Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2020 15:23:20 GMT -5
-Opening-
Discord Username: Streak
Password 1: Black Hole
Password 2: Moon Pray
Type: Fighter Version 2
Squad: Squad 11 (Future)
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-Basic Information-
Name: Sora, Ryoichi
Age of Death: 6
Real Age/Age of Appearance: 68/24
Birthday (Month/Day): 05/21
Blood Type: A-
RP Sample (Optional): [Insert Here]
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-Appearance-
Height/Weight: 6'-182cm / 165lb-75kg
Physical Description:
{General Appearance}
If anyone were to share their first impression of Ryoichi with you, then they would probably label him as "unremarkable". Yes, Ryoichi Sora is not special by any means; he is no freak of nature, he still possesses all his limbs, and wanders around with a blank expression in his face. Having died when he had just ended the transition between todler and child, he has had 62 years to turn into a young man. He went from being a smallish boy into a well-developed adult, with pale, smooth skin (although usually specked with dirt), a lithe, lean frame, and well-proportioned limbs. Said skin was devoid of marks at first, but his years in the 55th district left him with small cuts and bruises that ended up becoming a permanent feature, albeit they are barely noticeable and one can only see them upon closer inspection.
Ryoichi moves quietly, never taking up much space, as if making himself smaller in the eyes of others. On the rare occasion he is speaking, he tends to avoid grand gestures, over the top movements, and displays of agility. Instead, he favors efficiency and calculated movements. This is a habit he picked up early on during his childhood, due to his gentle and timid nature, and has stuck to him ever since. More often than not, this results in him scaring people involuntarily since they were not expecting him to be there.
When it comes to his hair, he has very long, somewhat wavy, reddish brown hair that cascades well past his shoulders. The tips oddly, possess a more intense shade of that red hue than the rest of the hair; these are not dyed, as much as people insist on asking. Ryoichi does not really care for fashionable haircuts: he only keeps his bangs shorter so that he has no trouble seeing around. He usually keeps the rest of it out of becoming a nuisance by tying it on a ponytail. Whenever he does not, it proves to be much wilder than its owner, refusing to stay down and giving him a much more unkempt look; still, it is much softer and pleasant to the touch than what it may originally seem. Whenever drying his hair with a towel, it ends up resembling a lion's mane, but as it settles down when it gets dry.
If anyone were to share their first impression of Ryoichi with you, then they would probably label him as "unremarkable". Yes, Ryoichi Sora is not special by any means; he is no freak of nature, he still possesses all his limbs, and wanders around with a blank expression in his face. Having died when he had just ended the transition between todler and child, he has had 62 years to turn into a young man. He went from being a smallish boy into a well-developed adult, with pale, smooth skin (although usually specked with dirt), a lithe, lean frame, and well-proportioned limbs. Said skin was devoid of marks at first, but his years in the 55th district left him with small cuts and bruises that ended up becoming a permanent feature, albeit they are barely noticeable and one can only see them upon closer inspection.
Ryoichi moves quietly, never taking up much space, as if making himself smaller in the eyes of others. On the rare occasion he is speaking, he tends to avoid grand gestures, over the top movements, and displays of agility. Instead, he favors efficiency and calculated movements. This is a habit he picked up early on during his childhood, due to his gentle and timid nature, and has stuck to him ever since. More often than not, this results in him scaring people involuntarily since they were not expecting him to be there.
When it comes to his hair, he has very long, somewhat wavy, reddish brown hair that cascades well past his shoulders. The tips oddly, possess a more intense shade of that red hue than the rest of the hair; these are not dyed, as much as people insist on asking. Ryoichi does not really care for fashionable haircuts: he only keeps his bangs shorter so that he has no trouble seeing around. He usually keeps the rest of it out of becoming a nuisance by tying it on a ponytail. Whenever he does not, it proves to be much wilder than its owner, refusing to stay down and giving him a much more unkempt look; still, it is much softer and pleasant to the touch than what it may originally seem. Whenever drying his hair with a towel, it ends up resembling a lion's mane, but as it settles down when it gets dry.
{Face Specifics}
When left to his own devices, without interacting with anyone else, Ryoichi's visage is eerily blank and empty, a clean slate for any interaction that may arise. His face is not angular by any means, yet it is not round or pudgy either. It may almost remind one of the face of a child that was forced to grow up way too soon, as if it did not belong in that adult body.
His eyes wander around slowly, always unassuming, without passing judgement. Small, and reddish brown in color, they are but a means to discern his surroundings. Only when he is moved by the beauty of life, when interacting with those dear to him, and during more intimate encounters do they light up and show his peaceful state of mind, proving that he is indeed a human being and not an emotionless robot. The opposite, however, is also true. Should anyone be on the receiving end of a cold glare, then they are well past the point of no return.
Above the eyes, one can find thin eyebrows of a slightly darker brown than his hair. hey areA slightly pointy nose and a small mouth add up to complete the full the picture, none of those features unique enough to become a way to identify him. No, they could never be, because if there is something worth noting about his face, then it would have to be the mark on the left side of his forehead.
Arguably the only distinctive feature that Ryoichi possesses, the aforementioned scar is the result of the acidic touch of the Hollow that almost managed to prey on his soul back when he died so many years before. Somehow colder to the touch than the rest of his skin, it has a dark-brown coloration and somewhat resembles a flame-like pattern, and although the other young souls often mocked him for it, Ryoichi never seemed to care that they did: it is no more than a scar without any particular or special meaning.
Facial hair seems to elude him; no matter how much he would like to grow a beard, he just cannot seem to do it. This also applies to the rest of his body, even though he is well past puberty. Perhaps it is somehow still too soon for him? Or maybe it all went to his normal hair? At the very least, he has no double chin or pudgy neck to hide that would need a beard to remain hidden.
When left to his own devices, without interacting with anyone else, Ryoichi's visage is eerily blank and empty, a clean slate for any interaction that may arise. His face is not angular by any means, yet it is not round or pudgy either. It may almost remind one of the face of a child that was forced to grow up way too soon, as if it did not belong in that adult body.
His eyes wander around slowly, always unassuming, without passing judgement. Small, and reddish brown in color, they are but a means to discern his surroundings. Only when he is moved by the beauty of life, when interacting with those dear to him, and during more intimate encounters do they light up and show his peaceful state of mind, proving that he is indeed a human being and not an emotionless robot. The opposite, however, is also true. Should anyone be on the receiving end of a cold glare, then they are well past the point of no return.
Above the eyes, one can find thin eyebrows of a slightly darker brown than his hair. hey areA slightly pointy nose and a small mouth add up to complete the full the picture, none of those features unique enough to become a way to identify him. No, they could never be, because if there is something worth noting about his face, then it would have to be the mark on the left side of his forehead.
Arguably the only distinctive feature that Ryoichi possesses, the aforementioned scar is the result of the acidic touch of the Hollow that almost managed to prey on his soul back when he died so many years before. Somehow colder to the touch than the rest of his skin, it has a dark-brown coloration and somewhat resembles a flame-like pattern, and although the other young souls often mocked him for it, Ryoichi never seemed to care that they did: it is no more than a scar without any particular or special meaning.
Facial hair seems to elude him; no matter how much he would like to grow a beard, he just cannot seem to do it. This also applies to the rest of his body, even though he is well past puberty. Perhaps it is somehow still too soon for him? Or maybe it all went to his normal hair? At the very least, he has no double chin or pudgy neck to hide that would need a beard to remain hidden.
{Clothing}
Ryoichi owns little clothing of his own, and cares not about fashion. Clothes are simply something made to stay warm and cover what must not be seen, and thus he treats them as such. There are, however, two particular pieces of clothing that constitute his original attire and that he favors over all others: red haori over an orange kimono. The young man wears them not because of the material, nor because they are his favourite colors. He does so due to the sentimental attachment he has towards those. In fact, Ryoichi will wear these instead the Shinigami uniform even when it is uncalled for: it is one of the only things he simply will outright refuse changing, much to the dismay of his superiors. A rather stark contrast given his usually meek self, and thus, they typically let it slide.
To cover his legs he wears the Shinigami's typical hakama which is the only part of the uniform that he does wear correctly. He completes the look with sandals, cheap and easy to find, although he tended to go barefoot during his years in the Rukongai. As far as accessories go, he does not sport anything other a white sash that he uses to keep the kimono and hakama in place. He ties it at the front, which is not the most stylish of choices, but at least allows for an easy fix in case he needs to adjust it.
While rare, it is possible to see him out of those clothes: whenever he has taken them back to get mended, when he has to clean them, or simply when facing a battle in which they'd get destroyed, he instead wears the usual Shinigami uniform. Ryoichi has barely other clothing, as he had always lived life as a poor soul and had no money to spend on them, thus, he has no habit to go buy new outfits or change his existing ones, instead endlessly getting them mended even when they are so tattered that there seems to be no possible fix.
Of course, he did not keep any of his clothing from when he died; even if he had, it would have made no difference for they would be way too small for him now.
Ryoichi owns little clothing of his own, and cares not about fashion. Clothes are simply something made to stay warm and cover what must not be seen, and thus he treats them as such. There are, however, two particular pieces of clothing that constitute his original attire and that he favors over all others: red haori over an orange kimono. The young man wears them not because of the material, nor because they are his favourite colors. He does so due to the sentimental attachment he has towards those. In fact, Ryoichi will wear these instead the Shinigami uniform even when it is uncalled for: it is one of the only things he simply will outright refuse changing, much to the dismay of his superiors. A rather stark contrast given his usually meek self, and thus, they typically let it slide.
To cover his legs he wears the Shinigami's typical hakama which is the only part of the uniform that he does wear correctly. He completes the look with sandals, cheap and easy to find, although he tended to go barefoot during his years in the Rukongai. As far as accessories go, he does not sport anything other a white sash that he uses to keep the kimono and hakama in place. He ties it at the front, which is not the most stylish of choices, but at least allows for an easy fix in case he needs to adjust it.
While rare, it is possible to see him out of those clothes: whenever he has taken them back to get mended, when he has to clean them, or simply when facing a battle in which they'd get destroyed, he instead wears the usual Shinigami uniform. Ryoichi has barely other clothing, as he had always lived life as a poor soul and had no money to spend on them, thus, he has no habit to go buy new outfits or change his existing ones, instead endlessly getting them mended even when they are so tattered that there seems to be no possible fix.
Of course, he did not keep any of his clothing from when he died; even if he had, it would have made no difference for they would be way too small for him now.
{Inner Hollow}
Ryoichi's Inner Hollow is named, quite aptly, Amenaza. On first glance, Amenaza is also somewhat unremarkable when it comes to his appearance, appearing as a shorter man than Ryoichi, with short, black hair, paler skin and red eyes. The hollow does carry himself with far more grandiosity than Ryoichi, thinking highly of itself. In fact, his gesturesare not unlike Soul Society's noble, being similar enough to make one ponder where in the world did it manage to copy them from. Similarily to those nobles, its gaze is filled with pride, and whenever he looks at his counterpart, it does so with hatred and disgust.
Oddly enough, it also has something akin to fashion sense, often sporting an outfit far more classy than his the Shinigami's old haori and kimono. Thus Amenaza is usually seen in a suit when out of combat; socks, belt, shoes and all. In fact, each time they are different, showing that the Hollow actively tries to look as good as possible, even if the only ones that may be able to see him are Ryoichi and his Zanpakuto's Spirit. At times it even wears a hat, and although this is one of the more questionable choices pertaining its attire, he will allow no mockery to it. Never, never, disrespect the fedora.
