Road Trip of the Heart

by ultima-owner

A unforgettable journey of crazy times, at least for the person doing it. It's a SIOC fic so if you don't like those, please don't flame.

21. Ashes of the Dawn

Welcome back. Zane's doing some solo missions and stuff to get his mind off worrying about his kids. There will be spoilers for: One Punch Man, Yu Yu Hakusho, Bleach, Spider-man

Disclaimer: I only own my stuff

Chapter 21: Ashes of the Dawn

Flashback almost 4 months prior to Present time

Lettered City World (One Punch Man world)

City C

21st Super Fight Tournament

"Zane Laskaris is the winner! Sadly, Wolfman was lunched out of here like a out of the park homerun ball. I pray he survives his flight and tries again next time." The announcer said as the crowd cheered. In that crowd was Aqua and Electra cheering louder an anyone else, in Zane's opinion. The referee handed his prize when a cocky man with spiky black hair and wearing a blue uniform seated onto the white stone ring. "How about we have a match to celebrate your victory? It's not every day you get to fight the four-time Super Fight Champion." Suiryu said.

Zane turned to the referee. "Standard rules for this match." The referee nodded and took the price to keep it safe as the fighters got ready. "It's not often that A boxer gets into these tournaments. I heard you got in because Master Bang recommended you." Suiryu said with an annoyingly smug look. "It's called Pankration, one of the oldest fighting styles in the world. I will not have a brat, who doesn't care if the world burned, belittle it." Zane said. The Announcer was talking but Zane was too busy glaring at Suiryu.

"Who cares what you think of me. When you have power, it doesn't matter all." Suiryu said as he attacked. Zane did nothing as wind blasted from the impact. "You didn't move at all. That is a solid defense. I guess I can hit you harder than the others." Suiryu said jumping and slamming his leg into Zane's head. Zane was buried completely. He just got out of the hole as Suiryu did attack after attack, taunting him. The Taunt that went too far was "Whoever taught you to fight must be rolling in their grave." Suiryu said as he used Void Phoenix Ascension Fist at full power.

"It was stopped cold as the arena was fragmented. "My teachers taught me many things, one of those things was not to waste energy on pointless fights. You lack training and disciple." Zane said in a harsh whisper. Suiryu stared in shock and for the first time, fear. The Crowd didn't know what happened next. One moment Suiryu was fighting, next he was in the announcer box, bloody, broken and totally out cold. Zane 's fist was out like he punched but they never saw him move. "Zane Laskaris won again! He's a human tank that can't be dented!" Announcer said bluffed as the medics took Suiryu away.

An old man with white hair and mustache, bend with age, smiled. "Well done Zane. You are worth of being the third strongest S rank hero." Bang said from the fighter box. He had bent the rules a little to get Zane into this tournament, but it was worth it to see that cocky brat get beaten for the first time.

Flash back end

Lettered City World

City Z

"That is a problem." Zane, with his armor donned, said staring at the meteor headed for the city. A blonde-haired cyborg, Genos, and Bang were standing with him. Metal Knight's Battle Bot, Rank S 7 hero, had failed to do anything to the space rock. Zane guessed it was roughly the size of an office building. "Rank S 3 hero, Crimson Knight, can you do anything?" Genos asked. "Saitama could easily smash it, but the ruble would destroy the city." He pulls out Margert and pulls the ripcord, his weaponized guitar roared to life. She was eager to face this challenge. "You are going to hit it back into space, with that?" Bang asked, he had heard of Saitama, Hero name 'Capped Baldy' Rank A 38 because of the number of monsters he's somehow taken out, the fact you didn't know how strong he was contributed to the rank not being higher. Bang was going to ask to train him after the space rock was dealt with.

"Margert was made for things like this." Zane said before launching himself upward with weapon ready to swing. The Bald, yellow track suit and red caped hero they were talking about, watched Zane's attempt with a bored expression. "I'll try next if he fails." Saitama said flatly. The sound of a guitar riff echoed loudly as the meteor reversed its flight path and shot back into space with a sonic boom, that broke every window in City Z. "That was cool." Saitama said as Genos and Bang stared in shock.

City A

Hero Association HQ

Sitch, a middle-aged man with a big nose and gray hair stared at the monitor with a dropped jaw. "What is he thinking? Trying to show me up!" A short green hair woman, wearing a black dress and floating with ESP, yelled angerly. This angry Esper midget was Tatsumaki, hero name 'Tornado of Terror', age 28 (even if she looked like a grade schooler). The scruffy bearded black-haired Hero Association worker was slumped in relief as the meteor threat had been stopped. "Crisis averted with the only injury being from the raining glass. No fatalities reported at this time." He reported as Tatsumaki continued her rant. The only reason Zane wasn't a higher rank was because Bang wasn't around to defend his spot as Rank S 1 and Zane was content to let the 'ranting brat' have Rank S 2, Zane words exactly on the subject.

"I'm sending available heroes to City Z to help with clean up and recovery efforts." He told Sitch, who nodded slowly. Tatsumaki floated off to sulk, even though she refused to help stop the space rock because of her pride. It wasn't anyone's fault but her own that someone stopped it in her place.

A month later

Lettered City World

City A

Hero Association HQ

Zane arrived because of a mandatory Rank S hero Meeting happening. He was the first to come and was waiting for the rest to arrive. As they arrived Zane took note of each one. Blast was absent. The brat was glaring at him. Bang, Hero name, Silver Fang, was rank S 4. S 5 was Atomic Samurai, a man with the skill to slice you to dust and chews on toothpicks all the time. S 6 was Child Emperor, a brown haired ten-year-old boy who was a robotics genius. Metal Knight was absent. S 8 was Zombieman, who was dealing with a monster attack. His power was not dying and extreme regeneration. S 9 was Drive Knight, a tech-based hero with black hair a white mask and one 'eye'. Zane wasn't sure what he was.

S 10 was Pig God, a massive fat man that can and will eat any monster he encountered without suffering even indigestion. Less Zane thought about that the better. S 11 was Superalloy Darkshine, a bald dark-skinned bodybuilder that wore very little and had skin that make steel look soft. He was rather modest too. S 12 was Watchdog Man, a man in a dog suit that acted like a dog. S 13, Flashy Flash, a sword wielding shinobi that left glitter trail when he attacked at high speeds. S 14, Genos, hero name Demon Cyborg. Saitama had tagged along too because he was Genos' teacher. S 15, Metal Bat, a pompadour punk with a metal bat and not too bad a guy to hang out with when he wasn't angry. S 16, Tank top Master, very muscular dude and wears tank tops. Zane groaned as Rank S 17 entered. A tall hairy chested muscular dude named Puri-Puri Prisoner, tended to lose his cloths when he flexed too hard. The only thing Zane had like about him was his taste in knitted sweaters. He was just to off-putting to be friends with.

"This is good tea. You made it the traditional way, right?" Atomic Samurai asked Zane as he set the cups down in front of each hero. "Yes, My Father got a tea set from a high ranking Yukuza leader when he was still alive, so I took interest in how to make tea the 'old ways'. Luckily, I don't need to do the formal version for this meeting, or it'd taken forever." Zane said as he got an amused smirk from a few of the heroes. "the tea leaves were grown from the Garden." Zane said. "The Garden? Isn't that the place that the weird mushroom dude's sign said he got his stock from?" Saitama asked. "From the farmer's markets? Yes, the Garden grows all sorts of stuff." A White Mushroom Heartless ported into the room in panic. The Heroes almost attacked when Zane calm down the Heartless. "What's the matter?" Zane asked. The heartless handed over a scroll sealed with black wax seal.

"Please explain why there is an intruder in this room?" Sitch asked as he entered the conference room. "Short version or a little longer version?" Zane asked. "Judging by how it's hiding behind you, it trusts you to protect it." Bang said. "The longer version please." The other heroes silently agreed with him. "After a series of events, I defended his kind from their much more murderous brethren. As thanks they banded together repay the debt, they believed they owed me." Zane sighed rummaging in his bag. "It didn't help I later built the Garden to give them a safe place to live."

They stared at the crown he pulled out. "They made you their king. That sounds little excessive." Genos commented. "That's not even the last of it. At first it was gifts here and there then it was statues and art of me and my family. Then they volunteered to work for me without pay!" Zane said exasperated "the last one was not easy to change. 'workers must be payed' as the rules say so they work for room and board." The Mushroom gave Saitama an apple and took payment from him. "see what I mean? They are the most frustrating loyal subjects I've got."

"Can we start the meeting properly?" Sitch asked then began to explain how renowned fortune teller Shibabawa had almost died when she made the following prediction 'The Earth is in danger'. She was spot on with the rest of her predictions in the past so that was why it required this meeting. "Well it might be because of the 'dangerous ship full of aliens headed for City A' as scroll they rushed to me said." Zane commented indicating the scroll he got. "They only put a black seal if it's urgent. They started to evacuate the city as a we speak." Zane said.

"hold on! How are a bunch of mushrooms going to get everyone one to safety?" Metal Bat asked, "They can teleport you moron." The 'brat' said like she was above everyone. "When is this ship arriving?" The ground rumbled and Zane said "That was them bombarding the evacuated city, most likely. People are going to be so angry City A being reduced to rubble, but it can be easily rebuilt." Zane was calm as he stood up. One of the works ran into to report City A was destroyed by a black spaceship firing giant, bigger than a person, solid shell bullets. "Well, we better greet the invading force in kind." Zane commented as the heroes followed him out of the HQ.

Ten minutes later

On board the Dark Mater Thieves' Spaceship

"Saitama, head left, right the bust the wall to find the boss of the ship." Zane said over the intercom. Getting the Esper brat to throw him at the ship was easy. Reaching the bridge of the ship and being attacked at every turn was a little harder. Zane looked at the shriveled-up corpse of an esper squid alien named Geryuganshoop. All the esp powers in the universe will not help when someone can roast you like a turkey inside of your 'unbreakable' esp bubble. "If you want to live, get the hell off this ship!" Zane roared at the quivering aliens, who ran like the hounds of hell were after them.

Zane was alerted to escape pods being used as the remained for the crew fled the ship. Zane noted that Saitama was in the 'throne room' of the ship and was fighting the boss of the invaders. On one of the monitors a progress bar was filling as the words 'transferring data' blinked above it. He was taking all the information because he didn't trust the man behind 'Metal Knight' at all. The ship shook at it was bombarded from below by the esper brat and from above as Saitama fought the boss.

"Come on! It's almost done!" Zane yelled at the computer. "yes! Transfer complete. Only thing on this hard drive will be the fight Saitama was having!" Zane ran out of the bridge as it the ship started to tilt. He stopped dead when it started to fall. "Oh, come on!" Zane said as he was thrown about painfully. He groaned as the ship crashed to earth and a scuffed-up Saitama found him not five minutes later.

"Hey, you look a little roughed up there." Saitama commented with a smile on his face. He must have enjoyed the fight. "The hole out is down the hall and on the right." Zane said standing up. "Okay. Lead the way." Saitama said with a shrug.

A few minutes later

The Ruined City A

"Master! Were you successful?" Genos asked as he spotted his teacher exit the crashed ship. "It was fun. Too bad it ended so quickly." Saitama commented. Zane was dealing with a brat of another kind. Sweet Mask was Rank A 1 of the Hero Association. He had blue hair and a 'beautiful appearance'. Under the PR mask he wore was an ugly person. "You are not going to kill the invaders. They are my prisoners and I decide their fate, not you two-faced wannabe hero." Zane said as he glared at the brat obsessed with the limelight. "Why do you not kill them? They are our enemies, weak ones at that." Sweet Mask shot back.

"Show we try to break them up?" Metal Bat asked as they watched the argument escalate from what to do with prisoners to whether Zane was a worthy of being an S rank hero. "Let them fight, Sweet Mask will learn not to mess with Zane in three, two, one." Bang counted down. "Don't you dare bring my family into this!" Zane roared punting Sweet Mask, ending the argument. "Well, Sweet Mask forgot about the list." Saitama commented. "You mean the do not mention near Zane list? I thought it was a joke." Puri-Puri Prisoner asked, as he put on the clothes that was throw at him.

"Oh, it's not a joke at all. I heard a monster said the x guy's name and Zane was far from happy. All was left of the monster was an anti-shadow." Saitama commented. "You knew, the effect when the empty space on a burnt wall looks like the thing that blocked it?" They got it. "Right, number one on the list is he's big on family so don't set him off. The list's got a lot of sub items on that topic alone. The X guy is someone Zane really wanted to kill for reasons he refuses to talk about, other than him being dead." Metal Bat listed. "The scar, he got when he was impaled in some fight that almost killed him, is also off limits. Just review the list and you won't be punted like the poser just was."

Puri-Puri Prisoner smiled. "That is fine. Everyone has issues they need to work on." He couldn't help but overhear half of the phone Zane got as they were talking. "Princess, I hope this is good news." Zane said animatedly. "you won your first contest ribbon? That's wonderful! Sorry I couldn't be there to see it in person. Don't worry, your mother has it recorded, and I will watch it soon as I can. Stay safe on your travels and show them the Laskaris Clan is still strong as the days of the Greek empire!"

"He's Greek? That explained his sword and shield." Atomic Samurai mused. "Must be a secretive clan. I'll ask him later."

The next day

Lettered City World

City M

King's Apartment

King, a blonde slicked back haired 29-year-old human, stared at his friend Zane, who was laughing after he read a clasifed, for now, email. When King was younger, he got three claw slash scars on his face that made him 'dangerous' looking. Deep down he was just a pro gamer with the worst luck of being found by monsters. He's been saved by Saitama, Zane, and other heroes in the past years and was almost mistaken as being powerful.

"What is so funny in that email?" King asked as he took out the dating sim game he just bought out of the bag. "Sweet Mask is now Rank A 2! The first half of Saitama's fight was reviewed, and they deeded him better that that poser!" Zane said as he howled with laugher. "Only the first half?" King asked. "The second half of the footage was destroyed in the fight. But it doesn't matter! Sweet Mask was demoted one ranking for his refusal to help with the invasion, unlike Saitama, who was a lower ranked hero!" Zane explained between laughs.

