Disclaimer: I don't own DP or Bleach. Hold up...why do I have to say this cuz if I did own Bleach and DP this wouldn't be a fanfic...

Hey, guys, and gals, I'm back with another chapter of The Phantom's Journey...god I'm gonna have to change that awful title soon. Anyways, I'm gonna have to be sentimental for a little while and say thanks for everyone reading, faving, following, and reviewing. It was all very motivating for me when I didn't feel like writing so thank you all for that! Now, onto the reviews!

BaconLover1800: Wow great chapter. Will Danny wear the crown of fire or the Ringing of Rage ever in this story? Update soon. Thanks for the support, and as for Danny ever wearing the Ring of Rage or Crown of Fire...well only time can tell! ;)

Krusher: Oh God the hair, THE HAIR! Make the hair stop! Please, I beg of you! I'm sorry, but it's far too late! It's gonna end us all!

Axenia: This is great! I can't wait for what'll happen next! :D Thanks a lot!

FairyFlare: This is great! I can't wait for the next chapter! Thank you very much, FairyFlare!

Gin: Yes. This is good :D Thank you, Gin.

Stars Moons and Darkness: I like this. A lot.

. . .More please? Well, more is here! There will be a lot more to come (hopefully!)


Chapter 7: Public Enemy Number One

"Ichigo, slow down! You don't have to run full speed like that! I'm starting to get dizzy!"

"Stop being such a baby, Hanataro! I have to get there now, especially since they moved the execution date to three days from now!" Ichigo had only learned of that because he and Hanataro passed by two Shinigami talking about it.

"It was rather convenient that we managed to overhear that. As if an outside force destined for it to happen. Like some writer or something."

"Yeah, whatever!"

Ichigo ran along the staircase until they finally made it to the top. . . only for them to come face to face with him.

"Byakuya Kuchiki!" snarled Ichigo, drawing his sword. Byakuya didn't even pay Ichigo any mind, looking only at Hanataro, who was currently wishing he was invisible.

"You are from Division Four, aren't you?" asked Byakuya with his normal stoic expression. Hanataro couldn't stop himself before he nodded in fear.

"Well then, I'll be sure to inform your Captain of your betrayal, so you are given the fit punishment."

Ichigo scowled. "HEY! DON'T YOU IGNORE ME, BASTARD!"

Ichigo rushed towards Byakuya, his sword dragging along the ground behind him. Byakuya raised his sword, intending to block Ichigo obvious attack. Ichigo swung his sword upwards, intending to get through Byakuya's guard through blunt force.

However, before their blades could meet, someone materialized in front of them, kicking Byakuya in the chest and into a wall while pushing Ichigo back. Ichigo looked up in a mad rage, seeing a woman with long purple hair and a voluptuous body.

And she was completely naked!

"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?! WHY DO YOU NOT HAVE ANY CLOTHES?!"

The mystery woman gave Ichigo an amused smirk before facepalming. "Oh, no! It seems I forgot to put on my clothes again!"

Ichigo turned beat red. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU FORGOT TO PUT ON YOUR CLOTHES?! HOW DO YOU EVEN FRIGGIN' DO THAT?!"

The mystery woman didn't respond to Ichigo instead turning towards Byakuya. "So the great and mighty Byakuya has become so powerful he doesn't need to be aware of his surroundings?" mocked the woman.

Byakuya's eyes narrowed a fraction. "Well, I was not expecting the Flash Goddess to be among the Ryoka. But now that I know. . . I'll use the necessary amount of force!"

Byakuya flash stepped in front of the woman, attempting to hit her with a quick thrust, but the woman sidestepped it easily.

"Do you really think you could hit me with a Flash Step that slow?" scoffed the woman. The woman went in with a quick jab to the Captain's abdomen which he blocked with his sword, but he couldn't block the kick that hit him square in the chin, sending him flying through a wall.

Taking advantage of her opponent's moment of weakness, the woman flash stepped over to Ichigo, slung him over her shoulder, and ran in one fluid motion. Ichigo turned so red that it looked like he was about to pass out.

