I want to thank Taity and RG-Guest for their feedback on the previous chapter. And thanks to Tomoe Nanami for the pm.
To address Taity's comments: the gun Ando made for Renji is a shotgun, and it was an attempt to call back a scene in the anime (not sure if it's in the manga) where Renji shows up at Ichigo's door- ironically dressed sort of like a hippy- and keeps brandishing a shotgun at Ichigo. As for RG-Guest, thanks for the input. I'm glad you enjoyed the events of the last chapter. It's my hope that this one will be even better.
TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW
Chapter XXXV: "Le'Etranger"
The Living Realm...
Back in his old dust-filled study, seated in a large cushy armchair, was the the covered and concealed figure of the man known only as "Mr. Crowley". He exhaled, through the layers of bandages that covered his face, relaxing in the cushioned frame of the chair, as classical music played nearby.
This time, as the record spun steadily, Strauss's Blue Danube filled the room. Crowley was content to just sit back and listen as the suite played, expressing no visible sign of acknowledgment as the heavy wooden door opened with a faint creak. Eventually, he cast his gaze toward the entrance as Dario was revealed- standing in the doorway, flanked by several others members of the Brethren.
The enigmatic man, clad in his black hoodie (with the skull logo of the Misfits on the back) entered the room, while the others remained in the hall. Dario paused, stopping before the seated figure of Crowley and the phonograph on the wooden stand set up beside him.
"Dario..." He acknowledged with a slight nod.
"Crowley." He replied en-kind. "I expect that you have some idea as to why I'm standing here, paying you this visit right now." Dario continued. "Our sources have confirmed what we long suspected." The hooded man revealed. "In the wake of our recent past history, Agents of the Wandenreich are searching for us- throughout the Living Realm- in order to return the favor."
Crowley nodded. "It's to be expected... Just as I'm sure the Quincy must have a great deal of questions they will no doubt want answered." He offered calmly. "Yes, I think it's high time we finally paid them a proper visit and put their concerns to rest." The man announced, slowly rising to his feat.
He turned and lifted the needle off of the record, the music coming to a halt. "Dario," he resumed as he turned back to the other man. "Who... are we still... waiting on?"
"We have more than enough of our people here, all of them ready and waiting for your orders." Dario replied with a smile. "And any remaining members of the Brethren not yet already here, are already on their way, and should be arriving before the day is out." He finished.
"Good." Crowley replied with a nod. "It's time we brought an end to the madness... I shall leave it to you... to decide who will be accompanying us." He calmly instructed. "But remember this... Dario, we are not monsters... Children and other innocents are not to be harmed."
"Of course, Crowley." Dario replied. "That goes without saying." He added in a serious tone, silently watching as the other man departed from the study with effort.
Once their leader was gone, the others started to filter inside.
"My friends," Dario started, addressing them with a broad smile. "I think all of you will agree when I say that it's time we put the Quincys in their place." He declared, still smiling, as he received nods from the people gathered before him. "A proper reckoning is long overdue."
The others smiled and nodded enthusiastically, each of them in-turn giving voice to and showing their agreement with the hooded man's sentiment.
"As for you, my friend," Dario started as he approached Slash. "For now, I want you to remain here." He informed the man. "I'm keeping you in reserve, holding you back- to act as one of my trump cards, down the line- to be deployed when you're most effective."
Slash nodded. "Of course, I understand." The dread-locked man replied coolly, meeting the other man's gaze, tucking his gloved hands into the pockets of his long coat.
The hooded man rubbed his hands together. "Jinx, my dear." He started. "You'll be coming along with us on this outing... And you wont have to have to worry about holding back this time." Dario informed the tattooed woman. "And as for you, Lenny, my good man. I know that you've been wanting a chance to finally see some real action." He commented to the man, decked out in black leather and metal.
"Hm, sounds fun." Jinx remarked with a grin, crossing her arms. "I can't wait."
Lenny made a point of cracking his knuckles in a similar show of enthusiasm. "Yeah, you just point me in the right direction and I'll take care of the rest."
