Ag-ro-tag's note!
Yep, it's me again! Somehow I managed to write something! It's been such a long time...

But I'll tell you more at the end. For now, here you have formalities:

- Characters used here are from manga 'Bleach' by Kubo Tite, so I don't own them (I may own some OCs later, but it depends if I have any)

- For any grammar or spelling mistakes (though I tried to check them three times!) I horribly apologize.

That's all for now! See you below the text!

- BIRTH OF HOPE -

„Doctor Aizen, we're about to perform the general system re-boot of the Subject No. 15. We're waiting for your orders."

Year 2863.

„Thank you, assistant Nemu. Good job, Doctor Mayuri, this surely is a splendid work."

The Earth hadn't become a friendly place for original inhabitants – humans. All natural resources had been worn out. Flora and fauna had completely disappeared without a trace. The density of air pollution colored whole sky into different shades of brown and gray. Only big cities, desserts and fields of junk could be found. Living in these inhumane conditions forced people to look for a solution to that natural disaster.

„Do not flatter me. I just followed my brilliant design."

For hundreds of years people had worked on constructing the air-city –the government launched buildings into the sky, above the layer of pollution. Tons of buildings' foundations, kilometers high, were stabilizing the place, where people could barely call 'new home'. The city was named 'Soul Society'. However, not everyone was lucky enough to live in this 'heavenly' place, for only 'chosen ones' could be honored. Soul Society's population reached around 1 000 000 000 people. 1/4 of them were scientists.

„You surely are full of yourself. Don't forget the project was my idea."

„Oh, forgive me, forgive me. C'mon, don't be so uptight. So, are we ready for the birth of this wonder?"

In the year 2400 the 'Hueco Mundo Department of Science and Species' had announced the Great Selection. People from all over the world participated in multiple tests, which were supposed to assess the strength and the purity of genes. By that time, there were lots of diseases and unknown mutations. Only those, who weren't burdened by genetic disorders could be called 'chosen ones'. Of course, if a person was also prestigious in the field of genetics, bio-engineering and medicine, the test was just a formality.

„Just wait for a moment... I want to cherish the sight for a little longer. After all, this is the future of Soul Society."

Year 2500 – about 600 buildings, both public buildings and residences were built about 20 kilometers above the ground. The army started to transport people with pure genes to their new homeland. Unfortunately, about 20 000 of them weren't able to survive the first 24 hours. Scientists found the problem – the oxygen concentration was too low for the respiratory system. The global transfer to Soul Society had to be stopped or else all 'chosen ones' were about to disappear.

„A perfect creation, Doctor Aizen."

„Yes... Very well, shall we start? Nemu, please tell the others at the Vital Department and call all doctors and engineers."

„Shall I also call the Head Commander, Doctor Aizen? Doctor Mayuri?"

„No, not yet. We'll inform him after the re-boot. After all, we did that with the subject No. 1 and it was really shameful to show our big failure to the Head Commander."

„As you wish."

Year 2552 – the area of Soul Society had been covered in glass domes. Engineers invented tubes that pumped the air through filters right to the Soul Society. Thanks to that, the global transfer was held again, transporting 20 000 people. A group of 1 000 scientists observed people's reaction to the new habitat and recorded all changes in their behavior, physical appearance and mental state. Two years later another 30 000 were moved to Soul Society. The records had shown rapid loss of weight, poor skin condition due to greater exposition to UV radiation, but they also showed good ratings in mentality. The new area made everybody feel a bit anxious or panicked. Scientists were trying to invent better synthetic nutrition to stop weight loss. The improvement was visible after consumption of a substance from 'Hueco Mundo', which was later called 'Soul Candy'.

Year 2561 – the nutritional problem was solved. Population – 150 000 people. Births given in Soul Society – about 50 000. Deaths – 60 000. Scientists were still testing remaining 7 billion people living on the Earth. Strict rules of the Great Selection caused many mutinies and terrorist attacks on 'Hueco Mundo' Science Department's Nobody wanted to stay on the dead Earth. The government did all it could to stop all riots and keep livable conditions on the planet.

Year 2578 – the organization 'Vizard' had been established. People with 'bad' genes formed groups and started building tunnels and underground cities. 'Hueco Mundo' offered help, providing nutrition, newest developments and scientists.

