Bleach Episode 18 Recap & Characters (Spoiler-Free)

Episode Summary

Reclaim! The Power of the Shinigami!

On the last day of the school term at Karakura High School, Ichigo, still reeling from Rukia's disappearance and the fact that no one remembers her, resolves to bring her back from Soul Society. He then begins training under Kisuke Urahara, who restores his Reiryoku and sets him on the path to becoming a Shinigami within 72 hours, while Orihime and Sado are invited by Yoruichi to train, Uryū trains alone, and Renji checks on Rukia in the Sixth Division prison ward.

• School dismissal and resolve to rescue Rukia

  Ichigo, Orihime and their classmates break up for summer vacation while Ichigo struggles with Rukia's erasure from memory. He resolves to go to Soul Society and bring Rukia back, with Renji and Byakuya's stance on Rukia in the background.

• Ichigo's training under Urahara

  Urahara restores Ichigo's lost Reiryoku through a combat lesson with Ururu and then forces him into lesson two, where Tessai severs his Chain of Fate and Ichigo must become a Shinigami within 72 hours before he turns Hollow.

• Orihime, Sado and Uryū's training

  Yoruichi invites Orihime and Sado to train, and Sado commits to going to Soul Society. Uryū trains alone at a waterfall, insisting Rukia has nothing to do with him.

Recent Timeline

• Rukia located by Soul Society officers (Episode 15)

  Renji Abarai and Byakuya Kuchiki appear in the air behind Rukia outside the Kurosaki Clinic. Renji analyzes her body and realizes she is in a Gigai, and declares they have found her, ending her hidden stay in the Human World.

• Rukia's farewell letter decoded (Episode 16)

  Ichigo decodes Rukia's hidden farewell letter by removing every 'ta' syllable. It reveals she left for personal reasons, asked him not to search for her, and told him to burn the letter and go into hiding.

  The letter confirms her departure was deliberate and sets up Ichigo's decision to go after her.

• Ichigo defeated and Rukia taken back (Episode 17)

  After Ichigo's burst of power fails to save him, Byakuya uses Senka to stab him twice, ending the fight. Byakuya shatters the vital spots of Ichigo's Soul, so Ichigo should die within the hour.

  Rukia asks Byakuya to take her back to Soul Society and leaves through a Senkaimon, leaving the wounded Ichigo behind. She is taken back to face execution.

  Urahara and Yoruichi find the dying Ichigo in the rain and bring him to the Urahara Shop, where he is healed. Urahara agrees to reveal the route to Soul Society only if Ichigo trains with him for 10 days.

• Lesson one completed (Episode 18)

  Ichigo dodges Ururu's first attack by raising his Reiryoku, which restores his lost Reiryoku and completes the lesson. Urahara says this shows Ururu's combat ability rivals that of a Shinigami.

• Chain of Fate severed (Episode 18)

  Tessai severs Ichigo's Chain of Fate with a large axe. Urahara says it will undergo Encroachment toward his chest and make him a permanent Hollow unless he becomes a Shinigami, and gives him 72 hours to do so.

Character Graph

Fishbone D

Hollow

Hollow that pursues the dead girl and then turns on Ichigo's family, seeking a soul with high Reiryoku. He is destroyed when Ichigo cuts through his mask.

• Target

  Was drawn by Ichigo's suppressed power, which had been leaking through the dead girl.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Other, Hostility)

  The Human whose power he hunts; he is destroyed by Ichigo.

• Rukia Kuchiki (Other, Hostility)

  Shinigami who wounds him and is wounded in return.

• Karin Kurosaki (Other, Hostility)

  Girl he seizes and threatens to devour.

Yuzu Kurosaki

Human

Younger Kurosaki sister who can see ghosts but cannot interact with them. She tries to keep peace at dinner and is jealous of Ichigo's spirit attention.

• Spirit sight

  Can see spirits but cannot speak to or touch them.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Family, Affinity)

  Older brother she worries over.

• Karin Kurosaki (Family, Mixed)

  Older twin sister who is unconcerned by the family conflict.

Eikichirō Saidō (Saidō)

Soul Society · Onmitsukidō · Shinigami

A Soul Society figure who plays spinning tops with children and is approached in an alley by an Onmitsukidō member about his next target, Rukia Kuchiki.

A Shinigami who fights Grand Fisher alongside Ichigo and Rukia and holds a close, teasing rapport with Rukia.

• Assignment

  Receives an assignment from an Onmitsukidō member to find out what else lies behind Rukia Kuchiki's offense in the Human World.