"Good, that's the spirit!" Dario replied enthusiastically. "That's what I like to hear!"
He then turned to the other two men in the room... One of them had short rustled hair and wore a pair of glasses with elongated octagonal lenses. The other wore a headband across his forehead and kept his long dark hair braided into a ponytail in the back. "Legion, Psyche..." He spoke. "I want the two of you along for this as well." He instructed the two men, who both nodded.
Dario tucked his hands into the pockets of his hoodie and exhaled. "It's time that the Wandenreich and it's cabal sycophants learned just what happens when The Man comes around."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Hueccu Mundo...
Lisa Yadomaru and Katsuro Onigiri were seated across from each other at a small table set up in the private tent that the former utilized as her temporary quarters.
"...And just like that, these things- like living shadows- suddenly appeared around us." Lisa recounted as she calmly took a drink from her cup.
It would still be a while yet before the construction of the 14th was far enough along that its members could take up residence inside it. The plan was for the wing housing the living quarters and the section of the sub-level that housed the underground generator, should be completed first. In this way, it would be safe for them to take up residence there- that is, once the walls and ceilings were finished.
"That all sounds very unusual." Onigiri replied, taking a sip from his own cup. "I'd sensed something was amiss- the large concentration of spiritual energy, and the strange energy of those 'Shadows'." He explained to her before he went on finish off the contents of his cup.
For the moment, however, there were two dozen members- a mixture of Shinigami and Arrancar- living out of specialized tents. While it wasn't an ideal arrangement, everyone knew things could be far worse, as the insulated material of the structures offered them enough protection against the chilly night winds and other threats of the harsh wilderness for them to be able to sleep soundly enough.
The woman nodded and refilled his cup. "Not that I don't appreciate your timely arrival," Lisa spoke as she went on to fill her own cup. "But I had the impression that it was less an attack, and more a show of force on his part." She remarked as she took a drink. "And he certainly didn't behave like a man who'd had his plans ruined... quite the contrary in fact." The woman reasoned.
"Yes, I was wondering about that myself." Onigiri replied, taking a drink. "As a warrior, my instincts are to see a confrontation as a fight." The Arrancar continued. "But this man, this 'Mr. Crowley', he has some kind of different agenda... something not obvious."
The Vizard and the Arrancar presently were in the middle of sharing drinks while discussing the recent appearance of both Crowley and the "Shadows" in the Hollow Realm. As the Blue and Red Lieutenants of the Division, it was only natural that they meet to discuss Division matters.
However, in this case, Lisa harbored an ulterior motive for this conversation, as she was quite curious to know more about the unusual abilities he'd previously demonstrated. And of course, it wasn't like the crimson-haired Arrancar needed a an excuse to toss a few rounds back. And, to be perfectly honest, the bespectacled Vizard hardly needed an excuse to toss back a few rounds herself.
"As long as we're here talking," Lisa spoke up. "Your powers a quite unusual, I've never seen anything like them before." She went on. "Perhaps you could tell me a bit more about them."
He smiled at this. "Well, it's gonna take a few more drink before I feel up to getting into that."
The woman returned the smile. "Sounds like fun." Lisa replied, topping off his cup.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Ichigo rubbed the bridge of his nose, tilting his head back as he reclined back against the back of the park bench, trying to collect his thoughts as he basked in the sunlight.
The orange-haired young teen had been plagued by consistent nightmares. Though, the only tell of the strain upon him was the general sense of fatigue he was now feeling. He just had to close his eyes for a few moments, before the visage of the horned skull-faced creature straight from out of his nightmares to suddenly appear in his vision and startle him back alertness.
Feeling tired and spent, the teen had eventually found himself alone, sitting on one of the benches in the neighborhood park. Ichigo was so addled by stress and lack of sleep that he failed to realize the fact that this was the same bench where he'd seen Rukia for the final time...
