Bleach Episode 010 - Assault On Trip At Sacred Ground!

An aerial view of some building in the dark of night, and the enthusiastic voice of the commentator welcoming the audience to “Drop-in Holy Ground” open the episode. We soon learn that this is a hospital in Karakura town where it is said you can hear the screams of angry spirits. Orihime and Tatsuki are in the audience, as are Chad, Mizuiro and Keigo, and of course, the Kurosaki family. The male MC welcomes the “Charismatic Spiritual Medium for the new century”, “hell’s messenger”, Mr Don Kanonji. As the awed audience watch, Kanonji jumps out of a helicopter, his cape flying as he shouts to them, “SPIRITS ARE ALWAYS WITH YOU!” and opens a parachute which reads “fancy boy”.

In school, perhaps the day before or earlier, Orihime comes up to Ichigo, and, crossing her arms across her chest, says, “BWAHAHAHA!” Ichigo steps back in surprise and Orihime says that his reaction is rather faint, asking if he knows what she has just done. Ichigo mutters that it is from “Drop-in”, and Orihime says that it’s a fun show, and that he should come with them and do the “Bwahaha”. Orihime raises her hands in the air, ready to cross them over her chest, but is stopped by Tatsuki, who pushes her away and says that she will go with her to “Bwahaha”. Keigo, who is standing behind Ichigo, greets him, and Ichigo turns around to see him, Mizuiro, and, of all people, Chad, doing the Bwahaha. Later, Keigo, upon hearing that Ichigo isn’t going for “Drop-in”, chides him, saying that it is the most popular show and since it’s coming to Karakura to broadcast live, Ichigo might as well be dead if he doesn’t go. Ichigo says that he’s fine being a zombie, and waves Keigo away. Keigo, tears in his eyes says that he even invited Rukia. Rukia, standing a distance away, curtseys and greets Ichigo sweetly. Keigo walks up to her and does the “Bwahaha”, asking her to do the same. Rukia shakes her head, saying that she’s too embarrassed to. Ichigo stares at the pair, a look of utter boredom and what-am-I-doing-here-ness on his face, saying that Rukia’s acting repertoire is gradually expanding.

Ichigo, with the exact same face as earlier, is surrounded by Kanonji’s cheering fans as the man asks them how they are feeling, and stretching out his arms, promises to let his “babies” hear the whisper of spirits. The female MC asks him what he thinks of the location, and Kanonji says that his nose is filled with the smell of horrible spirits, and is no doubt… The crowd finishes his sentence for him, “SMELLS LIKE BAD SPIRITS!”, raising their arms in the air, cheering wildly as he proceeds to do the “Bwahaha”, them doing the same. Smoke fills the stage and someone calls for a commercial. One of the staff directs the people to the exorcism area as Ichigo says that he hates ghost shows. Orihime runs up to him and apologizes for trying to invite him along the other day, as she didn’t know he hated these shows. Ichigo says that he isn’t mad – Keigo and Mizuiro both know he hates ghost shows, but still tried to invite him along. He says that he and Karin only came because his father and Yuzu are big fans of the show, because it’d be sad if only the two of them came alone. Orihime smiles and comments that Ichigo is so nice.

A hand can be seen waving at them above the heads of the crowd as Tatsuki calls to Orihime, saying that she’ll go without her, and Orihime runs to her. Ichigo, at the back of the throng, suddenly hears Rukia’s voice asking him what is wrong. He turns to see her doing the “Bwahaha” very violently, and she asks him what he is scowling, saying that if he doesn’t have fun, he’ll lose out. Rukia says that he must be tired having to juggle school and Shinigami duties, but there will be more difficult fights here on, so take this opportunity to stretch out and relax. She then asks what kind of festival this is, and Ichigo is taken aback that she came along blindly. He then asks her if there would even be any spirits in the hospital, as wouldn’t the Shinigami have dealt with them already? Rukia replies that the kind of ghosts normally found here are earth-bound ghosts, usually absorbed into the ground and therefore are undetectable on Soul Society’s radars. Just as Rukia says that these ghosts would only show themselves when humans enter their territory, a man carrying a speaker steps over an invisible line, sending sparks flying and the roar of the ghost can be heard.

