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.
Hello everyone. The entire scene of Tier in Hawaii is dedicated to the original 'The Shark in the Moonless Sky' & the rewrite of 'The Shark in the Moonless Night' by The Night Hunter. I've emailed him and he permitted me to do this.
The following is a fan-based parody.
Bleach is owned by Tite Kubo, TV Tokyo, Viz Media, and Studio Pierrot.
Please support the official release.
"Hello." – Normal talking
"Hello." – Ichigo's thoughts.
"Hello." – Zanpakutō speaking
"Hello." – Zanpakutō thoughts.
Chapter 58:
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have just cleared to land at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Please make sure your seat belt is securely fastened one last time. The flight attendants are currently passing through the cabin to conduct a final compliance check and collect any remaining cups and glasses. Thank you," the flight attendant announced.
Ichigo turned to Tier. She had spent the entire flight exploring the airplane with her eyes, occasionally glancing outside at the vast sky. As the plane began to descend, Tier looked out the window, watching the small dots below slowly grow larger, transforming into buildings. She could see the approaching airport, and instinctively, she grabbed Ichigo's right hand for reassurance. Ichigo held her hand tightly, offering silent comfort.
Moments later, the airplane touched down. Slowly, passengers began to disembark. Ichigo and Tier followed the crowd out of the plane and into the airport.
"Everything has changed," Tier said as she looked around.
"Indeed," Ichigo replied. They began walking through Honolulu.
"I can barely tell where things used to be," she added.
"Do you want to walk around?" Ichigo asked. "If you see something familiar, we can check it out."
"Sure," Tier said. As they walked, Tier described what Honolulu had looked like when she was still alive.
"Most of Hawaii was wilderness," she began. "We had towns, but nothing as complicated as it is now."
"Do you want to see if there are any historic parts of Honolulu that haven't changed?" Ichigo asked.
"Sure," Tier replied. They found a tour guide for Honolulu.
"Welcome, what can I do for you?" the guide asked.
"We were wondering if there are any historic sites in Honolulu," Ichigo asked. The tour guide sighed.
"Let me show you," she said, pulling out a map. She circled an area. "This historic site has been preserved and turned into a museum about Hawaii's history."
"Thank you," Ichigo said, tipping her fifty dollars. They took a taxi to the location.
"I-I think I know this place," Tier mentally said.
"You do?" Ichigo asked. Tier fell silent for the rest of the ride. They arrived at a large palace.
"To think they tore it down to build this," Tier said.
"You knew what was here before the palace?" Ichigo asked.
"I did," Tier said. They walked inside, and a timeline on the wall summarized the last hundred years of Hawaii; from an independent country to part of the United States. They noticed someone standing nearby.
"Hello, can I help you with something?" the woman asked. Ichigo and Tier turned around. Standing before them was a dark-skinned woman who resembled Tier, almost like her younger sister.
"Ah, yes," Tier replied, her gaze falling on the name tag. Her eyes widened as she read it: Tier Harribel.
"Is something wrong?" the woman asked, noticing Tier's reaction to the name tag.
"Oh no, I just noticed we have the same name," Tier said.
"That's strange," the woman replied. "My grandmother named me after my late great-aunt."
"Um…" Tier began, unsure how to respond. The woman walked over and hugged Tier.
"It's so good to see you, Great Aunt," she said.
"Huh?" Tier asked, pulling away. "I'm not your late great-aunt."
"But you are," the woman insisted.
"Is your grandmother still alive?" Ichigo asked, stepping in.
"No, Ichigo," Tier said, shaking her head.
"She is!" the woman replied. "Let me take you to see her." Tier Jr. grabbed Tier's hand and led her away. Ichigo smiled and followed behind. They exited the palace and got into a small car. Tier and Ichigo sat in the backseat while Tier Jr. drove.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Tier mentally asked.
"Tier, like it or not, they're your family. It might help you find closure about your death," Ichigo reassured.
Tier sighed, gazing out the window. They drove away from Honolulu.
After ten minutes, they arrived at a smaller city. The buildings here were older than those in Honolulu. Tier Jr. stopped the car in front of a medium-sized house.
"We're here," she said. They stepped out of the car and walked to the house. Tier Jr. unlocked the door and led them inside. She casually walked down the hallway, but Ichigo noticed Tier had stopped to look at the photos on the wall.
"Tier?" Ichigo asked.
"Sorry," she mumbled. Ichigo walked over and looked at the photos with her. They seemed to be from a family event. Ichigo noticed some people with dark skin and blonde hair and realized that some resembled Tier. Tier Jr. peeked her head out of a room.
"Come on, Grandma's awake," she said. Ichigo and Tier followed her down the hallway and into the room. They saw an elderly dark-skinned woman sitting in a chair.
"Tier, honey, shouldn't you be at work?" the elderly woman asked.
"This is more important," Tier Jr. replied.
"What's so important that you skipped work?" the elderly lady asked, adjusting her glasses. She looked up and noticed Tier Jr. wasn't alone. Her eyes widened as she took in the sight of the guests: a Japanese man with orange hair and a woman with dark skin and blonde hair.
"Tier?" she gasped. Tears welled up in Tier's eyes.
"Pua," Tier said, rushing over to hug her sister. Pua embraced her warmly. Ichigo and Tier Jr. smiled at the touching scene. After a moment, they let go.
"H-how are you here and so young... you look like you haven't aged at all?" Pua asked, astonished.
"I haven't physically aged since I died," Tier explained. She then began to tell Pua about the Soul Reapers and the Hollows, sharing the details of the world she now belonged to.
"That explains our powers," Tier Jr. remarked.
"What powers?" Tier asked, intrigued.
Tier Jr. revealed a necklace with a shark tooth pendant.
"Chase Mako," Tier Jr. said. The shark tooth glowed yellow before transforming into a bone-white rapier, decorated with shark teeth.
"Where did you get this?" Tier asked.
"Mako was something I inherited from my mother," Tier Jr. explained.
"Tia, my daughter, also had one," Pua added. "Hers was called Crush, Hammerhead."
"Do you have one, Pua?" Tier asked.
Pua smiled. "I do." She revealed two bracelets adorned with shark teeth. "Rampage, Megalos." The bracelets glowed and engulfed Pua's hands, transforming them into bone-white gauntlets with shark tooth-like fingers.
"How did you get these?" Tier asked.
"I honestly don't know," Pua replied. "One day, I was exploring the village when an angry goat charged at me. I was frozen in fear, unable to move. Suddenly, these bracelets appeared on my wrists, and I unleashed Megalos on that goat."
"Not a Hollow?" Ichigo asked.
"I've never seen a Hollow," Pua admitted.
"Strange," Ichigo said. Tier nodded.
"Why?" Pua asked. Tier Jr. was also paying close attention. Tier entered her spirit form, surprising both Pua and Tier Jr.
"This is my spirit form," Tier began, drawing her Zanpakutō. "Hunt, Tiburón." She activated her Resurrección. "Your powers are similar to mine."
"But you activated it in a normal situation," Ichigo observed, referring to Pua.
"Then this might not be a spiritual ability."
"You're right. You got that from me," a voice said. Everyone turned to see a woman enter the house. Her appearance resembled Tier, Tier Jr., and Pua, but Ichigo could sense divine energy from her.
"Who are you?" Ichigo asked.
"Impossible," Tier said, pointing Tiburón at the stranger. "How dare you impersonate our mother!" The woman smiled at Tier.
"I'm not impersonating her, Tier Harribel," the woman said.
