Bleach

The episode begins in Hueco Mundo (Hollow World) where are group of Hollows are gathering. It zooms in on one of them and the Hollow says, "I will go."

Ichigo's family is walking up a hill and Yuzu complains about the hill. Karin says it's no problem and tells her not to let their dad hear. Their dad does a handstand and tells Yuzu that she can do it. Karin tells Yuzu to ignore him because if she doesn't she'll just encourage him. Ichigo's dad runs on his hands up to her and says that he is automatically encouraged. Her dad slides and almost knocks down Yuzu but Karin warns her. Her dad slides by and Karin kicks him down the hill like a soccer ball.

Ichigo comments on the heat and thinks about what happened this same day. Karin and Yuzu comment that someone has already made it to the top of the hill before them. It's Rukia and Karin says that she looks happy for someone visiting a grave. Yuzu says that Rukia's waving like she knows Ichigo.

At first he denies it but then says that she's a girl from his and runs up to her. He tells them to go to their mom's grave without him and Karin says that Ichigo has become a man thinking that Rukia is his girlfriend or something.

Ichigo asks Rukia what she's doing at the cemetery and she tells him that she's there in case of a Hollow appearance. Ichigo scolds her for making a scene in front of his family. Ichigo asks her what she is upset about and she answers that she isn't upset about anything. Rukia asks him about his mother's death but he tries to avoid answering.

Another Shinigami is eavesdropping on them from behind a tree. Rukia asks Ichigo if he thinks his mother was killed by a Hollow and explains that since he had high spirit energy as a kid that the Hollow could have come after him, but killed his mother instead. Ichigo gets really mad and tells Rukia that it wasn't a Hollow. He explains that she'll never understand the pain he has to live with and says that he killed his mother. He runs off and Rukia tells him to wait, but he disappears.

Meanwhile, Orihime goes to see Tatsuki. She says that she thinks Ichigo is a superhero and Tatsuki laughs. She tells Orihime about the first time she met Ichigo at her dojo and that he was holding his mom's hand with a big smile on his face. Tatsuki says that she knew he wouldn't last long and says how she made Ichigo cry the first time they fought with just one hit.

She explains to Orihime that he cried every time he lost, but that as soon as he saw his mom, his big smile would come back. She says she didn't get Ichigo and comments on him being a mama's boy.

She says that when they were nine his mom died and that he didn't go to school for several days. She continues saying she was worried and explains that she went looking for him and found him by the river where his mother had died. Tatsuki watched him for days. She goes on saying that he would just walk around aimlessly as if he was waiting for her and the happy Ichigo was gone. Orihime says, "How sad."

Rukia is trying to make sense of what Ichigo said and realizes how insensitive she was to Ichigo. Kon comes out of Rukia's backpack and she tells him that he wasn't supposed to come until she said so. He complains and she tells him that it's her duty to stay with Ichigo in case of a Hollow. Kon complains about Rukia making everything about Hollows and she gets up making him fall out. He climbs back up onto her shoulder and he is about to continue talking when Rukia shushes him.

They look behind them and hear a noise. Kon asks what is making the snoring sound and they find that it is a Shinigami. The Shinigami apologizes and says that his jobs are so boring he sometimes falls asleep. Kon runs away saying that it's not good. Rukia asks him what kind of mission he is on and he laughs. He says, "Don't you know, Rukia?"

Ichigo is remembering walking home with his mother. It is raining and a truck goes by soaking Ichigo (younger Ichigo). His mother offers to walk next to the street instead of him and Ichigo says that he has the rain coat and tells her to let him protect her from things like that. His mother calls him sweet and brave. She tells him that he should protect himself from Tatsuki before he worries about her and continues to wipe his face off.

Ichigo (younger) says, "Come on, I won a point from her the last time." She laughs and says that she'll walk on the street side this time. Ichigo (younger) asks if he could hold her hand and she replies "of course you can."

Ichigo says how much he loved his mother. Ichigo (younger) sees a girl about to jump into the river and goes running after her. Ichigo (older) explains that he couldn't tell the difference between the living and the dead when he was younger. He tries to stop the girl and his mother runs after him telling him to stop.

Ichigo says that his father told him when he was little that his name meant "he who protects". He explains that up until that day(the day his mother died) he had only wanted to protect his family but that at that moment he knew that he was supposed protect that girl too. He says that he was just trying to help that girl and that his mother had died trying to stop him from going in the river.

He says that when he woke up and saw her he knew that she was dead. He talks about how his mother was the heart of their family and that he cut out that heart.

Karin and Yuzu are at their mother's grave praying. Karin sees Yuzu crying and tells her that they're big kids and that she shouldn't cry. Karin asks if Yuzu is even her sister and her dad comes up trying to cheer them up by being his silly self. Karin kicks him in the face knocking him down and says that he wins for most annoying dad of the year. She asks if they can trade in their dad and says that they need to get a new model.

Ichigo's dad goes running to Karin and she punches him in the stomach. He keeps chasing after her and Yuzu is still sitting at their mother's grave.

