On a bit of downer, I feel the need to recognise the passing of prolific Director Joel Schumacher. While to a lot of people who didn't grow up with his work, he's unfairly remembered solely as the 'hack' who directed "Batman & Robin"... When, the truth is that he was a much more talented director than he gets credit for, responsible for iconic films like "The Lost Boys", "Flatliners", "Falling Down", "A Time to Kill", and "8mm".

With that out of the way, I'd like to thank gorguts5, Ie-maru, and darkmachines for their feedback on the last chapter. To respond to gorguts5's comments: I guess I've started to fall into the Star Trek TNG trope of just assuming that everyone else naturally understands when someone is spouting techno-babel. As for darkmachine's comment: if you go back and check, Ylforte has appeared a handful of time across the run of the story, though I can't really fault you for not remembering, since it's been QUITE a while since he last appeared (Chapter 41, I think).

TO FORGE A
BETTER TOMORROW

Chapter LXXVII:
"A Line in The Sand"

Soul Society, Gotei Council...

"Captain Grantz," Ryuken Ishida spoke up, swiftly gaining the attention of the Arrancar and the others assembled inside the room. "I'm still curious about another matter." The Quincy went on. "I was lead to understand that the person all of us have come to know as 'Darkwood', that this monster in the guise of a 'man' was physically harmed by some kind of light-based weapon."

"Ah yes, I see that you're talking about the incident with the 'light gun'." Kisuke Urahara spoke up, as he addressed the man on the screen. "Then, yes, you are correct, my good Doctor," he continued coolly as he explained himself. "I was able to harm him... But only by using an untested theoretical weapon I developed that fires off energized bursts of accelerated photons..."

"And now, if I'm being perfectly honest with you," the ex-Shinigami continued. "I feel that it would be remiss of me not to mention the fact that it was the weapon- a weapon that I'd hastily cobbled together, from available parts- was as much of a potential danger to me, as it was to that 'man'." He added.

"We're still not even sure just who or what that man is," Kensei spoke up, turned to address the man over the monitor's link. "Let alone, how exactly he figures into all of this."

The bespectacled man nodded. "But the fact remains that he can harmed." The elder Ishida countered. "And it is that fact, more than anything else, which proves that man- whatever he might happen to be- is capable of being harmed, and that alone is what is most important." He finished.

Urahara exhaled. "That man, he is- in every measurable way- a new form of intelligent life." He stated, before removing his hat to run a hand through his messy pale blonde hair. "Szayel, Dr Ishida, as men of science, all of us should be excited by the prospect of encountering new life..." He lamented.

Szayel nodded. "Except, that in this case, the new form of life happens to stand in opposition to us." The pink-haired Arrancar remarked. "Still, the fact remains that both Darkwood and the rest of these... these creatures, these phantoms, are composed of some form or energy previously unknown to us, one which allows them exist within our realm, despite their antithetical nature."

"But, like you previously remarked," Ryuken resumed. "The fact remains that we are facing a form of life that is fundamentally opposed to us." The Quincy went on. "As well as the fact that this technology has so far only been effective against the enemy after they've materialized in this reality."

"He's right." Jushiro interjected calmly. "We have to consider the fact that we're presently contending with forces from another dimension altogether." He reminded them. "And, Captain Kenpachi is right in one regard: we cannot simply wait around in anticipation for their next attack- we have to act."

"Agreed." Szayel replied, his tone calm and steady. "Once we've isolated the signal that their form of energy moves along, then I believe it's possible for us to track them back to their point of origin."

"And to that end," Urahara interjected. "Stopping our attackers, once and for all."

Meanwhile, Szayel was occupied with thoughts of his own. "Movement, that's the key..." He thought silently to himself. "It's all a matter of movement... between one point and another."

Further, Urahara was covertly observing him as he appeared to mulling over something...

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

The Living Realm, Karakura City...

Orihime paused to check the status of the various finches inhabiting the large birdcage she'd purchased to house the growing avian colony in the extra room. "Ulqui-kun? Hime-chan?" She uttered softly.

She smiled, her brown eyes flitting between the two Zebra finches in question. "And now, you two, my darling little Ishi-kun and Tsuki-chan, how are you doing?" She inquired of the two diminutive birds in the cage. "And what of the rest of my little darlings?" Orihime continued cheerfully, addressing the two Spice Finches 'Shiro-san' and 'Retsu-san', along with the multiple Society Finches...

