Hello, everyone. ThunderReborn from 2025. This chapter was originally edited 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.
The following is a fan-based parody.
Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo, TV Tokyo, Viz Media, Studio Pierrot.
Percy Jackson is owned by Rick Riordan and Disney Hyperion.
All other references of characters or abilities are not mine.
Please support the official release.
"Hello." – Normal talking
"Hello." – Ichigo's thoughts.
"Hello." – Zanpakutō speaking
"Hello." – Zanpakutō thoughts.
"Γ: Hello :Γ" – Talking in Tongue of the Old Times.
Chapter 53:
Hades was in his palace, speaking with Persephone, when he suddenly felt something powerful stirring in the shadows. He stood from his throne, focusing intently on the movement. His eyes widened as the Helm of Darkness and the Sword of Hades materialized in his hands.
"Dear? What's wrong?" Persephone asked.
"Something is coming from Tartarus," Hades said, stepping into the shadows and leaving Persephone alone in the throne room.
"Damn him and his shadow travel!" Persephone muttered, frustrated at being left behind.
Hades materialized at the cliff that overlooked Tartarus. He stood, ready for whatever threat dared to approach. Soon, the invader arrived, slipping from the shadows.
"What's with the full-on battle mode?" Ichigo asked.
"I sensed something large rising from Tartarus. I feared one of the remaining Titans was coming," Hades explained.
"Understandable," Ichigo replied. "Where are the other Olympians?"
"They're at Camp Half-Blood, celebrating their victory over the Titans and mourning the many lives lost in battle," Hades said.
"Why aren't you there?" Ichigo asked.
"I... I wasn't invited," Hades admitted.
"But you played a huge part in the battle," Ichigo pointed out. "You and your army held back the rest of Kronos's forces."
Hades sighed, resigned. "It's complicated."
"I also have an important announcement for all the Olympians," Ichigo added.
"Very well," Hades said. He wrapped Ichigo in shadows and transported them back to the palace. After a few moments of changing, Hades and Persephone were enveloped by the shadows again.
Scene Change: Camp Half-Blood
The gods, except for Ares and Zeus, were seated in the mess hall with Chiron. Luke and Ethan sat awkwardly, enduring the hostile glares of the surviving campers. Despite the tension, everyone was drinking and celebrating.
Suddenly, the nearby shadows began to stretch. Everyone turned to see Hades, Persephone, Nico, and Ichigo emerge from the shadows.
"Are we too late for the party?" Hades asked.
"Nonsense, brother," Poseidon replied. "Your son can join the table with Percy."
Ichigo, Hades, and Persephone made their way to the table, where Nico joined Percy and Annabeth. Ichigo turned to Poseidon.
"Poseidon, I have a quick question."
"Go ahead, Ichigo," Poseidon replied.
"Where is Briares?"
"He's back in the underwater forge with the other Cyclopes. They're celebrating in their own way."
"Can I see him? I have something to show him."
"Hm... sure," Poseidon agreed. A small pool of water appeared, showing Poseidon's reflection, which shimmered to reveal Briares's face.
"Lord Poseidon, what can I do for you?" Briares asked, with the sounds of a party in the background.
"Briares, a friend of mine wants to see you," Poseidon said, gesturing to Ichigo.
"Hello, Briares," Ichigo said. "I have a gift for you."
Briares looked confused. "Why do you have a gift for me? You don't even know me."
"True, but someone who knows you asked me to give it to you," Ichigo replied. "I swear by the Styx, I have no ill intentions toward you."
"No... I trust Lord Poseidon," Briares said. The water portal closed, and in the distance, Briares was seen walking out of the water and toward the mess hall. Ichigo rose from his seat and met Briares halfway, pulling out the Trainer.
"You must miss your brothers very much," Ichigo remarked.
Briares stiffened. "Why bring them up? They faded away because no one remembered their story."
"Who says they faded away?" Ichigo asked, taking out the Trainer again. He released Cottus and Gyges.
Briares's eyes widened in shock. "Cottus and Gyges?"
"Briares!" Cottus and Gyges called out, and the three Hekatonkheires embraced. Tears of joy fell from their eyes.
"Where were you two?" Briares asked.
"We were trapped in Tartarus," Cottus admitted.
Briares turned to Ichigo. "You rescued them from Tartarus."
The demigods, stunned, looked at Ichigo. "You were in Tartarus?" they shouted in disbelief.
Ichigo sighed. "Yes, after the war, I was sent to Tartarus. But I'll keep the reason to myself."
Ichigo turned to the other Olympians. "That leads to another reason why I'm here." He snapped his fingers, and Hellhounds emerged from the shadows. The demigods tensed at the sight of the beasts.
"During my time in Tartarus, I became the King of Hellhounds," Ichigo said casually, ignoring the shocked looks. "I've ordered them to help the demigods. They'll keep watch, but they won't attack unless provoked."
"Anything else?" Poseidon asked, his voice firm.
"Yes," Ichigo said. "Tartarus has temporarily reawakened."
The Olympians reacted in surprise. Ichigo continued, "And enforced a new rule upon all monsters."
"What rule?" Hades asked, the only Olympian not shocked by Ichigo's revelation.
"Monsters will no longer attack mortals who aren't associated with demigods," Ichigo stated.
"So, brother," Gyges asked, "where are you staying?"
"I'm working with the Cyclopes in Poseidon's underwater forges," Briares said.
"I guess we're joining you, brother," Cottus added, and Gyges nodded in agreement.
Briares turned to Poseidon. "I give you my approval."
Poseidon smiled. "I accept." The three Hekatonkheires cheered.
Just then, a loud boom echoed through the hall. Zeus and Ares had arrived, with Zeus causing the noise.
"Lord Zeus," the Hekatonkheires said, bowing.
"Poseidon will not have all three of the Hekatonkheires in his domain," Zeus declared.
"Lord Zeus," Poseidon said, looking at his brother, "are you really going to separate these brothers who've just reunited?"
"It will give you too much power," Zeus argued.
"Are you still thinking I'm going to take over your domain?" Poseidon accused.
Zeus locked eyes with him, and the tension in the room was palpable.
"What will you do, Zeus?" Ichigo asked, stepping in front of the Hekatonkheires. "If they refuse to obey you?"
Zeus glared at Ichigo. "They will obey me willingly... or by force," he said, tightening his grip on his Astrape.
"Briares, Cottus, and Gyges are under my protection," Ichigo declared, his gaze sharp as he glared at Zeus. "If you attack them, I will respond with force."
"You dare tell me what to do!?" Zeus roared, his voice echoing through the room.
"I do," Ichigo replied coolly. Zeus raised his Astrape, pointing it directly at Ichigo. It began to glow with intense yellow divine energy, but Ichigo remained unflinching. The air was thick with tension, and the onlookers were too nervous to move, uncertain of what would happen next.
"Brother, don't do it," Hades thought, his mind racing. As one of the few gods with a sense of Ichigo's capabilities, he feared the outcome. Zeus hurled his Astrape at Ichigo. The light from the strike blinded everyone for a moment, and Zeus wore an arrogant smirk.
As the light faded, the room was stunned to see Ichigo holding the Astrape effortlessly in his hand.
"Was that it?" Ichigo asked, his voice bored.
Zeus attempted to summon the Astrape back to him, the divine energy in the weapon flaring to life. To his shock, Ichigo yanked the Astrape from his grasp.
"You want this back?" Ichigo asked, channeling his own reiatsu into the bolt. The weapon's divine energy warped, shifting to a dark hue. "Then take it!" Ichigo shouted, flinging the Astrape back at Zeus. The bolt slammed into Zeus's chest, triggering a massive explosion and knocking him back a few feet.
"You dare attack those under my protection?" Ichigo said coldly as he summoned Rebellion.
"You will pay!" Zeus roared, unleashing a barrage of lightning bolts at Ichigo. Ichigo effortlessly deflected the attacks with Rebellion, absorbing the energy into the blade. He turned toward the other Olympians.
"Get a barrier up!" Ichigo commanded.
Poseidon and Hades nodded, immediately forming a protective barrier around the group. Zeus growled, his fury mounting.
"You think your sword can handle this?" Zeus shouted, raising the Astrape once more. It glowed white, releasing a massive surge of divine energy as he hurled it at Ichigo.
Ichigo stood his ground, raising Rebellion to block the attack. The impact created a blinding explosion of white light, and when the smoke cleared, the surrounding area had been scorched black, except for Ichigo and the small patch of ground behind him.
