In Japan. We find Gengo Aoi drinking a glass of wine, thinking about the news his grandson has given him this morning over the phone.
Flashback
"Morning grandfather, how have you been?"
"Good morning Kazuya. A bit tired, I did not have much time to myself because of the new project I've been working on. We'll leave that aside for now, how may I help you? You don't really call me unless something happens."
"About that, I want to transfer to West Genetics, and I need my guardian's approval for this."
West Genetics huh... so the time has come for him to go there as well. Is this fate?
"Alright Kazuya, I will deal with it. You will start in two weeks from now. Leaving that aside how have you been Kazuya. Are you alright, are you eating properly?"
"Yeah, I've been ok ... we'll talk later. See you grandfather."
This kid, he still hates me huh...
Flashback end
"Hah... I'm too old for this... Hmm? What's this?"
Looking ahead he can see space starting to distort.
A Nova?! Here?!
The distortion was getting bigger and bigger until a white vortex appeared. From inside two people appeared. A man that appeared to be around thirty years old, tall lean-built with light skin and gray eyes. His hair is messy and light-blond (almost pale), with strands framing the sides of the face and hanging between his eyes, and he has chin stubble. He wears a dark coat, which sports a white diamond pattern along its bottom half, with a dark green shirt and pants underneath. His overcoat was similar to a haori. He also carried a fan while also wearing traditional Japanese wooden sandals (geta) and a striped dark green and white bucket hat. While the second one seems to be around seventeen, eighteen, with spiky orange hair, fairly tall, lean-build with peach skin and brown eyes, wearing blue jeans and sports shoes, together with a black t-shirt and a silver necklace.
The two intruders look around, with utter surprise on their face. That is until the teen turns to the older man with a scowl on his face.
"Damn you Kisuke! I knew something would happen the moment you called me over to help! Now look at what you got us into!"
"Now now Kurosaki-kun, while I don't know the exact location we are in. From what I can see, we are still in Japan, so no need to panic."
Starting to recover from his shock Gengo, looking at the two arguing he decides to call out to them.
"Ahem! Excuse me you two, but who are you and how did you get here? No, better yet, what was that vortex?"
Looking at the white-haired man, Kisuke starts introducing himself and Ichigo.
"Well my dear sir, I am Urahara Kisuke, while this young man beside me is Kurosaki Ichigo. Now if you don't mind me asking, where are we?"
"This is a vacation house near the Pacific Ocean. The location is close to West Genetics. Now, I've answered your question so it's my turn. What do you mean 'we are still in Japan', where do you come from?"
Hearing the words 'West Genetics', Kisuke gets a very bad feeling and decides to do some information exchange.
"We are from Karakura Town. If you don't mind me asking sir, what is your name?"
A bit shocked, Gengo realizes that he forgot to introduce himself to his two "guests".
"My name is Aoi Gengo. I am the Chief scientist of Chevalier."
West Genetics, Chevalier ….. **** you Kisuke! I knew something would happen!
Looking at the two intruders, Gengo can't help but think. They seem human, although the older one, Kisuke was his name? Why does he give me a familiar feeling? And the way he is dressed, hmm … I like his style. (Author here: Yeah I wonder where the familiarity is from? Could it be from the fact they have the same style of dressing? Or from the fact that they both are mad scientists? Or the fact that both like manipulating others (for their own good or not)? Or that they both love keeping secrets so big that they might destroy the world? Yeah I wonder what could it be?)
From Kisuke's perspective. Wow, what is this feeling? It's like I found someone that can truly understand me, understand what I say and think… it's like I found my soulmate! (Author again: Yeah yeah I know, too many author's notes in this chapter but I just can't help myself!... Ahem. So all I can say is that I pray that Ichigo really doesn't break the 4th wall for what I am planning for him (Urahara Kisuke + Aoi Gengo = a mental break down Ichigo in the nearby future. Well Amen! I shall pray for thy soul! )
"I believe we should go inside and have a proper conversation about EVERYTHING that happened here tonight."
