"Welcome all to the first ever life show of the Casual Soul Realm Assault Trip or the Cazh Soul Show for short!" Don Kanonji exclaimed with a grin as he spread his arms wide, the gathered crowd cheering loudly as he chuckled while crossing his arms.
"Whooo!" Chad simply waved his little purple flag with Don Kanonji's face on it as he looked amusedly at Riruka & Orihime, who were both cheering happily while Ichigo, Tatsuki, Keigo & Mizuiro looked bored at the man posing in front of them.
"Is this what equates to entertainment for you all?" Rukia asked with a raised eyebrow as Don Kanonji spoke to the crowd, to which the latter four simply snorted while Orihime, Riruka & Chad nodded in agreement.
"No, it's more Chad & Orihime, but I didn't think that you of all people would like this…stuff." Tatsuki ended her sentence with an awkward wave towards Kanonji, to which Riruka simply huffed as she crossed her arms.
"I may not look it, but I do like to dabble in the occult now & then."
"Oh really? Simply spirit or the supernatural as a whole?" Rukia asked and Riruka blinked at the question before she shrugged.
"Spirits, mostly. I have a fascination with yokai and/ or evil spirits as a whole."
"Hmm, interesting." Rukia muttered as she turned back to Don Kanonji, to which Chad & Ichigo looked at each other.
"You know what that was about?" Chad asked with his eyes while glancing at Rukia, watching as Ichigo frowned slightly before shaking his head right before both of them turned towards Don Kanonji.
More specifically, they along with Rukia were looking at the abandoned building behind him, where they watched a pale spirit with a half-severed chain hanging from his chest.
"H-Help…please…" The spirit whispered and Ichigo almost rushed over if not for Rukia holding out a hand & stopping him, the two sharing a glance before Ichigo let out a frustrated sigh as he nodded & stood back.
However, Chad was quick to notice Riruka's frown as she looked at the duo before back at him, to which he shrugged & raising an eyebrow as she hummed & turned back.
"Ah, would you look at that? A wayward soul to be saved~" The four spiritually-aware people in the crowd were surprised as they heard Kanonji speak while turning towards the spirit, Chad's shock quickly turning to a smirk as he realized that the main character from his favorite show was an actual medium.
"P-Please, help me…"
"Bohahahaha! Fear not, spirit. I, the great Don Kanonji and the New Century's Premier Specialist, shall save you from your miserable existence!" Kanonji explained as he walked over to the spirit, Chad frowning as he watched the spirit fall to his knees before blinking as he watched his idol shove his cane directly in the hole on the spirit's chest.
Instantly, everyone in the crowd reared back & clamped their hands over their ears as an unearthly shriek echoed through the air, Chad gritting his teeth as he felt the sound reverberate to the deepest parts of his bones.
Looking over to Ichigo, he wasn't surprised to see his friend already leaping over the barricade that separated the crowd from Kanonji, but he also wasn't surprised when he was immediately captured by the guards that stood behind it.
"Uh, Riruka? You know what he's doing?" Chad asked as he turned to Riruka, who frowned as she watched Rukia quickly rushing after Ichigo before blinking as she registered Chad's question.
"For you, it would be like Jackie kicking you in the balls multiple times while using her ability and as hard as she can."
"…Oh." Chad muttered as he slowly lowered his hands over his crotch, Riruka noticing & giggling as she patted his arm.
"Don't worry, big guy. We both know she wouldn't hit you that hard. Maybe just a slight tap."
"That doesn't make me feel any better."
"Wasn't supposed to. Now, why don't you tell why your friend Ichigo rushed out the moment Kanonji attacked the spirit?" Riruka asked as she looked to Chad, who hummed as he gave a slight shrug.
"He's like me, spiritually aware."
"Oh? So, he's a Fullbringer too?"
"No, a Substitute Shinigami." He answered before blinking as Riruka spun on her heels to face him, surprised to see the stern & calculative look in the girl's face as she looked up at him.
"What?"
"He's a…Substitute Shinigami."
"…I need to go."
"Wait, what? Wha-!"
"Don't ask. Matter of fact, don't come tomorrow. I don't think Kūgo will like having you around him for a while." Chad simply frowned as he watched Riruka turn around & walk away, confused & a bit concerned at her words before spinning around as he heard Ichigo's shout.
Watching as his friend tackled Kanonji out of the way, the two locked eyes before Ichigo frowned as he saw Riruka gone.
"You need help?" Chad mouthed, to which Ichigo smiled & shook his head and Chad nodded before he turned around & walked through the crowd to find out just what was wrong with Riruka.
Unsurprisingly, it took him a while to find Riruka as the girl had used her Fullbring to rush back to Naruki City.
"Riruka! Would you stop, please?!" Chad shouted as he raced after her while covered in an orange aura, the girl simply turning to glare at him before spinning around as the pink aura surrounding her grew brighter.
Chad simply cursed as he tensed his legs before an explosion sent him flying through the air, another explosion sending him down before Riruka shouted as he wrapped his arms around her while using explosions to bring them towards the ground.
