One interesting thing I've noted over time is that the second greatest amount of site traffic comes from Germany- ahead of other English-speaking countries. As such, I welcome the continued input from my wonderful and worldly Germanic readers. I'd also like to take a moment to thank RG-Guest, Lonelyphantom021, and "Guest" for their input on the previous chapter.
And now, as usual (lol), to address (some) of RG's input: First off, you probably couldn't transplant the Chinese into google translate because I added 'accent' markers to make it clearer to the western readers (like me XD). Second: I always wanted to create a world where the spiritualism of the the setting was all-encompassing, that no one single religion was "correct" or "superior" to the others. That said, I might have done a better job of clarifying this fact, it was my intent that the Brethren were basically "foreign interlopers" (ie, Westerners), hence the heavy influences of the music/musicians from the punk and punk-rock scene of the 20th century. As for Ozzy's prayer, my view was that he was reacting to Orihime's empowerment- as the "Hail Mary" is a plea to a woman (Mary).
As to your other comments... I hope you're not challenging my fervent GgioSoi dreams (lol)? Don't blame me, blame NovaAlexandria for my love of Ggio-kitty! And please don't think that I'm dismissing Komamura- as I like Captain Wolfman(as this Chapter will show)! And finally, I put a lot of work into the Ikaku/Slash battle, and people can find the respective clips from the two films on youtube. Anyway, I hope everyone will enjoy this chapter...
TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW
Chapter LV:
"Revelations, Part 3"
The Living Realm...
Karakura, Business District...
Ichigo stumbled back, coughing as he glared at the man before him.
"Now, like I said," the other man replied. "Let's talk."
The youth looked up, watching as Dario smoothed the front of his clothes.
"The truth is, that what happened to you was all part of our plan: I was instructed to do the things that I did to you, as part of a test that's been going on." Dario explained amiably, still smiling.
"The hardships we put you through, they weren't just meaningless cruelty." He went on, approaching Ichigo as he spoke. "I assure you, it all served a purpose- even today's climactic run-in."
"But why... everything you put me through." Ichigo stuttered, looking to Dario. "You, you forced me into that situation... Why? Why would you do that to me?!" He cried. "I- I ended up..."
"Killing me?" Dario offered, taking a puff from his cigarette. "Yes, I can imagine all of all this must seem incredibly unsettling for you." The hooded man offered the teen. "However, I'm afraid that I had to trick you- I had to back you into a corner, psychologically."
Ichigo's brown eyes went wide with anger, covering his eyes. "But... it all seemed so real!"
At hearing this, the hooded man nodded sympathetically. "You see, Ichigo, I'm what you might call a 'Reality Bender'." Dario spoke, taking a drag from his cigarette. "About a year and half ago, there was a sudden boom of people with... let's just say, people like us, with 'special' powers."
"Special powers?" Ichigo inquired.
Dario nodded. "Some of them like myself, and others with different abilities." The scruffy-faced man replied calmly. "Unique individuals, gifted with special powers that allowed them to transcend the rules and boundaries of what is possible." He explained to the confused teenager. "I'm far more sympathetic to your plight than you realize... Because of the nature of my powers."
"There was a time, before I knew the truth, when I had fallen so deep into my own delusions, that I had begun to believe that I was insane- or worse, that the world around me was nothing more than a product of my own mind- that nothing was provably real." He continued. "That is, until I was approached by another, someone like myself- with powers, who understood me, who gave me purpose."
The orange-haired teen said nothing as he went on. "While it's not really something that can be easily classified, we like to look at us as being one of two groups." Dario continued. "The first we've come to call 'Exters', those who's powers manifested outwardly- various physical abilities. The second type we like to call 'Espers', those who's powers manifest internally- mental or sensory abilities."
"Wait..." Ichigo interjected. "Then that means... You, you're an Esper, aren't you?"
"Precisely." Dario replied with a smile. "Even among the Espers, I have a rather unique ability- the power to manipulate the perception of reality." He explained to him. "In your case, from the moment you picked up that bat, you were under the effects of my power."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Ronnie brought The Sword of The Silver Mountain down, a flurry of sparks going off as the edge of the sword struck against the blade of Ulquiorra's Zanpakuto!
Ulquiorra slid back, holding Murcielago aloft in a defensive posture. "Enough of this!" The Arrancar exclaimed, visibly frustrated, before extending his arm. Pointing towards the man before him, he began to gather his Hollow reiki, focusing it at the tip of his pointer finger.
