Ever since that night—when he faced an indescribable monster and the man in a black kimono—Kurosaki Ichigo's life had returned to something resembling normal. That had been two years ago.
He still saw spirits—he'd been able to since childhood—but that was just his normal now. Still… ever since that encounter, a dull unease lingered deep inside him, like a shadow at the edge of his thoughts. The monster hadn't shown itself again, but…
Tch. This feeling hasn't gone away once in two years…
"Yare yare… guess I'll head home," Ichigo muttered, glancing at the darkening sky before quickening his pace.
At the Kurosaki household, he barely set foot on the porch before the evening's usual started.
"ICHIGO! SURPRISE ATTACK!"
"Oi! Oyaji! Cut it out!" Ichigo barked, ducking under his father's flying kick and shoving him aside. Their exchange was short, noisy, and—sadly—routine. Ichigo stomped up to his room, muttering curses.
That's when he saw it.
"…A butterfly?!" His eyes narrowed. "Wait, I didn't even open the—"
Before he could finish, the wall shimmered—then a short-haired woman in a black shihakushō stepped through like it wasn't even there. Ichigo froze for a heartbeat. That outfit… it was exactly the same as the man from two years ago.
"It's close…" the woman—Rukia—murmured to herself. The Denreishinki in her hand had just pinged; the Hollow was supposed to be nearby.
But the signal blinked out.
Huh? It's gone? No… I can't sense its reiryoku at all. Rukia frowned. Since arriving in Karakura Town, the Hollows had been relentless—purifying one only for another to appear moments later. She had been fighting almost without pause.
Her focus shattered when Ichigo's foot connected with her back.
"Oi! Earth to the creepy sword lady!" Ichigo snapped.
Rukia hit the floor, wide-eyed. An ordinary human… kicked me?
"Who the hell are you? And what's with the samurai cosplay?" Ichigo demanded.
Downstairs, Kurosaki Isshin heard the commotion and bounded up, sliding the door open just to deliver his own "fatherly" flying kick.
"Yare yare daze… Can't you knock?!" Ichigo barked back, returning the kick. "Look at her! She's in a kimono with a sword—"
But Isshin blinked, baffled. "There's no one there, you idiot." He really couldn't see Rukia, but from Ichigo's tone, he had a guess. Still, he played dumb.
"It's no use," Rukia said, brushing herself off. "Ordinary humans can't see me."
Once Isshin stomped off, Ichigo got the whole story—or as much as Rukia was willing to tell—about Shinigami, Hollows, and her being assigned to patrol this area.
"So that's it…" Ichigo's eyes darkened. Two years ago, he hadn't just seen some random man and monster—he had witnessed a battle between a Shinigami and a Hollow.
"You… believe me this easily?" Rukia blinked. Most humans rejected her explanation outright.
"Tch. I've seen it with my own eyes," Ichigo muttered, scratching the back of his head. "That monster two years ago… it's the same thing you call a Hollow, right?"
"…You've already seen Shinigami and Hollows?" Rukia's brows drew together. She remembered something Amamiya Miyako had told her recently.
'Once in a while, humans with high reiryoku appear in the World of the Living…'
"Oi, aren't you supposed to be tracking that Hollow?" Ichigo asked suddenly. "If it's nearby and you're standing here—"
"I could still feel its reiryoku until I entered this room…" Rukia frowned, tapping her chin. "But now… it's gone."
"Don't joke around! If that thing comes here—"
Her eyes widened. "Could it be…?" She turned her senses fully on him.
"Could it be…" Rukia-chan's eyes widened as she focused on Kurosaki Ichigo's reiatsu. Her brows furrowed. "No way… spiritual power is overflowing from your body… it's filling the entire room! This pressure… can a normal human really have this…?"
She couldn't believe it — the sheer density of reiryoku spilling out of Ichigo was enough to muffle her own senses, masking the Hollow's presence.
Before she could dwell on it—
BOOM!
A violent crash shook the house from below.
"Tch!" Ichigo's instincts screamed. He grabbed a baseball bat and dashed for the stairs without hesitation.
"Oi, matte!" Rukia snapped, following right behind with shunpō.
When they reached the first floor, the sight stopped Ichigo cold — his father Isshin-san and both sisters were already down, bloodied but breathing.
"I…CHI…GO…"
"They're alive," Rukia said quickly after checking them. "Their souls are still attached. I can heal them, but—"
"Damn it…" Ichigo gritted his teeth and ran toward the crashing noise in the hall.
The Hollow loomed there — massive, masked, its claws gripping Yuzu-chan like a doll.
"Yuzu!" Ichigo's voice broke into a roar. But in his head: Why her? Weren't you after me, bastard?
He charged in, swinging the bat — crack! — only to be swatted away like an insect.
"Bakayarō!" Rukia's blade flashed. With a swift strike of her Zanpakutō, she severed the Hollow's arm, forcing it to drop Yuzu.
"Don't worry," she said, stepping between Ichigo and the Hollow. "Her soul's unharmed."
"This thing's after me, right? I'll lure it away!" Ichigo said, breathless but defiant. He remembered two years ago — the same killing intent, the same monster.
"How do you—" Rukia started, but her words froze as the Hollow's arm regenerated almost instantly.
Impossible! Hollows don't heal that fast unless—
She didn't finish the thought before the claws came again. She tried to block, but exhaustion from non-stop battles dulled her reaction. The blow sent her flying, blood spraying.
"Tch…" Ichigo clenched his jaw, scooped up Yuzu, and bolted for the street.
But the Hollow's neck elongated unnaturally — the maw snapping closer with every heartbeat.
Too fast! Rukia thought, fear surging. She vanished with shunpō, appearing between them at the last instant.
CRUNCH!
Its teeth sank deep into her side. Pain flared white-hot.
"Rukia!" Ichigo turned just in time to see her stagger, blood staining her shihakushō.
Hopelessness clawed at his chest. If even she can't beat it… I'm useless. I can't protect anyone… not her… not my family…
"Damn it!!" He slammed his fist into the pavement. "I can't do anything…"
Her voice came then, weak but sharp. "Oi… Kurosaki Ichigo… do you want to save your family?"
His head snapped up. "Of course I do! If there's a way — tell me now!"
She had already made her choice. Breaking the rules was nothing compared to letting them all die.
"Then… become a Shinigami."
The words hit like lightning. His eyes widened — then steeled. No hesitation. "Fine! Whatever it takes."
Rukia raised her Zanpakutō. "I'll transfer my powers to you. But listen — this isn't a game. You'll be taking my duty… and my battles."
"I get it," he said. "Now do it!"
Without another word, she thrust the blade into his chest.
A surge of reiryoku exploded outward, shaking the street.
When the dust cleared, Kurosaki Ichigo stood where the boy had been — black shihakushō swirling in the night wind, a massive Zanpakutō in his hand, the blade easily longer than his body.
His orange hair burned like fire under the moonlight, brown eyes fierce with resolve.
Kurosaki Ichigo — 15 years old. Occupation: Shinigami (Substitute).