Okay, well, I'm gonna come right out and say that life has gotten a little too damned real. I've spent the last year living through a pandemic, I've come close to catching that very same deadly virus- which could have potentially killed my father, and now... Now, I can unfortunately say I've witnessed an attempted coup in real-time within my own life time. So, I hope those of you reading this can understand that all of this has left me at a loss...
At present, I'm in the middle of writing the final act of this story, which real life seems to keep intervening to cause this all to drag on... Part of me feels that I should have been able to complete this two years ago, but that ended up just not being the case. Never the less, to be clear, I'm going to do my best to make it to the finish line- to see to it that Orihime and Ulquiorra come through the darkness they're facing, as I'm hopefully able to do the same thing!
With that out of the way, I want to say thanks to the reviewer TheBretonBookDragon, and to gorguts5 and RG-Guest.
TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW
Chapter LXXXII:
"The Coming Storm"
"It's your choice, your life is unique to you, in the same way that it's unique to everyone else."
"It's time." The Cat spoke, Mr. Gallows standing beside him.
He looked to his mother, who just smiled warmly. "I will always love you, and nothing will change that, just as I know you can take that love with you."
After a moment, he stepped back, and looked into her eyes. "I promise, and... I love you."
"It's time you returned to your own realm." The Cat reminded him.
"Live, my son," Masaki entreated. "Promise me that you will live."
A moment passed, Ichigo nodded. "I promise, and... I love you."
His mother smiled and nodded. "And I love you," Masaki replied gently. "Never forget, Ichigo, that since they day you were born, to the man you are today, I have and will always love you."
"Thank you, mom." Ichigo responded softly.
With that, he nodded and move to hug her one last thing, giving a smile before then stepping back and turning to Mister Gallows and the Cat. "Alright, let's go."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
The Living Realm...
"As of now, we have to assume that our adversaries in the Soul Realm will have been closely studying the activity in and around the Gateway, what they've taken to call the 'Anomaly'."
The black-clad man was seated in a low black leather-bound chair, in a darkened room that was also host to a number of other individuals scattered about.
With that, Darkwood continued. "To that end, we must now act in accordance with the assumption that they will have by now gained at least some understanding of the Gateway, in addition to some grasp of both its nature and the function of the transmissions that it's sending out."
Dario nodded. "If that's true, then the longer we allow things to continue on this limbo we've fallen into, the greater the chance will be that they'll discover some kind of countermeasure against us in the near future." The hooded man remarked. "That is, in addition to what they've managed so far."
"Believe me, my friend," the older man replied. "More so than anyone else, I'm uniquely qualified to appreciate the stakes we're playing for." He went on to say. "In the same way I'm able to see that they're being aided by an outside party," the bearded man commented. "There's no other explanation for how that Arrancar managed to disrupt our initial exploratory incursion into their realms."
"Do they pose a threat to the transmission?" Lenny asked, stepping forward.
"No, at least, not directly." Darkwood answered. "Still, the fact that they've worked out even a fraction of how our systems operate leaves the possibility that they may eventually."
"We also can't ignore the fact they're raising an army to fight against us." Jinx chimed in, as she went about pouring herself a drink. "That says to me that they're gearing up for war."
Dario nodded to himself, watching as she set the crystal-glass bottle down and took a drink from the matching glass cub in her hand. "She's right... And, we no longer have Crowley and his powers to fall back upon, which means we're in for a head-on battle with a determined enemy."
"It's not just Crowley," Slash chimed in. "We've lost others- Wolfe, Lou, the Doctor, Pierce..."
As soon as he'd recounted the names, all eyes were on Darkwood, each of them looking expectantly to the man seated in the comfy-looking black chair at the other end of the room.
Darkwood smirked, brushing a hand through his collar-length brown hair. "Just let me worry about the matter of the army," he responded. "While the rest of you concern yourselves with issue of dealing with the far more high priority targets- such as the Shinigami Officers and the Espada."
This earned a number of amused reactions from the others assembled in the room!
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
"Alright, let's go."
There was a flash, and the very next thing he knew, the three of them were once again on the summit, though not at the place they'd previously been. Gone was the dark obelisk. They were somewhere else, overlooking the horizon where the sun was about to rise in anticipation of the new day...
"Well then, this is it, I suppose?" Ichigo asked, looking to his two Companions.
"I imagine by now that there will be people waiting for you." The Cat offered.
"You know," Ichigo began with a smile. "After the last time, I never would have guessed that we'd actually meet again some day." The orange-haired teen admitted to them. "At first, this whole situation seemed like a pain in the ass, but now... this all seems so obvious, so natural."
"What can I say, it's been fun, kid." Mister Gallows spoke, wearing his usual broad smile as he spoke.
