Hello, everyone. ThunderReborn from 2025. This chapter has originally been edited by TM11 when this chapter was originally released. On April 1st, 2020, this chapter was edited again by Darklord331. Finally, in April 2025, this chapter was edited again by my current beta reader, Waroyer123. Thank you and I hope you enjoy the story.
Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo, TV Tokyo, Viz Media, Studio Pierrot... and other people.
Rosario Vampire is owned by Akihisa Ikeda, Shueisha, Gonzo, and Funimation.
All other references of characters or abilities are not mine.
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"Hello." -Normal talking
"Hello." –Ichigo's thoughts.
"Hello." – Zanpakutō speaking
"Hello." – Zanpakutō thoughts.
Kon'nichiwa [Translation of Hello]
Chapter 23:
Moka lunged at Berserk Tsukune.
"Know your place!" she shouted, delivering a powerful kick that sent him crashing into the nearby forest.
"What... what was that?" Kurumu asked, her voice trembling as she tried to steady herself.
Moka's expression darkened. "Tsukune has become what I feared most," she said, her tone heavy with dread.
"What do you mean?" Kurumu demanded, her fear giving way to desperation.
"A ghoul," Moka replied, her voice barely above a whisper, yet laden with foreboding.
"A ghoul?" Kurumu repeated, her confusion evident. "What does that even mean?"
"Ghouls are those unfortunate enough to have been injected with vampiric blood and can't control it. They end up transforming into mindless killing machines," Yukari explained, her expression grim.
"According to the Headmaster, the holy lock on Tsukune's arm was the only thing keeping him from turning into one," Ruby added.
Suddenly, a roar echoed from the forest, and the group rushed toward the sound. They gasped in shock as they saw Tsukune, now towering at over eight feet tall. One of his massive tentacles had Okuto Kotsubo, the P.E. teacher, pinned to the ground. In a horrific motion, the tentacle with the stinger stabbed him in the back. The group could hear a disturbing slurping sound as Kotsubo's body shrank, drained of all life. Eventually, the teacher's body crumbled into a dried husk.
Berserk Tsukune grew even larger, sprouting two more sets of Kraken-like tentacles. He flung the dried husk of Kotsubo aside, adding it to a growing pile of similar bodies.
"Kotsubo-sensei... Apsara-sensei..." Yukari murmured, recognizing some of the victims.
"More... stronger... Moka!" Berserk Tsukune roared, his eyes locked on Moka.
"Moka!" her friends cried in unison. Moka, seeing him turn toward her, tried to defend herself, but his tentacles were too fast. He grabbed her, holding her tightly, while one of his tentacles gently touched her face.
"Moka mine. Moka safe," the beast rumbled in a voice that sounded both protective and horrifying. Moka struggled, realizing she needed Ichigo's help.
"ICH—!" she tried to shout, but Berserk Tsukune quickly covered her mouth with his tentacle. Despite the interruption, Ichigo heard her call and shunpō'ed into the clearing.
Berserk Tsukune stopped touching Moka's face and turned to face Ichigo, roaring, "Moka mine. Leave."
"No. Release Moka now, or face my wrath," Ichigo declared, his reiatsu flaring as he stepped forward.
"RAW!" Berserk Tsukune howled, charging at Ichigo. Ichigo waited until the last moment and then delivered a powerful uppercut, sending the ghoul flying back a few feet. Berserk Tsukune quickly recovered and charged again. This time, Ichigo dodged, narrowly evading the tentacles that lashed toward him. He grabbed one of the tentacles and swung Tsukune around, throwing him several feet away. The ghoul crashed to the ground with a violent thud.
"Bakudō #61. Rikujōkōrō!" Ichigo shouted, pointing his finger at the struggling creature. Six wide beams of light shot out, slamming into Berserk Tsukune's midsection. The monster roared, struggling against the binding spell, but Ichigo could hear the faint cracks in the Bakudō. It wouldn't hold for much longer.
"Bakudō #79. Kuyō Shibari!" Ichigo said, his voice steady. Eight black holes surrounded the ghoul, with one manifesting in the center of his chest, completely immobilizing him.
Ichigo rushed to Moka, cutting the tentacles that held her. She immediately hugged him, her relief evident.
"So, Ichigo, what are we going to do with Tsukune?" Moka asked once they regrouped.
Ichigo turned to look at the struggling monster. "We have a few options. First, we could kill him." The Newspaper Club members glared at him. "It's an option," Ichigo reiterated. "Another idea is to see if the real Tsukune is still inside his mind."
"Let's do that!" Kurumu immediately chimed in.
"How?" Ichigo asked. "It's not like anyone here can enter someone's mind." While thinking immediately "Other than myself that is."
"I can," Kurumu admitted, her expression determined. "As a Succubus, we can enter others' dreams using our tails." She transformed into her Succubus form and extended her tail toward Berserk Tsukune's head. The tail's tip, which had been spade-shaped, now transformed into a flower and attached firmly to Tsukune's skull.
The others stood around the immobilized ghoul, watching Kurumu with focused attention. Yukari and Ruby used their magic to repair the damaged surroundings, while Ichigo fashioned chairs for everyone to sit in and wait.
A few minutes later, Kurumu's tail fell away, and she collapsed. Mizore caught her just in time, placing her gently in a chair.
"Kurumu, are you okay?" Moka asked, hurrying over to her.
"I'm just a little drained," Kurumu replied, her voice weak. "That technique uses up a lot of Yōki."
"Were you able to contact Tsukune?" Ichigo asked.
"I found him in his mind," Kurumu said, her voice strained. "But the problem is that he thinks Moka loves you because of your strength and that he needs to be stronger to win her back."
"So what can we do?" Yukari asked, worried.
"I have an idea," Ichigo said, turning to face Ruby, Yukari, Kurumu, and Mizore. "But I need you four to be honest with me."
"What is it?" they asked in unison.
"Well," Ichigo began, his voice steady, "You all love him, right? Even to the point of dying for him?"
"YES! Why?"
"Right now, Tsukune is in denial about his breakup with Moka. He believes that if he's stronger than me, Moka will come back to him. I plan to fight him—essentially push him to the point where he runs out of Yōki, and the real Tsukune will emerge. Once that happens, the four of you will need to force him to accept that Moka no longer loves him and help him move on. I'll create a barrier so no one else gets hurt. You four will be inside the barrier, but you cannot interfere with the battle until I say so."
"What about me?" Moka interjected.
"We might need Mikogami over here when I'm done. Can you go get him?" Ichigo requested.
"Good idea," Moka said, nodding before running towards Yōkai Academy.
"Ruby, Yukari, Kurumu, Mizore!" Ichigo called out, turning to them. "Do you agree to my terms?"
"Yes," they responded in unison, determination in their eyes.
Ichigo took a deep breath. "Hachigyō Sōgai." Eight pillars of orange energy rose about 40 feet into the air. Once they stopped growing, orange walls began to form between the pillars, enclosing the area completely.
"Ready?" Ichigo asked, summoning Katen Kyōkotsu.
"Ready," the girls replied.
"RELEASE!" Ichigo yelled. The binding kidō spells around Berserk Tsukune dissolved instantly, and the ghoul charged. Tentacles lashed out, attempting to grab Ichigo. He dodged effortlessly, bringing the blades of Katen Kyōkotsu together in a cross.
"When the Flower Wind Rages, the Flower God Roars; When the Wind of Heaven Rages, the Heavenly Demon Sneers!" Ichigo shouted. A gust of reiatsu-infused wind blew around him before he slashed it away, revealing two Chinese war daos in his hands.
Berserk Tsukune retaliated by releasing a toxic gas toward Ichigo. "Bushōgoma," Ichigo whispered, spinning as large wind blades formed, cutting through the gas and redirecting it back at the ghoul, enveloping him in a tornado of poison.
"RAW!" Berserk Tsukune roared from within the tornado. He struggled, but blood poured from his body as he broke free, cuts appearing all over. Ichigo observed the wounds beginning to heal slowly.
