a form that I understand."
Orihime's warn brown eyes widened. "That's incredible, Ulquiorra."
"Perhaps, though I doubt it's exclusive to me." He replied. "The truth, I suspect, is that any sufficiently evolved Hollow has this ability to some degree." The Cuatro reasoned. "It might be a side-effect of our evolution to higher forms, or it might be the result of us being comprised of many different souls, but it does have it's uses in the end, I suppose." Ulquiorra concluded.
"But how does this have any effect on me?" The redhead inquired.
"If I were to guess..." Ulquiorra resumed thoughtfully. "The ability isn't something that I'm consciously aware of." He rubbed his chin as he continued. "And, if it really is empathic in nature, then that factor- combined with our continued close proximity- and of courser, your importance to me... Might imply that my own thoughts of you have extended the ability to encompass you as well."
"Y-you must think about me a lot." Orihime teased, blushing.
He fixed her with his gaze, as his lips curved into a devious smile. "More than you realize, Princesa." The disguised Arrancar replied, her cheeks burning as he cupped her chin and leaned in close enough for her to feel his arm breath on her lips. "I would hope by now that I have proven to you that there is nothing I would not do for you, my dear Orihime." He finished, capturing her lips in a heated kiss.
The girl moaned, trapped between the arm of the couch and the powerful Espada. She gasped slightly as she felt his tongue- the slick muscle brushing against her own. After a few moments of this passed, he drew back from her and licked his lips, fixing her with a predatory smile.
The flustered young woman brushed a hand through her long flowing hair. "Well, I- I guess that's just another reason for the two of us to stick together." Orihime managed, her cheeks still red.
"As if we didn't have enough reasons all ready."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
While Soifon and Arachne were enjoying the women's baths, on the other side of the dividing fence, Renji and Ggio were having quite a different experience all together...
Renji's had let his hair down, his deep crimson main spilling down into the water, while he leaned back against the edge of the onsen, the water stopping below his chest as his arms rested on the lip. His eyes were closed at the moment, as little puffs of steam rose up around him.
After they'd settled into their respective rooms, they'd all changed out of their clothing and into simple kimonos before heading out. In the hallway, they passed a young woman in a kimono matching the one worn by the older woman in the reception room. She'd taken a quick look at Renji and Arachne, before sharing a brief, knowing smile with the female- like some silent conversation had occurred.
Ggio had actually gone so far as to undo his braid, so that his long black hair hung free. The hot water covered his shoulders, stopping below his chin. His smooth skin was and unmarked, save for the bright red stripes adorning his body- from his cheeks, to his his hips. Because of the condensation, his Hollow mask fragment glistened in a similar fashion to the rest of him.
Similarly, Soifon had received a look from one of the female attendants, only for her to blush as Ggio looked on in confusion. He had been just as confused when the young woman murmured a comment to the lithe Shinigami, followed by the two of them walking in silence...
After a while, Renji brushed his hair out of his eyes and looked over to the Arrancar across from him, as his dark eyes meet the Fraccion's golden ones. "Ggio-san," he began. "If you don't mind me asking, how have things been for you since you came to Soul Society?" He asked. "I realize it can't have been the easiest transition for you- coming to live amongst your former enemies."
The cat-like Hollow regarded the tattooed man for a moment. "You can just call me Ggio." He replied in a friendly tone. "Well, for one thing... it sometimes seems like the other Shinigami don't think of me as a Hollow, but just as Soifon's boy toy." He confessed. "Still, aside from that, I really can't complain, seeing as I get to be with Soifon... So if I had to describe it in a word, I'd say 'wonderful'."
Renji nodded. "Having someone with you really can make all the difference." The Soul Reaper replied with a smile. "Since meeting Arachne, I can't ever recall feeling as contented as I do now."
Ggio gave a smile of his own. "There's no better way to live life than with a good mate at your side." The Arrancar answered. "We're both lucky to have such amazing women in our lives."
And for a moment, the two men were quiet, taking some time to enjoy the trays of sake that had been left for them by the attendants. "As long as we're talking," Ggio started. "I can't help but admit to some curiosity about your relationship with Arachne." He went on. "The two of you are unique, given you're the only male Shinigami- so far, that is- to be mated with a female of my kind." He paused, to sip sake from his cup. "How does it compare, being with a Hollow?"
The Shinigami in question smiled, taking a sip from his cup. "Well, the short answer, is 'different'." He replied with a smirk. "As for the long answer... She might not have been the woman I was looking for, but I can say with confident now that she is the woman that I needed my life." He finished his off the content of his cup, before moving to refill it with more sake.
Ggio did the same. "I know what you mean, Renji." He replied, taking another sip. "Fate has a way of putting us into situations to show what we really need, even we don't yet realize it."
Renji nodded, before downing another cup, his cheeks lightly flush now. "Earlier on, when you said 'mated'... I hadn't really thought about the implications of that word... About the difference between a lover and a mate." The crimson-haired man confessed. "Ggio, tell me, when did you and the Captain- er, Soifon- formally become mates?" He asked.
The feline emptied his cup with a gulp, then met the other man's gaze. "I can't speak for Soifon. But for me, at least, it was always obvious." Ggio replied evenly. "I knew from the start that there was a chance that I'd fail, that I'd prove unworthy of her." He continued. "But I had to try, it was all I could do."
Renji gave a thoughtful expression at this. "Ggio," the Shinigami started. "Is there anything I should know about what it means to be... er, mated with an Arrancar?" He asked.
"It's obvious that there's a strong bond between you two." Ggio replied calmly. "Enough that it would be obvious to anyone in the know that you were mates." He paused. "For me, it came down to proving- not just to Soifon, but to myself- that I was worthy." The Arrancar explained, his tone almost nostalgic as he continued. "If you're serious about your intentions, then it shouldn't be any different for you."
The taller man smiled as his companion shifted and relaxed. "Thank you." He spoke. "When you put it like that, the concept of 'courtship' doesn't seem so unusual." Renji confided. "Though, I have to admit, it was Arachne who initiated thing between us." His blush darkening.
"So what?" The Hollow countered. "What difference does it really make who initiated the relationship? In the end, when it comes to female Arrancar, they know what they want." Ggio added, the two of them sharing a chuckle between them. "But as to what's 'expected of you? Well, I'm hardly an expert..."
"But I can say this." Ggio went on. "The most important things you can do for your mate is to treat her well, be ready to fight for her, and make sure that she knows what you feel for her is real."
(- End of Chapter XXXI... -)
I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter (especially, as the story continues in the next chapter). If you guys enjoyed reading this, then please take a moment to let me know what you thought of it. I always enjoy getting feedback on my work.