Chapter 5 Training Day for Disaster
In this world of souls, one realm stood as a truly desolate place. The world where hollows brew and glutton themselves. A world where the cruel and unjust ran rampant. This world was always in eternal night. They were illuminated by a single crescent moon. A place where the endless mile of white dunes could make you feel so isolated. Under all this unforgiving landscape lies a black forest home to the most vicious and cruel hallows.
The air is thick with constant spiritual energy.
This was Hueco Mundo, the world of the hollows. While the calm winds blew so gently, enough to pick up the lonely grains of sand and toss them around.
Then a strange green portal opened itself in the world. A portal to the ghost zone, where the chaotic, howling ghosts and spirits boomed across the land.
A strange being pulled himself through the green void, grabbing the side of the vortex, as if they were solid objects, and slowly pulled himself out of the portal, with some form of grace yet anger behind his actions. This strange creature finally stood to gaze at this new land.
He was a very tall ghost, clearly over seven feet tall, his body looked like the night sky, dark black with shining dots like stars. It was almost as if someone had ripped a piece of space and given it form. His head is an oval shape with a point at the bottom, crowned with two curved purple goat-like horns on each side of his head. He has huge red eyes, and he has a slightly curved hairline scar along the side of his face, going through his right eye. He also has a small goatee. He does not seem to have any visible humanoid legs but instead has many tentacles, similar to an octopus or shadows that would dance around light.
This ghost had an amazed face as he glanced around himself. This strange being ventured forward to this new land. He hovered over the sand not even making a trail, an almost true empyreal entity.
A small lizard Hollow crawled out of the sand. The ghost smiled and gently held the creature in his night hand. The Hollow would have barked or hissed at any other but it didn't. The strange Spector narrowed his red eyes with a look of study. A strange blue mist appeared from his palm. The hollow in his hand only to one small sniff and fell into a deep unconscious slumber.
He smiled, setting the creature back on the ground and inhaling deeply, getting a start on his new day. He raised his arm into the sky thanking the great forces above for this blessing.
"Finally the gates are opened once again, and I Nocturne shall begin my kingdom here," Nocturne maliciously smiled as he couldn't wait to sink his claws into this strange world.
"For this world shall fall into a great slumber and I will be all-powerful!" Nocturne said as flew up to the sky looking at the world below. When one door is unlocked many paths keep open for others to follow.
Opening theme song!
Chorus~
He's Phantom.
Keigo Phantom! Keigo Phantom! Keigo Phantom!
Rap~
YO! Keigo was just average fifteen when suddenly discovered a very strange machine!
It was designed to view, a world unseen!
Chorus~
He gonna catch 'em all 'cause he's Keigo Phantom!
Rap~
One day he's bored and finds a lab, but Keigo has to take a look inside of it. There was a great big flash, everything just changed, His molecules got all rearranged~!
Chorus~
Phantom! Phantom!
Rap~
When he first woke up, he realized, He had snow-white hair and glowing green eyes, He could walk through walls, disappear, and fly, He was much more unique than the other guys!
And it was then that Keigo knew what had to do, he had to stop all the ghosts that were coming through, He's here to fight for me and you!
Chorus ~
He gonna, catch him all because he's Keigo Phantom!
He gonna, catch him all because he's Keigo Phantom!
He gonna, catch him all because he's Keigo Phantom!
He gonna, catch him all because he's Keigo Phantom!
Chapter Two: Playing too hard
The time was early morning as the sun was slowly rising. Keigo last night made sure he had a good night's rest. It was yesterday that Keigo was taken in by Yankii and right now to begin his true training of being a ghost. He was hanging around a gas station that wasn't open yet. By Keigo's side was a large brown bag full of bottles of beer, rum, imported whisky, wine, and vodka. Keigo might have gone overboard with the stealing. The young teen had stolen and looted many alcohol stores and markets. The first time he entered a building he ran into the wall nearly putting a hole through it.
Keigo had understood that his ghost form was extremely strong. So he figured it was time to learn the most important thing about superpowers which was control. Unfortunately half of the walls he kept trying to phase through ended up smashing his face into them.
At the end of the day, Keigo sat in an alleyway holding his face in anguish. His back was against the wall mentally and physically. Keigo was trying to think about how he could beat Striker.
Keigo looked at his hand and pointed it at the wall. He pushed his palm out hoping to do anything but nothing happened. The young teen sighed in defeat and got up from his spot.
"I should hit up one more store before I go, man why am I even stealing I can just buy this," Keigo said then he picked up one of the bottles and read the price tag on it.
"Oh, maybe it's a good thing I'm stealing these," Keigo thought. He glanced at the bag in his hand. Keigo glared at the bag and could see it was still on the light side. Keigo scratched his head in a thinking manner.