"Of course, regeneration… even if it's slow," Ichigo thought to himself before sighing. He pointed Kyōkotsu (right) at the beast, gathering reiatsu that began to glow black.
"Hadō #90... Kuroshitsuji!" Ichigo declared. Black reiatsu surrounded the ghoul, forming a box of energy. Spears of energy pierced it, lacerating Berserk Tsukune from head to toe. Ichigo let the technique last ten seconds before releasing it.
Ruby, Yukari, Kurumu, and Mizore gasped at the damage the ghoul had sustained. Slowly, the tentacles began to dissolve into Yōki, and Berserk Tsukune shrank back down to his normal size. Ichigo nodded at the girls.
"TSUKUNE!" they cried in unison, rushing to their friend. Ichigo created a table for Tsukune, and Ruby cast a black barrier to grant the girls privacy.
Ichigo leaned back, smirking as he waited for the barrier to lower. After a few minutes, it finally did, revealing Tsukune, now being embraced by the girls. Ichigo casually approached the teen.
"What... what are you doing?" Tsukune asked, his voice fearful.
"I'm checking your wounds," Ichigo replied, inspecting Tsukune's body for a moment before chuckling.
"What's so funny?"
"It seems the excess Yōki healed and improved your body," Ichigo said with a grin.
"What?" Tsukune nearly screamed before looking over himself. He had grown taller from 5ft 6in (167.64cm) to 5ft 9in (175.26cm) and his body had become more muscular. "Why did you help me?" he asked, confused.
"Only a sane Berserker can help an insane Berserker," Ichigo said sympathetically.
"What do you mean?"
Ichigo didn't answer as he walked away. He approached the barrier and lowered it, seeing Moka and Mikogami standing outside.
"How is he?" Moka asked, her eyes filled with concern.
"He's recovering," Ichigo reassured her.
"I see," she sighed, clearly guilt-ridden. She felt responsible for the chaos Tsukune had caused. Ichigo lightly poked her in the head.
"Hey!" Moka exclaimed, swatting his hand away.
Ichigo chuckled. "None of this is your fault. You did what you thought was right. Just accept it and move forward."
"When did you get so poetic?" Moka teased.
"Hey, when one of your favorite writers is Shakespeare, you develop a taste for poetry."
They both glanced over to see Mikogami walking back from Tsukune.
"Headmaster, does Tsukune need a new limiter?" Moka asked.
"Yes," Mikogami nodded. "During this event, Tsukune has fully transformed into a vampire, so I'll need to design a new limiter for him."
"All right," Moka acknowledged, but there was a lingering sadness in her voice.
"All of you should head to class," Mikogami continued, "I'll inform your homeroom teacher about your delay."
"CLASS!" Yukari exclaimed.
"Why? Taking care of Tsukune is way more important than some boring class," Kurumu groaned.
"Mmm, no complaining," Ichigo said, glancing at Kurumu with a smirk. "Especially since you're, what? #325 in the entire school?"
"Fine," Kurumu grumbled, rolling her eyes. The group turned to see Mizore and Tsukune had already left.
"DAMN THAT SNOW BITCH!" Kurumu yelled, storming off to track them down.
Ichigo caught Moka's attention. "Hey, Moka."
"Yes?"
"Meet me at the bus stop after school to go see your father," Ichigo said.
"Oh, right… thank you for the reminder." Moka replied. They walked together to class.
Scene Change: Auditorium
Ichigo entered the auditorium to find it packed with students. He noticed a sign that read "Backstage Only" and followed the arrow, which led him to Mikogami. The headmaster looked slightly nervous.
"You all right?" Ichigo asked, sensing something was off.
"Honestly... I am not fine," Mikogami admitted, his usual calm demeanor faltering.
"Why?"
"The main reason is that I'm not sure who else might sympathize with the Public Safety Commission, or worse, be part of Fairy Tale."
"Fairy Tale? What's that?" Ichigo asked, confused.
"Fairy Tale is an organization that believes Yōkai should conquer the human race."
"While you are one of the few who believes in coexistence," Ichigo added.
"Exactly," Mikogami confirmed. "During my investigation into the Public Safety Commission members, I discovered that many of them are either members of Fairy Tale or are considering joining."
"I see," Ichigo said, now understanding Mikogami's concerns. "Do all the students know who Yasaka is?"
"Yes. Many Yōkai recognize Yasaka-hime as the ruling authority of all Yōkai in Japan. Any Yōkai who moves here and gains citizenship must swear an oath of loyalty to her and the ruling house," Mikogami explained.
"If that's the case, I'll speak to Yasaka and get a decree that labels Fairy Tale as a terrorist organization," Ichigo decided.
"Do you think you'll have time to reach her?" Mikogami asked.
"One second." Ichigo closed his eyes and reached out mentally. "Good morning, Yasaka," he greeted through their bond link.
"Good morning, Ichigo. How can I help you?" Yasaka's voice came through, sounding a little gruff.
Ichigo checked his watch, it was 9:30 in the morning. "You all right?"
"I'm just tired. Some of my residents in Kyoto are dealing with the idiots from Fairy Tale," Yasaka grumbled.
"Speak of the devil," Ichigo mused.
"What do you mean?" Yasaka asked, curious.
"I wanted to ask if you can write a decree labeling Fairy Tale as a terrorist organization."
"Why?" Yasaka's tone shifted to serious.
"According to Mikogami, Fairy Tale wants to overthrow the current balance and conquer the human race," Ichigo explained.
"Those idiots," Yasaka growled. "Based on that alone, I can declare them as terrorists plotting against the Magical Japanese Government."
"Magical Japanese Government?" Ichigo asked, intrigued.
"It's the formal name of our government," Yasaka clarified. "I am the supreme ruler of all magical beings in Japan. While other magical beings may form their own governing bodies, they must ultimately obey my laws if they reside in Japan."
"I see," Ichigo mentally nodded, finally grasping the full extent of Yasaka's power and authority. "So, when can you get the decree signed?"
"Right now."
"Really?" Ichigo asked, surprised.
"Based on your statement and the reports from last night, I can declare them a terrorist group. If their actions threaten the secrecy of Magical Japan, it's a capital offense," Yasaka replied.
"I think you should also add a clause," Ichigo suggested. "If someone is confirmed as a member of Fairy Tale, all crimes committed by the organization should be added to their record. That would discourage other Yōkai from joining."
"I'll make sure to add that," Yasaka said, a smile evident in her voice. "I'll call you when I've finished making you a copy of the decree."
"Thank you Yasaka," Ichigo said, closing the connection.
"What did Yasaka-hime say?" Mikogami asked.
"She said she'll write the decree right away."
"Excellent," Mikogami nodded approvingly.
Just then, a voice called out. "Headmaster."
Ichigo and Mikogami turned to see Ruby and Tsukune standing before them.
"Thank you, Ruby," Mikogami said.
"What... can I do for you, Headmaster?" Tsukune asked nervously.
"Mikogami, my boy, I'm going to disband the Public Safety Commission," Mikogami announced firmly.
"Really?" Tsukune's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yes, but I'll need another organization to take over the Public Safety Commission's responsibilities."
"What responsibilities?" Tsukune asked, still confused.
"To protect the school," Mikogami replied simply.
"Um... What does this have to do with me?" Tsukune asked, even more lost.
"You're going to be in charge of the Student Police Division, or SPD for short," Mikogami dropped the bombshell.
"B-but—" Tsukune stammered, trying to protest.
Mikogami ignored him, stepping onto the stage to address the students. "Good morning, students," he called, quieting the crowd. "When I founded Yōkai Academy, I did so intending to teach Yōkai how to coexist with humans. I knew from the start that the school would be targeted by those who disagreed with me. That's why I created the Public Safety Commission—to protect the students from such groups. However, this group has strayed from its original mission. Instead of protecting the students, they became a terror to them."
