The Hollowfication Incident

Prelude
One hundred and ten years ago, Lieutenant Sōsuke Aizen moves through his division, greeting other members before arriving at his Captain's office. His Captain, Shinji Hirako chastises him for not dressing up and introduces him to Jazz music before they leave for an inauguration ceremony at the First Division.

Shinji almost has a tantrum over not being granted entry into the meeting but when the door opens he is kicked in the face and sent flying by Hiyori Sarugaki, Lieutenant of the Twelfth Division. She insists she will not apologize but Love Aikawa hits her head from behind and tells her to say sorry.

Shinji begins to tease Hiyori by making faces at her behind Captain Love Aikawa's back and she starts to get angry as a result. She insists that Love look his way and see what he is doing but instead Love just pushes her back inside the First Division barracks for the ceremony. Horrified, Aizen requests that his captain behave more maturely in front of other officers from the Gotei 13.

While walking through the barracks, Shinji and Love discuss which captains have arrived for the ceremony with Love confirming that the 10th Kenpachi, Kenpachi Kiganjō is lazy and disobedient and they must blame the previous Kenpachi for losing to him. Shunsui Kyōraku arrives with Jūshirō Ukitake and Lisa Yadōmaru and chastises them for talking about other captains behind their back.

A concerned Ukitake wonders why Kirio Hikifune left so soon for her new post, thinking things should have gone at a more paced rate. Shinji expresses exasperation at the constant changes in captains and Kyōraku states that it is the natural cycle of things and that in the last two hundred years there is only himself, Ukitake and Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto still as captains. Ukitake reminds him that he's left out Retsu Unohana and the captain panics slightly at the thought.

Kyōraku carries on and suggests there are many different reasons for the different captains over the years; the Captain of the Tenth Division died on duty; the Third Division Captain retired; and Hikifune was promoted which means others are needed to fill those roles. This news incites Aizen's curiosity as he asks how a captain can be promoted and wonders if Hikifune is now among Central 46 but Kyōraku denies this and asserts that she has been promoted to the Royal Guard, a division that is not among the Gotei 13. The news greatly stuns Aizen as he has never heard of a Zero Division.

Kensei Muguruma, Captain of the Ninth Division, interrupts their conversation and informs everyone that the new captain has arrived for the ceremony and Yamamoto wants them all to stand at in their usual positions. Kisuke Urahara then arrives in the room and Shinji wonders about his odd appearance. Urahara sheepishly apologizes for being late but Yoruichi Shihōin, Captain of the Second Division, stands forward berates him for being so hesitant as he is now a captain. Yamamoto arrives by pushing him into the room before formally announcing that Urahara has completed the Captain Proficiency Test and as such is the new Captain of the Twelfth Division.

When Urahara arrives at his new barracks, he introduces himself awkwardly and in return receives a difficult reception from his new subordinates. His new Lieutenant, Hiyori, expresses her unhappiness with the appointment and insults the secrecy of the Second Division, trying to get a reaction out of him but Urahara merely smiles. He insists that he isnot longer a member of his former division so there is no need to defend it when he is a member of the Twelfth Division now. Rather than placate her, his reply infuriates her and she kicks him before storming out of the meeting.

Later that night, Urahara sits at the railings outside his barracks and is approached by Shinji who accurately predicts that Urahara is having trouble with Hiyori. He explains that Hiyori is having trouble over losing Hikifune as her captain as they were close. When Urahara assumes he will never be good enough for her, Shinji lets him know that captains can never please their subordinates all the time but even then, they should still do what they feel is right for each of their divisions. As Shinji leaves, he uses Noren Mekuri to reveal Aizen who had been spying on the conversation and they both state that the other is intimidating.

Early Stages
Hiyori continues to struggle to accept her new captain, Urahara, although much of her subordinates are welcoming and helpful in his changes. She discovers that he has totally remodeled his new office, installing a lot of different technology. She perceives this as him eliminating all reminders of Hikifune's tenure there and this infuriates her. She demands to know why he is changing Hikifune's things but he reminds her that the office is now his to change as he prefers. She punches him for this but he ignores the transgression and informs her that he is making new changes and wants her to come to the Nest of Maggots with him.

