Past Midnight, Catnipp House...
Candice was purring soundly after another vivid night with her beloved, warmly holding him by the arm as he read his book.
"Hey, Darling... Would you mind putting that away for a sec?"
"If I do that right now though, I don't think I'll be able to pick it back up..." He said negatively as he glanced back, but her green eyes were begging him for attention. "Not that there's nothing wrong with that. Did anything happen today?"
"Hm... Kinda, yes" She tried to find the right words. "But first, I think... Last time I mentioned this, there was a little detail I left out"
"Wait. What are we talking about?" Atticus expressed, rather confused.
"M...My Mother" She exhaled.
"Oh, that's... Unexpected" He pulled her towards him and held her body a bit tighter.
"Yeah, but it's nothing bad at all" She clarified. "It's just... That it might 've sounded like I killed her back then, but she's actually alive. Just... Insane, to put simply"
"Oh. To be honest, I actually DID think that was the case more or less (accidentally), ahahaha" He chuckled nervously. "It might seem macabre, but I didn't really see anything wrong with that given your backstory, though if she's alive all's well that ends well, I guess"
"Yeah, you could say that (somewhat), but anyways the thing is... After leaving the Spa, I went to visit her"
"Oh... And how did that go?"
"I'd say it was... Okay" She still had mixed feelings about the encounter. "Since she's mentally ill, she didn't recognize me as her daughter, but we still had a fun time. A nice little chat, y'know?"
"Great" He smiled at her. "I can see you're being positive about it"
"I won't deny that it wasn't easy to make that decision, but then I remembered it had been a while since I last visited, and the clash with the Seireitei could start at any time now so, I don't know... I felt like, if by any chance this was the last time I saw her, I wanted to have a memory I could cherish, rather than all the other stuff"
"I see... It's actually pretty admirable of you"
"You think?"
"It would've been much easier to just turn your back on her ever since that day, right?" He noted as he softly caressed her arm, reaching for her hand in the end. "However, you still chose to keep contact with her, even in that state. That's not easy, Kitten, not easy at all"
"I don't know... Sometimes I feel it's just the normal thing to do as her daughter" She replied, with a sorrowful tone. "But then again, she either confuses me with Austin or doesn't recognize me at all... As much as it shouldn't, it's still painful y'know?"
"Girl..." He turned completely towards her and held her by the shoulders. "In your own way, you're trying to do what's right. You're trying to still be there for her, even knowing that makes it difficult for your scars to heal. Regardless of your mom's reaction, you should take pride in the fact that your intentions are honest and pure" He leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips. "If she won't say it, then I will: I'm proud of you, Candi. Of all you've accomplished, and of all the effort you make day after day"
"Atticus...!" She sobbed and embraced him tightly. "Thank you! I... You don't know how much that means to me..." She dried her tears on his chest. "I'm so glad... I have you"
"Well that makes two of us" He held her chin and playfully gave her a nose kiss.
"Heh... This is so crazy"
"What do you mean?"
"Right now, I really felt as if we were a married couple" She blushed as she confessed.
"Eh... Weren't you the one who wanted to take things slow?" He reminded her.
"I-I KNOW, jeez!" She hid her face in shame. "But... You always do that. You just... Leave me no choice"
"And there you go again, putting the blame on me" He clicked his tongue. "Won't you ever tire of it?"
"Never. As the one who stole my heart... You need to take responsibility" She pouted as she looked back at him.
"Ah, I see how it is then, Mrs. Arctopus" He teased her, quickly reminding her of a little something...
"Candace Arctopus, a pleasure to meet you!"
"Eek!"
"What was that for?" He looked puzzled at her exaggerated reaponse.
"I... I just had a flashback of sorts"
"Ok? Would you mind to elaborate on that?" Even more doubts arose in his head.
"No! You're gonna cringe so hard you're gonna die..." She looked away. "And Imma die shortly after as well"
"*sigh* The more I know, the less of an idea I get" He couldn't be more dumbfounded.
"Just drop it!" Candice ordered. "It's not important"
"Welp, whatever then... *yawn* I'm too tired to pry further" He embraced her from behind, shamelessly groping her breasts. "But I'll take a little compensation for the doubt"
"Y-You...!" She muttered flustered.
"You can't deny me my right, can you? Relax, I'll take responsibility anyways" He whispered as he bit her neck playfully.
Catnipp, unable to counter that argument, simply moaned with a bashful face while thinking: "The worst part... Is that I absolutely love this"
Atticus grinned as he felt how her nipples grew tall in between his fingers, Candice giving in to the pleasure, helplessly smiling like a fool in the end.
~~~~X~~~~
Kuchiki Mansion, Guest Room
"Another day without any development whatsoever" Ichigo sighed, feeling defeated. "Old man Yama was as busy as ever, Squad 3 didn't find anything new and the Central 46 was closed because more than half of the members were invited to a private party of sorts"
"I can't help but feel... That something is going on behind our backs, but what could that be? Who could possibly benefit from this situation?" Nelliel wondered.
"The only suspicious individual aside from Tsunayashiro is that so called Kagerouza. Although I've never met him, I found out that he once worked with Kurotsuchi, and right before the Plague Horseman descended upon the Seireitei, he had orchestrated some sort of coup d'étàt with artificial copies of different Captains and Lieutenants"
"Maybe the Captain that died was a copy!" Nelliel theorized, a light bulb shining on top of her head.
"That actually would make a lot of sense" Ichigo recognized. "But we would need more proof on that. Maybe we could ask Urahara to analyze the charred arm that was found"
"It would be great, but I can't help but feel that time is running out" She frowned. "I'm sorry that this trip wasn't the change of pace we desired"
"No need for you to apologize. If we had known any of this crap was gonna happen we would've done something to avoid it, right?" He held her hand. "I'm just glad, that through all this mess, you're here, safe and sound by my side"
"Ichi... I hope you're not feeling like back then" She remembered the Dark Nel incident. "At least your father is not possessed by evil forces!"
"Ahahah. If we're speaking about the old man, who knows?" He teased.
"Say... Would you like to relieve some stress with me?" She gave him a lascivious leer.
"I don't know. This guest room might be detached from the mansion but, the walls aren't nearly as thick as the ones in the palace"
"Then you can just cover my mouth if I get too loud" She winked. "I have a surprise for you"
"Hm? And what would that be?"
"Something I had last time I wore a Yukata" She placed one of his hands under it, making sure he felt her breast.
"No way...! Why did you...?"
"Who knows?" She looked away for a moment. "I guess I woke up the other day, feeling like a bad girl"
Ichigo opened her clothes in the chest area, revealing her massive breasts with now pierced nipples.
"These should give me the chills" He groaned. "But instead, it seems you flipped a switch"
"Well, it seems only fair that you flip mine in return then" She finished with a seductive look, like a lioness in heat.
Ichigo didn't say another word as he fiercely grabbed her breasts and devoured her mouth, letting loose another night of passion with his beloved Whole.
Next Morning...
Ichigo came out of the Guest Room feeling rather refreshed.