"Good for Saitama. He'll have a bigger budget now. Speaking of Budgets, what do you with the fonds you get for your hero work?" King asked. "I have most of it squirreled away, for whatever reason I need it. Any trouble on your end, or has the game tournaments being going well for you?" Zane said turning the question back at King. "haven't lost too many times so the prize money is plentiful." King said as the roar of a motorcycle got louder. "Is that getting closer?" He asked as he looked out the window. "Zane, there is a demonic robot biker challenging anyone to a race. He's also got hostages. One of them has a starting gun."

Outside the apartment building

"This is Crimson Knight reporting a monster attack in City M. Disaster level Demon. Clear the streets and wait for my next call." Zane said and ended the call. "You are taking my challenge? Why aren't you wearing your armor and where is your ride?" The Monster yelled. It looked like a knockoff of the ghost rider if you gave him a chrome dip and made him more like Metal album cover art. "I'm the Road Slayer!" He yelled. Zane guessed this was his normal volume. The hostages looked unharmed, but they are chained up to stands facing TVs that showed feed from the traffic cameras in the city. Zane's Moped stopped at the 'starting line' and Zane got on it.

"That's it? This will be a breeze!" Road Slayer yelled with laughter. The hostage with the starting gun fired and they shot out the road, no words needed.

An hour later

As Zane races he noticed everyone in the city was chained to stands with TVs for them to watch the race. The other thing he noticed the was micro factures on 'Road Slayer'. They started appearing them Zane overtook him a few turns ago. The monster was pushing himself beyond his limit and would likely kill himself by the end of the race. As the finish line was crossed, Zane won buy a full bike length, the monster exploded in a spray of metal, motor oil, and blood. "This will be a pain to clean up." Zane muttered as he called in the kill.

"You're amazing! Do all moped drive like your?" A young kid asked as Zane undid the chains. "No. Most moped don't go supersonic speeds. I wasn't going at full speed in that race." The kid's mother was pale, probably the fact her kid wanted to go supersonic speeds on a bike. "The only reasons I can go that fast is because, one I wear a helmet." Zane taps the helmet he was wearing. "And two, I know I can handle the strain it puts on the body." The kid groaned so Zane had an idea. "How well are you on a bicycle?" Zane asked. "I just got my training wheels off, but the monster trashed my bike and helmet." The kid said glumly.

Zane handed a 'Crimson Knight' official riding helmet to the kid. He also handed him a signed photo and a check. "You can use the check to get a new bike. Ride safe, kid." Zane said as the kid's smile was shining. "Thank you again, sir." The mother said. "No problem ma'am. Get home safe while I free everyone else." Zane said before moving on. The lower ranked heroes, who were helping with the aftermath (Freeing the hostages, general cleanup and other jobs), watched as Zane cheered up kids and made sure everyone was OK.

"Biting Snake Fist" Sneck, rank A 38, was pale skinned dark-haired martial artist who wore a snake scale suit. Normally he'd be in City F, but he was called to help with the cleanup. "To think that The Crimson Knight is relatable for them." A female voice said as the sound of heels on pavement let him know of the person's approach. It was a tall dark-haired curvy woman wearing fancy clothing as her 'underlings' did all the work she was to do. Rank B 1, 'Blizzard of Hell' Fubuki, younger sister to the brat of rank S. Yes, Tatsumaki was the older sister, being five years older than Fubuki.

"Shouldn't you be helping?" Sneck asked as he helped people find the medical tents. "I am. I moved several people that needed care to the medics. The Elderly can't always handle the stress of watching a street race." She said in a lofty voice. "You know you aren't fooling me with that mask. You are just as shocked as the rest of us. Zane is like a hero from the comic books. He's powerful, relatable, has a cool ride, and most of all, he's not an arrogant blow hard like your sister." She said nothing.

"In a week they will be opening the sales for the next Hero guidebook with exclusive information about Zane's past. You better preorder it before it releases, I know I have. There are things about him that are 'magical'." Sneck commented as he watched Zane freeing people with a giant key weapon. "It's not ESP, that's for sure." Fubuki commented focusing her senses on the key. "What I do know is that he is a monster. Not evil but so powerful he is dangerous. He got so hot the land around him melted as he, in his words, 'pulled a Godzilla'. He looked like a burning star in the shape of a man, called that form 'Primal King's Mantle' and did a pulse blast that was like the blast wave from a bomb." Fubuki commented

"I remember that fight well. City T was overrun with monsters and there were no one left to save in the city. He burned the city to ash to kill the monsters. They scanned the area over and over but that was no bad radiation found. I believe they rebuilt the city elsewhere because of politics." Sneck said thinking back to the fight a few years ago. The monster, Corpse Blood, was a potential Disaster level God if he was wasn't stopped. He turned all he killed into 'ghouls', according to Zane, that could create more of their kind. The whole city was lost in the hour it took for the heroes to get called in. as soon as Zane had learned they were facing something akin a 'Dead Apostles', refused to explain much about it, he told all the heroes to leave it to him. Five minutes later, the city was gone, and Corpse Blood and his army was dealt with.

"The camera I had planted near Ground Zero was melted a few seconds after the blast wave started. Zane told me 'not to worry about it'. He nukes a city and says that when confronted. I don't know what hell shaped him, but he is a monster with heroic tendencies." Fubuki stated. "I pity anyone who has to face that form in battle." Watching and listening to them was an organic spy drone.

Under City Z

Monster Association hideout

"what kind of monster is he?" Gyoro Gyoro, a multiarmed single eyed slug humanoid monster said shivering in fear. The Dragon level monster had hoped he's learned a weakness Zane had but no! Instead, he learned Zane could travel supersonic speeds and turn cities to ash! No wonder Elder Centipede and Overgrown Rover refused to be anywhere near a city he was in. Their best chance at winning was if he was off planet. He'd muster their forces and wait for Zane to leave.

Almost two weeks later

Lettered City World

City K

Zane looked at the 'hero hunter' who tried to attack him. Garou was buried under rubble of the wall he was sent through with ease. "Garou, you are a hundred years too early to sneak up on me." Zane said in full teaching mode. "Learn more about the heroes and you might have a chance to make the 'monster' beat the 'hero'." Zane said. "Hello, Laskaris odd jobs. This is Zane." Zane said answering the work phone he had for his odd jobs business. It didn't make a lot of money, but it was fun. "You want me to do what?" Zane said as people started to talk and point. "I get that you are the ruler, but your asshole of a father soured any chance of us being close allies." Zane said firmly. The crowd jumped when Zane yelled into the phone "A scumbag did what? Change of plans. I'm on my way and we will have words after the job." Zane hung up and blasted off into the sky on his moped.

A day later

World Based on Yu Yu Hakusho

Spirit World

Koenma's office

The toddler ruler of Spirit World shivered as he waited for Zane to arrive. Koenma was a little shell-shocked some years ago when he learned his father, King Enma, had been brainwashing demons to keep his rule going strong. He was even more shocked when his Father's corpse, with a list of said crimes, was left in his office with a warning from a Grim Reaper. He had grim reapers, also called Ferry Girls, working for him, but this was a Grim Reaper, working directly with Death. He knew it was a gamble, but the target was a scumbag was the founder of the Black Black Club. "Sir the video tape is finished and ready to be delivered." A blue skinned blonde-haired ogre with a single horn, Jorge Saotome, said. "Jorge, how are the preparations for Zane's arrival going?" Koenma asked.

"What are you talking about, sir?" Jorge asked. "You didn't get the memo yesterday! This bad! One of the best agents of Death is coming and you don't have everything ready!" Koenma yelled. "um, sir. There is a biker requesting to meet you." The blue haired ferry girl, Botan said nervously over the intercom. "Send him in." Koenma said resigned to his fate.

"Talk. And fast." Zane said as he strode in. "The founder of the Black Black Club has obtained a rare demon, an Ice Apparition." Koenma explained. "The same demons that never leave their floating landmass of Hyouga? Why did she leave?" Zane asked. "To find her family, specifically her brother who was thrown off of Hyouga for being male." The temperature spiked as Zane got angrier. Koenma swore Zane's shadow looked like a snarling dragon for a moment.

"You deliver the tape while I scope out the people I will be working with." Zane said as he vanished in flash of fire. "Who was that?" Botan asked as she enter to get the tape. "a man you down want to hunt you. Make sure Yusuke gets this by any means. The longer Zane has to wait, the greater the mess he'll leave for me to clean up." Koenma said urgently.

A few hours later

World Based on Yu Yu Hakusho

Human world

Tokyo, japan

Minamino Household

Yoko Kurama, also known by his human name Shuichi Minamino for the past 15 years, smelt something odd as he entered his house. "Shuichi! Come meet my friend!" His mother said as he checked his red hair for the seeds he stashed there. A little bit demonic energy and it's be his preferred weapon, the rose whip. He set his school bag down and entered the living room. She was smiling as the source of the scent talked about his children.

"This is Zane Laskaris. He's the one who paid for the hospital bills while I was ill." Shiori, his dark-haired human 'mother', said warmly. Kurama was a little guilty for taking over her unborn son in her womb, but it's been almost 16 years and the baby's soul hadn't developed yet when he did it. "He has an interesting aroma about him." Kurama said as he bowed politely in greeting. "I'm guessing you work with metal a lot, and there is the fur on your clothes." Zane smirked. "I am a blacksmith and I have a collection of pet foxes among other animals. The foxes love to go into pipes a lot." Zane said.

Pipe Foxes, it had to be what he was hinting at. If he had Pipe Foxes, then he must know who he was talking too. Kurama's expression never changed as his mind raced. "I think I've heard your family name somewhere before. It sounds Greek." Kurama said testing the waters. "Yes, my clan dates all the way back to the time when Greece was a superpower. We're more known from what riches we protect. Legend says a band of thieves tried to steal from us. In the last decade an odd pendent was found in the hand of criminal. I was asked to figure out who it belonged to." Zane said showing off a dark stone on a chain.

"It is said to belong to a thief by the name Kuronue. I have no proof, but you might find it interesting." Zane gave Kurama the pendent his old demon bat thief partner in crime had always carried with him. "Thank you for this gift. You can say I have an interest in notable thieves." Kurama said with a schooled expression. "I must be going. Shiori, remember to only use a drop per square meter of lawn." Zane said setting a bottle on the table.

After he left Kurama asked what the bottle was. "It's plant care he made. It's powerful so you only need a little to extend the life of your garden. Would you believe he made it by mistake?" She said amused. "Was did he intend to make?" Kurama asked reeling back after sniffing the contents of the bottle. "An anti-aging product. You could be in your seventies but not have a wrinkle or crow foot at all. He said you only need to take it once and you will remain youthful for longer." She described. Kurama frowned. "That sounds too good to be true." He said worried. "There are no side effects other than the awful taste. He pulled out all the stops to make sure nothing bad happened to those who use it. You should see the waiting list to buy a dose of it. It's longer than the Tokyo Tower is tall." She said amused.

An out of the way area of Tokyo

Hiei, a short male demon that looked human with tall dark hair and wore black clothes and a headband, was looking at the VHS tape pondering whether or not he should give it to the spirit detective, Yusuke, as Botan wanted him to. "I suggest you deliver it." Zane said from behind him. Hiei swung his sword but the blade only cut the tree trunk. "You wish to find your sister, right?" Zane asked, dodging more sword strikes. "What does it matter to you?" Hiei demanded gauging Zane's strength. He couldn't detect anything, so Zane much be powerful as the message said. "How about a bet? I keep your sister safe and unharmed until the rescue team finishes the job and in return you tell her who you are as soon as the mission is done. Sound fair?" Zane laid out.

"and if you fail?" Hiei asked. "I will paint the walls red before I let that greed tub of lard harm her anymore. The place is crawling with demons, so it'd be a hassle to be protecting her and making sure tubby does suffer for his crimes." Zane said. "Alright. If you fail, I'll slice off a finger for each injury she has." Hiei said as Zane wrote up a Geis, a contact that punishes you if you break the agreement. "Sign here and I will be on my way." Zane said, already signing it. Hiei looked at it and signed. They felt the curse bind them to the agreement.

Zane turned into a fire bird and flew off.

Ten minutes later

Gonzo Tarukane's home

Yukina's cell

Zane slipped between the bars and landed on the outstretched arm Yukina offered. She had mint hair and beautiful blue kimono. Her red eyes were like rubies but held a kindness he didn't expect. The cell had demon wards on the bars. "Hime, your brother has entrusted me to protect you until you are freed." Zane said looking at her in the eye. "Oh, can you tell me about him?" Yukina asked the odd bird.

A few hours later

Yukina wept pearls as she listened to a same song Zane sung her. The moment was ruined when Gonzo, a short fat bald mob boss, entered view with a pair of demons. "What the hell is this? I try to get to get you cry and you are frigid bitch. But a bird has you cry a fortune with a song." Gonzo said as he collected the pearl like tears. "It's a fire bird." The younger but taller of the brothers said. He was massive with super short hair and dark shades with a mouth in a disinterested line. His elder brother was a lanky short man with puffy bedraggled hair and was perching on the Younger Toguro's shoulder like a demented monkey.

"They can a way of moving you one way or another." Younger Toguro continued staring that the bird. "What are you staring for? Deal with it!" Gonzo demanded. "would you like to make a deal?" Zane asked and everyone looked at him. "What kind of deal?" Younger Toguro asked. "Do not harm the girl or the bird who visit her and I will make sure you get more pearls." Gonzo looked ready to decline on the spot but Elder Toguro commented snidely, "It'd be easy for you to get her to cry. You are a minstrel that pucks at people's heart strings." Gonzo got an idea. "As long as you keep the peals coming and don't leave her side, you've got a deal." He said greedily.

"I hope they sell for a good price." Zane said as they were left alone. "You didn't have to do that for me." Yukina said moved by the deal he struck. "I will keep you safe until you are rescued. Besides, you don't have to only be sad to shed tears." Zane said amused. He started to tell a tale that Yukina laughing so hard tears fell like hail with soft tinkling sounds as each pearl bounced.

A few hours later

Outside of Gonzo home

"This is your brother, just as I described." Zane said gesturing a wing at Hiei from his perch on Yukina's shoulder. "Your related to him?" A reddish orange pompadoured teen said as he looked at Hiei, trying to see the resemblance. Kazuma Kuwabara, age 14 and tall for his age. He had acute senses and could form a 'spirit sword'. He also had a crush on Yukina. Yusuke snorted, amused. "They have similar faces and are about the same height." Yusuke commented as Yukina looked the rescue party that came to save her.