• Academy history

  Two years ahead of Rukia at the Shin'ō Academy, and was popular there according to himself, though Rukia does not remember him.

• Mission

  Confronts Rukia about Soul Society Shinigami growing irritated at her delayed return and questions her about her Human World activities; fights Ichigo after learning he is a Substitute Shinigami.

• Conduct

  Fights aggressively, ignores danger in the battle, and is sometimes shown falling asleep unexpectedly.

• Rukia Kuchiki (Colleague, Mixed)

  Fellow Shin'ō Academy alumnus two years behind him; he mocks her romantic interest in Ichigo and threatens to take her back to Soul Society.

  A fellow Shinigami; he teases her about coming of age and assures her he will not break up a serious couple.

Isshin Kurosaki (Isshin)

Human

Father of the Kurosaki household who runs the clinic with his children. He is mourning his late wife and is at odds with his children.

Ichigo's father, who grieves Masaki's death while encouraging his son to move on.

• Household

  Enforces dinner at 7:00 pm and quarrels physically with Ichigo.

• Masaki

  Speaks of Masaki's wishes, including her view of his smoking, and insists that no one is responsible for her death.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Family, Affinity)

  Son he spars and fights with, though he cannot see ghosts.

  His father; he tells Ichigo not to blame himself and encourages him to live well.

• Yuzu Kurosaki (Family, Affinity)

  Daughter who cares for him and the household.

• Karin Kurosaki (Family, Mixed)

  Daughter who is cold toward him.

Karin Kurosaki

Human

Younger Kurosaki sister who is skeptical of ghosts and does not believe in them. She is calm and blunt at home.

Karin has seen monsters like the Hollows before and has been wondering what Ichigo's connection to them is; she identifies Sado as Ichigo's friend and sees the Hollow Bulbous G clearly.

• Disbelief

  Claims ghosts do not exist to her as long as she does not believe in them.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Family, Mixed)

  Older brother she dismisses, and who rescues her from Fishbone D.

  Karin is Ichigo's sister; she comments that his heroic attitude is like Sado's and she has been wondering about his connection to monsters.

• Yuzu Kurosaki (Family, Mixed)

  Younger twin sister who worries about her lack of reaction.

• Yasutora Sado (Colleague, Mixed)

  Karin meets Sado, recognizes him as Ichigo's friend, and fights beside him against Bulbous G, telling him he is just like Ichigo in his heroic reasoning.

Yasutora Sado

Karakura High School

Ichigo's classmate who offers to help the Kurosaki family clean up.

Sado recalls his childhood in Mexico, where his grandfather Oscar Joaquín de la Rosa praised his physical gifts and taught him to use his large, strong fists to protect rather than hurt others.

• Role

  Offers help to the Kurosaki family after the house was damaged.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Colleague, Affinity)

  Classmate who offers help.

Orihime Inoue

Karakura High School · Human

Ichigo's classmate who is close to Tatsuki and whose only family, her brother, died after a car accident three years ago.

Vows to never forgive anyone who hurts Tatsuki, whose loyalty she repays after being protected by her.

• Family loss

  Her only brother died at the Kurosaki Clinic three years ago after being badly injured in a car accident.

• Brother bond

  Recognized her Hollow brother Acidwire and sacrificed herself to intercept his bite out of guilt over her past neglect of him.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Colleague, Neutral)

  Classmate whom she has not spoken to much; she was the girl crying at the Kurosaki Clinic years ago.

Ichigo Kurosaki (Ichigo)

Human · Shinigami · Substitute Shinigami

Fifteen-year-old tenth grader from Karakura Town whose family runs a clinic. He has been able to see ghosts since childhood and ends the episode with Shinigami powers he took from Rukia.

Human who received Rukia's Shinigami powers; fights Renji to protect her and is wounded by Zabimaru.

• Shinigami powers

  Gained Shinigami powers by taking in Rukia's Zanpakutō and power, and now wields a large Zanpakutō of his own.

• Motive for fighting Hollows

  His mother was killed by a Hollow; he wants no one else to suffer as his family did, and aims to protect as many people as possible.

• Zanpakutō

  Carries an unusually large Zanpakutō that he has never compared to other Shinigami blades until meeting Renji.

• Rukia Kuchiki (Pact, Friend, Affinity)

  The Shinigami who forced him into becoming one; they clash constantly yet cooperate against Fishbone D.