Suddenly, Ichigo felt a pressure upon his shoulder and swiftly whirled around to see a skeletal hand gripping his shoulder- attached to the very same horror that had been haunting him. The orange-haired teen let out a yelp- a mixture of terror and surprise- as he slid down the length of the bench, recoiling from the darkened eye sockets and open maw of the 'boogieman'.
However, no sooner had the young man finished shrinking away from the very horror that had been haunting his dreams, was it then replaced by the figure of a man. And, as the teen was quick to realize, it was the same man he'd observed talking to Ikumi at Shop Inagiya a while back.
Just as he remembered, the man had collar-length dark brown hair, along with a neatly trimmed beard and mustache, and a long straight nose and brown eyes. And just like the last time Ichigo had seen him, he was dressed in black: including a pair of black slacks and dress shoes, with a black waistcoat (with the silver chain of a pocket watch visible) over a white dress-shirt (without a tie), and a three-quarters length formal black overcoat in place of a suit jacket or blazer.
His hands remained tucked in in the pockets of his coat as he fixed the teen with an unreadable look, before his gaze then quickly softened a bit. "You looked troubled," the man started. "Ichigo Kurosaki." He added with a smile as he sat down beside him on the park bench. "But you happen to be in luck, I might just be able to able to help you." The man added with a slight smile as he relaxed.
Ichigo regard him for a moment. "What... do you want?" He asked brusquely.
Again, the man just smiled against his bluntness. "I think the better question to be asking right now is 'what do you want?'" He replied, still smiling. "Once you know the answer to that, well, then all the rest is simple, it's just a matter of knowing what to look for- ie, the right opportunity."
"You're the same man I saw talking with Ikumi..." The teen pointed out. "How the hell do you know my name, and... and why are you here? Why are you talking to me?"
"My, so full of questions." The stranger replied. "The first point is easy enough, a name isn't hard to come by these days." He replied coolly. "As for the 'why'... Well, it's as I said, I want to help you." He went on, folding his black-gloved hands across his lap.
"And I suppose you know what it is that I want?" Ichigo asked tersely. "And now- let me guess- you're going to tell me that you're the person who can give it to me, how am I doing so far?"
"Possibly..." The man replied, still smiling. "You could say that part of my stock and trade is helping people find what they need, and then seeing that they get it." He explained to as they sat on the bench, people walking past them, unawares. "You see, Ichigo, I'm what you might call a 'Fixer'."
"It's a good sell..." Ichigo replied with a small smirk. "But I've yet to be given any reason why I should still be sitting here, listening to you." He added pointedly.
"But I'm just getting to the good part." He countered. "While I'm in the business of helping people, I first have to know what sort of person my potential client is. That way, I can be certain that my services are what you need." The man explained. "And in your case, you're in luck, because I can help you."
Ichigo gave an incredulous glare. "Really?" He replied sarcastically. "And let me guess- next, you're going to tell me that you can give me whatever it is exactly that you think I need... And the only thing it'll cost me is my soul, hmm?" The teen continued dryly. "Because, from where I'm sitting, you look less like the Devil and more like you're late for a costume party!"
"I assure you, I simply happen to like black." He replied, his tone dropping. "No, I'm not the Devil. Just as you're no Reaper... Well, not any more at least." The mystery man added with a sly smile.
The orange-haired teen's eyes widened. "What did you just say?"
"You know, Ichigo, you're remarkably healthy for someone who's been to the other side, let alone for someone who's all but died." He continued. "I know all about you. Since you were a child, you've been able to perceive those who walk unseen among us- the spirits that linger in this world, and the monsters that hunger for the living, as well as the so-called Soul Reapers." He continued.
"You mingled with them in their world, and even counted some of them as friends, and when all was said and done, in the end, you gave everything for them... Only to end up blind to both them and their world for all your troubles." The man went on. "Stop me when you've heard enough."
Ichigo's annoyed frustration quickly gave way to confusion. "Just who the hell are you, who sent you?" He demanded, leaning in closer. "How could you know so much about me? About the Shinigami, and Soul Realm, and everything else?" He asked the man in a hushed voice.