"What was the first present I gave our mother?" Tier asked. The woman smiled at her and pulled out a necklace with a shark tooth on it.
"On my birthday, you and Pua found a shark tooth and made it into a necklace for me," the woman said. Tier's and Pua's eyes widened as they recognized the necklace.
"H-how are you still alive?" Pua asked.
"It's possible because I'm not human," the woman said.
"Huh?" they said.
"You're a goddess," Ichigo concluded.
"Indeed," the woman replied. "My name is Ka-ahupahau, The Queen of the Sharks."
"So, our powers come from you?" Tier asked, sealing her Resurrección.
"Indeed," Ka-ahupahau replied. "All of your powers are connected to the sea and to my children."
"So why show up now?" Tier asked. Ka-ahupahau gave them a sad smile.
"You're beginning to fade," Ichigo guessed. Ka-ahupahau turned to him.
"You know a lot about the gods," she said.
"I met with the remaining pantheons that are still here," Ichigo replied.
"I see…" Ka-ahupahau said.
"Great Grandma, your feet," Tier Jr. said. Everyone looked down and saw that her feet had begun to disappear.
"Seems like this is it," she said.
"What do you mean?" Tier asked.
"She's fading," Ichigo explained.
"Fading?" Pua questioned.
"It's when a god or goddess fades away from existence," Ichigo said. Tier, Pua, and Tier Jr. turned to Ka-ahupahau, who smiled at them.
"My brothers and sisters have already faded away," Ka-ahupahau began. "I stayed here a little longer, just to see my children one last time." Tier, Pua, and Tier Jr. walked over and hugged her. Ka-ahupahau smiled and accepted the hug. Slowly, she transformed into dust.
"This is a lot to take in," Tier Jr. said. Tier and Pua chuckled.
"You aren't the only one," Tier said. She began to share her past with Pua and Tier Jr., who also shared their stories. By the time they were done, it was getting late.
"I need to start dinner," Tier Jr. said, standing up. She turned to Ichigo and Tier. "Are both of you staying for dinner?"
"Sure," Ichigo replied.
"After dinner, I'll take you back to Honolulu," Tier Jr. said.
"You don't have to," Tier said. "We could stay here for the night if you have enough space."
"Sure," Pua said. She turned to Ichigo. "Young man, please leave us alone for a short while," she requested.
"Sure," Ichigo replied as he stood up.
"Don't leave me!" Tier mentally called out.
Ichigo ignored her distress and left her behind.
"Dear sister," Pua began, "I didn't know you were interested in someone younger than you." She teased.
"PUA!" Tier yelled, blushing at the teasing.
"Ha. Ha." Pua laughed. Ichigo walked out of the bedroom and into the kitchen, where Tier Jr. was working on dinner.
"Do you need any help?" Ichigo asked.
"Sure, can you help set the table?" she asked.
"Sure," Ichigo replied as he helped set up the table. Soon, Tier Jr. finished cooking dinner.
"Grandma. Great Aunt. Dinner is ready!" she called.
"Coming!" Tier replied. Tier and Pua walked out of the kitchen. Tier had Pua around her arm, helping her walk to the table. Tier Jr. quickly pulled out a chair for Pua to sit in.
"Thank you," Pua said as she sat down. Tier Jr. quickly carried the dinner out for everyone. Everyone sat down and enjoyed the meal.
After dinner, Tier Jr. helped Pua back to her room while Ichigo and Tier cleaned the dishes.
"How are you doing?" Ichigo asked.
"Good," Tier replied.
"Do you want to spend more time here?" Ichigo asked.
"I do," Tier said. "I want to spend as much time here with her before she dies."
"We could spend a day or two here. If she hasn't passed from natural causes, I could escort her directly to Soul Society," Ichigo offered.
"Really?" Tier replied, surprised.
"Sure," Ichigo said. Suddenly, Tier hugged him.
"Thank you," she said. Ichigo smiled.
"Wow, Great Aunty, I didn't know you were into young men," Tier Jr. teased. They turned to see her leaning in the doorway, watching them. Tier blushed at the teasing, and Ichigo smiled back at her.
"Age doesn't matter when it comes to love," Ichigo began. "All that matters is that both people love each other."
"Fair enough," Tier Jr. replied. "Let me show you to your room." She led them down a hallway, farther from Pua's room. Tier Jr. opened the door, revealing a large room with a big bed.
"This room should work for the time being," Ichigo said.
"Great," Tier Jr. said as she walked toward the door. "Keep the noise level down. The walls are really thin," she teased before leaving.
"That girl and her teasing," Tier grumbled. Ichigo smiled.
"Come on, let's shower before going to bed," he suggested.
"Sure," Tier replied. They took turns showering and then went to bed.
Time Skip: Next Morning
Ichigo and Tier woke up and stepped out of the room to see Tier Jr. already running out of the house. They noticed Pua was still sleeping. Ichigo and Tier explored the house, finding an old photo album. They started flipping through it when they heard something heavy dragging on the ground. They looked up to see Pua waking up, walking with a walker.
"Good morning, Pua," Tier said, setting the photo album aside.
"Good morning, you two," Pua replied.
"Want to join me for breakfast?" she asked.
"Sure," Ichigo answered.
"Want me to make breakfast?" Tier asked.
"I want to try your cooking," Ichigo said.
"Do you remember my favorite breakfast as a kid?" Pua asked. Tier smiled as she headed to the kitchen, and Ichigo helped Pua sit at the table.
"Thank you," Pua said as she settled down.
"Pua, I have a weird question for you," Ichigo began.
"Are you going to ask for my blessing to marry Tier?" Pua asked. Ichigo chuckled.
"I don't think I need to ask if I want to do that," Ichigo replied.
"Go ahead and ruin my fun," Pua said with a pout. "So, what do you want to talk about?"
"I could help you peacefully die and take you to Soul Society," Ichigo said.
"Will I be allowed to see Tier?"
"Your sister or your granddaughter?" Ichigo asked.
"Both."
"Tier Senior is a unique case, being the co-vice-ruler of Hueco Mundo, the land of Hollows," Ichigo began. "She could request permission from Soul Society to see you, but this would put a target on your back if anyone tried to kidnap you and use you against her."
"What about Junior?"
"You won't be able to see Junior because she lives too far from Soul Society's territory," Ichigo explained.
"But why would I go to Soul Society instead of Heaven or whatever Pantheon claims America as their territory?"
"It's because of your father," Ichigo said. "I believe he was Japanese, which gives you a good reason to be sent to Soul Society."
"I see…" Pua said. Just then, Tier walked out with breakfast.
"Pancakes with diced pineapples, strawberries, and blueberries inside," Tier said as she placed the dish in front of Pua. Pua smiled and dug in.
"Just like how you made it for me as a kid," Pua murmured, enjoying the taste.
Ichigo and Tier began eating as well.
"This is good," Ichigo complimented.
"Thank you," Tier replied.
"I should let the others try this," Ichigo added. Tier smiled as she continued to eat. Soon, they finished their meal. Ichigo collected the plates and carried them to the kitchen to wash.
"Ichigo talked to me," Pua said.
"About what?" Tier asked, surprised.
"He asked for my blessing to marry you," Pua said with a mischievous smile.
"No, he didn't," Tier objected. "He talked to you about death," she added, pouting.
"Go ahead and ruin my fun," Pua teased.
"So, have you decided what you're going to do?" Tier asked gently.
Pua sighed. "What happens if I allow myself to die naturally?"