In spite of all the stress they had experienced during the last two days, Nel's idea seemed to work at least to calm the heavy atmosphere.
However, the troubles had not ceased and he perfectly knew that such an issue couldn't be resolved overnight, so it was only a matter of time for that sinking feeling to come back...
"Ichigo!" Rukia saw him in the garden.
"Rukia. What's got you so pumped up this morning?"
"I don't know the details, but there was an important summons!"
"A summons? You mean for Byakuya?"
"Not only him. All heads of the Founding Noble Clans were to be present. The notice came as soon as dawn arrived"
"What? Could it be concerning my dad?"
"It could be an option, but I'm not sure how that would help"
"But of course it's gonna help! I mean, the Noble Families are the greatest form of authority, right?"
"Not precisely. That was true back when it was 5 families, but today, it's only 3 of them. One of those was the Shiba, as you might know, but they were demoted long ago"
"Wait... If I recall correctly... That shady guy sitting besides us"
"Tsunayashiro Tokinada I'd presume" She remembered seeing him close to her friends back at the duel. "Yes, he's one of the heads of the current Noble Families. What's wrong with that?"
"I'm not sure if he finally succeeded, but the jerk went to ask Kuukaku's hand in marriage nonetheless! Though the part I didn't truly get is why she thought that could restore the Shiba Clan's status and let alone why that guy would be willing to help"
"Hm... The Tsunayashiro have always been known for being the most extreme of conservative families in the Seireitei. As head of the family, he might have a particular interest in returning the Shiba to their former glory... But how could he achieve such thing?"
"Through a device I had never taken into account myself" A deeper voice retorted as it joined them in the gardens. "Marriage"
"Byakuya!" Ichigo was in shock. "This has got to be some kind of joke! You can't be serious!"
"If I was in your place, so I would believe" He understood how he felt. "However, I was there in person: Kuukaku Shiba was indeed wed to Tsunayashiro Tokinada yesterday"
"No... Nonono, Fuck! So Kuukaku really went through with it!" Ichigo felt a dense mixture of rage and disgust. "How in the world could this happen?!"
"The summons earlier was to decide, between the three families, whether to restore the status of the Shiba as one of the Noble Clans or not" Byakuya continued.
"And what did you choose?" Rukia inquired.
"As much as I have many suspicions regarding Tsunayashiro's true intentions, considering our current predicament, it was the best choice to accept the proposal"
"Please tell me now you can at least work together to override the Central 46" Ichigo needed to find a silver lining.
"Override would be too strong a term in this case, but with four of us on the same page, we can at least level the field" Kuchiki retorted. "If we get a couple people of the Central on our side, that'll be good enough to let your father free due to a lack of evidence"
"Wait. That isn't truly freedom isn't it? He's still gonna be in quality of suspect!" Ichigo pointed out.
"There's no perfect strategy, Ichigo. As a King yourself, I believe you know this well" Byakuya reminded him. "We will keep investigating for the time being, but without a culprit, we can't just expect them to leave your father alone"
"You need a culprit? Why not pin that Tsunayashiro guy as well? This was clearly a plot he deviced to marry Kuukaku in the first place!"
"While I do find some logic in that theory, we have literally no evidence to support those claims, and considering Tsunayashiro Tokinada allowed this scenario for your father, it's too great a risk to try to go against him at the moment"
"For fuck's sake...!" Ichigo facepalmed, knowing all of that was correct.
"I'm sorry, Ichigo. I'm also shocked by the fact that Kuukaku-san accepted such thing, and I can't help but fear something could happen to her in that position" He sighed helplessly. "Especially after the last incident in the Tsunayashiro household" Byakuya added.
"Incident? What are you talking about?"
"Tsunayashiro Tokinada wasn't the head of the family, until a certain tragedy occurred a while ago" The Captain spoke. "The whole main branch of the Tsunayashiro Clan was assassinated in a closed room, supposedly by mercenaries hired by an enemy family, leaving Tokinada as the only rightful heir"
"You gotta be shitting me! How come is that guy still roaming the streets? He should be down in Muken, rotting with Aizen!" Kurosaki couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Unfortunately, that man has a particular gift to manipulate those around him, especially the egocentric nobles that are part of the Central" Byakuya admitted.
"This is bad! No, it's awful! Kuukaku could die as soon as he sees her as an obstacle for whatever machinations he has in mind" Kurosaki lamented.
"Don't worry. Shiba Kuukaku, as fierce and impulsive as she can be, is actually a really smart and collected leader" The Captain tried to calm him a bit. "There's no way she would endanger herself so soon or so easily. Have some faith in her"
"*sigh* Put like that, I have to agree with you. I gotta give her more credit" The Hollow regent admitted. "But I can't believe it, just when things were going so well, first the attack on Hueco Mundo, then my dad, now this, it's just...!"
"Attack?" Both Kuchiki siblings inquired, widening their eyes.
"Shit" Ichigo let it slip.
"What happened?" Rukia looked particularly worried.
"For the reckon, no one in the Seireitei aside from the Captain Commander knows about this, so please don't go around telling other people" He requested. "But... Satya and Lilynette were attacked after going to check some strange phenomena near Blackwater Park"
"Was it Soul Reapers?" The Captain asked, upset to say the least.
"No. Apparently they were... Quincy" Ichigo revealed.
Both Shinigami gasped.
"I know what you're thinking" Ichigo continued. "We don't know the details yet... But it seems to be a pretty big deal, which is why I actually wanted to return asap to Hueco Mundo but..."
"Shit happened" Rukia completed.
"Rukia, language!" Byakuya reprimanded her.
"Sorry! I couldn't help it under that context" She pouted.
"But yeah, that would be pretty accurate" Ichigo agreed with her. "So, how are things looking with my dad?"
"Considering the latest developments, we might be able to concede his partial freedom by tomorrow... Only if Tokinada plays his cards right, of course"
"So soon? That's actually quite assuring" He felt a weight being lifted off his chest.
"It's a possibility, but there isn't much time. The Central is most likely interested in declaring someone guilty quick and getting this over with, but knowing it's your father... I guess they thought it over for quite a while"
"Being that the case, can I leave that in your hands?" He requested.
"So that you can get back now?" Rukia understood where he was getting to.
"Mhm. At my dad's request, even if things go South, I simply cannot do anything that would put the current relationship between the Soul and Hollow Societies in peril, so staying here any longer is anything but productive" He admitted bitterly. "I also need to check up on Cien to see if there's any new developments regarding his analysis"
"Then there's no time to waste, Ichi" The voice of his beloved called.
"Nel! You were listening?"
"Well, only the last parts, I was getting up before, fufu" She confessed in a silly manner. "But, before we go, I wanted to thank you two for your hospitality, Rukia-san, Byakuya-san"
"Anytime, Queen Nelliel" The Kuchiki head replied politely. "We hope this whole conflict is resolved quickly so that we can have you as guests sometime soon"
"Yeah, it was a shorter visit than I would've liked" Rukia sighed in a disappointed manner. "But I promise we'll do all we can to make sure your father and sister stay out of trouble"
"My dad already failed that part though, but I appreciate the intention" He finally opened the Garganta. "So long! Thank you in advance for all your help, Rukia... And you too, Byakuya!"