"Come on think Keigo, there 's gotta be one more place around here," Keigo said to himself. He thought deeply, then a quick memory popped up in his mind. It was a while back but he remembered his friend mentioning a store he had to go visit. Keigo knew of the place but didn't think it was open at all.
It was called Urahara Shop, which was the best Keigo could recall. He knew of its location, sometimes Keigo would tail Ichigo for the fun of it, the one time he followed him to the strange convenience store. Keigo thought Ichigo was acting strange at that time and decided to follow him.
Keigo took a sigh and began to walk the street going to that store. He exited out of his ghost form and held his gaze down. It was quite obvious I was capable of seeing spirits with chains on their chest. Keigo didn't want to talk to them, because of two reasons. One was because he found it so strange to see a soul who wandered and two he didn't know what to say to them to be honest you found the situation to be a bit awkward. What was he going to do? Ask them about their day. Keigo took a deep breath and walked through the busier streets. He noticed that not that many souls were there possibly because it was too crowded or bad memories could be there for Souls. Keigo had wondered who those strange people were. The ones who carried the swords that belonged in a museum.
Keigo's mind thought back to that horrible day when Striker injured that man. Keigo held his head down and hood up.
"I'm gonna fix this no matter what," Keigo said as he began to get lost in his thoughts. While aimlessly walking down the street. He bumped into somebody completely by accident. Keigo quickly looked at the person and bowed his head.
"Oh, I'm so sorry I wasn't looking where I was going," Keigo blurted out.
"It's all good my boy, but I do find it strange we met again," Vlad said, making Keigo look up at the man.
"Vlad Masters! What are you doing here!" Keigo asked in shock. Vlad held a calm smile and gestured with his right hand to the busy city.
"Just wanted to see the sites and some friendly faces," Vlad said with a sly smile. Vlad noticed the bag in Keigo's hand and raised a brow hearing the bottles clang against each other.
"Tell me, why are we in a hurry?" Vlad asked. Keigo took a nervous gulp and shyly rubbed the back of his head.
"Well it's nothing, I just needed to head for a specific convenience store that only sells a certain type of candy bar and I would like to get there before they close, Eheh," Keigo said in an awkward tone. Vlad smiled and hovered his hand to Keigo.
"Well then please let me offer you a ride there, it's the least I can do for my new friend. Besides, it would be good for me to know all the local spots," Vlad said. Keigo was going to say no but he reluctantly thought about the offer. that it wouldn't hurt to take a ride with Vlad and not mention he would be avoiding any souls to talk to.
"Ah sure thank you," Keigo said.
"No problem my boy," Vlad said. Quickly realizing that Vlad kept calling him that, the young team guessed that Americans were very personal but it did sound a bit odd coming from Vlad.
Vlad whistled and waved down the road, and then in a quick timely manner, a limo drove toward them. Gently coming to a stop, by the two. Vlad opened the door for Keigo.
Keigo got into the limo along with his bag and could see that inside the limo could only be described as a five-star hotel room. It was so luxurious with champagne bottles on ice, a mini fridge, and a flat-screen TV.
"Wow, that's all expensive!" Keigo said. Vlad entered the car and tapped on the driver's window, which was open slightly for the passengers to make requests to the driver. Before Vlad could speak he glanced at Keigo.
"Oh, what is the name of the shop?" Vlad asked.
"Urahara Shop please," Keigo said. Vlad nodded and tapped on the window.
"You heard the boy, let's go," Vlad said with that humble command. The limo began to move. Keigo didn't know what to think about his situation, but it all started with the ghost portal he had so many questions, and luckily for him, he sat across from a man who possibly had the answers.
"So how is your mansion?" Keigo asked, then he fidgeted it with his fingers, not trying to dance around the subject, but needed to be straightforward. "And what about the lab?"
Vlad relaxed and rested his arms on top of the seats.
"Well Keigo, my mansion plans are moving greatly, Possibly have my new house set up in about a week, and as for the lab, it's still functioning. I've gone through and fixed many of the problems," Vlad said looking out the window. Keigo took a nervous gulp. He took a deep breath and slowly looked at Keigo.
"We even fixed that main issue, with that theoretical portal, we didn't put the button inside the damn thing," Vlad said with an almost sarcastic tone of voice, clearly not directed towards the young teen in the car more so the creator of said ghost portal.
"Yeah, not the very brightest idea. However, I do have to ask what would happen if someone were to be in there, and it would activate, I'm just asking because you worked with the guy who made it right?" Keigo asked with a timid voice. Keigo could see the interest in Vlad's master's eyes as if he were waiting for the question to be asked.
"Well Jack wasn't one for double-checking his work, but I can speak firsthand what it's like when that green abyss opens in front of you," Vlad said remembering the horrid memory. Keigo was surprised. That means Vlad did see the ghost zone. The place that Yankii was talking about.
