A/N: I really didn't think this would come out today. I just procrastinated so damn much. Like I've got a really sucky attention span. On the bright side, I've finally watched some of the Rocky movies!

OK, so back to the story. I'm aiming for bi-weekly updates. If I can't make the update, I'll try to inform you guys from my profile.

Also, before I forget, thank you to 1eragon33, AnimeandGameFanGirl, BaconLover1800, Crazycatmeow, Danny Fowl the Ranger, E. , Emerald Anime, FariyFlare, Felipe1402XZA, Gravity-Life, HateReborn27, Ilma56, Jack the Werewolf Hunter, Killua Lawliet, Kisuke todoroki, Midnight49, Minxiboo, RaptorWritter, Shadow906, Shadowtalon62, ShiraYukiShadow, Stars Moons and Darkness, ToraouTora, TrimusicaDrag00n90, Yugi Uzumaki and Naruto Moto, YveltalFan, ZeroExia, a6spike, gatitanicte, ghostboy1225, kawaiidragon0120, kitkatkate2008, luckmaster1, pinkiekeen, poseidonschild721, winter the wolf, and xihimagicianx for following.

Thank you to 1eragon33, Crazycatmeow, FariyFlare, Gravity-Life, HateReborn27, Heiji H.57, Jack the Werewolf Hunter, Killua Lawliet, Lunareclipse88, Midnight49, Minxiboo, Pokemaster22, RaptorWritter, Rassert, SoulNinjas, Stars Moons and Darkness, The King's Knight, TrimusicaDrag00n90, Yin7, Yugi Uzumaki and Naruto Moto, ZeroExia, dagon god, gatitanicte, kawaiidragon0120, kitkatkate2008, pirates99, poseidonschild721, and winter the wolf for favoriting.

And thank you to GirlFish, Black Bankai, r, BaconLover1800, Krusher, Gravity-Life, FairyFlare, Gin, Stars Moons and Darkness, Guest, SoulNinjas, Yin7, Jack the Werewolf Hunter, and Midnight49 for reviewing.

Every single one of you are awesome and y'all motivate me more than you can ever know. So, I just wanted to dedicate some time to you guys.

I was, uh, gonna say something else, but I forgot so, uh, here's the chapter lol.


Chapter 16: Tonight, Tonight, Tonight

"Have you guys heard anything about Vlad recently?" asked Danny, watching his friends through the video call.

Sam's eyes narrowed, almost imperceptibly. She knew something was up. "No, we haven't heard from him in a while. Why'd you ask?"

Danny scowled. "The fruitloop showed up here, looking for me, and attacked Dani! I'm gonna bust his face in the next time I see him!"

Tucker frowned. "How'd he know where to find you?"

"That's what I wanna know!"

"Maybe he talked to someone in the Ghost Zone?" offered Sam.

"He does have a lot of contacts there," Danny hummed, thoughtfully. "Alright, I'll check it out after school today."

"Cool, we'll come with you."

Danny jerked. "Uh, I appreciate it guys, but I can do this myself."

Sam stared hard at Danny. "Danny, we missed out on you fighting a whole society of spirits to get someone out of an execution. We're coming with you. Besides, we can maybe meet your friends this way, or, at the very least, we can all meet up again."

"Yeah, what she said!" interjected Tucker. "It's hasn't been the same without you, man."

Danny hummed as he leaned back in his chair. On one hand, it'd be nice to see his friends again, and he was sure they'd like to meet his new friends. On the other, they might run into an unhinged Vlad or some other deadly ghost. . .

'They can handle themselves' he reasoned. 'Besides, I can handle Vlad, and my parents already know about my powers. Something tells me they wouldn't even take no for an answer. . .'

Danny grinned, widely. "Alright, why not?"

"Cool," said Tucker. "So, where are we meeting up?"

"Don't worry about that. I'll be coming to you."

Sam and Tucker's faces scrunched in confusion before their eyes widened.

"Oh yeah, portals. This should be fun."

Danny just laughed. "Alright, so I'll come and get you guys after school."

"Heard you loud and clear, Mom!"

Danny rolled his eyes at Tucker before ending the chat. Jeez, he didn't realize how much he'd missed those guys.


"Danny, you have got to be less paranoid. Didn't you just risk your life alongside this guy?"

"Yes, but this is different," insisted Danny while pouring some cereal. "If this time is anything like last time, I'm gonna throw my head through a wall!"

Dani blinked. "It couldn't have been that bad. Right?"

Before either could respond, his mother called from the living room. "Kids, hurry up and eat or else you're going to be late for school!"

