The Death and the Strawberry

Cover of 001. Death & Strawberry

It’s 2:23 a.m. on a Friday at Karakura Town. A black butterfly flies near the moon. A woman dressed in a black kimono stands on a telephone pole, looking at some sort of map. She senses strong spiritual activity. She then jumps off of the telephone pole.

Later that day, around 7:13 p.m., a young man with orange hair wearing a gray school uniform has beaten up a skateboarder by the name of Yama-Bro. His name is Ichigo Kurosaki. Yama-Bro’s friend, Toshi-Bro, asks him why they should leave, and is prepared to fight, but he is defeated by Ichigo using only his right foot. The skateboarders are terrified by Ichigo’s strength. Ichigo yells at them to look at the broken vase. He asks Mit-Bro, the third skateboarder, what that vase represents. Mit-Bro says it’s an offering to the kid who died here recently. Satisfied by the answer, Ichigo defeats him. He then asks the skateboarders why the vase is broken. One of them says they knocked over while they were skateboarding. He then tells them to apologize to the Dead Girl, who has some blood on her left side, right next to him. It’s indicated that he can see and talk to ghosts. The skateboarders get scared and apologize to him and the dead girl. Ichigo apologizes to the dead girl for using her that way. The dead girl says it's okay and said she was the one who asked him to chase them away. Ichigo says he'll bring her new flowers for the vase and the dead girl thanks him.

Ichigo returns home, which is also a hospital called the Kurosaki Clinic. Upon entering his home, he is greeted by Isshin Kurosaki, his father, with a kick in the face, saying Ichigo’s late and that dinner is always at 7 o’clock. Ichigo wants to know if this is his way of greeting his son after performing a serious exorcism. While the argument continues, Yuzu and Karin, Ichigo’s sisters, are seated at the table having dinner. Yuzu tells them to stop and says that the food will get cold. Karin tells her to leave them alone. Karin tells Ichigo that he has a new friend, a ghost with glasses. Ichigo complains that no matter how much he exorcizes them, they keep coming back. Karin tells him that it must be tough having high specs. Yuzu says to them that she’s jealous of them since she can only see the blurry outline of ghosts, while Karin and Ichigo are able to clearly see and talk to them. Karin tells her that she doesn’t believe in ghosts and regardless of whether she can see them or not, if she doesn’t believe in them, it's the same as if they didn’t exist. This remark leaves Yuzu shocked and the ghost in the cold.

She then tells Ichigo about a new project she has planned. Ichigo tells Karin to stop using him for her get-rich scheme. While he is talking to her, however, Isshin uses the distraction to put his son on the floor. Ichigo retaliates and defeats his father. He then goes to his room. Yuzu is worried about him. After Karin makes a remark about her father’s lack of communication skills, he starts talking to a poster of his deceased wife, Masaki Kurosaki.

In his room, Ichigo notices the black butterfly and wonders where it came from. Then he notices the girl with the black kimono that is armed with a sword. Ichigo is intrigued by her. The girl says that something is near and Ichigo kicks her from behind and accuses her of being a burglar. The girl is surprised that Ichigo can see her. Isshin comes to Ichigo’s room and attacks him for making noises in the house. Ichigo says it’s all the samurai-costumed girl’s fault, but Isshin doesn’t see her. The girl tells him that ordinary people can’t see her and that she’s a Shinigami.

Outside, a strange-looking creature with a hole in his chest is eating the Dead Girl from before and says that a strong soul is near.

At the Kurosaki Clinic, the Shinigami tells Ichigo that she's from the Soul Society who came here to exterminate an evil sprit. Ichigo doesn’t believe her, saying he believes in ghosts, but not in Shinigami. Offended by his remarks, the girl uses a technique called Kidō: Bakudō no. 1, Restrain. Suddenly, Ichigo is paralyzed and unable to move. She tells him that it is a technique that only Shinigami can use. She also tells him that she’s older than she looks and that the Spiritual Law prevents her from killing humans that she has not been ordered to kill. She then uses the bottom of her sword handle on the Glasses-Wearing Ghost’s forehead. The ghost is afraid to go to hell, but the girl tells him that he’s going to Soul Society, which is a peaceful place. The Shinigami tells Ichigo that it is a technique called Soul Burial, and that humans call it Going to Heaven". She also says that it’s one of the Shinigami’s duties.