Chad hears it, and asks Keigo and Mizuiro if they can hear it too, but they cannot, and tell him not to freak them out. Chad hence passes it off as merely his imagination. Karin too, has heard it and says that she shouldn’t have come after all. Orihime and Tatsuki look at each other, biting their lips. Rukia explains that that was the scream of an earth-bound ghost, not a Hollow. There are a few patterns to Hollow’s vocalizations, one being made by earth-bound ghosts with strong attachments to the world as they are neglected and degrade to Hollows, like the one that has just appeared in front of the hospital. Basically, a plus on its way to becoming a Hollow, the difference between it and a Hollow lying in the fact that the chest hole isn’t fully open and there is no white mask – a demi-Hollow. Rukia elucidates that the chest hole signifies that the Hollow has lost its heart and become an embodiment of instinct, and the mask is a barrier to protect the exposed instinct from the physical world – neither of which are necessary when one has a heart. An earth-bound ghost has regrets in this world and is hence chained down by the object of those regrets, in this case, the hospital.

The demi-Hollow declares that the hospital is his and he will never let anyone have it, telling them to keep out so that he can become a millionaire here and drive a pink Cadillac and drink pink Dom Perignon. The show starts again and Kanonji once more says that spirits are with you and does the “Bwahaha”, as does the crowd, including Rukia. Ichigo, annoyed, asks her if she cares, and she replies that it usually takes months and months to become a Hollow, and they cannot let it go wild in front of all the people. The soul burial can wait till later. The MC says that it is time to perform the exorcism, asking Kanonji what he thinks. Rukia adds that just before becoming Hollows, they will let out frightful screams and writhe in pain.
Kanonji says that he smells bad spirits, and as he looks at the demi-Hollow face to face, the latter asks him what he is trying to do, and to take off the weird hat.

Rukia adds that so long as there is no stimulus to the hole, it won’t turn into a Hollow for a while. Kanonji says that he must use his Super Spirit Stick and end it in an instant, and starts probing the hole with it. The crowd cheers and the MC goes wild seeing Kanonji use his stick so soon, but Rukia and Ichigo know better – Kanonji is only speeding up the process to becoming a Hollow. The demi-Hollow screams in pain as Kanonji says some weird spell-like gibberish. Suddenly, Ichigo jumps over the barriers and runs at Kanonji, yelling at him to stop. The security guards tackle and immobilize him, and as Rukia pulls on her glove and asks him to come over so she can change him to a Shinigami, she too gets squished by the security guards. The demi-Hollow lets out a frightful scream, causing all who can hear it to wince.

A cane appears out of nowhere and pokes out Ichigo’s soul, and the Shinigami goes rolling away, later seeing that it was Urahara who pushed him out. Rukia asks Urahara what he is doing here, just as Tessai picks up the unconscious Ichigo. Ichigo jumps in between the demi-Hollow and Kanonji, and the TV shows Kanonji being pushed back by an invisible force. He curses Ichigo, who is surprised he can see him, and adds that Ichigo must be a fan that died, staying a fan. The demi-Hollow screams before exploding and disappearing. Kanonji yells “MISSION COMPLETE!”, but Rukia knows that it is not, flipping open her phone and scanning for Hollows. After dispersal, the Hollow will be reconstructed elsewhere, but if its heart is tied to this place, then…

A ball of light descends from the sky and Rukia shouts to Ichigo, telling him to look up to the roof, where a Hollow is being reconstructed. Ichigo tries to tell Kanonji that it is a Hollow, but Kanonji ignores him, putting his hands by his ears and saying that he smells the scent of a super dangerous spirit, probably the revengeful boss of the earlier spirit. Ichigo gets ready to fight the Hollow, but is pushed away by Kanonji, who tells him to run away, spinning his spirit stick in the air and challenging the Hollow, who answers by running down the face of the hospital. Ichigo draws his Zanpakutou and blocks the Hollow, pushing it back. Kanonji asks Ichigo why he doesn’t run, and Ichigo asks him to run away instead. The Hollow stands and Ichigo fights it, Urahara standing by and complimenting him, yet asking him what he will do under the very bad circumstances. The Hollow launches himself at Kanonji, but misses thanks to Ichigo’s fast movements, smashing into the wall. Ichigo drags Kanonji through the entrance and into the hospital. Urahara comments that Ichigo has decided to have that kind of fight after all, and stops Rukia who tries to go forward to help Ichigo, saying that such a weak Hollow will be easy for Ichigo. Furthermore, Kanonji seems to have a bit of power himself.