Ichigo chuckled. "It's true, you know." He responded with a smile. "Travel really does broaden the mind." The youth went on to remark, resting his hands on his hips as he spoke. "So then, what now- what happens next?"
"For you, you must continue on your own path." The black-furred feline responded.
"And the two of you?" Ichigo fired back. "What's in store for you two, for the others, and all of this?"
"We'll be just fine." Gallows responded chipperly. "You can see for yourself, next time."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
"Earlier, you said they were being helped by an outside party?" Ozzy inquired, as he moved to take a seat near to where Darkwood was situated. "I don't suppose you'd care to elaborate on that point?"
Darkwood raised a brow. "Then, you think I'm withholding information from the rest of you?"
"Sometime, I do." He answered, before accepting the glass Jinx offered him. "I can't help but wonder just how much you really know," Ozzy went on. "Especially, in lieu of either of the previous instances in which you sent us after Orihime Inoue..." The man continued, taking a drink.
"The man's right." Sid interjected as Nancy looked on. "I mean, from what I understand, aren't you the one who's supposed to have seen some real shit?" He paused. "You're supposed to be the mastermind of all this- ya know- the one who makes damn sure things don't go straight to hell..."
"And yet," Nancy piped up. "We were sent in with bad info."
"All valid points." Darkwood replied, getting to his feet. "But then, no one can know everything, no matter how well informed they might be." He added, pouring himself a drink. "And, I would advise all of you to remember that there was no way of anticipating the rather sudden emergence of her otherworldly powers," the older man paused to take a drink. "And certainly not to the extent of those powers."
"And that is the reason why I sent you, Dario- one of my greatest resources- to personally oversee the second attempt." He explained to him. "It was my genuine hope that your ability to affect both thought and perception would be enough to subdue her- if even for just a short time."
"Maybe it's my fault." Dario replied. "Perhaps I was the fool to think I could contain her."
Darkwood shook his head. "No, if anyone is at fault, it would be me." He offered. "Not even I, for as long as I've lived, can truly guess as to what may happen when it comes to that young lady."
"It's all well and good for you to come out and say that now. " Pierce began curtly, while glaring irately at him the entire time. "But then, perhaps, you'd like to explain that to Hawke?"
"Pierce," the black-clad man countered, an edginess to his tone. "I know that you and Hake were... close, so I won't begrudge you of your outrage." Darkwood went on. "Never the less, I shouldn't need to remind you- all of you- that I've been more than fair from the very start."
"Beyond the fact that you've all been paid handsomely," he continued. "I've also helped all of you, to varying degrees, however, the further fact remains that all of you would be hard-pressed to claim that the clarity I've helped you all to achieve hasn't aided you in some way." Darkwood stated in a low tone. "And, lest I need remind you, we are all in this together, and the loss of any one of you would only be to my detriment."
With that, he took a drink, then set the glass down. "And now, if you all will excuse me, I have other matters to see to- not least of all, addressing the concerns of my own 'Brethen'."
Darkwood then smiled, before turning to leave the room...
The next thing the other in the room knew, Dario moved in to occupy the seat that Darkwood had been sitting in, leaving the others to wordless look to him...
Dario glanced around the room, everyone still looking on expectantly. With a smile, he shrugged his shoulders, before remarking "Well, he does have a point."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Karakura City...
Back in their apartment, Orihime had begun to feel decidedly worn down by the totality of everything that was happening around them. In that moment, the buxom young woman to deposit herself onto the bed, followed by the sound of rustling fabric as she plopped down onto the bed!
From her own vantage point on the bed, the curvaceous redhead casually glanced upwards to the white surface of the ceiling above, smiling faintly to herself.
Closing her eyes, Orihime paused and took a moment to savor the moment, relaxing her body upon the cushioned surface, while simultaneously enjoying the faint scent of nearby aromatic candles. It was odd to her, considering that the overhead light was presently turned off, with the only illumination coming into the room through the filter of the blinds over the nearby window.
Minutes passed. She wasn't sure how many. But eventually, she felt as the mattress shifted, indicating that someone else was now resting with her on the bed...
Secants later, warm brown eyes opened, gazing up into sharp green ones. Ulquiorra was resting on his side, situated next to Orihime- a slight smile on his face- as he silently gazed down at her. It was in that moment that she registered an uncommon measure of fondness and affection in his expression.
She smiled warmly at him. "What's on your mind?"
Ulquiorra's smile deepened at this, as the two lay there. "Oh, not much," the raven-haired Espada replied, his tone becoming more knowing, almost playful as he answered her. "Just... How beautiful you are."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Soul Society...
Gotei Council, Central Chamber...
"I'm certain of it now..." Szayel stated dispassionately. "At the current projected rate of the increased frequency of the pulses, they'll have become a daily event in less than three weeks."
