Yūichi Shibata

Yūichi Shibata (柴田　優一, Shibata Yūichi?) was a human boy whose mother was killed by the Hollow Shrieker when the latter was a living serial killer. According to Shreiker, while he was killing Yuichi's mother on a balcony, Yuichi grabbed his shoelaces and sent him tumbleing down. After Shreiker became a Hollow, he sucked out Yuichi's soul and put it in a parakeet. This parakeet was given to Chad by a friend named Shigeo who explained that all of it's previous owners had died. This, of course, was the outcome of a deal made by Shreiker with Yuichi that if the latter ran from the former serial killer for three months, he would bring his mother back to life. Rukia explained to Ichigo, Chad and Yuichi that this was impossible. Ichigo exorcised Yuichi with konso and thus sent him to the Soul Society. He appeared again in volume 9 and fufilled an earlier promise with Chad that he would let himself be carried. He joined a surogate family with Horiuchi Hironari acting as his older brother. He had not yet found his real mother which may be because konipaku are sent to seperate districts in rugonkai, even if they are family. There has been some speculation that Shrieker had eaten the souls of those he killed while he was living, if they were still pluses. Although this is unlikely, it is possible and would explain why Yuichi has not found his mother.