Chapter 4

What the...? Cutting his head off wasn't enough? I give up.

That's right. That is hopelessness, Shunsui Kyoraku.

Your weapon could not kill me. Not even severing my head with your Spiritual Pressure could kill me.

Those who are sinful lose all hope when they behold me.

I am God's messenger, granted special privileges. There is nothing you sinners can do to this messenger of God!

So you're behind that tower. I'm surprised you still had enough energy left to escape my Light of Judgment.

Despite having your filthy gut gouged by the light of purity... I see why you are the Head Captain. You are sinful.

Sakuranosuke.

............

Sakuranosuke, let's run.

............

If he won't die with Karamatsu Shinju, there's nothing more I can do.

You fought as hard as you could. Your mind and your breath have grown faint. Nobody will fault you for running away.

Come on. Get some sleep. While you do, I'll carry you away.

Captain! Wake up!!!

Nanao... Good, you weren't... *Cough* *Cough*

Don't talk! Release my Zanpakuto!

There's no time to think! Hurry!

Forget your promise to my mother!

*Gasp*

What's this? I thought it was getting a bit noisy. I see the lieutenant has returned.

Your captain tried to save you from this. You must not know how precious life is. That is sinful.

Okyo.

Your mother... So you know about it?

Yes.

You've always known?

Yes.

Oh boy, you're always a step ahead of me. Fine, you can have it back.

This is your Zanpakuto. Meet Kyokotsu (Crazed Bone).

Kyokotsu? I... I don't understand.

I knew Katen Kyokotsu was separated into Katen and Kyokotsu, but...

She's my Zanpakuto?

That's right. Although, that's not quite accurate.

You see, Ohana gave birth to Okyo to hide your Zanpakuto. It was at your mother's behest.

Why did she...?

The Ise family is a matrilineal family. Only women have been born, according to the records.

So they adopted sons-in-law into the family. It was said that all men who married into the Ise family died early from the Ise curse.

Some laughed the curse off as something ridiculous, but she didn't see it that way.

She married into a different family to dispel the curse, knowing she'd be cutting off the Ise bloodline. But in the end, her husband, too, died shortly after.

She was my older brother's wife.

............

I didn't get along with him, but that changed when she arrived. His house became a much more comfortable place.

I'd visit them often, taking naps on the veranda. But, he died.

When an aristocratic family loses a son, it's not uncommon for them to cut ties with his widow and send her back to her family.

And so she was sent back to the Ise family. Although she left her family prepared never to return, in the end, she couldn't escape them.

She was determined to keep the daughter she was expecting away from the curse.

So I took the sword and had Okyo, who was fond of hide-and-seek, hide it.

I know that you don't want me to have this sword. But is that truly for my sake?

Just as my mother made the decision to rid herself of the curse, I'm also making the decision to live with it.

............

Besides, even if I am cursed, do you think I would... No.

I'm certain the man I admire will think a curse is ridiculous. I have a feeling he's the kind of person who would simply laugh it off.

All right, take it. I'm sure that sword will...