A/N: Alright! I'm back! This was interesting to write, I hope you like the way I portray characters that never had a proper appearance in the manga. And it's quite surprising how much I've forgotten about canon and the itty-bitty details... I mean, Ichigo apparently having seen ghosts properly for about a year? It feels so strange... But I try to go on. Please be merciful when it comes to things like this. I try my best after all.
Gotei 13 watches anime – Pendulum Cast
Chapter 3: Episode 2-3
The 'hosts' were silenced again when the 'episode 2' began. The Shinigami focused their attention on the screen. The immediate aftermath of the actions of Kurosaki Ichigo and Kuchiki Rukia.
Unexpectedly, Isshin was the one with first appearance in the episode when he was about to wake up Ichigo by attacking him. The orange-haired boy slammed the man on the ground, and received approving nods from the audience while the Third Seat of Tenth Division got withering glares.
"What about Yuzu and Karin's injuries?" Ichigo asked then.
"Injuries? So this is directly the next morning then?" Isane asked timidly. With the first episode already behind, the atmosphere had marginally relaxed and the younger Shinigami were encouraged to speak up their opinions too.
"Maybe… But…" Seinosuke nodded at his subordinate but looked back at the screen then.
"Injuries? What're you talking about?"
The destroyed wall of the Kurosaki residence was shown as Isshin explained about a truck that had driven through it but managed not to wake any of the family. Ichigo was confused, Karin skeptical and Yuzu accepting.
"Isshin couldn't have healed the girls though without his powers." Jin'emon noted. "And Rukia-san couldn't have done it either."
"Which means there is someone else in the world of living helping him." Yoruichi concluded.
After the screen declared it to be episode number two, the scene changed to show Ichigo's school.
"Orihime, did you bring bento?" A black-haired girl asked her orangette friend.
"Yes. I have taiyaki style ramen with wasabi and honey." The other girl – Orihime – smiled. A mental image followed that, with the first girl – identified as Tatsuki – declining Orihime's offer to taste some.
"What a strange taste…" Chikane muttered. "Why do I get the feeling this won't be the only strange concoction the girl has come up with… Though it may have merit… for other purposes…"
Rojuro felt a chill going down his spine and absolutely refused to look in the direction of his lieutenant.
Ichigo bumped into Orihime, who fell to the ground, and was then confronted by Tatsuki. The boy apologized the girl and offered a hand up, which she refused. Orihime got up on her own and after stumbling over words, fled the scene.
"What's with her?" Ichigo wondered.
"You have such a mean look." Tatsuki grinned.
"Very unlike Kaien." Isshin chuckled.
"By the way, why're you so late? It's already lunchtime."
"Well… I'll explain later."
It continued to Ichigo talking with some boys on his class… and reintroduction of Rukia who now was in the uniform of Ichigo's school. And spoke very differently compared to the previous night.
Ichigo reacted with shock and confusion… until he managed to get Rukia elsewhere to ask questions from her.
"Weren't you going back to Soul Society or something?"
"Don't be stupid. Only Shinigami can go back there. Right now, I don't have that ability."
"That's right, Ichigo-kun did end up taking all of her powers. Not on purpose but…" Shunsui trailed off.
"When it comes to Souls and power, it is the strength of will that decides these things." Lisa continued. "Kurosaki-kun wanted to protect his family and took everything that was offered to him. Kuchiki-san opened herself up for the transfer but didn't hold onto her own power tight enough to give only half. It was a tug of war where he used both hands and she only one finger."
"An apt comparison, Lisa-chan!"
"Shut up."
"Last night, most of my powers as a Shinigami were taken by you… Thanks to you, I'm stuck in this gigai form."
"What's a 'gigai'?"
"It's a temporary body provided for use in emergencies. Shinigami who are drastically weakened inhabit a gigai until their powers return."
"I wonder where she got that." Ukitake frowned. "It isn't something automatically given for patrolling Shinigami as it is not easy to carry around. And considering Kuchiki-san's actions, it is likely that she hasn't reported what has happened."
"Maybe it was the same person who helped at the Kurosaki residence." Kaien suggested.
"So… Until my powers return, you will have to do the work of a Shinigami." Rukia declared. "It's only natural. You have the powers of a Shinigami. You don't have the right to refuse."
"I refuse!"
"Not unexpected but…" Sojun mused. "…a bit unreasonable. I hope she will instruct him well."
"Kurosaki Ichigo has to take the responsibility of his actions indeed." Ginrei agreed.
"As long as it doesn't disrupt his regular life." His son pointed out.