Nel grabbed him by the arm and disappeared alongside him.
"Easier said than done, isn't that right, Onii-sama?" The girl accepted the ordeal.
"But that's what makes it worthwile"
Hueco Mundo... Right away!
The two regents returned, quickly joining three Espada and Nel's Fracciones, who happened to be at the Throne Room.
"Ichigo! Nelliel!" Pesche and Dondochakka called them.
"Welcome back" Ulquiorra joined as well.
"Ulquiorra! How did everything go with Inoue-san?" Nel wanted the spicy details right away.
"Oh, that, well that was..." He blushed a bit. "Wait, no! We've got more important matters at hand!"
Satya and Lilynette came forward.
"We went over to Blackwater Park and found a strange stone that was struck by lightning, right where the energy phenomena occurred" The green-haired informed. "We brought the readings to Cien, and he's still analyzing the whole deal"
"Aum, we also noticed what seemed to be remains of a large battle, but it looked as if they had fought each other" Satya added.
"A betrayal maybe? Or just some sort of discipline?" Odelschwanck wondered to herself.
"Also, Cien did mention that it was energy outside the readings we normally see in nature. Unlike Hollow, Shinigami or even Quincy, this was a more universal kind of reading, not possible to associate with a race in particular, but at the same time..."
"...Compatible with all" Another voice completed.
All the Espada looked towards the interloper.
"You!" The two expeditioners recognized, Satya enraged and Lilynette trembling.
Right there were two confident Sternritter standing, mindless to being in presence of the King and Queen of Hueco Mundo, as well as three Espada.
Ichigo had to admit they gad guts, but upon using Pesquisa on them, he quickly understood the source of such behavior.
Although he had never seen him face to face, just the spiritual pressure gave him off, at least in the eyes of the Hollow King.
"Do I need to assume it's you?" Ichigo pointed Mugetsu at the white-haired Abnormal. "Were you the one who stirred up trouble a couple days ago?"
"I might've not introduced myself properly back then, let alone to you, Majesty" The leader chuckled. "Unfortunately, we're short on time, so let's make it quick.
I'm Sternritter Ω - 'The End':
Atticus Arctopus at your service"
"I'm Daxx Dârstor, Sternritter J" His companion joined.
"Bold of you to appear right before the three most powerful Espada, right in our home, if I'm to say" Ichigo mocked, feeling anxious about such a move. "What are you two here for?"
"We have no need to fear you, King of Hueco Mundo, for you see, we don't intend to enter conflict with you" Daxx spoke.
"Precisely. As my comrade mentioned, we are here for the sole purpose of warning you" Atticus gave them a leer. "As of now, something might or might not be about to occur" He chuckled. "Who knows? Ahahahah"
"Enough of this waste of time. Straight to the point" Ulquiorra menacingly retorted.
"All we ask, is that you do not interfere" Atticus menacingly stated as he opened a Garganta. "Otherwise... someone else you love, might just pay the price"
With that single phrase, the two Sternritter disappeared.
"Gar...ganta?!" The other Espada were in shock, but Ichigo had other worries.
"First it was the old man and now Yuzu?! These fucking cowards!" Ichigo tried to open a Garganta himself.
...But failed.
"Huh?" He stared at his hand for a moment. "I swore I just..."
"Neither can I" Nel noticed his Reiatsu fluctuation due to their bond. "You tried to go after them just now, right? But... Something's off"
"Same here" Ulquiorra tried for himself, just as the rest did. "They did something... But what, and why?"
"Something is just about to happen" Ichigo recalled his words. "Something they're dead set on not allowing us to know or interfere at any capacity"
"Well... It might sound selfish, but at least we're all safe here in Hueco Mundo" Lilynette breathed out, feeling safer. "Just seeing that guy made me freeze... I don't know why but-"
"I felt it too, Lilynette" Her Zanpakutou spoke.
"Starrk!"
"It's nothing like the last time" He continued his observation. "This time his Reiatsu was fully controlled, and in a way it was..."
"Abysmal" Nelliel completed. "I didn't want to admit it, but I think I hadn't felt a presence so threatening ever since the Demon Invasion"
"Aum. The other guy was no joke too" Satya added. "Probably on par with a Fracción, or even an older Espada"
"Ichigo!" A loud man's voice called to him. "I felt that power, what's going on?"
"Grimmjow" He couldn't help but notice his desperation. "I'm not sure, but it seems those Quincy have started to move"
"If they only attacked now, it might be... Because you returned, Ichigo" Ulquiorra quickly theorized. "And if that's the case..."
"...They're after the Seireitei!" Ichigo completed.
"Fuck! I knew it!" The Espada General cursed.
"What's wrong, Grimmjow?" The King became worried about his reaction.
"It's Tier" He forcefully made a fist out of pure impotence. "She's fighting"
"Wait, Harribel didn't return?" Ichigo realized as he asked Nelliel.
"Maybe she stayed behind to wait for Yamamoto-san to figure out a contention plan" She knew her friend well, so it was logical to her what could've happened.
"But... Isn't lady Harribel number 3?" Pesche butted in, trying to be positive. "Those two didn't seem too amused to fight an Espada, so it should be safe to assume that she's kicking some Quincy ass right now!"
"Kgh...!" Grimmjow ground his theeth. "Normally... She would, but... FUCK! WHY DID IT HAVE TO BE NOW?!"
Nelliel became pale as she understood what was Grimmjow's reaction for.
"No... Grimmjow, please tell me I'm wrong!" She yelled desperately, letting out a tone that was hardly, if ever heard from her normally warm and cheerful voice. "Is she...? Is Tier-"
Grimmjow smacked his head against a pillar, bleeding a bit.
With a weak, hopeless, rough voice, he finally confessed.
"Yes..." He looked back at them with dead eyes. "...She's pregnant"
Moments earlier, Wandenreich...
Just as Ichigo left the Kuchiki Estate through the portal, the Quiny Scientific Department informed the Incursion Party.
"The King of Hueco Mundo has left the Seireitei. We repeat, Kurosaki Ichigo is no longer in the Seireitei!"
The Overkill leered as he cracked his fingers: "Then it's show time"
A select group of Soldat and Sternritter entered a Sun Gate to invade their nemesis.
Daxx was about to follow the rest of the group, when Atticus stopped him.
"Not yet, Dârstor" He said as he opened a Garganta. "We'll join them later. There's somewhere we gotta be first"
They arrived near to the main Palace.
"Arctopus, what are we-"
"I told Majesty I would make sure he doesn't come back for a little while" The abnormal answered his doubts. "For that, I'll need a bit of help, specifically, I need you to put that Schrift of yours to good use"
Present time, Garganta!
"Wait, Arctopus, I don't get it. Why aren't they coming after us?"
"Cause they can't" Atticus clarified. "I used a sort of last resort on them"
"What are you talking about?"
