I'd just like to take a moment to express my thanks to RG-Guest, Ie-maru, TheBretonBookDragon, and everyone else for their continued feedback. I consider this chapter to be a crucial moment in the story, as things are coming to a head...
TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW
Chapter XCVII:
"The Dawn, Part 1"
In an Unknown Location...
Just as the battle between Ulquiorra and Ichigo had come to a head, when the latter struck down the former with a final spectacular downward swing his sword, Orihime made her move!
"No, Ulquiorra- Wait!"
He halted, a glowing gold hand on his shoulder, prompting Ulquiorra to turn and see Orihime at his side, her entire body enveloped in the same radiant energy. What most struck him was the fact that the semi-transparent energy had taken the shape of a mixture between armor and a flowing gown.
And then, their was the fully-fledged majestic angelic wings that she now possessed, unfurled to their full glory and composed entirely of the same white-golden energy!
"Enough." She reiterated as she looked him in the eyes.
It was then, in that moment, that Ulquiorra was overcome with an overwhelming sensation of serenity and peace. "Of course." The Arrancar replied, lowering his weapon as his entire body relaxed, the beam vanishing as the tension melted away. "I understand... Orihime."
At the same time, Orihime's Shun Shun Rikka activated, all six of her Fairies emerged and flew off to encircle the Great Machine. Darkwood looked on as the little creatures channelled the young woman's energy, shrouding the 'engine' with it, the machine abruptly coming to a complete stop...
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Meanwhile, in the Living Realm...
"My god..." Uriah observed, in a state of disbelief. "The transmissions... they- they've stopped."
"What?" Dario reacted, before returning to the other man's side. "Quickly, what the hell's going on?"
"That's just it..." The other man replied, adjusting his glasses. "The transmissions- the, signal- being broadcast from the other side of the distortion in the Spirit Realm," Uriah continued. "Prior to now, it's been growing in strength, until now... it just stopped. It's holding, but that's all."
"Something's happened..." Dario mused.
Uriah turned to look at him. "I should thank so!"
"No." The scruffy blue-eyed man replied calmly. "I've actually been there, to his realm, I've seen the Magnus Machina for myself." Dario explained to him. "Believe men, it isn't something that can just be turned off, so when I say 'something happened', we're talking on a cosmic scale."
Uriah fell silent, before nodding. "I see... but what now?"
"That depends..." Dario responded, straightening himself up. "You stay here, keep an eye on thing, and monitor the situation as everything plays out." He instructed. "After all, it's safest here, and in the mean time, I've got some 'leads' of my own to follow up on."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Soul Society...
Fourth Division, Medical Center...
Both Hanataro and Sungsun could only look on as the uncomfortable scene played out...
Shinzo Abe arrived next on the scene, joining the Third-Seat Officer and the Arrancar- along with the others present in the room- in time to watch as none other than Captain Byakuya Kuchiki stood before the Lieutenant of the Fourth, Isane Kotetsu, speaking to her in a hushed tone.
It was in the midst of all this, that the mental dam that had so far managed to hold the tall silver-haired woman's emotions in check up till now, finally broke! And in the process, she let loose an agonized cry as all of her emotions came bursting forth like the waters of a deluge...
Isane began openly weeping, heavy tears streaming down her face as she was overcome with emotion, with neither thought or concern for those present. In that moment, all other thoughts left her as she was consumed by anguish and heartbreak. The crying continued, coming to a head as she slumped down to her knees, covering her face with her hands the tears continued unabated.
In that moment, Sungsun felt a sudden compunction to rush to the weeping Shinigami's side, as she moved in to comfort the crying woman. It was strange, as in that moment, the slender female Arrancar experienced an unfamiliar urge... More than anything, she wanted to protect the Lieutenant.
Shinzo, who'd gone to check a nearby console, looked up to Hanataro and Sungsun, the expression he wore confirming what they already suspected. "Yamada-san, Lady Sungsun," he started. "The situation goes beyond just that of Officer Ayasegawa." The Soul Reaper paused. "The line of succession for the Eleventh has been destroyed, it's like a snake with its head cut off."
