I'm confident in stating that, as of now, I'm far enough ahead and close enough to the end of the story that I'm about ready to start posting chapters to this story every week. So, with luck, you can expect another chapter to posted next week...
On a similar note, I hope that my longterm reviewers- like RG-Guest, darkmachines, gorguts5, Crestfallen Ogress, and others- are still interested this story.
TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW
Chapter LXXIV:
"Darkness Rising, Part 1"
Soul Society,
Gotei Council, Central Chamber...
Szayel and the other Captains looked at the message flashing on the monitors...
EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY!
Priority Code Alpha-1: Warning! Defenses Compromised! Dimensional Breaches have been detected within the boundaries of the Seireitei! Number: Unknown! Scope: Unknown!
Notice- To All Divisions: Full Alert! All Personnel report to assigned stations immediately! Multiple Enemy Combatants now confirmed! Assume: Extreme and Immediate Danger!
EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY!
"Oh- oh my god..." Jushiro murmured aloud and to no one in particular, rising to his feet as the klaxons sounded off all around them. "It's... it's finally happening, a full-scale invasion!"
A familiar voice then cut in through the intercom: "This is Captain Nelliel-Tu Obberschank of the Fourteenth Division!" The female Arrancar announced. "We have multiple hostiles appearing within and around the base, as well as reports of other manifestation across Huecco Mundo!"
At the same time as this going on, the Octavio observed as Soifon received an alert on her PDA-like device- from Yoruichi of all people. "Not good!" The Black-Ops Captain exclaimed. "We've got reports of similar occurrences happening all across the Living Realm!"
Amidst all of the chaos, Szayel took this moment as his cue and silently slipped out of the room...
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
The Living Realm, Karakura City...
All across the bustling and busy city, all the way from the industrial areas, to the commercial and business district, and then on to the residential areas- it was quickly looking as if, and not for the first time, no less- that all hell was breaking loose!
"Yoruichi!" Urahara called out, as he emerged from his office. "I just registered multiple energy spikes all across the city- what the hell is going on?!"
"Kisuke, we've got a situation!" The exotic-looking woman replied, looking to him. "There's some kind of bloody invasion unfolding- it's happening everywhere, everything is going crazy!" She started, her tone uncharacteristically excited as she spoke. "Here, back in Soul Society, even Huecco Mundo as well- they're all under attack!" Yoruichi went on to explain to him.
"An invasion..." Urahara mused under his breath. "It's starting to feel like 1944 all over again..." He thought silently to himself- memories of planes flying overhead, their hatches open, dropping bombs- before the former Shinigami was brought back to reality by another arrival!
There was a sudden crashing sound nearby, followed by Tessai rushing into the front of the shop, a frantic look on the burly man's face. "Urahara, Yoruichi," the brawny-looking former Shinigami asked other two frantically. "What in god's name is going on out there?!"
"From everywhere, we're getting reports of 'phantoms'." She related. "There's so many reports of these strange creatures, mentions of 'beings made of shadow'- showing up everywhere, and attacking!"
"Made of shadow?" Urahara repeated. "Could those be the same as-"
He was interrupted by an audible beeping sound. "What now...?"
"The proximity alarm!" Tessai started, looking to a nearby monitor. "Something must have set it off... Wait, th- they could be moving in on our position right now- preparing to attack the shop as we speak!"
"Where are the kids?We have to do something!" The shopkeeper asked. "Tessai," Urahara continued, looking to his long-time friend and colleague. "It's not safe up here-"
At the same time, Jinta and Ururu appeared from the back. "What the hell's all this racket about?" The red-haired young man piped up, looking like his usual annoyed self.
"Something bad is happening, isn't it?" Ururu asked gloomily, the twin tailed girl looking concerned.
"Tessai, get them to the lower levels- now!" Urahara ordered.
"Right!" The other man replied, before scooping up the two youths in his arms and dashing off, even as both of them protested the sudden action (each in their own way).
"Wait, you know something." Yoruichi started. "What are you plan-"
Before she could finish the sentence, the front door to the shop violently swung open!
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Elsewhere within the City...
"I just heard from Chad," Tatsuki started excitedly. "From what he says, he's being chased by these... these, eh 'Shadow' creatures." She explained. "They're all over the place and on the move."
The two of them had happened to stop by the Ishida household, if only temporarily, when Tatsuki had been contacted by their mutual friend in regards to the current predicament...
Uryu nodded solemnly at this. "Most likely then, soon, they'll be moving in on us." The bespectacled Quincy replied, while idly fiddling with his talisman in his hand. "Tatsuki," he went on, looking to the sporty young woman. "Things could start to get pretty dicey, you might want to-"
"No." The dark-haired young woman interrupted, looking him in the eyes. "No matter what else happens, we're sticking together!" She insisted. "I'm staying by your side- with you." Tatsuki replied emphatically, before grabbing the lapels of his white jacket and pulling him. "So, you got that?" She stated as she leaned in to plant a kiss on his lips.