He paused as Ruby walked on stage, leading the Public Safety Commission members, all still wearing their black uniforms. Their hands were chained together. "As of today, the Public Safety Commission is permanently disbanded. Students, remove those uniforms," Mikogami commanded.
Ruby released the chains, allowing the members to comply. Some hesitated at first.
Ichigo strode onto the stage with a menacing air.
"Are you going to strip, or do I need to burn those uniforms off you?" Ichigo threatened coldly.
The Public Safety Commission members froze. They remembered Ichigo all too well—the man who had easily defeated them. In a panic, they quickly discarded their uniforms, as if they were on fire.
Once the uniforms were off, Ichigo summoned a small fireball and tossed it into the pile of discarded clothes. He controlled the flames to ensure nothing else was burned, directing the smoke toward a nearby window.
The students erupted in applause, cheering as the Public Safety Commission was dismantled before their eyes.
"Thank you, Ichigo, Ruby," Mikogami commended. Ruby swiftly re-secured the former members of the Public Safety Commission and led them off stage, with Ichigo following behind. The students gradually quieted down.
"Now that the Public Safety Commission has been disbanded, I've decided to form a new organization," Mikogami announced. "This new organization will be called the Student Police Division, or SPD for short. The organization will be led by the student who led the investigation against the Public Safety Commission. Please give a round of applause to Aono Tsukune," the headmaster declared as he began to clap. The students followed suit, applauding as Tsukune walked onto the stage and faced the crowd.
"From now on, the Student Police Division will wear a red ribbon wrapped around the right sleeve of their uniform. Any additional changes to the uniform must be approved by me," Mikogami continued. He stepped forward and pinned the ribbon onto Tsukune's shirt. With that, Tsukune nodded and walked off the stage.
Ichigo remained backstage, ensuring everything went smoothly. Suddenly, his phone buzzed. He picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Yo, Captain. This is Marvelous."
"Yes, Marvelous?" Ichigo responded.
"3G is ready to go."
"Very well," Ichigo replied before hanging up. He found a secluded spot and dialed 5501 to signal the Uzushio that he was ready. A moment later, he vanished.
Scene Change: Uzushio's Command Center
Ichigo materialized on the Uzushio and was greeted by Marvelous, Doc, Guy, and Kotaro.
"Hello, everyone," Ichigo smiled as he walked down from the teleporter. "Don, what's the status of the new developments?"
"We've started gathering resources for the new space station and robots. We're also working on the AIs," Don reported.
"Sounds good," Ichigo nodded. "And the repairs?"
"All finished," Don confirmed.
Ichigo turned to Kotaro. "So you guys are leaving?"
"We are," Kotaro confirmed.
"Very well. We'll escort you back to your dimension if that's all right," Ichigo offered.
"That's fine," Kotaro agreed. The group returned to their respective ships, making sure all the robots were secured for interdimensional travel. The J-Ark and Uzushio connected via communication screens, and the J-Ark fired its dimensional missiles, opening a wormhole. Both ships entered it, leaving for their destination.
Scene Change: GaoGaiGar Universe: Based on Final Saber's Fanfiction
A wormhole appeared as the J-Ark and Uzushio emerged into the GaoGaiGar universe.
"Strange... The Orbit Base is nowhere to be found," Kosuke mused, looking around.
"What?!" Taiga shouted, his eyes widened in disbelief. The 3G Orbit Base had been their home.
"We'll have to run a search in the database after we land," Kosuke said as both ships entered the atmosphere. Suddenly, an explosion rocked the ship, throwing the 3G members to the deck.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!" Geki cried, rushing to the window.
"What... What is going on here?" Taiga asked, stunned. Through the window, he saw an army of grey mobile units, some with shovel-shaped arms, others with ladders attached. All of them had their weapons pointed at the J-Ark and Uzushio.
"J-Ark, raise the shields!" J ordered.
"Roger," Tomoro replied, and a pink barrier began to form around both ships, protecting them from the incoming attacks. The ship shook again, and the cables holding GaoLeon snapped, sending him plummeting to the city below.
"GUY!" Taiga yelled.
"On it!" Guy shouted as he leaped into action, fusing with GaoLeon to become GaiGar.
"Guy is requesting Final Fusion," Kosuke informed.
"Final Fusion approved!" Taiga responded.
"Roger," Kosuke nodded and began releasing the Gao Machines. "Final Fusion… Program Drive."
"FINAL FUSION!" Guy roared. ProtectGao, SpiralGao, BrokenGao, StraightGao, and GadgetGao launched from the J-Ark. GaiGar spun, unleashing waves of green energy that pushed the army of grey mobile units back. The Gao Machines broke through the green energy waves, fusing with GaiGar to form Genesic GaoGaiGar.
"BROKEN MAGNUM!" Guy yelled as the right fist shot out, tearing through the mobile units. Over forty of them fell, and the remaining forces redirected their weapons toward the newly formed Genesic GaoGaiGar.
"PROTECT SHADE!" Genesic GaoGaiGar raised his left hand, deploying small panels that formed a yellow barrier. The enemy's shots impacted, but the barrier held firm.
"So this is Genesic GaoGaiGar's power," Ichigo thought, intrigued. He was curious if any of the Asura Machina could withstand it.
Suddenly, all the attacks stopped. The mobile units ceased fire, though they kept their weapons aimed at Genesic GaoGaiGar. Taiga could see how tense Guy was, even with the might of Genesic GaoGaiGar. He knew that feeling well—it was something they both shared.
"J-Ark... Take us down to the ground and land," J commanded after a moment.
"Roger," Tomoro responded. The J-Ark and Uzushio soon touched down. Genesic GaoGaiGar landed behind the two ships.
A helicopter soon approached, circling the mechs before landing. A brown-haired man in a black business suit stepped out. On his left breast pocket, a green symbol with three G's was pinned. His hair was graying at the temples, and he walked forward without fear of the mechs or the J-Ark's weapons, which could disintegrate him in an instant.
Taiga, uncertain of the man's identity, walked out of the J-Ark to meet him. His senior staff and Ichigo followed. As Taiga approached, he noticed the man's gaze was fixed on Genesic GaoGaiGar rather than him or the ships.
"As the Leader of the Gutsy Galaxy Guard, I demand to know why your units opened fire on us!" Taiga declared as he confronted the man. The stranger met his gaze, and Taiga froze in shock. The older man... was crying, yet smiling.
"You'll have to forgive my men," the man said, his voice calm. "Things have changed drastically since the days of EI-01 and the 11 Souls Masters. When you all arrived, my team attempted to communicate, but for some reason, they couldn't get a response. Believing you to be hostiles, the Gutsy Geoid Guard had no choice but to take action. Fortunately, I made it to the main order room before too much damage was done."
"YOU OPENED FIRE WITHOUT PROVOCATION!" Guy shouted from the cockpit of Genesic GaoGaiGar, pointing directly at the man. "WHEN WE DID NOTHING TO THREATEN YOU!"
The man paused, and then, with a sorrowful tone, he spoke. "I'm sorry, Guy-Niichan. If I had been at my post when you arrived, none of this would've happened." The group's eyes widened in surprise at how the man addressed Guy.
"W-who are you?" Taiga asked, still reeling from the revelation.
The man smiled again, his eyes warm with nostalgia. "My name is Mamoru Amani. Head Commander of the Gutsy Geoid Guard. I welcome you all back to Earth… after forty years."
"WHAT?!" everyone exclaimed in unison.
Mamoru nodded, his expression growing more serious. "Let's talk in the Main Order Room. After the destruction of the Orbit Base, we were forced to relocate to the rebuilt Bay Tower Base." He gestured for them to follow, and everyone began making their way toward the Main Order Room. HyoRyu, EnRyu, Volfogg, FuRyu, RaiRyu, GoldyMarg, Mic Sounders, AnRyu, and KoRyu followed behind the others. Thanks to the Uzushio crew's repairs, the robots were now equipped with a new component that allowed them to shrink to 6 feet (about 182.88 cm) and return to their normal height when needed.
