09x03 - Desperate Struggle Under the Moonlit Night, the Mysterious Assassin and Zanpakutō

[bunniefuu]

One day, a large number of Hollowssuddenly appeared in Karakura Town.

Ichigo and Rukia leftto exterminate the Hollows,

and in the midst of battle,they encountered a strange trio.

Ishida and the others arrived to help,

and the Hollows werepromptly dealt with.

Ichigo went after the strange trioonly to find that they had disappeared.

However, he meets them once morein a totally unexpected place.

They have moved in next door,behind the Kurosaki Clinic.

Furthermore, the following day,

it turns out that they areto be Ichigo's classmates.

What?!

She's cute!

He's huge!

What is that?

A giant?!

That girl has to bein 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 makeyour acquaintance!

“ Huh?!“ Huh?!

Say, Rurichiyo!Where'd you move from?

Very far away.

How come you threetransferred 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 answeringall the questions, Kenryu?

Lady Rurichiyo is a personof high nobility.

It is a waste of her timeto reply to those beneath her.

Beneath her? Aw, come on.

Don't exaggerate.

You there.

Do not get too friendlywith Lady Rurichiyo.

Huh?

If you become toofriendly 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 isa strange place indeed.

Why?

Everyone is dressed alike.

Are they Soul Reapers?

Nope.

Lady Rurichiyo isdirectly 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 wrongwith the way you speak.

In fact, I like it.

To each his own taste.

Yup, I think it's cute too.

Bring me somethingto drink, Ichigo.

Why me?

Go! Be grateful that Lady Rurichiyoherself is ordering you.

Why you

Come on Go buy hersome 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 togetherpart of the way.

Let's go!

Ichigo, let us go!

This will not do!

We chose today's route homeafter careful investigation.

We cannot waste any timelingering with others.

Huh?!

Please heed our request.

No! I am going home with Ichigo!

I will buy you a sweet snack onthe way home, so please bear with it.

The sweets in this worldare 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 hadas 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 Kurosakiagain tomorrow.

Huh?!

Lady Rurichiyo, he is

He is a fine man.

And strong.

No, no!

You must not warm upto 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 youare such worrywarts.

Now then,I shall have my dinner!

Yes.

It looks delicious.

What?! The same class?!

Are you serious?

Yes.

They ingeniously usedMemory Replacement

to transfer to our classwithout raising any suspicion.

Ichigo, do you think they're

There is no mistake thatthey have business with you.

But if so, why?

Rukia Weren't youchecking them out?

Yes, but there was no signthat 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 placeand 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 probablyisn'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 Pressureisn'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'tthe 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 befrom the Stealth Force.

Wait!

Where do you think you're going?

So it's Rurichiyo andher men he's after.

Seems that way.

Why are you afterRurichiyo 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 uswhy 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 youwithout looking at your face.

Your Zanpakuto reflectsthe light from the moon

and it seems to knock out any opponentwho looks at it for an instant.

In order to do that, you must alwayscome around to face me directly.

Once I figured that out

Sorry, but you'reno longer a challenge.

Now, you're gonna talk!

Why are you afterRurichiyo and her men?

Answer!

Like I'll let you get away!

W-What?!

Did he k*ll himself?

What?!

It seems Rurichiyo and her menare 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 offand leaving us to fight.

This time, you will tell usyour 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 aristocratsnext to the four great noble families.

Come on.

Why didn't you remember that

the first time you heardthe name Kasumiohji?

Kuchiki Kuchiki?!

Kuchiki as in the Kuchiki Clan?!

Well, yes.

Oh, forgive our rudeness!

I never imaginedI'd find someone

belonging to the Kuchiki Clanin a place like this!

And you guys!

Why did it take you this longto recognize the name, Kuchiki?

Kurosaki Things won't move forwardif you keep on questioning!

It's not my fault!

No need for the formality.Don't bow.

Lady Rurichiyo is the legitimate heirof the Kasumiohji Clan.

It would have been fineif 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 immediatelyfollowed in death from an illness.

We have been her stewards sinceshe was born, and we raised her.

She hasn't taken over as headof the household yet?

She was so young.

We thought it better to waituntil she was older.

But that turned into a problem.

There is a mannamed Gyokaku Kumoi

who is currently the provisionaladministrator of the Kasumiohji Clan.

Lately, vassals have begun todisappear from his service.

It seems he gets rid of vassalswho don't agree with him.

There are signs that Kumoi istaking advantage of his position

and is trying to take overthe Kasumiohji Clan.

A coup d'état?

And recently, strange things havebeen occurring around Lady Rurichiyo.

Don't tell me

Yes.

Kumoi is finding Lady Rurichiyo,

the legitimate heir tothe Kasumiohji Clan, a hindrance.

Hence, the child's assassination.

How cruel.

Do you have proof?

We thought it wastoo dangerous to ignore,

so in order toprotect Lady Rurichiyo

We didn't tell eventhe closest vassals,

and left under the coverof the night mist.

We passed through the Senkaimon

that is expressly for the useof the Kasumiohji Clan

and escaped tothe World of the Living.

That's why the Soul Pagercouldn't find a record of it.

As you know,

Soul Pagers cannot access datarelating 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 comeafter Lady Rurichiyo again.

They belong toa special assassination squad

secretly assembled by Kumoi usingthe Kasumiohji Clan's political influence.

Ichigo Kurosaki, please becomeLady Rurichiyo's bodyguard!

H-Hold on a minute!

Please!

If news of the strife withina noble family is made public,

the Kasumiohji Clanwill face disbanding.

That is why wecannot appeal to

the Soul Reapers ofthe Thirteen Court Guard Squads!

Luckily, you area Substitute Soul Reaper,

not a legitimate Soul Reaper.

Yeah, but

Please!

We alone cannot defendagainst Kumoi's assassins!

What if we capture the assassinand present him to Kumoi

as proof of his treachery?

He will only denyknowing the assassin.

Besides, when they fail their mission,they commit su1c1de.

Furthermore,

they use ominous techniquesand 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 trialsand 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 awarethat she is being targeted.

And we don't want her to know.

We don't want to hurt herwith such knowledge.

Hence, we want her to remain totallyunaware of the real situation.

What?! That's

Forgive us!

Cripes

Lost to a Substitute Soul Reaper?

Yes. This Substitute Soul Reaperseems to be very skilled.

Why would someone likea 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'regonna be a bodyguard next?

Yeah. Things turned outthat way before I knew it.

All right! I don't like the ideathat it's a small little girl,

but I'll do my very best too.

You can rely on me!

Then, you can stayand watch the house.

All right What, again?!

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Huh? You're asking me?Did you forget the

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Quit that Hiroshima dialect.You can't even use it properly.

Men must have the special Soul Pagerwith twist-on headbands.

You too, idiot!

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TO BE CONTINUED