„Mayuri, it's time."

„Of course, Aizen, of course. Take all your positions! Shut down all unnecessary machines, systems, computers! The project 'Substitute' is about to begin!"

Almost two hundred years later Souls Society had to expand itself. People had assimilated to the unnatural environment, but their life-span was drastically shortened. A person without strengthening mutations or without per-medical treatment was able to live 35 years average. Soul Society's Head Commander, Yamamoto Genryuusai, began the project that was supposed to hold genes' purity and strength while being injected inside of a humanoid. Doctor of Medicine and Science Aizen Souske, respected geneticist and bio-engineer, with a help of Doctor Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Doctor Urahara Kisuke formed the 'Substitute' project. The humanoid they created was supposed to be perfect in every cell of its body. Every system was built with precision and care. Even though the humanoid was made 100% from synthetic materials and micro-computerized systems, nobody could tell a difference from the outside.

Year 2863, Hueco Mundo Department of Bio-technology and Genetics, Sector D 23, Hall 1.

The hall was covered in strange machinery and all kinds of wires that were connecting to the human-sized capsule in the center. The walls of Hall 1 were covered in glass, where about 30 people were standing and observing the on-going experiment. Among them, there were three scientists – a tall, brown-haired man with black-framed glasses and brown eyes; a blond man with shaggy, shoulder-length hair and gray eyes; and a man with black&white-colored skin, wearing a strange pharaoh-like hat with his blue hair attached to it and with a big, yellow-teeth smile. These men were Souske Aizen, Kisuke Urahara and Mayuri Kurotsuchi.

„Hurry up, you lazy bums! I don't want to beat up your asses for the 15th time. Make sure you don't screw this up!" Mayuri shouted at everybody, causing ruckus among fellow scientists, who were quickly pushing series of buttons and calling each other out.

„I dunno, guys. In my opinion, the subject is far from ready." Doctor Urahara whined and scratched his head in confusion. He gave a concerned look at the capsule in the hall behind the glass. „Are you sure we tested every system thoroughly? Last time we lost the subject No. 14, because we hadn't checked the nervous system properly. All proteins in the brain just fried like eggs."

„Kisuke, just shut up." The black'n'white man spoke with irritation. „We run about 15 tests on each system and this time they are all positive. Now let's go to the Main Console. "

„I agree." Aizen spoke after staring at his creation with care and satisfaction. He knew that there was no way this attempt was going to fail. After a while, a slim woman with dark-blue, braided hair and unmoved facial expression approached three doctors.

„Doctor Aizen, the Department is ready. All power sources are concentrated on the life-capsule of the subject No. 15. It is time to begin the process of the Vitalization."

„Thank you, Nemu." The brown-haired smiled at the young assistant and joined Urahara and Mayuri near the Main Console. „Alright, I want your full attention!" All talking and whispering stopped, everybody was afraid to make a single move. Their attention was turned to the Head Doctor. „Under no circumstances is anybody allowed to touch anything or speak. If I happen to catch someone violating this rule, I swear, that person is going to the Seretei Safety Station and, then, sent straight to the Earth with no shelter and no help!" Shivers run down everyone's spines. „Now that you have been warned, I'd like to present you... the Future." Aizen took a last glance at the capsule and corrected his glasses on his nose. „Project 'Substitute', stage one – increase power concentration on capsule's generators."

„Done." Urahara turned on a monitor with statistics of the capsule.

„Stage two – drain all the bio-vitamin substance inside the capsule."

„Roger." Mayuri pushed a proper combination of buttons. Red lights were flashing in Hall one and soon the alarm was set, letting everybody know that the drain began. All scientists observed how the liquid content inside the capsule started to disappear, leaving a human-like figure. Everyone gasped. The only thing the body didn't have was a face. The humanoid couldn't take a proper form without a proper genes that could define its phenotype. „The drain is complete."

„Now the most important..." Aizen abused the keyboard in front of him, writing down various codes, combinations and orders only he and his fellow doctors knew. „Stage the – injecting the sample of deoxyribonucleic acid from human subject." Sweat formed drops on his forehead as he pressed 'ENTER'. The capsule had three big syringes on the left side, on the right side and in the front of the humanoid. After three sound signals, three needles pierced through humanoid's skin and injected the content of syringes. The humanoid shook violently, changing its form rapidly. Scientists held their breaths as they knew that this was the key moment of whole experiment. All digits, limbs, features started to form. Doctor Urahara turned on the capsule's inner camera,which was pointed right at the humanoid's face. A small group formed in front of the monitor. Smooth surface of perfectly oval head started to corrugate, firstly shaping the jaw and forehead, then a nose without holes and lips. „Urahara, statistics, now."