"So, tell me... what happened after we were shot out of the J-Ark?" Mamoru asked as they walked. Each of them shared their stories of what transpired since their separation, recounting their individual journeys on their way to the Main Order Room.
Scene Change: Main Order Room
When they arrived, the Main Order Room looked unchanged, even after forty years. Live feeds showed various portions of destroyed Japan. Mamoru turned to address the senior members of the Gutsy Galaxy Guard.
"Now… I know many of you have no reason to help us," Mamoru said, his voice grave. "You likely no longer have family here to protect or friends to sacrifice for. But as the head of the current Gutsy Geoid Guard, I'm asking you—will you join us? Will you help us defeat the resurrected Bionet and bring peace back to the world?"
Taiga closed his eyes, thinking for a moment. He then stepped forward, a grin slowly spreading across his face for the first time since landing on Earth. Turning to face the senior members of the Gutsy Galaxy Guard, he spoke.
"All members of the Gutsy Galaxy Guard who wish to aid in this fight, step forward!" Taiga ordered. The room seemed to shake as the entire group moved forward in unison. J, who had been leaning against the back wall, silently observed, as did Renee, who stood beside him. The senior members of the Gutsy Galaxy Guard grinned, their resolve clear. Geki wiped his nose with his thumb, and Guy looked ready to glow green with excitement.
Mamoru's eyes glistened with tears as he watched his heroes step forward. He remembered the feeling of hope and admiration that only heroes could inspire. He smiled, wiping away the tears that threatened to fall.
"Thank you all," he said, his voice full of gratitude.
Suddenly, someone yelled, "SIR! A Bionet Hunter unit has appeared!"
Mamoru's expression shifted instantly to one of cold determination. "Stella, what's the status of our mobile units?"
"Sir, I've already ordered Squad One, Two, and Three to intercept," Stella replied, her voice full of urgency.
"No!" Mamoru barked. "Order them all to return to base immediately!"
Stella looked confused but nodded. "Understood, sir."
Mamoru ignored her confusion as he turned to Taiga. "Are any of the robots operational?" he asked.
"All of them are fully operational," Ichigo interjected, drawing the attention of everyone except the senior members. "Mamoru, if you didn't notice, all the robots are fully repaired and standing right here," he said, gesturing to the nine robots behind the senior members.
Mamoru smiled, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "Which one of you wants to take care of the Hunter unit?"
"I think we got this," EnRyu said, cracking his knuckles.
"We're ready to go," HyoRyu added, already preparing for battle.
"But sir... a Hunter can take out a hundred of the mass-produced types," Stella protested. "You want to intercept with only two?"
Mamoru's grin grew wider, a mischievous glint in his eye. He had learned this confidence from years of working with Taiga. "Stella, our A.I.s have never had proper time to mature. But trust me—those two will be more than enough," he said, his voice dripping with confidence.
Stella stared at him in disbelief, but Mamoru turned to Taiga, who nodded in approval.
Mamoru faced the main screen, his voice commanding. "Units HyoRyu and EnRyu, intercept the enemy and destroy the Hunter unit!"
The senior members smiled at how similar Mamoru's leadership style was to Taiga's.
"ROGER!" HyoRyu and EnRyu shouted in unison, rushing off to face the Hunter unit.
Scene Change: Outside
The Hunter unit was a large black wolf-like robot that could release beam-shaped wings from the arms extending from its back, allowing it to fly (1). The most noticeable thing about it, however, was the fact that it was heading straight towards the Bay Tower Base. The robot paused as a red fire truck and blue mobile crane appeared on its radar.
Suddenly, the Hunter unit's A.I. detected two voices yelling in unison.
"SYSTEM CHANGE!" HyoRyu and EnRyu called out as they began to transform. As the two robots transformed, the Hunter unit's A.I. analyzed them and noted their cocky behavior. It scanned the newcomers but found no data on them. Deciding they were a threat, the Hunter unit opened fire, unleashing a barrage of gunfire from its body.
EnRyu and HyoRyu quickly drew their weapons and fired back while evading the Hunter unit's attacks, determined to destroy the rogue machine.
"MELTING RIFLE!" EnRyu shouted, his weapon flaring with energy.
"FREEZING RIFLE!" HyoRyu called out, his attack countering with a blast of ice. The Hunter Unit leaped back to avoid the twin shots before charging at the red robot. EnRyu quickly brought his ladder arm up, blocking the Hunter Unit's claws and forcing it back with a powerful push.
"ENRYU, LET'S DO IT!" HyoRyu yelled, his voice full of anticipation.
"ALRIGHT, HYORYU!" EnRyu responded, his grin matching HyoRyu's.
"SYMECTRICAL DOCKING!" the duo declared in unison.
The Hunter Unit skidded to a halt, its sensors alerting it to a sudden, unfamiliar sight. The two robots, previously separate, began to merge in a dazzling sequence between vehicle and robot mode. The transformation was completed, revealing a new form—half red, half blue, with a gleaming metallic chest plate.
"CHORYUJIN!" the newly formed robot shouted as it charged at the Hunter Unit.
The Hunter Unit attempted to leap into the air, aiming to get within ChoRyuJin's combat range, but ChoRyuJin swung his crane arm with precise timing, knocking the Hunter Unit out of the air and slamming it into a nearby building.
"DOUBLE GUN!" ChoRyuJin roared, raising both arms to unleash a barrage of small fireballs and ice shards at the Hunter Unit. The impact rattled the Hunter Unit as it struggled to resist the onslaught.
Meanwhile, the Hunter Unit's A.I. sent a frantic message to Bionet, attempting to search for any data on these new mobile units. However, the search was never completed. The damage from ChoRyuJin's attack was too severe, and the Hunter Unit exploded in a fiery burst.
Scene Change: Main Order Room
Stella stood frozen, her eyes wide with shock at how easily ChoRyuJin had taken down the formidable Hunter Unit. Mamoru, too, seemed ready to leap with excitement, his joy palpable. Taiga simply smiled, proud of their victory.
"H-how could they be so strong?" Stella asked, still in disbelief.
Mamoru nodded, his voice filled with admiration. "Because they have more experience than any other unit in the world. Those two were among the first robots built by the Gutsy Geoid Guard."
The two robots returned to base for inspection after their victory.
"Looks like everything's in working order," Ichigo remarked, standing up after checking their systems.
"So, are you leaving?" Guy asked, watching Ichigo closely.
"I am," Ichigo replied with a soft smile. "I don't know how much time I've spent here, but I need to go."
Stella raised an eyebrow, confused. "Wait, you're just going to leave your comrades behind?"
Ichigo's expression softened. "I helped the Gutsy Galaxy Guard when they were trapped in a wormhole. I rescued them, repaired the robots, and made sure everyone was safe. My job here is done. I need to escort them back to their home universe and make sure they get there safely."
"I see…" Stella trailed off, still processing his words.
"Anyways, thanks for everything, Ichigo," Taiga said, offering a nod of gratitude.
With that, Ichigo said his goodbyes to both the new and old members of the Gutsy Galaxy Guard before boarding the Uzushio to leave this universe.
"Do you think we'll see him again?" Stella asked, looking at Taiga.
"Maybe," Taiga replied, his gaze thoughtful. "If worst comes to worst... we might escape to his home universe," he thought to himself as Ichigo walked back to the ship.
"Captain, ready to go?" Marvelous asked, looking up from the control panel.
"Yep," Ichigo confirmed as he boarded Uzushio. The ship powered up and opened a wormhole, beginning its journey back home.
Scene Change: Home (ThunderReborn's) Universe
A purple wormhole opened up, and Uzushio emerged from it, its sleek form cutting through the void.
"Status report," Ichigo requested, his voice calm and focused.
"Nothing unusual to report," Don replied from his station.
"All right. Keep up the construction work," Ichigo ordered. "Carry on."