"Wh-What the heck d-do you think you're doing and wh-who are you?" asked Ichigo, an absolutely flustered mess.

The woman, slightly turned her head towards him, wearing an amused smile, before turning away from him. "I can't believe you don't remember me Ichigo, it's me, Yoruichi!"

And with that Ichigo completely blacked out. Yoruichi sweatdropped.

"Ah, I think overdid it that time," said Yoruichi, while flash stepping away.

But before she could get far, Byakuya appeared next to her, flash stepping alongside her. "Do you really think I would let you get away that easily?" asked Byakuya.

Both combatants stopped on top of a building as they stared one another down. Byakuya slowly drew his sword, and Yoruichi dropped Ichigo.

"Scatter, Sen-"

"Would all Captains please come in for an Emergency Meeting!"

Byakuya scowled. "Don't think this means you can get away Yoru. . . ichi?"

Where she had been standing just moments before was now completely empty. "She must've left the moment I took my eyes off of her. Oh well, she will be defeated soon enough!"

With that, Byakuya flash stepped towards the Emergency Meeting.

Hanataro blinked at the spectacle that had unfolded before him. "...Does this mean I'm not in trouble anymore?"


"He's here, sir!"

"Already? I didn't want to have to fight just yet, but it looks like I'll have to," said a man, leaning in a corner. "Don't be so worried, Nanao. It's just a Ryoka. It'll only take a moment."

Nanao scowled. "I'm not worried, Captain Kyoraku! Now get out there!" Kyoraku chuckled.

"You're always so serious Nanao, you need to lighten up," said Kyoraku as he jumped from the window.


"AAAAAAAHHHHH!"

Chad didn't even look up to see if he's opponent was down for the count, but if he had looked up all he would've seen was a twinkle. Chad continued to weave his way through the 8th Division Barracks, running down the seemingly endless maze of corridors.

'I've got to keep moving! At this rate, I'll never be able to reach Ichigo and the others' mused Chad. He turned yet another corner only to find it different from the others. It wasn't different because it was a courtyard, no, this courtyard was occupied with a man of overwhelming spiritual pressure.

The man had light skin with high cheekbones, a thin beard, and long hair that was kept neatly in ponytail save one long bang that framed the left side of his face. A pink kimono decorated with flowers was draped over his shoulders, covering his shihakusho and. . . his Captain haori!

"Would you like to have some tea?" the man inquired, raising a steaming teacup.

Chad just stood and stared. "Uh...no thank you?"

The man sighed, gently placing the teacup on his tray. . . only to throw the tray over his head.

"Good taste! I hate powdered green tea!" exclaimed the man. Chad could do nothing but stare and blink owlishly at the exuberant man before him. Later, he'd chalk it off as SSIS or 'Soul Society induced stupidity', when he asked the only question that his shocked mind could form.

"Uh, who are you, exactly?"

The man chuckled. "Ah, don't worry! You're not the only one to have been stupefied by my amazing personality! Oh, where are my manners, I am Shunsui Kyoraku, Captain of the Eighth Division."

Chad mystical right arm tensed, instinctively, as if sensing an oncoming battle.

Shunsui drew both of his swords from their sheaths in one fluid motion. His eyes gained a steel to them that surprised the friendly giant. "And I'm only gonna ask you once: will you turn yourself in peacefully, or will I have to do it by force?"


"So, what do you think Old Man Yama called us here for this time, Sui?" inquired Gin, setting his. . . closed-eyed gaze on the leader of the Onmitsukidō. Sui-Feng glared at the silver-haired Captain.

"Like I know, and don't call me 'Sui' ever again!" Gin just smiled all the wider.

"No one needs you two bickering at a time like this! This is just what the enemy wants us to do!" shouted a masked Captain.

"Komomura is right," agreed a dreadlocked Captain. If Gin's eyes weren't closed, they'd surely be rolling. Soon enough, a new Captain flashed into the room.

