• MEMORIES IN THE RAIN2
In Chapters 133-136 is a flash back of the death of Shiba Kaien, someone who affected quite a few characters of Bleach both directly and indirectly. A few things to note about Kaien is that he is part of the noble Shiba family who are known to do rather controversial things, he is the brother of Kuukaku and Ganjyuu, the vice captain of Ukitake, someone who had a definite impact on Rukia’s life, and also someone who is remembered when certain people of the Soul Society see Ichigo.

On the night of Kaien’s death, as a captain, Ukitake made two important decisions and they were to let Kaien persue the Hollow that decimated his wife’s squad under his supervision, and to also let Kaien fight against that Hollow alone. Both decisions were clearly made on Ukitake’s views on pride

The Politics of Pride
As Kaien was fighting against the Hollow, Rukia had tried to help him but was stopped by Ukitake. His reasoning was that there are two types of fights: the fight for life, and the fight for pride. Although, at the time, Kaien’s life seems to be in most danger, one must also consider that he is fighting for his wife’s pride, his wife’s squad’s pride, the Thirteenth Division’s pride, the Shiba family’s pride, and also his own pride. For a ‘fight for life’ there are only two options, life or death. However, for a ‘fight for pride', if one were to lose or win a fight, pride is something that will last forever. For Kaien, pride would be of importance because he is of noble decent. Although he lost the fight against that Hollow, despite his stubbornness to fight before seeking out its abilities, he tried his best. The death of Kaien did affect the Shiba family, but if Kaien were to not pursue that Hollow he would be living in some sort of shame knowing that he didn’t avenge the death of his wife and her squad.

How did Ukitake develop such thinking? Was it taught by Yamamoto? Did something happen in the past that caused Ukitake to consider these things? Chances are, although it has not been explained in the manga, something probably did happen in the past and it probably had something to do with his illness. When Kaien was possessed by the demon, Ukitake took over the fight and for the most part was trying to figure out a way to save Kaien, but then realized that it was impossible. Like Byakuya said in chapter 134, it isn’t the first time Ukitake had lost a someone due to his ‘inability’. If the death of Kaien wasn’t the first time, how many times have this happened? Because of his illness, Ukitake was unable to kill Kaien, but instead had Rukia, who at the time returned to the battle scene despite Ukitake’s request for her to leave, kill him. Although Ukitake may not have wanted her to kill Kaien, if she hadn’t reacted to his directions, Ukitake would have lost two subordinates. So, on that night, what happened to Ukitake’s pride? He is the captain of his division and he was also unable to stop a Hollow. That resulted in the death of Kaien, and also partly his pride as a captain.

Notes: This may seem farfetched but did Rukia really kill Kaien or did Kaien kill himself? Firstly consider this, the hollow was still eating Kaien while posessing his body, so there could still be a chance that Kaien's conscious was still in the body. Rukia was practically scared to death when she ran back to see Kaien. Since Rukia had her sword out, was it Kaien who jumped at her while she was frozen in fear? or did Rukia extend her sword out just as Kaien jump at her. Either way, Kaien DID jump at her and he did see the sword. Unless the Hollow was retarded, he wouldn't be jumping at someone who was holding his or her sword out. So chances are, it was Kaien committing suicide. Well, he did say thankyou in the end.

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