"Ran-chan, Hitsu-kun, Nell-chan, Chad-kun." The redhead spoke, still smiling as she paused to regard the gathered little birds, with their randomly speckled dark chocolate brown and vanilla white 'cookies and cream' patterns. "How are you all doing?" She continued to ask them. "How are the lot of you little cuties getting on, in spite of everything- are you all doing well?"

There were a lot of interesting aspects when it came to Society Finches- not least of which being that they were effectively a 'manufactured' breed, that only existed in domestic circles. Aside from this, they were superb family and community members, even serving as ideal foster parents in certain cases.

Before she could go on any further, she heard a knocking sound, which seemed to coming from the front door of the apartment. Stepping out into the hallway and moving into the living room, where she found Ulquiorra was seated on the couch and looking over a number of reports.

The two of them looked to one another, exchanging quizzical glances.

"Were you expecting visitors?" Orihime asked.

The raven-haired Arrancar shook his head. "Were you?"

The redhead shook her head similarly. "The same." She replied. "But then...?"

"It could only be our usual visitors." Ulquiorra finished.

Unsurprisingly, awaiting them as the door opened, was the familiar duo of Captain Toshiro Hitsugaya and his Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto. "Inoue-san, Schiffer-san," the snowy-haired Captain started as he addressed the human and the Espada standing across the threshold from them.

The youthful-looking Shinigami was dressed in a short-sleeved polo shirt and a pair of khaki slacks, while his older-looking counterpart was clad in a thin voluminous white blouse (as usual the lace in the front straining against her large breasts) and dark blueish-black Capri pants

"I don't suppose the two you have any plans for lunch?" Hitsugaya continued with a knowing smile.

Both of the aforementioned individuals didn't immediately respond, appearing have been taken aback by the seemingly out of nowhere question, prompting Toshiro to continue. "There are some matters that we'd like to discuss with the two of you," he went on to elaborate. "But it was felt that rather than once again having you hosting us like in the past, that this time, we should return the favor by hosting you."

"Hitsugaya-kun?" Orihime inquired, now genuinely curious. "First off, why are you two here all of a sudden," the redhead went on to say. "I- is something wrong?"

"We have a lunch reservation at a nearby restaurant," the snowy-haired Captain went on to reveal to them with a slight smirk. "And we'd be happy for the two of you to come join us there, to enjoy some food and drinks while we sit down and discuss some pressing matters."

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Division Twelve HQ...

Szayel stepped through the front entrance of the Division, Kisuke Urahara hot on his tail, remaining in step with the man as he made his towards the elevator at the far end of the hall.

"Szayel." The Shinigami spoke, causing the other man to stop in his tracks. "We need to talk, now."

The Arrancar didn't respond right away, pausing to wordlessly adjust his glasses. "Oh? Yes, of course." Szayel answered the man after a moment. "But not here," he continued. "If we really are going to speak candidly, then we're going to need privacy- we can continue in my private quarters."

Urahara nodded, dutifully following the pink-haired man onto the elevator. Once inside, as the sleek metallic doors slid shut, Szayel typed a code into a keypad, in turn enabling him to press the button that would allow them to ride the lift upwards to restricted top floor.

A chime sounded off as they arrived, and the doors parted ways for the two men to enter the familiar room that Urahara remembered as the 'study' he'd previously visited. He noted, as they stepped inside, that Nemu was also present, a glass of wine in hand and seated in one of the plush black chairs.

Szayel smiled to himself, before he then made his way over to the bar and didn't waste any time as he dropped ice into two glasses and filled them with liquid. "You know, Kisuke, I have to say, I've taken a liking to this drink." He remarked. "And these Americans make a very good bourbon."

With that, he proceeded to hand one of the glasses to the other man.

"Now, Szayel, I have questions that I need you to answer." The ex-Shinigami began. "Earlier, in the meeting, there was a point- when you talking about all of the machines that you and the other members of the Twelfth have been working on- when there came a moment that I could clearly tell that you were holding something back, something you were hesitant to speak of."

Szayel looked momentarily to Nemu, before turning back to him. "Yes... You're right, Kisuke, the truth is, that as we were talking, I was suddenly struck with a major revelation."

"Go on." Urahara prompted eagerly, gently rotating the contents of his glass.

