Agent Mugetsu
Dear Church,
My closest friend, I have a request for you. You have been there for me, so this is a big favor to me. I want you to give a job opportunity to Ichigo Kurosaki of Karakura town. The next couple of pages will be just examples of Ichigo's life.
~ Sincerely,
Urahara Kisuke of Karakura
The darkness greeted Ichigo in the early morning. His father ultimately stopped his early morning wake up calls. This has been one of the things he loved about losing his power. However, when Ichigo lost his powers, the people closest to him began to exclude him from their activities. At first, he expected this because they were the town's hidden protectors, but there was more to it. It was not just leaving him behind, but rather blatantly ignoring him. As if they were strangers meeting for the first time.
Yesterday, Ichigo received a letter. He refused to open the letter until he felt ready to open it.The early morning would be the perfect time as any. The contents of the letter could easily make his day or break it. He gripped the letter tightly as he began to open the envelope. Ichigo felt his heart in his throat. He preferred to fight hollows over this sensation in his throat.
The envelope gave light to a single folded piece of paper. A letter directed to him.
Dear Mr. Kurosaki,
I have been reviewing you for the past couple months. All due to a recommendation from a friend of mine. I have come to a conclusion like you have about yourself.
Where you are at as of now is only stagnating you. This friday, tomorrow if my analysis has been dead on about you. Do not head to your school. Instead make your way to a motel called Murphy's. Be there at eight thirty.
You will be greeted by two agents. Agent Maine and Agent Washington.
Sincerely,
L. Church
Ichigo was confused. He remembered applying, not being recommend into the job. That in itself confused the teenager. Besides, Ichigo could not think of a single person that knew of L. Church. Another thing that confused Ichigo is that he analyzed him. If he did and wanted him still. Church saw some sort of potential in Ichigo.
One thing that knew to be an absolutely fact is the fact that he had been in fact stagnating. Ichigo remember his Zanpakuto's words about keep going forward. That a small amount of hesitation is death. In all of this past year, Ichigo did not go anywhere only existing. He despised this seemingly infinite supply of Kryptonite. This L. Church offered him a place in his program for no reason except for the recommendation. Who ever did that he owed, big time for this.
/ Friday Morning Karakura High /
Sado noted his best friend's absence. He chalked up that him to being ill. The only solid reasoning to miss class. Of course besides not wanting to be there, an agreement which across everyone in the class could attest to. With that thought he can and only assume his friend is at home recovering from his sickness.
The time in the class dragged on by. Sado felt the emotion boredom more often than not. Hence, he reached out with his spiritual pressure to sense a particular spiritual pressure, his best friend's. The location he felt his friend be at confused him. In a part of town that the two never went or only on rare occasions.
Why would he go there?
The more he thought about it. The more worried he became for his friend. It was not like him to skip unless it is training or fighting off the hollows. Neither of those could be done, so there really was not any reason for him not be here.
The large man took a glance through the classroom, but more specifically on Ishida Uryu. The Quincy appeared to be hyper aware of his surroundings unlike any person in Karakura. With the main exception being Ryuken Ishida. Every other being besides these two, never held the same attention to detail like them. Just a glance and Sado could tell that he is wanting to talk to Ichigo, but knew better not to just leave like he did for hollows.
The only spiritually aware person that is present appeared to be unaffected is Orihime. Her senses were not refined as Uryu's or even Sado's senses. However, whenever Ichigo is in a fight. She seemingly always know he will come out on top. Of course, she tells herself that to keep the fear away. Ichigo was her shield and her sword. Anyone in their group would know of this fact.
Ichigo did not mention to his friends about where he is going this morning bothered Sado. It felt like tear of trust. Were they not close friends that promised to watch each other's back?
/ Murphy's /
Hope.
It is a flickering flame in Ichigo's heart about to expand into a pillar of fire. He had a goal again. He had a direction to go into. The only thing in the way are his fears. All Ichigo had to do is to move forward without a single doubt in his heart.
Ichigo smiled as he entered the motel. The receptionist gave him a smile. She had black hair and vibrant blue eyes.
"Ichigo Kurosaki?" She smiled as she look at him.
"Yes that is who I am." He spoke. There was no attempt to hide his smile. He had an opportunity to do something, thanks to a person that will not step forward.
"Those two gentleman have been waiting for you in room 117." She smiled back at him. She stopped him before, he could leave the go to the room. "Wait!" He stopped and turned towards her. He looked confused.
"I was wondering if you have anything going on tomorrow?" She smiled a light blush on her face. She had to admit; he was a looker. It wasn't his bright orange hair that caught her attention. It was his eyes. Those brown orbs, they look mature beyond his years. However, there was a contagion of determination in those eyes. In the brief second, she decided her next words carefully.
"I don't have anything planned tomorrow, but don't think it is best to slow down and find out my name first." She said with a sly smile as he blushed embarrassed at the realization.