It was a strange situation for the Kuchikis to observe the girl's decisions and actions. Sometimes she was quite the proper lady while sometimes she was crafty and bold.
"I don't ever want to fight such monsters again!"
"Ridiculous! You did fine yesterday!"
"That's because my family was being attacked. But I'm not about to fight for complete strangers."
"How selfish!" Byakuya glared at the Ichigo on the screen. "It's the honor and duty of a Shinigami to fight hollow regardless of who is in danger!"
"But Ichigo-kun is human. He has only gotten his first proper taste of spiritual world, and not in a good light either." Sojun reminded the boy.
"Yeah, Byakuya-bo. Considering his recent experiences, he is only being reasonable." Yoruichi grinned.
Then Rukia forcefully pushed Ichigo out of his body.
"She definitely has Byakuya's rashness." Ukitake chuckled.
Rukia led the shihakusho-clad Ichigo to a playground.
"Did they just leave his body on the schoolyard?" Rangiku asked.
"Maybe…" Gin shrugged. It wasn't like Shinigami cared much for the regular people, be they humans or souls.
Rukia looked for info on her denreishinki. Apparently a hollow was coming up.
"A Plus soul who lives in this park will probably be attacked." The girl explained.
"So the prediction of hollows has gone forward that much." Kisuke hummed. "I can't wait to see what other developments will happen in the next… I wonder how far in future they are."
A child cried and the playing structures were blown in pieces. A spider-like hollow chased after a soul of a little boy. When Ichigo was about to run and help the boy, Rukia stopped him.
"Why are you helping him? Isn't he a complete stranger?"
"So what? I can't just stand here when he's being attacke before my very eyes!"
"Don't be naïve. A Shinigami must treat all spirits equally. Just because they're close by… just because it's convenient… it doesn't work like that. Don't help him! If you intent to help that boy, make up your mind to save all spirits! You must make the commitment to go anywhere and even be willing to sacrifice your life!"
"Harsh but true." Love stated.
The plus soul fell to the ground. Ichigo cut the hollow.
"Are you commited to this, Ichigo?"
"No! Who cares about commitment?! I saved this boy because I wanted to! What about you?"
"What?"
"You risked your life to save me last night. Did you think about your duty as a Shinigami when you acted? When you put yourself at risk, it doesn't matter!" Behind him, the hollow had gotten up again. "At the very least, I will be different!"
The hollow screamed and Ichigo finally slayed it. Then he turned around and performed a konso on the little boy's soul.
"A bit crude but overall successful first konso." Seinosuke stated, making another scribble on his notebook.
The scene changed to night and the girl from previously, Orihime studying in her room. A soul of a young man was standing in the air outside her window. The curtains were closed and two hollows wrapped their tentacle-like arms around the soul. They disappeared from the world of living and appeared again in the sandy landscape that was seen in the beginning of the first episode. The young man ran away but was captured by hollows and then turned into one himself too, the mask forming last.
"It's always strange to see it happening." Kensei said. "Even more so to witness the transformation in Hueco Mundo."
"Hueco Mundo?" Nanao repeated.
"The home world of the hollows. In the end we don't have much information on them or their world despite all the years of Gotei 13." Kisuke explained. "But maybe my Research Division will find out more."
The next half of the episode began with an argument between Ichigo and Rukia. And the Orihime girl lying on the road after a car drove by. And apparently she was fine.
"Who are you?" Rukia asked the girl rudely. Which caused Ichigo to remind her of the girl being on their class. The girls greeted each other and Orihime told about her groceries.
"My leeks, butter, bananas and bean jam… are fine too."
Chikane narrowed her eyes thoughtfully while Rojuro suppressed a shiver once again.
Rukia noticed a wound from a hollow on Orihime's leg.
"How did you get that bruise on your leg?"
"Huh? Did I just get it? Maybe when the car hit me."
Eventually Orihime left for home and Rukia interrogated Ichigo about her. Not that ti needed much prompting, the boy telling about Orihime's brother and his demise.
"Where are you going?"
"Home."
"Where to?"
"Are you interested?
"Not really."
"Then don't ask."
"But it does raise a question of where she is staying." Unohana said. "Many aspects of her whole situation are a bit… amiss."
Next scene showed Orihime and Tatsuki meeting and eating. And a pink teddybear above a memorial for the hollowfied soul of the young man who everyone deducted being Orihime's brother.
"Not much of a mystery whom the baldy will fight next." Hiyori scoffed.
Then Yuzu was questioning Ichigo about the disappearance of her pajamas and a dress and Rukia was lying about somewhere and received another order to her denreishinki. And Ichigo heard the beeping of the phone.
