I got this PM from an account named ThePolicyofTruth (all one word), accusing multiple stories of mine (including this one) of various infringements against ffn's rules. From what I've found, they're some self-appointed watchdog group. As of this month, I've been on this site for 14 years, and this is the first time I'd personally heard from one these groups... They telling me to tone down or remove the sexual content from this story. I'm setting up an AO3 account, just in case things go bad. But if anyone knows anything about these guys, please get in touch with me.
That said, I'd like to give a quick thanks to RG-Guest and taity for reviewing the last chapter.
TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW
Chapter XXXIV: "Ghost Walkers"
Ichigo squinted his eyes, peering down the shadowy corridor. The paint on the walls was cracked and grayed, and the light from the faux mounted gas lamps was reduced to a sickly yellow glow.
He'd always heard stories about this place: the iconic creepy old house that the neighborhood kids told whispered stories about. As far as everyone knew, the big two-story house had been left abandoned for years- certainly for as long as Ichigo could remember- but it was obvious to the teen that there was still power coming into the structure, in spite of its state of serious disrepair.
He walked past a closed door, toward a oval mirror mounted on the wall, above a small cabinet at the end of the hall. The glass was stained around the edge and smudged with dust. As he stopped to look at it, Ichigo felt the sudden impulse to clear away the detritus.
He brought his hand up and brushed the edge of his palm across it, clearing away the obstruction and leaving an uncovered streak in the reflective surface of the glass. The orange-haired youth continued to wipe away years worth of dirt and grime from the old mirror, then brushed his hands off as he took in the results of his efforts- the sight of himself, reflected back at him.
The nearby wall lamp, visible over his shoulder in the glass, flickered behind him. In the intermittent flashes of light and darkness, Ichigo saw something in the glass- something dark and human shaped- in place of himself. His eyes went wide in surprise, only for the door behind him to fly open.
"Gaghhh!" Ichigo leapt back against the wall, his whole body plastered against the wall, as if he were trying to hide in the wallpaper. "Shit!" He cursed, heart racing.
He went pale at the sound of something shuffling in the darkness- and instinctively slid across the wall, in a desperate bid to get away from... whatever it was. He eventually managed to peal himself off of the wall and stumbled backwards on his heals, until he finally tripped up. He hit the floor unceremoniously with a thud, the wood beneath him protesting as dust flew up around him.
The next thing he knew, something curled around the door frame. It was a dark hand- with long claw-like fingers- followed by a large shadowy form. It was a black mass of darkness and spindly limbs with clawed hands, filling the hallway. It slowly turned towards him, the giant black mass taking on a semi-humanoid form. It was hunched down, 'legs' bent at the knees and long arms braced against the floor as it leaned forward, while additional limbs with the same clawed hands jutted out from it back.
Something emerged from between the 'shoulders': an elongated inhuman skull and lower jaw, complete with a mouth full of sharp teeth, and a pair of large curved ram's horns. It opened up its maw and hissed at him, as the darkness seemed to seep into the surfaces of the hall like an infection.
The monstrosity opened its mouth with a 'click', a small plume of flame jetting out from the open maw before it snapped closed with a chatter and began shambling towards him...
...Ichigo sat bolt upright in bed!
His heart was thundering in his chest and he was breathing hard, the teen's cloth and skin slicked with sweat as he struggled to regain his baring in his darkened bedroom.
"Again... that thing, again..." Ichigo muttered to himself. "W- what the hell is it...? What's wrong with me, why do I keep seeing it, over and over again?" He asked aloud, between labored breaths.
Elsewhere, in the house...
Karin looked over to her twin, noting that the sandy-haired girl was still asleep- seemingly the only of the three Kurosaki children who was able to sleep soundly at night. The dark-haired tomboy sighed and shook her head, looking toward the wall facing the direction of their brother's room.
"Ichi-nii, what's happened to you?" Karin whispered under her breath.
Whatever it was that was haunting him in his dreams, it was happening on almost nightly basis for the last few weeks now, and the result was always the same. Sooner or later, something had to give, and at this rate, she figured it was going to be her brother.
She laid back down and rolled onto her side. Karin wasn't sure what- if anything- she could do about the situation, but at the same time, she realized something had to be done.
Someone would have to intervene...
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Soul Realm, the Ukitake Estate...