"*sigh* Normally it's a drag to explain these things, but since we're still traveling, I guess I can pamper you a lil bit" He teased. "You see, Dârstor, how can you possibly defeat multiple enemies who are just as, if not stronger than you are"
"Hm... Well, I..."
"You don't"
"What?"
"You just find a way to avoid them. Our goal is to make sure the Party at the Seireitei fulfills its role, and for that we just needed a distraction.
By using 'The Jail', I caged a considerable area around that palace just as we confronted them, with the condition of nullifying small scale powers coming from Arrancar.
"But how did you do that without them noti-" Daxx realized by himself.
"Exactly. That's where your 'Judgement' comes along" He smiled slyly. "Between that and my provocation, their senses were way too altered to recognize the Reiatsu-sealing cage I made especially for them. Of course, Kurosaki Ichigo or even one of those powerful Espada could break the cage quite easily since I put range above power, but... What if they haven't even realized it's there?
Actually, I felt kinda bad about using Ichigo's sister as a threat, but I had to make sure even he wouldn't be able to notice what was truly going on. In fact, I didn't even know she was around until yesterday, that I overheard some grunts gossiping about it"
"I see... Scary" Dârstor recognized. "For the first time, I can first-handedly assess why his Majesty is so wary of you. Beyond any special skill or Schrift you have, that's some major scale play you did there"
"C'mon, you're giving me way too much credit" He blushed a bit as he was praised. "I just thought about my options and cards at disposal. Even being able to create skills, I would be at a way too unfair disadvantage attempting to use TWO completely different skills WHILE dealing with all those Espada"
"It does sound pretty much impossible when put into prespective"
"Yes, but it was a great success, so no need to trouble ourselves overthinking it" Atticus pointed at the light at the end of the tunnel. "Now we must join the others in the attack of the 1st Division"
Daxx gulped, not knowing what to expect as they crossed into the realm of Souls.
Upon arrival, the scenery was actually surprising.
For many years, Dârstor had studied the information available about Soul Reapers in the Wandenreich. Most of it, described them as fierce fighters who mastered the sword, and led by 13 cold-blooded killers that minced the meat of Quincy Soldiers in fractions of a second.
However, the scenery here was the complete opposite: corpses of Shinigami left and right, meanwhile, their Quincy comrades' hands were drenched in blood yet not harmed in any manner.
"Ah, Arctopus, what took you so long?" Driscoll spoke.
"Just making sure we weren't interrupted by any Arrancar fellas" Atticus smiled sadly. "But it seems one was out for a stroll, huh?"
In front of them were only two figures standing: A slighlty wounded Tier Harribel in her Segunda Etapa, protecting a dying Choujirou Sasakibe.
"Yeah, it's been quite a hassle. Just when I was about to kill the Lieutenant, she stepped in with a killing blow, good thing that I was just able to counter it"
Atticus had a better look at her. He was actually surprised to see it was the number 3 nonetheless, one they had to be particularly wary of, being one of the highest ranked Espada.
"Leave her to me" A cloaked Mask de Masculine offered after kicking away the head of Okikiba Genshirou, forcefully separating it from the body.
Atticus playfully clicked his tongue as he deviced a new plan.
"Careful. She might be hurt, but an Espada is an Espada" He advised. "I can provide support, otherwise we'll take too long and, well, would you look at that: The sun seems to be rising"
Thanks to the Hollow Ambassador, enough time had been bought for Shigekuni Yamamoto to react in time.
"Now you've done it..." The Captain Commander was outraged. "QUINCY!"
"S-Stop!" A male voice interrupted.
Everyone took a moment to look at the person willing to meddle when such a fearsome individual was burning up with power.
"Sasakibe!" Yamamoto recognized.
"I'm not dead yet" He made clear. "Which means... I must protect you, Ejisai-dono!"
"I admire your bravery" Tier recognized. "But you're seriously wounded. Going too far in your state will mean a sure death"
"Heh" Choujirou chuckled. "A death protecting the Captain Commander doesn't sound too bad"
"Haa?" Driscoll frowned. "Protect? You seem to have the wrong idea, Lieutenant. This isn't a scenario where you're meant to protect anyone" He declared. "This is a massacre"
"Not on my watch" Sasakibe prepared his Zanpakutou. "Lady Harribel, please move aside. I do not want you to be caught in the attack"
Harribel sighed sorrowfully, but accepted his desire and moved backwards.
"Fine, but I'll cover you from here" She stated. "Captain Commander, will you attack as well?"
The sole flame that was still passing through his blade disappeared.
"No" He sat down. "If my idiot student wants to show off, I have no choice but to sit and watch, although I'll punish him severely later"
Harribel was surprised at first, but then chuckled at the reply, understanding he wouldn't let him die just like that.
"That's our cue then" Arctopus smirked. "Let's go, Mask"
"Yeaaah!" The dull man accepted the invite.
Mask charged right in, while Atticus kept his distance, analyzing the combat style of Tier Harribel as she fought.
"With the right opening and distraction, I guess we can sort something out" He laughed to himself.
On the other end, Choujirou was bracing one last moment to release his Bankai at full strength.
"I wasn't quite content with its power back when we fought the Four Horsemen, so I trained more to perfect it once and for all" He raised his sword. "You won't survive. Bankai: Koukou Gonryou Rikyuu!"
All eyes were fixed on the Lieutenant's power, as black clouds had quickly filled the sky above them.
"Here it comes!" The Overkill said triumphant as he raised a medallion.
"Now!" Atticus took the chance as well, joining Mask and Harribel, and kicking the first to push the two into a Garganta of his making, using a similar ability to Descorrer.
"What the-" Both the Sternritter and the Espada were in shock, not knowing what was going on.
Meanwhile, all the others were just looking as the clouds started running with golden and purple electricity all over.
Yamamoto seemed proud of his student's accomplishment, recognizing a drastic difference of power between the Bankai he had once experienced first-handedly and the one he was witnessing now.
But, unknown to him, such power would never have its chance to shine.
Just as the first lightning was falling, the strange medallion started absorbing it without any difficulty.
Black clouds and all, the dubious artifact engulfed it all, leaving behind a clear sky just like the one that was before.
"WHAT?!" Yamamoto spouted.
Sasakibe however, was speechless, as his eyes lost all hope and a lance went through his heart, impaling him on a wall.
"I told you, Lieutenant-san. There was nothing to protect" Driscoll finally declared. "This was not a fight, Shigekuni Yamamoto. This was a declaration of war"
Yamamoto could only stand there as the figures disappeared in front of him, still unable to accept what he had just witnessed.
Back in Silbern...
"Woo, now that was exhilarating" Driscoll celebrated, taking the cloak and helmet off. "How did things go on your end, Arctopus?"
"About that..." The End scratched the back of his head. "I think Mask was taken hostage in Hueco Mundo"
"Ehhh???" Everyone was dumbfounded at that piece of information.
