bleach chapter 103.Dominion!
Hinamori-kun,
If you are reading this letter, there’s no doubt that I won’t be able to return.
I’ve caused you to worry about many things, haven’t I.
No matter how many words of gratitude I could offer for that, I don’t think it would be enough.
Hinamori's eyes fill with tears, "...Captain Aizen..."
Up till now, I never spoke to you about the anxiety I have felt.
However, I want you to understand that this is because I didn’t want you to get involved.
And I want you to please forgive me.
Since I will involve you in this, now that you’ve come this far.
Her eyes widen, "...eh...?"
I am most likely no longer alive by now.
So for the sake of you, who I trust the most,
I’ve inscribed here all of the truths that I have uncovered.
She turns the page and her expression twists into shock, "...This is...!"**
(Intro page of Matsumoto Rangiku as she strikes a pose)***
Back to the main story in progress: Ganju, Hanataro, and Ichigo are under the archway at the top of the stairs leading into the white castle. A wild spiritual aura is surrounding them. Ichigo looks back at the other two and orders them to keep running. He says he doesn’t know what’s going on, but it could only mean that someone terrible is nearby. They need to run as much as they can before their enemy finds them. Hanataro and Ganju agree and keep following him.
Unfortunately, that 'terrible someone' is already watching them from somewhere above. He notes that they finally arrived and wonders which of them is the one...
As the trio keeps running, Ichigo thinks that this is strange. Since earlier, no matter how much they run, it doesn’t feel like they’re putting any distance between them and their enemy. It feels a lot like a blade is being held at the base of his neck the entire time.****
Eventually, poor Hanataro can’t take the running anymore and falls flat on his face. Ganju sees this and turns back to yell at the apologetic Hanataro while their unseen enemy watches from the darkness. Ganju heaves the surprised Shinigami over his shoulders fireman-style and rushes to catch up with Ichigo.
The man in the shadows turns his attention to each man in turn, quietly evaluating them. Hanataro’s worried expression... no, not him... Ganju struggling to keep up... no, not him either... Ichigo yelling back at the other two... the enemy’s eyes widen in realization.
Behind Ichigo’s ear, the scarred face of Zaraki appears and says, "Are you the one?"
Ichigo whips around, expecting his enemy to be right behind him – but actually, Zaraki is crouching on a wall several meters above.
Cue 2-page layout of Zaraki looking hella cool and sociopathic.*****
They lock into an intense gaze and Zaraki asks, "What’s wrong?" An unmistakable shadow suddenly appears right behind Ichigo, "How long are you going to look that way?"
A sword penetrates through Ichigo’s back and comes out his chest right where his heart is. Blood erupts from his chest and splatters across his horrified face.
Zaraki seems amused.
In the next moment, the sword wound and blood are gone, as if they never existed. Ichigo stands in shock, clutching a hand over his unharmed heart and breathing in gasps. He tries to figure out what just happened. It could have been sakki (??“killing intent”) from his enemy, but that wasn’t just normal sakki...
Zaraki still stands behind him. He asks if he’s Kurosaki Ichigo. Ichigo demands to know why he knows his name and Zaraki replies that Ikkaku told him of course. At that moment, Ichigo recalls Ikkaku’s warning.
Ikkaku once told him that there is a person who’s strength was beyond Ichigo’s comprehension and if he met him, he would understand that (if he survived to tell the tale, that is). He remembers asking Ikkaku about that person’s name –
"Zaraki Kenpachi of the 11th," his one-eyed opponent finally makes his introduction, "I’ve come to fight you to the death."
*Rangiku’s captain is, of course, the adorably dangerous Hitsugaya. ^_^
**Geez, I wish I knew what it said, too... -_-
***She's a distant relative of Madonna, perhaps? A blonde Cindy Crawford?
****The panel where Ichigo thinks this line Freaks. Me. Out. 0_o
*****What’s with the bells!? @_@ Those are bells in his hair, right? Were they a fashion suggestion from Vice-Captain Yachiru? That’s been weirding me out for months...
Notes:
-With Hinamori looking all miserable and puffy-eyed - she's starting to look like Hanataro's long lost twin. o_o Poor Hinamori... :(
-Aizen was the coolest guy! Leaving a letter behind for Hinamori is so sweet! Why did he have to get even cooler now that he's gone!? It's so unfair... *cries*
-Zaraki is so giddy now that he's found the strongest of the intruders to fight. He terrifies me (but not as much as Gin yet).
It's 3am already... oh, dear, everything is getting dizzy... 'nite, everyone. :)
5th Division
Special Holding Cell
Hinamori sits in her cell, her eyes worn out from crying, it seems. Rangiku, the gorgeous blonde vice-captain of the 10th, walks in with a solemn expression.
Hinamori looks up, "...Rangiku-san. Why are you..."
Rangiku thrusts a letter through the prison bars and says, "This was in Captain Aizen’s room. It’s addressed to you."