The girl decides to explain through illustrations about the 2 types of spirits in this world to Ichigo. The first type of spirit is called a Plus, which is the most common spirit. That’s what the "Ghosts" Ichigo usually see are. The second type is known as a Hollow, a spirit who attacks the living and the dead and eat their souls. They are what humans call "Evil Spirits". Her illustrations representing the two spirits are full of cute rabbits (for Pluses) and bears (for Hollows). After Ichigo makes a comment on her horrible drawing, the girl is offended and draws a doodle moustache on him. She tells him that the Shinigami have two duties. The first duty is to guide the Pluses to Soul Society using Soul Burial. The second duty is to exterminate Hollows. She came here to exterminate Hollows. Ichigo asks her why she is loitering at his house when she should be getting rid of it. She tells him that, for some strange reason, she can’t feel it’s presence anymore, as if a great power is hindering her senses.

Then, Ichigo hears a very loud voice and says something to the Shinigami. She recognizes it as the voice of a Hollow. She is surprised that Ichigo was able to hear it before she did. Then they both hear a girl cry out, and Ichigo recognizes it a Yuzu's. He starts getting worried for his family. The girl leaves the room to get rid of the Hollow, leaving Ichigo who is still paralyzed. The girl tells him that even if he comes to help her, there is nothing he can do. When she reaches the door, she feels the Hollow’s immense spiritual force. She and Ichigo noticed Karin, wounded but alive. She says that something invisible has wounded their father and attacked her and Yuzu and she came here to warn Ichigo. She then loses consciouness. Ichigo trys to break free from the Shinigami's spell, and the girl tells him if he trys that, his soul will be destroyed. He manages to break free from it without being hurt, and she is surprised and shocked that a human managed to break a Kidō spell.

Ichigo then goes to the living room. He sees his wounded father and the room devastated. He notices a hole in the wall where he sees the shadow of a creature outside. The creature reveals itself to be a monster with a hole in it's chest and it has a mask-like face. The creature is the same one who ate the dead girl earlier. Ichigo concludes that the creature is a Hollow (It's name is Fishbone D). Although he refuses to admit it, Ichigo is terrified at the presence of the monster. He notices Yuzu being held captive by the right hand of Fishbone D. He tries to attack it with a baseball bat, but the monster defeats him easily with just one punch and sends Ichigo to the wall. He was about to crush Ichigo, but the Shinigami cuts his arm with her sword, freeing Yuzu at the same time. Ichigo manages to safely catch his little sister.

The girl reassures him that none of his family’s soul were eaten. Ichigo wonders why Fishbone D didn’t eat his family while he was attacking them. The girls says that Hollows wander, searching for souls with high spiritual power and because of that, humans are sometimes attacked. Which means that Fishbone D was searching for Ichigo due to his enormous spiritual powers that gave him the ability to see ghosts. This revelation makes Ichigo feel guilty about what happened to his family.

Meanwhile, Fishbone D manages to regain his right arm and attacks the shinigami, sending her into a wall. She then notices Ichigo facing the Hollow, challenging it to fight him. Fishbone D was about to eat the teenager, but the girl stops him while getting injured in the process. She tells him that his power is no match for it and she is no longer able to fight the Hollow. Ichigo feels even more guilty than before. Then the girl asks him if he wants to save his family. Ichigo wonders if she knows a way to do it. The girl points her sword at him and tells him that the only way to save his family is to become a Shinigami like her. All he has to do is pierce the middle of his chest with her sword, which is called a Zanpakutō and she will give half of her Shinigami powers to him. She also tells him that the percentage of success is not high and if it fails, he’ll die, so there’s no time to delibarate. After seeing Yuzu pleading for his brother to run away, Ichigo decide to accept the girl’s deal. The girl introduces herself as Rukia Kuchiki. Ichigo introduces himself also.

While Fishbone D approaches them, Ichigo takes Rukia’s Zanpakutō and a light appears, blinding the Hollow for a moment. Suddenly, his left arm is cut off quickly. Ichigo appears, wearing the Shinigami outfit and holding a Zanpakutō with a large blade. Rukia is surprised that Ichigo has taken all of her Shinigami powers while it was supposed to give him only half of her powers. She also concluded that it was Ichigo’s powers that was hindering her senses. She’s also surprised that the blade of his Zanpakutō became large due to Ichigo’s Spiritual Energy.