Hanataro looked over to him. "Regardless of everything else that's happening, that doesn't change our original mandate." The young man declared emphatically. "To heal people."
"Of course." Sungsun chimed in, rubbing the woman's back as she comforted Isane.
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
"No, Ulquiorra- Wait!"
He suddenly stopped as a glowing hand came to rest upon his shoulder, instantly causing Ulquiorra to turn and face Orihime as she appeared at his side.
She was enveloped in radiant white-golden energy. However, what most struck him was the fact that the semi-transparent energy had morphed into a mixture between armor and a flowing gown, and there was a golden laurel in her hair. Then, there was the fact that the shining energy had extended outwards, into the majestic angelic wings that she now possessed, out and unfurled in all of their glory!
"Enough." She reiterated warmly with a smile as she looked him in the eyes.
At the time, Ulquiorra was instantly overcome in that moment, as he was filled with an overwhelming feeling of serenity and peace. "Yes, of course." The Arrancar replied, his tone and posture changing, as he lowered his weapon, the tension in him quickly melting away. "I understand... Orihime."
The young lady smiled in reaction to this, wordlessly gazing into his eyes as a moment passed silently between the two of them. Nodding in understanding, he met her brown eyes with a longing look of his own in his penetrating gaze, before he spoke: "In that book, which is my memory..."
Orihime nodded back, giving a gentle smile of her own as he reached out to caress her cheek, looking back into the Espada's striking inhuman green eyes with an adoring gaze. Strangely, the young woman felt an immediate understanding between them in the moment- and not just merely with Ulquiorra, but more so with everything, even of what he'd said, as if she'd always known those word.
With that, she continued to caress his cheek and run her finger up into the thick locks of his dark hair, replying: "On the first page, of the chapter that recounts that fateful day when I first met you..."
Another moment passed between them, in which Ulquiorra continued to hold her gaze with his own as he smiled and softly responded: "...Appear the words 'here begins a new life'."
Darkwood could only nod to himself. "...Dante, La Vita Nouva."
. . . ...o.o.o... . .
Gotei Council Facilities...
Central Operations Command Hub...
"This is crazy," Ken commented in a confused tone, adjusting his glasses as he looked over the screen at his station. "The readings from the Anomaly have dropped to almost nothing."
"What?!" Shunsui exclaimed. "Is this true, can this be corroborated?"
"He's correct." Ran spoke up, while scanning the monitor at her own station. "I have no idea what the hell is happening, but the energy reading from the Anomaly have dropped to almost zero."
The Captain of the Eighth Division looked on. "But then, what does this all mean?"
Meanwhile, Ken and Ran exchanged glances with one another... The two technicians shared uncertain looks, as the redheaded female Shinigami moved to take the brown-haired man's hand.
"Whatever is going on," the tall, scruffy-faced swordsman commented. "It doesn't change the fact that regardless of anything else, everything seems to be coming to a head."
. . . ...o.o.o... . .
Division Twelve HQ...
The disheveled dirty-blonde haired ex-Shinigami and the bespectacled pink-haired Espada were both busy monitoring their equipment when a blinding point of light passed over them...
Just as abruptly as it appeared in the distance, both men were left reeling in its wake. One minute, they were busy at their stations, the next they were looking on dumbly as the giant point of light passed over their heads, only to emit a flash of light. This was followed by all the color in the world around them quickly fading away as everything came to a sudden stop- as if reality had been 'paused'.
"My friends, soon, everything will be coming to a head."
As the disembodied voice had spoken, Szayel and Kisuke had exchanged looks.
"Something is happening... something momentous."
"It's him." Szayel commented offhandedly ex-Shinigami. "Our friend in white."
"As sharp as ever, Captain, that's one of the things I've enjoyed about this repartee of ours... But now, time is short, and I cannot understate how much all of our little chats have meant to me."
