Ichigo and Rukia, Thoughts in the Revolving Sky

 is the one hundred and ninth episode of the Bleach anime.

Following the battle with the Bount, things slowly return to normal as Ichigo Kurosaki and his friends prepare to leave Soul Society.

Summary
Some time after the defeat of Jin Kariya, Ichigo Kurosaki sits on a walkway in the Kuchiki Manor and smiles up at the sky as Rukia Kuchiki rests behind him. Upon being approached by 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai, who inquires if he is healed now, Ichigo confirms that Orihime Inoue completely fixed him up, only for Renji to assert that Ichigo does not seem like he would die even if he were killed, to Ichigo's annoyance, and take a seat next to him on the walkway.

When Ichigo notes Rukia is taking a while to recover even though Orihime healed her as well, Renji reminds him her current injuries are not the only reason why she has been weakened and that she did not have enough time to recover her Reiryoku before she was possessed by Mabashi's Doll, Ritz, in the Human World. With Renji concluding Rukia needs time to recover, Ichigo acknowledges this and questions if the Gotei 13 are done cleaning up yet.

Renji affirms that even though there are still damaged buildings to be repaired and wounded personnel to be healed, the recovery effort looks to be almost finished, leading Ichigo to lean back and bring up how the Seireitei has finally acknowledged the existence of the Bount as well as the reason for their creation. As Ichigo observes Kariya ended up leaving a big impression even though he wanted to erase the existence of the Bount, an irritated Renji chastises him for speaking as though he knows everything, and when Ichigo demands to know what he means, Renji claims this only happened because Ichigo and his friends sent the Bount to Soul Society.

However, Ichigo points out that Renji was there when the Bount left the Human World, which prompts a startled Renji to assert that his Zanpakutō, Zabimaru, is still damaged from his defeat of Ugaki's Doll, Gesell, though Ichigo mockingly states that this just means Renji is weak. In response, an angered Renji grabs Ichigo by the collar and asks him to reiterate what he just said, only for Ichigo to tell him to not get mad since the truth just slipped out. Further enraged by this, Renji warns Ichigo to not get cocky just because he got a bit stronger and instructs him to stay grounded since he is only a Substitute Shinigami instead of a real one.

Despite Ichigo insisting he is sorry, Renji refuses to forgive him and begins to glow with red Reiatsu in anger at Ichigo's unusual meekness when the latter claims he is worn out. Suddenly, Ichigo and Renji look up to see an unimpressed 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki standing behind them. Wondering what Ichigo and Renji are doing, Byakuya glares at them and questions if they have forgotten where they are with how much noise they are making, leaving Ichigo and Renji to timidly apologize and stop fighting. After walking over to the entrance of Rukia's room, Byakuya orders Ichigo to return to the Human World immediately if he has no more business here.

With Byakuya walking away following his assertion that Ichigo does not belong here, an intimidated Renji claims an equally perturbed Ichigo got him scolded, and as Ichigo ponders whether Byakuya came out after eavesdropping on their conversation, Rukia tells them to shut up and sits up in her bed, where she responds to Ichigo noting she is awake by declaring she cannot get any sleep with the two of them causing a ruckus and assuming they do not think of her as a recovering patient while putting on a shawl. Soon afterward, Ichigo, Rukia, and Renji all sit on the walkway outside and look up at the sky with smiles as Rukia comments on how peaceful it is.

Ichigo agrees with this and admits he never thought he would come to Soul Society twice. When Renji asserts he meddles too much, Ichigo acknowledges this, to Renji's surprise, and Rukia brings up how there are no more Bount left after a battle that left such unimaginable suffering. In turn, Ichigo observes Kariya was obsessed with the past of the Bount and could not stand events repeating themselves over and over, and when Rukia expresses confusion at this, Ichigo details how Kariya only saw the situation of the Bount getting continually worse over the course of a thousand years to the point that history seemed like a revolving circle instead of a line stretching forward.

Picking up on Ichigo's mention of revolving, Rukia looks to the sky and thinks about this. In the past, Rukia expresses shock at the news that she is being transferred, which prompts 13th Division 3rd Seat Kiyone Kotetsu to deny this and clarify that Rukia is simply being stationed in the Human World for a month, similar to when she went there with Kiyone as the latter's assistant. However, upon seeing that Rukia does not recall this at all, 13th Division 3rd Seat Sentarō Kotsubaki claims that she completely blocked it from her memory and refutes that he is not some sort of potted plant when an angered Kiyone tells him to go bury himself in the front yard of the barracks.