Captain Retsu Ukitake was now nearing her fourth month of pregnancy, sipping her morning tea in the parlor after taking her breakfast. The dark-haired woman was reclining in a western-style chair that had been acquired in order to better support her and help accommodate her growing belly.
Further, she was no longer able to wear her normal Shinigami uniform. The full-length black kimono she wore while on duty had been replaced by a looser-fitting black robe, with the obi worn lower down on her waist to help provide her support. As time went on, the front of the garment could be adjusted in order to account for her increasing waistline. Presently, her white Captain's haori was hanging neatly in the master bedroom she now shared with her husband Jushiro.
"As always, you look amazing." Jushiro commented as he appeared at her side. He smiled warmly as he knelt down and gently ran his hand across her belly. "Incredible..." The white-haired man remarked in a tone that was a mixture of awe and fascination.
She smiled, setting down her cup of tea, her eyes following him as he stood up. Retsu couldn't imagine a better, more caring and thoughtful partner than man before her.
He smiled down at her. "I'm so lucky to have such an amazing woman like you in my life, Retsu." He commented affectionately as he offered his hand to the woman.
Her cheeks flushed a faint shade of pink and she smiled warmly up at him. "And you're a wonderful man, Jushiro." Retsu countered, accepting his hand as she got to her feet.
Retsu was still adjusting to the dramatic change in her lifestyle. Not just in regard to the physiological changes that came with her pregnancy, but the many benefits that invariably came with being a member of the prestigious Ukitake Family. Up until now, she'd never considered the idea of having someone to help you with basic day-to-day activities, such as bringing their meals and cleaning the house.
However, at the same time, she more than realized the benefits and was grateful, knowing that a time would soon come when she would need assistance in doing the most basic activities.
"Grantz-san informed me that the special monitoring equipment is ready." Jushiro informed her.
She nodded at this. "Yes. I'll soon be far enough along that we should be able to determine the gender of the child, by way of a transdominal ultrasound, if I recall correctly." The woman commented as her husband presented her with her with her captain's jacket, which she slipped into.
"Speaking of which," Jushiro started. "Do you have any preference for the gender?" He asked as they exited the parlor and stepped into the long hallway.
Retsu shook her head. "Not particularly." She countered. "Why do you ask, do you?"
"No, not particularly." Jushiro replied. "As long as the child takes after you, I have no complaints." He added with a sly smile. "I'm just thinking about possible names."
"Honestly..." The woman commented. "But in all seriousness," Retsu continued. "My only preference would be for the child to have 'shiro' in their name, like yours."
"That's very gracious of you, and it leaves us with some flexibility." He remarked as he slid Sōgyo no Kotowari into the narrow sash around his waist. "That suffix has a long history within my family." The male Captain explained as he presented Minazuki to his wife.
"Really?" She inquired as she accepted her healing Zanpakuto and slung it over her shoulder- as it was already becoming impractical to continue carrying it her side.
Her husband nodded. "Yes, my father was named Takashiro." He revealed as he finished securing his unique twinned spirit sword (or swords) at his waist.
"I just realized," Retsu confessed suddenly. "That there's still so much I don't know about you and your family, even after all the time we've been together." She admitted.
Jushiro just shook his head. "No sense in complicating things." He reasoned as they continued down the hallway, to the front entrance, where their sandals were waiting for them. "I'll come by the Fourth, at midday, so we can head over to the Twelfth Division together."
"That's not really necessary, you know." Retsu remarked.
He leaned in to kiss her on the lips. "Perhaps," he replied as he drew back. "But as I've said, I'm not doing this because I need to, but because I want to."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Huecco Mundo...
Thanks to the relative safety and security of the area directly around the Las Noches Dome, work on the Fourteenth was progressing nicely. As such, the construction efforts on the facilities most essential to the Division's crucial operations were now well under way.
Presently, multiple temporary housing units were set up- each powered by its own generator- to house the nearly two dozen or so Division members serving as the advance party. Among their numbers were both the Red and Blue Lieutenants of the Fourteenth, Katsuro Onigiri and Lisa Yadomaru respectively. At the moment, their Captain was in the Soul Realm delivering reports, leaving the red-haired Arrancar and the bespectacled Vizard to oversee things in her place.
And while Nelliel-Tu Obberschank was absent, her two loyal long-time Fraccions- Dondechaka and Pesche- were present. Additionally, the current Tercera Espada's own Fraccion, Apacci, was present in the Hollow Realm, scouting out the surrounding area. Another person of note in the improvised camp, was a certain Ylforte Grantz, who the two Lieutenants had been instructed to "keep an eye on".
