Volume 13 THE UNDEAD

Every time we cast aside one pride
We are a step closer to a beast
Every time we kill one heart
We are a step further from a beast

108. Time For Scare
109. Like a Tiger Treading on the Flowers
110. Dark Side of Universe
111. Black & White
112. The Undead 2 [Rise & Craze]
113. The Undead 3 [Closing Frantica]
114. Everything About a Collapsing World
115. Remnant
     
     Extra: Character Standings
     Extra: Kenpachi's Profile
     Extra: Yachiru's Profile

Author's Comments

At the end of April I moved. My landlord and landlady threw me a farewell party. They really took care of me. Thank you very much. And, this time, because I wrote about it here earlier the wife was considerate of me and left onions out of the salad. But, instead she put in turnip. I'm sorry. Turnip was also no good.

General Overview

Shortly after Shunsui defeated Chad, Nanao receives an urgent message relating Aizen's death. It seems all lieutenants and captain. This helps save Chad's life since Shunsui doesn't want to take an innocent and leaving Chad alive for the investigation is a good reason to do so. Instead, Chad is given medical treatment and detained.

At the Main Hospital of the 4th Division, Retsu Unohana, captain of the 4th division has examined Aizen's body and has determined it to be his true body with cause of death being the removal of his hakusui - in other words a murder with murderer unknown. The other captains that came to see her are now determined to fight to resolve this issue.

Meanwhile, Ichigo is still fighting Zaraki with Yachiru looking on. Although Ichigo manages to pull himself together after he feels Chad's spirit pressure significantly and actually injures Zaraki, it isn't enough. Zaraki stabs his soul cutter straight through Zangetsu and into Ichigo's chest. Ichigo collapses, but is desperate to keep living and fighting as Zaraki walks away. Suddenly Zangetsu the man appears and takes Ichigo into his mind for an important lesson: Ichigo can't expect to be friends with Zangetsu just by knowing his name and if he would actually borrow power from Zangetsu and lend his own power he could become even more powerful.

Kenpachi is stunned when Ichigo managed to get back up, increase his spiritual pressure, and stop his wound from bleeding, but is happy the battle has gotten more interesting. Zaraki decides to fight Ichigo at full strength and removes his eyepatch. As a result his spiritual pressure rises because the eyepatch was an infinite-energy-sucking monster designed to help lower the level of spiritual energy Kenpachi outputs. To counter him, Ichigo lends Zangetsu his power so his spiritual pressure increases again. When Kenpachi asks about it, Ichigo responds that he and Zangetsu are fighting together. Kenpachi scoffs at that and then they both attack. The results are a double knock out. Zaraki is immediately carried off by Yachiru, who has called for medical care for him. While they wait, Kenpachi says he wants to become stronger since he's finally found a worthy opponent and Yachiru says they both will. Kenpachi then asks his soul cutter what its name is, but receives no answer. After that he goes silent and still, and Yachiru, who has devoted her life to him because she would not be there today without his protection, starts shouting his name.

Meanwhile, Ganjuu and Hanatarou have managed to reach the Shrine of Penitence and knock out the guards. They get in using a backup key Hanatarou took from a storage room, and Ganjuu finally meets Rukia. It's not the meeting they expected, however, as he recognizes her as the one who killed his older brother, Kaien. Rukia confirms it and practically invites Ganjuu to kill her, despite Hanatarou's protests that they came to resuce her. But this gets interrupted when Byakuya arrives.

Ichigo is still lying on the ground, bleeding, when he is found by Yoruichi. Yoruichi apologizes for being late and vows not to let Ichigo die. Then you can see a lot of spirit energy coming from the cat's body.

In Depth Summaries

108. (+) Time For Scare
     Corresponding TV Episode - N/A
     Characters Appearing - Nanao Ise, Ichigo Kurosaki, Yachiru Kusajishi, Shunsui Kyoraku, Yasutora "Chad" Sado, Ganjuu Shiba, Hanatarou Yamada, Kenpachi Zaraki
     Kidou - None
     Locations - Court of Pure Spirits, Soul Society
     Released Soul Cutters - Zangetsu
     Relevant Terminology - Sousuke Aizen, dark brigade, hell butterfly, hakusui, Toushirou Hitsugaya, Genryuusai Shigekuni Yamamoto

