Ichigo felt her little hand wrap round his and he looked down briefly with a sad little smile, closing his hand around hers before looking back up at the rain to mask his tears.

“Master was already dead, so I suppose they had forgotten me. I can remember only very little about Master. I remember that he loved me the most and that he had me adjusted so that I could always remain by his side. I remember that he was the one who gave me these clothes. I remember watching him die of sickness... I remember the fire and how I was unable to save Namazuo and Honebami who were in the flames like me. They are two of my younger brothers. I should have been there to protect them... but I failed them.

I remember being reforged... then I think I was probably asleep for a long time after that. When I woke up again, I was in a palace and there was one of younger brothers, Hirano. He told me we were now Imperial Treasures. Then other swords joined us - Tsurumaru-dono, Uguisumaru-dono and Shishiou-dono. After that, we were summoned by our current master. That's all I can remember.”