"I'm detecting a certain finality in your tone." Kisuke observed.
"Indeed, the plain and simple truth is that there's not much time left. So, I would like to say that I've enjoyed my chats with you as well, Urahara-san."
"Wait, what's going on?" The Octavio Espada asked.
"Please do give my regards to Lieutenant Kurotsuchi... Now, I have an appointment to keep."
Then, just as abruptly, everything returned to what could be called 'normal' around them, and the two men were left to watch as the point of light continued onward across the sky...
"Something..." Szayel mused. "Something big is happening."
Kisuke looked to Szayel. "You're right, but... what?"
. . . ...o.o.o... . .
Meanwhile, having effectively been checked, Darkwood could could do little other than look on as the sudden and total reversal of fortune played out around him...
"Dante, La Vita Nouva." He'd spoken softly in a resigned tone, a wry smile on his face.
His 'champion', in whom he had gambled so much upon, had been struck down, and he was now faced with a growing sense of defeat... After all, what could he be expected to do, especially when faced with the downright godly powers of the young woman. In the end, she had truly been the ultimate wildcard in all of this, she couldn't be quantified, just as the extent of her powers couldn't be measured.
In the meantime, as the loving exchange between the young human woman and the male Espada was playing out, Ichigo lay prone nearby, leaving him at a loss as to what to do.
Ulquiorra had lowered his weapon, the 'blade' vanishing as he extended a hand of his own to cup her face in the same way that she'd reached out to him, mirroring the gentle smile as well.
And things might very well have continued on like this, if not for the fact that everyone's attention was diverted by the appearance of the latest arrival...
Meanwhile, Ichigo had come to, his eyes opening as he found himself back in reality. The last thing he could remember before regaining consciousness were the words of his mother...
"While your past will always be a part of you, living beings can't exist in the past, they can only move forward, my darling Son... Now, it's time you started living again."
Ichigo's eyes snapped open and he looked around in confusion, before relapsing into unconsciousness!
Darkwood held up his hand to shield his eyes as a majestic figure appeared.
"You?!" Ulquiorra and Orihime exclaimed simultaneously.
The transformed fiery-haired woman took Ulquiorra by the arm and moved them both to the main structure, close to where Darkwood was presently standing.
"La Vita Nouva, 'The New Life'?" The Man in White spoke. "I find it rather fitting."
. . . ...o.o.o... . .
The Living Realm, Karakura City...
"It's not like I'm not grateful," the tattooed woman started. "But was this really all that necessary?"
The tall, dark-skinned youth blushed faintly as Jinx gestured to the t-shirt she was presently wearing.
Largely on Chad's insistence, Jinx was now wearing an oversized t-shirt. Specifically, this particular shirt just happened to belong to to the swarthy-looking teen beside her- the two of them having mad a quick stop-off at the young man's house in order for him to grab it from his closet.
"Well, you might be cool with walking around topless," Chad retorted. "But it's almost certainly bound to cause an issue..." He paused. "Besides, it'd be a bit too... distracting for me."
The lavishly decorated woman, with her blue-green eyes and her reddish-purple hair buzzed on the sides and pulled into a ponytail in the back, smiled endearingly and nodded.
The duo made their way into the commercial sector of the city, where they were met by a handful of unusual-looking individuals. Among them was a man sporting a bandanna and piercings, with a guitar slung over his shoulder, accompanied by a fair-skinned woman with spiky blonde hair.
There was also a man in a black leather jacket and slicked back jet-black hair and a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses, as well as a woman with sandy hair done up in a bob-cut with bangs.
"Yo, Jinx, what the hell's going on?" The man with the guitar inquired.
"Yeah, something serious is going down." The woman beside him added. "Those 'Shadows', they just vanished, right around the same time that we lost contact with the others."
"Have any of you guys heard from Dario?" Jinx asked, looking between them.
"That's the thing," the man with the Ray-Bans chimed in. "He stopped picking up a while ago."
