Masaki stood up slowly, holding young Ichigo's hand tightly.
She looked at the two teenagers who had just destroyed a high-level Hollow like it was a fly.
"Please,"
She said with a warm, shaky smile.
"You saved our lives. Come to our house for dinner. It is the least I can do to say thank you."
Axel was about to say no. He knew their task was done. But then, his stomach made a very loud growl. A second later, Olivia's stomach made the same sound.
Both siblings turned red.
"Well,"
Axel said, rubbing the back of his head.
"It would be impolite to say no to a home-cooked meal, right?"
"We have time,"
Olivia whispered. She checked her connection to the Multiverse Hub. Because their Great Grandpa Stan Lee was controlling the time, they didn't have to hurry.
They could stay in the Bleach world for a whole year, and back at the mansion, only a few hours would pass.
"We can stay for a while."
They arrived at the Kurosaki Clinic. It was a nice, big house. Inside, it smelled like delicious soup and rice.
They met the rest of the family.
There was the father, Isshin, and the two little sisters, Karin and Yuzu.
Dinner was very loud and fun. Axel ate five bowls of rice. He told funny stories to the kids, though he left out the parts about being a god.
Young Ichigo sat next to Axel, staring at him with big, curious eyes.
During the meal, Masaki pulled Isshin into the kitchen.
Her face was serious.
"Isshin,"
She whispered.
"My power... it just stopped working. If these two children hadn't appeared, Ichigo and I would be dead."
Isshin looked through the kitchen door at Axel and Olivia. He narrowed his eyes. As a former Captain of the Soul Society, he could sense that these two were not humans, nor were they Shinigami.
They were something much higher.
"I've never felt anything like them, Masaki. They feel... ancient despite how young they are. But fortunately they are kind. We owe them everything."
Isshin brought Masaki into a hug. He wouldn't know what to do if she were to die.
After dinner, Axel and Olivia stood by the front door.
"We have to go back home now,"
Olivia said, bowing politely to Masaki.
"Wait!"
Ichigo shouted, running up to Axel. He grabbed Axel's sleeve.
"Can you teach me? I saw what you did! You were so fast and that sword was amazing! I want to be strong enough to protect my sisters and my mom, just like you!"
Axel looked down at the young boy.
He saw the fire in Ichigo's eyes. He reached out and ruffled Ichigo's hair.
"You've got a lot of spirit, kid. Keep that heart strong, and one day, you'll be a hero in your own right. Maybe next time I visit, I'll show you a trick or two."
Isshin stood in the back, watching Axel carefully. He wanted to ask,
"Who are you really? Where do you come from?"
But he saw the way Axel smiled at his son. He decided to stay quiet. Some secrets were too big to ask about.
"You are welcome here anytime,"
Masaki said, giving them both a hug.
"Our doors will always be open for you."
Axel and Olivia stepped out into the night. The rain had stopped. They walked down the street toward a quiet park.
"I like them,"
Olivia said.
"They are a good family."
"Me too,"
Axel agreed. Then he stopped walking. He looked at a wooden bench where a black cat was sitting. The cat was licking its paw, trying to act like a normal animal.
"Hey, Olivia. What should we do with her?"
Olivia smiled. It was a mischievous smile.
"She thinks she is very sneaky."
They both knew this was Yoruichi.
They knew she was a legendary flash-master and a powerful woman in a cat's body.
"You want to mess with her before we go back?"
Axel whispered.
"Definitely,"
Olivia replied.
Axel walked over to the bench. He knelt down and looked the black cat right in the eyes.
"Oh, what a cute little kitty! You look so lonely out here in the dark."
Yoruichi, in her cat form, stayed very still. She thought, They don't know it's me. I'll just act like a cat and listen to what they say.
Suddenly, Axel reached out and started scratching Yoruichi behind the ears.
He used a tiny bit of his God Fire warmth to make his fingers feel like a heated massage.
"There we go! Who's a good kitty? You're a good kitty!"
Yoruichi's eyes went wide. The warmth was incredible. She almost started to purr against her will.
Wait, no! I am a noble of the Shihouin clan! Stop scratching there... oh, that feels actually very good…
Olivia walked over and joined in. She used a tiny bit of her Void power to create a small, floating ball of yarn made of dark energy.
She dangled it in front of the cat's nose.
"Do you want the ball, kitty? Go get the ball!"
Yoruichi's cat instincts started to go crazy. She wanted to jump and catch the ball, but she had to stay "natural."
She was sweating under her fur.
These kids are doing this on purpose!
"I think she wants a bath,"
Axel said with a grin.
"Maybe I should use my fire to make a nice, hot bucket of water?"
Yoruichi's ears flicked. She hated water. She realized the game was up.
"Alright, that's enough!"
With a puff of smoke, the black cat vanished.
Standing there was a tall, beautiful woman with purple hair and tan skin.
She looked very annoyed but also very impressed.
"You two knew the whole time, didn't you?"
Axel and Olivia laughed together.
"We're gods, of course we know,"
Axel said, waving his hand as a golden portal began to open behind them.
"We know a lot of things."
"See you later, Cat-lady!"
Axel shouted as he jumped into the portal.
Olivia followed, giving Yoruichi a polite nod.
"Tell the uncle his hat is silly."
The portal closed, leaving a very stunned Yoruichi standing alone in the park. She looked at the spot where they disappeared.
"Gods..."
She whispered.
"I guess they weren't lying."