As soon as the flickering orb of glowing green energy took shape, the raven-haired Arrancar's emerald eyes narrowed, a split-secant before he fired off his Cero at the man!
In the immediate wake of the blast, the black-clad man was gone. Not lowering his guard, Ulquiorra used Pesquisa in and effort to sense the man. However, before he could properly focus his powers on locating him, he picked up on something else... The Cuatro Espada cast his gaze sidelong, just in time to be struck by a silver object, which cut into his pale flesh, before embedding in the ground.
Ulquiorra cursed, gripping his shoulder as he stumbled back a few steps.
Ronnie appeared before him in a flurry of movement, his long stringy black hair fluttering around his face as he met the Arrancar's gaze. "If you'd 've been just a bit quicker on the draw... Well, then that last little trick of yours probably woulda killed me." He offered with a smile.
Brandishing his katana, Ulquiorra centered himself. "Murcielago- Enclose!" He exclaimed, followed by his entire body becoming engulfed within a burst of spirit pressure. First and most noticeably, a pair of expansive bat-like wings sprouted out from his back, while he gained a second horn on the other side of his head as his helmet transformed, along with uniform morphing into a gown-like garment.
And yet, the Arrancar wasn't finished... A second burst of spirit pressure engulfing him! The remnants of his Las Noches uniform vanishing completely, in the process revealing his lower body to be covered in black fur, along with a pare of arched animalistic feet and a long tail. Further, the lower halves of his arms were covered in a layer of black fur, with clawed hands. Ulquiorra's eyes were golden, set against dark green sclera, his 'tear' lines thicker and black, and his horns now an extension of himself.
Ronnie moved to 'summon' his silver weapon back to his hands, only for it to be destroyed before he could do so, the weapon obliterated by a Lanza del Relámpago thrown by Ulquiorra.
For a brief moment, the man looked genuinely surprised. "That's some fancy shooting there." Ronnie remarked, smiling as he quickly regained his composure in the face of the Espada. "And I have'ta say, I like the new look you're sporting there..." The man added.
"Now..." The man continued, his whole body crackling with energy. "Sit back and just let me show you something interesting that I can do." Ronnie announced, grinning wildly.
"Tell me Ulquiorra, can you see in the dark?" With those last words uttered, the energy around the man's body expanded outward, throwing the entire area around the two of them into darkness, to such a drastic extent that Ulquiorra couldn't see anything- including his foe.
Flexing his wings, the transformed Espada looked around. As much as Ulquiorra tried, using both his own eyes as well as his spiritual awareness, he was unable to find the man.
"Interesting, isn't it?" His disembodied voice spoke. "Now, let's see what you can really do..."
As soon as he'd finished speaking, a beam of multi-colored energy came at Ulquiorra, only narrowly missing the Espada. Ulquiorra leapt out of the way of the blast, due to his already inhuman speed and reflexes- now even further enhanced when in his Segunda Etapa.
"So, what do you think of my Rainbow in the Dark?" Ronnie asked, suddenly appearing in front of the demonic Espada, only to vanish just as quickly- again, right as Ulquiorra fired a Cero at him.
Less than a fraction of a secant after Ulquiorra had fired at him, the Arrancar was violently struck in the back (between his wings) by another beam of the multi-colored energy!
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Backing up, Soifon regarded the man before her, the one who'd introduced himself as "Lou".
At the moment, it was all that the female Shinigami could do, but to stay out of the man's line of sight, avoiding the 'shots' he was firing her way. And by now, it was rapidly becoming obvious to the Captain that things couldn't keep on like this- effectively going in circles- the two of them deadlocked, as she was left dancing around in order to evade the invisible blasts coming her way.
Reaching behind her back, she gripped the handle of Suzumebachi, drawing the short wakizashi from its sheath. "Enough of this." Soifon started, looking him in the eyes. "I've been waiting for a chance to try something new... And you, well, it's just your bad fortune to cross my path today!"
Bringing her arm up, brandishing her Zanpakuto, she called out "Hornet Thunder Whip!"
Lou was forced to avert his eyes as a pillar of glowing reiki engulfed her entire arm- all the way to her shoulder- transforming it into some kind of massive weapon. It was about a meter in length, golden and covered in black markings and cylindrical in shape. Planting her free hand on her shoulder- bracing herself- she looked through the optical cross-hairs of the sighting mounted on it... Before firing!