"This sword was forged to withstand the full power of the Power of Destruction when he is in his He Who Destroys All state," Ichigo said cryptically. Both Zeus and Hades's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You—you..." Zeus stammered.
"Yes, I know of him... and much, much more," Ichigo said, his gaze fixed on Zeus. He pointed Rebellion to the sky. "Release!" Ichigo yelled. The skull on the hilt of Rebellion glowed as black fire swirled around the blade.
Hades gasped, and everyone turned to him.
"Zeus is done for," Hades muttered under his breath.
"Feel my wrath, ZEUS!" Ichigo roared, swinging his sword downward. A wave of black flames surged toward Zeus. He leapt to the side, narrowly avoiding the flames, but they slammed into the barrier. To the Olympians' shock, the fire began eating away at the barrier. Ichigo snapped his fingers, halting the destruction. The black flames turned and began to chase Zeus, following him relentlessly.
No matter how fast Zeus tried to move, the black flames followed, inching closer. Suddenly, Ichigo appeared in front of him, Rebellion pointed at Zeus's neck.
"Do you admit defeat?" Ichigo asked.
Zeus glared at Ichigo, his chest heaving. The entire room waited, the tension palpable.
"I admit defeat," Zeus finally said, his voice strained.
"Good," Ichigo said, lowering Rebellion. He sent the sword back to his mindscape, and the other Olympians lowered their barrier.
"In Percy's request, he asked that those Titans who didn't ally with Kronos during this conflict be freed from their punishment," Ichigo continued casually. "When do you intend to free them? After all, Percy made you swear to the River Styx to free them."
Zeus remained silent. Ichigo turned to Apollo.
"Apollo, as the God of Truth, you can tell if someone is lying, right?" Ichigo asked.
"I can," Apollo confirmed, appearing beside Ichigo.
Ichigo turned back to Zeus. "Zeus, did you have any intentions of freeing those Titans?"
Zeus hesitated before answering. "I do."
"He's lying," Apollo said, his voice firm.
Zeus shot Apollo a venomous glare, his anger rising.
Ichigo turned back to Zeus. "There's no point in forcing you to swear to the River Styx since you don't fear the consequences." He summoned a piece of parchment and a quill, beginning to write. After a moment, he stopped and read aloud:
"I, Zeus, The King of Olympus, God of Sky, Thunder, Lightning, Kingship, Honor, and Justice, swear on my divinity and authority to uphold these tasks. First, to honor Percy Jackson's request. All Titans who were punished for allying with Kronos during the First Titanomachy and did not join the Titans again during the Second Titanomachy will be freed from their punishment. All gods and goddesses will have a cabin in Camp Half-Blood, even those who do not have children, to honor them. All demigods will be claimed and escorted to Camp Half-Blood by the age of thirteen. Second, the Hekatonkheire known as Cottus, Gyges, and Briares will be free to live and do as they wish, unless working in someone's domain. The third and final task is to be a loyal husband to Hera, a loving father to his children, and an honorable King of Olympus."
Ichigo passed the contract and a blood quill to Zeus.
"This is a blood quill. It writes with your blood," Ichigo explained.
Zeus scowled but reluctantly took the quill in his hand. As he signed, a sharp pain shot through his right hand. The contract glowed golden, signifying the oath had been taken. The contract split into two, one for Zeus and the other for Ichigo. Ichigo collected both pieces and walked toward the Hekatonkheires.
"All three of you don't need to worry about Zeus forcing you to separate," Ichigo reassured them.
"Thank you, Ichigo," Briares said, grateful.
"How can we ever repay you for what you did for us?" Gyges asked.
"Γ: How about forging a weapon for him? : Γ" Cottus suggested.
The others looked puzzled as they couldn't understand what Cottus was saying.
"Γ: Does he have divine energy? : Γ" Gyges asked.
"Γ: He does. He's received blessings from many of the Olympians. : Γ" Briares explained.
"Γ: It also helps that I understand you. : Γ" Ichigo replied casually.
The Hekatonkheires looked at Ichigo in astonishment.
"Γ: You can speak the Tongue of the Old Times? : Γ" Briares asked.
"Γ: I learned it after killing Kampê. : Γ" Ichigo replied.
"Γ: Anyway, we agree to forge a few weapons for Ichigo to enhance his divine abilities. : Γ" Cottus said.
"Γ: Agreed. : Γ" Cottus and Briares affirmed.
Briares turned to Poseidon. "Lord Poseidon, my brothers and I will return to the forge with Ichigo."
"Very well," Poseidon said, already anticipating the request. "You have my permission to venture into the Underworld to gather any materials you need."
"Thank you, Lord Poseidon," Briares said.
The Hekatonkheires and Ichigo walked into the water, teleporting to the Underwater Forges.
Scene Change: Underwater Forges
Ichigo, Briares, Cottus, and Gyges stepped into the Underwater Forges, observing the bustling activity around them. Some cyclopes were hard at work forging weapons, while others celebrated with food and drink.
"I-I-impossible," one of the cyclopes stammered, his eyes wide. The others turned, their shock mirrored in their expressions as they saw the three Hekatonkheires standing before them.
"We're not worthy!" they all shouted in unison, bowing deeply.
Cottus and Gyges exchanged bewildered glances at the devotion from the cyclopes. Briares, on the other hand, turned to his brothers with a knowing look.
"These cyclopes revere us," Briares explained. "In their eyes, we're almost on par with the Olympians. They long to learn the ancient forging techniques that were lost to them."
"I see…" Cottus and Gyges murmured, understanding now.
"Ichigo, follow me," Briares beckoned. The group walked toward a large, simple room. A bed large enough for Briares to sleep on was the room's only furniture.
"This is my bedroom, the most private space in the forge," Briares said, taking a seat. Cottus and Gyges sat beside him, and Ichigo took his place in front of them.
"As you've likely heard, we've decided to forge you a weapon of power," Cottus said, his tone serious.
"Similar to Zeus's Astrape and Bronte, Poseidon's Triaina, and Hades's Kynee," Gyges added.
Ichigo nodded. "Where do we start?"
"I know you possess various divine authorities," Briares said. "We need you to draw forth that energy. We'll take a piece of it and use it to forge a weapon suited to that power."
Cottus continued, "When we present the weapon to you, you'll need to name it and allow your divine energy to flow into it."
"Understood," Ichigo said. "How do we begin?"
"Start by gathering a ball of each divine energy," Gyges instructed. Ichigo nodded and activated Schrift F: Fengári Neró. A ball of water, infused with both reiatsu and divine energy, appeared in his hands. He handed it to Gyges, who carefully accepted it.
"This reminds me of Poseidon," Gyges remarked.
Ichigo continued, repeating the process with Schrift E: The Earth, Schrift K: The Kataigída, Schrift U: The Umbra, and Schrift V: The Ventus. When it came time for Schrift W: The War Lord, Ichigo began to channel the energy when, unexpectedly, a sword materialized in the air.
"Wha—?" The Hekatonkheires were taken aback by the sudden appearance of the blade. Ichigo, however, recognized it immediately.
"Excalibur," Ichigo said, his voice steady. The legendary sword floated down to him, and Ichigo grasped it, feeling the divine energy coursing through it.
"May your light shine upon the battlefield and bring me victory, Excalibur!" Ichigo declared. The sword glowed brightly, and Ichigo could feel Schrift W: The War Lord merging with Excalibur's power. After a moment, he deactivated the Schrift, still feeling the power of the blade.
Ichigo placed Excalibur in his mindscape, turning back to the Hekatonkheires. "Is this what was supposed to happen?" he asked.
Briares nodded. "Exactly. But I'm not sure about that sword."
"Don't worry about it," Ichigo said, now showing them the final Schrift, Schrift Y: Yokubō no Uta. Gyges gathered the last orb of energy from Ichigo.
"Um… for that—" Gyges started, but Cottus cut him off.
"Allow the energy to speak for you," Cottus said.
"These weapons will be interesting," Briares said thoughtfully. "We'll let you know when they're ready." Cottus led Ichigo back to the entrance of the forge.
"Apologies for my brothers," Cottus said. "They can't always control themselves."
"It's fine," Ichigo replied with a small smile. He opened a Garganta and stepped through.
Scene Change: Hotel Room
Ichigo emerged from the Garganta into the hotel room where Gilgamesh and Akasha were already awake. Gilgamesh was watching TV while Akasha typed away on her laptop.
"So, you're back from Tartarus?" Gilgamesh remarked.
"Yeah," Ichigo said, walking over to give each of them a hug. Noticing a map beside Akasha, he asked, "What are you doing?"