  Goes to save Rukia after she leaves alone, having discovered her farewell letter.

• Isshin Kurosaki (Family, Mixed)

  Father who fights and bickers with him yet shares the household.

• Yuzu Kurosaki (Family, Affinity)

  Younger sister who worries over him.

• Karin Kurosaki (Family, Mixed)

  Younger sister who is dismissive of him and whom he rescues from Fishbone D.

• Fishbone D (Other, Hostility)

  Hollow that hunts him for his Reiryoku and has attacked his sisters.

• Uryū Ishida (Colleague, Mixed)

  Shifts from rivalry to a fragile alliance, though he still criticizes Uryū's plan.

• Renji Abarai (Other, Hostility)

  Opponent in battle; Ichigo is the Human Renji is hunting and the two fight over Rukia.

Uryū Ishida (Uryū)

Quincy · Classmate · Human

A Quincy who hates Shinigami and specifically hates Ichigo Kurosaki; ranked first on the final exam and sits in Ichigo's class, where he is in the handicrafts club with Orihime Inoue.

Classmate of Rukia who openly hates Shinigami; intervenes to protect Rukia and is wounded by Renji.

• Quincy identity

  Introduces himself by full name to Renji and says it is nice to meet him, revealing he is a Quincy who hunts Hollows with a Heilig Pfeil.

• Taunting Ichigo

  Taunts Ichigo as a mere Substitute Shinigami who received his powers from Rukia Kuchiki and cannot lift a finger without her permission.

• Awareness of Ichigo

  Has known Ichigo has high Reiatsu since Ichigo entered school and became a Shinigami; has watched Ichigo and Orihime from afar and challenges Ichigo to a duel.

• Master-disciple tie

  Revealed as a child who was taught by Sōken; Sōken's death drives Uryū's hatred of Shinigami.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Other, Colleague, Mixed)

  Uryū openly hates Ichigo, criticizes his ignorance of basic Shinigami matters, and challenges him to a duel to prove who is stronger and that Shinigami are unnecessary.

  Rivals who begin to fight side by side against the Menos Grande after Ichigo points out that it is too hard to do alone.

• Rukia Kuchiki (Other, Friend, Affinity)

  Classmate who helps her when she is attacked, despite her insisting he is not involved.

• Orihime Inoue (Colleague, Neutral)

  Shares a handicrafts club with Orihime, who knows his name and points him out to Ichigo.

• Renji Abarai (Other, Hostility)

  Hostile confrontation with Renji, who vows to kill him.

Byakuya Kuchiki (Captain)

Soul Society · Kuchiki Clan · Captain · Gotei 13 · 6th Division

Captain who is Rukia's adoptive brother; accompanies Renji and watches the fight, having been sent from Soul Society to recover Rukia.

Captain who nearly killed Ichigo the previous night and is the head of the Kuchiki family that took Rukia in.

• Combat display

  Shatters Ichigo's Soul at the vital points Saketsu and Hakusui with a fast Senka, leaving him to die within the hour.

• Relation to Rukia

  Took Rukia in forty years ago; has never once looked at her in that time.

• Rukia Kuchiki (Family, Hostility)

  Her brother by the Kuchiki Clan; she addresses him as brother when he appears.

  Adoptive older brother who has never looked at Rukia in the forty years since the Kuchiki Clan took her in.

• Renji Abarai (Hierarchy, Neutral)

  His Lieutenant, who asks him to confirm his suspicions about the Human.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Other, Hostility)

  Opponent who wounds Ichigo fatally and mocks him.

Renji Abarai (Lieutenant)

Soul Society · 6th Division · Lieutenant

6th Division Lieutenant of Soul Society who appears in the air behind Rukia, analyzes her body statistics, and realizes she is in a Gigai.

Lieutenant of the Sixth Division who nearly killed Ichigo the previous night and is guarding Rukia in the Sixth Division prison ward.

• Discovery

  Declares that they have found Rukia and grins widely.

• Shikai

  Releases Zabimaru, a segmented blade that can extend and wrap around an opponent.

• Role in the prison ward

  Holds a keycard to the Sixth Division prison ward and checks on Rukia there.

• Rukia Kuchiki (Colleague, Guardian, Hierarchy, Mixed)

  Fellow Rukongai-born Shinigami who was raised by the Kuchiki Clan; he treats her current Human-like behavior as a betrayal of her Shinigami duty.

