[ He has to admit to admit there's at least one good thing about all of this - it feels far better to be fighting like this than they ever have before in this place. It always felt so much like the odds were too skewed against them, like they never even stood a chance of getting anywhere. It feels like he's seen Sano lift that spear in desperation way too much before compared to this. The way it should be. The two of them, back to back, ready to conquer anything at all that comes across them. ]

What, you think I'm slowing down already? [ And throwing remarks at each other with grins on their faces - that's definitely a part of it too.

This is the way it should be. Not either of them bleeding out because of an unfair fight - usually Sano. (Sometimes Shinpachi's fault.) The passion in the other that he hasn't seen in any battle outside a spar for a good while now makes Shinpachi feel more energized than anything else ever could, cutting down people who come close enough to be a threat with relative ease. ]

Just be prepared for what's waiting for us out there! I don't wanna have to scrape your ass off the floor.

[ Despite that just being a teasing joke-- he really, really don't want to. ]