Akira Kanamaru [Daishi]

[Akira "Komadori" Kanamaru]

C H A R S H E E T

-OPENING-

High concept: The Phoenix in Exile

Appearance/Face Claim: Asami Sato? (Legend of Korra)

Theme song: Kosheen - Hide U (initial inspiration was Faith and the Muse - Battle Hymn)

Member's Discord Name (include nicknames): [Daishi]

Password 1: [Sun Clap]

Password 2: [Moon Pray]

Race: [Shinigami]

Type: [Spirited/Soldier Type 2/Brave - depending on grading]

Desired Squad/Position: [3th seat under Raion]

Desired Rank: [2+]

Desired Class: [2+]

-Basic Information-

Name: [Akira Kanamaru]

Alias/Nickname: [Komadori]

Age of Death: [born in Soul Society]

Real Age/Age of Appearance: [243/20]

Birthday (Month/Day): [07/14]

Blood Type: [B+]

RP Sample (Optional): [-]

Alignment: Chaotic Good

-Appearance-

Height/Weight: [178cm/70kg]

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

It would not be an exaggeration to say that Akira has the looks of a muse immaculate, a woman to write poems about - or kill for, if one would have the heart to defy her benevolent will. Hair dropping in lazy waves down to her shoulder, a warm, black river that flows as softly as the sepia’s ink in stagnant water, an alluring invitation for playful fingers. Curved, full lips adorned with the deepest wine red, a finely chiseled nose that perhaps never suffered a blow, skin as smooth as a kabuki mask, and dazzling eyes of hallowed amber that could set the world ablaze. Her beauty is commanding, intimidating, oppressive - betraying the gentle and lonely soul hiding behind the porcelain façade.

She was always tall and lanky, already towering over many a man during her training at the academy. When one sees her thin, fragile digits and her unmarred face it would come as a surprise how many battles she had seen, and how well trained she is as a result. While not endowed with a bulging biceps or a defined six pack, it soon becomes evident that her long legs carry most of her power. While her feet are narrow and her ankles rather thin, her thighs are so firm that one might expect her to dart away at a moment’s notice, not unlike a grasshopper.

Akira cares a lot for her appearance, and it shows. As part of her goal to reach captaincy she learned a lot about personal grooming and beautification including the use of fragrant soaps and oils, moisturizers etc. She wouldn't want to enter the top thirteen as an untamed, unkempt brute after all. She puts a lot of emphasis upon her face, while her elegant makeup is still modest - sweet, long lashes, light shadow of iron-red above her eyes, garnet-red lipstick with a soft, satin glossy texture...and silken-soft raven hair that gives the entire composition the frame it needs. It would not be a stretch to say that she does not look like your average rugged warrior-type whatsoever, considering her scarless features - would it not be for her martial attire, she'd fit in easily with a group of elegant noblewomen chatting in the shadow of a palace orchard.

The way she moves about could need some polishing however - the constant, hard training made her careless for nuanced movement - it shows that she was raised to wield a blade, not a fan. She runs like an athlete, fights like the tempest and walks like someone with a purpose. Her favored attire supports this entire notion. While her wide pants and almost knee-high tabi would not be considered "appropriate" for a noblewoman, or perhaps even pleasing to the eye, their functionality make them an undeniably advantageous choice of attire, all the while conveying an aura that does not let anyone forget that they are dealing with someone who took the path of the sword.

Her innate knack for looking fashionable lessens this dichotomy a little. When she considers putting together a new outfit, the results are only very rarely bland or unpleasant. This might be a side effect from her time spent in the mortal world and having ample time to immerse herself in the trends and fashions arising during the past few centuries - she always finds the combination that reinforces her desired look, be it modest and chaste, blooming and flamboyant, even martial and intimidating when the time calls for it. A very common element in her outfits is the inclusion of gloves of some kind, even though she has no reason to hide her precious, slender fingers.

OUTFITS

Standard uniform:

Akira dislikes the standard Shikahusho of the Gotei 13. Not for the looks it conveys - she likes the dark color and loves the white tabi that go with it. Nor is it an issue of comfort, as the fabric can be turned silky soft with a little preparation. It is the spirit of expendability that it conveys, the unquestioned submission to a greater power. Do as I say, don’t do as I do. As with many things however, she learned to deal with it. She replaced the hakama with a pair of pants ending in long, leather soled ji-tabi, similar to those of the uniform of the Onmitsukidō, which offer better protection for her feet, allowing her to deliver her devastating kicks more safely. Additionally, she wears a cinnabar scarf with it to commemorate her alias as the songbird, Komadori.

Casual outfit:

Unbeknownst to most, Akira has a stash of clothes from the mortal world in her quarters with all kinds of cool shit. Hoodies, sneakers, baggy pants, even a baseball cap. And, most treasured of all, a few sets of fancy headphones with a battered discman (told ya it was cool shit) attached to one of them.

Wargear:

When a great deal of fighting is abound or she has to dress up for a ceremonial occasion, she proudly fastens the pieces of her traditional armor, probably one of the few that remained after the Kanamaru family had faded into obscurity. A full suit of black, grey and red samurai armor with a rigid metal cuirass and polished scales of obsidian sheen. Despite it being intact, she rarely considers wearing the kabuto, eschewing the mask even then.

Fancy outfit:

For formal occasions where she wants to flaunt her feminine side, she is saving up to buy an expensive kimono, complete with all the accessories that are neccessary for that outfit. She was never groomed to be a lady, nor does she like to pose as a highborn noble, but she can’t deny that she has always envied those beautiful adornments as a young girl.

-Personality-

DISLIKES

1. Lagos Oscuras/Arrancar: While she managed to calm herself during the past few years to a point where the lingering memory of the Arrancar who murdered her soulmate does not haunt her every minute of the day, there is nothing more in this world (or any other for that matter) that Akira despises as much as Lagos Oscuras. If the two should ever meet, it is fairly certain that only one of them will survive the encounter. While her hatred doesn’t specifically extend to other Arrancar, she is most certainly aware of the massive destruction they can cause - their loathsome motivations don’t make them more likable either. They are the “great evil” Shinigami ought to exterminate - should there be missions to invade Hueco Mundo, one can be certain that Akira, however foolhardy it might seem, would be one of the first volunteers.

2. Sozen Kuchiki/abuse of power: Many crave power, most of them for the wrong reasons. While she never got the chance to know the man who had doomed her lineage to obscurity with a single stroke of a pen, she is almost certain that the interests of the Kuchiki Clan were not part of the consideration when Sozen made his decision. It is petty tyrants like him who make the world such a harsh place - needlessly, one might add.

3. Slaughter: Akira likes fights where the winner picks up the loser by the hand at the end. She doesn’t like war. War should only be a neccessity in the most dire of situations - the same goes for killing. Sentience isn’t the breaking point in her reasoning - while she would never cut down a fellow Shinigami, the same principle doesn’t apply to Arrancar, another sentient race, since slaying them means giving them another chance to avoid the fate they have suffered. She does her utmost to prevent innocents from being caught up in her more violent affairs, and will dispatch of weaker combatants with hakuda techniques or spiritual suppression to avoid seriously injuring them. Neither Natsuki, nor Minakata Suzaku would not forgive her if she acted otherwise.

4. Cowardice: She has no love for cowards - if a worthless rogue and a shinigami who did not even know the name of her sword yet were able to go toe to toe with the horrors of Hueco Mundo, how is it that others turn their backs on their comrades? A tactical retreat is one thing, one should rather regroup and think of some sort of strategy instead of throwing their lives away after all - desertion or running head over heels from a combat situation on the other hand is not something she can tolerate, especially not from seated officers.

5. Powerlessness: Her life was one of many struggles, yet she feels that she had lost the battles which mattered the most. She was unable to stop the decline of her family, and that fateful fight with Lagos Oscuras. The devastating loss she has suffered stemmed from her inability to fight on par with her advesary. She only managed to force the monster to retreat due to Natsuki’s sacrifice - otherwise they would both have died on the spot. She doesn’t mind being bested - there is always someone who is better, stronger, faster. But the terrible sinking feeling of being hopelessly outmatched is not something she would like to witness again.

6. Unquestioning obedience: She was raised as a lapdog for lords she never got to serve. She poured her heart and soul into the long and arduous training, and this life of preparation became her world - only to be swept aside in a moment’s notice. Someone who does not at least have the courage to question, or the intention to do so might be an ideal soldier, but a very deeply flawed human being.

7. Overt politeness: People who bow too deeply often conceal a bad demeanor, or worse, a dagger. Not to mention that they’re annoying to boot. While there is no reason to be rude, she generally trusts people who speak their mind openly more and finds them to be more pleasant.

8. Intoxicants: She doesn’t like to cloud her mind or her emotions deliberately, even though she’d have been in a dire need for a drink or two. Still, she dislikes messy drunkards more than the stuff itself, although the smell of alcohol is not something she is fond of.

9. Boasting: Anyone who needs to boast or spout a monologue about his superiority during a fight needs their mouth stuffed. Walk the walk and be quiet.

10. Bureaucracy: Akira is a firm believer of swift justice and quick process. Bureaucracy bogs everything down and dealing with it is an absolute pain. If she ever gets into a leading position, she will probably dictate her reports instead of scribbling them down herself - paper and ink are there for drawing cool things, after all.

Bonus: Green Tea Mochi. Seriously, how can anyone eat that and enjoy it? It has the aftertaste of dry puke...