"Huh, Byakuya's actually late for once. It's a miracle! So, what held ya up? Was it the Ryoka or-" Gin rambled.

"I think it would be best if you refrained from speaking," remarked an almost child-like, snow-haired Captain.

"I have to say that I share Captain Toshiro's sentiments."

All eyes snapped to the entrance of the meeting room where an aged and worn man with a long wooden staff, a long white beard, and the standard shinigami shihakusho with the Captain's haori draped over his shoulders stood. Although the man was old, it was clear he was anything but feeble as his suffocating spiritual pressure washed over the other captains.

The man next to him was less impressive and more. . . creepy. An almost skeletal-like mask painted with black and white, obscured his face from sight. His eyes were a very piercing and calculating gold, and his teeth were bared for all the world to see. The Shinigami also had golden tubes where his ears should have been. His spiritual pressure was just as strong as almost any other captain, but it was also much more ominous.

"Yama, that was very rude of you!" pouted Gin. He probably would have continued if Byakuya hadn't interrupted.

"What was this meeting called for, sir? Did new information on the Ryoka come up?"

The old man gazed wearily at the noble before responding. "New and valuable information has turned up, but I was not the one to call this meeting," replied the Captain Commander, gesturing to the masked man.

"Oh? Mayuri called this meeting? This isn't one of your 'we need to eliminate the brutes in Squad Eleven' rants is it?" questioned Gin.

Mayuri rolled his eyes at the silver-haired Captain. "No, I'm saving that for later. I called this meeting to inform you that among the Ryoka is Soul Society's Public Enemy Number One!"

The gasps and groans of the wide-eyed Captains filled the room.

"You cannot be serious, Mayuri?!" rebuked Komomura. Mayuri sent a withering glance at all of the Captains.

"Yes, yes, I'm just as surprised as the rest of you, but all this gasping, groaning, and complaining isn't going to get anything done! Which is why I plan to educate you all on how to properly use these new ghost weapons I've been working on!"

The Captain's eyes once again took on their usual gleam as he turned to the entrance. Mayuri's assistant, Nemu, brought in a whole cart full of ghost weaponry.

Mayuri's eyes shone with mad glee, eagerly rubbing his hands together. "So, what do you all know about ghosts?"


Shunsui deflected yet another energy blast, not even watching as it leveled yet another building.

'I wonder if Mayuri is gonna make me pay for all these repairs. . . Ah, who am I kidding, of course, he is.' The captain quickly sped behind Chad and used Tsukiyubi, his index and middle fingers jabbing into Chad's back sending the giant flying into a building, crashing it down on him in the process.

Shunsui watched the rubble knowing that if he knew his opponent that attack wouldn't finish him. Sure enough, out from the rubble came a beam of blue that the squad eight Captain easily cleaved through, dissipating the attack. However, Shunsui was not prepared for the ryoka to reappear right in front of him, his arm glowing.

The Captain only had the time to get out two words.

"Oh, shit..."

The energy engulfed the Captain as the quiet ryoka put forth everything into the attack. Soon, the attack ended and Chad fell on his hands and knees, panting. Chad couldn't help but give a small chuckle.

"I really did it! Now I can-"

"Yeah, if you mean annihilate my hat then you really did do it. The damn thing is in tatters." Chad looked up in disbelief at the disheveled but still alive Captain.

"As fun as this has been, it's over," spoke Shunsui as he raised his sword.


"Come on Ganju! We have to get moving if we're going to save Chad," commanded Dani, leaping on the rooftops. Ganju was trailing behind her, gasping for air to relieve his aching lungs.

'Damn shinigami!' thought the Shiba. "Look, I'm moving as fast as I can! Not everyone can be Shinigami you know!"

Dani grinned mischievously. "You're right Ganju, I'll be sure to tell Kukakku that her little brother wasn't strong enough to help and could only serve to be a whining burden."

Ganju's eyes widened as he began to run like a man possessed. "What are you waiting for, shinigami?! We've got to move!"

Dani smirked and quickly followed suit.