"This grand system, that we're building up to..." The Octavio began. "For some time now, I've been struggling with how exactly all of them are supposed to connect and interact with each other..." Szayel paused briefly. "Such as reactors designed to generate massive amounts of stable power, and machines capable of accelerating energy to the speed of light." The bespectacled Arrancar added.

"There it is again, the light-speed accelerator." The scruffy blonde observed. "What exactly is it about that particular machine that's so managed to set your mind abuzz?"

Szayel smiled at . "Tell me, Kisuke, have you seen the 1956 film 'The Fly'?"

"Yes, as I recall, but then, it's been decades since I last saw it." The other man replied, before taking a sip from his glass. "Why, why do you ask?"

"Do you recall the experiment that the Doctor was running in it?" The bespectacled Arrancar asked the man, while his Lieutenant demurely took a sip from her glass of red wine.

"He was trying to perfect a method of... transporting matter from one point to another." He replied as he regarded the glass now situated in his hands. "No... Now wait! You can't possibly mean-?!"

"Precisely," Szayel interjected, holding his glass up. "The movement of matter between two points." The pink-haired Arrancar went on to state. "Except, in our case, this goes beyond space, as those two points happen to be in two different dimensions!" He added, him then taking a drink.

"The movement of matter?" He asked. "You, you can't be serious-!" Urahara began to reply, just as a sudden flash of light overwhelmed the three of them assembled in the room.

When their eyes adjusted, they were greeted by the sight of The Man in White, smiling and seated in one of the other black leather armchairs set up in the room. "Hello again, my friends."

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

"Ichigo," Darkwood began, while taking his seat in one of the low-backed black leather-bound chairs within the room. "Do you recall our previous discussion?" He asked the teen."Do you remember when I first posited the question to you- 'What is life'?" The man went on, gesturing for him to sit down.

Ichigo nodded, while taking his seat. "Yes, you said it was the key to 'ultimate understanding'." The youth recounted as he situated himself across from the older man.

The bearded man smiled and nodded. "Yes, but the question, in and of itself, alone is just the start of a much larger undertaking." He went on to explain to him. "It's the conclusion that is the answer."

Ichigo raised a dark brow. "And just what is the answer?"

The older man merely smiled. "There isn't any one answer." He responded. "The truth is, it's unique to everyone, and now it's time that you- at long last- find your answer."

"And how do you propose I find that answer?" The orange-haired youth asked from his chair.

Darkwood rose to his feet. "Yes, well, now that's where I come in." He started. "As in the past, during all our previous sessions, while I can't give you your answers, it's within my ability to provide you with the means of finding them for yourself." The man explained. "And so, Ichigo..."

The older man continued. "Once again, it's time," Darkwood stated. "Now, let me show you the way."

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Division Six HQ...

"Right now," Ylforte began smoothly. "I think the far more important and exciting point at the moment is what I've found upon arriving."

"Really now?" Kimura had respond coolly, now smiling. "But please, I'm eager to learn about your findings, so please, do go on."

The sandy-haired Arrancar returned the smile. "Well, for starters... I've happened upon a Shinigami Division in the wake of a battle." Ylforte went on. "And, right in the middle of it all, who do I find but a decidedly frazzled-looking officer- handsome, and wearing a rather fetching pair of glasses."

"There's bit you overlooked." Kimura grinned dangerously. "The fact that this handsome officer also happens to be wielding a loaded shotgun." He added, holding up the weapon and pumping it for effect as he steadied it in the other man's direction. "Now, please feel free to go on..."

The Fraccion had watched as a red plastic tube, with a brass base and frayed at the end, was expelled from the firearm, with the barrel now aimed at him. "Hmm... Quite so."

He took a moment to gather his thoughts. "To be perfectly honest... with everything going on, there understandably weren't all that many people just standing around that I could go over and pull aside for a little heart to heart chat." The Arrancar admitted, while looking down the polished barrel of the gun pointed his way. "Now, would you be a dear and aim that elsewhere."

A moment passed between them, before the Shinigami's posture finally relaxed. "Alright." Kimura replied with a smile, before lowering the weapon. "So then, at any rate," the otherwise unassuming man continued in a low tone. "Now that you're here, how can I help you?"

Ylforte grinned mischievously. "Oh, I could think of a few things." He started. "But those can wait till later, after we've gotten to know each over drinks." The tanned Arrancar quipped.

"Well now, aren't you smooth." The bespectacled man replied. "I must say, after hearing you at work, that imagine you must be quite popular with the ladies."