"I was looking up some interesting places to explore in the United States," Akasha explained. "You still have to travel to Endsville, Arizona, and later Los Angeles, California."
"And I told her it would be pointless since we could just use the Virama to fly there," Gilgamesh countered.
Ichigo sat in a nearby chair. "Hmm… While Gilgamesh makes a good point about using the Virama," Ichigo began, glancing at Gilgamesh, "Akasha also makes a good point. I don't know when I'll be back in the U.S., so I might as well make this time worth it."
"So, you're saying…" Akasha trailed off, looking at Ichigo.
"Yes, we'll go with your idea," Ichigo confirmed.
"Great! Here are some places I thought about," Akasha said, eagerly pulling up her suggestions.
Gilgamesh sighed but walked over to join them. For the next few hours, the three of them planned a road trip from New York City to Los Angeles, finding various interesting spots and events for the peerage to enjoy.
"So, what do you two want in the end?" Ichigo asked with a raised eyebrow, noticing the predatory smiles on Akasha and Gilgamesh's faces.
"When you return from Japan," Gilgamesh said with a grin, "you'll spend a few days alone with each of us."
"Don't worry about planning anything," Akasha added, "we'll handle the dates. You just have to tag along."
"Very well," Ichigo agreed, chuckling.
"Great!" Akasha exclaimed, standing up. "Let's go grab something to eat."
"Finally," Gilgamesh said with a smirk.
With that, the three of them left the hotel room, heading out to find dinner.
Scene Change: Olympus
Zeus sat with the other Olympians in a private meeting, his face dark with frustration. Hades and Poseidon sat across from him.
"Why did you allow the Hekatonkheires to forge weapons for him?" Zeus demanded. Everyone knew to whom he referred.
"I allowed it because it was the right thing to do," Poseidon answered, calm but firm.
"Easy for you to say," Zeus growled. "I should've placed those forges closer to my domain."
"The forges need to be near large bodies of water during the heat treatment," Hephaestus chimed in, trying to reason with Zeus.
Zeus ignored him, turning his attention to Hades. "What about you, Hades? Why did you open the Underworld to the Hekatonkheires?"
"Because, Zeus," Hades replied, "it would be good for our international relations."
The other Olympians looked at Hades in confusion. Athena, ever sharp, spoke up. "What do you mean?"
Hades and Zeus exchanged a look before Hades sighed and turned to the others.
"Let me explain," Hades began, revealing the existence of other pantheons beyond their own.
Athena's eyes narrowed. "So, how come we haven't allied with these other pantheons?"
Hades turned to Zeus, awaiting his answer.
"Lord Zeus, explain to your daughter why we haven't allied with the other pantheons," Hades said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. Zeus glared at his older brother. Athena, now curious, turned to Zeus.
"How come, Lord Zeus?" Athena asked.
Zeus let out a deep sigh. "Because we are not as strong as the other pantheons," he admitted.
"How? We have our Divine Concept, our connection to our followers, and our connection to our children," Athena argued.
"True, but you overestimate how much power we gain from them," Zeus said. "As all of you may be aware, since the end of the Age of Gods, most of us have gained less power from our Divine Concept, except for a few key Concepts."
Athena nodded. "And our followers?" she asked.
"We've lost the majority of them in Europe due to the Biblical Faction," Zeus continued. "Many were killed in the Crusades, by Angels, Fallen Angels, or Devils."
"I see…" Athena said, her face showing a hint of embarrassment at her lack of awareness of the global situation.
Zeus continued. "And finally, our children… We force them to imitate our fallen followers and reenact the stories of legend. But for what purpose?"
"Indeed," Hermes added. "According to Luke, reenacting one of Hercules's 11 Labors was what broke the 'camel's back'."
"Because of this, if we ally with the other pantheons, I fear they may take advantage of our weakness," Zeus concluded.
"I agreed with Zeus until today," Hades said, his voice firm.
"How do you know about the other pantheons?" Athena asked, intrigued.
"Souls belong to the religion they worship," Hades explained. "Many Americans follow the Biblical God, so their souls go to them. But since they don't have a strong foothold here, I've had to deal with them."
"But what do you mean, until today?" Athena pressed.
"Ichigo Kurosaki is affiliated with both the Shinto Pantheon and the Biblical Faction," Hades revealed.
"How can you tell?" Athena asked, eager for more information.
"During the battles, the black robes he wore are the uniform of a Soul Reaper from the Shinto Pantheon," Hades explained. Several Olympians nodded in recognition. "As for the Biblical Faction, it was evident by the sword and fire he used against Lord Zeus."
"What's so special about the sword and fire?" Apollo asked, curious.
"I've never seen fire so destructive or sentient," Hephaestus added.
"It's Hellfire, one of the most dangerous fires that exist," Hades said, his tone serious. "Greek fire is nothing compared to Hellfire. As for the sword… Does anyone remember the name of it?"
"Rebellion, the Sword of Wrath," Artemis said.
"That… makes too much sense," Ares said, suddenly understanding. Everyone turned to Ares. "You know, when I fight, I can easily make people extremely angry." The others nodded. "But Ichigo wasn't affected by my ability. In fact, he made me angrier than ever."
Hades nodded. "Either he's allied with someone who can control Wrath…"
"Not just control Wrath," Ares interrupted. "This person rules Wrath, controls the Sin of Wrath itself."
"So, you're saying we should ask Ichigo to help us ally with the Shinto Pantheon and Biblical Faction?" Hermes asked.
"Exactly," Hades said. He turned to Zeus. "With all this new information, do you wish to pursue an alliance with them?"
Zeus pondered the question. Before he could answer, two of the three Fates appeared.
"Fates, where is your sister?" Zeus asked.
"She is currently… unavailable," they replied. The third Fate, Atropos, suddenly appeared, her face filled with distress.
"Clotho! Lachesis! The Darkness! Everywhere! Damn that Defiler of Fate!" she screamed. The Olympians turned to the other two Fates.
"Atropos, calm down," one of them said gently, walking over to her sister. Atropos grabbed her tightly.
"Sister!" she cried in hysteria.
"What happened to her?" Zeus asked, concerned.
"It's due to that Defier of Fate," Clotho explained. "His actions in the Battle of Manhattan, the Battle of Atlantis, and his encounter with Typhon drastically interfered with the future I foresaw."
"To the point where she is temporarily blinded," Lachesis added.
"LACHESIS! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Atropos yelled in fear.
Lachesis sighed and walked over to her sister. "I am here, sister," she said softly. Atropos grabbed her and pulled her closer, holding both Clotho and Lachesis tightly.
"Um… What can we do to help her?" Apollo asked.
"Stop interacting with the Defier of Fate," Lachesis said firmly.
"The longer this pantheon continues to interact with him, the more we are hindered from doing our job," Clotho added. "This includes making prophecies."
The Fates disappeared, leaving the Olympians in stunned silence.
"So, what shall we do?" Zeus asked, his voice heavy with the weight of the decision.
"If we ally with the Shinto Pantheon and Biblical Faction, there's no doubt the Fates will remain blind," Athena said.
"But is that truly a bad thing?" Ares said, his voice thoughtful. Everyone turned to him. "We've always allowed Fate to lead us down the path it wants."
"Remember Thetis?" Poseidon said. "Prometheus told you that Thetis's son would be stronger than his father."
"Wait… Thetis's son was Achilles," Hera said, her eyes wide in realization.
"Not to mention the Great Prophecy being void now," Hades added.
"I think it's time we put this matter to a vote," Zeus said decisively. "All of us will participate in this vote." Zeus paused, looking at Hestia and Hades. "This vote includes both of you." They nodded.
"Who wishes to go first?" Zeus asked.
"I'll go," Poseidon said. "I vote for the alliance."
"So will I," Hades added.
"Two for the alliance, and zero against," Zeus noted.
"For the alliance," Ares said. "It will allow us fewer enemies in the future."
"So will I," Hestia said. "Our lives have been controlled by Fate for too long."
"I'm all in for the alliance," Hermes said. "Fate decided my son was worth the sacrifice. Ichigo said otherwise."
"So will I," Hera said, glancing at Zeus. "Ichigo granted me the loyalty I desired from my husband."
Zeus let out a nervous chuckle, trying to deflect attention. "I need a way to hide from them."
"So…" Zeus said with a sigh. "I vote for the alliance."
"In a way, this action of trying to defy fate makes mortals interesting," Artemis mused. The other Olympians turned to her. "All mortals, in one way or another, try to change their fate and destiny. We're doing the same thing." She looked at her father. "I also vote for the alliance."