LIKES

1. Bravery: There is nothing more impressive to her than steadfast courage, especially if faced against impossible odds. People who display this quality will find her very amiable, as she is a firm believer that these types of people are the most reliable. She will do everything in her power to surround herself with such people, and will strive to live up to them as they do for her.

2. Tenderness: Akira is sometimes a little shy but in truth she is a very supportive person if one gets to look past her introversion. She has spent a considerable amount of time herding suffering Pluses and can be said to have developed a keen sense for suffering - and how to alleviate it. If someone needs a shoulder to cry on, she’ll probably be there for them. She also has a rather unsettling habit of touching people when telling them a heartfelt message, something that might make some people feel uneasy.

3. Martial Arts: To her, Martial Arts are one of the most expressive and gorgeous artforms that ever existed. She has spent a great deal of time watching mortal monks and warriors hone their body and mind, learning centuries old techniques from their betters, and it has always filled her with a sense of great admiration and spiritual wealth. She prefers this form of meditation aswell, and will rather perform a series of relaxing kata than sit on the spot for hours on end.

4. Music: Music is the greatest passion of Akira besides Martial Arts, even though the two can go hand in hand. She has seen hundreds of artists rise and fall during the decades, and cherishes music as the language of the soul. Weirdly, she prefers electronic beats over live instruments, and is a total sucker for oldschool, dark hip-hop and DnB. She remembers the gloomy days of patrolling Kyoto all too well, and has cracked many a Hollow’s mask to some sick drops. Her latest discovery is the british grime scene, her currently favorite DJ is Kaiju.

5. Dancing: She loves dancing, both classical and modern forms, and while she prefers functionality when it comes to attire, she wouldn’t mind at all to don a long, flowing dress for a fancy occasion. Just as with music, she knows a vast range of styles - her favorite being old school breakdance (quite fittingly). She would love to have a danceoff with someone, and will gladly show off a fine corkscrew if someone should ask her out when she’s in a good mood.

6. Fine Arts: While she isn’t really talented in any of them (except perhaps traditional ink-wash painting), she has genuine respect for anyone following artistic ambitions, enriching the world with their creations.

7. Flattery: She might be a rather reserved, quiet person, but genuine flattery does get to her sometimes, especially when she is feeling positive.

8. Red: Her favorite color, easily. Whether her sword played a role in this or she has always liked the color is not something she is really concerned about. She likes to combine it with black and white when it comes to dresses.

9. Minakata Suzaku: Despite their disagreements, she is very happy with how her zanpakutō revealed herself to be. She goes to great lengths to please it, possibly even spoiling the firebird a little too much.

10. The Academy of Spiritual Arts: Akira still thinks that being an academy instructor was her calling, and blames ill fate for not being able to follow it whenever she thinks back on those exciting days. She thinks the Academy is at a pivotal point to the survival of Soul Society as a whole, and would do everything to support its expansion.

Bonus: Unagi - Sure, it doesn’t look or smell particularly good, but just wait until you have taken a bite! They even make sushi out of this one!


FLAWS

1. Sensitive: Akira has suffered a great loss recently and even though the facade, the mask of serenity is in place, there are topics which are very stressful for her. One should not poke around too much, lest she grows resentful or irate.

2. Dreamy: She is often said to wander around with her head in the clouds, and it is only because of her excellent sense of balance that she didn’t knock anyone over yet while daydreaming. Similarly, her greatest flaw in Shinigami techniques is her flawed perception.

3. Melancholic: Mostly reserved and sometimes even gloomy, she generally avoids loud people and often looks troubled, as if she would rather wish herself away to some remote place. The way her life went lately is obviously a strong contributing factor to this, as is her general insecurity regarding the Gotei, even though she has always considered herself to be fairly introverted.

4. Solitary: Akira loves good company, but even that gets exhausting after a rather short while. This wasn’t always the case, but if the commotion gets too big for her taste, she will probably withdraw and take a walk to be able to take it all in and process. She definitely likes small circles better than large groups, something she needs to get accustomed to if she wants to exercise a leader’s aura.

5. Doubting: She has learnt the benefit of a doubting mind, and how one should not always act at the first spark of instinct. She usually has her own opinions of things and while she isn’t keen to voice them initially, she finds the concept of blindly following orders to be only exercised in the most dire of situations, and will go against the flow if ordered to do something that disregards her morality.


HABITS

- Once every week she visits the gravestone erected for Natsuki Tamura in the early Monday morning hours and places a little lampion with some poppy flowers next to it. She usually stays there for an hour, a silent vigil that has become a ritual since she returned to Soul Society.

- When she loses herself in an enjoyable fight, she sometimes unconsciously incorporates acrobatics into her routine.

- She likes to eat out once in a while, without the need of holding back - she can ravenously down an entire hundred piece sushi plate on such occasions.

FEARS

1. Being inadequate: Her goals are fairly simple in their nature but also very daunting, and she is not quite sure at the present moment whether she can reach them. Failure is not an option however, as she is nowhere near strong enough to take on either the man who was responsible for her lethal outburst, nor the fiend who took her beloved from her.

2. Failing to reintegrate: She has been away for a long time from Soul Society, with no familiar face in sight. The only anchor she has is the writ containing her pardon from Central 46, and at the present moment, she is not even aware if the Gotei 13 squads would take her in the state she is in. Her misdeed in the past bordered treason, and if there are people around who remember this, she would not have an easy time fitting in.

3. Getting crippled: There aren’t many ways to permanently disable a Shinigami, the ones which exist are not reversible with ordinary kidō however. She hones her body and takes good care of it - getting crippled, even temporarily, would mean a massive loss of freedom - something which would probably destroy her emotionally.


GOALS

1. Restore her family’s legacy: Whether alone or with the help of her scattered peers, her pride, currently somewhat buried under all the baggage she has acquired during her exile, would dictate that restoring her family’s good name and honor is of utmost importance - if only to spite Sozen’s decision to erase them from their list of trusted retainers.

2. Become a Captain through trial by combat: Speaking of which, what better way to spite Sozen than to become one of the feared captains of the Gotei 13? While she has no idea on how ridiculously powerful Sozen and their kin are in comparison to her, this hubris doesn’t stop her from trying to climb to the peak of fame in Soul Society. It is only natural that she would pick the most difficult route too, something that only happens maybe once every century.

3. Find her lost family members: She looked through the roster of academy graduates, listed members of the Gotei 13, files on noble residences - where have they all gone? Fearing the worst, she spends ample time on the search for her brothers and sisters, who might go by different names nowadays.


4. Slay Lagos Oscuras: An oath is an oath. Even if she would strive to be allowed to don a white haori only to strike fear into the Arrancar, it would still be worth every drop of blood, sweat and tears. The day will come. It must come. And if it doesn’t, she will pry open the fabric of the world itself to make it happen.

5. Overcome her grief: She has grown fond of grieving, finding solace in cultivating her pain and sorrow. A very unhealthy habit indeed - and while she knows that Natsuki would not like seeing her this way, her wounds never really managed to heal in that regard.


OVERALL PERSONALITY

If one wants to understand Akira, one best starts by examining her history. It is easy to see how, despite having been branded as a traitor once, loyalty would never be a question in her case - one of the positive influences of her rigorous training as a youth, with perseverance being the other. Once she sets a course, she rarely strays from it, remaining on a stable, unerring course, through night and flood if need be. Reliability is one of her greatest virtues, one she prides herself of.

Curiously, her personality would be more in tune with the element of water than that of fire. She is calm, and soft spoken, melancholic and dreamy - presenting a sharp dichotomy with her flamboyant looks and swift movement. Still waters run deep, they say, and as such she is not one to easily forgive being slighted, mistreated or abused. She rarely gets irate enough to actually yell at someone - a disarming, motherly look of disappointment is more akin to her, which hurts more than a thousand fiery words spewed forth in anger. Her demeanor only changes when she is pushed to the edge. When faced with an enemy who actually poses a credible threat, she fights like a she-devil at the center of a whirlwind made of iron and fire, empowering her strikes with loud kiai.

This is not to say that she would easily dismiss someone for being inferior in skill, nor that she would quickly make an assumption about her opponent's powers. Subterfuge and stealth have always been a staple of warfare, especially on a personal level, and someone who manages to trick their opponent into carelessness often manages to score the killing blow shortly afterwards. She read a lot and witnessed a lot, even though her experience relies more on mortal warfare than anything else, she likes to apply the same intellectual principles to her own combat prowess. Her dulled spiritual senses do not allow her to be reckless, as treachery is all around and it is very rare to find a honorable warrior outside of her peers who would fight her face to face, especially when it comes to Hollows.

Speaking of which - she regards Hollows as the antithesis for Shinigami and creatures to be exterminated, a controversial view that completely obscures her otherwise rational nature. She cares little for the balance of souls or the fate of the monsters she cuts down, and if she fights against those wretched abominations she becomes truly intimidating, almost a different person in her entirety. Eschewing elegance and grace, dazzling maneuvers and gorgeous spins, she often obliterates weaker monsters without even acknowledging their existence and assaults the stronger ones with unsettling, unbridled fury, seeking to finish them off before they get the chance to harm someone. No lenience, no holding back, no second chances - no mercy. This is one of the reasons she hasn't achieved Bankai yet, despite her immense potential - without attaining balance and being able to put a stop to her blazing hatred towards the fallen, Minakata Suzaku considers her to be too volatile, too impatient, and in dire need of introspection.

