The good news is, I'm working again- full time, no less. The problem is, this means I have less time to work on the story. That said, I am working hard toward finishing this series, and I'm trying to stay well ahead of my planned release schedule. Now, I want to take a moment to thank RG-Guest and "Jaqen H'Gar" for their feedback on the previous chapter. To address the points brought up by the former...
Firstly, I always planned to have the characters gain access to the Celestial Archives, and the whole sentient "Orb" just sort of came into existence as a result of developing how the characters would access the archives. Also, while this is more a matter of my interpretation of things, I believed that Aizen wouldn't have been able to access them because he's not a descendant of the Soul King, hence why they involved Jushiro. And while it's (relatively) a bit of a late addition to the story, the CA isn't a one-off plot element, and it will continue in the story.
Moving on, my intention wasn't to suggest sleep deprivation as an excuse for Ichigo's actions, but present it more as on of many factors that contributed to the gradual erosion of his mental state over an extended period of time. Further, as a big fan of Ikaku Shiba, I do plan on making use of her character in the future, though I can't speak to how soon she's going to make her next appearance.
TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW
Chapter LX:
"Ascent into Darkness, Part 2"
The Living Realm...
"Mr. Darkwood..." Dario started, then smiled. "Or, would you prefer Edmund?"
"Just 'Darkwood' is fine." The man in question answered, taking a deep breath and exhaling, before looking to the other man. "After all, there's no sense in formalities, especially considering everything we've been through recently... Including Edward's death."
The bearded man chuckled faintly. "Edwards... Or, perhaps I should say Edek." Darkwood mused aloud. "Now, Mister Silver, what's the final result our little foray into Karakura City?"
"Slash, Jinx, and Lenny, as well as Hawke and Pierce... They reported back safely, following their run-ins with the Shinigami and their allies." Dario replied, watching as he stood up.
"And the others?" Darkwood inquired, visibly concerned.
"That's... a bit more complicated." Dario replied. "The group led by Ozzy, they encountered- er, let's just say, unusual resistance, and withdrew." He continued. "As for the others... I'm afraid that Wolfe is dead, and so is Lou... and we're still looking for Ronnie at the moment."
Darkwood nodded. "All good men... We'll mourn them, when we have the proper time."
"Well, that just leaves the little matter of that?" Dario pointed out.
Darkwood followed his line of sight, to his his shoulder. "Oh, you mean this?" He replied, motioning to the tear in his shirt, over his shoulder, the 'wound' already visibly mending. "Yes... well that certainly was something." The bearded man remarked, removing his waistcoat and unbuttoning his shirt.
"What happened in the parking garage..." Darkwood continued, discarding the shirt. "That... now that was a genuine surprise." He admitted. "I must admit though, not even in my wildest imaginings, could I have foreseen the possibility that that man could have weaponized light, of all things."
The hooded man watched as he turned to a nearby closet, removing a fresh similar long-sleeve button-up from the rack and slipping it on. "That man, Urahara," Darkwood remarked as he slipped the white shirt on and began buttoned it. "He's far more dangerous than we could have anticipated."
"And he's been here, in the city, right under our noses the whole time." Dario commented, folding his arms across his chest. "The fact that he was able to extrapolate so much, like that weapon of his, means that our enemies know more about us and what we're doing that we thought..."
"Yes..." Darkwood replied after a moment, tucking his shirt in. "Even still, that insane weapon," the man paused in his musings. "That Urahara... he must be very resourceful."
"He is." Ichigo spoke as he entered the room. "Probably one of the smartest people ever."
Darkwood slipped on the shirt, while Dario smiled at the teen. "You're looking well."
The orange-haired teen regarded him for a moment, before looking to Darkwood. "I am curious about a few things- like why you dressed up in that strange costume?"
The two men briefly exchanged looks. "Fair enough." Darkwood replied, as he finished buttoning up the new shirt and slipping on his black waistcoat. "The truth, Ichigo my boy, is that I probably couldn't have accomplished half of the things I did if not for the help of a certain individual."
"Who was this 'Crowley' guy then?" Ichigo asked.
"Have a care." Dario cautioned. "That 'guy' lived through things you couldn't begin to imagine."