When engaging in battle, all bets are of and its appearance changes drastically. All bets are off: Amenaza's hair grows longer and turns white, shedding those clothes and revealing a toned human, yet monstruous body, with sturdier, scaly red flesh covering his limbs as well as part of his head and torso, specially his legs. One can easily see how the previously human-looking monster is, well, a monster: on this flesh, a myriad of smaller mouth appear, each of them with a set of razor-sharp teeth that can be used not only to attack, but to consume his victims as well. His hands and feet grow claws, fangs become prominent on his mouth, and it looks far more menacing than when it was just a man in a suit.
Ryoichi's Inner Hollow is named, quite aptly, Amenaza. On first glance, Amenaza is also somewhat unremarkable when it comes to his appearance, appearing as a shorter man than Ryoichi, with short, black hair, paler skin and red eyes. The hollow does carry himself with far more grandiosity than Ryoichi, thinking highly of itself. In fact, his gesturesare not unlike Soul Society's noble, being similar enough to make one ponder where in the world did it manage to copy them from. Similarily to those nobles, its gaze is filled with pride, and whenever he looks at his counterpart, it does so with hatred and disgust.
Oddly enough, it also has something akin to fashion sense, often sporting an outfit far more classy than his the Shinigami's old haori and kimono. Thus Amenaza is usually seen in a suit when out of combat; socks, belt, shoes and all. In fact, each time they are different, showing that the Hollow actively tries to look as good as possible, even if the only ones that may be able to see him are Ryoichi and his Zanpakuto's Spirit. At times it even wears a hat, and although this is one of the more questionable choices pertaining its attire, he will allow no mockery to it. Never, never, disrespect the fedora.
When engaging in battle, all bets are of and its appearance changes drastically. All bets are off: Amenaza's hair grows longer and turns white, shedding those clothes and revealing a toned human, yet monstruous body, with sturdier, scaly red flesh covering his limbs as well as part of his head and torso, specially his legs. One can easily see how the previously human-looking monster is, well, a monster: on this flesh, a myriad of smaller mouth appear, each of them with a set of razor-sharp teeth that can be used not only to attack, but to consume his victims as well. His hands and feet grow claws, fangs become prominent on his mouth, and it looks far more menacing than when it was just a man in a suit.
Face Claim: Yoriichi Tsugikuni (Ryoichi Sora), Kibutsuji Muzan (Inner Hollow)
{Ryoichi Sora}
{Amenaza - Inner Hollow}
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-Personality-
{Likes:}
- Life: There are little things that can move Ryoichi as much as life. Not life as in living grand, but the concept itself. Watching new life being born, seeing all the inhabitants of the world communing in harmony and balance, and feeling himself part of something so large and grandiose is enough to make him emotional. To Ryoichi, all life is precious, and must be protected at all costs.
- Red Haori, Orange Kimono: These clothes are nothing special, but they were handwoven by the young woman herself when she found out Ryoichi passed the aptitude test to enter the Shinigami Academy. She planned on handing them to him once he graduated. She made them so he would not forget about her, and as her own little way to protect him from harm. Those represent one of the strongest bonds Ryoichi has ever had, and often handles them with great care.
- Music: be it sung, played, or a combination of both, although Ryoichi did not have the chance to meet someone that could properly play an instrument until he got to the Academy. He specifically enjoys listening to calm, relaxing tunes, since they make him feel more at peace with both the world and himself. If you want Ryoichi to relax and drop his guard, then inviting him to a place that has has pleasant music will be of great aid.
- Being outdoors: there is nothing better than getting out of the house and taking a deep breath of fresh air. Ryoichi loves spending time outdoors, be it ruminating on life itself, exercising, training, or simply being with his dear ones. In fact, one of the things he enjoys the most is sleeping out in the open, as dangerous as it may be. There are little things that beat falling asleep under a starry sky.
- Energetic people: as Ryoichi is quite passive in nature, he enjoys spending time with people that have a bright outlook on life, who are always ready to do anything, and who are, ultimately, fun to be around. This gives him nostalgic feelings and also helps him get out of his shell, so the company of these people is well-appreciated.
- Tea: nothing better to calm the nerves and soothe oneself than a boiling hot cup of tea. If it's cold outside, then you can expect to find Ryoichi ordering one cup in order to warm up before practice. It is also a good way to approach him if you want to become his friend, since it is one of the rare moments when you know he is fully open to conversation. Plus, you cannot go wrong, since he does not care for the type as he was never picky (his favourites are matcha and oolong tea, though!).
- Playing matchmaker: completely unexpected since he is incredibly oblivious to begin with, but Ryoichi thoroughly enjoys getting people he appreciates together so that the can be a bit more happy. Granted, he is awful at actually putting them in situations in which a relationship could blossom, and his romantic advice is lacking, but he is never ill-intentioned when trying to get a ship to sail (even if his attempts tend to backfire spectacularily). Plus, by the time he notices their feelings, it's usually obvious to everyone else.
- Carving: Ryoichi is quite adept at carving figures and instruments out of blocks of wood. When he was little, he was able to make a rudimentary sword for practice out of a tree, and his expertise has only improved ever since. Lately, he has been capable of even creating very basic flutes that actually sound quite nice, but understandably, these take him longer to complete, and thus spends more time on those than on other creations that require less fine-tuning. As a bonus, he does make rather cute animal sculptures, though few people know this.
- Food: since he had to feed himself and is awful at cooking, Ryoichi greatly appreciates a fine meal, as well as the skills of the one that has made it. Vegetables, fish, meat, desserts... whatever it is, you can be sure he is going to enjoy even if your cooking abilities are subpar, for his are abysmal. He will rarely leave anything on the plate, and will take seconds and even thirds if given the chance and he is not imposing on anyone. Needless to say, the quality and standards of food in the Sereitei continue to baffle him every single day. If only he was capable of cooking it himself...
- Intimacy: not of the physical, but of the emotional kind. Ryoichi is not someone who wears his heart on his sleeve, and bottles things up. Thus, while it's difficult to crack his tough exterior and get him to share his true thoughts and feelings, he thoroughly enjoys sharing a deep conversation with someone he is sure that he can trust. Again, this is a rare pleasure, and thus he greatly values having a confident.
- Battle: one of the most bizarre parts of Ryoichi's personality. Due to his upbringing, the young man should despise violence and everything related to it. However, Ryoichi has never felt more alive than when he fought to survive in the Rukongai. Something inside him simply sparks and sets his soul ablaze in a way that he cannot truly comprehend. The sheer exhilaration is enough to get him out of his semi-permanent stupor, lifting the haze of apathy that clouds his world.
- The blade: tying directly to what was stated above, there is something about swordsmanship that moves Ryoichi's soul. Graceful, precise movements that flow into each other as if they were water; fierce, strong attacks that would break the foe's defense like an avalanche, it does not matter. Ryoichi sees the blade as a form of art, an art that inexplicably draws him, a man who should by all means be a convinced pacifist after years and years of education.
- Zanpakuto (and its spirit): if the blade is the art, then the Zanpakuto is one's ultimate expression of it. This is why Ryoichi cannot help but to love his blade, carrying it everywhere he goes and treating it with great care, ensuring it remains clean and well-kept. Not only that, but the spirit herself, taking the form of a beautiful young woman, also happens to be someone you can have a delightful conversation with. She offers support and, while harsh at times, is wise enough to guide Ryoichi properly.
{Dislikes:}
- Convenience marriages: the mere mention of one of these is enough to cause his mood to shift, not because he has been forced to marry, but because of the way one of those threw his life out of the window. To a convenience marriage, not only did he lose Aria, but he also sacrificed his principles and beliefs in order to save her from it, seeing how he was the main reason she agreed to marry in the first place. Indirectly, seeing one makes him reflect on his own weakness and inability to save those dear to him.
- Economics: This is why he was relegated to simply being his father's errand boy back in the Rukongai. Ryoichi just cannot wrap his head around the more complex aspects of money, other than the fact that it can be traded for various goods and services, while being earned by providing your own. He is terrible at handling the finances of, for example, a family; his budgeting ability is non-existant, and any overly-complex talk about money is enough to cause him to get lost in his thoughts.
- Intrusive people: Ryoichi is quite a private person. Those that impose themselves on him are not seen in a good light, even though this is not enough to trigger a negative response on him. He will make a note in his mind upon meeting such people in order to avoid them in the future. Of course, this does not mean he does not approve of those that want to get to know him; on the contrary. It's those who attempt to pry things out of him that get on his nerves.
- Betrayal: as someone with little close bonds, Ryoichi places great value on them. In his eyes, betrayal is one of the worst sins that can be commited. If he is the one on the receiving end, then make no mistake: there will be no hesitation when the time for retaliation comes, for in his mind, no matter what type of bond they shared, that was nothing more than a lie. Forgiveness? That got thrown out of the window the moment you chose to stick a knife in someone's back.
- Fashion: Yet another subject Ryoichi cannot comprehend. He does not care to bother understanding what's on season and what is not; he does not understand what goes well with what, and he has no interest on enhancing his personal appearance. The sheer frivolity associated with fashion in the upper echelons of Soul Society utterly repulses him. This does not mean he dislikes others wanting to look good, not at all; in fact, he will appreciate it and be sure to compliment a person whenever they are bringing their A-game.
- Alcohol: it dulls the senses and erodes the mind, leaves one open, exposed and vulnerable, renders you unable to control your actions at later stages and, on top of that, it gives one quite the hangover the next day. Thus, Ryoichi makes a point to avoid drinking alcohol as much as he can to stay sharp, both pysically and mentally. He does not judge those that choose to drink, however; this is more of a personal choice than anything else.
- Senseless violence: as a pacifist, this was to be expected. His parents made a fine and thorough job of imprinting a philosophy of non-violence in their child, and Ryoichi took their lessons to heart. Thus, he rarely, if ever, resorts to violence unless it's the only possible choice, and even then he will still harbor some doubts about whether he is doing the correct thing or not. Of course, this is also conflicting with his love for battle and swordsmanship.
- Lengthy speeches: not being on the receiving end, but rather, being the one giving them. Ryoichi is a man of few words; thus, it is very, very difficult for him to give any kind of speech. He will often fumble with his words, attempting to sound serious, motivational, and funny all at the same time. According to him, one's actions always speak louder than words, and thus, he prefers to communicate that way. This dislike is directly tied to his inability to be a proper leader.
- Being conspicuous: throughout all his life, Ryoichi's presence has always been overshadowed by others'. Not that he has any problems with it; in fact, he loves it: that is why he hates to be in the spotlight. He will actively attempt to avoid the attention of bigger crowds: he is awful at being a decoy, and it is unlikely he will become the face of any squad he is in. Granted, this does not apply whenever he has donned a disguise. For example, with his Hollow mask, he'd feel far more comfortable in any of these situations.
- Lying: seeing how a man is as good as his word, Ryoichi despises lies, although not on quite the same level as betrayal. There is a clear distinction between them, however, as people may lie to others in order to protect them: white lies are fairly common, and thus everyone has lied at least once in their lives. Judging them all with such severity would be asinine; thus, it's only the worse kind of lies, the ones told to get out of something or gain some benefit at the expense of others, that Ryoichi cannot stand.