  Renji guards and checks on Rukia, who is imprisoned and sulking in the Sixth Division prison ward, and threatens her with execution.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Other, Hostility)

  Hunts Ichigo as the Human who took Rukia's powers and fights him to recover them.

• Byakuya Kuchiki (Hierarchy, Neutral)

  Serves under Byakuya as his Captain, accompanying him on the mission.

Rukia Kuchiki

Shinigami · Kuchiki Clan · Soul Society

Shinigami sent from Soul Society to exorcise Hollows and send Pluses on. She first appears by purifying a Hollow in town and later forces her powers into Ichigo.

Shinigami imprisoned in the Sixth Division prison ward in Soul Society, scheduled to be executed, who was originally from Soul Society and had no real place in the Human World.

• Role

  Explains Shinigami duties to Ichigo: sending Pluses to Soul Society with Konsō and purifying Hollows.

• Reputation

  Was famous at the Shin'ō Academy under the nickname "Princess of the Rukongai" after her adoption into the Kuchiki Clan.

• Current status

  Keeps receiving orders to purify Hollows and has not returned to Soul Society; has a Denreishinki that alerts her to Hollows, and is hiding her Shinigami identity from Ichigo's family.

• Current situation

  Held in the Sixth Division prison ward and sulking; claims she is not hungry and sarcastically calls Renji Lieutenant.

• Ichigo Kurosaki (Pact, Colleague, Friend, Affinity)

  Partner forced by circumstance; she gave him her power to save his family and bickers with him throughout.

  Ichigo is determined to bring her back from Soul Society, having returned to the Human World after her departure.

• Fishbone D (Other, Hostility)

  Hollow she fights and wounds, and who threatens Ichigo's family.

• Eikichirō Saidō (Colleague, Hostility)

  Fellow Academy student two years behind him; she does not remember him and he is an Onmitsukidō agent sent to question her.

Yoruichi Shihōin (Yoruichi)

Cat form

A figure who is in fact a talking cat and who trains Orihime and Sado and is shocking to Uryū.

• Role

  Offers lessons to Orihime and Sado to develop their awakened powers and is seen by Uryū as a talking cat.

World Memo

• Project Spearhead cancelled in Soul Society

  Soul Society once ran a program called Project Spearhead that placed artificial combat souls into dead human bodies to fight Hollows; it was cancelled because it would force corpses to fight, and all Mod-Souls in development were slated for destruction.

• Mod-Souls must be destroyed by law

  Under Soul Society's law, Mod-Souls must be destroyed; these laws exist to protect Humans.

  Soul Society issued the destruction order soon after each Mod-Soul was created, so its death date was fixed the day after creation.

• Substitute Shinigami status as serious crime

  Saidō declares that being a Substitute Shinigami is a serious crime, a status Ichigo revealed to him.

• Reiryoku as Shinigami life energy

  A Shinigami's Reiryoku is their life energy, so its depletion or excess bears on their survival.

• Attachment-driven Jibakurei become Hollows

  A Jibakurei that feels strong attachment to a part of the Human World left alone can eventually become a Hollow.

• Quincy kill Hollows, Shinigami purify them

  Shinigami purify Hollows and send them to Soul Society with their Zanpakutō, while the Quincy sought to completely kill Hollows, believing they were avenging their loved ones; this belief led to their destruction.

• Hollows target high-Reiryoku people

  Hollows tend to attack people who have considerable Reiryoku.

• Strong Reiryoku release affects nearby humans

  When a Shinigami releases strong Reiryoku while fighting Hollows, the release affects ordinary humans nearby, even those who did not see the fight.

• Balance of Souls between worlds

  Shinigami are called Balancers in Soul Society, and roughly equal numbers of Souls are kept in Soul Society and the Human World at all times, with Souls able to travel between the two worlds.

• One-month execution waiting period

  In Soul Society an execution usually comes only after a waiting period of about one month, and this differs from how executions are carried out for humans.

• Hakusui and Saketsu as Reiryoku organs

  A Soul's Hakusui serves as the source of its Reiryoku and its Saketsu serves as a booster for it; when both are destroyed the Soul is left like one with no spiritual powers and must first regain the lost Reiryoku.

• Reiryoku rises fastest in mortal danger

  Reiryoku increases fastest when a Soul is in mortal danger, so a Soul facing a lethal attack can outpace it by raising its Reiryoku.

Clue Board

• Urahara's group identity (Episode 7)

  Urahara and his employees can see and hear Ichigo, which surprises him. Ichigo asks who they are, and Urahara hesitates without giving an answer.