"As they were fighting, that Espada opened a Garganta and got back into Hueco Mundo. Of course I had no way of following them right where they landed, so I pretty much gave up on him"
"So that's what happened" Berci facepalmed. "Well, it's not like they can get any useful information from an idiot like him, so I don't care. Besides, it's his fault for boasting he didn't need James for this mission, so it serves him right"
"Gotta love Sternritter meritocracy" Atticus thought to himself with a smile, remembering what actually happened:
"Woaaah!" de Masculine was looking left and right in disbelief that he was somewhere completely different. "What is this place? It's so weird, and it's all sand!"
Tier Harribel was just as surprised: "Hueco... Mundo?"
"Whatever, no time to overthink it. Arctopus! Let's kill her once and for all!"
"You look really eager to kill, Mask. Wanna know something funny though?" Atticus played around.
"What?"
"Those who are willing to kill..." He got hold of a dark scythe. "Should be willing to die!"
In a flash, two vertical slices and an horizontal one, left Mask de Masculine as a limbless body with a head.
"Eh...?" The 3rd Espada tilted her head.
"Funny, right? Ahahahaha!" The End laughed.
"It's not funny! That was a terrible joke!" Mask complained.
"Wait... He's not dead?" Harribel was astonished at the sight.
"Sadly, not. This guy is quite durable, even among Sternritter, but I'll tell you what: I need to return asap to the Seireitei, but you can keep him and do whatever you want, in exchange of a little truce with me, what you say? You're an ambassador, you should know this is a deal you can't pass"
"What? Wait, I..." Tier was at a loss of words.
"Oh, sorry, I said whatever, but I actually need you to exclude killing him. Personal reasons"
"Wait! Arctopus! You traitor!" The Superstar protested.
"Before you call me that you should remember the name 'Austin Catnipp', don't cha think?"
"Huh?" He had forgotten that name long ago, but for the first time in his life, Mask de Masculine was regretting something.
"Well, be seeing ya, Lady Harribel!" Arctopus left in the same way he entered the realm.
"Just what the Hell is going on?" The 3rd Espada muttered as she stared at the horizon, picking up the helpless enemy and dragging him through the sand.
"Aaaarrgghhhh!"
Back to the present...
"Mask! Where's Mask?!" James called for him.
"He got cocky and got caught. You're alive so he's not dead yet, but fuck off. Your cries are annoying" The Overkill pushed him away.
Knowing what happened last time, Daxx Dârstor was actually sceptical about Mask's sudden disappearance, but even if it was the work of Arctopus, he didn't mind.
"If this is part of their revenge, well, he got it on himself" He thought as he left.
The deployed Sternritter went to the Throne Room to report, being received by a cheerful Yhwach:
"Tell me the report of peace" He requested.
"All of the 1st Division but Shigekuni Yamamoto were wiped out" Driscoll Berci informed.
"Although, we did lose Mask in the process" Atticus noted. "He's not dead yet, I think... But there was an Espada we didn't account for in the battlefiled and the two disappeared somewhere, probably Hueco Mundo"
I see... But in the grand scheme of things, I believe there were only good news" The Monarch celebrated. "With this, the Soul Society will have tasted a tiny bit of the pain they inflicted upon us Quincy a thousand years ago.
Now... We'll just wait for the right moment to attack all the rest, throwing them into chaos beyond their wildest dreams!"
The Soldat cheered at their King's words.
"Arctopus" Yhwach called. "Make sure to restore the position left open by Mask. I doubt the Arrancar will let him live. Bring me a new Sternritter 'S' with interesting powers. Surprise me!"
"As you say, Majesty"
Later...
"I'm home" Atticus yawned as he got back.
"Darling!" Candice embraced him tightly. "You're not hurt, are you?"
"No, no" He quickly denied as a drop appeared on his cheek. "My, I'm surprised you're so worried all of a sudden"
"It's just... I don't know. You left so early I didn't even see you, but I knew you had this mission and all so I just- I couldn't help it..." She admitted. "I'm just glad you're alive and well"
"But of course I am. No way I'm dying when I've got you waiting for me to get back" Atticus beamed and gave her a peck on the lips.
"So it's true" Another girl's voice said.
"Lamperd-san, nice to see you" Atticus realized, blushing a bit since he was caught all lovey-dovey. "And McAllon too"
"Candi was feeling a bit anxious so... We thought we could keep her company as she waited for your return" The pink-haired explained.
"Naturally, she also decided to confess your current relationship status" Lamperd said as her mouth snatched a piece of pie from the table. "*munch* *munch* But I gotta say, I didn't quite believe it until just a moment ago"
"Is that so? Haaa, now that's a relief. I was actually pretty damn tired of hiding it" He playfully cracked his fingers single-handedly. "Especially since Candi's a terrible liar"
"Hey...! That's... Rather correct, actually" She pouted.
"I actually saw it coming since day one too, but knowing Candi's huuuge tsun-tsun complex, I wasn't surprised that she'd take long to realize"
"Oi... Are you implying you knew I liked him even before I realized so???" Catnipp wanted to clarify, as it baffled her.
"Pretty much, I'd say it was written all over your face even" Liltotto giggled. "Ain't that right, Meni?"
"Ah? My, I don't know, maybe" She vaguely replied.
"Oh, that's right!" Candice quickly changed the topic. "Meni and Lili brought some tasty food to have lunch with us. I bet you're starving!"
"I didn't wanna sound pushy but..." His stomach roared. "If you mention it, I can't keep it at bay"
"Time to dig in!" Lili joined as well.
"Haven't you been eating this whole time though?" The Thunderbolt reminded her.
"Candi, dear, do you know me or not?" Lamperd softly facepalmed.
"Ok, sorry, I won't judge"
"What did you girls bring, anyways?" Atticus wondered.
"I made some haggis and Lili brought some tarts for dessert" Meninas detailed.
"I was baking a homemade pizza as I waited for you, so I hope you enjoy it" Candi smiled with a tender blush on her face.
Meninas had of course been paying close attention to her behavior around Atticus, and it couldn't be more of a surprise.
Even as close friends, she never remembered Candice looking so happy or nervous about anything. She always was rash, confident and somewhat tomboyish even. For the first time, her friend was showing a bit of a soft and vulnerable side no one had ever witnessed.
Oddly though, what she thought would be painful actually didn't seem all that bad, which made her question her real feelings on the matter:
Did she really have a crush on Atticus? Or did she just admire some of his qualities? Had she ever felt attracted to someone in that way before? Could she even FEEL love in the first place?
"No..." She remembered, without pain nor happiness. "After all, I'm empty... Right, Mama?"
"Meni!" Candice called her.
Everyone stared, not touching their plates.
"Oh, sorry. Did I space out?" She put on a cutesy face.
"Yeah, for a moment... Hey, are you, alright?" The Thunderbolt asked her, looking worried.
"Y-Yes. Why do you ask?"
"Cause you're..." Candi didn't finish, unsure if she should pry further.
"You're crying" Atticus expressed in a stoic manner.
"Huh?" She touched her face, realizing that actual tears had fallen through her cheeks.
Liltotto actually thought she knew the reason, but of course didn't want to expose her.
"I guess the taste of home hits hard" The loli commented.
"Safe!" Meninas thought as she appreciated her friend's comment. "Y-Yeah... It's been so long, and I usually don't have the time to cook something like this, but it brings back so many memories" She smiled and took another bite.
