Pain that won’t heal
Sadness you feel
Scars that just refuse to fade from memory
Sometimes the burden’s too much for one to bear
Don’t give up on me, please don’t turn me away
Whoa!
I’ll hold your hand in mine
Will I lose my hold on her someday?
Will her smile fade In a flood of tears Or can I keep the fears at bay?
Echoing, distant voices wither into silence.
But there is one thing that will never ever age…
my love for you is timeless
Pain that won’t heal
Sadness you feel
Smiles with hearts’ bitterness replaced
“I’ll never smile again”
“I’ll never let love in”
Don’t ever say such things to me
A future we cannot see
All happenings Find meaning in the story
In time the clouds will clear away,
so just stay, please stay with me… Whoa!
Who are we to pass through you? Whoa!
That answer will find you someday
But still, if it’s true what that bald guy said,
and even if Rukia is in that white tower…
The problem is which road to take to get there.
Oh!
Oh, that’s right. I have a map.
We wouldn’t want to run into any Captains along the way, huh?
Rukia… Are you talking about Rukia Kuchiki?
Huh?!
Just as I thought… It’s her, isn’t it?
Then that “white tower” you referred to is the Senzaikyu.
I…know the hidden way into that tower.
Huh, I would have never thought of using the sewer system.
Yes, this sewer system runs underground throughout the Seireitei,
so we can go anywhere without running into obstacles.
Don’t the others know about this entrance?
It was under an ordinary-looking tile…
Yes, everyone knows about it,
but I doubt they’ll catch up with us down here.
Why’s that?
The only ones that fully comprehend this complex system
are members of Squad 4,
those of us who specialize in relief and aid.
Oh, I see, this system is also used as a pathway for relief and aid.
That’s why only the relief and aid company needed to master this system.
Not exactly…
It’s just that it’s Squad 4’s duty to clean up the sewer system.
We’re weak, so…
we wind up with a lot of menial chores.
Gee, I kind of feel sorry for this Squad 4.
No… It’s really not all that bad.
Hanataro.
Huh?
Why are you doing all this for us?
We’re your enemies.
And just because we want to go to the White Tower…
Hey, Ichigo.
Why are you guiding us without question?
I know a lot about you… from listening to Rukia.
Ichigo Kurosaki…
Please… Save Rukia!
Here is the situation report.
Sir Ikkaku Madarame, Third Seat of Squad 11,
and Sir Yumichika Ayasegawa, Fifth Seat, same squad…
The above high-ranking Seat officers, due to serious injuries,
will withdraw from the front lines.
A detailed damage report for the individual squads
is still pending investigation.
However, regarding Squad 11…
There is a report stating that they were nearly annihilated.
Squad 11?!
No way…
In just a few hours since entering this realm,
they’ve managed to wreak that much havoc?
Hah, how pathetic.
At this time, there are three confirmed Ryoka,
of which two have taken a member of the Squad 4 hostage.
We have intelligence indicating that these two, with the hostage,
are headed this way.
However, since a while ago,
we have been unable to detect their Spiritual Pressure,
therefore, their whereabouts are unknown.
Either way, we need to collect more information.
Frankly, it’s been a while since our Fourth Seat reported in.
I think he’s been defeated too.
Can you check in on the West 20 area?
The Fourth Seat of Squad 7…
You mean Jirobo – the Kamaitachi?
Yeah.
Jidanbo’s brother, huh? He’s defeated too?
What in the world is going on?
Gosh, they’re all pathetic.
This certainly has turned into a horrible mess, Abarai…
We need to act more carefully.
That Squad 11 gets too temperamental.
You, stop spreading misinformation.
Abarai…?
I did no such thing…
Rangiku, calm down.
Before Rukia was captured and placed in the Senzaikyu Shishinro,
she was held in Squad 6’s barracks.
I was assigned to cleaning duty for that area.
To be honest, I was scared of her at first.
After all, she is nobility.
But…
But?
Rukia scolded me on my first day.
Umm, Miss Rukia, I’ll be starting today’s cleaning chores now.
I’d rather you not call me that.
Umm… But…
Just address me normally.
Uh? Umm… Ah… Then… Rukia?
Thank you…
Y-Yes!
Her voice was much kinder than what I had expected.
I was quite relieved.
Ever since that day, my daily cleaning at the barracks
gradually has become something to look forward to.
And little by little, Rukia started telling me all kinds of things.
Umm, Rukia? I don’t know much about the human world,
but what’s it like over there?
Like the things to eat or drink…
Oh, I’m sorry!
I mean, it’s nothing!
I’m sorry.
They have a beverage called a “juice” that comes in a paper package.
What kind of a drink is that?
It is a difficult beverage…
Huh?!
There is a trick to drinking it. Even I had difficulties with it.
Is that so? There’s a drink that even you had difficulties with…
Hanataro, you may not be able to drink it even after hearing the trick.
Really?!
That guy, he taught me how to drink it.
Rukia, was there anything unusual in the human world?
Did you know that a Mod Konpaku
can be inserted into inanimate objects as well?
What?! You mean those illegal things?
There was this guy who placed one into a stuffed doll found on the street.
Stuffed doll?
That’s the thing made with cotton and such, right?
To put it into something like that…
There sure are some reckless folks out there…
Yes… There are some reckless ones out there.
Of all the tales Rukia told me of the human world…
the majority of them were always about this one person.
Shortly thereafter, an official execution order was sent to Rukia.
Don’t make me repeat myself.
For a first-degree offense,
Rukia Kuchiki shall be held in maximum security.
In 25 days, she shall be sent
to the Central Execution Grounds to be executed.
Rukia… The person you gave your Soul Reaper powers to…
Is that the same person you often speak of?
His name is Ichigo Kurosaki.