"Athena? Dionysus? Hephaestus?"
"I think the Fates have ruled enough," Dionysus said, taking a sip from his Diet Coke. "They act as if they control Olympus from the shadows."
Zeus turned to the final two Olympians.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with Dionysus," Athena said.
"I guess…" Hephaestus muttered.
"You're conflicted?" Zeus asked.
"I am," Hephaestus admitted. "We've followed the Fates for so long. Now, we decide to leave them? They were born from Nyx and Erebus, two of the Protogenoi. They might possess powers we don't fully understand."
Zeus nodded, thoughtfully. "I see your point."
"We'll deal with it when it comes to that," Zeus said with a sigh.
"Very well," Hephaestus agreed, still uncertain.
"It has been decided," Zeus said, his tone resolute. "We will ask Ichigo to help us establish an alliance with the Shinto Pantheon and the Biblical Factions."
Scene Change: Morning
Ichigo opened his eyes to find himself sandwiched between Akasha and Gilgamesh, both still sound asleep. Through the wards, he could feel someone crossing them, clearly intending to meet with him.
"It's Hermes," Mysteria reported. "Should I tell him to go away?"
"No," Ichigo replied, ejecting his soul from his body. He walked over to the door and opened it, finding Hermes standing with his right hand raised, ready to knock.
"Hello, Ichigo," Hermes greeted with a smile.
"Hello, Hermes. What can I do for you?" Ichigo asked.
"The Olympians wish to meet with a representative of the Shinto Pantheon and the Biblical Factions," Hermes explained.
"For what purpose?" Ichigo asked.
"We, the Olympians, wish to ally with them."
"Sure. I'll let them know," Ichigo said, a thoughtful look on his face. "Are you willing to ally with the Norse Pantheon?"
Hermes glanced around, as if making sure no one was eavesdropping. "You're aware of them?"
"I am. They're also allied with the Shinto Pantheon and the Biblical Factions."
"I see," Hermes said, nodding. "We have an informal pact of non-aggression with them."
"Oh? How did that come about?"
"The Norse Pantheon has a foothold in America," Hermes explained. "We agreed not to interfere with each other's business as long as we stay within our respective territories."
"Where's this foothold?" Ichigo asked.
"It's in Minnesota," Hermes said.
"Okay. I'll see you in an hour with more information," Ichigo said.
"Great. Just tell the security guard near the elevator your name. He'll give you a magical key to use the elevator to get to Olympus," Hermes said before leaving.
Ichigo turned around to see Akasha and Gilgamesh having a tug-of-war with his soulless body. He chuckled.
"Ladies, can I have my body back?" Ichigo asked.
Akasha and Gilgamesh hesitated before reluctantly letting go of his body. Ichigo re-entered his body with a deep breath.
"Yasaka?"
"Good evening, Ichigo. What can I do for you?" Yasaka replied calmly.
"Do you want an alliance with the Olympians?"
There was a pause before Yasaka answered, her voice thoughtful. "This is barely the second day you're in America. How did you manage to get them to be willing to ally with us?"
"Hmm… Showed them who's boss?" Ichigo said with a grin.
"Only you could pull that off."
"So, do you want to talk with them?"
Ichigo could feel Yasaka's smile turn more sinister. "I do want the alliance, but I'm not able to go to America myself. You see, I'm currently on vacation."
Ichigo raised an eyebrow. "As the King of Souls, you're capable of making this deal for me."
Ichigo was taken aback by her response. "I see…" he said, then an idea struck him. "It would be a shame if Kunou was sad right now…"
Before Yasaka could respond, Ichigo cut the connection. He pulled out his phone and dialed Moka's number.
"Yes, Ichigo?" Moka answered.
"Is Kunou there right now?"
"She's playing with Elizabeth," Moka replied.
"I see… Is Yasaka with them?"
"Not right now."
"Bring the phone to them and turn the speakerphone on," Ichigo instructed.
Moka walked into the room where Elizabeth and Kunou were playing with stuffed animals.
"Kaa-san," Elizabeth waved to her mother.
"Hello, girls. Your father is on the phone," Moka said as she turned the speakerphone on and placed it on the table.
"Hello, Tou-san!" Elizabeth shouted excitedly.
"Hello, Papa!" Kunou added cheerfully.
"Hello, girls," Ichigo said with a smile. "Do you two want to come to America with me for the weekend?"
"YES! YES!" they both shouted in unison.
"Go ask your mother," Ichigo said.
Elizabeth turned to Moka. "Can I go, Kaa-san?"
"I've got something planned for us and the kids this weekend," Ichigo mentally added.
"Fine," Moka said with a resigned sigh.
"Yay!" the girls cheered together.
"Um… Where's Kaa-san?" Kunou asked.
"She might be in her bedroom," Moka said.
Kunou took the phone and ran off to her mother's room.
"Kaa-san?" Kunou called out as she knocked on the door.
Yasaka opened the door. "Need something, Kunou?"
"Can I go to America with Papa?" Kunou asked eagerly.
"Huh?" Yasaka said.
"Don't tell me…" Yasaka's eyes widened as she understood Ichigo's final message.
"Papa called us and asked if we want to go to America. Elizabeth and her Kaa-san are going."
"That devil!" Yasaka thought, gritting her teeth in frustration.
"I take that as a compliment," Ichigo remarked, his tone amused.
Yasaka sighed deeply. "I'm not sure…"
Kunou's fox ears drooped, and she pouted. "Come on, Kaa-san. Tamamo-obasan is taking over your responsibilities at Kyoto, and we've never been outside of Japan before."
"DAMN YOU, ICHIGO!" Yasaka mentally screamed in frustration.
Ichigo chuckled, enjoying the playful tension.
Yasaka sighed again, her resolve wavering. "Fine. We'll join your father in America."
"YAY!" Kunou shouted in joy as she hugged her mother tightly.
Kunou glanced at the phone, her smile wide.
"Papa! Did you hear? Did you hear?" Kunou asked eagerly.
"I heard. I heard." Ichigo replied, amused.
"I'll be there in about thirty minutes to pick all four of you up at the Estate," Ichigo added.
"Ok," Kunou said as Ichigo ended the call.
"I will get you back for this," Yasaka mentally fumed.
Scene Change: New York City
Ichigo chuckled as he hung up the phone.
"I still can't believe you used Kunou to force Yasaka to come here," Akasha commented, raising an eyebrow. Ichigo shrugged.
"I didn't expect Yasaka to blatantly refuse like that," Ichigo admitted. He dialed Sirzechs' number and waited for a minute before he picked up.
"This better be important, Ichigo, or I'm coming to America to kick your ass," Sirzechs said with a hint of irritation.
"That's good. I need you in America in a bit," Ichigo said.
"Why?" Sirzechs asked.
"Do you want to ally with the Olympians?" Ichigo said.
There was silence on the line before Sirzechs finally spoke.
"You were in America for less than two days and you managed to do something that Serafall and I spent a few centuries trying to do," Sirzechs said, his voice laced with disbelief.
"Yep," Ichigo said.
"You're unbelievable," Sirzechs muttered. "So, you want me to negotiate with them?"
"Yep, in less than an hour."
"I still want to kick your ass," Sirzechs grumbled.
"No balls. Grayfia wouldn't allow you," Ichigo teased.
"He's right," Grayfia's voice came from the background. The line disconnected, and Ichigo chuckled as he put his phone away.
"Yuzu, Karin, Kaa-san," Ichigo called through the peerage connection.
"Yes, Ichigo?" Masaki asked.
"Evening, Ichi-nii," Yuzu and Karin chimed in.
"Yuzu, Karin, do you want to come with me to America for the weekend?"
"Can we, Kaa-san?" Yuzu and Karin asked excitedly. Masaki paused for a moment.
"Fine. Just for the weekend. You still have school next week," Masaki agreed.
"Yay!" They shouted in joy.
"I'll see you two in less than half an hour at the Estate," Ichigo said before ending the call. Ichigo turned to Gilgamesh.
"Gilgamesh, do you have anything in your Gate of Babylon that could help with time zone changes?"
"Hm…" Gilgamesh raised a hand, and a golden portal appeared. A goblet floated out of the Gate of Babylon.
"Is that wine?" Ichigo asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It is. Do you want some?" Gilgamesh offered. "It's a unique wine made from fruit that helps people sleep."
"No thanks. Do you have something for the kids? Maybe a sleeping pill?" Ichigo asked.
Gilgamesh nodded and summoned another potion from the golden portal. "It's a weaker sleeping potion. Add two drops in a cup of water, and they should fall asleep immediately and wake up in an hour or two."