This is obviously quite different when it comes to humans or other types of souls. As someone who spent the majority of her life protecting the mortal world, she knows human customs more than most shinigami, and has developed a great sense of caring towards this troubled form of existence, while also being quite disillusioned with them. She was there to witness the first kiss of many young lovers, sat upon the roof of burning castles watching the scared inhabitants run around like frenzied ants - she even stood in silent, heartbroken vigil above the lifeless bodies of suicide victims she couldn't reach in time to stop their final act of self abuse. Humanity is colorful and extremely diverse - something that cannot be said about Hollows, at least according to her experiences. This view makes her strangely amenable towards Quincy, and she would probably not have any qualms about teaming up with them to stage an incursion into Hueco Mundo - if she would even know about their existence, that is.

She is quick to team up with people considered rivals or problematic elements in the face of grave danger, and would be gladly throw aside the pride of being a shinigami if it was detrimental to her prowess in defeating a strong enemy. Exceptions arise of course, but unconventional ways and rebellious nature are no strangers to her - she is very careful with treating souls other than Hollows and is not one to carry out an execution order blindly. Her ties to Soul Society and the Gotei 13 are not very strong as of yet, and she needs to re-educate herself in terms of subordination when it comes to hard decisions - it is highly probable that she would set out to capture insurgents instead of mowing them down for real or perceived treasonous actions, preferring to know the whole truth of the matter.

Despite - or maybe in spite of her noble heritage, Akira has a very down to earth demeanor and likes to eschew any sorts of honorifics, resulting in a weirdly casual tone she takes with most people. This is somewhat mitigated when she is talking to people who could reasonably demand a high degree of formality, yet she prefers the old heart-to-heart even with those. Once one gets to know her, she is fairly relaxed and easy going, at least when she's in a good mood. Otherwise she is reclusive and lonesome, preferring to read a book than to go out and have a few drinks with friends on a lazy friday night. A classical introvert who needs to charge herself in-between social occasions - something she has set her mind to change by actively seeking opportunities to run errands for her superiors which involve her with other officers of the Gotei 13. At the moment, she is still quite excited and overwhelmed by all the new people she has to work with, all those new faces who need to acclimatize themselves with her somewhat eccentric nature.

Deep down she is somewhat wary about making friends with people from an organization with a motto of self sacrifice. One of her favorite quotes from a foreign mortal general accurately reflects the sentiment she hears whenever rumors of war crop up:

"...soldiering has one great trap: to be a good solider you must love the army. To be a good commander, you must be willing to order the death of the thing you love. We do not fear our own death you and I. But there comes a time...We are never quite prepared for so many to die. Oh, we do expect the occasional empty chair. A salute to fallen comrades. But this war goes on and on and the men die and the price gets ever higher. We are prepared to lose some of us, but we are never prepared to lose all of us."

This does not mean that she disagrees with the general gist of the Gotei 13 as the threat is very real. She would like to see it strong, hale and hearty, albeit without the need for monsters such as Sozen Kuchiki. The call to arms she received has caused great distress in her and managed to kindle a deep sense of duty, making her consent to unpleasant tasks and other discomforts in the face of adversity. The squads are all that stands between civilization and horrific violence - the questions she raises are mostly not those of principle, but of philosophy and execution. She believes that an organization signed up for protecting mortals should have a face that is less alien and intimidating and more one of benevolence, especially when dealing with their own - something that is not always a given, regarding the history of the Gotei.

She has a deep belief that Shinigami should cherish eachother's presence as long as they can - calamity always lies in the wait and friends could be struck out from the squad's roster overnight, leaving a hole that could never be filled. A unified force forged in the fires of cameraderie is much more effective in stemming the tides of evil, and while it might seem that this should always be a given, petty rivalries and infighting tend to happen in organizations as large as the 13 Squads. To attain this goal she will strive to promote these values amongst her squadmates and friends - she will host training sessions and even attend noisy social events to further the coherence of the force.

Although she has steeled herself, there is still a lot of insecurity within her, especially regarding her own self-worth. She has the unhealthy habit of punishing herself with the notion that Natsuki died because of her weakness, even though she has arrived at the same conclusion every time she recounted the scenario - neither of them were ready to face what they did. The miracle of her survival as a pariah is one of the few things she prides herself of - there is a lot of work left to be done, and she is in dire need of that proverbial “shoulder to cry on”, even though she would not press herself on anyone if she wasn’t offered help before.

-Powers-

MINAKATA SUZAKU

THEMES

Primary: Phoenix/Fenghuang/Suzaku, fire, death and rebirth (possibly reinvention of self), celestial domain
Secondary: empress bird, majesty, tradition, duality, flight, freedom, bravery, benevolence, the five Confucian virtues, 7, South

Fighting Style:

Akira's fighting styles vary considerably depending on the situation. While it would be hasty to say that she wouldn't give it all in a sparring session, the teacher's persona is deeply ingrained into her and she very consciously feathers down her strength when training with weaker peers, slowing down movements that would be barely observable and pulling punches which would rend their flesh and shatter their bones. This is not to say she would not take them seriously, and if they push their luck, she will definitely show them what for, even if it is only for a brief moment just to make them understand that they still have a long way to go and a lot to learn.

She prefers relying on Hakuda exclusively for fighting against inferior advesaries and remains unfazed by the sight of bared weapons or even a Shikai if she is certain that she can handle it without getting injured. She prefers a defensive stance in these cases and takes attacks head-on, undercutting strikes before they even reach their full momentum and utilizing superior movement to circumvent their defenses in unexpected ways. She likes to teach how one can put the most force into a kick and punch without overcommitting to it, as this skill can be crucial when fighting Hollows or large, slow enemies.

Akira is a respectful fighter who cherishes every opportunity she gets to train with someone - she believes that Shinigami and kindred souls have a lot to teach eachother and has no qualms about seeking out someone who is stronger than her, although she prefers staying in her own league if she wants to have a friendly bout. She rarely goes all out in these cases and still prefers using her hand-to-hand skills for most of the fight - should she find that ineffective, she will give them a display of her exemplary Kidō. Should her polished spells still not be enough to faze her advesary, Akira will draw her Zanpakutō and usually enter Shikai without resorting to using her sword in a sealed state - Minakata Suzaku does not show herself to just anyone, especially not in the confines of a training session - if she would be to train recruits in Zanjutsu she would use a bokken or an asauchi, for example. She prefers using her sealed Zanpakutō for artful displays of martial prowess, something that her picky and proud sword spirit is quite fond of and encourages subsequently.

Outside of training sessions, she takes lethal intentions very seriously and does only refrain from giving a duel her all to conserve her energy for a possibly extended fight, especially during missions in hostile territory. Her masterful skills in Hakuda and assorted martial arts make her ideal for quickly dispatching of Hollows without expending vast amounts of Reishi, and as it stands, her furious dropkicks can possibly shatter the entire being of a Menos Grande. Once courtesies and honor are out of the way, her compassion runs cold as she seeks to destroy her true enemies without remorse. Even her otherwise benevolent sword is more lenient when it comes to defeating monstrosities, and should she encounter the highest tiers of the enemy, she will gladly cast aside any previously gentle notion and wield her skills as weapons of war, indiscriminate and unrelenting.

Against serious threats she is not afraid to use underhanded tactics either, such as coating her Zanpakutō in silently summoned Kidō or conceal a spell within another to mask its intention, switching from traditional stabbing motions in Sōjutsu (spear combat) to violent spins, strikes and slashes - even simply abusing her ridiculous range and aerial capabilities when it is convenient. Being honorable does not mean being daft enough to eat every attack an enemy can throw at her, and the luxury of fighting on even footing is often one that she cannot afford to take. 

Hakuda: Very aggressive mixture of styles centered around menacing spinning and jumping kicks. (Taekwondo most importantly).  Her long legs give her an excellent reach and her ridiculous jumping skills coupled with her athletic grace make her a menacing opponent even in an unarmed state.

Zanjutsu: While her skills with the sealed sword leave something to be desired and she prefers Hakuda over it, she fights in a style called Kōtetsu Senpū [Steel Whirlwind] - a style with all the elegance and grace of a ceremonial dance, an artful display which quickly turns into a violent tornado of sparks and iron as she mixes in her trademark spinning kicks against unsuspecting enemies for a varied, explosive style of combat.

Kidō: While she never had access to advanced techniques because of her aborted academy training, she always had a knack for spellcasting and a very disciplined way of learning these incantations. Most of her spells are "right out of the book", something she is very proud of as it would make her a great teacher for these arts. She sees kidō as the ultimate utility, something that can complement her Zanpakutō's offensive focus perfectly by providing control and ranged power against people who would rather run than fight.

Shikai: Her fighting style changes significantly once her Shikai is released. While taking to the skies, she takes full advantage of her amazing mobility and circles around her enemy like a hawk before swooping down for the kill with the force of a knight lancer. She often uses gravity to her advantage and free-falls to accelerate faster, only using her wings to adjust her flight towards her prey. Against stronger enemies she prefers to stay back and pelt them with Kidō and ranged attacks until they grow weaker. The domain of the sky offers her a significant advantage, but she is a fearsome opponent even when earthbound. Her spear is slender and fast, and she often conceals its reach with a shorter grip to lull an enemy into thinking he's just out of her range. She is an expert spear combatant who has extensively trained with the most important battlefield weapon of the samurai, knows fourteen different grips and can cut the cord of a candle from four meters away with a jumping stab. Note that Akira almost exclusively only draws Minakata Suzaku when she intends to release her - this, in turn, only happens if she is training her Shikai explicitly or facing enemies who present a credible threat.

