Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Hexapodus

Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Hexapodus is a fight taking place in a Karakura Town park. It is the first fight Ichigo has fought one-on-one.

Prelude
During Ichigo and Rukia's fight against Fishbone D, Rukia accidentally transfers all of her Shinigami power to Ichigo. Since she can neither perform her Shinigami duties nor go back to Soul Society in this state, she is forced to use an artificial body, known as a Gigai, until she regains her powers. Rukia has enrolled as a student in Ichigo's class, hoping to recruit him as a replacement for her while she recuperates. When Rukia asks this of him, Ichigo refuses outright. He says he was only able to fight the day before because his family was in danger, but he won't fight the Hollows for total strangers. Realizing she has no other choice, Rukia uses a glove with a Shinigami skull symbol to remove Ichigo's soul from his body and tells him to follow her. She takes Ichigo to Yumizawa Children's Park, where the soul of a small boy comes to play every day at noon. She shows Ichigo an order sent to her Soul phone, saying a Hollow will strike 20 meters from the park between 11:45 and 12:15, meaning the boy would almost surely be attacked. At that second they hear the boy's scream.

Battle
When he looks, Ichigo sees the small boy running away from a six legged spider like Hollow. He instinctively starts drawing his sword, but Rukia stops him, asking him why he wants to help the boy, who is a stranger to him. Ichigo says he has to help someone that's right in front of him, but Rukia claims it makes no difference whether someone being attacked is near or far. When the boy falls down Ichigo turns to help him but Rukia stops him once more, as saving this one boy would be meaningless unless he becomes a Shinigami. Rukia explains that a Shinigami must treat all spirits equally, not only those in his vicinity or near to his heart deserve his protection. If Ichigo wants to help the boy, he must assume responsibility for all spirits and go the length to help them, even at the risk of his own life. Ichigo recalls Rukia's sacrifice the day before, when she saved his life by standing between him and the attacking Hollow. Ichigo reaches for his sword again.

In the mean time the Hollow reached the child but stayed its attack when it noticed Ichigo and Rukia. It asks them who they are, but in place of a response Ichigo cuts off its forelegs. The Hollow retreats, screaming in pain and Rukia asks Ichigo if he's accepted the role of replacement Shinigami. Ichigo yells at her to shut up, saying he doesn't accept anything. He saved the boy because he wanted to and there is nothing wrong with that. He reminds Rukia that when she protected him the day before she wasn't acting out of dedication for her duties. That is not the meaning of self sacrifice, not for him, anyway. With those words Ichigo stabs through the attacking Hollow's mask and crushes it, purifying the Hollow.

Aftermath
Ichigo explains that he hasn't assumed any responsibility, because he's not brave enough to not run away if the going gets tough. He says he's not enough of a good person to risk his life for strangers, but unfortunately he's also not the kind of trash who can live on without paying his debts. He agrees to take Rukia's duties upon himself.