Part 12: The Lost Agent Vol. 1, 3-2

This is it.

Hey. So, what did you want to talk about?

Some of my friends were attacked.

Yeah, so?

So I want your help.

To figure out who did it? I get this distinct feeling that you don't trust me.

Look, buddy. You know all about me and about my dad. I don't think you're an ordinary human.

Oh, really?

Your assumption's right. I don't trust you. Yet, you're the only guy I can...

You can ask about this? Right? Fine. Follow me.

Now, then. Before we go on, let me explain to you what our objective is here.

Your objective?

That's right. Our objective in contacting you.

Here's the deal. We want to restore your Soul Reaper powers to you.

How...? Could you do that? Could something like that even be possible?

Wait, are you saying this just to jerk me around? What's your angle here, huh?! Who the hell are you people?!

Just calm down. I can't answer all of your questions if you ask them all at once.

We have a long night ahead of us. I'll explain everything.

First of all, we are humans. But like you suggested earlier, we're not ordinary humans.

You see, we are different from most people in that we've been born with this certain special ability.

What ability? Explain yourself.

Our special ability is to draw out the soul in any object, and to put that object to use.

You've felt that feeling of mastery that happens when you're using a tool that you're well acquainted with. It leads to maximizing your ability.

The fact that you can "become one" with the object shows you understand the tool's soul. And that object's soul is specifically endowed with the power to help its user.

We have the ability to draw that soul out. Plus, we can give it a boost with our own soul, amplifying it into an even greater power.

And if it's an object I'm particularly familiar and compatible with, I can change that object's physical form to suit me.

In my case, it's this necklace I wear.

Like this, for example. The term we've given to this unique ability is Fullbring.

Hey, I'm back!

Riruka, you're back earlier than I expected. So, did you locate him?

I sure did!

It's so damn dark in here! You really need to put in some more lights! I can't see a damn thing!

Who is that girl?

That's Riruka Dokugamine. She's one of us.

Say what? So there's someone here?

I'll be sure to introduce you to him later. Now, bring your guy here.

Hmph! Don't you boss me around! Hey, you! You can come on in here now!

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

Chad!

Ichigo...

Chad! Just what in the hell are you doing here?! Why haven't you been going to school?

Calm down, Ichigo.

You stay out of this! I'm talking to my friend, damn it! What've you got to say?! Give me an answer, Chad!

Just calm down. Don't make me ask you again. If you'll listen to me, you'll understand.

What? Are you saying these two guys know each other? Well, it would've been nice to have been told that.

Wait a minute! You were calling this guy "Ichigo!" That's Kurosaki?! Turn up the lights! I wanna get a good look at him!

Maybe later.

Okay. Now that everyone's here, let's get started.

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

Relax, Ichigo. So now that you've seen it with your own eyes, you comprehend our skill, right?

Yeah, I get it.

Very well. Then we can move on in our discussion.

We've all shared a sad event before we were born. All of our mothers were attacked by a Hollow.

............!

The end result of our mothers being attacked by Hollows was that the remnants of those Hollows' powers were left behind.

So when we were born, the power inside of us was more like that of a Hollow, rather than that of a Soul Reaper.

Therefore, we found our power loathsome.

Since you yourself once possessed Hollow powers, Ichigo, I'm quite sure you understand how we feel having this burden.

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

So naturally, you can understand that we would like to rid ourselves of this power that we have.

It's taken us many years to find others with powers like ours, but now, we have finally gathered together.

Finding each other has led us to an interesting discovery.

We've discovered that if we find someone who is our exact polar opposite, by that I mean someone who possesses both Soul Reaper and human powers, it's possible for us to exchange powers with them.

So you mean...?

That's right. There was this one other person like you, who was born of a Soul Reaper and a human being.

!!!

A number of our former members yielded their powers to that specific person. And as a result of that exchange, all of them were able to return to being ordinary humans.

You understand? We want to become ordinary humans again, so we will help you regain your Soul Reaper powers. Sound good?

Chad is one of us. We found him in this town. He understands why we're doing this, and is willing to cooperate with us to bring your powers back.

Is that true, Chad?

Yeah.

Ichigo, I know that you've been trying to hide it. But to tell you the truth, it's been awful to watch you since you lost your power.

I know you want to fight! And it's tearing you up that you're unable to protect everyone with your own power like you did before!

There's nothing to feel ashamed of. That's a quality that defines you, Ichigo.

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

You get your Soul Reaper powers back, and you also get our powers on top of that. It's not a bad proposition if you really do want the power to fight again.

All right. I'll do it.

Well, it's been decided then.