The Fallen Shinigami's Pride

The Fallen Shinigami's Pride is the one-hundred eighty-ninth episode of the Bleach anime.

Ichigo and Amagai conclude their battle.

Summary
After taking damage from Ichigo Kurosaki's Getsuga Tenshō, Shūsuke Amagai feeds his Bakkōtō more power. He states that the fight will not be over until he gets his revenge. He then starts glowing green with power from his Bakkōtō. Amagai sets off a wave of five towards Ichigo, who dodges the attack. He appears behind Ichigo and strikes. Ichigo is then pushed into a wall, and through a building. As Ichigo gets up he see's Amagai launch an attack to him. On his knees, Ichigo takes the hit. Amagai says that he underestimated him. Rukia asks why his Bakkōtō hasn't taken over his body. Amagai replies that he is able to suppress with his spiritual pressure. He then goes toward Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto.

Yamamoto says that his pride as a Shinigami is still intact even though his mind has been completely warped. Amagai is appalled that he speaks of pride and says that Yamamoto promoted order in the Soul Society, but the truth is he sot to it that those who didn't follow his requests were eliminated. He says that Yamamoto has no heart. He then states that he and Rurichiyo Kasumiōji need to die. Amagai starts his attack when a Getsuga Tenshō comes from behind him. He dodges quickly. As the dust in the air clears, a drained Ichigo emerges. Rurichiyo is glad that Ichigo is okay. Amagai asks Ichigo why he doesn't just give up. Ichigo replies saying that he will do everything he can to stop him. Rurichiyo tells Ichigo that he shouldn't go on. Ichigo calmly replies that he can take care of himself. Amagai says that he should be lucky to have survived. Amagai asks Ichigo why he wants to save Yamamoto. Ichigo tells him to shut up, then calls him a bastard for causing so much trouble in so many people lives. Ichigo tells Amagai that he used the Kasumiōji Clan, betrayed the soul reapers and became obsessed with the Bakkōtō! He says that Amagai thinks that just because Yamamoto killed his father, it gives him a free pass to do anything. Ichigo asks Amagai if he ever thought about the suffering that he brought to others and did he ever think about that.

Ichigo then compares Amagai to Rurichiyo and says that he will put an end to this childish game. Amagai tells Ichigo that his energy is to low to fight him. Ichigo asks if he thinks that will stop him from fighting. They then start fighting once more. Amagai releases fire from his Zanpakutō, but Ichigo dodges the attack. Amagai notes that Ichigo is moving faster, so he must use his Gōen Ryūga. Once he uses this attack, Ichigo finds himself engulfed in flames, but before it touches him, he used a Getsuga Tenshō to evaporate the flames. They then begin fighting again but Amagai draws his Bakkōtō. Ichigo barely dodges the attack. Noticing this, Amagai uses his zanpaktou and blasts a fireball. As they continue fighting, Ichigo uses Getsuga Tensho to make a screen cover, that way he can attack Amagai. However, Amagai predicted his plan to attack from the right and tries to block Ichigo's attack. Amagai then uses his Zanpakutō to to engulf themselves in flames. As the fire diminishes, they both come out breathless and injured. The renames of Ichigo's hollow mask disappear, while Amagai's Bakkōtō is cut. Ichigo tells Amagai that he needs to stop fighting. Amagai replies with laughter. He states that he has already thrown his life away and does not care if he dies.

Amagai says that when he dies, he's taking all of them with him. He then starts feeding his Bakkōtō more power. Ichigo tells him to stop feeding it or he will die, but Amagai says that he doesn't care. Ichigo then states that if he will not listen to reason, that this is the only answer. Ichigo prepares a Getsuga Tenshō, while Amagai prepares his own attack. Ichigo says that he's pretty stupid for a captain if he's really doing this. Amagai then replies and say that nothing else matters. They then launch their attacks on each other. A huge explosion comes from the two attacks causing many buildings to lean or be destroyed. After the attacks, Ichigo and Amagai seem to be fine, but as Ichigo stands he almost falls to the ground. Before falling he catches himself with his Zanpakutō. Amagai is wounded and falls to the ground. Ichigo then stands up straight. Rurichiyo states that Ichigo has defeated Amagai. Amagai's Zanpakutō and Bakkōtō revert back to normal, loosing their powers. Amagai then picks up his sword saying that he isn't done yet. He charges toward Yamamoto. As this happens, captains and lieutenants show up. Yoruichi tells Amagai to stop, but Amagai has just driven his sword though Yamamoto.

