Yako has shut himself in now that Yurara and Mei are a couple. However, Mei seems to have acquired another rival when a beautiful boy from Yurara's past returns!

Doubts spread about the death sentence of an ex-Soul Reaper while rebellion grows within the Soul Society.

Ichigo Kurosaki was born with the ability to see ghosts, and is now a Soul Reaper, dedicated to protecting the innocent and helping tormented souls find peace. In this volume, Ichigo is surprised when his friend Nel Tu reverts to her true form to shield her human protectors, and unforeseen changes put Ichigo and his friends at the mercy of the enemy.

Immediately after checking into the Kurosaki Clinic with a mysterious scar on his back, the muscle-bound Chad goes AWOL. Accompanying Chad is a talking parakeet imbued with the soul of a young boy named Yuichi. It doesn't take newbie Soul Reaper Ichigo Kurosaki long to surmise that a Hollow must be involved. Ichigo is about to sidcover that not every soul is bound for the Soul Society, especially if it's tainted with innocent blood.

"Ichigo and the Soul Reapers wage a furious battle against the Arrancars who are attacking Karakura Town. But this enemy is unlike anything they have ever fought before, and these aren't even the strongest of the Arrancars! If Ichigo and his friend can barely face them, how can they hope to fight off the elite Arrancar warriors, the dreaded Espada?"--Cover.

Ichigo and his friends are moving ever closer to the center of Hueco Mundo and rescuing Orihime. But their battles against the Arrancars are testing them in ways they never thought possible. Can they keep their honor in a world where it doesn't exist, or will Hueco Mundo leave an indelible mark on their souls?!

"Ichigo and the rest of the rescue squad have made it as far as the fortress of Las Noches and are one step closer to freeing Orihime from the Arrancars' clutches. And although the battles in Hueco Mundo have been brutal, the opponents have been surprisingly honorable. But that is about to change ..."--Publisher's web site.

Ichigo and his friends are training like mad for the looming threat of Aizen's wicked plans. When Orihime finds out she has to sit out the coming fight, leaving her friends without her protection, Ichigo also realizes he cannot control his Hollowfied self long enough for battle. Can the team afford to have two fighters on the sidelines?

Ichigo Kurosaki was a little boy when his mother passed away. One rainy day, Ichigo, whose ability to see the undead is a blessing and a curse, tried to stop a young girl from drowning in a nearby river. His mother, Masaki, ran after them, frantically trying to rescue her only son. Then everything went black, and Ichigo awoke only to discover his mother dead and the little girl gone. It's the anniversary of Masaki's death, and the entire Kurosaki...

Ichigo's recent battles with the Arrancars have proven that if he wants to protect his friends he must get stronger, and the only way to do that is to control his inner Hollow. Ichigo turns to the Vizoreds, ex-Soul Reapers who have been Hollowfied, to teach him. But before his training begins, Ichigo must do battle against his Hollow self--winner takes his soul.