"You'll be taken by Grim," Ichigo explained. "He deals with souls that don't belong to any pantheon. He'll escort you to your correct afterlife."
"I would still end up in Soul Society," Pua concluded.
"Correct," Ichigo confirmed. "But we won't know where you end up."
"I see…" Pua said. "We'll do it tonight when Tier Jr. comes home from work," she added.
"Okay then," Tier agreed. Tier and Pua spent the rest of the day going over Pua's will, making sure everything was in order for Tier Jr. to inherit.
It was late evening when Tier Jr. returned. She saw Ichigo, Pua, and Tier sitting at the dinner table, food laid out. It was clear they had been waiting for her.
"You didn't need to wait for me," Tier Jr. said as she entered.
"No, we needed to," Pua replied. Tier Jr. looked at her, but Pua nodded. "We'll talk after dinner."
Tier Jr. sighed and sat down to join them for dinner. The meal passed in silence, with no one speaking. When it was finished, Tier and Ichigo cleaned up the dishes, and everyone moved to the living room.
"What's going on?" Tier Jr. asked.
"I'm planning to leave for Soul Society tonight," Pua said quietly.
"What!?" Tier Jr. shouted, looking at Ichigo and Tier for confirmation.
"It's for the best," Ichigo said calmly.
"HOW?!" she screamed, overwhelmed.
"Tier, stop screaming at him," Pua said softly. Tier Jr. looked back at her, clearly upset, but unable to argue further.
"If the connection is made that Pua is my younger sister, Pua will be in danger," Tier started.
"Why will Grandma be in danger?" Tier Jr. asked.
"Because I'm co-vice-ruler of Hueco Mundo," Tier explained.
"We'll be sending her to Soul Society, a place that just recently made a peace treaty with Hueco Mundo," Ichigo continued.
"Why don't you send her to Hueco Mundo?" Tier Jr. asked.
"Soul Society will be safer compared to Hueco Mundo, despite my position," Tier said.
"I'll speak with a few higher-ups in Soul Society who will assist in giving Pua a safe place to live," Ichigo added.
"Will I be able to see her?" Tier Jr. asked, her voice tinged with worry.
"Unfortunately, it's not possible," Ichigo answered.
"How come?" Tier Jr. asked, confused.
"It's because I'm dead, and you're alive," Pua said gently.
"I see…" Tier Jr. said quietly. "That was our final dinner together." Pua nodded, her expression softening.
"Why do we have to do it now, instead of waiting until you naturally die?" Tier Jr. asked, her voice trembling.
"Neither of us can stay here forever," Tier began. "When Pua dies, she'll be sent to Soul Society. We're not sure where she could end up," Ichigo explained.
"I see…" Tier Jr. said. Pua slowly stood up and walked over to her granddaughter. She wrapped her arms around her in a tight hug.
"Dear, I know this is hard for you," Pua said, her voice filled with compassion.
"But…but…" Tier Jr. mumbled, her voice breaking. Pua held her close.
"No buts, my dear," Pua said softly. "We can never run from death. It will always be there to greet us." She gently released Tier Jr. and turned to Ichigo and Tier. "I'm ready."
Ichigo summoned his black gloves, the white skull shrouded in blue flames and handed them to Tier Jr. She stared at them in confusion.
"These gloves allow you to separate the human soul from their body," Ichigo explained.
"Why are you giving me these?" she asked, still puzzled.
"I want you to do this," Pua said, her voice steady but emotional.
"Huh? Why?" Tier Jr. questioned.
"It's a sign of closure," Pua explained. "By doing this, you're showing me that you're ready to move on and live without me." Tears welled up in Tier Jr.'s eyes as she took the gloves from Ichigo. Some of her tears fell onto the gloves, and she slowly put them on.
"I will miss you, Grandma Pua," she said, her voice thick with emotion. Pua smiled softly.
"I'll miss you, my Kanaka Keiki [Hawaiian for Baby Shark/Child," Pua replied. Tier Jr. pressed her hand to Pua's chest and pushed gently. Ichigo placed his hand on Pua's shoulder as Tier Jr. separated Pua's soul from her body. In an instant, Pua appeared much younger than before, slightly older than both Tier and Tier Jr., wearing the same clothes she had moments ago. A chain was visible on her chest, extending back to her body.
"Pua," Tier said, gaining both Pua's and Tier Jr.'s attention. "The moment the Chains of Fate are severed, you'll officially be dead, no longer able to return to your body."
"I am ready," Pua said, calm and accepting.
"Very well then," Tier said as she drew Tiburón from her sheath. With one swift strike, she severed Pua's Chains of Fate.
"Let's put her in bed," Ichigo suggested. Tier Jr. nodded solemnly. Ichigo carefully lifted Pua's soulless body and placed it in bed, arranging it to look as though she had passed peacefully in her sleep.
"You know what to do," Pua said, her voice faint. Tier Jr. nodded and walked to the kitchen. Ichigo pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
"Hello, Ichigo. What can I do for you?" Urahara's voice came through in Japanese.
"Urahara, I'll be escorting two very important people through a Garganta to your office right now," Ichigo replied in Japanese.
"Very well," Urahara responded before hanging up. Ichigo turned to Tier and Pua.
"Are both of you ready?" Ichigo asked.
"We are," Tier replied, her grip tight on Pua. Ichigo tore open a Garganta, and they all entered it.
Scene Change: Soul Society, Twelfth Division
(Language is in Japanese)
Ichigo, Tier, and Pua exited the Garganta and arrived at Urahara's office.
"I could make an educated guess on who these very important people are," Urahara said, eyeing them with a knowing look.
Ichigo sighed. "This is Harribel Tier, former Tres Espada, and currently co-vice-ruler of Hueco Mundo," he introduced. "And this is Harribel Pua, her younger sister."
"I see…" Urahara said. "Very well. I know why you brought her to me. I'll arrange for her to live in one of my safe houses," he assured them. "Do you feel hungry?" He asked, turning to Pua.
"Not right now," Pua replied softly.
"Let me know if you do," Urahara said before turning his attention back to the others. Pua looked at Tier.
"Well… this is it," Tier said, giving her sister a sad smile.
"Indeed," Tier replied. The two sisters hugged each other one last time.
"Urahara, make sure nothing happens to her," Ichigo said, his voice firm.
"Very well, Ichigo-sama," Urahara said with a bow. Ichigo sighed as he opened another Garganta.
Scene Change: Ichigo's Estate
Ichigo and Tier exited the Garganta. Ichigo turned to Tier.
"Are you all right?" he asked gently.
"I am. I might stay here for a day or two before returning to Hueco Mundo," she said quietly.
"That's fine," Ichigo reassured her. "Take as much time as you need."
"Thank you," she said as she walked toward the estate. Sakuya opened the door to greet her.
"Allow me to escort you to your room," Sakuya offered.
"Thank you," Tier said as she followed Sakuya inside. Akasha exited the estate just as they entered.
"Hello Ichigo," she said.
"Hello Akasha," Ichigo replied.
"What happened?" she asked, noticing the serious atmosphere.
"It's something personal," Ichigo said, his tone hinting at the weight of the situation. "Give her some space."
"Very well." Akasha pulled out a small sheet of paper. "Based on my list, you've spent time with everyone in the peerage except for Gilgamesh, Tamamo, and me," she said.
"When did Tamamo get involved?" Ichigo asked.
"I don't know," Akasha admitted. "She called me and demanded to know why everyone else was going on dates with you while she was stuck in Kyoto."