Shocking her subordinates, a forgetful Yoruichi gives permission for Urahara to enter here division grounds. Urahara has to drag a reluctant Hiyori to the Nest of Maggots. While doing so he explains a little bit about the history of the Second Division and how the Onmitsukidō was originally a separate entity but joined the Second Division when the commander became its captain. As a 3rd-Seat he was the the head of the Detention Unit. Thus he had to guard the Nest of Maggots and investigate and detain any Shinigami who was deemed a threat to others or who might impede their duties. He would arrest them and lock them up in the underground facility called the Nest of Maggots.

As they descend into the cave Urahara informs Hiyori that while the detainees cannot leave they can move freely about the facility. He also maintains that while they haven't done anything wrong they have been deemed dangerous by the Goeti 13 regulations. He elaborates that there is no such thing as withdrawing from the Gotei 13 and if she has heard of anyone withdrawing it means they have been forced into the Nest of Maggots by the views of Central 46. He also explains that he's always thought that those considered possibly dangerous they may instead thrive if given suitable employment matching their needs.

Hiyori is then attacked by a large detainee and reaches for her blade only to remember that she did not bring it with her. Urahara intercepts the blow and apologizes for not reminding her that she had left her Zanpakutō back at their barracks as weapons are not allowed within the confines of the Nest of Maggots. He further explains that because of this stipulation, the guards must all be able to handle the prisoners with their bare hands and must be skilled in doing so. He then laments that his face has been forgotten already when he's only been gone several days and defeats the attacker.

They continue through the facility and come upon a single prisoner shackled in a cell who turns out to be Mayuri Kurotsuchi and Urhara informs him he has a business proposition. Urahara introduces Hiyori and Kurotsuchi before he declines Urahara's offer. The new captain manages to interest him by announcing that he is creating a new organization that will require the abilities Kurotsuchi possesses. The new department will be called the Research and Development Institute. and he wants Kurotsuchi to become its vice-president and thus will inherit the organization if Urahara dies. Kurotsuchi smiles and states that Urahara is an unpleasant man.

Meanwhile, Byakuya Kuchiki is training at the Kuchiki Clan residence. His grandfather, Ginrei Kuchiki brings a visitor to see him who turns out to be Yoruichi. She bounces her breasts against the side of his head angering him. They insult each other before she grabs the tie for his hair and escapes to the nearby rooftop. She taunts him by declaring that she is worried about the future of the Kuchiki Clan if the heir can have his tie stolen by a girl. The trainee Shinigami then angrily pursues her using Shunpo leaving a quiet Ginrei wondering when Byakuya will learn not to lose his temper so easily.

Elsewhere, Ukitake is visiting Kaien Shiba and asking him to become his new Lieutenant. Kaien declines the position insisting others are more suitable and experienced. Ukitake changes the subject and asks if Kaien has heard about the latest genius since Kaien to come out of the Shin'ō Academy, asserting that the Shinigami graduated in under a year. Kaien rebuffs the label of genius but confirms that he heard so Ukitake continues by stating the Shinigami is the same age as Byakuya Kuchiki and has a seated position reserved for him in the Gotei 13 within the Fifth Division.

At the Fifth Division barracks a fight has just concluded in the meantime. The newest member of the division, the Shinigami who graduated inside a year, has defeated the 3rd-Seat in a battle and killed him while doing so. An observer, Aizen, walks forward and asks the young Shinigami his name and he replies that it is Gin Ichimaru. Aizen compliments his talent and asks how he found the abilities of his opponent. Smiling in a mocking fashion, Gin insists that his opponent was hopeless, not worth mentioning in the future. Aizen calmly replies that the knowledge is good to know.

Middle Stages
Nine years after the promotion of Urahara, within the Rukongai, there are three souls contorting in agony. They hold their necks in agony as they spew a mysterious white substance from their mouths, choking on it the entire time. The pressure on their bodies becomes too much and they explode with some of the white substance landing on an umbrella that shield three observers nearby. One of them concludes that an ordinary soul cannot be kept a prototype in their experiment as their body breaks down too easily and his comrade asks if they should quit due to this but the first person insists they will continue with their actions.

