Let me start by saying, ‘WOW!’ what an episode. For me, this has been one of the events that I’ve been waiting for since I began watching the show some many months ago now.

The way Bleach works is that it only slowly (in some cases very slowly!) reveals secrets; and thats secrets about people, about their abilities and about their pasts. One character in particular I continue to look forward to learning more about are the more illusive Captains of the Gotei-13 of which the anime viewers and manga reader know very little.

Shunsui and Ukitake Fan Art

For me, at the top of this list is Shunsui Kyōraku. He  along with Jūshirō Ukitake are said to be the oldest captains amongst the Gotei-13, with the exception of Retsu Unohana and General Yamamoto of course. Assumptions have been made which suggest they have been Captains of the Gotei 13 for at least 200 years based on a 110 years ago before the current era in which the Bleach universe/story takes place.

Kyoraku, with his flamboyant style and care-free demeanor make him standout amongst the Captains of the Gotei-13. His laid back attitude suggests he has nothing to prove — especially if he’s been doing this for over 200 years! So he must be good! And as I’ve mentioned before, he has an almost uncanny resemblance to Kibagami Jubei from Ninja Scroll, but that could be due to the straw hat and long hair.

Anyways, on to the episode!

Starrk Fan Art

We pick up this chapter with the ongoing fight between Love Aikawa and Rōjūrō Otoribashi and the Primera Espada, Coyote Starrk (Koyōte Sutāku) being brought to an abrupt albeit temporary cessation in fighting when Starrk has the point of a massive sword poking through his chest.

After the shock of the surprise attack we learn the interruption has been caused by none other than Shunsui Kyōraku who has decided to join the fray as a result of, as we learn a few cells later, that his Zanpakutō, Katen Kyōkotsu  Flower Heaven, Crazy Bone) was now in the mood to ‘play’. It’s interesting that Kyōraku uses the word play to describe his Zanpakutō’s willingness to fight as being in the mood to ‘play’ which not only suggests his Zanpakutō has some sort of personality and conscientiousness but also that it’s quite a sinister one at that.

It is particularly sinister because  Kyōraku’s Zanpakutō attacks are based on childrens games and it works by adding quite harsh penalties to both the wielder and the victim if they loose. For example, the first attack which Kyōraku makes on Starrk is a game called Kageoni (Shadow Demon) and the rules are basically whoever steps on a Shadow loses.

With Kyōraku’s Zanpakutō, Katen Kyōkotsu, the rules are quite simple. If you win, you live. If you lose, you die.

Katen Kyokotsu Fan Art

As a side note, I have struggled to work out who is in control in this Soul Reaper-Zanpakutō relationship of  Kyōraku and Kyōkotsu, because at times it is almost suggested by Kyōraku that he is being controlled by the will of his Zanpakutō, Kyōkotsu. It definitely brings an interesting element to mix.

Taken aback, Starrk regroups ready to attack but Kyōraku (or is it Kyōkotsu)  begins another game, Irooni ( Colorful Demon). This one, as the romanized name suggests, is a colour-based game where you say the name of the color you want to cut and you cannot cut anything else. If, however, the colour you called does not exist on your body then the damage is minimal, even if normally the attack would inflict a much more severe wound. This is evident by Starrk’s surprised by how slight the damage was on his arm despite it appearing as though Kyōraku attacked with all his might, which would have otherwise been enough to sheer Starrk’s arm clean off.

To maximize damage when playing Irooni, you have to choose  a colour that maximizes the risks to yourself as well. So by selecting a colour that you are wearing the most of, you inflict greater damage provided that person has that colour on them as well. Therefore you attacks are weighted. The greater the risk to the attacker, the greater the attack.

Kyouraku Shunsui Fan Art

Starrk quickly analyses the situation, making the connection between the game and the last call, working out that his arm is clad in grey but Kyōraku has no grey on himself. Quite soon after, Starrk retaliates, calling ‘White’. An excellent choice against a Captain of the Gotei-13 who wear the all-white Haori.

The Chapter here switches to a brief backstory for Starrk (a signal the end is near for him possibly?) and we learn that the reason he has become two is out of a loneliness. There could be some link here to the back story we had a while back for Grimmjow where we learned more about the process Hollow take to become Espada. Essentially the Hollow grow in strength buy eating other weaker Hollow and as they grow stronger they become lone wolves, constantly consuming any weaker Hollow that crosses their path.

Here, we see Starrk’s cries for a companion result in him splitting himself, just so that he would have company. This whole back story helps attribute a greater level of humanity to Starrk. It makes the reader want to sympathise with his plight. He doesn’t want to fight but his fighting is necessitated by the fact he wants to save his friends as we saw in the previous Chapter.

But, before we can get too deep into  Starrk’s past, Kyōraku makes his next move. Kyōraku throws his Haori off toward Starrk, revealing the standard all-black Kimono that all Soul Reapers wear as he prepares for his next ‘Irooni’ attack — calling “Black!”.

Shunsui pwns at Irooni

And there it ends for Starrk, or does it?. What is going to happen from here? Can Starrk really survive such an attack? What other games do you think Kyōraku’s Zanpakutō will come up with next? Tell us what you think below: