"Good morning, Captain Commander~!", I greeted as I entered his office, grinning from ear to ear as the elderly Shinigami looked up with narrowed eyes while Chojiro looked both amused and irritated at the loud greeting.
"You are disturbing my time of peace and quiet."
"I know, but I'm just here to talk about a few things."
"If it is about the Arrancar calling themselves Espada that attacked Karakura, I have already been informed by Kisuke Urahara."
"Oh, good. That's one off the list. The second is the fact that I have finished recruiting the last of my group and I thought I'd inform you so that you guys don't try to kill them when you meet them."
"Why would we do so?"
"One is Macy Baljure, a witch and a former resident of Reverse London. The second is group of former Shinigami captains and lieutenants that have Hollow-like abilities called the Visored led by Shinji Hirako. The last is a group of humans that got their powers from residue left by Hollow attacks on their mothers called the Fullbringers and they are led by-"
"Kugo Ginjo, a former Substitute Shinigami that rebelled after he found out about his Soul Badge," I raised an eyebrow as Yamamoto finished my words for me, not surprised to see the slight frown on his face and the grimace on Chojiro's.
"Okay, so I guess you do know them."
"I do. What compelled you to ask them specifically?"
"One man's trash is another man's treasure. That and I do love helping those in need," I spoke with a smile as I sat down in front of him, holding his gaze despite feeling a bit lightheaded as his spiritual energy made it hard to breathe.
"You believe they can be trusted?"
"Well, Shinji and his team was wrongfully accused by Central 46 that was being manipulated by Aizen so I see no need to not believe them. Ginjo was betrayed by you all when you used the Soul Badge to limit his powers and while he is a bit insane, he is okay in my books. As for Macy, well, I don't have to explain anything about her, do I Chojiro?"
"No. No, you do no, Mr. Kanonji," Chojiro murmured, giving an apologetic bow to his captain who didn't say anything after as he simply stared at me before the pressure vanished.
"You are becoming a larger and larger nuisance, Kanonji."
"I know, I know. However, as the saying goes, 'The enemy of your enemy is the one that won't backstab you.'"
"I do not believe that is how it goes."
"That is how my version of it goes," I answered with a shrug, smirking at Chojiro's confused murmurs before turning my gaze back to Yamamoto as the man stood up.
"I do not wish to play with the future of the worlds, Kanonji. Do you trust them?"
"Well, trust is not the word-"
"Yes or no," He cut me off and I raised an eyebrow that before nodding with a smile.
"As of the time that we formed our group, I trust them with my life."
"And should they betray us during the war?"
"I will accept the consequences of my actions even if it means death."
"Those are the words of a foolish man."
"Or the words of a man who believes in his subordinates instead of throwing them away because a couple nobles were being annoying," I fired back, not flinching as Yamamoto turned his gaze to look at me before nodding.
"I suppose we will have to see."
"I suppose we will. Anyway, the third thing is the conditions my group has for joining us."
"Conditions? What's makes you think we'll agree to that?"
"Well, it's either you agree or they don't help and while you Shinigami are prideful, I also know that you guys are smart enough to know that your organization alone cannot take on Aizen and his Espada, especially if all of them are Vasto Lorde, correct?", I said with a knowing look, Yamamoto simply nodding in agreement as he looked out to the Seireitei.
"What are these terms?"
"The Visored want their names cleared since they are now innocent with Aizen's reveal."
"Done."
"Ginjo wants to meet Ukitake and find out exactly why the man tried to have him killed."
"…Done."
"Finally, Macy wants a personal apology from you and every Shinigami that was involved in the massacring of her people."
"…Done."
"Oh, and you guys have to mean the apology or else, she's not accepting it and if she's not accepting it, none of us in the group are helping," I said while crossing my arms, Yamamoto narrowing his eyes at me before nodding slowly.
"Very well. I shall do that as well. Is there anything else?"
"Nope! That was everything. If you want to talk to me about something else, I'll be at the 13th Division's training ground with Orihime and Rukia," I said as I stood up, amused as Yamamoto just nodded before I nodded to Chojiro and walked to the exit.
'Well, that's the negotiation part done. Now, it's time to start making sure that everyone is prepared for their battle.'
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"Mr. Kanonji!"
"Ukitake! How have you been?", I waved with a smile as I walked up to the Shinigami, who was sitting on the porch of the 13th Division's barracks with a robe thrown over his shoulders and a cup of tea in his hands.