"Ah, makes sense. You should've seen me the first time I had Candi's key lime pie. I was crying like a baby, still don't know why... but my GOD was that delicious" Atticus made a remark along that line.
"I remember that day. Probably one of the very few times I've seen you cry, ~you poor thing~" She sang in an ironic manner.
"Well, compared to you, I guess I don't cry nearly as much. You are something of a crybaby after all, aren't you, Candi?" He teased her.
"I'm not a crybaby! It's just... You were just so insensitive about stuff in the beginning! And I tried my hardest to show you all the wrong you did me yet you didn't seem to care! So, NO, I was just really freaking frustrated that there was no way of getting back at you" She crossed her arms.
"Ooo, lover's quarrel" Liltotto smirked. "You two should get married soon, cause you're looking the part already"
"Could say the same of you and Gremmy, Lamperd-san" Atticus said back.
"Wait what?!" Candi snapped. "Lili... Are you dating Gremmy Thoumeaux?! No, wait, you two KNOW each other???"
"W.E.A.R.E.N.O.T.D.A.T.I.N.G. (yet)" She made her greatest effort to put a straight face, although a slight pink tone appeared on her cheeks. "Gremmy's just... Really cool to hang out with, and he's always feeding me the tastiest meals..."
"Wait... So Gremmy has been my competition all along?!" That seemed to upset Catnipp the most.
"Well, now the cat's out of the bag, but yes" The blonde pouted. "Imma give him a scolding for revealing details to you though, Atticus *munch* *munch*"
"Hey, he hasn't talked about anything that I didn't know of already" He tried to defend his friend. "It wouldn't be fair to punish him, besides, it's you and your jokes that got you in this situation"
"But, Arctopus-san" Meninas joined in. "If you're in love with Candi, isn't the natural outcome that you do get married soon?"
"M-Meni...!" Candice got flustered now.
"Hm... I guess you're half-right, Miss McAllon" He imitated a British accent. "That would be the correct course of action all things considered, but we've decided not to rush things, so it's still way too soon"
"I hope you're not just making excuses to have your way with Candi and then leaving her without a care" Liltotto warned. "Cause know that we'll all become your enemies if that ever happens"
"Enough, you two!" Candice spoke again. "What he said is true. We don't wanna go too fast... In fact, I was the one who requested that cause, I'm still new to all this love life and stuff, and I don't wanna mess things up. But trust me when I say that, I know these feelings are real and so are the ones he has for me. Right now... I'm not afraid to say I... Love him" She finally declared, blushing to the point she was forced to cover her face.
"Kimi o aishitemasu (I love you too)" He quickly retorted, as he rested his head on hers.
"Ok, I buy it, geez, no need to get all marsh'n'mellow about it" Lili sighed.
"I think 'corny' is the actual expression" Meni corrected.
"But anyways" She dismissed her pink-haired friend's remark. "I'm not so sure you picked the best of times to finally get together. We just started a war, remember?"
"Maybe... But at least for me, that's more of a reason to be true to ourselves once and for all, and enjoy what could be our final hours with the people we love, wouldn't you agree?" The Abnormal smiled in a warm manner.
"Atticus..." Candice seemed marvel at him after he said those words, touching her deeply in her heart.
"Interesting way to look at it" Liltotto admitted, motivated even. "In that case, I wish you two the best of luck, and Arctopus, I don't think I need to add anything else"
"Sure, thank you for your wishes" He nodded and then looked at his girlfriend. "And don't worry. I won't let anyone hurt her"
After they all finished eating, Candice went with Liltotto to buy a couple groceries for some special pastries, while Atticus stayed home washing the dishes.
"Need some help?" Meninas offered.
"Sure, could you dry these so I can wash the rest?" He accepted.
As the two continued cleaning, Meninas tried to break the ice: "You're quite reliable, Arctopus-san, not many Quincy men would help around the house like this"
"I won't lie to you, Miss McAllon, I totally despise housework, but Candi would kill me if I didn't help around a bit" He chuckled. "Besides, it wouldn't be fair for her at all. She already does a lot to keep the house clean, while I mostly just lay around and play my guitars and games and stuff"
"I see... But even if you hate it, it's still commendable that you make an effort to help her"
"Maybe, I don't know. I'm not particularly proud of it. Although... Seeing her happy makes it totally worth the effort" He smiled soundly.
Meninas blushed at that, her heart actually beating a tad faster.
"That reminds me... What you said back then... That thing about being true to yourself and being with those you love... I thought that was really beautiful"
"You really mean it? Sometimes I just say stuff without really putting much thought into it, so I'm worried that people don't understand me or that phrases don't come out the way I intend them to" He scratched the back of his head. "But I'm glad it came off nicely"
"And... It also made me realize, that I need to be true to myself as well" She left the plate she was drying back in place. "Arctopus-san..."
"Hm?" He was still smiling foolishly.
"I don't talk a lot about this with anyone, but I need you to understand something before I go any further" She started explaining. "I... Maybe I had a tough upbringing, after all I was the only girl of a family that wanted boys to continue our military tradition, yet didn't have any... I wasn't allowed to be weak, not physically, not mentally, well, maybe it is like that for most Quincies... But I kinda justify myself with that in mind" She played with her fingers for a moment, then continued:
"Sometimes... No... Most of the time, I don't feel anything at all. It's like I... Just go through life cause it's my duty, my job. I don't have any hopes for the future, or any desires I really want to fulfill. In fact... If I killed a War Potential... I believe my wish to his Majesty would be the ability to feel again.
Or so, that would've been it, but you came along, Atticus Arctopus" She smiled warmly.
Atticus face started to show hints of worry, but he chose not to interrupt her.
"So weird... Yet so real, at the same time. It's like you live your life doing all the things you love without any fear of what others might think of you, and it's a quality I really admire. And seeing that during these past years, getting to know you better, tasting your cooking, seeing you play your guitar solos... Made me feel lots of things, for the first time.
I... I even selfishly hoped, that Candi would get bored of you at some point, cause I would've had the chance of taking you in my care instead, and enjoy your company on a whole other level.
But... I know it's not meant to be. Seeing you two throughout these years, and especially today... Made me realize that far too clearly. Even in-between the harsh remarks and teases you throw each other, you two share a same wavelength many couples can't even dream to achieve, especially in such a cold world like ours, where all we have is strength, hatred and resentment, but nothing worth protecting.
That's why, I won't even wait for you to turn me down. I accept the fact that not only do you love someone else, but that I'm not ready to love either. Sometimes, I feel, sometimes I don't, sometimes I hurt and sometimes, I just wish I wasn't even born.
But I want to thank you, cause now I know, even as painful as it is, that I'm capable of love or at least, something close to it, and most importantly... I can feel, even if at times, I can feel so many more things than I used to, and you've helped me understand why is it that I forgot how to do so" Tears fell down her cheeks. "Thank you so much, Atticus, and sorry for being so selfish as to burden you with this"
Atticus couldn't help but smile bitterly as he took her in a friendly embrace.