Bankai: While she has not reached Bankai yet, it is very probable that she will abuse the incredible range of the heat radiated from her Bankai to pressure her enemies constantly. Her already proficient kidō only grows ever more terrifying under the aegis of the Seven Constellations, and she would definitely not pass up the opportunity to encase someone in a cremating Hexagon Seal Array or Inverted Mountain Crystal, just to obliterate them with her enhanced spear. In general, the higher the release, the smarter she fights - not only out of respect for her enemy, but also for her sword, who demands skill, brilliance, beauty and wisdom from her in exchange of the awesome power she provides.

SPIRIT

Animal form: A large peafowl with its tail-plume burning in a brilliant display of seventy-seven shades of red.

Humanoid form: Takes the appearance of a fiery tengu, tall and muscular, complete with the head of a large bird of prey and double-jointed legs. It wears a fine kimono woven from strings of living flame.

Personality: Minakata Suzaku is a benevolent, uppity, and picky Zanpakutō. While not averse to destroying things that it perceives as monstrous, it expects Akira to use its power for virtuous, honorable deeds. It cannot stand to be dirtied with the blood of enemies beneath him, and if Akira should hurt an innocent, either by carelessness or wanton rage, it might refuse to stay in a released state afterwards.

Inner World: The inner world takes the appearance of a large shintō temple complex on a lonely mountain, bathed in the orange light of a blazing, windy sunset. The temple is old and unkempt - the wood smells charred and some parts of the building are ablaze - the only resident being her sword's spirit, who is usually seen as meditating in front of the main hall.

The closer Akira gets to her Zanpakutō's subjugation, the more the temple is engulfed in benevolent, renewing flame that elevates the imperfections of the materials - when she is distressed or close to dying, the flames change to suffocating smoke as the buildings crumble to ash.

SEALED


While in a sealed state, Minakata Suzaku takes the form of a tachi - a long, curved sword suspended horizontally on her back around the hip. The blade points upwards unlike that of a katana. The sheath is black while the wrapping is wine-red, with a brass-colored tsuba in the shape of a lozenge. It looks plain and tidy - the lack of ornaments and noble markings provide a stark contrast with Akira’s armor, and hint at the blade having been passed down to her by an outsider. [The asauchi originally belonged to Natsuki Tamura, unseated officer of Squad 6 under Sozen Kuchiki and - now deceased - soulmate to Akira]

SHIKAI

"Tsubasa wo Hirogete, Minakata Suzaku!" - (Spread your wings, Vermilion Bird of the South!)

Akira holds her tachi horizontally in front of her, unsheathing it in an uncharacteristical forward draw. Both the sheath and the sword are set ablaze - they merge and grow into a dark-bladed longspear with a double-pronged guard behind the head. The flame runs up Akira's arms and flows down over her shoulders, growing two gorgeous wings of living flame and fiery peafowl plumage dropping toward the ground. Akira then spins the newly formed spear and holds it in a proud upright position before dropping low into a fighting stance. She doesn’t explicitly have to perform this draw, but eschewing the ritual would be disrespectful and would displease the zanpakutō.

Overall Ability:

Minakata Suzaku is a kidō type zanpakutō which focuses on the element of fire, the ruling element of the Guardian of the South. She extends her domain over flame, freedom and the skies upon Akira - an arsenal worthy of an avatar of a forgotten goddess. While the wings deal damage via Reiatsu Strength, the spear itself is a physical weapon that uses Strength as the offensive stat. 

Shikai Overall Ability:

Minakata Suzaku, as the Guardian of the Celestial South grants Akira dominion over the ruling element of fire, while her aspect as the Empress of Birds bestows her with dominion over the skies. Her glorious wings allow her to fly and glide freely, with the grace and speed of large birds of prey. These wings are spawned from Akira's reishi and while they are mesmerizing to behold, they are formed from flames that burn with the heat of a yellow star's corona (6000 Celsius). While not indestructible, they can only be blown apart, not severed - and they can be regrown as an action by spending 100 reiatsu (50 for each wing). The heat radiated by the celestial fire doesn't affect Akira, nor does the fire injure her in any way.

Additionally, the ambient reishi in the air around Akira falls under her domain while she is in a released state. The area in her vicinity is treated as having no "air ground" on which enemies can step on - Hohō abilities based on air platforms are ineffective. The range of this ability is 20 meters.

Finally, no flame can ever hurt or maim her, be the source kidō, another Shinigami's release or even a Resurrección. While this provides no true resistance and they still do damage (albeit only if their OS exceeds hers by over 1.5x or they use a superior Class technique), she cannot suffer physical injury, as Suzaku would not let her suffer such humiliation from her own element. This effect is entirely cosmetic for the most part, and essence is drained instead by the hostile flames - she simply grows fatigued and faints if the damage becomes overwhelming. Should she die from such an attack, her body collapses into a heap of fine, golden ash on the spot. Hellfire is an exception to this due to it being the antithesis to someone under the aegis of a benevolent celestial being.

Weakness:

Requires Martial Arts [Aerial Combat] to be utilized effectively. The destruction of her wings or sealing of her Shikai can lead to her falling down from afar. The heat makes it difficult for allies to fight close to her. While fighting her close range is hazardous because of the searing heat, her long weapon and tremendous wingspan make it difficult to fight in close quarters. The moodiness of the zan can be a nuisance until Bankai, and thus subjugation has been achieved.

BANKAI [Not achieved yet]




Bankai - Ten yori oritachi tamae, Kōkyū Suzaku!
(Descend from the Heavens, Immortal Firebird!)

Overall ability

A massive Reiatsu flare in the form of a brilliant, igneous peafowl, a towering Phoenix is exuded upon releasing, which breaks all seals and disabling effects currently on the user as the first aspect of Kōkyū Suzaku is invoked: Freedom. Furthermore a constant, strong, hot wind blows outwards from the caster as the environment within a 50m radius is obliterated, leaving only smoldering ruins. The flare then condenses around Akira, encasing her body and turning her into a living avatar of a forgotten Goddess. Her outfit changes to a samurai armor of the finest lacquered red leather, while her spear grows seven "eyes" behind its head, which grows significantly longer and more tapered - the eyes are nothing but empty sockets awaiting the gift of the Southern Empress. A brilliant halo of seven stars appear behind her head and her wings grow to a massive span of twenty-eight meters.

Bankai Overall Ability:

Her Bankai provides Akira with dominion over fire - her effective OS for defending against fire based attacks increases to 2x in Bankai. While the heat radiated from her wings is oppressive, the true power of her Bankai rests in the seven star-orbs behind her head. It is said that all the birds in the sky will follow the phoenix's command - hence these orbs can turn into seven ornate firebirds at her behest, which will seek out and assault an enemy of her choosing, imbuing them with the heat of a flaring star and igniting them upon a successful hit. The birds possess a speed of 1200 and count as an attack using the Class and OS of the user. Akira's mastery of the Bankai is shown by how many of these orbs she can use per post - 3 at Class 2, 5 at Class 1, 7 at Class 0. The radius of her aerial domain is increased to 50 meters while in Bankai.

RELEASE TECHNIQUES

Shikai

Technique Name: Hageshī Hō-ō no Hane (Blazing Phoenix Plumage)
Class: 4 (Shikai)
Cost: 150 Reiatsu
Technique Description and Effects:

By discarding a portion of her glorious plumage, Akira can send a barrage of seven feather-shaped projectiles at her enemies. These feathers travel at an impressive speed of 600, and each one of them creates a bonfire-sized blast which continues to burn afterwards until the release ends. The technique can be used in Bankai, which increases the speed of the projectiles to 1000.

Technique Drawbacks: The attack may only be used once every post in Shikai and three times in Bankai, as the feathers need to regenerate. Once the projectiles are released, Akira has no control over them anymore.

Technique Name: Mamori Enshoku Kouken (Fire-Scarlet Guardian Defense)
Class: 4 (Shikai)
Cost: 150 Reiatsu
Technique Description and Effects:

Akira draws her wings in front of her to defend against an attack or projectile, shooting a burst of reiatsu through them to increase the flames' temperature threefold. This counts as an 1.5x multiplier to her respective defensive stat against that attack, increasing to 2x in Bankai. Cutback for this attack is measured via Reiatsu instead of Spiritual Pressure, while the damage incurred is dealt via third degree burns on the affected limbs.

Technique Drawbacks: Needs active Shikai to work. Akira cannot conduct flying maneuvers the next post after this ability was used unless she discards and re-summons her wings. Can only be used once per post in Shikai with a 1 post cooldown - in Bankai, the cooldown of 1 post is removed.

Technique Name: Nijū Ryūsei (Twin Falling Star)
Class: 4 (Shikai)
Cost: 150 Reiatsu
Technique Description and Effects:

Whether through bravery or desperation, Akira can choose to channel her release into a daring nosedive, spear in hand, lancing her enemy with the force of a ballista bolt. Nijū Ryūsei is a combined attack that uses both Physical and Spiritual stats. Her Speed and Strength gain a 25% buff for this attack in Shikai, culminating in a 50% buff in Bankai. If the attack hits, her wings collapse upon the victim in a torrent of fire, causing third degree burns on most of his body.