The man's demeanor instantly shifted at the stream of questions, him once more becoming the friendly salesman that he'd first presented himself as. "Like I said before, it's part of my job to know these sort of things... But to the matter of who I am," he paused thoughtfully. "That's a bit more complicated, but you can call me 'Koimori' if you like." He continued with a smile.
"Whatever you say... Mr. Darkwood." Ichigo quipped.
"I know you've lost your spirit powers and that you're suffering as a result." The man continued in a knowing tone. "But that's where I come in..." He added. "You see, I have friends, powerful ones. And they see potential in you, so they sent me to speak with you, on their behalf." He revealed.
The orange-haired teen felt a chill as the man rattled off countless bits of information- information, that was supposed to be hidden and unknown to the vast majority of people. "How...?"
"You may not be able to use Reiatsu," 'Koimori' began. "But there are other disciplines, and I can show you a new way, to a power that not even the Shinigami know of." The man explained, holding his hand up and producing an apple seemingly from out of nowhere. "The power I'm offering you is versatile, it can do many thing. Perhaps... even enable you to breach the barriers standing between yourself and the one thing that you've been yearning for, for so long." He added suggestively.
"And you'd do all this for me, why?" Ichigo asked incredulously.
"To help you." Darkwood replied simply. "Helping people is what I do."
He looked at the man for a moment. "Seriously, you're saying that you willingly want to get involved in my problems, solely to help me?" Ichigo asked him. "Just like that?"
Darkwood regarded him briefly. "You've been through a lot, and lost a great deal, so your skepticism over my offer is certainly understandable." He remarked. "But I assure you my intentions are genuine." The man went on. "My only interest is to help you, and all I ask of you, is your trust."
"Everyone- everyone in the world- deserves the opportunity to realize their true potential, a chance to better themselves." Darkwood explained. "And when we take the time to help others better themselves, we- in turn- are helping to better ourselves." His tone was sympathetic as he spoke. "Right now, you're a prisoner of your own self-doubt and helplessness... but I can I help you."
Ichigo nodded after a moment. "That's... an admirable sentiment."
"And it's also a true one." The older man answered. "I can help you... But we can only do this if you're prepared to take back control of your life and help yourself, Ichigo." Darkwood revealed. "I've made my intentions clear: I'm here to help you, I have no other stake in this than my desire to do so. But this goes both ways, and you have to want to get out this rut you've wound up in badly enough."
With that, the man then rose to his feet and turned to Ichigo. "I'll be here, the same time next week, waiting to hear your answer." Koimori stated with a smile. "Think about it, don't disappoint me." He finished, tossing the apple to the teen before leaving the park.
Ichigo had been so engrossed by everything that he'd been told, that when he had moved to catch the apple sent his way, it was more out of reflex than by intention. Now that he was once again alone, the teen glanced down at the shiny reddish-golden fruit in his hands...
After a moment, Ichigo smirked to himself and gave a slight chuckle, before he then bit down into the supple flesh of the apple, sinking his teeth in as he took a bight out of it.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
"And I heard, as it were, the noise of thunder,
One of the four beasts saying 'Come and see',
And I saw, and behold a white horse."
Silbern, the "Silver-Wrought Castle", forged of pure reishi and blanketed in the 'shadows' of the Soul Realm, the heart of the secret unseen Quincy Empire...
The massive fortress of the Sternritter was encrusted in hard jagged ice, built upon a thick base, with a long flight of stairs at the front. At the forward face of the castle, a series of thick columns rose upward, supporting the second tier. Above that, stood the third tier of the grand facility, erected upon numerous smaller columns. The corners of the buildings ended in harsh spires of ice.
Silbern itself was surrounded by a series of circular and squared towers, covered in a layer of ice that shined like glass. Before it, two partially formed structures projected upwards, resembling giant tusks- curving inwards toward each other, like an incomplete arch.
