'Shit!' Kagero cursed.
He moved his vision across the tavern in mere moments, leaving him with a grim confirmation.
Everyone's attention was now fixed solely on him.
"It's a good thing Big Buster found ya sneaking around here..." The Giant locked his vision onto Kagero, he and his goons walking forward.
"You human rat!"
Still nestled on his seat, Kagero's face became emotionless. His eyes were dim, and his face was relaxed, creating a sense of nonchalance.
He had to do this to prevent any further suspicions of him from sprouting.
However, even as he remained as cool as a sea pickle outwardly, inwardly he was— freaking out.
'Where did this idiot even spawn from?' Kagero hissed, listening to the concerning mumbles of the bystanders.
"Don't tell me there's a bloody human here?!" Came a bitter voice, followed by the piercing sounds of broken bottles.
"Are those fleshy meat bags trying to invade our world?"
"There's about to be a feast if so."
Another enraged voice responded, several furious comments fanning the already blazing flames.
"Is he possibly disguised as a Shinigami?"
"We'll tear that bastard limb from limb!"
Kagero's lips bent into a concerned smile, as beads of sweat started to form on his forehead.
'Okay, this has got to be racism at this point.'
"Don't tell me you followed us here?" Gami questioned the bold giant, and followed her question with a sip of wine.
Suddenly, the air around her tightened, an intense atmosphere spreading its arms out of her scarlet gaze.
"Don't tell me I'm right." She lifted her head menacingly. "Dave."
Kagero almost burst out laughing on hearing Big Buster's actual name.
The giant shivered slightly under her dagger-like stare. He then shifted his vision from hers, responding with stammers.
"Ohh, G-G-Gami. I didn't quite see you there."
He coughed, clearing his throat.
"It's not like I wanted to follow you. But as the faithful citizen that I am, I had to warn you that you were entertaining a meat bag."
Big Buster wore his aura of bravado once more, opening his mouth into a bitter smile.
"That Shogun beside you is a Human!"
His claims were succeeded by a barrage of bewildered gasps.
"Kekekeke." The two boot-lickers beside him hunched over, giggling maniacally. "Lord Buster, your intuition is just too sharp."
Then they turned their attention back to Kagero, forcing him to behold their grotesque faces.
"The Big Buster's gonna bust ya."
His minions smacked their knees, belly laughing at their own hideous jokes.
"Correct me if I'm wrong." Gami's eyes gleamed with a bloody glow.
"But are you at all saying that I'll be so stupid as to let a human roam Shinigamigakure?"
Big Buster's minions froze their chuckles, the stupid smiles that once cursed their faces hanging on it.
The giant wiped the sweat from his balding head, and folded his arms across his chest, standing his ground.
"N-Not at all Gami." He forced a frightened smile.
"But I'm sure of what I saw. And I believe that everyone here will love to be sure of that Shogun's origin."
The moment he finished his coercive statements, the whole crowd within the tavern yelled in his support, their eyes reflecting rage, and their bodies vibrating in fury.
Kagero could note one thing by looking at them:
They just wanted an excuse to beat someone to a bloody pulp.
If Big Buster was wrong, then they would torture him for wasting their time. But if he was right.
Then they would beat Kagero to a bloody mess, and consume him with a side of beer.
'This fool has gotten better at speaking.' Gami observed the situation insightfully. She couldn't support Kagero through a situation this tough.
The angry crowd would have to be swayed by the golden goose himself.
Kagero turned to Gami and deciphered her look. On her face laid a neutral expression, followed by half a smile.
And that look sent Kagero a key message.
'I've got to get through this on my own right?' He inconspicuously flashed his thumb at Gami, a witty grin plastered boldly on his face.
'Just what is your plan this time— Jack?'
Gami watched him stand up to his feet as her entire body trembled in excitement. Elation, out of the sheer curiosity of what the maniacal red head would do next.
Kagero then proceeded to hammer his fist onto his chest while his gaze was fixed onto the boisterous giant.