"Really?" The youth fired back, his tone blunt. "Try me."
Dario smiled darkly. "How about the Majdanek Death-Camp in Poland?"
Ichigo's eyes went wide at hearing this, and Dario appeared to be about to speak further, but stopped when Darkwood held his hand up. "Now, now, Dario," the man offered. "You must remember, that our young Ichigo never had the pleasure to get to know Mr. Crowley." He reasoned.
"You see, Crowley passed away recently..." He revealed. "It was a regrettable if inevitable consequence of using his great powers." The man continued. "And if that weren't tragic enough, his death occurred at a particularly crucial point in time." Darkwood went on. "So, in order to ensure the confidence of our newer and less-experienced Brethren, I made the tactical decision to 'fill in' for the late Crowley, as it were... and well, it only seemed fitting to dress the part."
"I see." Ichigo replied after a moment. "Maybe you can tell me about him some time."
The other man nodded. "Yes, I'd like that." He replied. "He was a very interesting man, with decades of life experience... He was a witness to how the entire world changes during the 20th Century." Darkwood replied calmly. "But for now, we have other matters to discuss."
"I look forward to it, Darkwood." The young man answered. "And hopefully, in the meantime, you'll finally give me a proper explanation as to just what the hell you are." Ichigo fired back at him with a smile, while he pointed to the older man's now covered shoulder.
The brown-haired man returned the smile en-kind. "Indeed."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
The Soul Realm...
The three men- two souls and one Arrancar- were gathered in the central chamber of the First Division, the lavishly adorned room rising up into a domed ceiling...
"As I said, it would be best for us not to linger." Captain Ukitake stated.
"Just a moment, if you would..." Szayel commented wearily, his golden eyes closed, while rubbing his temples with the tips of his fingers. "My head, it still hurts..."
As if in response to this, Kisuke Urahara spoke up. "I just realized something, Captain," the former Shinigami started with a sly smile. "I think that today may be the first time that I've heard you address me by my given name." The Soul Reaper turned Shopkeeper pointed out.
At first, the bespectacled Espada appeared taken aback by the observation, before eventually nodding. "Well, the truth is... At the time, I hadn't really given it much thought." Szayel replied, while looking to the other man. "It's just, that in the moment... Well, it only seemed fitting." He added. "Still, I hope you don't think this means we're running away together."
The light-blonde burst out laughing at this. "Oh no, not at all, my friend." He replied. "On the contrary, I'm sure my dear Yoruichi will be most relieved." Urahara added with a smile.
"Gentlemen, the Archives awaits." Ukitake reminded them.
Again, a beat passed between the three of them, before the ex-Shinigami and the Hollow both nodded. And with that, the three men stepped through the doorway...
And so, with a flash of light, the trio found themselves standing in the new location. However, before them was a massive glowing sphere- swirling with energy.
"I- Incredible..." Szayel commented, while adjusting his glasses.
"Yes, Indeed..." Urahara remarked, pushing back the brim of his iconic green and white striped hat as he looked to the white-haired Shinigami nearby. "This thing... w-what is it?"
"Captain Grantz, Urahara-san," Ukitake began, motioning toward the sphere. "What you now behold, is the nexus of the Matrix of Knowledge." He explained. "What you both seek, the 'Celestial Archives' as you call them," the Captain went on. "Is but a single aspect of the Matrix."
No sooner had the Captain of the Thirteenth Division said that, the glow radiating out from the sphere began to quickly increase. Szayel squinted, light flickering off the lenses of the Arrancar's glasses as the three of them were overtaken by a sudden and blinding flash of white light.
What now lay before them were endless rows of shelves, as far as the eye could see- each filled with countless books and documents. All and all, the place they now found themselves inside of looked like something akin to a vast library or an archive. Truth be told, just thinking about the shear scope and scale of it all, the mind couldn't help but real with possibility...
"Where... Where are we?" Szayel spoke, looking around.
"Come now, just look..." Ukitake countered. "All of this- everything that you now see- is a perceptual manifestation of the sum total of all knowledge, wisdom, and learning." He went on. "The Matrix is the interface, while the Celestial Archives are the repository of this data..."
