The first 187 chapters of the Bleach manga series, written and illustrated by Tite Kubo, comprise two story arcs: the Agent of the Shinigami arc (死神代行篇, Shinigami Daikō Hen) and the Soul Society arc (尸魂界篇, Sōru Sosaeti Hen). The plot follows the adventures of Ichigo Kurosaki, a teenager who accidentally steals the powers of the Soul Reaper Rukia Kuchiki and subsequently assumes her duties while she convalesces. Since that event, Ichigo has to fight Hollows, evil spirits that attack people. After various works, Rukia is sentenced to death by her Soul Reapers' superiors for her actions, leading Ichigo to invade the afterlife realm called Soul Society to rescue her.