     The chapter begins with Nanao standing on a broken wall staring towards a smoking courtyard. She asks why a messenger is necessary when a hell butterfly can be used. The messenger, a member of the 5th (or communication) division of the dark brigade explains it's a class 1 order because it carries the weight of both Yamamoto and Hitsugaya. We then see the smoke is coming from Chad's arm. He's still lying on the ground with blood around him as Shunsui admires his strength as a human: it's already amazing for him to come to Soul Society at all, but to fight to that extent as well... Not to mention the nasty smoking crater from Chad's punch. His musings are interrupted, however, as Nanao rushes forward to relay the message, which was about Aizen's death. Its cause was the removal of hakusui, which is the spirit of a spirit, meaning homicide with no suspect as yet. Shunsui is upset and wants to see Aizen immediately, but Nanao points out Chad is still alive and asks if she should finish him off. However, Shunsui stops her. Nanao wants to kill him because she thinks one of his friends killed Aizen, but Shunsui points out that may or may not be true. He doesn't want to kill an innocent life, so he has Chad treated and put in a detention cell. He further explains if they are responsible for the murder, then this is not the way to kill them. Nanao apologizes and after she leaves Shunsui comments that things are getting out of hand.

     We then see the title page: Nanao.

     Meanwhile, Ichigo and Zaraki are in the midst of battle, mostly with Ichigo fleeing and parrying when forced to. He's been spooked by the fact that he struck Zaraki straight on and didn't even scratch him. As Yachiru watches from the rooftop, he wonders if the difference in their spirit strengths is really that different. Just then Zaraki crashes through a wall and tells Ichigo to stop running. Ichigo tries to calm down his fears and psych himself up for battle and then charges at Zaraki, only to stop dead as Chad's spirit aura disappears. After a few moments of worrying, however, he realizes it's still there, just very very weak. This snaps Ichigo out of his fear, since if he loses, everyone else is also dead. During this Zaraki had been sitting on the ground and comments Ichigo's finally ready to come out. He wonders if it's to die or surrender, but Ichigo says both are wrong and attacks. He then manages to injure Zaraki.

     The last page shows Hanatarou searching around for his soul cutter, with Ganjuu asking if he carries around, since he didn't look like the type that would.

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109. (+) Like a Tiger Treading on the Flowers
     Corresponding TV Episode - N/A
     Characters Appearing - Shuuhei Hisagi, Tetsuzaemon Iba, Yasochika Iemura, Sajin Komamura, Ichigo Kurosaki, Yachiru Kusajishi, Kaname Tousen, Retsu Unohana, Kenpachi Zaraki
     Kidou - None
     Locations - Court of Pure Spirits, Main Hospital of the 4th Division, Soul Society
     Released Soul Cutters - Zangetsu
     Relevant Terminology - 4th division, released, sealed, soul cutter, lieutenant

     Just after Ichigo cut Zaraki, he's relieved that he can actually injure Zaraki. But then he's thrown off balance when Zaraki grins maniacally because Ichigo can hurt him. He then tells Ichigo not to relax and keep up that sharpened spiritual pressure because the fun is just beginning. Yachiru smiles at that because Zaraki looks so happy.

     The cover is Zaraki attacking Ichigo, while someone else somewhere else is talking. It turns out the speaker is Kaname Tousen, who is asking about Aizen's death. It turns out he was already dead by the time he was removed from the wall, and tests to see if it was a puppet corpse came back negative. His successor will be decided after the conflict, so Unohana tells them to return to their posts. They leave and are greeted by their lieutenant captains. Tousen says he hate wars, but even he will go out because it is necessary now.

     Back with Ichigo and Zaraki, Zaraki has grabbed Zangetsu by the blade with his bare hand and twists Ichigo off balance. Ichigo only barely manages to avoid getting sliced in the chest, but when he regains his feet Zaraki is nowhere to be seen. When he hears the bells on the ends of Zaraki's spiky hair tingle, he turns around and manages to block a second attack. This makes Zaraki happy since it makes things more interesting. Ichigo complains that Zaraki is still underestimating him because his soul cutter isn't released, but Zaraki explains that his soul cutter has no name and it isn't sealed. Ichigo is glad since it means the soul cutter won't get any stronger. Zaraki explains Ichigo is the one doing the underestimating and that his spiritual pressure is so high it cannot be sealed, so he has to hold back in how hard he swings so he doesn't weaken enemies too quickly to enjoy it. He then stabs straight through Zangetsu and into Ichigo's chest. Ichigo then collapses as Zaraki complains it was a very boring end.