"Y-yeah." He stuttered out. As she wrote down her number on the notepad.
"Call me Bambi. Make sure to call and goodluck!" She said smiling. She was confident that he can rise up from anything with those eyes. He smiled back at her.
"Yes, thank you Bambi!" She watched him leave as he practically skipped out to go to the room.
/ Room 117 /
Washington began to pace back in forth in the room. "You think he got lost?" He said pacing back and forth. He wore a white t shirt and jeans with brown hiking boots. His right hand grasping his chin feeling the hairs on his chin.
Maine wore a muscle grey t shirt and tan cargo pants along with dark brown hiking boots. He was sitting on the chair, watching Washington pace back in forth.
Washington is usually calm and a focused individual. He is a person you want fighting right next to you. It was a little worrisome in Maine's boots. This was the first time they were out of their armor. For Maine, being out of armor is a requirement after he became rampant with the AIs. He is currently on probation for his actions, but because of his abilities is the only reason he is even on probation. Otherwise, he would have been thrown into prison.
The knocking on the door startled Wash. He jumped a little. Maine laughed but it sounded evil.
"Keep your mouth shut." Wash said as he makes his way to the door. He unlocked the door and opened it to an orange haired teenager.
/ Sometime in the future /
"Quit! Quit now!" Wash shouted at Ichigo. He stood on a scaffolding watching Ichigo. He was struggling to push himself forward. He was placed on regiment to make him what they need him to be.
This is not an environment for the weak. You have to believe in yourself to be a part of the best. These were soldiers of tomorrow.
He is going to be in a high stress environment. Just like when he was a shinigami. He is going have to make split second decisions.
"There's donuts waiting for you in the break room. All you have to do is give up." Wash continued as Ichigo struggled to go on with the task. Wash smirked as Ichigo kept going forward not giving up.
Even higher from the observation deck. The director smiled as he saw the significant progress he has made in the past month. The stats on the left TV. It was in comparison of Ichigo's stats and the former members of the project. At the moment, Ichigo was off the top ten leaderboards. He is currently number 15 in a would be rank.
He shows a great amount of potential. He trains extremely hard and he is like a sponge to obtaining new knowledge.
"Phillis, keep me updated on Ichigo's progress." He said as turned away from the observation deck.
"Of course director." The female AI spoke as the director walked out of the room. "Do you want to send a message to Urahara?" The director stopped at the question.
"Yes." He said turning around so he can watch over Ichigo again. He watched Wash shouting at Ichigo to give up. "Ichigo is a young man with a lot of potential. Just like most of my previous candidates, he is quite eager to get better. However, unlike them his ability to grow is nothing he has ever seen before. I have high expectations for him. He will be back home when he finished the program."
He walked out of the room and headed to his chambers. In the center of his chambers is a set of armor. The helmet is reminiscent of Corinthian helmets of old with exception of the eye sockets filled with a red visor. The shoulder pads were EVA and the chest plate similar to an ODST chest plate except slightly larger.
"This is my legacy." The director spoke as he stared at the helmet. "Thanks to you old friend. I can't repent of the sins that I have done, but maybe." His hand touch the metal of the armor. "Just maybe Ichigo will be a monument of my repentance."
/ Months Later /
"Wow! You do know how to treat a girl." She was genuinely surprised as he lit the candles. It was late in the evening. The skies were clear. The stars were beautiful. Zangetsu always loved to look up to the stars. He hated the cloudy skies in his inner world. Ever since he lost his powers, he started to stargaze a bit more often just to honor the spirit within him.
"The stars are always beautiful." He smiled at her. His life had really turned around when he got that opportunity. He was no longer down in the dumps about losing his powers.
He was happy about this new chapter in his life. His friends were not so supportive of his new chapter on life. Especially, since he just left in the middle of the school year. It was reminiscent of the time he was a shinigami for them. They were just hurt about not being apart of it.
She smiled as she slowly brought her face to his own as they begin to kiss. Their hands interlocked as they kissed. She was his new son. It is no longer his powers that made him happy, but it is her. She made him smile like his mother always had done. She is sun in his life and nothing will change that.
/ Ceremony One Year Later /
The ceremony is a private one. Only three people were there. The director himself, Wash, and his girlfriend, Bambietta.
"It has been an honor watching this young man grow into the person he became today. He rose to the upcoming challenge. He did not give up when he was given an opportunity to do so. It is in my honor to say that our fellow is now Agent Mugetsu." Wash is the one to give the speech and to give Ichigo his helmet. Ichigo smiled as he took the Corinthian helmet and placed on as he look to the director and then to Wash.
Mugetsu, the peak of his powers. This name will honor his two inner spirits. He will never give in to any force, because he is going to be a force to reckon with.
The director smiled. He was proud of the fact that he left one good legacy in his lifetime. He was making a change of project freelancer. He was going to allow this relationship. It reminded him of his own relationship with Allison except in reverse.
/ End /