Yusuke Urameshi was taller than Hiei but shorter than Kuwabara. He had slicked back black hair and had the look of a punk. None the less, his energy projectiles packed a punch and his training with legendary psychic Genkai held him get stronger. "What about the bird? And where is Zane? We were supposed to meet him here but he's nowhere in sight." Yusuke asked. "He is the bird." Botan stated as she flew in on her oar. "I was protecting this Hime from Tubby while you were playing with the demons" Zane said turning up his beak at them.

"We almost died!" Kuwabara said gesturing to his and Yusuke's tattered clothes. Their injuries were healed but Yukina as they left. "I'm the only reason she wasn't harmed. Tubby loved her tears and because I got her to cry tears without causing her pain, he never harmed her." Zane said. Yukina nodded when Hiei gave a questioning look. "His voice is wonderful at singing songs and telling stories." She praised him. "Thank you for the praise, Hime." Zane said returning to human form and standing before them. "Yep, badass biker who visited our homes to learn about us." Yusuke said. Kuwabara was staring at Zane with intense fear. "so much blood. How many?" He asked taking a step back.

"what are you talking about, Kuwabara?" Botan asked. "He doesn't smell like blood at all." Kuwabara shock his head. "I see him on a battlefield with corpses and fire everywhere. He's drenched in blood, none his own, and he fights on." Kuwabara describes the vision he saw. "He is well known among the demons for his tenacity in battle." Hiei said. "The Daemon they call him. Took out an army of B class demons with ease to get back an item that was stolen." Hiei looked at Zane as he said this. "I didn't figure it out at first, but the lack of detectable power and that vision gave me all the information I needed. What is an enlighten one doing with demons?"

"I may be called Monk of Wrath and Sorrow but that doesn't mean I am a biased asshole who kills demons for being demons." Zane said annoyed. "Add 'badass holy man' to list of complements I have for you." Yusuke said, impressed. "question, how powerful is a B class demon?" Kuwabara asked. "Stronger than the four Saint Beasts we beat. They were upper C class at most." Hiei said with a gleam in his eye. "If you guys need training, I am available. I need to iron out a deal for some treasures Tubby lost to another member of his club. The man only wants the money not the objects so he's willing to sell." Zane said as he left.

A week later

World Based on Yu Yu Hakusho

Human world

A café in Tokyo

"Everyone here is a demon, or human in the know, under your employment. This is bigger than finalizing a deal." Zane said sipping the spiced coffee, after checking for foul play. The smart looking young man with slicked back long black hair smiled. "You don't mind if I volunteered you for a little tournament, do you?" Sakyo asked drinking a coffee as well. "The Dark Tournament is an event you'd be interested in." The Younger Toguro said as he took a seat and joined the conversation. "And the prize for fight demons to the death is?" Zane asked. "A wish for each member of the team that wins. No strings out limitations. There is no monkey paw catch to it." Sakyo said checking that he got the money from Zane.

"And if I refuse you will kill me and anyone that I'm close to, if the rumors are true." Zane sighed annoyed. "When is it?" The 'human' cook was the one that answered. "My boat will be departing from the place listed here in three months' time. Don't be late." Zane took the note and put it away. As he left, he left a tip for the coffee. "This was profitable. He bought all the items I got from Gonzo, including the tears, for double the price. On top of that he will be on the human team this year. Are you confident you can beat him?" Sakyo asked. "not sure but as long as we can get more victories when the time comes, one loss won't matter." Younger Togure said smiling as he was interested in the future clash.

The next Day

World Based on Yu Yu Hakusho

Human World

Japan

Genkai's remote mountain temple

"How did you get younger?" Yusuke asked as he looked at Genkai, a short old lady with a temper. Gone was her wrinkles and her once gray hair was now a pale pink. "Dimwit, I'm still the same age! I tried some 'anti-aging' products to see how well they work." Genkai said glaring up at him. Yup she was the same old short granny that Yusuke remembered. "So why did you call the rest of us here? I know you are going to train me for the Dark Tournament, but why them?" Yusuke gestured to Hiei, Kuwabara, and Kurama next to him.

"They will be training with someone I trust to whip them into shape or at least strong enough not to die to a C class demon because they were careless." Genkai said as they enter her home. "Yukina! You are looking as lovely as ever!" Kuwabara declared when he spotted his crush setting out tea for them. "Hold it, Lover boy. She's here to make sure you don't die from my training." Zane said as it sunk in who was training them. "this is going to be hell, isn't it?" Kurama asked with a resigned look. "I will bring you up to B class before the boat leaves or kill you trying." Zane said. "All you have to do is survive. It will be like the training a couple of my teachers up me through." When it comes to strengthening the soul, more times you come close to death, greater your power gets. So, Zane was going to almost kill them daily to get them stronger as they honed their talents.

"I've got the dimwit's training covered. You can use the grounds to your content." Genkai said. As a welcoming feast was laid out. "Enjoy this moment of peace because tomorrow will 'stressful'." Genkai warned.

Flash forward a month

"Have you unlocked your old demon form yet?" Zane asked a bruised and battered Kurama. "Not yet, it's like there is a wall stopping me." Kurama said as he struggled to get up. "I was afraid of that. You are on the cusp of B class but the whole 'almost dying sixteen years ago' trauma is causing trouble." Zane said rolling his eyes. He tells the rest they had a five-minute break and had Yukina come to heal them. "Kitsune are free spirited creatures so trauma can affect their powers. Until you get past this speed bump, you can get more powerful." Zane stated.

"How do you know about that?" Kuwabara asked. Zane gave them a look as he said, "I'm going to show you my daughter's wedding photo. Do not ogle her because she is taken." Zane hands them the photo. "She is quite gifted beauty wise." Kurama commented. "You have a kitsune daughter? Fur must be everywhere when it's spring." Hiei said with a smirk. "Like you wouldn't believe. Fur, scales, hair, shedding can be a pain to clean up." Zane groaned. "The mess is useful in making stuff, so it balances out."

"She is more beautiful than you described. Electra is the flower girl, right?" Yukina asked, so happy for Zane's family that she wasn't jealous of Sakura's looks. "Her husband is steel, fire and a touch of not human." Kuwabara said as his sixth sense power gave him a glimpse of Shirou. "Good, you are getting better that reading people. Shirou is my apprentice in blacksmithing and an experiment of the Fae." Zane said and pulled out a vial that held a few drops of green goop. "This is what being favored by Lady Titania gets you. Random requests that you have to try to complete." Zane warned.

"The plant cure and Anti-aging stuff was requested by Fae?" Hiei asked. "Lady Titania throws ideas at me and enjoys seeing me struggle to make it so. The lesson is, don't make deals that are open ended." Zane said as the proof of his connect to the Fae Queen glinted otherworldly on his finger. "Back to training." Zane said as the break was over.

Flashforward seven weeks

"Ok, you've mastered the Dragon of the Darkness Flame. It only took you burning your arms to the bone several dozen times." Zane told Hiei dryly. Hiei's third eye, the Jagan Eye in his forehead, closed as he put a fresh headband on over it. "It was an experience I don't want to repeat. It hurt more than those punches of yours. He snarked back as he fell sleep. "Brother!" Yukina said as she ran up to him. "He's just resting. Might sleep a few hours or a few days." Zane said picking Hiei up to take him to the guest room.

Two weeks later

World Based on Yu Yu Hakusho

Human World

Hanging Neck Island

"That was a fun boat ride." Zane commented cheerfully as demons of all kinds groaned looking too ill to compete. "This has to be the first time the human team won the right to get to the island because of a bad storm making the rest of the teams too sick to fight." Genkai said amused. "And Yusuke slept through it all." Kuwabara said as he carried their sleeping team leader on his back. Genkai was the 'back up' teammate if someone got killed. "I know for a fact The Laskaris Law is how we survived." Zane said as the boat behind them fell apart. "MY BOAT!" The captain yelled as he cried a metaphorical river on the edge of the pier. The storm was still raging with gale force winds and towering waves.

"let's just get to the hotel." Kurama said as the failed teams glared their way.

At the hotel

"How was the boat ride?" Shizuru, Kuwabara's brown haired smoking older sister, asked as opened a soda can. With her was Yukina, Botan, and Keiko Yukimura. Keiko was the dark brown-haired human girl that loved Yusuke, she had gotten tangled with the spirit world problem already. "Sis? Why are you here?" Kuwabara asked almost dropping Yusuke in shock. "A man named Sakyo explained demons are real and you were drafted to fight for their entertainment." Shizuru said in an uninterested voice. "Turns out we were on the chopping block if you backed out. Good thing you didn't."

Yusuke was put on a bed and Zane filled them in on what happened the last few months. "And that's how I got us to the island before the boat sunk." Keiko was conflicted. On one hand, Genkai helped Yusuke get stronger but on the other, she nearly killed him to do it. "The dimwit asked for the training." Genkai said. "It will take more than this tournament to kill him, because I didn't waste my time train him just for him to be offed."

"So, you were the one to wreck the ship." A childish looking demon with colorful clothing and three red stars under his eye said as he perched on a dresser in the room. "The captain is swearing vengeance on you as he drinks his sorrows away at the bar." He tips his puffy cap and interduces himself "Call me Rinku." He was mildly surprised when Zane answered in turn. "I'm Zane and I can't wait to see what trick you do with those deadly yo-yos your hiding."

"How do you know I use yo-yos?" Rinku asked. "Trust me when I say, you aren't the first person I met that can kill someone with a kid's toy. The pattern of wear on your fingers in just like Killua's are. I'm guessing you can micro control the yo-yos and strings with energy. That takes training to get it down pat." Zane appaired, somehow crossing the room and inspecting Rinku's hands without anyone one sensing him move. "You're good." Rinku said amazed.

After the first round of matches

In the hotel

"Extra training after the tournament, Kuwabara." Zane said to only one of the three to lose their fight that round. "Hiei blasted his foe to an anti-shadow and Yusuke beat Chū, their captain, netting us the win." Zane gestured to the blue mohawked demon, that smelled of booze, picking out a bottle of booze to cement being allies with Yusuke's group. "Not many can handle Rinku's yo-yo attacks. He dodged half of them so there's that." The drunken said as he took his selection and left to enjoy it later. "How can you dodge Yo-yos are like live snakes?" Kuwabara mumbled with a swollen and bruised face. "Figure it out yourself you fool." Genkai said as she sighed at his foolhardy choices in the fight he lost.

"Why wasn't one of the members of their team there?" Kurama asked. "Oh right. I used Toad on one that was going to use your family as blackmail." Zane said as he fed a very ugly toad to a snake after milking it of it venom. The snake hissed in a happy way as Zane return it to where he pulled it from. "Isn't that a spell in RPGs that turns you into a toad/frog or back to normal if you were already one?" Yusuke asked. Zane just smiled. "I hope the snake enjoys snack." Kurama said also smiling.

Two days later

Hanging neck Island

The first Arena

Koto, the demon referee that looked like a cat girl with brown fur/hair and green eyes, stirred up the crowd. "We've got another day of blood and glory, starting with Team Urameshi Vs Dr. Ichigaki Team." A trio of human fighter followed a very short ugly lab coated demon that Zane hated on first sight. He had a calculating evil look on his face. "The odds are in my favor." Dr. Ichigaki laughed crunching numbers.

"Ref! I'd like to challenge all three fighters alone." Zane said out of nowhere. "It's not my call but I'll ask." Koto said surprised as everyone else was to some degree. "Why should I take the chance?" The doctor asked. Hiei and Kurama still hadn't gotten to the arena yet, smelled of foul play. "You want to study what makes me tick, right? That's why you are using living 'puppets' for this tournament." Zane said as his teammates looked at him in shock. "You noticed my brilliance at a glance? You will be an interesting test subject." Dr. Ichigaki said with pride. "It has been Green Lit! M1, M2, and M3 vs the man that laughs in the face of storms, Zane Laskaris!" Koto said and the match begun.

M1, an orange haired teen, summoned energy rings on his arms. "Angel Chakram" He said in monotone. The rings sliced stone with ease as Zane dodged. M2, an order man with black hair braided and mustache, wearing a Mandarin type outfit, created an energy lance that was invisible to the naked eye, but Zane sensed it with ease. "Swing Crush" He said in the same way as M1. Zane dodged again, testing how M3 would react. Like clockwork M3, a bare-chested brown-haired man, thrust a hand with an energy bomb, hidden just like the lance, in it at Zane, who dodged. "Hound Claw" He said in a monotone as well.

After a few more dodges Zane noted the pulsing thing on their backs and the silent tears they shed. "How are you dodging!" Dr. Ichigaki demanded as each attack just barely failed to do anything to Zane. "If you don't try harder, you master will expire." Dr. Ichigaki had no idea he had pressed a button he shouldn't have. "So that's your game." Zane said coldly. "You screwed with their teacher to force them to be your test subjects." An aura of power flared around Zane as he chanted "Esunaga!" A white light washed over the three fighters and the fleshy things on their backs shriveled up as it fell off harmlessly. The fighters themselves fell out cold as their bodies control was returned to them at last.

"NO! What have you done?" Dr. Ichigaki roared as A pair of lizard men and a robot fell from the sky. Hiei was sitting on the robot looking annoyed. "Your pets annoyed me and Kurama, making us late." He said blankly as Koto was too scared to say anything, her tail puffed out like crazy. "If you harm me their master will die!" Dr. Ichigaki said as he reached for a syringe from his coat. "None of that." Zane said as it burned in the mad quack's hand. "No!" Dr. Ichigaki said as he lost the stuff in the syringe and the fact Kurama was guiding the 'master' of the three he tricked. "Zane wins with a scary show of power." Koto stammered as Zane walked towards the doctor slowly and deliberately. "One last thing to do." Zane said in calm voice everyone heard crystal clear.

"Emerge! I summon you, Atomos!" Zane chanted holding a kaleidoscopic jewel inside of the 'jaws' of a mouth on a chain up. A shadow fell over the open Arena, causing ever one to look up. Above them was a beast. "What the hell has Zane summoned?" Koto said as the wind started to pull the robot, lizard men, and Dr. Ichigaki up into the opening mouth of Atomos. "No! This can't be the end! I have more research to do!" Dr. Ichigaki said holding on to Zane in a vain attempt not to get sucked up into the dimensional hole that was Atomos' mouth. Zane grabbed him by the neck and pulled him close. "You shouldn't have pressed the 'kill the teacher' button." He hissed in the doctor's ear before throwing him up to be swallowed.

