Sode no Shirayuki vs. Rukia! Confused Heart

Rukia rushes back to the 6th Division HQ and is reunited with Renji. However, Byakuya's status remains unknown after the night of the zanpakuto' attack. Ichigo and Yoruichi arrive in Soul Society and split up to search for clues. Rukia returns to Byakuya's compound and finds Sode no Shirayuki attacking and freezing Soul Reapers. She tries to reason with her zanpakuto but Shirayuki demands her freedom. After a fierce battle, Rukia loses to Shirayuki and is about to be frozen to death when Ichigo arrives to rescue her. However, due to his reluctance to harm Rukia's zanpakuto, he too is defeated by Shirayuki. Rukia attempts to get Sode no Shirayuki back to her by telling the zanpakuto how important she is to her. Using her kido powers to restrain Sode no Shirayuki and herself, Rukia attempts to sacrifice them both in order to convince Shirayuki one could not live without the other. The resulting explosion injures Rukia severely. Sode no Shirayuki has a change of heart and attempts to reach out to her mistress, but Muramasa arrives and holds her back. Muramasa introduces himself to Ichigo and states that he is a zanpakuto.