BABY,HOLD YOUR HAND is the seventy-first volume of the Bleach manga series.
Publisher's summary[]
As Mayuri Kurotsuchi struggles against the monstrosity that is Pernida Parnkgjas, his daughter Nemu Kurotsuchi joins the battle. For the first time, Nemu disobeys Mayuri's orders and acts on her own. But will it be her final act? Meanwhile, Shunsui Kyōraku faces his own demons...
Bleach All-Stars[]
| All-Stars | ||
| ペルニダ・パルンカジャス Pernida Parnkgjas |
|
涅 マユリ Mayuri Kurotsuchi |
|
涅 ネム Nemu Kurotsuchi |
|
|
伊勢 七緒 Nanao Ise |
|
| リジェ・バロ Lille Barro |
|
京楽 春水 Shunsui Kyōraku |
Chapters[]
643. BABY,HOLD YOUR HAND 6 [Waiting For Love][]
Sternritter "C" Pernida Parnkgjas's clone kills and consumes 12th Division Lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi, but her captain, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, uses her body to defeat Pernida itself.
Summary:
The cover pages of 643. BABY,HOLD YOUR HAND 6 [Waiting For Love].
In the aftermath of destroying one of Sternritter "C" Pernida Parnkgjas's clones with Gikon Jūrinjū, 12th Division Lieutenant Nemu Kurotsuchi falls through the air with the pieces of the split clone scattered around her and looks fondly at her captain, Mayuri Kurotsuchi, who watches her descend in awe. Suddenly, the pieces of the clone sprout individual eyes, extend their nerves into a shocked Nemu's body, and cause her flesh to swell up before she explodes in a shower of blood and organs, which splatter on the ground around a stunned Mayuri as her severed hand is left to spin through the air.
While Mayuri numbly expresses his disbelief at this, the scattered pieces of the clone begin reforming into their original shape, and as Mayuri hunches over, a kneeling hallucination of Szayelaporro Granz questions if Mayuri just felt grief or despair over this. Assuming he misheard this, Szayelaporro asks to get a better look at Mayuri's face, sarcastically refuses to believe this since Mayuri is the one who lectured him about what it means to be a scientist, and reminds him that he has no reason to be sad about his modified life form dying because he believes perfection has no meaning to scientists and abhors it. Proclaiming that this means Mayuri should celebrate Nemu's death because it means she was not perfect and has left room for him to create something better, Szayelaporro admits that this is what he thought Mayuri would say and mockingly infers that he was beginning to believe Nemu was perfect, which he stands up to look down upon Mayuri for thinking. With the clone of Pernida continuing to regrow behind him, Szayelaporro claims that Mayuri should thank it because it crushed his arrogance and negligence by killing Nemu and reminds him that he is now alone despite his efforts with what he thought was perfect destroyed, which Szayelaporro concludes is something he could only laugh about if he were in Mayuri's situation.
However, a further disheveled Mayuri crushes and dispels the hallucination with his hand and concurs that it was right before asserting that it is utterly comical for him to have needed a false scientist like Szayelaporro to remind him of his own negligence. Slamming down onto the rooftop where Mayuri is standing, the clone of Pernida reveals a tongue with a large eyeball sprouting from its palm, leading Mayuri to deduce that it has come to feast on Nemu's flesh and encourages it to do so until the last scrap of skin is gone. However, upon seeing the clone scooping up a chunk of Nemu's flesh with her brain on it, Mayuri plugs a cord into his ear, reaches into the clone's mouth, and snatches back the brain to keep from it. When the clone attempts to reach for him, electricity crackles around Mayuri, forcing the screaming clone back while Mayuri asks it if it if feels numb after experiencing this.
Mayuri insists that the clone finish eating Nemu because it will quickly die otherwise, and with the clone convulsing in pain and demanding to know what this is, Mayuri explains that Nemu's pituitary gland, which the clone ate, contained an Involuntary Cell Division Acceleration Organ designed to surpass an artificial Soul's cell division threshold. As the clone's flesh begins drastically swelling and bulging outward, Mayuri elaborates that the organ functions at all times to allow cells to continuously grow beyond their theoretical limit and is regulated by the parietal lobe via a connection to the basal ganglia. Deciding to rephrase it so even an idiot like the Pernida clone can understand, Mayuri clarifies that the organ alone being ingested without Nemu's brain will cause the consuming organism to grow out of control and self-destruct just before the screaming clone explodes, splattering its flesh and blood across the nearby buildings.
Characters in order of appearance:
- Pernida Parnkgjas
- Nemu Kurotsuchi
- Mayuri Kurotsuchi
- Szayelaporro Granz (Posthumous Apparition)
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 402: BABY, HOLD YOUR HAND 2 [Never Ending My Dream]
644. BABY, HOLD YOUR HAND 7 [Never Ending My Dream][]
12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi and 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki are put into healing containers as Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku confronts Sternritter "X" Lille Barro.
Summary:
The cover pages of 644. BABY, HOLD YOUR HAND 7 [Never Ending My Dream].