While Rukia is thinking about it, Ichigo cuts off Fishbone D’s right leg and exterminates the Hollow completely by cutting it in two.

The chapter concludes with Ichigo’s stats:

• Ichigo Kurosaki/15 years old
• Hair color/Orange
• Eye color/Brown
• Occupation/High school student and Shinigami

Cover of 002. Starter

Ichigo has a nightmare where in which his family was deeply injured and blamed him for their condition since he became a Shinigami. He then saw Rukia who tell him that it was too late for them. He wakes up to an attack by his father as his way to wake up his son. Of course, Ichigo fights back. He then notices that Isshin’s injuries are gone. He asks what happened to his injuries, but Isshin replies that he don’t have any injury and he doesn’t know what Ichigo is talking about.

The Kurosaki family goes outside and Ichigo notices that their home is repaired. What intrigues him the most is that his family doesn’t seem to recall the attack of last night and they think a burglar who attacked their home with a truck. He wonders if Rukia has done some Shinigami damage control and if she has returned home.

At Karakura High School, a young girl named Orihime Inoue, woke up and see that her friend, a short black hair girl named Tatsuki Arisawa, who came to talk to her. Tatsuki says that Ichigo is late and asks Orihime what she likes about Ichigo whom she thinks is a cold, short-tempered brat. Orihime says that he’s funny. She thinks about the funny faces Ichigo could have and she laughs, which slightly embarrasses Tatsuki.

A fellow classmate, Mizuiro Kojima, tells them that Ichigo might not come to school since he tells them that a burglar attacked the Kurosaki’s house. Then, Tatsuki became concerned for Ichigo, but the latter came finally to school, reassuring everyone that he isn’t dead. Mizuiro tells Ichigo that they have social studies for 3rd period.

Ichigo hears someone talking to him from behind. He turns around to see Rukia wearing a school uniform. Muzuiro tells him that Rukia transferred to their school. Rukia ‘‘quietly’’ tells him, in the form of a written message on the palm of her left hand, not to speak of the prior night's events, to which Ichigo complies.

Later, Ichigo and Rukia go to a quiet area of the school where Ichigo asks her what is she doing there and why she hasn’t gone back to the Soul Society. She tells him that she has lost her Shinigami powers and she is wearing an artificial body which Shinigami use in emergency situations. She explains that she must wear it until her powers are restored and tells him that he must now take over her Shinigami duties for the time being, Ichigo refuses, saying he only became a Shinigami to protect his family from Fishbone D and that he won’t fight for total strangers, since he’s not that nice of a person. After hearing that, Rukia puts on a glove with a flaming skull on it, with it she removes Ichigo’s soul, which is now wearing a Shihakushō, from his body. Rukia tells him to follow her.

They arrive at Yumizawa Children’s Park where Ichigo used to see a 5 Year Old Ghost Boy who played there around 12 o’clock. Rukia tells him that she has received orders from the Soul Society that a Hollow will appear at the park and that the ghost child will likely be attacked. They hear a scream and see the ghost child being pursued by the spider-like Hollow, Hexapodus.

Ichigo tries to help the boy, but Rukia tells him to stop, asking if the boy was one of the strangers Ichigo refused to help. To which he responds that he can't not help someone being attacked in front of him. Rukia continues to explain that whether in front of him or far away the fact remains that he is being attacked. Ichigo continues to watch the attack helplessly. Rukia tells him not to help the boy because even if he did save him, nothing will matter if he doesn't become a Shinigami. She also tells him that a Shinigami has to treat all spirits equally and that he cannot just conveniently save those he can see and reach. If he wants to save the boy, he must be willing to save all spirits and make that kind of commitment, even to give his life to save them. He remembers his fight with Fishbone D and decides.

Ichigo raises his Zanpakutō, confronts Hexapodus and cuts one of the its legs. Rukia is surprised that Ichigo accepted the commitment. Ichigo plants his Zanpakutō on the ground near the boy, which scares him. Ichigo explains he saved the boy because he wanted and he hasn’t accepted any commitment because he’s not a good enough person to be able to sacrifice his life for total strangers. He reminds Rukia about what she had sacrificed to save him and then kills Hexapodus. He continues to explain that he’s not that insensitive that can live happily without paying his debts. He then decides to help her to do the Shinigami job, Rukia thanks him.