Everyone is shocked. Amagai then smiles thinking he has won. Captains Jūshirō Ukitake and Shunsui Kyōraku then start to draw their swords in concern for Yamamoto, but he tells them to stand down. Amagai is shocked that Yamamoto is still alive. Yoruichi tells Amagai that Yamamoto isn't the one who caused the death of his father. She further explains that his father was a victim but his life was already completely consumed by the Bakkōtō. She continues explaining that in the Kasumiōji Clan at the time, Gyōkaku Kumoi was misusing the clans special techniques for the casting of royal swords. He exploited their ancient secrets in order to create the Bakkōtō. Then using his prototypes, he began doing experiments with them involving test subjects. When the head captain became aware of Kumoi's activities, he attempted to intercede but was over ruled. The Kasumiōji Clan used their immunity extra territoriality as a shield, so he was denied the chance to scrutinize Kumoi any further. However, one of his seated officers wanted to help with the problem. His name was Shin'etsu Kisaragi. This seated officer was Amagai's father. He said that he would bring back the secret of the Bakkōtō, but once he was there, he was captured. Kumoi forced a Bakkōtō into his hand, then told him to go kill the person who sent him there. Shin'etsu was being controlled by the Bakkōtō. He went to the field where he worked and fought Yamamoto. Yamamoto had no choice but to kill Shin'etsu, taking him from the control of the Bakkōtō.

No one ever said anything about Shin'etsu's death because they didn't want people to know that they went to the Kasumiōji Clan. The Bakkōtō was kept a secret, as was it's undercover investigation, because this went against Central 46. Amagai then takes the sword out of Yamamoto. Amagai looks shocked as they say that Yamamoto had to restore peace with the Kasumiōji Clan. Amagai says that his Yamamoto killed his father because, he was consumed by the Bakkōtō. Amagai then relies that he was consumed by hate and his anger blinded him so that he couldn't see through to the truth. Yoruichi then states that everything that he is and even his destiny was swallowed by the Bakkōtō. Yamamoto tells Amagai that he still regrets what he did. Amagai gets down on his hands and knees and asks him if he was a fool. Yamamoto replies that he need not to be ashamed. Amagai rises and stabs his sword into the ground. A ring then glows around him, turning into fire. Amagai apologizes to Izuru Kira, who was his lieutenant. Amagai then is engulfed in flames, taking his life.

At the Kasumiōji Clan palace, Rurichiyo thanks Ichigo and Rukia for helping her. Then Kenryu and Enryu thank Ichigo and Rukia for helping protect Rurichiyo and that they are in his dept. They continue talking until it is time for Ichigo and Rukia to go. Then they leave, saying farewell to the Kasumiōji Clan.

Shinigami Illustrated Picture Book
Ichigo is seen running through a Senkaimon, which inexplicably appears in the middle of Hueco Mundo, outside of Las Noches. Ichigo is confused at this, but before he can say anything, he is slammed in the ribs by Nel, who welcomes him back. She asks him whether the "corporate guys" allowed him to come back, as Orihime runs up to him, with Volume 32 of the Bleach manga, as she tells him to hurry up and use his Bankai to go to a certain scene, as he examines the manga variant of the next episode. He wonders what she is talking about, to which she says to the audience that the Hueco Mundo arc resumes the following week.

Characters in order of appearance

 * 1) Shūsuke Amagai
 * 2) Ichigo Kurosaki
 * 3) Hanza Nukui (flashback)
 * 4) Rukia Kuchiki
 * 5) Rurichiyo Kasumiōji
 * 6) Ryūsei Kenzaki
 * 7) Rusaburō Enkōgawa
 * 8) Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto
 * 9) Byakuya Kuchiki
 * 10) Tōshirō Hitsugaya
 * 11) Renji Abarai
 * 12) Izuru Kira
 * 13) Shunsui Kyōraku
 * 14) Jūshirō Ukitake
 * 15) Yoruichi Shihōin
 * 16) Gyōkaku Kumoi (flashback)
 * 17) Shin'etsu Kisaragi (flashback)
 * 18) Shū Kannogi
 * 19) Orihime Inoue (flashback)

Fights

 * Ichigo Kurosaki vs. Shūsuke Amagai (concluded)

Powers and Techniques used
Techniques used:

Shinigami techniques:

Zanpakutō released:

Bankai:

Bakkōtō used:
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)
 * (flashback)

Other Powers: