Introduction To Bleach

Bleach is an anime series that follows the life of a 15 year old boy by the name of Kurosaki Ichigo. Ichigo is not an ordinary boy, he has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. This stems from his other unusual trait - awesome, untapped spiritual energy. Ichigo does what he can for the spirits that he meets, until a Hollow (evil soul spirit) attacks him and his family. To the rescue come a female Shinigami (Death God) named Kuchiki Rukia. Rukia chases the Hollow off, and is astounded by the fact that Ichigo can see her and the Hollow, which most mortals can not. She explains that Shinigami have two duties: to lead "pluses" (good souls) to their rest in Soul Society, and to exterminate Hollows, who endanger them. All Shinigami carry Zanpaktou, or Soul Slayer, which they can use to send the pluses to Soul Society and kill Hollows. These Zanpaktou resemble katanas in their shape and size. The Hollow comes back at this point to menace the pair again, and Rukia is badly wounded. She thrusts her Zanpaktou into Ichigo's body, intending to transfer enough power into him so that he can destroy the Hollow...except his soul takes all her power, and combines it with his own, which enables him to dispatch the Hollow with ease. Thus begins Ichigo's journey, as a high school student and a part time Shinigami.