"OK, Mom!" Danny replied before turning back to Dani. "But yeah, it was definitely that bad."

Jazz rolled her eyes. "Don't be so melodramatic Danny. It'll be fine."

Danny just grumbled in his chair while Dani turned to Jazz. "So, what is school like?"

"It's actually sort of fun. You get to learn so much!"

"Don't listen to her, Dani! It's all lies."

Jazz glared, pointedly at the halfa. "Danny, stop poisoning the minds of impressionable youth."

Danny grinned with his hands raised in mock surrender before scooping a spoonful of Fruit Loops into his mouth.

Jazz sighed as she turned back to Dani. "The workload can be a bit much sometimes, but you can always come to Danny and I for help. There might be some kids who might try to pick on you. Don't let them bother you. They're probably insecure or seeking attention."

"Yeah, but if they don't leave you alone, you can always just give them a little taste of your ghostly powers."

"Danny!"

Danny froze at the stern voice of his mother. 'Whoops. . .'

"Yes, ma'am?" he asked, timidly.

"What is this about using your ghost powers on your peers? I hope you're not using your abilities inappropriately?"

The halfa seemed to find his cereal a lot more interesting. "I, uh, plead the fifth?"

Maddie gave her son a stern look. "We'll talk about this after school."

Danny gave Jazz a dirty look as he caught her silently jeering at his misfortune.

"You all just about finished?" asked Maddie.

The three kids looked at each other and shrugged. It was time to walk into the belly of the beast.


Danny took a deep breath, waiting by the side of the open classroom door. This wouldn't be like last time. This wouldn't be like last time.

Steeling himself, he stepped into the classroom, sighing in relief. Nobody batted an eye at him, thankfully. They were all too busy in their cliques discussing each other's summer vacation stories.

Speaking of which, Ichigo was easily spotted with his bright orange hair next to Orihime, Chad, and a girl he couldn't name. They seemed to be talking about something as Danny made his way over.

"So, what'd you do over your break, Orihime?" asked the girl.

"I went to go see my relatives," chirped Orihime, smiling widely. "Gosh, we did so many things together!"

"Yeah? What kind of things?"

"Oh, well for one, we went somewhere really strange."

Danny blinked in surprise. There was no way she was actually gonna tell her about everything, was there?

By the looks on Chad and Ichigo's faces, they weren't so certain either. Even Uryu was watching the conversation with a careful side-eye.

"Oh?" asked the girl. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well, it kinda looked like an Edo-period town and all the people there wore costumes and carried swords and stuff! There was a cat there who could actually talk. But you see, he was a boy cat, and then he turned into a human girl!"

Danny inwardly, groaned. He really hoped he didn't have to help explain the existence of some crazy new world of dead people.

"Right, right," said the girl, patting her on the head. "Of course he did. Now, why don't we try focusing on second semester."

Danny snorted. He had never been so thankful for an oblivious person in his life. And just like that the bells rung.

"OK, students! Take your seats!"

Danny slipped into his seat, next to Ichigo. He quickly noticed that the shinigami wasn't the least bit focused on the upcoming lesson.

He followed the teen's vacant stare to the empty seat near the front of the class. The seat of a certain shinigami who had grown on all of them.

'Rukia. . .'

"Hey, Ichigo," whispered the halfa.

Ichigo stiffened in his chair, glancing over to the black-haired teen. "What's up?"

"You can literally see her again today, if you want, dude. I'll take you there personally if you want. Even if it means running into Kenpachi."

Ichigo's lips twitched into a half-smile. "Thanks, man. I really appreciate it."

Huh. If somebody told me I was gonna be friends with Ichigo in the span of two weeks, I would not have believed them. Funny how fighting an entire organization can change things.

"Hey, where are you?! Come out!"

The entire class paused. Ichigo and several other students were already surging towards the windows to get a look at the action.

"Ichigo Kurosaki!"

'Oh c'mon! It's not even noon!' Danny inwardly groaned.

"Hey, Ichigo, do you know this guy?" asked a student.

"Oh," chimed Ms. Ochi. "Is it a relative?"

"Ye-yeah! A relative! I'll be right back, Ms. Ochi!" shouted Ichigo as he bolted out the room.

"Hmm, he looks very groovy!" remarked the teacher, looking out the window.

"Ms. Ochi is so weird man."

"That's what I've been saying."

"She doesn't think that's cute, does she?"

Danny leaned back in his chair, absently staring at the ceiling. Well, at least, this crazy event didn't involve him for once.


