Chapter 3

Okay! Let's leave him and go!

That's right! We're all going to go help Captain Kyoraku– Huh?!

W-Wait, Captain! Aren't we going to go lend Captain Kyoraku a hand?!

Why should we? We're pressed for time.

B-But still!

Then let me ask. What do you think, Nanao?

I'm heading back, but the rest of you can go on ahead.

That's what I thought. One more question, then. If Jushiro was here, what do you think he'd say?

If Shunsui says he'll be okay, he'll be okay. Let's leave it to him and go.

That's the correct answer.

Now that you know, let's go. Oh, and one more thing while we're at it.

If it was the old man Genryusai who was staying behind, he'd say to go on without him, too.

To bear the lives of his officers is the Head Captain's duty.

Diagramme. This gun is my bow. It's made from my Reishi.

I see. That's why you can fight with the barrel cut off and create a new one if it breaks.

But you've already forgotten the rules.

If you take your eyes off me for a moment and catch a glimpse of my shadow, everything you see with your eyes after that will be a silhouette of me.

Brings back memories, doesn't it? Of when you were a child, of when you were scared to death of the silhouette that kept following you.

*Gasp*

Oh, damn it. That's the third time.

Only when both my eyes are open can I exercise the quintessence of The X-Axis.

In other words, my shots penetrate your body, and my body penetrates your blade.

I see. When both of your eyes are open, my logic no longer applies.

That's right. In this moment, there is no weapon in this world that can kill me.

I am allowed to open both my eyes only in the brief moment I fall into a crisis in battle.

Because it wouldn't be fair to the sinners if I kept both my eyes open.

Oh really? Then you mind closing 'em?

However, only when I open my eyes three times in one battle am I allowed to continue fighting with them open.

I am the first Quincy His Majesty granted power to. His Majesty's masterpiece. The one closest to God.

To have my eyes opened three times... That is utterly unacceptable.

Ziliel (Divine Judgement).

This is what you call being at the end of your rope.

I wonder if they've gotten far enough away.

I'm sorry if I drag you into this, Nanao.

Time to make the next move from the end of the rope.

Bankai! Katen Kyokotsu Karamatsu Shinju!

Sakuranosuke.

Oh, it's been a long time, Ohana.

Ohana? You don't know me that well. You have some nerve calling me that when you only play with me once in a while.

Oh, don't be that way. I'm sorry, Ohana.

I see that your kimono is torn. That's what happens when you wear another girl's kimono for so long.

Look at yourself.

You're so mean, as usual.

I may be mean, but I am your sword for better or for worse, and we swore we'd die together, didn't we?

Who are you talking to? Do you think this is over? That you could kill me?

Do not think that a mere Soul Reaper's Bankai can kill me!!!

A woman's pity is so very cruel. No ear to lend to a petulant man.

Around his lovely throat shines a white thread, wet with regret. If nothing else, let me cut it away. That awkwardly tangled thread of regret.

With that, I present the final act.

Itokiribasami Chizome No Nodobue (Thread Cut Blood-Soaked Throat).