As she drew back, he smiled. "Fair enough." He replied with a slight chuckle, noting the faint blush coloring her cheeks as he straightened out his jacket. "After all, the two of us, we're a matched pair." Uryu declared, before taking her hand into his own and gently planting a kiss upon the knuckles.
Smiling at the young woman before him, he went on to add "It looks like you're going to finally get the chance to utilize all of the training you've been doing." The bespectacled youth remarked.
"And as such, then, in that case," Uryu began with a smile. "Well, then it's clear now that you're going to need a suitable weapon, in order to defend yourself."
"W- wait, where are we going?" Tatsuki asked as he took her by the hand.
"To my father's study." He replied simply, as they arrived in the dimly-lit room. "I expect there should be something here for you to make use of..." Uryu trailed off, as he began running both his hands along the contours of nearby wardrobe, until reaching beneath it. "Ah ha! I knew there was a spare!"
With that, he produced an ornate key, which he used to open the wardrobe. "Now, what do we have to work with...?" Uryu murmured to himself. "Yes, this is it, here we are!" He commented with a smile as he turned towards her, a dusty object in his hand. "Here, take this."
"Wait, Uryu, is this really okay?" Tatsuki asked him uncertainly, even as he thrust the weapon into her hands, little clouds of dust coming off of the aged lacquered wood. "There's no way this isn't a priceless family heirloom!" She implored him. "I mean, I'm not a Quincy or from some ancient family or-"
"Tatsuki," he cut her off, before flashing her a charismatic smile. "Don't worry, I wouldn't hand this over to just anyone." The bespectacled young man explained. "You've never used a proper bow, or been trained to fire a gun, so this really is the best option." Uryu reasoned. "And as for you, well- like it or not- you're stuck with me for the long haul, so you're as good as family."
The athletic young woman suddenly felt her heart race at the admission, but could only dumbly listen as he continued. "I know it's not quite the same as the kendo swords you would have trained with in the dojo... But considering the situation, it'll have to do for now." The young Quincy explained to her as she looked at the curved sword that he'd handed her.
"This- this isn't just any sword..." Tatsuki started in amazement. "The design and style... the sheath is for a military Katana, but the blade is way more than seventy years old."
Uryu nodded, adjusting his glassed. "You have a good eye," he started. "Honestly, we think-"
Just then, there was the sound of a great commotion!
"The front door!" The bespectacled teen exclaimed.
Leaving the parlor, they spotted the door in question- blown off of its hinges!
Then, both of the teens looked toward the direction of the racket. There was a flash of light and what sounded like an explosion outside of the house, and then the arrival of the first of a number of strange creatures- stepping through the battered door-frame, the light at their backs- their figures composed entire of darkness, totally non-reflective as they advanced...
In the face of the strange attackers, Uryu's bow manifested in his hands, with him drawing back and firing off an arrow composed of reiki that took down a number of their foes. At the same time, Tatsuki worked frantically to fix the leather strap fixed to the sword's sheath over her shoulder.
"Are you ready?" Uryu asked her, a slight smirk as he drew back the "string" of his bow.
She nodded, drawing the katana she'd received, revealing the combat-forged blade, stepping forward and dodging an attack from the nearest enemy. Her next move was to drive the blade into the creature's center of mass, resulting in it dispersing in a flourish of dark energy.
As events continued to play out, there was a sudden appearance of a new shot- seemingly fired from out of nowhere, amidst all the movement- like before, succeeding in taking out a number of the newly arrived shadowy attackers, as the two youths looks on confusion.
"Uryu." A stern voice called out.
"Uryu, Arisawa-san!" The same voice, that of the elder of the two Ishida men called out once again as he appeared before the duo, flanked by a handful other individuals.
They both took in the arrival of the elder Ishida Quincy, along with a a number of others- unidentified individuals, each of them brandishing some icon or emblem of the five-point star of the Quincy.
The father and the son met one another's gaze.
"It's not safe here, not right now." The elder Ishida entreated. "We have to go- now!"
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Tenth Division HQ...
Kumiko Mitsuhashi could only give a resigned sigh as she tucked her hands into the pockets of her hakama and listened to the riotous noises permeating the walls of her Division. It was fast becoming clear to the sandy-haired woman that it wouldn't be long until the outer parameter was breached.
"Those terrible sounds are getting closer and closer." She mused to herself under her breath, seemingly above the hustle and bustle around her and simply continuing to listen to the chaos.
However, everything suddenly came to a head when an alarm abruptly sounded off, the noise echoing around her, the racket only being superseded when the wall was breached- a large opening created not far from where the female Shinigami had been standing only moments earlier!