- Braggarts: as Ryoichi prefers to communicate through his actions, he dislikes those that run their mouths too much, whether they have any solid reason to flaunt themselves. If you are going to talk with that feeling of self-importance, there better be something to back your speech up. Bonus points if the person in question is not bragging about something that they can do themselves, but about a "power" granted through them through blood ties, connections, or money. Should you be able to live up to your words, then as much as Ryoichi dislikes that part of you, he will still respect you... slightly.
- Amenaza: Ryoichi's Inner Hollow is everything he despises mixed up, agitated, then served on the meanest glass possible. The creature's mere existance, as well as its views on life and its modus operandi are in direct opposition to the Shinigami's core beliefs and principles, and as such, the fact that it exists as a part of him makes him extremely uneasy. Not only that, but the young soul cannot deny that, in its own way, the creature has style, it speaks eloquently and is much more charming than him... if we don't account for the murdery vibes that it gives off, of course.
{Flaws:}
- Oblivious: Ryoichi is not very good at the more subtle aspects of social interaction. He can keep up with the basics of conversation, sure, but he finds it difficult to understand sarcasm and inside jokes, cannot pick up any romantic hints -which has lost him the interest of more than one lady- and has caused to become somewhat shy, as he simply cannot keep up and make friends as easily as others.
- Blunt: On the rare occasion that Ryoichi does speak his mind, he does so bluntly, without any filters. Once he gets to say something, you can be sure that he is not going to sugarcoat it in the slightest. This in turn can cause him to get in trouble, yet he still will not back down: Ryoichi simply does not know when to fold'em once shit hits the fan.
- Cares not for authority: goes hand in hand with his Blunt flaw. Usually, it is fairly simple to get Ryoichi to follow orders, but not because he respects a rank hierarchy. Most of the time he does not feel personally attached to the mission or duty at hand, and he has always been a follower, not a leader. However, give him an order that conflicts directly with his principles and/or current goals, and you can be sure that he will not do it. Not only that, but pressing him further will earn you a nasty response for sure. For example, he would never take a mission to kill innocent souls at the Rukongai with "balance" as an excuse, not giving a damn whether you are a lieutenant, a captain, or even the freaking captain commander.
- Domestically challenged: Cooking? Nope. Cleaning? Nuh-huh. Budgeting? What even is that? Ryoichi just cannot run a house. He thoroughly sucks at any type of domestic chore, and can barely manage to keep a room clean and functional: he is the type of guy that would start a fire making a salad. In fact, no matter how much he practices, he just cannot seem to improve in this area, and Soul King knows Aria has tried to teach him one too many times. At most, Ryoichi can wash his clothes, roast some meet on the fire, and make his bed/futon consistently.
- Cannot play an instrument: as much as he likes and enjoys music, he is utterly incapable of playing an instrument. He did spend some time trying to gain such a skill, but all the songs he has ever attempted to play ended up becoming a cacophony, a sad parody of the original. Perhaps if he had gotten over his initial failures, he may have practiced to the point of at least getting one song right, but he ultimately decided he was just that bad at it that he never tried again.
- Low alcohol tolerance: since he does avoid alcohol like the plague, get Ryoichi to down one drink and he's down for the count. As a matter of fact, his drunk type is completely random: he can be a sad drunk one day, only to be a rowdy, aggressive one the next. This is a great cause of embarrassment for him, although it can be quite amusing to watch from the outside! It is also one of the only ways to get his tongue truly loose while having a little fun in the process.
- Chronic pacifism: even though it is one of his greatest virtues, the fact that Ryoichi despises senseless violence leaves him quite, quite vulnerable, as he will rarely resort to violence and will attempt to reason with his foes first. Thus, it is highly unlikely that Ryoichi will strike first, and gives the enemy the advantage of a preemptive strike. His refusal to fight until shit hits the fan may end up costing innocent lives in the long run, at which point, he will harbor tremendous guilt because of his refusal to act sooner.
- Leadership: Ryoichi is way too meek when dealing with others to assume a leadership role. He operates better either alone or when taking orders, which is only to be expected after a lifetime of obedience and being dragged around by Aria. In the end, while he may be able to issue basic commands, he fails to consider what may affect his team's morale, and devising plans with each one of their strengths in mind on the fly is very difficult for him.
- Mentally Dissonant: Ryoichi was educated to be a pacifist. He was taught the value of life, and thus, he should despise all forms of violence. Yet, despite avoiding it, there is something about battle that inexplicably draws him in. This is often a point of mental turmoil for him, causing him to experience terrible guilt. This cognitive dissonance, this inner conflict, greatly scares Ryoichi. Is he, after all, one of the monsters his parents despised so much? Will he turn into one if he gives in to the lust for battle, even if it's against a Hollow?
{Habits:}
- Mindfulness: Ryoichi enjoys practicing mindfulness, usually through meditation, at least once a day when he has some time for himself. Ideally, he would like to do so outdoors and in a lovely scenery, such as near a waterfall, but since beggars can't be choosers he will be content with simply sitting on the ground for five minutes to meditate. Doing this allows him to keep a clearer head and remain, as usual, in full control of any emotions that may spontaneously arise.
- Swordplay: even without an opponent, Ryoichi tends to set aside time every single day to obssessively practice every single form and technique he has ever learned. This keeps him sharp and ready for any possible conflict, but more importantly, it hones and improves his mastery over the blade. Of course, as he progressess and achieves more dangerous sword techniques, this habit will become more difficult to maintain, as a Shinigami throwing a Class 1 or 2 technique just for practice could have disastrous consequences.
- Morning person: lately, Ryoichi gets up early, and we are talking crazy early, way before the sun even begins to rise. He enjoys the peace and quiet when everyone else is still asleep, and he finds it easier to fully focus on his training during the first hours in the morning until breakfast. His blade just seems sharper, his movements seem more limber, and he overall feels far better. Thus, he makes it a habit to get to bed early and wake up early, and gets slightly cranky whenever he is forced to stay up until late.
- Low voice: Ryoichi tends to speak in a low voice; not a whisper, but definitely not something you'd be able to hear standing more than three feet away from him. He does this because, on the rare occassions that he chose to talk, there was usually no need to raise hsi voice. Watch out for whenever he gets loud, however. If that happens, then you know that you have probably crossed a line that you were not supposed to. It's not that he will yell, but you will feel his speech becoming stronger than before.
- On time: Ryoichi tends to arrive a little early, or on the clock. He does not understand concepts such as being "fashionably late"; if you tell him to be on spot X at a time Y, then you can be sure that he will be there at precisely that hour, as long as he agrees to meet up of course. After all, he did give his word, didn't he? Expect a thorough apology in case something inexpected held him up and caused him to be late.
{Fears:}
- Uselessness: first, he was too weak to protect her. Then, when he was way too late to save, her. In the end, no matter what he did or how he prepared himself, Ryoichi failed miserably when it came to protect his friend, and has since developed a fear of being useless, of being deadweight that others have to care for. Being put in such a situation stirs so many bad memories that it may be enough to break his usually calm state of mind.
- Losing control: Ryoichi is not someone that feels strongly. Usually he tends to remain calm and nothing tends to faze him, so he rarely has to deal with more potent feelings. However, he is no robot, not by a long shot; in fact, him being emotionally distant also means that he is terribly ill-equipped to handle extreme emotions, such as rage, that may cause him to take actions he would surely regret later.
- Destroyed clothes: as the haori and kimono are his only remaining connection to Aria, getting them destroyed would equal to losing the only remain connection he ever had to her. Those garments represent her last will, a promise that she would continue to watch over him, and thus, it would be akin to lose her again should anything happen to them. Sure, it is something that will come to pass in time, due to the nature of the role a Shinigami plays, but emotions are not always logical.
- Loneliness: it seems strange for someone as reserved as Ryoichi, but it is simple to understand in context. He has never truly been alone, as he always had his parents and Aria alongside him, but that is not the case any longer. Thus, the young man is secretly afraid that he will not find other people that are able to fill the void left by them, specially given his somewhat lacking social skills and his quiet demeanor.
- Romantic Intimacy: of the physical kind. He has no experience with women at all, and while he longs for emotional intimacy, being that close physically to a girl seems unnatural, even though he is sure that he is straight. He would not now how to act: what does he do with his hands? How does he properly kiss? Would his partner like this, or that? The logistics are enough to cripple him, who tends to remain calm and composed in most situations.
{Goals:}
- Reconcile his feelings: Ryoichi loves to battle, yet he also despises violence. Sounds contradictory? It is, and it causes him to doubt and hate himself. It's a goal of his to find out why he is like this, and to teach himself to accept that enjoying the exhilaration of a proper fight and seeing the blade as a form of art does not inherently make him a bad person. If possible, he would like to find someone that has gone through something similar, and learn from them, because as things stand it does not seem like Ryoichi is going to drop the blade any time soon.
- Master his Zanpakuto: seeing it as the ultimate form of art, Ryoichi wishes to push his skills with his blade to the very limit. This does not mean only releases, though, but also with his form, technique, movements, etcetera. There are more aspects to wielding a sword than merely achieving Shikai or Bankai, and the young soul intendes to master all of them. Furthermore, as a Zanpakuto is also a companion, he also sees this as a way to commune with his Zanpakuto spirit, the proper means to show his weapon his utmost respect.
- Battle all the Gotei 13 captains: to someone that loves battle, the stronger an opponent, the better, and there is nobody stronger than the Gotei 13 squad captains, right? Ryoichi would like to test their mettle against them on equal ground someday; it does not matter whether he wins or loses. Simply put, it is the ultimate challenge for someone like him, perhaps because, indirectly, it would prove that he has more than enough power to protect those he cares about. Nobody capable of facing against them would be weak... right?
- Learn to properly communicate: even though he is content being more silent than others, Ryoichi finds it difficult to express himself. Thus, he'd like to learn how to speak from the heart, finding the correct words without fumbling, and overall improve his social skills. Maybe then he will be able to understand himself a bit better, too. Of course, he will have to take baby steps: speak more often instead of bottling things up seems like a good point to start, but that is easier said than done, is it?
- Develop new techniques: should his swordsmanship get to higher levels, Ryoichi would find great satisfaction in creating techniques, but not only for his own, mind you, but for the entire Gotei 13. Just imagine, seeing all the new trainees practicing on his own fighting style, adapting to variations he may have introduced to previously widespread techniques. If there was one source of pride for Ryoichi, then this one would have to be it.
Alignment: Neutral Good
{Overall Personality:}
Ever since he was a little boy, Ryoichi Sora has had a really hard time speaking his mind. No matter what kind of thoughts ran inside his mind or how deep they may have been, the words that came out of his mouth were rarely able to reflect them faithfully. Thus, at a very young age, before even dying during his life as a human, he simply stopped speaking. Not to the point of becoming a mute, but enough for people to think that there was something wrong with him. A child that did not cause any ruckus, that did not angrily complain nor stomp on the ground? Take him to a shrink and see what he can do. Even after his first death and subsequent adoption by that small family in Soul Society, he remained mostly silent. This, in turn, made him a pretty private person, suffering from a chronic disability to share his burdens unless it's with someone very, very close to him. He keeps his feelings mostly to himself, specially the more negative ones, so that he will bother nobody with them. This rendered him unable to develop proper communication skills, to the point that when he is truly telling you about his problems, he tends to make little sense.