Technique Drawback: Can only be performed via an airborne charge which needs at least 10m to wind up. The wings formed by her Shikai are discarded if the attack hits.

Bankai

Technique Name: Nanatsu Taiyō no Yari (Spear of Seven Suns)
Class: 2 (Bankai)
Cost: 600 Reiatsu
Technique Description and Effects:

Akira can use her star-orbs to fill the sockets on her spear, massively increasing its potency.  Each strike that hits consumes one orb - the immense heat cremates the struck limb from the inside if the enemy has a lower Class than her - the same class would suffer fourth degree burns and their blood would ignite as it oozes to the surface, while opponents of higher Class would reduce the suffered burns to third degree only. The effect persists for 7 posts at most, after which she needs to pay another Reiatsu surcharge to keep it up or revert the remaining orbs back to their original position.

Technique Drawbacks: Has to be delivered via melee attack.

Technique Name: Yōsō Chinatsu (Aspect of a Thousand Summers)
Class: 2 (Bankai)
Cost: 600 Reiatsu
Technique Description and Effects:

With this technique Akira can call upon the blistering summer heat and increase the potency of fire-based attacks and spells. With this technique active she can infuse her kidō with the governing element, changing the type of the respective spell to "fire". By sacrificing one of her star-orbs she can add the destructive power of the sun to a fire-type spell - an infused kidō counts as being one Class higher than its normal value. The Reiatsu cost only needs to be paid once, the effect lasts for the entire thread.

Technique Drawbacks: Only fire-type kidō can be infused.

Technique Name: Tensei Shinku no Hasu (Crimson Lotus Resurrection)
Class: 2 (Bankai)
Cost: Triggered on death
Technique Description and Effects:

If Akira should suffer a fatal blow in a thread while her Bankai is active, she disintegrates into a heap of golden ash as per her Shikai passive. Where the ash touches the ground, a lotus of glowing embers will sprout at the next sunrise, and bloom at noon on the seventh day afterwards, with Akira emerging unscathed in her ideal, youthful form from the petals.

Technique Drawbacks: The price and drawbacks for this incredible gift of "reincarnation" are immense. The state Akira awakens is one of complete disorientation and temporary amnesia - barely able to speak, she is completely unable to fight or use her powers, being just as vulnerable as a freshly hatched bird. The fact that her lotus marks the place of her rebirth does not help either. Her stats start out at 50, her full potential only comes back after seven days of resting - however both her Shikai and Bankai are destroyed upon death and need to be reconstructed in a form different to the original.

TECHNIQUES

Hohō

Technique Name: Shunpo (Flash Steps)
Class: 7
Technique Type: Kidō
Technique Element: None
Technique Description and Effects:

A movement technique that allows the user to move faster than the eye can follow. The focal point that determines the basis of this technique is speed. As speed is the main point of the technique, the method is best characterized by how fast one can get from Point A to Point B in the least amount of steps. Training and skill are what determines how fast a user of Shunpo can move. Those of little skill in the technique or those who haven't used it for an extended amount of time would obviously be out of practice, causing those individuals to be considerably slower. This requires the use of more steps to move the same distance and become tired more easily in a shorter amount of time. A single step magnifies speed for that step by ten times. Shunpo uses fifty Reiatsu per step. This one is automatically learned in the academy. All Shinigami know this when created. This technique does not take up a technique slot.

How to use technique:

Focus of Reishi around the feet area and launch off into a single blurring step. It is not unlike teleportation in appearance, but it is simply extremely fast movement. It is often used to gain an edge in a single moment of combat or to dodge incoming attacks.

Hakuda

Technique Name: Ichinen [+]

Class: 3
Technique Type: Kidō
Technique Element: None
Technique Description and Effects:

This powerful Hakuda technique is used by many Hakuda specialists. This takes the retaliation concept of Wing-Chun and applies it to Hakuda. When the enemy launches a physical attack, the user grabs a hold of their attack, and loosens up the body, becoming a single, fluid motion of instant retaliation. This is a difficult technique to respond to because of the fluidity, requiring a minimum of 100 in instinct/senses to react to.

Once this happens, the user redirects that force into a forward punch into the enemy's body. This punch has the strength of both the user and enemy layered on top of one another for extra damage due to the absorption of force.

How to use technique:
Requires at least a 3 in Hakuda to be used. Also requires at least a 1 in any one of the following martial arts: Wing Chun, Jiujitsu, Karatedo, Kung Fu, TKD, Keysi, Hapkido, or Shotokan. Class 3+ characters only.

Drawback:
Physical strain of the body.

Technique Name: Heavenly Strike [+]
Class: 3
Technique Type: Kido/Hakuda
Usable By: Shinigami, Vizard, Characters with access to Kido
Technique Element: n/a
Technique Description and Effects:

There are many Hakuda based techniques that boast the ability to allow their users to deliver attacks that transcend their regular limits. Often, these techniques come in the form of stat boosts or by temporarily bolstering physical capabilities. Heavenly Strike is similar in that it allows its user to deliver an attack that is far more powerful than what they could achieve without it, but it also provides exceptional utility to those who master it.

In simple terms, Heavenly Strike is a technique that condenses the users Reiatsu around one the bodies key striking points (feet, knees, fists and elbows) and charging at high speed in a straight line. The user is propelled by their own RS at a static speed of 1000. Upon impact with a solid object, the reiatsu that propelled the user can then be released through one of the earlier mentioned striking points to create a shockwave that spreads out from the point of impact in a sphere. The power of the shockwave is always equal to the users RS.

At the Learned level, the maximum range of the strike is equal to [RS/4] meters in a straight line, whilst the radius of the shockwave is equal to [2 meters per 100 RS]
At the Proficient level, the maximum range of the strike is equal to [RS/3] meters in a straight line, whilst the radius of the shockwave is equal to [4 meters per 100 RS]
At the Mastered Level, the maximum range of the strike is equal to [RS/2] meters in a straight line, whilst the radius of the shockwave is equal to [6 meters per 100 RS].

How to use technique:
Propel yourself forwards using compressed reiatsu before releasing it through a single striking point (listed above).

Technique Drawbacks:

The major drawback of this technique lies in the fact that Shunpo exists, thus making it incredibly difficult to land upon any of the races with a step technique (which is all of them). In addition, the shockwave that this technique is capable of creating requires a direct impact with a solid object to trigger (which means no air punches). Furthermore, this technique requires committing to a single direction of travel, which can make for an easy target against canny opponents. Finally, the user must travel at least 5 meters before a collision occurs in order to trigger the shockwave.

In order to learn this technique, the user must possess at least a 2 in both the Kido and Hakuda (or equivalent) Skills.

Made By: Ranth Amanite
Reserved?: no

Technique Name: Hakuda Defense: Do [++]
Class: 3
Technique Type: other
Technique Element: N/A
Technique Description and Effects:
It directly applies a palm to the perfectly correct spot in an incoming melee attack. This can be on an underside or at the very edge of a weapon, but it must hit the spot where the force is most vulnerable. The force immediately ceases, and the attack stops moving. It's good for making openings.

How to use technique: Stated above.
Drawback: It's a physical attack. No drawback.
Made by: Sozen

Kidō

+ Proficient

++ Mastered

Bakudō

Class 7
9. Hōrin (崩輪, Disintegrating Circle)  [++]

Class 5

39. Enkosen (円閘扇, Arc Shield) [++]

Class 4
61. Rikujōkōrō (六杖光牢, Six Rods Prison of Light) [+]

Hadō

Class 7
4. Byakurai (白雷, Pale Lightning) [++]
Class 5
31. Shakkahō (赤火砲, Red Fire Cannon) [++]

Class 4

50. Mabarashi Dangan (Fast Bullet) [+]

63. Raikōhō (雷吼炮, Thunder Roar Sear) [+]

-History-

Chapter One: Kanamaru



“I can barely remember the time in Rukongai. It was so long ago...what would you expect me to tell you anyway? About how we chased frogs around the manor’s koi-ponds and put them in eachother’s kimonos? Children are children, no matter where they grow up. The only difference is how they do, and how long it takes for them to bloom into an adult. And what they turn out to be at the end of it. I’ve heard people say that nobles are unjustly privileged - these people often forget that the hardships of a life in poverty are simply of different nature than those of ours.”

Akira grew up in the inner circles of Rukongai in a modest manor with an expansive park complex in the shade of the tall barracks of the Seireitei. A member of Clan Kanamaru, a prestigious jizamurai Clan sworn to the Great Noble House Kuchiki - their legacy had been two centuries long already, having served three different heads of their masters. Their tithe was one of labor - dangerous labor that only the most trusted of their vassals could fulfill. Responsible for the Eihei Shidan (guard division), the Kanamaru Clan was required to send a set number of Shinigami graduates to serve as the personal guard for prestigious members of the Kuchiki Clan - a task for which only the best were good enough.

“We were raised to be like hounds ought to be. Always loyal, always obedient - quiet, clean, and as invisible as possible. Our wards were supposed to be the world to us - we followed these teachings and embraced them wholeheartedly. I remember my oldest sister, Keiko breaking out in tears in mother’s lap after she was reprimanded for complimenting the young lady Kuchiki’s choice of attire that day. I didn’t understand what we were meant to be, how such a honorable task could feel so unrewarding. We were treated like furniture, and were expected to behave like it, too...all the while in mortal danger, forming a living shield for the highborn if some ruffians, or worse, assassins would try to assault them. Sometimes I am glad I avoided this fate - hadn’t it been for the price I paid for my disobedience, I would still say it was the correct decision.”