Shunsui raised his sword and then brought it downward with earth shattering force, only for Chad to roll out of the way. The lazy Captain groaned.

"Why? You haven't managed to make reveal my Shikai! I've beaten you to a pulp, and your strongest attack only roughed up my clothing a bit! So why, as broken and powerless as you are, do you keep fighting?!"

Chad gave no answer until he had slowly pushed himself to his feet, wobbling like a sailor who had lost his land legs. "Why do I fight you ask? It is simple, I fight for my friend."

Shunsui just stared at the Mexican giant. "Your friend? You mean Kuchiki?"

Chad shook his head. "No, I mean my friend Ichigo. I barely know Rukia, but I do know that she is important enough to Ichigo to dive into this unknown world to stop her execution. So, his goal is my goal, and I won't let anyone stop me."

Shunsui visibly recoiled at this declaration before quickly composing himself. "Not many people would risk themselves for someone they don't even know just for a friend, so why you?"

Chad, surprisingly, cracked a small smile. "He saved me when a couple of kids decided to beat me up. I didn't fight back because of a promise I made to my abuelo. I promised I wouldn't fight, so I didn't even when they started to beat me up and take my gold coin; a keepsake of my abuelo. That's when he came. Ichigo beat up all of those guys and got my coin back. That day we made a new promise, we'd fight for each other. And I am going to keep that promise, no matter what."

Shunsui's gaze softened. "I understand now. . . what I must do."

Shunsui flash stepped behind Chad and hit him in the back of the head with the flat of his blade, knocking the quiet teen face first into the dirt.

'Well, Ichigo...I tried...my best. The rest is...up to you now!'

'Get up child!'

Chad was so shocked it pushed back the unconsciousness.

"Abuelo!" croaked Chad.

'Yes, it's me, my boy. You must get up and win!'

'But what about our promise, I thought you didn't want me to fight?!'

'Sado, I just didn't want you throwing your weight around, picking fights needlessly. This friendship you have is a bond as sacred and powerful as a promise. And just as you would keep your friendship with Ichigo, you must also keep your promise!'

'But abuelo, I don't have any strength left. It's over.'

'. . .alright then I'll help you! Combine your strength with my own and you will have the power to keep your promise!'

"Well, Shunsui, shall I finish him off?" asked Nanao.

Shunsui just stared at the unconscious teen. "No, he will be incarcerated!"

Nanao looked at Shunsui in disbelief. "You have to be kidding me?! These Ryoka can defeat and cripple people as powerful as Kenpachi and then leave with almost no trace, and you want to let this Ryoka live?!"

Shunsui opened his mouth to respond only to close it and stop abruptly, leaving Nanao concerned.

"What's wron-"

Nanao was silenced by a monstrous fist slamming into her midsection, sending her flying. Nanao would have been unconscious, trapped under the rubble if it wasn't for Shunsui catching her.

"He's. . . stronger than. . . before," commented Nanao before passing out in her Captain's arms. Shunsui wordlessly looked down at his lieutenant and flash stepped her blocks away from the land that would become the eventual battleground of the Captain and the ryoka.

"Stronger than before huh. . . understatement of the century."


Dani and Ganju...

Dani's eyes widened at the burst of power coming from Chad's, formerly weak, energy signature. It felt. . . tainted.

"Woah, is that your friend?!" Dani, without a word, raced even faster towards the incoming battle.

"Hey, wait for me you inconsiderate Shinigami!"


By the time Shunsui had returned, the ryoka had been staring down at his arm, of all things. The Squad Eight Captain had to admit though, his newest costume change was shocking.

The Ryoka's arm was now gold with a stripe of red running from the center of the teen's chest to his clenched fist. The teen also now sported a golden right breastplate.

"So, you made a costume change, eh," commented Shunsui. "It's quite stylish."

Chad didn't respond as he blurred over to Shunsui and nailed a solid punch to Shunsui's nose, punching him through several buildings.

Shunsui blinked the dust out of his eyes and swept the rubble from his shihakusho. "Huh, he really packs a..."