Now, while he may be capable of following a conversation, the more nuanced and subtle arts such as sarcasm, innuendo and double-entendres just fly over his head. This is somewhat compensated by the fact that he somewhat understands body-language, something he has picked up from being quiet most of the time, but it is still not enough. You can be sure that Ryoichi will take whatever you tell him at face value without looking at the subtext, leaving him thoughtful when his interpretation ended up being completely wrong.
Ryoichi might be ill-equipped for communication, but that does not make him any less of a good friend. He is one to care deeply and greatly for those that manage to crack his outer shell and carve a small niche for themselves in his heart. If you need someone to listen to your problems and tell you their honest opinion while knowing that he is not judging you at all, then he should be your go-to man. If you want to celebrate a happy event, whether it is the accomplishment of a life-long dream or something simple that transpired in your daily life, then he will share that happiness without a single speck of envy or jealousy. If you need someone to set you up with another girl, then Ryoichi will be more than glad to help... but you're surely ruining your chances, because the poor bastard has no idea what he's doing. No, he is not a smooth guy, not in the slightest. In fact, he may be akin to sandpaper in that regard. Coarse, rough, and gets nowhere, unless the stars miraculously align and make him say the best words at the right time. Still, you can be sure that he's going to do his damn best to lend you a hand, and that he's doing it for you.
All this love for his friends, however, does not mean that he will be less reserved. Ryoichi will typically not share his problems with anyone, and only tells those close to him after they ask if something is wrong. Otherwise, he will choose not to trouble anyone with whatever is on his mind. Further attempts at prying things out of him, specially if done by someone he considers a stranger, will be have quite a nasty reception. He may begin by politely asking them to leave, but it won't take long for him to shift to a more imposing voice register, and then you truly know that there is going to be trouble.
Now, Ryoichi prefers to be around people that "cancel him out", those being the more energetic types with a bright outlook on life: the type of people that are like a hurricane and are always doing something interesting. Even though it may seem weird, getting dragged into their antics is not something he hates; on the contrary, he unexpectedly enjoys it. It brings an element of surprise and excitement that he just cannot seem to find otherwise, so you don't need to tell him to follow if he knows you and you want to do something interesting. It is around people like this that he can be seen smiling the most often, and that truly is a sight to behold, since his usual expression is vacant and empty, as if an invisible veil separated him from the rest of the world and caused him to look at them from a distance.
While Ryoichi does not want to be lonely, this does not mean that he cannot enjoy his time alone. It's quite simple: as long as he knows that there are people that appreciate him anyway, he does not need to be around them all the time. After all, as an introvert, he needs to spend some time away in order to recharge batteries, and this time is usually spent on meditating, taking a walk, visiting a new teahouse to try out, carving something... and most importantly, on honing his skills with the blade to their utmost limit. He is quite the geek when it comes to swordplay, enthusing about new techniques and viewing swordsmanship not unlike an aspiring artist marvels before a true masterpiece.
Yes, even though Ryoichi was raised as a pacifist, as a person that holds life sacred and that would not hurt a fly, his main interest should already already tell you that he is a walking contradiction. For some reason he cannot quite explain, perhaps due to his own nature or because of his inner hollow, he feels strongly drawn towards battle. Opposite to how being in commune with nature makes him feel like a part of something much bigger, fighting makes Ryoichi feel alive -ironically- through the selfish instinct of survival. The excitement, the exhilaration, his heart pumping him full of adrenaline, it is incredibly difficult to explain, but quite addictive once experienced for the first time. Harboring this dichotomy inside him tends to cause Ryoichi to hesitate, to doubt and hate himself, for if he was taught the value of life and that all violence was foul, why in the world would he enjoy it so bad? The paradigm enforced by his parents clashes with his very own nature, thus causing him existential pain.
Regardless of his love for battle, Ryoichi is not bloodthirsty, not by a long shot. It is the battle, not the killing, that he enjoys. In fact, the young man is one of the gentlest souls one could ever meet. His kindness and humility is thoroughly apparent upon just a few minutes of interaction with him; you just need to see the way he treats everyone and everything to become convinced of it. His gestures are caring, his gaze, when not vacant, is warm. In fact, none of the people who have known Ryoichi have never seen his eyes harbor any ill intent. None, except one.
It was one time, one time only. Ryoichi's eyes had contracted into a stare that froze him in place. It was not an anger that lashed out at everything around him. There was no screaming, there were no accusations. It was an anger and hatred fully focused on the target, quiet and reserved just as Ryoichi himself, but just as intense inside. At that time, the Shinigami was truly ready to kill, and he wanted to do it so badly that it felt like his stomach was burning. It was only through a brief moment of clarity that managed to muster enough willpower to drag himself out of the scene, sparing him a lifetime of regret for losing control. After all, his ethics and morality simply cannot allow killing for such a petty reason as revenge... and there he was, about to do it. This only added to the same existential pain stated above. What in the world was he even doing?
Amenaza's personality is quite different to Ryoichi's. Instead of seeing himself as a part of something bigger, he wishes to be on top, to claim his spot on the very peak, towering over all else. It thinks highly of itself, something reflected by its arrogant attitude and the care it puts into its overall appearance, even choosing to wear formal clothing as yet another symbol of status. This megalomania makes him far more difficult to subdue when out of control, as it is unlikely to relinquish any control it may have gained over. It is a proud creature, to the point that, despite how easy it would be to play with Ryoichi's mind by saying that it is the representation of its inner demons (his lust for battle), the creature will never say it because it refuses to lower its existance to that of the young Shinigami. There is nothing it would love more than to consume him so that he would never come out again, leaving him, the superior entity, in charge.
Unlike its host, Amenaza speaks eloquently, boasting a charisma that Ryoichi cannot help but to admire. Its confidence, how it conveys its thoughts, the vision behind his words, the way it can skillfully tug on the proper strings in people's hearts... truthfully, the Hollow may not be wrong in that Ryoichi, in truth, longs to be like it. It is almost scary how easily Amenaza can sweet talk and seduce people into doing its bidding, being seen as friendly, benevolent even. However, make no mistake: it would spare no second thoughts about killing someone if it helped further its goals or if there was no use for them anymore, regardless of how useful the sacrificed pawn may have been in the past. Life has no intrinsic value to him, other than how it can use it to its advantage. It is but a tool meant to be used and discarded accordingly.
It's incredibly easy to know when Amenaza has taken over Ryoichi. There is no need to even talk to him: just look into his eyes. Do you see arrogance and disdain? If you are, there is no mistake about it: you are dealing with the monster within.
Ever since he was a little boy, Ryoichi Sora has had a really hard time speaking his mind. No matter what kind of thoughts ran inside his mind or how deep they may have been, the words that came out of his mouth were rarely able to reflect them faithfully. Thus, at a very young age, before even dying during his life as a human, he simply stopped speaking. Not to the point of becoming a mute, but enough for people to think that there was something wrong with him. A child that did not cause any ruckus, that did not angrily complain nor stomp on the ground? Take him to a shrink and see what he can do. Even after his first death and subsequent adoption by that small family in Soul Society, he remained mostly silent. This, in turn, made him a pretty private person, suffering from a chronic disability to share his burdens unless it's with someone very, very close to him. He keeps his feelings mostly to himself, specially the more negative ones, so that he will bother nobody with them. This rendered him unable to develop proper communication skills, to the point that when he is truly telling you about his problems, he tends to make little sense.
Now, while he may be capable of following a conversation, the more nuanced and subtle arts such as sarcasm, innuendo and double-entendres just fly over his head. This is somewhat compensated by the fact that he somewhat understands body-language, something he has picked up from being quiet most of the time, but it is still not enough. You can be sure that Ryoichi will take whatever you tell him at face value without looking at the subtext, leaving him thoughtful when his interpretation ended up being completely wrong.
Ryoichi might be ill-equipped for communication, but that does not make him any less of a good friend. He is one to care deeply and greatly for those that manage to crack his outer shell and carve a small niche for themselves in his heart. If you need someone to listen to your problems and tell you their honest opinion while knowing that he is not judging you at all, then he should be your go-to man. If you want to celebrate a happy event, whether it is the accomplishment of a life-long dream or something simple that transpired in your daily life, then he will share that happiness without a single speck of envy or jealousy. If you need someone to set you up with another girl, then Ryoichi will be more than glad to help... but you're surely ruining your chances, because the poor bastard has no idea what he's doing. No, he is not a smooth guy, not in the slightest. In fact, he may be akin to sandpaper in that regard. Coarse, rough, and gets nowhere, unless the stars miraculously align and make him say the best words at the right time. Still, you can be sure that he's going to do his damn best to lend you a hand, and that he's doing it for you.
All this love for his friends, however, does not mean that he will be less reserved. Ryoichi will typically not share his problems with anyone, and only tells those close to him after they ask if something is wrong. Otherwise, he will choose not to trouble anyone with whatever is on his mind. Further attempts at prying things out of him, specially if done by someone he considers a stranger, will be have quite a nasty reception. He may begin by politely asking them to leave, but it won't take long for him to shift to a more imposing voice register, and then you truly know that there is going to be trouble.
Now, Ryoichi prefers to be around people that "cancel him out", those being the more energetic types with a bright outlook on life: the type of people that are like a hurricane and are always doing something interesting. Even though it may seem weird, getting dragged into their antics is not something he hates; on the contrary, he unexpectedly enjoys it. It brings an element of surprise and excitement that he just cannot seem to find otherwise, so you don't need to tell him to follow if he knows you and you want to do something interesting. It is around people like this that he can be seen smiling the most often, and that truly is a sight to behold, since his usual expression is vacant and empty, as if an invisible veil separated him from the rest of the world and caused him to look at them from a distance.
While Ryoichi does not want to be lonely, this does not mean that he cannot enjoy his time alone. It's quite simple: as long as he knows that there are people that appreciate him anyway, he does not need to be around them all the time. After all, as an introvert, he needs to spend some time away in order to recharge batteries, and this time is usually spent on meditating, taking a walk, visiting a new teahouse to try out, carving something... and most importantly, on honing his skills with the blade to their utmost limit. He is quite the geek when it comes to swordplay, enthusing about new techniques and viewing swordsmanship not unlike an aspiring artist marvels before a true masterpiece.
Yes, even though Ryoichi was raised as a pacifist, as a person that holds life sacred and that would not hurt a fly, his main interest should already already tell you that he is a walking contradiction. For some reason he cannot quite explain, perhaps due to his own nature or because of his inner hollow, he feels strongly drawn towards battle. Opposite to how being in commune with nature makes him feel like a part of something much bigger, fighting makes Ryoichi feel alive -ironically- through the selfish instinct of survival. The excitement, the exhilaration, his heart pumping him full of adrenaline, it is incredibly difficult to explain, but quite addictive once experienced for the first time. Harboring this dichotomy inside him tends to cause Ryoichi to hesitate, to doubt and hate himself, for if he was taught the value of life and that all violence was foul, why in the world would he enjoy it so bad? The paradigm enforced by his parents clashes with his very own nature, thus causing him existential pain.
Regardless of his love for battle, Ryoichi is not bloodthirsty, not by a long shot. It is the battle, not the killing, that he enjoys. In fact, the young man is one of the gentlest souls one could ever meet. His kindness and humility is thoroughly apparent upon just a few minutes of interaction with him; you just need to see the way he treats everyone and everything to become convinced of it. His gestures are caring, his gaze, when not vacant, is warm. In fact, none of the people who have known Ryoichi have never seen his eyes harbor any ill intent. None, except one.