Lou dodged to the side, as the burst of pure energy soaring past him. "What, that's it?" He replied in a disappointed tone. "If that's all you've got, then I have to say frankly I'm dis-"
He never got the rest of the sentence out, interrupted when the blast struck him from behind- having arced back around, finding its target. The man was knocked to the ground in a smoldering heap...
"Impressive."
Soifon turned to see as Szayel appeared nearby. "Most impressive, Captain." The pink-haired Arrancar offered her as he approached. "Though, I didn't realize your Bankai could change shape like that."
"I see you've been reading the files on me." The dark-haired woman remarked. "No doubt compiled by your late predecessor, I would expect?" Soifon inquired, receiving a nod from him.
"Well, you'll need to update those." She started, as she resealed her Zanpakuto. "During the course of the last year, I've been working on refining Suzumebachi's ultimate form."
"Indeed." Szayel replied with a smirk. "As I recall, the last time you unleashed that weapon of yours, it's form was more akin to a massive artillary canon, twice as large in size as you." He remarked. "But looking at it as it is now... I'd have to say that it has more in common with a modern shoulder-fired missile launcher- almost like a Stinger, or something similar."
"Yes, though I hope you don't expect me to go into detail about it." Soifon started coyly with a smirk, brushing a hand through her hair. "After all, a lady never reveals all her secrets."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Seemingly unable to see or hear his opponent, and given his lack of knowledge regarding the nature of the man's powers, Ulquiorra was at a loss. His fight with this man was going nowhere.
From Ronnie's perspective, however, the thrust of battle couldn't be going better. At the moment, the dark-haired man silently observed the Arrancar, concealed within the total darkness. To his delight, the Espada's posture abruptly relaxed, followed by him suddenly closing his eyes.
At first, he wasn't sure what to make of this new development. Had the Hollow simply given up on the fight and resigned himself to the inevitable, or was he plotting something? So far, he had yet to display signs of catching on to him. In the end, regardless of the reason, Ronnie concluded that the best course of action was to go ahead and seize the moment and finish him off for good...
Opening his darkened eyes, Ulquiorra turned and thrust a clawed hand into the darkness.
"Oh shit!"
The Espada held the man's arm in a vice grip, as he pulled him in. "You seem surprised." He spoke coolly, in a low tone, looking into the fighter's eyes. "Do you remember? When you asked me earlier if I could see in the dark..." Ulquiorra continued ominously. "Foolish in hindsight, I'm a Bat."
"Now," he went on, holding him in place with one hand while his other hand tilted the man's head upwards- so that it was impossible for him to break eye-contact. "The only question now is, can you see in the dark?" The Arrancar added ominously. "Allow me to show you true darkness."
With those parting words, Ulquiorra hurled the man away, then fired a Cero off at him!
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Sajin Komamura was sent crashing through a nearby wall- his massive frame punching through it like it were only paper- by the sheer brute strength of Lenny's attack.
The lupine Captain landed on the ground amidst the dust and debris. At the same time as this, as Komamura was knocking dust from his eyes and fur, Lenny appeared in the breach, as jets of steam fired off from the exhaust pipes on his shoulders. "Come on now, Wolf- get up!" The leather-clad brawler exclaimed, grinning as he egged the Shinigami on.
Without a word, the wolfish man leapt at him, tackling him in-kind. With a growl, Komamura launched the man, sending him flying across the street- knocking down an electrical pole in the process!
Lenny laughed, even as his impact dented the side of a building. "Yeah, that's more like it!" He called, clenching and un-clenching his armored hands, getting back onto his feet. "You see, wolf, I know you'd start getting into the spirit of things after a while." He added, popping his neck.
"Nothing like a good fight to get the blood flowing, eh?" He offered.
This earned a withering glare from the Captain. "Then, you'll really like this." Komamura replied after a moment, drawing Tenken from it's sheath, crying "Roar!" as it blazed with energy.
A giant armored limb came from out of nowhere, striking Lenny!
Unprepared for this development, the fighter was sent flying. The impact was enough to knock him to the pavement, sending him toppling- head over foot- across the pavement.
When he finally came to a stop, he let out a groan, gradually looking up. "Shiiit..." He muttered aloud, a trickle of blood running down the side of his face. "Looks like you've got some teeth after all..."