"So what now?" The woman with the bob-cut asked. "Where do we go from here?"
"That's just it, I don't know." Jinx responded. "But the way I understand it, it seems to me like it's all going to come down to whatever the Shinigami and their allies decide."
. . . ...o.o.o... . .
The individual known colloquially as "The Man in White" took a moment to collect himself before he would go on to address everyone who was watching...
Unlike in his previous visitations, he wasn't dressed in his usual finally tailored outfit. He wore a gold breastplate and a white cape that was draped around his shoulders and flowed down his back. Armored skirting hung from the base of the breastplate, and he was also sporting Roman-style gauntlets and leg guards on his forearms and lower legs. Beneath the armor, he wore a white tunic and trousers.
"I see that you've dressed for the occasion." Darkwood commented. "Never the less, tell me, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit on this most auspicious of days?
"It's simple." The Man in White countered. "What you're trying to do... this has to end."
Darkwood nodded, brushing a hand through his hair. "Given everything that's happened, I suspected that some outside party had to have been aiding the Shinigami and their comrades throughout all this, so I can't really say that I'm too terribly surprised to now be seeing one your kind here?"
"So," Ulquiorra remarked. "You truly were holding back the full extent of your identity."
"I couldn't risk showing my full strength until I knew the moment was right."
"In that case," the black-clad man went on to say. "Where does that leave us?" Darkwood asked, his hands on his hips. "I expect all that remains now is dealing with any loose ends- like me?"
"What's he talking about?" Orihime implored the blonde-haired man. "And why now, all of a sudden, do you suddenly look like this, as opposed to when we met in the past?"
"Orihime," the mysterious man spoke. "I suppose, at the very least, I do owe you the truth." He went on to remark, smiling at the young woman. "Do you still remember the question that you asked, back when we first me?" The man asked. "You asked me if I was an Angel."
"Wait, are- are you... saying you are?" Orihime asked tentatively.
"In a sense." He answered. "As to who and what I am," the man continued. "Well, that's where things get a bit more complicated. You see, the truth is that I've had more names and titles over the years than I care to admit... but if it helps, you can think of me as a sort of Guardian Angel."
"I was sent here by a higher power, from a domain unbound by time, known by a thousand names in a thousand places." He went on to explain. "I came here to this realm, to ensure that the mission in which I was entrusted is finally realized... It's high time that things are finally made right."
"Well then," Darkwood chimed in, tucking his hands into his pockets. "From the sound of things, the way I see it, the question left is what happens now?" He continued glibly. "I mean, it's plain as day that I've been outmaneuvered. But then... even if I was a 'King' in this game, what chance did I ever have," he continued, looking to Orihime. "ConsideringI was going up a against your 'Queen'."
"Never the less, with all of that said and done, no matter how you chose to look at things," Darkwood went on to remark. "The plain and simple truth is that I'm a dangerous loose-end, something that needs wrapping up." He reasoned with a smirk. "So then, have you come here to kill me?"
"On the contrary," the Man in White replied, his smile unwavering. "As I stated, I fully came here with the intention to put things right, once and for all, and I meant it."
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Huecco Mundo...
Renji and Arachne arrived back at the Fourteenth, finding the grounds of the Division bustling with activity, as countless individuals moved from one point to another, everyone of them seemingly busy carrying one activity or another- moving medical supplies, giving reports, and so on...
Not far from their own location, the crimson-haired man spotted Lisa Yadomaru and was quick to call out to the bespectacled woman. However, this was enough to gain more than just the Vizard's attention, but also that of a nearby Arrancar with piercing icy-blue eyes and a long main of spiky crimson hair that was an even brighter shade of red than his own.
The tattooed Soul Reaper was familiar enough with the man, such that as soon as he got a good look at him, he instantly recognized him as Lisa's counterpart in the hierarchy of the Division- Katsuro Onigiri, the Red Lieutenant of the Fourteenth and mission leader of the Arrancar contingent.