"I see…" Ichigo said. "If I take her out tonight, would it interfere with either of your plans with me?" he asked.
"Nope," Akasha said. "Gilgamesh's plans will start tomorrow morning."
"I see," Ichigo said. "Well, time to deal with an annoyed fox girl," he said as he opened a Garganta and stepped through it.
Scene Change: Yasaka's Temple
Ichigo appeared outside Yasaka's temple.
"Ah, Ichigo-sama," the guards greeted.
"Hello, is Yasaka in her office?" Ichigo asked.
"Indeed, she is," one of the guards replied.
"Be careful, she's really grumpy right now," the other guard warned.
"I see… thanks for the heads-up," Ichigo said as he entered the temple. After a few minutes, he arrived at Yasaka's office and knocked on the door. He could hear her deactivating the barriers around her office.
"Come in," Yasaka grumbled. Ichigo slid the door open to find Yasaka sitting at her desk, reading and filling out paperwork. As soon as he closed the door behind him, the barriers reactivated. The illusion around Yasaka faded to reveal Tamamo, glaring at him.
"About time you showed up," Tamamo grumbled as she stood up from her desk and slowly walked over to him. Ichigo sighed, already expecting this from her. She stopped in front of him. "I want you to know, this kitsune is known for her tricks." She deliberately pressed her breasts against him, trapping him in her embrace. Ichigo tried to remain stoic, staring straight ahead and ignoring her actions. She grabbed Ichigo's head, lowering it to force him to look at her. "So, do you have a treat for me, or shall I play a trick on you?"
Ichigo cracked a mysterious smile. "So you want me to treat you, or I'll suffer under a trick," Ichigo said as he slowly moved his hands.
"Yep," Tamamo replied, unaware of where his hands were going.
"I guess you'll be getting both," Ichigo said.
"Huh?" Tamamo asked, confused. Ichigo's hands arrived behind her ears, and he began to scratch them. Tamamo's eyes twitched as a wave of pleasure ran down her spine.
"I-Ichigo! Qu-quit it!" she cried out, shivering with pleasure. She tried to move away, but Ichigo grabbed her and forced her to trade places with him. Before she could protest, Ichigo resumed scratching her ears.
"S-STOP IT!" she cried, overwhelmed by the pleasure.
"Hm… I'll stop when you forgive me," Ichigo said, a playful glint in his eyes.
"F-FINE! I F-FOR-GIVE YOU!" she cried out. Ichigo stopped scratching her ears and stepped aside. Tamamo fell to her knees, exhausted from the pleasure she experienced. Ichigo sat down beside her.
"Are you all right?" Ichigo asked. Tamamo turned to face him.
"That was mean," she pouted.
"Sorry," Ichigo said, offering her a hand to help her stand. "Let me take you out on a date," he suggested.
"Good idea!" Tamamo said, brightening up. "The Gion Matsuri is happening right now." She wrapped herself in an illusion, hiding her ears, whiskers, and tails. "Before we leave, we need a matching set of yukatas." Her robes transformed into a navy-blue yukata with pink sakura petals falling from a tree. Ichigo's clothes shifted into a black-and-royal blue yukata decorated with white stars. They left Yasaka's office and walked out of the temple.
"Hello Ichigo-sama," the guards greeted.
"Who is that with you?" one of the guards asked.
"It's me," Tamamo said, using Yasaka's voice.
"AH, Yasaka-hime-sama," the guards exclaimed, standing at attention.
"At ease," Tamamo said. "I'm using a new illusion to enjoy the Gion Matsuri Festival with Ichigo," she explained.
"Very well, Yasaka-hime-sama," the other guard said.
"Have a good evening!" they said in unison as Ichigo and Tamamo walked out of the temple and into the festival.
They spent the evening exploring the festival, visiting every booth and sampling street food.
"So good!" Tamamo exclaimed, taking a bite of her food. Ichigo chuckled at her enthusiasm. They soon found a small park, and Tamamo sat down on a bench, pulling out a small bottle of sake and a sake cup. She poured herself a drink, sipping it while continuing to enjoy her food. Ichigo's eyes widened as he remembered sitting at this very bench before.
"Ironically, I'm back at this bench with a kitsune drinking sake," Ichigo thought to himself.
"Is that Vixen Sake?" Ichigo asked, recognizing the bottle.
"Why, yes it is," Tamamo replied with a smile. She poured a bit of the sake into her cup and handed it to Ichigo. "You should try some," she said with a mischievous grin.
"No. No. No," Ichigo quickly replied.
"Ahh, is the big, strong Ichigo scared of a little sake?" she teased, taking a sip of her drink.
"I am," Ichigo said seriously. "The last time I drank that, Amaterasu messed with my body, and I ended up impregnating Yasaka," he said. Tamamo gave him a sultry smile.
"I think Yasaka wouldn't mind having a little sister," she teased.
"Nope. Nope. Nope," Ichigo said, shaking his head. "I already have two kids because of drunken mistakes."
"Fine," Tamamo pouted. "Please just sit with me. I promise I won't force you to drink Vixen Sake."
"You promise?" Ichigo asked skeptically.
Tamamo nodded. Ichigo sighed, then sat down beside her. They continued to enjoy the food she'd picked up from the street vendors, but Ichigo noticed Tamamo kept drinking the Vixen Sake.
"Should I tell her to stop drinking or just let her continue?" Ichigo thought. "If I tell her to stop, she'll be more annoyed with me and may make a scene." He considered. "If I don't say anything, she'll be a drunken mess." His thoughts were interrupted by fireworks beginning to light up the night sky.
"Hey, Tamamo," Ichigo said, pointing upward.
"Huh?" She turned to look, and the night sky began to fill with fireworks. "Pretty," she murmured, staring in awe. While she was distracted, Ichigo quickly grabbed the bottle of Vixen Sake from her.
"Oh no…" Ichigo thought as he felt how light the bottle was. "She drank it all." He sighed, accepting his fate. Tamamo heard his sigh and turned to him.
"Is something wrong?" she asked.
"No, nothing's wrong," Ichigo replied.
"Don't lie to me," Tamamo said, her tone serious. "If I did something wrong, tell me." Ichigo wrapped her in a gentle hug.
"I'm not lying, Tamamo," Ichigo reassured her. Tamamo cuddled closer as they continued to watch the fireworks.
"Thank you," Tamamo said softly. "Thank you for giving me another chance to live." Ichigo cracked a smile.
"It's my pleasure," he replied. Soon, the fireworks ended. "Come on, let's get you home." Ichigo turned and saw Tamamo had already fallen fast asleep, her illusion undone. He shook his head, casting the illusion again, then carefully disposed of her trash before lifting her into a princess carry. He made his way back to the Shrine.
The guards noticed Ichigo's return.
"Good evening, Ichigo-sama," one of the guards said in a low voice.
"Good evening," Ichigo replied.
"It seems Yasaka-hime-sama enjoyed her evening," the guard noted.
"Indeed," Ichigo said. "Have a good night," he added, continuing his way. A maid greeted Ichigo and helped open all the doors for him. They arrived at Yasaka's bedroom.
"Thank you," Ichigo whispered, and the maid nodded, closing the door behind him. He placed Tamamo on the bed, but she gripped his yukata tightly. Ichigo sighed, accepting his fate, and joined her in bed.
Time Skip: Next Morning
Tamamo opened her eyes, immediately greeted by a pounding headache.
"Why do I have such a bad headache?" she wondered, blinking as she noticed Ichigo sleeping beside her. "Why is Ichigo in bed with me? Did we have sex? Am I pregnant now? Is Yasaka having a little sister?"
