"Nice place you got here," I murmured as I followed Shinji into the warehouse, the rest of the Visored following behind while I looked at the interior.
There was the broken second floor, the rusted ceiling and metal beams and even the cracks in the stone walls that only let out a slight bit of light.
'Ichigo's not here, though. Well, I guess since the Yammy and Ulquiorra thing and since he didn't get to fight Byakuya and empower his Hollow as a result, he doesn't need to come here.'
"So, what do you want, Mr…?"
"Kanonji. Don Kanonji," I answered as I sat down on the floor, watching as Shinji did the same with a nod while everyone else sat scattered around the warehouse.
"Kanonji. Well, nice to meet you, but like I asked, what do you want with us, Visored? Also, how do you know Aizen?"
"Like I said before, I am not affiliated with Aizen. In fact, we can be called the complete opposite of being affiliated with each other considering he tried to kill me."
"And why would Aizen be trying to kill off a human?"
"Because I was the one who revealed his plans to the Gotei 13 when I went along to rescue the friend of the son of a friend of mine in the Soul Society," I answered with a shrug and Shinji narrowed his eyes as Hiyori scoffed.
"Yeah, right. And what, you just strolled into the Seireitei and told everyone his secrets like some kind of bigshot? You actually expect us to believe us?", She asked with a glare and I met her gaze before shrugging.
"Not at all and I didn't stroll in. The son along with his friends and I burst through the membrane around the Seiretei. After we landed, I went on to take out half of Division 3, the Kido Corps, went there to steal some of their Kido spells, fought against the other half of Division 3, faced off against their lieutenant, almost got killed by their captain, killed off the Division 12 Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi and finally, had to survive getting attacked by all of the captains thanks to Aizen's illusions."
"…You serious?", Shinji asked with a frown, his eyes narrowing as I simply raised a finger upwards before blinking at the lightning bolt that shot from my fingers.
"Was that Byakurai?", Hachi asked with a surprised look and I nodded with a smile as I lowered my finger and looked to him.
"Yes, I do not know why, but I am able to cast Kido spells like any Shinigami without needing to be one."
"And without an incantation, it seems."
"You're full of surprises, Mr. Kanonji. You did that all on your own?", Shinji asked and I leaned back on my hands while nodding casually.
"Yep, though in my defence, it was not easy at all."
"You're either the craziest human I've met or the most creative liar I've met…and I'm really hoping it's the latter just so I have a reason to kick your ass."
"Well, it's the former, so you're going to have to be disappointed at the opportunity, Hiyori," I spoke with a smile, snickering as she growled before looking to Shinji as he spoke up.
"Alright, Kanonji. Let's say we believe you and that you actually did all of this stuff. What's that supposed to mean for us? You haven't said why you're here and you didn't come all of this way to brag to a couple of outcasts now, did you?"
"No, I didn't. I came here looking for allies, people that know what Aizen is capable of and can understand what he really is."
"Yeah, that's a hard pass," Lisa spoke up from the side and I was not surprised when all of them nodded in agreement while Shinji raised an eyebrow at me.
"You expect us to help you just because you fought against the Gotei 13?"
"No, I expect you guys to help for the opportunity to prove the Gotei 13 wrong and for the chance to get back at Aizen."
"Yeah, like she said, not happening. Why would we disrupt our peaceful lives to help someone that's most likely allied with the people that pushed us out, right?", He asked and smirked as I nodded with a smirk.
"I am, but it's more the situation of two enemies fighting against a common enemy that they share."
"Got it. It's still a no," Shinji answered with a shrug, the others remaining quiet but tense as I looked at each one of them before nodding slowly, standing up and dusting off my coat.
"Well, that's okay then. What was I thinking, coming here and thinking that I'd find some defiant bastards that want to prove everyone wrong? Clearly, you guys have had the time to do something, but you're too cowardly to do it. Damn, I really am an idiot."
"Who are you calling cowardly?", Kensei spoke up with a frown and I raised an eyebrow at him as I saw the narrowed eyes of everyone else.
"Well, considering you guys don't want to help and would rather hide away than help, what other words is there for you guys than cowards? What? Did that hurt your feelings? Are you upset that I said that truth out loud? If you really gave a damn about trying to prove everyone wrong and getting back at Aizen, you wouldn't be wasting your meaningless existences in this rusted-out dump of a warehouse!"
"Say that again. Say that again, clown!", He growled as he walked forward, his spiritual pressure making the air shake before his eyes narrowed as I flared my Reiatsu at the same time.
Using the Hollow Reiatsu in the sceptre to boost it further, I took off my glasses to stare him in the eyes with a smirk.