     The last page shows Yasochika Iemura, 3rd chair of the 4th division, writing in his diary. He says that he looks more handsome without glasses and will be sharing some entries from his diary.

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110. (+) Dark Side of Universe
     Corresponding TV Episode - N/A
     Characters Appearing - Hollow Ichigo (!), Yasochika Iemura, Ichigo Kurosaki, Zangetsu, Kenpachi Zaraki
     Kidou - None
     Locations - Court of Pure Spirits, Ichigo's Mind, Soul Society
     Released Soul Cutters - Zangetsu
     Relevant Terminology - asauchi, hollow, Rukia Kuchiki, shinigami, soul cutter, spiritron

     This chapter begins with Ichigo getting stabbed by Zaraki and collapsing. The title page shows Zaraki looking down at Ichigo and complaining that being able to scratch him or hear his bells is useless if Ichigo can't last. He complains it's dull as Ichigo pants heavily as he lays on the ground with Zangetsu shattered. As Zaraki walks off Ichigo coughs up blood. He tells himself he can't die here and he needs to get up and fight and save Rukia. As Zaraki continues to walk off, he rests his soul cutter on his shoulder and suddenly Zangetsu appears next to him, walking towards Ichigo, and asks if Ichigo wants to fight or live. Ichigo answers that just fighting and just living are pointless. He wants to win. At that Zangetsu takes Ichigo back to that odd place in his mind, where people stand on the side of buildings.

     Recalling the last time he was there, when he nearly fell to his doom, Ichigo quickly braces himself against the side of the building. Zangetsu explains that was because Ichigo was turning into a hollow, so his inner world was breaking down, but now even after such a fight his inner world is normal, and tells Ichigo to get up. He then tosses Ichigo a normal katana. Once Ichigo has managed to catch it without getting hurt, he asks what it is for and Zangetsu tells him it's his. Ichigo points out that his sword is Zangetsu, but Zangetsu the man answers that is the sword that was just broken, as he leans on his sword-form. He then says he can't give it to Ichigo and tosses the sword. As Ichigo chases after it, someone tells him to get out of the way and grabs the sword Zangetsu. The guy turns out to be someone who looks exactly like Ichigo except his clothes are reversed color (white our coat, black inner coat, and black socks) and so are his eyes (black whites of his eyes and white irises.) Zangetsu then explains this is a test to see if Ichigo is worthy of him. The goal is simple: Ichigo needs to take him back from his opponent, which is himself.

     On the last page Yasochika Iemura writes he has been searching for contact lenses since he is much more handsome without his glasses. However, no store in Soul Society sells them and he can't use human contact lenses since he's made of spiritrons and not atoms. However, he has heard of a store in the real world that is run by a renegade shinigami and does sell spiritron contact lenses.

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111. (+) Black & White
     Corresponding TV Episode - N/A
     Characters Appearing - Hollow Ichigo (!), Yasochika Iemura, Ichigo Kurosaki, Zangetsu, Kenpachi Zaraki
     Kidou - None
     Locations - Court of Pure Spirits, Ichigo's Mind, Soul Society
     Released Soul Cutters - Zangetsu
     Relevant Terminology - 4th division, asauchi, shinigami, soul cutter, spiritron

     The chapter starts with the title page and Zangetsu repeating the goal of the fight. Anti-Ichigo starts off by disappearing right before Ichigo's eyes. Suddenly he and Ichigo are clashing swords and Ichigo can't push him back. Instead Ichigo gets pushed back and he can see a huge amount of spirit aura surround Anti-Ichigo. Ichigo thinks Zangetsu is way too strong for a mere asauchi to be any more than a stick against it, but Anti-Ichigo interrupts the reverie by swinging Zangetsu around by the cloth attached to its hilt like a helicopter and then launches it at Ichigo. Luckily he misses, because the wall behind Ichigo gets really destroyed. Ichigo is stunned by such an attack style since he had never thought of it before. Anti-Ichigo then says he's amazed Ichigo could have ended up bleeding like crazy on the ground with a sword like Zangetsu. All because Ichigo thought he could fully use Zangetsu just by knowing his name, and thought only of himself and not about drawing out Zangetsu's power. He further explains Zangetsu would get even stronger if Ichigo would open up to him and lend Zangetsu his power. However, Ichigo can't do that because all he does is rely on his own power and not on his soul cutter. As all of this is going on, Zangetsu the man watches from his flagpole perch and Ichigo thinks what Anti-Ichigo said was true. He thinks about Zaraki saying his soul cutter has no name and thinks that he and Zaraki are exactly the same, since he knows nothing about Zangetsu the man. As Anti-Ichigo charges in for the final kill, Ichigo silently asks Zangetsu if he can tell something about himself. As their blades clash, you see that the swords have been switched - Ichigo now holds Zangetsu while Anti-Ichigo holds the asauchi. They're both surprised, but Ichigo realizes it means Zangetsu is going to give him another chance.