"You're finished." Komamura announced solemnly. "This ends here and now." He continued, a stern look in his eyes as he made his way towards where the prone fighter lay.
A moment passed between the two, before Lenny gave a strained chuckle, much to the annoyance of the other warrior. "Yeah, as much fun as the prospect of going all out with you sounds... I'm afraid I'll have to take a rain-check." He countered with a groan. "At least, for the time being, that is."
Komamura stopped. "Wait, what are you talking about?"
"Today, this fight of ours, it was never meant to be a life or death battle." Lenny answered, still lying on his stomach. "We're not here to kill you Shinigami, not really... just to keep you occupied."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
"That whole time... so I was under your power?" Ichigo repeated.
Dario nodded. "As I said, I'm a reality bender." He answered. "I used my powers to impose a false reality upon you. We had to know how you would react. It was important that we learn how you would respond when your core beliefs were fundamentally challenged. In your case, when you were forced to kill someone- could you take the life of another, particularly a human, if it meant saving your own?"
"It was crucial that we see the sort of person you really are." He continued. "Would you turn and run from the ramifications of what you had done? Or, would you instead stand and face reality? Would you have the strength of character to truly look into yourself, and thereby live with the answer you found, regardless?" Dario elaborated. "In your case, it was the latter... You passed the test, Ichigo."
"Test... Test?" The confused teen uttered, watching as Dario dropped the cigarette, and as it fell to the concrete floor and he ground it underfoot. "Earlier, you said that you were told to do this to me," Ichigo started, almost numbly. "Who... who told you do that?"
He said nothing, only smiling as Ichigo's attention was drawn away, towards another figure, as they stepped out of the shadows- from between a pair of parked cars. He was dressed in a long blueish-gray hooded coat, bandages covering his face and neck (disappearing beneath his frayed clothes), while his eyes were hidden behind a pair of dark black visor-style sunglasses.
"Ichigo Kurosaki..." He rasped at length, before pulling his gloved hands from the hip pockets of his long coat. "I've been waiting a long time for this moment."
Dario's smile never faltered as the scene unfolded...
At a loss, Ichigo watched as the stranger reached up and removed the visor, dropping it to the floor as he then reached up and tore away the layers of bandages covering his face...
"You? No, this can't be happening... how?" The youth spoke, a look of utter confusion and disbelief overtaking his face as the man pulled the hood down, fully revealing himself to the teen.
"Darkwood...?" Ichigo uttered in shock.
"Hello Ichigo." The stranger spoke, while removing the gloves from his hands.
"You've been behind everything that's been happening to me...?" The orange-haired youth spoke, his tone sounding defeated as he brought his hand to cover his mouth, visibly disturbed by the revelation unfolding. "These people... They've been working for you this whole time?"
As he'd spoken the latter part, his tone had grown more outraged. Darkwood noted this, as he finished removing the coat, then cast it aside. "Not at all Ichigo, on the contrary, in fact." The older man started, shaking his head as he addressed him. "Dario and the rest of the Brethren, they are our brothers and sisters- all of us, united in cause- and so am I their brother... And so are you."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Ikaku staggered back into the main room, amidst the broken and overturned furnishings, just in time as Yumichika emerged from the opening doors of the very same elevator that had delivered him.
The bald swordsman stumbled back and fell against a nearby wall, staining it crimson as he slid down the smooth surface, to the floor. There, he watched as the purple-haired man rushed to his side.
"Ikaku!" He exclaimed frantically, kneeling down before him. "What happened?!"
"I lost." He replied simply, before coughing up more blood.
"I- I have to get you out of here, fast, while there's still time!" Yumichika declared, only to be stopped by Ikaku himself when he tried to pick the wounded and bloodied man up. "What are you-"
"Listen!" Ikaku interrupted, clamping a hand on his shoulder. "I don't have much time left..."
Yumichika's eyes went wide. "W- what are you talking about?"
"It's too late, I've lost too much blood..." Ikaku replied, holding up the hand that he'd previously been holding against the stab wound to his gut, revealing it to be stained red. "You and I... We- we've killed enough to know when a wound's fatal or not." He added, blood now marring his chin.
"No, this can't be happening!" The other man fired back. "There's still time, there has to be!"
"Yumichika." The man spoke pointedly, gaining his attention. "Before it's too late... There's something I need to tell you, something important." Ikaku went on. "The man I fought, he was... good."