The strongest of the litter were trained from the age of eight to be well rounded, watchful combatants, however they were already evaluated for spiritual potential from earlier on. While their childhood was a sheltered one, the grim portents of adulthood were already forming in the shape of playful tests of willpower. Tests like who could do a handstand for the longest, or simply sit still for hours on end, or the marshmallow test, where one could get one of the soft candy pieces immediately, or double if the child waited until the evening for his turn. At the age of eight they started to train for their entry into the Shinōreijutsuin - and while they were educated in the ways of proper conversation and social conduct, their lessons in behavior were second only to their physical training, which took up to six hours from their day, later increasing to eight. Obstacle courses, general athletics and muscle training, standing meditation formed the basis of their physique, while lessons in hand to hand combat, especially for close quarters and disarming potential assailants while being unarmed oneself were the focus of later years. As the entry exams grew closer, the days grew increasingly longer and the training hours were all the more grueling.

“Some of us saw the academy as a hassle - an obstruction to be overcome switfly, something that would keep us from starting our glorious lives as palatial guards for people who would never even know our names...who would never care for them either. In truth we were expected to pass with ease - we didn’t see how much we still had to learn. Naturally, we mopped the floor of all but the most well prepared freshmen during Hakuda classes, which often led to us being pitted against eachother. Kidō was another matter entirely - and we only realized what kind of pressure we were under when my youngest brother, Touma flunked out of the academy due to having skipped most of his classes. Our lives took a turn for the worse after grandfather sent him away, never to return - the rumors soon spread and the other students began to shun us for our heritage and the heartless decree. Takano-sama was not a compassionate man - the lineage was everything to him, the loss of a wayward grandson was nothing to him compared to the shame he would have brought on our Clan if he injured a highborn with his incomplete grasp on the arts of destruction. We, however, were expected to carry on as if nothing happened. I’ve never seen Touma again.”

While she was one of the dreamier students who preferred an irregular schedule and often only spent the minimum effort to be able to go under the radar, the fate of her youngest brother brought an abrupt change in her outlook. Akira began taking extra classes on top of recapping the ones she had missed, especially in her weakest fields, including the mastery of kidō, for which she simply lacked the vivid imagination others had naturally. It didn’t help that she suffered from Aphantasia, the inability to conjure up mental images of things she had seen or witnessed - a minor flaw she has hidden regardless, out of fear that she would be counted as a failure and simply married off to some spoiled child of a Rukongai noble for political benefits. She didn’t intend to end up like Touma, disgraced and left to roam on his own - her efforts were met with resounding success, as she managed to graduate at the top of her class in Hakuda training. Finishing even the advanced classes in half the required time, she received admission to train junior students in the basics of the arts in assistance to the teachers present - a true honor and a missed opportunity that haunts her to this day.

“Those were the happiest times - when one didn’t have the luxury of loneliness, surrounded by former comrades alienated by the outlandish affairs of ones family. I can still see their sparkling, wide eyes - all those would-be Shinigami staring at you in search for guidance. Sure, some of them gave me hell initially, as some of our co-students did before, and this was especially true for those fellows who clawed their way out of the dirt of the outskirts of Rukongai into this prestigious institution. I was assigned to one of those classes in my fourth year - one of the students assaulted me out of turn with a tantō to test my mettle - these poor, beaten dogs only learnt respect after they landed in the infirmary a few times because they pushed their limits too far. It was dangerous, exhausting, infuriating at times - but most of all, it was my calling, my destiny I had to fulfill."

She never dared to face her grandfather and plead for the decision that would have consigned her to a happier life. Her psyche suffered the more the graduation exams drew closer - she didn’t sleep for days on end, had barely eaten anymore, and it was not until she collapsed during a meditation class that she realized how much her eagerness and drive has deteriorated since the early days. Only a year more, she thought, but as her doubt of this being the correct course has weakened day by day, she failed to notice that her life would take an entirely different turn due to the events that were about to unfold. Shortly after the midterm exams of the sixth year, the head of the Kuchiki Clan had passed away - to be replaced by a man known as Sozen, the “Crimson King” as he called himself.

“We couldn’t believe how our family had fallen from grace overnight. We didn’t know what happened, or how it happened - even the death of our grandfather wasn’t enough to put us off about this foul intrigue. How could it? We were trained to serve, not to question. Only after Keiko had been asked to help with the old man’s burial gown did we know that something had seriously gone awry. To think that a centuries old bond could be broken so easily and in such a disastrous way. We tried to keep it quiet at first, but the rumors began to spread like wildfire. Sozen Kuchiki did not want ancient ties to be in the way of his vision of a perfect world - afraid of disobedience, he revoked the privileges of dozens of vassal houses and replaced those prestigious, ancient servant clans with his damned, opportunistic puppets. "

These dark tidings chilled Akira to the bone - it was only through the power of routine and perseverance that she managed to keep going on. She even accepted the call of a week’s worth of excursions with the Gotei 13’s squads - and whether it was because she hailed from a noble house, an administrative error or simply rotten luck, she was assigned to Squad 6, who were traditionally under the supervision of the current head of the Kuchiki Clan.

“It is one of the few things I can still clearly picture of the distant past. He was larger than life, a god walking among a host of fragile servants. His haori of silken white, that perfectly chiseled face - and the smug, loathsome smile on his thin lips as he looked upon me. We never met eachother before, yet he know who I was, and knew exactly where to strike my young, troubled heart. Whether it was just some unusual musing or direct provocation...or a veiled threat, as I felt it...he didn’t say much, you see. It was just a single, quiet sentence. - You would look better in red. - "

Her fate was sealed when the top students of her class were lined up for inspection in front of the Squad 6 barracks. It was a quiet, tense atmosphere, and the rumors of her Clan’s sudden fall into obscurity have died down to the point where nobody really talked about it anymore. Perhaps it was this calm before the storm that made her react the way she did. Akira snapped, bared her asauchi and lunged towards the monstrously powerful shinigami, completely blinded by rage. She was so furious that she broke the jaw of an officer who tried to apprehend her. The captain barely even turned his head when she struck him - and to her horror, her cherished blade shattered in an instant, not even leaving a dent inhis immaculate uniform. She was so strong, so proud - and had thrown it all away in a moment of weakness. The living god retaliated, and sent her crashing through a triplet of walls with a mere flick of his wrist. The entire assembly was frozen in shock for a moment, before he ordered the unruly graduate’s apprehension.

Akira was only incarcerated for a brief period of time, most of which she spent in the infirmary instead of her cell. The brutal display of power left her with multiple broken bones - in addition, the shock she suffered made the once proud young warrior unable to speek for a straight two weeks. After the knot was cut, she began weeping for hours on end, not even stopping once her tears dried up. She was devastated - she just realized what she had done. The magnitude of shame she brought upon her already beaten family, and the utter defeat she had suffered at the hands of the man she would have once died for to protect. Everything lied in ruin, her young life and proud lineage, even her dreams of becoming an academy teacher after having served her time in the palatial guard. She did not see how lucky she was that the captain didn’t see her as a particular threat, or that she might have been provoked into such a reaction deliberately, as part of some obscure, sinister plan. Akira only saw what her actions had brought to her - and as the messenger arrived with the citation to her trial in Central 46, she resigned herself to the fate that she has brought upon herself.



Chapter Two: Komadori



Exile.

"They took everything. My asauchi, my badge, my uniform...my dignity. They shoved me out of the Senkaimon and left me to die a traitor’s death, in a world so foreingn, so alien. I remember barely being able to orient myself - the air felt cold and damp, almost too shallow to breathe. It felt like an eternity until I managed to notice all those faint lights around me - I was never good in sensing reiatsu, and as such I had all but missed the ones I would be sworn to protect. Humans, hiding in their little shacks from the upcoming storm that perpetually set the horizon ablaze. This is what I imagined outer Rukongai had looked like, a heap of curious, ramshackle huts huddled together, as if they were afraid that a strong gust will blow them over otherwise.

Then I heard it. That long, abyssal howl. I have heard it before, in the deep underground below the training grounds. It was chained then - and even the most foolhardy students walked out with a pale visage after a visit to those chambers. Hollow. My mind began to race - it was on the prowl, no doubt, but where would it strike? Who or what would be its first target? Instinct called, and I followed - up the mountain path, a couple hundred stairs skywards. The skies burned and thunder rolled - I remembered our lessons to try and pull their attention away from our wards, the defenseless dwellers of this world. They would go for the prey with the highest spiritual pressure, and as I reached the mountaintop, I finally saw it. It called out to me, as if it knew I would react this way. A lithe, catlike creature with a painted and fanged mask of porcelain, its quilled tail rolled up on the peak of the shrine. Its eyes flashed as lighting painted the sky purple - it vanished soon afterwards, only to reappear in the shadow of a tall pine tree next to me. It lunged forward, I ducked away in haste, but its long claws still managed to dig gashes into my back. That pain...it was nothing like the one I felt when the Kuchiki monster hurled me through those walls. It felt like acid, and burned on with a relentless, seething fire. It looked like a wretched feral beast, yet it was something else - the embodiment of hatred, hatred towards our world.

