To begin with, I'd like to thank darkmachines, RG-Guest, anthony11899, "Ven" and "Guest" for their feedback. Also, I want to apologize for the long-ass delay. I've been busy moving into a new home, and I've also has a lot of problems with my laptop (I'm now on my last back-up).
TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW
Chapter LIX:
"Ascent into Darkness, Part 1"
The Living Realm, Karakura City...
It had been less than a week since the Brethren had carried out their 'attack' on Karakura City, and for all of the people directly affected by the events of that day, everything had changed. In the wake of this, for many of them, a pervading sense of powerlessness had rapidly settled over them...
Doctor Isshin Kurosaki was one of those people. He didn't need to have a second degree in psychiatry to tell that a tangible malaise had fallen over the little social circle that he was a part of.
When the former Shinigami arrived home, the first thing he noticed was that the door to Ichigo's room was open and the light was clearly on- shining through the narrow gap in the doorway. Making his way up the stairs, he stopped and tentatively opened the door the rest of the way.
He was met by the sight of his daughter Karin, her back to him as she stood before her brother's desk. The dark-haired adolescent girl- the more tomboyish of the fraternal twins- either failed to take notice his entry, or simply didn't care. Honestly, either possibility was equally likely.
"Karin?" He started. In the process, he noted that the doors to the closet were open and the drawers of the nearby dresser were pulled out. "Karin, what are you doing?"
"Reading." She bluntly, as if the simple one-word answer was patently obvious, not even bothering to make eye-contact with him as Karin continued looking over the pages of what- upon closer inspection- appeared to be a rather plain-looking black notebook.
Isshin remained silent, watching as she flipped it open and appeared to start looking over the contents contained within it. "The nightmare happened again..." The girl read out loud. "I saw the monster, the devil with the horned skull head again..." She continued, giving an odd look.
"What is it, sweetie?" Isshin asked.
"Look." Karin stated calmly, holding up the notebook for him to see.
The lower right-hand portion of the page was dominated by a drawing, presumably by his son. It was crudely done, by someone without training: depicting a dark vaguely humanoid-shaped mass, with long spindly 'limbs', and a horned skull situated where the 'head' likely would normally have been.
Turning the book away from him, she returned to looking it over. "It goes on like this... Ichi-nii keeps mentioning this 'monster' of his." Karin remarked. "He also goes on about all the creepy places he finds himself in during the nightmares- like an abandoned house, or a rundown western-style mansion."
"Karin-chan," her father started. "You don't sound surprised." He commented.
"Why should I?" His daughter countered brusquely. "I could hear it, whenever he fell out of bed in a panic in the middle of night, or when he was up and pacing restlessly around his room." She continued. "My brother was having these nightmares for a while... I mean, from the sound of all this, they didn't stop until some time after he met this 'Darkwood' guy."
He shook his head. "Darkwood... Everything keep coming back to that man." Isshin lamented.
Karin moved to sit down before the chair at the desk. "I'm gonna keep looking this over... But so far, if this man helped Ichi-nii to get over his nightmares, then can he really be that bad of a person?"
As ever, his logically minded, no bullshit daughter didn't mince words. The worst part of all was, after hearing her say it, he couldn't come up with anything to say at the moment...
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Soul Society, Division Twelve HQ...
Szayel adjusted his glasses, scanning the data on the computer screen...
After a moment, the Espada sighed, closing the window and pivoting in his chair. An electronic chime sounded as a light flashed on the door located at the other end of the room. He produced a remote from his white lab-coat in his gloved hand, and pressed a button on it.
With that, the door slid open, and Nemu stepped into the room. "Szayel-sama," the purple-haired woman began. "Your guest has arrived." She added, gesturing towards the doorway.
"I've been expecting you." Szayel began, rising from his chair. "Welcome... Or, perhaps it might be more accurate to say welcome back." The Arrancar added with a smile.
"It's been a long time... One hundred and fourteen years, to be exact." Urahara replied thoughtfully, as he stepped inside. "I never thought that I'd be standing in the Twelfth once again." The man continued, looking around the lab. "I must say... I like what you've done with the place."
Szayel nodded. "It's heartening to know you approve." He answered. "The truth is, after disposing of the previous Captain, the Division has became a much cheerier place... Beyond that, it was also mostly a matter updating the systems and improving the overall morale of the staff."
