6-3 Byakuya's Betrayal

Tell me now! Whose Zanpakuto are you?!

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

So you refuse to answer me, huh?

You will find out soon enough.

Scatter.

Senbonzakura?! It's Byakuya's!

I sure haven't forgotten that power. Byakuya's Zanpakuto, Senbonzakura!

So you remember me, Ichigo Kurosaki.

Stand back.

Hm.

It all makes sense now. Your Spiritual Pressure is the same as Byakuya's. Which means you're the one who attacked me last night, right?

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

You don't want to give me an answer? Fine with me.

Hahhh!

Did you really think you could defeat me with such a cheap trick?

Not even close!

Brings back memories of my fight with Byakuya.

(I don't have a choice. If I don't kill him, he'll kill me!)

(Sorry, Byakuya.)

(I have to destroy your Zanpakuto. Please forgive me.)

Why do you hesitate? If you do not plan to attack, then I will.

I'm not hesitating.

As you hesitated, I was able to gather enough spirit energy to withstand your attack.

I wouldn't be too sure about that.

Huh?!

Sorry, Senbonzakura. I'm not sure this would have happened if you and Byakuya had come at me together.

But without him, your spirit energy wasn't strong enough to defeat me.

You have humiliated me. And I shall make you regret that!

That's enough.

Sorry, Byakuya. I decided to take care of your Zanpakuto, since you were gone.

Ichigo, step aside.

You want to fight him yourself? Well, he is your Zanpakuto, so it probably makes more sense for you to take him on.

You are misinterpreting my intentions.

Hado 33: Sokatsui!

Hey, what's going on?! Answer me, Byakuya!

Ichigo Kurosaki, I will not allow you to decide the fate of this Zanpakuto.

Hold on a minute! Have you joined up with Muramasa? Is that what this is all about?

Or have you gone and surrendered to your Zanpakuto?!

I will never surrender to a Zanpakuto, no matter what the circumstance.

I have made this decision after much thought. You and many other Soul Reapers were witnesses, watching as the Zanpakuto released themselves.

Once they were free, they set their own goals, and then soon followed their desires.

I understand their motivation. I, too, am free to follow my desires, wherever they take me.

You say very interesting things, Soul Reaper. So tell me, what are your desires?

Perhaps there's one stronger than the rest. I'm wondering which one motivates you the most.

It is really quite simple. My desire is to uphold my self-respect.

That is all.

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

Ichigo, you will not interfere with Muramasa.

If you can't live with that, then be prepared to die.

Byakuya!