As he walks into the room, 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake explains that Rukia will be patrolling a one-ri area of Karakura Town, something that should not be difficult for someone with her skills, leading Kiyone to frantically express concern for Ukitake not being in bed right now. After assuring Kiyone that he is feeling much better today, Ukitake notes that he came to see Rukia off personally since he thought that she might be anxious about her first solo assignment despite its short duration. When asked if she has told Byakuya yet, Rukia admits that she believed this was too trivial to bother Byakuya with, to the point where she was considering leaving without telling him.

Though saddened by this, Ukitake assures Rukia that this is alright if it is how she feels and promises to tell Byakuya for her before urging her to go with peace of mind, which Rukia happily accepts. In the present, Rukia looks at Ichigo and mentally observes that this was the beginning of everything since she believed time was a straight line that stretched on forever until she met Ichigo while Renji internally asserts that he still believes this. In the past, 5th Division Lieutenant Momo Hinamori sits before Renji with 3rd Division Lieutenant Izuru Kira as she relays his promotion to 6th Division Lieutenant and cheerfully congratulates him on it.

Initially casually thanking Hinamori for this, Renji quickly bows and formally expresses his gratitude, but an embarrassed Hinamori requests he stop being so formal. Sitting against the left wall connecting to the entrance, 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame muses Renji is now one step closer to Byakuya and suggests he tell Rukia due to them now being on equal standing as a noble and a lieutenant. After Ikkaku reminds him it has been forty years since he talked to her and the two used to run around the Rukongai together, Renji is told by Izuru he should hurry because Rukia is leaving for a month-long assignment to the Human World this afternoon.

Despite Hinamori insisting that she and Renji rush after Rukia, Renji declines and decides to tell her when she gets back since his promotion ceremony is a month from now while Rukia walks through the central Senkaimon and observes that fate is a crushing millstone which they believe to be guided by an infallible power even though they are the ones making it turn, which leads them to move in the direction of its fixed cogs until a blade swings down as she enters Karakura Town for the first time and leaps across the night sky. In the present, at Ran'Tao's underground dwelling, Gō Koga wakes up to find himself sleeping on a mattress and wonders where he is.

When Ran'Tao notes his awakening and walks over, a stunned Koga mistakes her for Yoshino Sōma, only for Yoruichi Shihōin to correct him while leaning against the wall nearby. After elaborating that this is Ran'Tao's dwelling, Yoruichi responds to Koga wondering why he is here by revealing that she retrieved him from beneath the ice he was buried under and carried him here so the Shinigami would not find him. Though Koga does not understand why someone from Ichigo's group would help him, Yoruichi declines to answer, and when Koga asks her about what happened to Kariya, Ran'Tao bluntly states that he died, which Koga acknowledges as he stares up at the ceiling.

Reflecting on the events of the past day, Koga concludes that he will have to accept the fate of the Bount being to die out if that is what it is. With Yoruichi noting this, Ran'Tao encourages Koga to stay here until his wounds heal and admits that she no longer has anything to do since she does not plan on returning to the Seireitei. As Ran'Tao expresses a desire to hear the story of the last Bount, Yoruichi decides to return to the Human World and promises that there is no need for them to worry since she has left everything to Ukitake. Before she leaves the dwelling, Koga asks her to pass on his thanks for stopping Kariya to Ichigo, which Yoruichi agrees to do.

Meanwhile, Ichigo walks down a street in the Seireitei, but is startled to see Kon darting from corner to corner across the street in front of him. With Kon assuming that no one has seen him and that he can make his move, Ichigo shocks him by crouching next to him and nonchalantly inquiring about what he is doing. Upon being berated by Kon for surprising him, Ichigo deduces that Kon wanted to sneak into Rukia's room and responds to Kon claiming that he deserves to do so because he has devoted his heart and soul to Rukia by pointing out how Byakuya will slice Kon up with his Shikai, Senbonzakura, if he even sets foot inside Rukia's room, though Kon does not care.