"Good morning," Ichigo said, his voice breaking through her thoughts. Tamamo looked at him, her eyes wide.
"Man, you were really rough last night," Ichigo joked.
"Huh!?" Tamamo's eyes widened in shock.
"We had sex last night?" she asked, voice trembling. Ichigo leaned in closer to the nervous kitsune.
"We didn't do anything last night," he whispered.
"HUH?" Tamamo cried out in confusion. Ichigo smiled.
"We didn't have sex," Ichigo explained. "You drank an entire bottle of Vixen Wine by yourself. During the fireworks, you fell asleep on me. I carried you home, and when we arrived in your bedroom, you wouldn't let go of me. So, I decided to sleep beside you." Tamamo blushed deeply in embarrassment.
"I see…" she muttered, still processing the information. Ichigo chuckled and gave her a reassuring hug.
"It's all right," Ichigo said. "You looked really adorable while you were sleeping." Tamamo's blush deepened.
"Get out!" she cried, pushing Ichigo away from the bed. Ichigo chuckled and stood up.
"Very well," he said, dodging the pillow she threw at him before jumping into a Garganta. Tamamo stared at the closing rift.
"Baka," she muttered under her breath.
Scene Change: Kurosaki Estate
Ichigo walked out of the Garganta and into his bedroom. With a snap of his fingers, he dressed in a light gray t-shirt with the number 15 on the left side and blue jeans. He walked downstairs toward the dining hall, where everyone greeted him cheerfully.
"Ichigo!/Ichigo-sama!" everyone shouted.
"Good morning, everyone," Ichigo replied. "Let's go eat breakfast." The group nodded and followed him to the dining table. Ichigo took his usual seat at the head of the table. He noticed Gilgamesh walking toward him.
"Hello Ichigo," Gilgamesh greeted.
"Hello Gilgamesh," Ichigo replied. She sat beside him, in the seat usually occupied by Akasha. Ichigo glanced at Akasha, who had entered the room and took Gilgamesh's seat.
"Roll with it," Akasha mentally told Ichigo.
"Very well," Ichigo said. Sakuya and another maid carried their meals to the table. Ichigo noticed that the plates, utensils, and glasses had changed for him and Gilgamesh. Instead of the usual white clay dinnerware, they now had golden plates, silver utensils, and golden goblets. The others still had the regular dinnerware.
"Do you like the golden plates, utensils, and goblets?" Gilgamesh asked, smiling.
"It's nice," Ichigo replied.
"Are you ready for our date today?" she asked.
"I am," Ichigo said. "I'm curious to see what you have planned for us."
"Great," she replied. They finished breakfast, and Ichigo stood up. "Let's get started!" she said, grabbing Ichigo's hand and pulling him along. They walked outside the estate to find the Vimana waiting for them on the ground. Ichigo noticed two thrones positioned side by side inside the Vimana. Gilgamesh took the seat on the left, and Ichigo sat on the right (1).
"So, where are we going?" Ichigo asked.
"Don't worry about it," Gilgamesh said with a smile. The Vimana slowly rose and flew toward a dimensional tunnel. As it entered the tunnel, its camouflage feature activated. The craft emerged from the tunnel and flew toward the Japanese countryside. Ichigo sat back, enjoying the view, while Gilgamesh handed him a golden goblet filled with a golden liquid.
"Is this beer?" Ichigo asked.
Gilgamesh smiled.
"Close," she said. "This is a specialty of Uruk: wheat ale." Ichigo took the wheat ale and took a sip. It had an earthy flavor with very little alcoholic taste.
"This is good, much better than the beer in stores," Ichigo commented.
"Indeed," Gilgamesh agreed as she sipped from her own golden goblet. "Try this." She presented Ichigo with a small golden plate, which held a few circular-shaped breads. Ichigo picked one up and took a bite.
"This is good. What is this?" Ichigo asked.
"This is Akaru. It's made from wheat flour, honey, salt, and beer foam," Gilgamesh explained. "If you liked Akaru, try Marasu." Another golden plate appeared, this one holding a few more circular-shaped breads. Ichigo finished the Akaru he had and tried the Marasu.
"Chewy, with dried fruits, nuts, and garlic," Ichigo noted. A small bowl with a spoon appeared next to the Marasu, filled with a yellow substance.
"It tastes better if you add a little bit of honey to it," Gilgamesh advised.
"Okay," Ichigo said as he scooped a little honey and poured it onto the Marasu. He placed the spoon back into the honey bowl and took another bite. "Hm… the honey gives it a sweeter taste," he complimented.
"Thank you," Gilgamesh said with a smile. She glanced at the horizon. "Looks like we're here." Ichigo looked and saw that they had arrived back in America.
"Where are we?" Ichigo asked.
"We're in a small city called New Haven in Connecticut," she replied. The Vimana teleported them down to an empty alleyway.
(Language will be in English.)
"So, where are we going?" Ichigo asked. Gilgamesh smiled and walked out of the alley. Ichigo sighed and followed behind her. They soon arrived at a large building that reminded Ichigo of the old churches he had seen in London.
"We're at the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History," Gilgamesh said as they entered. Ichigo saw a sign that read, 'Ancient Mesopotamia Speaks: Highlights from the Yale Babylonian Collection.' Ichigo cracked a smile (2).
"You want me to learn more about your past," Ichigo thought.
"Indeed," Gilgamesh replied. They paid for their tickets and entered the exhibit. They joined a tour of the artifacts on display, with the guide explaining their significance. Gilgamesh would often comment on each piece, frequently expressing amazement at how well the ordinary objects had survived compared to the battle plans.
Soon, they arrived at the final exhibit of the tour: Babylonian Cooking. The tour guide played a video that explained how Yeast Ale, Akaru, and Marasu were made in Babylonian times. Surprisingly, Gilgamesh didn't criticize the video. Afterward, the tour guide brought out samples of Yeast Ale, Akaru, and Marasu for everyone to try. With a bit of magic, Ichigo was allowed to taste the Yeast Ale despite not being 21.
"The one you offered was much better than theirs," Ichigo commented.
"Indeed. This isn't even fit for my people," Gilgamesh agreed.
After the museum visit, they were teleported back onto the Vimana.
"So, where are we going now?" Ichigo asked. Gilgamesh shrugged.
"I don't know. I'm not driving," she said.
"Huh?" Ichigo asked.
"I'm going to teach you how to pilot the Vimana," she said.
"Oh," Ichigo responded.
"The Vimana is controlled by the thoughts of whoever is sitting on these thrones," Gilgamesh began.
"Let me try," Ichigo said.
"Slowly rise," Ichigo mentally commanded. The Vimana started to lift into the air.
"Good," Gilgamesh said. "Now, think of the direction you want to go and how fast you want to move."
"Forward. Gradually increase speed," Ichigo commanded. The Vimana began to move forward and started to accelerate. After ten minutes of practice, Ichigo was able to control the Vimana with ease.
"Very good," Gilgamesh said, taking control of the Vimana and flying away. Ichigo couldn't figure out where they were going.
An hour later, Ichigo could see sand, and the sun began to set as they arrived at a set of ancient ruins. The Vimana lowered itself onto the sand, and Gilgamesh jumped off. Ichigo followed behind her, and they walked in silence until they reached the ruins of a building. Ichigo could tell the structure had once been much taller.
"To think this is still standing," Gilgamesh said as she entered the building. Ichigo silently followed. They eventually arrived at what appeared to be an ancient throne room. Most of the stone walls had deteriorated over time. Gilgamesh began to glow with golden energy.