Danny and the rest of students streamed out of the school as the final bell rung. The day hadn't been nearly as bad as he'd been anticipating, although he wouldn't admit it to Jazz.

He scanned through the wave of students before quickly spotting the orange-haired shinigami. Call it his hero complex or whatever, but he had to find out what the whole Renji thing was about. It'd be just his luck if it was some kind of world ending threat.

Especially, after the whole hollow attack during the middle of class.

"Who was the girl?" asked Danny as he finally fell in step with Ichigo.

Ichigo stared, disbelieving. "Could you be any less specific?"

Danny smiled apologetically. "Sorry, uh, purple hair with a haircut like Cloud Strife?"

"Oh that was Tatsuki. Didn't you meet her before summer break?"

"I dunno, maybe. I was only there for like a day before I went off to rescue someone I barely knew."

Ichigo nodded as the two walked passed school grounds in silence. Until Danny broke it. "So, what was up with Renji?"

Ichigo scowled at the name. "Oh, he was trying to get my attention like a freaking dumbass! I can't believe he made a scene in the middle of class."

"Hey, give him a break. He hasn't been to school in like a century, right?"

"Yeah, I guess. Where's your ride?"

"Jazz would've picked me up, but I'm going looking for the fruitloop. He attacked Dani yesterday."

Ichigo made a face mixed between disgust and anger. "The guy who's trying to take your mom, hates your dad, and wants you as his son?"

"Yep. That'd be the one."

"You want some help?"

"Nah, I'm getting some help from my friends in America on this one."

"Alright, see ya."

"Yeah."

Ichigo turned the corner while Danny turned into an alley, transforming into his alter ego.


Danny hovered over Amity. He hadn't been able to find a lick of Vlad in Karakura Town, so he figured he should head home to pick up his friends.

He didn't think he'd ever get homesick, but apparently finding out about a whole new realm on the other side of the world will do that to you. It had almost made him miss all the constant ghost attacks.

Almost.

He swooped down to Tucker's room, phasing through the roof and landing in Tucker's room.

Tucker, used to it at this point, simply got up and walked towards him. "Time to go?" asked Tucker.

"Yeah, we just gotta get Sam."

Danny gripped his scythe loosely as he spun it a couple of times; a portal swirling to life.

Tucker whistled, appreciatively. "You ever gonna run out of new powers?"

Danny rolled his eyes. "C'mon, Tuck."

The halfa jumped through the portal as Tucker followed after him.

The duo stumbled out of the portal in front of Sam's mansion. "Dude, you couldn't have got us inside?"

"I couldn't just teleport us in there. Somebody could've seen us!" retorted Danny.

Before Tucker could retort, Sam walked into view.

His breath left him. She was dressed up in her regular clothes, but she also had an ecto-pistol strapped to her hip with the Jack O' Nine Tails slung over her shoulder and the Fenton Wrist Rays on her wrists. She looked like some kind of goth war goddess.

Frankly, she looked awesome.

"Hey, Danny, you can pick your jaw off the floor now," teased Tucker.

"Shut up, Tuck."

"So, we ready to go?" asked Sam.

"Yeah, just let me just open this portal."

Danny used his zanpakuto and opened, yet another portal. "Alright, guys! Next stop: Wisconsin!"


Danny and his friends stood just outside of Vlad's mansion. It looked every bit like a cheesy, haunted house. It still managed to have a foreboding air to it. It was perfectly fitting for the beast inside.

"As much as I love getting blasted with cold air, why are we here?" asked Tucker, rubbing his arms. "I thought we were going to the Ghost Zone?"

"We'll go there after. I just figured we should check here first."

Sam nodded. "Smart move. Let's go."

Phasing them into the mansion had been simple enough, the trio found themselves in the living room.

"You sure this is the right place?" asked Tucker. "It feels like it's missing a fruitloop."

Danny rolled his eyes. "C'mon, he's gotta be in here somewhere. It's a big house."

"I dunno, man. He could be in the Zone for all we know."

"Yeah, well, we don't know," retorted Sam. "So, we might as well go in anyways."

"Alright, hang on. I'm gonna make some clones to keep you guys hidden. I dunno if he's upgraded his security."

Danny easily created two clones that hovered behind them. "Hold on, I wanna try something. . ."

The clones flew into Sam and Tucker, making the two jolt slightly. The two looked at the halfa, questioningly.

"Uh. . . why'd you do that?" asked Sam.

"Try to fly."

Sam and Tucker raised a brow but shrugged. Soon enough, they were hovering above the ground.