Back in the forest, Rukia orders the Shinigami to answer the question and he gives a short biography and tells how famous she is. He asks if she's heard of him and she says that she hasn't. He says that they should get to business and Rukia remembers what Urahara said about "hiding it." She guesses he is from the stealth force and he flips up his hat with a string and says that she is correct. She tells him to knock it off.

Kon is running around yelling for Ichigo and falls off a cliff onto Ichigo's head. Ichigo is mad and holds him up to tell him that he isn't in the mood. Kon tells him that Rukia is in trouble.

The Shinigami says to Rukia that Soul Society is getting irritated by how long she's been there. He says that they want to know why Rukia is still there and she tells him that it is because of orders and Hollows. He says, "That doesn't explain why you're dressed like a high school girl." She tells him that she'll wear whatever she wants to and he responds that she's finally growing up into a woman.

She asks him what he means and he tells her to stop because he's killing her. He says that she's involved with Ichigo and she asks him what he is talking about. He says, "Do you feel sorry for him, or are you looking for fun in the human world?" She yells at him and tells him to shut his mouth or she will. He says that she is probably just trying to get with a human and she starts forming spirit energy to hit him with.

He jumps back and says, "No, huh?" He comments that that is the only excuse that Soul Society would have accepted. He says that if she doesn't give him an answer that satisfies their superiors then he might have to make her go back. She asks if it was a threat and he says that it could be. She refuses to go and he pulls out his zanpakutou.

Ichigo and Kon come and Ichigo asks the Shinigami who he is. He asks what he wants and the Shinigami responds by asking if he is really visible to Ichigo. Ichigo scolds Kon for bringing him there when he didn't have to. The Shinigami asks him what he does and Rukia tells him not to answer. Ichigo says that he is a substitute Shinigami and the Shinigami asks if it is a joke. He tells Rukia that what she's done is a serious crime and says that it would be more fun to kill a Shinigami than a Gigai.

The Shinigami throws his hat into the air and leaps toward Ichigo with his sword. Ichigo dodges it and sticks his hand in Kon to take out the Gikongan out. He puts the pill in his mouth and is separated from his body just in time to stop the Shinigami's blow. The Shinigami says that he wonders how Ichigo got the ability to transform even though he is human. Ichigo says, "I don't give explanations to anyone who attacks me or my friends." and Rukia says that it's her battle and tells him not to fight.

Ichigo says, "What can you do? You don't have your sword? Move, Kon!" Kon (in Ichigo's body) jumps out of the way and Ichigo attacks the Shinigami. Their swords clash.

Karin is praying with Yuzu and senses something. She sees the Hollow and the Hollow says, "There you are!" Yuzu tells Karin that she's scaring her and Karin asks where their dad is. Yuzu explains that he went to go talk to the cemetery director and Karin says that that just when they need him, he's not there. The Hollow walks closer to them and Yuzu asks Karin what she sees. The Hollow laughs, breaks a tree branch, and gets closer. Karin looks scared out of her mind and tells Yuzu to runaway.

The Shinigami comes down on Ichigo from the air and he blocks it. The Shinigami uses a tree to propel himself towards Ichigo and Ichigo blocks the Shinigami's first attack, but gets kicked in the stomach. Kon comments on the Shinigami's strength and Ichigo pushes himself off the ground several feet back to put some distance between them.

Ichigo runs at him and the Shinigami dodges it. Ichigo nearly gets chopped in half but ducks just in time. Ichigo is getting pushed back by the Shinigami, just blocking attack, after attack. The Shinigami knocks Ichigo down, sending him rolling across the ground, and then the Shinigami says that Ichigo is covering his lack of tactics with strength. Ichigo tells him to shut his mouth and gets up again. Ichigo recklessly swings his zanpakutou; at the Shinigami.

Rukia gets a Hollow reading on her detector and they stop fighting. Ichigo asks where it is and she tells him to come look at it because it's big. The Shinigami is standing over them. Ichigo is startled and asks if they are going to finish now. Rukia tells him that there is no time for that because his family is in danger. They run away and the Shinigami tells them to wait.

Karin gets thrown and Yuzu who has no idea what is happening asks her what is going on. The Hollow pins Karin down with his hand and she screams out. Yuzu asks Karin how she can help and the Hollow picks her up by her neck. Yuzu screams, "Karin! Help me!" Karin says to let her go and the Hollow pushes her into the ground harder.

Ichigo and Rukia are running. He asks her what the Shinigami meant about it being a serious crime. Rukia tells him not to worry about that now because his family is in danger. Ichigo tells Rukia that he knows she wants to ask about his mother's death and she asks if he would answer her if she did. She tells him that she doesn't know how to talk to him about it without hurting him. Rukia tells Ichigo that when he is ready to talk and wants to that she'll be there to listen.

The other Shinigami is following close behind Ichigo and Rukia. He stops and says to himself that it's turned into a big mess, and asks himself what he should do now.

The Hollow still has Yuzu in the air by the neck and Karin pinned. Yuzu is screaming and the Hollow says that she is too weak even for an appetizer and that she is too loud as well. The episode ends with Ichigo and Rukia running to save Yuzu and Karin.