When Killing is not the Goal: A Parallel between Sui-Feng and Ichigo Kurosaki

Sui-Feng is indeed an odd name to put next to Ichigo Kurosaki. Rukia Kuchiki or any member of the Karakura team would be a much better pick. Nevertheless, there is an interesting parallel between Sui-Feng’s and Ichigo Kurosaki’s actions in their respective fights with Yoruichi Shihoin and Byakuya Kuchiki. Said parallel is their action of not killing the enemy when they obviously had the chance to. This choice not to kill reveals that Sui-Feng and Ichigo’s primary goal is not murder, but something else.

Sui-Feng

Sui-Feng had the chance to kill her former mentor, Yoruichi Shihoin, at the moment depicted in the panel below. She could have just slit Yoruichi’s throat open and emerge as the victor. But Sui-Feng didn’t do that. She chose to release her shikai instead, granting Yoruichi the chance to get away.

Chapter 157

In my analysis of Sui-Feng, I reached the conclusion that this happened because Sui-Feng’s ultimate goal is to prove her worth. Yoruichi being dead would not be of much use to Sui-Feng. She needed to hear Yoruichi admit and acknowledge that Sui-Feng had surpassed Yoruichi herself. That would elevate Sui-Feng’s sense of self-worth, which was destroyed when Yoruichi abruptly left.

Ichigo Kurosaki

Ichigo had the chance to kill Byakuya thrice. In the first instance, he could have pierced through Byakuya’s throat.

Chapter 162

In the second instance, he could have landed the killing blow when he managed to get behind Byakuya.

Chapter 163

In the third instance, Ichigo could have chosen not to intervene when White took over his body. White could have killed Byakuya. Nevertheless, Ichigo intervened, destroying his hollow mask and regaining control over his body.

Chapter 166

Byakuya finally realizes that Ichigo was not out to personally kill him because of this incident with White. The Kuchiki concluded that Ichigo had been fighting the laws of Soul Society, not Byakuya himself.

A difference in awareness

Despite the similarity, there is one difference between Sui-Feng and Ichigo. I’d say it is unclear whether Sui-Feng is very much aware of the fact that she actually doesn’t want to kill Yoruichi. This is because in their fight, Sui-Feng does say something along the lines of “You have to pay the price of disappearing by your death, Yoruichi!” (Chapter 157), but as we have seen before, she didn’t kill Yoruichi when she had the chance. What I gather from this is either (1) Sui-Feng has some level of awareness that deep down she doesn’t want Yoruichi dead, but is loath to admit it, or (2) Sui-Feng is not conscious of it at all. Either way, I think the contradiction between Sui-Feng’s speech and actions is a nice example of reaction formation. (I’m looking at you, Freudians.) As for Ichigo, I believe he has a better awareness than Sui-Feng of his purposes. If he didn’t, he would have just pierced Byakuya’s throat then and there when he got his first chance.

Chapter 157

All in all, what we’ve learned here is that aside from thinking of a character’s choice to do something, thinking of their choice not to do something can help us gain insight into their true purposes.