"Woah, OK," laughed Tucker. "This is totally weird. Cool, but weird."

"How did you know this would work?" asked Sam in amazement.

Danny shrugged. "I didn't. I just remembered all the times I was able to use ghost powers in other people I overshadowed. So, I just decided to do it in reverse."

Tucker paused, staring at him briefly. "So, we're not getting Marionette'd?"

The halfa rolled his eyes. "Nope, these powers are yours to control."

Tucker whooped as he surged ahead. "C'mon, lovebirds! Time's wasting!"

"We are not lovebirds!"

Danny and Sam blushed as they stared at each other.

"We should, uh, probably follow him. Y'know, before he gets himself killed or something."

Danny laughed, slightly. "Yeah. Yeah, right."


Jazz had more than a few questions about the Shinigami world. She was naturally inquisitive, after all. She couldn't stay mad at her parents forever, no matter how uncalled for their reckless idea of protection was. If there were potential powers that lay dormant within her, she needed to know. She needed as much as she could get to aid Danny.

"Mom, what powers do I have, exactly?" asked Jazz, getting straight to the point.

Maddie shifted uncertainly. It was so unlike her mother, she wouldn't have been surprised if someone told her she was being overshadowed.

"Well. . . I don't know."

Jazz crossed her arms with a look of disbelief. "Mom-"

"I'm telling you the truth! I promise."

Jazz looked at her mother, evenly, before dropping into a chair. "Explain."

Maddie sighed but sat down as well. "It's like. . . genes, in a way. Sometimes, you can get it, sometimes you don't."

"What's the likelihood that I have powers, then?"

Maddie's lips pursed. "It should be incredibly high given the circumstances."

Jazz smiled. "OK, great! Then, you and Dad can teach me how to use my powers."

Maddie's face twisted into a protest struggling to come out, but she resigned. "Alright, alright, follow me. We'll need to find a space."

They paused as a series of knocks reverberated throughout the house.

"I'll get it!" cried Dani from the living room.

"Were you and Dad expecting anyone?" asked Jazz, curiously.

The confusion on her mother's face said it all. "Not exactly. Maybe it's one of the neighbors. . ?"

And that's when all hell broke loose.


"Dude, I called it! He's not here!" exclaimed Tucker.

"I don't get it," muttered Danny.

"Maybe we should check the Zone? Y'know, like you said we were gonna do. . ."

Danny shook his head. "That could take forever! It's too big. There's gotta be an easier. . ."

Danny's eyes widened. Why hadn't he thought of it before?!

Danny hesitated. 'But what if it doesn't work? He needed to get it locked onto Vlad's signature.'

Which he didn't have. Well, shoot.

"Hey, Danny," said Sam, softly, her hand reassuring on his shoulder. "Maybe we should head back to Karakura Town."

"I've already checked ther-"

"I know, but we've checked here too. And we know he isn't in Amity. Maybe we could double check in Karakura and get Jazz and your parents' help."

Danny felt the fight go out of him as he nodded. She was good at that. "OK, let's do that."

"Hey guys, check this out!"

Danny and Sam spun to see Tucker by one of Vlad's many lab tables, something clutched in his hand. "What's up, Tuck?"

"It's a business card from some guy in Karakura Town," Tucker chimed. "Somebody named Jin. . . Kariya? Does that mean anything to you?"

"No, but it's a step in the right direct-"

"What's Vlad doing here?!"

Danny's eyes widened. He had begun to hear Dani and Dan's voices a lot clearer as their link had strengthened, but it had never been that clear.

It had almost sounded like she was in the room with them.

"Danny, what's wrong?"

He hadn't realized how spooked he'd probably looked. Danny gave Sam a reassuring smile, hoping it seem as forced as it felt. His gut was practically screaming at him to get back home. "I'll teleport you guys back to Amity."

"What?! Why?!" exclaimed Sam and Tucker.

Danny focused his Reiatsu down to his hand as it began to glow. Soon enough, his zanpakuto broadsword had been fully materialized.

"Reap, Karitoriki!"

The sword morphed into his Shikai; the familiar double scythe. Danny spun it in front of him, until a portal blazed to life. He turned back to his bewildered friends.

He really wanted to bring them with him or at least explain the situation. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time.

"I'll see you guys later! I just can't explain right now."

Danny lightly pushed them into the portal, before willing it closed. He quickly reopened a new portal and jumped through.


"Danielle, it's a pleasure to meet you again."

The elder halfa smiled wickedly at Dani's gasp. Jazz and Maddie quickly spilled into the room.

