One day, a large number of Hollows suddenly appeared in Karakura Town.
Ichigo and Rukia left to exterminate the Hollows,
and in the midst of battle, they encountered a strange trio.
Ishida and the others arrived to help,
and the Hollows were promptly dealt with.
Ichigo went after the strange trio only to find that they had disappeared.
However, he meets them once more in a totally unexpected place.
They have moved in next door, behind the Kurosaki Clinic.
Furthermore, the following day,
it turns out that they are to be Ichigo’s classmates.
What?!
She’s cute!
He’s huge!
What is that?
A giant?!
That girl has to be in grade school!
Two adults and a child!
I am Kenryu.
This man on my left is Enryu.
And this person here is…
I am Rurichiyo Kasumiohji!
Pleased to make your acquaintance!
– Huh?! – Huh?!
Say, Rurichiyo! Where’d you move from?
Very far away.
How come you three transferred together?
We’re related.
Where do you live?
That’s a secret.
What’re your body measurements?
You even go after girls like her?!
But, she’s so cute!
How come only you are answering all the questions, Kenryu?
Lady Rurichiyo is a person of high nobility.
It is a waste of her time to reply to those beneath her.
Beneath her? Aw, come on.
Don’t exaggerate.
You there.
Do not get too friendly with Lady Rurichiyo.
Huh?
If you become too friendly with her…
you’ll lose your life.
N-No way.
By the way, Ichigo…
What is it?
What? How come she’ll talk to Ichigo, but I get threatened?
F-Forget what I just said.
Ichigo! School is a strange place indeed.
Why?
Everyone is dressed alike.
Are they Soul Reapers?
Nope.
Lady Rurichiyo is directly addressing you.
Answer more politely!
Not so close, guys.
Ichigo! I am thirsty.
Say, do you always talk like that?
Do I sound funny?
Well, this isn’t the feudal age.
F-Forget what I just said.
There’s nothing wrong with the way you speak.
In fact, I like it.
To each his own taste.
Yup, I think it’s cute too.
Bring me something to drink, Ichigo.
Why me?
Go! Be grateful that Lady Rurichiyo herself is ordering you.
Why you…
Come on… Go buy her some juice at least, Ichigo.
Be kind to transfer students.
Oh, okay.
This is getting to be a chore.
Serve me well, Ichigo.
What’re those guys doing?
Oh, Ichigo. Are you going home?
We are also heading home now.
Lady Rurichiyo!
Let us go together.
You’re going the same way?
Well, yeah.
Oh then, we’ll be together part of the way.
Let’s go!
Ichigo, let us go!
This will not do!
We chose today’s route home after careful investigation.
We cannot waste any time lingering with others.
Huh?!
Please heed our request.
No! I am going home with Ichigo!
I will buy you a sweet snack on the way home, so please bear with it.
The sweets in this world are delicious!
Really?
Ichigo, I shall see you again!
Something’s up, after all.
They’re being way too careful.
You are a wonderful cook, Kenryu!
Thank you very much.
It has been a while since I had as much fun as I did today.
I’m glad to hear that.
Can I go to school again tomorrow?
Yes, of course.
Oh, I’m looking forward to it!
I can see Ichigo Kurosaki again tomorrow.
Huh?!
Lady Rurichiyo, he is…
He is a fine man.
And strong.
No, no!
You must not warm up to him so easily!
He is far beneath you!
If you become too close to him, there may be serious consequences!
Consequences? Such as what?
Well…
That is…
I know. Both of you are such worrywarts.
Now then, I shall have my dinner!
Yes.
It looks delicious.
What?! The same class?!
Are you serious?
Yes.
They ingeniously used Memory Replacement
to transfer to our class without raising any suspicion.
Ichigo, do you think they’re…
There is no mistake that they have business with you.
But if so, why?
Rukia… Weren’t you checking them out?
Yes, but there was no sign that they used the Senkaimon.