"But... how?" Yumichika replied. "How could a normal person do this to you?"
"He wasn't normal..." The injured man countered. "These people... There's something about them, they can see us... and they can hurt us." Ikaku explained. "They can hurt us in ways like nothing we've ever run into before... not like the Hollows, or anything else." The swordsman paused. "The others need to know, they... they're something more than alive."
Yumichika grasped his outstretched hand as he continued. "More than alive?" The confused officer repeated, looking to his injured comrade. "What are you saying?"
"I'm a warrior, not a scientist..." He started, coughing up more blood. "But what I can tell you is that the one that I met..." Ikaku paused. "I have no regrets, and neither should you... I got to see something I've never seen before... He called himself 'Slash', and he made that sword... dance."
Tears started to well in the corner of Yumichika's violet eyes as he listened. "But I have to save you..." He implored, looking to his friend. "I have to do something."
Ikaku shook his head. "It's like I said... no regrets... a warrior's supposed to die fighting." He replied, managing to give a weak smile. "Except... well, I guess I sorta regret the fact that I won't be seeing you again... not any time soon, at least..." He amended with a faint chuckle.
"This is it... But the moment has been prepared for..." Ikaku spoke, a distant look in his eyes.
Yumichika cast his gaze downward and closed his eyes, ultimately failing to maintain his composure in the moment, before looking back up. "...Ikaku?" He started, getting no replied. "Ikaku?"
Again, no answer came. And at this, without further comment, Yumichika reached up to shut his eyes, before then allowing his head to drop down as he began to weep softly. He was so caught up in his grief in that moment, that he failed to register as the door opened...
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Elsewhere in the City...
Kisuke Urahara was making his way through one of the downtown streets, when the detector he was carrying on him sounded off. Looking to the device, the screen displayed a spike in energy nearby- the same reading as the ones put out by the unknown energy...
It was fortunate that he'd established and maintained a good rapport with the current Captain of the Twelfth Division, as the Eighth Espada had made sure to keep him abreast of things.
The 'Dark Energy', as it had come to be called as of late, he thought. It had been a consistent concern for some time now. Though what concerned him was that this particular reading appeared to be much higher than any of the others throughout the city.
"What's going on... what could be the correlation in all of this?" Urahara mused aloud, looking in the direction that the higher reading was originating from.
That line of though would have to wait for the moment. Altering his course, he began to head in the direction of the high reading. However, as he was making his way, the scruffy-faced blonde came to sudden stop when he sensed something.
But it wasn't an energy reading, it was something different- something strange and alien, and yet also somehow eerily familiar to him at the same time.
"No... No, it can't be." The ex-Shinigami spoke, a look of shock on his face. "It just can't be possible... I shouldn't be able to sense him." He was quick to add, adjusting his hat.
"No, it's no good, thinking about old ghosts." Urahara chastised himself, shaking his head. Tucking the detector back into his coat, he started moving again. "It's just nerves, that's all."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Hawke and Pierce were standing amidst the rubble and the rising smoke, the prone forms of multiple fallen Shinigami scattered around them and motionless.
Lowering his hands, Hawke smiled, watching as the last round of his energy bombs went off. At the same time, Pierce turned to the other man. "You can feel it, can't you?"
He nodded at this. "Yeah, the first two are high-level Shinigami..." Hawke started. "The third energy source is different... A Hollow?" The man asked.
Pierce nodded. "Yeah, from the feel of it, I'd say it's that big damned female with the blonde hair." He replied with a smirk. "I think we've hung around long enough."
"In that case, what now?" Hawke asked pointed.
Pierce appeared before him, smiling. "How would you feel about getting cappuccinos?"
He chuckled at hearing the offer. "You always know just what to say, you know that?" Hawke replied, getting to his feet and offering his arm. "Lead the way, my friend, lead the way."
"It would be my pleasure." Pierce answered with a broad grin, hooking his arm with his.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
The scene awaiting Captain Hitsugaya, Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto, and Tia Halibell was such that it even surprised the experienced trio upon arrival...
There were scorch marks on the pavement and all over the place, and the walls of multiple building on either side of the street were cracked and crumbled down, exposing the interiors.
Furthermore, the forms of multiple Shinigami were scattered around the immediate area. A closer look revealed that some of them appeared seemingly untouched, while others bore superficial burn marks on their robes (as well as upon the flesh that reside beneath). Toshiro knelt down beside one of them.