"Yes, sir!" the crew responded in unison, getting back to their tasks. Ichigo made his way to the teleporter and prepared to return to Yōkai Academy.
Scene Change: Yōkai Academy
Ichigo arrived at the bus stop just as Moka, Kokoa, and the rest of the Newspaper Club showed up.
"So… why are all of them coming?" Ichigo asked, pointing to the unexpected additions.
"To provide backup," Tsukune replied with a grin.
Ichigo looked at the group for a moment before laughing.
"Man, that was a good joke," Ichigo said, wiping a tear from his eye. "But seriously, why are all of you coming?"
"Because we want to help Moka," Tsukune explained, his tone earnest.
"Help?" Ichigo asked, genuinely confused. "I don't need your help. If you want to come, you don't need to lie about it."
Before Tsukune could respond, the Yōkai Academy school bus arrived.
"Hello," Nurari greeted, giving a polite nod.
"H-hello, Bus Driver-san," Tsukune replied awkwardly as he climbed aboard, taking a seat in the back. The girls followed, with Moka sitting next to Ichigo and Kokoa sitting behind them. Ichigo boarded the bus as well.
"Hello, Ichigo-sama."
"Hello, Bus Driver. Don't call me –sama," Ichigo said, rolling his eyes as he took a seat at the front.
"Any more people?" Nurari asked, looking around.
"I don't think so," Ichigo answered, glancing at Moka.
"No," Moka confirmed with a shake of her head.
"Very well," Nurari said as he closed the doors and started the bus. The vehicle entered a dimensional tunnel, heading toward their destination.
"Ichigo," Moka said softly.
"Yes?"
"I know you're going to fight Oto-sama, but please… don't kill him."
"I'll try my best," Ichigo replied, his expression serious.
Scene Change: Shuzen Estate
The bus emerged from the dimensional tunnel and rolled to a stop on a paved path. "This is as far as I can take you," Nurari announced to his passengers.
"Thank you," Ichigo replied, stepping off the bus. Moka and Kokoa quickly followed behind. Tsukune and the rest of the Newspaper Club followed closely behind. Ichigo turned to Nurari with a stern glare. "I know you like driving recklessly, but when my daughter is on board, you'll drive normally. Understand?"
"I do," Nurari nodded with a solemn expression as he closed the bus door. They walked down the paved road until a grand European-style castle came into view.
Ichigo glanced back over his shoulder. "If you want to tag along, that's fine, but don't get involved," he said as he approached the gate. He noticed the iron bars were locked, but with a swift kick, he broke the lock. He pushed the door open with a forceful slam, cracking the wood. Stepping inside, he made his way through the empty, cavernous foyer. At the top of the stairs, two figures stood waiting.
The first was a man with black shoulder-length hair and a small beard that framed his jaw. His build was slender, and he was dressed in black and red European-style clothes. His blood-red eyes narrowed as he caught sight of Ichigo, Moka, Kokoa, and the Newspaper Club.
The second figure was a little girl with fair skin and bright green eyes. Her orange hair was pulled back into a ponytail, held by a bright pink bow, with a long fringe hanging on the right side of her face. Her bangs were cut extremely short. As she saw the group, her gaze locked onto Moka.
"KA-SAN!" the little girl cried, rushing down the stairs to her mother.
"Hello, Elizabeth," Moka smiled warmly as she embraced her daughter.
"Ka-san, what are you doing here?" Elizabeth asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
"I'm here to take you to school," Moka replied gently.
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Yay!" Elizabeth exclaimed. Then, she noticed Ichigo. "Ka-san, who is he?" She pointed at him, intrigued.
Ichigo crouched down to meet her eye level. "Hello, Elizabeth. Can you guess who I am?" he asked with a playful grin, subtly moving his orange hair so she could get a better look.
Elizabeth's eyes widened as recognition dawned on her. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a photo. Carefully, she opened it and studied the picture for a moment, then looked back up at Ichigo, her eyes brimming with emotion. A single tear slipped down her cheek.
"You're my Tou-san," she whispered, her voice shaky with emotion.
Ichigo smiled softly. "That's right."
Elizabeth immediately ran into his arms, hugging him tightly. "I… I missed you."
"I missed you too," Ichigo whispered, his voice thick with emotion.
At that moment, Moka and Kokoa's father stepped down the stairs. His expression hardening.
"YOU!" Issa shouted, fury in his voice.
"Hello, Issa," Ichigo greeted with a malicious grin as he walked toward him.
"I don't know how you survived the beating I gave you last time, but I'll make sure you stay dead this time!" Issa roared, snapping his fingers. Instantly, five guards wearing black full-body armor and holding spears appeared, aiming their weapons at Ichigo.
"HALT!" one of the guards shouted.
"Looks like I get a warm-up," Ichigo muttered, cracking his knuckles. He charged at Guard #1, knocking him out with a swift strike. Guards #2 and #3 lunged at him with their spears, but Ichigo expertly dodged their attacks. He grabbed Guard #2's arm, using the distraction to hurl him at Guard #3.
Guards #4 and #5 attempted to strike in tandem, but Ichigo simply grabbed Guard #4's spear, twisting it out of his hands and forcing him to knock himself out by hitting his own head. With a swift motion, Ichigo tossed Guard #5 over the Newspaper Club and out of the building.
"Tou-san, why are you fighting grandfather?" Elizabeth asked, her voice filled with confusion.
"Because your grandfather hurt me," Ichigo said, his gaze hardening as he walked toward Issa. "He took you and your Kaa-san away from me."
Issa growled low in his throat. "So you've gotten stronger," he muttered, eyeing Ichigo with a mix of respect and anger.
"I'm way stronger than before," Ichigo replied, his tone confident. In the blink of an eye, he used shunpō to appear behind Issa, delivering a brutal sucker punch to his face. Issa staggered back, spitting out blood, and swung a wild right hook at Ichigo. Ichigo dodged the attack and countered with a left hook. Issa narrowly avoided it, but Ichigo used the momentum to land a powerful kick that sent him reeling.
"What was Moka's catchphrase…?" Ichigo murmured, walking toward Issa, who was struggling to regain his footing. "Ah, I remember… LEARN YOUR PLACE!" Ichigo landed a decisive kick to Issa's chest, sending him crashing into the wall.
Issa slowly pulled himself out of the hole in the wall, his eyes burning with fury. He reached for a black dagger and threw it at Ichigo, but Ichigo caught it in mid-air and hurled it back. Issa dodged the dagger with a swift movement but noticed one of his guards starting to stir.
"Get me the Counter-weapon!" Issa ordered his voice tight with anger. One of the guards bowed and disappeared.
Before Issa could react, Ichigo was behind him again, delivering a brutal kick that sent him crashing through a stone pillar. Issa staggered, dazed by the sudden attack, and Ichigo followed up by kicking him into an armored statue.
Issa grabbed a massive black broadsword from the statue and charged at Ichigo, swinging it down in a powerful strike. Ichigo dodged easily, and Issa followed up with an upward strike, but Ichigo sidestepped that as well.
"Come on, Issa. Is that all you've got? I can beat you without a weapon," Ichigo taunted, watching the vampire grow even more enraged.
Issa, gritting his teeth, charged the broadsword with his Yōki and hurled it at Ichigo. Ichigo caught it, preparing to throw it back, but before he could, the broadsword exploded in a burst of energy, kicking up dust and debris.
"Did I get him?" Issa wondered, squinting through the haze. As the dust cleared, Ichigo stood unharmed, the only damage being a tear in his jacket. He casually dropped the shattered pieces of the broadsword.
"Is that it?" Ichigo asked, clearly unimpressed as he walked toward Issa. "The great Shuzen Issa can't even win in a one-on-one fight."