The former Captain nodded at this. "Still, as much as I enjoy our ongoing discourse, I don't imagine that your request for me to come here was merely just a social call."
"Indeed." The Arrancar replied with a slight smile. "I've been looking over the details of the previous manifestations of 'Dark Energy', both in this realm and the Living Realm... And something in particular caught my eye- something that you noted in your report." Szayel revealed. "Recall your observations of Darkwood, after you wounded him with that weapon of yours."
"Beneath his flesh, there was nothing, just empty darkness." The ex-Shinigami answered.
"That's where you're wrong." The bespectacled Arrancar countered. "Think about it, you've seen my reports about what happened on the platform, how the energy manifested itself."
"The physical embodiment of Darkness..." Urahara replied. "Wait, are you suggesting that Darkwood has some kind of connection to this Dark Energy?"
Szayel gave a nod of affirmation. "Perhaps even to whatever lies beyond the Oken Anomaly." He went on to say. "Whatever that man is, he's proof that some form of Dark Energy would have been present in our dimension- likely for some time." The Arrancar reasoned. "And given that, I can't help but wonder if there are prior instances of events related to Dark Energy throughout history."
"An intriguing notion." Urahara replied. "Tell me then, what have you found?"
"Nothing, so far." Szayel answered dispassionately. "However, I believe that this is more to do with the limits of our own data-banks." He explained. "Though, I believe there's another source I can go to."
"What 'source' is that, exactly?" Urahara asked, a note of intrigue in his tone.
"The ultimate source." Szayel replied dramatically, rising to his feet.
"Szayel-sama, do you mean...?" Nemu trailed off uncharacteristically, as if the green-eyed Lieutenant was either unable or unwilling to give voice to the last part.
"Yes, my darling Nemu." The Octavio confirmed, caressing her cheek. "I'm speaking of the one place, in all of the Realms, with accounts of everything." Szayel added.
Nemu looked to Urahara, who's stoic expression only confirmed things for her. "And now, my lovely butterfly," he went on, taking her hands into his own and kissing her knuckles as he gazed into her eyes with his own piercing golden orbs. "I must leave the Division in your capable hands."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
The Ukitake Estate...
"Do you remember when you asked me to tell you about the suit of armor in the armory?"
Lillynette Gingerback perked up at the question, posed by her host and benefactor. "Of course," the slender female answered with a big grin. "It was really cool, Shiro-san."
Seeing her sunny demeanor, Jushiro Ukitake smiled warmly at the smaller female half of the Primera Espada standing before him. "Excellent, my dear Lilly-chan." The white-haired Shinigami replied, the young female Hollow practically gushing under his praise.
It was funny, just how much a part of his life this girl had become. He'd long since realized that his life had been fundamentally changed from the moment he had taken her into his home. This young girl, so innocent and heartfelt, had rocked and upended his life...
As he reflected on things, he couldn't help but think that, in some ways, the birth of Kiyoshiro wasn't the first time he'd been placed into the role of a parent. No, the truth was that he'd long since become a surrogate father to Lillynette. One need only look to how attached to him she'd become.
And of course, the affection was mutual, as he'd quickly come to adore the girl. There was something about her, it was like she was filled with a certain energy- which was infectious. In spite of the sickness that had plagued him much of his life, he'd been more-or-less content.
But now... With her as his surrogate 'daughter', and her counterpart Stark-san as something akin to what Shunsui was to him- a valued friend, as close to a 'brother' as was possible...
"Do you see the large symbol on the breastplate?" The Captain and nobleman asked, gesturing to the aforementioned suit of armor. A large gold 'ring' adorned the dark lacquered surface of the front-facing panel of the cuirass, around the mirrored images of twin koi- splashing out of the 'water'- on either side of a Tori gateway, behind which rose a tower framed by the rays of the sun.
Lillynette nodded, and he continued. "It's the crest of my family, it represents the power of the Ukitake Clan... In this case, on the battlefield." Ukitake explained. "Look at all of the intricate details in it, how it so thoroughly protects the wearer- the flexibility of the sode in protecting the shoulder, or how well the kusazuri and haidate covers the hips and thighs, and so on."
