Manifestation of Soul
(Bleach x Persona X-over)
"...mmmh?" he blinked blearily, feeling somewhat discontent with how comfortable he was. It's weird. Usually he woke up to another yell and attack that surely leaved him bruised and damn near gain concussion if he failed to wake up and dodge on time*. After all, what an eleven years old boy can do against almost-forty years old adult? He is not strong enough... not yet.
Still, it's not like he didn't appreciate it. On the contrary, he likes the new change. Still, he have to wake up before he get attacked. Begrudgingly, he sat up a bit straighter...
...
...wait a minute? He's sitting?
Brown eyes fluttered and blinked rapidly. He forced himself to wake up. It's weird. He know he didn't fell asleep on the couch. And no one moved him. why should they? So, how? Who, and why?
It took him few moments for his blurred vision to become clear. What first come to his brain is a word... or rather a color.
Blue.
Blue everywhere. A soothing, deep blue which he didn't mind to see for a long time. Rich velvet blue room that bordering indigo on few spots. Few more blink to clear blurred dots, he now can see bit clearer. He was not in his room, or his home. Or anywhere he recognized.
He was sitting on a room. It resemble the living room in his house, only... it was more like belong to a really big mansion. The soft, cloud-like couch he was in? Can hold two sumos and still have small room left. Likewise, it was also blue in color.
Looking around, the wallpaper, despite being blue, has rather nice pattern on near bottom. A stylish checkered pattern drawn in golden lines with occasional butterfly appears randomly. The floor is covered by black-velvet blue carpet and soft to touch. Pillows are throw haphazardly around. There was a fridge and fully stocked counter on one corner, so it doubled as kitchen.
"Oho! It seems we have one really unique guest this time! I must say even I am surprised." A voice said. You can practically hear grins from the tone alone.
He looked straight again, and find that, yes indeed, he wasn't alone. Seated across the table, in couch that was in same size as him, was one odd... man, dare he said it? The man is... bizarre, if he have to be polite, and extremely weird if he had to be blunt. The man is short, but certainly is still taller than him even when he hunched down, dressed in pristine blue suit with stripes, complete with tie and white gloves. The eyes are big, bigger than his fist, and bloodshot. His ears are long and pointed, like faerie or leprechaun from storybook, with even bigger, longer nose that it practically like flesh-colored beak. His mouth is curled in creepy, wide grin. He is bald save for white-gray tuff of hair on back and sides of his head.
"Welcome to the velvet room." The strange man said. "This place exist between reality and dream. Mind and matter..."
"...what?" What that suppose to means? Was he dreaming or was he awake and kidnapped into strange place? Why was he here again? He can't remember. Last thing he remember...
"Usually, this is a room that only those are bound by a 'Contract' may enter," the man explained, still smiling eerily in way that made him very nervous. And it has been two years since last time he feel nervous! What the hell is this man-thing?! And Contract? What kind of 'Contract'?! The man emphasize on the word that you know it had to be begin with a capital letter.
"My name is Igor." Oh good, now he had a name. Though it was not Japanese. "I am delighted to make your acquaintance." Finished with his own introduction, Igor the faced to the left... Igor's left and not his, and pointed to the other figure in the room—how did he never notice that?! "This is Margaret, she is a resident here, like myself."
The girl—or was it the Lady?—turn her attention from the book she was holding to him, and smiled. She was... well, he was not exactly the best person to speak about fashion, usually let his mother dressed him up when she was alive, or wear some simple T-shirt and shorts. And he never cares about girls. But even he know this lady is beautiful. Her skin is few shades paler, pronounced even more with her blue dress with golden buttons, black high socks** and blue boots***. Her hair is as long as his mother used to wore, light blonde that it almost pale, and keep away from her face with blue headband.
"My name is Margaret," she greeted. Even her voice is softer and better than his music teacher! Oh hell. He would never let his 'dearest' father meet her, ever, or he will embarrass them both. "I am here to accompany you in your journey."