Shunsui trailed off as he touched a hand to his nose and felt something wet and sticky. 'He made me bleed? I should probably start taking this seriously then.'

Shunsui pushed himself up and was greeted with a glowing gold fist. Shunsui blinked several times. "Well, hello there-"

Shunsui was silenced by a massive golden wave of energy that obliterated the entire city block, once again covering Shunsui in rubble.

Chad blurred his way over to the rubble and stuck his hand in pulling up a bruised Shusui. "You can't beat me now that my Abuelo is on my side!"

Shunsui's eyes widened just as Chad punched him in the gut crashing into yet another building.

Shunsui quickly got to his feet and put his two blades together in a cross shape and called out, "Better use my Shikai! Flower Wind Rage and Flower God Roar, Heavenly Wind Rage and Heavenly Demon Sneer, Katen Kyokotsu!"

A bright flash emitted out from the Captain as his swords transformed into two old Chinese style scimitars. "So, big guy, you ready for round two?"

Shunsui was first to make a move, flash stepping in front of Chad as he brought the swords down, but Chad blocked them easily and shrugged Shunsui off of him. Shunsui lashed out with a blur of blades that Chad was beginning to have trouble blocking, so to gain some distance, Chad unleashed another energy blast, forcing the Captain back.

Shunsui blurred behind Chad and declared, "Hado #78: Zangerin!" The hado slammed right into the giant's back eliciting a scream of pain as the hado scorched the teen's back.

"I will have your head for this filthy Shinigami!" screeched the ryoka. Shunsui's eyes narrowed as he stared down his adversary.

"It all makes sense. . . the weird energy signature, the powers, your voice, and demeanor. . . you're just like one of the visored or somethin' right?" asked Shunsui. "Then, I really have to take you out now!"

Chad bellowed. "MEGATON BLAST!"

A giant reddish gold blast charged toward the laid-back Captain, prepared to wipe him off the face of existence.

Shunsui put his zanpakutos on opposite sides of each other and spun as a powerful wind emitted from both blades and rushed toward the hollowfied beam. The winds combined and smashed into the Megaton Blast, the spinning winds reflected the beam back at Chad exploding on contact in an incredible explosion of light, dust obscuring the ryoka from sight.

"It's finally over!" cheered Shunsui, lowering his swords to his sides. Sure enough, when the smoke cleared, Chad was face down in the dirt, his arm back to normal...or as normal as it was before anyways.

"That was weird. . . so there's someone running around who could defeat Kenpachi, there's this visored, a substitute shinigami. and a noble. . . huh, just when I thought things couldn't get any weirder."

"Guess what Captain, things are gonna get a lot weirder now!"

Shunsui blinked and groaned. "Can't you Ryoka give me a break?!"

Dani smiled down at him from her position on the rooftop. "Nope!"


". . .and that's why ectoranium is effective against ghosts. So, do-"

Beep. Beep. Beep.

"What the heck is it now?!" Mayuri hissed, reaching for his emergency communicator. "This had better be important, otherwise someone's going to die!"

". . .Uh, Mayuri-sama, we've initiated contact with the Ryoka!" Mayuri paused taking in the information. . .yeah right.

"Is it the ghost?!" Mayuri all but screamed. He could hear the breath of his underling. . . er subordinate hitch.

"Um, I don't think so. The two Ryoka are an orange-haired girl and a black-haired boy with glasse-"

"It's not them. . . but the ghost could have disguised himself, I suppose. I'll be right over. Stall them!" And with that, he ended the communication line.

"Would you care to tell us what happened? Was it about the Ryoka or was it about another angry Rukongai citizen calling about how you fucked them over?" joked Gin.

"No, not this time, but I'll need to save this discussion for another time. I have business to attend to!" Without waiting for a response, the scientist sped out the door toward the unsuspecting Ryoka.


A/N: Well, this was a fun chapter to write! Be sure to put your input of this chapter in the review section and, if you like this story a lot, please follow and fave it. See ya and hopefully, the next update won't take as long to come out...