Her bright green eyes went wide as a shadowy figure appeared in the breach. The intruder appeared to be comprised entirely of some sort of undefinable darkness, and yet somehow it was possible for her to discern lines and contours within its form... "W- what on earth are you?"
The lines... it was almost as if they were clad in some sort of armor, almost like... a Samurai?
Before Kumiko had time to ponder the matter further, the invader was struck down by a sudden wave of sparkling multi-colored energy. After that, hoping to understand what the hell had just occurred, she moved to look out through the opening in the wall, right as another figure appeared.
"Kumiko-san!"
The Arrancar appeared before, resplendent in his flowing white tunic worn over a silver breastplate, the light glinting off of his polished bracers as he placed his hands on her shoulders. "Are you alright?"
She could feel as her cheeks went flush as she looked on at the tall handsome man before her- his long blonde-hair fluttering in the breeze. "As soon as I learned what was happening," he continued, concern visible in his pale blue eyes. "I came as quick as I could!"
"Franque..." Her blush deepened. "You came for me, just like that?"
"Of course." The Arrancar replied smoothly with a smile. "Dear heart," he continued coolly while he ran a hand gently through her hair. "I couldn't abide the thought that you were in caught up in all of this danger, and certainly not when there was something that I could do."
Kumiko wanted to kiss him, but she suddenly felt lightheaded... Franque Lloydlight had to scramble to keep the woman before him from outright swooning and falling to the floor in a dreamy heap!
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Fourth Division HQ...
"Lilly?"
Hanataro had asked of her, placing a hand on her shoulder, only for the young officer to be caught off-guard when the slender female Arrancar had stiffened suddenly in reaction before him, her single rose-colored visible eye going wide as she met his gaze with her own.
The two youths had been seated across from each other in the Officer's Mess of the Fourth Division, enjoying their lunches together and chatting away casually in regards to a number of topics, when the young Shinigami had witnessed as an expression fell over the face of the yellow-green haired Arrancar situated across the table, like someone had trodden upon her proverbial grave!
An excruciating moment passed between the two, before she was at last drawn back to reality, and she looked to him. "Something's happening..." Lillynette started, standing up.
"W-what do you mean?" The dark-haired young man asked, following suit as he rose to his feat.
"I- I'm not sure..." The female half of the Primera Espada answered. "It's just... suddenly, I have this unshakable feeling that I'm needed... elsewhere." Lillynette went on. "And... that Stark-san needs me!" The slight female Arrancar declared. "Taro-kun, I- I have to go!"
"No, it's alright." The young Third-Seat countered in a calm collected voice, placing his hands on her delicate shoulders. "I understand..." He went on, looking her in the eye. "I can manage here, at least for a while, so go- if you're needed, then it's at Stark-san's side."
Lillynette smiled, then nodded, before leaning in to hug him. "Just... stay alive, Taro-kun."
Hanataro drew back and nodded. "Don't worry, I'll be here, waiting for you- I promise." He responded with a smile of his own. "And Lilly-san, make sure you do the same."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Division Two HQ...
Lieutenant Zhange Shengcai (aka, Shenkai) was manning the main office of the Second, when he had received the first emergency announcement on the com-system.
Looking to it, he saw that the monitor was flashing a new message:
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
UPDATE: Outer parameter breached! Internal Security compromised! All available forces are to fall back and defend their respective Divisions/assigned posting and await further instructions!
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
Lieutenant Shenkai had been busy soaking in the message flashing on the nearby screen when- of all people- Ggio Vega had burst into his office. "What's going on?!" The Arrancar asked.
"So, it's finally happening?" He mused aloud, not acknowledging the cat-like Hollow presently looking to him for answers. "Then," the Shinigami commented to himself, under his breath. "At last, our enemy is finally making their move against us!" The Lieutenant went on to declare.
"A- an attack?" The slender Fraccion asked nervously.
"An attack." The other man repeated back at him, his tone grave. "Sir Vega, we have to try and link up with Lady Soifon, if we're to coordinate a defense of this Division- are you with me?"
"Of course!" Ggio replied fervently. "But... you don't have to be so formal with me."
Shenkai regarded him for a moment, then shook his head. "On the contrary, you are the father of the child that my Commander and liege is carrying." He pointed out. "How could I do any less?"
Ggio's face turned scarlet at this, at a loss as to how to respond, merely nodding dumbly as he followed suit behind the other man as the two of them left the office...
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
There was an audible "bang", the sound of a shot from a gun being fired echoing across the Seireitei, followed by one of the many Shadows falling to the ground unceremoniously!
The source of the shot was revealed as none other than Company Captain Robert Accutrone, with his distinctive revolver- its five-point 'star' shaped barrel- in his hand, the end of it smoking from the recent discharge. Calmly, the Sternritter proceeded to shoot down multiple attacking phantoms...