"Are you hard of hearing as well? You heard me the first time. You all have far more power, skill and knowledge than I have, everything that Aizen would be wary of. However, instead of using that, you've all settled to live in the shadows because you don't want to do anything. That is cowardly."
"You came here looking for allies and this is how you ask for our help?", Shinji asked softly from where he was seated and I looked past Kensei to see the numerous auras enveloping them as the warehouse creaked.
"No, this is how I wake you all up."
"You think calling us cowards is going to make us trust you?"
"No, but it makes you listen," I answered before leaning to the side as Hiyori flew past, blood dripping from the cut on my cheek as she landed and turned back with a glare.
"You got guts, Kanonji. I'll give you that, but you know that you just insulted every person in this room, right?"
"Oh, I did? Good, maybe you guys will actually feel angry enough to start fighting again or is the cowardice too much?"," I asked, watching as they all went to unsheathe their Zanpakuto only for Shinji to raise a hand.
"Fine, you want to call us cowards? Let's see if we're cowards. Hiyori?"
"What?"
"You wanted to shut him up, right? Go ahead. If he lasts more than a minute, we'll consider his offer."
"You sure you're not underestimating me?", I asked even as I dropped my coat, putting on my glasses once more while Hiyori grinned as Shinji smirked.
"That is something we'll have to see. Begin when-!"
"Bakudo #61: Rikujokoro! Hado #63: Raikoho!"
"Bakudo #81: Danku!", The next exchange was instantaneous as six thin sheets of light slammed into Hiyori's midsection, the air around my body sparking before a powerful golden bolt of lightning tore through the air
At the same time, a thin transparent sheet formed in front of Hiyori as the Raikoho slammed into her, blocking it with ease as I smirked at the swords held at my neck.
"Hey, you were the ones who said that you wanted to test me, right? Don't get mad when I decide to go for the killing blow," I spoke, watching as Shinji looked me in the eyes before nodding slowly as he sheathed his Zanpakuto.
"Yeah, that's on us, I suppose," He murmured, everyone slowly taking their blades away while I dismissed the Rikujokoro on Hiyori.
"You're not traumatized, right?", I asked, snapping her out of her shock before creating a Kan'oncape in front of me right as she threw a shoe at my head.
"Really? Is that how you deal with trauma?"
"Go jump in a bath of lava!", She exclaimed and I rolled my eyes before looking to Love as he spoke up.
"You're pretty tough, Kanonji."
"Eh, it's just natural talent."
"More like immense skill," Rose spoke up, his arms crossed and his sharp gaze focused on me before Hachi spoke up with a calm tone.
"I wish to ask the most important question of all. How are you, a human, capable of casting high-level Kido without incantation or training?"
"Not sure myself, but I just see it as me being blessed by the gods above being generous," I answered with a shrug, to which the large man simply hummed while I turned back to Shinji as he was analysing me carefully.
"So, you going to give me a second chance or go back to your cowardly ways?"
"…You really that we all figured out what you were doing, right?"
"I know, you guys are far too old for fall for simple taunts, but I figured that would be the quickest way to show you guys that I truly mean business. The only issue is whether or not I can count on having you guys in this battle or not."
"…Will we be forced to work with the Gotei 13?", He asked after a short silence and I shook my head while crossing my arms.
"No need to. My group is completely independent from the Gotei 13 so if you guys don't want to, you don't have to."
"That leads me to my second question. Do we have immunity from them from trying to kill us if we meet?"
"I would not be able to give you guys a definite answer, but considering I have a dragon slayer in my group, I'd say that they're under my protection just like you guys would be."
"Dragon slayers have been extinct for centuries. None of them are still alive anymore," Kensei spoke with a scoff and I smirked before shrugging.
"Hey, I fought alongside her and a Shinigami friend so I'd say she's very much still alive."
"Well, you're just collecting all the bad children now, aren't you?", Shinji spoke with a smirk and I nodded unashamedly.
"Well, Yamamoto stabbed me through the chest with Ryujin Jakka and didn't apologize so raising his blood pressure with some anger should be good enough compensation for me."
"…You have no self-preservation instincts whatsoever, do you?"
"No, I think I traded those in for more confidence and extravagance in what I do," I replied smooth, Shinji and I looking at each other before we both burst out laughing while the rest of the Visored looked exasperated.
"Hahahaha~! You know what, Kanonji? I'm starting to like you. You got the guts, the power and a suicidal streak wide enough to surprise even Aizen with his stupid plans."
"Does that mean you're in?"
"If we do this and help you, we do it our way. We're not joining some boot-licking, Gotei 13 wannabe club. We're doing this on our terms for our own reasons."
"All I ask is that you guys stand with me. Why you guys decide to do it is none of my concern," I spoke, watching as Shinji looked at me before looking at the rest of the group.
