By Megan McKian
THE STORY
Ichigo “Strawberry” Kurosaki, a surly 15-year-old with orange hair and a perpetual scowl, has been able to see the spirits of the dead since he was young. Still, he never expected to cross paths with Rukia Kuchiki, a mysterious girl who identifies herself as a Soul Reaper sent from the spiritual world, the Soul Society. When a Hollow attacks Ichigo’s family, Rukia rushes to protect Ichigo and is severely injured. So that Ichigo can save his family, she offers to lend Ichigo half of her Soul Reaper powers and transform him into a temporary Soul Reaper. Ichigo agrees, but instead, ends up absorbing her powers completely. Rukia is left powerless and Ichigo has no choice but to become a Soul Reaper in her place. While he tries to keep up with high school and the demands of his daily life, he must use his extraordinary spiritual abilities to protect his town and family and to help wandering souls find peace in the afterlife.
SOUL REAPERS
A Soul Reaper’s mission is twofold: to help the ghosts on Earth to pass on to the peaceful Soul Society and to protect the innocent from Hollows. They each carry a Zanpakutou, a sword with its own name, unique abilities and appearance according to whoever wields it. A Soul Reaper guides a Whole spirit in its passing with the use of this sword by performing a ceremony called Konsou, or “soul burial”. In order for Hollows to pass though, they must be defeated with the sword, preferably with a direct, forceful blow to their head. This vaporizes the Hollow and purifies the sins it has committed while in Hollow form.
THE SPIRITS
After death, a human’s spirit starts off as a Whole and carries a Chain of Fate that dangles from its chest. This chain gradually corrodes – over months, or even years – and when it finally disappears completely, the spirit loses its heart and sense of humanity. It then develops the need to devour other souls, living or dead. A Hollow is distinguishable by a white mask over its face and a hole through its chest where its heart once was.
CHARACTERS:
Rukia Kuchiki
She remains in the physical world while slowing regaining her powers, inhabiting an artificial human body to guide Ichigo through his journey. She is intelligent and has a natural elegance and modesty, but is clueless about the ways of the modern physical world. She often draws terrible artwork to explain a Soul Reaper’s duties and nurses a soft spot for bunny rabbits.
Orihime Inoue
This cheerful classmate of Ichigo’s has a penchant for cooking nearly inedible dishes and getting lost in her bizarre daydreams. Despite her odd outward behaviour, she is tougher and smarter than one might suspect. She lives alone because her older brother Sora died in an accident.
Yasutora “Chad” Sado
Chad is kind-hearted and quiet by nature, despite his intimidating appearance and incredible physical strength. He was raised in Mexico by his grandfather and always carries a Mexican coin as a memento of his grandfather and as a symbol of his vow to only use his strength to protect others. He has something of a weakness for cute things, to Kon’s chagrin.
Uryuu Ishida
Calm and cool with a strong sense of justice, Uryuu is the last of the Quincies, a human clan that was eradicated by the Soul Reapers because they obliterated Hollows instead of simply cleansing them of their sins. When he first appears in the story, Uryuu claims to hate Soul Reapers, although his attitude changes as he is forced to work together with Ichigo. He is also quite skilled in design and sewing.
Kisuke Urahara
The owner of Urahara Shoten, a shop specializing in various goods of interest to Soul Reapers, he is seemingly jovial and easygoing, but turns deadly serious when the need arises. He has a habit of showing up whenever Ichigo and his friends need help. Ichigo refers to him as “Mr. Hat-and-Clogs”.
Kon
Kon is a Mod Soul, an artificial soul created by the Soul Society specifically for combat. He spends most of his time inhabiting a lion plushie, but when Ichigo leaves his physical body to become a Soul Reaper, Kon takes over Ichigo’s vacated human body. Kon is greatly attached to Rukia and dislikes Ichigo.