"Let! Go!" Riruka exclaimed as she slammed her hands into Chad's chest, who simply frowned as he continued to fly them back to the ground before grunting as he landed back first on the cement below him.
"I swear, you better let me go or I'm putting you in a Dollhouse for the rest of your life."
"I just want to know why Ichigo being a Substitute Shinigami was so bad that you wanted to run back to tell the others?" Chad asked as he let her stand up before rolling to his feet, to which Riruka huffed as she crossed her arms & paced around.
"I…can't tell you."
"And why not?"
"Because it's not my story to tell, okay? Unless Kūgo himself tells you, I can't say anything. That's why I said stay away for a few days because we need those days for him to calm down & not try to kill you the moment you enter the hideout."
"Is it that bad?" Chad asked before frowning as Riruka gave him a look.
"Remember Jackie's story of how Kūgo nearly destroyed the hideout when she drank up half of his whiskey?"
"Yes."
"This is easily thousands of times worse than that."
"…Oh. Well, then I'm sorry for just grabbing you from the air like that." Chad apologized before blinking as Riruka rolled her eyes while punching him softly in the chest.
"I didn't mind it…even if it felt like I wanted to throw up. Just make sure you ask next time, ya big goof."
"Uh…sure?" Chad said/ asked as he was confused at her words, to which she simply smiled & winked before he watched her leap into the air & run through the sky in the direction of Naruki City once more.
"…What was that last part even about?"
"So from what I'm hearing, this Kūgo guy doesn't like Substitute Shinigami, huh?" Ichigo asked as he & Chad sat on the rooftop, Chad nodding with a frown whilst looking down at the red & black armour covering his right arm.
"That's what I could figure out yesterday from Riruka's words. However, he didn't seem to act like a guy that dislikes and/ or hates Substitute Shinigami or Shinigami in general."
"Then again, from what you tell me, he sounds too…"
"Upbeat & fun?" Chad proposed, smirking as Ichigo chuckled & nodded while resting his sword at his side.
"Yes, that. I don't know much about him, but I do know that guys that act like that usually have a side that they keep away from public eye."
"…You've been watching that Yakuza anime with Yuzu & Karin again, haven't you?" Chad spoke with a knowing look, to which Ichigo huffed while grumbling under his breath as he looked to the side.
"It's a good show. Besides, you don't hear me saying the same about Carnivore Kingdom."
"Hey, don't bring Carnivore Kingdom into this. Konachi did nothing to deserve that retort."
"Then don't talk bad about Yakuza and I won't."
"Are you two seriously arguing about cartoons while we're fighting Hollows?" Rukia asked with a raised eyebrow before reeling back slightly as both turned to glare at her.
"Anime are not cartoons."
"Yes, they are quite different from each other."
"Okay, okay! Sheesh, no need to bite my head off about it."
"Oh, say that to an otaku and watch them pull out a katana to cut your head off." Ichigo spoke with a frown, Chad nodding as Rukia just shook her head before blinking as she felt a presence nearing them.
"Look alive, we've got company." She spoke and they turned to where she was looking at before Chad frowned as Jackie, Yukio & Giriko landed a few paces away from them.
However, he was concerned as he saw the frowns on their faces as well as the subtle sneer on Jackie's as she glanced at Rukia & Ichigo before looking directly at him.
"Chad. You need to come with us."
"Why?"
"Do not ask questions. Just come with us." Giriko spoke up this time and Chad frowned as he stood up before being surprised as Ichigo stood up to stand slightly in front of him.
"My friend asked a question and I would like it if you guys answered it."
"Do not test our patience, Shinigami. Chad, let's go. Now." Jackie spoke as she turned to walk away before frowning at the sight of Rukia standing directly in front of her.
"Our friend is not going with you all until we get a reason on why you wish to speak to him."
"Kiss my ass. How's that for a reason?"
"No thank you, but would you like for me to burn it instead?" Rukia asked as a small flaming orb of scarlet flames appeared on her hand, Jackie looking down at the orb before smirking as a light violet aura covered her body.
"Oh, you wish to dance, then?"
"I won't say no to a round or two." Ichigo spoke with a confident smirk as he picked up his great sword & tapped it against his shoulder, to which Giriko frowned while Yukio hummed as he took out his handheld.
"Enough!" However, they were all surprised as they heard Chad's voice, turning to see the teen standing tall while scarlet spiritual energy radiated off of him.
'D-Damn, he's that strong?' Yukio thought in shock as he felt the spiritual pressure pushing on his shoulder, the weight of it nearly on the same level as that of Jackie's as the aforementioned woman turned to stare at Chad with a slight frown.
"Chad…"
"It's okay. I can handle it." He spoke to Ichigo, who frowned as the two friends held each other's gaze before Ichigo let out a frustrated groan as he nodded & stepped back.
"Rukia, let them go." Chad spoke and Rukia looked at him before nodding as she snuffed out the flaming orb, Chad giving a thankful nod before he turned towards an impatient Jackie.
"Finally! Follow my lead and you should survive tonight."