Within the Silver Castle, inside the inner chamber housing the "Gate of the Sun", a blinding flash of light irrupted in the center of the circular room, followed by the appearance of Dario, along with Jinx, Lenny, Ozzy, and another man- busy somehow balancing a glowing object between his outstretched hands. Unlike the others (who were dressed primarily in black clothing), he wore a pair of blue jeans, along with a black t-shirt with the Atari logo on the front.
He looked at the glowing object, suspended in the air between his hands, and narrowed his eyes in concentration. "It'll be a few more moments before the next batch can come through." He explained, not looking away from it as he spoke. Within the otherworldly sphere of light, was a series of rotating and revolving rings, all of them moving at varying speeds.
"You've done well Charon." Dario offered with a smile. "Thanks to your unique ability to trace the flow of energy, we were able to extrapolate a path back to these Quincy."
There's a man goin' 'round takin' names
And he decides who to free and who to blame
Everybody won't be treated all the same
There'll be a golden ladder reachin' down
When the man comes around
Just then, there was another bright flash of light in the chamber- from which Hawke, Pierce, Legion, and Psyche stepped forth as the glow faded.
"Crowley said for us to go on ahead of him," Psyche explained. "And that he'd be arriving shortly."
"How long before these people realize we're here?" Legion asked.
"Not long now." Dario answered calmly. "But then, that hardly really matters now, as we've used their own gateway as a bridgehead against them." The man reasoned. "And by the time that they've realized what's happened, it'll be too late for them to do anything to stop us."
"It's fitting that it should be these people's ridiculous obsession with secrecy and hiding in the shadows be the very thing that will lead to their undoing." Jinx commented.
"They can't hide anymore." Lenny added. "Not from us, or from the Great Work."
Just then, there was another flash of light in the chamber, followed by the appearance of Mr. Crowley and the remaining Brethren. The Masked man nodded to Dario as he stepped forward.
The hairs on your arm will stand up
At the terror in each sip and in each sup
Will you partake of that last offered cup
Or disappear into the potter's ground?
When the man comes around
"These people, these Quincy..." Crowley rasped. "They... they have spent the last millennium, hidden away from the world... skulking in the shadows, plotting their so-called grand return." He continued in a contemptuous tone. "We... we cannot allow their single-minded obsession with their petty revenge to endanger everything that we are striven so hard for."
"What are your orders?" Dario asked.
"It's simple," he replied, coughing faintly. "We destroy the head of the snake... then the body will die." The man continued. "Their Emperor, Yhwach, he is the linchpin in all this- the twisted, blackened heart of this degenerate regime." Crowley declared, before coughing again. "He, above all others, is the one who must be dealt with... The rest... they are incidental."
"And what if the others resist?" Dario asked. "You, more than anyone else, understand just how deep their misguided faith in their leader runs." He observed. "They won't just stand idly by and watch as we kill him." The hooded man continued, arms folded across his chest. "And don't forget, that Yhwach is strongest here, in the heart of his own domain... He will not die easily."
"Death never comes easily." Lenny interjected.
"Indeed." Crowley replied. "But it still comes to us all in the end." He went on. "As to your question... Anyone who gets in our way is to be dealt with." The man instructed. "But this isn't a massacre... It is a necessary evil... in the cause of the greater good, but let none of you forget that this is not heroic."
"Personally, I'd advise that you hold back on your powers for the moment." Dario cautioned the clearly ailing man. "Better to conserve your strength for the... main event."
"Your concern is... noted." Crowley replied. "But I'm a dieing, as surely as this Empire..." He paused, in order to cough. "The only difference is, I've known this... for some time."
Elsewhere in the Silburn...
A wall within the fortress shook as a large hole opened up in it, followed by several dark wraith-like creatures pouring forth from the crumbling breach. The ghostly apparitions then went on to scour the halls, attacking anyone who tried to get in their way. As this was going on, Jinx stepped out from the recently formed whole in the wall and scanned the area.
Meanwhile, in front of the fortress, Hawke appeared and held up his hands, countless balls of glowing energy manifesting around him as several Quincy moved to intercept him. He then swiftly brought his arms down, clapping his hands together as he exclaimed "Detonate!"- resulting in the orbs exploding violently and badly injuring men who had attempted to stop him.