     Back in Soul Society, no time has passed when Ichigo's spiritual pressure rises, causing Zaraki to look back and see Ichigo on his feet.

     The last page shows Yasochika Iemura continuing to write in his diary. Using his fame and his glasses-less handsomeness, he snuck into the human world since 4th division shinigami aren't allowed to go there and then went to the store of a Mr. U. Unfortunately, though, they no longer sold spiritron contacts because he had invented something better that only cost a little more.

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112. (+) The Undead 2 [Rise & Craze]
     Corresponding TV Episode - N/A
     Characters Appearing - Yumichika Ayasegawa, Hollow Ichigo (!), Yasochika Iemura, Ichigo Kurosaki, Yachiru Kusajishi, Ikkaku Madarame, Zangetsu, Kenpachi Zaraki
     Kidou - None
     Locations - Court of Pure Spirits, Ichigo's Mind, Main Hospital of the 4th Division, Soul Society
     Released Soul Cutters - Zangetsu
     Relevant Terminology - asauchi, eyepatch, hollow, spiritron

     In Ichigo's mind, Anti-Ichigo asks if Ichigo left as the cut off blade of the asauchi falls to the ground. He then asks if that's it and if he can go. Zangetsu apologizes for dragging him out, and Anti-Ichigo replies that it's ok since Ichigo is the owner of this world and he'd be in trouble too if something happened. He then starts to unravel and join with Zangetsu. As this is happening, Anti-Ichigo comments that Ichigo is strong and that Zangetsu should train him well because someday Ichigo's powers will become Anti-Ichigo's. After he's gone Zangetsu comments that he hates rain, and it rains in Ichigo's mind whenever he's sad and cloudy whenever he's moody. So, to stop that rain he'll lend Ichigo all of his powers and if Ichigo trusts him, he'll keep even one raindrop from falling.

     Back in Soul Society, Zaraki wonders what happened since Ichigo's fading spiritual pressure suddenly burst out in huge amounts. You get a good shot of this in the cover page, which is Ichigo with Zangetsu resting on his shoulders, exuding tons of spiritual pressure. Zaraki notices even Ichigo's chest wound's bleeding is stopping and then Ichigo rushes forward to attack and Zaraki gets sliced on the shoulder before he realizes what has happened. He manages to parry a second attack, but can't push Ichigo back. Instead, Zaraki is pushed back several feet. Ichigo then says he doesn't have time to waste here and is going to finish it in one strike. At this point he gets a reaction from Zaraki, but it's not the one expected - Zaraki is happy at Ichigo's fighting and wants the fight to last longer so he can enjoy it. Both of them rush in to attack, and Ichigo slices Zaraki's cheek horizontally, and Zaraki manages to close in enough to do the same to Ichigo. Zaraki asks how Ichigo managed to revive himself and increase his spiritual pressure, but doesn't care too much. Ichigo, on the other hand, is perturbed because he's stronger than Zaraki and winning the fight, yet no matter how much he cuts Zaraki, Zaraki isn't falling. Ichigo says he's crazy to like fighting that much, and Zaraki counters that Ichigo is crazy to not like fighting when he's this strong.

     At the Main Hospital of the 4th Division, Ikkaku is sitting outside when Yumichika joins him and asks what he's doing. After Ikkaku recovers from laughing at Yumichika's afro hair (which he covers up with a wig), they comment that Zaraki seems to be enjoying himself. Yumichika doesn't know who the opponent is, though, until Ikkaku tells him it's Ichigo, although he's so much stronger now it's like he's a different person than when he fought Ikkaku. Zaraki seems to be losing, but Ikkaku has faith he'll win since he's the strongest captain and Zaraki still hasn't played his trump card. As they speak, Zaraki is revelling in the level of the battle and removes his eyepatch and announces from now on he's going full out.