Lisa was in the middle of doing rounds, when she was alerted by an electronic chirping, coming from the 'spirit phone' she carried with her. "This is Lieutenant Yadomaru," the dark-haired woman spoke as she held the phone up to her ear. "What's going on?"
"Lieutenant Yadomaru, this is Officer Fukunaga, I'm one of the technicians." The slightly hesitant voice explained to her over the phone. "I'm sorry to disturb you when you're so busy, but I couldn't get through to Lieutenant Onigiri." The technician elaborated.
"Go on." Lisa instructed, stopping mid-stride.
"Y-yes, of course." Fukunaga began. "You see, we just finished setting up the long-range monitoring equipment... and well, as soon as we started our scans..."
Lisa noted the lingering hesitation in his voice. "Officer Fukunaga," she started. "If you feel there is something worthy of concern, then please speak freely." The woman instructed.
"I apologize." The man responded. "The thing is... We scanning for spiritual energy signatures in the region, as part of our efforts to document Hollow movements... And- and well, we registered something outside of the normal spectrum." He stated, straining over the word 'something'.
"A type of energy we've never encountered before?" Lisa asked.
"In essence, yes." The technician answered. "It's unlike anything previously encountered by any of our operatives... I hesitate to say this, Lieutenant," the voice paused. "but all the initial information so far leads me to believe that it's something... totally unique, something we've never seen before."
"I understand." Lisa replied evenly, nodding to herself. "You've done well, you were correct to alert me to this information." She continued. "For now, continue your duties."
With that, she ended the conversation on her end and tucked the phone away, before she then turned to a nearby Division member. "You there, see that Apacci returns to base, I need to form a party."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
The Living Realm...
Karin arrived at the front steps of her home and let herself in. Yuzu had gone to visit a friend's house after school let out for the day, so she and her father were almost certainly the only ones home.
On one hand, the adolescent teen girl felt bad for deliberately keeping her twin out of the equation, as Ichigo was their brother. And yet, conversely, Karin believed that burdening Yuzu with a problem that literally involved matters beyond her ability to perceive was just as unfair to her. It was a calculated choice on her part, but she wasn't the type to worry over such matters.
Sure enough, she found him in the kitchen, his back to her. "Dad." She spoke, causing him to almost jump out of his skin, before turning to face her. Isshin Kurosaki, with his muddy brown hair- the same color as her own- looked strongly her brother, with his broad features and brown eyes.
He knew, from the look on her face, that something was troubling her. "Karin...?"
"It's about Ichigo, Dad." She started in a matter-of-fact tone.
"What about him?" He asked with a growing sense of unease.
"Everything." The girl replied bluntly. "He's been having nightmares, off-and-on for a while now, for at least two to three weeks, since I was first woken up by the racket he makes in his sleep." Karin told him in gravely serious tone. "Something's seriously wrong with him, Dad."
"And he's not getting better." She continued. "He just keeps on going, not saying anything, pretending like he's fine... When it's clear to everyone that he's not." Karin proclaimed. "He's way more upset and angry than he realizes, and I'm worried... So image what it's like for Yuzu."
Looking at his daughter as she stood before him, Isshin felt a wave of disappointment and frustration wash over himself. "You're right, Karin... Your big brother is suffering." He admitted, as to himself as to her. "And, I wish... I wish that I knew what to do." He added, folding his arms and shaking his head as he tried to take everything in. "And the fact that this has gone on like this..."
"It's as much my fault as it anything else." Isshin admitted. "I'm his father, I'm supposed to be the one he can turn to... But I don't know what to say or do." He lamented. "And I can't help but keep thinking that your mother would know what to do right now, if she were here and I was the one... taken."
Karin frowned as she watched her father wipe tears from his eyes. "Don't say that, Dad." She insisted as she touched his arm. And suddenly, her father who towered over her somehow seemed so small and vulnerable to her in that moment. "No matter what happened or didn't happen, nothing changes the fact that you're still my Dad, and my big brother needs you."
"I- I'm sorry, I just-"
"Dad." She interrupted pointedly.
"You're right," Isshin replied as he managed to compose himself enough to speak. "I need to get my act together as a parent and talk to your brother." He declared.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
The straw dummy exploded in a bloom of smoke and embers!