It was really weird. Like, weird fantasy movie weird. Mysterious characters with even more mysterious plot. And he doesn't remember how did he come here. Why was he here again? When, where, why and how did he enter this place? No. It can't be. The room felt otherworldly, with the window cast sight to dark night filled with beautiful stars and a crescent moon. Stars, that should not be visible in Karakura. Sure, it was not Tokyo, but the night sky always filled with lamp lights and not natural stars. Even he sometimes had hard time seeing the moon. Could Igor be really spoke the truth when he was saying that this place was somewhere god-know-where between dream and reality?
He have to be asleep then, if that was the case. This was like a dream, but the comfortable furniture and feelings... way too real...
"Now then, young man," Igor smiled. "Why don't you introduce yourself?"
"O-Oh. I'm Kurosaki Ichigo... or Ichigo Kurosaki, mom said westerns use given name first." Ichigo said, still somewhat dazed from the sudden transition to the Velvet Room without his knowledge.
He half-expected someone made fun of his name. Not like he had anything against Strawberries, but he's a big boy and he doesn't like being compared to something cute and sweet—even if it was his favorite ice cream flavor next to orange one! But instead that, Igor merely chuckled. "Hm, I see..."
Ichigo was pleased, and suspicious. While it's good they didn't name fun of his name, nor openly at least, it was rather strange and bizarre how they accept it just like that.
"So..." he drawled, "Igor-san... was it? Why am I here?" First thing he learn after his 'dearest' father made that ridiculous and borderline abusive lesson, is to know where your position is, to know what to do and what to NOT do.
"Why, indeed that is a good question." The man admitted in astonishment. "You see, those who visit this place have destinies, tales that they must make up as they go in their lives. A destiny that so great that they need helps to fulfill or overcome any and all expectation. Only those that have fulfilled the requirement can access the Velvet Room."
"...did I do something to come here? Or God or whatever higher being is bored and decide they want a good show with me as the star?" Ichigo said, half-curious half-incredulous. What did he do, or will have to do, to enter this Velvet Room with him not even notice it?
"Hmhmhm... why don't we find out?"
Igor raised his hand and with snap of finger, the table that separates them glowed bright. Well, too bright, that Ichigo had to closed his eyes on top of crossed his hands before his face to blocked the light. He felt something was pulled away from him, gently. Ugh... whatever this is, hopefully not something dangerous to his life.
He lowered his arms again and open his eyes as soon as the lights die out. He find himself staring at a silver key that hovering in the air.
"Oho? How interesting. You already had the Velvet Key, that allows the holder to be the guest of the Velvet Room, in your possession. Not only that, it seems you even have met our master, Philemon."
Even as he speak, Igor did nothing to make the key moved. It seems he too is curious about the key's origin.
"Philemon...?" Ichigo's brows scrunched. Tried to remember someone he never know before who strike conversation or give him something. Let's see... "You means... that guy with weird mask that had half butterfly drawn on one eye?" Because among all people he had meet, only that weirdo stood out from the rest.
"Oh. You did." Igor beamed... and scared Ichigo in the process. "Tell us, where and when did you met him?"
"I..." ?!
Ichigo hissed in pain as sharp pain hit his head. It was so bad that he had to grasp his head with one hand and pull his hair to neutered the pain with another pain.
"...Ichigo?"
"I... I don't remember." Ichigo gasped as the pain slowly subside. "...or maybe... I'm not allowed to remember." Because what else could cause the pain when he tried to remember a meeting or two.
Margaret continued to watch him with her yellow, hawk-like eyes, but much more closely after hearing the answer. Still, there was no judging look so Ichigo believed that she didn't think him as liar or trying to concealed the truth about his answer. The instant reaction, he hoped, is enough to convince them.
"Is that so?" Igor's grin never faltered. Ichigo wonder if he can NOT grinning. "I believe in your honesty." Thank God. "Still, it is becoming a curious thought. This key had to be given to someone, whose fortune led the guest to a journey he or she had to take. The previous holder of this key can attest such, with his journey and final decision."
Journey huh? So it was true. A god or something omni-whatever above is bored and set up a drama and he had the (mis)fortune to be the main star in the show. Great...