Ichigo is running while dragging Kanonji through the hall of the hospital, and the latter demands to know why they are running away. Ichigo replies that running away was his (Kanonji’s) idea, but Kanonji argues that he meant only for Ichigo to run. Ichigo stops and flings Kanonji away, asking why he can’t run away, and Kanonji replies that he is a hero whom many children of the 25% of Japanese that watch his show watch and learn about courage from. Therefore, when they are watching, he cannot run away. Now, he wants to go back and fight the Hollow, but Ichigo refuses, saying that the audience will end up caught in the crossfire. Hollows come after humans with high spirit power like them, so it will definitely return here so they can fight without involving the spectators. Kanonji is surprised that he thinks of such things when fighting. The Hollow bursts out of the floor and Ichigo draws his Zanpakutou, unfortunately getting it stuck in the wall in the process. He manages to yank it out, lamenting on the cramped surroundings. The Hollow suddenly spits out some green gooey substances onto his hands so he can’t aim his Zanpakutou properly. He manages to cut the Hollow next to the mask, but the Hollow ends up dragging Ichigo out the building and up to the rooftop. Ichigo rolls away, and manages just in time to dodge the Hollow’s attack.

The roof access door is thrown open by none other than Kanonji, who asks Ichigo if he is alright. The Hollow tries to attack Kanonji, and as Ichigo tries to intercept him, he gets thrown back against the railings. The Hollow spits out more green stuff, plastering Ichigo to the railings. Ichigo’s eyes widen in fear as the Hollow jumps up, mouth open wide. However, when Ichigo opens his eyes, Kanonji is standing before him, using his Super Spirit Stick to wedge open the Hollow’s mouth. Ichigo tells Kanonji to run as he is no match for the Hollow. Kanonji stops him, saying that he too, has some sort of power, even if very little, and he knows the power gap between him and the Hollow. He adds that Ichigo has made a deep impression on him by thinking of others before self. Smiling and turning his head, he asks Ichigo to let him call him a friend, but spelt “c-o-m-r-a-d-e-i-n-a-r-m-s”.

He clenches a fist and focuses energy into it, sending yellow electricity-like sparks flying. “Kanonji-ryuu Final Super Attack! Kan’onball” A blue ball of energy forms in his hand and he fires it at Ichigo. It moves very slowly, in up-and-down movements. As it reaches the green stuff that binds Ichigo, a bright blue light is emitted and the gooey substances disappears just in time for Ichigo to get back in the fight. Kanonji’s spirit stick is broken now, and Kanonji has just been sent flying as he says that he has no regrets. The Hollow jumps at him but Ichigo is faster, throwing the Hollow back and subsequently breaking its mask with a swift slash. Ichigo sheaths his Zanpakutou as Kanonji runs up doing a victory dance. Ichigo tells him not to get all dizzy, and Kanonji doesn’t understand. He stares in utter disbelief as the Hollow dissipates to reveal the ghost he “exorcised” earlier. Ichigo explains that it is a Hollow, an unreasoning monster formed when the chain attached to the ghost’s chest comes off and a hole opens.

Kanonji falls to his knees, asking himself what he has been doing all these years. He is ashamed of himself and begins to cry. Ichigo tells him to stop crying, as everyone is waiting for him. True enough, shouts of “Kanonji!” can be heard from below as he walks to the railings. Ichigo tells him to give them what they want, as that is a Hero’s job after all. The camera zooms in on Kanonji, who shouts “MISSION COMPLETE!” and does the “Bwahaha”. The crowd follows, and Rukia smiles.
Kanonji compliments Ichigo on the good fight, saying that he admires his courage, wit and strength. He would like Ichigo to lend him strength in the future – as his number 1 disciple. Ichigo is pissed that he got demoted.

Bleach Episode 009 - Unbeatable Enemy!

Around Yuzu’s neck is coiled something or another, constricting her and lifting her into the air. Karin can only watch, pinned down by the Hollow’s hand, as he says that yuzu is too noisy, and that one hostage is suffice, moving her towards his mouth. Ichigo arrives to chop off the tentacle-like thing that holds Yuzu, saving her from the Hollow. But the Hollow has a back-up plan in the form of Karin, who he then holds up in his hand in a vice-like grip. Ichigo lays Yuzu down next to a gravestone and yells for Karin, who mutters his name softly before closing her eyes. Eikichirou arrives, just as Ichigo sees a familiar face standing in front of the Hollow – that of the child he tried to save by the river that night. Ichigo curses the laughing Hollow, saying that it was he on the bank that day 6 years back. Ichigo tells Rukia that this was the child he had tried to save, but when he had awoken, had disappeared.

