Bleach: Awakened — Chapter 128 - Theft and Distribution

"Alright." Uryu nodded and pushed open the door, pausing on the way out to say: "Ichigo, this Nozomi, why don't you try first and see if you can restore her memories."

"I have a feeling her existence is extremely important."

"Yeah, yeah, I know." Ichigo waved a hand dismissively. "I'm not sure I can handle it, so mention it to Urahara too."

"Go on, go on."

"Then I'll head out."

With Uryu gone, Orihime had already finished healing the Fullbringers' injuries. While the group was still summarizing the situation, Orihime had quietly gotten to work on the side.

"It really is Rukia's and Hitsugaya's spiritual pressure." Orihime's raw power leaned on the weaker side, but perceptive ability was where Orihime truly excelled. "And there really is a different kind of power mixed in as well."

"If it were only their spiritual pressure, my rejection's efficiency would be at least three times faster than it is now, and that's a conservative estimate."

"Sure enough." Ichigo rubbed his chin, muttering to himself. "Looks like we need to move fast. Our guess is probably right on the mark."

"Let's start with this Nozomi first. Time to get to work."

Ichigo walked over at an unhurried pace to the green-haired girl, Nozomi Kujo, and looked her up and down. Undeniably a very beautiful girl. But the total lack of expression made Nozomi feel difficult to approach... which actually fit a certain someone's peculiar tastes.

"You're in a spirit-body state, aren't you." Ichigo asked: "Is it possible for you to take on a physical human body?"

"...No." Nozomi Kujo shook her head. "I don't have that kind of ability... but I can manifest a Shihakusho."

"Oh? A Shihakusho? Are you a Soul Reaper?"

"I don't know." Nozomi Kujo blinked those large eyes twice. "Instinct just tells me I can use spiritual pressure to form a Shihakusho, and that I have a Zanpakuto..."

"But I feel like I can't use it. The Zanpakuto."

"Instinct tells you that you have a Zanpakuto." Ichigo furrowed his brow, thinking it over. "Your situation is very strange. I can clearly sense that the spiritual pressure inside you belongs to a Soul Reaper's, and it's quite considerable."

"Yet you feel like you can't use your Zanpakuto. Normally, even complete amnesia wouldn't produce something like this."

"The more likely explanation is that your very essence, your soul, has undergone some kind of change."

"Essence? Soul?" Kon suddenly spoke up, voice wound tight with nerves. "Nozomi's lifespan isn't running out or something, is it?"

Anything involving the soul triggered one instinct first: the root of one's spirit had been damaged. And in situations like that, it typically meant a corresponding drain on lifespan.

"It's not that kind of change." Ichigo thought for a moment. "More like something along the lines of alteration... I'm not sure either. This is getting into my blind spots."

"How about I take you directly to Urahara's place and have him take a look?"

"Speaking of which—Kon interrupted me earlier and I forgot—why don't we all just head to Urahara's? Save us from having to keep running back and forth."

"No need." Kugo Ginjo refused without hesitation. "We still don't like making contact with those outside our own kind. Getting along with quincy and special humans like you, Kurosaki, is already our limit."

"...I see."

Taking in the Fullbringers' reactions, it was clear Kugo Ginjo wasn't just saying it. When the idea of going to Urahara's came up, most of them had shown obvious resistance, to varying degrees.

Only one youth, shaved head, punk-style, expression fierce, showed none of that reaction.

"No need to push it." Ichigo said: "Then I'll try my method first. If it doesn't work, I'll have Yasutora take you to Urahara's."

With that, a blue light flickered to life in Ichigo's hand, and Ichigo pressed a palm flat against Nozomi Kujo's forehead.

"Don't be afraid. It shouldn't hurt, and it isn't dangerous." Ichigo explained: "I'm only observing more closely and reinforcing your soul. That's all."

WHOOSH,

A brilliant blue light flared, impossibly gentle, yet brimming with authority. As Ichigo's will moved, all of it sank into Nozomi Kujo's forehead.

"Ngh..."

Cherry-like lips parting slightly, Nozomi Kujo let out a soft moan of indeterminate meaning. Nozomi looked as though enduring something, arms wrapping around her own chest on instinct, cheeks flushing red, body trembling faintly and without stop.

"Hey! Pervert! What do you think you're doing?!" A girl with reddish-purple hair, face slightly flushed, snapped furiously: "You looked decent enough, I figured you were a good person. Didn't expect you to be this kind of guy!"

"Stop it right now! Or I'm going to shoot!"

"Ngh..."

Ichigo showed no sign of stopping, and was even pouring in more force. The girl raised the gun in both hands, green light blooming at the barrel, expression grave.

"I really am going to shoot!"

"Don't do anything reckless! Riruka!" Kugo Ginjo reached out to stop the dangerous move, face severe. "Kurosaki isn't doing anything strange."

"What he's doing is... giving his own soul to Nozomi. In the form of a gift."

"A gift?" The only middle-aged man among the Fullbringers spoke up. "Is it the same as your ability, Ginjo?"

"No." Kugo Ginjo shook his head. "Far more refined than mine. It's a difference in realm entirely."

"Oh? You have a similar ability as well."

Ichigo kept pouring in more output while asking, completely ignoring the increasingly distressed-looking Nozomi. Yasutora turned away. Orihime's face had gone entirely red, Orihime also wanted to intervene, but knew this wasn't Ichigo's fault and genuinely had no idea how to bring it up.

'Oh wow! NOW THAT'S A SIGHT!'

Ganju Shiba had also turned away, but Kon, who was clearly just a stuffed toy, had twin jets of steam shooting from where the nose was, eyes going completely heart-shaped. If the others' attention hadn't been tied up by the awkward situation, Kon would probably have been kicked out on the spot.

"Right, well, when I use Fullbring and Soul Reaper power together, I can take and distribute." Kugo Ginjo explained: "Simply put, I can steal someone else's power and then distribute it to another person."

"However, the target can't be stronger than me, and on top of that, their body and willpower both need to be on the verge of collapse before I can successfully take it."

"Take and distribute." Ichigo asked: "So that's actually something you can do."

"The way you say that—sounds like you've already taken someone's power before, Ginjo."

After a long silence, Kugo Ginjo said slowly: "That's true. I have taken the Fullbring of several Fullbringers."

"Not everyone with power chooses to live out their life peacefully."

"In truth, several of my current companions have had experiences that shaped them into antisocial personalities, which is perfectly understandable. After all, we are outsiders."

"As for whether I could take a Soul Reaper's power, I haven't tried, because I didn't want to draw Soul Society's attention. So I don't know."

"But at the very least, I have never taken the power of a single innocent person."

"You know, Ginjo."

The blue light faded. Ichigo withdrew the hand and raised his chin slightly, looking down at the Fullbringers.

"There are certain things, once a precedent is set, there's no going back."

"The you right now can say you won't take an innocent person's power. But that's the thinking of a you who has been hunted for years."

"If you hadn't been hunted, and in that time, you had repeatedly tasted what it feels like to steal power and grow stronger, would you still hold onto that same idea?"

➤ Next: The Fractured Soul