(Days Ago)
Orihime's Diary, Day 1
I've decided to start a diary. After all, Tatsuki-chan always tells me I'm forgetful. That's not true—I just prefer to focus my thoughts on positive things :3
Speaking of that, there was a special sale at my favorite bakery today… but I didn't make it in time. I hope there's another one soon. Buying high-quality bread is such a hassle since it's expensive, and an independent girl has to choose between quality or quantity… Tsk, I'd prefer both.
Day 2
Today, I saw a dog barking at a wall. Superstitious people say that happens when there are ghosts, but that can't be true, right?
Well, after a while, a trash can fell over, and the dog ran away. It must have been the wind.
Day 3
Tatsuki-chan told me not to be so absent-minded. I indeed ended up in the shopping district while on my way to school. Being able to mentally review the notes of the recipe I learned last night is proof my memory is fine… I mean, I'm not absent-minded! (ﾉ≧∇≦)ﾉ ﾐ ┻━┻
Day 4
I met a very strange boy today. I mean, my hair is unusual, but I've never seen someone with natural white hair. He was very kind, even helping me out.
Unfortunately, Tatsuki-chan scolded me a lot for putting myself in such a dangerous situation. (╥﹏╥)
I apologized, but this time it wasn't enough. She forced me to do seiza (kneeling) for an hour; I know I deserve it, but is it necessary to be so cruel?!
Besides, I am afraid for my savior!
Tatsuki even started to suspect my savior.
Day 20
Today was a good day. I finally got to talk to the transfer student, who turned out to be the person who saved me that time. I wish I could've spoken to him and thanked him on the first day, but it was impossible. A transfer student is already noticeable and popular by default, but he's on a whole other level. (☆▽☆)
Our school turned into a drama fest, with girls lining up just to greet him and surround him everywhere he went. Tatsuki told me to give up, that someone like him probably has an inflated ego from his looks and treats women like a pastime.
I won't lie... it made me a little sad.
But unexpectedly, I ran into him at the vending machine. He greeted me and asked how I'd been since that day. It was surprising that he remembered me. I smiled awkwardly and started talking non-stop. I hope I didn't say anything embarrassing.
He patted my head, and I felt a warm, strange sensation that reminded me of my brother. (つ≧▽≦)つ
Day 26
Allen can handle a torrent of female students without breaking a sweat—and also deal with all the boys at school hating him.
When I had the chance, I asked him why that was, and he told me that he was used to dealing with groups of unruly children. He's a very mature guy; I can feel it. Strangely, my heart started to race ♡.
I shook my head and focused on eating… It was a pleasant day. Being by his side makes me feel carefree. It must be his… calming aura.
Day 45
My life has improved thanks to my new friend, Allen. Since he arrived, the school has felt more fun. Those awkward stares from boys at my chest are gone, and Tatsuki-chan has become less strict. But I suppose the main reason is that I just like being near him...
...
Orihime closed her diary. She used to read it to remember important things, when she felt lonely or nervous, as a reminder that not all emotions are bad.
Orihime clutched her chest in sorrow. "Today I did something wrong… I lied to Allen-kun…"
She had lied about not knowing what happened to the pendant. Though she was surprised to see it activate, it didn't strike her as strange.
'Ever since my brother died, I've always felt a dark presence watching me from the shadows. It's terrifying, and I often thought it was just my loneliness manifesting...'
[Dangerous entity detected. Would you like to activate defense protocols?]
Orihime smiled faintly and hugged the pendant to her chest as she sat on her bed in the dim light.
"Dangerous entity… huh?"
Orihime had sensed that entity for a long time. And though it scared her, and though she often wished it wasn't there, it also felt nostalgic somehow.
She gently stroked the pendant around her neck, knowing that the faint glow it emitted would keep her safe. She was grateful, but at the same time, she didn't want to forget the dark presence lingering in the corners of her home...
'I'm sorry...'
Humans are the only animals capable of ignoring their survival instincts and doing things that harm themselves.
Orihime's phone lit up, showing Allen's name. When she answered, the presence vanished, as if fleeing. Orihime spoke cheerfully, hiding her tears.
"Hello, Allen-kun. What do you need at this hour? Hehe~"
"Orihime… are you okay?"
Her smile softened but became more sincere upon hearing Allen's words. "Yes… I am."
"I see… By the way, I forgot the recipe you taught me last time. Can you go over it again?"
"..."
"Orihime?"
"Of course! Leave it to me!" Orihime smiled proudly, thumping her chest.
Allen stayed on the phone for three hours, and before saying goodbye, he added, "Hime, rest well tonight and don't worry..."
"Hm~... thank you..."
Allen knew the truth behind the entity haunting Orihime. But it was one of the hardest things to deal with, so he decided to wait for Orihime to make her own decision.
