Zanpakuto…
Their shape and abilities are based on their Soul Reaper's soul.
Soul Reapers gain power
by learning their names and synergizing with them.
They are born with Soul Reapers and die with Soul Reapers.
That is what Zanpakuto are.
I sense some faint spiritual pressure.
Let's split up and find it.
– Okay! – Okay!
Leave it to me!
Hey! Can you handle this on your own?
Don't treat me like a kid!
I found one!
You're a sword beast, aren't you?
Don't move!
NARUNOSUKE
This is weird!
I mean… he's a Zanpakuto.
Well, I'm a Zanpakuto too, but…
No, I like older men.
I don't like wimpy-looking guys who are clearly younger than me.
I couldn't care less about him.
I prefer slightly chubby older guys to string beans like him.
But…
This is bad!
Sparks are flying!
Damn it!
Are you all right?
This is weird.
I like gutsy, testosterone-driven, manly men.
Not weak and pathetic guys like him.
Sorry, but a sword beast is a sword beast!
I need to get rid of you!
Don't look at me like that!
He's triggering my maternal instincts!
I guess I have no choice.
How are things on your side?
I'm finished.
My side is fine.
Well? Did you find him?
Yeah.
You dealt with him, right?
Yeah…
Hey, Rangiku…
What is it? Did something happen?
No, it's nothing!
There's nothing out of the ordinary! Yeah!
Hey… Hey… Matsumoto!
Oh, Captain… What are you doing?
Never mind that!
You're slacking off again!
That's because I was going to eat the manju I had been saving,
but it disappeared!
You ate it, didn't you?
Why would I do that?!
Besides…don't hide manju!
Hyorinmaru, get me some tea!
You must think my Zanpakuto is your housekeeper, or something.
That aside, we still aren't done
eliminating all of the sword beasts.
Don't let your guard down!
Okay…
By the way, where is Haineko?
Who knows?
Probably loafing around somewhere.
Is this really okay?
I don't belong to an organization like the Soul Reapers…
But still…
Hey! Sorry to keep you waiting!
Tadah!
There we go!
Thank you very much.
Umm… Why are you doing this?
Why?
Aren't I an enemy you should be chasing down?
So why did you treat my wounds?
I'm not petty enough to attack an injured opponent.
Besides… unlike the other sword beasts,
you're not aggressive at all.
It's no big deal!
I'm just saying anything.
Well, whatever!
He seems perfectly normal!
You're a sword beast, aren't you?
That's the name you all have given me.
I'm just a regular Zanpakuto who has lost his master.
My master was a cowardly Soul Reaper.
Unfortunately, I'm just like him.
In order to survive, I needed to protect myself.
I needed to become stronger.
I tried to become friends with the other sword beasts…
But in the end, I ended up being hunted down.
That's why I'm hiding like this.
Your injuries are still pretty bad. You should rest!
Sorry.
W-What?
Is there something on my face?
You're different from the other Zanpakuto and the Soul Reapers.
You think so?
All right!
Then I'll do something about your situation!
Huh?
You don't seem dangerous at all.
I'll ask the others to treat you like a regular Zanpakuto
instead of a sword beast!
DON'T EAT! RANGIKU'S
Can you do that?!
Leave it to me!
What's your name?
I'm Narunosuke.
I'm Haineko!
Ms. Haineko, huh?
Stop that! You make me sound old.
Then Big Sister Haineko.
That makes me sound even older!
That's impossible.
Huh?
We don't know when Zanpakuto who've lost their owners
will go out of control.
They're dangerous.
We have to deal with all of them in the same way.
But there may be sword beasts who aren't dangerous!
I wish that were true.
But we know from Squad 12's research
that while each sword beast is different,
there is a high possibility that they will eventually
lose their minds and go out of control.
Our job is to stop them before something terrible happens.
So why are you asking me this?
Did you find a new sword beast?
No! It's nothing!
I was just curious!
See you later!
A Soul Reaper would dispose of even a kid like him…
I can't mention him to them!
But she mentioned that sword beasts
have a high possibility of losing their minds…
Does that mean there are sword beasts who haven't?!
That's right! He's different!
He said he was
a regular Zanpakuto who had lost his master.
If I explain things to Rangiku, I'm sure she'll understand!
You like younger guys?
No way. Gross.
That might be a problem.
Oh, Haineko!
How do you do?
Anyway, I've got to do something about it myself!
Is it good?
Yes! Very!
I can't imagine a kid like him going out of control.
He's definitely not a sword beast!
He's a regular Zanpakuto!
I'm going to eat with you!
By the way, am I still going to be treated as a sword beast?
Did you talk to someone about that?