It had been the final standing target, and now it too was gone, the tattered remains scattered across the floor amidst other already-destroyed targets, all of them blown to pieces...
Renji's eyes were wide in amazement, a big smile spreading across his face as he took in the sight of the now smoldering remains at the end of the room. "Holly crap! I mean, damn!" The Shinigami finally exclaimed as he lowered the barrel of the Ithaca M37 12-gauge shotgun.
His left hand gripped the solid wood stock, while his right hand remained firmly on the pump. On the floor, lay a spent shell, smoke trickling up from the end of the frayed red plastic casing. And around it, were a number of other shells, all in the same state. "This thing is amazing!"
"Really?" Ando asked excitedly. "It's not quite the same as the model you initially asked for, but I was hoping you'd like it as much- if not, even more." He added enthusiastically. The two men were standing at the end of the firing range, facing the devastated targets at the far end. "Observe, Lieutenant Abarai, the longer tube under the barrel." He pointed out.
"Upon doing some research, the model that you spoke of- the Remington- held only five shells." The researcher explained excitedly with pride. "While the Ithaca holds seven." He explained while running the tips of his fingers along the metal. "So, how do you like it?"
"How do I like it?" The crimson-haired Reaper asked incredulously. "I love it!" Renji exclaimed with a smile as he turned to the other man. "This things is way better than anything I expected."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Wind swept across the dunes of Huecco Mundo, sending up little plumes of white sand, while the ever-present silver crescent moon shined in the vast darkness of the unending night.
Lisa had formed the team on short notice, and left the camp as soon as Apacci had returned, to follow up on the unusual energy readings in the area around the dome. Following the energy readings back to its point of origin was leading them toward the outer edge of the North Quadrant.
"Hey, I see something!" Apacci declared, calling to the others over her shoulder. "There's something... off in the distance. It looks like a... a person." The Fraccion added.
However, as they closed in on the target, a large number of shadowy forms suddenly appeared around the lone figure in flash. These new arrivals moved towards them, in a flash of black- somehow visible even against the backdrop of the night- to encircle their team. However, once they'd surrounded them, they made no further move towards the small group.
Lisa looked between them, noting that they looked- somehow- like living shadows, except that these shadows were three-dimensional. There was something decidedly unsettling about them, and it took a moment for it to dawn on her: they were totally non-reflective. Even under the limited illumination of the moon, there should have been some depth and definition to to them.
Instead, it was as if the light was... 'missing' them. They were dark and undefinable, human-shaped yet still utterly inhuman. And no matter how much she looked at them, from any direction, they looked flat to her eyes, even though she knew they clearly weren't.
The Vizard was reaching for the hilt of her Zanpakuto, when a figure stepped forward- the same one Apacci had spotted. He was dressed in a long, hooded-coat. His hands were tucked into the pockets of his coat, while his face was hidden under a thick layer of bandages and his eyes were obscured behind the shield of a dark sun-visor, making him to resemble the Invisible Man.
"Who are you?!" Lisa demanded.
He held up a gloved hand. "Please," the stranger entreated her in a raspy voice. "I'm afraid that we have precious little time as it is." The masked man continued. "Now, I believe your people know of me- I am called Crowley... among other names." He revealed.
"You!? You're Crowley?" The bespectacled woman exclaimed, a look of shock of his face.
He nodded. "I've come to you with a bit of advice... and with a warning." Crowley continued. "There are larger forces at work, beyond your understanding." He added coolly. "But know this... Soul Society aren't the only ones with a vested interest in the stability of the Realms. Nor, in the fluctuating energy reading from that anomaly formed by the destruction of the Ouken."
Crowley watched them all, including Lisa- who was taken aback by his words. "I hope now that I have impressed upon you the urgency of the situation?" He went on, as a passing breeze rustled the battered edges of his long coat. "Perhaps now we can be civil with each other?"
Apacci pushed her way to the front. "What the hell do you want?" She asked brusquely.
He seemed to regard the female Arrancar for a moment. "What do I want...?" He counted. "It's simple, I've come to deliver terms to you." Crowley explained. "We have no desire to fight Soul Society, but if you endanger our plans... Well, We're more than capable of taking action."
With that, Crowley snapped his finger, prompting the "shadows" that were previously milling about to abruptly turn toward Lisa and her teammates, suddenly focused on them...