"Fuck... How am I supposed to react to this, Meni?" He cursed, calling her that way for the first time. "I'm sorry it had to be this sad for you. This confession of yours... It really makes me wish that I could be someone that loved you back, for real.
I rarely ever get this sort of praise, in fact I feel you give me just way too much credit on many things. But I believe that's part of the problem as well.
I don't know... But I can't really love someone who puts me on such a pedestal. Even if our encounter was life-changing for you, it makes it somewhat unfair at the same time if I accept your feelings.
I think, it's great that you've been able to analyze this whole situation, so that you're not hurt badly in the future, otherwise, someone could take advantage of you, and that would be far more disgraceful"
"I know... And that makes you even more perfect somehow. Now you're not only kind and honest, but it's like you're impossible to reach!" She sobbed. "If love is good, then why does it have to hurt so bad?"
"Cause that is a misconception" Atticus broke the embrace and took her by the shoulders. "Love is not good, love is a demon. One that feeds off souls. Some are on its good side, and others are on its bad side, and these change to its selfish desires.
I can't promise you that it's not gonna hurt in the future as well, but I can promise that I'll be rooting for you so that you can find a love that is requited, a love you actually deserve.
Trust me, you don't wanna be stuck with a lazy weirdo like me. I'm sure there's a guy far more hard-working and remarkable out there that you just haven't met, or maybe have not had the time to get to know better.
But really Meni, what you're doing here is far from selfish, in fact I think it's the most kind and honest act I've seen in my short but crazy life"
"*sniff* Th-Thank you so much!" She cried again for another while.
After she calmed down, the two had a piece of Quince Pie and had a more relaxed chat with miscellaneous topics, just when the other two girls got back to have a late afternoon snack.
It was weird, but somehow, Meninas felt way better having taken that weight off her chest, and knowing that while she didn't find love, she was able to find a new friend she'd been afraid to approach due to conflicted feelings.
~~~~X~~~~
That same afternoon, Human World.
Tatsuki and Aura were having another evening after training by the riverside, watching the sunset as each had an ice cream.
"You've pretty much mastered your Shikai in record time. It's truly amazing" Michibane commented.
"Not really. It wouldn't be possible without your help, Aura-san" Arisawa dismissed, now referring to her in a closer manner. "Besides, your powers never stop to amaze me"
"Is that so? I don't think it's that of a big deal. It's like I'm some kind of ghost or evil spirit, don't you think?"
"Hm... if that was the case, I guess you'd be a Yuki-Onna then"
"Yuki-Onna? Why so?"
"Hm... Well, you have really fair skin and beautiful hair, besides your eyes have this rare grey color. If you were some sort of spirit that would definitely match with my idea of Yuki-Onna at least, though you'd have to wear a more traditional look and maybe let your hair grow out"
"I used to wear it long, but I guess I wanted to try a different look"
"I bet you looked gorgeous like that" Tatsuki imagined it.
"Fufufu, you really think so?" She chuckled. "But anyways, if you like my Fullbring so much, why not try to awaken yours for a change?"
"Do I even have a Fullbring?"
"Who knows?" She shrugged. "By now I believe you should feel rather attached to that Substitute Shinigami Badge I gave you"
"Well, I can't deny it makes me feel like I'm some sort of hero" She looked down. "But I don't know if I'm cut out for it"
"No choice then..." Aura decided it was time to face a greater enemy. "Have you ever been to Hueco Mundo?"
"Eh...? W-Well, I believe I was there only once, for Ichigo's wedding, but all humans were escorted by an Espada and we weren't allowed to leave the citadel cause it was too dangerous"
"Great. Then you won't be all that surprised to fight one of these" Aura opened a Sebkaimon with a special key. "I prepared something for you in the precipice world, but before you foght it, I'll place a special condition"
"What's that?"
"You cannot transform into a Shinigami as you fight it" She told her with that typical empty smile of hers. "But, I do want you to feel the energy you've drawn into that Battle Pass. Don't think so rationally about it, try to feel the 'soul' inside that object, and draw that out. If you do it properly, you should awaken your Fullbring"
"How can you be so sure I even have it in me?"
"I don't know, it's just a hunch I'd say" She feigned ignorace while thinking: "Not like I totally introduced that Hollow Candy in your soul or anything like that. Although it hasn't been released yet. That's why I need you to fight a more dangerous enemy so your soul burns up and catalyzes the energy properly.
Kagerouza said something of sorts, and it makes sense, but no one knows for sure what could happen. Her soul could even self-destruct, but that just adds to the fun, doesn't it?"
Inside the Dangai, Tatsuki expected to see a slightly bigger monster like the ones she had been fighting so far, but instead...
"No way..." She muttered as her eyes looked up.
A Menos Grande was staring back at her as if she was a puny ant.
"Have you ever seen Kurosaki Ichigo taking down one of these?" The Fullbringer asked her.
"N-No...?" Tatsuki was trembling. "How long does ot take him? Half an hour? 10 Minutes?"
"Nowadays? Probably a matter of seconds, if not less, fufufu" Michibane giggled.
"Ok, ok, but... How about back when he was a Substitute Soul Reaper?"
"Hm... A minute maybe?"
"No freaking wayyy! You gotta be kidding me!"
"Tatsuki-san, you can't let appearances deceive you" Aura shaked her head. "While this type of Hollow might seem menacing fue to its size, it actually has plenty weaknesses"
"Ok? Starting with?" Arisawa couldn't see any.
"I'll give you one" Aura counted with her index finger. "Menos Grandes are collective consciousness, which makes them really wild, dumb and slow in judgement. Use that as you may"
"I'll try, but- Do I really have to do this without my Shinigami powers?"
Michibane shrugged in response.
"Fuck" Tatsuki cursed, holding onto the Shinigami badge.
"Don't let fear consume you. Try to feel the Soul of all that surrounds, but especially, of that which you hold dear"
Arisawa Tatsuki gulped as she braced herself for combat, seeing as the creature started building up red energy in its mouth.
~~~~X~~~~
Human World, Vizard Hideout...
A kid-sized Vizard slowly opened her eyes, yawning as her stomach growled.
"Oi, Love, did ya cook anything?" Hiyori asked, a bit drowsy as she woke.
"Oh, that. Sorry, I had Ramen back from work, so I wasn't hungry" Aikawa retorted carelessly as he watched TV.
"Lisa?" She tried her other comrade.
"Oh, I'm afraid I'm doing a special diet, so all I'm having now is this protein shake" She said in the middle of an exercise routine.
"Tch! Then I'll find somethin' tasty by myself, FOR myself!" She declared, annoyed. "Lazy asses... And what's taking Hachi so damn long? He was supposed to be back here this morning!"
As she went into the fridge, all she found was empty compartments, with some exceptions being either dubious leftovers or straight-up rotting fruit.
"Yuk! Just my luck, to be left with the two messiest bums in town" She ground her sharp teeth. "Huh?"
She noticed the rice cakes Urahara had brought her.
"Hm... This doesn't really give me a good feel" She stared at the package inquisitively. "But then again... There's nothing else to eat"
She sighed as she built up courage to eat them.