I could have let it all end there. It would have been convenient, perhaps even beautiful. But as the feline demon lunged towards me again for the final strike, something curious happened. As I stared into its sulphur-yellow eyes, its mouth that would open so wide it could devour the world, a single sentence came to mind, one I had read upon the walls of the barracks of the ill-fated Squad 6 of the Gotei 13…


--- DYING TO EXTERMINATE GREAT EVIL ---


If I would die there, the fiend would gorge itself upon my torn body and move further on its path of destruction. A Shinigami in exile is still bound to honor the will of Seireitei and protect those who cannot protect themselves.

"Ye lord!
Mask of blood and flesh
all creation, flutter of wings
ye who bears the name of Man!
Inferno and pandemonium
the sea barrier surges,
march on to the south!"

If this was to be my last spell, better show that thing how we deal with abominations like it. I pointed the whirling orb of cinnabar fire towards its gaping mouth, and as the beast howled one last time in anticipation, I released the demon-fire that clung to my hand for so long.

Hadō no sanjuuichi: Shakkahō!

When I woke up, the world was on fire. I remember smelling akin to smoked eel, my kimono’s arm burned to a crisp with my singed flesh underneath. So much pain...and yet, there was something else. A tiny songbird, pecking at the charred remains of what seemed to be a pinecone. It was greyish-blue, with a tender little beak and a crimson spot running from its neck towards the breast, as if it was wearing a tiny shawl.

It was the robin, this fragile little creature who has taught me the most valuable lesson, possibly in my entire life: No matter what you do, whether you win or you lose - in the end, the world doesn’t care. It will keep on turning, with or without you. This is how I hath forsaken the name Kanamaru, and took up the name of the unassuming, chirping little fellow - for the respect my old name once commanded and the now tarnished legacy were utterly trivial in these lands."


Akira struggled for years until she managed to gain her footing in the new, unknown world. The late Edo period was one of decline and great strife - she did her best to avoid the massive castle-towns of Edo, Osaka and Kyushu as the teeming mass of humanity made her uncomfortable and the constant noise obscured her already hazy senses. She traveled the rural countryside instead, following many a wanderer on their journey. She listened to monks tell their fables under shadowy willow trees, she sat with a spy atop roofs bathing in the faint light of a sickle moon - she even broke a ronin’s arm once, who tried to mug a group of young ladies traveling to one of the grand cities. It was a time of wonder, a time of curiosity - and a time of training aswell. She couldn’t allow herself to be cut down by beastly apparitions like the one she fought at Inari Mountain - she had to grow strong enough to take on the legendary Menos Grande, all without the awesome power of a zanpakutō.

Time seems to pass differently for us than for the mortals living under our protection. It is a curious revelation, and maybe it is just my ubiquitous lack of detailed memory...or maybe strict routine and self-discipline that makes every day seem like the one before. When I decided to stay in Kyoto, I did not think that I would once see people riding closed, coffin-like iron chariots which exuded black steam from their bowels., or soar to the heavens on great metal birds with tails of fire. The challenge of survival in that outlandish world became a mere nuisance during that century - I grew strong, stronger than I had ever imagined. Where I was the hunted in the early years of my exile, I soon became the hunter myself. In time I have fought packs of Hollows, cracking their masks with my bare hands. Not even the Menos, once terrifying gargants with the power to raze entire city blocks were more than a mere challenge. And while the coming of the Black Ships to Edo Bay was quite a sight to behold, it was not until recently that things picked up the pace again.

With the dawn of the modern era, life became increasingly fast, especially in the great cities of mainland Japan. Hollow attacks became more and more frequent as the population became more agitated with the changing lifestyles after industrialization. Akira soon found herself in another role, one she could scarcely pursue without ways to get around the countryside fast. While she wasn’t able to perform konsou, she deliberately sought out chained pluses to ease their pain and fear, helping them ease into passing over. Everything became more vibrant, more lively, more bright and cold. She became the sentinel of Downtown Kyoto, a wingless angel, vigilante shinigami extraordinaire, seated atop newly built skyscrapers just to swoop down at the first sight of the enemy. She felt like one of those superheroes from faraway lands - and given the landscape, her ornate Yoroi might have even doubled as a costume. She bloomed anew in this eccentric new world, squatting in abandoned buildings, listening to foreign music - and atop of the extensive lessons she took on mortal martial arts over the decades, she eagerly learned at least a dozen fresh forms of dance and became a real connossieur for the weird western beat-poetry they would call “hip-hop”.




Chapter Three: Natsuki



"Are you expecting me to tell another sappy love story? We were warriors, she and I. She did what was asked from her, I did what I had to do. None of this “love at first sight” silliness. We were vary of eachother - she was Squad 6, I was an exile, but the Gotei 13 had only so many resources to spare. She needed the help, despite being an officer - and not a single time did she ask why I had to remain here. I highly doubt she assumed that I was on an extended watch, not without a gigai, not without a zanpakutō. You knew why I stuck to her? Because she never asked questions, she only asked for my assistance. From the day we met seven years ago, to the day she passed away.

It was not before long that we began treasuring eachother’s company. It was a dangerous game - Sozen was still her captain, and there was a voice somewhere in the back of my head screaming treachery every time we touched, despite knowing that the head of the Kuchiki clan could descend from the heavens at any time he desired to erase me from this existence. We were all but isolated, she herself stated that we would not get help in case things turned sour, and yet we had to learn how to survive against threats much greater than the ordinary Hollow incursion."
 

Natsuki Tamura was an unseated officer of Squad 6 under the command of Sozen Kuchiki himself. She was dispatched on an extended mission to Kyoto, to report on the appearance of Menos-level incursions in the metropolitan area, and to keep an eye out for the elusive Arrancar heralding these rifts. A well-rounded shinigami with a knack for healing arts, Akira and her had a complicated relationship which would be best described as alleycats circling eachother, at least initially. The neccessity of cooperation however became apparent soon, as even mask-torn Gillians were a fair match to their capabilities. After years of forced cooperation, the two became a team - they complemented eachother perfectly, with Natsuki acting as Akira’s eyes and ears (and occasional mobile infirmary) while she would deliver the bone-shattering blows stemming from two centuries of hand-to-hand training and a reiatsu reminiscent of a vice captain. Their fights grew increasingly severe, and as the days turned ever darker, Natsuki and Akira form a bond so close, so intimate that they would take it with them to the grave.

And so it happened. A monstrously powerful Arrancar by the name of Lagos Oscuras would be the one to end their star-crossed romance. They attacked her in an abandoned factory - she retaliated in kind, her release leveled the building within a few seconds. Nobody had managed to go toe to toe with Akira during the past decades, yet it felt as if the Arrancar was just toying with her all along. After a few minutes of the cruel dance she smashed the exile into a massive chimney. Soon thereafter her attention turned towards Natsuki, flexing her entire might to break the ethereal chains of Sajō Sabaku the young girl conjured to hold the abomination in place before she could finish Akira off. Selfless and brave, she stood unfazed as the unmasked Hollow charged her...the white-clad arm stabbed through her abdomen and shortly afterwards Lagos threw her shocked body to the ground like a menstrual cloth. Breaking the high level Bakudō took its toll however, and as the phoenix arises from its ashen grave, Akira stood up from the rubble, heavily injured, and blasted the vile apparition with a full incantation Hadō #63 - Raikōhō. The massive discharge singed the surprised creature to the point where she could barely stand - the battle was over, but only two of the combatants would see the end of the day.



Please don’t go...I want you to stay...I’m begging you, please...please don’t leave here!






A moment of silence. For the last words she exchanged with her beloved soulmate would only be profaned by typing them out.





Chapter Four: Riven


- Lagos Oscuras...you disgusting, heartless monstrosity...I will hunt you to the ends of the world, even if my legs are ground to the bone...The next time we meet, I will tear you to pieces. I swear by my sword...and the one you've taken from me.

She walked away from the battle like a beaten dog. Never again would this happen. Fueled by furious anger, her demeanor changed to that of a raging she-demon, who would massacre every single Hollow she could lie her hands upon. A stark lapse of her protective duties followed, as she adopted a grueling, new schedule to brace herself for the coming battle with her sworn enemy. She knew it was impossible to win that battle at the state she was in. Natsuki’s last gift to her was an asauchi, frightened to death by the gruesome passing of its owner. Akira vowed to nurse it back to health, and make it a weapon Natsuki would be proud to see. A weapon - no, a companion she can change the world with.

Akira left for the remote volcanic island of Minami-Iōtō to hide away from the world she once protected, seeking solace in loneliness and a place where she could surmount her grief. Kyoto was no place to be anymore - every square, every café, every famous street corner reminded her of the wondrous, turbulent years she spent with the young shinigami she held so dear. She had to leave it behind, shrug it off like old clothes, even though she knew it was impossible. Even her rage could only have lasted so long - after weeks and months of intense training she managed to calm herself enough to start putting everything into place. She became silent, lonesome even and started to wear her melancholy like a fine scarf. This time of quiet introspection helped her to connect with the only thing remaining that allowed her to connect with the deceased - the zanpakutō, who revealed herself as Minakata Suzaku, Firebird of the South.