A few hours later we can see a depressed Ichigo together with two excited madmen. Looking up he can't help but ask.
"So let me get this straight, we are on Earth – Japan, the year 2065, near West Genetics, one of two Genetics military academies operated by Chevalier in Japan. Whose purpose is to train Pandora and Limiter soldiers to fight against the Nova. Nova are a race of aliens from another dimension that have been invading Earth, the Nova's first recorded sighting on Earth was 2012… Great, so there's like eight more years in our timeline before we are invaded by damn aliens!"
"Actually Kurosaki-kun there might be a "small" problem in that theory of yours… you see, I believe that this might not be our world… now before you start, let me finish explaining why I believe this to be true: 1- the machine I made has to do with space travel, not time travel, while space and time are connected, it is virtually impossible to travel thru time with what we had at hand. 2- From what I understand from Gengo-dono here, the place we are from, Karakura Town, doesn't exist and it never did. 3- I will need your help here Ichigo, I would like you to try and open a Senkaimon."
"Open a Senkaimon … ha whatever, give me a moment."
Materializing Zangetsu, Ichigo tries to open a Senkaimon, unfortunately, nothing happens.
"As I thought… "
"What do you mean by what you thought damn it!?" He says agitated while unconsciously releasing his spiritual pressure (reiatsu). The whole house starts to tremble while Gengo has trouble breathing. Seeing this Kisuke gets between them to take the brunt of the pressure while looking at Ichigo and trying to calm him down.
"Now calm down Kurosaki-kun, we are not alone in here."
Looking behind Kisuke, he sees a sweating Gengo, who looks at him with utter astonishment.
"…That… what was that? It felt like a mountain came crashing on my shoulders… it almost felt like freezing…and that pear of swords it looked volt weapons…"
Oh my, it seems we landed in a very interesting place.
"That my friend is what's called a Zanpakutō, and that suffocating feeling you got is from the spiritual pressure Ichigo released. Well since you were kind enough to tell us where we are I believe it is our turn to explain what we are and our situation."
And so Kisuke start's to tell him about them being Shinigami, how it seems they are from a different world and how they ended up in this one.
"Unbelievable… so my theory about other worlds existing beyond ours is true. And from what you are telling me your world, it is also called Earth, but there are also other intelligent beings other than humans plus how you described the Quincy, it seems like they are similar to the Pandora's but with a bow as a primary weapon. Also, the concept of the soul can be thought of like that as well, truly remarkable."
"It's not only that but our problem with the hollows is quite similar to what this world has with the Nova. But in our case, we Shinigami are their natural enemy so we balance the world with only a handful of humans knowing about their existence. So Gengo-dono…."
"There's no need for dono, just call me Gengo, I don't like all those formalities."
"Alright then, you should also address me Kisuke. Now then, back to the conversation. Gengo I was wondering if you could provide us with temporary shelter until we resolve our problem and in exchange, I can provide you with my own data about hollow and the likes of our world."
With an excited at the notion of another world's information and data about being similar to Pandoras and Novas, Gengo agrees. Of course, the feeling of familiarity he has toward his fellow researcher does help as well.
"Of course, don't worry I will deal with all legal procedures and give you new… ?"
He hears his cell phone and goes to pick it up. The one calling is Su-Na Lee.
"Hello, it's me, Su-Na Le, I called to inform you that I will be there in about half an hour and to ask what you would like for dinner."
"The usual will do, also do buy ingredients for two extra people. Tonight will be four of us for dinner."
Turning back towards Ichigo and Kisuke, who was looking at him with a questioning look.
"That was Su-Na Li. Current strongest active Pandora. She also acts as my bodyguard, assistant, and personal maid. I must say she I quite good at cooking."
"You have the strongest active Pandora working as your personal maid?"