"Oh, I get by." Ylforte replied with a smile and a devilish glint in his eyes. "But truthfully, I'm also pretty good with the gentlemen as well."

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

Not long after Toshiro had first made the offer, did the fiery-haired young woman and the dark-haired Gigai-clad Arrancar find themselves kneeling on cushions around a low wooden table.

The table was rectangular in shape, and was situated in a private room, with traditional rice-paper and wooden frame walls. Across from them were the familiar figures of Toshiro, an unreadable look on his face, and Rangiku, sporting her usual smile. Though, for the uninitiated, the 'hidden' cleavage of her ample breasts straining against the fabric her white blouse made her smile difficult to register.

"And now, seeing as we're all here," the youthful Captain started. "Both of you, please feel free to take a good look at the menus and feel free to order whatever you like."

The weight of the magnanimous offer wasn't lost on either the Human or the Arrancar, especially when one considered that the establishment they were presently gathered in just happened to be a particularly upscale restaurant, certainly compared to anything Orihime had ever experienced.

Ulquiorra silently noted, while her and Orihime were looking over the meal listings in the menu, that a number of other Shinigami were also seated at the table- many of them he didn't recognize.

"I expect that the two of you must be wondering why we invited you here," Toshiro began with a small smile as he set his menu down. "And, on such short notice, no less?"

"Yes, I was also wondering about that." Orihime spoke up. "It's not every day that a person's invited to such a nice restaurant... Especially when someone else is paying for it."

"So then," Ulquiorra spoke coolly, casting his green-eyed gaze to the young Captain. "Just what exactly is it that you and your people want of us, why have you brought us here?"

"That's one of thing we admire about you." Toshiro countered calmly. "Your forthright nature, the truth is, that's one of the thing's we've all come to admire about you, and Inoue-san."

"Orihime, we're at war." Rangiku interjected. "We're fighting a force that doesn't leave bodies behind, that doesn't suffer casualties in the same way we do, that just keeps on fighting."

"The Captain and the Lieutenant aren't joking." An unfamiliar female Shinigami spoke, her hair pulled into a warrior's ponytail in the back, tattoos visible on her wrists, hinting at the more elaborate ink work that ran up the lengths of her arms and more as she cast her gaze across the table.

"My name is Yoko Watase," the woman continued. "I am now the Fourth Seat Officer of the Eleventh Division." She went on to reveal as she continued her address. "The position I'm occupying is a direct result of the events of the second Karakura incursion... I replaced Yumichika Ayasegawa as the Fourth, in the wake of him being made the Third following the death of Ikaku Madarame."

For a moment, a 'shadow' seemed cast itself over the group at the table, especially for Orihime, before Yoko shattered the atmosphere be speaking up. "Inoue-san, please understand that I bare you no ill will for being unable to revive Ikaku." The Shinigami stated sincerely.

"On the contrary," Yoko went on. "While it was... difficult for me to lose him, I've been able to take comfort in how his life ended- as a warrior, with a sword in his hand- in a glorious battle." The woman offered the youth. "And, it is the way that I hope to meet my end."

"Please, both of you, take a look at the menus." Toshiro commented in a tone and manner that was far more charismatic for someone so outwardly young looking. "In the mean time, while you're browsing, I have a proposition for you." He stated coolly. "Orihime Inoue, Ulquiorra Schiffer, Soul Society would like to have your commitments to support us and our allies in the coming conflict."

"Then this truly is a war..." Ulquiorra spoke up once more. "And you want us to fight alongside you?"

Hitsugaya nodded. "War is coming," he replied. "The truth is, that this isn't just a war of conquest, it isn't a matter of liberty or freedom, it's a matter of defending our way of life- even, our very existence- from a force that, by all accounts, is the very antithesis of ourselves."

"Antithesis?" Orihime asked.

"Orihime, do you remember when we brought you to restore Renji's arm?" Rangiku asked.

As soon as the redhead nodded, Toshiro picked up the conversation. "The truth is, more than two and a half years ago, when Aizen failed to open the Gates of Heaven, a rip in the fabric of reality was formed, and deadly energy is pouring out from that rift- the same energy that claimed Lieutenant Abarai's arm."

"Captain," Ulquiorra began. "I have no intention of meekly sitting back and allowing this 'darkness' that you speak of to destroy the life that I've fought so hard to create." The Cuatro Espada proclaimed, his tone coming across far more emphatic than the others at the table were expecting.