"Wow..." The young female Arrancar gushed. "That sounds pretty bad-ass, Shiro-san!" Lillynette exclaimed, looking back to him. "Though, I'm guessing that your family probably doesn't use it any more- ya' know, now that you have you guys have your Zanpakuto."
"Indeed. In fact, it's been several generations since this armor was last worn." The white-haired man continued with a smile. "Now a days, it serves as a memento, a reminder of the past."
Silence fell briefly between them as the smaller half of the Primera let this sink in...
"So," Lillynette began, a sly smile on her face. "You ever put it on, ya' know, jus for kicks?"
He responded with a chuckle. "Actually, just between you and me," Jushiro started conspiratorially, wrapping an arm around her. "When I was boy, I snuck in here more than once and put on the helmet." He admitted to the young female Arrancar. "I would have tried on the rest, but I was too small at the time." He revealed. "Needless to say, my father wasn't too happy about that."
"Yeah, I could see you doing something like that." The girl beside him replied. "Even though you're a Captain, I can totally see that you were a bad boy." Lillynette started slyly. "I can totally see how that's what attracted Retsu-san to you, your whole down-low bad-boy image."
"Indeed. As could I." A familiar feminine voice spoke.
Both of them looked away, to see Retsu Ukitake standing just inside the room. "Retsu?" said Jushiro to his wife, while Lillynette similarly happily greeted her as "Retsu-san!"
"I just put Kiyoshiro down for his nap." She explained, stepping inside. "So, Jushiro, Lilly-chan," the woman resumed with a smile, addressing the two of them. "How have the two of you been doing?"
Both of them responded positively, with her husband asking "How are you, Retsu?"
"I'm feeling quite well, actually." She replied warmly. "Though, I've sadly learned that my Lieutenant and Ayasegawa-san have been having troubles." The dark-haired woman went on. "Apparently, he's been acting differently towards her, being distant and hardly speaking to her."
"Yes, I've heard talk of that as well." Jushiro replied. "Still, I can only begin to imagine how incredibly difficult Madarame-san's death must have been for him, considering how close the two were."
Before he could speak further, there was a knock at the door, which was then followed by one of the attendants appearing. "Sir, you have guests," he announced. "They say it's urgent."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Meanwhile, back in the Living Realm, Karin Kurosaki was busy...
"I never realized my brother could be so... deep." Karin remarked aloud, her brown eyes wide as she continued her journey through the contents of the notebook. "And I never would've thought of him as the type of person who would think to write down his thoughts like this, either..."
Isshin was seated on the floor, listening as his daughter read aloud from the book. "I've seen so much: from strange and beautiful green landscapes of mountains, valleys, and rivers; to dark voids filled with stars and nebulas; and a network of giant cogs and gears (could they be running the universe?)..."
"Incredible, just incredible..." The man muttered to himself. "I'm his father, and yet... to think that this man- a stranger- could have such a profound effect on him, that he even could've helped him... when I couldn't." Isshin lamented, holding his head between his hands. "...I really am a failure."
Secants later, he heard his daughter sigh. "Dad... there's no point beating yourself up like this." Karin offered him in a reconciliatory tone. "Beside, I'd like to think that I had a pretty good grasp of how my brother was doing... So, by that logic, I'm just as much of a 'failure'."
This appeared to resonate with him, as he offered no rebuke to her reasoning. "Besides, it's important that we keep it together... if, for nothing else, then for Yuzu."
Just as ever, the adolescent girl had an uncanny knack for cutting straight to the point. The honest and unguarded comment from his daughter, helped to somewhat rally the man.
Her father nodded, moving to sit on the edge of the nearby bed. With that, Karin then turned her gaze back to the notebook on the desk. "Besides... It's not all doom and gloom." She added casually, flipping to the next page. "He also talks about other things... Like his work, and his boss."
"Jeez, man, reading him talk about her, she sounds like a real battleaxe." Karin remarked, a wry smile gracing her features. "Let's see... hmm, what's this?" She mumbled under her breath as she settled onto a particular bit of text. "Oh!" The youth exclaimed, her cheeks red, as she swiftly turned the page.
"Huh?" Isshin spoke up. "You find something?"
"Oh, um, no... I-it's nothing." Karin replied hastily, not looking at him, so as to hide her blush.
