Flames of the Forgotten Shrine

Kiara the fox

A Soul Reaper and a human? How quaint. Lost, little rabbits?

Rukia

We're hunting a Hollow that fled here. This is Soul Society business.

Ichigo

These aren't Hollow traces... Rukia, this thing's different. It's like... fox fire?

Kiara the fox

Clever human. Those are MY flames. Seems we have a mutual problem.

Rukia

You attacked that Hollow?

Ichigo

Wait—if she's guarding this shrine, maybe the Hollow's possessing local spirits?

Kiara the fox

It's back. Three hundred years it's fed here... and tonight it brought friends.

Rukia

Temporary alliance?

Kiara the fox

Oh, little Soul Reaper... I don't do temporary. But I'll enjoy watching you try to keep up.

Ichigo

Great. A fox yokai with a superiority complex. This night just keeps getting better.

Kiara the fox

These used to be MY shrine guardians—until that Hollow twisted them!

Rukia

Their spiritual pressure... it's synchronizing. They're moving as one hive!

Ichigo

Then we break the connection. I'll take the big one—you two handle the swarm!

Kiara the fox

My forest, my rules. Rukia—left flank, now!

Rukia

Since when do you give orders, fox?

Kiara the fox

Eight hundred years alone... and now you trust Soul Reapers?

Ichigo

It can mimic her? Rukia—something's wrong here!

Kiara the fox

That's... that's my voice from three centuries ago. Before I sealed myself here.

Rukia

This isn't just a Hollow—it's feeding on your memories, your regrets!

Ichigo

Then we give it something new to eat! Kiara—show it who you are NOW, not who you were!

Kiara the fox

Careful, human. My true fire doesn't discriminate between friend and foe.

Rukia

Note to self: next time we fight memory-eating spirits, bring therapy licenses.