In the Seiretei, Shinji is out walking with Aizen when he comes upon Urahara and his two immediate subordinates. Shinji greets Urahara who refuses to use Shinji's first name so Shinji becomes aggravated. He becomes even more annoyed after greeting Kurotsuchi who admonishes him for using his informal name. Shinji comments that he is unpleasant then moves to tell Urahara some news. However he is attacked by Hiyori in response to leaving her out and the two of them begin to scuffle and argue about it as Urahara watches on, awkwardly scratching his head.

As they scuffle Aizen turns to tell Urahara the news that Shinji had been meaning to tell him. Shinji becomes irritated with his subordinate when Aizen informs Urahara of the mysterious disappearances in the Rukongai. Confused, Urahara asks if they are simply running off without word but Shinji elaborates that they are physically disappearing and nobody knows why they are doing so. They are actually disappearing and instead of their souls turning into spirit particles the way they would if they died their clothes are being left behind and thus they seem to be losing their human form.

This serious news greatly puzzles Urahara who wonders how a soul can completely lose control in maintaining their human form before dying. Turning away from him, Shinji apologizes for confusing him about the situation. He elaborates that he was informed of the theory from Retsu Unohana. He is also quite adamant that, even though he's just explained it to Urahara, he really doesn't understand the possibilities either. He asserts that it has been decided that more evidence needs to be gathered and that the task has been assigned to the Ninth Division.

A team of high ranking officers from the Ninth Division have been sent to investigate the area with the strange disappearances. Behind the Captain Kensei Muguruma and his seated officers, Lieutenant Mashiro Kuna trails behind moaning about what Keni means when he says he doesn't know what they are looking for. This irritates the captain who insists it means just that as they are searching for clues now. Mashiro reminds him that they previously sent out a ten-man team and they should wait for their report but Kensei counters that its the lack of their report that is the reason they have come out instead.

Mashiro continues to assert that this type of job was not one for a captain to partake in, insisting that Kensei is just bored sitting in his office. She begins to whine more until Kaname Tōsen, the 5th-Seat, asks that she calm down but she refuses. Kensei's temper snaps and he turns around to attack Mashiro but he is held back by Heizō Kasaki, the 3rd-Seat and Shinobu Eishima, the 4th-Seat who reminds Kensei that she is always like this. He tries to calm himself but Mashiro begins to have a temper tantrum, rolling around on the ground crying out that she is hungry.

An angry Kensei is suddenly distracted by the ominous cry of a Hollow. They turn to find a massive Hollow, with a long neck, chasing three young Souls. Both Kasaki and Eishima are stunned by the sheer size of the Hollow. Kensei immediately draws his blade and orders his men to attack it. They promptly obey his command, each one slicing a part of the Hollow. Despite this, the monster remains standing, knocking a young soul to the ground. The child looks up and notices Kensei step forward to engage the beast.

Kensei releases his Zanpakutō Tachikaze and uses it to slice the Hollow apart and destroy it. He makes sure that nobody is hurt among his subordinates before noticing the child cowering on the ground. He advances towards him and demands to know why he is upset since he survived the attack. Kensei then smiles at the child to show him how it is done but the result is quite terrifying. He asks the child his name and he reveals that it is Shūhei Hisagi. Kensei informs him that it is a strong name and he should stop crying but Hisagi continues to cry due to fright.

Mashiro returns to the scene, her absence during the battle irritating Kensei, dragging with her a Shihakushō, informing them that she found ten of them in a bush. She doesn't think it is significant but Kensei and the others realized that the garments belong to advance team they had sent out to investigate earlier. They realize this because the uniforms are still layered as if they were covering someone, like the socks are still inside the sandals. Kensei comes to the conclusion that the disappearances are far more dangerous than they thought.

Kensei decides that this situation is too dangerous to continue and that the Seireitei must not be affected so they have to stop the cause there before it gets any closer to it. He orders Eishima to report to Central Command that the disappearances have claimed their first Shinigami victims; Izaemon Tōdō is ordered to get researchers from the S.R.D.I. due to the possibility that an unknown pathogen is the cause for the breakdown in the soul; he orders Kasaki to contact a patrol squad in order to obtains a tent so that they can set up camp in the area that night. He tells the children to go home as it isn't safe. Hisagi spots Kensei's tattoo of the numbers 69 and it makes an impression on him.

