June 17, Memories in the Rain

June 17, Memories in the Rain is the eighth episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: November 23, 2004
 * English Airdate: October 27, 2006
 * Opening Song: *~Asterisk~
 * Ending Song: Life is Like a Boat
 * Manga Chapters: Chapter 18, Chapter 19, Chapter 20.
 * Kanji: 6月17日、雨の記憶
 * Romaji: "Rokugatsu jūnananichi, ame no kioku"
 * Arc: Agent of the Shinigami arc

Summary
We open in the hollow world. Several shadows appear, all hollows apparently. One of the volunteers to go somewhere. Next, we enter in the cemetary on a sunny day. After noting the hill's steep angle, Ichigo's dad encourages Yuzu and tries to climb the hills on his hands under Yuzu's skirt. He misses, sliding into Karin, who readily kicks him away. Ichigo complains about the heat and starts remembering the events that seemingly lead to his mother's death. His musings are interrupted by Rukia at the top of the hill waving nicely to them. Ichigo denies knowing her at first, but then claims she's a classmate from junior high. He abandons his sisters, and Karin finds if funny that Yuzu will soon have to stop relying on Ichigo. Yuzu becomes worried.

Elsewhere, Ichigo and Rukia argue about whether or not she should follow him. Rukia then questions Ichigo about his mother's death and his ability to see ghosts. She guesses that the one who killed Ichigo's mother was a hollow. Ichigo becomes frustrated, denying hollow involvement. He then claims he killed his mom just before running away! The entire conversation, the two seems to have been stalked.

Meanwhile Orihime confides in Tatsuki about why Ichigo is so reclusive and skipped school. Tatsuki remembers the first time she met Ichigo. He was with his mom and very happy, but very weak. She hit him (it was a martial arts match of some type) and made him cry, but when he saw his mom, he got happy again. Then, when they were nine, his mom died. He was still a "momma's boy," but he didn't come to school the next day. He was at the river where his mom died, just standing, walking and sitting all day.

Back at the cemetary, Rukia ponders Ichigo's statement about killing his mother. There is a figure behind her. Kon emerges from her backpack to Rukia's dismay. Kon seems irritated by Rukia's obsession with hollows, and Rukia finally senses the figure somewhere in the woods behind her. She approches the man, who is apparently a shinigami. Elsewhere, Ichigo continues to remember his lat hours with his mother. He insists on walking on the roadside to protect his mom from cars as it is raining, but she won't let him. Ichigo asks to hold her hand, then reflects on how he always felt safer around her. As the two pass the water, Ichigo says he couldn't tell the difference between living and dead people yet. When running for the river, Ichigo's mom becomes scared, running after him. Ichigo then says that he was given his name so that he could protect one thing no matter what. It is a translational meaning. Ichigo wanted to protect his mother. Ichigo couldn't remember the details, but he knew she died protecting him. He reflects on the family that was now without a mother. In current day, he drops to his knees, crying.

Back at the grave, Karin is praying and Yuzu is crying. Karin tries to cheer her up with no success. Their father also tries, but succeeds only in getting another blow from Karin. Rukia is still talking with the shinigami elsewhere, who recalls Rukia's adoption into the Kuchiki family. He asks if Rukia remembers him, but to no avail. Rukia then guesses that he's with the special ops, which is a correct assumption. Meanwhile, Kon has gone to fish up Ichigo. He finds the boy, and we switch back to Rukia. Rukia says the hollows keep her in our world continually and that's why she hasn't returned. The shinigami says she's dressing to impress Ichigo. In return, Rukia begins using Demon Magic, but decides against it. The shinigami announces his plan to take Rukia back by force. He draws his sword, but is immediately interrupted by Ichigo.

Ichigo introduces himself as a substitute shinigami against Rukia's wishes. The shinigami tells Rukia that to do so is a felony, then tries to attack Ichigo. Ichigo draws the mod soul out of Kon and swallows it, turning into a shinigami just in time. Rukia begs Ichigo to back down, but Ichigo refuses. Elsewhere, Karin senses a hollow, which approaches, invisible but leaving it's trail anyways. Back to Ichigo, he seems to be doing quite poorly against the new shinigami threat. The man critizes Ichigo's fighting style, but the fight is interrupted by Rukia's orders for a hollow. It seems to be a strong one. Rukia convinces Ichigo to postpone the fight because his family may be in danger. Sure enough, Karin and Yuzu have been taken hostage by the creature. On the way to the family, Ichigo questions Rukia about what she did that was a felony. She says it's as personal as his memories about his mother. The hollow expresses his desire to eat Yuzu.