"Yes Kurosaki-kun, I quite like her style and cooking, plus the fact that I trust her with my secrets. So you don't have to worry, what we say in front of her won't get out."
A few hours later, Kisuke and Gengo are having a hot conversation about the Pandora project and what it implies, plus the genetics that stands behind the concept.
The next day, in the morning Kisuke and Ichigo stand face and discuss what they will do from now on.
"Well Kurosaki-kun, after arranging with Gengo we made the following identities for us. The names are the same, the date of birth change but our family members are the same. Also, on paper I will appear as your uncle and legal guardian. I hope you don't mind the decision I made."
"Nah, it's alright. Also Kisuke, from what I understand we don't really know how long well be staying in this world or if we will ever be able to return so I decided that I will join West Genetics, I need you to help me with this."
"If I may ask Ichigo, what made you decide to join West Genetics?"
Looking conflicted, and debating for a few moments on how to answer, Ichigo decides to tell him everything,
"First of all I would like to continue my education; I am a second year so I should be able to enter the second year here as well. Two, this way I will be able to learn and adjust to this world in the fastest way, plus being around those my age might help me with that. Third, I want to help them if possible, I … want to try to become a limiter. And last but not least… this may sound strange, but since last night I started feeling strange like someone is crying and calling out to me. I never felt like this before. I feel that I don't head this call I will regret it for the rest of my life."
Looking at Ichigo with a face that practically screams the word IMPOSSIBLE, Kisuke tells him something unbelievable.
"Ichigo, if what you just said is true, then you are experiencing something that we Shinigami's call soul resonance."
With a confused expression on his face. "Soul resonance?"
"Do you remember when all of Soul Society memory of Rukia has been stolen with only you remembering about her? Well, that Ichigo was something similar to soul resonance. Because Kuchiki Rukia originally transferred her Shinigami powers to you, she created a link between your souls that stayed even after you lost your power to Byakuya. The link allowed you to know the existence of each other and if you concentrate on it, you could feel how the other is. But this is still an artificial link. The soul resonance happens when two souls whose compatibility with each other reaches 100% when the very source of the soul is the same. When those two souls are in the same world they start sending out a call towards each other. The owners will continually feel like they are missing something, that there is something out there that they must find no matter what, and they will only be at peace when they are together. You also won't ever find someone you can trust more in the whole of creation besides them, so Ichigo all I can say is that you must follow this feeling. I will go and talk to Gengo and get you enrolled in West Genetics."
Turning around, Kisuke can't help but smile from the happiness he feels for his student. It seems it was truly a god giving miracle that we ended in this world after all.
Currently in West Genetics, in Satellizer El. Bridget's dormitory.
"What is this feeling? My heart has never felt like this before. I feel so happy like I found something that I lost a long time ago, something very important, so far yet so close. I feel like I am full of energy, and … more complete than before? Just what happened last night?"
Together with Kisuke and Gengo.
"He wants to join West Genetics? Are you sure this is a good idea?"
"I am. This will do him good. Plus with this he can help in case a Nova appears. So it's a win-win situation."
"If you say so, then we need to have his compatibility checked. Come, I have a personal lab in the basement."
Ten minutes later in the lab.
"So what do I need to do?" Asks Ichigo while looking around the high tech lab that seems to be taken from an SF movie.
"Right, come here." Pointing at a device, Ichigo followed the scientist until he arrived at some sort of table that went into a chamber. Laying on the table, Ichigo waited. He felt the device begin to vibrate as it started moving, slowly inserting the piece Ichigo rested inside the contraption. It only took a couple of seconds and the process was over. Ichigo was surprised at how fast things went.
"So what did this thing do?" He couldn't help but ask as he got off the table and on his feet again.