"THAT'S IT!" Issa roared, his Yōki surging violently around him. "Because of my pride, I've never used this ability, but you of all people are testing my LIMITS!" His hair turned silver, his eyes blood-red with slitted pupils. His upper body was encased in jet-black armor with light-toned pauldrons on his shoulders, and massive bat wings sprouted from his back. He charged forward, slamming a punch into Ichigo's chest.
Ichigo was sent flying, crashing into a nearby wall.
"Ichigo!" Moka cried out.
"TOU-SAN!" Elizabeth screamed.
"Don't scream," Ichigo groaned, emerging from the debris. "That weak punch won't kill me. Since he's getting serious, I guess it's time for me to stop holding back."
"WHAT?!" Everyone but Moka thought.
"How strong is he?" Tsukune whispered in shock.
"Strong enough to tear the heavens asunder," Ichigo replied, his tone grim as he transformed into his Shinigami form. His black shihakushō billowed around him, two white shoulder plates crossed over his chest, and a white haori with black flames and red Kanji draped over his shoulders. He reached out and summoned Yorugetsu, shunpō'ed toward Issa with a downward strike. Issa barely managed to dodge, narrowly avoiding the blade.
"You're far stronger than I thought," Issa admitted, attempting a punch at Ichigo. Ichigo vanished with a shunpō.
"Running from me now?" Issa mocked.
"Not exactly," Ichigo grinned, reappearing behind him. He placed Yorugetsu's blade at Issa's neck. "I just found an opening." With a flash, Ichigo fired a point-blank Getsuga Tenshō, sending Issa crashing to the ground.
Ichigo descended slowly, lifting Issa's body with ease before slamming him back down. "How does it feel to be beaten by the same person you nearly killed four years ago?" Ichigo snarled, throwing Issa into another wall.
The dust cleared, revealing Issa still alive, spitting out blood. "Don't worry about me…" he muttered, gathering his Yōki once again. A guard from earlier returned with a large spear, over six feet long, with a blue shaft and yellow tails spiraling around it (2).
Issa took the spear and sneered. "You should worry about them!" He hurled the spear at Moka and Elizabeth.
"The girls!" Ichigo thought, realizing Issa's intent. In a flash, he shunpō'ed in front of them, becoming their shield. But the spear pierced his body. Ichigo's Blut Vene and Hierro activated, but the weapon still found its mark.
"ICHIGO!" Moka shouted, rushing toward him.
"TOU-SAN!" Elizabeth followed.
"Don't worry," Ichigo said, blood dripping from his mouth. "It'll take more than that to stop me."
Issa observed with a smirk. "Surprised, Ichigo? This spear is a magical artifact. It surprised me, too, when a young man with black hair and blue eyes tried to attack me with it." He cackled. "Enough talking. Time to die!"
Before he could move, Ichigo raised a translucent barrier, blocking his path. "Interesting weapon…" Ichigo mused, grabbing the spear's shaft. "But not enough to stop me." With a grunt, he pulled the spear from his chest, staggering slightly before slamming it into the ground to regain his balance.
"Ichigo! Tou-san!" Moka and Elizabeth exclaimed.
"Don't worry, girls. I'm fine," Ichigo reassured them, his eyes burning with fatherly rage. His wound slowly healed as he handed the spear to Moka. "Hold onto this for me."
With the spear now in Moka's hands, Ichigo turned his full attention to Issa. "Issa, you dirty cheating bastard," Ichigo growled, as his reiatsu began to gather around. "I can accept many things like you throwing that spear with intentions to kill me, BUT!" His reiatsu now flaring outwards. "YOU DARED TRY TO HARM YOUR DAUGHTER AND GRANDDAUGHTER, MY DAUGHTER TO DEFEAT ME! THAT IS A NEW LOW EVEN FOR YOU!
Ichigo's reiatsu continued erupting and growing around him. "Before coming here, Moka asked me to spare you," he growled. "And I was going to, but now… NOW YOU HAVE CROSSED A LINE." He drew Yorugetsu in front of him, his voice filled with fury.
"Stride forth to the gates of Heaven, and tear the Heavens asunder. Charge forth to the Gates of Hell and destroy the chains of the damned. Enter the doors of your Humanity and shatter fate… ZANGETSU!" Ichigo called, the pillar of his reiatsu blasting through the ceiling, his power shaking the very castle.
As the dust settled, Ichigo now held both Zangetsu in his hands, their edges glowing with power. He raised them high and began to pump them with reiatsu. "Issa, let's see if you can handle this!" he shouted, swinging both blades downward.
The resulting black cross-shaped Getsuga Tenshō screamed toward Issa, tearing through the air. Issa tried to stop it with a blast of Yōki, but the attack ripped through his own defense, hitting him full force and sending him crashing through the walls of his castle.
Ichigo shunpō'ed into the gaping hole, pulling a bloodied and battered Issa from the rubble. "These wounds will heal over time, but you'll always remember this defeat," Ichigo taunted, channeling fire reiatsu from Schrift I: The Ignatius into Zangetsu. The blades began to glow with a fiery red hue before being engulfed in flames.
"Moka, cover Elizabeth's eyes and ears," Ichigo ordered, his tone cold. Moka obeyed without hesitation.
Ichigo stood tall, his reiatsu flaring as he readied Zangetsu. With swift, precise movements, Ichigo severed Issa's right arm just below the elbow, his left arm above the elbow, his right leg above the knee, and his left leg below the knee.
Issa screamed in agony, but Ichigo merely smirked. "Don't worry; I made sure to cauterize the wound. It'll prevent you from bleeding out, though you might not be able to reconnect those limbs again," Ichigo said while channeling his inner Unohana. "Wait! Just to make sure you can't use those arms and legs ever again for any purpose." He grinned evilly as he fired a small fireball at the amputated arms and legs, turning them into dust and charcoal.
"GAH!" Issa screamed before passing out from the pain.
Ichigo ignored the commotion as he walked toward the Newspaper Club. Using his waterbending, he cleaned the blood off his body. Everyone stared at him. Tsukune and some of the girls looked visibly green.
"Ichigo," Moka said, glaring at him. She handed the bloody spear to Kokoa to hold and stomped over to her boyfriend.
"Yes, Moka?" Ichigo asked, raising an eyebrow.
Moka got right into his face and began hitting his chest. "You idiot! I thought I would've lost you forever!" she cried, tears welling up in her eyes.
Ichigo suddenly felt something wrap around his leg. Looking down, he saw Elizabeth hugging it, also crying. "I'm sorry," he apologized, kneeling down to hug the two most important girls in his life.
"Please don't do that again," Moka whispered, her voice trembling.
"…It's my job to protect you and Elizabeth," Ichigo protested with a gentle smile, calming both of them. They stopped crying.
"Anyways, what are you going to do with the spear?" Moka asked.
"I'll look into it," Ichigo replied, taking the spear from Kokoa. He sealed Zangetsu and
them into his mindscape. He then returned to his human form. "Let's go pack Elizabeth's things."
"Okay," Moka agreed. With that, Ichigo, Moka, and Elizabeth walked deeper into the Shuzen estate.
"Katen, Kyōkotsu, and Hōgyoku, can you three search the Shuzen estate for anything important—artifacts, books, weapons, or anything of significant value—and send them into the mindscape?" Ichigo requested.
"Roger," Hōgyoku responded.
"Very well," Katen said.
"On it," Kyōkotsu added.
Ichigo could feel the three Zanpakutō spirits leaving his mindscape. The trio arrived at a door marked with a metal plaque that read Elizabeth Akashiya. They pushed it open to reveal a small room. The walls were painted black with pink and silver swirls, and on the far side of the room sat a small bed surrounded by a few stuffed animals: a black bat with red eyes, a strawberry, a pink bunny with green eyes, and a silver bunny with red eyes.
Ichigo chuckled at the sight of the stuffed animals and turned to Moka. "You kept them?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Of course I did. You gave them to me on my birthday," she defended.
"Tou-san gave Kaa-san these stuffed animals?" Elizabeth asked, her eyes wide.
"I did," Ichigo confirmed, smiling warmly.