"Lieutenants," Renji spoke, exchanging nods with the other two officers. "The rumors circulating, are they actually true?" He inquired. "That the enemy just up and stopped attacking?"
"More or less." Lisa spoke, adjusting her glasses. "Even with help from the Privaron Cirucci, it seemed like the fighting would never end, that those Shadows were never going to stop..."
Onigiri placed a hand on her shoulder. "She's right, the fact is that the situation was quickly becoming untenable, and we didn't have many more tricks left to fight those creatures with."
Both Renji and Arachne wordlessly took note of the unspoken bond between the two Lieutenants, but neither of them felt the need to voice or act upon their observations.
Before they could continue their conversation, another voice called out to them.
The quartet turned towards the source, where they were met by a rather unusual sight... That of a tall female Shinigami with cropped blonde hair and brown eyes. However, the actual point of interest was the smaller figure that the Soul Reaper was supporting at her side.
"Apacci?" Lisa asked, looking to the Fraccion.
The front of the jacket of her modified uniform hung open, showing off not just the lines of her lean sporty physique, but also the fact that her torso was wrapped up snugly in layers of medically treated cloth that most closely resembled a sarashi-style chest binding than a dressed wound. There were also hints of blood in the bandages- little blotches of crimson- but other than that, she looked fine.
"Hey, everybody." Apacci began, blushing as the taller woman proceeded to encircle her arms around the smaller woman's shoulders in a loving embrace. "How're you all doing?"
"Wait, are you alright?" Onigiri asked in a quizzical tone.
"Oh, you mean this?" She retorted, looking down towards the injury. "Nah, I'm totally fine!"
"Then, perhaps you might introduce us to your new friend?" Lisa asked the Fraccion. "I mean, that is, if it isn't too much trouble for you, at the moment..."
Apacci blushed at this. "Oh, right, of course." The lithe female reacted as she glanced between her two superior offers and her companion. "Lieutenant Yadomaru, this is... my new friend, Tomoka-chan."
"I must say," Onigiri began casually. "The two of you look awfully close for having only just met."
This only served to provoke the taller woman to tighten her embrace around the Arrancar, before she began nuzzling against the smaller woman in a overt display of affection. This gesture, when combined with everything else that was unfolding, only served to drive home the extent to which the tall boyish woman had so thoroughly entrapped the other woman in the cradle of her arms.
"You mean the two of us?" Tomoka asked excitedly. "Well, the truth is, the moment I first laid eyes on her, I couldn't get over how cute Apacci-chan was." The sporty woman explained, all the while smiling radiantly as she looked to the Arrancar. "I mean, my cute little Apacci-chan has such nice soft hair, that I can't help but think that she'd look even cuter if she grew it out!"
The member of the Tres Bestias' face swiftly turned a shade close to beat red under the praise, but it seemed that she was utterly at the mercy of the other woman's whims.
And to everyone else present, it was painfully clear that the she'd fully been tamed!
. . . ...o.o.o... . .
"On the contrary, I fully came here with the intention to put things right, and I meant it."
On hearing this, Darkwood gave an unprecedented reaction, a look of unguarded shock on his face!
"What do you mean?" He asked, his voice sharp, yet uncertain. "You... regardless of whatever you're trying to pass yourself off as, I know what you really are, and I know 'who' sent you." Darkwood went on to comment. "And we both know that they wouldn't allow this to go unchecked."
"They... no, wait," Ulquiorra cut in. "Are you saying he's an agent of the Soul King?"
"Soul King?!" Darkwood fired back. "Oh, oh no," he went on. "No, no, no, this all goes well beyond anything quite so mundane." The bearded man explained. "No, the higher power that this man answers to is on another level all-together." He declared emphatically. "The Shinigami refer to the 'Soul King' and speak of the 'Celestial Throne', but it has no name... it just exists."
The Man in White exhaled. "It's not quite nearly as chaotic it might sounds... There's a logical system at play, with rules and parameters that serve as guidelines." He countered. "Orihime, Ulquiorra, the two of you were drawn into a conflict that you never asked to be part of, and had burdens put upon you that you didn't deserve." The man looked to Orihime. "You, in particular, Orihime."