"Thank you," Ichigo said, taking the potion from her.
"It's almost time to pick them up," Akasha said.
"Thank you," Ichigo replied. He opened a Garganta, and Akasha and Gilgamesh entered their spirit forms. They all stepped through the portal.
Scene Change: Ichigo's Estate
Ichigo, Akasha, and Gilgamesh arrived in Ichigo's bedroom at the Estate.
"Thank you, ladies," Ichigo said, giving them both a hug.
"No problem, Ichigo," Akasha responded, not letting go of him. Ichigo could feel her licking her lips. He knew exactly what was coming. Ichigo tilted his head as Akasha bit into his neck, drawing a small amount of blood. She moaned softly as she drank, then licked the bite marks. The wound healed instantly as she released him.
"Thank you, Ichigo," Akasha said, planting a quick kiss on his lips.
"No problem, Akasha." Gilgamesh's eye twitched in annoyance as she walked over and pulled Ichigo away from Akasha. She kissed him on the lips, lingering a little longer before letting go.
"Remember the deal," Gilgamesh said, swaying her hips as she walked away.
Ichigo glanced at Akasha, who was unbothered by Gilgamesh's actions.
"She was jealous of me," Akasha said with a shrug. "She reminds me of Artoria, based on your memories of her."
"Kind of," Ichigo said.
"See you later," Akasha said, walking off to her room.
Ichigo walked downstairs, where a few maids were cleaning.
"Good evening, Ichigo-sama," they greeted with a bow.
"Good evening," Ichigo said, pausing to look around. "Good job, ladies. Keep up the good work."
"Thank you, Ichigo-sama!" they said, now more motivated as they continued cleaning.
Ichigo continued walking, and soon, they arrived in the courtyard. He pulled out the trainer and released Damasen.
"Who's your friend?" Akasha asked.
"This is Damasen, a friend of mine from Tartarus," Ichigo said, glancing up at the night sky. Tears began to well in his eyes, and Damasen suddenly hugged him.
"Thank you! Thank you!" he yelled.
"Damasen, please let go," Ichigo said, gently pulling away.
"Oh…sorry," Damasen said, releasing Ichigo. Ichigo clapped his hands, and Sakuya appeared beside him.
"Yes, Ichigo-sama?" she asked.
"Who is in charge of the farming right now?"
"That would be Yuri," Sakuya said.
"Please get her," Ichigo requested.
"Very well," Sakuya said before disappearing. A few seconds later, she returned with Yuri.
"You've asked for me, Ichigo-sama?" Yuri asked.
"Indeed," Ichigo said. "This is Damasen. He will be living on the estate now. He used to be a farmer. See if you can use him to help with the farming."
"Very well," Yuri said. She turned to Damasen. "Follow me," she instructed. Damasen nodded.
"Thank you again, Ichigo," Damasen said as he followed Yuri.
Soon, Moka, Elizabeth, Yasaka, Kunou, Yuzu, and Karin arrived, each carrying a small bag. Everyone was casually dressed.
"Hello, Ichigo, Papa, Tou-san, Ichi-nii," they all said.
"Hello, everyone," Ichigo replied. He snapped his fingers, summoning his car. Kunou and Elizabeth let out a yawn.
"Oh no, it's their bedtime," Yasaka said.
"Don't worry. I've got something for that," Ichigo said as he clapped his hands. Sakuya appeared beside him.
"Yes, Ichigo-sama?" she asked.
"Can you get me four cups of water and a spoon?" Ichigo asked. Sakuya vanished and soon returned with four cups of water on a tray. Beside each cup was a spoon and a napkin.
"Here you go, Ichigo-sama," she said.
"Thank you, Sakuya," Ichigo said. He pulled out the potion. "This is a sleeping potion. It will put you to sleep for an hour and help adjust your bodies to the time in America, since it's early morning there," Ichigo explained.
"Allow me to mix the potion," Sakuya said. Ichigo handed her the potion.
"Just one drop," he instructed. Sakuya nodded as she dropped a single drop of potion into each cup, stirring each one carefully. She handed the cups to Kunou, Elizabeth, Yuzu, and Karin.
"Thank you, Sakuya-san," they said before drinking the entire contents.
"It should take a few minutes to take effect," Ichigo said. Everyone got into the car. Moka sat in the front with Ichigo while Yasaka sat in the back with the other kids. Ichigo started the car and drove into the Garganta.
Scene Change: New York City
Ichigo drove out of the Garganta into an empty alleyway. Yuzu, Karin, Elizabeth, and Kunou were all sound asleep. Ichigo drove toward the hotel and parked in the parking garage. He made Yuzu and Karin invisible, gently lifting them. Moka and Yasaka did the same with their daughters. Ichigo wrapped an illusion around them, making it appear as though they weren't carrying anyone. They exited the car and entered the elevator. They soon arrived at their room and placed the sleeping children on the large bed, with Elizabeth and Kunou on the inside and Yuzu and Karin behind them.
"Moka, can you watch them for an hour?" Ichigo asked.
"How come?" Moka replied.
"This bastard used our daughter to force me to come here for a meeting," Yasaka said.
"In my defense, I planned to have you and the kids here beforehand, but the meeting forced my hand," Ichigo replied.
"He's not lying," Akasha chimed in.
"Fine, but I need an energy boost," Moka said as she walked over to Ichigo. Ichigo tilted his head to the side, exposing his neck. Moka licked the spot for a few seconds before biting down. She moaned as Ichigo's blood dripped into her mouth. After a few moments, Moka let go, licking the wound closed. She turned and kissed Ichigo on the lips. Ichigo could see Yasaka's annoyance growing. Moka stopped and chuckled.
"See you later," she said, walking away.
"Come on, Yasaka, we've got gods and demons waiting for us," Ichigo said. Yasaka rolled her eyes but followed.
It took a few minutes before they arrived at the parking garage. Both got into the car and drove toward the Empire State Building, taking a few detours due to construction work. The car remained silent as neither Ichigo nor Yasaka spoke.
"Why are you angry with me?" Ichigo finally asked, breaking the silence.
"I'm still annoyed that you dragged me to this meeting," Yasaka replied.
Ichigo sighed. They soon arrived at the Empire State Building. Ichigo parked the car and they walked inside. Ichigo noticed that most of the destruction from the Battle of Manhattan had been fixed. As they entered the lobby, Ichigo saw that Sirzechs and Grayfia were already there. Sirzechs wore a black two-piece suit with a white dress shirt and a black tie featuring the Gremory rose. Grayfia wore a business suit.
"Ah, Ichigo," Sirzechs said in English.
"Hello, Master Ichigo," Grayfia greeted.
Sirzechs turned to Yasaka. "Lady Yasaka," he greeted.
"Hello, Lady Yasaka," Grayfia said.
"Hey, Sirzechs, Grayfia," Ichigo replied casually.
"Hello, Mister Sirzechs and Miss Grayfia," Yasaka responded.
"So, how do we get to the Olympians?" Sirzechs asked.
"Allow me," Ichigo said, walking toward the security guard near the elevator. The guard was reading a newspaper.
"Excuse me," Ichigo said. The guard closed his paper and gave him an intimidating look.
"What can I do for you, kid?" he grumbled.
"I have a meeting on the 600th floor," Ichigo replied.
"Kid, there's no such thing as a 600th floor," the guard grumbled.
"Name's Ichigo Kurosaki," Ichigo said. The guard handed him a key without another word. Ichigo took it and led his group toward the elevator. The guard resumed reading his paper.
Ichigo inserted the key into the elevator's keyhole, where the "Off" was on the left side, and the "On" was at the top. When he turned it, the Omega symbol appeared.
"Going up," the elevator said as it began moving.
Sirzechs, Grayfia, and Yasaka snapped their fingers. Sirzechs was dressed in formal armor, Grayfia in her maid outfit, and Yasaka in her Miko outfit. Ichigo shifted into his Shinigami robe with his white haori. The elevator stopped, and the doors opened. They stepped out into an area where most of the destruction from Kronos had been cleaned up. Ichigo led them toward the Temple where the Olympians' thrones were located.
As they entered the temple, they were greeted by the other Olympians sitting on their respective thrones.
"Hello, Ichigo. Who are your guests?" Zeus asked.
Ichigo turned to Sirzechs and Grayfia. "This is Sirzechs Lucifer, one of the four leaders of the Devils and representative of the Biblical Fraction. With him is his wife, Grayfia Lucifuge." Ichigo turned to Yasaka. "This is Yasaka, the leader of the Yōkai Faction and the personal avatar of Amaterasu."
