"Hado #33: Sokatsui!", Raising my hand to the sky, a pillar of blue flames shot from my hand and I kept the flames up for a few seconds before snuffing them out with a clenched fist.
"…I can see why you don't go all out against us, sensei," Karin said from the side with wide eyes, Kaoru and Yuzu looking just as shocked and amazed as I chuckled.
"Of course. Going all-out against you guys would be easy, but then you wouldn't learn a thing. Anyway, how have you guys been holding up in your training?", I asked as I sat down, to which Yuzu grinned while Karin looked smug as Macy answered.
"They're fairly good in shooting, though Karin appears to have better skill in using a pistol as her weapon instead of a bow."
"They just feel better," Karin answered with a shrug and I nodded as Macy continued.
"They have also been studying the few techniques from their mother's notebook that Isshin gave them, but they have a bit of trouble since we don't have someone to do examples…unless you can?", She asked, Karin and Yuzu looking hopeful while I raised an eyebrow.
"I think you need Quincy blood to be able to use their techniques and unfortunately, I don't think I have any Quincy blood in me."
"You guys throw terms around that I can't even understand," Ikumi spoke up and I smirked as Yuzu gave a sheepish smile while Karin shrugged.
"Sorry about that."
"Oh, don't be. It's more fascinating to hear about your world. So, what are these Quincies?"
"They're a type of human that make use of ranged weaponry that they create from the spiritual energy in the air in order to fight against Hollows, I believe," I explained, Ikumi humming as she looked at the two girls.
"I see. And I'm guessing you're using those bangles on your wrists as…what's the term again?"
"Foci, and yes, we are. Dad said we had to make it ourselves so we did and they work a lot better than just making the bows out of thin air."
"Does it work for everyone?", Kaoru asked and Yuzu giggled while Karin smirked when I tapped the back of his head with a smile.
"You can't just carve it and hope it works. I think there's a spiritual aspect to it too, right?"
"You bet. So, why are you here again, Ms. Ikumi? You usually never came to watch us train unless Kaoru wanted to come."
"And here I thought you were the romantic one of us two. She obviously wanted to come see sensei," Karin spoke with a shrug and I hid my smirk when I saw Ikumi's raised eyebrow.
"Why would I want to come see him when we live together now?"
"…You're dating?!"
"How did you even get there?", I asked Yuzu after she shouted, the girl blushing at her words while Karin blinked in surprise.
"Also, no. We're not dating. Something just happened at our house and now we need to stay at his."
"Uh-huh, is that the truth, sensei?", Karin asked and I chuckled while nodding.
"Unfortunately, I was unable to woe her into giving me a chance, but now that they're living with me, it's only a matter of time before that first date."
"I still do not see why you wish to waste most of your time on a woman that doesn't want to give you a chance," Macy said with a hum and Ikumi rolled her eyes as I shrugged.
"A guy likes to hunt and one of these days, the hunt is going to be successful."
"…Are you calling me prey?" Ikumi asked and raised an eyebrow when I nodded unashamedly.
"Not prey exactly, but more like…a challenge. A beautiful, smart and sassy challenge."
"…You are just asking to get slapped, aren't you," Karin spoke with a bark of laughter and I grinned as I placed my hand over my heart.
"I'd take it with pride."
"If Kaoru didn't like you, I would have buried you skull first into the ground like that."
"If I can survive a sword as hot as the sun to my chest, I think I can survive your slaps."
"He is kind of built different," Kaoru spoke with a shrug, making me laugh as Ikumi groaned.
"You're picking up his phrases."
"That's what I'm talking about. Now, all we got to see is get you a purple coat, a hat with a feather and a cane and you'll be my new apprentice in-"
"I can see where your mind is going so you be quiet," Ikumi interrupted with a frown and I raised my hands as Kaoru groaned.
"Well, it appears that my time away from society in search of the remaining dragons have left me a bit unused to social interaction," Macy said and Ikumi patted her shoulder with a shake of her head.
"Don't worry. A few days here and this goofballs will have you caught up in no time."
"Grand. So, what else do you have left to teach them?"
"They don't need my help with Quincy training since they have their mom's notes for that and we're focusing on ranged combat for the most part so I guess we can start on hand-to-hand combat."
"Can you fight?", Karin asked before blinking as I shook my head with a grin.
"Not at all, but hey, we'll learn together."
"And what of the group? What should we be doing?", Macy asked as she looked at me and I scratched my head before shrugging.
"Truthfully, we don't need to do anything for now other than prepare for the coming battles. Isshin is probably still trying to regain his strength with Urahara, these two are still in training and you and I are ready at all times for a battle. However, we're still just five so I need to go see if the Visored are actually going to join us for the battle."
"Wait, are these the same guys that Tsukishima guy was with?", Ikumi asked and I shook my head while crossing my arms.
"No, Tsukishima is with a group called Xcution that are humans with spiritual powers, but they seem to be the 'All spiritual entities other than humans are evil' type of humans. The Visored on the other hand are a group of Shinigami that were banished and are now going to help us temporarily."
"Well, that would explain why that Tsukishima guy so desperately wanted to see you. So, when are you going to meet this guy?"
"The Visored now and Xcution later today," I answered as I stood up, dusting off my pants while looking around with a frown as I felt a flare of spiritual energy.
'That's…Ishida? Ah, I guess he's training himself to death again.'
"Okay, then. We'll stay here for another hour or so before we head back home."
"If anything happens, let me know," I said and Ikumi nodded before I smiled and began making my way to the car.
Time to finally see what the decision was.
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"…Huh, I didn't expect you to be here," I spoke with a smirk as Hachi and I entered the warehouse, Ichigo looking surprised to see me as I nodded to Lisa and Rojuro.
"Kanonji? What the hell are you doing here?"
"Oh, I'm on a recruitment mission to get some power behind me and I made this guy an offer. I'm here to see what their answer is. What are you doing here?"
"Oh, uh…"
"He's here for some secret training," Shinji spoke up from where he was lounging, to which I raised an eyebrow while looking at Ichigo who nodded.
"Okay. Hey, has your dad talked to you?"
"You mean about the fact that he's a Shinigami and that Mom's a Quincy? Pretty much, yeah. He said that you forced him to tell me?"
"Hey, I thought you needed to know. Besides, I figured it out when I saw how Yuzu and Karin were fighting."
"I have to ask. Do they have to fight?", Ichigo asked and I smiled softly as I patted his shoulder before shaking my head.
"They're not going to fight. Your dad and I made sure that they promise not to unless it's crucially needed."
"Got it. So, what do you mean by recruiting these guys?"
"What he means is that he's trying to create a group that can help him fight, a group that hasn't agreed to help him."
"Oh, come on~ Is it still Hiyori and Kensei?"
"Kensei for the most part. Hiyori has decided to join for the chance to kick Aizen's ass," Shinji spoke with a smirk before he gasped as a sandal flew through the air and smacked the back of his head.
"I never said that!"
"You did!"
"You want me to beat your ass, baldy?!", I ignored Shinji and Hiyori fighting in the background as I looked to Kensei, who looked back with a frown as I sighed.
"You're still not convinced to join the team?"
"I simply want to know why we should risk our lives for your cause."
"Because if we die during our fight against him, he won't just stop there. He'll turn his destructive gaze to the human realm and soon, no one will be safe. I'm not asking you to follow me. I'm simply asking you to stand with me and make sure we have a chance when the war finally kicks off."
"You talk like you've got it all figured out, like there's some big plan and you're just waiting for us to play our parts," He spoke with a frown and I shook my head with a chuckle.
"I have ideas, but no illusions of any master plans. I'm not trying to be a commander and I'm sure as hell not here to be a hero of the people. I'm just a man who refuses to sit on the sidelines while my people are torn apart."
"You believe that you can take on Aizen?", He asked and I snorted before nodding to him.
"No, but you all can. You understand what he's capable of. Hell, you've survived him once and that makes you valuable to everyone fighting this battle," I answered, watching as he stood silent while everyone looked at us. Finally, he let out a soft exhale through his nose and nodded.
"If we do this, I want you to promise that you'll get our names cleared. If not, at least make sure that the Soul Society knows the damn truth."
"Oh, considering Aizen betrayed them, they have probably realized that you guys are innocent, but they're too prideful to admit they were wrong."
"True, that is how the old man can be," Shinji said with a smirk and I nodded before turning my head back to Kensei as he smirked.
"I'll stand with you, Kanonji. I don't like nor do I trust you at all, but I'll fight because that's what they wanted to do."
"Hey, as long as you're fighting. That's all I need."
"Well, then I guess we're all in, then," Lisa said with a smirk, the others nodding before Shinji groaned as Hiyori scoffed.
"I haven't agreed to anything here."
"Come on, Hiyori~ You just agreed-"
"I said I'd kick Aizen's ass. I never said I would become part of a team."
"…Fine, what about a wall then? We're a wall strong enough to stand when everything else falls around us. Does that sound better?", I asked, watching as she looked at him before crossing her arms.
"Fine, then. I guess I can be part of this 'wall'."
"…You sure it's not a team?", Ichigo whispered to me and I hid my laughter as Hiyori glared at him.
"You have to play along with their delusions, Ichi-", I blinked as a sandal smacked into the side of my head, catching it and throwing it back with a bit of spiritual energy that made Hiyori squeal as it unleashed a weak shockwave that sent her stumbling backwards.
"Don't 'cause there's a lot more where that came from. Now, I have to ask. Have you guys heard of the Fullbringers or Xcution to be more specific?", I asked, watching as Shinji blinked at the name while the others looked confused.
"No, should we?"
"Hah, no. They're a group of humans with spiritual powers that are currently in Naruki City. They tried to recruit me when I left, but I think I managed to get them to back off."
"Was it a…forced recruitment?", Shinji asked and I shook my head while sitting down.
"Somewhat. They were three that 'coincidentally' managed to meet up with me, but I'm meeting them later today to actually ask what the hell they want with me."
"You want us to be there, don't you?", Shinji said with a knowing look and I chuckled before shaking my head.
"No, I just need you guys to know where I went if I don't make it back."
"And you want us to get revenge, then? Okay, that we can do, but are you sure these guys are going to kill you?", Lisa asked and I snorted as I stood up.
"I may have threatened one of theirs with death so they are going to be more on guard against me. Anyway, Ichigo. You got the thing your dad gave you?", I asked and smiled as he nodded while patting the Asauchi at his side.
"I did. The only question is what the hell it's for."
"Oh, it's to serve as Zangetsu's anchor and not have your spiritual energy be the anchor anymore. Anyway, see you guys in a couple of days when I bring the rest of the team around."
"Please, don't. I'd rather not deal with my old man while training," Ichigo spoke up, but I chuckled and turned with a sly grin.
"If I didn't, I would be a bad friend. Bye~!"
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'Damn, this is going to be a tough one,' I thought with a frown as I walked amongst the street of the abandoned industrial district, keeping a close eye on every alleyway I passed while also keeping an eye on the rooftops.
I am in the heart of the enemy territory and if I just relax my guard, it would only take a moment before I get my ass handed to me or get my mind taken over by Tsukishima and his Book of the End.
'Just to be sure. Bakudo #20: Kyokko,' My body shimmered before I vanished, hiding my spiritual energy as well while smirking as a well-dressed man with a strap covering his right eye and a girl in a dark dress and magenta eyes landed beside him.
"Well, shit! What the hell do we do now?", The girl, who I remembered to be Riruka, asked and the butler-looking guy, who I think was a guy named Giriku or something like that, just hummed as he looked around.
I could see as he looked directly at me, but smiled as he turned his gaze further from me, shaking his head while continuing to look around.
"I do not know."
"You can start by telling me who you guys are," I began as I appeared behind them, both spinning around only to be surprised as a series of layered barriers appeared around them.
"Don't try to take control of the spiritual energy in them. I know that you Fullbringers are only able to manipulate the spiritual energy in non-living things. I also know that you two are not the only ones, huh Ginjo?", I asked as I looked to the rooftop behind me, smirking as the man in question stood atop it along with Tsukishima, Jackie and a young boy.
'That's the kid with the gaming ability. Yuki or something like that.'
"I didn't quite expect you to attack the moment you meet us."
"Most don't. So, can I ask whether or not you're going to stop trying to send people to take me out and/ or capture me?", I asked, lifting the barrier that still contained Riruka and Giriko from the ground before letting it float over to their side.
Dismissing it and watching as the two landed safely beside their group, I rolled my shoulders as Ginjo looked at me with a stoic look before nodding.
"Very well. I'll stop. Now, Tsukishima here said that you were coming to see us for something?", He asked and I nodded as I sat down with a smirk.
"I am. How do you feel about joining the group?"
A/N: And the recruitment process continues~! Also, sorry for the late upload, but I've been struggling a bit to figure out just how to push this story on, but I think I've found a way for the story to progress into the next arc.
Next chapter: Talking and Attack.
Anyway, check out my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories that may peak your interest. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one...
Ba-Bye~!