Project Z: Itsuno.

This was the label across the bottom of the containment I was held in.

I'll warn you in advance – this is going to be a really weird origin story. Then again, all the good ones are…

. . .

They were created in a lab.

Itsuno didn't know what their exact age was supposed to be, but their body appeared to be one of a teenager. So upon creation, they were deemed fifteen years old.

The water drained around them from their containment as they stepped out, once the barrier was lowered.

Their feet padded forward on the cold floor, naked body dripping wet. It was then that they were immediately handed a shiny red bodysuit to wear by an unknown man dressed in all black, whose face it was too dark to see in this room.

Void of all emotion but curiosity, their hands slowly reached out to take the red bodysuit. With a moment's guidance, they dressed themself.

There was a full length mirror built into the wall in front of them. Itsuno stood in front, taking in their features for the first time.

Their hair, shoulder length, was frizzy. Half a vibrant green, half a vibrant purple. Their eyes were even stranger – one a bright green, and the other a striking yellow. Their skin looked deathly pale, color slowly returning to it. Their face was decorated with the lightest of freckles, scattered across the nose and cheeks area. Each time they looked into their own eyes, they seemed to dance with vibrancy.

They could feel the weakness draining from their body, overcome with power by the second.

Itsuno was guided out of the small dark room, led into an area much bigger and yet even emptier. There was one lone window, straying just a bit of natural sunlight into the dim room. They were instructed to sit, as if expected to know how to.

But miraculously, they did.

"You're wondering how you got here."

The man spoke.

"You're wondering why knowledge you can't possibly be capable of learning yet, is already pre-existing in your head. You're wondering who you are, who I am, and what you're doing here. Am I wrong?"

Itsuno slowly shook their head. They hadn't yet spoke.

"You are our creation. You are our weapon."

The man began to pace slowly back and forth in front of the child, hands folded behind his back. Itsuno still had yet to see his face.

"There is an oncoming war. We've prepared for years, and we're almost there.

But now… with you, we are almost ready. You're the key to our victory. We've been patient, waiting for this moment. When we can introduce your importance, your role, and your purpose to you."

He paused in front of them, removing the hood that covered his head.

"You can call me All For One.

And you, are Itsuno."

. . .

It was strange to understand at first.

But Itsuno now knew they were created to serve a great purpose.

This is why they were engineered in a lab, from whose DNA they did not know. They were created with what seemed like unlimited pre-existing knowledge, no need to waste time on education. But for what they made up for in intelligence, they lacked with the ability to express proper emotion.

In the following days, they were kept in that same room. They were of course fed and tended to, but their outfit did not change.

They did not see All For One again in the following days, but did get to know a man who called himself Kurogiri. It was due to Kurogiri's encouragement that Itsuno opened their mouth to speak at all. They started off with only one word, then short sentences, then progressed to speak fully. Their tone was monotonous, but not unsure.

Itsuno was instructed on how to adapt, and survive. They were tested in many fields – reading, writing, memorization, and most importantly – combat. Their fighting skills were described as impressive, to say the least. Like a perfect little machine, manufactured for their divine purpose.

Itsuno could only keep track of how much time had passed since they came into being by counting the nights that passed, through the small window in the room. It had been eight nights. The sky was pretty to watch each time the sun set, counting each star as it appeared in the sky. What else was there to do, when there were no tasks to complete, and the room around them was so eerily quiet and lonely?

Sounds came from the locks on the door behind them.

They turned away from the window, eyeing the doorknob suspiciously.

To their surprise, in walked someone they hadn't seen before.

What stood out the most – was the stranger's bold yellow eyes, a shade that matched Itsuno's left one. Her hair was light blonde, pinned up in two messy buns on either side of her head. The beige cardigan she wore seemed to be a size too big, easily hiding her hands in her long sleeves. It almost covered her navy blue skirt, just peeking out from underneath.

She grinned deviously, which only exaggerated her yellow hues' intense stare. Itsuno would probably feel uncomfortable, if their own stare wasn't just the same.

"Itsuno, darling…"

She approached. Itsuno was wary, keeping their guard up. Perhaps this was a test, and they'd need to strike.

They were right.

With no time to even blink, a knife flashed before their eyes. Itsuno raised their arm, blocking its strike. Their own arm shoved the blonde back, sliding away from their vulnerable position by the window and creating more distance between the two. They were not given a weapon for times like these, but were more than capable regardless.

"Who are you?" They dared to ask.

"I'm Toga! Himiko Toga! And you, you're a cutie!" The compliment didn't mesh well with Himiko's slashing of her knife in the air. She darted forward repeatedly, aiming to strike Itsuno's face. Time and time again, however, Itsuno ducked out of the way, blocking what they could with their arm. They were careful, not a scratch on them by the time Himiko had calmed down.

"Don't tell me you haven't noticed that unique shade in your left eye? It's from me!" She gushed. "Sure, I might not be your biological mother – but why not think of me that way?"

Itsuno's confusion only increased. A Mother…? Something they'd long assumed they didn't have. Did this mean they had a Father too? Or was there even more to this story?

Itsuno and Himiko looked nothing alike, other than that yellow eye. So that couldn't be. It was obviously the result of a DNA mixture… Their biggest question now, was to find out who else's DNA was involved.

Himiko flipped her knife back up her sleeve.

"Itsuno Toga, you are beautiful." She cooed.

Itsuno was caught off guard, again, by the use of a surname for themself. Though, they didn't get the chance to bring this up before their 'Mother' started talking again.

"I mean, I've got some kids too now, but you—You're amazing! A work of art! We perfected you to the fullest, there's absolutely nothing wrong with you." Himiko went on, reaching forward to touch Itsuno's hair. They pulled back.

Himiko paused almost irritably from this, but didn't care to bring it up.

"I bet you're tired… of being cramped in this little dark room alone. Don't you wanna be out there, with us?" She asked, gesturing to the still open door. Itsuno gazed outside curiously, their eyes trailing over to the window behind Himiko almost subconsciously. The sun had already set.

"It's time, Itsuno. Come on out, see the world.

After all… you'll be fighting it in just a few days!"