While I've still got a ways to go to finish this, I'm now at the point where I'm last within sight of the end of the story. So I hope you guys will stick with me and provide feedback as to what you think of this as we near the resolution.
TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW
Chapter LXIII:
"Dramatis Personæ"
The Living Realm, Karakura City...
Both Orihime and Ulquiorra were seated on the couch in the den of their shared apartment as the move played out on the television set before them...
Once again, the duo were seated before their TV and watching the unfolding adventures of none other than Connor Macleod in the third installment of the Highlander series...
Previously, they'd ended up watching the rather dubious 'first' sequel to the original film, so dubious in-fact that it wasn't even considered to be "in cannon" with the rest of the franchise. And so, this was the creators' attempt to salvage the series- effectively calling for a "do-over" and saying that the entirety of the events depicted in of the bizarre dystopian cyberpunk second film never happened.
Interestingly, the third film was also the only entry in the long-standing franchise that actually offered anything in the way of a possible explanation as to why Connor had visibly aged- a rather glaring fact that neither the later forth film nor the television series had ever bothered with addressing...
The explanation was simple: Time had passed!
This "second" sequel to the first, released in 1994, acknowledged the fact that nearly a decade's worth of in-universe time had passed since the events of the first. And while it was technically something of a 'loophole', it at least provided a logical explanation as for why the actor appeared older!
"The Kane character is supposed to be Mongolian, right?" Orihime asked as they'd watched, receiving a nod from Ulquiorra. "Then why's he played by a half black/half white actor?"
This had earned a protracted groan from the Espada, who'd simply replied "Oh, just relax, and enjoy the film- don't worry about the small details."
Conner had won 'The Prize', part of which was being able to live out a normal life- being able to have children, to grow old, and ultimately to die. For Orihime, the original movie had really driven home the existential horror that represented the impact of eternal life- the terror of living forever, forced to watch helplessly as the people around you grew old and died while you lived on.
"You know," she'd started, leaning against him. "Who would actually want to live forever?"
"Only a fool, like Aizen." Ulquiorra had countered pointedly, not looking even as he took her hand in his own. "They would rob us of everything that makes life special- worth living."
And as for the movie itself?
Well, it was a bit of a mixed bag... For one thing, it established (though thankfully not explained) the existence of a sort-of nebulous 'higher power' that enforced the 'no fighting on holy ground' rule. Also, it introduced a new mentor to the titular Scotsman: this time, in the form of "sorcerer" Nakano, which had gone some way to help to explain how Connor had any degree of familiarity with such a relatively exotic sword from a distant culture- in this case, a Japanese katana.
During the climax of the film, in the final show-down between Connor and the previously unknown immortal 'Kane', Orihime had both surprised and confused Ulquiorra when she burst out laughing when an instrumental riff of the song "Dr. Feelgood" by AC/DC played during their sword battle!
Needless to say, this reaction had required some explanation on her part when Ulquiorra had turned a quizzical gaze towards the young redheaded woman.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Ikumi exhaled as she made her way down the short hallway and stepped into her office, situated amidst the living quarters above the shop, when a voice spoke up...
"Miss Unagiya..."
As soon as she'd heard her name uttered, her eyes going wide as she looked over to the direction of the voice, all the way to the old couch located against the side wall. "You!"
The bearded man, with his collar-length brown hair and dressed in a black three-quarter length jacket, matching waistcoat, and slacks, looked over to her with a smile. "Miss Unagiya- Ikumi, if you'll let me call you that- and please, by that same tone, I'd like you to feel free to call me Edmund."
Ikumi didn't respond to his unexpected presence at first. Instead, she quietly moved to occupy the chair behind her cluttered desk at the far end of the room, her back-lit by light from the open window behind her. Looking over to him, he was very much as she remembered the man, him dressed in his distinctive three-piece suit, with the collar of his dress shirt undone.