"By your tone," Captain Byakuya asked, from his seat across the table. "Am I to understand, then you believe they'll be ready to move against us by that point?"
The Commanding Officers of all of the Elite Court Guard Divisions- even Captain Nelliel-Tu of the Fourteenth- were assembled in the room. Additionally, Lieutenant Shenkai was sitting in for the absent Captain Soifon- was seated along with the others around the the "doughnut" shaped table.
"You said we have less than three weeks?" Jushiro asked the Arrancar.
The pink-haired man nodded in response. "Within a reasonable margin of error," the Octavio Espada paused, adjusting his glasses. "To be a bit more precise, as it stands, with the time frame we're looking at, we have two weeks, three days, and six hours... give or take."
"Then that's how long we have to finish all of our preparations." Toshiro Hitsugaya countered.
"Understood." Kensei Muguruma nodded at hearing this. "If that's the case, then I'll see to it that this information is relayed to the appropriate Officers." The Vizard finished.
"There's one issue that I'm curious about," Shinji spoke up. "Just how exactly do you actually hurt- let alone, kill- a being that's composed entirely out of energy?"
"Oh, that's simple." Szayel countered with a smile. "With a different type of energy."
"There's another matter to decide," Byakuya resumed calmly. "Considering that we will soon be faced with a full-fledged war, we will need to select an overall Commander, someone capable of coordinating the strategies and deployments of our various forces." He added.
"I take it, then, Captain Kuchiki, that you have someone in mind?" Retsu Ukitake asked calmly.
The dark-haired nobleman nodded. "Yes, as a matter of fact I do." Byakuya replied, leaving everyone else at the table to look on as he paused to clear his throat, before going on. "I believe there is only one person in this room who is properly qualified to assume such an important role in the days to come."
"I therefor, nominate... Captain Shunsui Kyoraku."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
"Wait, what do you mean by 'next time'?" Ichigo had tried to ask, before he was once again overtaken in a sudden flash of light and energy, and once again finding himself somewhere else.
"W- what's going on?" The teen asked aloud. "Where the hell am I now?!"
"I was wondering where I might find you?"
Ichigo turned around towards the source of the voice. "...Darkwood?"
The brown-haired and brown-eyed man smiled. "Once I had gone to check up on you, only to find out that you were- well, otherwise occupied- I wondered when where you might show up..."
They were both standing a large circular room, with a high domed ceiling, and numerous large glass display cases lined along the wall on either of the room. Each of the cases were rectangular in shape- each being 4 feet by 4 feet, and 6 feet tall, all housing a unique set of historical armor.
"I'm tempted to ask how you knew that I was here?" Ichigo responded.
As always, the man was dressed in his usual ensemble: black slacks and a three-quarters length jacket, over a black waistcoat and a white dress-shirt (the collar open and no tie).
"Let's just say, I have a sense for these sort of things." He replied. "But now, to the present point," the man continued with a smile. "Of all the places to wind up, it's here- with my friends."
"Friends?" The teen asked, starting to look around the room...
"Yes, my friends." The other man repeated, as he gestured to the various suites of armor on display all along the parameter of the large room. "This is my armory, it's a sort... monument."
"Monument?" Ichigo reiterated.
Darkwood smiled and nodded. "You see, all these sets of armor- every one of them- they represent some period of martial conflict throughout the history of this world and humanity."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
"I therefor, nominate... Captain Shunsui Kyoraku."
To say that this had come as a 'surprise' to everyone gathered at the table in the room was something of an understatement. And no more so, then in the case of the very man in question!
As soon as the raven-haired nobleman had spoken those words, the scruffy swordsman's brown eyes went wide, a look of disbelief on his face. "What?!" He exclaimed. "Are you insane?!"
Everyone else in the council looked on with various expressions of nervous anticipation as Byakuya held his hand up. "Please." He calmly but firmly stated. "Captain Kyoraku, up until now, you've been allowed to play the fool, to shirk your responsibilities, but you no longer have that luxury."
Shunsui gave an uncertain look, stammering: "W- what are you talking about?"
"You've done an admirable job of hiding the full extent of your potential, and while this little charade of yours has largely succeeded in fooling people, it doesn't fool me." Byakuya remarked bluntly, his tone now becoming more pointed as he spoke. "I know the true scope of your understanding of tactics, and the grade of your proficiency rating upon the completion of your training as an officer."
Shunsui looked as he were about to say something, but seemingly lost his voice...
"It's high time you stopped ducking your responsibilities," the Kuchiki heir elaborated as he continued his address to the other captain. "And become the man and the leader you really are."
At the same as this was happening, Szayel quietly rose to his feet and approached Kensei.