All across the fortress, the Brethren were wreaking similar havoc...
Till Armageddon, no shalam, no shalom
Then the father hen will call his chickens home
The wise man will bow down before the throne
And at his feet they'll cast their golden crowns
When the man comes around
Back near the front of Silburn, Lenny held aloft a Quincy by the throat, before tossing him at another one of the white-clad troopers, the impact taking both of them out. He turned around in time to witness as more of the Wandenreich troops approached. The leather-clad man frowned.
Without saying a word, he turned toward one of the nearby pillars and drove his fist directly against it- shattering the large column and causing the roof above to tremble. He watched impassively as it shook and large chunks of both ice and mortar rained down upon the startled men. This, in-turn, served to effectively block off the main entrance to the building.
With that done, Lenny then turned to join the others...
A glowing figure, clad in a full suit of Samurai armor and horned helmet- complete with a full mempo covering the 'face'- charged the Sternritters guards stationed at a large set of double doors. At the same as this, Jinx was gesturing with her left arm- the tattoo covering her shoulder and upper arm glowing- as she motioned for the warrior to cut the two men down.
"Yeah, that's the way you do it!" Jinx exclaimed excitedly. With that done, the tattooed woman skidded to a quick halt in her boots before the massive doors. As she was busy inspecting them, Pierce appeared at her side to join her in examining their current obstacle.
"It looks like there's some kind of barrier in place." Jinx commented. "And as long as it remains active, these doors aren't going to budge for us." She reasoned.
"Well, if we can't force them open..." Pierce started with a smile, placing the palms of his hands against the smooth surfaces of the doors. "...Then we'll just have to break 'em down!" He declared, as his hands started radiating energy from them and the doors began to reverberate.
"It's just a matter of finding the right frequency..." Pierce explained. "That's it, I think I have it!" The declared as the doors began to shake harder. The telltale lines of cracks appeared, jutting outward from where his hands were, like threads in a spider's web.
The doors began to splinter and break apart...
Whoever is unjust, let him be unjust still
Whoever is righteous, let him be righteous still
Whoever is filthy, let him be filthy still
Listen to the words long written down
When the man comes around
Everyone inside the large throne room, including Yhwach himself, watched as the doors to the grand hall broke apart and collapsed in a cloud of dust and debris.
His Sternritter subjects watched as their leader looked out across the room.
Crowley then emerged from the wreckage and calmly ventured inside, with the other members of the Brethren trailing not far behind him. The whole time, everyone watched the masked, hooded figure as he made his way towards the steps leading to Yhwach- now no longer occupying his seat.
"Emperor Yhwach," Crowley started. "I have come to you, this day, seeking your undivided attention... For I have a message, one that I wish to deliver to you, in-person."
He stopped at the foot of the steps, and the tall man glowered down at him. "You, you dare to threaten me in the heart of my own kingdom?" Yhwach demanded in a booming voice.
"I've done more than dare." Crowley replied, as the Brethren filtered in. "And I have done more than just threaten you... I have harmed you- in a way that you and your ilk were unable to do to myself and to my fellows." He continued evenly. "And... with the help of my Brothers and Sisters- together, united in cause- have penetrated the very core of your dominion." He paused. "And so now... as I look upon your grand Empire of dust and ice... I find it thoroughly lacking."
At this point, Dario entered the throne room, silently taking his place among the others.
"This attack, and the devastation that it has wrought... It is the fruit of your life's work. After all, every man must reap what he sews in life. And you have spent yours sewing hate and conflict." Crowley went on as he addressed the man before him. "You, Yhwach the Almighty, you are a false god, and so you sit upon your throne of lies and rule over a frozen empire of dirt."
Yhwach started to protest the insults being heaped upon him, but abruptly fell silent as he registered the absence of his normally vast powers. "Who... What are you?"
Crowley didn't bother to answer. "You've lived too long, Yhwach..." He covered his mouth, muffling a cough, then went on. "You've long since outlived your own time- not to mention, your usefulness." The man went on. "There's... no place for you anymore, nowhere where you belong..."