For his part, Darkwood seemed to be totally unaffected by the woman's visible weariness on display as she regarded him. "After all, at this point, we're hardly strangers."
Again, her reaction was surprisingly measured, as she simply nodded. "Alright then, Edmund," Ikumi began sharply. "Just why the hell exactly are you here?"
He smiled at this. "Firstly, I came here personally, to let you know that Ichigo is alive and well." The man replied. "The tragedy of things that it is only circumstances that stand between the two of you." He went on to state. "All of that said, I would have you know that I am not the unfeeling monster that your 'new friends' would make me make out to be." Darkwood proclaimed, gesturing to himself.
His smile widened. "A few things are starting to make sense." Darkwood replied, much to the woman's bewilderment and indignation. "What I mean is, I'm starting to see why Ichigo is drawn to you... Not to mention, why a woman like yourself would ever be drawn to a young man- there is, after all, a certain comfort inherent in the simple companionship of someone you can trust."
Ikumi blushed, giving an indignant look. "Please." He responded. "There's no judgment in what I'm saying, simply fact." The brown-haired man continued. "The truth is, very simply, that you happen to be a very compelling woman... In fact, you remind me very much of a lady I once encountered..."
"It was the late 70s, or, was it the early 80s... It's hard to properly recall. After all, those lusty late nights in the clubs tend to blur together over time." He rambled on. "But, getting back to the point, the reason I remember her so vividly was that she slapped me when I offered her a line of coke."
At this, the woman's look changed, more to one of confusion. "Or... Was it Woodstock? I mean, you're not exactly the kind of woman to take part in the Summer of Love... But that girl, she was ever so very fierce and independent- that is, to say, not unlike yourself." Darkwood recalled.
"Or... Maybe it could all be that I'm miss-remembering things, perhaps I've recalled some instance from another man's life." Darkwood paused, looking out into her eyes. "Looking back on things, those days were such a heady and chaotic time for all of stationed in Dunkirk... Or, am I thinking of La Marne?"
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
The Senkaimon gateway opened up, revealing the figures of Szayel Grantz and the other members of his team- the Arrancar's labcoat fluttering- as they stepped out into the Living Realm...
The Captain took a moment, adjusting his glasses. "And now, to make sure of our baring..." Szayel remarked out loud. "All of you, check your scanners, I want confirmation."
"It's just like you described, Captain." One of the nearby Shinigami remarked, looking toward him as he read the data on the device in his hand. "There's no energy readings of any kind."
"How is that even possible?" Akemi Sanota replied. "There should be some measure of ki here, even if only just 'background' level amounts." The female Officer remarked. "These instruments should be able to pick up even the most minuscule amounts of energy: small traces, in the atmosphere itself, in the soil and the trees... hell, even in the people that inhabit this realm."
Szayel nodded, a sly look on his face. "The key word in all of that being 'should'."
The young woman had previously held the rank of Ninth Seat within the Division, but has since been promoted to the position Seventh Seat Officer, after the 'Second Battle of Karakura'.
Akemi was one of a half dozen people making up the hand-picked team that he'd brought with him.
As all of this was unfolding, the team remained completely unaware that were- and had been, since the moment they'd first arrive- under close surveillance...
And this fact was driven home when a nearby figure said simply: "Let it begin."
The Octavio Espada wasn't able to offer any further insight into this, just as the sound of an explosion reached them! It was, in fact, the first of a series of explosions that stopped him from saying any more! As well as sending the entire team into a panic as they hunkered down for safety.
"Everyone- take cover!" Szayel had exclaimed.
With that, he ducked into a nearby alleyway, his back against the wall as he watched as his subordinates similarly sought to avoid coming under fire from their (as of yet unseen) attackers.
"Captain!" Akemi called out to him, covering her head just as yet another explosion went off and sent all form of debris raining down around them, as if they were caught up in a war-zone. "Captain Grantz, are you all right?!" The female Shinigami repeated, scanning the area.
