It began as a typical morning for Ichiku G Luffy- decking his grandpa in the face in response to his attempt at shinobi training, promising to hang out with his little sister Karima, and then heading out to his training spot.
Unfortunately, today fireballs decided to rain down from the sky. Looking around in shock and surprise trying to find the source, Ichiku's attention is grabbed as he hears a shill feminine cry.
For a second, he didn't understand why the little girl screamed- then he noticed the fireball heading right for her. She had almost-black blue hair like his sister, and before he knew it Ichiku rushed to push her out of the way.
That was when his world became fire, and as the darkness encroached Ichiku wordlessly apologized for breaking his promise to Karima- then, unconsciousness.
----
Groggily waking up, Ichiku felt... oddly okay after getting hit by a fireball. "Oh, maybe I'm still dreaming? Guess that makes sense." Standing up and stretching out his back, the young man stopped as he noticed.
All around him, buildings had been damaged and the ground impacted. There were even people gathered around some burnt up... thing? Might as well go ask them.
"Hey, what that thing suppose to be? I'm kind of surprised nobody got burned." Nothing, no looks his way, no reaction to his words. Uh... okay, maybe it was someone? Still, kind of rude not to explain.
"Wasn't this Luffy-sensei's boy?" "Yeah, poor boy sacrificed himself to save my granddaughter." … "Wait, what? T-that's suppose to be you? N-no way, you're standing here just-"
Freezing, Ichiku notices a ship right outside the village entrance. That makes no sense, how did that get there!? It certainly wasn't there when the fireballs were raining, and how could a ship even make it on land!?
Then, from above, a large mass leaps down- and Ichiku could see an annoyed look on their face. Then, the figure spots Ichiku, and smirks. "Well well, it seems my crew did hit someone after all."
H-huh? Looking around dumbly, Ichiku finally points at himself and calls out. "Are, are you meaning me?" The giant bellows loudly, yet still no one is paying attention. Come on, they can't be that be dumb!
Focusing on the giant as they approach, Ichiku begins to realize their skin looks bone-white. Then, as they swing forth a massive club from nowhere, the figure bellows once more.
"Now come boy, either pledge allegiance or be absorbed! I don't have all day!" … On the one hand, Ichiku really didn't know what to do. Was he really dead? What if this was just a dream?
Yet, Ichiku kind of wanted to fight. Mean, look at that dude! Ten feet fall, probably weighs a ton or five, even having a massive club! Fighting them would be amazing training!
Then, the giant snarls, and slams the club into the ground. "Don't just stand there gawking! I'll start killing others if you do!" That causes Ichiku to freeze, and properly process things.
Dream or not, he knew fireballs rained down and that when he woke up this person claimed responsibility. Who just threatened to kills others like they did him if he kept doing nothing...
Fists clenching, Ichiku points at the giant and calls out firmly "You won't hurt anyone else, you giant ugly brute!" That causes the giant to look utterly incensed, and yells with their booming voice.
"Can't you tell I'm a beautiful and slim woman!? You idiot men are always trying to insult me!" … Eh? Like, really? That is, uh... huh. Then, the giant charges at Ichiku, club swinging ready to hit.
Jumping backwards to dodge, the club sends up a dust cloud on impact- and the noise draws people's attention, yet no one is leaving. How can they not see the rampaging giantess!?
Noticing the giantess in question having trouble pulling her club free, Ichiku rushes in and punches- only for the giantess to look down and smile madly. Then, with a surprisingly fast fist of her own, Ichiku is sent flying into a nearby building.
Pulling himself up from the shattered counter that politely became a bed of rubble, Ichiku frowned. "She's... way stronger than anyone I've ever fought. What am I suppose to do!? Karima and Gramps are in danger!"
Looking out to see the giantess glance over at the people surrounding his, his body, something inside Ichiku snaps as he sees the giantess line up her club to hit them.