„The DNA has took over 75% of gene-absorbing tissue of the humanoid. In about 30 seconds all organs will be ready to start working."

„Not yet..." Aizen frowned. He recalled the subject No. 10. They were really close to success, but they decided to start all internal organs before the outer form was completed. And so, they actuated the respiratory system before the nose holes and mouth opened. The subject immediately died of suffocation. „Just a little more..." He watched the face looking more like a human. This time, it was a boy, somewhere around 16-17 years old. His features were pretty handsome with his smoothly curved jawline and big eyelids. He looked at the lips, seeing that the line between them formed and parted, opening the humanoid's mouth. „Now! Stage four – Vitalization!"

„Nemu! Useless brat, come here!" Mayuri shouted at the girl and forced her to stand between him and Doctor Aizen. „Check if all systems are working properly!"

„Yes, Doctor Mayuri."

„I'm beginning the sequence of all systems inside humanoid's body." Urahara wrote down the code and began the process.

„Listen carefully, Nemu. If you screw this up, I'm going to abandon you and build another, maybe less useless daughter than you!"

„Yes, Doctor Mayuri."

„The nervous system." All monitors changed their pictures and were showing different codes and designs of humanoid's signs, statistics and systems.

„The brain works 100%. All neurons effective. Nuclei are working. Spinal cord is working. Ganglia are working. Peripheral system is ready to provide all internal organs with impulses from the brain." The girl spoke quickly in a machine manner. Some scientists felt unwell with the way the girl assistant informed about vital signs, but they eventually ignored it. The humanoid's eyelids were shaking violently.

„The circulatory system."

„Heart's left and right atria animated. Heart's left and right ventricles animated. The synthetic blood-substance is circulating without any obstructions. The 'blood' distribution to all organs and cells is optimal. Gas exchange between pulmonary alveoli and pulmonary arteries and veins is appropriate."

„The respiratory system."

„Airways without obstructions. Air flow is optimal. The subject started to breathe. Gas exchange began. The carbon dioxide is being rejected from the system."

„The oxygen saturation goes up..." Urahara wiped his forehead with a tissue and smiled. „I can't believe it... Three main systems are now working... All organs begin to work." He looked at the monitor with the subject's face and observed every movement, like breathing from nose and mouth or shaking eyelids. The facial-shaping process has been finished, making the subject look no different from any other human being. „Aizen... This is a miracle..."

„This is science, Urahara." The man with glasses smiled at his fellow worker. „Imagine this – if the project becomes a success, we will be able to take samples of the Subject's DNA and give them to the people of Soul Society. Thanks to that, they'll live years longer, even several decades or who knows? Maybe centuries..."

„Or infinity..." Urahara ended the sentence. „Do you think this will be the answer to eternal life?" Aizen snickered under his nose, partially concentrating on Nemu's information about the Subject, on the other hand thinking about finding the cure to death.

„This will take a while, but it's possible."

„What I'm sure of is that people on the Earth will be able to to overcome all dangerous conditions." The blond scientist spoke, losing himself in thoughts. „With the new DNA they won't need to eat, they won't need to drink, they'll be resistant to cold, heat, and pollutions."

„This can be risky, Urahara." Aizen frowned. „Remember, we can't go giving the DNA around to anybody. The high priority for now is to maintain Soul Society. The matter of the Earth for now is not important." Urahara's eyes opened wide. He was about to answer to Aizen's rather ruthless statement, when Nemu informed about the end of animating internal organs. „All systems are working perfectly." He pushed some buttons and the red light stopped. Glass walls parted, making a passage between the scientists' room and Hall 1. Doctor Aizen indicated to Mayuri and Urahara to come with him. All three of them approached the centre of the hall, where the capsule was. They looked at the Subject No. 15 to find any problems or deformities. Aizen hummed before giving the last order. „Stage five – adaptation to the new environment. Nemu, open the capsule." The girl assistant gave the order to the Main Console and immediately a glass lid of the capsule opened. Scientists observed skin reaction. „Nemu, Hall 1 statistics."