"All of you, stay under cover." The pink-haired Arrancar replied. "We don't know how many of these people are out there, so bunker down for now... Until I send further orders."
That was it, at least for the present. Szayel knew full well that they were being monitored- that much was obvious- so he had to try and keep his enemy guessing.
With that, he took off...
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Soul Society,
Division Eleven HQ...
Yumichika Ayasegawa made his through the front gates of the Division, having only just returned from his latest information-gathering mission in the Living Realm.
The purple-haired man spotted someone, one of the lower-ranking Officers, and took notice the bundle of files that he was clutching to his chest, with a look of mild annoyance on his face. Yumichika waved to him, diverting the man towards him as he moved to meet.
"What are these?" He asked.
"Th-these?" The young Officer stammered. "Oh, they're the reports filled by the men out on patrols in the Living Realm." He replied. "The Arrancar- I mean, the Captain of the Twelfth- he's been making a fuss and asking for Shinigami deployed there to document any unusual findings."
"Really?" Yumichika replied, smiling at the man and looking to the documents once more. "Actually, now that I think about it... I do recall having some business there." He continued suavely, brushing off the matter with a wave of his hand. "I'd be more than happy to deliver them."
"For real?" He asked in disbelief, even while shifting hid position from one foot to the other, before at last receiving a nod. "Oh, that's a load off my shoulders, thank you sir."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Shinigami Women's Association Meeting...
"Due to the nature of why we're meeting, I'd like all of you to know that this is an atmosphere in which we can all be open with one another." Soifon began. "Please, do not allow my rank as Captain to affect any of your views, as I wish only for your to offer your honest opinions today."
Amongst those gathered in the room were Kyoko Matarabe, only just newly appointed to the Fourth Division, as well as more experienced officers- such as Kumiko Harada of the Tenth Division- among other young women, serving in the various Squadrons of the Gotei 14...
"Captain, why exactly was my attendance requested?" Kyoko asked of the other woman.
Soifon nodded thoughtfully. "Officer, I hope you're not implying that the fact you're involved with a female Arrancar somehow excludes you from this discussion?" The Black-Ops Commander explained as she went on. "The core issue isn't one of reproduction, but rather of cohabitation."
The blonde-haired, blue-eyed Shinigami blushed darkly at the response. "No, no please." The slender Captain offered her. "After all, once one of the three member of the notorious Tres Bestias had stormed your division's Officer's mess and swept you into her arms- like a fairy-tail princess, out of the children's books, no less- the cards were pretty much on the table."
Her blush remained, but it was clear- even as the smallish Shinigami hastily averted her gaze- that the woman was now smiling, in spite of herself...
"The plain and simple truth is, that the Arrancar are here to stay- and they aren't going away, no matter what some people might wish." The lithe woman stated calmly. "The truth is, they're quickly becoming a mainstay of this bold and frankly frightening new future we find ourselves living in."
"You say that now!" A young Shinigami with long dark hair and eyes spoke up. "But you're a Captain, and no one would dare speak up when you- no, I, I'm sorry Captain." She stopped suddenly, shrinking back as she recognized her outburst, and withdrew.
"Please, there's nothing to apologize for." Soifon offered her warmly. "And you are correct... No one would dare openly criticize me for my relationship with Ggio Vega, and that's not fair, not when others would face scorn and be ostracized." She continued. "You, what is your name and division?"
"It's Anko," she started, looking up. "Anko Uematsu, of the Third Division."
"What of the rest of you?" The fair-skinned woman spoke up. "I know full well that not all of you were summoned, so then, why have the rest of you come?"
Silence fell over the group for a moment. "My name is Kumiko Mitsuhashi." Those five simple words, uttered by the sandy-haired woman, they were enough to at last broke the silence of the room. "I'm an Officer in the Tenth, and the reason I came is because... Recently, these last several weeks, a handsome Arrancar, with long blonde-hair has been, well, 'courting' me..."