"That doesn't make me feel any better!" Ichigo spoke up, to which the woman simply scoffed while Chad frowned as he dismissed his armour.
"Sure. Let's go before Kūgo decides to come get us instead."
The moment he entered the Xcution hideout, Chad instantly felt the chill in the atmosphere as Giriko closed the door behind them, noting the frowns on everyone's faces as they sat scattered around the bar before glancing behind him to see Jackie & Yukio leaning against the door.
"So, you wanted to see me?" Chad asked as he turned towards Kūgo, the uncharacteristic frown on his face slightly unnerving Chad as the leader of Xcution simply looked at him.
"Were you going to tell us?" Kūgo began and Chad frowned slightly in confusion before it clicked and an unsure look appeared on his face.
"Truthfully? No. The day I met you for the first time, you spoke of how we needed to stick together & hide away from Shinigami & Hollows. However, as soon as you said the word 'Shinigami', it sounded as if there was some resentment towards them, so I decided to hide that knowledge away lest you get angry at me. Like now." Chad spoke and Kūgo hummed before the teen tensed as he stood up.
"So, you knew of the resentment and you still decided to become a friend with a Shinigami AND a Substitute Shinigami?"
"I've known Ichigo for longer than he's been a Substitute & Rukia for longer than I've known you. I don't know what Shinigami you dealt with, but I know that the two of them have not hurt any innocent person so I will continue to be friends with them."
"And what if they do someday? What if they decide that you & anyone that know of them are too much of a liability? Are you still going to defend them?"
"I'm going to beat them and then I'm going to make sure they can't hurt anyone, which I know might sound a bit optimistic, but I know that the two of them would do the same if I tried to hurt an innocent person."
"What if we told you that you needed to decide between us or them?" Riruka asked and Chad looked at her before they all were surprised at the smirk that appeared on Chad's face as he bowed.
"Then, thank you for what you taught me and it has been nice meeting all of you."
"You think we're going to let you leave when you know the location of our hideout?" Jackie asked as Chad turned & walked towards them, frowning as Chad simply didn't answer while walking towards her & Giriko.
"You can try & stop me. Just know that I won't go quietly."
"…Hah. Stop, Chad. We're not going to hurt you." Kūgo spoke with a sigh as he watched Chad walking away, to which the teen did as asked & turned his body slightly to look at him.
"You know you just made me lose a bet with Tsukishima, right?" Kūgo spoke with a grumble as he took out a few yen notes and handed them over to Tsukishima, who smirked as he took the money & pocketed it while Chad was confused as Jackie giggled while patting him on the back.
"Yep, knew he had it in him. Told you he was too prideful to follow you blindly."
"I know. I just had to see it for myself."
"Wait, what's going on?" Chad asked with a raised eyebrow, to which Jackie simply smirked while Kūgo chuckled as he sat back down.
"Well, Riruka came & told us about you knowing a few Shinigami and at first, I wanted to kill you & the two Shinigami. However, he stopped me and made me realize that you probably had a reason to not tell us." Kūgo explained while gesturing towards Tsukishima, to which Chad looked at the man who smiled & shrugged
"That and he would have gone overboard if I let him go." Tsukishima spoke and Chad frowned before turning to Kūgo, who sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"That is…true. Anyway, I decided to give you a chance and you surprised me by not just going along with whatever I'd say."
"I see. So this…it was all a test?"
"To see what you're made of and to be honest, I'm impressed by what I saw. However, I am still pissed at the fact that you kept it from us instead of telling us when we met."
"That is my fault. I apologize for that."
"Oh, you don't have to apologize now. We understand why you kept it aw-!"
"We understand? You mean YOU finally understand." Riruka corrected him, to which Kūgo grumbled while Chad smirked as everyone chuckled as the tense atmosphere finally dissipated.
"So, I don't have to beat you all up?"
"Oh, are we talking about that dream you had? Because I can tell you there's no way you would be able to beat up Tsuki let alone me."
"Oi, what about me?" Jackie asked with a frown and Kūgo just gave a sly grin while Chad smiled as he watched the two arguing.
"So…if it's not too much, can I ask why you hate Shinigami? If it's too personal, you don't have to." Chad quickly added as he felt the tense atmosphere reappearing once more, Kūgo turning to glance at him before the man let out a sigh as he nodded.
"You might want to get comfortable? Because this is going to be a long story."
A/N: And we finally get into the juicy parts!
Next chapter, flashback!
Also, just so you guys are not surprised & upset about it, I'm going to be shifting a few stuff slightly for Kūgo's backstory to make it fit better for this story.
Another also, if you don't want to read this on a weekly basis, there's about four & a half to five chapters of the flashback so you can wait for four weeks and then just read it all in one go. Remember, this is only if you guys don't want to read weekly.
Like always, you can go to my Pat-reon-.-com-/-KingCrimsonNova to read ahead on this as well as many other stories & even some that haven't been released out to this site yet. If you want to, you are free to, but if you don't want, all's good as I will still be uploading here. This is just me trying to get some extra cash.
As always, read, enjoy, review and until next week...
Enjoy the cliffhanger & Ba-Bye~!