"But now, to the point at hand..." He resumed, looking to Darkwood. "Hasn't this struggle gone on for long enough?" The white-clad individual asked the other man. "And, of course, it's not as if I'm entirely unsympathetic to the dilemma you and the rest of your kind are faced with."
The red-haired young woman, still attired in her glowing armor and gown of her battle-dress, and the raven-haired Espada standing beside her, looked on intently as the two men spoke. The couple were so caught up by the scene unfolding, they failed to register what was happening in their periphery...
"And so," the Man in White continued. "I've come here with a solution."
"What?!" Darkwood reacted, legitimately stunned. "Wh- what are you saying?"
"I haven't come empty-handed." He replied, energy flaring up around him, as the air was displaced, converging above his upturned palm as he raised his hand. The energy started to take form- morphing into something resembling a glowing nucleus within a lattice of energy appearing...
"This, this is the solution, the solution to everything." He explained. "The power contained inside of this will make it possible for everyone to live." The man went on declare. "What I'm telling you is more than just hyperbole, this is the real deal... All it requires now is the final component."
The bearded man gazed at the masse of energy. "Just looking at it... I never could of imagined I would ever be see it with my own eyes." Darkwood commented. "Just the fact that you're even offering this, it could only mean one thing." He paused. "That they consented to this plan."
"You're remarkably well informed, but yes." He answered. "Never the less, as I said, there's still a key ingredient missing, the one component that's required to realize the full potential of this."
Darkwood, understanding dawning in him. "Of course, after all, it only makes sense that something like this would come at a cost..." The bearded man reasoned. "Then, I'm to be a part of this..."
"And I will be the other." The Man in White finished. "Together, we represent the two fundamental base forms of energy needed to complete this... Light and Darkness."
"Yes, of course, it all makes sense now, this is the only way for this to end..." Darkwood mused aloud to himself. "And you're right, I can only imagine everything you've experienced... But I, I've lived long enough, and better to not overstay my time." The brown-eyed man paused. "But first, Dario."
Everyone turned to see as the hoodie-clad man stepped forward. "So this is the end?"
Darkwood smiled as he met the gaze of the scruffy blue-eyed man. "Dario, my friend, don't think of this as an ending, especially when there's still so much to do." He stated. "I realize I'm asking a lot of you, but you're the only one I can entrust with overseeing things in the future to come."
After a moment, Dario nodded. "I understand." He replied. "It's what Crowley and the others would have wanted, so I'll see to it that your work lives on in the coming days."
"Thank you." Darkwood responded, looking back to the Man in White as a 'portal' appeared and Dario stepped into it and vanished in a flash. "Now, where were we?" He continued. "Oh yes, you were in the middle of explaining your gracious offer to me, if I recall correctly."
With that, he turned to Orihime. "Everything that I did for Ichigo, I did it with the intention of helping him to become better and to regain something of what he lost." He explained. "Never the less, I expect he'll be confused." Darkwood continued. "I did all I could to guide him... But I can rest easy, knowing that he has friends such as yourself, as well as his family, to help him."
"There's not much time left..." The mysterious man stated. "Soon, it will become impossible for either of the two of you to exist in this realm." He explained. "So, with that in mind, I'd ask that you two take Ichigo back with you, back to your own realm- where he and the rest of you belong."
"Wait, so Darkwood's people will be able to live?" Orihime asked, her brown eyes light up, first as she look to Darkwood, then to the white-clad figure. "B- but what about you?"
The blonde gave a faint chuckle. "Sometimes, a person reaches a point in their life, when they realize they've lived long enough that they no longer have any obstacles left to overcome." The Man in White relayed to the young woman. "Don't be sad, my dear, I'm at peace."
"As am I." Darkwood added. "It's time we broke this... unending cycle."
