History PlayingWith / DefeatMeansFriendship

** You are either Ichigo's friend or his enemy. And Ichigo kills all his enemies, making it a JoinOrDie situation for Nigo.

'''Basic Trope''': The defeat of a villain will result in a HeelFaceTurn.

** Nigo is a ProudWarriorRaceGuy, and Ichigo [[DefeatEqualsRespect defeated him honorably, thus earning his loyalty]].

** Nigo is a ProudWarriorRaceGuy, and Ichigo [[IFightForTheStrongestSide defeated him honorably, thus earning his loyalty]].

** First: Nigo joins Ichigo out of fear that the next time they fight, it will be fatal, and is scared of Ichigo even in their normal lives, as if she was a bully.
** Second: Ichigo doesn't let Nigo join her TrueCompanions because of kindness, but of pragmatism. Ichigo is aware that letting her enemy join her team after a beat-down rather than outright kill him off is of strategic advantage in case of future conflicts, and with Nigo's powers, that's something she just can't say no to. The reason why Nigo accept Ichigo's offer to join her team is because it's either that or getting his head bashed in.
** Third: Ichigo's offer of friendship is genuine, but Nigo only joins because he fears [[YouHaveFailedMe what his superiors will do to him]] if he returns in defeat, ''not'' because of Ichigo's kindness.
** Fourth: Ichigo [[NoHoldsBarredBeatDown pounds Nigo to near death]], reducing him to pleading for his life. Ichigo's offer to Nigo to switch sides is out of [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone guilt for going overboard]], (or more cynically, because she knows she'll [[WhatTheHellHero get called out for killing a helpless foe]]), not any kind of altruism.
** Fifth: In the process of trying to make Nigo listen to her through superior firepower/kung-fu/magic, Ichigo inadvertently kills him.

** First: Nigo refuses to be friends but over time he learns that Ichigo isn't really all that bad, and begins to genuinely appreciate and befriend her.
** Second: Ichigo and Nigo live a culture where friendship IS pragmatism; both strong friends and loyal friends. A fight demonstrates the strength and mercy builds loyalty.
** Third: Nigo becomes Ichigo's TokenEvilTeammate with UndyingLoyalty to Ichigo, because Ichigo was kind enough to spare him (something his superior would never do) and then personally nursed him back to health.
** Fourth: There was an incident in Ichigo's past where she killed someone like Nigo without meaning to. It was MyGreatestFailure for Ichigo and she saw every fight afterwards as MyGreatestSecondChance. Starting with Nigo, her enemies are always offered friendship before, during, and after the fight. Nigo thinks this will get her killed so [[ShootTheDog he kills the enemies in Ichigo's place if they refuse her friendship.]]
** Fifth: Ichigo's uses non-lethal weapons when attempting to "befriend" Nigo. If she inadverently goes too far the worst that can happen is knocking him unconscious. When he wakes up they can continue the conversation.

Back to DefeatMeansFriendship

* '''Enforced''': "Nigo's turned out to be [[EnsembleDarkhorse very popular with the fanbase]], and the merchandise with him sells well. Rather than have him die at the end of the season, how about Ichigo defeats Nigo once and for all, and Nigo becomes her friend?"

** Ichigo [[TheReasonYouSuckSpeech scolds Nigo for his offer of friendship]], accusing him of [[MightMakesRight only showing respect for people that are too powerful for him to bully]], and that he'd never come to this point had Ichigo not been able to fight back.