"A handsome Arrancar, with long blonde hair, you say?" Momo Hinamori asked, suddenly intrigued. The short youthful female Soul Reaper had originally only opted to attend the meeting more as a matter of simple curiosity on her part, but now, now the truth was that things were finally starting to get genuinely interesting. "Well then, I don't suppose your suitor happens to have a name, now does he?"
"His name is Franque Lloydlight." Kumiko answered. "It's not like he's trying to force himself on me... On the contrary, it's more like he wants me to know he's interested... And truthfully, I am too."
"And that fact scares you, Mitsuhashi-san?" Anko inquired, raising a brow.
"No," Kumiko answered after a moment. "On the contrary, the truth is, it... It excites me."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Division Four, Officers Mess...
"So, how are things going?" Rangiku Matsumoto asked, her tone somewhat cautious.
Isane Kotetsu didn't respond right away. "Fine, I suppose," She replied. "I mean, well, things have been running smoothly at the Fourth, and with the Captain back, I have less to worry about..."
"That's not what I'm talking about, Isane-san." The strawberry-blonde replied, looking the other woman in the eyes. "I'm not asking about the Division... I'm asking about you, how are you doing?"
The silver-haired woman exhaled, looked away, then back to the Lieutenant. "I've been better..." Isane admitted after a moment. "Yumi- I mean, Officer Ayasegawa, has been pretty distant towards me these last few months, which- if we're both being honest- has been difficult."
Rangiku nodded, noting the blush that manifested in the tall woman as she spoke the final word, while sitting back in her chair. "Well, you're only 'human', and frankly, a woman has needs."
The female Shinigami blushed at this. "That's not it- I'm just, I'm worried about him!"
"Are you sure?" The busty Lieutenant countered, arching a brow. "I'm not accusing you of being some kind of loose woman," the buxom female went on. "And please, don't take this the wrong way, but it's pretty common knowledge that you and Yumichika had a pretty healthy relationship."
"But Matsumoto-san, I-" Isane protested.
"Please, first off, call me Rangiku." She interrupted, giving a gentle smile. "And secondly, it would be foolish not to ignore the physical effects that recent event have had on your relationship."
"Isane, there's no need to be so reserved..." Rangiku continued. "As one woman to another, I'm telling you, that there's no shame- as a woman- in admitting to enjoying sex."
The Lieutenant of the Fourth glared at her. "Are you trying to tell me that this all about the fact that I'm not having sex with Ayasegawa-san?" She asked, struggling to keep things under her breath.
The Lieutenant of the Tenth shook her head. "Believe me, I of all people understand that sex isn't the key to a happy relationship." Rangiku went on. "And despite what you may have heard about me, I also understand that here's more to loving someone than just a good screw."
The silver-haired woman was taken aback at this. "You, and Captain Hitsugaya... I wasn't insinuating anything untoward..." She insisted. "If anything... I could only wish for the level of trust and dedication that the two of you have with each other." Isane went on. "Maybe it's just me...? Maybe I'm the one coming up short when it comes to what's expected in a relationship...?"
"No." Rangiku countered emphatically. "Isane... you're more perceptive than you realize, I mean, about yourself, and me and the Captain." The strawberry-blonde explained. "I cast my lot in, a long time ago, in the hopes that my honest feelings might be reciprocated by the man I most admire."
The tall Soul Reaper perked up at this admission. "I've known you long enough to realize that you're not that sort of person..." The silver-haired Officer added. "You wouldn't judge me, for loving someone who doesn't conform to cultural expectations... Be it for gender, age, or race."
"And, you're right," Isane went on. "The truth is, that the lack of physical intimacy these last few months has been... difficult for me." The taller woman confided, blushing darkly as she uttered those words to her fellow officer. "It's not something I want to admit to... While I was happy just being with Yumichika, I've also enjoyed the fact that being with him made me feel... well, desirable."