Kon accuses Ichigo and his friends of neglecting him too much and recounts how the final battle was over by the time he reached Sōkyoku Hill, which prevented him from doing anything important. As Kon screams in irritation at Ichigo's analysis of him wanting to be useful and questions why Ichigo thinks he came to Soul Society, an exasperated Ichigo tells him they are leaving soon anyway since the Senkaimon is almost ready, and when Kon inquires about what Rukia will be doing, Ichigo reminds him she will have to stay here and continue recovering. Astonished by this, Kon decides to stay by her side and attempts to leap past Ichigo, but is caught in midair.

Proclaiming there is no point in leaving Kon here, Ichigo throws him to the ground, where Kon curses his lack of power preventing him from defeating both the Bount and the Shinigami so Rukia would adore him. Upon picking up on Kon's mention of power, Ichigo ruminates on Kariya being corrupted by the power he gained to the point of having to destroy himself in the end and realizes Kariya wanted the power to change fate, similar to himself. In the past, Keigo Asano excitedly shows Ichigo the latest Bad Shield DVD in their classroom at Karakura High School, only for Ichigo to not recognize the series and deny having said he really liked it previously, to Keigo's shock.

When Mizuiro Kojima walks over and expresses appreciation for Bad Shield, an annoyed Keigo claims he was not talking to Mizuiro and begins arguing with him about who the better actor on the show is before being told one of them dies in the second DVD while internally, Ichigo muses the world takes a new shape every time the sun and moon touch. Simultaneously, Chizuru Honshō learns Orihime's favorite snack is gotsubokko and that she likes baumkuchen as well, leading her to declare the results of her love test indicate the two of them are a perfect match prior to Tatsuki Arisawa angrily stomping her head into the desk and asserting the test was rigged.

Suddenly, Ichigo tells Tatsuki he is leaving and responds to her observing she is also going home soon by insisting he has somewhere to go now and departing, leaving Tatsuki to bid him farewell as Orihime looks down in frustration. As the sun begins to set, Ichigo ponders how the one unchanging thing is his powerlessness and comes across a telephone pole with a splatter of blood at its base, where an elderly Plus tells him the Plus of the young boy is gone. Ichigo internally lists how he can only see, touch, and talk to spirits while taking a toy airplane out of his bag and holding it up, which leads the elderly Plus to observe he brought it with him for nothing.

Though Ichigo claims that this does not matter since he just found the airplane in his closet, he grows somber and muses on how Pluses sometimes disappear for reasons he does not know, leaving behind only bloodstains visible to him alone and the faint smell of fear, which leads him to painfully realize that he cannot protect them no matter how hard he trains his body. Soon afterward, Ichigo visits the Dead Girl, who cheerfully informs him that three dogs and six cats passed her today. Upon being asked by Ichigo if they said anything, the Dead Girl expresses irritation at the brown dog ignoring her repeated requests for him to not urinate on her telephone pole, to Ichigo's amusement.

Ichigo reveals he brought the Dead Girl flowers, which she finds beautiful, and places them in a glass bottle by the nearby pole. Suddenly, the Dead Girl begins crying, and when Ichigo asks her what is wrong, she inquires if he will come back to visit her again tomorrow, leading Ichigo to smile and promise he will. After rubbing the Dead Girl's head and telling her to not cry anymore, Ichigo walks away while she waves and concludes they are the grist if fate is a millstone, which leads him to desire a strong blade and enough strength to shatter fate and protect his loved ones. In the present, Ichigo wonders if his strength can crush fate or if he will be consumed by it like Kariya.

With Ichigo standing on Sōkyoku Hill and asserting there is no point in thinking about it because his power is for protecting everyone, Ukitake approaches him and questions why he is staring in the distance, which prompts Ichigo to explain how he was thinking about why Kariya wanted to gain power. Acknowledging this, Ukitake theorizes Kariya thought of history as a vicious cycle and was likely trying to sever it with force, and though Ukitake does not know if this was right or wrong, Ichigo expresses his belief that history being a cycle would not be so bad if one had friends with them, with Ukitake smiling and admitting this is not something which can be answered so easily.

