Ichigo greets Orihime, who is shocked to see him. Ichigo wonders whether she will be lonely in Soul Society, but Rukia comforts him, saying that after 60 years, she'll be able to move on to her next life. Ichigo explains her back story to Rukia, with her father dying three years ago and his family's mortuary taking care of the funeral service, while she currently lives on her own. Orihime is sitting at the bottom of a flight of stairs leading up to a shrine and she asks herself "Did I just die?". Rukia asks if he knows her and he replies that she was a classmate. Ichigo checks the message and realizes that his classmate, Orihime Inoue, was the person who died. Ichigo complains, but then receives a new job message and has no choice but to go out. However, Rukia informs him that if her powers aren't restored by the end of the arrangement, he will have to continue acting in her stead. Ichigo reassures himself that, since this is the seventh day of the relationship, that things will soon be over, as he examines his mustache with a mirror.
Ichigo immediately refuses and Rukia begins drawing a mustache on Ichigo's body, and he rushes to get his toothbrush. Rukia then asks for his toothbrush, so she can scrub herself clean. She punches him square in the face with the Gokon Tekkō, sending his soul gliding out of his body. Ichigo says that he is in power now and tells her to get out of the cup. Rukia asks casually "Where is the -sama? Rukia-sama?" Ichigo says her name with the prefix, and she restores Ichigo back into his body, whereupon he starts cackling wildly, towering over the powerless Rukia. He demands that he be put back into his body, calling her "Rukia". As she speaks, she is having a bath in his cup of hot milk. Rukia then blames Ichigo for the entire debacle, and tells him to fulfill her job for him. She explains that Shinigami don't have the ability to protect many souls at once, implying that she had to use all her power to protect everyone, resulting in her loss in power and size. He complains that she forced her Shinigami job upon him, to which she replies "Got any problems?" Ichigo's memory of the event ends there, and when he regained consciousness, Rukia had shrunk to the size of a packet of cigarettes. Rukia jumps to attack the Hollow and successfully slices off its arm. The Hollow leaps up again, tongue wildly flicking in the air, enticed by the five pluses trailing Ichigo. Rukia shouts at him to jump away, but as he turns, it is too late. Rukia is amazed that Ichigo can see him and Ichigo says that he sees spirits all the time. Mizuiro states that he is envious of Ichigo's ability to see spirits. Rukia gets back up and Ichigo instantly berates her, stating that girls shouldn't fight with a sword, let alone in a kimono. He comments that he's never seen ghosts wearing a kimono and fighting each other, and he gets a bewildered look on his face when Rukia pins the Hollow down, saying that it is all over, and promptly pushes her away. Mizuiro is confused, but assumes Ichigo is seeing a spirit.
Suddenly, Rukia leaps out from nowhere, tackling a Hollow, while Ichigo looks on in shock. Ichigo explains his family's profession, which is a mortuary, so he is used to seeing the ghosts of the deceased, but he witnessed something different on that day. The difference between "Pluses" and "Hollows" are explained by the Third Division's Rukia Kuchiki, complete with illustrations.Ī week ago, Saturday at 1:58pm, Ichigo is walking home from school with Mizuiro, who is discussing where to eat, while Ichigo is surrounded by five spirits.
Ichigo offers him a "ticket" to Soul Society. Ichigo disposes of the Hollow and is approached by an elderly soul, who thanks him. Ichigo swings his sword, telling the Hollow to shut up, stating that no-one is going to let him do that. 2 Characters in Order of AppearanceEditĪ cowering Hollow begs for Ichigo to spare his life.