"I see… greetings," Zeus said. He snapped his fingers, and four chairs appeared behind them. They all sat down.
"Due to our dual aspects, Greek and Roman, we're going to use a unique contraption to allow both aspects to be present for this meeting," Hades explained. He turned to the guests. "Is this fine with you four?"
"It's fine," Ichigo answered. Greek symbols began to glow above them.
Scene Change: Void
Ichigo, Sirzechs, and Grayfia appeared in a room similar to the one before. However, more people were sitting beside them. All the Olympians were arranged in a semicircle, each god introducing themselves. They were seated in a way that mirrored both Greek and Roman aspects. Everyone noticed that Athena's Roman counterpart was absent. That wasn't the only difference. Sitting next to Yasaka was Amaterasu.
"Hello, Amaterasu-sama," Ichigo greeted.
"Amaterasu-sama, it's an honor to be blessed by your presence," Yasaka added.
"Hello, Ichigo-kun, Yasaka-chan," Amaterasu said warmly. "Sirzechs-sama, Grayfia-sama, finally good to meet you."
"Same to you, Amaterasu-sama," Sirzechs replied. Grayfia bowed her head to the Shinto Goddess.
"Ichigo said that you wish for an alliance with us," Amaterasu said as she looked to the Olympians.
"Indeed," Zeus answered.
"Why now?" Amaterasu asked.
"Indeed," Sirzechs said. "We've been trying to establish this alliance for centuries, but you never responded to our attempts. This time, you were the ones who reached out to us. What changed?"
Zeus chuckled.
"Ichigo," Zeus said. "He came here and defied everything."
"Things we were never able to kill finally died," Jupiter said.
"Kronos and the other Titans were protected by the Fates," Poseidon added.
"Nothing we could do would kill them," Neptune said.
"Until Ichigo came and," Ares said.
"Finally killed them all," Mars finished.
"He showed us that we were bound by the Fates," Artemis said.
"Until now," Diana agreed.
"He freed us from them. And if we wish to pursue this alliance," Apollo said.
"We will be free from them," Hera declared.
"Whether that's a good or bad thing," Juno added.
"We wish for this alliance to protect us if anything bad comes our way," Zeus said. Sirzechs, Grayfia, Amaterasu, and Ichigo nodded.
"Your logic makes sense," Sirzechs said.
"Ichigo does have a habit of inspiring rebellion," Amaterasu joked.
"With that said, are you sure about this?" Ichigo asked.
"We do," all the Olympians, both Greek and Roman, said together.
"Very well," Ichigo said as he stood up. Sirzechs and Amaterasu stood as well. "I would like to be the first to welcome you to our alliance," Ichigo said, extending his hands—one to Zeus and the other to Jupiter. Both Zeus and Jupiter shook Ichigo's hands. Ichigo stepped aside for Sirzechs and Amaterasu to repeat his gesture. Slowly, everyone shook hands with each other.
"The more political side of the alliance will be dealt with later by those who specialize in those topics," Ichigo added.
"So, who will be your political representatives?" Sirzechs asked. Zeus and Jupiter pondered the question.
"I believe Hades, Athena, and Hermes would do well," Zeus suggested.
"Hm… For me, Pluto and Mercury would be fine, but not Minerva," Jupiter said, glancing at the empty seat likely reserved for Minerva. "She bears great hatred for what the Romans did to her."
"So, who would you suggest instead?" Ichigo asked.
"Not at this time," Jupiter admitted.
"It's fine, brother," Pluto said.
"Indeed, Lord Jupiter," Mercury agreed.
"Though I do bear great hatred toward the Romans, I will work with both of you fairly," Athena said.
"Thank you," Mercury and Pluto responded.
"Lady Leviathan will reach out to all of you from our side," Sirzechs said.
"For us, it will be Yasaka-chan and Ichigo-kun," Amaterasu added.
"Wa—" Ichigo started, but was cut off by Amaterasu's stern look, one that promised fiery punishment if he said anything. Ichigo sighed, accepting his fate. With that, there was a large flash, and everyone was forced out of the void.
Scene Change: Olympus: Temple
Everyone opened their eyes and found themselves back in the temple. There were fewer Olympians than before, with only half as many sitting on their thrones. Ichigo glanced over and saw Yasaka sitting with him again.
"Are all of you okay?" Ichigo asked.
"I am, and so is Amaterasu-sama," Yasaka replied.
"I'm good," Sirzechs said, glancing at his wife. "Are you okay, dear?"
"Yes, Sirzechs-sama," she responded.
"Our selected representatives shall meet at a later time to discuss these matters," Zeus said.
"We should celebrate this accomplishment," Dionysus suggested.
"Second!" Apollo added.
"Objection, for the time being," Zeus said, turning to his children. "Until a formal agreement has been written and signed by us." Apollo and Dionysus nodded, understanding his reasoning. With that, Ichigo and his group left the temple. They walked to the elevator and entered it. As they descended, everyone returned to their normal clothes.
"Thank you, Ichigo, for your help," Sirzechs said. Grayfia nodded in agreement.
"It's nothing," Ichigo said casually.
"Without your help, Ichigo, I doubt I'd have been able to get the Shinto Pantheon to agree to the alliance," Sirzechs added.
"Speaking of alliances," Ichigo started. "Have you heard anything about the Celtic Pantheon?"
"They're supposedly fading due to our actions," Sirzechs replied.
"Hm… I believe a few of them remain. They mostly keep to themselves since so few of them are left," Ichigo said, mentioning Ankou, Mórrígan, and Wing Bind. Sirzechs nodded.
"Your reasoning sounds right. Mórrígan might not have faded like the rest of the pantheon due to either the seal she placed on Ankou or her taking over his responsibilities," Sirzechs theorized. "I'll ask Ukitake-Taicho to send a message to them."
They soon arrived at the bottom of the Empire State Building. Everyone parted ways, and Ichigo and Yasaka walked back to their car. They entered the car.
"So, what are you planning for all of us?" Yasaka asked as soon as they closed the door.
"First off, a road trip to Massachusetts," Ichigo said.
"Why?" Yasaka asked.
"It's a surprise," Ichigo replied.
"Tell me," Yasaka demanded. Ichigo smirked.
"Nope," Ichigo replied as he drove back to the hotel. Yasaka spent the entire drive bothering him, trying to get him to reveal the surprise. Ichigo resisted her attempts. They arrived at the hotel and walked to their room. Ichigo opened the door to find Moka sitting on the couch, watching TV.
"Hello, Ichigo, Yasaka," Moka greeted.
"Hello, Moka," they both responded.
"How are the girls?" Yasaka asked.
"Still sleeping," Moka said.
"Good, let's order breakfast," Ichigo suggested, grabbing the Room Service menu.
Scene Change: Bedroom
In the bedroom, Yuzu, Karin, Kunou, and Elizabeth were still asleep. Ichigo entered the room and gently woke them up. The sleeping potion would give them the benefits of a full eight hours of sleep in just an hour.
"Morning, Papa," Kunou said, rubbing her eyes.
"Morning, Tou-san," Elizabeth added.
"Morning, Ichi-nii," Yuzu and Karin said together.
"Good morning, all of you," Ichigo said. "Time for breakfast." The girls headed to the nearby bathroom. A few minutes later, they walked out of the bedroom to find seven plates of food on the table. After exchanging greetings, everyone sat down. They lifted the lids to reveal large servings of food.
"What is this?" Kunou asked.
"This is sunny-side-up eggs, American bacon, hash browns, and sausage," Ichigo explained.
"I see…" Kunou replied.
"Itadakimasu," everyone said as they began eating.
"So what are we going to do now?" Kunou asked.
"We're going on a road trip to Massachusetts," Ichigo replied.
"Why?" Karin asked.
"Don't bother asking him," Yasaka pouted. "I spent an hour bugging him, and he didn't budge at all." Ichigo nodded, acknowledging Yasaka's frustration. Soon, they finished their breakfast.
"So when are we leaving?" Yuzu asked.
"As soon as all of you are ready," Ichigo replied. Everyone spent about twenty minutes getting ready. Kunou was in her true form but had her ears, whiskers, and tails hidden under an illusion. Ichigo made sure Kunou, Yuzu, and Karin were under the effects of a bilingual translation charm. The charm would help them learn English by using it. Everyone left the hotel room and entered Ichigo's car. The interior was modified to resemble a limousine, with chairs wrapping around the edges. They were able to see outside while ensuring the car didn't look out of the ordinary. Everyone climbed into the car, and Ichigo drove out of the parking garage, heading toward Massachusetts. Ichigo activated the car's camouflage feature to avoid detection while driving at over a hundred miles an hour. Everyone in the back looked out the windows, taking in the view.
On the way to Massachusetts, Ichigo occasionally slowed down and stopped the car. These stops were either for bathroom breaks, snack breaks, or sightseeing. Everyone enjoyed the unique yet mundane journey, except for how fast Ichigo was driving. It was early afternoon when they noticed Ichigo driving at a normal speed.
"Why did you slow down?" Moka asked.
"We're near our destination," Ichigo replied. He turned the car left, and everyone could see a sign.
"Welcome to Oakhaven, Massachusetts," the sign read. Moka's and Karin's eyes widened with realization.
"We're in Oakhaven, Massachusetts, the home of the Hex Girls!" Yuzu shouted.
"Not only that, every year the Hex Girls perform here," Karin added.
"At the Oakhaven Autumn Fest!" Moka chimed in.
"Indeed." All of them grabbed Ichigo and hugged him.
"Ladies, Ichigo is still driving," Yasaka reminded them. The girls reluctantly let go of Ichigo. He drove them toward an old-looking mansion.
"Where are we?" Yuzu asked.
"We're at Ravencroft Manor. Sarah Lestrange was a British witch who sailed to America to escape her family. To prevent others from finding her, she changed her last name from Lestrange to Ravencroft. Despite running away from them, Lord Lestrange at the time didn't disown her. When I laid claim to all the possessions of the Lestrange family, the Ravencroft estate was included," Ichigo explained as he stepped out of the car.
"Wait… why does Ravencroft sound familiar?" Yuzu asked.
"Because of the books I've written," came a voice. They turned to see a tall Caucasian male with a sturdy build. He had long black hair tied in a ponytail, a mustache, and a beard. He wore thin-framed glasses and a reddish-brown blazer over a black sweatshirt, matching brown trousers, a black belt, and black shoes. Yuzu, Karin, and Moka gasped.
"You're Ben Ravencroft, the author of The Dead Mall, Skull Cap, The Caretaker's Coffin, and so many other horror stories!" Yuzu exclaimed. Ben chuckled.
"Indeed, I am," he said. "Allow me to show you to your rooms for the night." He led them inside to see the traditional-style house.
"These are first edition versions of your books!" Moka said, admiring the collection.
"Indeed," Ben replied.
"How did you two meet?" Yasaka asked.
"It's our first time meeting," Ben explained.
"Oh?" Yasaka raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. I was going through the Lestrange Portfolio when I discovered they owned land in America. I soon found out about the Ravencroft Estate and saw Ben's contact information on it."
"It helps that I'm a wizard," Ben added, transfiguring a tape dispenser into a pumpkin and then back to a tape dispenser. "I was aware the Ravencroft originated from Britain."
"So, when I called him and showed documentation proving I technically owned the Ravencroft Estate, he allowed me to stay here for the Oakhaven Autumn Fest," Ichigo continued. "Though you should have told me you were already here."
"Sorry, sorry," Ben apologized. "I was already here at the Manor when you called. I didn't want to scare you off or make you feel bad if you knew I was already here." Ichigo turned to the girls.
"Anyway, let's get you situated in your rooms, and then we can explore the city," Ichigo said.
"I apologize, but I'll need to break you all up," Ben said. "The manor doesn't have super large rooms."
"How come you don't use magic to expand the rooms?" Ichigo asked.
"Because of MACUSA regulations," Ben explained. "Due to the high concentration of non-magicals here, magic is not allowed unless in emergencies."
"I see…" Ichigo nodded. Moka and Elizabeth were placed in one room, Yasaka and Kunou in another, Yuzu and Karin together, and Ichigo had his own room. Once they were all settled, they began exploring Oakhaven.
They learned about Oakhaven's history from the sixteenth century. Photos were taken of everyone doing mundane colonial tasks like churning butter, washing clothes, and making fresh bread. Slowly, the afternoon turned into evening. Everyone gathered at the Oakhaven Concert Hall. With Ben's help, Ichigo and his group were allowed to sit in the balcony, away from the general audience. Slowly, the lights dimmed, and smoke began to fill the stage as drums started to beat. The stage lights turned on, revealing three women on stage.
The first woman stood center stage. She was a slender, beautiful young female with long black hair streaked with red, pale skin, and green eyes. She wore a black and red dress with red sleeves draping down her shoulders. The dress had slits showing both legs and a red sash around her waist. She wore black ankle-strapped high heels with red tints, red and black fingerless gloves, and a red bat necklace. She had a black and red guitar.
The second girl, on drums, was a young Caucasian female with a pale complexion, a beauty mark on her cheek, and blonde pigtails tied with green baubles. She wore a long-sleeved dark green top with a matching green skirt that had a slit, along with dark purple ankle boots. Her accessories included a black choker, an "X"-shaped necklace, and green triangle earrings.
The final girl played the electric piano. She had red hair, black eyes, and a dark complexion. She wore a purple coat over a black shirt, a long purple skirt with a slit at the hem, revealing purple-black boots, gold hoop earrings, a gold necklace with a purple stone, and purple fingerless gloves.
"GOOD EVENING, OAKHAVEN!" The first girl, Thorn, yelled.
"I'm Dusk," the second girl said.
"While I'm Luna," the third girl added.
"And we're the..." they all said in unison.
"HEX GIRLS!" The audience shouted back.
"Let's start our annual concert with a classic," Thorn said.
Select Music: Hex Girls – Hex Girls
"I'm gonna cast a spell on you, You're gonna do what I want you to. Mix it up here in my little bowl, say a few words, and you lose control," Thorn sang.
"I'm a Hex Girl and I'm gonna put a spell on you. I'm gonna put a spell on you. I'm a Hex Girl and I'm gonna put a spell on you. Put a spell on you!" Thorn, Dusk, and Luna sang together.
"You'll feel the fog as I cloud your mind. You'll get dizzy when I make a sign. You'll wake up in the dead of night, missing me when I'm out of sight," Thorn continued.
"I'm a Hex Girl and I'm gonna put a spell on you. I'm gonna put a spell on you. I'm a Hex Girl and I'm gonna put a spell on you. Oh yeah!" The three of them sang together.
"With this little cobweb potion, you'll fall into dark devotion. If you ever lose affection, I can change your whole direction," Thorn sang.
"I'm a Hex Girl and I'm gonna put a spell on you. I'm gonna put a spell on you. I'm a Hex Girl and I'm gonna put a spell on you. We're gonna put a spell on all of you!" They sang as red, green, and purple explosions lit up the stage. The audience erupted into applause. Ichigo glanced over and saw the girls enjoying the show.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," a voice said.
"Yes, Yhwach?" Ichigo asked.
"I've finished creating the Schrift from Perses's divinity and authority."
"Will this take long?"
"No. It shouldn't take that long," Yhwach said. Ichigo sighed as he entered his mindscape.
Scene Change: Mindscape
Ichigo could see Yhwach standing there with a few Schrifts in his hands.
"Sorry for pulling you out of your family bonding time," Yhwach apologized. Ichigo sighed.
"It's fine, Yhwach. I understand you forced yourself to finish this as soon as possible for my sake," Ichigo replied. Yhwach nodded.
"Anyways, let's talk about this Schrift." Yhwach handed Ichigo the new Schrift. "This is Schrift I: The Imitator," Yhwach explained. "It can create a realistic imitation that will act and perform like the original. It's currently being used for Suzumebachi and Katen Kyōkotsu."
"Is there a time limit for when the imitation ends?" Ichigo asked.
"It depends on the object," Yhwach said. "Currently, the imitations of Suzumebachi and Katen Kyōkotsu are receiving reiatsu from Suì-Fēng and Kyōraku, which allows them to continue to exist."
"I see…" Ichigo nodded.
"I also merged Hermes's Thieves authority with the Schrift, allowing you to steal an object and replace it without anyone noticing the subtle change," Yhwach added.
"I, Kurosaki Ichigo, bestow upon myself this Schrift," Ichigo declared, pushing the Schrift into himself. Ichigo noticed the indicator for Schrift E: The Eliminator and Schrift L: The Law shot out of their compartment and entered a new compartment, likely where Schrift I: The Imitator now belonged.
"What else?" Ichigo asked.
"This Schrift contains all of Perses's authority of destruction," Yhwach said. "This Schrift will likely be as powerful, if not more so, than Schrift K: The Kataigída," he warned. Ichigo picked up the Schrift.