Taking a breath, he commented "And now... it seems, at last, that we are faced with a choice," the Sternritter mused aloud to himself, while lowering his firearm. "Whether or not to take up arms in the cause of a former enemy, to chose between duty and reason- truly, my own personal Rubicon."
With that, he turned and shot down another attacker. "So be it then, the die is cast!"
At the same time, not far away, elsewhere in Soul Society, Senior Lieutenant Candice Catnip couldn't help but smile even as she proceeded to unleash several volleys of her lighting on the shadowy figures that were now- as she looked on- presently infiltrating the realm.
"Yeah! Take that, bitches!" The scantily-clad blonde-haired woman exclaimed, before the Sternritter continued her offensive, firing off another blast at the attackers!
Looking around, the blonde bombshell took a step forward, searching for more targets open fire on. "Hey you- yo shithead!" She called out, swiftly gaining the attention of many of their enemies in the process. "Yeah, you! I'm talking to you!" Candice called out. "This one's on me!" The woman called out, before promptly 'zapping' another one of the phantoms.
Meanwhile, as all this played out, the buxom pink-haired Meninas MacAllon drew back and struck down one of the attackers swarming across the grounds of Soul Society- like a horde of ants pouring out of a disturbed mound. Not holding back, she tore into their ranks!
Utilizing nothing more than her bare fists, the Company Major wasted no time in literally sundering these dark and mysterious apparitions- now their enemy as well- as the curvy Sternritter continued to fight her way through them- like a wrecking ball made flesh!
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Division Six HQ...
The 'boom' of the shotgun blast echoed across the grounds of the Division, the smoke drifting upwards from the end of the the barrel of the Ithaca M37, gripped in Renji's hands.
"Renji!" Arachne snapped, the crimson-eyed Arrancar crying out as she looked to her partner as she appeared at hi side. "What in Huecco Mundo are you doing?!" She asked him. Why are you using that strange antiquated weapon in this conflict, right now, of all things?"
"Because," he replied simply, pumping the finished wooden forward grip of the shotgun down the length of the metal tube and loading another shell in the process. "These fucking things, it's because of them- whatever the hell they are- that my friend was killed, the one who gave me this weapon..."
He proceeded to blast another one of them. "And..." He hesitated, looking to her. "I want to hurt them and make them bleed with it!" The tattooed Shinigami replied pointedly as he took down another of the attackers with a volley from the weapon. "This isn't just for me, this is for Ando!"
And then, he pulled the trigger and the firearm 'clicked'. But the scarlet-haired man wasted no time as he tossed the shotgun- along with the belt- laden with more red plastic and copper shells, that had prior been hanging from his shoulder- to the female Arrancar beside him, and drew him Zanpakuto.
"Quick! Lode the shells in through the slot on the bottom!" Renji instructed.
"Renji..." Arachne started, almost dumbly, clasping the gun in one hand and the belt of ammo in the other to her bosom. "I... I love you!" She finally proclaimed, blushing, before she moved in to plant a heated kiss upon his lips, before drawing back from him- her face almost as red as her eyes.
With that, she started loading shells into the shotgun...
"Arachne..." He started, taken aback and choked up by the sudden and unguarded admission from the woman standing before him. "I-" Renji resumed, only to pull her to him, kissing her in return, looking her in the deep crimson eyes. "It's the same for me, I- I love you!"
What happened next, only surprised him further. The dark-haired female seemed to regard the weapon in her hands for a moment, nodding as she gave it a once-over, then casually proceeded to toss both the gun and the ammo over her shoulder. "Oh, Officer Glasses," she started. "Here, catch!"
"Arachne, what are you-" The red-haired Shinigami tried to esquire, before being cut off.
"Won't you be a dear, and hold onto my mate's toy for a while?" The crimson-eyed Arrancar resumed with a coy smile in the face of her partner's complete bewilderment.
"L- Lieutenant?" Kimura stammered as the weapon landed in his hands. "W- what's going on?" The man went on to ask, confused as he looked over the shotgun.
Her smile widened as he looked back to her. "Before you go running off on your own, you do realize that as an Arrancar, I have a Zanpakuto weapon of my own, right?" Arachne pointed out to him, as her hand came down to rest again the hilt of the sheathed sword hanging by her hip.
"Oh, of course... how silly of me..." Renji managed, flummoxed by the realization.
"Don't worry about it." She countered, kissing him on the cheek. "Now, what do you say about the two of heading out and taking care of these bastards, together?!" Arachne asked, grinning.
(- End of Chapter LXXIV... -)
Quick note: This chapter marks the appearance of Franque Lloydlight, a character I will freely admit I 'borrowed' from NovaAlexandria, though I changed him up a bit, mainly by making him less of a horndog! lol Also, Kumiko's family name was always supposed to be "Mitsuhashi". I'm not sure why I messed up and made it "Harada" when she first appeared, but still, it's a pretty minor thing.