     On the last page Yasochika Iemura continues his story about spiritron contact lenses. It turns out Mr. U's new product was "laser surgery." By using a beam of spiritrons, he shapes the top layer of a spirit's eyes to act like contact lenses. He says he tried it on himself and it works great. But then Yasochika looked at the machine, which looks like a human car with a hollow mask strapped on it and then he looked at Mr. U's face, which has these dark shadows that look suspiciously like burn marks, and he chickened out. Now Iemura can't go back to the human world and can only wonder what would have happened if he had done it. Would he be an idol? Would he still be single?

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113. (+) The Undead 3 [Closing Frantica]
     Corresponding TV Episode - N/A
     Characters Appearing - Ichigo Kurosaki, Yachiru Kusajishi, Zangetsu, Kenpachi Zaraki
     Kidou - None
     Locations - Court of Pure Spirits, Soul Society
     Released Soul Cutters - Zangetsu
     Relevant Terminology - eyepatch, hollow, Institute of Technological Research, soul cutter

     This chapter begins with a messenger trying to give Yachiru a message about current events. However, she doesn't want to be interrupted from watching Kenpachi fight. When the messenger insists, she releases her spirit pressure (which looks like a cat's face) at him and tells him not to bother her with Kenpachi is fighting. We then see the title page, Zaraki without his eyepatch, surrounded by a huge amount of spiritual aura. Ichigo asks if there's something special about his right eye, but Zaraki explains his eyepatch is an infinite-energy-sucking monster that was invented for him by the Institute of Technological Research. The surge in energy is because he no longer has it eating a huge chunk of his spiritual output. To demonstrate, he swings his soul cutter, and slices a building in two. Zangetsu the man then asks Ichigo if he can hear the screaming of Zaraki's unnamed soul cutter. Ichigo says he can and Zangetsu explains that they don't trust each other and as a result will diminish each others' powers, but for someone like Zaraki, who only believes in his own strength, understanding it is impossible. Zangetsu then asks if Ichigo trusts him, and Ichigo says that of course he does. He'll give Zangetsu all of his power and asks if Zangetsu will lend his power in return. Zangetsu the man agrees and grasps the hilt of Zangetsu the soul cutter along with Ichigo. Zaraki is amazed by the resulting increase in Ichigo's pressure, and Ichigo explains it's because he's borrowing Zangetsu's power and fighting alongside Zangetsu. Zaraki responds that stuff like that is just a crutch for those who are too spineless to fight and that it isn't true. Behind him you can see his spirit pressure is shaped like a skull, while behind Ichigo his spirit pressure is shaped like his hollow mask. Zangetsu tells Ichigo to strike Zaraki down in one blow because he's reaching the limit of stopping Ichigo's wound from bleeding. They both rush forward and clash in a huge release of spiritual energy. When the dust clears you see Ichigo has sliced Zaraki's shoulder, while Zaraki has pierced Ichigo's side. Then Ichigo apologizes to everyone, and collapses to the ground. However, Zaraki asks what Ichigo is apologizing about, since Ichigo won. His soul cutter then splits in two, and he, too, collapses.

     The last page shows a splatter of blood.

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114. (+) Everything About a Collapsing World
     Corresponding TV Episode - N/A
     Characters Appearing - Ichigo Kurosaki, Yachiru Kusajishi, Ganjuu Shiba, Yoruichi Shihouin, Hanatarou Yamada, Kenpachi Zaraki
     Kidou - None
     Locations - Area 79 "Kusajishi", Area 80 "Zaraki", Court of Pure Spirits, Rukongai, Shrine of Penitence, Soul Society
     Released Soul Cutters - None
     Relevant Terminology - shinigami, soul cutter, Retsu Unohana, Zangetsu

     The chapter begins with both Ichigo and Zaraki bleeding on the ground. Yachiru approaches with a sad look on her face. She then bows to Ichigo and thanks him for giving Kenpachi so much fun. The tiny girl then shoulders Zaraki's huge form and asks Ichigo not to die so he can have fun with Kenpachi again sometime. She then springs off like Zaraki weighs nothing to her.

     We then see the cover page: Zaraki dressed in rags, sitting and leaning on his soul cutter with a baby Yachiru playing in the blood at his feet. He then asks her where she came from. Yachiru touches his soul cutter and he says she ought to be afraid of it. The picture then zooms out, and you see the two of them are surrounded by tons of dead bodies. He says he could kill her using it, but Yachiru just smiles and stretches out a bloody hand towards him. Zaraki then asks what her name is, but Yachiru just stares up at him. He tells her he doesn't have a name either.