The girl speaks, saying that she doesn’t remember anything that long ago. Her skin starts to come off, revealing a hole of sorts on the crest of her head, from which a red cord-like thing shoots out and into the Hollow’s head, connecting the two. The former, now a mere doll, hangs from the latter’s head. Rukia says that this Hollow is “Grand Fisher” that hides himself, making the appendage from his head take human form and act as bait for those who can see it (those with high spirit power), who will then become food to increase his power. He has eluded Shinigami for 50 long years, and its favorite food is women – meaning that Grand Fisher was the one who killed Masaki. Grand Fisher laughs, saying that Ichigo is a lucky kid to survive after encountering him. He reveals that he was most likely after Ichigo’s soul, but women appealed to him more. Eikichirou says that there aren’t many Hollows that piss him off as much as this one, and Ichigo, obviously feeling the same way, lunges at the Hollow, his Zanpakutou poised and ready.

The Hollow dodges the attack, and as Rukia runs towards him shouting for him to be careful, the Hollow extends a hand in an attempt to squish Ichigo, but missing as Ichigo jumps onto the ledge. The Hollow’s fur grows out and surrounds and wraps around Ichigo, who declares that Grand Fisher is the only one he will never forgive. Rukia binds the Hollow, chanting the incantation “Disintegrate, Black dog of Rondanini! Look upon yourself and burn; tear away your own throat! Way of Binding no. 9! Geki!” The Hollow moves even under her spell, shooting out a fur spear that hits Rukia back. Grand Fisher then says that he will now eat Karin, and when Ichigo calls out his sister’s name, asks if he will allow him to eat him instead.

Eikichirou jumps up and slices off the Hollow’s hand, thus freeing Karin. Seizing the opportunity, Ichigo slices his way out of the fur. But the Hollow extends more of its fur spikes, all aimed at Karin. Eikichirou steps in just in time to deflect most of the spikes, but gets pierced by a number in the process. Amidst the spikes he sees a green image of a woman just as Ichigo cuts away all the spikes and asks why he did that. Eikichirou replies that Shinigamis keep fighting Hollows no matter what, and will never forgive Hollows for taking away the lives of precious people, and leaving in their wake, emptiness. He will never forgive that, and entrusts the task of protecting them (not the Hollows) to Ichigo before collapsing to the ground. As Rukia walks over to Eikichirou, Ichigo asks if he is dead despite being a Shinigami. Rukia replies that even Shinigami are not immortal – the form is different, but death is… Before she can finish her sentence, they start hearing Eikichirou snoring like a pig, and are surprised and annoyed that he is merely asleep.

Kon, who is in Ichigo’s body, arrives, his lion body tucked under his arm. Rukia instructs him to take the sisters and run, and he does so. She steps forward and tells Ichigo to back her up, but Ichigo jumps up to face the Hollow, telling her to stay back and mind her own business because he’ll do this alone. Rukia tells him not to be ridiculous – this thing has evaded Shinigami for 50 years. He tells her to shut up, because this is his fight. He raises his Zanpakutou and charges at the Hollow.

Meanwhile, Isshin and Kon stand at the steps of some shrine/temple and as Karin stirs, Kon asks if she is alright, changing his voice mid-sentence. He throws his head back in anguish at the seemingly impossible task of keeping his eyebrows furrowed all the time. Ichigo is doing just that, running through the mass of fur lances and slashing the Hollow’s mask. But wait, the Hollow disappears and reappears next to Ichigo, saying that he is slow. Fur thorns bombard Ichigo, who each time manages to leap away in time. The Hollow comments that he is surprised that even with his abilities, he had the guts to tell him to stay away from his friends. Ichigo thinks back to the time his mom died, the aftermath in which he couldn’t begin to imagine how sad or lonely Yuzu and Karin felt. Holding his Zanpakutou ready, he says that he had decided to protect them, and proclaims that he will defeat him.