"...From Captain Aizen...? To me..." Hinamori recalls her earlier conversation with Aizen, where he had been writing a letter. She realizes that it must be the same one from that time.
"...It’s fortunate that my Captain* was the one who found it," Rangiku continued. "If it had been someone else, it could've been turned in as evidence and might not have reached you. I don’t know what is written on it, but it’s an honor for a vice-captain to receive the final words of their captain... read it with care."
As Rangiku leaves, Hinamori fights back tears, "...Thank you...Rangiku-san..."
She unfolds the letter:
If you are reading this letter, there’s no doubt that I won’t be able to return.
I’ve caused you to worry about many things, haven’t I.
No matter how many words of gratitude I could offer for that, I don’t think it would be enough.
Hinamori's eyes fill with tears, "...Captain Aizen..."
Up till now, I never spoke to you about the anxiety I have felt.
However, I want you to understand that this is because I didn’t want you to get involved.
And I want you to please forgive me.
Since I will involve you in this, now that you’ve come this far.
Her eyes widen, "...eh...?"
I am most likely no longer alive by now.
So for the sake of you, who I trust the most,
I’ve inscribed here all of the truths that I have uncovered.
She turns the page and her expression twists into shock, "...This is...!"**
(Intro page of Matsumoto Rangiku as she strikes a pose)***
Back to the main story in progress: Ganju, Hanataro, and Ichigo are under the archway at the top of the stairs leading into the white castle. A wild spiritual aura is surrounding them. Ichigo looks back at the other two and orders them to keep running. He says he doesn’t know what’s going on, but it could only mean that someone terrible is nearby. They need to run as much as they can before their enemy finds them. Hanataro and Ganju agree and keep following him.
Unfortunately, that 'terrible someone' is already watching them from somewhere above. He notes that they finally arrived and wonders which of them is the one...
As the trio keeps running, Ichigo thinks that this is strange. Since earlier, no matter how much they run, it doesn’t feel like they’re putting any distance between them and their enemy. It feels a lot like a blade is being held at the base of his neck the entire time.****
Eventually, poor Hanataro can’t take the running anymore and falls flat on his face. Ganju sees this and turns back to yell at the apologetic Hanataro while their unseen enemy watches from the darkness. Ganju heaves the surprised Shinigami over his shoulders fireman-style and rushes to catch up with Ichigo.
The man in the shadows turns his attention to each man in turn, quietly evaluating them. Hanataro’s worried expression... no, not him... Ganju struggling to keep up... no, not him either... Ichigo yelling back at the other two... the enemy’s eyes widen in realization.
Behind Ichigo’s ear, the scarred face of Zaraki appears and says, "Are you the one?"
Ichigo whips around, expecting his enemy to be right behind him – but actually, Zaraki is crouching on a wall several meters above.
Cue 2-page layout of Zaraki looking hella cool and sociopathic.*****
They lock into an intense gaze and Zaraki asks, "What’s wrong?" An unmistakable shadow suddenly appears right behind Ichigo, "How long are you going to look that way?"
A sword penetrates through Ichigo’s back and comes out his chest right where his heart is. Blood erupts from his chest and splatters across his horrified face.
Zaraki seems amused.
In the next moment, the sword wound and blood are gone, as if they never existed. Ichigo stands in shock, clutching a hand over his unharmed heart and breathing in gasps. He tries to figure out what just happened. It could have been sakki (??“killing intent”) from his enemy, but that wasn’t just normal sakki...
Zaraki still stands behind him. He asks if he’s Kurosaki Ichigo. Ichigo demands to know why he knows his name and Zaraki replies that Ikkaku told him of course. At that moment, Ichigo recalls Ikkaku’s warning.
Ikkaku once told him that there is a person who’s strength was beyond Ichigo’s comprehension and if he met him, he would understand that (if he survived to tell the tale, that is). He remembers asking Ikkaku about that person’s name –
"Zaraki Kenpachi of the 11th," his one-eyed opponent finally makes his introduction, "I’ve come to fight you to the death."
*Rangiku’s captain is, of course, the adorably dangerous Hitsugaya. ^_^
**Geez, I wish I knew what it said, too... -_-
***She's a distant relative of Madonna, perhaps? A blonde Cindy Crawford?
****The panel where Ichigo thinks this line Freaks. Me. Out. 0_o
*****What’s with the bells!? @_@ Those are bells in his hair, right? Were they a fashion suggestion from Vice-Captain Yachiru? That’s been weirding me out for months...
Notes:
-With Hinamori looking all miserable and puffy-eyed - she's starting to look like Hanataro's long lost twin. o_o Poor Hinamori... :(
-Aizen was the coolest guy! Leaving a letter behind for Hinamori is so sweet! Why did he have to get even cooler now that he's gone!? It's so unfair... *cries*
-Zaraki is so giddy now that he's found the strongest of the intruders to fight. He terrifies me (but not as much as Gin yet).
It's 3am already... oh, dear, everything is getting dizzy... 'nite, everyone. :)