Ichigo

Appearance and Personality

Birthdate: July 15

Hair: Orange

Eyes: Brown

Height: 5'9"

Weight: 134 lbs

Ichigo is a normal looking teen. He wears clothes that are not baggy and looks more along the style of an alternitive music fan. Ichigo has orange hair, hence the nick name Strawberry, and is rather athletic.

Ichigo in his Soul Reaper costume

As far as personality goes Ichigo is a hot headed and brash individual.

Zangetsu, the spirit in the sword

Involvement in the series

Strawberry and the Soul Reaper

Ichigo Kurosaki was a fifteen year high school who could see, touch and speak to ghosts.

That was until one night when he met Rukia Kuchiki, a soul reaper (an agent of the Soul society who acts like a guide and guardian to spirits that haven't passed on yet.)

Shortly after meeting Rukia, Ichigo and his family are attacked by a Hollow (evil ghost) at their family owned clinic.

Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo's source for Soul Reaping powers

Rukia explains that the hollow had travelled in with their father and had actually come to eat Ichigo because of his extraordinarily high spirit power, his power actually blocked hers while she was in the same room as him and the door was closed. Ichigo tries to defend his family and learns that he can't fight the Hollow as he is.

Rukia tries to tend to him and ends up being horribly injured. In a last ditch effort to save the family Rukia tries to pass a part of her powers over to Ichigo and ends up giving Ichigo almost all of her power by accident.

The spell works better than she meant and Ichigo quickly finishes off the Hollow. When Ichigo wakes the next day he finds that he is the only one who can remember what happened.

Ichigo's returns to school the next day to find Rukia has joined the school as a new student. Through out the day she works to convince Ichigo to hold her place as the Soul Reaper for his city. Ichigo is hesitant at first, but finally agrees to her terms and starts his training under her.

Ichigo then introduces Orihime to Rukia. Rukia notices a strange bruise on Orihime and explains to Ichigo that Orihime has been getting attacked by a Hollow.

Orihime, Ichigo's friend and love interest

Ichigo bursts into Orihime's apartment in time to keep the Hollow Acidwire from killing her. During the battle Orihime manages to step between her brother and Ichigo and explains why she quit spending all her time praying to him. Orihime's brother comes back to his senses and falls on Ichigo's zanpaktou- to cleanses his own soul.

The Pink cheeked Parakeet

Ichigo and his friends are at school one day when Chad arrives with his new pet, a parakeet with a boy's soul attached to it. Ichigo senses the soul and plans to free it from the bird's body when he gets the chance to. Unfortunately Chad is attacked by a Hollow right outside of the

Kurasaki Hospital. That night before Ichigo can step in to help Chad and the boy the Hollow that attacked them returns and chases off Chad. The next day Ichigo and Rukia set out to find Chad. Along the way Ichigo and Rukia run into Karin, Ichigo's sister, as she stumbles around too sick to know what is happening. Ichigo leaves Rukia to take Karin home.

Chad, Ichigo's best friend

During the battle Ichigo defeats the Hollow. Unlike any of the previous battles Ichigo was involved in when he destroys this Hollow it doesn't have it's soul cleansed. This time when the zanpaku- to hits the Hollow the Gates of Hell appear and the Hollow's soul is dragged to hell. Rukia informs Ichigo that a person who has committed crimes against humanity are banished to Hell as punishment for their crimes. After the Hollow is dealt with Ichigo and Rukia confront the parakeet and Chad. they explain to the boy how he will be able to pass on and find his murdered mother.