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Ginta gave a disgruntled sigh as he worked the front counter of the shop. Ever since he'd first seen her, part of him always became so unreasonably frustrated at the sight of the girl, while another of him was strangely excited by her presence at the same time.
The rattle of a bell alerted him as the front shop door opened. Immediately, the young man knew that it was her- Yuzu Kurosaki. Who else could it be, but her? She'd been coming by the shop long enough for him to get some idea of her habits. The sandy/blonde-haired girl was punctual, she always came by the shop at the same time and day, virtually every week now for over two years.
However, something was different about her this time... Normally, Yuzu was so personable- all smiles and good cheer- but today, she seemed somehow off. It showed right away, in her expression and in her body language, leaving her looking almost restless and on edge.
"Ginta-kun," the girl started, looking directly at him. "I-is Urahara-san here?" Yuzu continued uneasily, casting a furtive glance either way, before looking back to the boy.
He exhaled, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "What's going on, is something wrong?"
A moment passed between them, before she nodded. "It's about my older brother..." Yuzu began, her tone hesitant. "He's been having nightmares, for a while now." She went on. "It has to have something to him loosing his powers- his ability to see ghosts."
The young man gave a brief look of surprise at this tidbit of news, but said nothing. Yuzu wasted no time as she pushed on. "Karin and my Dad think I don't know anything... So they've kept me out of the loop, probably in the hopes of not upsetting me." She continued resolutely. "But I don't need to be able to see spirits to see that something is badly wrong with my brother."
"So you came here," Ginta began dryly. "To try and get some help for your brother?"
Yuzu nodded. "I'm tired of being passive in all this... And even though I didn't inherit the powers that the rest of my family has, I have to do something."
Ginta nodded after a moment. "Yeah, I get it." He remarked. "Wait here, I'll go get Urahara from the back of the shop." He offered her. "Maybe... Maybe, he can help you out, somehow." The young man offered as he started to leave his post at the front counter.
"Ginta-kun," Yuzu spoke up, making his pause. "Thank you." She finished with a smile.
He nodded. "Sure, no problem." Ginta replied simply.
With that, he left her alone at the front counter, her watching him as he made his way over to a door off to the side and disappeared through it. Sure enough, good to his word, Ginta reappeared moments later, along with the familiar figure of Kisukue Urahara.
The scruffy-faced blonde nodded silently to the boy, then gave a disarming smile as he approached the young woman. "Ah, Yuzu-chan," he began warmly. "Ginta said you wanted to talk with me?"
The girl nodded, and he motioned for her to follow him through the same doorway that he'd entered through, to his small office in the back. The ex-Shinigami took a seat behind his desk and gestured for Yuzu to take the seat before him. "Now," he resumed. "What can I do for you?"
"It's about my brother, Ichigo..." The sandy-haired girl started, a serious look in her eyes, as she began to relate her observations of her older brother's recent problems. The whole time, Urahara said nothing, listening intently to the young woman voiced her concerns...
"I- I hate it sometimes..." Yuzu went on. "Why- was I the only one who didn't inherit the same spirit senses that my sister and brother did." She admitted in frustration. "B- but even if I can't do anything to help directly, I- I have to do something!" The girl declared.
Urahara rubbed his chin. "Yuzu... just how much do you know?" He asked, his tone serious.
"More than most people give me credit for." Yuzu quipped, a glint in her eyes. "I can't really see them, no where near to the extent that the others can... But I know my brother could, except now he's lost the ability, and the loss hurts him more than he'd ever admit to."
"And what were you hoping to achieve by coming to talk with me?" Urahara inquired.
She fell silent at the question. "I- I'm not sure..." Yuzu confessed after some thought. "B- but I have to do something!" The young woman exclaimed. "I'm tired of everyone trying to shield me from life, like I couldn't handle to truth just because I can't see ghosts."
Urahara nodded and adjusted his hat. "I admire you willingness to help... And I can sympathize with your frustrations at feeling powerless." He replied. "However... the truth is there are no easy answers or quick fixed to what Ichigo is going through." The blonde-haired man continued.
"We made mistakes when it came to your brother... And I'm just as guilty as the others." Urahara went on in a serious tone. "The truth is... we place too great a burden on your brother's shoulders. We pushed him too hard, too quickly. I'd like to say that we made the right choice at the time, but I can't ignore the fact that it was Ichigo who payed the price for our carelessness in the end."
"But isn't there something? There must be something I can do to help?" Yuzu almost pleaded.