„Temperature – 28 degrees of Celsius Humidity – 70%. Nitrogen – 78%. Oxygen – 21%."

„Stop, that's enough!" Mayuri shouted. „The hall has almost the same atmosphere as normally on the Earth. The Subject seems to react on these conditions quite well."

„Indeed." Aizen agreed, observing how the humanoid's cheeks became a little pick from the temperature. He put a glove on and checked the Subject's temperature with a thermometer. „It's 35,5 degrees. Rather cold, but it's still optimal." Urahara took notes of all information. He got closer to the Subject.

„Can you hear me?" The blond shouted right into the humanoid's ear, expecting appropriate reaction. To his satisfaction, the boy cringed at the volume. „Reaction is good. His facial muscles started to work.. The sense of hearing is checked."

„What about his vision?" Aizen asked.

„We shall check that later. It's definitely too bright, he may get blind immediately. After all, this is a very delicate matter."

„Right. Well, we need to run some tests. Firstly we need to get his balance and motion right. Then we'll start the learning process. But for now..." Aizen turned around to face the group of doctors and engineers he had been working with since the beginning of the 'Substitute' project. „Everybody, please, listen to me! Today, 15th of July 2863, is the day we created something marvelous. We created a new life. The experiment on the Subject No. 15 is finished with success!" Everybody roared in happiness, congratulated each other either by shaking hands or hugging. Aizen went to the crowd to be showered with praises, comments and compliments.

„Hey, Urahara, who is the donor?" Doctor Mayuri eyed the Subject form head to toe. „That surely is an exquisite appearance. But a bit too young for my taste."

„It was better to give younger DNA so that we can monitor all changes." Urahara replied and searched for the right document. „Let's see... Where was it... I'm sure it's somewhere here-A HA! The donor – Shiba Kaien."

„Shiba Kaien?" The doctor scratched his blue hair in thought. „I have heard this name before."

„You must have. This is one of the thirteen main guardians of Seretei Safety Station, also known to be the best of the best. He ended The Shinigami Academy in only two years."

„A genius, huh?" Mayuri took documents away from his co-scientists. „He'll be pretty surprised to see his own copy."

„I don't think so." Urahara sighed. „About 3 years ago he was taking part of mutiny near the Rukongai district 49. After that, he just disappeared into thin air. Last year his status was changed into 'deceased'. It's believed he was killed."

„Hmm, too bad for the boy..." Mayuri gave the documents back and was about to join Doctor Aizen.

„We should give him a name, don't you think?" Urahara closed the glass lid of the capsule, waiting for co-workers of his Department to transfer the humanoid. „He can't be called 'Subject No. 15' all the time."

„Maybe just 15?"

„No, no numbers..." The blond man tried to come up with an ideal name. „15. Fifteen. One and five... Five and one... Go-Ichi..." He mumbled under his nose all combinations until he shouted. „Ichigo!"

„Ichigo?" Mayuri was surprised. „You used Japanese? Nobody uses that language anymore."

„But our names are Japanese."

„Yeah, but only because our ancestors are from Japan and we're in 'Japanese district' of Soul Society."

„And because we're Japanese at some point, he's going to be too." Urahara smiled to Mayuri's confusion and took a last glance at the humanoid, who seemed to be sleeping.

You're going to change this world, Ichigo...

Ag-ro-tag's note continued!

Hiya! So, did you like it? I'm still shipping pairing IchigoxKaien, so I hope this story will turn out somehow. And DON'T ASK ME ABOUT MY OTHER STORIES I HAVEN'T FINISHED! The time may pass by, but I still look through my writings and try to find solutions. Anyway, if you're interested in some of my other stories, I can invite you to my profile ;)

And about the story over all... My inspiration came from different directions, such as games (The Last of Us, Bioshock all parts), music (I used Jean Michel Jarre's Oxygen), I also try to keep up with Bleach (though I'm even more and more confused...). Changing Ichigo into almost-human humanoid with Kaien's genes inside seems believable to me ;) But I don't know if I still have the same skill of writing as I used to.

You should decide ;)

Take care! And thanks for any review I get!