With that, the Captain took a step forward. "You stand before the culmination of everything that ever was and has been recorded and thought- both past and present- all of it exists here." The white-haired Shinigami continued with a flourish of his hand. "Behold..."
"Captain Grantz, Urahara-san... you have been extended a rare privilege: you have been granted access to the greatest repository of knowledge in all of existence." He continued. "Everything knowable, since the earliest homosapien was capable of thinking of concepts worth knowing..."
Pausing, he ran a hand through his long hair. "Use it well, gentlemen."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Karakura City...
For the four of them, as Orihime and Ulquiorra sat across from Toshiro and Rangiku, these meetings had by now become something of a tradition for the quartet gathered in the apartment.
"I always look forward to seeing you two." Orihime offered, a bright smile on her face.
"That's awfully nice of you to say, Orihime-san." Toshiro Hitsugaya replied. "I don't think most people would be quite so happy to see their 'minders'." The young, snow-haired Soul Reaper continued with a sly smile, before he moved on to take a leisurely sip from his cup.
"Oh, now don't be like that, Captain." Rangiku Matsumoto chided her partner. "I, for one, am always glad for a chance to see my dear Orihime!" The buxom woman added, sipping from her cup.
Ulquiorra just smiled inwardly, drinking from the cup in his hand, totally unfazed (if not pleased) by the fact that the woman hadn't mentioned him in her remark.
The young human woman, along with her Arrancar companion, and the two Shinigami from the Tenth Division, were all seated at the high-legged western-style table in the kitchen/dining room area. A tray, along with a kettle of freshly-brewed tea resting upon it, was situated in the center.
It was at this point, that Rangiku picked up on the sound of little cries, coming from the other side of the apartment. "Oh, Orihime, the last time we spoke, you told me that little Hime-chan and Ulqui-kun just had a batch of babies recently, right?" She asked the younger woman.
Orihime nodded at this. "Oh yeah," the sunset-haired girl replied with bright smile, before she took a sip of tea from her cup. "Though, when it comes to birds, the correct term for their babies isn't called a batch, it's called a 'clutch'." She explained to her friend, still smiling.
The strawberry-blonde appeared confused at first, then nodded. "Oh, wow, Orihime... You sure know a lot about birds." Rangiku replied, smiling back at her. "So, what did you do with the little ones?"
"They were sooo cute." Orihime gushed. "There were three of them... That's a pretty standard clutch size when it comes to finches." The redhead explained to them. "If we had the room for a second cage, I would have loved to set them up in it as a second generation."
"Thankfully, there were some children, living down on the first floor, and both of them were interested in adopting the birds as their own." Ulquiorra spoke up. "They took two of them."
The human woman frowned at his tone, but went on. "When it came to the third baby, we gave him to the man that runs the local pet-shop." Orihime explained to the Shinigami.
"Who are the other ones again?" Rangiku asked, scanning the large cage.
Standing up, Orihime moved to stand at her side. "I named the other two Zebra Finches 'Ishi-kun' and 'Tsuki-chan', the two Spice Finches 'Jushiro' and 'Retsu' after the Captains." She went on. "And I named the Society Finches after my friends- like you and Toshiro-kun."
"Whaaat?" The young man in question responded, aghast, looking their way.
"Oh hush!" Rangiku fired back. "They all look so cute, cuddled up together in the nest."
"Yeah, that's one of the great things about 'Societys'." Orihime replied. "They're really comfortable in larger groups, even with other types of finches- in fact, it's the reason they're called 'Society Finches'." She continued with a smile. "I honestly wouldn't be surprised if their were some eggs soon."
"Speaking of babies," Rangiku resumed, maintaining her cheerful demeanor. "This is still pretty recent news, you see," she went on. "And not many people know this... But, Captain Soifon is pregnant."
Both the Human and the Arrancar were caught off-guard by the revelation, even as the women were in the process of returning to their chairs at the dining table.
"Pregnant...?" Orihime repeated, her warm brown eyes wide. "H-how? How is that even possible?" The young woman inquired, sounding genuinely surprised by the news. "I mean, the Captain is a Soul, while Vega-san is a Hollow..." She went on to state.