A very fun loving and crazy character is introduced into Ichigo's life in the second story. Because Ichigo is always needing to rely on Rukia to change from his human form to his Soul Reaper form she orders a new device that allows him to change out of his human form. Rukia goes to Urahara's Candy Store to pick up a Mod Soul (Gikongan in the manga) that allows Ichigo to leave his body whenever he eats a candy. The soul that takes over his body us a mod soul that was programmed to fight Hollows, but because of ethics was suppose to e destroyed. The Mod Soul runs a muck while Ichigo and Rukia set out to hunts Hollows. After they return from the Hollow hunt they are greeted by the havoc of Ichigo's class room where the new Mod Soul has kissed Tatsuki. Icihgo and Rukia try to corner the Mod Soul but it jumps out a window. Ichigo and Rukia chase after the Mod Soul until they corner him at a school. Ichigo tries to kill a Hollow that has attacked and is angered by the Mod Souls desire to attack the Hollow even after Ichigo has cleansed it. When Ichigo inspects what has happened he is surprised to see that the mod soul has actually saved the lives of ants and sworn to never take a life.

Memories In the Rain.

Ichigo and Rukia finally find a name for the Mod Soul and readers are fully introduced to Kon. Rukia awakens one day to the sound of Kon and Ichigo fighting and notices that Ichigo is acting differently. When Ichigo arrives at school he acts differently and catches the attention of some of the class mates that know how he normally behaves. When Orihime brings it up Tatsuki explains to her that Ichigo has a yearly tradition that is going to make him skip school the next day. That night Ichigo and his family plan out their yearly visit to their mother's grave. When Ichigo and his family set out for the picnic the next day they run into Rukia along the way. Ichigo drags her to the side and explains that his mother was not murdered, and despite her suspicions it was not a Hollow that killed her. While arguing with Rukia Ichigo sees a familiar face and chases after the girl. When Ichigo is unable to find the girl in the cemetery he finally breaks down and reveals to Rukia that he blames himself for his mother's murder.

While the Kurosaki family spend their day at the graveyard Tatsuki and Orihime talk about Ichigo as a child and his mother. Tatsuki explains that as a child Ichigo was very different than he is now. As a child Tatsuki remember Ichigo as being weak and crying a lot. However he always seemed to find strength in his mother being around and always smiled when she was near. Orihime then learns that Ichigo and his mother were walking home one day when he tried to run after someone. His mother then tried to run after him, but something struck her down. Ichigo spent days trying to find his mother, being a little too young to fully understand that she was dead. Ichigo has blamed himself since then for his mother's death, but never told anyone how he felt.

Back in the cemetery Karin notices a spirit and tries to talk to it. The young girl turns out to be a Hollow and traps Karin and Yuzu until Ichigo and Rukia show up and battle Grand Fisher. Ichigo attacks Grand Fisher and asks Rukia to stay out of fight so he can settle the fight with Hollow that killed his mother. Ichigo attacks recklessly and gets wounded horribly before he manages to trap the Hollow and wound it. The Hollow even plays against Ichigo's feelings for his mother by making it's second body (the little girl) turn into his mother. When the Hollow becomes too injured to carry on it retracts it's main body back into the bait body and runs off. Ichigo tries to pursuit Grand Fisher but Rukia stops him and convinces him to stay and let her treat him as he gives to his injuries.

Later Ichigo goes back to the grave to ask for forgiveness for having attracted the Hollow to attack him and his mother. While standing in the rain Ichigo's father Issin arrives back at the grave and talks to Ichigo about letting himself live a normal life and accept that his mother died protecting him because she loved him. Ichigo swears to make it right for her sacrifice and sets out to improve as a Soul Reaper under Rukia.

Meeting Don Kanonji

Ichigo decides to one day try and clean up Kon as he has gotten dirty since he has had to be there when Ichigo needs the candy. Often having his stuffed animal body abandoned where ever they are when Ichigo needs to fight. Ichigo decides that beating Kon against the side of the clinic wall outside of his window is the best way to get him clean. The commotion gets Rukia involved who tries to use the janitor's broom that she has taken from the school. Ichigo and Rukia end up having to leave and at the end of the day to find Kon running down the hallway with a dress on and a flower glued to his ear. Ichigo takes Kon back to his room and gets the dress off and then tears the flower off of his ear, causing Kon to attack him.