The bespectacled Arrancar leaned in, bringing up a white-gloved hand as he whispered something to the white-haired Vizard, who remained in his seat as Szayel spoke.
This elicited a only small nod from the Captain, who turned to face the other man. With that, the two Captains shared a brief glance, before pink-haired man moved to retake his seat.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Ichigo held his tongue, watching as Darkwood walked about the room...
"You see, this one?" The man asked, gesturing towards a particular set. "I expect that you recognize just what kind of armor this is?" Darkwood asked. "Just look at all the exquisite details and intricacies in all of the distinct pieces that form a full suit of an Edo-period Samurai Armor."
"The helmet, with all its components- the crest, horns, the segmented fringe, and all the details in the visage of the protective face mask," he continued. "My god, it's a work of art."
He looked to Ichigo, before shifting his focus to another suite of armor. "And then, there's this." The man added excitedly. "Look, and see how all of the metal plates shine in the light."
"Just think about it, just try and imagine being a European knight- wearing all of this and riding on horseback, only a handful of centuries ago." The black-clad man went on. "With a sword in one hand and a shield in the other, the visor down," he continued, pointing to the visor. "The warmth and the copper smell of blood all around you, as you cleave your way through the battle."
Ichigo regarded the armor for a moment. "It's all... very impressive."
"Yes, isn't it?" Darkwood replied with a smile. "And this particular ensemble is a point of pride for me..." The man went on to remark as he approached another display. "Who else can say that they possess an actual suit of genuine Roman armor?" He asked him. "Not many, I think. But look at it... so simple, and yet so very elegant."
The young man stepped forward to look closer. "It's... fancy." Ichigo commented idly as he regarded the incredible amount of detail in the contours of the breastplate, how it was forged and molded to look like the muscles of an actual human body. "Was this worn by an officer?"
"Oh yes." The man in black responded enthusiastically. "And not just any officer... Look at the red crest of the helmet, notice how it's 'sideways'." Darkwood went on with a smile. "The man who wore this armor was a General, in command of an entire Legion- ie, the Legatus."
With that, he then turned to face Ichigo, his calm demeanor instantly returning...
"But now, speaking of warfare," the bearded man spoke up. "They day you clashed with Aizen- I'm sure you still remember that day well..." Darkwood pointed out to him. "As result of your fateful encounter with him, something was created that day, a doorway in the Soul Realm, and as a direct result, our plans that had previously been projected to take centuries, are now nearing completion in a matter of years."
"What do you mean?" Ichigo asked the other man.
"For years, we've been systematically and methodically infiltrating your reality, all in preparation for the great work to come." Darkwood replied. "And now, because of this, we've established a permanent beachhead- a tether, linking our two planes of existence. And yet..."
"In spite of all of that, the truth is that it's still possible for everything that we've accomplished up till now to come crashing down around us." Darkwood continued. "Ichigo, it is absolutely imperative that you understand the magnitude of what we're doing- from here on, there can be no retreat."
The orange-haired teen nodded. "I understand." Ichigo replied. "I've come too far, and I've learned too much to back out now." He went on to say. "This new world you've been telling me about... I believe in it, I want it to become a reality. If you need me to be the tip of the spear, then that's what I'll be."
It was at this moment, that the man before him gave an earnest smile. "Ichigo, my boy, I couldn't have said it better myself," Darkwood replied. "Never loose sight of the fact that what we are doing is for the good of all sentient life," he paused. "And when the time comes, you will be leading the Vanguard of our forces, and you must not waver, even when your former allies try to stand in our way."
"Like I said before, I'm with you, but," Ichigo paused. "Just make sure you're being honest with me, because if I start to think at any time that I'm being manipulated for some other cause- like if I find out that all of this turns out to be about conquest- then I swear that I'll turn all my strength and energy towards stopping you and your allies!" He declared. "So just be sure that that's clear."
Darkwood didn't immediately respond, instead just giving a knowing smile and brushing hand through his brown hair. "As always, right to the point." He replied. "But then, that's one of things I like about you."
Ichigo, in turn, reflected the other man's smile. "Then at least we understand each other."
(- End of Chapter LXXXII... -)
With this chapter, I wanted to show more shades of Darkwood, that there was some genuine gravitas to him, such that you could believe that he's legitimately capable of motivating others with his charisma and force of personality.
Beyond that, while I wasn't trying to make Darkwood come across as downright sinister, I did want to give him some edge. My thinking was that while he shouldn't come across as downright villainous, there would be a slight undercurrent of menace in him. Aside from that, I wanted to explore some of the other members of the Brethren (as well as the group as a whole)- in particular, Dario and Jinx.
And with that said and done, I just want to express my thanks to you all, and my hope that you guys will continue to hang in there- even in the face of all the craziness that's happening in the world- and stick with me to the end!