Having destroyed the last remaining clone of Sternritter "C" Pernida Parnkgjas, 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi walks away with the brain of his lieutenant, Nemu Kurotsuchi, only to collapse and realize that a surviving nerve mutilated his legs at the last second, which he observes makes him no different from 11th Division Captain Kenpachi Zaraki, just before 11th Division 3rd Seat Ikkaku Madarame and 5th Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa approach him. Surprised that Ikkaku and Yumichika have not fled yet, Mayuri calls them stupid beyond belief, only to commend them for not interfering with the battle.
Moments later, Ikkaku and Yumichika carry Mayuri through the streets with his arms over their shoulders as he directs them to body preservation pods hidden in ruins down the street that contain 10th Division Captain Tōshirō Hitsugaya and Lieutenant Rangiku Matsumoto, now cured of their zombification. Instructing Ikkaku and Yumichika to go on with them, Mayuri admits that their lifespans were greatly reduced and assumes they will not hold it against him for saving their lives. With Hitsugaya departing alongside Rangiku and thanking him, a scoffing Mayuri has Ikkaku and Yumichika place him into one of the pods and allows them to place Kenpachi in the other one. After promising to see Kenpachi soon, Ikkaku and Yumichika close the pod over him, kneel before Mayuri, and thank him for saving Kenpachi before running off.
Bemused by how much he is getting thanked today and calling it disgusting, Mayuri dismisses this as irrelevant because he has finally created a Soul that evolves on its own from nothing and looks down at Nemu's brain, which is secured in his haori, as he revels in having surpassed Kisuke Urahara. Regenerative fluid fills the pod while Mayuri decides to wait to see the look of envy on Urahara's face in person since he cannot picture it right now and promises to show him how much distance now lies between them alongside Nemu, whom he envisions floating above him in the pod.
Elsewhere, as the captains and lieutenants continue running toward the castle, Kisuke Urahara is startled by the sensation of Mayuri's Reiatsu fluctuating and notes that he should be fine. However, a concurring Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku observes that the real problem is how the surrounding Reiatsu has decreased to the point where they can sense large fluctuations from so far away, leading Urahara to inquire if all the lieutenants have been incapacitated and 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai to confirm that he, 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki, and 5th Division Lieutenant Momo Hinamori are still here while Shunsui notes that his lieutenant, Nanao Ise, is also present. With 5th Division Captain Shinji Hirako lamenting how they do not know where the enemy is attacking from and that slowing down would give them an even bigger advantage, Sternritter "X" Lille Barro observes them from a building far behind the group and muses that they must be terrified before admitting that he would be too because they are losing their comrades one at a time to attacks coming from a great distance.
While Shunsui asserts that they still do not know anything about the enemy targeting them after all this time, Lille concludes that anyone who is not afraid is either a fool or a worthless fighter who deserves to be abandoned, and when Shunsui stops in his tracks and draws his Zanpakutō in preparation for finding Lille, Shinji chastises him for not listening to what he just said about slowing down. Suddenly, just as he sees a beacon of Reiatsu at Lille's location and announces that he has found him, Shunsui is shot through the chest by Lille and coughs up blood as he begins to fall back, prompting Shinji and Nanao to rush to him. Lille details how a pack will always collapse with a single foolish action no matter how well it is unified, which he has seen countless times, and expresses disappointment in the Shinigami being no different, but is confused when he hears Shunsui calling out a children's song right before the latter appears behind him unharmed with his Shikai, Katen Kyōkotsu, released and completes Daruma-san ga Koronda by slashing down at Lille, who quickly evades him. Having severed most of the barrel of Lille's Spirit Weapon, Diagramm, Shunsui praises his reflexes and promises his life will the next thing he loses.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 401: DON’T CHASE A SHADOW
- Episode 402: BABY, HOLD YOUR HAND 2 [Never Ending My Dream]
645. Don't Chase a Shadow[]
Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku and Sternritter "X" Lille Barro begin their battle.
Summary:
The cover pages of 645. Don't Chase a Shadow.
Internally musing on Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku covering the distance between their locations without being sensed, Sternritter "X" Lille Barro wonders how Shunsui got behind him so quickly prior to Shunsui questioning if he has never played Daruma-san ga Koronda before. With Lille confused by the name, Shunsui acknowledges that their respective cultures are too different for this to have happened and praises his lieutenant, Nanao Ise, who is standing behind a nearby corner, for keeping up with him all the way here. When Nanao steps out and claims that this does not sound like a compliment, Shunsui orders her to return to the group since it is too dangerous here, only for her to refuse. Once Shunsui tells her to inform the others that they need to go on ahead instead, Nanao accepts this with a promise to return afterward and threatens to shave the chest hair off Shunsui's chest if he dies before she returns, leaving Shunsui nervously stating that this would prevent anyone from recognizing him.