"Yes, I expect that this will be something of an inconvenience for you young people," he relayed to the couple as he continued. "And now, if you would be so kind, it would be a great help if you explained to him that I won't be able to see him- or any of the rest of you- again, and that I'm sorry."
"Orihime Inoue." The Man in White began as he approached her. "I just want you to know that you've been invaluable throughout all of this." He stated, taking her hands in his. "You're special, you were the only person capable of achieving what you've done. "You made all this possible... But it goes beyond your powers, you are a very special young lady... There's so much goodness in you, right down to the very core of your very being- and no matter what happens, never forget that."
Tears started to form at corners of Orihime's eyes. She reached out to him and grasped his hands as she smiled tearfully up at him. "Even now, after all that's happened, I don't even know your name."
He flashed a genuine smile at this. "Well, I always did like the name Clarence." The man replied as he looked into her eyes. "And, I think it has a rather nice ring to it, wouldn't you say?"
Orihime nodded. "Yes, of course, it's a wonderful name." She replied, silently stepping forward and rising up onto her tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. "Thank you, Clarence, thank you for everything..." She spoke. "I just wish we'd had more time, but I promise that I'll never forget you."
"Take care, all of you." Clarence answered, watching contentedly as she and Ulquiorra vanished, along with the prone figure of Ichigo laying on the nearby platform.
With that, he turned to Darkwood, holding up the nucleus. "It's time..."
"I understand." He replied with a nod, silently stepping forward and extending his towards it...
. . . ...o.o.o... . .
Everyone in the Soul Realm looked up to the sky, at the Anomaly that had been hovering over them for such a long time, watching as it began fluctuating wildly...
There was a brief burst of light from the 'eye' of the distortion, before it contracted and vanished!
"Good lord..." Urahara murmured under his breath, suddenly at a loss. "It's gone?"
"Kisuke!" Szayel exclaimed. "The system just activated, something's coming through!"
"Shit! It has to be Orihime and Ulquiorra! " The other man cursed as he rushed over to join him at the controls of the teleportation system. "We have to be ready to receive them..."
"All systems check out." Szayel announced. "Wait, the mass if different... there's a third person!"
"No time to adjust the system." Urahara declared. "We'll just have to compensate for the variance..."
"Right, rout the excess power through secondary system." Szayel instructed. "Incoming, in... 3, 2, 1!"
They were forced to avert their eyes as forms materialized on the platform...
"They're coming through!" Urahara exclaimed.
"We've got them!" Szayel fired back. "Quick, get them off of the platform!" He continued as Urahara grabbed hold of them by the wrists and pulled them away just as a third figure took form!
Orihime and Ulquiorra were coming out their respective dazes, when Urahara exclaimed "Look!"
"Kurosaki..." Szayel spoke, watching as the teen finished materializing, only to go toppling off of the platform and crumple into an unconscious heap!
"We did it Captain!" Urahara exclaimed, affecting an accent as he smiled at Szayel.
The Octavio fixed him with a brief withering glare. "Quite so, and may The Force be with You."
The former Shinigami deflated, muttering under his breath.
"Excuse me." A familiar baritone voice entreated. "But if the two of you stopped bickering like an old married couple," Ulquiorra continued. "You might realize that there's a more pressing matter."
With that, he motioned to Ichigo, still laying there, unconscious...
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Back in the Central Command Center...
"It's... over?" Shunsui uttered. "It's truly... over."
Nanao appeared at his side, resting her head against his upper arm. "We saw this through to the end."
The tall scruffy-faced Captain turned and gripped the woman by her slim waist. Her face turning red as he lifted her off of the ground- her sandals hanging from her feet as they dangled precariously, while he excitedly twirled her around- before hugging the to him in an exuberant display of affection!
For her part, Nanao just smiled and leaned in. Reaching for the brim of his hat, she angled it in such a way as to obscure their faces as she moved in to kiss him!
Ken and Ran stood up, looking to the main screen, both of them were at a loss as to how to process the fact that the conflict was now over... That they'd weathered the storm!