"This device measures your potential as a Limiter, it shows your compatibility rate with Stigmata and we can see how strong of a Limiter you'll be." Gengo then pressed a few buttons and the results appeared on a monitor. Upon seeing them, he couldn't help but stare. His grandson had a body that was 30% made out of Stigma tissue, but he couldn't even hold a candle to this young man standing before him. If he were to make a comparison, he would say that Kurosaki Ichigo's body was made 100% out of stigmata, his compatibility was that extraordinary.
"So how was it?"
Looking at the young man before him then at the result of his test, Gengo can't help but let out a dry sight.
"Well Ichigo, you won't have a problem getting inside West Genetics with this result. You have the best compatibility I have ever seen." Sighing he turns around and continues.
"I believe that we should go and buy your necessary clothes and what else you may need. Also, I need to inform you that since you will join the Genetics you will get money monthly, after all, Genetics is a military institution made to combat novas."
A few hours later, after they have done buying the necessities needed Gengo also makes a few phone calls, to make sure Ichigo gets in West Genetic.
"Well Ichigo, you should sleep early tonight, tomorrow someone will come and pick you up."
Next morning Ichigo is dressed in West Genetics school attire. A helicopter flies toward them and lands a few dozen feet beside the house. From inside comes an average teenage girl with blonde hair that reaches down to her shoulders, two tied up bangs covering her cheeks and two forehead bangs split up in the middle, with her eyes narrowed to slits.
She walks toward Ichigo and introduces herself.
"Good morning. My name is Chiffon Fairchild, Student Council President of West Genetics Academy. I believe you should be Kurosaki Ichigo. I have come to pick you up."
"Yeah that's me alright, but if you don't mind me asking, was the helicopter really necessary? I mean West Genetics is pretty close by, half an hour by car I believe."
Looking at the young man before her, Chiffon titles her head at the boy's statement.
"That's indeed true, but classes start in about an hour from now and we need to go to the Headmistress office, and then show you to your room and afterword we need to get you to your classroom, so there's not a lot of time. So if you don't mind, I believe we should be going, you don't want to be late for your first day now do you."
A bit surprised at the tight schedule Ichigo boarded the helicopter.
Twenty minutes later at the Headmistress office. Knocking at the door, and calling.
"Headmistress, I have brought Kurosaki Ichigo."
From inside a voice of a mature woman's voice is heard.
"Please enter."
Chiffon enters closely followed by Ichigo, who introduces himself.
"Good morning ma'am, my name is Kurosaki Ichigo; it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
Looking a bit surprised by the young man's manner, she smiles and introduces herself.
"Good morning Ichigo, I am Sister Margaret Lindman, the Headmistress of West Genetics. Now I would like to ask you a few questions, afterword I shall give you your class schedule and the key to your room and let Chiffon guide you. Is that alright with you?"
She wait's a bit before getting a nod from the young man.
"Very well. It's nothing too private; I just wish to know how you feel about joining West Genetics. What made you decide to join West Genetics? What made you decide to join West Genetics as a Limiter?" She keeps her sights on the young man, waiting for his response.
Ichigo takes a moment to focus and carefully word his response so as to not to give anything away.
"There are two reasons. The first is to lend a helping hand towards fighting the Nova. As for my second reason I am searching for someone."
Giving him a surprised look, Sister Margaret asks the second and final question.
"What do you think of the war between humanity and Nova? Do you believe in our victory over the invaders?"
"That depends, ma'am. If those at the top stop fighting for their own greed and start working together toward our survival, yes we shall have a chance. If they don't then humanity is doomed."
Now, this was not an answer she was expecting from a seventeen-year-old teen. Now that she looks carefully, she can see that his eyes aren't those of a young man but those of a warrior that has seen true war and death. She can't help but sight at how right his words are, even as harsh as they may sound.
"Indeed, it is just as you have said. Now Ichigo, here is your class schedule and key to the second year boy's dorm."
Saying goodbye and leaving the headmistress's office Ichigo and Chiffon make their way towards the dormitory. They get there at 7:40, still 20 minutes from when classes start. Opening the door, Ichigo is surprised by how spacious the rooms are. He stares for a moment before taking a look at his class schedule he sees that classes start at eight, in about twenty.