This, this news was something relevant to Ulquiorra's interests. As he recalled, the cat-like Arrancar had risked everything to win the favor of the much more powerful female Shinigami. So, to think that the Fraccion had managed to knock up the Captain gave him pause...
For one thing, the fact that a mere Fraccion had fathered a child with such a powerful female instantly raised his standing in the eyes of their people. The previously unassuming cat-like Arrancar would now be viewed by his fellow Arrancar in much a higher status than before.
And then, there was the fact that if such a lop-sided pairing as Ggio and Soifon could successfully conceive, then it was even more than possible that someone as powerful as Orihime could (potentially) become pregnant with his cub! The thought alone excited the green-eyed Arrancar, more than he cared to admit, all while at the same time filling his mind with possibilities.
"Oh, you'd be surprised." Toshiro spoke up. "Biology is a frighteningly powerful force..." The young Captain continued. "If you think about it, there's nothing- no other power in the universe- that has any chance of standing against it." He went on. "In the end, for good or for ill, it finds a way."
"Hearing you talk like that, you sound so grim." Rangiku spoke. "We're talking about two people who are going to become parents- it should be exiting!" She went on to say.
"I'm not saying them having a child is a bad thing." Hitsugaya countered. "It's just, for the Captain of the Second Division and head of the Black-Ops Corps, I can't imagine her wanting something like this to be a surprise- especially now, of all times." He insisted. "That's all I'm saying."
"How utterly clinical of you." Rangiku chastised him. "We should be happy for both of them."
As this was going on, Ulquiorra silently noted that Orihime had yet speak further. In fact, she seemed to have been left dumbfounded by the revelation...
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
The Celestial Realm...
The two men were still trying to come to grips with the enormity of their situation, as they now stood before the unending vastness of the Celestial Archives...
"I know I asked you about this earlier," Urahara started. "But after what happened to you, when that Orb made mental contact with you... Can you tell me anything more about what it was like?"
Szayel didn't respond right away. "It really is difficult to describe..." He began. "It didn't just tap into the memory centers of my brain, it also seemed to be reading my thoughts and opinions associated with all of the events of these last few years." The Octavio Espada elaborated. "It was almost as if it wanted to know my... my perspective on everything, as a Hollow, that is."
"I see..." The former Shinigami replied. "I expect that it'll be interesting to consider the potential ramifications of that on the larger scheme of things, based on the insight it gleaned from you." Urahara continued thoughtfully, looking to the Arrancar. "But what about you, how are you?"
The bespectacled Arrancar took a deep breath, then he exhaled. "I admit, the whole experiencing was rather taxing for me." Szayel replied. "Still, I'm... well, I'm making do."
With that, they began to look around. "Now, that we're here," Urahara spoke up. "How exactly do we interface with the archives?" He pondered aloud. "I mean, it's not like there's some obvious catalog for us to use... at least not anything as far as I can see." He added, folding his arms.
"What about this?" Szayel started, gesturing to a large object, about four feet tall, resembling a lectern. On closer inspection, the found a small object, resembling a quill- though, without an ink well.
Holding it his gloved hand, he examined it for a moment, then looked back at the large smoothed area that made up the top of the 'lectern'. "I wonder..." Szayel mused out loud.
"What are you doing?" Urahara asked.
"Testing a theory." Szayel replied, bringing the tip of the quill to the surface of the object. He began moving it, as if writing something... And sure enough, glowing lines appeared in the wake of the quill as he went about his task. "I think this might be some kind of... searching device."
"I'm writing down 'records of living shadows'..." He continued. "And now, if I'm correct about this, then I just need to finish by writing 'find'." Szayel added.
As soon as he'd finished, countless glowing lights suddenly appeared out from the lectern. And so in turn, these little glowing points of light flew off to start lighting up numerous points down the endless rows of shelves, leaving Szayel and Urahara to watch as this continued.
"Yes, well..." Urahara started. "That's a lot of search results." Urahara offered, rubbing his chin as he watched as the multitude of lights continued to fly off to illuminate even more points. "Szayel, I have to say, at this rate, this could take years... years, I'm afraid, we don't have."