"I, Kurosaki Ichigo, bestow upon myself this Schrift," Ichigo repeated, pushing the Schrift inside him. He felt his body explode with the power contained in this Schrift. Ichigo's eyes widened when he realized the full potential of this Schrift. A maniacal laugh escaped his lips.
"Are you okay, Ichigo?" Yhwach asked.
"Sorry. I just realized the full capabilities of this Schrift," Ichigo said, calming himself. "This Schrift allows me full manipulation of destruction. When Peres thought of destruction, they thought of storms, lightning bolts, earthquakes, and explosions. But he forgot that destruction can also involve smaller things, like destroying cells and separating atoms." Yhwach's eyes widened.
"I see…" Yhwach murmured.
"I name this Schrift, Schrift H: The Hakaimono (Destroyer)," Ichigo declared.
"The last thing is Tartarus's blessing," Yhwach said. "The darkness portion merged with Schrift U: The Umbra. It gives you greater control over shadows. You can travel from one shadow to another, even if they aren't connected, and you can drag people into the shadows."
"I see… What about his blessing of the Greek Monster?" Ichigo asked.
"I merged it with Schrift S: The Shifter. If you command it, all Greek Monsters or monsters connected to Greek Monsters will obey you," Yhwach explained.
"I see…" Ichigo said. "What about Prometheus?"
"Prometheus is unique. His Forethought authority was transferred to Schrift W: The War Lord. You gained the ability to detect impending threats and respond to them without realizing it," Yhwach said.
"Interesting, similar to a Hollow's instincts," Ichigo observed.
"Indeed," Yhwach agreed. "Also, your ability to create Golems is more efficient. It requires less energy and fewer materials to create a Golem. Despite this, the Golems are much faster, more intelligent, and more durable."
"I need to try that out," Ichigo said.
"Looks like Moka is saying something to you," Yhwach remarked. With that, Ichigo was ejected from his mindscape.
Scene Change: Outside
Ichigo opened his eyes.
"Thank you, Ichigo, for taking us," Moka said. Ichigo leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
"No problem," Ichigo replied. He looked around to see everyone enjoying themselves, singing along with the crowd. Soon, the concert ended, and everyone left the Oakhaven Concert Hall. Ichigo and his group stood up and began to exit the balcony. Outside, there was a booth selling exclusive Hex Girls merchandise dedicated to the Oakhaven Autumn Fest. Everyone purchased something from the booth. They then walked home, only to notice they weren't alone. In the living room were Ben and the Hex Girls. The girls were shocked by the unexpected visitors.
"Hello, Ben and ladies," Ichigo greeted.
"Who are they, Ben?" Thorn asked. Ben began introducing the Hex Girls to Ichigo and his family.
"I assume you three are witches?" Ichigo asked.
"Indeed," Thorn answered. "And I assume you have connections to the supernatural world?"
"I'm a vampire," Moka said, showing off her fangs. "And these are real, unlike yours." Luna and Dusk chuckled as Thorn quickly removed her fake fangs.
"While I am a kitsune," Yasaka said, dispelling her illusion.
"What's a kitsune?" Dusk asked.
"Kitsune are Japanese fox spirits," Ichigo explained.
"And you?" Thorn asked.
"An overpowered older brother who casually kills gods and demons for his family," Yuzu began.
"Befriends devils, fallen angels, angels, and gods," Karin added.
"A loving papa," Kunou said.
"A very overprotective father," Elizabeth said. Ichigo looked at his sisters and daughters.
"Did you really need to tell them all of that?" he asked.
"Well, they're not lying," Moka said. Yasaka nodded in agreement.
"Anyways, let's get dinner started," Ichigo said as he walked into the kitchen. Thorn looked at Moka and Yasaka.
"He knows how to cook?"
"He does," Moka replied.
"Don't you just need to drink his blood to survive?" Thorn asked. Moka stared at Thorn.
"Um… Sorry if I was rude. I'm just curious, since I've never met an actual vampire," Thorn said. Moka chuckled, breaking the tension.
"Sure. Let's sit in the living room while we wait for Ichigo to finish cooking," Moka suggested.
"Can my two little helpers come in here?" Ichigo hollered.
"Coming, Tou-san!" Elizabeth yelled.
"Wait for me!" Kunou shouted as the two little girls ran into the kitchen. Everyone sat down on the couch and began to talk. During their discussion, Kunou and Elizabeth carefully carried out a tray of drinks for everyone.
"We have a can of tomato juice for Okaa-san," Elizabeth said as she handed the can of tomato juice to Moka.
"Thank you, Elizabeth," Moka said, taking the can from her daughter.
"Fresh jasmine tea for you, Okaa-san," Kunou said as she handed Yasaka a cup of hot tea.
"Thank you, Kunou," Yasaka complimented.
"Water for Yuzu-obasan and Karin-obasan," Kunou and Elizabeth said in unison as they handed them their water.
"Thank you, Kunou and Elizabeth," Yuzu and Karin said. The little girls turned to Ben, Thorn, Luna, and Dusk.
"I'm okay," Ben said.
"I'll take a glass of water," Thorn said.
"Same with me," Dusk added.
"A cup of tea for me," Luna said. Kunou and Elizabeth handed Thorn, Dusk, and Luna their drinks.
"Tou-san said the food should be ready in twenty minutes," they said as they returned to the kitchen. While they waited, the Hex Girls signed everyone's souvenirs. Slowly, the delicious smell of food filled the air from the kitchen. Kunou and Elizabeth ran out into the living room.
"Tou-san said to get situated in the dining room," they said. Everyone got up and walked into the dining room. The dining room was set with eleven plates, each with a small piece of paper with their name on it. Ichigo walked out with thirteen plates, eleven of which floated around him. The floating plates landed in front of everyone.
"You're using magic!" Ben shouted. The Hex Girls quickly looked around, seemingly expecting something to happen.
"Worried about something?" Moka asked.
"Why aren't the Aurors here?" Dusk blurted out. "I mean, I don't want them here, but usually, they would swarm down on their brooms to force us to obey the rules."
"It appears that the MACUSA isn't able to detect my air manipulation," Ichigo explained as he placed the last two plates—more than double the size of the regular plates—on the table.
"How did you avoid being logged into their systems?" Ben asked.
"Huh?" Ichigo looked confused.
"You have to have your powers logged into the MACUSA's database before entering the country," Thorn explained. Ichigo and his group looked at her, confused.
"You see, the United States and Canada have suffered multiple terrorist attacks by organizations with the help of allied wizards and witches who were already in the country. When the MACUSA discovered this, they enacted a registration policy to try to capture future terrorist witches and wizards," Ben explained.
"Has this policy worked?" Ichigo asked.
"It has been reported that the policy worked," Dusk answered.
"Ah, bureaucracy," Yasaka sighed.
"I used my own method to get into the United States undetected," Ichigo said as he sat down. "Let's eat before the food gets cold."
"Itadakimasu!" Ichigo and his group said in unison. Ben and the Hex Girls looked confused.
"It means 'Thanks for the food.' We traditionally say it before we eat," Ichigo explained. "You don't have to say it if you don't want to."
"Thanks for the food," Ben, Thorn, Luna, and Dusk said. Everyone pulled the plate covers off to reveal a nice, large cut of steak with mashed potatoes and gravy on the side. The large plates revealed fried tofu.
"FRIED TOFU!" Yasaka and Kunou shouted.
"No fried tofu until you eat half your dinner," Ichigo reprimanded. Both Yasaka and Kunou pouted, trying to convince him otherwise. Ichigo ignored them and began digging into his steak.
"Um… why the huge reaction to fried tofu?" Thorn asked.
"Kitsune love fried tofu. It's their favorite snack," Moka explained as she cut into her steak. Her steak was cooked rare, and hemoglobin began to leak out of it. Moka turned to Ichigo. "You remembered that I like my steak rare."
"I do," Ichigo said. "The fried tofu is free for everyone else," he added. Everyone enjoyed their dinner. After the meal, Ben collected all the dishes and took them to the kitchen, forbidding Ichigo or any of his guests from cleaning up. Everyone returned to the living room to talk more. Kunou and Elizabeth let out a big yawn.
"Looks like it's bedtime," Ichigo said. Kunou and Elizabeth nodded.
"It is getting pretty late," Thorn observed as all the Hex Girls stood up.
"Thank you for the wonderful meal," they said as they left. Everyone went to their respective rooms and went to bed.
Disclaimer:
Scooby-Doo and the Witch's Ghost is owned by Warner Bros. Animation, Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc, and Mook Animation.