"The King commands you to return to your former glory!" she yelled. The golden energy surged from her and spread across the room. Ichigo watched in awe as the room began to rebuild itself. Soon, the throne room was restored, lit by torches hanging from stone columns. The setting sun bathed them in its light (3).
Gilgamesh smiled as she sat on her newly restored throne, motioning for Ichigo to stand before her. He obeyed, standing in front of her.
"Kurosaki Ichigo," she began, "Months ago, I declared you worthy to be my King of Heroes." She raised her hand, and something floated out of her Gates of Babylon.
The object was the size of a short sword or large dagger. Its handle was made of interconnecting blocks of solid gold, and the blade was rectangular with numerous notches, circular cutouts, and holes.
"This is Bab-ilu, the Key to the Gate of Babylon," Gilgamesh said as she stood from her throne and walked in front of him. She knelt and presented Bab-ilu to Ichigo, the handle facing him. "I wish for you to have this," she said.
Ichigo looked at her for a few moments before nodding. He reached out and took hold of Bab-ilu. The object glowed golden as it bonded with him. Gilgamesh smiled as she watched.
"You now have full access to the Gate of Babylon," Gilgamesh said. Ichigo walked up to her and embraced her.
"Thank you, Gilgamesh," he said. "I will treasure this gift from you."
Gilgamesh smiled as they stood together, surrounded by the slowly regressing throne room.
"It's time we leave," Gilgamesh said as she looked at the night sky.
"I agree," Ichigo said as he sent Bab-ilu into his mindscape. They walked out of the ruins and back onto the Vimana. The Vimana floated up and flew away.
Scene Change: Ichigo's Estate
(Language will be in Japanese)
The Vimana entered the pocket dimension where Ichigo's Estate resided. It lowered itself in front of the Estate, and Akasha stepped outside.
"Hello, Ichigo. Gilgamesh," she greeted.
"Hello, Akasha," Ichigo responded. He turned to Gilgamesh. "Did you enjoy your time with Ichigo?" Akasha asked.
"I did. I taught him a lot on our long date," Gilgamesh replied.
"I see…" Akasha said. Gilgamesh turned to Ichigo.
"See you, my King of Heroes," Gilgamesh said as she walked into the Estate. Akasha turned to Ichigo.
"Before we go on our date, we have a few flies to deal with," she said.
"Oh?" Ichigo asked, just as his Toyota Century drove up beside them. Sakuya stepped out of the limo.
"Good afternoon, Ichigo-sama, Akasha-sama," she greeted.
"Good afternoon, Sakuya," Ichigo replied. Sakuya opened the back door for them. Ichigo and Akasha entered the car, and Sakuya closed the door behind them. With them inside, she entered a dimensional portal.
"So, which annoying flies are we dealing with?" Ichigo asked. Akasha handed him a folder. Ichigo took it and glanced through the contents.
"Remember when we went to Yōkai Academy, and that yōkai dared to attack you?" Akasha asked.
"I do," Ichigo answered.
"The official reason for this meeting is that his family wants to meet you and formally apologize for their son's actions," Akasha explained.
"And the informal reason?" Ichigo asked.
"It's possible the Huang Family still wishes for you to ally with them," Akasha said.
"Who is the Huang Family?" Ichigo asked.
"The Huang Family is one of the largest Chinese mob families. It's led by Fei-Hong Huang, the father of the brat who attacked you," Akasha explained.
"Should we ally with them?" Ichigo asked.
"There are pros and cons," Akasha said. "It would make it easier to expand our control over China, but it could make us enemies with the Miao Family, another Chinese mob family."
"We'll see how it goes," Ichigo said. Soon, they exited the dimensional portal and arrived at Yōkai Academy. The campus appeared empty. Sakuya parked the car in front of the school. Another limo was already there, parked on the other side of the gate. Ruby was standing nearby. Sakuya stepped out and opened the door for Ichigo and Akasha.
"Hello, Ichigo-sama, Moka-san," Ruby greeted.
"This is not Moka-san," Sakuya corrected.
"Then who is she?" Ruby asked.
"This is Bloodriver Akasha-sama, Moka's mother," Sakuya introduced. Ruby quickly knelt and bowed.
"I am sorry, Bloodriver-sama, for mistaking you for your daughter," Ruby apologized.
"It's all right, Ruby," Akasha chuckled. "When we first arrived, I purposely acted like 'outer' Moka, easily tricking you." Ruby stood up, dusting off her dress.
"I see… Allow me to escort both of you to the meeting," Ruby said. She led them to the Headmaster's office and knocked on the door.
"Come in, Ruby," Mikogami's voice called from inside. Ruby pushed the door open and stepped aside, allowing Ichigo and Akasha to enter. Mikogami was seated at his usual position behind his desk. The left side of the couch was occupied by four people. Ichigo recognized the kid who had attacked him sitting closest to him.
Next to him was a young woman with light skin, green eyes, black hair tied into a large ponytail, and bangs framing her face. She wore a black cap and a black uniform with an opening at the chest, emphasizing her large breasts.
Beside her was a tall man with short, straight black hair and black eyes. His face and neck bore scars, and he wore a black suit.
The last person was another woman dressed in traditional Chinese attire, holding a fan. Her black hair was tied into two buns, adorned with flowery bobbles, and she wore two tassel earrings. Her red cheongsam, embroidered with golden patterns, completed her ensemble.
"Hello, Ichigo-sama and Moka-sama," Mikogami said, continuing the illusion. Ichigo and Akasha sat down across from the Huang Family.
"You must be Kurosaki Ichigo," the adult man said.
"I am. And you are?" Ichigo asked.
"I am Huang Fei-Hong, the current head of the Huang Family," he introduced.
"I am Huang Tián-Tián, wife to Fei-Hong," she said.
"I am Huang Ling-Ling," the young woman said.
"This is Akashiya Moka," Ichigo continued, keeping up the illusion.
"I will serve as the impartial third party," Mikogami stated.
"That's fine, Mikogami," Ichigo agreed. The Huang Family widened their eyes in shock at the blatant disrespect toward Mikogami.
"Anyways," Ichigo interrupted their thoughts. "Why does the Huang Family wish to see me?" he asked.
"I wish to apologize for my son's actions," Fei-Hong said.
"Is that it?" Ichigo asked.
"No, there is something else," Fei-Hong added.
"Which is?" Ichigo prompted.
"We still wish for you to consider the invitation my son, Fangfang, extended to you," Fei-Hong explained.
"The one about me joining your family?" Ichigo asked.
"Indeed," Fei-Hong replied.
"If I were to join your family, would we be equals, or would one serve the other?" Ichigo asked.
"You would of course serve under our family," Fei-Hong said.
Suddenly, a massive wave of reiatsu slammed down upon the Huang Family, sending them all crashing to the ground. Ichigo glared at them.
"Do you think you and your family are above me?" Ichigo asked, releasing his reiatsu, letting it soar beyond comprehension. He turned to the shadows. "You can show yourself. I know you're hiding there."
The Huang Family looked over, shocked to see who it was. A short old man with long white hair and a white robe emerged, holding a smoking pipe.
"How did you figure I was hiding here?" he asked.
"When I lowered my reiatsu, it hit your barrier. Instead of going straight down, it followed the curves of your barrier," Ichigo explained.
"I see…" the old man said. "I am Tōhō Fuhai, one of the Three Dark Lords." He looked at Moka. "Shall we end this farce, Moka?"