While Nanao departs by leaping between buildings, Shunsui observes that she is sounding more and more like Lisa Yadōmaru, but Lille asks him if he is done with his charade, which Shunsui is bemused by, and reveals that the Wandenreich has Daten on every battle fought by the captains and lieutenants of the Gotei 13. After describing the power of Shunsui's Shikai, Katen Kyōkotsu as turning children's games into reality, Lille inquires if the technique that Shunsui used was one such game. Admitting that it is understandable how the Wandenreich infiltrated the Soul King Palace and recalling that he did not use this technique against Coyote Starrk, Shunsui explains how Daruma-san ga Koronda is a game where the participant, who is "it", looks behind themselves after saying the verse with their eyes closed, with the losers being whoever is caught moving, and elaborates that the three rules are for the person marked "it" to be in a clearly visible location, the others losing if they are caught moving, and the others winning if they can touch the person marked "it" before they are caught moving.
In response to Lille identifying it as a variant of Chocolate Inglés, a disappointed Shunsui points out that he does know the game after all as Lille deduces how using Daruma-san ga Koronda lets Shunsui see the Reiatsu of an attack no matter where it is coming from, which then allows him to follow the shortest trail of Reiatsu in order to touch the attacker before the attacker sees him while an illusory static image of him is left behind. With Shunsui grinning upon being asked if this is correct, Lille observes that Shunsui loses if he is caught moving even though the rules of Daruma-san ga Koronda seem to heavily favor him. Once Lille concludes that Shunsui will die as log as he sees through the illusion and catches the latter, a grinning Shunsui asserts that he is glad Lille understands things quickly, and when Lille counters that it was a mistake to explain the rules to him because the game will no longer work against him, Shunsui clarifies that a game cannot begin until both sides understand the rules prior to informing Lille that he saw the real Shunsui earlier rather than a static image, to Lille's confusion.
Shunsui details how all combatants rely on their sense of sight and Reikaku to see objects during battle as a natural reflex, progressively relying more and more on Reikaku over physical sight as a battle continues, and reveals that he solidified his Reiatsu at his previous location and left it there so Lille would mistake it for him. Though Lille refuses to believe he would make such a mistake, Shunsui states that he did and identifies himself as the Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13, leaving Lille speechless, before rushing toward Lille and initiates Daruma-san ga Koronda once more, only for Lille to turn around and level his Spirit Weapon, Diagramm, at Shunsui when the latter appears behind him. However, when Lille reminds Shunsui that he can no longer play this game and shoots him in the chest, the real Shunsui stabs one of the blades of Katen Kyōkotsu out of Lille's shadow with Kageoni, forcing Lille to leap into the air before he is cut and fire another shot at the real Shunsui, who quickly evades to the side.
In response to Shunsui praising him for being the first to dodge Kageoni on the first try, Lille reiterates that they have Daten on all the battles that the Shinigami have fought, and as Shunsui staggers and looks down to see a sizable hole in his left foot left by Lille's shot, Lille asserts that the Shinigami have no such data on the Wandenreich. When Shunsui admits that he believed he dodged this and claims it is unfair for Lille to not tell him, Lille counters that he has no intention of having a fair fight, but decides that it will not make things fair to tell Shunsui that his Schrift is The X-Axis. Lille declares that his power penetrates everything and leaves no room for the concept of avoiding it by dodging prior to blasting a large hole in a side-stepping Shunsui's chest with Diagramm.
Despite this, a shadowy Shunsui appears behind a surprised Lille and inquires if he saw a shadow, which he clarifies was an afterimage he created rather than him dodging the shot, as he is now playing Kageokuri, a game where one projects a shadow they stared at to a different location. After noting that a Reikaku as powerful as Lille's creates an even stronger afterimage, Shunsui muses that children's games are scary because of their unpredictability. Observing that one never knows what kind of game is about to start or when it will begin, Shunsui claims that it is all over once a child takes one's hand no matter how uninterested they are because they will have to play until they are dead prior to Shunsui concluding that Lille's hand has already been taken and inviting him to play until death.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 401: DON’T CHASE A SHADOW
646. The Second Eye[]
Sternritter "X" Lille Barro reveals his true power and overwhelms Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku.
Summary:
The cover pages of 646. The Second Eye.
After 1st Division Lieutenant Nanao Ise informs the other Shinigami of Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku's decision, 5th Division Captain Shinji Hirako abruptly agrees to keep going and run off as his lieutenant, Momo Hinamori, initially insists that they stay and help Shunsui. When a startled Hinamori runs after him in protest, Shinji points out how they are running out of time and turns to Nanao for her stance, leading Nanao to inform them that she is going back while they proceed. In turn, Shinji asks the group what 13th Division Captain Jūshirō Ukitake would say if he were here, which causes them to envision him assuring them that Shunsui will be fine if he says he will be fine, and begins to walk away after considering it settled before stopping and reminding his comrades that Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto would be telling them to go on ahead as well if he were here and stuck fighting an enemy, as this is what it means to be a Captain-Commander who shoulders the lives of their officers
Meanwhile, Sternritter "X" Lille Barro points his Spirit Weapon, Diagramm, at Shunsui once more and asserts that the latter made a mistake in assuming he could cut Lille if he got close enough. However, Shunsui merely affirms this and reveals that Lille has already been cut just before half of the remaining barrel of Diagramm is severed and falls to the ground. With Shunsui admitting that he must not have stepped in close enough to sever Lille's arm as well, an initially shocked Lille jumps back several feet and reforms the missing portion of Diagramm in a metallic fashion, which impresses Shunsui. Once Lille explains that Diagramm is his Spirit Weapon and made of Reishi, Shunsui deduces that this is why he can continue firing even with the barrel removed and repair the gun when it is damaged, but notes that Lille has already forgotten the rules and reappears behind him just before slashing horizontally, which forces an astonished Lille to drop and reposition himself to evade it. Shunsui reminds Lille that looking away from Shunsui and seeing his shadow will cause him to see silhouette afterimages while disappearing in a swirl of darkness, and as Lille begins running across the roof of the building, Shunsui assumes that this reminds him of being scared of his own shadow as a child prior to several shadowy clones of himself descending on Lille from the air with their copies of his Shikai, Katen Kyōkotsu, outstretched.
