Bleach Episode 6: Fight to the Death! Ichigo vs. Ichigo

On a moonlit rooftop, Rukia Kuchiki checks her dwindling supplies, a grimace on her face. Her Spirit Pager shows a severe shortage, demanding an immediate trip to Kisuke Urahara's eccentric shop. There, young Jinta Hanakari and Ururu Tsumugiya clumsily clean, with Jinta's usual aggressive bluster. Rukia arrives, easily disarming Jinta's broom attack, her composure a stark contrast to her internal worry about her weakening presence in the human world.

Inside Urahara's dimly lit shop, Rukia places her order for essential Shinigami items. Urahara, ever observant, warns her about the dangers of overusing Soma-Fixer, the very item keeping her tethered to her physical body. He then hands her a small package, her 'special order.' Later, at school, Rukia makes a dramatic, sparkling entrance, charming her way past baffled classmates. She then rudely drags Ichigo Kurosaki into the hallway, revealing the promised item: a duck-shaped Soul Candy dispenser.

Ichigo scoffs at the duck dispenser, longing for a rabbit version, but Rukia is impatient. She forces a pill into his mouth, and a violent spiritual surge ejects his soul from his body. His Shinigami form stands bewildered as an artificial 'Mod Soul' takes control of his human vessel. The imposter speaks with unsettling politeness, claiming Ichigo's name. Before Ichigo can properly react, Rukia's pager signals a Hollow alert, and she whisks the real Ichigo away, leaving his body in the imposter's hands.

Back at the Urahara Shop, Kisuke and Tessai Tsukabishi discover an empty box and the true nature of Rukia's purchase: a rare, defective 'Modified Soul' designed for combat. Meanwhile, the Mod Soul, now inhabiting Ichigo's body, revels in its newfound freedom. It races through school hallways with impossible speed, crashing through glass and accidentally assaulting a gym teacher. This artificial being, once confined, experiences pure exhilaration, its eyes wide with the joy of unrestrained movement.

On the school roof, the Mod Soul, still inhabiting Ichigo, marvels at the world, a stranger in a strange land. His eyes fall upon Orihime Inoue in the courtyard below, and a romantic, glittery filter colors his vision. He bursts into the classroom, landing on a desk, and approaches Orihime with theatrical compliments. He then leans in and kisses her cheek, shocking the entire class. Tatsuki Arisawa and Chizuru Honsho erupt in fury, while the real Ichigo, miles away, feels a terrible premonition, a deep sense of embarrassment looming.

Tatsuki, enraged, hurls a desk at the imposter, who dodges with impossible agility. The real Ichigo, in his invisible Shinigami form, finally arrives, horrified by the chaos. He tries to tackle his possessed body, only to appear as an invisible force knocking furniture askew. The Mod Soul taunts him before leaping out a window. Rukia and Ichigo give chase, a desperate scramble across rooftops, attempting to reclaim what has been lost.

The chase pauses, the Mod Soul having vanished into the urban sprawl. Ichigo clutches his head, lamenting his ruined reputation, especially the scandalous kiss. Rukia dismisses his distress with a shrug, declaring a kiss a mere 'Seppun,' a greeting in some cultures, though her flippancy does little to soothe Ichigo's pride. Down in the classroom, Orihime stands by the window, a melancholic expression on her face. She quietly confides in Tatsuki that the kisser, despite looking like Ichigo, did not *feel* like him, sensing a deeper, unidentifiable difference.

Rukia attempts to explain the situation to Ichigo, using a series of crude, hand-drawn sketches. She illustrates the dark history of 'Kaizo Konpaku,' or Modified Souls, revealing them to be artificial soldiers. These beings were created during 'Project Spearhead' in Soul Society, designed for combat with enhanced strength and speed. They were housed in dead human bodies, an ethical horror that eventually led to the project's termination. Rukia's drawings show the subsequent order for all Mod Souls to be destroyed, with some escaping to hide in regular artificial soul supplies.

Ichigo's anger begins to wane, replaced by a nascent sympathy for the Mod Soul. He understands now why this creature, created for battle then marked for destruction, is so desperate to live. Meanwhile, the Mod Soul continues his joyful, acrobatic journey through the city, scaling buildings with pure glee. He spots a group of bullies cornering a young boy in an alley. Driven by an ingrained soldier's instinct to protect the weak, he intervenes, declaring himself a hero.

The bullies are no match for the Mod Soul's superhuman strength and flee in terror. As he stands over the rescued child, the real Ichigo and Rukia finally catch up, landing heavily at the alley's entrance. The Mod Soul's playful demeanor vanishes, replaced by a hard, defiant stare; he knows they have come to reclaim Ichigo's body. He refuses to return to his pill form, shouting about his right to exist and the cruelty of his creators. Ichigo draws his massive Zanpakuto, his face a mask of conflict between duty and an unexpected empathy for this being whose only crime is a fierce will to live.