"You're... an anachronism." Crowley continued. "Your time... has come and gone, ended a thousand years ago. You're nothing more than a relic now... You are a monument to a bygone era... An era that is best forgotten!" He spat. "As a rule, I view taking lives as an unfortunate necessity, and not something to be relished... But you, you cannot be allowed to continue this..."
Wordlessly, Dario exchanged looks with the other Brethren.
"Your ambitions... exceed the reach of your limited imagination, and you threaten far too many." The ailing man explained before everyone. "But to kill you... No, for you, death is not enough, you deserve something more... something more fitting."
Dario stepped forward, ahead of Crowley. "Okay, this is where I tag in." He remarked casually, before addressing Yhwach. "I have to say, for a guy like you, I can't thing a more appropriate punishment than one of your own making." He went on. "After all, the worst possible hell is the one that exists in our own minds- crafted by our own secret fears and doubts." He added, tapping the side of his head.
"Now, Dario..." Crowley started. "It's time... that Yhwach was left to his hell."
"And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts
I looked, and behold a pale horse,
And his name that sat on him was Death, and hell followed with him."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
The flap over the entrance was pushed aside as Lisa made her way out of her tent, peering out into the open area where her's and the other tents had been set up in a loose circle. As soon as she stepped onto the white sands, the woman was promptly met by one of the Shinigami working under her.
She recognized the young man as Hiroshi Senaga. His dossier had been among those submitted to her, as a potential candidate for the integrated Shinigami/Arrancar Division. Apparently, his psychological profile had indicated just the sort of 'openness' they needed in a young Soul Reaper.
"Lieutenant Yadomaru," Senaga started smartly. "Here's the report you requested."
Further, the youth's aptitude scores had indicated a proficiency toward a mechanical track. And given the increasing need for Officers capable of handling the emerging technological systems, it only made sense that he and people like him be gradually moved to the forefront of Soul Society.
"Thank you." She replied with a slight nod as she accepted the folder. The Vizard then reached up with her free hand to brush a strand of dark hair out of her eyes, before adjusting her glasses as she began to skim over the contents of the report, with a thoughtful look...
As this was going on, the young Officer remained silent as he awaited further instructions. However, he noted something was different about the bespectacled woman- off, somehow. At first glance, the Vizard appeared very much the same as usual... And yet, upon closer inspection, he realized that her long dark hair wasn't braided into a ponytail. In stead, it hung loose in the back.
Lisa adjusted her glasses. "Hmm, yes... this all looks in order." She remarked. "You can go ahead and return to your post, I'll relay this information to Lieutenant Onigiri."
"Ah, um..." Hiroshi started, only for Onigiri himself to then appear through the tent flap. The horned, blue-eyed Arrancar appeared to be adjusting the heavy red sash around his waist- or, more specifically, he was securing the knot in the front. "Did you need me?" The red-haired Hollow asked.
Lisa shook her head. "No, it's nothing, just reports."
"Yes, of course, Lieutenant Yadomaru!" He corrected, giving a salute as he quickly composed himself and hurriedly turned on the heal of his sandal to leave the scene. The Arrancar and Vizard watched him leave, before sharing a glance between them and shrugging.
(- End of Chapter XXXV... -)
Just a quick note, but you guys might find it interesting to know that Darkwood is based (appearance-wise) on the late actor Ron Silver- who some of you might remember from films like "The Entity", or as the villain from the Jean-Claude Van Damme movie "Time Cop" (among others).
I've never done a so-called "songfic" before, but I really like "The Man Comes Around" by Johnny Cash, and I thought it worked well as a sort-of framing device for the attack against Silburn. I apologize if that seemed kind of abrupt or out-of-nowhere, but I wanted to wrap up things with the Wandenreich and move on, and the way it happened will (hopefully) makes sense in context of the overall story... And if Crowley seems too powerful, please remember that the strain from using his powers (especially on a large-scale) is literally killing him.