Looking up in shock, Lille finds himself impaled from behind by the real Shunsui's Katen Kyōkotsu once the clones dissipate, only to slowly open his left eye and solemnly observe that this is the third time. With Shunsui confused by this, Lille details how he can only use the full capabilities of The X-Axis when both of his eyes are open, which lets his shot penetrate his opponent's body and his body penetrate his opponent's sword, while Shunsui slowly slides his blade out of Lille's chest, which moves like liquid around it and is left unharmed once it is removed. In response to Shunsui inferring that his games no longer work while this is active, Lille confirms this and asserts that there is no weapon in the world which can kill him right now before clarifying that he is only allowed to briefly open his eye when he is in danger during combat.
Having done so when Shunsui first attacked him and when the former reappeared behind him with Kageokuri, Lille claims that he must keep his eye closed otherwise because it would be unfair to sinners if he kept it open at all times. Though Shunsui encourages him to close his eye again, Lille reveals that he is allowed to keep his eye permanently open once it has been opened for the third time during a fight, which Shunsui is disappointed by, and announces that he is Yhwach's masterpiece as the first Sternritter to be granted a Schrift, making him him the one closest to God, before proclaiming that opening his eye three times is unacceptable. Lille's left eye and the tattoo around it glow with green Reishi as his Quincy: Vollständig, Jilliel, is activated, granting him eight wings with three holes each, a large carapace-like robe covering his body below the mouth, a more elaborate tattoo on his face, and a wide and thin Heiligenschein. Just as he realizes that he is unable to move, Shunsui is shot through the hat, right shoulder, and left hip by three blasts from one of Lille's wings.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 401: DON’T CHASE A SHADOW
647. THE THEATRE SUICIDE[]
Sternritter "M" Gerard Valkyrie confronts the remaining Shinigami as Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku is forced to activate his Bankai against Sternritter "X" Lille Barro.
Summary:
The cover pages of 647. THE THEATRE SUICIDE.
Having been shot several times by Sternritter "X" Lille Barro following the activation of his Quincy: Vollständig, Jilliel, a hatless and bleeding Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku runs across several rooftops to reach the side of a tower with a broad wall, which he sits down and rests against with a sigh. Musing that he is running well despite his injuries, Shunsui admits it would have been better to have died instantly and laments being so strong that he cannot even lose consciousness, only to pause and realize that there is no point in complaining when his lieutenant, Nanao Ise, is not around to chastise him like usual just before leaping away while the tower is destroyed by multiple shots from Lille. As he comments on how close this was, a sweating Shunsui lands in the open window of a nearby building and runs inside, but Lille merely observes how well he is moving despite his injuries before moving inside the building and directly in front of Shunsui with a swirling teleportation. After questioning if Shunsui is trying to run from him, Lille responds to Shunsui assuming a battle stance by reminding him that no weapon can harm Lille, prompting Shunsui to affirm this and inquire if the same holds true for Kidō before casting Hadō #78. Zangerin, which creates a ring-shaped projectile in the wake of his blades that expands outward and smashes through the walls of the building from inside.
Simultaneously, 5th Division Captain Shinji Hirako, 6th Division Captain Byakuya Kuchiki, and Kisuke Urahara run at the front of the group of Shinigami, whom Shinji warns to get ready since they have now reached the enemy stronghold. However, while 6th Division Lieutenant Renji Abarai and 13th Division Lieutenant Rukia Kuchiki affirm this, a distant booming sound draws Shinji's attention to a far-off rooftop with a trail of dust. Seconds later, Sternritter "M" Gerard Valkyrie abruptly crashes down onto the stairs in front of the Shinigami, enveloping them in a cloud of dust and showering rubble across the area, before grinning while Urahara observes that he leapt quite a far distance to get here.
Congratulating the Shinigami on getting this far, though Shinji points out that they were not looking for him and he instead came flying to them, Gerard declares that this is as far as they get because they will need to get past him if they want to go any further, leaving Shinji to question if Gerard is even listening to him. When Gerard's left arm is restrained by Renji's Shikai, Zabimaru, and Renji affirms Shinji's question of whether they can leave Gerard to him, a grinning Gerard flares out his cape and embeds it firmly in the ground on either side of him, blocking off access to the castle, before decrying the idea of a one-on-one battle since none of them could defeat him alone even with a miracle and challenging the Shinigami to attack him all at once, to Shinji's bemusement.