"No way…" Shinji grinned. "No way that girl…"
"Ichigo!" Rukia opened the door of his closet.
"W-What're you doing there?! And those pajamas…!"
"Save it for later. We have an order!"
"She is very unconventional Kuchiki. Though in her situation it's probably a make-do with what she can." Kaien chuckled. Sojun just smiled while Byakuya scowled and Ginrei remained impassive but slightly disapproving.
Rukia drew on the glove and pushed Ichigo out of his body just when a claw of a hollow emerged from the portal in the wall. The hollow of Orihime's brother drew himself through the portal and screamed.
"What are you waiting for? It's coming! Aim for the head!" Rukia instructed and Ichigo drew his sword, gouging the ceiling in progress.
"Limited space. What a fool." Sui-Feng muttered.
Ichigo wounded the arm after missing with his first swing.
"Idiot! Don't just swing the sword around!"
"Shut up! As long as I kill it, right?!" And the boy attacked again, managing to chip the mask. But only after the hollow grabbed the sword and tried to pry it away. The hollow howled again before escaping. And Ichigo recognized the face behind the mask, freezing on spot.
"It got away. We're going after it." Rukia said but when the boy didn't follow him… "What's the matter, Ichigo?"
"I have a question… That thing's face. It was Inoue's brother."
"What?"
"Why exactly is she surprised? Considering the information she has, she should've figured it out, right?" Rangiku frowned as they watched the hollow writhing in agony in the desert-scape again.
"Yes, but this is probably Rukia-chan's first real practical experience." Isshin explained. "And while she may have the information, it is also a bit too convenient for her to encounter the hollow of that specific soul just like that."
"I'll tell you one thing." Rukia said when the scene changed back to Ichigo's (ruined) room. "Attacking a Hollow from behind and splitting its head in one blow. That is the essence of exterminating a Hollow. Do not forget."
"What do you mean?"
"This is to minimize your own injuries and also so that you never see the identity of the Hollow."
"What do you mean 'identity of the Hollow'?"
"You saw it just now. All Hollows were once the souls of ordinary humans."
"You never told me that! Wasn't that just some monster?! Some monster we needed to kill?!"
"Yes, now he is just a monster. And he must be destroyed."
"She is leaving out something important here…" Hachigen sighed. "She is only making Ichigo-kun hesitate now."
Orihime and Tatsuki appeared again, this time talking about Ichigo and it was quite obvious that the orangette had a crush on the boy despite her funny actions when she tried to cover-up her embarrassment. Then strange sounds coming from outside interrupted them. The girls looked around in confusion and fear as the sounds continued. The pink teddy bear fell on the floor. The scene ended with the hollow screaming behind Orihime's house.
"Alright! Do you want a break or shall we play the next episode?" Asagi chirped, startling some who had been immersed by the story before them.
"Let's watch. It stopped at an interesting point." Sasakibe stated.
"Okay!"
"But why would Inoue's brother be after me?" Ichigo asked. (Asagi had cut the previous episode recap off.)
"I do not know. However, judging from the hollow who attacked you last time… a separate and powerful hollow, hidden from us, wants to eat your reiryoku." Rukia explained. "Several other hollows are probably being puppeteered by that one. If that's the case, it explains Inoue's brother."
"We did see that one hollow before the young man was swamped by the others." Kaien frowned. "I don't like where this is going."
"I doubt any of us do." Juushiro agreed. "Ichigo-kun and Rukia-chan are in the middle of something much larger than themselves. And we have no idea how long it has festered on the background."
"Maybe once this episode is over, we can ask our hosts how far into future these events are taking place." Shinji drawled.
Naturally Ichigo got angry at Rukia for suggesting of killing Inoue Sora but that was quickly forgotten when the girl realized that the hollow had one more priority to Ichigo's reiryoku. And that was devouring his younger sister's soul.
There was a scene with Orihime and Tatsuki before it was back with Ichigo and Rukia, the boy leaping on the roofs with the girl on his back. Meanwhile Rukia was explaining her reasoning about Orihime being in danger.
"Why do I get the feeling this will be a pattern with them?" Rojuro sighed. "Rukia-chan imparting knowledge to Ichigo-kun only when needed."
"Because Shinigami in general look down on humans?" Seinosuke stated from behind his notebook. What he was scribbling there, no one knew. "And she is noble, no matter how unusual one she is."
The pink teddy bear in Orihime's hands was bleeding and the tear on its face was where Ichigo had cut Hollow-Sora's mask.
"What is this?"
And a hollow's arm went through her.
The younger Shinigami and many of the lieutenants shuddered at the scene.