"I'm not a human, and I'll prove it!"
"HOOOOOOOOOO?!"
The onlookers vocalized, as they watched the scene with unshakable attention.
Those who had bent their fists in search for blood were now sobering down. Their ears were perked, their eyes peeled to watch the confrontation between both parties.
"And how exactly are ya gonna prove it to Big Buster?" The giant leaned forward, casting his shadow over Kagero.
"Good question." Kagero swung his arms apart, placing them together.
He had a plan!
Shinigamies seemed like powerful creatures. He already had the look, so all he had to do was perform a special jutsu.
If they saw him using a flashy display of power, their minds would be so absorbed in how great it looked, that they wouldn't even question him any further.
'Besides.' Kagero heaved in a long breath. 'This jutsu hasn't been performed by more than a single Shinobi in the show."
'Fire style.' Everyone's eyes lit up as they watched his belly swell like a dragon's.
'Majestic destroyer flames!'
[Error!]
Kagero blew his hardest, only to release a little blow of air and saliva.
"…"
"…"
Gami buried her face in her palm. And that was followed by an uproar of laughs from the crowd.
'What the hell?!!!!!!'
Embarrassed, Kagero yelled internally, so much so that his throat started to ache from his mental shout.
"I thought he was gonna do something for a second there."
One of the onlookers and several more smacked their fists into the table, amidst their uncontrollable streams of laughter.
"I guess humans are still as useless as always."
They each said with a smile, a chuckle from each's lips as they slowly slid out bloodied daggers from beneath their seats.
Others held onto broken bottles, licking it joyously before beginning a slow walk towards Kagero.
"Big Buster was right on all along!" The giant raised his arms in victory. "Now it's time to feast on ya, little Shogun!"
'SYSTEM! SYSTEM! THE FREAK IS GOING ON?!'
Kagero panicked, wondering why he couldn't use any Jutsus.
'[Your spiritual body hasn't yet adapted to this world. Hence your inability to use Jutsus.]'
The system conversed within the innards of his mind, preventing any Shinigamies from perceiving their discourse.
'You've got to be kidding me right?' Kagero held onto the blue screen within his thought, shaking it violently.
'How long before I fully adapt?'
The system thought for a second before answering.
'[Eternity.]'
Kagero paused his frantic motions within his mind, freezing as a tear ran through his face.
'[That's for normal cases. However, since I'm integrating your powers into your body, it'll be some time— but I'll get you back to top form soon.]'
Kagero watched the system with teary eyes, gratitude spread all through his face.
But he quickly squeezed his fizzog, strangling any display of thanks for the 'trashy system.'
'You could've just told me that sooner!'
He finished, leaving his mental plane of thought with the System.
However, outwardly his eyes still remained shut, his arms folded around his chest as he stood motionlessly still.
'Just what are you doing Kagero?' Gami watched him with cold eyes, observing Kagero's strange actions.
'Do you plan on just allowing yourself to die?' A slight hint of concern was evident in her aloof eyes.
"So you've already accepted your fate then?"
The giant mocked him, then drew his fist backwards, the very winds tearing past his elbows as they drifted in the air.
Yet, Kagero still stood in place, not even a flinch in sight.
The ghouls, Shinigamies and monstrous creatures alike were out for blood, his blood.
Like a bubbling mountain of lava, their animosity was rising, swelling, and now about to erupt.
Their knees had bent backwards, seconds away from releasing them in the air.
Their talons and weapons were lifted upwards, moments away from ripping through flesh.
And their conscience was sealed shut, a mirthful smirk spreading from ear to ear as they mused a bloody conclusion.
However, before their wrath could settle on their collective focal point.
"STOP!"
Kagero bellowed imperatively, knives and claws freezing before his azure eyes.
But the boy remained ever unfazed.
"I'll prove to you that I'm a Shinigami."
He then opened up his arms beside him, casting an ecstatic grin through his mouth.
"By performing a private concert for you all!"