     Back in the present day, Yachiru is overjoyed to see Zaraki open his eyes and says she's called Unohana to treat him. Zaraki asks about Ichigo and she says he's probably still alive. He's glad about that so he can return what he owes Ichigo. Yachiru protests that Kenpachi didn't lose since Ichigo was fighting with Zangetsu, so it was really two on one. Zaraki disagrees, though, and then asks Yachiru if she remembers the day he named her. Yachiru says she does, and then Zaraki holds up the broken stub of his soul cutter and says he forgot the pain of not having a name. He then recalls giving Yachiru her name, the name of the only person he ever cared about, and he remembers taking the name Kenpachi, which is the name of the strongest shinigami in a generation. He then asks his soul cutter if it can tell him its name. However, he doesn't get any answer. This upsets him and he says he wants to get stronger because he's finally found a worthy opponent. Yachiru then thinks about how both she and Zaraki lived in bad areas of North Rukongai and that he saved her because the chances of a baby surviving in such an area were very low. She wouldn't be here today without him, so he is everything to her. Yachiru then tells Zaraki they will both get stronger, but Zaraki doesn't answer or even move. Worried, Yachiru starts shouting.

     Meanwhile, Ganjuu and Hanatarou have reached the Shrine of Penitence. Hanatarou notes the noises of battle has stopped and wonders if Ichigo is ok, but Ganjuu says they have to keep going. He then whips out a grappling hook from his fanny pack and starts swinging it overhead.

     Back with Ichigo, who is still lying on the ground, Yoruichi has found him.

     The last page shows baby Yachiru crawling through the grass.

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115. (+) Remnant
     Corresponding TV Episode - N/A
     Characters Appearing - Byakuya Kuchiki, Rukia Kuchiki, Ichigo Kurosaki, Ganjuu Shiba, Yoruichi Shihouin, Hanatarou Yamada
     Kidou - None
     Locations - Court of Pure Spirits, Shrine of Penitence, Soul Society
     Released Soul Cutters - None
     Relevant Terminology - Kaien Shiba, shinigami, shock point, Kenpachi Zaraki

     Inside the Shrine of Penitence, Rukia can feel the battle end and wonders who died as well as whether or not she's really worth fighting for. On the title page she asks Kaien to tell her.

     Back with Ichigo, Yoruichi apologizes for being late and notes he's really banged up, but since his opponent was Zaraki it couldn't be helped. Ichigo did very well just to tie and Yoruichi won't let him die. We then see spirit pressure around Yoruichi's body.

     Outside the Shrine of Penitence, two guards are glad that the fight is over, but are still trembling from the immense spirit pressure that was being released during the battle. As they quarrel, something drops on one of their heads and that one immediate collapses. Looking at the roof, the remaining guard sees someone scurry away. While he's distracted, Ganjuu slips behind him and knocks him out. Hanatarou complains that Ganjuu overdid things, and Ganjuu asked what Hanatarou did. It turns out the liquid that fell on the shinigami's head was something called shock point. A few drops touching the bare skin of someone with low spirit energy is enough to make them faint. Anyway, with the guards out of the way, the last thing they have to do is open the door to the Shrine of Penitence. Luckily, Hanatarou had already stolen the backup key from a storage room in the sewers last night. Since Hanatarou wants to save Rukia and not be a coward, he's decided to do all he can to help, no matter the punishment that awaits him. As the door opens, Ganjuu comments Rukia must be really cute for so many people to be going all out to rescue her. Hanatarou says that's not it, and Ganjuu is shocked when he gets his first look at Rukia. As Rukia asks if they're Ichigo's friends, Ganjuu has a flashback of a blood-stained Rukia in shinigami uniform, looking cold and cruel. Before he can recover, Hanatarou moves forward and grabs Rukia's wrist, saying they're going to rescue her. Only then does Hanatarou realize something is up with Ganjuu and asks what's wrong, but Ganjuu doesn't say anything. At this point Rukia notices the swirls on Ganjuu's pants and realizes he's a member of the Shiba family. Hanatarou asks if they know each other, and Ganjuu answers that he'll never forget her face because she's the one that killed his brother! Hanatarou protests that Rukia wouldn't do something like that and Ganjuu countered that he had sword wounds, meaning he was killed by a shinigami, and Rukia admitted it herself. After he says this, Rukia confirms he's right and tells him if he kills her, she'd have no regrets losing her life. Hanatarou tries to convince Ganjuu to stop, but they're interrupted by an enormous amount of spirit pressure. Looking out the door, they see Byakuya approaching.

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