"Yes, you can do something for him." Urahara replied after a moment. "The biggest help you can give him is to be there for him, as his sister, to support him."
"But that, it's just-" The girl tried to protest.
"Yuzu, please." The blonde interjected. "Like you said, you don't need spiritual awareness to see what's wrong with your brother." Urahara reasoned. "You're capable of doing more good than you realize."
Another beat passed between them. "Yes, you're right." She replied with a nod. "It's sometimes easy to forget what's most important... Thank you." Yuzu admitted with a slight smile.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Division Twelve HQ...
Szayel looked at the grainy image displayed on the monitor, calmly adjusting his glasses as he moved the mouse and methodically typed into the keyboard. Nearby, Retsu was laying on an examination bed, the room filled with the sound of soft clicks as she tied the front of her dressing gown.
"Yes... Yes, I believe that everything appears to be in order." The Arrancar remarked, before he turned to address the reclining woman and her husband. "Captains," Szayel began. "I can now say confidently that you can narrow the selection of names for your child." He paused.
Jushiro gently wrapped his hand around Retsu's smaller one, as the two Shinigami looked attentively to the bespectacled Arrancar seated in the office chair before them.
"Congratulations, to the both of you." The pink-haired Espada continued. "The cub- or, the child, if you prefer- is a boy, you're going to have a son." He revealed with a smile.
"A son, Retsu, we're having a son." The white haired man spoke excitedly to the woman.
She smiled and nodded. "Yes, Jushiro," Retsu started. "I'm so happy." The dark-haired woman replied happily, before he leaned in and the two of them shared a kiss.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
As soon as Crowley had snapped his finger, the countless "Shadows" around them swiftly turned their focus toward Lisa and her teammates. While their true intent was still unclear to her, the Vizard wasn't willing to take any chances, not with the lives of those under her command on the line.
She resumed her defensive posture, prompting Apacci and the others to adopt a similar posture as they readied their weapons and/or techniques in anticipation of trouble...
Suddenly, a katana sailed trough the air- piercing and dissipating the dark figure in the process- before landing, blade-down in the sand. "What's this...?" Crowley murmured to himself.
Crowley turned in time to watch as a second sword sailed through the air, eliminating another one of the Shadows as the blade pierced its form. This act was followed by another and another- each one of the katanas removing another one of the creatures in the process- until there were eight of them in total, all buried blade-down in the white sands of the dessert.
He had looked into the distance as this was going on. "A... new arrival?"
Observing Crowley's reaction to the swords arriving, Lisa noted that the man seemed more quizzical and bemused rather than annoyed by the sudden change of events. The katanas were all crackling with reiki, just as the air was suddenly displaced as Onigiri appeared in a flash of Sonido!
"Lady Yadomaru!" He called out to the woman, striking a martial arts pose. "I sensed that something was amiss on your end!" The crimson-haired Arrancar declared. "So I rushed over as quickly as I could to see what what was wrong," Onigiri continued with a smile. "And it seems I'm just in time!"
"I didn't come here to fight." Crowley remarked dryly, as Onigiri turned to face him. "Another time, perhaps when tensions have cooled a bit." He went on calmly with a wave of his hand, the remaining Shadows vanishing. "Remember what I said, Lieutenant Yadomaru..."
"Damn you, sir, you and I have business to settle." Onigiri called out, his body tensed and ready for battle, only for the man to abruptly vanish. "Wait-"
His shoulders slumped dejectedly, as Lisa walked up alongside him. "I must say, Impeccable timing, Mr. Onigiri." She offered her fellow Lieutenant, silently noting the absence of empty sheaths under the fabric of the heavy red sash wrapped around his waist.
"Indeed." he replied absently, just as his swords returned to his sides, each of them appearing in a flash of red spiritual energy- complete with the previously missing sheaths.
"I take it then, by your tone, you are unharmed?" Onigiri asked, turning to address her.
She nodded, adjusting her glasses. "The more pressing point, would be what do we do now?"
"What else?" Onigiri countered. "We wait."
"In that case..." Lisa started, grinning as she spoke. "In the meantime, you can tell me about that flashy bit of swordplay you performed just now, while we're waiting."
"Lady Yadomaru," Onigiri smiled toothily. "Is that an invitation?" He asked slyly.
"You wish." The bespectacled replied with a chuckle.
(- End of Chapter XXXIV... -)