"What happened to you?" Keigo asked.
"It was horrible. The accident left me with a horrible disease, known as ecto acne. I was so horribly disfigured from the accident. I couldn't finish my college years in person, I had surgeries and physical treatment for years," Vlad said, shaking at the painful memories. Keigo raised an eyebrow at Vlad seeing the man had no scars on his face.
"You look okay to me," Keigo said. Vlad immediately snorted at the quip.
"That's nothing, money can't fix my boy," Vlad said. "But I do wonder why you're asking, if you did have an accident in that laboratory did you? If so I could help,"
The Offer should've been relieving and calming to the young man yet he felt a bit nervous. Every time he looked into that man's eyes, he swore he could see something more frightening. Keigo nervously gulped and scratched the back of his head, trying to look like he had done nothing wrong.
"Oh it's nothing, it's just that place did give me the creeps when I went in there," Keigo said with an awkward laugh. "But with all that studying of ghosts and stuff he didn't happen to make anything to capture ghosts did he?"
"Keigo there are hundreds of strange devices in that laboratory, all of them are meant for handling the supernatural, but it would be far too dangerous to let them into the public's hands," Vlad said. Keigo thought he had to stop by that place soon. Even though he didn't like it, he might need to steal some of that stuff. Keigo let out a laugh and rubbed his hands.
"Man, I'm sorry to ask you these personal questions it's just after going in there I just couldn't help but think you know," Keigo said.
"Well don't be afraid to ask me anything, we are friendly neighbors, aren't we?" Vlad said. Keigo felt a bit uneasy having to ask this man for anything. Before any more could be explored.
The car stopped. Vlad never took his eyes off Keigo and put on his relaxed smile.
"We're here," Vlad said. Keigo bowed his head and opened the door, saying that down the alleyway leading to the small, quaint shop. He stepped out of the car and heard the window being rolled down. Keigo turned around to see Vlad in the bag Keigo left in the car. Vlad began to open the bag.
"Wait, don't open that!" Keigo said. Vlad had already opened the bag seeing all the bottles of alcohol, along with an assortment of chips and snacks. Keigo thought he was busted but to his surprise, Vlad continued to offer the back like he had seen nothing.
"Here you go young man," Vlad said innocently.
"You're not gonna bust me are you?" Keigo asked in a worried manner. Vlad smirked and tilted his head so slightly.
"Well, young Keigo I'm no stranger to mischief, however, if you find yourself in trouble, don't mind giving me a call for help," Vlad said offering between his fingers, a small white card. The young team, of course, took the card from his hand seeing that it had his company number and personal on it as well.
"Well Keigo until the next time we meet," Vlad said as the window rolled up. The Limo slowly drove away from Keigo. However one question popped into his mind, why didn't Vlad come with him? The whole reason Keigo thought Vlad was out and about was to look at all the stores. Keigo was shaken off by those who thought they weren't going to help him get any stronger.
"Alright time to sneak around," Keigo said as he quickly snuck into an alleyway making sure no one could see him.
"I'm going ghost," He whispered, his body engulfed in the two rings of light. Keigo poked his head around the corner. Keigo could see three people in the dirt courtyard. A large man with glasses was sweeping the stone path while two kids were carrying boxes.
One is a small boy with red hair. He wears a white t-shirt with the Urahara Shop logo printed on the front and blue three-quarter-length trousers, the bottoms of which are noticeably turned up. Seventeen months after Aizen's defeat, his hair is now slicked back and he wears a sleeveless blue shirt, edged with white and grey pants that are no longer turned up. He has also grown a considerable amount and looks a lot older than before.
The other is a young-looking girl with a perpetual blush on her cheeks who wears a white t-shirt with the Urahara Shop logo in pink print and a knee-length, pink skirt with white dots. She has round purple eyes and long, black hair with a purple tint. It is parted down the middle, with two strands of her bangs in the middle of her face, opposing each other. The rest of her hair is in pigtails with pink ties.
Keigo took a deep breath and relaxed. His entire state of being was intangible. Completely invisible to the naked eye now, he bravely walked forward, leaving the bag in a hidden spot. He walked without paying any mind to the people he walked by. Besides, they were mostly quiet. Nothing he couldn't eavesdrop on. He was at the front of the sliding door, he stepped forward and you would easily phase through any solid object. Keigo passed through the door and began to look at all the stock that was on display.
Keigo couldn't help but notice the multitude of candy and only that. Keigo reached out to grab one of the bags of treats. His fingers phased through the object with ease. Keigo huffed In frustration.
"Man, I wish I could make some of my parts solid," Keigo thought. He glared at his hand in a thinking manner. "Wait a minute, can I?"