"Well, then," Igor said as the key returned to Ichigo, who grasp it and hold it tightly but not tight enough to crush it. "let's take a look at your future, shall we?"
Igor raised his left hand above the table, and formed another ball of light. Not as extreme as previous, luckily, and it formed a stack of, surprise surprise, blue card. The cover had mask face split into two, one is dark and other is light, with vine and harps on the corner. Odd cards.
"Do you believe in fortune telling?" The odd man asked.
"Euh... umm... no..?" Ichigo squeaked with apologetic smile. "Never heard before."
"It's okay." Igor assured. Even if it wasn't believed on, he still keep the eerie smile, which made Ichigo think that creepy smile-grin is his default face expression. A flick of hand, and the cards shuffled by itself. Another flick, and seven of the cards taken off from the stack, spread in seven direction surrounding the deck of cards. "The Arcana Cards always tell a different fortune. You can try reading with same cards over and over again, but the resul is always different." Igor chuckled, somewhat darkly. "Life too, follow the same thing, doesn't her?"
Ichigo wisely didn't comment how Igor refers life as a woman.
Starting his special act, his hand wavered over one card out of the group, the one closest to Ichigo, and magically flipped it over without laying even a touch on it. The card that was flipped revealed to be... a door. Iron brass door, with skull on it. And XIII, or Roman numeric for 13, written below the door.
"...hmm... curious, curious. The Death in upright position, represent the immediate future."
Ichigo would never admit it, but he let out squeak that was similar to a dying mouse. "Death? Am I going to die?!" He choked.
"Not quite." It was Margaret who speak. Soothing the distraught boy with her soothing and gentle voice. "The Death, while could be representing someone's death in the future, usually means a change. A new beginning. The journey to afterlife always begin with one's death, no?"
Ichigo stared at her, much like a deer in headlight, and nodded. The explanation eased his calm.
"Indeed. Something will happens in your future, one that will change your life so big in way it would never be same again." Igor nod. "Well, then let's find the relationship with the Death, shall we?" He flicked the next card. Card on the right of the Death. "And the Card that is related to the Death would be..."
It was a tower. A tower being strike down by a lightning with two figures fell from the tower. They're need more than luck. They need Divine Favor to survive the other lightning, and to avoid the fate of becoming paste on the roadside.
"...the Tower, in upright position."
A shiver come down on Ichigo's spine as he stared at the card. He had feeling misfortune is on its way to him... riding a train.
"It seems the change will make you either meet or cause a catastrophe. Or uprooting something that is equally shocking and mind-blowing. Who knows?"
See...? Fate hated him.
"...can we..." he gulped. "Can we see one more card?"
"Hm..." Igor mused. "I don't see why not. If it sated your curiosity, then I shall allow it. To be honest, I am very interest on what dear lady Fates had in store for you." He flicked the third card.
The card revealed to be a pair of eyes, drawn almost comically, watching a sprout of of fire that seems to be held by a pair of hands. There is also an infinite symbol, which is like crudely drawn 8 in English if you ask Ichigo's personal opinion, above the eyes. There's also an I or 1 in roman numeric. But... the card seems to supposed be in other position.
"Ah... the Magician, in reversed position."
"And thus, it is answered." Igor nodded, seems to be pleased at hiself. "It seems that the cause of the Death and indirect cause of the Tower, is of someone initiative, and will want to take control of people for its desire."
Ichigo's body began to tremble. "I... it can't be..." his face is ashen pale as cold sweats pouring down. Understandably, considering what a dark, dark future lies before him. part of him was glad he got beforehand warning rather than thrown straight into the middle of conflict blindfolded. "What... what should I do?"
Gaining power. That was obvious. He lost his mother because he's weak—no, because he's impulsive. He can't blocked his fathers attack because he's weak, inexperienced, and surprised. He had to gain power and become more aware of his surrounding. But how? Sign up for Karate again? No. He can't. Too many bad memories. So what? Should he—
"Calm down." Margaret spoke up, reassuring Ichigo and giving him support to compose himself. "You may be part of the tools your oppressor will want. However, you can still avoid the false directions and the noose, provide you know what the oppressor's tactics are in order to counter it."