Akasha chuckled. "It seems you failed to teach your children about me," she said.
"Huh?" the rest of the Huang Family replied, confused by Fuhai's words.
"I am not Akashiya Moka. I am Bloodriver Akasha, one of the Three Dark Lords," she said, glaring at the Huang Family. All the members of the Huang Family immediately fell to their knees and bowed.
"I am sorry Bloodriver-sama. Please forgive us," Feihong said.
"Fine then," Akasha replied. The Huang Family stood up and sat back down in their chairs.
"Now, with that out of the way," Ichigo looked at Feihong. "Do you still think I will submit to you?" he asked.
"No," Feihong said. "Your power easily dwarfs all of us."
Fuhai walked up to Akasha. "It seems age finally caught up with you, old friend," Akasha said.
Fuhai chuckled. "I doubt I could say the same to you, Akasha," he replied.
Ichigo turned to Feihong. "We will have a simple agreement, to help each other upon request," Ichigo said. "Akasha will be my representative when I am not available."
"Very well," Feihong said. "I will be the main representative of the Huang Family." He extended his hand. Ichigo accepted the handshake. They released it soon after.
"It was great to see you Fuhai," Akasha said, hugging him.
"Oh, these feel amazing!" Fuhai exclaimed. Akasha immediately let go of him and smacked him on the forehead, slamming him into the ground.
"You are such a pervert," she said.
Fuhai cracked a smile. "Guess I am," he said. He turned to his descendants. "Come on, we are leaving." The rest of the Huang Family stood up and followed Fuhai out of Mikogami's office.
Ichigo turned to Akasha. "Are you ready to leave?"
"I am," Akasha said. They both stood up.
"Good seeing you Mikogami," Akasha said.
"Good seeing you too," Mikogami replied. Ichigo and Akasha walked out of Mikogami's office, where Sakuya was waiting outside. She opened the car door for them. They entered the car, and Sakuya entered the driver's side and drove off.
Scene Change: Tokyo
The Toyota Century drove onto the crowded streets of Tokyo as the sun began to set. Ichigo glanced outside, curious about their destination.
"Ichigo," Yhwach called out.
"Yes, Yhwach?" Ichigo replied.
"Do you remember Akasha's Noble Phantasm?"
"Where Akasha can call upon the souls of her devoured victims?" Ichigo replied.
"Yes. By combining Schrift S: The Shifter with Akasha's blood, I should be able to develop a way to replicate that ability," Yhwach explained.
"Very well," Ichigo said.
"Akasha," Ichigo called.
"Yes, Ichigo?"
"I was wondering if I could get a drop of your blood."
"May I ask why?" she asked.
"Yhwach told me he might be able to replicate your Noble Phantasm."
"Oh?" She sounded curious. She raised her finger and bit it, then lowered the finger in front of Ichigo. He immediately summoned the Schrift to collect the drop of blood. The orb turned crimson as Ichigo placed it back into his mindscape.
"How long will it take?" Akasha asked.
"I'll let you know when Yhwach is done," Ichigo replied.
"Ichigo, do you have something kind of fancy to wear?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Sure," Ichigo said, snapping his fingers. His casual clothes shifted into an untucked white t-shirt with black dress pants and shoes.
"Looks good," she said, then snapped her fingers. Her clothes transformed into a low-cut red dress.
"You look beautiful," Ichigo said.
"Thank you," she replied. They soon arrived at a fancy restaurant with the word Evanescence hung above the entrance. Sakuya stopped the car in front of the restaurant and opened the door for them. Ichigo stepped out first, extending his hand to Akasha.
"My lady," he said. Akasha took his hand, and he gently pulled her out of the car. Sakuya closed the door and drove away. Ichigo and Akasha walked inside.
"Good evening," the employee at the front desk greeted. "Name of the reservation?"
"Akasha Bloodriver," she replied.
"Ah, follow me, Bloodriver-sama," the employee said, leading them up a set of stairs. Ichigo looked down and noticed the other customers appeared very wealthy. They soon arrived at a private table with a breathtaking view of the setting sun. Two servers appeared and pulled out their chairs. Ichigo and Akasha sat down, pushing the chairs in, and the servers left them alone. They opened the menu.
"Hm, this is a very fancy place," Ichigo commented.
"It is. It only caters to the very rich and well-connected," Akasha replied. "Most reservations would require months of advance booking."
"How did you book it then?" Ichigo asked.
Akasha smiled. "I know the owner," she said.
Soon, the server returned.
"Good evening, I am Sebastian, your server for the evening," he said. "What can I do for you?"
"I wish for a bottle of Crimson Evanescence," Akasha said.
"Very well," Sebastian replied, turning to Ichigo.
"I'll take a glass of water," Ichigo said.
Sebastian nodded and left to fulfill their order.
"Anything for an appetizer?"
"I'll take Caesar Salad with the Tomato Ranch on the side," Akasha said.
"Good choice. Many vampires like that kind of ranch," Sebastian commented before turning to Ichigo.
"I'll have the same," Ichigo replied.
"Anything for the entree?"
"I'll have a steak, rare on the inside but well done on the outside," Akasha ordered. Sebastian nodded as he wrote it down.
"And you, sir?"
"I'll take the ribs," Ichigo said.
"Very well," Sebastian said, collecting their menus before walking away.
"What is Crimson Evanescence?" Ichigo asked.
"Crimson Evanescence is a special wine that incorporates blood into its production. The recipe is a closely kept secret by the owner," Akasha explained.
"I see…" Ichigo murmured. Sebastian soon returned with a green wine bottle, two glasses, and a cup of ice water. He uncorked the bottle and poured two glasses of wine.
"We should have your appetizers ready in about ten minutes," Sebastian said before leaving. Akasha took one of the glasses and slowly swirled the wine. Ichigo did the same with his glass.
"To a better future," Akasha said.
"To a better future," Ichigo repeated. They gently clinked their glasses and took a sip.
"This isn't bad," Ichigo commented.
"The taste is pretty good," Akasha said. "But the blood mixed in the wine could be better," she added, a hint of criticism in her voice. She finished her glass and corked the bottle.
Sebastian returned with their salads. He noticed the corked wine bottle and raised an eyebrow.
"Was there something wrong with the wine?" he asked.
"Yes," Akasha replied. "The wine was good, but the blood used was a bit bland."
"Very well," Sebastian said, taking the wine bottle away. Ichigo and Akasha dug into their salads.
"Ichigo, what do you think of me?" Akasha asked.
"That's a strange question," Ichigo admitted. "You're kind to everyone, no matter who they are. But when it comes to those under your care, you'll go berserk to protect them."
"That's funny coming from you," Akasha pointed out.
"I know," Ichigo said. "Deep down, I know I can trust you to take care of our family when I'm not around."
"Thank you," Akasha said, smiling.
Sebastian returned, this time empty-handed.
"I spoke with the owner. He will allow you to make your own bottle of Crimson Evanescence with your preferred blood," Sebastian reported. He seemed a bit nervous.
"Very well," Akasha said. "Have the owner come out here."
"I'll inform him," Sebastian said quickly before running off.
"He seems nervous," Ichigo remarked.
"Of course. Many vampires don't want to upset us," Akasha replied.
"Right, because you're one of the most powerful vampires in the world," Ichigo said.
"It also helps that you defeated Issa, the one who helped the owner start his business," Akasha added.