Soon after Ichigo reveals that he doesn't put a lot of faith in his horoscopes, even if they are proving themselves to be right. He also decides that he dislikes a show that has topped the rankings in his area called Spontaneous Trips to Spiritual Hot Spots. The host of the show Don Kanonji has drawn in a lot of people and started several fades, which Ichigo has no problem hating. The show announces that it is heading towards Ichigo's town for a special live episode, and Ichigo ends up being dragged along with his family to see the show play through. At the site for the show Ichigo and Rukia notice that an evil spirit that has yet to turn Hollow is attaches to the building. Ichigo at first plans on coming back at night to cleanse the soul, but is forced to act quickly as Kanonji ends up hastening the transformation by using his cane to open up the Hollows hole on the man's chest. Ichigo and Rukia continue to wrestle with security until the spirit reappears on top of the abandoned clinic. Ichigo can't find a way to get to Rukia so that he can turn Soul Reaper, luckily though Kisuke Urahara uses his cane and knocks Ichigo's Soul Reaper out of his body.

Don Kanoji with his trademark pose.

The next day Ichigo and Rukia begin to get false calls that Holows are attacking and begin to wonder if something might be wrong, but play it off to chance. Ichigo and Rukia keeping getting calls that Hollows are attacking the city, but every time they arrive the Hollow is gone and the victims are safe. One night they are met by Uryu Ishida, the last Quincy ho proclaims his hatred for Soul Reapers very openly.

Battle of the Rubicon and The Death Trilogy Overture

Uryu Ishida

Ichigo returns to school and feels bad for Uryu when he sees all the injuries he has after releasing all of the excess energy that had built up inside Ichigo. He tries to get Uryu involved in the daily madness that him and his friends usually enjoy, but it ends up being a mistake as Uryu is very much a downer compared to Ichigo and the others. Later that night Ichigo returns home home and tries to find Rukia, but she has disappeared.

The Broken Coda

Ichigo finds a note in his room from Rukia after he finds and releases Kon, who was taped to the back of the toilet so Rukia could leave without him alerting anyone. Ichigo has to "decode" the note that reveals that Rukia has decided that she needs to leave. She tells Ichigo to stay low for awhile because they might both be in danger. As Ichigo panics and tries to think of a way to help Rukia Kon has his candy released from him by Kisuke Urahara (called Hat and Clogs at the time) who insist that he only wants to try to find a way to help Rukia. Ichigo doesn't ask anymore questions, he just takes off to try to find Rukia. When Ichigo arrives to where Renji and Byakuya have trapped Rukia he finds that Uryu has already been defeated. Ichigo tries to fight Renji with his zanpaku- to, but proves to slow and weak at first to be able to fight him. After a few wounds though Ichigo's body starts drawing in spirit energy and he becomes too fast and too strong for the limited Renji. As Ichigo goes to try and finish the battle his zanpaku- to is broken. As he turns to see Byakuya holding the broken end of the zanpaku- to he is struck down.

Byakuya proves to be too fast and powerful, cutting through Ichigo's Saketsu Chain and his Hakusui Soul Sleep. The attack doesn't kill Ichigo quickly, but it removes all of his Soul Pressure and any Soul Reaper powers that he had. Ichigo hears a short conversation between Rukia and Byakuya where they say he looks like someone they both knew.

Byakuya Kuchiki, Rukia's brother...

Ichigo awakens to the sight of Tessai laying on top of him staring at him. Ichigo goes ballistic like always and draws Kisuke's attention to the room. Urahara explains what has happened and how he saved Ichigo and Uryu after the fight. Ichigo becomes upset and tries to follow get up and demands to be allowed to try and save Rukia again. He is surprised when Urahara jumps over him and holds his cane over Ichigo's face.