And that gigai, I’m certain it’s from Urahara.
But they refuse to answer my questions, claiming it’s a trade secret.
This is starting to smell very fishy!
Ichigo! Let’s sneak into their place and find out once and for all!
Forget it, that’s a pain.
Huh?! Why? Aren’t you curious?
Mr. Urahara is leaving them alone.
So there probably isn’t anything wrong.
We all have our circumstances.
Let’s leave them alone for a while.
Ichigo…
You’re right.
Huh?! Aren’t you worried?!
I’m so worried I can’t sleep!
Ichigo!
It’s from next door!
Is it his Spiritual Pressure?
In any case, this Spiritual Pressure isn’t normal.
Let’s go, Rukia!
What’s the ruckus? Can’t a person sleep in peace?
You! What are you doing?
Your Spiritual Pressure isn’t the same as earlier today.
What’s going on?
I’m a Substitute Soul Reaper, so I can’t ignore this.
Explain yourself.
Otherwise…
What?!
It’s here!
What?! This Spiritual Pressure…
Why you…
Damn it!
Kenryu! Who is this guy?
Ichigo Kurosaki, I leave the rest to you.
Huh?!
Hey you!
He ran off.
Those guys…
Just who are you?
You don’t seem to be from the Stealth Force.
Wait!
Where do you think you’re going?
So it’s Rurichiyo and her men he’s after.
Seems that way.
Why are you after Rurichiyo and her guys?
Speak up!
Ichigo!
What was that?! I lost consciousness for a second.
What’s the matter, Ichigo?!
Rukia!
What the hell is that anyway?
You mean his Zanpakuto’s power?
Watch out, Ichigo.
The light reflected off from his blade…
It’s not just a smoke screen.
I know that.
Ichigo!
Don’t look at the light!
Damn it!
His swordmanship…
Are you an assassin?!
Assassin?
Rukia!
Ichigo! Capture him alive!
We’ll make him tell us why he’s after Rurichiyo!
I know!
Damn you!
Ichigo!
Ichigo! Don’t look at the light!
Keep your eyes on the enemy!
Easy for you to say!
Ichigo!
I can bring down a guy like you without looking at your face.
Your Zanpakuto reflects the light from the moon
and it seems to knock out any opponent who looks at it for an instant.
In order to do that, you must always come around to face me directly.
Once I figured that out…
Sorry, but you’re no longer a challenge.
Now, you’re gonna talk!
Why are you after Rurichiyo and her men?
Answer!
Like I’ll let you get away!
W-What?!
Did he kill himself?
What?!
It seems Rurichiyo and her men are involved in a dire situation.
I see you got rid of the assassin.
Ichigo Kurosaki, I must praise your good—
What was that for?!
That’s for running off and leaving us to fight.
This time, you will tell us your predicament.
I’ll ask Inoue to come.
I should call Ishida and Chad too.
Lady Rurichiyo Kasumiohji is…
Kasumiohji? As in, the Kasumiohji Clan?
You know them, Kuchiki?
They are high-ranking aristocrats next to the four great noble families.
Come on.
Why didn’t you remember that
the first time you heard the name Kasumiohji?
Kuchiki… Kuchiki?!
Kuchiki as in the Kuchiki Clan?!
Well, yes.
Oh, forgive our rudeness!
I never imagined I’d find someone
belonging to the Kuchiki Clan in a place like this!
And you guys!
Why did it take you this long to recognize the name, Kuchiki?
Kurosaki… Things won’t move forward if you keep on questioning!
It’s not my fault!
No need for the formality. Don’t bow.
Lady Rurichiyo is the legitimate heir of the Kasumiohji Clan.
It would have been fine if her parents,
the previous heads of the family, were alive.
Lady Rurichiyo’s mother, the previous head of family,
died shortly after giving birth to her.
Then her father immediately followed in death from an illness.
We have been her stewards since she was born, and we raised her.