As quickly as it appeared, Atomos vanished. "What a way to deal with your enemies! Zane's summon has taken them to who knows where and left the cleanup crew less of mess to deal with." Koto announced as everyone had a new reason to fear Zane. "They're real. I'm so screwed" Kuwabara said shivering. "We'll explain later." Yusuke said to Hiei, who had a silent question. "It has been rules that you are not use that again or be disqualified." Koto said as she got word from the official. "That's fine. I hardly ever use Atomos anyways." Zane said going back to his team.

An hour later

"The next round begins now! Team Urameshi vs Team Mashōtsukai (shortening it to Masho)!" Five black cloaked figures appeared out of nowhere. "I will fight first." One of them said as he throws off his robe. Gama, white skinned pointy eared demon, who's main weapon was special paint he used to 'Buff' and 'Debuff'. "A fellow user of markings. I have heard of you. I use runes and you use your version." Zane said jumping on to the fighting area. Gama wasted no time to start 'buffing' himself. He knew Zane said not someone he could beat. All he needed to do was disable him for someone else on the team.

Within a minute Gama had sealed his spirit energy, weighed down his limbs, and was closing in for a finisher that would knock Zane out. "Zane headbutt Gama into the ground!" Koto yelled "Even with his limbs trapped, he finds a what to win the match!" Toya removed his covering and came over to check his teammate. "He's alive but concussed badly. That will not afford you any mercy." Toya said as he moved Gama from the fight area. Zane couldn't move so he was forced to fight the next match.

Toya was an ice user that had green hair mostly hidden under a turban and was on the short side. He had a fishnet undershirt, a blue shirt, lighter blue pants and a white toga held on with a shoulder jewel. Koto was blushing as she started the match. "Looks like you've got an admirer. Not bad popsicle." Zane said as Toya's eye twitched before returning to a mask of cold logic. "Her interest in me is noted and your insult is childish." Toya said. "It should be. Because a little kid asked me to say that the next ice user I meet." Zane said. This threw everyone off for a moment.

"Good for you." Toya said as ice started to form around the fighting area. Koto jumped out of the storm area shivering. "The frosty hottie is whipping of a blizzard as we speak!" Koto said, "How will Zane handle this!" All you need to do is give up before frost bite sets in." Toya said forming an ice blade over his hand. The ice crept up to Zane neck when he made his move. "stjörnu börn! Your aim is needed!" On the other side of the island Zane had hidden his battle-axe stjörnu börn. They felt Zane's request and flew to him.

The battle-axe slammed into the ice and landed in Zane. 'Begin synchronization' was the silent command Zane gave the Battle-axe. "I never got to show off my 'make up' against Gama." Zane said as runes spread across his body, starting with the hand holding stjörnu börn. "Zane's body is getting hotter as more runes adorn it!" Koto said. "And I don't mean in a sexy way! He's literally glowing with heat!" Zane smiled and swung. Toya felt a burning feeling across his chest then heard ice hitting the ground as his ice blade was cut just after his longest finger. He had been sliced across the chest and was bleeding badly. The storm stopped as he fell forward to the ground.

"only 28% synchronized. Shame it didn't get higher." Zane said as the runes receded. He put the axe on his back and picked up Toya. "Don't worry about your 'frosty hottie'. I can fix him up." He told Koto who looked ready to hug him or hit him, maybe both. The tallest of Team Masho started to complain but was hit with Toad by Zane. "Anyone else want to complain?" Zane asked He used Toad on another one of their team along with a few dozen demons in the stands. "That's what I thought. Carry on." He started to heal Toya and Gama as Jin, the wind master disrobed and floated to the fighting area.

He was imp-like with red hair and a horn on his forehead, wearing white toga like baggy clothing. "This has been very interesting. I can't wait to fight someone." He said with a cheerful tone. Yusuke stepped up to fight him. What followed was an interesting fight. Jin's Tornado Fist was as much a defense as it was offence. The wind deflected Yusuke's attacks to the point Yusuke aimed on into the eyes of it. The blast detonated with enough force to send Jin into the stands, aka out of the ring. "That was a crazy move!" Jin said as he lost. "You're cool in my book, along with Zane. There's something about him that feels like kin to me."

"We lost." Gama said as he lay on the ground. "That Battle-axe isn't normal." Toya said lying next to him. "You are lucky I didn't kill you. If it was anyone else, you'd be corpses being buried." Zane reprimanded them. "I'll untoad your teammates later. They need to have a time out." They laugh a little at this. "They will never live this down." Toya stated knowing it to be fact.

Later

At the hotel

"the spell and summon Zane used are from the Final Fantasy games. Atomos is particularly dangerous because no one knows where you end up if eaten." Yusuke said as everyone, including Jorge and Koenma, who changed his look to an adult with the word 'Jr' on his forehead and a pacifier in his mouth still, listened to him. "PUU!" Yusuke's new spirit beast, Pu, said. It looked like a blue Furby with floppy ears and black hair. "Your spirit beast is so adorable." Keiko cuddling Pu, who enjoyed it.

"On the topic of beasts, you promised to show us yours, Zane." Koenma said. Zane pulled out a photo of his standing next to Wrath. "That Dragon is Wrath, my 'spirit beast'. As you can see, his head is the size of a truck. His body is very long, never measured how long." Yusuke was annoyed. "Why do you have a badass dragon while I got a furby?" He asked. Pu looked hurt at this. Zane plucked Pu from Keiko and pet him. "You have much to learn about the beast that reflect the owner's soul. Pu is but a child, as you are. Wrath was the ugliest fish ever once upon a time." Zane said getting a purr from Pu.

"What let him jump through the dragon's gate?" Keiko asked remembering the legend of the carp. "Enlightenment." Zane said plainly. "With time and effort, I became an being above mortal yet below major gods." This had some of them confused, clearly, they didn't brush up on Greek history in school. "He's a daemon, greater than demigods and sometimes called 'lesser gods' despite them not being immortal like gods are. What do they teach you brat in school these days?" Genkai said rolling her eyes.

"not enough, that's for sure." Younger Toguro said from the doorway. "I came by to tell Zane one of my teammates will displeased if you failed to fight them. They're a 'big fan' of your work, Grim Reaper." Botan was the most confused, as she was a grim reaper/ferry girl. "I don't been the 'pansy ferry girls', as my teammate calls them. I mean the Beings that Death itself hires to hunt immortals and other 'troublemakers that get on it's bad side." The Younger Toguro left them hanging with a smirk on his face as he left, closing the door softly.

'Answers please' was the look Zane got from the group's stares. Zane told them the tale of the 'first' Grim Reaper. "What kind of things can you get with the favors?" Shizuru said going to light a cigarette. Zane swiped it and gave her one that looked almost the same. "That won't kill your lungs. And to answer your question, they have a dictionary sized book of things you can't get." Zane said as she took a drag of what smelt like mint rolled up. "You smoke?" She asked. "Not tabaco. I'll admit I have smoked magical herbs to contact what I think are spirits, you can only understand if you are stoned. The shaman just laughed at me when I asked her."

"I'm not surprised but I question how you got a shaman to tell you anything that secretive. They pass the knowledge on by word of mouth to their student." Genkai said with an arched brow. "She found me interesting and I was keeping an eye of a trio of brothers she cared about. That was a doozy of an adventure." Zane said smiling, remembering the satisfaction he got from skinning that trickster in the end.

The next day

Hanging Neck Island

Hidden room in the hotel

Shiori Minamino was nursing a cup of tea as she and Atsuko Urameshi, Yusuke's alcoholic mother, had been stuck in this room watched the past match recordings for the last sixteen hours. "I guess it was the booze that was making me see demons." Atsuko said enjoying wine, and quite drunk. "Did you know your kid was demon?" She asked Shiori. "I knew he was different but he's still my son no matter what." Shiori said with complete conviction. "what worries me is why Yusuke isn't fighting in the semifinal round." They just got caught up with the matches and were watching live footage of Team Urameshi vs Team Uraotogi.

"Even without him, they're doing ok. Kwuabara got teleported twice now but they are winning." Atsuko said. "That old man is not old. His posture is all wrong." Atsuko's assessment was proven right when the 'old man' revealed to be a clown of '999 faces', as he boasted. Zane's fist shut him up and making the mothers laugh. "That is so like Zane." Shiori said. "sometimes he goes for the easiest method." Atsuko asked a question she had for a while. "It was twenty years ago. I was in college doing a course that Zane was teaching. He joked about traveling back in time to teach the class, at least I think he was joking."

"I'm not too sure about that. If demons are real, time travel might be real too." Atsuko said. Sakyo appeared on screen. "Hello ladies, I hope you enjoyed your stay so far. In two days, the finals will start, and you will be set free once it's done. By the way, this is a recording, so I won't be able to hear your responses." Sakyo's message ended and the tv turned off. "Hey, old man! Can you get us some grub?" Atsuko asked an old man with a wrapped 'stick', who nodded and left the room. "That old man reminds me of Zane a little." Shiori said. The old man returned with lunch. "stuffed porkchops prepared to your liking." The dry voice of the old man was warm. "Smells like the Laskaris seasoning blend. Wait. this isn't the secret blend. Must be one of the public spice blends people made to copy the secret blend." Shiroi stated. "Like I would let them have a Laskaris Clan secret. My sort of main self would not be happy. Allow me to introduce myself. I am The Monk, a copy of a mental aspect of Zane Laskaris that he created some years ago for project."

"So, he sent an imaginary friend to protect us? How strong are you?" Atsuko asked "solidly in the Upper B class. I don't know what's going on in Zane's head, but he called me away from teaching Lady Aura, so it must be important." The Monk grumbled as he returned to guarding the door.

The next day

Hanging Neck Island

In the woods

"The dimwit survived." Genkai said as she was a bloody Yusuke leave the cave alive. "So, he passed the final step to training?" Zane asked. "He integrated the spirit orb successfully after a painful day of total agony and got out of the cave alive, so yes he passed." Genkai said dryly. "Your 'biggest fan' sent a gift." Younger Toguro said as he tossed a box at Zane. Inside was photos of bodies and lists of crimes each victim committed. "Lovely it's one of them." Zane said annoyed. "it looks like something a fanatic would give to show their devotion." Genkai said as she looked through the photos "flawlessly clean kills every time. This is one hell of an assassin."

"The order of the Reaper, a group of Assassins that were inspired by me in the past. Their founder witnessed me on the clock as a Grim Reaper and model the group after the job, hunting immoral and immortal monsters that threaten Death's rules." Zane said looking at the names and dates. "Death let them do their thing because they are good at it. At least it's just photos this time. Some of the crazier members mailed the bodies once." Younger Toguro arched a brow. "No wonder she doesn't want to fight you, you're her greatest inspiration in life." He walks away saying "Don't disappoint me at the finals."

The next day

Hanging Neck Island

The secondary Arena

"Welcome all you humans and demons alike to the finals of the Dark Tournament!" Juri, a dark-skinned aquatic demon with a long tail and fins, yelled, smirking at Koto, who was asked to give commentary after it was decided she was bias because of her crush on Toya. "That's right, Juri. You get to be right near the action as Team Urameshi, the underdog of that fought their way to the finals, fights Team Togure, who have some of the bloodiest victories I've seen over the years." Koto said smirking back as Juri paled with fear.

"For anyone sleeping under a rock, Team Toguro consists of the Togure brothers, Bui, Karasu, and finally their fifth member, wait. That can't be right. Can I get a fact check on this?" Koto said as The Toguro Brothers walked in with a heavily armored man (Bui), a pale skinned long black-haired man wearing a black suit and a mask over his mouth (Karasu), and a non-descript woman with no feature that stood out in a crowd. "The fifth member is indeed a member of the Order of the Reaper. She gave no name or anything. She's a ghost with no records at all. That is dedication to the job, Folks." Koto said amazed. "Who knows why one of them is taking part in this event?"

Two dice, with names of the team members on them, were rolled and the first match was Karasu Vs Zane. The two fighters stepped up and Zane sighed. "Another pyro? I swear they are the moths and I am the flame." Zane said annoyed. "Oh? After I kill you, you won't have to worry about anything else ever again." Karasu said the ground cracked and Zane felt something grab his leg. A living bombs the size of tennis ball, surfaced, cackling, as it blew up. "Looks like your leg is gone…What! How are you unharmed?" Karasu raged, his cool lost.

The smoke cleared to show Zane unharmed with a blast crater where the 'Mad Bomb' had been. "Invisible living bombs? You must be a Quest Level Demon. Reminds me too much of Killer Queen." Zane said. He gripped stjörnu börn and started synchronizing with it. The match was interesting to say the least. As a Quest Level Demon, Karasu could materialize living and not living objects in his 'theme', for him it was bombs. They were sliced and dentated harmlessly or knocked into the air without harming anyone, not that most of the viewers knew what the bomb looked like.

"I have no idea what's going on but Karasu has removed his mask and his hair is golden blonde now! On top of that the runes on Zane's body have reached his heart!" Koto said as a flash of light and heat blinded everyone. "Zane has turned into a being of energy!" Koto yelled in disbelief. "Primal King's Mantle." Genkai said as she sat next to the demon cat girl. "After synchronizing with stjörnu börn, Zane has become the personification of a star." Genkai explained. "as you can see, the ground he's walking on is melting."

Zane pointed a finger at Karasu, and a pulse of heat turned him into ash, and super-heated the stone of the arena. Zane powered down as he was called the winner. "Wait a little bit for it to cool off." Zane said jumping to the ground to rest. "Lord Reaper's skill with the flame are unrivaled." The unnamed female assassin stated with great reverence. Her voice was a whisper in the wind.

The next match was Kuwabara vs Elder Toguro. Using the Darkness tool, he got from the clown Zane punched, Kuwabara was slicing up the sadistic shapeshifter but it was not getting him the win. "Spirit Tennis Racket!" Kuwabara said after kicking the part of the body he knew contained the heart and brain, his acute sense helped, this spirit sword shifted to a razer sharp racket that cubed and killed the Elder Toguro brother. "Come back from that you creep." Kuwabara said looking dead on his feet bleeding out from a lot of purposefully nonfatal shallow stab wounds.