Ichigo rushes at and swings his sword at the Hollow, but it once again vanishes and re-emerges behind him, reminding him that Rukia had told him not to be careless. Ichigo swivels around just in time to block the Hollow’s hand with his Zanpakutou. Grand Fisher asks Ichigo how many times he has lunged at him without a plan – that is the definition of careless. The nails of the Hollow grow suddenly, piercing Ichigo. Removing them, he says that Ichigo is impulsive – sending away a comrade and lunging at him based on a fleeting emotion. In this way, he shall perform for Grand Fisher’s amusement and die at the end. Rukia starts to run towards Ichigo, but he yells for her to stay away. He will beat the Hollow, even if it costs him an arm or a leg. The Hollow says that will be the reason for his downfall. Being young, he angers easily, and thus, his blade is dulled by the anger. He is far too young to fight with the Grand Fisher.

He puts his hand around the face of the doll, and when he removes them, the face has changed – it is now Ichigo’s mother. Rukia looks at Ichigo, asking if that is who she thinks it is. Ichigo curses the Hollow, who says that even the most hardened of Shinigami will have someone they cannot kill, and by finding that person, he has thus far avoided Shinigami. For Ichigo, that person must be his mother. Rukia calls out to him, but the image of a white-haired Shinigami flashes into her mind. He tells her that yes, if she goes to save him now, she will probably save his life. But what of his pride? He tells her to remember that there are two kinds of fights: one to protect life, and the other to protect pride. She must always remember the difference. The Rukia of that time relaxes the hand on the hilt of her Zanpakutou. Remembering all this, she tells herself that this fight is for Ichigo’s pride, and she cannot interfere. In her mind, she wills Ichigo not to die.

Eikichirou wakes up and styles his hair a little before running off. The Hollow asks Ichigo if he could possibly raise his Zanpakutou to his mother, and Ichigo yells at him, telling him not to bring his mother’s image out in a place like this. As he charges at the Hollow, he stops suddenly as the doll swings in front of him, telling him to put his Zanpakutou away and not to kill her. Ichigo’s moment of shocked debate allows the Hollow a chance to form a very thick and sharp barb out of its fur, which it launches at Ichigo, puncturing his shoulder. Eikichirou arrives just as the Hollow reminds Ichigo that anger dulls the blade, and that the fight will be over in the next attack. Grand Fisher extends his claws saying that so far, Ichigo is the youngest, most impulsive and by far the weakest Shinigami he has encountered. As he raises his hand and aims at Ichigo, the doll suddenly is engulfed by a blue light, and emits lightning, shocking all around.

Eikichirou grins, saying that is the mother’s soma – her wish has taken form, or, the lure has remembered Masaki’s dying wish. Eikichirou mentions that he had glimpsed her earlier, and that the fight is still up in the air. Masaki, her arms wide open, says that she is proud to have known him, Yuzu, Karin and Isshin. She motivates Ichigo, telling him to live, be strong, gentle, and smile. She thanks Ichigo before disappearing back into nothingness. Ichigo kneels on the floor as the rain gets heavier and so do his tears (I think) as he asks his mother if that was what she was thinking at the time. Grasping the hilt of his Zanpakutou tightly and grabbing hold of the fur barb, he asks if anger really dulls the blade. And even if it does, he says, a dull blade is more than enough to beat a loser like you. Tearing the spike out of his flesh and spilling blood, he thrusts his Zanpakutou into Grand Fisher’s neck.

Orihime, leaving Tatsuki’s house and waving, asks herself: If I were the rain that binds together the earth and the sky, who in all eternity will never mingle, would I be able to bind the hearts of people together? Remembering her brother, she thinks to herself that she feels like she can understand Ichigo a little bit. The subject of his thoughts shoves his Zanpakutou further into the Hollow before yanking it out laterally. Grand Fisher writhes in pain before ascending into the sky, declaring that he will never forgive Ichigo, a mere Shinigami. Ichigo yells after him to come back, and as he continues to bleed, sticks his sword into the ground. Rukia rushes forward, grabbing his shoulders and saying that it is enough – neither can fight anymore, so the fight is over. Ichigo says that it is not, because the Hollow is still alive, before crumpling into Rukia’s arms. Rukia says that he survived, and thanks him.