"I know, Kisuke." Szayel replied with a nod. "Hopefully, this thing is intuitive enough that we should be able to refine the search- and in the process, narrow down the results."
"I hope you're right," the other man countered. "For all our sakes."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
It had only been a short time since the two Shinigami left the apartment. And in the wake of their visit, and the bombshell news of Soifon's pregnancy, Orihime was still in a bit a daze.
As such, Ulquiorra had been watching the young woman as she'd left the table and mechanically gone through her rounds in the living room, including checking up on the birds. Eventually, Orihime seemed to have snapped out of her stupor. "I'd better make an appointment, so I can get a prescription."
"What are you talking about?" Ulquiorra inquired, watching as she continued moving about the room.
The redhead stopped, looking at him, a smile gracing her features. "I need to see the gynecologist, so that I can get a prescription for birth-control pills." She replied matter-of-factly. "You know, so that we don't want to worry about ending up like Ulqui-kun and Hime-chan."
Ulquiorra arched a fine dark brow at this. "You've been acting troubled for a while now," the Cuatro Espada began. "Is having my cubs something you don't wish to happen?"
"What?" Orihime responded, at first taken by surprise by this. "Ulquiorra," the young human woman continued, making her way over to him. "The truth is, that I'd love to have a child with you... It's just," the fiery-haired girl paused. "I'd like to wait until we're in a more stable situation."
She slipped her arms around him. "You understand, right?"
Again, a moment passed between them, before he nodded. "I'd never force you into anything that you didn't want to be a party to." Ulquiorra replied, leaning in to kiss her. "As always, my respect for you is such that I can be patient." He continued. "I just hope you can realize what this means to me."
She nodded. "Believe me, Ulquiorra," Orihime prefaced with a smile. "I more than understand."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
"We've found countless references to 'living shadows'." Szayel stated. "As well as depictions of these things 'crossing over'." The scientific Arrancar continued.
"Well then," Urahara answered, even as he was pouring over a particular document. "Do we have any idea of the full scope of these occurrences?" The man asked of the other.
"So far..." The pink-haired Arrancar started, adjusting his glasses. "I've identified examples relating to both 'darkness' and to 'living shadows', in some cases going back thousands of years."
The blonde ex-Shinigami nodded. "It's the same for me." He replied. "Not just documents, but also in private journals..." Urahara continued. "And some bits that almost read like a person's thoughts."
"Yes, well, the Captain did mention that this archive includes 'every thought worth thinking'." Szayel recounted, looking up from the 'document' he was reading. "And, after looking over these accounts, it would seem that the previous occurrences were limited to the Living Realm."
"That makes sense." Urahara replied. "There's likely something about the nature of the Living Realm that somehow makes it conducive to this Darkness Energy." He went on. "I think the only reason why we're now experiencing these recent manifestations here is because the destruction of the Oken tore a hole in the fabric of the this realm and... because of whatever's on the other side."
Szayel nodded at this. "Yes, so far... I've found possible examples of them crossing over in documents dating back to the Ottoman Empire, the Byzantine and Western Romans..."
"Not to mention, the ancient Greeks, the Egyptians," Urahara spoke up. "As well as the Hittites, and even the Sumerians and the Babylonians, and so on..." He continued.
"And then, of course, there's also the accounts from the people exploring and charting the frontiers of the 'New World'." Szayel added thoughtfully. "Documented by the brave 'pioneers' and 'trailblazers' of the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries." The Arrancar remarked.
"That's a lot of time to contend with." Urahara answered. "That's what, five, six thousands years worth of history that we're talking about here?" The scruffy blonde-haired man asked.
"At the least." The Octavio replied. "And in a disturbing number of these, they describe the source of these 'Shadows' as the The Great Darkness." Szayel added.
"The 'Great Darkness? ...I must say, that's a less than reassuring phrase." The other man lamented, as he moved to sit down, adjusting his hat. "Still, how is it possible that we- after all this time- that we've never encountered these Shadow Creatures, let alone never heard of them?" Urahara mused.