"Can you take over, Please?" Juri asked shaking like a leaf and looking ill. "Suck it up buttercup!" Koto said 'helpfully'. "The next match will have to wait because the arena has been ruled to be too damaged to use!" Younger Toguro rolled his eyes behind his glasses an walked off without a word.

An hour later

Younger Toguro had return with Arena from the other site and kicked the exist one apart to replace it with the more intact on he carried. His fight with Yusuke destroyed and one of the sections of the stands, opening a hole to the outdoors. So, Zane wasn't sure it was worth bringing the more intact arena in the first place. "And the winner of the Dark Tournament is Team Urameshi! That final match was well worth the near death when the place started to crumble!" Koto said. Half the demons in the stands were crushed by rocks, blasted to death, or had their souls devoured by Younger Toguro.

Speaking of the muscle-bound fighter, he died because he pushed himself to the limit, yet Yusuke still had more give. "On par the rules, the winners get their wishes granted. They will meet the higher ups in private to do this later today." Koto said as Juri was in a dead faint in the arms of Jin who saved her from falling rubble. "Please leave in an orderly manner." She said as the remaining demons picked their way to the exits.

"So, Zane, what was that thing you pulled?" Yusuke asked. "That form was more powerful than Upper B class for sure." Zane chuckle tiredly. "It's more in the Upper S class. A level of power the rulers of Demon world have." This got everyone staring. "You are Upper S Class?" The deep voice of Bui asked. "You truly are a Daemon." Bui said as he left, having said all he wanted to say. "My Lord, it pleases me to have met you in person, but I must leave." The unnamed assassin said, vanishing to tell her brethren the good news.

"How heavy is this axe?" Kuwabara asked pulling on the handle as hard as he can. "You can lift a Norse magical weapon without being worthy in its eyes. That Battle-axe contains twin blue stars and was made for me specifically by the request of Thor. The chances of anyone else lifting it is slim at best." Zane still feeling the aftereffects of the mode he used. Lots of power but more he restrained the heat, that wished to burn the world and begin it a new, more drained he was exiting it. That mode was not to be used lightly, as it was easily in the planetary level destruction category when he didn't hold it back at all.

He called the weapon and stowed it away. "Can we get to the hotel, there's something you need to know." Zane said as they held him up.

Five minutes later

Hanging Neck Island

Outside the hotel

Sakyo was waiting for them with the hostages they, other than Zane, knew he had. "Mom/Mother?!" Kurama and Yusuke said shocked. "You worried me so much." Shiroi said patiently as she hugged her son what ever he wanted to call himself these days. "One hell of a fight you had." Atsuko said with a bottle of liqueur in hand. "That's her alright. Smells just like I remember." Yusuke said giving a one arm hug and she returned one in kind. "The other members of the Black Black Club ran afoul with the lady from the Order of the Reaper, leaving their wealth and power to me. What are your wishes?" Sakyo said like it was weather.

Kuwabara wished that Yukina would not be targeted again. "Easily done. Zane has all the peals she made since her capture and the fame you accumulated has made her unlikely to be attacked by demons. I will make some calls to get the humans off her trail." Was Sakyo's response. Hiei's wish was originally the death of the Black Black club so he settled on the Dark Tournament being ended for good. Sakyo had no feather need for the event, so he granted it without pause. Gankai asked for more land, just so she can have more distance with any neighbors, she is a hermit after all. This was granted but it'd take a few days to take effect.

Kurama wished to know the whereabouts of Yomi, if he was alive. "An old friend from your thieving days? He's one of the three rulers of Demon world. Who knows when you will meet him? but I can work something out." Sakyo said very interested in this wish. Yusuke didn't know what he wanted so Sakyo gave him a cut of the Black Black Clubs wealth. It was a lot of zeros in that bank account. "So, Zane, what is your wish?" Zane looked him in the eye and said "I want this island. It's nexus of a lot of laylines." Sakyo shrugged. "I was going to sell it anyways so it's all yours. That concludes the Final Dark Tournament, have a nice day." Sakyo walks away to pursue his real goal, opening a permeant demon portal because he can.

"the old guy vanished like ten minutes ago." Atsuko said leaning on her son. "Said something about needing to get back to teaching Lady Aura or whatever." Kurama was worried as he asked, "So you know now?" Shiroi hugged him again. "You will always be my son even if you are the legendary sliver fox demon thief Kurama." She said voice full of motherly love. "Zane has told me a lot of legendary figures in history, including the demon ones." She was inerturpted as Zane was swarmed by pipe foxes. "Calm down! I'm fine!" Zane said under the mountain of furry bodies.

"That is a lot of pipe foxes. And they clearly care for him." Hiei said amused as the pipe foxes searched every inch of Zane for injury. Finding none they promptly turn to Kurama and greeted him like a fellow fox. Shiroi laughed as she too was greeted. No one was spared being checked over and greeted by the Pipe Foxes. The girls found them adorable and were more than happy to feed the horde star candies.

"These are my eyes and ears. No one notices them and they at loyal to my family." Zane said as they sat outside on the grass. "Do they all have names?" Botan asked. "Yes, but not in any tongue you'd understand. Kurama might but that's because he's a fox." Zane said as the pipe foxes make a collection odd noises that was their names. "I see thank you for telling me all your names." Kurama said. It was a peaceful way to unwind after the tournament. Kuwabara got put through the ringer a week later for his screw up, but had it coming. Zane returned them home and departed because a Reaper Task. A parasite had taken advantage of a race of monks to revive himself after being mostly killed almost a thousand years ago. If Death put 'Extreme Priority' at the top of the thing, then Zane had to deal with it before a world was altered on a fundamental level.

A month later

World of the Soul King

Soul King's Palace

Ōetsu Nimaiya's City

Zane was currently learning some bladesmith skills from the 'God of Sword' Ōetsu Nimaiya on his layer of the Palace. The Soul King's Palace was above the Soul Society consisted of multiple 'layers' that were very far apart from each other but always being higher up, meaning you'd have to fly or jump to get the next 'layer'. Ōetsu Nimaiya was a dark-skinned man with a fluffy black hair with the sides shaved and dyed green. He looked thin but his bare arms were solid muscle. He wore a black outer grab with a white under robe and had glasses on to look 'cool'. The white vest like jacket he had set a side was apparently what Shinigami capation wore. The symbol, a diamond with four four-petaled 'flowers' in it, meant he was one of the Royal Guard, aka the Zero Squad.

This blade is amazing for a mortal blade. The Craftmanship is artwork that can slice a lot of things. You most likely enhance the blade with your energy and the sheathe allows the blade to exit and leave it like it isn't there." Ōetsu said examining Callisthenes and marveled as the kopis moved into the sheathe via the side of it. The metal seemed to part letting the blade be sheathed despite the odd shape of the blade. "After I adopted my eldest daughter, I needed a way to keep the sharp edges from small fingers." Zane explained.

"I'm impressed. You are a Master Blacksmith, but not at my level yet." Ōetsu with pride. Zane understood the oddities Ōetsu. Stronger you were more likely you had a weird personality quirk. Ōetsu lived in a shack on a barren cliffside surrounded by women that were zanpakuto, living swords with 'spirits' typically, but not always, having humanish appearances. "This battle-axe on the other hand." Ōetsu fails utterly to lift it. "Is a weapon that scares the hell out of me. I don't know how the maker did it, but it is more powerful than the strongest fire based zanpakuto ever to exist, and that's saying something." Ōetsu is the creator of all zanpakuto and he doesn't scare easy.

Zane explained the system Noble Phantasm used to show how many it would hit. When he revealed the that Primal King's Mantle was Anti-World on that scale, Ōetsu was totally speechless as his shades slide a little. "I'm back with food." Mera Hiuchigashima, a slender young red head girl, said setting down bags of food. She was a zanpakuto spirit and was unafraid to kick her creator in the head when he does stupid things, like standing slack jawed. "I said I had food you moron!" She yelled kicking Ōetsu. "You can gawk at his weapons at other time." Mera said annoyed. "Zane, never go all out with that weapon. It would destabilize the realms of this world." Ōetsu deathly calm.

"I know that. I already got yelled at by a cosmic entity about it." Zane said remembering the time Madame Webb yelled at him for almost killing himself the first time he used the form. As if on cue, Zane felt time slow for him as his soul was dragged out into The Web.

The Web

"Hello again Zane." The silver haired woman, in a red dress with eyes hidden behind red spectacles, said warmly. Zane looked at the threads around him and noticed the members of the spider verse he met didn't look more than a few years older. "Cassandra, how long has it been of the other spider people?" Zane asked using Madame Webb's first name. She smiled and steeped her hands amused "two or three years, it fluctuates depending on who exactly you are asking about. Out of all the spiders, you are odd to say the least. You use a magical item to web. You have a lot of silk from the most amusing beings." She listed other things before finishing with, "You are the black sheep of the spider family and that why I'm checking in on you."

"That is the nicest thing you've told me of the three time we met. The first time was just to say hi and called me the 'adopted spider' of the family. Then next time was to chew me out for like an hour. I swear you're the Spidermom of this giant family." Zane snarked halfheartedly. "And you are reckless child that gets in all the trouble." Madame Webb answered smiling. "You fought an army of Quincy, I believe you call them, severing the strings the parasite had on their souls. You could have just killed them, but you didn't. I don't enjoy seeing you being a pin cushion just so you can save enthralled people from their 'lord and savior'." She deadpanned. "On a happier note, they now are your newest followers oh Monk of Wrath and Sorrow." She said with smirk and sending him back to his body.

No time had passed

World of the Soul King

Soul King's Palace

Ōetsu Nimaiya's City

"I hate when she does that." Zane grumbled. "Who do what?" Mera asked. "A being that sits out of reality who 'adopted' me into her 'spider family' as I call it. That's the third time she contacted me without any warning." Zane said all to calm in her opinion. "Do you have any idea how bad it sounds coming from a guy that was dropped at the 'front door' of the Soul King's Palace bleeding out from more puncture wounds than a hedgehog has spines?" Mera asked annoyed "Tenjirō Kirinji, the hot spring demon, had to use his strongest hot spring treatment to heal your sorry ass!" Mera berated Zane.

"I'm sorry but I had to get past the thralls of the parasite that named himself Yhwach, talk about major egomania." Zane snarked back. "You killed who?" Ōetsu asked breaking out the fight. "He's dead for good this time. Death didn't take any chances and sent the best Grim Reaper on their payroll." Zane said with a small touch of pride for his work. "I need to have a meeting with the other captains of the Royal Guard." Ōetsu said, using shunpo (It means Flash Step) to go a lot faster.

"I have no idea who the parasite was, but he was dangerous enough that they pulled rank and made me drop everything to do the job." Zane said as he looked at the grub she brought. "Looks like I can make a good with this. Got any pots around here?" She brought him a tall pot and Zane got to work.

An hour later

World of the Soul King

Soul King's Palace

Ōetsu Nimaiya's City

"You're back. There's more than enough for the three of us." Zane said as Ōetsu returned. Four more people appeared using shunpo. Tenjirō Kirinji, a lanky man with a long black pompadour chewing on a stick. Senjumaru Shutara, a youthful black-haired woman with a crescent moon head piece and four spidery arms that extended from her back. Kirio Hikifune, a plump purple-haired woman who was at the pot in an instant inspecting it with the air of a chef. And the super monk himself, Ichibē Hyōsube, a mountain of a bald man with a large black beard framing his toothy grin and a necklace of giant red beads around his neck. "I hope you have enough for four more people." Ichibē said in a booming voice. "I was expecting you guys. With some bread the stew can be a small lunch at best for the seven of us." Zane said stirring the food, tasting it then adding a pinch of salt.

"You killed the Quincy King? I find that highly unlikely." Senjumaru said intrigued with an air of snobbish. "He was a parasite using them as batteries. That is one of the most scumbag ways of kingship I've seen." Zane said with disgusted look. "As for proof." Zane said as he turned to his reaper form with the addition of an apron on. It said, 'don't mess with the cook'. "This should be sufficient." He stated an tasted the food. "Mmm. Perfect, food's ready." Zane's voice in this form didn't help them trust his food so he let go of the power of Death, returning to normal form.

"It's not poisoned. I killed last five people that made food for the sole purpose of killing their target." Zane said dead serious. Hikifune was already eating so they gave it a shot. "for normal food this is quite filling. Gives you enough energy to last a long day in the forge." Hikifune said approvingly. "You are just like Ōetsu, a blacksmith that works longs hours at a time, not stopping even to eat." Zane laughed at this. "You are spot on lady. Sometimes It's weeks in the forge without eating or sleeping. Mainly because of so many orders coming in at the same time."

Ōetsu grinned. "I know your pain. Sometimes I feel I get swamped with orders because they can. But can it stop us? No, we complete the orders in record time, and everything is top notch quality." He said as he pats Zane's shoulder.

"Let's get to the brass tacks, what happened to the Quincy he gave his power too?" Ichibē asked. "When I severed the parasite's connection to the Sternritter (German for 'Star Knights' aka the elites of the Quincy forces), I rewrote the powers as their own, not power they held for a time. I effectively removed any anchors the parasite had to prevent his death." Zane explained. "there was a small side effect that Death planned to happen." Zane admitted.

"The fact all Quincies no longer destroy the hollow's soul but purifies them like a zanpakuto does?" Senjumaru asked. "It was the cause of the war with the Quincy in the first place. The Soul King wishes to 'speak' with you. After all you killed his son. He was a bad apple but still his son in the end." Senjumaru said offhandedly.

Ten minutes later

World of the Soul King

Soul King's Palace

Greater Soul King Palace

Zane was in the highest 'layer' of the Palace, a cylinder building that housed the Soul King. "You are not what I expected." Zane said to the Soul King. The Soul King was limbless body with weird eyes and slicked back black hair inside of a crystal that floated off the ground in the throne room. "Wait you aren't mad I killed your son?" Zane asked surprised as the Soul King 'talked' to him. Turns out, he was the lynchpin that kept this world's plains and flow of souls stable. In a sense he was 'keyhole' and 'Heart' of this world rolled into one. "As a Keyblade Master I need to ask this. "May I seal the Keyhole to this world? It will help stabilize it somewhat and keep the heartless from taking the heart of this world." Zane asked.