At the same time, Ran suddenly felt herself overcome be an unfamiliar feeling... Her pulse was racing, and she felt oddly inexplicably giddy. The feeling was so intense, that the only outlet she could think of in that moment happened to be standing next to her... Hence, he subsequent actions.
The red-haired Shinigami reached over and grabbed Ken by the shoulders, pulling the brown-haired Shinigami in close to kiss him directly on the lips! His eyes went wide at first, before he did his best to return the kiss en-kind. The two only broke the kiss when Ken nearly toppled over his chair when Ran leaned in, snapping them back to reality- leaving both blushing furiously in the aftermath!
With that, the breathless duo quickly realized that they now had the full attention of everyone in the Command Center. However, everyone in the room seemed to take the public show of affection as their cues to get to their feet and start congratulating each other and shaking hands.
Depositing his flustered Lieutenant back on the ground, Shunsui just smiled at the two of them...
. . . ...o.o.o... . . .
Szayel knelt down beside the fallen teenager, removing one of his gloves as he reached down to check his young man's pulse, then his breathing. "For what it's worth, he appears to be alright."
Slipping the glove back on, he stood back up. "His heart rate and respiration both check out." Szayel commented as he turned to the others. "As for why he's still unconscious... Well, based on what we can discern at the moment, I would have to chalk it up to simple exhaustion."
"Though," he continued, looking to his wounds. "Looking at these..." Szayel paused, glancing over to Ulquiorra before going on. "I can't imagine these are making things any easier for him either."
"Under normal circumstances, he'd be sent to the Fourth." Urahara remarked. "However, considering the situation, and everything else that's happened... I don't foresee that being an option."
"Yes... I doubt it will be long now." Szayel remarked, before turning to Orihime. "Inoue-san, I suspect that in spite of everything that's happened, you and many others still regard this boy as a friend..." The pink-haired Espada remarked. "Regardless, people will be coming him, and soon."
Ulquiorra and Urahara looked to the young woman. "I- I understand... that sometimes people have to be held accountable for the things they've done." Orihime offered. "And the truth is, I do still think of Ichigo as a friend, but I won't try to stand in the way... when the times comes."
With that said, the four looked off into the distance, spotting a number of figures- all of them dressed in black robes- headed directly towards their location atop of the section of the Twelfth...
Byakuya Kuchiki was the first to arrive, with fellow Captains Rose Ōtoribashi of the Third and Shinji Hirako of the Fifth appearing beside him, flanking the nobleman.
"By my authority as a Captain of one of the Elite Court Guard Divisions," Byakuya declared, as more Shinigami appeared. "I've come to collect Ichigo Kurosaki."
(- End of Chapter XCVII... -)
So, here we are... A whole lot happened in this chapter, and a lot was said. And yet, I expect that people are gonna have some lingering questions... I'd just like to say that I always intended that certain story elements were left ambiguous, with just enough info to hopefully be ably to draw your own conclusion. In the end, any attempt to define or explain the "higher power" seemed to me like it just cheapened the whole concept of it.
Still, I can imagine that this might be frustrating for some, as it leaves a lot of unanswered questions... but then, that's honestly a big part of what I set out to do with this story, going all the way back to when I first conceived of it. I wanted a write a story where there the ultimate threat wasn't something that could be easily defined, but rather it was something that had to be studied and pondered over, that challenged the various characters. I wanted to write story that no one had ever seen before, that highlighted characters and relationships I didn't see that often, that took characters out of their "comfort zones" and forced them to think and ask questions they normally wouldn't.
That's why I thrust Ichigo into a mental/philosophical journey, and it's why I tried to showcase and contrast the views of the Arrancar with the other characters, and how those views evolved over time. I mean, how different are Ulquiorra, Stark, Lillynette, and Szayel compared to how they started out?
Any how, hopefully, I cleared a few things up... or maybe not. Either way, I'm looking forward to seeing what you all thought of this chapter!