Part 12: The Lost Agent Vol. 1, 6-1

Another restless night...

As far as this matter is concerned, you do not need to do anything further.

But, as your super loyal apprentice, I don't think it's proper for someone who should be helping to just watch quietly as you do all the work, sir.

By "this matter," I specifically meant Orihime Inoue.

I've left a mark on her. No further contact will be necessary. Understood?

Uh, right.

Now, who should I go after next?

Well, let's get started. Okay, Riruka. He's all yours.

Yeah, yeah.

Hey, just a minute. Are you planning on putting me in that dollhouse again?

Ginjo, why do I have to go through the same kind of training again? I don't get it. What's the point?

I suppose we do owe you an explanation. All right, listen carefully.

Do you know what the definitive difference between you and the rest of us is?

As Riruka already told you, our group consists exclusively of people who were able to use the power of Fullbring since birth, or became aware of their latent power as they grew older.

But your situation is different. Unlike us, you must acquire Fullbring through your own will.

For you, understanding how to access your Fullbring isn't an occurrence that happens naturally as it does for us. Obviously, at this point, we can't expect you to flip a switch and summon up this power whenever you want.

That's why it's necessary for us to force you into physical and mental extremes in order to awaken this power in you.

So unfortunately for you, this trial-by-fire method is the only way we can ultimately help you to regain your Soul Reaper powers. Understand?

Yeah. Guess I'm stuck. But know this.

What? More complaining?

I'm running out of time here. Training like last time isn't gonna cut it.

I'd say that the best way to bring out my powers is to let me fight one of you.

Don't be ridiculous. You were just barely able to awaken your Fullbring the last time we trained.

You have to learn your limits. Where you're at now, you'll barely be able to deal with Mr. Pork Mark II!

Not that guy again...

It was no walk in the park for you last time.

Listen, you've only just learned how to Fullbring. If we don't take this slow, you won't survive much longer.

I appreciate the thought, but I've never gained any strength by playing it safe during training. There's only one way.

What is it with you? You're in this really big rush just to get in over your head.

That's because there are people I want to protect. I can't just stand around doing nothing about it.

So let's double up your training, then. But you understand, if you die, we're not to blame.

Right.

Hold it. You're okay with all this, Kugo?

Yeah. I mean, that's what he's requesting.

Well, you can count me out. I don't see the point in helping him.

What has gotten into you?

I'm against it as well. I can understand why he wants to rush things along here, but the faster we progress this young man's training, the more intense will be the strain upon him.

If we attempt to force the awakening of his Fullbring by rushing, it's quite possible his power could become completely unstable. Precautions should be taken to assure that it happens naturally.

Yeah, you have to admit he makes a valid point.

That's beside the point! You just think back. Remember what Kugo said to you?

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

Don't think that any of us go around joyfully using this power we've been endowed with. To me, it's been a huge burden.

You claim you want to protect people that are dear to you, right? Those are noble words, but if you ask me...

...you're just a careless, egotistical brat who jumps into situations without realizing that you're gambling with your life here.

Every time I'm forced to use Fullbring, it upsets me. So you won't find me agreeing to use it to help this naïve idiot get what he wants.

Well, so much for that. Hey, Yukio.

No, thanks. You were about to ask me to go and bring Jackie back here, weren't you? Why not let her do as she wants?

You know, sooner or later, we'll need Jackie's help with all of this.

I agree with you. Pardon me for a moment.

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

So, you prefer iced coffee?

Did Kugo send you?

Yes. Ms. Jackie, you know he needs us, don't you?

But doesn't it bother you at all?

Are you asking if I'm alright with helping him?

No... With the powers you have.

Hmm. Here's a story for you.

There was once an old man who suffered a deep wound in his leg. After that, he could predict changes in the weather by the level of pain in that very leg. So as a result, he never got caught in the rain.

What's the point of this story? When you get to be my age, you learn to live with things that disgust you.

So can I adjust like you?

That, I don't know. Are you having second thoughts, perhaps?

I don't know.

It just that I haven't been able to get myself to embrace my powers.