Keigo focused only on his hand for it to materialize, and then without warning, It happened. His hand was there but the rest of his body was still clear like water. Keigo let out an excited laugh. As he picked up the bag of sweet treats. Keigo glanced at the room seeing it was empty.
The shop looked to be closed. Keigo kept walking around looking for the drinks. Yet after a couple of minutes, he had found them. It was a small selection but it was enough. Keigo made himself appear, he quickly understood that he could make other things intangible, it just took a lot of practice and a lot of broken bottles to perfect.
"Alright time to finish this," Keigo said. Then one of the sliding doors opened at a fast pace. Keigo spun around seeing a familiar, green-haired girl.
Standing in the doorway to another room was Mashiro, her face was full of shock, and her eyes shaking looking at the man who she thought mortally wounded her captain. Keigo recognized her and gulped nervously.
"Hey, you shop here often," Keigo said with an awkward smile.
A couple of minutes ago…
Mashiro sat in one of the guest rooms in Urahara Shop, she sat by a Kensei who was still in a deep coma for his recovery. She sat by his side holding her head down.
Mashiro hadn't left Kensei's side for a while, the lieutenant wouldn't dare move away from her captain's side. They had both been on such a rough road of unfortunate events. Mashiro was welcome to stay here thanks to Kisuke and his infinite hospitality.
The other vizards were off looking for names, people named Keigo. Mashiro thought it was a dead end but she knew why she was ultimately here not to grieve, but to stay put so she wouldn't go off and hurt anybody.
Mashiro gripped her chest in anger. Vizards were soul reapers that tried to gain hollow power. that art of transformation and science was forbidden in the social society. Anyone who dared take part in it, unintentionally, or not, would be executed. Mashiro felt that inner hollow feed of her anger. Mashiro took a deep breath and tried to relax. Her sad gaze wandered to Kensei. Her eyes began to be slightly damped. Mashiro took Kensei's hand into her own.
"I'm so sorry Captain," Mashiro cried. Her tears are now flowing freely. "I should have gotten there faster but I was goofing around like an idiot,"
Mashiro held the head tighter of her dear comrade. She held the hand close as her tears dripped to the floor. She brought her head to the floor and cried more. She wanted to find the person who did this to him, the one who put Kensei so close to death's door.
"I'll find who did this to you and then you'll be better right?" Mashiro asked the unconscious Kensei. Mashiro had so much on her shoulder pushing her down but she would always smile through it. Mashiro looked at the ceiling, wanting to go back to the solar society, wanting to have her life back. A life that was stolen by Aizen.
After a couple of moments to let out her sadness. Mashiro pulled herself off the ground and took some claiming breaths, making sure she wouldn't lose any control. She quietly sat on the ground, holding her Zanpakuto on her legs.
Her eyes were dead and lifeless. Like a void with no emotion. She sat there silently waiting for anything.
It was then the slice was broken by the sound of laughter. Mashiro jumped at the sudden noise because it didn't sound like a familiar voice to her. Mashiro knew the shop was closed during these hours. So who was it?
Kisuke was in his lab below the building and the only way to get there was through this room. Mashiro stood up and looked at the door ahead. That door that leads to the shop front. She didn't feel any spiritual pressure at all, which was quite strange. She put her ear to the thin wall to hear the other side.
"Alright time to finish this,"
Mashiro recognized that tone of voice and without warning, slammed open the door. Her eyes widened seeing that hunting, the familiar silhouette standing by all the booze. The moment it turned around, she recognized those green glowing eyes.
"Hey, you shop here often," Keigo said with an awkward smile.
Now we return to the present…
Keigo didn't know what to say to her. A wave of guilt had rushed over him. This is one of the people who is mourning over that man who fought Striker. The young teen was having an intense awkward moment. Mashiro had other thoughts when she heard Keigo's words. She thought this monster was here to finish the job.
She held her head down, making her eyes hide in the shadows. Keigo could see how Mashiro was acting a bit creepy.
"Are you good because I could come back at another- GWAK!" Keigo didn't have enough time to react as he found a fist jabbing into his stomach. Keigo coughed a large amount of clear vomit. Then without warning Keigo was flung so hard into a wall, that he crashed through it. The debris dust in pieces of drywall all blurred vision as he felt his back hit the dirt ground outside.
Keigo lay there holding his stomach and pain, for that was the first time you'd been truly laid out. Keigo forced himself to look down at the hole he came from. Only to see Mashiro slowly walking out. Her eyes locked onto Keigo.
"You're gonna die," Mashiro said. She leaps forty feet into the air. Keigo realized what was happening as she was being an axe kick right towards his head. Keigo quickly rolled out of the way as Mashiro came down like lightning.
Keigo got up from the ground and could see a giant crater only a few feet away from him. Mashiro stepped out of a giant hole in the ground and leaped at Keigo. This time with more experience of what to expect. turned this whole body intangible as the kick completely went through him.