Elsewhere, Shunsui rests on a rooftop between two wide walls, where he expresses disbelief at Zangerin not harming Lille at all when he only expected it to do minimal damage. Noting that he is at the end of his rope and has returned to the city that they first entered Wahrwelt on, which he hopes will put everyone else far enough away, Shunsui apologizes preemptively to Nanao if she gets caught up in this, positions his Shikai, Katen Kyōkotsu, tip-first on the ground in front of himself, and decides to see what lies beyond the end of the rope before activating his Bankai, Katen Kyōkotsu: Karamatsu Shinjū, which extends dozens of shadowy tree branches across the ground from his position as a shadowy woman leans over his shoulder.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 401: DON’T CHASE A SHADOW
- Episode 405: The Visible Answer
648. THE THEATRE SUICIDE SCENE 2[]
Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku's Bankai, Katen Kyōkotsu: Karamatsu Shinjū, is felt across Wahrwelt as he begins attacking Sternritter "X" Lille Barro with it.
Summary:
The cover page of 648. THE THEATRE SUICIDE SCENE 2.
While Ichigo Kurosaki runs through the streets of Wahrwelt, he is startled to find Sternritter "D" Askin Nakk Le Vaar hanging off the side of a pole in front of him and recognizes him as the one Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez attacked earlier. With Ichigo demanding to know where Grimmjow is, Askin assumes he is referring to the guy with the ducktail haircut and tries to point out where he is sleeping, only to be confused by the street layout. When Ichigo questions if Grimmjow lost, a smirking Askin chastises him for making everything about winning and losing, and once Ichigo asserts that he does not care about Askin's preferences, Askin decides to only reveal his name before preparing to engage Ichigo as the latter rushes toward him. Suddenly, Ichigo and Askin are alarmed by the sensation of darkness enveloping their surroundings as a shivering Ganju Shiba comments on how cold it has become and Yasutora Sado realizes that they are experiencing chills instead of the area actually becoming dark or cold. With Orihime Inoue noting that she cannot stop trembling even though she cannot hear or see anything that would be causing this, Ichigo recognizes the Reiatsu permeating the area as that of Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku.
Elsewhere, Sternritter "X" Lille Barro descends to one of the rooftops in his Quincy: Vollständig, Jilliel, where the bottom of his robe splits open and unfurls to reveal a set of double-pronged, deer-like legs that he lands on the rooftop with while questioning what this strange sensation is. Seeing Shunsui appearing on the far end of the roof as the shadow disappears from his shoulder, Lille comments on him finally showing himself. Shunsui apologizes for keeping Lille waiting and inquires about whether he believes the world looks dark, gloomy, and full of despair right now, prompting Lille to realize that this is his doing and infer that it is his Bankai. Once Shunsui confirms this, Lille acknowledges that the colors of the world look different now, only to dismiss it being despair-inducing as an exaggeration because God's messenger does not feel despair and leap high into the air before gathering energy in all 24 holes in his wings and blasting Shunsui and the area around him with enough force to sever part of the city below, leading it to begin falling into the open air.
Despite this, while asserting that he knows a Bankai will disappear with its owner's death even if they do not have any Daten on Shunsui's, Lille is startled by blood dripping from a hole that appears in his left side and demands to know what it is. In the clearing smoke below, Shunsui identifies this as Ichidanme: Tameraikizu no Wakachiai, where wounds inflicted on the enemy appear on one's own body, and another hole appears on Lille's right shoulder as Shunsui notes that one cannot die from such wounds and responds to Lille remaining bewildered by reminding him that this is the Bankai he spoke of, Katen Kyōkotsu: Karamatsu Shinjū. After instructing Lille to stop talking between acts and remain silent for the rest of the performance, Shunsui initiates Nidanme: Zanki no Shitone, causing brown spots of varying sizes to appear all over Lille's body, and describes this as a man who failed to kill his adversary collapsing from shame and suffering an incurable illness, which results in an agonized Lille bleeding from the eyes and nose. Surrounding himself and Lille with a vast ocean, Shunsui announces Sandanme: Dangyo no Fuchi, which he narrates as the man and his adversary accepting their fate and tossing themselves into the waters until their Reiatsu is exhausted.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 401: DON’T CHASE A SHADOW
649. The Theatre Suicide SCENE 3[]
Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku uses the final act of his Bankai on Sternritter "X" Lille Barro.
Summary:
The cover pages of 649. The Theatre Suicide STAGE 3.