With her father seemingly placated, the preteen finally exhaled. "Wow... So my big brother has a thing for older women... Didn't see that coming." Karin thought silently to herself.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
"When you approached me with your request," Jushiro Ukitake spoke. "Well, let's just say that it came to me as something of a surprise." The white-haired man added.
The Captain of the Thirteenth Division made his way down a white stone paved path, followed by fellow Captain Szayel Grantz and (to his bewilderment) former colleague Kisuke Urahara. At present, the three of them were making their towards the heart of Soul Society.
"Tell me, Urahara-san," Ukitake spoke, addressing the other man. "What Captain Grantz is proposing, am I to accept that he does in fact have your support in this venture?"
"Yes." He replied with a slight nod. "He does, for whatever it's worth."
"Captain Ukitake," the Espada began. "Please, know that I would not have come to you unless I was certain that this was the best option." Szayel went on. "After all, we mustn't forget that we're playing for very high stakes, so we're going to need as much of an advantage as is possible."
"On that much, at least, we agree." The other Captain replied, as the three of them passed through the doors of large entryway at the front the expansive First Division.
"I'm sure that by now, you will have certainly ascertained the reason why I approached you." Szayel continued, his tone cordial. "Aside from the obvious reason, it would be impetuous of me- as a Hollow- to attempt to perform what I'm asking of you." He added, as they continued into the First.
"I see." Jushiro remarked. "Regardless of everything else, I must say that I do admire your conviction... and, to a certain degree, also your gall in making such a suggestion."
Eventually, the unlikely trio passed through the decorated antechamber, arriving at the inner sanctum that was the true "heart" of the massive structure: a large domed room, roughly 10 meters in diameter, and composed entirely of a pristine white marble-like stone.
There, situated in the center of the chamber, was a circular elevated platform, upon which a Doric-style column stood, reaching all the way up to the arching ceiling. Examining it, it appeared to be composed of the same smoothed white stone that everything else was carved from.
Szayel and Urahara watched as Ukitake stepped up onto the platform, and then as he extended his arm and placed his hand flat against the surface of the column.
Clearing his throat, he then spoke. "I am Jushiro Ukitake, Head of the Ukitake Clan, through which the blood of the Celestial King resides within." He proclaimed, after which, the column began to glow with with a white energy. It then 'parted' in the center- the two halves receding into the ceiling and floor of the room- and revealing an orb that seemed to be composed totally of light.
Then, to the surprise of the two men watching, a voice came from the orb. "Jushiro Ukitake, the line of your clan is recognized." It boomed. "What do you seek?"
The Captain briefly looked to the two, nodding before turning back to the orb. "I seek entrance to the Celestial Archives, on behalf of these men- whom I now vouch for."
There was a moment, in which nothing happened, then it spoke once again. "You, you are Shinigami, as is ONE the two men you speak of." The Orb replied in the same imposing tone it had used when it had first addressed them. "But the other, THIS man, he is unnatural."
The three of them exchanged uncertain looks, until Szayel stepped forward. However, before he had a chance to speak, the Orb floated forward and projecting a beam of light- aimed directly at the Espada's head- his golden eyes going wide as it fixed him completely in his tracks.
"What in heaven's name is happening?!" Urahara asked urgently.
"I- I'm not sure," Ukitake replied. "I've never heard of anything like this happening before."
"Why is this IMPURE SPIRIT amongst you?" It asked pointedly.
Ukitake and Urahara exchanged nervous looks, before the former spoke. "Much has changed... This man, he is not merely a Hollow." Ukitake continued resolutely. "He is an Arrancar- he is evolved- and the Shinigami do not view the Arrancar as unnatural." He added.
As if in response to this, a 'pulse' appeared to pass down the beam that was presently holding Szayel in place, causing him to gasp. His eyes snapped shut and he clutched the sides of his head.
"Captain, Captain Grantz?!" Ukitake exclaimed, visibly alarmed.
"Szayel?!" Urahara chimed in, mirroring the other man.
"Agh!" The Arrancar cried. "I... I can feel it!" Szayel continued, gripping the sides of his head, his eyes screwed shut. "I- It's, agh!, in... my... mind! AGHHH" Szayel exclaimed.
And then, just as suddenly as it started, the beam vanished. In the wake of this, the pink-haired Espada swiftly dropped limply down onto his knees. Urahara rushed to his side...