Keigo felt the kick pass through him but could see the hate in her eyes that made Keigo feel a chill down his spine. It was that uncontrollable fear that made Keigo stay in his intangible form. Yet those words she said made Keigo ashamed of what he did. When he opened Pandora's box.
Mashiro couldn't see that person anymore and felt she had failed again. That was the problem with this thing: it had the instant advantage of stealth. She kept hitting the air around her hoping to at least make contact, yet it was in vain.
Keigo slowly backed away, seeing Mashiro randomly striking the air. Keigo watched as she randomly attacked everything. Mashiro kept hitting, kicking, and striking anything she could. Soon that rage turned into a desperate strike.
"Where are you!" She cried. Then kicked the air hitting nothing. Mashiro began to become more frantic, feeling a cold breeze pass by her neck mistaking it for him. She punched the empty air again.
"Come back and fight me!" Mashiro said. She felt an urge to panic and take more of her mind. She knew nothing
"Why does she look so sad? I know her friend was injured, but I know I have some responsibility," Keigo thought. The young teen knew why she was like this. Keigo looked behind, seeing he could easily leave. Go back to Yankii and get started on his training. It could be so easy just for Keigo to walk away like nothing happened.
Mashiro stood motionless, unsure of what to do. With all in her mind, she couldn't do anything. She was brought to her knees and quilty gave up. Holding her head as her tears.
"Mashiro what's wrong!" Tessai yelled as he and the other two small children approached her. Mashiro knew their names were Jinta and Ururu. Mashiro looked at them unsure of what to say. Was this person truly even here? Was this all a part of her mind? Was she broken?
Mashiro didn't want to answer, afraid to see expressions, but the three might not even believe her story. She stuttered to say anything. The two kids looked at Mashiro with concern.
"I saw him, I-I-I thought it was him," Mashiro said, her voice cracking into a cry. Tessai sighed, he rubbed the bridge of his nose, pushing up his glasses while doing so. He offers a hand to her to get up.
"I'm sorry about what happened to your friend," Keigo's voice said. startling the three as they couldn't see where the voice originated from. Tessai held his hands up ready to let out a powerful spell. Jinta pulled out a giant black bag, while Ururu got into a fighting pose still holding a blank face.
"If you are sorry, how about showing yourself, creep," Jinta yelled. Mashiro was ready to pull her Hollow mask. To defend against a possible attack coming from this green stranger.
"Okay jeez, look I'm sorry about your friend, but I am a little responsible for letting the guy who did that to him," Keigo said in a somber voice. Tessai raised an eyebrow at the information. Mashiro had a blank expression, she was unsure whether to believe in this stranger or not.
"Can I show myself? and you won't attack me because that girl with the green hair knocked me through a building wall," Keigo said. Who couldn't believe he was doing this, but he had to face the music. Take some form of responsibility. Tessai glanced at Mashiro hoping that she would listen. Mashiro was reluctant but calmly nodded at the agreement offered. Tessai slowly lowered his hands and adjusted his glasses.
"Alright, we agree to the terms, now show yourself," Tessai said. In his honest thoughts, the man thought he was taking a major risk, but in these strange times, they had to see what this being was. Jinta lowered his bat but still had a fierce grin.
Keigo gave a nervous gulp and let his body slowly appear in front of the group. He was a couple of feet away just in case they tried to do something. Then he was fully materialized. He slowly took off his hood and looked at them.
Mashiro was a bit surprised, his hood did hide a lot. But she wasn't expecting to see snow-white hair, it was glowing, and his strange, glowing green eyes almost made him look angelic. Tessai had seen many strange things during this time working for the Soul Society, but this had to be the cherry on top of it.
The half teen half ghost, took a nervous gulp of air and waved at them awkwardly.
"Hi I'm Keigo, I think there was a bit of a misunderstanding," Keigo said in a nervous voice. Mashiro couldn't help but see an innocent person. She had seen hundreds of criminals all over their innocent faces doing horrendous things. But when she looked at Keigo she couldn't see a killer, all she saw was a nervous boy. Then in an instant, she pouted and pointed at the young half-ghost.
"You big jerk, you're no bad guy, you're just a lame kid!" Mashiro said. Keigo felt his brow twitched in annoyance but still kept his cool.
"Okay um alright, look now that I'm here I can tell you what happened, the real story," Keigo said. Mashiro counties to point and start to last at Keigo.
"Man, I can't believe I thought this toothpick was even scary. You're just a big joke. You are not even tough-looking at all. I bet if I just sneezed the wrong way, you would fall over!" Mashiro called out. Making Keigo's brow twitch some more in anger.
"Mashiro, please calm yourself," Tessai said in a strict voice. He cleared his throat and looked back at Keigo. "Apologies she's been through a lot, please continue,"
"Yeah and tell us what you are!" Jinta said.