O-Oh! That!
I asked my Soul Reaper about that!
She said she would talk to her superiors about it.
It seems they're kind of busy right now,
so it might take some time!
I see.
A-Anyway, about my Soul Reaper…
She's an odd woman!
She's not a bad person, but she did something funny recently…
That's so amusing!
Isn't it?!
Are you all right?
Y-Yeah…
You still haven't healed up completely…
You should rest a little more.
Thank you, Miss Haineko
When I'm with you, I feel relaxed.
R-Really?
I wonder what happened to her.
Who knows?
I'm back!
What? What's wrong?!
Don't you think it's wonderful to be alive?
Don't you, dear Rangiku?!
D-Dear Rangiku?
What?
They're becoming more frequent!
Hello!
I brought lunch again!
I brought a little sake too!
You can drink, right?
Your wounds should be better now, so have a drink with me.
Miss Haineko …
Sorry. I still can't have fun like you can.
Huh?
How am I going to be dealt with?
You told me that you would handle it!
Were you lying?
No… Um…
To tell you the truth…
I see…
I'm sorry.
It's not your fault.
A sword beast is just a sword beast.
My situation has not changed, but it cannot be helped.
Where are you going?!
If I stay here, Soul Reapers will come after me again.
I need to escape before that happens.
It's impossible! Not in the state you're in.
My wounds have healed.
Thanks to you. I'm grateful.
Not yet!
Besides…
Are you all right?!
Narunosuke!
This is…
But we know from Squad 12's research
that while each sword beast is different,
there is a high possibility that they will
eventually lose their minds and go out of control.
I'm all right now.
I get headaches sometimes.
And my hands start to do things on their own.
Lately, I've been worrying that they've become more frequent.
What's wrong?
Nothing.
That aside,
you need to stay here until you no longer have those headaches.
You're very kind.
Our supplies?
That's right.
We've been missing a lot of things lately.
Someone is taking medicine and food from the barracks.
Do you know who it might be?
No.
But there may be sword beasts who aren't dangerous!
What's wrong?
You noticed?
Of course I did.
Where were you?
Just hanging around.
So what did you want?
Umm… Well…
By the way, did you know that someone's been
stealing medicine and food from our barracks?
What? I had no idea.
Yeah. Honestly, it's disturbing.
Never mind.
It's nothing!
What am I going to do? At this rate…
What's going to happen?!
Well…
You'll be okay. You just need some rest!
You're lying! What's going to happen to me?
Narunosuke!
Are you all right? Hang in there!
What's happening to me?
You're becoming a sword beast.
Rangiku!
I thought it was strange.
It all makes sense now.
You followed me?
Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?
Why did you hide this?
Please try to understand my position here.
I'm a lieutenant.
And you're my Zanpakuto.
Anyway…
Get away from that sword beast!
Wait! He's not a sword beast!
He's suffering!
He'll go beyond suffering.
He'll lose his mind and go out of control.
That's what happens to sword beasts!
I'm going to become a sword beast?!
No! There has to be a way to save him!
There isn't.
No way!
Miss Haineko…
Please save me…
Get out of the way, Haineko!
I'm getting rid of him for his own good!
I can't!
I'm going to save him!
Why won't you understand?!
If you want to kill him,
then consider me a sword beast and get rid of me too!
It seems I can't reason with you.
– Growl… – Growl…
Haineko!
I have no choice!
I have to restrain Haineko with bakudo!
Stop! Narunosuke!
Rangiku!
Haineko?
Growl…
Stop, Haineko!
I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise.
Miss Haineko…
Narunosuke…
Thank you, Miss Haineko…
Narunosuke!
I was in love with him.
I couldn't tell him.
I know.
Are you all right?
What do you mean?
Nothing.
You're making fun of me, aren't you?
No, I'm not.
I think you're foolish, though.
I think I still like younger guys.
Why?
Even if I grow old, it's never too late.
Oh, you…
Hey, Captain, should we give something to Haineko
to help her soothe her broken heart?
Oh, yeah. Perhaps…
Right?
Alcohol and shopping is always good for a broken heart.
But I'm worried about Haineko going off on her own,
so I'm going with her.
This is all for Haineko!
Matsumoto!
Illustrated Guide to Soul Reapers!
Anyway, Ishida, I want you to make some cool clothes
that'll make Lieutenant Sasakibe really stand out!
Why me?!
That cape… That was popular in England!
Oh, you know about it?
Of course!
I don't think you should go with that.
– Wow… – Oh?
Lieutenant Sasakibe! That really looks good on you!
I incorporated a lot of
19th century English designs into it!
Is that really okay?
TO BE CONTINUED