"This information will be added to the Matrix." The Orb announced. "Permission to access the Celestial Archives is granted." With the proclamation finished, the glowing sphere then moved aside, at the same time as a 'door' flashed into existence before them.
The thing came out of nowhere, as if it had formed from the very ether itself, manifesting as a glowing rectangular portal. However, the more pressing concern at the moment was Szayel...
"Szayel! Szayel, speak to me!" Urahara started, gripping him by the shoulders. "Dammit man, answer me, are you alright?!" He exclaimed, shaking the Arrancar as he looked at him intently.
By this point, Ukitake was also kneeling beside him. There was a period, in which several agonizing secants passed, until the Arrancar began to stir. "I- I'm fine... Kisuke." He replied weekly.
"Grantz-san," Jushiro began. "What did you mean when you said it was 'inside your mind'?"
It took a moment, as he shook his head. "I'm not sure what happened... It's hard to explain, but it was almost as if it was... reading my thoughts, scanning my memories."
Szayel took a moment, not speaking further as he willed himself to stand once more on his unsteady feet. "As for the experience..." The bespectacled Arrancar resumed. "Well, let's just say that our shiny little friend was... how I should I put it, he was less than subtle."
"As for why it did it," Szayel continued, his tone weary. "The truth is, I'm not really sure." The pink-haired Hollow remarked. "I can only think... that in the process, it gained some new insight... Possibly about the Arrancar, of current events, our recent history with the Shinigami, and so on..."
"That does go some way to explaining what it meant when it said that the 'new information' it got from you was going to be 'added'..." Urahara mused. "But to what exactly?"
"To the Matrix of Knowledge." Ukitake answered. "I'll explain later... For now, I think it best that we not linger here any longer." The Captain offered. "After all, the Archives await."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Division Four HQ...
Hanataro sighed, as he looked over the data contained inside the file. "You're concerns are warranted, Kotetsu-san." He remarked, lowering it. "Based on of Ayasegawa's last psychological evaluation, there was strong evidence he was suffering from some form of post-traumatic stress disorder."
The silver-haired Lieutenant shook her head. "You remember how he was when he first came back, he was unresponsive, and then he was almost robotic when he first came out of it."
The younger Officer nodded. "How could I forget... he was practically catatonic at the rime, as he sat motionless in his hospital room." Hanataro recalled. "And now, you're understandably concerned that he's intentionally engaging in reckless behavior, possibly as a result of his PTSD?"
She nodded at the comment. "I'm deeply worried that he poses a danger, both to others as well as to himself." Isane replied. "Something has to be done."
The young officer sighed, taking a deep breath. "While I'm inclined to agree with your assessment, Captain Kenpachi hasn't expressed any similar concerns." Hanataro pointed out.
"Of course he hasn't!" Isane replied somewhat irately. "What would he care about the emotional and psychological well-being of others?" She went on. "Yamada-san, Hanataro, you and I both know- the same as the Captain- that they're all just a bunch of maniacs!"
"Yes, but the point remains, Lieutenant," he countered. "That a motion to relieve someone from active duty for medical reasons- including psychological- requires the support of their Division CO."
At this, Isane responded with a frustrated sound, between a groan and a sigh. "I can't believe this..." She lamented in exasperation. "After everything we've all been through... Now, now I'm stuck here, powerless to do anything to help one of the most important people in my life!"
Hanataro looked away uneasily. "I'm sorry, Kotetsu-san." He spoke up, leaning forward. "Honestly, off the record, I'm in total agreement with you, but I'm just as trapped as you are..."
She exhaled. "No... It's not your fault, Yamada-san." Isane replied wearily. "This whole situation- life, itself- all of it just feels totally wrong, like it's all just some bad dream."
"Truthfully speaking," the tall woman went on. "Not just recently, but for quite a while now, you've been an invaluable asset to the Fourth." Isane continued, planting her hand over his. "But even more than that, you've become an invaluable friend, someone I could feel safe to lean on in hard times."
Hanataro blushed, but remained composed as he nodded. "Thank you Lieutenant," the dark-haired young man replied. "That really means a lot to me."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Karakura City, Shop Urahara...
"Are you sure that we can trust the validity of the thing?" Yoruichi asked.
