'There's Mr. Pet Project himself. The hybrid.' I thought with a smirk as I glanced at where Ichigo and his family along with Rukia were leaving, barely able to hide my surprise as I could see his Reiryoku visibly warping and dominating any Reishi that even tried to go near him.
Not just that, but the same could be said for Karin, who felt as if she had nearly enough Reiryoku to be on the same level as Rukia. Yuzu on the other hand, did not even come close to the two of them as hers felt like it was barely average and Isshin's Reiryoku felt abysmal compared to the rest of them.
However, it was Rukia that drew my attention the most or to be more specific, the sheer potency of spiritual energy that exuded from where one would find her Chain of Fate.
With each step that she took, I could feel how the Hogyoku was draining more and more of her Reiryoku bit by bit in order to suppress its own powers, a frown appearing on my face as I felt its presence diminish for a split second.
However, as I focused more on the Reishi around her, I hummed as dozens of white ribbons of spiritual energy appeared in the air around me, my frown deepening as I grabbed onto the one that led to her before smirking as I felt the Hogyoku's presence once more and watched the ribbon turn to a dim red colour.
'So if I focus on sensing the Reishi around someone, their ambient Reiryoku is condensed into the form of a ribbon that I can interact with, huh?' Playing around with the ribbon, I found that I could stretch, punch and poke it as much as I could and nothing would happen to Rukia, which was good for me as while I did want to sense the Hogyoku, I didn't want to hurt her in the process.
Now, though, only one question remains in my mind.
'How the hell do I get it out of here?' Intense heat is one option, but that would require me to burn the soul and even if I do get her into the position to do that, I don't think I can conjure up enough flames or heat that would be as strong as the Sokyoku before she notices me.
The second is finding that thing Aizen used to take it out of her, but that thing is in the Soul Society, something I can only access with Urahara's transportation gate thing that Ichigo and the others used to rescue her seeing as the other option was using the Senkaimon and unfortunately, I do not have a Zanpakuto.
'Wait, Aizen pulled it from her chest because he was tampering with her soul or something, right? Perhaps if I can make somewhat of a move just like that, could I perhaps safely remove it without distorting and/ or tearing her soul apart?' I thought to myself with a frown before shaking my head as I realized that I had neither the knowledge nor the resources to even attempt to experiment for something like that let alone repeat it over and over if I do fail.
"Uh, sir? Are you perhaps okay?" I blinked as I was knocked from my mental planning by Nakamura's voice, looking over to see him waiting with a confused look on his face before smiling and nodding as I stood up from where I was seated.
"Yep, just fine. I'm just thinking on something."
"Well, perhaps I can help you figure it out?" He said/ asked and I looked at him with a frown before blinking & nodding.
'A fresh perspective on this might work.'
"Okay, well, it's a little bit of a trick question. You have a soul trying to pass, but there's a cancerous parasite in the form of a curse clinging onto them and anchoring them here. There are only two known ways to remove it, but both methods result in the soul in question being forced to pass on to either Limbo or Hell. The first is to erase both the soul and the curse with a burst of powerful flames and the other is to surgically remove the curse without harming the spirit, but let's say that you have no skills to do either the first or the second. What would you do?"
"H-Have you dealt with something like this before, sir?" He asked with a nervous look on his face and I frowned slightly before giving a slow nod.
"My second or third job, I believe? It was the first time I failed to save someone too and after that, I decided to never let someone down again." I answered with a smile, already ignoring the wails of the soul I let down as the curse visibly turned them inside out before ripping them in half.
"U-Um, well…I would ask why you can't combine the two?"
"Combine?" I asked with a frown and my eyes widened as he realized what he meant.
"Yeah, if you don't have the skill, then form the flames into a scalpel and cauterize the soul's wounds? I guess wounds, yeah, as you carve out the soul."
'And in doing so, while Rukia will be scarred from the experience, she'll still be able to be a Soul Reaper after if I do it right. Well, I got the plan, but now I got to figure out just how I'm going to do it.'
"Nakamura?"
"Yes, sir?" He asked and I smirked as I patted him on the shoulder and began walking towards the car.
"You have some good ideas, you know? What do you say about becoming my assistant exorcist that helps me fight the spirits?"
"I thank you sir, but I'm more than okay just being the guy that holds your coat and hat." He answered with a smirk and I chuckled and nodded while patting him on the back.
"Very well, but the position is always open."
"I'll keep that in mind, sir. Sushi for tonight, then?" He asked as he opened the SUV's door and I frowned slightly as I climbed in before nodding.
"Eh, add in a bowl of ramen…and don't forget to get you some too."
"I will, sir."
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"Um, Mr. Kanonji?"
"Yeah, Nakamaru? What's up?" I asked as I turned towards the man in question, who was a lot more lax compared to before as he sat on the sofa while looking at the book in my grasp.
"Why exactly do you have that?" He asked and I blinked as I looked down at the book, the title Spiritual Elementals And How to Form a Contract staring back at me before looking up at him with a shrug.