Meanwhile, a student notices Ichigo’s unconscious body lying on the floor.

Cover of 003. Headhittin'

Orihime sings on her way home from the store at night. A speeding car heads in her direction before the scene ends.

Rukia reads a horror manga out loud in order to study modern speech, much to Ichigo's displeasure, while Ichigo trains by hitting 100 pepper filled balls. Rukia explains that he was not meant to hit every ball and only the ones labeled as "heads" which Ichigo is unable to distinguish from the other labeled "Hand."

Orihime comes across the park in which Ichigo and Rukia are training while Rukia explains that a hollow's head is its week spot, saying that it can be defeated in one blow by that method and her training is to increase Ichigo's accuracy when doing so. Ichigo argues that he has been defeating Hollows fine so far, to which Rukia points out he hasn't defeated a hollow in one hit and a sneak attack is one of the basics of defeating them. Ichigo continues to protest, saying that they are dirty tactics. Rukia continues, explaining fighting a Hollow is not the same as fighting a human and fighting one as if they were human would end in his death.

Orihime appears behind Ichigo, startling him with a loud greeting. Ichigo asks what she was doing there, to which she explains that she was just passing through while shopping for dinner, she then notices Rukia, addressing her by name, though Rukia does not remember her. Ichigo notices a bandage on Orihime's arm and proceeds to ask about it, leading to her lighthearted explanation of having been hit by a car. Ichigo tells her she should be more serious about that type of accident. Rukia notices another injury on her leg and suggests she go to a doctor, causing Orihime to promptly leave. Ichigo asks if she would like him to walk her home, but he rejects his offer.

Rukia asks Ichigo more about Orihime. He explains that her best friend has lived in his neighborhood since 8th grade, and her brother had died three years prior at the Kurosaki Clinic. He then asks why she wanted to know. She responds that she's not interested and that it's time to leave.

Yuzuopens the door to Ichigo's room, asking if he knows where her dress is, as he walks up the stairs. He explains to her that he hasn't seen her clothes and tells her not to open his door without knocking.

Rukia lays in a small dark room as her Soul Phone rings. Ichigo hears a beeping sound and wonders what it is before it stops. Rukia jumps out of Ichigo's closet, loudly shouting his name trying to warn him of an immediate hollow attack. Just ase a large hand bursts through the floor, Rukia dons her Skull Symbol glove and forces Ichigo's soul out of his body before the rest of the Hollow comes through the wall. Ichigo draws his Zanpakutō and slashes at the Hollow's head but doesn't cut deep enough, only slicing off a portion of its mask, revealing the hollow to be Orihime's brother, Sora. Rukia explains that the reason for sneaking up behind hollows was not only to prevent being damaged, but also to avoid seeing its original face, as all Hollows are originally normal souls.

The final scene cuts to Orihime and Tatsuki sitting in Orihime's house as a seam splits on Enraku's face.

Cover of 004. WHY DO YOU EAT IT?'

Rukia explains that Hollows were once human, but they are still monsters that must be defeated. When Ichigo tries to press her for further explanation, Rukia says she has no time to explain, because "that girl" is going to die.

At Orihime's residence, Tatsuki tells Orihime that she should have accepted Ichigo's offer to walk her home. Tatsuki then asks if Orihime has ever been alone with Ichigo at the park, and Orihime has a strange daydream about it. Enraku then falls down, and Orihime rushes to the bear, where she notices blood. A hand comes out of the bear and rips through Orihime, causing her to fall back. Tatsuki questions what's wrong.

Ichigo and Rukia head toward Orihime's residence, with Rukia further explaining the nature of Hollows. Meanwhile, Tatsuki is knocked to the floor, bleeding, and a large Hollow approaches Orihime. Orihime notes that she's not in her body, and wants to break the chain connecting her to her body, because it hurts. She then notices that Tatsuki is in danger and knocks the Hollow aside, calling to Tatsuki that she should run, but she can't hear Orihime.

The Hollow mocks her, and moves in to attack, but Ichigo saves her.