Then, Ichiku bursts forward with incredible speed, and smashes his fist against the giantess' face- and she suddenly barrels over from the force, look of utter bafflement on her face. Then, as she glances at Ichiku, her tone becomes oddly quiet- in comparison to before, anyways.
"You, you have Super Devil Ki? H-how does such a worthless town have someone like you!" Huh? Looking at his hands, Ichiku flinches as he sees golden-yellowish fur covering them...
And running up his arms, framing his face, even covering his legs. Oh, and apparently there's a tail now? Looking at the giantess, Ichiku just had to know. "What is Super Devil Ki!? What's going on!?"
The giantess, however, just snarls as she stands back up. "Don't play games with me, you already have one of the 7 Soul Keys don't you!? Ha, hahaha! Perfect, perfect! One step closer to entering the Soul Society! Whatever your wish is, it doesn't matter boy! Your Soul Key is mine!"
That is so unhelpful! Getting into a defensive pose, Ichiku could feel his arms... coil? Thinking about it... his legs did feel weird when he jumped. Maybe, he could do something similar with his arms?
Leaping high into the air as he dodges the giantess' charge, Ichiku tries to restrain his surprise. Yet, he's definitely faster and more agile now... twisting in mid-air without even meaning to, Ichiku lands behind the giantess.
Seeing her look around in confusion, Ichiku 'coiled' his right arm as he pulled back. He just hoped this would work... running low, Ichiku unleashed an uppercut to her chin.
Seeing her head pull back by the force, Ichiku notices a glow of some kind surrounding his arm- and suddenly the giantess is flying as his right arm extends by five feet.
Watching the giantess crash into her ship, Ichiku could hear faint panic before it- takes to the sky!? Just what is going on, and why is his five feet long!?
----
"Uh... Daisuke, what is this?" Looking at Ino as she reads the notebook, you take a few seconds to consider your response. You didn't think she'd have that much trouble deciphering your experimental Genjutsu notes.
"Like I said, I'm working on a brand new Genjutsu, it should be expla-" Twisting the open notebook at you, Ino responds slowly. "So... how exactly were you planning to make someone think they're Ichiku?"
T-that wasn't the, you were, gah. Valiantly preventing yourself from blushing in embarrassment, and composing yourself, it is a simple matter to explain.
"Sorry about that, that's unrelated, just something I was working on during breaks." Watching Ino as she looks over the notebook again, she 'hmms', before turning back to you.
"Well, it has some potential, but it really needs to be fleshed out. Maybe pair it with drawings? It isn't really clear what Ichiku or the giantess are suppose to look like, just vague descriptions."
Is, is Ino critiquing your work? "Then there's Super Devil Ki and those 7 Soul Keys, which sound like they're for accessing that Soul Society place? You definitely need more detail there, like is Ichiku doing something normal for Super Devil Ki wielders or is it unique per person?"
She's definitely critiquing your story. "Overall you should spend more time fleshing out Ichiku, so we know why his family is so important. Because I'm getting the impression that's why Ichiku suddenly developed Super Devil Ki, right?"
Okay, huh... "Yeah, currently the reason anyways. To be honest I've been toying with this story for a while, more so after the theater performance. I only really started working on it when I hit a stumbling block regarding the research I've been doing. See, there's a page torn."
Ino's face lights up as she notices the clean removal, and sets the notebook down. Yet, she looks like she still wants to comment on it, if her thoughtful expression is anything to go by.
"I think you should introduce a female character as Ichiku's ally, maybe someone more knowledgeable and skilled? You're definitely going to need a reason he gets things explained to him."
Huh... you had been trying to remember who the, love interest? Who the first-important-good-female character was suppose to be. Initially it seemed like Karima, but-
No, wait, you're getting distracted. You got a Genjutsu to experiment with, you can talk shop with Ino later! You just hope she doesn't share it, One Bleach Z is nowhere near finalized. Still, maybe Jabari could help plan out the fight scenes...