Keigo let out a defeated sigh because he had experience with this treatment mostly from his sister.
"It's fine happens more to me than I want to admit, well I don't think you guys would believe me, but here it comes," Keigo said as cleared his voice wanting to make sure they heard what he said.
"Okay Hi I'm a ghost," Keigo said. The young teen waited for the audible gasps, but nothing came from the four as they all had a deadpan expression.
Their reaction stumped Keigo and confused about why they reacted that way. Jinta pointed at Keigo with a furious finger.
"What kinda garbage is that, most of the people here are spirits, you idiot!" Jinta said. However, before he could continue speaking, he was silenced by a karate chop by Tessai.
"What the heck was that for Tessai," Jinta yelled. Tessai adjusted his classes again, making Keigo wonder if they even fit his head. Mashiro didn't know what to say but she felt a weird sense of truth. Yes, they were spirit soul reapers, but this person who was standing in front of them was entirely different. Tessai thought the same as well. With what they say, Keigo was more like what mortal humans thought ghosts were, ethereal beings that walk the Earth. Most of them thought it was fantasy, but to see it right here was unnerving.
"My what an interesting person you are,"
Keigo turned to his right to see that strange man in the hat walking towards him. Tessai's eyes widened, seeing Kisuke walking with his cane. He had stopped by the group and tipped his hat, kindly to the youth. Kisuke glanced at Mashiro and then at the massive hole in the shop.
"You're paying for that," Kisuke said to Mashiro who froze guiltily.
"Oh man, thanks a lot Keigo you're such a meanie," Mashiro pouted. Making Keigo backpedal a step. Then with a ticked-off expression, Keigo furiously pointed at Mashiro.
"You're the one who punched me through the wall, you crybaby! it's not my fault you're freakishly strong!" Keigo yelled at Mashiro who crossed her arms and looked away from him.
"Don't you just brush me off! You're the one who has some vendetta against me!" Keigo shouted.
Mashiro sassily looked back at him and huffed her chest. "Well I thought you were scarier, but you're just a big baby,"
Keigo was about to rant at her when Kisuke got in between them, hiding his face with a white fan.
"Now please let's be kind to our guests. He took the time out of his day to come visit us and explain the situation. That's very thoughtful of him," Kisuke said with a laid-back manner. Mashiro huffed and couldn't look at Keigo because she was more embarrassed that she was ever afraid of this guy.
"Whatever," She said. Keigo had a frustrated face but quickly let it go when Kisuke stepped forward, he glared at Kegio with his studying gaze.
"So you're a ghost but before we go any further on that subject, would you please kindly explain why one of our allies is sitting in bed with a hole in his stomach," Kisuke asked. He even tried to flare some of his spiritual pressure as intimidation but it had little to no effect. Kisuke had to see it to believe it, but it looked like spiritual energy didn't affect him whatsoever.
Keigo notices it as well but isn't scared at all it kind of trickled.
"Okay well, I didn't hurt your friend, you see the ghost who did that to your friend goes by the name Striker, he wanted to destroy the town, but that guy stopped him and I watched from afar, like a coward. I opened the door to this world and Striker came through it," Keigo said. Kisuke was slightly taken aback by the young teen's action. It clearly showed he had remorse, but could've done much more. Kisuke thought Keigo was putting too much pressure on himself.
Mashiro, on the other hand, understood why Keigo acted so scared. He had a lot of burden on himself. Not to mention it sounded like he was going through a lot right now.
"And why did you open this door?" Kisuke asked. Keigo turned away, looking at the floor in shame.
"I was being a dork trying to make a cool story this summer, so my friends thought I was cool. I went into this abandoned building and sort of found this weird lab down there, it belonged to a family called the Fenton if you ever heard of them," Keigo said. Kisuke had heard of the family before but it was only a passing moment, nothing that sparked any interest until now. Keigo couldn't believe he was spilling his guts already, but he knew he was never really good, holding the truth for very long. Keigo knew he was always honest. Never really a good liar, but it made him special.
"Before I was like this, I was human. You see I was messing around in this lab, and I sort of electrocuted myself. Everything that went dark in my dreams was strange." Keigo said. He paused, remembering that dream he hadn't told anyone about yet, but it was so engraved in his mind and here he was spilling his guts. It would be good if he got it off his chest. Keigo uncomfortably scratches the back of his head. Kisuke however wanted to know.
"When I was knocked out, I saw this weird thing, trapped in this big crystal held by these chains, God, the guy had his limbs chopped off and he kept telling me something," Keigo then laughed at what he said thinking how crazy he sounded. Tessai and Mashiro thought it was strange to get this information but they could tell the kid was just getting things off his chest. Kisuke had a silent stoic gaze that was locked onto the teen. He took a step forward as his hat shadowed over his eyes.