"Hm, Chiffon-senpai, my next class is at eight in class 201. So now if you don't mind would you please show me the way?"
"Just Chiffon will do. And yes let's go, that classroom is a bit far so we should hurry."
Turning around she walks towards the door. Ichigo follows her and closes the door before leaving.
Walking through the school hallways, he now truly realizes how big this school really is. Luckily on their way, they meet the teacher in charge, who takes responsibility for leading him to the classroom and introducing him.
Now what he never did expect was for his heart to start beating like crazy, for it to be so excited. For his very soul to cry out in joy toward him, as they made their way towards the classroom.
Now in classroom 201, Satellizer was feeling pure excitement and joy coursing through her body. Something inside of her was whispering that he has come, a feeling of comfort and security enveloping her. When she hears two pairs of steps coming towards the classroom, time seems to flow slower as the door of the classroom opened. First, her teacher entered, followed by fairly tall, lean-built young man. The moment he turns around and their eyes meet, time stopped. The moment they looked into each other eyes they could only see happiness, excitement and pure content.
Both pairs of eyes glowing a blue soft light as they look at one another, but as all good things must come to an end they hear the teacher.
"Well then class; let me present your new classmate."
"Nice to meet you, everyone, my name is Kurosaki Ichigo. I hope we can get along in the future. Also, I want to make one thing clear so that we won't have a misunderstanding among us: my hair is naturally like this. My mother had orange hair and my father has spiky hair as well, so it is completely hereditary."
"Thank you for telling us. Now, class, Ichigo-kun is transferring to this academy all way from the U.S.A., so please treat him kindly, everyone. Now, your seat will be…"
"Sensei, there seems to be an empty seat in the back near the window, I wouldn't mind sitting there." He said while pointing towards the empty seat beside Satellizer.
The teacher is shocked, not knowing what to do until she hears something that shakes the whole classroom.
"Sensei, I don't mind if he takes the seat, just like he said it is empty…" She says with a bit of a shy voice.
In a state of shock, she answered mechanically.
"Well then, Ichigo-kun, you may seat there…"
Walking towards his seat, he takes another look at Satellizer then sits down.
Deep down he can't help but think – she's the one that was calling towards me.
As for Satellizer, she too has similar thoughts – It's him, the one my heart whispered about.
In the middle of the lesson
While in the middle of the lesson, the two can't help but take peeks at one another, when their gazes meet they stay like that for a moment before averting their eyes.
When the first period is over, and the teacher leaves, and the student start talking among themselves, he takes the chance to speak with her.
"Hi, well… since we are sitting beside one another, I think I should reintroduce myself. Nice to meet you, my name is Kurosaki Ichigo." He finishes waiting for her to speak.
Looking at the young man before here Satellizer's mind stops working for a moment before she does something she hasn't done in a long time, she smiles and introduces herself.
"Nice to meet you Kurosaki-kun, my name is Satellizer El. Bridget and I hope we get along from now on."
The whole classroom is in shock. How can they not be? After all Satellizer El. Bridget, the Untouchable Queen has a smile on her face for the first time!
Giving a smile of his own, he continues.
"Just call me Ichigo. I have a father that's named Kurosaki as well, so when you say Kurosaki-kun I don't know if you are referring to him or me."
"Hm, then you may call me just Satella as well, after all Satellizer is quite long."
Doing small jokes, and holding small conversations with one another for the first time, they don't realize the content smile that creeps on their faces. Even after the lessons start, you could still hear suppressed giggles from them.
A few hours after their lessons are done.
"Hey, Satella, if you have some free time would you please show me around? The only places I know are the dormitory and this classroom."
"Alright, since classes are over I have some free time so I'll show you around."
Doing something that she has truly not done in a very, very long time, Satellizer takes Ichigo's hand in her own and pulled him outside.