Ichigo's new found Bankai, Heavenly Chain Zangetsu

Ichigo has to spend his first day taking pills to heal what is left of his wounds. At school he notices the new kid that has been sent to replace Rukia. None of the others seem to have noticed that she is gone. After school Ichigo sets out to return to Urahara's when he runs into Orihime. She begins o ask him what had happened to Rukia, and why no one else seems to remember her. Orihime asks Ichigo to get himself ready and to help Rukia, because she knows that is what Ichigo would want to do. The talk with Orihime strengthens Ichigo's resolve and he sets out to train under Urahara.

At the candy store Ichigo meets up with Urahara and Tessai and thanks them for their help before he follows them to an immense underground bunker that they built under the city to train Ichigo in. Ichigo is knocked from his body and begins to feel the strain of being a new Soul exposed from it's body.

Ichigo is quickly thrown into his training as he is given head gear and gloves and told to try to hit Ururu, a small girl that lives at the candy shop. Ichigo at first refuses, that is until Ururu takes a swing at him and reveals that her punches are more like bomb blasts. Ichigo runs about dodging her while being mad fun of by Urahara, until he gets his gloves and head gear on. Ichigo finally gets to the point where he feels like he can confidently dodge her attacks and possibly even hit her.

As Ichigo goes on the offensive he manages to knick Ururu's cheek, which turns out to be a mistake. Ururu goes into a battle mode that she has developed and jumps up on Ichigo's extended arm and kicks him several dozen feet away and buries him and Tessai in a platue wall. Ichigo is spared though as Urahara has caught Ururu's foot and stopped the majority of the kick's force. Ichigo is at first up set that he lost and demands another chance to fight Ururu, but Kisuke explains that the first test is over. Ichigo is puzzled by what has happened and has to have it spelled out for him that the test was to improve his spirit body's strength and make it easier for him to move and breath as a soul.

Excited that he has just passed the first lesson Ichigo asks what kind of celebration tha Kisuke has in store for him. Unfortunately for Ichigo teir idea of a celebration is to cut off his Chain of Fate. Ichigo becomes understandably upset as he has technically just been killed. It is then explained to Ichigo he has just been put into a sink or swinm situation. He has two choices, become a Soul Reaper or be condemned to turn into a Hollow. As the situation is setting in Ichigo is put into an even worse situation as he is dropped down into an enormous hole and his hands are bound behind his back. Urahara explains that normally having a chain cut off can take some time to finish it's encroachment and turn a person Hollow, unfortunately for Ichigo Kisuke has taken this into account and flooded the hole with a gas that will force the encroachment to complete itself in seventy- two hours.

Ichigo tries to stop the encroachment by slamming the chain against himself and the wall, but when the chain gets close to him the mouths at the ends of the chain turn on him and take a bite out of him.

Ichigo tries to run up the walls with no hands and actually makes it about ten feet up the wall before he falls back to the floor. While in the hole Ichigo has more than the chains to torment him. At the mouth of th hole Kisuke's two store tendants Ururu and Jinta tease him and try to spit on him. At one point Jinta even runs him some food and jumps back out of the hole, explaining that when a spirit becomes hungry it is finishing it's turn to a Hollow. Ichigo doesn't make it out of the hole before the chains finish eating themselves and is drawn into his inner spirit world where he meets a strange man in a long trench coat and sunglasses.

Ichigo talks to the man and is told to find his spirit powers in one of the boxes that his spirit world is turning into and falling into pieces as. The man with the unruly black hair and trench coat tells Ichigo to hurry, he doesn't have much time left. Ichigo falls from the wall of the building he was sitting on and lands in water where one of the boxes ribbons reach him. The ribbon is red and signifies a Soul Reaper, which leads Ichigo to his Soul Power which was trapped in the box. Ichigo returns to the real world where his Spirit Pressure had exploded form him and he leaps from the hole.

Oddly though Ichigo is now wearing the Soul Reaper's uniform and the Hollows mask, something that surprises Jinta and Ururu.

