Disclaimer: I own nothing at all.
A/N: I'm sorry this took so long, but I had to make sure I had an idea of what I was planning for this arc. So, yeah, I've decided on doing the Bount arc. But there are gonna be some changes, so there'll be more relevancy to the plot.
Chapter 14: Drawing Days
Vlad was confused to say the least.
There had been no sign of the Fentons for a long while. Their sign was still as bright as ever, but the sign's functioning merely meant that their security was up.
He'd had half a mind to ask Daniel's brat friends about the Fentons' whereabouts, but he figured it wasn't worth the trouble. The possible chance of the media being annoyances and the brats being unresponsive were not exactly enticing.
Thus, he found himself in front of Skulker's door.
Vlad gave the door a knock as he waited, patiently.
Soon, the door opened to reveal a confused Skulker. "Vlad, what brings you here?"
Vlad smiled his charismatic, fanged grin. "I'm here to ask for help in a little hunting case."
Skulker grinned. "I'm listening."
"Wonderful. I need you to help me find a Danny Fenton."
"So, you're telling me you weren't crazy and there are actual shinigami and monsters with holes in their chests prancing around everywhere?"
Danny chuckled. "Yeah, it's hard to believe, I know. But I spent a bunch of time in the Shinigami world and everything."
Sam pursed her lips. "I guess that makes sense. Stranger things have happened, after all."
Tucker grinned, sheepishly. "Yeah, sorry about that whole crazy people card we gave you."
Danny glared, pointedly at Tucker. "Don't worry about it, Tuck. Just never bring that up again. Like ever again."
Tucker cleared his throat. "Anyways, were there any hot girls there?"
"Uh, I wasn't really paying attention, but there's this human girl I met who's really-"
"Ahem."
Danny and Tucker clammed up.
"Anyways," began Sam, still glaring. "We should probably learn more about these guys, if they're really so important. There's got to be a reason they've never showed up until now."
Danny nodded. "I don't think we have anything to worry about; I've pretty much got the basics of Soul Society down. I'll be sure to ask my parents for the rest of the stuff they know, though."
Tucker gave a long exhale. "I still can't believe they knew the whole time. That's just insane."
Danny hoped his grimace wasn't as obvious as it felt. "Yeah, well, it's water under the bridge. I'm just glad I don't have to hide anymore."
It was slight, but Danny noticed it. The pitying stares. He hated pity.
"Well, you got any cool new powers?" asked Tucker.
Danny grinned, thankful for the change in conversation. "Like you wouldn't believe."
Danny, Dani, and Jazz were talking and having breakfast. For once, it wasn't mixed with ectoplasm, possessed, or trying to eat them. So that was refreshing.
It felt so much freer now that everything was out in the open, and Danny couldn't help but smile.
"Danny," called Jack, mouthful of bacon. "Can you pass the syrup."
"Yeah, sure," Danny replied as he stretched out his hand to trap the bottle and hand it to his dad.
"So, are we going to see Momo today?" asked Jazz.
Danny blinked with furrowed brows before his eyes widened. "Oh, yeah! Yeah, we are!"
"Well, when are we going?"
Danny rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, uh, I guess we could go after we've finished breakfast."
Jazz nodded. "Well, then you better hurry up Danny. There's no time to waste when there's someone in need!"
Danny rolled his eyes as he stabbed his fork in into another pancake. "I hear you loud and clear, Jazz."
"Hey, guys?"
Danny and Jazz looked up to see an uncertain Maddie. It was a bit disconcerting to see. She'd always been a confident pillar in their lives.
"What's up, mom?"
"After you two get back, maybe we can try a game night?" asked Maddie.
Danny and Jazz gaped. They never did game night, not for six years anyway.
"Why?" the halfa hesitantly asked.
Maddie glanced at Jack, and he nodded reassuringly. "I just feel like things have been hectic lately, and I thought this would be a good way to relieve the stress."
The Fenton siblings continued there gaping as Maddie shifted uncomfortably. "Well, it was only a suggestion. We don't have to-"
"No!" shouted the siblings.
The two had the decency to look sheepish as Jazz continued. "We'd be glad to have game night, again."
Jack and Maddie beamed.
Jazz gaped with wide eyes at the fiery green portal that blazed to life.
Danny smirked at the look. "What? You having second thoughts?"
Jazz huffed in response and strolled straight into the portal. Danny just chuckled and flew in after her.
The two came out in front of the Seireitei. Danny groaned while Jazz just looked at him in confusion.
"What's wrong?"
Danny sighed. "You might wanna back up a bit."
Before Jazz could ask, Danny yanked the girl back just as Jidanbo crashed down from the sky with his gates.
Jazz stared up at the twenty foot tall behemoth. ". . . Of course, a gatekeeper from the sky. I should've known."
Jidanbo smiled a wide face-splitting at the young halfa. "Hello, young Danny! How have you been?"
Danny smiled and shrugged. "Y'know, the usual. So, could you let me and my sis in? We've got an appointment with Mono. Toshiro can verify me."
Jidanbo gave a rumbling laugh that reverberated through the ground. "There's no need, young Danny! You are a most honorable and truthful warrior. I believe you."
With that, Jidanbo put two hands to the wall and with a powerful groan, lifted the wall for entry.
It was a bit paranoid on his part, but Danny couldn't help the sickening feeling churning in his gut from the last time he'd met Jidanbo.