Eikichirou comments that Ichigo is a bad ass kid who could grow to be a monster, since a Shinigami’s spirit power is the same as his life force. He stands, saying that he’ll be going home now – he’s not as crazed as to break up a serious couple. He’ll just tell them that Rukia’s reached “that age”, but when Rukia tells him not to, he says he will make something up, and if they find out, they do. Later, Isshin and Ichigo (or is it Kon?) look at the full moon and the wispy clouds going past. Ichigo goes back to Masaki’s gravestone and apologizes for his inability to avenge her. Isshin appears next to him, saying that as long as he’s healthy, she can rest assured on the other side. Ichigo tells him not to eavesdrop on his son talking to himself, then says that he thought he had quit when Isshin lights a cigarette. Isshin says that Masaki had complimented him on how cool his hand looked when he was smoking when they first started dating, that being the first and last compliment she had given him. That’s why he smokes just once each year, in front of her grave for her too see.

Ichigo shudders as he asks his father how he can smile, and why no one is blaming him. It would be easier, he says, if his father would just tear into him. Isshin asks him why he should blame him for Masaki’s death. If he did, Masaki would be angry at him, and furthermore, no one was responsible for her death. It just so happened that the woman he had fallen in love with was one willing to die to save her son. Also, Ichigo is the man whom the woman he had fallen in love with had died protecting. Isshin starts to walk away, then gives Ichigo a kick to the back, telling him to live life to the fullest, age to the fullest, go bald to the fullest, and to die long after he does, preferably with a smile. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to look Masaki in the eye. He tells Ichigo not to be wishy-washy – he’s too young to look cool carrying his grief around. Ichigo stands there as Isshin says that he’ll be downstairs, and asks Rukia if she is listening. Rukia is listening from behind a tree as he tells her that he wants to be Shinigami for a while longer, so that he can become stronger and protect everyone from Hollows. He will beat Grand Fisher, if not; he won’t be able to face his mom. Rukia merely smiles and says his name, sounding relieved and pleased.

Bleach Episode 008 - June 17, Memories in the Rain

The episode opens in the rugged landscape of Hueco Mundo, where the Hollows are. Black blobs rise from the ground and land on the ridges – Hollows, one of which raises his head and says that he will go.

The sky is a wonderful blue over where the Kurosaki family walks, Isshin blowing a whistle and Yuzu complains about the steepness of the hill. Karin replies that she is fine, and they hear their father’s voice urging Yuzu on, and turn to see him doing a handstand. Karin tells Yuzu to ignore him, as responding to that sort will make them be on your back forever. Isshin’s eye glints as he says that she is naïve – even if she ignores him, he’ll be on her back automatically. He runs over to them on his hands, and Yuzu has to hold down her dress to prevent the loss of her modesty as he performs a “Deadly Dad Sliding”, but his antics are stopped by Karin, who delivers a kick to his face, sending him rolling down the steep hill past Ichigo, disappearing into nothingness. Karin tells Yuzu to go before he comes back, and Ichigo puts a hand over his eyes to shade them as he laments on the temperature – it is June 17, just like that day, but it is totally different. Yuzu and Karin notice that someone is already here, and wonder if she is also here to visit a grave.

Surprise! The girl is waving at them, smiling sweetly. Ichigo is totally shocked to see that it is Rukia, and denies knowing her at all. Karin comments that she feels she has seen her before, and Ichigo concocts a story in which Rukia is his junior high classmate, and he suddenly feels so nostalgic he just has to go talk to her alone right now. He tells his sisters to go on to their mom’s grave, and runs off up the hill, grabbing Rukia’s arm and literally pulling her into the grove of trees. Karin chuckles, and tells Yuzu that it might be time for her to stop relying on him.
Ichigo demands to know why Rukia is following him, and she asks what he would do if she is not by his side when a Hollow appears. Ichigo says that if she’s going to follow him, at least do so more inconspicuously. Rukia apologizes, and Ichigo thinks that she is angry. Rukia denies that, and instead asks who killed Ichigo’s mother.