It was one time, one time only. Ryoichi's eyes had contracted into a stare that froze him in place. It was not an anger that lashed out at everything around him. There was no screaming, there were no accusations. It was an anger and hatred fully focused on the target, quiet and reserved just as Ryoichi himself, but just as intense inside. At that time, the Shinigami was truly ready to kill, and he wanted to do it so badly that it felt like his stomach was burning. It was only through a brief moment of clarity that managed to muster enough willpower to drag himself out of the scene, sparing him a lifetime of regret for losing control. After all, his ethics and morality simply cannot allow killing for such a petty reason as revenge... and there he was, about to do it. This only added to the same existential pain stated above. What in the world was he even doing?
Amenaza's personality is quite different to Ryoichi's. Instead of seeing himself as a part of something bigger, he wishes to be on top, to claim his spot on the very peak, towering over all else. It thinks highly of itself, something reflected by its arrogant attitude and the care it puts into its overall appearance, even choosing to wear formal clothing as yet another symbol of status. This megalomania makes him far more difficult to subdue when out of control, as it is unlikely to relinquish any control it may have gained over. It is a proud creature, to the point that, despite how easy it would be to play with Ryoichi's mind by saying that it is the representation of its inner demons (his lust for battle), the creature will never say it because it refuses to lower its existance to that of the young Shinigami. There is nothing it would love more than to consume him so that he would never come out again, leaving him, the superior entity, in charge.
Unlike its host, Amenaza speaks eloquently, boasting a charisma that Ryoichi cannot help but to admire. Its confidence, how it conveys its thoughts, the vision behind his words, the way it can skillfully tug on the proper strings in people's hearts... truthfully, the Hollow may not be wrong in that Ryoichi, in truth, longs to be like it. It is almost scary how easily Amenaza can sweet talk and seduce people into doing its bidding, being seen as friendly, benevolent even. However, make no mistake: it would spare no second thoughts about killing someone if it helped further its goals or if there was no use for them anymore, regardless of how useful the sacrificed pawn may have been in the past. Life has no intrinsic value to him, other than how it can use it to its advantage. It is but a tool meant to be used and discarded accordingly.
It's incredibly easy to know when Amenaza has taken over Ryoichi. There is no need to even talk to him: just look into his eyes. Do you see arrogance and disdain? If you are, there is no mistake about it: you are dealing with the monster within.
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-History-
Birthplace: Japan
Current Residence: Soul Society
Memorable Figures:
Adoptive parents: the couple that took in Ryoichi when he ascended to Soul Society. Humble people to the core, they taught him that violence is always wrong, and to seek out any other possible ways to resolve conflicts. Their teachings are what caused Ryoichi to value life as the most precious thing in the world, turning him into a pacifist. This in turn caused him to harbor intense feelings of guilt when he discovered just how natural fighting felt to him.
Aria Hikari: His best, and possibly only friend during his years in the Rukongai, the two of them grew together and developed a strong affection towards each other. Aria was a strong, energetic girl that loved to go and play outside, and had an outstanding sense of responsibility. Although they were never involved romantically, Aria did indeed harbor feelings towards Ryoichi, feelings that, sadly, never got to blossom. Aria made him the clothes he wears over his Shinigami uniform.
{History:}
Ryoichi was born in Japan 35 years ago, as the first child of a newly wed couple. Of his previous life, Ryoichi does not remember much: he cannot picture who his parents were, what they did, not even their names, as he was forcibly ripped from them so soon that he had no chance to forge a lasting connection to them in his memory. He does not even remember how he died in the first place. Was it an accident? Was he killed? The answer to those questions is buried deep into the past. As a matter of fact, the young man's first, proper memory was his encounter with a Hollow, an event that spurred him to mature way too fast, way too soon.
It had been little after his first death. Of course, a Shinigami should have gone to his side in order to send the pure soul into Soul Society. However, it was not a Soul Reaper that got to him first; instead, what found him was a follow. If even an adult would panic upon first meeting such a beast, then a child would do so as well, yet Ryoichi did not show those signs of fear. Even when the Hollow grabbed him by the head in an intimidating gesture, he did not react. Perhaps his mind was still attempting to cope with his situation, or maybe he had become an empty husk already; but the Hollow, used to savor the fear in its prey, was distracted by his attitude for long enough to a proper Shinigami to swoop in and save the day. The rest of the encounter was fairly routine, for the Soul Reaper at least. He sent the soul to its proper place and moved along, not sparing another thought.
Thus, a young, lost Ryoichi Sora wound up at the 55th district of West Rukongai. It was not the worst of slums, by any means, but it was far less fancy and more difficult to live in than his previous neighborhood. Of course, a soul as young as his needed to be adopted in order to thrive there, and here lied the main problem. The child's quiet, reserved nature meant he had a hard time making friends, yet he was still taken in easily, as little people would leave a child on the streets even if the souls at Rukongai did not die of starvation. Luckily for him, his adoptive parents were caring, even if they barely managed to make ends meet. The child understood this quickly, thus never voiced any complaints and rarely spoke his mind. Perhaps this is why nobody noticed that the child was more special than anyone could tell at first glance.
Soon after being adopted, Ryoichi met a soul that might have been around his own age, albeit one born in the Rukongai. Her name was Aria Hikari and she was her neighbor, living just a couple of doors away from him. Aria's family got by through crafting and fixing clothing for the inhabitants of the district; it was a modest business, but they did honest work. As a child, she was much more energetic than the more passive Ryoichi, and usually dragged him around the district to play, taking an interest in him since the very first day.
During the first years in the Rukongai, Ryoichi's personality began taking shape. Influenced by his newfound parents, the child became a gentle boy that placed great value on life. He respected people's struggle to live with dignity even in they were on a district on the worse side of Soul Society. The boy's parents worked would work for his family by going on errands and
More often than not, their parents allowed both him and Aria some free time to enjoy themselves, seeing how they both worked hard to help them. The two kids' preferred activity was to go for a walk, losing themselves in nature. Ryoichi was fond of outdoor activities, and his friend would watch him become mesmerized by every single creature that may cross their paths. During one of these treks, however, Aria caught a glimpse of Ryoichi doing something she had never seen before. The boy went over to a tree, picked up an apple, and started nibbing at it, as quietly as always.
"What are you doing?", she asked, quite stranged by his sudden behavior. Souls did not need to eat, at least, your average souls did not need to do so.
"I'm hungry", he simply replied, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
As Aria found out a little later, Ryoichi had been feeding himself without putting any strain on his family, doing so by catching small rodents, eating wild fruit, and so on. Thankfully, their district's nature allowed him to stay somewhat nourished, even if he put himself in danger regularily to do so, as his security was not guaranteed by any kind of law enforcers.
In fact, his survival so far may have been either due to the boy making himself look small and unconspicuous without realizing it, or perhaps to sheer dumb luck. Being capable of feeling hunger meant one thing: he had spritual power. Ultimately, it did not matter too much, as she could not imagine the gentle Ryoichi becoming a Soul Reaper, and thus kept it to herself.
Now, it is worth to mention that, during his entire life in Soul Society, his parents had taught him the value of life, to respect it, to cherish it. They condemned every act of violence, seeing it as something foul and unnatural, as the only way in which souls could survive in their district was, to their belief, cooperation. These teachings had made their way to the gentle boy's heart, and he wholeheartedly supported and believed them. Years later, however, this view on the world would become compromised, and not by any traumatic event or dreadful experience. Instead, it came from within.
At times, Shinigami in the Sereitei would use a district of the Rukongai as their training grounds, such as Hokutan. Their reasoning was to use the lush vegetation to practice battle in a field with more limited vision. Thus, during one of the walks with Aria, the boy met the Soul Reapers for the second time, albeit at that moment he was able to pay closer attention to them, much unlike when he had first died. What he saw that day would become etched in him forevermore.
If all violence was foul, if it was never the way... then why was it that observing the Reapers practicing stirred something deep inside his soul? His eyes became fixated on the blade, but not on the trainees', but on the instructor's. He watched as it moved gracefully, one movement linking to the next in a display not unlike the most beautiful dance he had ever seen before. Of course, Aria dragged him away, not wanting to draw their attention unnecessarily, but that image had already been imprinted deep in his psyche.
A while after, his parents discovered him swinging a rudimentary wooden sword carved from a tree branch. Well, calling it sword would be overly generous, as its shape was uneven and Ryoichi was no expert craftsman by any means, but the shape was at least recognizable. Of course, they were quick to scold him and tell him to drop it off, ranting hysterically about all they had taught him and whether it had meant nothing to him. The boy listened, passive as always, and did as instructed... for the time being. The boy kept performing those movements in secret, over and over, attempting to recreate the same artful strikes he had witnessed. He was curious. He wanted to know more, to learn more, but he only had that memory to relive over and over.
The years went by, with both Ryoichi and Aria growing up. Although he barely noticed the changes in himself, the young man was well aware that his best friend had become quite a beautiful woman, and it was clear that he was beginning to harbor feelings towards her. Whether these were romantic, or just platonic love, was something that he was ill-equipped to understand, but it caused him no pain. They kept spending time together, struggling to help their parents, and sharing their thoughts with each other. During the last year before he entered the Shinigami Academy, Ryoichi noticed that Aria's behavior was off. She was not as energetic, was far more cautious, and preferred to stay inside and not leave the house unless it was strictly necessary. This got him lonely and worried, yet she assured him that everything was alright. Thus the young man, unable to read the room, failed to notice that things were not quite alright, not by a long shot.
Now, as apparently idyllic as this life was, one must remember that Ryoichi's district was well up in the numbers. Thus, they had their fair share of criminals to deal with on a frighteningly regular basis. While most encounters were easily solved by them giving them what they wanted and not making a fuss, some wanted more out of their victims. Unfortunately for the two of them, Aria was about to experience this hell firsthand.
It happened as they were returning home from a walk, after Aria's parents convinced her to leave with Ryoichi that day. They had been very insistant, so in the end, the young woman had given up and finally joined his friend for a quick trip to a nearby lake. When they returned, they did not do so to Aria's home, but to a raging fire that threatened to spread in every single direction. The building had been set ablaze by a group of men that waited for her, one of them sporting a particularily cheeky and satisfied grin.
Said criminal was member of one of the richest families in the district, and was, as a matter of fact, going to be come Aria's husband; a marriage based purely on convenience and as a mean to enrich both their families. But then, why was the whole gang of men there?
Simple. No matter how much much it would help her parents, Aria did not have it in her to marry that bastard, rejecting him every single time despite her father accepting the terms of the marriage, a fact that the "groom" had obviously not taken all too well. The man kept saying that it did not have to be that way, but that her own selfishness had forced his hand.
Ryoichi was not hearing anything he was saying. Instead, his gaze was fixed on the house where he had been treated so well. The nasty smell of charred flesh betrayed a horrible truth: Aria's parents had been burned alongside their home, all in order to teach their daughter a lesson. He cared not for excuses. He cared not for reasons. He simply stood there, his blank expression frozen in an off-putting stare.
"Is it this little shit?", the man suddenly asked out loud. Ryoichi did not understand, but the enraged suitor was accusing Aria of giving herself to him. The group closed in on Ryoichi, giving him a thorough beatdown by kicking him with contempt and disdain. Through all this, the young man did his best to cover himself from the blows, all while noticing a strange emotion, one he had never experienced before, sparking inside. Aria, in despair, called out to the leader. She could not let him die, too.
"Stop, stop it! I'll do whatever you want, I'll marry you like you wanted! Just... don't harm Ryo."
Ryoichi could only stare in disbelief as, moments later, her hands cupped his face as she begged him to leave her to her own fate. "Listen, Ryo. You need to get out of here." "I am not going to leave you here." was his cutting response, but she still insisted, in tears. "Go, please, just go! If you died too, I'd...!" -that was as far as he remembers, for he was knocked out by a fierce blow to the head. Once he woke up later, they confirmed the bad news to him: in the end, as a means to save Ryoichi's life, Aria married the man who murdered her parents. He would only see her one more time, when she dared not even look at him just in case, but could still hear his voice clearly.
"I will be back for you."
In order to do that, however, he needed to make use of what he had been taught to despise. He needed to become strong, stronger than he had ever cared to be. Fueled by determination unseen before in him, Ryoichi stepped forward and took the exam to enter the Shinigami Academy, compromising his values, principles and upbringing in the process. He passed, of course. The mere fact that he experienced hunger already proved his potential; it was common knowledge.
Inside the Academy, Ryoichi learned something more about himself. It was not that he merely regarded swordsmanship as a form of art. It was that his body ached for battle. Although initially reluctant, the young soul discovered how natural it felt to fight during all sparring and training matches. While wielding his Asauchi, he was at ease, far calmer than before, and more alive than he had ever been. The clashing of steel kept him focuse and tempered, each new technique he mastered was eagerly received. in spite of his enjoyment, he hated himself for harboring those feelings. How could he, who hated violence, feel such stillness and peace of mind through fighting?
Showing enough aptitude for combat (albeit no healing prowess whatsoever), Ryoichi passed through his Academy years without many problems. Still, just before graduating, there was something he needed to do. The quiet young man sneaked back into the Rukongai, ready to make things right. He expected his parents to react in disappointment, but instead, they hugged him in tears, but not because they were that glad to see him. Why, then? It did not take him too long to figure it out. As backlash from the way in which they had initiated their "relationship", their marriage had been a tumultuous, abusive one. In the end, Aria had been killed by her husband in a fit of rage. Just like that, her life ended in an instant.
Needless to say, Ryoichi was devastated by the news, but instead of sadness, he felt anger. The next step was clear. With his training, that bastard stood no choice at all, and thus, Ryoichi found and cornered the slaughterer with ease, invading his home not unlike the widower had previously done with Aria's. His eyes, normally calm and empty, were filled by a hatred so cold that it was enough to send a chill down his prey's spine. As much as the man attempted to explain himself, bribe him, or outright threatened him, the soon-to-be Shinigami did not listen to a word he said. Instead, he asked him a single, piercing question.
"Why should I spare you?"
By all answers, the pathetic murderer pointed to a nearby room. Ryoichi went to inspect it, knowing that if that even if that bastard attempted to run, he would easily catch up regardless. What he found inside took him completely by surprise, causing him to relax the grip on his Zanpakuto.
A baby.
That bastard actually had a baby. A baby with eyes that were, unmistakably, Aria's.
Immediately, a mixture of feelings took over Ryoichi. Anger, rage, hatred, guilt, sadness... as if everything he had not felt for years had suddenly caught up to him simultaneously. For minutes, he struggled, at times tightening the grip on his blade again, looking at the child, then towards the killer. Ultimately, his hands stopped trembling, and without saying a word, he exited the building slowly, as if using every ounce of willpower to drag himself out of there. He wanted to kill him bad, so bad that it hurt. At one point, he could have sworn to have heard an unknown voice, prompting him to do it.
However, enacting his revenge could very well doom an innocent life, and there was no way he would allow himself to play a part on that.
The young man decided to return to the Academy with his heart torn to shreds. He had become the very thing his parents hated so much in order to make sure Aria would not have to live miserably, and instead, she had died just when he was about to complete his goal. He had exchanged his principles for nothing, and now that he was almost a Shinigami, he knew he would not be accepted again in Rukongai. He was well aware of the prejudices against the Soul Reapers there.
Before Ryoichi entered the Shinigami Academy and ultimately left Rukongai for good, someone approached him and handed him a red haori and an orange kimono. There was a note inside the clothes, revealing that they were, indeed, a last gift from Aria. She had spent all her free time those years preparing those for him, wishing for the garments to bring him good fortune and protect him from harm, and intended to hand them over personally after his graduation, once they were reunited. Ever since Aria discovered that he had spiritual powers, she knew that his place was far away from her, so the letter did not include the feelings she had wanted to confess for so long.
Ryoichi shed bitter tears for the first time in his life, not giving a damn that he was in public. Once he had properly cried his heart out, letting all his regret and grief out without any care for those who could see him, he left his old life fully behind and prepared to take the next step.
Only one question looms over the new Shinigami: what was that voice inside him that had commanded him to kill both the murderer and his baby?
*PLEASE CLICK THE SETTINGS BUTTON AND REPORT THE POST WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE APPLICATION. PUT "GRADING" FOR THE REASON*
[/ul]Ryoichi was born in Japan 35 years ago, as the first child of a newly wed couple. Of his previous life, Ryoichi does not remember much: he cannot picture who his parents were, what they did, not even their names, as he was forcibly ripped from them so soon that he had no chance to forge a lasting connection to them in his memory. He does not even remember how he died in the first place. Was it an accident? Was he killed? The answer to those questions is buried deep into the past. As a matter of fact, the young man's first, proper memory was his encounter with a Hollow, an event that spurred him to mature way too fast, way too soon.
It had been little after his first death. Of course, a Shinigami should have gone to his side in order to send the pure soul into Soul Society. However, it was not a Soul Reaper that got to him first; instead, what found him was a follow. If even an adult would panic upon first meeting such a beast, then a child would do so as well, yet Ryoichi did not show those signs of fear. Even when the Hollow grabbed him by the head in an intimidating gesture, he did not react. Perhaps his mind was still attempting to cope with his situation, or maybe he had become an empty husk already; but the Hollow, used to savor the fear in its prey, was distracted by his attitude for long enough to a proper Shinigami to swoop in and save the day. The rest of the encounter was fairly routine, for the Soul Reaper at least. He sent the soul to its proper place and moved along, not sparing another thought.
Thus, a young, lost Ryoichi Sora wound up at the 55th district of West Rukongai. It was not the worst of slums, by any means, but it was far less fancy and more difficult to live in than his previous neighborhood. Of course, a soul as young as his needed to be adopted in order to thrive there, and here lied the main problem. The child's quiet, reserved nature meant he had a hard time making friends, yet he was still taken in easily, as little people would leave a child on the streets even if the souls at Rukongai did not die of starvation. Luckily for him, his adoptive parents were caring, even if they barely managed to make ends meet. The child understood this quickly, thus never voiced any complaints and rarely spoke his mind. Perhaps this is why nobody noticed that the child was more special than anyone could tell at first glance.
Soon after being adopted, Ryoichi met a soul that might have been around his own age, albeit one born in the Rukongai. Her name was Aria Hikari and she was her neighbor, living just a couple of doors away from him. Aria's family got by through crafting and fixing clothing for the inhabitants of the district; it was a modest business, but they did honest work. As a child, she was much more energetic than the more passive Ryoichi, and usually dragged him around the district to play, taking an interest in him since the very first day.
During the first years in the Rukongai, Ryoichi's personality began taking shape. Influenced by his newfound parents, the child became a gentle boy that placed great value on life. He respected people's struggle to live with dignity even in they were on a district on the worse side of Soul Society. The boy's parents worked would work for his family by going on errands and
More often than not, their parents allowed both him and Aria some free time to enjoy themselves, seeing how they both worked hard to help them. The two kids' preferred activity was to go for a walk, losing themselves in nature. Ryoichi was fond of outdoor activities, and his friend would watch him become mesmerized by every single creature that may cross their paths. During one of these treks, however, Aria caught a glimpse of Ryoichi doing something she had never seen before. The boy went over to a tree, picked up an apple, and started nibbing at it, as quietly as always.
"What are you doing?", she asked, quite stranged by his sudden behavior. Souls did not need to eat, at least, your average souls did not need to do so.
"I'm hungry", he simply replied, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
As Aria found out a little later, Ryoichi had been feeding himself without putting any strain on his family, doing so by catching small rodents, eating wild fruit, and so on. Thankfully, their district's nature allowed him to stay somewhat nourished, even if he put himself in danger regularily to do so, as his security was not guaranteed by any kind of law enforcers.
In fact, his survival so far may have been either due to the boy making himself look small and unconspicuous without realizing it, or perhaps to sheer dumb luck. Being capable of feeling hunger meant one thing: he had spritual power. Ultimately, it did not matter too much, as she could not imagine the gentle Ryoichi becoming a Soul Reaper, and thus kept it to herself.
Now, it is worth to mention that, during his entire life in Soul Society, his parents had taught him the value of life, to respect it, to cherish it. They condemned every act of violence, seeing it as something foul and unnatural, as the only way in which souls could survive in their district was, to their belief, cooperation. These teachings had made their way to the gentle boy's heart, and he wholeheartedly supported and believed them. Years later, however, this view on the world would become compromised, and not by any traumatic event or dreadful experience. Instead, it came from within.
At times, Shinigami in the Sereitei would use a district of the Rukongai as their training grounds, such as Hokutan. Their reasoning was to use the lush vegetation to practice battle in a field with more limited vision. Thus, during one of the walks with Aria, the boy met the Soul Reapers for the second time, albeit at that moment he was able to pay closer attention to them, much unlike when he had first died. What he saw that day would become etched in him forevermore.
If all violence was foul, if it was never the way... then why was it that observing the Reapers practicing stirred something deep inside his soul? His eyes became fixated on the blade, but not on the trainees', but on the instructor's. He watched as it moved gracefully, one movement linking to the next in a display not unlike the most beautiful dance he had ever seen before. Of course, Aria dragged him away, not wanting to draw their attention unnecessarily, but that image had already been imprinted deep in his psyche.
A while after, his parents discovered him swinging a rudimentary wooden sword carved from a tree branch. Well, calling it sword would be overly generous, as its shape was uneven and Ryoichi was no expert craftsman by any means, but the shape was at least recognizable. Of course, they were quick to scold him and tell him to drop it off, ranting hysterically about all they had taught him and whether it had meant nothing to him. The boy listened, passive as always, and did as instructed... for the time being. The boy kept performing those movements in secret, over and over, attempting to recreate the same artful strikes he had witnessed. He was curious. He wanted to know more, to learn more, but he only had that memory to relive over and over.
The years went by, with both Ryoichi and Aria growing up. Although he barely noticed the changes in himself, the young man was well aware that his best friend had become quite a beautiful woman, and it was clear that he was beginning to harbor feelings towards her. Whether these were romantic, or just platonic love, was something that he was ill-equipped to understand, but it caused him no pain. They kept spending time together, struggling to help their parents, and sharing their thoughts with each other. During the last year before he entered the Shinigami Academy, Ryoichi noticed that Aria's behavior was off. She was not as energetic, was far more cautious, and preferred to stay inside and not leave the house unless it was strictly necessary. This got him lonely and worried, yet she assured him that everything was alright. Thus the young man, unable to read the room, failed to notice that things were not quite alright, not by a long shot.