"Back then I didn’t understand the nature of her...no, my zanpakutō. It was only during my return to Kyoto where I realized how much she has mellowed out during our long, quiet peace. I spoiled her to no end, and she was very talkative indeed, which made me happy as she was the only person I could talk to. She helped me transcend my brutish existence...she gave me the class I should have always cherished...she taught me to embrace my heritage and use it to my advantage. But when I needed to call upon her power, she often grew unruly, not wanting to tarnish her feathers with the blood of common poultry, refusing to aid me in my battles should the opposition not be of her class. I laid down the need to draw on her flames all too often, however I still feel that she treats me like a child sometimes, which has to stop if we are looking to run after that vile monster. "

Unfazed by the pickiness of her zanpakutō, she soon began a new form of training - one that would lead her back to the roots she could not, and would not excise. She started to adopt a new role, one that would allow her to close down these dark chapters of her life - by grooming herself to be a captain of the Gotei 13. She grew elegant, learned how to exercise presence, how to pose herself and which mannerisms to use to inspire or intimidate. Minakata Suzaku grew supportive and started to like her as she heeded her advice, even though sometimes a little reluctantly. And as the long awaited hell butterfly that would call her back to Soul Society landed on her gloved fingertip, she softly smiled one last time at Kyoto, the city she protected, the place where she had the most precious years of ther life.




-Thank you.

[Akira "Komadori" Kanamaru]

Ready for grading, phew!

[Johnwaluigi]

Sorry this took so long! I’ll be the first line of grading on this.

So, the first thing to talk about are your Personality, Appearance and Fighting Style. While they do exceed the minimums, I unfortunately don’t consider them detailed enough for a Class 2 Application. If you were to perhaps add 2 or 3 paragraphs to each section, I would consider this for a Class 2 App. This will of course affect what kind of techniques you can learn, bu I do like how they are broken up by section, though! It makes it a nice easy read. Also, a note on your Fighting style, I’d just like you to know that all stated proficiencies in various martial arts/acrobatics will need the appropriate Stats (Speed and Instinct) and Skills (Martial Arts, Weapons, Acrobatics).

Your History is fantastic! I enjoyed it a lot.

So now, onto the Powers. Let’s tackle this section by section.

Overall Ability: You do not need to specify which Offensive Stat your Release uses for its various parts. The lance and wings can both use the highest of your Strength, Spiritual Pressure and Reiatsu Strength.

Shikai Overall Ability: All of the effects seem fine, but I do have a few suggestions. Firstly, when you dash towards someone on Air Ground, I would just remove the fact that they need 100 Instinct to react. The problem with some hard line like that is that there are many situations where context acts either in your favour or against you. Skills could also mitigate/improve reaction time. I would just recommend that you include some kind of limit on the fire invulnerability. I’d recommend that if you’re attacked by Fire with an Offensive Stat greater than 1.5x times your own, it bypasses your protection. Superior Class techniques should also bypass it.

Bankai Overall: I wouldn’t recommend that you have flat value scaling for OS increases in your Abilities. Multipliers are generally the preferred way to do those kinds of things. Also, I would like to remind you that Bankai’s max Class can only be at a maximum of Class 1 - not Class 0. Bankai also does not have ‘levels of mastery’, once you learn it - you have it. Though if you want to include some scaling with time, I’m all for that. I do like the Fire Orbs, but I’d also recommend that you give them a static speed. I’d recommend 1200 for a Bankai projectile!

Techniques: Blazing Phoenix Plumage: So, 7 projectiles are probably quite a lot - and increasing by 7 per Class is pretty strong. I’d recommend reducing the number of projectiles, and removing the ‘frontward arc’ restriction. It would be quite a bit more versatile like that. I’d also remove the scaling speed per Class, and just make it a boost when used in Bankai - perhaps going from 600 to 1000.

Fire-Scarlet Guardian Defence: Again, I’d recommend removing the scaling per Class - the Class boost is enough of a strength boost - but you can increase the multiplier from 1.5x to 2x in Bankai - seeing as it’s only effective in defensive clashes. Again, you don’t have to specify the stat you use for the defence, it will automatically be the highest of your RS and SpPr. However, I would prefer if it was a once per post technique, with a 1 post cool down. You can remove the cooldown when used in Bankai, however.

Twin Falling Star: Again, I’d recommend removing the scaling per Class, and instead just have an increase when you use the technique in Bankai. I’d recommend a 25% boost for the Shikai attack, and a 50% boost for the Bankai attack.

Spear of the Seven Suns: I don’t quite understand this technique. Does it consume one of your orbs to boost one of your attacks? If so, I wouldn’t recommend another boosting technique - you may not be able to use anything too many times due to the rulings on short term stat boosts.

Aspect of a Thousand Summers: Again, I would recommend changing the function of this technique. I do really like the idea of adding the Fire Property for things, but I think you should remove the short term stat boost. Perhaps add burning properties to techniques?

Crimson Lotus Resurrection: I do love this technique! I wouldn’t change a thing.

Well, with those changes or suggestions - I’m looking forward to see where you take these powers going forward!

[Akira "Komadori" Kanamaru]

Sections have been expanded as requested.

ZAN UPDATES
Overall Ability: specification cleared

Shikai Overall Ability: stat specification removed, clarified the "cosmetic" resistance, added "true" fire resistance vs OS sub 1.5x/techniques of lower or equal class

Bankai Overall Ability: fire resistance OS changed to 2x from flat values, bird speed changed to 1200, orbs changed to concise values at Class 2-0 respectively, mastery removed.

Blazing Phoenix Plumage: Changed wording on the ignition, removed fixed arc, speed boost fixed to 1000 in Bankai, removed additional feathers in Bankai.

Fire-Scarlet Guardian Defense: stat increase changed to 1.5x Shikai / 2.0x Bankai respectively. One use per post limit added with an additional cooldown of 1 post added for Shikai (gone in Bankai).

Twin Falling Star: scaling changed to 25% and 50% increase respectively.

Spear of the Seven Suns: Changed ability to cause massive burns instead of providing stacking boosts to RS.

Aspect of a Thousand Summers: removed the overall stat boost to fire-type Kidou, moved the fire-type infusion to the general ability of the technique with the orb providing an increase in Class for the fire-type Kidou used for more bang (should be no problem since it brings the high ones up to Bankai strength - Class 1 at maximum).

[Johnwaluigi]

Each of the sections are great now, I have no qualms recommending this to be a Class 2 application!

Shikai Overall ability is good - though I still think you should remove the scaling by Class. I’d recommend just a flat 20 metres around her. If you want to include this effect in Bankai, you can increase the range there.

Bankai Overall Ability looks good.

Blazing Phenix Plumage doesn’t need a drawback that scales with Class - I would just say that it can be used once per post in Shikai, and up to 3 times per post in Bankai.

Fire-Scarlet Guardian Defense is mostly good, I just think it should also have some other kind of drawback. My recommendation is that she cannot fly the post after she uses this technique, given she has just used her wings for defence. So the technique becomes trading mobility for defence.

Twin Falling Star is good.

Spear of Seven Suns is almost good - I’d just remove the stat boost associated with it. The amount of damage the technique does on impact is already devastating enough.

Aspect of a Thousand Summers sounds good to me! It has a high ceiling, but I’d be interested to see how you can use it. I may suggest that the second grader implements a ‘per-technique’ cost for it, but I can’t think of any immediate problems of it being a passive.

Crimson Lotus Résurrection is still good.

So, once those final changes are made - I’d be happy to give my 1/2, with a recommendation for Class 2 and your desired Rank!

[Akira "Komadori" Kanamaru]

Thanks for looking over it again

Shikai Overall range changed to 20m.

Blazing Phoenix Plumage drawback changed as requested.

Fire-Scarlet Guardian Defense changed as requested, although I added a clause that allows her to fly on after discarding and re-summoning the wings, adding a 100 Reiatsu surcharge, since it feels logical. If that needs a nerf I'll be happy to implement it, just an idea tbh.

Spear of the Seven Suns: stat boost removed, unsure if it would even have made sense since SPR won't be a strong stat prolly anyways

[Johnwaluigi]

1/2'd!

[Deleted]

>_>

Color me suspicious that I didn't notice anything that stood out to me as problematic, but I think that's just thanks to John's excellent first grading. I honestly don't see any problems with this app except the Faceclaim.

I'm perfectly fine 2/2'ing this and giving you 1,000 starting SP.

[Akira "Komadori" Kanamaru]

✵. A K I R A ' S . P O I N T . B A N K . ✵

◈◈◈ . T O T A L . P O I N T S . ◈◈◈

Class: 2

Type: SPIRITED

Rank: 2

CTP SPENT: 8000

TTP SPENT: 0

SP: 1000
SkP: 15
Ryo: 30,000

◈◈◈ . S T A T S . ◈◈◈

A T T R I B U T E S

Strength: 100
Speed: 150
Reiatsu Strength: 350 [525]
Spiritual Pressure: 200 [300]
Instinct: 100 [65]
Senses: 100 [65]
Energy Sensory: 0
Light aura: 60
Dark Aura: 40
Healing Expertise: 0 [LOCKED]

REIATSU POOL: 3000/3000

S K I L L S

Weapons (Zanjutsu): [1]
Weapons (Sojutsu): [2]
Martial Arts (Hakuda): [3]

Martial Arts (Tae Kwon Do): [1]
Martial Arts (Aerial Combat): [2]
Acrobatics: [2]
Strength of Will: [1]
Battle Analysis: [1]
Damage Recovery: [1]
Charisma: [1]

◈◈◈ . I N V E N T O R Y . ◈◈◈

◈◈◈ . T E C H N I Q U E S . ◈◈◈

Hohō

Zanjutsu

Hakuda

Kidō

◈◈◈ . P U R C H A S E . H I S T O R Y . ◈◈◈

◈◈◈ . F I N I S H E D . T H R E A D S . ◈◈◈