Much to her surprise, upon a single bite, she realized they were pretty good.
"Wow! These actually do taste somewhat like her..." She was thinking about her old Captain. "Nah, who am I kidding? It's been way too long to be sure of that, but there's no way that idiot would be able to compare to her in any way"
She kept eating until only half were left.
"Welp, that about does it. I gotta admit, these fill a lot more than they appear at a first glance, and I feel rather replenished, Reishi and all" She closed the box and put it back on the fridge. "Since I'm brimming with energy, maybe I could do a couple tasks for the Boss. She said I could take a whole week, but it's not really my style to be lazying out all day"
She went back to grab her 'Unagiya' cap, suddenly feeling a tad dizzy, as if she had a slight fever.
"What the... I feel a bit... Off" She noticed she was sweating. "Wait... Don't tell me...! Rice cakes... Urgh"
Hiyori fell unconscious right on her futon.
And here's a chapter just the night before defending my thesis! I wouldn't lie if I said I'm not nervous at all, but I believe Imma ace it.
Quite frankly, I'm more worried about getting Koyanskaya in FGO tomorrow, but I'm sure luck's gonna be on my side for an all-round day tomorrow, I can feel it!
So anyways, here hoping you enjoyed this one, I've been really motivated by the latest reviews, so I hope you keep 'em coming and telling me whatever you feel was worth mentioning/theorizing/digressing or whatever.
See ya as soon as next one's ready. Evhron out.
Candice enters the kitchen wearing a cutesy apron with a fat toon cat eating dessert.
"Welcome everyone to the first edition of... Cooking with Candi!" She smiles brilliantly.
"Today we'll be making one of my Darling's favorites" She blushes a little. "I know what you're thinking: Quince Pie, Apple Pie or maybe Cherry Pie, but we'll be seeing none of that today.
As a matter of fact, Atticus loves eating Pie for breakfast and as a snack during the day, but when it comes to desserts, he actually enjoys other stuff more.
So today, I bring you a tasty recipe for..."
*drumrolls*
"Crème Brûlée!
For this one we'll need:
- Whole milk (100ml)
- 5 large egg yolks
- 2 cartons of double cream (cause it contains more fat than regular one). Ideally a big one (284ml) and a small one (142ml)
- 1 vanilla pod, although you can replace it with a single spoon of vanilla essence.
- Sugar (50g). Ideally golden caster type, but any kind of sugar will make it work in the end.
1. So, for this one I'd say you gotta heat the oven to 180C. Put four ramekins (175ml each) in a deep roasting tin (about 7.5cm tall), so that it fits and allows a baking tray to sit just above the ramekins when they are laid across the top fo the tin.
2. Now, in a medium-sized pan, pour both cartons of double cream along with the whole milk.
3. Next, IF you have a vanilla pod, slice lengthway through the middle to split it in two. This is gonna release the seeds, which will fall right into the cream mixture. You can throw the pod halves into it as well. If you just have vanilla essence, pour a spoonful into the mix.
4. Mix the egg yolks and sugar in a bowl, and whisk until the mixture has a fluffy texture and a paler color.
5. Turn up the heat of the pan with the cream mixture into medium, and bring it ALMOST to boiling point. As soon as bubbles appear you gotta take it off the heat.
6. Now pour the hot cream into the beaten egg yolks, and stir with a wire whisk, scraping out any seeds from the pan.
6,5. If you're not confident that all seeds are gone, you can set a fine sieve over another bowl, and pour the whole mixture through to strain it.
7. With a big spoon, take away all the pale foam that formed on top of the liquid mixture and discard it. It's gonna take a while, but trust me, it's necessary. After that, give the mix a stir.
8. Now pour hot water into the roasting tin to come 'bout 1.5cm up the sides of the ramekins. Next, carefully pour the hot cream mixture into the ramekins so that they reach just about the top (you can spoon away if one passes, Atticus loves doing that job).
9. Now place them in the oven and lay a baking sheet over the top of the tin so that it sits well above the ramekins and covers them completely, BUT, not the whole tin. Leave just a small gap so that the air can circulate.
10. Bake for about half an hour (30-35min) until the mixture is softly set. To make sure they're ready, after the time has elapsed, you can carefully cast aside the baking sheet and check if the Brûlées have a wobbly texture, like jelly, don't let them get too firm.
11. Use cooking gloves to lift the ramekins out of the roasting tin and set them on a wire rack to let them cool a bit for a couple minutes, then you can put them in the fridge to cool completely (this is because of the texture). You should be able to leave them overnight without compromising that wobbly touch.
12. Once you're gonna serve, sprinkle about 1 and a half tablespoon of sugar over the top of each ramekin. Make sure to spread it out as uniformly as possible, so that it completely covers the surface.
13. Give a tiny little spray of water to the sugar to slightly dampen it (you can skip this step if you don't have the confidence or tools to do this, a fine spray should do it). After that comes the fun: use a blow torch to caramelize it! Make sure to hold the flame JUST above yhe sugar and move it round and round until you have a layer of caramel covering the whole surface. Serve when the Brûlée is firm, or within the next two hours at most"
She places one of the ramekins in front of Atticus as he's playing a videogame.
Atticus sniffs the roasted caramel and instantly pauses the game.
"No way! Is it for me?!"
"No, it's for me. That's why I put it right in front of you!" She facepalms.
"Sorry, sorry, I just couldn't help being amused by this gesture"
"As if I didn't treat you every week to something like this" She rolls her eyes.
"Nah, it's more like... Every time is equally special" He beams at her.
"Tsk... Just, give it a taste and tell me what you think" She pouts with a slight pink tone painting her cheeks.
"Yes, Ma'am" He carefully carves the caramel layer as to not shatter the whole thing, and takes the spoon to the bottom of the ramekin to take out the most.
As he puts it in his mouth, an unavoidable moan of pleasure escapes him, the creamy taste of the Brûlée mixing with the caramel, as the flavor of vanilla dances in his mouth.
"It's so delicious! I love your Crème Brûlée!"
"Heh, it's nothing" She looks away a bit nervous. "There are three more of those so you can eat after meals"
"But what about you?"
"Fool. I made this FOR you, can't you tell?" She crossed her arms.
"Maybe so, but it'd be a waste if you didn't even taste it. Here" He brings a spoonful close to her mouth.
"E-Eh? Wait I-" She didn't see that coming so the spoon lousily enters, leaving a bit of dessert on her cheek. "Mnhhh~"
"See? You outdid yourself, buster"
"M-Maybe. But don't do that out of the blue. I wasn't ready for you to just put that in my mou..."
She is silenced as she feels his tongue grazing her cheek, taking out the Brûlée leftovers.
"Mmh. Sorry, I saw it laying there and thought how it'd be a waste to just leave it there" He blushes. "Besides, I had to experiment whether or not it tasted better that way..."
Candi just stares at him, still in shock.
"And what can I say? It most definitely does" He grabs her by the cheek and steals a long French kiss, helplessly making her submit as her green eyes lose orbit from the pleasure.
See you all next time!