As he looks up at the surface above the water generated by Sandanme: Dangyo no Fuchi, Sternritter "X" Lille Barro desperately tries to fly up toward it by rapidly flapping the wings of his Quincy: Vollständig, Jilliel, but is flabbergasted to find the surface moving further away from him no matter how hard he flaps. In turn, Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku reminds him that they threw themselves into the water and claims that what is done cannot be undone regardless of what Lille tries, though he asserts that he knows how Lille feels and describes how throwing oneself into icy waters can test their resolve. However, Shunsui clarifies that this is just Lille being selfish and wonders how selfish he can be while a woman's voice joins him and mirrors his words. From behind Shunsui, Katen notes the disgrace of the man that a woman swore herself to and how pity is the only thing keeping her bound to him and this world prior to draping her arms over Shunsui and observing that it has been a long time.
When Shunsui affirms this and calls her "Ohana", Katen counters that he has a lot of nerve doing so as someone who hardly ever plays with her, leading Shunsui to apologize. Noticing the hole in Shunsui's shoulder, Katen points out how his kimono is torn and states that this is what he deserves for wearing another woman's kimono, only for Shunsui to muse that she is as mean as ever. In response, Katen reminds Shunsui that she is the spirit of his Zanpakutō, regardless of how mean she is, and that he accepted her as she is while swearing they would die together, which Shunsui smiles at. Above them, Lille questions who Shunsui is talking to, as Katen is only visible to the latter, and demands to know if Shunsui believed he could win this battle and kill him before declaring that a mere Shinigami's Bankai could never kill him.
Despite this, Shunsui merely sheathes his swords and generates a wispy white thread from the fingertips on his right hand while beginning to narrate about how cruel a woman's pity can be. With Lille flying down toward him, Shunsui elaborates that the woman will not listen to a petulant man and describes a glistening white thread soaked with regret being wrapped around the neck of the man she loves. Promising to cut away this awkwardly-tangled thread of regret while the thread from his hand winds itself around Lille's neck, Shunsui presents Shime no Dan: Itokiribasami Chizome no Nodobue, which creates a large cut in Lille's neck that glows golden and expands upward until it explodes, leaving his headless body to fall into the abyss between the buildings while a watching Shunsui coughs up blood and falls back.
Kneeling behind Shunsui, Katen reaches out and catches him with both hands, leaving Shunsui surprised and lewdly commenting on how resting his head on her lap makes occasionally activating his Bankai worth it. In response, Katen wordlessly jabs her fingers down toward his left eye, forcing an alarmed Shunsui to jerk his head out of the way and plead for forgiveness since this is the only good eye he has left, prompting Katen to note that she is also missing her right eye and muse that fate has a way of playing games with a Shinigami and his Zanpakutō. Despite this, Katen admits that she is glad he won, and when Shunsui wonders why she is being so nice today, a flustered Katen reminds him that he almost died just before Shunsui begins to tell her something. Suddenly, Shunsui is shot through the stomach by a beam of energy from Lille, to his and Katen's shock, and watches in astonishment as Lille's headless body teleports into the air above him with its Quincy: Vollständig, Jilliel, still active and shifting in color from green to golden, where Lille's face begins reforming from energy rising out of the stump while he reprimands Shunsui for believing a Shinigami's Bankai can kill God's messenger.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 401: DON’T CHASE A SHADOW
- Episode 403: Shadows Gone
650. THE THEATRE SUICIDE SCENE 4[]
Sternritter "X" Lille Barro reveals a second form of his Quincy: Vollständig, leading a desperate Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku to decide to return the Zanpakutō of his lieutenant, Nanao Ise, to her.
Summary:
The cover pages of 650. THE THEATRE SUICIDE SCENE 4.
With an owl-like head with a new Heiligenschein on a long neck growing out of Sternritter "X" Lille Barro's stump, a grievously wounded Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku expresses disbelief at him still not being dead even after decapitation and claims he is giving up, leading Lille to declare that this is what despair feels like. Reminding Shunsui that his weapon could not harm Lille and severing Lille's head with his Reiatsu could not kill him, Lille twists his neck around and states that those who are sinful feel despair when they see him because he is God's immortal and invincible messenger, granted special privileges, before proclaiming that there is nothing sinners like Shunsui can do against him. After forming a pair of long arms on either side of his torso, Lille raises the right one and fires Sabaki no Kōmyō at Shunsui's location, destroying several buildings and piercing through the underside of the city with a powerful beam of energy.
In the aftermath, Lille looks around the area and deduces that Shunsui is hiding behind a nearby tower, leaving him impressed at the latter still having the strength necessary to escape his attack even with his stomach shot through and praising Shunsui as being worthy of the title of Captain-Commander. With Lille's eyes narrowing vertically as he calls this sinful, Katen tells a panting Shunsui that they should run away because there is nothing more she can do if his Bankai, Katen Kyōkotsu: Karamatsu Shinjū, could not stop Lille and Shunsui has fought hard enough now that he can barely stay conscious or breathe anymore. Once Katen concludes that no one will fault him for running away and tells him to get some sleep while she takes him to safety, Shunsui closes his eyes and begins to drift into unconsciousness, only for his lieutenant, Nanao Ise, to shake him awake while begging him to wake up.