"There's no denying it he saw it,"
"Please tell me what did it say?" Kisuke asked in a very demanding manner. Keigo could see how serious Kisuke was and slowly took the moment very seriously.
"It said, don't leave my sight child, the world of Ao is to not be fooled with, Don't run from the cycle, it was the way I made life, you opened the door," Keigo said word by word feeling uneasy about the dream. Keigo seriously gazed at Kisuke.
"You open the door, that cannot be shut you fool, and you let the monsters out, when I said it out loud it's kind of silly," Keigo said with an awkward laugh. Kisuke slowly brought his head up, and reluctantly let out a chuckle. Though he still had that serious look on his face. There was a moment of silence and Keigo wanted to leave.
"Hey, thanks for listening to me. Glad you can see my side of the story but I got to go," Keigo said, trying to leave.
"Yeah funny, we can't let someone like you run around unsupervised, it would be better if you stayed here," Kisuke said with a profound voice.
"But I told you guys the truth. Come on, I made a mistake but I'm gonna fix it. I'm gonna beat that guy and make sure the town is safe!" Keigo said. Kisuke took a long sigh and shook his head.
"I understand you want to save people but their rules that you clearly don't understand, this isn't your duty to save these people and you should remember that, or else you'll get hurt or worse," Kisuke said as he fidgeted with his hat. "not to mention you're fresh off the boat when it comes to this kind of stuff, so relax kid and stay here,"
Keigo stopped and was about to object when suddenly, he felt a ghostly chill exit his mouth. His ghost sense warned him someone was there.
"I say that he already explained his situation to you guys just let him go," Yankii said as he slowly appeared. Kisuke and the others went into defensive positions, as their hands hovered over their weapons. Keigo was shocked to see that Yankii was here, but why?
"And who do we have here, if I might ask?" Kisuke inquired about this new stranger. Mashiro could see the tired eyes of a killer. She could have struck now, but she didn't wanna get in Kisuke's way.
"People call me lots of things, but you can call me Yankii and I couldn't help but overhear you're not going to let my friend here go," Yankii said walking closer to Kisuke. Until he stopped face-to-face with the man.
"We can talk like gentlemen, or we can talk with our blades," Yankii said. Kisuke smirked at Yankii seeing the serious glare he was getting.
"Who me a fighter? I'm just a humble, handsome shopkeeper who sells candy for a reasonable price," Kisuke said in a joking manner. Yet Yankii could see through the façade so clearly.
"You don't fool me for a moment. I should warn you when I draw this blade it doesn't go back in scabbard until it's tasted blood," Yankii said. The edge into Kisuke's left ear.
"And that sword that's in your cane is speaking very loudly to me and as much as I want to fight it, let's do the smart thing and both walk away from here," Yankii said, taking a step back. Kisuke didn't know what to do. or how to capture these two strange beings. Yet his gut feeling told him to let them go, hoping that they would stay out of trouble. Not to mention he needed more time to study and now he had to investigate the Fenton lab. But yet the possible destruction these two could cause could upset the balance of souls.
"You two should be warned. If you keep acting recklessly like this we're bound to take action and I'll have to take their side," Kisuke said. "Not to mention this kid just casually saw the soul king. I can't let him go that easy."
"Here let me show you a taste of what you're gonna fight If you make things hard for us," Yankii said as he took a space back looking at the soul reapers. Keigo felt a familiar fear lurk within him.
"Is Yankii going to do his scary face," Keigo thought. As childish as the words were, he still remembered that face and it oppressing feeling of being subjugated to it. Kisuke was expecting some sort of attack, but Yankii didn't even move an inch.
"Remember I did warn you," Yankii said.
Kisuke could see Yankii's face start to shake into a blur violently. Kisuke was ready to swamp out with his Gigi then that face formed a sharp scary maw, with green crooked eyes. Kisuke felt an immense emotional push on his willpower to stay conscious. Kisuke however still stood his ground and glared at Yankii. Kisuke's intelligent mind could only say this was a battle of will alone. A distorted voice echoed around Kisuke, sounding like high-pitched static, yet clear enough to understand the message.
"Get lost,"
Then for only a short amount of time, that feeling stopped and Kisuke was still standing. He held up his cane and let out a small laugh.
"I guess that's only a taste and I'm more than willing to take a bite out of you," Kisuke said. Then he heard four thuds behind him. Kisuke turned around to see Tessai and Mashiro both on their knees trying to catch their breaths. Jinta and Ururu were both sprawled out on the ground as they fell into unconsciousness. Kisuke was taken aback seeing that almost the entire group of experienced fighters were brought down by a single menacing look.
Kisuke then felt something was wrong with himself. He quickly glanced at his hand that was holding his cane. The same hand that fought against so many battles against criminals and hollows, was shaking.