"Vlad," breathed Maddie. "What a surprise! We weren't expecting anyone to drop by. . ."

Vlad smiled, warmly at her. "Well, I was just in the neighborhood and figured I should stop by to check on you all."

Vlad's eyes landed on Jazz. "Hello, Jasmine! You grow more like your mother each day. How have you been?"

Vlad inwardly chuckled at Jasmine's questioning glare. Always the clever one. "I'm doing well, Uncle Vlad. How have you been? We haven't seen you in a while."

The man took a step towards the center of the living room, brushing past Dani. "Same old, same old. Business and buying out companies. Where are Daniel and Jack?"

"Jack and Danny went out to get some groceries," answered Maddie smoothly. A bit too smoothly, noted Vlad.

He was about to call her on her lie when certain teen appeared at the kitchen doorway. "Oh, it seems I'll be telling Daniel myself."


Danny stood in the doorway of the kitchen, staring down his archnemesis. For once he felt thankful for the link. Who knows what would've happened if he didn't make it.

Vlad kept his predatory gaze locked onto the halfa. It felt annoyingly familliar: a gaze of newfound interest, a sense of superiority, and a hint of triumph.

The perfect recipe for fruitloop.

"Hey, Vlad. What's up?"

"I just wanted to talk to you."

'That's never good. . .'

Danny simply nodded and made room in the kitchen doorway. "We can talk in here."

Vlad smiled his false grin. "Very well then."

Danny couldn't help the glare that crossed his features the second he and Vlad were out of sight. "How did you find us?"

"I admit it was difficult, but Skulker isn't 'the Ghost Zone's greatest hunter' for no reason."

Danny rolled his eyes. "Of course he's the reason. Why are you here?"

"Is that any way to talk to your dear Uncle Vlad? I figured you'd be happy to see me, Little Badg-"

"Vlad, why are you here? Does it have something to do with Jin Kariya?"

Vlad's brows furrowed. "You've met him?"

"Heard of him in passing, so what's up with him?" Danny lied, smoothly. "Is he a ghost or is he something else? A human?"

Danny hoped he'd been vague enough, but from the glimmer in Vlad's eyes, he was certain he knew exactly what Danny was hiding. "He's an ally. I've come here to recruit you, Daniel. We are the accidents unaccepted by humanity, surely you've seen the way the media has slammed you. You can join me alongside him, and we can finally be accepted."

Danny grit his teeth. He would've loved to have had someone like Vlad to teach about his powers, if only so he didn't have to stumble through life with them. But he'd seen what Vlad was about. He was too filled with hate. "Yeah, I've also seen the way you've threaten my family and friends! I'm not being your son or whatever, so you can shove your apprenticeship."

Vlad's jaw set, and his eyes narrowed. "You're making a mistake, Daniel."

"No, you've made the mistake. I don't wanna see you here again. Don't talk to me, don't threaten my family, and don't threaten my friends."

Danny opened the door and opened it with feigned politeness. "Here's the door."

Vlad watched him for a while before straightening his suit and walking to the door. "Thank you, Daniel. I trust you'll understand soon enough."

Danny glared at the halfa's back as he waltzed out the door.

The apartment was silent up until the moment Vlad left.

"Danny, what did he say?" asked Maddie brows furrowed in worry. He appreciated the concern, truly. Unfortunately, he wasn't in the best mood for it.

"It wasn't much," grunted Danny, stalking off to his room. "Don't worry about it."


"Right this way, Vladimir-san."

Vlad followed the servant, stopping short of the open doorway. Jin sat admiring the view outside the window.

The man was a familiar stranger. He hadn't been able to get a proper grasp on him for the short time he'd known him. He was gentle and calm, but it seemed apparent he held a caged frustration. At what, Vlad didn't know.

"So how did your recruitment go?" asked Jin, breaking Vlad's reverie.

Vlad sighed. He still wasn't entirely sure what to make of Jin, but he would likely be a powerful ally. "It went about as bad as I had expected. He just cannot see reason."

Jin leisurely crossed the room and placed a hand on Vlad's shoulder with a calm smile. "There's still time to convince him. If half the stories I've heard about him are true, we'll have him in our ranks soon."

Vlad sighed. "I pray you are correct, Jin."


A/N: Well shoot. I accidentally made this like 3,914 words without the author's notes. It just got away from me, I guess XD. Anyways, y'all know the deal. Tell me if you hated it or loved it. I hope you all have a good day, night or whatever time you happen to be reading! Stay awesome.