"Well, all of you guys in favour?", To my surprise, almost all but Kensei and Hiyori raised the hands, the blonde snorting as I looked at her while Kensei raised an eyebrow as if to ask me what I was going to do about it.
"Huh, so you two need more time to trust me, then? I don't mind that."
"I just don't want to become someone else's pawn," Hiyori spoke with a frown and I nodded at that before looking to Kensei.
"I'm here to see if you truly mean what you say. However, if this is some long con or we end up being pawns in your little war-"
"You can personally kill me," I finished for him and he smirked as he nodded before Mashiro finally spoke up.
"So~ What's your plan? Who's in your crap? What's this dragon slayer crap you and Shinji spoke about? Also, how can you use Kido? I thought only Shinigami are able to use Kido."
"No one going to stop her?", I asked as Mashiro continued firing off her questions, sighing as they all just raised an eyebrow before I nodded and raised a hand to stop her.
"Okay, let me answer in order…"
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"Well, that was fun," I muttered as I began making my way back to Karakura, having just left the warehouse where I had left the Visored to truly talk out my offer and see if they wanted to join.
Considering that both Hiyori and Kensei were still hesitant, I gave them this opportunity because I felt like doing so would give them more time to get used to working with me.
'Still, even if they just decide to work with us temporarily, that would be perfect,' I thought with a smile as I turned the corner, joining the rest of the bustling traffic before glancing to the side as I saw a figure standing there.
"Good morning," The man greeted and I nodded back with a smile, but internally, I felt myself tensing as I caught sight of his black suspenders and the small book in his hand that had a bookmark in its pages.
Stretching my neck with a groan while looking to the other side, I caught sight of a man with slicked-back hair walking through the crowd, a bored look on his face while he wore a nice jacket with a fur collar and a cross necklace around his neck.
Right beside him was a dark-skinned woman with white leggings and a long-sleeved back shirt, her hair short while her face was fixed on a stoic expression as the two stopped beside me.
"Yo."
"Yo, slow traffic, huh?", I muttered, to which the man nodded while I stared at the traffic light that was still on red.
"Yeah, hopefully it changes soon. I got this big opportunity to ask of someone and I would want them to make the right choice."
"Really? I just gave a few people a new change of scenery, but I think they'll need a while to get used to the idea," I spoke and he nodded before we both looked at the woman as she spoke up.
"Could we stop this childish attempt at conversation and speak what we're here for?"
"Well, that would be no fun, Jackie, but I think you are right in us not needing to waste time. Oh, I'm Kugo Ginjo by the way. This is my friend Jackie Tristan and on your other side is a close friend Shukuro Tsukishima."
"Don Kanonji, nice to meet you all," I spoke with a smile and a nod as I looked back at the traffic, ignoring their stares before Ginjo chuckled as he looked away.
"I must admit that I did not expect to meet you today, to be honest. I did have a proposition for you, but I would not have expected that I could offer it to you today."
"And what is that proposition, if I may ask?"
"The opportunity to join a prestigious organization known as Xcution. You see, we're a group of humans with power beyond the norm and we discovered that you may be like us."
"A Fullbringer?", I asked as the light changes, looking at his shocked face with a smirk before shaking my head as I continued walking.
"Let me tell you a little something about me, Kugo Ginjo," I spoke, stepping off the curb while crossing the street without waiting for them.
"I've been stabbed, burned, blasted with acid, paralyzed and nearly killed, all in the name of protecting people who have been wronged by those above them," As I spoke, I could hear their footsteps behind me while we crossed the street.
"I do not care for joining a group that wants to talk about freedom or revenge or anything of that kind because I do not have time for things like that."
"And yet, you are still talking to us," Ginjo spoke as he caught up, walking beside me with his hands in his pockets while I nodded with a smile.
"I am, because I know how this whole game is played. You don't show your cards to people you don't respect, trust or fear and while I think it might be the first two, something tells me it's a mixture of all three."
"I'm not asking you to become a close friend to us. All I ask is that you choose before someone makes that decision for you," He spoke as we walked onto the next pavement, the two of us looking at each other before I let out a soft chuckle.
"I've got people to protect, responsibilities that won't stop and a war to worry about. However, I'll think about your offer and I will let you know."
"That is all I ask. Here is our card if you do change your mind," He spoke with a smile as he handed a black card with the words Xcution on the back, taking it while watching as the trio walked away.
'Yeah, they're definitely not letting me go that easily,' I thought with a subtle frown as I turned and walked back to the station, now having a new thing to worry about.
"Hah, no one said that this leadership thing was going to be easy."
A/N: And the Don is now on a recruitment spree as he might have the Visored on his side. However, the Fullbringers have taken note of him so now he's going to have to keep an eye out.
What's going to happen next? Find out next time!
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