Back in the Kuchiki Manor, Rukia lies in her bed and looks up at the sky as she muses on whether history revolves as a circle or stretches ahead of them, as well as whether they should try to break the loop or be content with it. Some time later, Ichigo and Kon stand before the Senkaimon on Sōkyoku Hill and are joined by Orihime, Yasutora Sado, Uryū Ishida, Ririn, Kurōdo, and Noba. With Ririn leaping over to Ichigo, Kurōdo laments that they will have to leave Soul Society after coming all the way here and criticizes Noba for being mean when the latter suggests that he can stay if he wants to. As Uryū notes that it is almost time, Sado encourages the group to go home.

While Ichigo agrees and the Senkaimon activates, Renji, 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto, Byakuya, Ikkaku, 11th Division 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa, Izuru, 9th Division Lieutenant Shūhei Hisagi, and Rukia watch from around the Seireitei, with Rukia expressing a desire to meet Ichigo again and closing her eyes. Simultaneously, at nighttime in Karakura Town, Shinji Hirako observes the town from atop a telephone pole, and after insulting the town's quality, he leaps off the pole toward the houses below.

Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki and Lieutenant Yachiru Kusajishi return to their division's barracks, where their 3rd Seat, Ikkaku Madarame, comments on how late they are. After Kenpachi explains that they got lost in Kusajishi and Yachiru describes it as fun, Ikkaku stands with 11th Division 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa and informs Kenpachi that Ichigo Kurosaki defeated the Bount when he inquires about them, which prompts a grinning Kenpachi to decide to fight Ichigo instead. However, Ikkaku reveals that Ichigo has already returned to the Human World, leaving an infuriated Kenpachi to vow to kill Ichigo without even greeting him next time they meet as Ikkaku mentally notes that Ichigo was right to leave without saying goodbye.

Powers and Techniques used
Hohō Techniques:

Doll Techniques:
 * (flashback)

Other Techniques:
 * (flashback)

Zanpakutō released:

Bankai:
 * (flashback)

Dolls summoned:
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)

Anime Notes
Removed Content= Added/Expanded Content= Censorship= Changes= Trivia=
 * Ichigo Kurosaki rebuffing Isshin Kurosaki's attempt to greet him in the morning and thanking Yuzu Kurosaki for providing him with breakfast.
 * Uryū Ishida reading a book and eyeing Ichigo as he leaves the classroom.
 * Ichigo offering the toy airplane to the elderly Plus, who suggests that he leave it at the site where the young boy Plus used to reside instead.
 * Ichigo waving to Yasutora Sado upon passing him on his way home.
 * Sentarō Kotsubaki asserting that he is not a potted plant when Kiyone Kotetsu tells him to bury himself in the dirt.
 * Ikkaku Madarame reminding Renji Abarai that he and Rukia Kuchiki used to run around the Rukongai together.
 * Rukia concluding that those living through fate move in the direction of its fixed cogs and wait for a blade to be swung as she enters Karakura Town.
 * The Dead Girl informing Ichigo of three dogs and six cats passing her today, making Ichigo laugh with her frustration at one of them urinating on the nearby pole, before Ichigo reveals that he brought her flowers and sets them up.
 * Shinji Hirako observing Karakura Town from the top of a telephone pole and insulting it before leaping off toward the houses below.
 * Chizuru Honshō is not bleeding from her nose after Tatsuki Arisawa stomps her head into her desk.
 * The Dead Girl does not have a large amount of blood dripping down and obscuring her left eye.
 * In the manga, when Jūshirō Ukitake enters the room to explain Rukia's assignment to her, Sentarō is standing to his left near Rukia; here, he is instead standing to Ukitake's right near Kiyone.
 * In the manga, when Ichigo begins to leave his classroom, Orihime Inoue notices and asks him if he is going home, prompting Ichigo to explain that he needs to go and bidding her farewell; here, Ichigo instead bids Tatsuki farewell as he is leaving, and when she notes that she will be heading home soon as well, Ichigo insists that he has somewhere he needs to go now, leading Tatsuki to acknowledge this and bid him farewell in turn.
 * In the manga, when promising the Dead Girl that he will come back tomorrow, Ichigo is slightly annoyed; here, he is instead cheerful and assuring.
 * This is the first of two times that chapters 0.side-A the sand and 0.side-B the rotator are adapted in the anime, the second being episode 227; this is the only time that the same content is adapted more than once in the same medium.