Ichigo reaches up with his broken Zanpaku-yo and shatters the mask, then he turns and hits Urhara with the handle to his zanpaku- to. Ichigo decides that he needs to run off at his mouth to Urahara and ends up getting into his next lesson where he has to knock Kisuke's hat off. Ichigo starts off showing some promise as he manages to make a small knick in the edge of the hat's brim. Urahara notes that he is mildly impressed and draws a sword from his cane and begins to chase after Ichigo with his sword/ cane. Ichigo decides to turn and face Kisuke believing that there is no way that the sword is a zanpaku- to. A mistake Ichigo learns quickly as Urahara knocks what is left of the Hollow mask off Ichigos head and releases his Zanapaku- to, Benihime, from it's sword/ cane form.

Ichigo watches in horror as Urahara cuts through his broken zanpaku- to with Benihime, and realizes that he may be killed. Ichigo begins to run for his life and realizes that Renji and Kisuke have both called their zanpkau- tos names. Ichigo has by now realized that zanpaku- tos have names, but knows that his is now useless as Kisuke has cut it down to nothing more than a handle. Ichigo becomes gripped wit the fear that he is going to die and runs, avoiding Kisuke as best he can.

While running Ichigo sees the strange man again and he hears him talking. The man asks why Ichigo has not called his name and demands that he turn around and face off against Kisuke. Ichigo does as he is told and finally learns the name of his zanpaku- to. In a blast of energy Ichigo unleashes Zangetsu and faces Kisuke to finish the lesson. Ichigo warns Kisuke that he can not control the blast, but he is going to attack again to finish the lesson. Ichigo unleashes a blast of raw energy and not only knocks off Kisuke's hat, but cuts about a quarter of it off. When the smoke clears Kisuke looks at Ichigo and mentions that he has a frightening amount of power.

After Ichigo has finished his training (which is shown until later) he returns home to enjoy the last few days of his vacation with his friends before he returns to Kisuke's Candy Shop. The invitation to go to Kisuke's house is actually kinda comedic, seeing as it is a ballon that flies through Ichigo's window and splatters a red fluid on the wall. The fluid then tells Ichigo and friends where they must go to meet Kisuke. However, before it is finished it tells them that anyone who reads the message and think it looks like a psychopathic murder scene has no sense of humor. Ichigo tries to sneak out of his house so that no one will have to see him leave, but his dad jumps off the top of the clinic to try and catch Ichigo off guard. Isshin gives Ichigo a small charm that was given to him by his wife before she died (it say fertility on it.), but demands that Ichigo returns it when he gets back. Ichigo goes to the candy shop and meets Orihime along the way. As they arrive at the shop Orihime and Ichigo are met by Chad (Sado) and Uryu, who arrives last. Ichigo and the team are lead inside to he secret bunker again and have the situation with the Gate explained to them. Ichigo is removed from his human body so that he can use his Soul Reaper powers and tries to get to the gate before everything is explained to them. After taking some abuse from Urahara the full situation is laid out. The tams has four minutes to get through a tunnel that is surrounded by a wall of energy that devours souls. If they are not through in four minutes then he tunnel will collapse and the team will be devoured. Before any doubts can set in Yoruichi steps in and gives some quick confidence to the team and steps through the gate with them.

Soul Society Arc

As Ichigo and the others begin their run for the entrance to the Soul Society they are greeted by the surprise as the tunnel begins to collapse. Ichigo watches in horror as Uryu's cape is caught in the walls and starts to draw his Zanpaku- to before Yoruichi stops him and Chad tears the cape off Uryu. The team returns to running the length of the tunnel, except Uryu who is now being carried by Chad, when a new problem arrives, a Kototsu. Yoruichi warns the team that they have arrived at a bad time as teh Kototsu is a cleaner that clears the tunnels and absorbs any souls that ma