Initially shocked by her arrival, Shunsui expresses relief at her not getting caught up in Katen Kyōkotsu: Karamatsu Shinjū, but begins to cough up blood from the effort of speaking, leading Nanao to assure him that he does not need to say anything and urge him to hand over her Zanpakutō because there is no time to hesitate. Though a startled Shunsui remains silent at this, Nanao insists that he forget the promise he made with her mother, to his further astonishment, just before Lille appears behind Nanao and states that he thought it was getting noisy over here. Musing that Nanao clearly does not know the preciousness of life even though Shunsui tried to get her to safety, Lille calls her sinful, and with Shunsui addressing Kyōkotsu, Lille fires another Sabaki no Kōmyō that rips through the city, though he deduces that Shunsui and Nanao managed to escape it before complaining about how his eyes are drying out from looking at sinners.
Within Lille's shadow cast on the wall of the tower behind him, Shunsui sits in Kageoni with Nanao, where he inquires if she knew about her mother all along. Once Nanao confirms this, Shunsui admits that she never ceases to amaze him and decides to return her Zanpakutō as Kyōkotsu stands behind a startled Nanao.
Characters in order of appearance:
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 403: Shadows Gone
651. The Theatre Suicide SCENE 5[]
Captain-Commander Shunsui Kyōraku reveals his past with Isuzu Ise, the mother of his lieutenant, Nanao Ise, as the latter wields her Zanpakutō against Sternritter "X" Lille Barro.
Summary:
The cover page of 651. The Theatre Suicide SCENE 5.
In the past, a young Shunsui Kyōraku naps on the porch of Shunzan Kyōraku's home before being woken by Isuzu Ise, whom he sees is now wearing the hairpin that Shunzan gave her.
In the present, Sternritter "X" Lille Barro wonders where Shunsui and his lieutenant, Nanao Ise, are hiding prior to flattening his head into a disc shape to move his eyes across it and look at the surrounding area from different angles. Upon looking down at his shadow on the buildings below, Lille reforms his head into its previous shape and notes that Kageoni allows Shunsui to stay within it for a while, but generates a ball of golden Reishi and expands it underneath himself, causing it to shine with a brilliant light, while questioning what will happen if he erases his shadow from the ground. However, he is interrupted when Nanao bursts out of a small shadow above his beak with a long wrapped object in her hands.
Moments prior, Nanao expresses confusion within Kageoni after assuming that Shunsui is saying Kyōkotsu is her Zanpakutō even though she knows her and Katen are separate, but Shunsui clarifies that this is not quite the truth and reveals that Katen gave birth to Kyōkotsu in order to hide Nanao's Zanpakutō. When Shunsui informs her this was her mother's request, Nanao is further bewildered, which prompts Shunsui to explain that the Ise Clan is matrilineal and has only ever born women. Observing that this led them to adopt sons-in-laws from other families, Shunsui reveals all men who married into the clan died prematurely from what was known as the Ise Curse, and though some mocked the idea of a curse, Nanao's mother took it seriously and attempted to evade it by marrying into another family, even though this would end the Ise bloodline.
After recalling how her husband ended up dying soon after anyway, Shunsui states that this was his older brother and admits him not getting along with his brother changed after Isuzu joined their family, leading him to recount how their house became a much more comfortable place which he frequently visited just to nap in, only to muse that Isuzu had to return to the Ise Clan after Shunzan's death, a fate common among noble families who are hard to escape. Remembering Isuzu wearing a flowery kimono and asserting that the women of the Ise Clan may be unable to escape the Ise Curse because of their sword, which she held wrapped in her arms, Shunsui observes Isuzu was desperate to keep her unborn daughter away from the curse and details how he had Kyōkotsu hide the sword because she loves playing hide-and-seek. In turn, Kyōkotsu reaches into the void of her mask and pulls out the wrapped sword.
In the present, Lille is shocked at Nanao being able to emerge from such a small shadow and pushes the light sphere toward her, propelling Nanao back upon contact and damaging the wrapping on the sword in her hands.
In the past, Nanao assures Shunsui that she understands why he does not want her to have the sword, but questions if this is truly for her sake and declares that she has decided to accept the curse just as Isuzu tried to evade it. With Shunsui resigning himself to this, a smiling Nanao asserts that she believes the man she admires would probably just laugh off the curse as ridiculous, causing a startled Shunsui to smile and release his grip on the sword so Nanao can take it, as he is sure it will help.
In the present, Nanao slides to a halt on a rooftop several dozen meters away from Lille, who realizes that only she has emerged and questions if she intends to fight him alone. While Nanao hoists her sword aloft, Shunsui ruminates on the Ise Clan being a collection of priests who perform their own rituals and do not possess individual Zanpakutō. As Shunsui muses that the head of the Ise Clan passes down a single Zanpakutō to each generation, one that cannot injure people because it a bladeless sword used for rituals that is said to allow its wielder to confront a god by reflecting its power and dispersing it in all directions, the wrapping falls off to reveal a paddle-shaped sword that shines with brilliant light from four diamonds on either side, which Shunsui identifies as Shinken Hakkyōken.