As someone eavesdrops on their conversation, Ichigo denies saying that his mother was killed. Rukia asks if, since he has been able to see ghosts for as long as he can remember, his mother had been killed by a Hollow. Yuzu and Karin are laying flowers and sprinkling holy water (I think) on the grave. The eavesdropper, a Shinigami wearing a straw hat, and Ichigo are shocked by Rukia’s words, but she continues, adding that it is a possibility, as his spirit power was high enough for him to see ghosts, that a Hollow after him had mistakenly killed his mother. Ichigo cuts in, shouting that he can’t take this anymore, with her, everything is the work of Hollows. Even this, which isn’t anything to joke about – he hasn’t heard more bullshit before. He walks up to her slowly, stopping to apologize that her guess was incorrect. The one who killed his mother was, not a Hollow, but he himself. He then runs off, Rukia calling after him. The Shinigami takes in all from behind a tree.

Meanwhile, Orihime and Tatsuki are in the latter’s room, and the former asks about the “old Ichigo”. She says that she thinks she may have found out Ichigo’s secret: that he may really be a hero protecting the Earth. Tatsuki says that she first met that “hero” when they were about four, at a dojo, to which a boy with unbelievably bright hair, an unbelievably beautiful mum, and an unbelievably wide smile had come. He had looked skinny, goofy and weak, which he was. He had been easily defeated by her within 10 seconds, making her the first one to make him cry. However, when he saw his mother, who would come to pick him up, he’d start to smile again. Tatsuki had hated that, as she believed a boy shouldn’t lose and be happy. He was really a clingy mama’s boy, even when he was nine. That’s when she died. The day after, he didn’t come to school, so she had gone looking for him. She had found him by the river where his mother died with his school bag, squatting when he was tired and standing once more afterward. From day to day, morning to night – it was as though he was searching for her. Tatsuki couldn’t stand watching Ichigo back then.

Rukia sits on the ledge of a wall, thinking on Ichigo’s words, and of her own, and says that she is a fool. Just then, her backpack unzips itself, and Kon’s hand emerges as he calls out for “Rukia nee-san” (Sister Rukia). He emerges fully out of the backpack, and Rukia asks him what he is doing, reminding him that she had said not to come out until she calls. Kon complains that it is hot inside the bag, and uses his paw to fan himself, asking if they can go home yet. Rukia refuses, saying that if they don’t stay by his side, their response will be delayed if a Hollow appears. Kon, annoyed, retorts that if she constantly thinks only of her work, she’ll lose friends. Rukia gets up, causing Kon to fall out of her backpack. He climbs back up and apologizes, but is shushed by her. Sensing something, she turns around sharply, and cautiously ventures further down the path, where the earlier Shinigami is propped against a tree, asleep. He suddenly yawns and stretches his arms, startling her. He says that he has had a good nap, then greets Rukia, and does a forward roll, landing perfectly on his feet.

He complains about having thus far only tough missions, so if he doesn’t get his sleep, he can’t do his work. Kon, who had somehow found his way into the bushes, seeing that this guy is a Shinigami, runs off to alert Ichigo. Ichigo stands at the base of a flight of rock steps, more memories of that night filling his mind. That night, a truck driving past splashes water on Ichigo as he and his mother walk home in the rain from the dojo. Masaki (mother) pulls out a handkerchief and wipes Ichigo’s face, at the same time offering to take the road side. Ichigo says that he is wearing a raincoat, so he’ll be okay. He wants to protect his mother from trucks like those. Masaki refuses, saying that until he can beat Tatsuki in a match, she’ll walk on the road side. Ichigo argues that he did beat her the other day, but Masaki ignores him and stands, taking the road side as they start to walk. Ichigo asks his mother if he can hold her hand, and she agrees, extending it for him to take hold of.

Ichigo says that he always felt safe around his mother. As they walked along the river, Ichigo spots a kid standing by the river and, since at the time he wasn’t able to differentiate between the living and the dead, ran down the slope to save her. Masaki yells after him to stop, but he doesn’t. As the kid seemingly falls forward into the water, Ichigo reaches her and tries to grab her dress. But it disappears, and the next thing Ichigo recalls is the body of his dead mother over his. When he was young, he was told that the name “Ichigo” was given to him so that he would protect one thing come whatever may, and he had decided that he would protect his mother. Ichigo crawls out from beneath Masaki, as the present-day him says that he doesn’t know how it happen, except that it did because of him. His mother had been the sun around which his entire family revolved. And from his family, he had taken away that center.