It was shaking so badly that he found it difficult to hold his weapon. Kisuke was lost for breath because he felt a feeling rise in him.
Fear.
It was his fear of this unknown opponent that made his steel nerves crumble. Kisuke didn't know what to do, what could he do? Yankii looked at Kisuke with a stoic gaze. Not trying to disrespect or gloat in any manner toward them.
"I'm guessing someone like you has seen a lot of bad stuff in the world. That's why you're still standing, that's understandable. It is always good to have a reminder here and there," Yankii spun around and began to walk away. Keigo's jaw dropped at the strange people and didn't move an inch. Yankii glanced over his shoulder right at Kisuke.
"Come on kid, let's bounce," Yankii called out to Keigo who immediately followed him. Before they could disappear, Keko remembered the bag full of drinks and snacks. He ran over and picked up the big burlap sack. He then glanced at Kisuke who still watched them. Keigp felt a little bad that Yankii had easily intimidated them.
"So hey sorry about that, I didn't want any trouble, I just wanted to steal your guy's drinks, oh uh, let's just pretend we didn't hear that OK," Keigo said making the situation way more awkward. Kisuke had a puzzled face at Keigo thinking that these events that transpired were over a couple of drinks.
"Also don't worry about that Striker guy because I'm gonna be the one who knocks him out," Keigo said. Then ran toward Yankii to catch up to his mentor. leaving Kisuke with only one thought.
"Things are going to get more interesting," Kisuke said out loud. Meanwhile, Mashiro was staring at the ground with complete fear. Feeling completely helpless and took deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself down.
"What was that? How can you fight against something like that?" She said in a worried manner, even the hollow within her shuttered at what happened.
Keigo kept following behind Yankii who was silent as the two began to walk in the alleyways. Keigo had so many questions in the back of his mind.
"What were those guys?" Keigo asked. Yankii shrugged his shoulders. He didn't even look phased at all after the incident.
"Don't know never seen guys like that in the ghost zone, the guy with the hat had a cool sword, though kept hearing it talk, so that was strange," Yankii said.
Before Keigo could speak, Yankii quickly flew into the air. Keigo held onto the bag and flew at Yankii to catch up. Keigo felt this was incredibly reckless to just fly in the middle of the air during the daytime.
"Yankii what are you doing? What if someone sees you?" Keigo said in a whisper. Yankii continues to fly.
"Look after being in this new age for a bit, I understand people from this time tend to keep their heads down, looking at their strange beeping box," Yankii said.
"Beeping box oh he's talking about phones." Keigo thought.
Keigo couldn't argue with that. Not to mention they were pretty high up. It's pretty hard for anyone to see them up here. Keigo sighed in defeat and flew by Yankii's side.
"You know you didn't have to reveal yourself to them," Yankii said in a questioning tone. Keigo lowers his head in shame.
"Yeah really I didn't but I couldn't just let them suffer, maybe I gave them a little closure, but it's still my fault," Keigo said with a sad face. Yankii started to slow down. He took a long sigh.
"Man I just asked the kid to steal some booze for me, not an entire shelf, and then he stumbles upon the people that got injured from Striker, I tell her you put a lot of weight on yourself," Yankii said.
"Hey, Keigo!" Yankii called out. Keigo turns his attention towards his ghost master.
"Yea, what is it?" Keigo asked.
"I just wanted to say you're not alone in this stuff, I'll be glad to help and train you, understand," Yankii said. Keigo smiled and nodded at Yankii.
"Good, not to mention the beginning of your training, seems to go pretty well, look at what you hauled out for me," Yankii said pointing at the large bag of drinks. Keigo awkwardly scratches the back of his head. He wasn't too proud of what he did but he sure learned how to use his stealth correctly.
"So now that I got this, what's next?" Keigo asked. Yankii smiled and stopped flying, now floating in mid-air. Keigo did the same as he watched his master open the palm of his hand.
Keigo watched as a ball of echo energy formed in Yankii's hand. Then the long-necked ghost smirked as he threw the ball far up above and exploded into a beautiful firework exploration. Keigo's eyes widen, an amazement watching the spectacle unfold above him.
"I'm going to teach you ecto energy," Yankii said.
Hey guys this was chapter 5, I hope you guys enjoyed it. There wasn't much fighting in this chapter but I did want to show that Yankii is a captain-level threat and show Keigo why he's fighting. Also, talk about some trouble is string up in Hueco Mundo. That's right ghosts are making their moves. Anyway, what's Vlad up to? I know but you don't :) Well, Vlad's path might cross Kisuke after all. Keigo had to spill the beans but let's face it, he's not a good liar. Mostly this was just Keigo making his promise.
Anyway, the next chapter will see another Ghost from the OG show. Anyway, Beware~! Have a good day and stay safe.