At the S.D.R.I., Kurotsuchi is carrying out experiments on various substances. He chastises Hiyori for not moving equipment faster which angers her as she is higher ranked than he is. Kurotsuchi tries to dispute this and he is the vice-president of the institute which causes Hiyori to call out for Urahara to intervene. However, when Urahara leaves his office he is actually very tired having not slept the night before and tells Hiyori that he is working on a Gigai to help those disappearing to keep their human form. The news shocks Hiyori.

Tōdō arrives and interrupts their conversation. He reports the situation to them and Urahara thanks him for doing while asserting that he understands the seriousness of the situation. He sends Tōdō to report back to his captain before asking Hiyori to be the one who goes to the investigation site. She initially objects but he states that he needs somebody he can trust to get him proper samples. She finally agrees to be the one to go to get samples but informs Urahara that it will cost him later on.

Tōdō returns to the investigation site where Eishima and Tōsen are standing guard outside the tent Kensei has set up. The three have a short disagreement over who should be on duty but finally agree to let those inside the tent rest first. Inside the tent, Mashiro is sleeping soundly while Kensei is pensive regarding the situation that has developed and he wonders how she can sleep so casually with everything that is happening. Mashiro almost exposes herself in her sleep causing Kensei to get annoyed when e tries to cover her up and she grabs his hand.

A sudden scream from outside the tent alerts Kasaki and Kensei to an issues. They rush out to find the other officers felled with Tōdō glancing at them before he too collapses bleeding to the ground. Ordering his remaining officer to look for the attacker, Kensei tries to wake Mashiro. However, Kasaki is cut down before he is able to wake her. Suddenly the world around Kensei goes dark and, stunned, he is stabbed from behind through his chest. Deeply injured, he manages to turn his head to look at his assailant only to find that he actually recognizes them.

At the meeting he has assembled, Yamamoto informs those present that there is an emergency situation as Reiatsu of bother Kensei and Mashiro have completely vanished for unknown reasons. He insists that because the reason is not known they must assume the worst. The honor of the Gotei 13 is on the line and for this reason he will send 5 captains to investigate the area. Urahara arrives to the meeting late and out of breath. Despite Yamamoto chastising him for being late, Urahara immediately asks to be one of the captains assigned to the task.

Yamamoto denies his request and Urahara promptly begins to yell about having sent a subordinate to the area. Yoruichi suddenly shouts at him, angry with Urahara for losing his composure as it is insulting for him to do so as he ordered her to the area himself. While Urahara is stunned, Yamamoto orders Love, Shinji, Rose to move out to the camp area while Yoruichi is to standby for further orders. He tells Ukitake, Ginrei and Kyōraku to stay and guard the Seireitei. When he asks Unohana to prepare relief stations, she requests to be sent to tend to those already wounded but Yamamoto denies this as they need their healers.

The door opens and admits the entry of Tessai Tsukabishi, Captan of the Kidō Corps along with his Lieutenant, Hachigen Ushōda. Their arrival shocks those present as Tessai rarely ventures out in public. Yamamoto informs them that he wants their presence at the camp of the attacks and they both agree to go. Kyōraku stands forward then and suggests that it is a bad idea to send both the Kidō Corps highest ranking officers and suggest sending his lieutenant instead. Much to the shock of the others, Lisa Yadōmaru has been listening in on the meeting and agrees to go in Tessai's stead.

As the other captains are leaving the hall, Urahara stands there stunned and is approached by Kyōraku who places a sympathetic hand on his shoulder to reassure him. He reminds Urahara that Hiyori is a strong Shinigami in her own right, although he asserts that she is still not as strong as "his Lisa". As he walks away he tells Urahara not to look so worried as part of being a captain is also to wait and have faith in their subordinates. Urahara watches him sadly as he leaves.

In the forest, a breathless Hiyori runs frantically from an attacker, evading many of their attempts to harm her but still manages to get injured somewhat. As the shadow moves to attack her again, Hiyori realizes the fruitlessness of her situation only to be saved at the last moment by the arrival of Shinji who parries the attack with his blade. He tells Hiyori she is an idiot for not drawing her blade to defend herself but Hiyori insults Shinji before she insists that she could not. The moon then casts light over the shadow to reveal that her attacker is Kensei in a Hollowfied state.