Bleach Episode 4: Chasing Chad

Written by Hikaru no Michiru

First Aired: October 25^th, 2004

Corresponds with “Bleach” Vol. 1, Chapter 6 and Vol. 2, Chapters 1 and 2

Opening: Asterisk, by Orange Range

Ending: Life is Like a Boat, by Rie Fu

While Chad and his buddies are hanging out, musing with Chad’s new pet parakeet, an I-beam falls. Luckily, Chad manages to let the beam hit him before any one else. The next day during lunch, the others are astonished at Chad’s wounds. Ichigo and Rukia both sense the presence of a soul within Chad’s talking parakeet, but Rukia tells him the soul is just lonely, posing no threat. Rukia muses to herself that Ichigo concerned himself about the safety of others immediately.

Chad takes a beating for his friend.

Ichigo reminisces about the first time he met Chad. He was getting beaten up by a gang of thugs because of his orange hair. Chad stepped in and took the beating for Ichigo, not saying a word. “Chad never fights back when people try to pick a fight with him.” “An odd fellow,” comments Rukia.

Later that night, Chad is rushed into the Kurosaki Clinic

Chad's terrible burn.

after a major intersection car crash. Ichigo’s dad finds a giant burn mark on Chad’s back, that Ichigo takes immediate concern is the work of a Hollow attack. Chad insists to being fine, but when he collapses, the Kurosaki’s drag him into a bed. Rukia then confirms Ichigo’s worries – a hollow attacked Chad. In bed, Karin breaks into a cold sweat after encountering a strange feeling from the Parakeet Chad brought in with him. The next morning, she doesn’t go to school on the account of feeling sick.

Ichigo senses the parakeet's soul.

The parakeet worries about Chad.

Chad is discovered missing from his bed the next morning. Ichigo decides to track him down by sensing the presence of the parakeet’s soul. Rukia comments that only high level Soul Reapers are able to see Reiraku, Soul Tape, visual spirit energy. Ichigo finds the parakeet’s tape, and sets off to protect his friend from a hollow. Elsewhere, Chad and the parakeet are hiding in an abandoned warehouse. The parakeet tries to get Chad to leave him, but Chad insists that he continue to help. The hollow discovers their location, getting Chad on the run again.

Rukia fights the bat hollow.

While looking for Chad, Ichigo and Rukia find Karin wandering the streets looking for her brother. Ichigo decides to take Karin home to rest in bed, while Rukia continues to look for Chad. On the way home, a sick and coughing Karin tells Ichigo that the boy, the soul inside the parakeet, saw his mother murdered before his eyes. She begs Ichigo to help him. Rukia starts catching up with Chad, only to be caught by the hollow. She attempts a spell on the hollow, only to realize her powers haven’t returned yet. Chad places the parakeet in a safe location, and runs back to help out Rukia. Mused by her attempt to subdue him, the bat-shaped hollow reveals that the parakeet is just bait to attract soul reapers and good souls alike, of which he has eaten two already.

Karin gives Ichigo a mission: tell the boy he can see his mother again on the other side. That he doesn’t have to be alone anymore.

Back to Pojo's Bleach Section