I only spent two months with him, but strangely,
I felt I could trust him from the bottom of my heart.
And yet…
Because of me, his destiny became twisted and he was terribly hurt.
There is nothing I can do to atone for this…
She looked very sad as she said that.
How’d you say? She’s a strange Soul Reaper, that one…
Yeah, she’s a strange one.
Huh?
That’s why we’re here to rescue her.
Ah? Hey!
W-Wait a minute!
Did I say something wrong?
How should I know?!
Hey, Ichigo!
I only spent two months with him…
but strangely, I felt I could trust him from the bottom of my heart.
And yet, because of me,
his destiny became twisted and he was terribly hurt.
There is nothing I can do to atone for this…
That idiot! Isn’t that all my fault?!
I swear, I won’t let you die.
Rukia!
Uh… It’s okay! You can come up.
This exit is the closest to the tower.
Wow! It seems like a long time since I’ve breathed fresh air!
There, that’s the Senzaikyu!
We’re definitely closer to it, but look at that!
It looks like it’s going to be a rough road ahead.
The mist is clearing!
Let’s hurry.
Hmm?
Is something the matter, Ichigo?
There’s someone by the stairs.
It’s been a while.
Do you remember my face?
I would have liked to forget it,
but there’s still a mountain of payback I owe you…
Renji Abarai!
That’s a surprise, you remembered my name, too.
That’s pretty good.
Why, thank you.
W-Who is this guy?
His Spirit Pressure is on a completely different level than those earlier guys.
T-That, that person is…
Renji Abarai!
The Lieutenant of Squad 6!
Lieutenant?
I’m truly surprised…
I thought you’d be dead after Captain Kuchiki’s attack.
Ah, hey! Wait a minute, Ichigo!
I don’t know how you managed to survive,
but you’re something else, all right.
But this is as far as you go. As I’ve told you before,
I will kill the one who stole Rukia’s powers.
As long as you’re alive, Rukia can’t get her powers back!
How can you say that after taking her back just to kill her!
I’m coming through!
Try it if you can!
If only you can defeat me!
It’s starting, and the opponent is Abarai, huh?
He’s already defeated the Third Seat.
Next, he had better defeat at least a Lieutenant.
Otherwise, he won’t be much fun as my opponent.
Kenny, how is it that you don’t sense other people’s Spirit Pressure,
but you can tell they’re fighting from far away?
That’s because I’m strong.
Hmm… That’s weird.
Hey, have you found anything?
No, not at all.
It’s been a while since these Ryoka crossed over
and while our casualties keep rising, we can’t seem to find them at all!
It means that they’re that crafty.
The Captains and Lieutenants are keeping in close contact
to obtain the latest status report details.
Hey! In that direction…
They found Jirobo of the Squad 7 fallen!
What?!
They’re gone…
Uh-huh.
It seems Ichigo and the others are doing quite a number out there.
The security is getting tighter.
Well, I think we can handle those Soul Reapers now…
What’s the matter, Uryu?
This Spirit Pressure… It’s Ichigo, and the other one is…
Renji Abarai!
Ichigo… You sure met up with a tough one…
Huh?
Hey, are you okay?
Do you feel fine? Are you running a fever?
I’m okay, so don’t worry about me.
That’s good to hear.
You space out sometimes, so I was worried.
Aw, that was no fun.
See you later!
Good, then let’s hurry!
Ichigo’s spiritual power is rising…
His opponent’s Spirit Pressure is quite strong…
I had better hurry.
Ichigo, you’re fighting against a Lieutenant!
No matter how strong you are, you can’t win!
No…
That may not be the case. Please take a good look at Ichigo.
Incredible! He’s completely overpowering Lieutenant Abarai!
He… Ichigo…
What exactly is he?
That’s what I’d like to know.
Hey, Ichigo Kurosaki…
How do you plan on saving Rukia?
How?
Even if you defeat me here, there are still 11 Lieutenants left.
And above them, there are 13 Captains.
Unless you defeat them all, there’s no way to save Rukia.
And you think you can do that?
Of course! Who cares how many Captains there are?
Or how many Lieutenants?
It doesn’t matter! I’ll defeat them!
I’ll defeat them all if they get in my way!
What’s that? Where do you get your confidence from?
Why are you so worked up over this?
Your Zanpaku-to has changed, huh?
Don’t think you’re stronger just because of that!
Don’t get cocky!
Huh!
Roar!
Zabimaru!
I-I can’t stop it!
Yikes!
Ichigo!
I-Ichigo…
You seem to think…
that you already know my strength just by fighting me once.
Let me tell you something.
When the ranked Lieutenants and above are sent outside,
our powers are severely limited
so that we don’t adversely affect the human world.
My strength right now is five times greater than before.
So no matter how strong you become, there’s no way you can defeat me!
So that means that attack there… was the best you’ve got?
Didn’t affect me! Not at all!
Thank you! If 11 of these are what I’m dealing with,
I think I can handle it!
The idiot!
I looked up into the night sky and saw a comet
I want to see you right now, but I can't fly
If I could become a comet
I would fly across the sky… I'm sure
I would circle the skies and shine over you
With this instantaneous light that will definitely reach you
If I could become a comet
I'm sure I'll always stay close to you
Now and forever
As I’ve said before,
we Soul Reapers have our powers severely limited in the human world.
My strength right now is five times greater than it was when I last fought you!
I’ve been training and I’ve become ten times stronger than before!
Then I’m a hundred times stronger than that!
I’m a thousand times stronger than that!
Actually, I’m ten thousand times stronger!
Then I’m a hundred thousand times stronger than that!
I’m a million times stronger in addition to that!
Well, too bad, I’m plus ten million times stronger!
Then I’m a hundred million times stronger!
I’m infinite times stronger!