October 14, 2004
Bleach: Episode 2
This episode picks up at Ichigo's house. We see a huge hole in the side of the building and learn that everyone BUT Ichigo thinks a truck rammed into their house. Ichigo is confused, and then wonders where Rukia went off to.
At school, Ichigo literally runs into Orihime and Tatsuki, his friends. Orihime runs away, being her usual strange self and Tatsuki tells Ichigo he has a scary face. Inside the class room, Ichigo talks with his guy pals about the hole in his house, but is taken by surprise when a young woman (who talks like she's a hooker) addresses him. He see's Rukia and flips out, while his friends introduce themselves. She holds out her hand and on the plam is a note that says "Make a scene and die."
Outside, Rukia explains that Ichigo sucked nearly all her Shinigami powers and she's stuck in a fake body until she can figure out how to get them back. She tells Ichigo he has to do her job as a Shinigami until that happens. He tells her NO WAY, he only did it to save his family. This pisses Rukia off and she puts on "the glove" and knocks Ichigo's soul out of his body. He's now in Shinigami form. Angry, Ichigo asks Rukia what the hells she's doing and why the hell his body is lying in the dirt.
She takes him to a park and tells him that an order has come down. A Hollow will attack a young boy ghost soon. Sure enough, a loud scream is heard as the little boy ghost flees a spider looking Hollow. Ichigo jumps the gate to save him, but Rukia orders his to stop. She tells him he can't just pick and choose who he saves. If he won't save all ghosts, no matter where they are, then he shouldn't save the boy either. He has to be fair. Ichigo is stunned but when Ghost Boy falls to the ground, he chops off the Hollows leg, saving him. He then tells Rukia that's stupid. He saved the boy because he wanted to and that was it. He asks her if she's any different, then stabs the Hollow in the face. With the Hollow gone, Ichigo kneels by the boy and tells him if he doesn't want to be eaten by the monsters, he needs to go to Heaven. He then stamps the frightened boy on the head, and sends him to the Soul Society.
Later that evening, Orihime is studying by the window while from the rooftop a young man ghost watches her. When she shuts the window, he looks a bit sad. Suddenly, several Hollows appear and grab him, taking him to the place where Hollows dwell. There they surround him and devour him, turning him into a Hollow.
The next day, Ichigo and Rukia are walking down the street. Ichigo is annoyed that Rukia keeps following him and she tells him until he agree's to be a Shinigami, she'll keep following him. Up the street, Orihime gets hit by a car. Rukia and Ichigo run to her rescue, but she's okay, even though the driver didn't bother to stop. When Orihime trys to ask Rukia a question, Rukia asks her "Who the hell are you?" and Ichigo is astounded. He reminds her that they all go to the same school and Rukia then puts on her "nice face" and curtsies, yes, curtsies, her introduction to Orihime (who curtsies back). Rukia then notices a HUGE bruise on Orihime's leg and becomes concerned. She asks her where she got it, but Orihime looks surprised to see it too. She says it hurts just a little and then leaves, refusing Ichigo's offer to walk her home.
Rukia and Ichigo walk by the river, and Rukia asks if Ichigo is close to Orihime. Ichigo tells her no, not really. He remembers that three years ago, he first met Orihime when her brother was rushed to their clinic after an accident. He died there, leaving Orihime all alone. Rukia then asks what Ichigo's spiritual power was like back then, and he tells her it wasn't nearly as powerful as it is now. Irritated, Ichigo asks her what's with all the questions. Rukia says it's nothing and tells him she's going home. Ichigo asks her where home is, and Rukia asks him if he's curious. Ichigo tells her not particularly and Rukia tells him not to ask then.
Over at Orihime's house, Tatsuki shows up with beef stew made by her mom. They sit down to eat together, gossiping about Ichigo and the strange new girl, Rukia. On her shelf sits a bright pink teddy bear and a picture of her brother.
Ichigo is back at home and is little sister comes in wondering if he's seen her pajama's. She's also missing a dress. Ichigo tells her he has no clue where her clothes are and she says he's gotten mean since entering highschool. She leaves and he continues reading. Rukia is staring at the phone, and it begins to beep, signaling an order is coming. It's coming NOW...She leaps out of Ichigo's closet wearing his sisters pajama's and scaring him to death. She pulls the glove on and knocks his soul from his body just as a huge clawed hand crashes down on his bed.
The Hollow (the new Hollow we saw formed earlier) enters his room, smashing his bed and Ichigo attacks. The sword is too big and he hits the ceiling. The Hollow knocks him away with it's snake tail and attacks again, but this time Ichigo manages to swing towards it's head. Still, the Hollow catches the sword and tries to push Ichigo away. Ichigo manages to score a it, breaking the part of the mask away revealing a bit of the Hollow's face. He stands stunned and the Hollow runs away.
Rukia asks him what is the matter and Ichigo replies that the Hollow was Orihime's brother. She then tells him that all Hollows were once people, and Ichigo freaks. He thought they were monsters and Rukia then tells him that they ARE monsters. The fundimentals of killing Hollows is to hit them from behind so they'll never see the face, therefore, never will never know who the Hollow once was. She tells him souls become Hollows because they are bound by emotions of anger, sadness, confusion, etc. Left to wander, the eventuall become lost souls, or Hollows.
Over at Orihime's house, the two girls are still talking. Orihime goes into one of her "day dream spells" and Tatsuki just stares on in wonder. Suddenly, there's a loud, reapeated crashing outside the apartment and the girls huddle together, wondering what's going on. The pink bear falls to the floor, a large rip in it's face. An anguished roar echo's admist the noise.