Rangiku nodded. "Isane... Yumichika-san had the eye to see not just your true worth as a person, but also your value as a woman." She replied in a matter-of-fact tone, meeting her stark gray eyes with her stormy blue gaze. "That's why, when everything's said and done, I know that he'll come back to you in the end... because, frankly speaking, it's clear that he values you."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Continuing his advance, Szayel opted to keep his com-link deactivated as he moved, in the hopes to avoid any possible detection by whoever might be monitoring the com frequency...
He still wasn't even sure if the so-called 'attack' was intentional or not on the part of their adversaries, or if it was in fact nothing more than a matter of blind luck, merely a coincidence. Either way, truth be told, the bespectacled Arrancar wasn't eager to find out the truth.
Taking out his scanner once again, he noticed that there was a 'blip' on the radar, an anomaly that the instrument was unable to identify. Considering his predicament, as both a scientist and the Captain of the Twelfth Division, it didn't take long for the Octavio to conclude that pretty much anything out of the 'ordinary' warranted further inspection on his part.
Following the reading, the Arrancar slowly moved deeper through the haphazard network of old streets and alleyways formed by the grid of aging buildings.
"It's just my luck." Szayel thought as he looked around the area. "Here I am, walking around, alone in this blighted post-industrial landscape, like something straight out of a horror movie."
Before long, the pink-haired Espada found himself standing at the foot the reinforced metal door of a particular building. Above the entrance, an old sign projected out. Like everything else in the area, the paint was peeling and the writing was markedly fading.
He paused momentarily, looking up at it. "Interesting..." The Arrancar remarked idly to himself, before stepping up towards the heavy metal door. "Typical urban decay."
Gripping the large handle with his gloved hands, he pulled at it. There was a metallic 'groan', as gears rolled roughly against one another,the tired and rusty metal shifted and began to move, before it swiftly slid away and started lethargically revealing the darkened interior of the decayed building...
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
"I've made a few discrete calls," Ryuken Ishida began. "Luckily, our family isn't without some degree of influence, and so I was able to get in touch with some old 'friends' of mine." The physician explained from behind his desk. "I hope you can appreciate such an overture, as I can assure you that these aren't the sort of people who- under normal circumstances- would want to found."
"I must say, Doctor Ishida," a youthful voice began coolly. "When we first learned of your intentions, this is, by way of your son, Uryu... Well, I hope that you'll understand when I say that we were... Well, somewhat apprehensive, given our peoples pasts." Toshiro Hitsugaya replied.
"If I may be perfectly blunt," the young Captain continued. "The truth is, if not for your son's aid in defeating the forces of Sosuke Aizen, I wouldn't be here now, speaking with you- face to face."
The elder Ishida nodded. "Of course." He replied. "Just as, I'm sure you must realize, that in times of conflict, we all have our own selfish motives." Ryuken offered him. "And I'm no different, like when I sought the assistance of the Hollow, Ulquiorra Schiffer, to save my son from the Wandenreich."
"I know, I was there, during the attack." The youth recounted. "I and my Lieutenant were ducking the shots fired by a Sternritter sniper as the events unfolded." Toshiro Hitsugaya continued. "I've read the accounts submitted by your son, and they match up with the those provided by Orihime Inoue."
"Luckily, for all us, this is a rare case in which our interests are the same- survival." The silver-haired man replied. "To that end, when the time comes, I and my associates will stand with you."
Hitsugaya's expression became serious. "I want to be clear about this, Dr. Ishida," he started, leaning forward to address the 'older' man. "Are you in fact telling me that you- head of the Ishida Family- and other Quincys are actually willing to work with the Shinigami?"
"Yes." The bespectacled man replied with a nod. "When the only choices are co-operation or death, the only logical answer is cooperation- even with people we would normal consider enemies."
"True." The young Ice-Master answered. "Thinking about it, I suppose Shinigami working with the Quincy is no more preposterous than Shinigami working with Hollows."
