Bleach/The Sentence of Rukia, Before the 14th Day

The Sentence of Rukia, Before the 14th Day
Season 2, Episode 3
Airdate	March 15, 2005
Production Number	23
Written by	—
Directed by	Noriyuki Abe
ADR Writer(s)	Carl Macek Liam O'Brien Mark Ryan Michael Sorich
ADR Director(s)	Michael Sorich
← 2x02 The Man Who Hates Shinigami	2x04 → Assemble! The 13 Divisions
Bleach — Season Two

The Sentence of Rukia, Before the 14th Day is the third episode of the first season of Bleach and the twenty-third overall. Ichigo and the others meet Kukaku Shiba and discover the way that they will cross into Seireitei. Meanwhile, Rukia's execution is moved up and she is transferred to a new cell overlooking the means of her execution.

Co-Stars: Kyle Hebert (Ganju Shiba), Liam O'Brien (Ganju's Head Gang Member), Jamieson Price (Yasutora "Chad" Sado), Terrence Stone (Yoruichi Shihouin), Wally Wingert (Renji Abarai), Peter Spellos (Koganehiko), Michael McConnohie (Shiroganehiko), Jessica Straus (Kukaku Shiba), Kyle Hebert (Sosuke Aizen),

Plot Overview

Ganju has interrupted his fight with Ichigo upon discovering the time and has fled for unknown destinations on the back of his boar, Bonnie. Now that the distraction has escaped, the outsiders can get back to business in finding Kukaku Shiba. Although, even then they have trouble getting on track when Ichigo stubbornly decides to stay in the village so that he can beat up Ganju when he comes back. He's persuaded by Yoruichi that they don't have time for "petty grudge matches" and move on to the house of Shiba.

In Seireitei, the inner city of the Soul Society, Rukia is informed that her execution date has been moved forward to be in 14 days and that they're transferring her to the "repentance cell" as a result of the Sōkyoku method of execution being accepted by the governing forces. She's brought to a cell with a window overlooking the instruments of her forthcoming death, which look similar to hanging gallows. Before leaving her, Renji informs Rukia that rumors are circling the soul society that intruders from the outside world, including an orange-haired soul reaper, have broken through the barrier.

Meanwhile, the journeyers find their way to Kukaku Shiba's house, which is straddled by two giant human arms holding up a banner. Uryu and Ichigo consider the house to be completely embarrassing, but they're convinced to go closer where they're met by two guards who threaten to kill them if they enter. Until, that is, they spot Yoruichi and assume that the trespassers are his servants. They're guided downstairs where they meet Kukaku Shiba, a woman (not what anyone was expecting). Yoruichi asks her for a dangerous favor, something that she seems eager to oblige.

Kukaku accepts the job, but only if they allow her little brother to guide them into the soul society. This wouldn't be such an issue if it weren't for the fact that her little brother is Ganju, the same man who fought with Ichigo earlier. They go at it again, but Kukaku's reaction wrecks her entire home.

As Renji makes his way away from Rukia's cell, he contemplates whether or not it was the right to not inform Rukia that Ichigo was likely killed by Gin Ichimaru at the gate. But, before long he's stopped by Captain Sosuke Aizen. Aizen asks him if he's close with Rukia and, when he says yes, asks if he believes that Rukia truly deserves to be condemned to death. Aizen suggests that Rukia's punishment is far outside the norm for someone of her rank and the crime in question because one person is setting the system against her. He's called off when an alarm asks that all captains attend an emergency meeting.

After the battle between Ganju and Ichigo is forcefully put to an end, Kukaku leads them to a giant cannon, the top of which they saw coming up to the house and Uryu mistakenly thought was a chimney. She tells them that they're not going to go through a gate, but actually over the wall entirely using the launcher.