Now, as apparently idyllic as this life was, one must remember that Ryoichi's district was well up in the numbers. Thus, they had their fair share of criminals to deal with on a frighteningly regular basis. While most encounters were easily solved by them giving them what they wanted and not making a fuss, some wanted more out of their victims. Unfortunately for the two of them, Aria was about to experience this hell firsthand.
It happened as they were returning home from a walk, after Aria's parents convinced her to leave with Ryoichi that day. They had been very insistant, so in the end, the young woman had given up and finally joined his friend for a quick trip to a nearby lake. When they returned, they did not do so to Aria's home, but to a raging fire that threatened to spread in every single direction. The building had been set ablaze by a group of men that waited for her, one of them sporting a particularily cheeky and satisfied grin.
Said criminal was member of one of the richest families in the district, and was, as a matter of fact, going to be come Aria's husband; a marriage based purely on convenience and as a mean to enrich both their families. But then, why was the whole gang of men there?
Simple. No matter how much much it would help her parents, Aria did not have it in her to marry that bastard, rejecting him every single time despite her father accepting the terms of the marriage, a fact that the "groom" had obviously not taken all too well. The man kept saying that it did not have to be that way, but that her own selfishness had forced his hand.
Ryoichi was not hearing anything he was saying. Instead, his gaze was fixed on the house where he had been treated so well. The nasty smell of charred flesh betrayed a horrible truth: Aria's parents had been burned alongside their home, all in order to teach their daughter a lesson. He cared not for excuses. He cared not for reasons. He simply stood there, his blank expression frozen in an off-putting stare.
"Is it this little shit?", the man suddenly asked out loud. Ryoichi did not understand, but the enraged suitor was accusing Aria of giving herself to him. The group closed in on Ryoichi, giving him a thorough beatdown by kicking him with contempt and disdain. Through all this, the young man did his best to cover himself from the blows, all while noticing a strange emotion, one he had never experienced before, sparking inside. Aria, in despair, called out to the leader. She could not let him die, too.
"Stop, stop it! I'll do whatever you want, I'll marry you like you wanted! Just... don't harm Ryo."
Ryoichi could only stare in disbelief as, moments later, her hands cupped his face as she begged him to leave her to her own fate. "Listen, Ryo. You need to get out of here." "I am not going to leave you here." was his cutting response, but she still insisted, in tears. "Go, please, just go! If you died too, I'd...!" -that was as far as he remembers, for he was knocked out by a fierce blow to the head. Once he woke up later, they confirmed the bad news to him: in the end, as a means to save Ryoichi's life, Aria married the man who murdered her parents. He would only see her one more time, when she dared not even look at him just in case, but could still hear his voice clearly.
"I will be back for you."
In order to do that, however, he needed to make use of what he had been taught to despise. He needed to become strong, stronger than he had ever cared to be. Fueled by determination unseen before in him, Ryoichi stepped forward and took the exam to enter the Shinigami Academy, compromising his values, principles and upbringing in the process. He passed, of course. The mere fact that he experienced hunger already proved his potential; it was common knowledge.
Inside the Academy, Ryoichi learned something more about himself. It was not that he merely regarded swordsmanship as a form of art. It was that his body ached for battle. Although initially reluctant, the young soul discovered how natural it felt to fight during all sparring and training matches. While wielding his Asauchi, he was at ease, far calmer than before, and more alive than he had ever been. The clashing of steel kept him focuse and tempered, each new technique he mastered was eagerly received. in spite of his enjoyment, he hated himself for harboring those feelings. How could he, who hated violence, feel such stillness and peace of mind through fighting?
Showing enough aptitude for combat (albeit no healing prowess whatsoever), Ryoichi passed through his Academy years without many problems. Still, just before graduating, there was something he needed to do. The quiet young man sneaked back into the Rukongai, ready to make things right. He expected his parents to react in disappointment, but instead, they hugged him in tears, but not because they were that glad to see him. Why, then? It did not take him too long to figure it out. As backlash from the way in which they had initiated their "relationship", their marriage had been a tumultuous, abusive one. In the end, Aria had been killed by her husband in a fit of rage. Just like that, her life ended in an instant.
Needless to say, Ryoichi was devastated by the news, but instead of sadness, he felt anger. The next step was clear. With his training, that bastard stood no choice at all, and thus, Ryoichi found and cornered the slaughterer with ease, invading his home not unlike the widower had previously done with Aria's. His eyes, normally calm and empty, were filled by a hatred so cold that it was enough to send a chill down his prey's spine. As much as the man attempted to explain himself, bribe him, or outright threatened him, the soon-to-be Shinigami did not listen to a word he said. Instead, he asked him a single, piercing question.
"Why should I spare you?"
By all answers, the pathetic murderer pointed to a nearby room. Ryoichi went to inspect it, knowing that if that even if that bastard attempted to run, he would easily catch up regardless. What he found inside took him completely by surprise, causing him to relax the grip on his Zanpakuto.
A baby.
That bastard actually had a baby. A baby with eyes that were, unmistakably, Aria's.
Immediately, a mixture of feelings took over Ryoichi. Anger, rage, hatred, guilt, sadness... as if everything he had not felt for years had suddenly caught up to him simultaneously. For minutes, he struggled, at times tightening the grip on his blade again, looking at the child, then towards the killer. Ultimately, his hands stopped trembling, and without saying a word, he exited the building slowly, as if using every ounce of willpower to drag himself out of there. He wanted to kill him bad, so bad that it hurt. At one point, he could have sworn to have heard an unknown voice, prompting him to do it.
However, enacting his revenge could very well doom an innocent life, and there was no way he would allow himself to play a part on that.
The young man decided to return to the Academy with his heart torn to shreds. He had become the very thing his parents hated so much in order to make sure Aria would not have to live miserably, and instead, she had died just when he was about to complete his goal. He had exchanged his principles for nothing, and now that he was almost a Shinigami, he knew he would not be accepted again in Rukongai. He was well aware of the prejudices against the Soul Reapers there.
Before Ryoichi entered the Shinigami Academy and ultimately left Rukongai for good, someone approached him and handed him a red haori and an orange kimono. There was a note inside the clothes, revealing that they were, indeed, a last gift from Aria. She had spent all her free time those years preparing those for him, wishing for the garments to bring him good fortune and protect him from harm, and intended to hand them over personally after his graduation, once they were reunited. Ever since Aria discovered that he had spiritual powers, she knew that his place was far away from her, so the letter did not include the feelings she had wanted to confess for so long.
Ryoichi shed bitter tears for the first time in his life, not giving a damn that he was in public. Once he had properly cried his heart out, letting all his regret and grief out without any care for those who could see him, he left his old life fully behind and prepared to take the next step.
Only one question looms over the new Shinigami: what was that voice inside him that had commanded him to kill both the murderer and his baby?
*PLEASE CLICK THE SETTINGS BUTTON AND REPORT THE POST WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE APPLICATION. PUT "GRADING" FOR THE REASON*
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-Powers-
{Fighting Style:}
Although his fighting style does depend on the state of his release, it is worth noting that there are a key concepts that remain universal regardless of this state:
First and foremost, Ryoichi is a swordsmanship geek, pertaining to katanas in specific. He has no interest in any other fighting style, unless it has a direct application that could help him become more proficient with the blade (Shunpo, for example, would fill this criteria). Thus, despite his teachers attempts to make him focus and learn the most basic techinques, Ryoichi simply would not learn Kido, regardless of its type. Hado, Bakudo, whatever, he does not really care about it if it's not a hilt attached to a sharp piece of metal. In short, the guy cannot use Kido. Not that it really matters in the long run, because what he lacks in that department, he more than makes up for it with his proficiency wielding his Zanpakuto, as Ryoichi specializes in his personal blade in its sealed and both Released states.
Unfortunately, this also means that his martial ability is limited otherwise. His obsessive overspecialization
Second, Ryoichi rarely is the one to take the first hit. Until his foe has somehow managed to earn his hatred, which is a very difficult task in and of itself, the young soul will attempt to use reason in order to convince his opponent to stand down. Needless to say, his lack of charisma usually makes him unable to persuade the target, and thus he ends up needing to fight. Now, if you see Ryoichi attempting to cut down someone without resorting to dialogue first, you can be damn sure that said foe is not only dangerous, but also directly opposes every single principle that the Shinigami espouses. This is visible during his battles with Amenaza, for example.
Third, Ryoichi tends to remain in a calm state of mind during his battles, even if the situation is dire. This is what's referred to as "stillness". His usual lack of any visible emotion greatly aids him in this, and may in fact unsettle his opponents. Unless you know exactly which strings to pull, it is very difficult to get him to fall for taunts (plus, most of the time any subtle implication/meaning will just fly over his head). He also remains focused on the enemy, observing and analyzing their movements with care. Pattern recognition seems to come naturally to him, allowing the young soul to adapt to the foe's battle style.
Now that we are done with the general, let's focus on the specifics.
Although his fighting style does depend on the state of his release, it is worth noting that there are a key concepts that remain universal regardless of this state:
First and foremost, Ryoichi is a swordsmanship geek, pertaining to katanas in specific. He has no interest in any other fighting style, unless it has a direct application that could help him become more proficient with the blade (Shunpo, for example, would fill this criteria). Thus, despite his teachers attempts to make him focus and learn the most basic techinques, Ryoichi simply would not learn Kido, regardless of its type. Hado, Bakudo, whatever, he does not really care about it if it's not a hilt attached to a sharp piece of metal. In short, the guy cannot use Kido. Not that it really matters in the long run, because what he lacks in that department, he more than makes up for it with his proficiency wielding his Zanpakuto, as Ryoichi specializes in his personal blade in its sealed and both Released states.
Unfortunately, this also means that his martial ability is limited otherwise. His obsessive overspecialization
Second, Ryoichi rarely is the one to take the first hit. Until his foe has somehow managed to earn his hatred, which is a very difficult task in and of itself, the young soul will attempt to use reason in order to convince his opponent to stand down. Needless to say, his lack of charisma usually makes him unable to persuade the target, and thus he ends up needing to fight. Now, if you see Ryoichi attempting to cut down someone without resorting to dialogue first, you can be damn sure that said foe is not only dangerous, but also directly opposes every single principle that the Shinigami espouses. This is visible during his battles with Amenaza, for example.
Third, Ryoichi tends to remain in a calm state of mind during his battles, even if the situation is dire. This is what's referred to as "stillness". His usual lack of any visible emotion greatly aids him in this, and may in fact unsettle his opponents. Unless you know exactly which strings to pull, it is very difficult to get him to fall for taunts (plus, most of the time any subtle implication/meaning will just fly over his head). He also remains focused on the enemy, observing and analyzing their movements with care. Pattern recognition seems to come naturally to him, allowing the young soul to adapt to the foe's battle style.
Now that we are done with the general, let's focus on the specifics.
{Sealed}
Ryoichi fights using a fluid, two-handed style that seeks to combo one move into the next, favoring speed and dexterity over raw, brute strength. He also incorporates changes of pace accordingly in an attempt to control the flow of the exchange. One could say that he looks like a steady, gentle stream first, only to suddenly turn into fierce rapids a mere second later. Still, he does not flail his weapon around. Unnecessary motions are frowned upon as they could be seen akin to stains in an art that he wishes to keep flawless. Thus, he ensures that no movement is wasted (as much as his skill allows him to, of course).