Orihime's body collapsed on the ground while frantic Tatsuki was attacked and wounded. Then attacked again and when she got up, she could see the outline of the hollow in front of her in the room. Before she was pushed onto the ground by the looming hollow. Behind the hollow, Orihime's soul was huddled in the corner, shaking. She saw her body and then noticed the chain coming from her chest.
"What is this chain? It really hurts."
"Poor girl…" Unohana gazed sadly at the screen as Tatsuki was being strangled by the hollow. It was strange for the hollow to attack his sister's friend first and not devour his sister immediately.
Orihime got up and run against the hollow's arm, falling down afterwards but still forcing it to let go of Tatsuki. The blackhaired girl panicked as she could not see or hear her friend at all. Then the hollow began speaking to her.
"How do you know my name?" Orihime asked.
"Brave girl." Yoruichi whispered.
"I'm sad Orihime. Have you forgotten my voice? It's me, you know."
"No, stay away!"
"I'm sad. I'm sad! I'M SAD!"
The hollow was about to attack the girl but was stopped by Ichigo.
"I thought you were after ME!" The boy yelled and showed the hollow back, the being retreating to another portal. Orihime, getting over the shock, questioned Ichigo's presence and identity while the boy was shocked to notice that she could see him. Until he noticed her chain that led to her body and remembered Rukia's words.
"The Shinigami are spirits. They can only be seen by other spirits."
"Does that mean Ichigo-kun was a spirit when he was born?" Hachigen mused. "Even if his mother was human…"
But further questions were stalled when the hollow attacked again and this time grabbed Orihime's chain and swiped Ichigo through the window with its tail. Ichigo landed in mid-air but was slammed to the ground in the next moment. Rukia was waiting on the outside and the hollow-Sora had Orihime's soul in his grasp.
"Ichigo! Wake up, Ichigo! Ichigo!" Rukia shouted.
"I didn't notice this earlier, but she is being awfully informal, isn't she?" Ginrei frowned. Just what did that girl's parents teach her?
While Ichigo was on the ground unconscious, hollow-Sora spoke to Orihime again, leading to recognition.
Ichigo got up and Rukia reminded him of Inoue Sora being a monster now.
"He still could have more motivation if she told him that zanpakuto purifies, not kills the hollows…" Kin'emon muttered. "Even if they act like monsters…"
"True. But with how many of us think like that when we go slaying the hollows." Love pointed out. "While it is true that as a human, it would help Kurosaki-kun to do his new job if he knew this, Kuchiki-san surely doesn't think it actively. She is an officer of Gotei 13 after all."
Meanwhile Orihime was in denial of the state of her brother. And Sora accused her of forgetting him when she stopped praying at his shrine. The hollow was manipulating her accusing her of the state he was in now. It was cruel to her but none of the gathered Shinigami said anything.
Ichigo attacked then, hacking at the hollow's tail.
"He definitely has spunk but no sense of tactics whatsoever." Kensei grumbled.
Next Ichigo cut the hollow's arm when it tried to reach for Orihime.
"Listen you… Do you know why big brothers are born first?" Ichigo asked then. "To protect the little sisters and brothers being born later, dammit. A big brother can never tell his little sister 'I'll kill you'." The boy told and tightened his grip on the sword. "Even if it costs your life!"
What followed next was Sora telling about the fate of the siblings. Alcoholic father and abusive mother. Sora running away at eighteen and raising Orihime alone. He then proceeded to offer to leave Tatsuki and Ichigo and Rukia (who had just arrived) alone if Orihime just obeyed him.
And the attention went to Orihime's hairpins. And hollow remembered her smiling at different ages, having all of her attention on him. The hollow convulsed, running his head against the wall.
"What is going on?" Isane whispered and glanced at Nanao who shook her head.
"It is very rare but… sometimes the hollow just might remember enough to regain a fraction of their heart." Chikane told the girls solemnly. "When I was young I once run into a hollow like that. It had just slaughtered the rest of his remaining family and was begging for me to free him. I granted his request and sent him and his family to Soul Society."
When hollow-Sora tried to attack again, the lieutenant of the Third Division continued: "It is very painful for the hollow though. And as evidenced here, makes them go from one extreme to another."
Ichigo felled the attack and pushed the hollow out of the house and prepared to attack it. Then the hollow spat acid at his hands, forcing the boy drop his sword. Several of the reapers winced.
Hollow-Sora slammed Ichigo to the ground and slithered forwards to attack him again…
When Orihime appeared between them, wrapping her arms around the neck of the hollow despite having been injured herself.