"You saw this coming? Can you predict the future like a prophecy or is it seeing all the possible outcomes at once?" Zane asked as he brought out his keyblade. A floating keyhole appeared as Zane locked it with a beam of light from the tip of the keyblade. "Ah, all possibility sight. That is comforting to know." Zane said dismissing his keyblade. "You want me to explain to the Shingami that the Quincy are no longer a threat? Oh boy, that will be a pain with the history of bad blood between them." Zane said dreading the confutation. "It is not going to be easy as uniting the Digimon or the heartless was. For one, they ether wanted to join me or in the case of the Digimon, Feared/respected the seven great demon lords." Zane retorted. "You are giving me your seal as proof it's truth? That will help a lot." Zane said with a sigh, resigned.

The next thing Zane 'heard made him stumble as he turned to leave. He spun around and poked the Soul King at chest level. "I refuse! You can't make me a Royal Guard on the spot! I already have too many hats as it is!" Zane said as he jabbed the crystal, makes a chiming sound with each poke. The 'reply' stopped him cold. "I don't need to guard you. Just help with issues here and there, rarely be your messenger. Ok, that's fair." Zane said then was hit with pain as a Ōken, kings key, was inscribed into his body. Every bone and hair in his body was now the 'key' to getting into the Soul Kin's Palace.

"That was painful. If I make something from my body parts without intends of it being a Ōken will it not be a Ōken?" Zane asked. "Oh good. It's all about intent. 'Go see Senjumaru for my uniform.'? Should have known there was a dress code." Zane grumbled.

An hour later

World of the Soul King

Soul King's Palace

Senjumaru Shutara's City

Zane stood on a wood block nude as Senjumaru's mechanical arms measured him top to bottom. The room he was in was full of bolts of fabric in every color and patten there was. "With you running the messages, we would get yelled at for 'not helping' them solve their own issues." Senjumaru commented as he finished measuring and moved not to finding the right fabrics for Zane's uniform. "You'll get the standard black Shihakushō (Garment of the dead) …" She started to list all the parts of the uniform as Zane's eye twitched annoyed. ".. your white haori can be customized a little if you wish." She final finished talking. "Can you put some fur on it like my Reaper Form has on the shoulders?" Zane asked. Senjumaru thinks about before saying, "Workable. You may put on some clothes while I make the uniform. Keep in mind these are Ōken clothing." Senjumaru said.

Zane got dressed quickly. "So, you collected bone and hair for while to get this much stored up." Zane said, making small talk. "I have means of making it go faster but it does take time. It just like with spider silk, there only so much you can get at a time. Speaking of silk, you have some clothing made of a silk I've never encountered. Where did you get it?" Zane explain each of the sources of silk Zane used. "Interesting. Never imagined 'digital' silk would be better than real silk." She said. "Your 'riding leather' is also impressive but too rebellious for this job. I imagine you wore a Quincy uniform to infiltrate the base, hence why you almost died. Their uniform lacks protection compared to your normal clothes."

"Yeah, it's just cotton-based cloth and a lot of pride from the one who made it. Stole it from a Quincy from Karakura Town in the human world. He had a dozen of them in his closet. Used a little magic to alter it because it was too small for me." Zane said.

An hour later

World of the Soul King

Soul King's Palace

Vestibule-Road, the 'front door' of the palace.

"Given you aren't in a hurry, you can take the stairs." Ichibē said as a long sprilaing staircase appeared, leading down to the Soul Society below. "It will take a week to walk it or a day if you rush it." Ichibē explained. Zane, in his uniform, was doing some calculations. His strew sandals made little notice as he had a running start, diving down the opening of the spiral. Ichibē stared for a movement the laughed boomingly. "or you can jump down. Happy landing, Zane!" He yelled down to the falling Zane.

20 hours later

World of the Soul King

Soul Society

Seireitei (Court of Pure Souls)

11th Division HQ

Zane landed perfectly as the Shinigami around him were blown into the walls as gale force wind ripped out from the impact site. That was no crater but the Shinigami, mostly unseated members and some seated officers, were smashed into the walls and building. "Hey, where is the head of the Gotei 13? I've got a message for him." Zane asked. "This is the 11th Division, you are looking for the First Division." A tall man wearing an eye said as the bells on his spiked hair tinkled with his moment. He stepped out of the building and Zane saw he was a captain and had a pink haired little girl hanging off him. "You are wearing the uniform of the Zero Squad so you must be strong. My name is Kenpachi Zeraki, care for a fight?" Kenpachi said with grin.

"Kenny! He has to get the message to Gramps, or the fight will be interrupted!" The little girl said "You're right, Yachiru. It'd be annoying if the fight gets stopped for some reason like that." Kenpachi wondered what to do. "Everyone was blasted into the walls and I don't want to take him to Gramps." Kenpachi mused. "Captain Zeraki, what happened?" A red-haired tattooed man, with his hair long like a pineapple and wearing a white headband, asked as he appeared on the outer wall via shunpo. "Lieutenant Renji Abarai, I've got a job for you." Kenpachi said with a grin. Renji, Lieutenant of the 6th Division, paled as Yachiru, who turned out to be Kenpachi's lieutenant, mirrored Kenpachi's grin.

Ten minutes later

World of the Soul King

Soul Society

Seireitei

1st Division HQ

"I can't believe he roped me into guiding you here, I have an errand from Captain Kuchiki to deal with." Renji grumbled. Byakuya Kuchiki, Renji's captain and head of the Kuchiki clan, one of the noble houses. "Would you prefer he led me here? From what you said, the two of them have no sense of direction and don't stop for things like walls, doors, or people." Zane stated. Renji paled again "we just finished fixing things after the invasion/rescue Ichigo pulled." Renji said as a silver-gray haired man wearing a badge that marked his as the lieutenant of the 1st Division walked up to them. "This is lieutenant Chōjirō Tadaoki Sasakibe." Renji said to before turning to Chōjirō stating "This man wishes to speah to the Head Captain. He's from the Zero Division." Chōjirō nodded told Zane to follow him.

In no time they were at a door. "Enter." An ancient but still strong voice said from within. The entered a room with an open bocony that had a view of the Seireitei opposite the door. Chōjirō left Zane with the only person in the room. A bald old man with a white braided beard that reached his waist. He has an 'x' scar on his head and had a cane that screamed power to Zane's senses. The owner of the crane was just as dangerous to Zane's senses. Head Captain Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, the one that 'killed' the parasite almost a thousand years ago.

"What news does the Royal Guard bring?" He asked is a voice that demanded complete respect and truthfulness. "I have bad news, god news and better news. What do you want to hear first?" Zane asked. "Start with the bad. It's not like having three captains turning traitor a few weeks ago isn't a big deal." Yamamoto stated annoyed. "Ok, the Quincy were amassing an army with the parasite with a god complex at the helm." Zane started. "WHAT!" Yamamoto roared in shock and anger as the heat rose. "Good news is that the parasite was killed for good before he got all his power back." Zane said quickly before anything started to burn.

"Explain." Yamamoto said glaring. "As you are aware, above the Soul King is The Council of Death. They sent me, their best Grim Reaper to deal with the issue, it worked well and that brings me to the better news. As an intended side effect, Quincy weapons act more like Zanpakuto when it comes to killing hollows." Zane explained as the heat returned to normal. "As a result, the flow of souls will not be threated, and the Quincy won't be hunted again." Yamamoto said intrigued. "That sums it up. The Soul King made me the messenger between the Royal Guard and you. Hurt like hell to get the key but that's life." Zane sighed.

"We are currently in a crisis. Aizen and his cohorts have turned traitor. They stole a dangerous object and holed themselves on in Hueco Mundo, the land of the hollows. Will you add use int the coming conflict?" Yamamoto said with hope hidden in his tone. "Sure. I don't mind lending a hand." Zane said with a shrug. "I am grateful for what aid you can provide. I need to call the Captains' meeting to inform everyone." Yamamoto stated.

An hour later

World of the Soul King

Soul Society

Seireitei

1st Division HQ

"You will be staying at the 10th Division as Captain Hitsugaya is going to be the leader of the strike team when the rest of the members are selected." Yamamoto said as a short white haired 'kid' with turquoise eyes looked at Zane with a gaze that was guarded. "Tōshirō Hitsugaya, wielder of the strongest ice and snow zanpakuto and a prodigy according to your peers." Zane said. "That's Captain Hitsugaya." Captain Hitsugaya said with a chilly retort. "The problem with prodigies is that they tend to have 'problems' in some way. How stressed are you?" Zane asked. Captain Hitsugaya sighed. "The paperwork gets mile high when Rangiku Matsumoto, my lieutenant drinks on the job, so about half the time. What's your point?" He said.

"If you are going to being fighting you need a break. Take a day off while I have a chat with this 'Rangiku'. I will get her to do the paperwork before getting drunk from now on." Zane said. "He has a lot knowledge of psychology so he might be about to straighten her out." Yamamoto said looking at a list of skills Zane possessed, far from complete but it was impressive. Captain Hitsugaya looked at Zane sharply. "How well can you deal with someone who was betrayed by someone they trusted completely?" He asked. "How bad was the betrayal?" Zane asked.

"Aizen used Momo and tied to kill her as a means to get the upper hand." Captain Hitsugaya said knuckles white as the temperature in Yamamoto's office dropped. "One of those kinds of people. I know all too well. Before we let anyone head for the human world, I need to remove the 'spell' planted on you guys. Most of the people I passed had it on them." Zane said having a good idea with it did. "You can remove the effects of Aizen's zanpakuto?" Captain Hitsugaya asked surprised. "It's will be tricky, but I can be done." Zane said before adding "Have everyone you know is affected come to the 4th Division for a 'mandatory health exam', it will keep Aizen in the dark."

"Less people that know the better it will work." Captain Hitsugaya said realizing what Zane meant. "Information is everything in war. Too much or too little can ruin chances of winning. That's why the captains were only told you were from Zero Division and the fact Quincy no longer upset the flow of souls for unknown reasons." Captain Hitsugaya had a small smile and his eyes were brighter as hope had returned.

Two weeks later

World of the Soul King

Soul Society

Seireitei

10th Division HQ

It took about ten days to round up everyone effected and use Esunaga on them in large groups at a time. Aizen's 'total Hypnosis' turn out to be a curse/debuff in the eyes of the white magic Zane cast. Captain Retsu Unohana of the 4th Division was not pleased to have to treat most of 11th Division, again, this time because of Zane, and was quite annoyed when Zane and brought a bruised and battered Kenpachi from the slugfest the two had. Unohana looked like the nicest person you ever met with her long black hair braided in front of her chest, but she got displeased, or worse, she had this aura of doom and her smile didn't change as she questioned you politely.

"That concludes my report why I have to help the 4th Division for the next week." Zane told Captain Hitsugaya, standing in front of his desk. "luckily it's just bruising, and he will be healed up I a day or two." Captain Hitsugaya sighed. "On top of that, you got my Lieutenant to do her work for once, so I will let this slide." The busty reddish blonde haired Rangiku Matsumoto pouted at this. "I don't see why when he gets in trouble you let off, but you holler at me all the time?" Rangiku complained. "You slack off and he had to fight Kenpachi." Captain Hitsugaya stated. "Besides he isn't under my command. He's just on 'loan' to help us with Aizen."

Rangiku was very interested now. "What is the 'Zero division'?" Zane answered her question. "They are called the Royal Guard, but the reason you guys call them 'Zero Division' is because they are ranked higher than the Head Captain. I can imagine you have an idea what they do." All captains had the option of letting the lieutenants know of the Soul King. "They guard the king and nothing else." Rangiku guessed. "Exactly. The best of the best is chosen to protect the Soul King. I, on the other hand, do not have that job. They can't come down here every time they have something important to say so I was hired to be the messenger and provide aid so you guy can't say they aren't helping you."

"when put it like that, you make it sound like you were an afterthought." Rangiu pointed out. "It's thankless job, one of many I have, and helping you guys was something I tacked on myself. The Soul King won't mind." Zane said with a shrug as he left to help clean the expansive sewer system as 'punishment detail'.

A six days later

World of the Soul King

Soul Society

Seireitei

In the Sewers

The sewers were a massive maze of paths you could have an army travel. The paths were about five people wide on either side of the water and 20 meters tall give or take. With Zane was Hanatarō Yamada, 7th Seat of the 4th Division. Hanatarō was a short and not much a fighter with black flat hair and a little bit of a klutz. But Zane noticed how much he cared about others. They were currently checking for anything that shouldn't be here. "Are we looking for rats or something?" Zane asked Hanatarō, as he blasted dog sized mutated rats and collected the bodies on par R and D's wishes. "Most of the time it worse than oversized rats." Hanatarō said cheerfully. "Captain Kurotsuchi of 12th Division has a habit of losing test subjects and he sends us to subdue it alive so he can test on it farther." Mayuri Kurotsuchi was mad scientist that wore make up and weird outfits. He also was insane and sadistic. They had been searching the sewers for six days now to hunt down a 'few lost rats' as they were told. They could kill them if the body was intact for him to study.

"That is two hundredth rat we killed. Ether he downplayed the number, or they are multiplying." Zane stated annoyed. "I don't know how many more snake fanged frog legged rats I want to face down here." Zane said as it dawned on him. "We need to get out of here now!" He said ungently, grabbing Hanatarō and jumping up the nearest ladder.

A few hours later

World of the Soul King

Soul Society

Seireitei

12th Division HQ

Research and Development

"You are saying the rats changed gender and started to breed?" Mayuri said condescendingly "They are all female rats that escaped and there are incompatible with any other creature I made sure of that." Zane flip a rat corpse over, and it was clearly male. "Frogs can and have switch genders when there is no one to breed with. You snake frog rats are breeding as we speak. I found egg remains as well." Zane presented the leathery egg remains. The clown took it and scanned it. On the organic looking computer was two DNA strands. One from the egg and one from the few rats that didn't escape.

"Fascinating they adapted to lay snake like eggs and can switch genders as needed." Mayuri grinned. "Nemu, we much deal with the rats ourselves." He snapped at his lieutenant Nemu, an artificial being he created. She had short black hair and a blank look on her face. "I must thank you for this wonderful information. We are still doing tests on the arm you donated for testing. Your biology is very interesting." He was referring to an arm that Zane lost, a new one grew back, some time ago and kept in case he needed it. "I'm glad to be of service to progressing your research." Zane said dryly. Mayuri grin was not comforting "I will unravel your regeneration one day." Mayuri said as he left for the sewers.