They watched as a young man walked toward them, followed by Sebastian pushing a silver cart. On the cart were various tools needed to make wine. The young man stopped in front of them. He had long gray hair, a part of which was tied in a single braid on the right side of his head. He wore a butler suit. He approached Akasha, knelt, and kissed her knuckle.
"It's been a long time, Bloodriver-sama," he said.
"It has indeed, Winemaker," Akasha replied, smiling.
The man smiled back. "According to Sebastian, you found the Crimson Evanescence a little bland," he said.
"Indeed. I assume the blood you used was from a non-magical, willingly donated source?" Akasha asked.
"Indeed," Winemaker confirmed. "Not many magicals are willing to donate their blood."
"Well," Ichigo said, "I'm willing to donate mine." He turned to Winemaker. "In exchange, you will swear an oath on your life and magic that you will only use my blood to make two bottles of Crimson Evanescence for Akasha. Any leftover blood will be destroyed."
"Very well," Winemaker said. "I, the man known as the Winemaker, swear upon my life and magic that I will use all of Kurosaki-sama's willingly donated blood to make two bottles of Crimson Evanescence for Bloodriver-sama. All other blood will be destroyed."
Ichigo could feel the magic binding the oath.
"I acknowledge the oath," Ichigo said, his magic accepting the bond. He unbuttoned his dress shirt and partially removed it, exposing his right arm to Winemaker.
Winemaker put on a pair of gloves and wheeled the cart to Ichigo's side. He gently placed Ichigo's arm on top of the cart.
"Flex your right arm," Winemaker instructed.
Ichigo flexed his arm, exposing the veins. Winemaker gently tapped the veins, ensuring blood was flowing. He then pulled out a needle, connected to a plastic tube that led to a sealed glass container.
"Here I go," Winemaker said as he carefully inserted the needle into Ichigo's arm. Ichigo let the blood flow freely into the container. Once enough blood had been collected, Winemaker turned a knob on the container to stop the flow and removed the needle. Ichigo's body immediately healed the wound.
Winemaker detached the glass container from the tube and Ichigo destroyed the medical equipment with a swift motion.
Winemaker took a spoon and stirred the blood, taking a deep sniff. "My god," he said, looking at Ichigo. "Your blood is incredibly magically potent."
"Which is why Ichigo demanded the oath," Akasha said with a smile.
"I assume he allowed you to drink his blood?" Winemaker asked.
"Whenever I want," Akasha replied, smirking.
"No wonder," Winemaker said. "His blood is the most delicious blood I've ever smelled."
He pulled out other containers and began to prepare the wine. Ten minutes later, Winemaker finished mixing the wine.
"The downside is that we'll need to wait for the aging process," he said.
"Not exactly," Ichigo said. He raised his hand and activated Schrift C: The Chrónou Árchonta. Suddenly, his mouth moved on its own.
"Stand before Creation. Fall after The End. Chrónou Génesi," Ichigo chanted. The scythe, Chrónou Génesi, appeared in his hand. Winemaker quickly stepped back from Ichigo.
"Weapons are not allowed to be drawn in Evanescence," Sebastian said.
"Don't worry," Ichigo said. "I'm not using it on you." He pointed Chrónou Génesi at the wine container. "How long does it need to age?" Ichigo asked.
"Three weeks," Winemaker answered. Ichigo activated his time manipulation powers. The container glowed golden, and they watched as the clock hands with Greek numbers moved at an accelerated pace, while the Roman numeral hands moved at their normal speed. After 21 seconds, the glow faded.
"Check it," Ichigo said. Winemaker approached the container and opened it.
"It aged," he said.
"Continue the winemaking process," Ichigo instructed. Winemaker nodded and moved the concoction to another container.
"We need to age it for a year," he said. Ichigo pointed Chrónou Génesi at the wine container again and activated his powers. The container glowed golden once more, and the Greek clock hands moved faster than before. After 12 seconds, the glow faded.
"Check it," Ichigo said again. Winemaker opened the container and took a small ladle to scoop a sample. He brought it to his lips and took a sip.
"SO GOOD!" he moaned.
"Finish the process," Ichigo said, snapping Winemaker out of his foodgasm.
"Right," Winemaker said. He quickly filtered the concoction and poured it into two unmarked wine bottles.
"Cork one of them. We'll drink the other," Akasha said.
"Very well," Winemaker said, corking one bottle and handing both to Akasha. Sebastian replaced their empty glasses with fresh ones. Ichigo snapped his fingers, instantly destroying all the used equipment.
Two servers entered with their entrees, and Winemaker and Sebastian stepped aside as the servers placed the plates on their table.
"Enjoy," Sebastian said as they left. Ichigo deactivated Schrift C: The Chrónou Árchonta and sent Chrónou Génesi back to his mindscape. Akasha took the newly uncorked bottle of Crimson Evanescence and poured two glasses. She handed one to Ichigo.
"Thank you," Ichigo said. They both took a sip.
"Hm… it tastes like normal wine," Ichigo thought. He heard a quiet moan from Akasha.
"I guess it's good?" Ichigo asked.
"This is the best bottle of wine I've ever tasted," Akasha admitted.
"I see… I might consider making you one," Ichigo said. Akasha quickly turned her head toward him.
"PLEASE!" she begged, her eyes wide and pleading.
"We'll see," Ichigo replied with a smile.
"I will hold you to that," she said, pouring herself another glass. They began eating their entrees.
"How's your steak?" Ichigo asked.
"It's good. They managed to cook the outside well done while keeping it rare on the inside," Akasha commented.
"I see… I'll keep a note of that," Ichigo said.
"What about your ribs?"
"It's good," Ichigo replied. Soon, their entrees were finished. Akasha had drunk about half of the bottle. Ichigo noticed her cheeks were flushed more than usual. Sebastian and a server walked over to their table, collecting the empty plates.
"Will we be having dessert?" Sebastian asked.
"No, we will not," Akasha replied. "I already have mine," she said, staring at Ichigo. He shrugged his shoulders.
"Very well," Sebastian said. "Feel free to leave when you're ready." With that, he walked away. Akasha stood, grabbed Ichigo's hand, and pulled him to his feet. She led him out of the restaurant.
"Why didn't we have to pay?" Ichigo asked.
"Nope. I'm a VVIP," Akasha said with a grin. Ichigo shrugged and followed her.
Sakuya was waiting by the car, opening the doors for them. Akasha was the first to climb in, stumbling a bit before falling onto the seat cushion.
"Are you okay?" Ichigo asked, sitting beside her. Akasha grabbed the opened bottle of Crimson Evanescence and took a few gulps. She let out a deep breath, dropping the empty bottle beside her before lunging at Ichigo and kissing him.
Crimson Evanescence was the only thing Ichigo could taste as she kissed him.
"She's very drunk," Ichigo thought. Akasha pulled away, staring at him, her face bright red.
"Looks like I need my dessert," she said, ripping Ichigo's dress shirt off and lunging at him again.
"At least I'm not drunk this time," Ichigo thought, as Akasha began to bite into his neck, sucking hard as she drank his blood. "This is going to be a long night," Ichigo thought.
Author's notes:
According to tradition, the King would sit on the left throne while the Queen Consort would sit on the right throne, based on the perspective of the people. This is flipped if the Queen is the ruler, like Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen sits on the left throne while the King Consort would sit on the right throne, once again based on the perspective of the people.
This exhibit was at Yale Peabody Museum from April 6, 2019 – June 30, 2020. I'm not going to spend time trying to see if there was a Babylonia Exhibit in 2007.
This is the Throne Room where King Gilgamesh sat during the Babylonia Singularity.