Rukia's Resolution, Ichigo's Feelings

Rukia's Resolution, Ichigo's Feelings is the sixty-third episode of the Bleach anime.

Statistics

 * Original Airdate: January 10, 2006
 * English Airdate: May 11, 2008
 * Opening Song: Ichirin No Hana
 * Ending Song: Life
 * Manga Chapters: Chapter 180, Chapter 181, Chapter 182, Chapter 183.
 * Kanji: ルキアの決意、一護の想い
 * Romaji: "Rukia no ketsui, Ichigo no omoi"
 * Arc: Soul Society: The Rescue arc

Summary
After a recap of what happened in Soul Society, we learn what happened a week after Sosuke Aizen left. Some of the healed men are making trouble for the 4th Division workers, but they are quieted by Captain Retsu Unohana. Meanwhile, Ikkaku Madarame is holding fighting matches when Ichigo Kurosaki shows up to challenge him. Their bout is short-lived though, because Captain Kenpachi Zaraki arrives to fight Ichigo. However, Ichigo has no intention of fighting the captain again, so instead, he runs away. Captain Sajin Komamura, on the other hand, is visiting the grave of Kaname Tosen’s friend. The captain vows to Lieutenant Shuhei Hisagi that they’ll bring Tosen back. In the 10th Division headquarters, Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto is still thinking about Gin Ichimaru, but Toshiro Hitsugaya informs her that she has a visitor: Izuru Kira. She has of course forgiven him and invites him to eat and drink. While those two are partying, Hitsugaya goes to visit Momo Hinamori, who is still unconscious. Since they are returning home soon, Uryu Ishida has remade the group’s original clothes with his tailoring knowledge. He even did Rukia’s dress and so Orihime Inoue decides to go take it to her, and somehow comes to the realization that Ishida likes Rukia. Unable to find Rukia Kuchiki, Inoue runs into Ichigo, who had finally escaped Zaraki. They decide to ask Lieutenant Renji Abarai and Captain Byakuya Kuchiki. Renji was sitting with a recovering Byakuya, who asked Renji if he wished Byakuya was dead. Renji said no way, cause without him, Renji would have no reason to become stronger. Just then Ichigo came barging in and interrupted Renji, who was apparently about to say something really cool. Renji yelled at Ichigo who apologized and then asked where Rukia was, but those two don’t know where Rukia went either. So they say bye and leave. After they left, Byakuya showed concern about Ichigo. When Renji asked about it, Byakuya said he was hoping Ichigo would stop using his first name and that he found Ichigo very disrespectful.

Since Renji didn’t know, Ichigo figures out that probably no one else did either. He suspects that there’s only one place she could have gone. Indeed, Rukia went out and found Kukaku Shiba and Ganju Shiba so that she could apologize to them for killing Kaien Shiba. However, Kukaku had long since learned the truth from Captain Jushiro Ukitake, so she was already prepared to forgive Rukia if she asked. When Ichigo and Inoue show up, Rukia breaks the news to them that she’s staying in Soul Society and not going back. Although Ichigo's slightly surprised, he realizes that if that’s what Rukia wants, then it’s ok. The next day, Ichigo and company leave through the special Senkaimon after saying their goodbyes and after Ukitake gives Ichigo a substitute shinigami fighting license.

Ichigo and company, including Yoruichi Shihoin in cat form, travel back through the Dangai Precipice World to get to the human world and emerge above the city and quickly begin falling toward the ground. Fortunately, Kisuke Urahara and his people catch them and welcome them home. Urahara formally apologizes about keeping the Hogyoku a secret, but Ichigo doesn’t mind. However, he does tell Urahara to apologize to Rukia the next time they meet. Everyone gets off at their own stop, though Ishida tells Ichigo that when they meet again, they’ll be enemies reminding him that they are a Shinigami and Quincy. Ichigo himself gets off early and walks back home to the family clinic. While flying back, Kisuke and Yoruichi talk about the future war. They both realize the battle isn't over and very soon, he and the other Shinigami will have to rely on Ichigo's group and their strengths more then ever.

Characters in order of appearance

 * 1) Retsu Unohana
 * 2) Ikkaku Madarame
 * 3) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 4) Kenpachi Zaraki
 * 5) Yachiru Kusajishi
 * 6) Yumichika Ayasegawa
 * 7) Tetsuzaemon Iba
 * 8) Sajin Komamura
 * 9) Shuhei Hisagi
 * 10) Rangiku Matsumoto
 * 11) Toshiro Hitsugaya
 * 12) Izuru Kira
 * 13) Momo Hinamori
 * 14) Uryu Ishida
 * 15) Yasutora Sado
 * 16) Orihime Inoue
 * 17) Rukia Kuchiki
 * 18) Renji Abarai
 * 19) Byakuya Kuchiki
 * 20) Kukaku Shiba
 * 21) Ganju Shiba
 * 22) Yoruichi Shihoin
 * 23) Jushiro Ukitake
 * 24) Shunsui Kyoraku
 * 25) Shigekuni Yamamoto-Genryusai
 * 26) Ururu Tsumugiya
 * 27) Jinta Hanakari
 * 28) Tessai Tsukabishi
 * 29) Kisuke Urahara