Characters in order of appearance:
- Shunsui Kyōraku
- Isuzu Ise (flashback)
- Lille Barro
- Nanao Ise
- Katen Kyōkotsu
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 403: Shadows Gone
652. The Theatre Suicide SCENE 6[]
1st Division Lieutenant Nanao Ise injures Sternritter "X" Lille Barro before her captain, Shunsui Kyōraku, steps in to help her defeat him.
Summary:
The cover page of 652. The Theatre Suicide SCENE 6.
With 1st Division Lieutenant Nanao Ise unveiling her clan's Zanpakutō, Shinken Hakkyōken, before him, Sternritter "X" Lille Barro wonders what this sword is before claiming that the sword is shining quite garishly and is so bright he cannot even see the blade, which he considers unsightly. In turn, Nanao affirms this and explains it is a sword which can reflect the power of gods, which means it appearing shiny to Lille is the result of it reflecting the light which he is emitting. Though he does not understand what this means, Lille admits he does not mind being called a god just before Nanao leaps up toward him.
In the past, Shunsui Kyōraku stands in a courtyard and refuses to take an item as valuable as Shinken Hakkyōken, but Isuzu Ise assures him that it only affects members of the Ise Clan and will not bring him misfortune. With a young Nanao listening from behind a nearby wall, Isuzu pleads with Shunsui to take Shinken Hakkyōken because he is the only person she can trust.
Years later, Nanao attends the Shin'ō Academy and sees Shunsui, now the captain of the Eighth Division, walking through the courtyard with a flowery kimono and two hairpins in his hair, delighting the female students as Nanao observes that while his kimono was a common women's pattern found anywhere and simply looked similar to her mother's, the hairpins looked identical to the one her mother wore, to her surprise and confusion. Some time later, Gotei 13 acceptance results are posted for the students, with two ecstatic to learn that their friend joined the Eleventh Division while another is overjoyed to have entered the Fifth Division. While the student states that she finds Lieutenant Sousuke Aizen attractive, though her friend makes fun of Captain Shinji Hirako for having long hair, Nanao is perplexed to find herself assigned to the Eighth Division and returns to her foster parents, distant relatives of the Ise Clan who took her in after her mother's death and raised her like their own daughter, to show them her acceptance letter, which they are greatly pleased by and decide to celebrate that night.
Nanao recalls how even though she was unable to imprint upon the Asauchi she was issued at the Shin'ō Academy, her talent for Kidō was recognized enough for her to take the enlistment exam early. Having then requested to be assigned to the Kidō Corps since she would not have a Zanpakutō, Nanao and the other new members of the Eighth Division later stand before Shunsui, who greets them and claims he is nice to women but uncertain with men. During this, Nanao realizes he is wearing a different kimono and no hairpins, which allows her to deduce that he was the one her mother entrusted something to.
In the present, with Nanao hurtling toward him, Lille inquires if she intends to kill him with Shinken Hakkyōken and confidently invites her to try since he does not believe there is any weapon that can hurt him. However, Lille narrows his eyes at the last second and intercept her downward swing of Shinken Hakkyōken with his left wrist, which the blade cuts through, completely severing his hand in an explosion of light that sends Nanao flying backward again. Aghast at Lille blocking this, Nanao tumbles to one of the rooftops below as Lille inspects the stump of his left wrist, infers that Shinken Hakkyōken must be very dangerous despite its appearance if Nanao is willing to attack him with it, and expresses disbelief at it actually being able to harm him prior to raising his right hand and proclaiming it is over for Nanao. After stating that Nanao should have made sure to kill him with that attack because a messenger of God never lets his guard down twice, Lille begins gathering golden Reishi above his outstretched index finger. Still sitting in Kageoni below, Shunsui mentally recalls thinking it was his fault.
In the past, Jūshirō Ukitake informs a shocked Shunsui that Isuzu was executed yesterday and reveals Central 46 convicted Isuzu for the misplacement of a sacred treasure, only to apologize and admit that he probably should not have told Shunsui about this. In turn, a smiling Shunsui claims that he is glad Ukitake told him when he did. Shunsui bids Ukitake farewell as he walks away, with his smile disappearing while he tells himself this was his fault. Further in the past, Shunsui kneels by the bedside of a dying Shunzan Kyōraku, and with the latter handing over his hairpin, a somber Shunsui wonders why everyone keeps entrusting him with their precious possessions and then dying.
Mentally questioning if they do not know he hates shouldering responsibilities, Shunsui looks up at the shining silhouette of Nanao's shadow in the present and asserts that he cannot bear to be left behind with Shinken Hakkyōken ever again before asking her to take the burden off his shoulders. After requesting that Nanao let him protect her while emerging from her shadow, Shunsui clasps his hand over hers on the handle of Shinken Hakkyōken, and encouraging her to go with him.
Characters in order of appearance:
- Nanao Ise
- Lille Barro
- Shunsui Kyōraku
- Isuzu Ise (flashback)
- Jūshirō Ukitake (flashback)
Episodes adapted from this chapter:
- Episode 403: Shadows Gone
Author's Notes[]
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-Tite Kubo |
References[]
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| FRIEND | BABY,HOLD YOUR HAND | MY LAST WORDS |