...
...
...
(In the Present)
The people Allen brought with him scattered in various directions.
The streets of Seireitei were clean, with smooth walls and narrow alleys. It was a labyrinth for anyone unfamiliar with the layout. Although any shinigami should be able to use the rooftops to get anywhere with ease, it was forbidden. Many buildings are centuries old, some for millennia, and no one wants them to be used as a path for shinigami. If you wanted to get anywhere, you had to run.
Kratos walked through those alleys, hearing sounds of destruction and furious roars in the distance. Feeling calm with Hulk nearby was strange—it reminded him of his days being consumed by rage. The only difference was that for Hulk, rage was part of his essence, proportional to his power.
The Chat had multiple views open at the moment, and with just a swipe, viewers could switch between different points of interest or focus on a single perspective. Kratos was popular, so millions of people were watching him.
Kratos, the God of War.
What more is there to say about this man that people don't already know? A former Spartan, betrayed, deceived, and manipulated, he swore vengeance on Olympus—and he delivered, with a total massacre. He traversed the seas and the Underworld, and, of course, ended with Kratos impaling Zeus on Mount Olympus.
But all of that was in the past. Now, he was just a family man trying to be a father. Yet, whether by fate or misfortune, he kept getting dragged into the problems of gods from other pantheons.
"Uncle..."
Kratos turned to see Percy Jackson. He could sense the scent of the sea on him—something inherent to Poseidon. Kratos felt conflicted. Conversations with Olympian gods were already uncomfortable and strange, given that he had killed his world's versions of them. However, these gods had a lot of humanity in them, even Athena, which left him torn. Perhaps gods aren't inherently bastards; maybe the ones in his world were just degenerates.
Realizing that gave Kratos a bit of extra peace, and as a gesture of gratitude to the one responsible, he decided to help Allen if the opportunity arose—and that opportunity came unexpectedly.
"Hey, Uncle, don't ignore me."
The lighthearted tone, free of the arrogance characteristic of a demigod, made Kratos frown. Even if he wasn't Percy's father, Kratos had killed a Poseidon, and he hadn't been gentle about it.
"Hey, Uncle Kratos, I know what you're thinking, and don't worry. There was a time I'd have stabbed a trident into his throat myself."
Kratos raised an eyebrow in interest. "Percy, boy, did your father wrong you?"
"No, quite the opposite. He didn't do anything. He abandoned my mom and me. Then I found out that having kids with mortals and leaving them was a common practice for the gods of Olympus, and honestly, I resented him for it. But… a lot of things happened, and I don't hate him as much now. He might not be Father of the Year, but… well, he's still my dad."
Kratos paused, reevaluating Percy with a thoughtful look. At the same time, Atreus (Kratos's Son) watched the broadcast with a conflicted expression. It seemed to be a bad father was common among Olympian gods.
"Oya~ Sorry to interrupt your conversation, but you're very dangerous individuals, and Yamaji would be furious if I let you roam freely. Domo."
With a calm, relaxed tone, an air of playfulness mixed with hospitality yet caution, Kyoraku Shunsui appeared before Kratos and Percy.
...
– Kratos vs Kyoraku? Holy shit!
– Kuh, if it were any other Soul Reaper, I'd bet on Kratos. But this guy's one of the strongest in history. Let's go, you old pervert!
– No way, Kratos all the way. He's a god and the other one's just a Soul Reaper. Let's go, Kratos!
– I never understood that. Shinigami comes from "Shi," meaning death, and "Kami," meaning god. So the correct translation is "God of Death," not Soul Reaper.
– Huh? Isn't it the same thing?
– Well, technically yes, but I feel like calling them Soul Reapers undermines them compared to being called Gods of Death.
...
Kratos put his hand in front of Percy, signaling him to back away.
"Take one more step and you'll die..."
The weight in those words, spoken as a simple threat, carried an immense sense of danger.
"That's scary~"
Kyoraku's seemingly mocking response made Kratos growl. Facing a powerful opponent, be it a monster or a mythological creature, was always frightening. But fighting someone with that power and who also has terrifying combat skills was a completely different challenge.
Kratos knew from Allen that this world was full of strong opponents because it thrived on strength.
Allen had already mentioned his goal: rescuing Rukia. But there were too many obstacles in their way. Kratos needed to keep any powerful individuals he encountered busy.
'Fighting this guy without killing him? Boy, you're asking too much… No... perhaps even my victory is uncertain.'
Kratos gripped his axe, which began to glow faintly.
"What a pain. Looks like I've stumbled upon one of the strong ones~"
Kyoraku was a lazy man. He preferred to avoid tough battles whenever possible, letting other captains who loved fighting handle them. However, when forced to fight, he'd rather face someone more easily so he could "pretend" to fight until everything ended.