"I'm sorry, oniichan." The girl began. "It's my fault. Because I said, 'Don't leave me alone' that day. That's why… you couldn't go to Heaven."
"Orihime…"
"I knew that you were always nearby. Even yesterday, when I was about to get hit by that car, you protected me."
"What?" Sui-Feng blinked.
"You said, 'Look out!' and pulled my leg. But if I relied on you forever, you couldn't rest peacefully. So I wanted to show you… that I was happy… that you didn't need to worry. But that… made you… lonely." The girl collapsed and the hollow's mask fluctuated, trying to disappear.
"What is going on?" Ichigo asked.
"Right now, he's struggling against the hollow within him. He didn't become a hollow of his own volition." Rukia explained. "He was probably taken by other hollows against his will."
As the explanation continued about Ichigo being a target…
"It's still weird for them to target one human like that, no matter of their strength of reiryoku." Isshin said, displeased that his apparent future son was in danger.
The mask broke into nothing, revealing the face of one Inoue Sora behind it. Orihime collapsed to the ground but Rukia comforted both panicked Sora and Ichigo of the fact that as long as her chain was unbroken, she would survive. And then proceeded in healing the girl. And Sora noticed the hairpins again. Ichigo explained to the distraught older brother that Orihime wore them every day.
Sora drew himself up then and turned to grab the zanpakuto on the ground.
"If I stay around like this… I'll eventually become a monster again. So now, while my mind is still clear… I want to disappear."
And finally Rukia explained that slaying a hollow did not mean killing it.
Orihime said her goodbyes to her brother and Sora purified himself, turning into dust.
"How extra-ordinary case…" Sasakibe stated when the scene faded out.
The aftermath in the next morning was shown next. Orihime remembered nothing of what actually happened. Ichigo questioned Rukia of it and kikashinki being introduced. Kisuke was eagerly scribbling into a notebook of his own about the ideas of how they could be made.
"You used that on my family too on the other night?"
"Yes, I did… What's up?"
"I still can't say I'm 'prepared'. After all, I ain't such a saint that I can promise to risk my life for strangers. But… neither am I scum enough to sit quietly by while people are getting hurt before my eyes." The boy explained and offered a hand. "I'd like to help you with that 'shinigami work'."
"Sure. I'm looking forward to it."
"And that's how Ichigo-kun found his conviction!" Asagi chirped. "Would you like to watch the next case or…?"
"Maybe we could give them time to actually talk about the events before pushing them on." Kanzo-iro suggested.
"Maybe…"
"Ah, one question Asagi-chan." Shunsui spoke up. "How far into the future these events are?"
"Roughly hundred years, give or take a few." Asagi replied. "I wasn't so picky as to when I called you so I don't know the exact number."
"Let's say that Urahara's appointment to captain was around one hundred and ten years prior the events shown to you." Kanzo-iro added.
"Well, I've been a captain for six years so… that means ninety-four years into future." Kisuke mused.
"Correct. Unfortunately, that's about the only exact time we can give to you." Asagi said a bit more seriously. "Now, any other questions?"
A/N: Do you have any questions that you'd like the officers to ask Asagi and Kanzo-iro? Feel free to send them over.
I just love the speculation they do. And the confusion that Rukia is causing because she is so very different than the usual Kuchiki-standard. And the mysteries behind everything happening around Ichigo. I can't wait for the revelation of Urahara and Tessai in the world of living.
Replies to Reviews:
-Hyakki Yako:
You're welcome. I'm glad you like this.
-Rellav:
Yes, they will continue speculation eventually, especially after he slays Grand Fisher. And eventually Asagi and Kanzo-iro will show them the Anything But the Rain events but not for a long time.
Most likely if I ever reach the end, I'm writing a singular epilogue chapter but nothing grander. Honestly I doubt I'll even get this to the end but I'll try my best.
-OTrizy:
Yeah, I can't wait for it either! :D
-Dangai Ichigo:
I see. Right now it doesn't matter though because the audience we have can't gauge Ichigo's strenght other than seeing that his sword is ridiculously large. They'll discover more with Ishida's challenge and the eventual revelation that Ichigo's reiatsu has affected Orihime and Chad.
-Bleach power:
Thank you. I think that despite Ichigo and Kaien looking alike, there is still enough differences that no one will think of them identical. And I will definitely abuse the hell out of the change in artstyle. Ichigo looks more immature and younger here than Kaien and the difference between their basic expressions only heightens the difference.
And I can't wait for the SS Arc either.
-ultima-owner:
Yeah. Very, very true.
-Kyouki no kitsune:
That's great to hear.
-BadyGuz:
Thank you. I'll update when I have the chance.