Flower on the Precipice

Ichigo wakes and immediately tries to leave despite Hanataro's warnings, so Ganju knocks him out cold to keep him resting. Examining the wound, Hanataro finds it strangely shallow and credits a Hollow-like mask he pulled from Ichigo's pocket with turning aside Renji's Zabimaru, wondering aloud what the object could be and why it resembles a Hollow's face. In a nearby cell, a chained Renji lies under treatment.

In the Fifth Division, Momo learns that lieutenants may now carry and freely use their zanpakuto and is told to guard against a Ryoka attack. Uneasy, and recalling Hitsugaya's warning about the Third Division, she admits to her captain Aizen that fighting is the last thing she wants. That night she visits his room, where he is writing a letter. Aizen welcomes her warmly, drapes his robe over her, and tells her to stay until she calms. He mentions that Renji will survive and that Byakuya's push to discharge him met opposition, reassuring Momo he was not part of it and that Renji is well liked. Soothed, she falls asleep in his bed.

Aizen quietly steps outside, and someone emerges behind him. At dawn Momo wakes alone, panics about being late, and takes a shortcut over a barricade, only to scream at the sight ahead. Alerted by the cry, Hisagi, Rangiku, Izuru, and Iba race to the East Holy Wall and find her staring upward in tears: Aizen hangs impaled to the top of the wall by his own zanpakuto, gazing down with lifeless eyes.

The Hollow-like mask that protected Ichigo is emphasized, foreshadowing his later powers. Aizen comforts a fearful Momo, then is discovered at dawn impaled to the East Holy Wall, apparently murdered, a shock that draws four lieutenants to the scene.

The Japanese title translates to Flower on the Precipice, romanized Sore wa Ganpeki no Hana ni Nite, and the twelfth volume shares that name. The chapter was adapted into Episode 34, Tragedy of Dawn.