He placed his fingers against the fallen man's throat. "He has a pulse." The young Captain announced, before going to check some of the others. "Him as well." Toshiro continued. "And her too."
"They're all unconscious..." Lieutenant Matsumoto added. "But what happened to them, how could a dozen Shinigami all get knocked out like this?" She mused out loud.
Turning to the Medic assigned to their team, Toshiro spoke up. "Quick, we need to make sure if these people are stable or if they need medical treatment." He instructed the man.
The Shinigami nodded and quickly moved to start checking the fallen Soul Reapers.
Hearing a rustling noise nearby, the Tercera Espada cast her gaze to the side. "Captain, Lieutenant," she started, gesturing to the two Officers. "Someone is over here." Halibell went on.
Yumichika stepped forward, carrying the limp body of Ikaku Madarame in his arms.
"Officer Ayasegawa?" The young Captain inquired, taken aback.
"Oh- oh my god!" Rangiku exclaimed, running over to Yumichika. "What happened?"
Halibell watched, noting that the violet-haired Shinigami didn't respond right away. In fact, given the situation, his face was strikingly neutral. He didn't respond to their questions, and barely even reacted as his curvy strawberry blonde colleague rushed over to join him.
Blinking a few times, he looked to Rangiku, expressionlessly. "He's dead, Lieutenant..." Yumichika remarked in an unnervingly detached tone. "One of them... they did this to Ikaku."
"Officer Ayasegawa, where is the rest of your team?" Hitsugaya spoke. "Ayasegawa-san... Officer!" The snowy-haired Captain snapped, after receiving no response. "Your men, where are they?"
Yumichika looked over to him. "The blood... there was so much blood..." He replied in a neutral tone, as much to himself as to them. "They killed him..." The violet-haired Shinigami added.
The young Captain shook his head. "We're not going to get anything out of him..."
"Toshiro?" Rangiku asked, looking to her Captain. "Er, Captain... what do you mean?"
The Tercera Espada noticed the brief laps between the two Shinigami, confirming the obvious sexual tension between them, but felt no need to point it out.
"He means that this man is in a shock." Halibell spoke up. "I've lived long enough and seen enough in my time to recognize when someone is disturbed." She explained, folding her arms.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
"What do you mean 'so am I'?" Ichigo replied, looking to Darkwood.
Darkwood exchanged a brief look with Dario, before looking back. "I'm talking about Manifest." The bearded man started. "Think back to your lessons, when I taught you of the Ways of Manifest- you are a disciple of Manifest... As am I, as is Dario, and so is the rest of the Brethren."
The teen didn't respond, dumbfounded as the man continued. "I'm sure by now, you will have worked out that our first meeting- back in Miss Unagiya's business- was anything but a coincidence. And that, in turn, would leave you with the question of 'why?'" Darkwood went on. "A little over two years ago, a chain of events was set in motion- and the ramifications of those events would be so far reaching in scope as to affect the lives of the people residing within all of the realms."
"Darkwood, there's other matters that I need to see to." Dario revealed.
"Of course, we'll speak again later..." Darkwood replied, leaving Ichigo to watch as the hooded man disappeared in a flash, before the older turned back to address him. "Now, my boy-"
"Wait," Ichigo spoke up, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Are you talking about what happened after I stopped Aizen, and lost my spirit powers in the process?"
He nodded. "I'm aware the Shinigami and the others haven't kept you in the loop... But by preventing Sosuke Aizen from using the Oken to gain entry to the Celestial Realm, the colossal forces contained within that unnatural key were unleashed. And with nothing controlling them, those very same forces fed back in upon themselves- with devastating effect."
"First, as an outpouring of energy, a massive explosion; which was followed by a sudden inrush of energy, taking the form of an implosion- so powerful that it tore the fabric of reality itself." He went on to explain to the teen. "And while you were left here- alone, in the dark- the Shinigami and Arrancar formed an alliance, and began to study the effects of those events." Darkwood added.
"The Shinigami, and the Hollows..." Ichigo started. "So, they really are working together..."
Darkwood nodded. "They've uncovered a great deal, including the fact that there is a measurable area of affect in the wake of the destruction of the Oken." He explained. "They call it an 'Anomaly', while we- who know the truth- call a Doorway." He continued. "It is THE Door, to another reality, to new possibilities, and- as you yourself have seen- to ultimate power and truth."