Isshin sighed. "So far, I don't see why not too." The man replied. "After all, what possible reason could Ichigo have had for lying in his own journal?" He offered.
"What about the rest of your family," Tessai spoke up. "How are your daughters handling things?"
"Surprisingly well, all things considered." Isshin answered after a moment. "Karin-chan has always been very good when it comes to adapting to unusual situations. She's a very pragmatic girl... if a bit over-serious at time." The father went on, a faint smile on his face as he spoke.
"As for Yuzu-chan," he continued. "Well, she's upset... but the truth is, she's also a strong girl, in her own way, and she's doing her best to cope with the situation." Isshin revealed. "Truthfully, I don't think there's much I can do for her, at the moment... Like her sister, she's a stronger person than me."
"You're too hard on yourself." Yoruichi interjected. "Considering the fact you've been a single parent, raising three children, and running the clinic..." She paused. "I think you've done pretty well."
Tessai nodded at this. "She's right." The broad-shouldered ex-Shinigami added.
"There is one point I'd like to address..." Yoruichi resumed. "The fact that your son was experiencing so much disturbing imagery in his dreams." She continued. "Can you elaborate?"
"It wasn't just when he was asleep." The man replied. "From the parts I looked at so far, it seemed that there was a point where the things from his dreams- particularly the monster terrorizing him- had begun appearing to Ichigo when he was awake, almost like hallucinations."
"It almost sounds like a form of delirium." The Shihoin woman remarked. "It's not uncommon for a person to begin seeing things as a result of lowered cognition."
"What do you mean?" Isshin asked the woman.
"It's a pity you didn't spend more time around the Twelfth." Yoruichi lamented. "My relationship with Kisuke gave me some interesting insights into the various sciences- including the mind."
"If Ichigo was restless at night, and on a regular basis, then the result would be that he was unable to properly enter into REM sleep." The dark-skinned woman continued. "I don't know the exact specifics, but not being able to experience REM can have serious effects on people."
"The monster you referred to earlier," Tessai started. "Can you tell us anything more about it?"
"My son was terrified of it, on a primal level." Isshin replied. "He described it as a 'dark thing', that it moved like it were made of smoke... That it could produce long spindly limbs from out of the darkness that it was made up of." He continued. "And as for it's 'head'... It was some kind of distended skull, like a cross between a human and a goat skull, with the giant curving horns of a ram."
"It certainly sounds terrifying." The burly ex-Shinigami commented. "...Almost demonic."
The whole time, as Isshin had been describing the 'monster', Yoruichi couldn't help but think how the description of the skull-like face sounded like a Vizard's Hollow Mask. But then, Ichigo had more-or-less had the powers of a Vizard. She found it interesting, on reflection, that the young man was afraid of his own nature- hence why it might have had some influence of this 'boogieman' of his.
And in the process, she couldn't help but feel somewhat sympathetic to the growing sense of guilt that Kisuke had previously given voice to. And, at the same time, Yoruichi also couldn't help but think that it was a guilt that also fell upon her, as she had thought nothing when it came to tapping Ichigo's latent Hollow abilities, bringing them to the surface because it suited their needs...
The golden-eyed woman sighed as she considered this. Maybe it was true, she thought to herself, that the road to hell really was paved with the best of intentions. And if so, by that very same logic, it was a road that she herself had more than helped to pave along the way.
Perhaps, not quite so clever as we thought after all, eh, Flash Goddess?
Putting all of those thoughts aside for the moment, Yoruichi was quick to remind herself that there were far more pressing concerns to deal with at the moment.
"Isshin." Yoruichi started, folding her arms. "Based on everything that you've told us so far," she went on to say. "I think Kisuke needs to know about this."
"Of course." The man in question started. "Tell me then, where is the old rogue anyway?"
"Right now, he's away in the Soul Realm." Yoruichi answered, resting her hands on her shapely hips as she looked to the man. "Where, I can only hope, that Kisuke is faring better than us..."
(- The End of Chapter LIX... -)
This officially begins the third "Book" or "Season" of this series. I'm currently making good progress on the overall story, so I'm hoping to be able to post future updates on a much more regular basis. Again, I apologize for the long gap between this and the last posting. Anyway, I look forward to seeing what you guys thoughts on this latest chapter, so please do feel free to leave me some feedback.