"In this matter," Ulquiorra continued. "You'll find that I am fully prepared to fight to ensure it."

"As am I." Orihime declared enthusiastically, exchanging a knowing look with him. "I also want to be able to live in a world where I can know that my cute little finches are safe," she continued steadily as she addressed the others. "And, where... someday, my children can live in peace and happiness."

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

"Hello, my friends."

Those had been the first words spoken by the mysterious and enigmatic man that had by now made it something of a habit- almost a leitmotif, as it were- of appearing suddenly out of thin air.

All of that being said, the issue of the abruptness of his arrivals, combined with the abrasiveness of the method his appearances were by now, increasingly proving to be more of an irritant than anything else, certainly being long since removed from the initial mystique they may well once have held.

"You?!" Szayel exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"Just what the hell are you aiming for this time?!" Urahara further demanded.

With both men glaring at him, he merely smiled. "As always, the two of you keep speaking of some kind of hidden or 'true' agenda of mine." He replied with an affable smile. "Honestly, one would really start to think that by now, after all this time and everything that's happened, that the two of you would have long since realized that I have no ulterior motives whatsoever."

"And what of all the little bread crumbs sprinkled across the archives?" Urahara countered, glaring at the man, who only smiled back at him. "I don't suppose that you might just happen to know something about that little matter either, now would you?" He went on to ask.

"That you should presume to ask such a question," the white-clad man started. "This alone tells me that you've reached your own conclusion, regardless of any answer I might have to offer."

The non-answer put Szayel on edge instantly. "You," he spoke. "Whatever the hell you are... I don't care, not about you, or whoever or whatever it is that you claim to represent." The bespectacled Espada went on to declare. "But what I do care a great deal about is the people that you and your superiors are manipulating as if they were nothing more than pieces in a game of chess."

The Man in White seemed to think on this point for a bit. "Captain Grantz, you must understand that my 'employers' are looking at things with a long-term perspective." He replied. "Consider, the fact that you're only now beginning to grasp the scope of the force you're faced with."

"As such, direct intervention would be impossible, humanity- no, all life- simply wasn't ready to deal with the enormity of the opposing force you're only now facing." He stated. "The reality is, rather than just outright presenting people with something they're neither ready or prepared to properly utilize, the only option was to gradually guide your development, to ensure that one day you would be ready."

"Even if it took more than six thousand years?" Urahara asked, as he moved to sit down on the black leather seat across from the man, glass in hand as he took a drink.

The other man smiled and nodded. "You had to be sufficiently evolved- intellectually, technologically, socially, not too mention culturally- if you were ever going to stand a real chance of ensuring that you would see this conflict through to the end." He replied. "So far, after observing you and your allies, I'm happy to say you've more than proved our initial assessment was indeed correct."

"Would you like a drink?" Szayel offered the white-clad man, who politely declined.

"Well then," the Espada resumed, as he sat down beside Nemu. "There is something I am curious about..." He continued. "In order to accomplish what you're talking about, you must have found some way of influencing people, a means of making sure that they reached certain conclusions... The only question then is: just how deeply did you influence humanity?"

"That depends." The Man in White countered. "If by 'influence', you're proposing the idea that we're responsible for the development of mankind, a la the so-called 'aliens' of Erich Von Daniken's Chariots of the Gods, then the answer is emphatically no." He went on. "People like Aristotle, Da Vinci, Kepler, Curie, Tesla, and Einstein were all exceptional individuals to begin with."

"No, the only thing we did was subtly influence people as a greater whole, by means of subconscious suggestion, to inspire humanity- in a controlled manner- so that they would be ready." He explained to them in a steady tone. "Call it insidious if you like, but it made what you're now doing possible."

"Then why keep stringing us along with vague non-answers?" Urahara inquired.

"As you said, this conflict has been building for many thousands of years, and throughout, the rate of progress has been carefully observed." The mysterious man spoke. "On a larger scale, I'm just as much of a chess piece as you think I view you as... You see, like a Knight or Rook or Bishop, I'm bound by the limits of what I can do- to only act as I am granted leave to."

"If you're some kind of impartial observer, then why intervene at all?" Szayel fired back.

"Restricted doesn't mean being powerless." The man countered. "Even the lowly Pawn, under the right circumstances, can take down the enemy Queen." He offered. "All of that being said, I was tasked with a single objective: to confirm whether or not sentient life had achieved the ultimate conclusion- that of an intellectual consensus, using their own native wits and intelligence."