"And the energy you taught me how to use in my training," the teenager started. "Is that also a part of this 'ultimate power' that you're talking about?" Ichigo asked.
"In a sense, yes." Darkwood replied. "But what Manifest offers is genuine. Think about it, and you'll see what I'm saying is true. The insights you've gained during the course of your training have helped you, and you know this, because in the process, you have successfully rediscovered the understanding and self-confidence that you had previously lost."
"But you still haven't answered why?" Ichigo countered.
"Because we needed to know the kind of person you are, and now we do." Darkwood fired back.
Ichigo gave a faint chuckle. "And just what kind of person am I, then?"
"The kind that won't back down in the face of adversity, who will stay true to his convictions, who will do the right thing at the end of the day." Darkwood answered. "And it is those very qualities that make you an ideal champion for the great cause that we serve."
The orange-haired youth was silent, uncertain as to how to respond. Though, before he could think of something to say, a bolt of energy struck Darkwood- knocking the man to the floor!
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Uryu Ishida was making his way down a side street, when he spotted a familiar figure- with a pair of long horns, and bat-like wings- hovering in the air nearby.
"Ulquiorra?" The young Quincy thought silently to himself. He was instantly concerned, as memories of when the Arrancar had stormed the Wandenreich stronghold, in his demonic released, overcome with blood lust, and frantically searching for Orihime.
And given that they had yet to locate the young woman, he feared that things were much the same...
If there was one thing that the bespectacled teen understood (even bore that) was that things could get very ugly very quickly if allowed to go on like this. And so, while he realized that it was ill-advised and almost certainly dangerous, he knew that something had to be done!
Given the dire circumstances, he was likely the only person- perhaps second only to Tatsuki- that had enough of a vested interests of young woman and the Arrancar that might be able to approach him with any real chance of not being killed in the process... Not the best odds.
Still, he had to try...
Needless to say, as soon as the glowing green arrow show across Ulquiorra's path, the Hollow wasted no time in diverting to his location. And when the visibly irate Espada appeared before him in a flash, grabbing him by the lapels of his white coat! The young man was hardly surprised.
Pulling him in, Ulquiorra looked him directly in the eyes. "Uryu Ishida," he started, his tone low and menacing. "It would appear that meddling runs in your family." The Espada continued. "As you are a close friend of Orihime's..." He continued coldly. "In what way would you prefer to die?"
"Ulquiorra, wait!" The younger Ishida interjected, frantically willing himself to keep composed in the (literal) face of the Hollow before him- perhaps the ultimate predator!
"You try my patience, Quincy!" The Arrancar countered dangerously.
"I'm serious!" Uryu insisted. "I want the same thing as you- to find Orihime, safe and unharmed." The dark-haired young man continued. "Just think about this for a secant, will you... If you go charging off on some bloody rampage across the city, surely that would upset Orihime?"
A moment passed between them, in which he appeared to weigh the pros and cons of the matter, until he at last released his grip on the teen. "Tell me then, Quincy, what is this plan of yours, that will help me to save her- well?" Ulquiorra asked in a low tone.
"Well, to start with," he began, straightening out his coat. "It's imperative that you calm down enough so that you have a clear head." Uryu began. "If you can focus, then I'm almost certain that you'll able to sense her just like you did when the Sternritter were holding us hostage."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Ichigo turned to look, just in time as Kisuke Urahara appeared in triumphant style. The disheveled man was brandishing some kind of unwieldy-looking machine- smoke rising from multiple places across it- resting it upon his shoulder, almost like a bazooka.
The teen looked to Darkwood, who groaned audibly, clutching shoulder, where the blast had struck him, before turning back to the new arrival. "Urahara?! What are you doing here?!" Ichigo called out, visibly confused by this sudden development. "What the hell's going on?!"
"Ichigo, quickly, step away from him!" Urahara instructed.
"You, Shopkeeper... how?" Darkwood asked with effort, practically through grit teeth.
"You mean how did I hurt you, monster?" The dirty-blonde fired back. "For some time now, I've had a theory as what your kind really are." Urahara went on. "After that, the execution was simple."