You know, I don't think they said what was actually bothering him in the original episodes of Bleach, but I did hear from some friends that they did reveal it in the TYBW arc that came out and that pisses me off slightly since I'm sure there was a lot of information in that arc that could have helped me significantly right now.
'Hah, that's what I get for not making time to watch anime.'
"What has you so down?", The man asked and I snapped out of my thoughts before shaking my head as I sat down next to him, watching at Orihime doing her best to try and block Rukia's rapid attacks.
"Just my mind going off on its own tangent."
"Ah, the mind does tend to do that especially to those that are plagued with many responsibilities."
"I hear that. Hey, have you heard of my unit?", I asked and Ukitake blinked before shaking his head.
"Not that I can recall. Should I have?"
"No, but I wanted to tell you this before the Captain Commander could. Do you remember a substitute Shinigami called Kugo Ginjo?", I asked, watching as the captain's eyes widened at my words before he let out a soft sigh.
"Hah, yes. It is one of the many mistakes that I have been avoiding."
"Did you know where he was after he defected from you all?"
"Of course, but we've decided to leave him be as he was not an immediate threat to the Soul Society."
"And if he was?"
"Then I would have tried my best to make sure that his afterlife was as calm and peaceful as I could just like with the many others that I have failed over the years," The man answered, to which I nodded with a smile before I looked to him.
"Well, he along with his group are a part of my unit and he wanted to talk to you. I'm sure Yamamoto will not tell you this since he fears that he may lose one of the two men he sees as his sons so I wanted to let you know and let you make your own decision."
"When does he want to meet?", I was surprised at how quickly Utikate asked that, keeping my gaze on him and humming as I saw no sign of malicious intent in his eyes.
"Any time that you want to. When you're ready, just let me know and I'll let the two of you talk."
"Thank you. Now, I'm sure that's not the only reason why you came to see me, is it?", The Shinigami said with a knowing look and I chuckled as he saw right through why I actually came here.
"Yes, may I scan your body with Kaido to see what your illness is?"
"You wish to see if you can heal me? I can tell you this now, Mr. Kanonji, but many have tried."
"Oh, I don't want to heal you. I simply wish to see what's wrong with your body to the point that a man as strong as yourself has been reduced to this state," I answered bluntly, Ukitake blinking in surprise before I grinned as he lowered his robe and took off the top of his kimono.
"If it helps the war effort, feel free to do so."
"It's more for my own personal want, but let's go with that," I answered with a smirk, the man chuckling softly at my words as light green spiritual energy gathered at my hand before I called upon the Reimyaku and let my energy flow through his body.
"You…", My eyes widened as I found myself standing on the surface of an iridescent ocean that stretched as far as the eye can see, shimmering white clouds floating past in the air.
In front of me was the reason for my shock, the figure itself being nothing more than a human-size, white right arm with its fingers clenched into a fist. On the back of the hand was a singular black eye staring at me, its body covered in a simple tunic and a feathered raiment encircling the area behind the fist.
"You are of the darkness."
"…Uh, what's going on here?'
"Yes, you are of…Adnyseus? I see. You were birthed just like him."
"I am confused. Where's Ukitake? Also, how can you speak when you have no mouth to do so?", I asked with a frown and the fist was completely still as its voice echoed in my mind again.
"We are in the one known as Jushiro Ukitake and you are…of the darkness like him."
"Like who?"
"Yhwach. He is still there in the darkness…but he does not see you."
"…Let's pretend that I have absolutely no clue what you are talking about. What is this darkness and who is this Yhwach?"
"You do not know, but you will know in due time."
"Hah, fine. Then, who are you?"
"I am Mimihagi, Right Arm of the Soul King Adnyseus," I felt my heart nearly stop at those words as my eyes were wide, staring at what I now knew to be the Right Arm of a godly figure.
"Y-You're…you're the Right Arm to the Soul King?"
"Yes."
"And you're…inside Ukitake?"
"Yes," The arm answered, its tone till as flat as when we first started this discussion and I took a deep breath before nodding.
"Okay, okay. Why exactly are you in Ukitake?"
"You need not know."
"Are you going to actually tell me who this Yuhabaha guy is?"
"You need not know now."
"Okay, so that's a now…Okay, can you help me figure out a way to beat Aizen?"
"What do you give in return?"
"Is this like those deals where I have to give up part of my body in exchange for this information?"
"Yes, the information and a fragment of my power."
"What exactly is your power?"
"I govern the domain of Stillness and Stagnation, the stopping of growth and progress."
"So, you stop change from happening. Like, let's say my opponent can alter the future. You can stop that from happening?"
"Yes."
