Part 12: The Lost Agent Vol. 1, 1-2

How long you planning to sleep, Ichigo?! Do I have to slug you?!

Come on, Ichigo Kurosaki. Wake up!

Ichigo, you fool! Get up!

Get up! Good morniiiiin', Ichigoooo...!

Wah-ahhh!!!

Gah! You idiot! You really are an idiot! I could've fallen all the way and hit the street! You could've killed me!

Whatever. If you die, you'll go to the Soul Society, right?

Huh? Ohh, now you're big-timing me, huh?

Look, you're not gonna die falling from the second floor, okay? You woke me up from a really interesting dream. So to make it up to me, you should go ahead and fall!

Huh? You had a weird dream? What was it about?

I can't remember. Trying to tell you made me forget.

Ahhhh!!!

What's with that guy? Just what era is he from? I don't recognize this guy at all.

Ah, now I get it.

Excuse me. Enough with the outdated scare tactics. Can't you see you're making everyone nervous for no good reason?

What'd you say?

What part of me says "Kurosaki?"

I take back what I just said. You don't have to leave. In fact, don't any of you think you're allowed to leave.

What did you even jump in for?

What? It's really not obvious to you? I jumped in to get you to back off!

This is none of your business! They came looking for me, so back off!

This became my business a while ago, so you back off!

If you get involved, it'll turn into a huge mess. Don't forget you're our class president, you dumb ass!

You seem to be having fun, Ichigo, my boy!

She knows you. Do you know who she is?

Uh... My boss!

What?!

Always coming up with these lame excuses not to work for me. Well, this is the last straw.

You're coming with me right now!

Amazing. She just hauled Ichigo off in one sweeping move. Who is she?

Now, get to work!

Look after the Kondos' rabbit over on Second Street. Then organize Ms. Fukushima's toy rat collection over on Sixth Street. And do yard work for Mr. Yamashita in South Kawase.

And there's a lot more jobs. While you've been slacking off, more and more requests have been stacking up!

Aw, c'mon. You can handle these things by yourself!

Hey, Ichigo. Why do you think it is that I hired you? To slack off? You're here, so you're gonna work for me!

Huh, a customer? Hi! Please, come in.

............

What are you doing here?

Want some ramen?

No, thank you.

So, just what is it you want me to do?

That's a strange thing to ask. I don't want anything from you. I've been looking for someone who's willing to take on a difficult errand for me.

And I happened to see the sign for this place. So I knocked, and you answered the door.

It's sheer coincidence.

Sure. And you just happened to have ramen?

Why not? I love ramen.

If the only reason why you carry around ramen is because you like it, I'd carry around chocolates all the time.

So you like chocolates, huh? That's cute.

Don't change the subject.

Well, this isn't going anywhere. I didn't come here to have an argument with you.

I want you to do a background check on someone for me.

This guy's name is...

Isshin Kurosaki.

You know him? Is that a fact?

What, are you kidding?

Isshin Kurosaki is my father! You wanna know something about him, then ask! I'll answer your questions!

You mean he's your old man? What a crazy coincidence.

Yeah, right.

You think you could answer any question about him? You really sure you know your dad that well?

Fact is there are probably some really important things not even you know about your family. At least, not just yet.

What's that supposed to mean?

Just exactly that. I asked you a simple question, and I need some answers.

You think you know him. But besides the obvious, how much do you really know about your father?

Okay, I understand what you want. We'll take the photo for now, but I'm closing up shop for today. I need to ask you to leave.

Hey, now. I just got here. Can I assume you're taking the job, then?

I need to review it to see if we can fit it in our schedule first. I'll let you know when we decide.

That's fine by me. Here, let me leave you my number then.

And Kurosaki, why don't you start by going to Urahara's Shop? I think you might find something of interest there.

Thanks.

Karin? What's she doing at Kisuke's place?

Are you worried?

You must be. I mean, seeing your kid sister visiting the place of a dodgy guy like Urahara, no doubt.

Hey, there's nothing dodgy about him. Kisuke's the one...

"That saved all of us." Is that it? Well?

Just how much do you know about your buddy? And what makes you think you understand Urahara?

Here's some advice. Act now while you can. That is, if you want to protect your family.

So, I didn't get your name. Just who are you?

I'm Kugo. Kugo Ginjo.

Here's what you need to know. I'm not buying any of what you're trying to sell me.

That's your call. Wait, I wanna give you this.