1-4 Invisible Enemy

Have you got any idea about where he might be?

No...

Ichigo... *Pant*...*Pant*

Karin! What are you doing here? You look really sick.

I...saw it. I saw the memories of the spirit possessing that bird.

He saw it all... His mother's murder!

Huh?

Ichigo, you must tell him that if he goes to the other side, she'll be there.

Don't let him be alone any more.

Ichigo, you need to get Karin home now. I'll handle them.

Rukia!

Damn! Where did they go?

This is bad... I'm out of breath already.

What's the point of a Gigai that is only as powerful as a human? Just wait till I see those Research and Development freaks...

You smell good! You smell delicious!

!!!

Ruler! The mask of blood and flesh, all things of the universe that fly, that which names all!

In the name of truth and temperance, dig your claws into the wall of sinless dreams! Hado 33!

Pale Fire Crash!

What's going on? Hear that?

It's attacking her.

It's that young lady who was chasing us before. The monster is attacking her right now. It's going to hurt her really bad.

I'm going to help her.

Wait, please! Don't go! It's just too dangerous.

Hm...

No, my spell! It didn't even hurt him!

Heh heh. I know that spell. It's a Soul Reaper spell.

But yours was so weak it had no bite to it. Too bad.

It's just as I thought. My Kido hasn't recovered its force. My spell has no effect.

My, my, a tender little Soul Reaper who's lost her power. You see, I've already had the pleasure of devouring two other Soul Reapers who tried to help this boy pass on to the Soul Society.

And I assure you, they were mighty good eating.

The boy... You mean the human soul that's in that bird?

I might be more inclined to give you an answer if you were to let me have a little nibble.

Urrrrgghhhhhh!

Hey, I hit something. Alright!

You actually landed a punch on a Hollow?! But how? Can you see spirits?

Hey there, new girl. Are you telling me that you can see ghosts?

Heh heh heh. It was just a lucky punch. He scared me for a second. I thought he could see me.

Urgh!

Alright. I got him again.

I can't believe what I'm seeing.

(He's knocked that Hollow down twice now. But I know there's no way he can see it, or even hear it.)

(By sheer force of will, this human is calmly facing down an enemy whose power he cannot even imagine. It's as if he has no sense of fear at all.)

Damn you! Graaaaaaah!

Oh, you want some more, eh, hotshot? Well first, I have someone here you might want to see.

Yuichi's bird cage... Why is it here?

I'm so sorry, mister. I was trying to call for you.

That's okay.

Hahaha. I'm this close to attacking the bird cage. You'll both do what I say. Because if you don't, there won't be enough of your little friend left to spread on a cracker.

Don't move, Chad. Don't think for a second he won't blow up the bird.

Of course, you could turn around and actually fight me.

How boring. I didn't think you would give up so easily.

I haven't given up.

You challenged me to attack you.

So then, attack you I will... Perfect timing, Ichigo.

What are you blabbering about?

You act like you planned it this way.

Who are you, anyway?

Ichigo Kurosaki, age 15, Substitute Soul Reaper!

And if you really wanna play some serious tag, I think it's me you ought to chase.

Ah, Substitute Soul Reaper, eh? Crap.

Tell me, before I slice and dice you.

You killed the mother of that boy inside the cockatiel, didn't you? You might as well admit it, because either way, you're going down.

Yes, I killed the brat's mother.

The punk kid was still alive, so I sucked out his soul and stuck it in the stupid cockatiel.

Then I made him a deal. I told him if he could run from me in that bird body for three months, I'd bring his precious mommy back to life.

How could you do that?

I couldn't do that, you moron! Bring a dead person back to life? Nothing, nobody could have brought her back after what I did to her.

You bastard!

What's wrong?

I'm afraid there's nothing I can do. His Chain of Fate has been severed. There's no sign of it.

Without it, there's no way I can return him to his body.

Oh no...

Yuichi...

Don't be sad! The Soul Society is a wonderful place that's very peaceful.

In fact, it's a much better place to live than this world.

So now you're suddenly an expert on life in this world?

Anyway, you're missing the point here. When you pass over, you'll finally be reunited with your mother.

Ah!

Maybe we can't bring her back to life, but she is on the other side waiting for you.

And this time, it's really true.

!!!

Well then, if you're ready, let's begin the Konso.

Mister Sado, thank you for everything you did for me.

You carried me everywhere in your arms, you kept me safe, and you were even brave enough to face a terrible monster and protect me from it.

Hey, don't even mention it.

Yuichi...

Someday, when I die and pass over too, would it be okay with you if sometimes I carried you around again?

Mm hmm!