Ichigo Kurosaki, along with his family, runs a local clinic. Ichigo has the unusual ability to see poltergeists but rather than react with surprise he merely sees it as an annoyance. Ichigo helps those when he cares but can't bring himself to care enough... until one fateful day. A small, mysterious woman appears on duty inside his room, a Soul Reaper known as Rukia. Soon enough Ichigo and Rukia get formal in the oddest of ways and in such untimely matter the losses begin. The Kurosaki family is soon attacked. This leads Ichigo on his first step to accepting the role and responsibility's a Soul Reaper must uphold.
Ichigo lands a strike across Aizen's torso, but Aizen instantly backs away in a flash of light from him to a nearby cliff. Ichigo tells him that it's a strange feeling: when he put distance between them Aizen asked him why, and now it is Aizen who is creating the distance.
As Gin is stabbed by Aizen, a flashback is shown of a snowy day. Rangiku is then shown waking up from conciousness and remarks that Hakufuku must have been used. At the battle, in Gin’s hand the Hōgyoku disintegrates and then rebuilds itself to take on the shape of a cross much similar to the one in Aizen’s chest.
Gin leaves behind a defeated Rangiku and heads back to Aizen's location. As he does this, he notes that Aizen is still chasing after the people of Karakura Town and remarks on Aizen's cruelty.
Ichigo is surprised to see his inner Hollow as he believed he destroyed him during their last encounter. The Hollow reminds him of his warning to him; to stay alive until the Hollow returned if he wishes to truly control his Hollow powers.
As Hisagi does his work, he tells a Shinigami to head to the 6th Division to see why Renji hasn't handed in his manuscript yet. Kira suddenly remarks on how busy Hisagi is and as Hisagi looks over the Shinigami Men's Association's budget, Kira tells him to just give a stamp of approval to it.