"Tou-san, is it true your name is Ichigo? Like the strawberry?" Elizabeth asked innocently.
"While it's true my name is Ichigo, it doesn't mean 'strawberry,'" Ichigo explained patiently, unlike how he would have with anyone else who misinterpreted his namesake. "When I was younger, I was told that my name doesn't mean strawberry, but rather it means to protect something. As long as I live, I'll protect you." He hugged Elizabeth, his eyes locking with Moka's. "You too," he added, pulling her into the embrace as well.
After the hug, the three of them gathered Elizabeth's belongings and sent them to Ichigo's mindscape. Once that was done, they moved to Moka's room to collect her remaining things. As they left, they noticed Kokoa packing her belongings as well.
"You're moving out, Kokoa?" Moka asked.
"Yes, Nee-sama," Kokoa responded, zipping up a backpack and two duffle bags.
"Do you need help?" Ichigo asked.
"No, I got it," Kokoa said, walking out of her room and heading down the hall with her bags.
As they made their way out of the destroyed estate, Ichigo felt Kyōka, Katen, Kyōkotsu, and Hōgyoku returning to his mindscape.
"Anything important?" Ichigo asked.
"Nope," Katen replied. Ichigo then cut the connection.
The four of them arrived at the bus stop to find Tsukune and the rest of the Newspaper Club already sitting in the back of the school bus.
"Hello. It looks like all of you are here, and you've got a little tagalong," Nurari remarked.
"Hi, I'm Elizabeth," Elizabeth introduced herself.
"Hello, Elizabeth," Nurari greeted, putting out his cigar. "Looks like you're all ready to head back."
The group climbed aboard, with Ichigo, Moka, and Elizabeth sitting in the front. Kokoa sat behind them, and the rest of the Newspaper Club filled the back. Once everyone was settled, Nurari started the bus and drove them back to Yōkai Academy.
Ichigo ignored the stare Tsukune was giving him.
"One minute, he's cutting off limbs and enjoying it like a serial killer, and the next, he's acting like a fun-loving, happy guy," Tsukune thought. "He's a monster. A monster that's slowly corrupting Moka."
"Moka," Ichigo spoke up, breaking Tsukune's thoughts.
"Yes, Ichigo?" Moka replied.
"I was wondering if you want to remain at Yōkai Academy."
"What?" Moka blinked in surprise.
"You don't need to decide right now, but I want you to think about it," Ichigo said, his expression serious.
"Where would I go?" she asked, her voice uncertain.
"Kuoh Academy," Ichigo suggested.
"Very well, I'll consider it," Moka said, nodding.
"Thank you," Ichigo smiled warmly.
Nurari soon left the dimensional gap and parked the bus at the stop. Ichigo, Moka, and Elizabeth got off the bus.
"Thanks," Ichigo said to Nurari.
"Thank you, Bus Driver," Moka added.
"Thank you, Creepy Bus Driver-san," Elizabeth giggled. Nurari and Ichigo chuckled at her statement.
"Come on, Moka. We need to talk to Mikogami," Ichigo said as he began walking.
"About what?" Moka asked, curious.
"I need to convince him to let you move in with me," Ichigo explained, a confident smile on his face.
"WHAT?!" she shouted.
Ichigo swiftly wrapped Moka and Elizabeth in a hug and used shunpō'ed to transport them to Mikogami's office. They arrived outside the office, the two girls slightly disoriented from the sudden speed. Ichigo approached the door and knocked.
"Come in," Mikogami called out. Ichigo opened the door, and the trio stepped inside.
"Hello, Ichigo. Here for your new family room key?" Mikogami greeted.
"Yep," Ichigo replied.
Mikogami handed an envelope to Ichigo. "Here you go."
"Thanks," Ichigo said, taking the envelope. The trio left the office and Ichigo immediately used shunpō to take Moka and Elizabeth to Moka's room to help her pack. Once they finished, Ichigo shunpō'ed them again, this time to their new room, courtesy of Mikogami.
"Moka, Elizabeth, take your time unpacking," Ichigo said as their belongings appeared on the floor. "I'm going to investigate that spear from earlier."
"Very well," Moka responded, her eyes glinting with determination as she took out the Rosario.
"Bye, Kaa-san," Elizabeth said with a bright smile.
"See you later, Elizabeth," Moka replied, clipping the Rosario back on and transforming into her pink-haired self. "Hello, Kaa-san."
Moka smiled and hugged her daughter before placing her gently on the ground. "Let's get started organizing this."
"Yes, Kaa-san."
Ichigo then focused his thoughts. "Kyōka, Hōgyoku, can you two come out here?"
"Yes, Ichigo?" they both replied, materializing in front of him.
"Were you able to learn anything about this spear?" Ichigo asked, glancing at the weapon now resting on the table.
"The only thing we could gather is that it appears to be a Holy weapon," Kyōka said thoughtfully.
"I see. Anything else?" Ichigo pressed.
"It seems the spear is slowly absorbing your reiatsu," Hōgyoku added, his tone grave.
"Got it," Ichigo muttered. "I'll call Sirzechs to see if he can get me Michael's number."
"Good idea," Kyōka said as both she and Hōgyoku returned to Ichigo's mindscape.
Ichigo dialed Sirzechs' number, and a few moments later, Grayfia's voice came through the line.
"Hello, Ichigo-sama."
"Hello, Grayfia. Do you happen to have Michael's phone number?"
"I do. I'll send it to you via text."
"Thanks," Ichigo said.
"Please note, the number might seem long and unusual. Be sure to enter every digit," Grayfia warned.
"Understood," Ichigo acknowledged.
After hanging up, Ichigo felt his phone vibrate. He opened the message to find an oddly long string of numbers. The message read:
"8-15-12-25 13-9-3-8-1-5-12 20-8-5 1-18-3-8-1-14-7-5-12 4-5-6-5-14-4 21-19 9-14 2-1-20-20-12-5 2-5 15-21-18 19-1-6-5-7-21-1-18-4 1-7-1-9-14-19-20 20-8-5 23-9-3-11-5-4-14-5-19-19 1-14-4 19-14-1-18-5-19 15-6 20-8-5 4-5-22-9-12 13-1-25 7-15-4 18-5-2-21-11-5 8-9-13 23-5 8-21-13-2-12-25 16-18-1-25 1-14-4 4-15 25-15-21 15 16-18-9-14-3-5 15-6 20-8-5 8-5-1-22-5-14-12-25 8-15-19-20 2-25 20-8-5 16-15-23-5-18 15-6 7-15-4 3-1-19-20 9-14-20-15 8-5-12-12 19-1-20-1-14 1-14-4 1-12-12 20-8-5 5-22-9-12 19-16-9-18-9-20-19 23-8-15 23-1-14-4-5-18 20-8-18-15-21-7-8 20-8-5 23-15-18-12-4 19-5-5-11-9-14-7 20-8-5 18-21-9-14 15-6 19-15-21-12-19 1-13-5-14" (3)
Ichigo copied and pasted the number down on his dial pad, then pressed the call button. It rang for nearly a minute before someone picked up.
"Hello?" Michael's voice came through.
"Hey Michael, it's Ichigo."
"Ah, Ichigo. What can I do for you?"
"I've found a Holy weapon and was hoping you could help me identify it."
"Certainly. Let's meet at your house in Kuoh."
"Okay. See you soon," Ichigo replied and ended the call. He returned the spear to his mindscape and walked over to Moka and Elizabeth, noticing that most of their belongings were already packed away.
"Hello, Ichigo," Moka smiled warmly.
"Hey, Moka."
"Did you find out anything about the spear?"
"Kyōka and Hōgyoku confirmed it's a Holy weapon. I've contacted Michael, and we're meeting in Kuoh. Would you two like to join me?"
"Sure," Moka said.
"Can I come too?" Elizabeth asked eagerly.
"Of course," Ichigo responded with a grin.