Akon, a black lightly spikey hair man with three small horns on his forehead wearing a lab coat over his uniform, sighed. He was the third seat of this division. "I'll get your payment for you." Akon said. "This is not too unexpected. He experiments and something goes 'odd' for lack of a better term. He was in the Nest of Maggots' deepest level for a reason." The Nest of Maggots, the insane asylum that had a 'no weapon' policy. Akon was also from there, but he wasn't as bad as Mayuri who was confined in the lowest levels to rot alone in the darkness.

"What was the intent behind this one?" Zane asked. "Let's see. 'Chimera research' from the looks of it. One of his broader projects he tinkers with." Akon said after looking it up. He gives Zane a bag of currency. "this covers hazard pay as well. Half is yours and the other half is for seventh seat officer Hanatarō." Akon stated before returning to his work. Zane saw himself out.

The next day

World of the Soul King

Soul Society

Seireitei

10th Division HQ

"That's why he's sleeping right now." Rangiku explained to Captain Hitsugaya about the rats. Zane had fallen asleep on the couch as soon as he got back to here. "That makes all too much sense for my liking and sanity. There was reports of something trying and failing to get out of the ground all over the Seireitei for the last few days. The sightings line up with the places you can enter the sewer system." Captain Hitsugaya stated showing her two maps. "That means that the rats aren't strong enough to lift the sewer covers. To be fair, they are made of a heavy stone. The question is, what are they eating?" Rangiku puzzled.

"That is a good question. Of the six test subjects that escaped the lab, only three were recovered, dead. According to this memo from R and D, the original rats had trackers implanted to keep track of who's who." Captain Hitsugaya said trying to find a patten to the rats escape attempts. "They are eating anything including their own kind." Suì-Fēng, captain the 2nd Division and head of the Onmitsukidō (The covert force unit), said, sounding angry. Suì-Fēng was a petite woman with black hair in two long cloth covered braids that ended with golden rings. "I lost a dozen men locating the nest. Mayuri is dealing with the issue as we speak." Suì-Fēng growled.

"Then why are you here?" Captain Hitsugaya asked his fellow captain. "To inform you it was the rat that broke free on their own. Aizen had them as a backup plan to be a distraction, complete with a food source ready for the rats to feat on." She spat and threw down a report on the desk. Captain Hitsugaya's eyes widened as he read it, once, twice, then thrice to be sure he read it right. "how many?" He asked. "too many. All of them likely from the Rukongai, based on the torn fabric." Suì-Fēng said a voice that was colder than winter. "We searched for anymore 'surprises' he may have left behind and located hidden cashes that were 'illuminating' to say the least."

Meanwhile

World of the Soul King

Soul Society

West Rukongai near the west gate

"What the hell do you want?" Kūkaku Shiba, a youthful woman with black hair, covered partially by a white stripe of cloth, glaring green eyes, a provocative red outfit that showed off her figure, a wooden prosthetic right arm and a tattoo on her left arm that was holding a thin pipe. They were meeting at here instead of her home because they didn't what to make an enemy out of her. "We've uncovered proof that, with a shadow of a doubt, Aizen orchestrated your brother and his wife's death." Shunsui Kyōraku, Captain of the 8th Division, said taking his straw hat off and holding it to his chest in apology for it taking this long to uncover this information. He had scruffy face and black hair in a ponytail. He was also wearing a pink flowery kimono over his uniform.

"Well, he sure loves to cause maximum misery, doesn't he?" Kūkaku said her anger shifted to someone else. "How did he make Rukia Kuchiki kill Kaien?" She demanded. "He released a modified hollow that hijack his wife's body, killing her squad mates, then her. Then it jumped to Kaien's body, attacking Rukia. The rest you know." Shunsui said grimly. "Then we can expect more modified hollows in his army." Kūkaku stated as she stood up. "Thank you for informing me, I know Central 46 would bury this in an instant if you were still around." She left Shunsui with his thoughts. Central 46 was yet to be replaced and wouldn't be for a few more weeks. Now was the perfect time to make some needed changes. Like lifting some punishments from a hundred years ago.

A week later

World of the Soul King

Human World

Karakura Town, Japan

Kurosaki Clinic

The first sign of trouble was when Ichigo was shocked by the doorknob. "What the hell, Goat chin! Why did you prank the door?" The orange-haired teenager said yelling at his scruffy chinned black-haired father, Isshin Kurosaki, starting argument that has his twin sisters sighing. They had just finished breakfast and the kids were heading for school. Yuzu took after her more with short light brown hair and a kind personality. After their mother died, she took the role of cooking and cleaning. "Please stop fighting. I opened the door five minutes ago and Dad hasn't left this his seat in the last hour." Yuzu scolded them wagging the wooden spoon.

"Ahh! What the hell? The door shocked me!" Karin, Yuzu's gloomier black hair twin yelled as she checked the front door herself. "Karin! Are you injured?" Ichigo asked looking at the hand that got shocked. "No, but somethings not right." She said a lettering appeared on the door. "'The Truth will set you free'" Ichigo read. "What kind of philosophical garbage is that?" He yelled kicking the door. He was thrown into the opposite wall, smoking from the painful zap he got for his troubles.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you." Zane said as he descended the stairs with Kon, a mod soul stuff in a plushy lion, in one hand with tape on his mouth and a black cat in a runic cage in the other. "Isshin Shiba, you are looking quite lively for a man deemed KIA (Killed in Action)." Zane said as everyone tensed. "Goat Chin, do you know about the Gotei 13?" Ichigo demanded getting to his feet. He felt like he was thrashed by Kenpachi after that kick. "He's the former captain of the 10th Division before he 'died' fighting a modified hollow with aid from a Quincy by the name of Masaki." Zane said as reality came crashing down for Ichigo and his younger sisters.

"What do you want? Why is a member of the Royal Guard even here?" Isshin said putting aside his goofy and fun-loving persona. "For one, to tell the full truth and ask Ichigo something." Zane looks at the cat in the cages saying, "Miss. Yoruichi here refuses to tell me where the vizoreds are. She also refuses to believe that her and her allies' punishments has been lifted by order of the Soul King. Not even the blowhards of Central 46 can overturn that." Zane comments. "It's rather unbelievable when you think about it." Yoruichi in a male voice her cat form had.

"That's why you attack me and caged you. Shall we sit and talk thing out?" Zane said grabbing a fifth chair and setting the cage in the middle of the table. I assume you are all aware of hollows and Shinigami." Zane started. "For those who don't know what a Quincy is, they are empowered humans that, until recently, destroyed the soul of the hollow they killed." Zane explained. "I will elaborate what I mean when I get to that part." Zane added cutting Ichigo off.

"If dad's a Shinigami and mom was a Quincy, what does that make us?" Karin asked, "Oddities that have shaken the status quo just by living your lives." Zane said with a laugh. "Now as Ichigo knows from Rukia's rescue, there is 13 divisions to the Gotei 13. What he doesn't know is that over them is the Royal Guard or 'Zero Division' that protects the Soul King. It's above your paygrade so that's all I'll tell you." They nodded as he explained the events that happened leading up to present day. Then he dropped a big piece of information. "The one who caused your mother's power to fail on the day Grand Fisher attacked was the being known as the 'Quincy King'." Ichigo was anger he punched the table in half, sending Yoruichi rolling away. "Where is he?" Ichigo demanded. "Dead by my hand. And that is why Quincy no longer destroy hollow souls." Zane said as Ichigo stared. Deep in Ichigo's soul some other beings were shocked at this news.

"And that my half of the truth. Tell me where to find the vizoreds and you will be set free." Zane said putting the ball in Ichigo's court. "Fine I take you to them. I was head there anyways." Ichigo said as a bell sounds echoed. The words on the door shattered and the barrier fell. Yoruichi was freed and even the tape on Kon's mouth vanished. "That was a risky move, Ichigo." Yoruichi said glaring lightly at Zane for caging her. "Come Ichigo, I've got some pardons to deliver." Zane said then vanished into Ichigo's shadow. "Don't say anything, Yoruichi." Zane's voice echoed from where he hid.

World of the Soul King

Human World

Karakura Town, Japan

Warehouse district

Ichigo was let into the Visoreds hide out to get more training for his hollow powers from them. Shinji Hirako, a straight blonde-haired man who tended to show off his teeth. Rose, a curly blonde-haired man with ruffles on his clothes. Love, a green track suit and blue google wearing man with a back star shaped afro. Kensei Muguruma, a short silver haired man who preferred to leave his arms bare and was twirling a knife when waiting. Hacchi, a large rotund man in an olive-green suit and had pink hair and mustashe with black crossbones pattern on his head. Lisa Yadōmaru, a bored and young-looking black-haired woman with wearing a Japanese schoolgirl outfit, who read swimsuit megs a lot. Hiyori Sarugaki, a short female with blonde hair in two frizzy pig tails, a snaggle tooth, and an even shorter temper. And finally, Mashiro, a bubbly green hair young woman with hazel eyes and wearing an outfit (blue googles orange gloves boots and scarf white tracksuit) that looked like something a superhero would wear.

"You're late, Ichigo. What was the hold up?" Shinji said with drawl. Ichigo's shadow wrapped as it took the shape of Zane. "Greetings Former-exiled Visoreds. I'm pleased to inform you your punishment has been lifted by order of the Soul King." Zane's voice echoed in as they stopped preparing to attack the 'intruder'. "Who are you?" Kensei asked as Zane 'stepped' out of the shadow. Hacchi gasped as he noted the symbol on Zane's captain's uniform. Shinji got behind Zane to get a better look. His eyes widened but he was silent for a moment. "He's with the Zero Division." Shinji said as he opened the when to the training room. "Come on Ichigo. We need to get your training going." He said walking down the steps into the large 'room' that look like a sunny wasteland, but it was underground.

"Hacchi, you explain this mess." Shinji said passing the responsibility. He was still hit by Hiyori's thrown sandal. "What the hell are you doing? We can't just let anyone in here!" She ranted. "He's a Royal Guard. They are above Central 46." Hacchi stated getting their attention. "So, he's telling the truth?" Love asked. "Without a doubt." Hacchi said nodding. "I pulled some stings with the Soul King and got you lot pardoned a long with some others." Zane said. "The catch is I have to asked if you want to help us kick Aizen to the curb as we all hate Aizen for the crap he pulled."

"That's it? Team up with the Gotei 13 to take down Aizen and you won't mind if we never return?" Shinji asked. "That's all we ask. We know you dislike the old Central 46, who Aizen slaughtered." Shinji talked with the rest of them before returning to say, "You got yourself a deal." Zane left to talk to the last two people on his list, Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi.

Ten minutes later

World of the Soul King

Human World

Karakura Town, Japan

Urahara Shop

In an out of the way alloy was a 'candy shop' Kisuke Urahara used as his home base. A red-haired human kid was swinging a broom like it was a bat then rubbing his knuckles painfully into pigtailed black-haired girl, about the same age as him, into her head when she told him he should be sweeping as 'Mr. Tessai' asked him to do. Zane zoomed behind the kid and gripped his wrist and lifting him up to eye level. "I'd leave her alone, brat." He said softly. "Tessai! There's a Captain here!" the kid, Zane learned was Jinta, yelled. The girl Ururu bowed in thanks and greeted him. "Welcome to Urahara Shop."

"Well, I didn't expect to meet the newest member of the Royal Guard." A blonde-haired man wearing a green jacket, a green and white striped bucket hat, wooden clogs and had an opened fan in front of his face. This was Kisuke Urahara, founder of the R and D institute Mayuri was currently running. Next to him was a tall dark-skinned man with corn rowed black hair a thin mustache and rectangle glasses percent on his face. He was wearing a typical shop keeper's outfit. Tessai, the founder captain of Kidō Corps (The shinigami's version of magic).

"A cat told me we are pardoned by the Soul King." Kisuke said in a joking tone. "She was not pleased being caged like that." He continued fanning himself. "Come inside and we'll talk over tea." Zane dropped Jinta and walked in. In no time Tessai had two cups of tea ready and they sat at the low table, after taking their shoes off at the threshold as was custom in japan.

"You are here a week before the strike team, right?" He asked Zane. "That's right. I was sent to see if they were more willing to listen to me if I came alone and it worked. We have the Visoreds on board and some allies that might be willing to help in a pitch." Zane said with smirk. "You mean the Quincy you freed, wherever they are hiding." Kisuke said impressed at how well they hid themselves for so long. "Have you told Ishida family? There's only two of them left but they have a right to know. Did you know saved one of them from losing their power when you killed the 'king'? The power surge affected him, preventing him from losing it completely, just dangerously low for a time."

"Right, I stole a Qunicy uniform from Uryū Ishida to go undercover. It got shredded in the hail of projectiles I got hit with." Zane said outloud. Kisuke started laughing for some reason. "What's so funny?" Zane asked. "Uryū swore he'd make the person who stole from him sew him a new one from scratch." Kisuke said in amusement. "Jokes on you. I've got one right here." Zane said showing him a replacement outfit that was the same down to the tiniest stich. "This isn't the same material or thread. It's silk but not? Can I have a sample?" Kisuke asked after inspecting the outfit. Zane wordlessly handed over a spool of silk thread and bolts of silk. "Thank you very much." Kisuke said happily. "Now how did you going into Ichigo's shadow?" He asked Zane. Zane explained it was one of the benefits he got from 'Wrath', without explaining who that was.

Ten minutes later

World of the Soul King

Human World

Karakura Town, Japan

Karakura Hospital

"You did what?" Ryūken Ishida, a white-haired man with frameless glasses and a doctor's uniform, said with an incredulous look on his normally blank face. "I stole a Quincy uniform from Uryū to infiltrate the Quincy hideout then killed the 'King'. Oh, here's the replacement." Zane hands Uryū the silk Quincy uniform he made. Uryū, who looked like a teenage black-haired version of his father but in his school uniform, took it and examined it stich by stich. "This is stronger than the old material. I am willing to make a deal for more of it." Uryū requested, impressed by the silk.

Zane explained again what happened at the Quincy hideout, what the 'Quincy King' did to revive himself, and how he was mustering forces to face Aizen. "I refuse." Ryūken said flatly. "It's great you avenged my family but I'm not fighting any war for any reason." Uryū looked annoyed but respected his father's choice. "That's fine. Can I trust you to be on call to help with the injured after it's done with?" Zane asked. Uryū was surprised when his father said, "I'm a doctor, I will not leave you high and dry."