"Eh, why not? It's a book on how to get spirits to form a contract with me and bring them under my command."
"Uh, do we not wish to achieve the opposite, Mr. Kanonji? For the spirits to pass on?" He asked with a frown and I chuckled as I waved my hand dismissively and shook my head.
"No, no. See, when I mean spirits, I mean natural spirits that form around the world all around us instead of being human spirits that are created from the soul of a person passing. See, elementals are like spirits of water, fire, earth, wind and life. That is why those that are contracted with them have great control over that element. At least, that's what the book says."
"Great control as if control over all elements?" He asked with wide eyes and I snorted as I shook my head while going back to my reading.
"As if it was going to be that simple. No, it's just simple elemental control like I use telekinesis to move things about, but the stronger the spirit is that I can subjugate, the more powerful one's control over the element will be."
'Unfortunately, this book only talks about how these spirits can be taken from beings in black robes and a katana on their waist, which means that the spirits in question are Zanpakuto spirits. Hah, I guess there was no such thing as a cheat code in this world.' I sighed as I snapped the book shut, placing it next to the many other books on magic that I have read before frowning slightly as I caught sight of the final book of the pile.
"'Burn the Witch Vol.1'? Uh, Nakamura, is this one of your manga that got in my reading pile?" I asked as I lifted the book with a red checkered-esque pattern on it, Nakamura narrowing his gaze at the book before shrugging & shaking his head.
"Not at all. I don't know where that came from."
"Huh, okay. Guess I'll take it, then." I muttered as I opened the book, going to the first page before humming under my breath as I decided to get comfortable and read it.
' 'Aren't Fairy Tales just full of it?''
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"…Nakamura?"
"Yes, sir?" He asked as I finally looked up after finishing the entire manga, a smirk on my face as I closed the book before looking at him.
"Remind me to get a glass case for the house so I can put this in there." I said as I stood up, the man blinking at my words as I stood up and began walking towards the balcony of the hotel room we were in.
"It's that good, sir?" I heard him ask as he picked up the book, a chuckle escaping my lips as I nodded while taking a deep breath and felt the reishi in the air impacting my sinuses with a sweet-sour scent.
"Oh, not at all, but it just helped me remember something good. Ye lord! Mask of flesh and boe, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bear the name of Man! Truth and temperance, upon this sinless wall of dreams unleash but slightly the wrath of your claws." As I chanted under my breath, I pointed the bottom end of my staff out the window, concentrating and twisting my Reiryoku towards that point before smirking as I finished my chant.
"Hado #33: Sokatsui." In the blink of an eye, I heard Nakamura exclaiming in shock as a shockwave echoed through the room, my own eyes widening as miniature blue flames in the shape of a five-pronged blast shot out the end of my cane and through the air, going on for a while before finally dimming out.
'…Holy shit. It actually worked. It…it actually worked. Wait, but if it does…' Ignoring Nakamura as he groaned behind me, I lowered my cane and pointed a finger out, frowning in concentration as I tried to remember the chant as good as I can.
"Ye Lord! Mask of blood and flesh, all creation, flutter of wings, ye who bears the name of Man! Inferno and pandemonium, the sea barrier surges, march on to the south! Hado #31: Shakkaho!" I exclaimed as I gathered my Reiryoku in the form of a sphere in front of my finger, the golden marble slowly turning to a dark hue of red as I continued my chant before it shot from my hand as I finished it.
However, instead of exploding beautifully midair like I expected, it instead popped like a balloon, making me frown at that before I smirked as I shook my head.
"I can use Kido. I…I can actually use Kido. Oh, this changes…everything." I didn't even know how it was possible nor did I know how I was able to even remember their chants, but I also knew that I couldn't spam spells as most of the spells was powered by both the reishi in the air and my own Reiryoku instead of just using my own Reiryoku like a Shinigami would.
'Eh, that just means that I need to find a way on how humans can boost their own Reiryoku to make sure that I can use the spells on my own and without help.'
"Sir! What was that?!" Nakamura exclaimed from behind and I turned to look at him before wincing slightly as I saw him wiggling a pinky in his ear while flexing his jaw a few times as if he was having some struggle hearing.
'…I really should warn him before I do stuff like this.'
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"Hado #4: Byakurai!" Instead of shooting the blast out of my finger, I pointed my cane towards the Hollow before a pale blue bolt of lightning shot out of it, thankfully coating my ears with my Reiryoku this time to make sure I don't temporarily deafen myself again as the I watched the beast falling to the floor with its leg having been cut off.
"Bakudo #1: Sai!" I chanted as I swiped my cane through the air, the Hollow's arms locking together behind its back as it was forced to a knee before I took a deep breath and placed my cane in the middle of its forehead.
"Hado #11: Tsuzuri Raiden." With a simple chant, a spark of yellow electricity raced across my cane before yellow lightning shot from my cane and through its skull, the Hollow's body falling to the ground in a puff of ash while the soul of a smiling old man was kneeling in the middle of it.