Cover of 005. Binda•blinda

Ichigo has arrived at Orihime's house to rescue her from a Hollow attack, and evaluates the situation. Orihime's soul greets him warmly, and he questions why she can see him, as Rukia had told him that only spirits can see other spirits. The Hollow tells him that it's because Orihime is already dead, so her soul can see him. He then whips his tail around and attacks Ichigo with enough force to break the window and send him outside of the house.

The Hollow follows Ichigo, mocking him, and continues to attack, burning Ichigo's hand and knocking him to the ground. When Orihime cries out in distress, the Hollow grabs her, and asks if she remembers him. Orihime identifies the Hollow as her deceased brother, Sora.

Outside, Rukia reminds Ichigo that he cannot lose, or the Hollow will consume Orihime's soul. Inside, Orihime asks if it's really him, which he confirms, and then questions why he attacked her friends. He states that it's because they tried to tear Orihime and him apart. When he died, Orihime prayed to him daily, which made him happy, but when she befriended Tatsuki, she began praying less and less. When she met Ichigo, she stopped praying altogether, only talking to him about Ichigo all the time. This was really painful for him, making him believe she had pushed him out of her heart.

Ichigo rushes inside, and the Hollow asks Orihime to live together with him, like they used to. She says he should have told her he was sad, instead of attacking her friends, because this isn't her brother. This angers him, and he blames the situation on her, stating he'd kill her. Upset, Ichigo cuts up the Hollow's arms, and tells him to never say such a thing again.

Cover of 006. microcrack.

Sora reflects on the past, and how he used to take care of Orihime. In the present, now as a Hollow, he explains that they always lived together, that she's his and that he won't give her up. He attacks Ichigo, and says that if Orihime won't live for him, then she should at least die for him.

He moves in to attack her, and bites down over her head and onto her shoulders. In return, she hugs him, surprising him. She apologizes, and explains that the reason why she switched from praying to talking about Ichigo and school was because she thought that if all she ever showed him was how sad she was, then he would worry. But if she showed that she was happy, then he wouldn't have to be concerned about her well-being.

Rukia enters the room and explains that she can fix her. Acidwire explains that he understands that she didn't stop praying to upset him, but that she liked that when she prayed, her heart was all his. Ichigo explains why she wears her hairpins, and Sora states that he'd like to disappear so he won't attack her again. Ichigo questions this, but Rukia explains that once a soul becomes a Hollow, it can't revert back again.

Sora and Orihime say goodbye to each other while he disappears. Orihime awakens in her body and tries to ask Ichigo something. Before she can, though, Rukia makes a small puff of smoke, which knocks her out, explaining that she replaced Rukia's memory with the device.

The following day at school, Orihime tells her classmates that a sumo wrestler broke into her house and shot a bazooka at her wall, which Tatsuki confirms, but that the others don't believe.

Cover of 007. The Pink Cheeked Parakeet

The boys discuss a cursed parakeet, whose presence results in the deaths of its owners. Suddenly, a beam is propelled at them, which Chad saves the others from. The parakeet then thanks Chad, and Chad responds with his name and age.

At school, Orihime comments that his wounds healed well, and Rukia says she got top grades in Kidō. Before Ichigo can question her further, Rukia asks how she drinks from a juice box. Mizuiro joins Rukia and Ichigo for lunch and tells Ichigo that he should think about how it looks for him to hang around Rukia all the time, which Ichigo disregards. Ichigo then warns Rukia that Mizuiro is a womanizer, although Mizuiro is confused since he only likes older women and Rukia appears to be his age. Keigo joins them as well, and he and Ichigo argue briefly.

Keigo is then kicked from behind, by Reiichi who tries to entice Ichigo into a fight. He then brings out iron knuckles, but before he can attack, Chad stops him. Ichigo notes his injuries, and is shocked about his "iron body" when Chad explains that he got them from surviving being hit by a steel beam and a motorcycle. Keigo then notices Chad's new parakeet, and talks to it. While the others are distracted, Rukia tells Ichigo that the parakeet houses a harmless spirit that should be sent onto the afterlife that evening.

At the Kurosaki Clinic, Yuzu and Karin rush to aid a car crash victim. Isshin is upset because the local hospital won't help the victims and he orders Ichigo to stay out of the way. Shortly after, more victims arrive, including Chad, and Ichigo suspects that his wounds were caused by a Hollow, which Rukia confirms that night.