Szayel sat down beside him. "Don't be too hard on yourself, Kisuke... After all, it's not as if your kind didn't have other responsibilities to consider." Szayel reasoned. "You know, like coping with a horde of soul-devouring monsters, for one thing?" He offered him with a sly smile.
Urahara smiled at this. "You know, Szayel, you really are a good friend."
He nodded in response to the statement. "Yes well, that's as maybe," Szayel began coolly, pausing to adjust his glasses. "But I'm still not running away with you."
Again, Urahara burst into a familiar fit of laughter at this...
It wasn't until after a few moments had passed, that Szayel spoke once again. "And, we can't exclude the fact that these Shadows simply didn't wish to be seen."
"But that still leaves the question of 'why'..." Urahara responded. "I mean, why exactly has this power continued to manifest for such a long time?" He posited. "After all, the period of time we're looking at- more or less- corresponds with the scope of recorded history."
"Perhaps it's all a build up to something," Szayel interject. "Something larger..."
"You mean like an eventual invasion?" Urahara offered. "I might be inclined to think that... But the truth is, that I got the impression- from what Darkwood was saying- that the truth of things likely isn't quite that clear cut." He went on to say. "Still, the ultimate agenda of whatever power lies beyond the rift would almost certainly pose a grave danger to those of us in our reality."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Division Thirteen HQ...
"Omigod, Captain, he's sooo cute..." Kiyone Kotetsu spoke gushingly in a whispered tone, the features of the Lieutenant's round face practically glowing as she spoke.
"Indeed, Captain." Sentaro Kotsubaki spoke intently, the male Lieutenant's words echoing the earlier sentiments of his shorter, blonde-haired female counterpart.
"I'm guessing that he received his dark-brown hair from you, Captain?" Rukia inquired gently with a small smile, earning a nod from the white-haired man.
The petite, dark-haired Third-Seat Officer was seated in the office of the Captain, alongside the intense man and energetic woman that served as the Co-Lieutenants of the Division. Seated before the three of them, behind his desk- with his infant son cradled in his arms- was Jushiro Ukitake.
"Though his eyes are Retsu's." He added softly, a brilliant smile dominating his handsome features, as he looked to his son, swaddled and asleep in his arms. "I also think Kiyoshiro-chan ended up inheriting his mother's nose and cheeks as well." Jushiro continued. "Though, I wonder if his eyebrows will end up like mine, or finer like my dear Retsu's..." The mam mused.
"How long do you have him for, Captain?" Kiyone asked him in a low voice, while she struggled with Sentaro for a better view of the slumbering child.
"As such, is there anything you need help with?" Sentaro chimed in, as he continued 'wrestling' with Kiyone to ensure that he had a better view of little Kiyoshiro.
"I can help too, Captain." The sandy-haired Shinigami chimed in, almost forgetting herself and raising her voice as she abruptly shoved a gloved-hand into Sentaro's face.
"Hey, I offered first." The dark-haired, goateed Shinigami fired back, himself also nearly yelling as he hooked his arm around Kiyone's head in an attempt to hold her down.
"Please, both you, there's no need." Captain Ukitake started, smiling, prompting the two Shinigami to cease their squabbling (if only for the moment, at least). "I'm just watching him for a few hours, while Retsu is over at the Fourth, taking care of a few things."
"Well then, when will- er, Lady Ukitake- be returning to active duty?" Rukia asked with a very slight sigh, all the while watching the antics of the two second-officers.
"The other Captain Ukitake will be resuming her duties as Captain later this month." Jushiro answered her with an understanding grin. "I'm afraid that's one of the the downside of falling in love with another Captain, Kuchiki-san," he went on to say. "The fact that it tends to make things rather confusing."
Rukia smiled and nodded. "Indeed." She replied. "And, well, it's certainly made things... interesting during the roll-calls of the full esembly sessions of the Gotei Council meetings."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
"Dangerous..." Szayel mused, repeating the word from the other man's comment. "That goes without saying, considering that we're contending with a power capable of moving between dimensions."
"I just can't get over the idea that there could exist a force, a force so completely antithetical to the basic natural laws of this dimension, yet while simultaneous still capable of fully existing in it." The bespectacled Espada continued in his address to the other man.