'Huh, I don't know if there's going to be anyone strong enough to do that, but it would still be nice to have that power. The only issue is that I don't know if it's worth the sacrifice.'
"…Would you do an eye?"
"No eyes. It has to be more than an eye."
"Crap, there goes my idea of a Sharingan. Fine, uh, wait, you said you were the right arm, right? What would happen if I gave you my right arm?"
"Your arm would darken until it was nothing but an abyssal black made out of shadows, but in exchange, you will be able to use part of my domain."
"Part and not all of it?"
"Part," The arm answered in return and I scratched my head at that while looking up at the clouds going by.
'Urahara did say that I was missing power…and this is a quick way to get a shit ton of power, especially the power to stop progress from happening.'
"Alright, but here's the thing," I began as I walked to the arm, watching as a tear slowly fell from its eye and into my outstretched hands.
"I agree to become part of stagnation, but not the stagnation you think you offer. I will not halt change to come, but I freeze myself in the image of what I believe matters most."
"And what is that?", Mimihagi asked and I grinned wide as I tipped my head back and drank the liquid, the sour-sweet taste of it confusing it for a bit before I felt my Reiatsu flare and ripple across the sea.
"The fool who fights for love and loyalty. I will not become what I must be, but will become what I am and stay that way. I will not change, I will not compromise and I will not grow past who I am. Let the gods play chess," I murmured as I dropped my head, shadows crawling up my right arm and turning it into a shadowy mess before I clenched my fist with a grin.
"I'll burn the board for my family."
"You accept Stillness, then?"
"I accept the price of keeping myself unbroken. Everyone in the world can chase change and growth all they want. I won't," I answered, watching as Mimihagi continued to stare at me before I blinked and found myself staring at a bewildered Ukitake.
"…What just happened?"
"That is what I would like to know," The man murmured as he lifted my right arm, letting me stare at the shadow-like limb with the white eye sketched onto the back of it.
"Honestly…I have no clue. Wanna get a drink and help me forget what just happened?"
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"Yep, you're a very light drinker," I muttered with a grin as I carried Ukitake over my shoulder, chuckling at his slurred words as well as the snoring coming from the Shinigami.
After the chaos that was me meeting the right arm of what was probably the Big G of this universe, Ukitake and I had left Rukia and Orihime to their training while we went to get out a drink, but when we got to the bar, we may have had a few more than we intended.
I had about a few more glasses of rum and vodka shots, but Ukitake…I think the man was the embodiment of living life on the edge because no one needs to take two dozen vodka shots back to back with no break.
Then, five more glasses of whiskey and four rum-and-coke glasses had him snoring away his stress like it was nothing. I also think I was the first to get him to do that considering how everyone else looked just as surprised as I did.
Well, at least I encouraged change in someone and not in myself.
'You will have control over my domain of stillness. What does that even mean? Does it mean I can just freeze things in place?', I thought as I made my way to the 13th Division's headquarters, walking up the stairs to the building before opening the door right as a petite blonde-haired woman opened the door.
"Captain!", She shouted in relief as I handed him to her and I blinked as she cradled him to her chest with a glare while a taller man with dark hair, a short goatee and a thin white headband walked to stand chest to chest with me.
"What are you thinking taking the captain out to…to drink?!"
"Relax, we had a few and the guy seemed to be enjoying himself so I let him loose."
"You know the captain is sick, human! He should-"
"Is he dead?", I cut him off with a raised eyebrow, watching as the man stopped before looking at the woman who frowned.
"Exactly. Your captain's far too strong to just keel over and die from a few shots. What is most likely going to kill him is either an intense battle or you guys continuing to baby him and not have him do anything fun. Let the guy hang out with you at a bar or an arcade or something once in a while and you'll see that unless he asks for help, he doesn't really need it."
"…Fine, but you're no longer allowed to be alone with the captain," The man spoke with a huff and I snorted as he slammed the door, raising an eyebrow as he opened the door a moment later to push a key into my hand.
"That's the key to your room. Good night!"
"…Good night!", I greeted after he closed the door once again, turning and making my way to the number on the key while putting my hands in my pockets and letting my sceptre float beside me.
Tomorrow, I'll try and figure out just exactly what the Mimihagi guy did to me and who this Yuhabaha guy is, but for now, it's time to sleep and deal with my hangover.
A/N: And we end this chapter here. The Don shows a few conditions to Yamamoto, he hangs out with Ukitake and meets Mimihagi, who tells him that he's from the same darkness as…the Soul King?
Was there perhaps some connection between it and the Valley of Screams? Find out next time~
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