Just a short interlude this time, to tide you guys over. However, the next update is the first of a 2-parter that will a major pay-off for the whole UlquiHime Arc. So I hope you guys will stick around for it.

Now, I'd like to take a moment to thank darkmachines and "Jaqen H'Gar" (I swear, there'll be some high quality GgioSoifon content soon). As well as JK Robertson (who powered through the entire story in two days!), 'hearing' that really means a lot to me!

Now, onto RG-Guest: This chapter was crammed with character and story moments, to the point that a few characters only got a cameo. I had been planning on both Eldrad and Shinobu showing up, but I couldn't work them in until now. The bit with the potatoes was also meant to remind the readers that food was being grown in HC, thanks to the hydroponic gardens built there. I would have liked to do more with Cirucci, but the Div 14 scenes were already bursting with characters. Plus, I was able to show both Onigiri and Lisa again- and how comfortable they are around each other (I'll leave it to the readers to make their own conclusions XD).

When I was writing the scene between Ryuken and Crowley, my intent was that the elder Ishida was unprepared for the reveal, and at a loss at properly respond to the news. Remember that Crowley told the other Brethren to ignore non-combatants (like children) in Silburn. They only attacked them to remove them as a threat to their plans, not to wipe out the people. Another way of looking at the scene between them was that Crowley was sending a message to Ryuken.

TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW

Interlude 07:
"Members of The Pack"

Soul Society...

Hanataro Yamada, the young Third Seat Officer of the Elite Fourth, was seated at his desk, situated in the heart of the Division that specialized in Medicine and the Healing Arts.

Normally, for someone like himself- a young green officer, not long out of the Academy- the idea of attaining such a high-ranking position within one of the Fourteen (formerly Thirteen) Elite Court Guard Divisions at his age would have been downright inconceivable...

However, in Hanataro's case, the details surrounding the circumstances of the young man's sudden and meteoric rise up through the ranks were anything but 'normal'.

How many people could say that they'd jumped four ranks in one go?

After all, he'd been lucky enough to have survived the devastation during the the final moments of the Winter War, and been amongst those to emerge- alive and (more or less) unscathed- in the aftermath of the catastrophic conflict... Only to wind up in-charge of the triage center.

And yet, more than the promotion, and the increased responsibility and regard that came with it, what had arguably had the greatest impact upon him was the presence of a single individual...

A certain bossy overbearing Arrancar; with little regard for his personal space; that had stormed into his life and managed to single-handedly turn his entire world upside-down.

No, that wasn't quite right, was it?

A certain confident and energetic Arrancar; with a single (visible) rose-colored eye and a radiant smile; who's unshakable confidence and vibrancy drew him to her; and who drove him to better himself.

Hmm, was that more like it, perhaps?

Actually, the truth was it was a bit of both. But how? It shouldn't have been possible... And yet, both accounts were more or less an accurate description of the same person.

Hanataro halted his work, looking over to the nearby window in the office. A moment passed, before he set down his pen. The dark-haired young man couldn't help but smile as he rose to his feet.

The paperwork could wait, if only for a bit...

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

Lillynette Gingerback, half of the Primera Espada (the mouthier, more feminine half) was standing in the sprawling backyard of the Ukitake Estate, amidst the large Sakura trees.

Resting her hands upon her narrow waist, she gave a toothy yawn as she arched her back. The small female Arrancar smiled, reflecting upon her past. As an individual, Lillynette was unique

Being half of the most powerful Hollow in Huecco Mundo, Lillynette had a front row seat to history itself as it unfolded around her. She's lived though war, and so understood the nature of violence. Now, she was in a time of peace, and so had come to understand what this meant.

And to be honest- in spite of her nature- the young woman preferred the latter... The truth was, that the young Hollow had been profoundly moved and affected by the events of the conflict with Soul Society and the Shinigami, both during the battle itself and the immediate aftermath of the Winter War. And as cliched as it might sound, she believed that she was ultimately better for it.

The Soul Reapers were a funny lot. Things like compassion and empathy, such nebulous concepts for her kind, seemed to come so easily to the Shinigami... At least, the ones that mattered.

Since coming to the Soul Realm- first as part of a hostile invasion, now living as peaceful members of the population- the smaller half of the Primera had gone on to earn the regard of her former enemies. In particular, with certain members of the Fourth and Thirteenth Divisions.

Regarding the former, she'd come to admire and care for its female Captain of the Fourth as much as she did the white-haired Captain of the Thirteenth. So, as a matter of course, as she'd spent time around the members of the Medical Division- including the young Third-Seat.