The ex-Shinigami nodded his head. "Though, in a sense, I can't help but also feel concerned over the fact that the force beyond the Oken Anomaly has... collaborators on our side."
"Now that you mention it," Szayel answered in response. "It's rather ironic, isn't it, to think that that our inscrutible 'foe' on the other side of that rift might just achieve what the Wandenreich failed to."
"And Aizen as well, don't forget." Urahara replied.
Szayel nodded. "If you think about it, the Oken was even more of a 'key' than Aizen realized." The Espada remarked. "Even though it ended up not working the way he had intended it..." He paused to adjust his glasses. "The truth is, that it did 'open' a door, and we're stuck dealing with it."
"Hmm, now that's a thought." Urahara replied. "Be it jackbooted fascists and the would-be 'god' they worship, or some esoteric force from another reality... The object remains, invasion."
"And so it goes, in endless turns..." Szayel remarked, slightly melancholic.
"...And history repeats." Urahara added, a wry smile on his face.
Before they could speak any further on this line of thought, a flash of light occurred before them!
In its wake, stood a man, dressed in a finely tailored white three-piece suit. The only divergences from the monochromatic palett were the golden/saffron necktie and the matching handkerchief decorating the breast pocket of the blazer, along with the pale blue silk scarf draped over the collar of the double-breasted suit jacket. A a pair of spotless white leather gloves covered his hands, and the ends of his jacket sleeves were adorned by fine gold cuff-links.
As soon as he saw him, Urahara bolted to his feet, a look of shock on his face, then shifting to one of confusion when he realized that his cohort's response was the exact opposite of his.
"Oh yes, this is your first time seeing him..." Szayel remarked casually. "Allow me to introduce you: Kisuke Urahara, this is the mysterious individual that I previously mentioned."
Taking his hat off, he brushed a hand through his messy pale-blonde hair. "I see..."
"Seeing as you're here, in all of your nebulous glory, I suspect that you- no doubt- have something you wish to tell us?" The Arrancar asked, his tone almost flippant. "So, what brings you here, this time?"
"The two of you, your work is approaching a critical point." The mysterious stranger replied, as he approached the former Shinigami and the Arrancar. "More than ever now, you need to stay the course, if there is to be any hope of stopping the coming Darkness." He added.
"Just now, you mentioned the 'Darkness," Szayel started. "How long has it been here?"
"How long?" The Man in White repeated. "The truth is, gentlemen, that the Darkness has always been here, in one form or another." He went on to say, his tone serious. "You simply haven't been able to see it properly... Not until certain recent events changed things, that is."
"Tell me," Urahara spoke up at last, stepping forward. "Just what exactly has changed?"
"Lots of things, actually, little things." The man in question answered cryptically. "Things you might otherwise miss, but that when you add them all up, start to look more like everything."
"You know..." Szayel began, his tone strained. "I'd like to think I've been more than patient with you, not too mention polite, during the course of these visits." He went on. "So I hope you'll excuse me if I cut to the chase with my next question: just who or what the hell are you?"
Their visitor didn't seem surprised or upset by the brusque question. However, if he was planning on saying something, Urahara didn't give him the chance.
"I've been hearing about how you keep showing up," Urahara spoke up. "Each time, to feed us scraps of information... But at the end of the day, you haven't provided us with anything of any real substance, certainly nothing that might possibly justify us going on doing your dirty work for you."
"Are you two finished with your indictment of me yet?" The Man in White asked wearily.
"No!" Szayel fired back. "For someone who always seems to know just when to show up, where were you when the energy from the Anomaly killed one of my men, and critically maimed another?"
He sighed, composing himself. "I know how things must look right now, but the truth is that I'm not manipulating you, certainly not for my own gain." The mysterious man replied. "The two of you are no more pawns than I am. And, in anticipation of your next question, all that I really am capable of saying right now is that I'm what you might call an 'Agent'- working for an interested party- a party, who's concerns extend beyond the safety and stability of any one single realm."
The last bit seemed to earn the two men's interest as he went on. "And, I can assure you both, that they have not remained idle all this time." The Man in White revealed to them. "And know, as you continue your investigation, that they are performing their own investigation."
(- End of Chapter LX... -)