Ichigo then materialized his car keys and summoned his car. "Elizabeth, would you prefer to sit in the back or in front with Kaa-san?"
"I'll sit with Kaa-san," Elizabeth decided.
"All right then." Moka and Elizabeth climbed into the passenger seat, while Ichigo got into the driver's side. Once everyone was settled, he started the car and opened a Garganta, driving through it.
Scene Change: Kuoh
On the streets of Kuoh, Ichigo's black car emerged from a dark portal, surprising Yuzu and Karin, who were walking home from a club meeting. Issei, Rias, Akeno, Asia, Xenovia, and Koneko immediately took defensive stances, while Yuzu and Karin rushed to the car.
"Wait!" Issei shouted.
The car skidded to a halt in front of the twins. When the driver's side door opened, Ichigo stepped out, smiling at them.
"Ichi-nii!" Yuzu and Karin cried out, rushing over to hug him. Issei, Rias, Akeno, Asia, Xenovia, and Koneko relaxed, walking over to Ichigo as well.
"Hello, everyone," Ichigo greeted with a smile.
"Hello, Ichigo-sensei," Issei said, nodding.
"What are you doing here, Ichi-nii?" Yuzu asked, curious.
"Two things," Ichigo replied. "First, I'm here to introduce all of you to my first girlfriend and our daughter."
At that, Moka opened the car door, and Elizabeth leaped out, rushing over to Ichigo.
"Moka," Yuzu and Karin said in unison, recognizing her.
"Hello, Yuzu and Karin," Moka said warmly as she embraced them.
"Ichi-nii… What do you mean 'daughter'?" Karin asked, clearly confused.
"She's our daughter, Akashiya Elizabeth Masaki," Moka explained, smiling.
"Elizabeth, go meet your Obasans," Ichigo said, gesturing to Yuzu and Karin.
"Hello, Elizabeth! I'm Yuzu," Yuzu introduced herself.
"And I'm Karin," Karin added.
"Yay, more Obasans!" Elizabeth cheered, happily running between them for hugs.
"What's the other reason for being here, Ichigo-senpai?" Rias asked.
"I'm meeting Michael in a bit."
"Really!?" The whole peerage exclaimed in surprise.
"Yes," Michael answered, suddenly appearing in full armor.
"Michael-sama!" Xenovia shouted.
"Hello, Xenovia," Michael greeted, acknowledging her.
"Yuzu, Karin, please take care of Moka and Elizabeth while I talk to Michael," Ichigo requested.
"Okay, Ichi-nii!" Yuzu said, giving a playful salute as she led Moka and Elizabeth inside, followed by Karin.
"Michael-sama, Ichigo-senpai, do you need anything from us?" Rias asked.
"Not this time, Rias," Ichigo replied.
"All right, come on, everyone," Rias said, leading her peerage to Issei's mansion.
Ichigo guided Michael to the master bedroom in his house. Once inside, Ichigo sealed the room with various privacy kidō spells.
"What weapon did you find?" Michael asked.
"A spear," Ichigo said, summoning the weapon and placing it carefully on the bed.
Michael's eyes widened in recognition. "Oh my… To think you managed to find it…"
"It?" Ichigo asked, intrigued.
"Yes, one of the most recognized holy artifacts in history," Michael confirmed.
"It can't be…"
"It is. The Lance of Longinus," Michael said, as the spear began to glow brightly.
"How? Isn't the Lance of Longinus a Sacred Gear?" Ichigo asked, confused.
"It is. How did you come across it?"
"I was fighting Moka's father. During the battle, he had one of his minions bring out the spear and use it against me. He said he stole it from someone, who I now assume was the previous owner of the Lance of Longinus."
"I see," Michael murmured. "It's likely that the man used some form of magic to steal the Lance of Longinus from its original owner."
"So, should you take it back?" Ichigo asked.
"What do you mean?" Michael looked puzzled.
"I mean, shouldn't you take the Lance of Longinus back?" Ichigo clarified.
"As much as I would like to return the Lance to Heaven, I cannot," Michael said, his voice heavy.
"Why not?" Ichigo asked.
"Because the Lance of Longinus has found a new owner for its power," Michael explained.
"It's me, isn't it?" Ichigo groaned, realizing the truth.
"It is," Michael confirmed with a soft smile.
Ichigo sighed, resigned to his fate. "Very well," he said, picking up the spear. "Thank you for your help."
"Anytime, Ichigo," Michael said, smiling kindly before vanishing in a flash of light.
Ichigo sent the Lance of Longinus back to his mindscape and walked downstairs. He found Karin playing with Elizabeth while Yuzu and Moka were busy in the kitchen.
"So, what's for dinner?" Ichigo asked as he approached.
"Your favorite curry!" Yuzu yelled from the stove.
"Thanks!" Ichigo shouted back. "Make sure to add enough for at least ten more people!"
"Okay, Ichi-nii!" Yuzu called back.
Ichigo walked over to Karin and Elizabeth, who were still playing.
"What are you two up to?" he asked, amused.
"Tou-san!" Elizabeth exclaimed, running over to hug his leg.
"Hello, Ichi-nii. We were playing catch," Karin explained with a grin.
"I see. Are you enjoying yourself, Elizabeth?" Ichigo asked, bending down to her level.
"I'm having so much fun with Karin-obasan!" Elizabeth said, beaming.
Ichigo chuckled. "Elizabeth, do you want to help us set the table?"
"Really?" Elizabeth asked, her eyes wide with excitement.
"Sure!" Karin said, leading Elizabeth toward the kitchen.
Ichigo went to the dining area and added some extensions to the table, pulling out extra chairs. Karin and Elizabeth returned, carrying fourteen plates and eating utensils. Karin carefully set down the plates, while Elizabeth placed a spoon and fork next to each plate.
Yuzu and Moka soon followed with two large pots of curry and two pots of rice, placing them gently on the table.
Ichigo summoned his spirits, and everyone sat down to enjoy the meal together.
"So, where's Kaa-san?" Ichigo asked, looking around.
"Yesterday, she left for the Underworld to visit Venelana and Zeoticus," Karin explained.
Ichigo nodded, satisfied with the answer, and resumed eating.
After dinner, Ichigo's spirits thanked Yuzu and Moka for the meal before returning to his mindscape. Everyone gathered in the living room to share stories. Ichigo recounted what had happened after the events in Domino City. Yuzu and Karin talked about their time at Kuoh Town/Academy, while Moka shared the story of how she and Ichigo first met, up to the recent incidents. All the while, Masaki listened, taking in the tales of her children.
As the evening wore on, everyone decided it was time to sleep. On his way upstairs, Ichigo felt a presence trying to reach him through the peerage link.
"Hello?" Ichigo asked.
"It's Yasaka," came the reply.
"Hey, Yasaka. Did you finish the decree?"
"I did. It's ready for you."
"Great. I'll come by to pick it up."
"Very well. See you soon."
With that, Yasaka cut the connection. Ichigo continued up the stairs, where he saw the girls starting to change.
"Girls, I'll be right back. I need to grab something from Yasaka," he said.
"Okay," they replied, continuing to get ready.
Ichigo opened a Garganta and stepped through.
Scene Change: Yasaka's Office
Ichigo emerged from the Garganta to find Yasaka sipping tea.
"Good evening again," Ichigo greeted.
Yasaka smiled warmly. "Here are the decrees," she said, gesturing to the sealed scrolls. "I made three copies: one for you, one for me, and one for Mikogami."
"Thanks," Ichigo replied, gratefully taking the two scrolls. He gave Yasaka a quick hug and a kiss on the lips before opening another Garganta to return home.
Scene Change: Home
Ichigo returned to find everyone in their sleepwear. He quickly changed into his own and climbed into bed, with Elizabeth nestled between him and Moka. Soon, everyone was asleep, content, and happy.
Author's notes:
BlackMetalGarurumon from Digimon
Google True Longinus from Highschool DXD.
Holy Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do you, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.