Ichigo watched as the man spoke excitedly. "It was just a simple matter of mass-accelerating a stream of concentrated photons through a series of electromagnetic coils, and discharging them- as a focused beam of ionized plasma!" Urahara declared. "In other words, light! And so, light pierces the darkness... And you- Monster!- I know what you are and I can hurt you!"
Darkwood actually looked at a loss at to how to respond. "You... You weaponized light?"
"Damn right I did!" Urahara fired back. "Now, Ichigo, you have to get away from him!"
The fallen man chuckled. "The rumors about you, Kisuke Urahara, they don't do you justice..."
"No!" Ichigo snapped back at scruffy-faced man. "Not without a proper answer!"
Urahara appeared as if he was struggling to keep his temper in-check. "Ichigo... Just look at him, and you'll see he isn't human." He pointed. "What sort of man doesn't bleed?"
Ichigo was shocked by the assertion, and looked to Darkwood, who lay on the floor. His brown eyes went wide when he saw what was past the tear in the white fabric of his sleeve, to the "wound". There was no blood, nor burns around the torn flesh, only darkness within.
"Who..." Ichigo started. "No, WHAT are you?" He corrected.
Darkwood only smiled at the question. "Don't you remember, Ichigo? I told you, I'm a Christian."
"He's a monster!" Urahara interjected. "What you're looking at is nothing more than a husk, made in the form of a man, but filled with darkness!" The former Soul Reaper insisted.
"You call me a 'husk'?" Darkwood countered, wryly. "How utter laughable, coming from you: a ghost, parading around in the guise of a living person..." He added mockingly.
Ichigo glared at Urahara. "I don't see you or any of the others for over two years... And now, now you finally show up, expecting me to just listen to you, as if nothing ever happened?" The orange-haired teen went on angrily. "What about you? Where the hell were you and all the others when I actually needed you, when I needed someone to listen to me- well?!"
The man in the striped hat looked crestfallen at this. "Ichigo, we don't have time to argue-"
"No, there's never time when I need something!" Ichigo cut in. "But when you and the others needed me, to go do your dirty work for you, then you had all the time in the world!"
"Oh Ichigo..." Urahara closed his eyes, exhaling. "What did I allow myself to be a party to..." The man lamented, shaking his head. "If only we had the time... But right now, I have to get you away from that- that creature- before he's able to use you any furth-agh!"
Ichigo watched as Urahara was knocked to the ground! Looking to him, he saw that Darkwood was back on his feet, his hand held out and glowing with golden energy. "You, of all people, accuse me of using him, after everything you put him through?" He remarked.
"No, you and your compatriots, you are the users." Darkwood turned to Ichigo. "Think about it, what has this man, the Shinigami, and all the others like them, what have they ever done for you that didn't come at a price? You gave them everything, and what do you have to show for it?"
The fallen man grunted in pain. "Listen to him... Ichigo..." He managed to say. "He's manipulating you, playing you against us..." Urahara implored the youth.
"On the contrary, listen to him- still frantically clinging to his delusions." Darkwood countered, as he looked to the man, their positions now reversed. "You and the rest of your ilk, you are the hypocrites, living out a false, Hollow existence." He looked to Ichigo. "I'm done hiding things from you."
"Ichigo, what I am offering you is genuine, the power to make a real difference- to become part of something great." Darkwood continued, passionately. "What you've achieved so far, it's just a fraction of your true potential, just the start. Let me help you, let me show the way."
"Ichigo!" Urahara called out in desperation.
"I..." Ichigo spoke. "I'm done being used, and lied to..."
Darkwood smiled and extended his hand to the teen.
"ICHIGO, NO!" Urahara cried out, powerless as Ichigo took the hand offered to him.
Ichigo nodded. "I'm ready... Show me."
With that, Urahara could only look on in shook and disbelief as the two of them vanished before his eyes in a flash of light, the injured man now alone inside the parking garage...
(- End of Chapter LV... -)
Well, I imagine that RG-Guest will have some interesting input after reading this chapter (hopefully so will the rest of the readers lol). I'll say this, the transformation of Soifon's Bankai- from a giant cannon, to a Stinger-style rocket launcher- was a result of one of RG-Guest's suggestion.
Also, it's a minor thing... But I really wish FFN allowed you to list 6 featured characters (rather than just 4): because ideally, I'd list Orihime, Ulquiorra, Ichigo, Szayel, Urahara, and (probably) Ukitake (if not Nemu or Stark). It's a small thing, but I think it would help at least a little.