Hanataro had been so annoying and gloomy when they'd first met. But then, she didn't really have the luxury of being picky when it came to potential peers...

Lillynette needed someone her own 'age', someone who would potentially be more inclined to relate to her situation, and therefore with whom she could confide in. And it wasn't like he was going to turn her away, certainly not when they'd first met- the boy just didn't have it him.

As for the present, well... let's just say, things were a bit different now...

Over the course of the time that the female Arrancar had known him, the young Shinigami had grown considerably, becoming more confident in himself and his abilities. Lillynette could see this in the way that he carried himself around others- in his speech and body language.

Of course, there was also a change in the way that he acted around her...

She blushed faintly, smiling to herself as she reflected on the rather morphic nature of her relationship with Hanataro. Lillynette squinted as she cast her gaze upwards.

Even now, while looking up at the endless clear blue sky, she still found herself taken aback by how totally different it was to the infinite darkness that blanked her own world.

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

"It's only been, what... two years?" A youthful voice asked.

"Yeah, probably longer..." Another, more feminine answered back. "Although, looking back on things, it all feels like a heck of lot less time."

"Almost." The first voice repeated back, audibly amused. "When I stop and think back on everything that's happened... It does seem like a bit of a blur."

Hanataro smiled, chuckling softly to himself. He was seated on the high parameter wall around the Fourth Division, looking off at the horizon in the distance.

"You're in a good mood." Lillynette commented with a small smile. The lithe female Arrancar was standing nearby, atop the same wall, also looking off into the distance- toward the burning orange and deep blueish-purple skyline spanning over the tops of the towering pine trees.

Hanataro nodded. "Of course." The dark-haired Officer replied, still smiling. "After all, it's not as if I don't have a lot to be happy about at the moment." He answered.

Lillynette was dressed in the modified monochromatic Las Noches uniform that she'd adopted since arriving: an open vest stopped above her waist, worn over a strapless tank top-like garment (showing her midriff and Hollow Hole), along with a pair of short-shorts, and matching sets of thigh-high boots and arm-slips. The only real difference was that yellow-green hair was longer now, flowing part-way down her small back, between her narrow shoulders.

The Shinigami offered no comment as she took her seat beside him. "Yeah, that's true." She remarked, as she made herself comfortable. "I mean, our pack is thriving, so I can't really complain."

"Pack..." Hanataro repeated in a thoughtful tone. "That's as good a term as any- maybe better."

Hanataro was decked out his black Shinigami robes: comprised a matching black hakama and kimono, worn over a white under coat, along with a pair of white tabi 'socks' and straw sandals. Aside from that, his dark hair was parted on the side and brushed back, so the lower halves of his ears were visible.

Mirroring his pose, Lillynette leaned back on her palms, letting her slender legs hang down off of the edge of the high stone wall. "Speaking of packs, what about you, Hanataro?" The lean female Arrancar asked the youth. "How's the 'Young Wolf' doing?"

The young man smiled at this, before eventually nodding. "Well... I can say that this 'young wolf' is doing pretty well, all things considered." Hanataro spoke, still smiling. "I might be a slow learner at the moment... but I am learning, none the less." The Third-Seat Officer replied.

The dark-haired adolescent flinched slightly and blushed as he felt the Arrancar lean in close to him, resting her head against the crux of his neck. "I'm... happy." Lilly answered with a smile. "For the first time, in a long time, I can actually remember feeling happy." The young Arrancar continued, snaking her arm comfortably around his own. "Life's... been good to me."

Lillynette nodded, her arm still wrapped around his. "I'd say life's been good to all of us." The young female Arrancar remarked with a smile. "To all the members of the pack."

Hanataro nodded in agreement. "I couldn't have said it better myself." The young Officer replied, allowing himself to enjoy the feel of her against him. "The two Captains are doing well, they have a healthy child- a cub, as you say- which means the Ukitake family has a future."

"And that means that you and Stark-san have a future as well." He added, looking her way.

Lillynette blushed faintly, but her smile never faltered. "Yeah, that's true." She replied, turning to look at him, her rose-colored reflected in his dark ones. "Shiro-san and Retsu-san have been good to us."

"Just like how Retsu-san and Isane have helped you to grow." The slender female added playfully with a slight smirk. "And in a way, that makes you just as much a part of the pack."

The young man smiled after a moment, then nodded. "Thanks Lilly." Hanataro replied, moving to place his hand over hers. "Hearing you say that... that means a lot to me."

The youths fell silent as they allowed his gray eyes meet her rose-colored one. "No problem, Taro." Lillynette spoke with a sly smile, before leaning in to plant a playful kiss on his lips.

(- End of Interlude 07 -)