"I believe you have some prisoners from the Wandenreich in your custody." The older Quincy began, an unreadable look on his face. "I don't suppose you could arrange for me to see their files?"
Toshiro nodded. "That's a reasonable request." He replied. "Currently, we're holding a number of high-profile members of the Wandenreich in custody- some of them, to eventually be released."
"That being said, I take it that it's you intent that some of these individuals may also yet be of some use in to us the larger scheme of things?" He went on to ask the man.
"Perhaps." Ryuken calmly responded. "Especially, now that they've lost their god-figure and leader, and are away from his influence... They may even be open to considering new possibilities."
"Well, we can hope, I suppose." Toshiro replied.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Szayel cautiously made his way into the darkened innards of the the dilapidated building...
Like the exterior, the inside was in a pretty sorry state. All around him, the paint was pealing on the walls, and rusty grid work above was visible through the crumbling mortarboard panels of the ceiling. He paused to take in his surroundings. "Goodness... It's like I'm walking in the vast remains of some decaying titan of iron and concrete..." Szayel observed to himself.
He could hear noises in the distance. Someone, or some thing, was making a commotion...
After a brief bit deliberation, he opted to investigate the noise. Stealthily, the pink-haired Arrancar began navigating the innards of the building. Based on the readings he was getting from the scanner,
Szayel knew that he was getting closer to their source.
Eventually, he made his way to an open doorway, set apart from the rest of the facility by virtue of the fact that sickly white light was coming fourth from it.
As soon as he entered, he was greeted by the sight of figure- rope coiled across their torso and their wrists and ankles bound firmly with duct-tape. Despite the fact that their head was covered beneath dirty linen sack, the unfortunate individual must have heard their approach as they started to stir.
They were dressed in a rather shabby and worn-looking dark blueish-gray jumpsuit.
"Please, relax, I'm not one of them, I promise." The scientific Arrancar offered the captive, placing a hand upon his arm in a comforting gesture. "Now, just be quiet for a moment..."
This seemed to sufficiently mollify them, as they stopped struggling and fell silent. With this, Szayel looked around the room, until his eyes fell upon a tray, set on a high table of across the room. Taking a closer look, he noted the array of tools laid out on the metal tray, as well a leather satchel beside it.
"What has been going on here?" He thought aloud, picking up what he recognized as a scalpel, light glinting off of the edge the blade. "Charming party favors..." He continued, setting it down and opening up the satchel. "Hmm, now what do we have here?" He spoke, producing a phial of clear liquid.
"Oh dear, Sodium Pentothol.." Szayel remarked, casting his gaze to the trapped figure. "For what it's worth, you have my sympathies." He casually offered, before promptly putting it away and holding up another phial. "And this? Looks like some kind of diethylamine derivative, hmm..."
"I can't imagine you've had a very good time, my friend." Szayel commented, setting the phial back inside the satchel and moving towards the bound figure. "Now, if you'd just hold still..."
Saying this, he reached down and slid up one of the sleeves, revealing multiple puncture marks in the pale flesh- the obvious result of repeated injections of god only knows what. A subsequent examination of the other arm revealed that it too was in a similar poor state.
"Who are you?" Szayel asked, only to receive a muffled cry from in response.
"I see..." He remarked, not surprised that they'd been gagged in addition to everything else they'd been put through, likely since arriving. "Well, I suppose it's time we did something about that."
It was another moment, before he gripped the fabric of the make-shift hood and pulled it off.
"Good lord!" Szayel exclaimed, eyes wide, stepping back, gloved hand over his mouth.
Then, he went quiet once more. "Yumichika...?"
(- End of Chapter LXIII... -)
As an afterthought... I'd like to point out, for both those who noticed and those who may have missed them, that this chapter contains two direct references to NovaAlexandria's Prize of Victory series (specifically the latter half). This is, the characters of Kumiko and Franque.