Ichiruki week 2025

[Japanese folklore & Star-crossed lovers of old]

Source: https://umbraria.tumblr.com/post/785555334778454016

Lore and fun facts

Ichigo is a skilled hunter, whether it’s game or the occasional wandering yōkai.
But when an unending snowstorm swallows his hometown and strange things begin to stir, he follows the advice of a strange man in a hat, who trains him and gives him an obsidian katana. He does all of this without telling his family, he will save them and his town.

Ichigo sets out to find the creature behind the storm but first he needs to survive and get something to eat, he thinks he got a bunny but instead he finds a person.

Ichigo is super confused, trying to figure out how he just hit a random girl. But strange things have started happening since 3 months ago so he goes with it

He’s a skilled hunter. Expert with sword & bow. He’s fought yokai before. His weapons are all blessed and given to him by the weird hat guy, which is why they can pierce yokai… and normal humans.

And Rukia? She is not mad she got hit - she’s mad it was by a human. Her ego took more damage than her body. Now she’s plotting petty revenge through elaborate pranks. Muahahahaha mischievous yosei

In this AU, all Yosei are deeply connected to nature, tied to an element.

All Shinigami are Yosei. When they moved near Karakura, it disrupted the ley lines.

Winter hasn’t stopped since. Honestly, every one shares the blame… but Rukia’s, nature is snow and ice so she feels extra guilty.

She had never thought about her mere existence bringing harm.

Isshin is still a doctor with a mysterious past ;)

Ichigo’s sword (and every one of his weapons) was blessed against yokai by a strange man in a hat who drifts through town from time to time.

He’s always accompanied by a chatty black cat.

He trained Ichigo personally.

And that’s why Ichigo’s arrow actually pierced Rukia when no normal weapon could have.

She hasn’t realized it yet. She just thinks he got lucky.

(He didn’t.)

Random lore: The reason the court keeps moving is because their presence, energy, and the conditions their powers create attract yōkai for them to cull. Even if a few mortals get caught in the crossfire… it’s considered natural. For the greater good

Ichigo thinks Rukia is a noble who got robbed by bandits while traveling alone. She doesn’t correct him.

But something doesn’t add up.

Rukia sticks with him and she keeps steering him away from her kin, buying time.

Changing routes. Slowing them down. Anything to keep him away.

They hunt together. They talk late by firelight. He teaches her how to kill yokai.

But Ichigo’s instincts are sharp and they reach the court.

Fate is fate, it can’t be fooled.

(Don’t make me draw fights.
I already struggled with the diff angle of the hand holding)

Rukia manages to intercept Ichigo after he fought and impressed the gate guard, Kenpachi.
Renji, Hanataro, and Kukaku join Rukia and help her keep everyone else distracted.

Do you know the feeling of wanting to kill someone who almost got killed doing something stupid?
Yeah. That’s exactly it.

Rukia fights Ichigo (it’s more of a shouting match with a few blows) but something feels off. He’s getting stronger with every hit.

He asks her to trust him now. She does.
Together, they go to face Byakuya.

Rukia still hopes Ukitake and her brother will realize how much harm they’re doing to humans and they can reach an understandment.

(fight)

Ichigo manages to knock some sense into Byakuya, who finally starts listening to his sister… but the noise alerts the others, and they’re soon surrounded.

Before all the Yosei can jump Ichigo, Ukitake and Shunsui step in, using the moment to pitch a new plan.
They propose: it would be way more efficient if each Yosei had their own territory to manage and kept the local Yokai under control.
(sorry guys these scenes are hard to draw )

With the human population growing fast, the full court showing up together is becoming more dangerous than the Yokai themselves.

Rukia gets assigned to Karakura Town.

Ukitake and Shunsui were literally waiting for a perfect moment to disband the court (U bc he is a kind soul, S bc it was too much drama)

Urahara and Aizen, in different locations say “Just according to keikaku”

THE END

Source: https://umbraria.tumblr.com/post/785555536012886016/lore-and-fun-facts-ichigo-is-a-skilled-hunter