"Uryū, I can get you more advanced training if you want." Zane stated. Remined them he had an army of Quincy willing to help if it didn't go against their Pride and beliefs. "That would be helpful." A five-pointed Quincy Cross (a conduit for his power to work) hung from his wrist. "I'll see who's open for giving you some pointers." Zane said.

A few days later

World of the Soul King

Human World

Karakura Town, Japan

The public park

"Who were we looking for again, Ulquiorra?" The giant tanned skinned being, with a bald ridged head, orange eyebrows, a jawbone 'mask', a hole where his heart would be, and wearing a white uniform, asked looking at the humans running from the crater he made when he landed for the tear in the sky. A pale white skinned being with a blank looking green eye, half of a horned bone 'helmet' on his head, black hair, a hole in his throat, deadpanned as he explained. "Yammy, we are looking for an Orange haired Shinigami with a black bankai. Lord Aizen wishes to know if he will be a threat to the plan." Ulquiorra said. They both had swords at their hip but most of the humans did seem to see them.

"What the hell is this?" Yammy yelled before a runic circle appeared and 'ate' him. "The enemy left a trap." Ulquiorra said as one of the humans hide behind a tree. "What the hell is going on?" Tatsuki, a black-haired human teenager and one of Ichigo's friends, whispered as she watched this 'Ulquiorra' not even react to his 'friend' vanishing. He barely turned his head to watch it happen. "Tatsuki, are you injured?" Orihime, her rather busty burnt orange haired friend said as she ran towards the crater.

"Just shaken. What's going on?" Tatsuki ask as the giant of a teenager half Mexican half Japanese Yasutora Sado, also called Chad, ran past her with his right are changed into a red and black shied arm with a screaming skull on it. "Help is coming." Chad said as his brown hair shadowed his determined eyes. "You are not the target, Trash." Ulquiorra said not interested into them at all. Chad swung at Ulquiorra but was batted away into the tree line with just a finger flick. "As I suspected, utter Trash." Ulquiorra said, as Ichigo arrived with a bandaged blade that looked like a giant meat cleaver in hand. "Do you have a black bankai?" Ulquiorra asked. "Why should I tell you anything?" Ichigo said glaring back. "You are clearly the one we are looking for. I should deal with you on principle." Ulquiorra mused and pointed a figer at Ichigo, charging a green Cero (Energy attack hollows use).

"Searing Slash!" Zane voice echoed as he sliced Ulquiorra's arm off and stopping the cero at the same time. "I can't have you blasted him so soon." Zane said as his hand was still clocked into a 'fire blade'. In his other hand was the arm he sliced off. "You cut through my Hierro (Spanish for Iron Skin) like it wasn't there." Ulquiorra said surprised. He didn't and still couldn't detect Zane. "Well Arrancar, will you flee or fight and loss that arm again?" Zane asked as Ulquiorra's arm regenerated before their eyes. Ulquiorra opened a tear into the air and left without a word, reporting back to Aizen, for sure.

The opening sealed itself shut behind him. "Why didn't you go after him?" Ichigo demanded. "Don't need to. I've got a way to track him." Zane extinguished the flame blade and held up the arm. "Besides, he's beyond your current level of power and skill." Zane said dropping the arm in a sealing jar. Ichigo was frustrated and swung at Zane who caught the blade with a finger. "I get that you are angry, but you are not ready to fight him yet. He is like the visoreds, but he is a hollow with Shinigami powers, the reverse of a Visored." Zane explained.

"you were the man from that weird dream." Ichigo said remembering a dream a man picking his way across a battlefield where only the dead greeted him. Ichigo had seen him go to each body and gave it a proper burial, despite, him having no part is the war that claimed the lives both sides of the conflict completely. It was just one of weird snippets he 'dreamt' that were too real to a dream. "All Quincy 'connected' with me the instant I killed the 'king'. I have no idea what you will or have seen. Nor do I know if the connection with fade with time." Zane said.

"Come, we have much to talk about." He said. Tatsuki made to find a cop but Zane looked at her sharply. "The police cannot help you. Follow your friends if you want answers or look like a fool in the eyes of the ignorant humans." Zane said walking away. She wanted answers even if it was from this weirdo.

Ten minutes later

World of the Soul King

Human World

Karakura Town, Japan

A Digital Field

"This space safe from any prying eyes or ears." Zane said as they sat a low table in an odd space that had lines of data floating about a sea of swingy blues. "This makes no sense, nor does the spiders bringing us tea and cookies." Tatsuki said as a couple KoDokugumon carried trays to the table on their backs. "Nothing relating to the Digital World will likely make sense to you." Zane said as the KoDokugumon vanished into the sea of blue.

"The supernatural is real and you are now aware enough to be targeted. I will leave your friends to explain things in a way you can understand. I f I explain you might not get everything." Zane said then let them handle it. In five minutes, Orihime, Chad, and Ichigo gave her the rundown and promised to explain it to the rest of their friends that were spiritually aware. "So, you trapped one of them and got the more powerful one to flee." Tatsuki said to Zane. "That's the sum of it. I showed Aizen, his plan is in shambles with a show of power without revealing too much. By tomorrow the strike team will be here, they here are earlier than planned but it's fine." Zane outlined. "The exit is over there." Zane pointed to wooden doors with their names on them. They would find themselves in their homes as so as they entered them.

That night

Ichigo's Inner World

Ichigo was in the sideways skyscraper filled city that was his Inner World. Standing on a pole was the scruffy black-haired man, wear shades and a dark cloak. "Old Man, you are you really? Are you my zanpakuto or are you my Quincy power?" Ichigo asked the spirit. "It is true I stole the identity of you Shinigami/hollow power spirit, but I only wish to protect you. Even now my choices are for the goal and nothing else." The old man said looking past Ichigo to a crystalline arch that sat on the side of the skyscraper.

"What are you looking at?" Ichigo asked as he turned to see the arch. "How long has that been there?" The Old Man's answer was chilling. "It appeared when Zane slew the Quincy King whose likeness I carry. Zangetsu tried to destroy it but failed to even scratch it." A version of Ichigo with all color bleached out of him appeared with a zanpakuto, that what color swapped of Ichigo's, on his back. "What he didn't say is that it's here to stay." Zangetsu said in a warped voice. "it's the 'connection' that nutjob who committed regicide. I took the liberty to peek where it leads and it's a doozy of place." He laughs at what he saw.

"You were White, the modified hollow sent by Aizen." Ichigo said stating to understand. "Partially true. I'm also your inborn Shinigami powers. Think of it like this. As White I was a mindless hollow and 'infecting' your mother like virus. Fast-forward to your birth, when I jump to you as a virus does." Ichigo's brow twitched as Zangetsu 'talked down' to him. "Suddenly I could 'think' and had to watch for years as you lived your life with some creep jailing me." Zangetsu pointed a thumb at the Old Man. "Now here's the deal. Go in that archway, talk to Zane, and demand to be taken to the creator of zanpakuto! You are not going to win with half assed powers for most longer!" Zangetsu demanded, throwing Ichigo through the arch with a kick.

Zane's Mindscape

Ichigo was spat out a framed picture of his Inner world and faceplanted on a black stone on the middle of a wide room. Groaning he rubbed his bruised face. He was in a room with walls lined with paintings and lines that ran from the black stone to each painting. "What the hell kind of inner world is this?" Ichigo asked. "It's not an Inner World. It's much more than that!" A young blonde-haired kid, wearing a white hooded trench coat, said as he exited another painting far more gracefully than Ichigo did. "My name is Gremmy Thoumeaux, a Sternritter with the designation 'V' – 'The Visionary'. And you are one of the most interesting Quincy hybrids to exist." Gremmy said very interested in him.

"You said this isn't an Inner World. What is it then?" Ichigo asked. Gremmy's grin widened. "It's the domain of a Daemon! A place where the godly being that own it is unstoppable and it is amazing!" Gremmy said with so much joy, Ichigo wondered if anything was wrong with him. "This room is where are Quincy are linked to Death through Lord Zane." Gremmy stated, pointing at the black stone with names of various Death related beings engraved on it. "Where is Zane and why do you look up to him?" Ichigo wanted to know.

"He's somewhere here yet not. This all exists in his being and will continue to exist even after his death." Gremmy said as they left the room and entered a library. "Lord Zane is so highly regarded because the actions he did to saved us from our old king who would have killed us at a moment's notice. In Lord Zane's words 'He is a parasite on a throne of corpses.' Paints a nasty picture, don't ya think?" Gremmy said as they followed some path that twisted and turned.

"And here we are, The Help Desk." Gremmy said gesturing to a book on pedestal with a feather quill pen but no ink well. "Zane hears all requests or questions written in the book and you will get answers at a reasonable rate of time. Go ahead, give it a try." Gremmy pushed Ichigo forward. Ichigo picked up the quill and wrote what he wanted. The reply he got was 'give me a few days.' "I guess it worked." Ichigo said turning to thank the odd Quincy but he was gone into the maze of shelves by then.

Ichigo here soft footsteps and the sound of a book being pulled from a shelf. It took him less than a minute to locate the source, a fashionably dressed man in a white fur colored coat. He had brown hair, somewhat pale skin and 'raccon' eyes. His hands had claw like nails and was holding a book with a Clan symbol Ichigo swore he knew. "Well, I didn't expect to meet you again. To be fair you did look up at me that day because you were a young child and were more interested in the plus you spotted at the crossroad." The man said in a smooth voice, looking up from the book he was reading. "My name is Muramasa, the Zanpakuto that Zane uses."

"What do you mean by that? Shouldn't he have his own?" Ichigo asked. "Zane is 'different' than you Shinigami. He works for Death more directly and is not of this world, as he hinted at your house. My original master no longer heard my voice and tried to break me when I final freed him." Muramasa laughed humorlessly, "Zane took great offence and took a page from the Queen of Hearts." Muramasa drew a line across his neck and Ichigo got the picture.

"What are you reading?" He asked to change the subject. "History of the Kuchiki Clan. It helps give me a clearer picture regarding my old master. Pride and insanity were his fatal poison in the end." Muramasa stated. That was Rukia's clan. Ichigo realized. "How long has Zane been using you?" Ichigo asked. "He helped me not long before infiltrating the Quincy Base. I've spent most of the time trying to figure him out." Muramasa said closing the book, finished with it, and returning it to its shelf. "I still have no idea what to think of him. He used me to help Shinigami communicate better with their Zanpakuto. My ability is to break those bonds, not strengthen them."

Ichigo snorted at this. "Muramasa, Zane is doesn't play with the same rule book as everyone else in this world. The fact he found a positive use for you power shows he can find positive ways for more dangerous powers, even if he's totally insane." Ichigo said. Who fights Kenpachi in hand to hand combat for fun?

A few days later

World of the Soul King

Human World

Karakura Town, Japan

Orihime's Home

"Ichigo is where?" Renji asked. As the strike team stood near an organic 'tv' that they used to contact Soul Society. The Strike Team had, Renji, Masumoto, Captain Hitsugaya, Rukia and two seated officers from Kenpachi's Division. A bald man, who was the Third Seat, Ikkaku Madarame, and 'stylish' black hair man, who was the fifth seat, with feathers off one of his eyebrows, Yumichika Ayasegawa. "After losing to Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez, the Arrancar with blue hair and half a jaw as his mask fragment, he was sent to the Soul King's Palace to get some much-needed training. In his words, he needed to stop 'half-assing it' and left after telling his family he wouldn't be home for a while." Zane explained. "We will defend the town from any farther attacks from Aizen's forces." Yamamoto said from the 'TV' banging his cane, closing the matter.

"Man, I can't wait to see how much strong he will be." Ikkaku said with a grin. "Now on to the matter of the Zanpakuto you are using, Captain Laskaris." Yamamoto said gravely. "There is no chance of a repeat of that incident. I don't go on homicidal rampages without good reason." Zane said flatly gripping Muramasa's hilt in annoyance at the accusation that was unsaid. "Koga? As in the Koga who married into the clan and was dealt with for his crimes?" Rukia asked in thought "The abilities Captain Laskaris displayed are close to what the records say about Koga."

"Koga Kuchiki is dead and gone. Even if Muramasa was his Zanpakuto, Muramasa has long since cut ties with him." Zane said in a tone that told everyone to back off. "I hope Muramasa's abilities are put to better use with you." Yamamoto said. "Head Captain, has Momo improved since we departed?" Captain Hitsugaya asked. "Her Zanpakuto has reported her to be 'less of a heartbroken fangirl by the day'. In other words, she is dealing with it." Zane said before Yamamoto could say anything. "Tobiume understands that Aizen perfected being 'Nice' but Momo was a little too trusting." Captain Hitsugaya wanted to deny the claim but he knew it wouldn't help. Aizen had worn a mask that fooled almost everyone.

"The Arrancar you captured has been very helpful to my research." Mayuri said as he stood next to Yamamoto on screen. "I am impressed with how cleanly you interrogated the specimen. The corpse is very intact." Mayuri was holding a file as he talked. "What is the '0' mean? A Ranking system?" Zane rolled his eyes. "when it comes to raw power, the brute was at the top, but he lacked the skill to back it up. The top ten Arrancar are called 'Espada' ranked from '0' to '9' but the ranks don't mean much when it comes to the level of skill each has." Zane explained.

"And how much do you know about the enemy forces?" Rukia asked. With a deadpan, Zane said, "You skimmed the packet I gave you, didn't you?" They looked at him annoyed. "It was a hundred pages long! How do you even get that much info?" Ikkaku demanded. "Met someone with an axe to grind when I was looking for the Quincy Hideout. Nelliel Tu Odelschwanck, former third Espada before a sexist member of the group left her for dead because he refused to have a female be higher ranked." Zane said with a plan to kill the fool himself if he met him. "I healed her then helped protect her Fracción, arrancar that serve under an Espada. Long story short, she and her 'family' were very willing to tell me everything they knew even if it was a little outdated because ranks changed."

"And you trust the word of a hollow?" Yamamoto demanded. "She is very honorable personality wise and feels that Aizen shouldn't win after I revealed he plans to use them as a means to the end." Zane said with a smile that sent a chill down their spines. It reminded them too much of Captain Unohana. "Very well. Be vigilant for farther attacks." Yamamoto said as the 'TV' went blank.

Author's Note: Next chapter will finish off the conflict with Aizen before moving on to other things. See you then!