Although Kurosaki Isshin had only studied medicine in the Soul Society as a secondary discipline, the medical knowledge of the Shinigami far surpassed that of the Human World. Ever since Tenjirō Kirinji, one of the Royal Guard, revolutionized spiritual healing arts, Soul Society medicine had advanced to an astonishing degree. Compared to the medical standards of the modern Human World, many of those techniques were practically miraculous.
Because of that, not many years after Kurosaki Ichigo was born, the reputation of the Kurosaki Clinic steadily began to rise.
At first, Isshin had opened the small clinic merely to support Masaki and their children. Whether the business prospered or not was never especially important to him. He simply wanted a stable life away from Soul Society.
But as more patients came seeking treatment, the clinic gradually became famous throughout Karakura Town.
Isshin accepted the situation gladly.
Although the workload increased and the days became much busier, the clinic's success allowed the Kurosaki family to live comfortably.
Naturally, because of work, Isshin often became too busy to spend much time with the children. As a result, the responsibility of taking the kids to and from school frequently fell to Kurosaki Masaki, who had settled fully into the role of a homemaker.
On this particular day, Masaki had just picked up Ichigo from school.
However, the moment they reached a quieter part of town, the energetic young Ichigo suddenly darted away from her.
"Ichigo!"
Masaki hurried after him, but the boy had already disappeared into a nearby overgrown area.
At that age, Ichigo was still an exceptionally mischievous child.
Before long, Ichigo arrived near a small riverside embankment.
Originally, he had merely wanted to play by the water for a little while. For children, streams, puddles, and rivers possessed an irresistible attraction.
Yet the moment he arrived, he discovered someone else already standing there.
A little girl stood silently beside the river, staring blankly at the flowing water.
"Hey, who are you?" Ichigo asked curiously.
"Why are you here by yourself? Where are your parents?"
The girl gave no response whatsoever.
She continued staring at the river without moving, as though she had not even heard him speak.
"Why aren't you talking?"
Ichigo stepped closer and tugged lightly at her sleeve, beginning to suspect she might not be able to hear him.
At that moment, Masaki's voice suddenly echoed from behind.
"Ichigo! Where are you?"
Ichigo immediately turned around.
"Mom! I'm over here!"
Masaki quickly emerged from the grass nearby. Seeing Ichigo safe, she finally relaxed slightly.
"Honestly, don't run off like that without warning," she said helplessly. "We're going home now. Don't scare me like that again, alright?"
But Ichigo pointed toward the little girl.
"Mom, let's help her. She won't talk at all. Maybe she's lost."
Masaki's gaze shifted toward the child.
The girl still stood motionless.
Masaki hesitated briefly before nodding.
"Alright. We'll help her find her family."
She began walking toward the two children.
Yet at that instant
The little girl's body trembled.
"Ah!"
Ichigo suddenly cried out in shock.
Masaki's expression changed immediately.
The little girl had risen into the air.
A faint yellow glow surrounded her translucent body, while a cord-like appendage extended upward from the top of her head into empty space above.
Because Ichigo had still been clutching her sleeve, his body was lifted into the air as well.
Masaki instantly realized something was wrong.
But before she could reach them, a violent impact suddenly struck from the side and blasted her backward.
Boom!
Masaki slid across the ground before stabilizing herself.
Then she finally saw it clearly.
A Hollow.
The creature possessed pale green hair-like protrusions across its body, while its mask resembled white bone. A strange pipe-like extension emerged from the top of its head and connected directly to the floating spirit-form of the little girl.
Or rather
What looked like a little girl.
The Hollow crouched on all fours, saliva dripping from rows of jagged teeth. Its glowing crimson eyes stared greedily at Masaki.
Meanwhile, the girl's body distorted further.
Her form became increasingly transparent before compressing into a strange floating orb of spiritual matter.
Ichigo was still hanging helplessly beside it.
At that moment, Masaki understood everything.
The "little girl" had merely been bait.
A lure created by the Hollow to attract spiritually aware humans.
Ordinary people could not see souls, but those with spiritual awareness could perceive such illusions. The Hollow exploited that instinctive compassion to draw prey toward itself.
Different people would likely see different forms depending on their subconscious thoughts.
For Ichigo, it had become a helpless child.
Masaki immediately raised her hand.
A Heilig Bogen formed instantly from gathered spirit particles.
Without hesitation, she fired.
"Licht Regen!"
Several arrows of condensed Reishi shot forward at extreme speed.
The arrows struck the Hollow directly.
"GRAAAAH!!"
The creature screamed violently as its body convulsed.
The floating orb swung wildly through the air, dragging Ichigo around with it.
Dizzy and frightened, Ichigo finally lost his grip.
His small body flew outward before crashing hard against the riverbank.
"Ichigo!"
Masaki rushed toward him immediately.
But the Hollow reacted even faster.
Its elongated appendage lashed outward like a whip and intercepted Masaki midway, forcing her back again.
The Hollow then landed beside the unconscious Ichigo.
Its red eyes gleamed with naked hunger.
Originally, it had only intended to devour Ichigo after sensing his unusually dense spiritual power for a human child.
But after Masaki attacked
The Hollow realized something.
This woman's soul was even more delicious.
Its instincts screamed at it to consume her.
First the mother.
Then the child.
That was its decision.
Feeling the Hollow's malicious gaze, Masaki's expression gradually turned solemn.
Ever since being infected by White years ago, her Quincy powers had never fully recovered.
Although Isshin's sacrifice and Urahara Kisuke's methods had stabilized her soul and prevented Hollowfication, the corruption within her blood still remained.
Furthermore, after giving birth to Ichigo, Karin, and Yuzu, portions of her spiritual power had naturally been passed on to her children.
As a result, Masaki was far weaker now than she had once been.
If this had happened shortly after she first met Isshin, a single fully powered Quincy arrow would have annihilated a Hollow of this level instantly.
But now
Things were different.
Even so, Masaki did not retreat.
Because behind her stood her son.
And for a mother protecting her child
Fear simply did not exist.
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