"And your findings?" Nemu spoke up at last. "What is your final conclusion?"

The man chuckled. "That answer, my dear, hearkens back to my previous point." He paused to adjust his tie. "You see, rather then just overt machinations, experience has taught us that genuine innovation, much like gravity, simply requires just a little push," he went on to explain to them, gesturing outwards with the palms of his hands. "...And off, it goes!" The man finished in a light tone.

"There is one thing," Urahara picked up. "We've all been dancing around the issue of just what exactly it is that lies on the other side of the rift." The former Shinigami remarked. "But I need something more than just your vague assurances... Tell me, what exists on the other side of the Anomaly?"

The blonde-haired man dressed almost totally in white seemed to consider the question for a moment, before looking back to the other man, an unreadable look in his eyes. "I suspect what you really want right now are answers to questions that- deep down- you already know the answers to."

"When deep down," the Man in White went on. "The reality is that you're just too afraid to face the truth outright." The nameless individual replied slyly. "Honestly, the plain and simple reality is... That, just like Captain Grantz and Lieutenant Kurotsuchi, you know full well the answer to that question."

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

"Where are we headed?" Ichigo asked, his tone curious as they moved.

Darkwood smiled as they walked down a hall. "To a seclude place, somewhere that's quiet and without distraction, a location set aside specifically for self-reflection." He replied cryptically.

They came to a heavy wooden door, at which point Darkwood stopped, pausing and looking to the teen. "Ichigo, this point- this is where you and I have to part ways," he announced. "From here on out, you must continue on your journey alone." He explained. "Good luck."

"Wait, what do you mean, what's going on here?" The youth replied in rapid succession, feeling even more confused than he had been at the start of the conversation. "Where the hell are we," Ichigo asked the black-clad man beside him uncertainly. "What exactly is this?"

The bearded man crossed his arms and nodded."What does it look like to you?"

The orange-haired young man grimaced. "It's a door, just like any other."

Darkwood shook his head at hearing the answer. "On the contrary, my boy, I promise you, it's far more than just another door." He responded with a smile. "This door is special... Only you can open it."

A few moments passed, before Ichigo appeared to accept the explanation, if only to allow the flow of the conversation to move on. "Then, I guess I'm on my own from here?"

Again, Darkwood gave a shake of his head. "I can't go with you." He started. "It's as I previously said, this is a door that only you can open." The man recounted. "That means, that the only companions that you can have on this particular trek are the ones that you bring with you..."

"Fine, then," the teen ultimately responded. "If I really am supposed to go on this crazy journey alone, then so be it." Ichigo relented, before reaching for the doorknob before him.

Darkwood stopped him. "I'm not joking," he started, hand on his wrist. "Everything that awaits you beyond this door, is something only you can grasp- places and things, it's all you."

Brown eyes met brown eyes in the moment. "So then, any last word of advice?"

"Yes." The older man answered. "While you can only bring in what you carry with you, so too can you take with you whatever you learn and gather, back with you."

Ichigo nodded, grasping the doorknob. "Alright then," he started, before opening the door...

. . . ...o.o.o... . . .

"Here we go." Ichigo finished, before he realized he was in a totally new area.

Darkwood was gone, as he now found himself standing alone in a wooded area. Even the doorknob he'd been gripping was absent from his outstretched hand. "W- where am I...?"

"What a silly question to ask." An ethereal voice responded from out of nowhere.

The orange-haired teen frantically looked around. "Who said that, where are you?!"

"I'm right in front of you." The voice countered, prompting him to look towards a large rock.

"You?!" Ichigo spoke, flabbergasted, his eyes wide with confusion. "Can this be real... I mean, what I'm looking at, are you really who I think you are?!"

The source of the voice, a solid black cat, merely relaxed atop the stone. "I suppose it has been quite a while, Ichigo." The feline started. "I was beginning to wonder when we would see you again."

"We?" Ichigo repeated. "Who else are you talking about?"

A hand landed on his shoulder. "Your black-furred friend just happens to be talking about me!"

(- End of Chapter LXXVII... -)

I'd be curious to know how many of you totally forgot about The Cat... With that being said, I'm looking forward to seeing what you guys make of not just this chapter, but also the coming chapters. Anyway, see you guys around!