• Ichigo's potential to become a monster (Episode 10)

  Saidō notes that a Shinigami's Reiryoku is their life energy and asserts that Ichigo's immense power means he could become a monster, a possibility left open.

• Uryū's advance knowledge of Hollow location (Episode 11)

  Uryū names the street where the new Hollow will appear before Rukia's Denreishinki reports the order. The source of his knowledge is not explained.

• Karin's clear sight of Hollows (Episode 12)

  Karin can see Bulbous G very clearly, has seen a monster like it before, and has been wondering what Ichigo's association with such monsters is.

• Ichigo as the source of Shun Shun Rikka (Episode 13)

  Shun'ō says Ichigo is the reason the Shun Shun Rikka were born, but Tsubaki cuts off the explanation before it is given.

• Suppressed Reiryoku origin (Episode 14)

  Rukia conjectures that Ichigo's power was almost completely suppressed until just now, which is why she sensed nothing from him and why no Hollow attacked him before. The cause of the suppression is unexplained.

  Ichigo's Reiryoku seems to stay at maximum without conscious control, so Uryū infers he holds an immense reserve; where this comes from is still unstated.

• Cause of Uryū's bandaged injuries (Episode 15)

  Uryū arrives at school with bandaged arms and claims he fell down the stairs, though no one believes him. Keigo saw Uryū mumbling and acting strangely in a park the day before, with strange people and explosions nearby. Rukia says the injuries are self-inflicted, but the true cause is not explained.

• Death sentence threat for Rukia and the Human (Episode 16)

  Passing Shinigami powers to a Human is described as a grave crime. Renji says the Human will be killed after Rukia is taken in, and states that Rukia will also die in Soul Society. The outcome has not been shown.

• Source of Ichigo's transformation (Episode 17)

  Saidō asks how a Human like Ichigo can transform this way and how he got the ability. Ichigo refuses to answer, so the source remains unexplained.

  The tassels on Ichigo's Zanpakutō move by themselves and then burst off as a wave of Reiatsu is released, and Ichigo himself does not understand why he feels great and no longer in pain.

• Withheld route to Soul Society (Episode 17)

  Urahara reveals that a way to reach Soul Society exists but withholds how it works, agreeing to tell Ichigo only if he trains with him for 10 days.

• Start of Orihime's spirit sight (Episode 18)

  Orihime can see spirits, and she points to her brother's incident as the starting point of this ability.

• Uryū's box light during training (Episode 18)

  Uryū opens a box that shines with a bright light during his secret training, and he asks Sōken Ishida to watch over him; the box's contents are not explained.

Battle Record

Renji and Ichigo fight on the street; Ichigo unleashes surging Reiatsu, Byakuya intervenes with Senka and wounds Ichigo, who collapses; the Shinigami leave him behind.

Uryū's Heilig Pfeil hunt

Injury aftermath · Episodes 11–14

Location: park

Sides

• Uryū Ishida — hunter: Uryū Ishida

Outcome: Uryū returns to class with bandaged arms and claims he fell down the stairs

Aftermath

• Classmates do not believe Uryū's fall account
• Ichigo and friends discuss Uryū's strange behavior

Renji's street attack on Rukia

Karakura street fight · Episode 16– (Ongoing)

Location: street outside the Kurosaki Clinic, Karakura Town

Trigger: Renji Abarai seeks the Human who received Rukia's Shinigami powers

Soul Society forces vs Rukia's allies

• Soul Society — attacker: Renji Abarai / observer: Byakuya Kuchiki
• Rukia's side — defender: Rukia Kuchiki, Uryū Ishida, Ichigo Kurosaki

Outcome: Undecided at episode end; Ichigo is wounded and down while Renji prepares to kill

Renji vs Ichigo street battle

Ichigo's Reiatsu surge and Byakuya's intervention · Episode 17

Location: street in Karakura Town

Trigger: Ichigo refuses to yield and Renji moves to finish him

Shinigami vs Ichigo

• Shinigami — combatants: Renji Abarai, Byakuya Kuchiki
• Ichigo — combatant: Ichigo Kurosaki

Outcome: Ichigo collapses after Byakuya's Senka strikes; Shinigami withdraw through a Senkaimon

Aftermath

• Rukia pleads to help Ichigo and is restrained by Renji
• Byakuya agrees not to deal the finishing blow; Ichigo is left dying with his Soul's vital spots shattered

Ability Table

Music Releases

• *~Asterisk~ (OP)
• Thank You!! (ED)