"...I see..."
Why? Why did this all happens to him? Not like he didn't appreciate the warning, but why? What did he had done in his previous life to warrant such a fate?
"You have quite an interesting journey ahead of you." Igor beamed, again scared Ichigo, as he brought the cards together to disappear. "Perhaps you will requires our services if you must leap over the obstacles."
"Your services?" Ichigo parroted. "What kind of services you're talking about?"
"Eager, aren't you?" Ichigo had the decency to duck and flushed, draw chuckles out of Igor. "Not only you do possess the great potential inside of you, yo also manage to attain a Velvet Key from Master Philemon. I believe, if Master Philemon is the one choose you, then certainly, there is more to you than meets the eye."
"Umu?" Ichigo tilted his head.
With a flash of power, a written paper, a contract of sorts, and a feather pen, formed out and hovering in the thin air that used to be nothingness.
Ichigo really isn't into magic genre, but damn if it wasn't fun to watch.
"Sign here," Igor ordered as the paper was set flat on the table, while the feather made its way to Ichigo. "and you will allow us to assist you, as well as keep your memory with us. In return, we only ask that you fully take responsibilities of your own actions."
"...fair." Ichigo replied. Take the pen and sign his name.
It was crazy, really. And here he think seeing the dead is crazy enough. But to think such a fate awaits him to make his own move? Big, fucked up, crazy—and he blame his deadbeat drunk father for the swear words. Still, if it means he can protect Yuzu and Karin, and his friends if he ever made any in the future, then he will take any help he can get. He will protect them. He will not failed them, unlike when he failed to protect mom to fight that monster.
After all, there is a push. A need. An urge. Forced him to moved his hand to take the pen and sign the contract. As if there was a mysterious, outside force out there that want, nay, need Ichigo to awaken whatever potential he had, and deal with the fate set for him.
...coincidentally, can they tell him what those thing are? And how to fight those? Kurosaki Isshin is close to useless on any supernatural related stuff.
He looked down on the paper. His name is nicely written on the signagture line. Even if it bit messy. He really have to improve his penmanship, huh?
Kurosaki Ichigo.
...even the ink is blue... this room take Velvet Room to whole new degree, isn't it?
"Now, with this contract and the Velvet Key you possess, you are guest of the Velvet Room." Igor spoke, and then chuckles.
"We look forward to see what the future awaits you." Said Margaret. A small smile adorned her face. Make her expression become, well, softer.
"Now, I'm sure the time you spend here is about to up. It's time for you to wake up." Said Igor. Just as he said, Ichigo's vision began blurred out and dark spots appears in his vision. Damn. He still... he still have more questions. "Now, now, don't be haste, dear Guest. We will meet again. Until then..."
With that final parting words, Ichigo succumb to the darkness as he failing backwards.
~X~
Contract of Velvet Room
In accordance to agreement and services of the Velvet Room, the one who sign up contract will agree to these conditions and terms:
Guest will be treated as such, and thus the Guest is asked to refrain from destructing any items from Velvet Room
The Guest is prohibited to assault the attendants of Velvet Room unless is asked for a battle.
All battle must be with consent of said attendant and be held outside the Velvet Room
The attendants will only serve services such as Fusion and Skill craft, as well giving silent support. Thus, the Guest's actions in is purely made out of the Guest's free will without any outside force.
The Guest will have to take responsible over the consequences of the Guest's action and can't blame either of the attendants.
Sign
Kurosaki Ichigo
TBC
*Do you seriously think young Ichigo can go against Isshin? He might be powerful in power quality and quantity, but Isshin is former captain of 10th and an adult even by Soul Society standards compares to Ichigo who is a child. Ichigo is bound to get at very least some bruises. I mean, surprise Kick/punch as "Welcome Home" greetings? Really?
**Stockings, actually, but Ichigo is a boy and only eleven. No way he know such a thing.
***Boots with heels, actually. Again, Ichigo doesn't know a damn about fashion beyond basic what acceptable in society