Yuzu and Karin are praying at Masaki’s grave, Karin asking how she is doing, and Yuzu sobbing. Karin tells her not to cry every year, especially because they turn 11 this year. Isshin comes up behind them and acts like a monkey in an attempt to cheer them up, saying that it’s time for the “Oh, my gosh! Kurosaki family members-only gravestone domino tournament”, in which they will, for 2.5 hours, devilishly demolish gravestones. Karin’s response is a deft kick as she tells him to press the reset button on his life. She says that beard-o (Isshin) is so healthy he’s aggravating. Isshin runs back up to her, but is kicked away once more by Karin, who runs away, him following after her.

Back in the forest, Rukia asks the Shinigami who he is, and he laughs, saying that it brings back memories. He had been 2 years her senior, but the name “Kuchiki Rukia”, or the “princess” from Rukongai adopted into the elite Kuchiki clan, was famous in the Central Spirit Technique Institute. He says that he is Saidou Eikichirou, who was pretty famous for being funny. She does not remember him, saying that she has never seen him in her life. He says that he has some things to ask her, and her mind immediately wanders over to Urahara’s warning that she can’t pretend forever. She asks him if he is with the Secret Mobile Unit, and he pulls a string on his hat such that a portion of his hat flips up, the words “correct” written on it.
Kon runs through the bushes, calling for Ichigo. He reaches a clearing, but it is actually the rock ledge. He falls off it, but fortunately, onto Ichigo’s back.

Ichigo pulls him off his back, and Kon stammers as he starts to tell him what happened. Eikichirou tells Rukia that back in Soul Society, they’re pissed and wondering when she’ll be back. Rukia curtly replies that Hollows appear and orders come; therefore she won’t return. He then asks her why she is dressed that way, and she self-consciously hugs herself, saying that her dressing is of nil importance. He says that he supposes Rukia-chan’s “at that age” now, together with the spiky-haired boy whose mother was killed by a Hollow. He asks her if she’s looking for sympathy or pleasures of the flesh, and she retorts that his innuendo is excessive and shall she sew his mouth shut? He disregards her and continues, saying that being open is the best. But being hot and heavy with a human boy… His sentence is cut short by Rukia, who tries to perform some Demon Magic on him.

He jumps back and says that too bad, he had thought it quite a good excuse, because if he cannot get an answer the brass would be satisfied with, he’d have to bring her back by force. She says indignantly that she has no intentions of returning anytime soon, and he replies that since she has said that, he has no choice. He draws his Zanpakutou but suddenly hears the voices of Kon and Ichigo calling for Rukia. The two emerge out of the trees, and Ichigo asks Eikichirou who he is. Eikichirou is surprised that he can see him, and Ichigo asks Kon who he is. Eikichirou asks Ichigo who he is, and Ichigo, just to challenge Rukia’s authority by defying her, says that he is a temporary Shinigami. Eikichirou blinks, laughs, then pulls his hat a little lower and tells Rukia that what she has done is a felony. He adds that it wouldn’t be fun fighting a faux body anyway, and throws off his hat and charges at Ichigo. Ichigo dodges that shot and the second, then digs his hand into Kon’s body for the pill, and having found it, swallows it and emerges a Shinigami.

Eikichirou is surprised that Ichigo, a mere human, was really able to switch. Rukia tries to stop Ichigo from fighting, but Ichigo pushes her aside, asking her what she can do unarmed. Karin, who is still at Masaki’s grave with Yuzu, stands up as she senses something. True enough, a Hollow has come. She asks her sister where Isshin is, and Yuzu replies that he is talking to the priest. The Hollow advances toward them, and Karin tells Yuzu to run. Meanwhile, Ichigo and Eikichirou are fighting, the former on defensive and the latter on offensive. Eikichirou asks Ichigo if he only uses brute strength and no technique, and Ichigo charges at him. Rukia’s phone beeps suddenly and the two adjourn the fight to take a look at her phone, which shows that an extremely large Hollow is in the vicinity, possibly targeting his family.

Yuzu runs toward Karin, who is being pinned to the ground by the Hollow’s hand, but something coils itself around her neck and raises her into the air. As Ichigo and Rukia run to save them, Ichigo asks Rukia what Eikichirou had meant by a “felony”. Rukia tells him to forget about her problems, as saving his family is priority. As they run down the steps, he asks her if she’s going to ask about his mum, but she replies that even if she did, would he answer? It’s his deep, deep problem which she has no way to ask about. She will just wait till he feels ready to tell her. The Hollow complains that Yuzu is noisy, and says that one hostage should be enough.