She hasn’t taken over as head of the household yet?
She was so young.
We thought it better to wait until she was older.
But that turned into a problem.
There is a man named Gyokaku Kumoi
who is currently the provisional administrator of the Kasumiohji Clan.
Lately, vassals have begun to disappear from his service.
It seems he gets rid of vassals who don’t agree with him.
There are signs that Kumoi is taking advantage of his position
and is trying to take over the Kasumiohji Clan.
A coup d’état?
And recently, strange things have been occurring around Lady Rurichiyo.
Don’t tell me…
Yes.
Kumoi is finding Lady Rurichiyo,
the legitimate heir to the Kasumiohji Clan, a hindrance.
Hence, the child’s assassination.
How cruel.
Do you have proof?
We thought it was too dangerous to ignore,
so in order to protect Lady Rurichiyo…
We didn’t tell even the closest vassals,
and left under the cover of the night mist.
We passed through the Senkaimon
that is expressly for the use of the Kasumiohji Clan
and escaped to the World of the Living.
That’s why the Soul Pager couldn’t find a record of it.
As you know,
Soul Pagers cannot access data relating to private Senkaimon.
Huh? What’s wrong?
Ichigo Kurosaki…
We have heard of you, even in Soul Society.
Your strength is amazing. I bore witness to it.
Huh?
Assassins are certain to come after Lady Rurichiyo again.
They belong to a special assassination squad
secretly assembled by Kumoi using the Kasumiohji Clan’s political influence.
Ichigo Kurosaki, please become Lady Rurichiyo’s bodyguard!
H-Hold on a minute!
Please!
If news of the strife within a noble family is made public,
the Kasumiohji Clan will face disbanding.
That is why we cannot appeal to
the Soul Reapers of the Thirteen Court Guard Squads!
Luckily, you are a Substitute Soul Reaper,
not a legitimate Soul Reaper.
Yeah, but…
Please!
We alone cannot defend against Kumoi’s assassins!
What if we capture the assassin and present him to Kumoi
as proof of his treachery?
He will only deny knowing the assassin.
Besides, when they fail their mission, they commit suicide.
Furthermore,
they use ominous techniques and are extremely skilled.
Ichigo, do it.
I’ll help too.
Miss Kuchiki, you too?!
We cannot possibly ask you.
No. I belong to the Kuchiki Clan.
I’ve experienced first-hand, the trials and tribulations of an aristocratic family.
I cannot ignore your plight.
I guess I have no choice.
Thank you!
There’s one other thing.
Lady Rurichiyo is not aware that she is being targeted.
And we don’t want her to know.
We don’t want to hurt her with such knowledge.
Hence, we want her to remain totally unaware of the real situation.
What?! That’s…
Forgive us!
Cripes…
Lost to a Substitute Soul Reaper?
Yes. This Substitute Soul Reaper seems to be very skilled.
Why would someone like a substitute aid the Princess?
We must speed things up, or there could be problems.
Very well. I’ll leave it to you.
Taking over a clan is quite a chore.
Ichigo, is it true that you’re gonna be a bodyguard next?
Yeah. Things turned out that way before I knew it.
All right! I don’t like the idea that it’s a small little girl,
but I’ll do my very best too.
You can rely on me!
Then, you can stay and watch the house.
All right… What, again?!
Illustrated Guide to Soul Reapers!
– Yeah! – Yeah!
MEN'S SOUL REAPER ASSOCIATION MEN’S LAVATORY
Vice-President, what is the agenda?
Huh? You’re asking me? Did you forget the…
We are discussing the Soul Pager today.
Quit that Hiroshima dialect. You can’t even use it properly.
Men must have the special Soul Pager with twist-on headbands.
You too, idiot!
It’s gotta be gold. You can even embed jewels.
MANUFACTURED BY OMAEDA JEWLRLY (LIMITED)
Too expensive! Don’t advertise your own family business, idiot!
TO BE CONTINUED