But, of course, nothing happened, and the gate was soon open.
"Thanks Jidanbo! See ya later."
Jidanbo gave him a curt nod as the two Fentons walked into Soul Society.
Vlad's brows furrowed. "They're in Karakura Town, Japan?"
Skulker nodded as he typed away at his armpad. "It seems that way."
The Fentons, to his knowledge, only left the country for ghost conventions. There weren't any serious ghost conventions going on that city, either.
"Hm. Well, I'm long overdue for a visit. Would you caree to join me?"
"No thanks; Ember wants to go on a human terrorizing date in an hour. You know how she gets when I don't show up to her dates."
Vlad gave a nod with a quirk of the lips. "I understand. I'll see you later, Skulker."
Danny and Jazz stood in the holding cells in front of a destitute Momo.
They hadn't known what to expect when they had finally arrived. He'd known that they were likely dealing with something big (the doctor they had talked to had made that very clear), but this seemed to be an understatement.
She was a mess. Her hair was unkempt and her face was stained with tears. Her uniform appeared messy and rumpled, and her eyes had a glassy look as if she were dead.
Danny glanced at Jazz as she bent down to be eye level with Momo. "Hi, Momo. I'm here to see you."
The only indication that the shinigami was even listening to her was a slight imperceptible nod.
"This is my brother, Danny," she continued, gesturing to him. "We want to help you."
Momo looked at them with blank eyes. "I-I appre-eciate the offer, but I'm fi-fine."
Jazz looked at the girl, sadly. "Aizen meant a lot to you didn't he?"
Momo sniffled. "I me-mean it. I don't need any help. I'm fine."
Danny winced at the edge in her voice. The similarity to Dani's plight was seeming all the more real.
Jazz didn't seem to share the same apprehension. "Alright, Momo, we can just talk as friends, then."
Momo nodded, slowly. "Aizen does me-mean a lot to me?"
"Why do you have such strong devotion to him?"
The lieutenant wiped her arm across her nose and sniffled again. "He was my Captain. He sa-saw potential i-in me when no one e-else did. He even saved my life."
Jazz nodded as she jotted down a couple of notes. "Well, I've heard that he may have done something ba-"
"No!"
Danny jerked at the screech, eyes wide.
Momo was completely alert, standing up straight; her jaw was taut, her fists clenched, and her eyes were vehemently glaring daggers at Jazz.
"Aizen didn't do anything wrong! He'd never do anything bad! It-It had to be Gin Ichimaru! Or Kaname Tosen! They must have corru-"
"He orchestrated Rukia's execution, pit the Soul Society against itself, and murdered the members-"
"No, he-"
"Of Central 46," finished Jazz, taking tentative steps toward the shinigami. "Listen Momo, Toshiro is really hurt seeing you like this. He's actually the one who asked us to talk to you. I brought him along to talk to you, if that's OK?"
Momo swallowed and nodded, hands fidgeting.
Jazz nodded to Danny as he opened the door.
Toshiro shuffled into the room. His breath hitched slightly at the sight of Momo.
"Hi, Momo."
Mono smiled, weakly. "Hey, Toshiro-kun."
Toshiro's lips quirked up slightly, and his gaze softened. "Hi, Momo. I've been worried about you. It's been really tough seeing you like this. I-I know you're in a difficult place right now, but. . ."
The normally stoic Captain shifted uncomfortably. "I just want you to know that I'll always be here for you no matter what, Momo."
With that, he gave a curt nod and a tiny smile to Jazz and Danny and left the room.
Momo sat in her cell with glistening eyes as she shook with silent sobs. Danny's breath hitched at the sight.
He didn't even realize that he'd phased right into the cell and was soon standing next to the lieutenant.
"It'll be OK, Momo. I swear."
He put a hand on her shoulder, and she finally gave out.
She became a mess of tears and curses as she weakly beat at Danny's chest. He just took it and kept his hand on her shoulder, squeezing reassuringly.
Soon, she began to sniffle and wipe at her eyes. Danny continued giving her shoulder reassuring squeezes.
"Th-thank you, Ja-Jazz and Danny. I needed that."
Danny smiled. "No problem."
"I can't believe they were just going to isolate her until she 'got better,'" ranted Jazz, throwing her hands up. "How could anyone be expected to just get over such a deep betrayal without any help?!"
Danny nodded, dimly. "Yeah."
'You're shaken, Danny.'
Danny straightened a bit and rolled his eyes. 'I'm fine, Kari. I'm just. . . I just wasn't really ready for all of that. But I'm fine.'
'Danny, I'm part of you. You're emotions affect the very world I live in. You must come to terms with them.'
The halfa closed his eyes and sighed. 'It's just. . . she reminded me of Dani whenever we first met.'
'Ah, if that's the case, then you've no reason to worry. You and your friends were there for her. You'll do the same for Momo. I'm confident of that.'
"Danny!"
Danny jerked with wide eyes. "Yeah?"
"Are you alright? I've been trying to you for the past three minutes."
Danny rubbed his neck, sheepishly. "Oh, sorry. I was just talking to my zanpakuto spirit."
Jazz's irritation quickly faded. "Did it go well?"
Danny smiled, softly. "Yeah, it did."
A/N: I'm not entirely certain when the next chapter will be out, but I'd guess that it won't take as long as this update did. Have a great everybody and wash your hands.