"Uncle, want me to help?" Percy asked with a lighthearted tone, seemingly unfazed by the tension in the air. No, that wasn't it. This Percy Jackson wasn't the same kid who had once ventured into the world of gods cluelessly. He was now a demigod in his own right.
"No..."
"Oh, come on, Uncle!"
"Young man, listen to him. The lives of young people are more important than a little pride."
A man with white hair and a gentle voice appeared, standing on one of the side walls.
"Ukitake, how about you take on the scary guy this time?"
Ukitake sighed. "Kyoraku... Sensei is already angry with us for trying to deceive him. I'm afraid you can't be lazy this time."
Kyoraku lowered his head. "That's true..."
Percy narrowed his eyes as he observed the white-haired captain. 'That man…'
...
DoomGuy, or rather the Doom Slayer, is a truly unfortunate individual. He lives amidst constant slaughter in Hell, facing one nightmare after another. His world is a never-ending massacre, isolating and breaking his mind to the point of silence.
A man who ascended to divinity, whose very presence embodies fear. A monster to monsters, DoomGuy took vengeance to an entirely new level.
Demons tell their children horror stories about him.
The DoomGuy walked through the streets, with Thor trailing a short distance behind him, careful not to get too close. Thor had met this silent man and once challenged him to a duel. DoomGuy accepted. It wasn't much of a fight, though, as Mjölnir was sliced in half the moment it clashed with The Crucible Sword.
'That was terrifying. Fortunately, Allen was able to repair my hammer; otherwise, I'd be in serious trouble.'
Thor's hammer, forged from Uru and practically indestructible, had been sliced through like butter by that sword.
No wonder The Crucible is made up of argent plasma, something that exceeds the limits of known physics since the temperature of the BigBag reached 10³² degrees kelvin while The Crucible could reach 10³⁴ degrees kelvin... Yeah, that sword that DoomGuy happened to be carrying on his back was hotter than the BigBag at its peak... Of course that was only if it was used, but Allen prevented that from happening.
Thor took another swig of his beer, frowning as he noticed several Shinigami watching them from a distance but hesitating to approach. Thor was a warrior and would fight anyone, but only if they showed some spirit.
"Halt, intruders!"
A large Shinigami wearing a helmet that completely covered his features appeared in their path.
"You must be a captain," Thor said with a grin.
"Indeed. I am Komamura Sajin, Captain of the Seventh Division. You are trespassers. I don't know your reasons, but you haven't killed anyone yet, and I know it would be easy for you to do so. So, you may choose to leave peacefully, and I will not pursue you."
Thor finished his beer and tossed the mug aside. He then raised his hand, and the sky grew stormy before Mjölnir fell from the heavens into his grasp.
The atmosphere crackled with electricity.
"Captain Komamura!"
Komamura's lieutenant, Iba Tetsuzaemon, looked nervous. Despite his yakuza-like appearance, sunglasses, and rough speech patterns, Iba was fearless in battle. Yet now, he was sweating. He couldn't sense any reiatsu from the intruders, but his instincts, honed over centuries, screamed at him to run.
"Fall back!"
Komamura's shout snapped everyone out of their shock. After assessing the opponents and realizing his weaker men had no chance, he ordered his division to retreat.
"But, Captain!" Tetsuzaemon protested, unwilling to leave Komamura alone.
"Fall back, Iba... leave this to me."
Reluctantly, Iba obeyed his captain's orders.
Beneath his helmet, Komamura's face—a wolf's head with reddish fur—would have surprised anyone unfamiliar with him. He wasn't human but rather a humanoid wolf.
"So, this is your choice. Bankai: Kokujō Tengen Myō!"
(A/N: Vidyaraja of Divine Punishment with the Black Rope, or Black Ruin Strings.)
A massive giant materialized behind Komamura, clad in black armor with a demon-faced helmet. The giant exuded immense power.
Thor grinned with excitement but had momentarily forgotten he wasn't alone. The DoomGuy had remained silent, staring at Komamura as if trying to see through his mask.
For his part, Komamura paid little attention to DoomGuy, oddly sensing no hostility from him.
"..."
...
Allen and his group reached the tower where Rukia was being held. A beautiful woman with long hair awaited them. She smiled when she saw Allen.
A melodic, affectionate voice greeted him. "It's a pleasure to see you here. I knew you'd return~"
For a moment, Allen thought Unohana Yachiru had reverted to Unohana Retsu. However, the next moment, her voice turned bloodthirsty.
"That said, I'm a little disappointed that your visit is for another woman..."
If you ask anyone what kind of woman is the most difficult to deal with 99% will say a Yandere.
===
A/N: I was thinking of a scene of DoomGuy stroking Komamura's belly but then I felt it would be too weird and poisonous to the eye 🗿