"A-Are…are you God?" He asked, to which I smiled & shook my head as I knelt in front of him and placed my cane in between us while placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Not at all. I'm simply a guardian trying to make sure all people can pass on people. Now, rest, weary soul, and be at peace. Namu Amida Butsu." With a final prayer, the man gave me a smile and placed a hand on my shoulder as he faded away, a peaceful sigh escaping my lips as I stood up while picking up my cane.
"Is…is it gone?" The man hiding Nakamura asked with a nervous look before it turned pleased as I smiled and nodded.
"Yep, don't worry about it. As you have seen today, children and adults, there was an angry spirit plaguing the area, but I have sent it on its path to the afterlife. However, like I always say, just because they're an evil spirit doesn't mean they're the bad guys. Just as the living has their bad people, the dead have their good people and it's our job as the living to not bother them as they rest eternally, just like how it's their job to not mess with the living. As always, be brave, be smart and remember that Spirits Are! Forever With You! Bahahahaha!"
"And cut! Well done, Mr. Kanonji!" The director spoke with a smile and I stopped my laughter to give her a smile and a nod, watching as the studio crew began to pack up while thanking Nakamura with a nod as I took my hat and the bottle of water from him.
"As always, sir, brilliant work."
"There's no need to say that, Naomi. We both know you guys can't see what's going on." I answered with a smirk, chuckling at the brown-haired woman's sheepish grin before smirking as I saw Nakamura glancing at her before blushing as he caught me looking at her.
"Anyway, Nakamura, how's the new apartment? Pretty lonely to live in that big place on your own, huh?" I asked with a suggestive smirk while subtly gesturing at Naomi, the woman looking at me with a confused frown while Nakamura gave me a death glare before his face shifted to a peaceful smile as Naomi looked at him.
"It's okay, sir. I'm a man that likes my space just like you, sir."
"You can't say that about me, now because I bought just a two story house in Karakura and nothing else."
"Speaking of that, sir, are you sure that was the right call? You are a man that travels on a daily basis, so you buying a house that you might never be in could potentially lead to it decaying over time."
"I don't want to turn forty and still not have a place I can call home, you know? Besides, I'm 32 and I've been doing this stuff since I was 18 so I want to slow it down and rest for a bit before getting back to work as one would say." I answered with a smirk and Naomi rolled her eyes before I chuckled at Nakamura's nervous look.
"Don't worry, Nakamura. If I do retire, I'll just make you the family butler."
"Ooh~can I be the maid?" Naomi asked and I chuckled before she pouted as I shrugged while patting Nakamura on the head.
"We'll have to see if Nakamura does need help around the house. Now, come on, my assistant! Karakura has a bargain sale on eggs today and I want some egg sandwiches."
"Of course, sir." He spoke with a chuckle and I rolled my eyes as I climbed into the backseat, taking my head off and laying my head back on the seat as I felt us beginning to drive.
"Home, Mr. Kanonji?" He asked as we began to pick up speed and I opened my eyes to see us entering the highway before humming in agreement as I close my eyes once more.
"Yeah, home."
"Will d-!" I didn't hear his last words as I sat up from my seat, fully alert as I felt a burst of malicious spiritual energy washing over my body
Nakamura was talking from the front seat as we took the 10 km drive back towards Karakura, but I wasn't as focused on him as I was on the sheer number of Hollow Reiryoku that flooded the air, my eyes widening as I remembered that there was only one day in the series where there could be this much Hollow energy in the air before the Soul Society Arc.
'Ishida popped the Hollow Ba-Shit! My house!'
"Nakamura, I'll catch you in Karakura!" I shouted as I took off my hat and jacket while jumping out from the car, ignoring him shouting as I flipped out the window and onto the roof right before a burst of flames from my feet helped me leap up high.
'Time to try out my new trick.' I thought with a smirk as I placed my cane under my feet, sticking the pole to my legs using telekinesis right before I grinned as a powerful jet of flames shot out from below it and the end and sent me flying through the air at a blistering pace.
"Hahahaha! I believe I can fly!" I exclaimed with a grin as I flew through the air, a determined smile on my face as I made my way towards the house that I've had for the past two months.
'I swear, if something destroyed my manga collection, I'm killing every goddamn Hollow in the city...and that bastard Ishida.'
A/N: Just a quick & short chapter to finally fully kick off the story and next chapter the main cast is finally going to meet The Don while fighting against Hollows & a monster!
Also, I hope you guys like what I'm doing with Kanonji! I feel like there aren't many pure spellcasters in Bleach fics so I decided to make him one.
Also, he isn't using Kido, but he think he is. That all will be explained when he meets the other Kido masters!
Another also, he seems strong now, but that's because the Hollows he's been facing are low-level ones where he hasn't been strained to win. Next chapter, though, hehe~ He's going to have to work for his victory.
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. 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 chapter,
Ba-Bye~!