When sparring, or attempting to subdue a target without lethal force, Ryoichi will focus on cutting down their mobility, first and foremost. He first starts by identifying any mobility techniques they use through his battle analysis skill, then proceeds to render those unusable by targeting the limbs or tools that enable them (legs for Shunpo, wings for flying, and so on). Afterwards, he will whittle their offensive capabilities down by using a similar process: identification and extirpation. While this is a two-part process, if Ryoichi can do both at the same time, then he will do so.
If there is no other choice than to kill his target, Ryoichi's main priority is delivering attacks specifically tailored to target his opponent's vitals: as much as he enjoys fighting, he also would not want to cause any unnecessary suffering, hence why he'd rather end the battle quickly. To this end, he tends to mix it up with Shunpo and similar Hoho techinques, all in an attempt to create his own openings to exploit. It is not uncommon for him to aim directly to the neck, the heart or any other right after repositioning through a Flash Step, but he can also attempt to disrupt the opponents with it rythm in order to set up further attacks.
As far as defense goes, Ryoichi focuses more on dodging than blocking, using his swift movements to evade while striking, taking advantage of the flow of battle to move accordingly. His lack of defensive Kido further supports this choice. Nevertheless, he can and will block when necessary, and he will use those moments to his advantage. A well-timed parry can open more windows than a mere evasive maneuver, after all.
Ryoichi fights using a fluid, two-handed style that seeks to combo one move into the next, favoring speed and dexterity over raw, brute strength. He also incorporates changes of pace accordingly in an attempt to control the flow of the exchange. One could say that he looks like a steady, gentle stream first, only to suddenly turn into fierce rapids a mere second later. Still, he does not flail his weapon around. Unnecessary motions are frowned upon as they could be seen akin to stains in an art that he wishes to keep flawless. Thus, he ensures that no movement is wasted (as much as his skill allows him to, of course).
When sparring, or attempting to subdue a target without lethal force, Ryoichi will focus on cutting down their mobility, first and foremost. He first starts by identifying any mobility techniques they use through his battle analysis skill, then proceeds to render those unusable by targeting the limbs or tools that enable them (legs for Shunpo, wings for flying, and so on). Afterwards, he will whittle their offensive capabilities down by using a similar process: identification and extirpation. While this is a two-part process, if Ryoichi can do both at the same time, then he will do so.
If there is no other choice than to kill his target, Ryoichi's main priority is delivering attacks specifically tailored to target his opponent's vitals: as much as he enjoys fighting, he also would not want to cause any unnecessary suffering, hence why he'd rather end the battle quickly. To this end, he tends to mix it up with Shunpo and similar Hoho techinques, all in an attempt to create his own openings to exploit. It is not uncommon for him to aim directly to the neck, the heart or any other right after repositioning through a Flash Step, but he can also attempt to disrupt the opponents with it rythm in order to set up further attacks.
As far as defense goes, Ryoichi focuses more on dodging than blocking, using his swift movements to evade while striking, taking advantage of the flow of battle to move accordingly. His lack of defensive Kido further supports this choice. Nevertheless, he can and will block when necessary, and he will use those moments to his advantage. A well-timed parry can open more windows than a mere evasive maneuver, after all.
{Shikai}
With his Shikai active, Ryoichi's style stops focusing directly on the enemy's vitals. This is because of his ability to make strikes and wounds converge at specific points. Depending on the situation, he may attempt to either get in as many strikes as possible in order to cause the wounds to converge, thus deal grievous wounds and increasing the bleeding (so long as they are not too shallow, of course). This also goes in hand with his gentle nature: as long as he does not cause the convergence, his target will surely survive: getting a few cuts on the arms or legs will probably not be enough to kill anyone, not in the short span of a battle at least.
When directly target one specific spot in order to cut down mobility, he will strike it once, and then keep on fighting normally while causing his blows to converge on the previously marked spot. This allows him to hit sturdier areas while dealing damage directly to more important spots. Funnily enough, this can also be a good tool for training, as he can safely train with other Shinigami to strike their vitals, all while redirecting the damage to less important areas that are easier to heal.
For defense, he keeps avoiding strikes, sure, but he now priorizes divergent parrying even when defending against Kido, as it is far easier to break the opponent's rythm and flow through one of those.
With his Shikai active, Ryoichi's style stops focusing directly on the enemy's vitals. This is because of his ability to make strikes and wounds converge at specific points. Depending on the situation, he may attempt to either get in as many strikes as possible in order to cause the wounds to converge, thus deal grievous wounds and increasing the bleeding (so long as they are not too shallow, of course). This also goes in hand with his gentle nature: as long as he does not cause the convergence, his target will surely survive: getting a few cuts on the arms or legs will probably not be enough to kill anyone, not in the short span of a battle at least.
When directly target one specific spot in order to cut down mobility, he will strike it once, and then keep on fighting normally while causing his blows to converge on the previously marked spot. This allows him to hit sturdier areas while dealing damage directly to more important spots. Funnily enough, this can also be a good tool for training, as he can safely train with other Shinigami to strike their vitals, all while redirecting the damage to less important areas that are easier to heal.
For defense, he keeps avoiding strikes, sure, but he now priorizes divergent parrying even when defending against Kido, as it is far easier to break the opponent's rythm and flow through one of those.
{Bankai}
Once Shūsoku Hassan is activated, you can be sure that all bets are off. Ryoichi will not activate his Bankai unless he has resolved to kill someone (which may take a lot of time and consideration). While still calm, his battle style simply oozes anger. His previously flowing, water-like strikes are amped up, and they become far more dangerous now, as Ryoichi actively attempts to cut not only his opponents, but also cause the space around them to diverge by "missing" a few of them. His goal is to create as many distortions as possible and cause them to suddenly converge, dealing heavy damage in the process.
He will also actively use his ability to make his present diverge in order to maximize his damage output in short bursts. This gives off the appearance of him multiplying and recombining in short spans of time, causing many to wonder whether the true nature of his Bankai lies in, simply, creating clones of himself.
Once Shūsoku Hassan is activated, you can be sure that all bets are off. Ryoichi will not activate his Bankai unless he has resolved to kill someone (which may take a lot of time and consideration). While still calm, his battle style simply oozes anger. His previously flowing, water-like strikes are amped up, and they become far more dangerous now, as Ryoichi actively attempts to cut not only his opponents, but also cause the space around them to diverge by "missing" a few of them. His goal is to create as many distortions as possible and cause them to suddenly converge, dealing heavy damage in the process.
He will also actively use his ability to make his present diverge in order to maximize his damage output in short bursts. This gives off the appearance of him multiplying and recombining in short spans of time, causing many to wonder whether the true nature of his Bankai lies in, simply, creating clones of himself.
{Resurrection}
{Zanpakutou:}
Zanpakutou Spirit:
Shūsoku is a spirit that takes the form of a young woman, appearing to be no older than twenty five years old. She is slightly shorter than Ryoichi himself and has a smaller frame than the young soul, but this does not mean she is any weaker than him; quite the contrary, her mastery over the blade far surpasses his own.
As far as her appearance goes, she has pristine, pale skin that remains mostly hidden by her modest attire, wearing a brown haori over a burgundy kimono. Her features are soft, her gaze and smile, warm and inviting. Shūsoku prefers to tie her long, chestnut brown hair into two loose buns, specifically during battle lessons, yet there are times when she has let it loose as well. Regardless of that choice, a few locks always end up falling on her face. As a side note, she does not wear any sandals, but Ryoichi is rarely aware of this due to the mist in his inner world covering anything below the knees.
When it comes to personality, Shūsoku Hassan is a gentle, caring spirit. Her good manners resemble those of a young lady from the nobility as well, and she takes great pride in her dignified behavior. She also finds Ryoichi adorable, as despite his status as a man, he is also quite the innocent boy. Thus, she has made teaching him to behave more naturally a hobby of hers. Unfortunately, although he is quite the adept pupil when it comes to learning her combat techniques, the same cannot be said for these lifestyle lessons she attempts to give him.
This does not mean that she is a pushover, not by a long shot. During any and all lessons pertaining the powers of the Zanpakuto, she becomes a strict, stern teacher. Her usually soothing voice turns into a sharp drill, and she will not accept anything short of outstanding results from her Shinigami. She is well aware of how complex the power she embodies is, and just how dangerous it may be for Ryoichi if wielded incorrectly.
Inner World:
Ryoichi's inner world, much like its owner, also holds a dichotomy. It is an empty space, governed only by a single, gigantic sakura tree. The ground, covered by thick white mist that reaches slightly above the knee, and seems to span endlessly in every direction, with only a waterfall becoming visible in the distance. Above, a beautiful, starry sky completes the full picture. Needless to say, this type of landscape fits the quiet Shinigami.
Wherein lies the disparity, then?
Well, just like Ryoichi himself, this seemingly calm space holds a metaphorical... and literal storm. Despite a lack of clouds above, lightning whirls above at times, menacing, at times crashing down to smite the ground, disipating the mist for a moment to reveal the blood-stained grass. As Ryoichi's state of mind changes, the lightning strikes with more or less frequency, being far more common when agitated, to fully disappearing when he is in a complete state of stillness, a symbol of his mastery over his inner turmoil.
While in its sealed state, Ryoichi's Zanpakuto takes the shape of a classic katana of average size and weight; nothing overly flashy, but it is the type of weapon he finds himself most comfortable wielding. When not in use, he keeps it encased in a blackish, gray scabbard. The blade itself is reliable and well-sharpened, and despite its use, its owner's constant care and polish cause it to still reflect the light as if it was newly forged, even after years have gone by. It also boasts a black hilt with a proper guard for the hands, with different symbols engraved in the metal as decoration, and a metal tip that allows him to use a pommel bash whenever he needs to "gently" stun someone with a swift blow to the head, although Ryoichi barely needs to use such a move.
Overall Ability:
In both the physical and spiritual realms, there are those who come together, and those who come apart. Lives that intertwine, others that separate, never to meet again. The sun and the moon may be separate, but join during an eclipse only to drift apart once more. Timelines can branch, only to rejoin again. Ryoichi's special ability encompasses the concepts of "convergence" and "divergence". Convergence deals with coming together, reaching a common limit, evolving into the very same: unification. Divergence, on the other hand, deals with the opposite: departure from the norm, following a different path, in other words, separation. Harboring these contradictory ability further cement Ryoichi's status as an embodiment of disparity.
The way in which both abilities work in their most basic expression goes as follows: convergence brings things together into a focal point, while diverging causes something to scatter from said focal point. Although Ryoichi may alternate between them at will, they can never be used simultaneously due to their opposite nature.
These concepts may seem abstract at first, but there are quite a few ways to weaponize them.
Now, it is important to note that every single one of his abilities requires physical contact with his blade to be effective, meaning that more often than not, Ryoichi is going to be putting himself at risk by going melee. Also, medical techniques are out of his reach. If his arm were to be severed, just bringing it together with the rest of his body would not make it magically heal, the same way that putting together two pieces of bread after you cut them does not make them become a singular entity again. It could, however, be used for things such as stopping the bleeding by sticking the arm in position in order to block the flow.
Shikai: Shūsoku.
Join to scatter... Shūsoku.
Bankai: Shūsoku Hassan
Bring together, part forever... Shūsoku Hassan
Zanpakuto Techniques:
Zanpakutou Spirit:
{Pictures}
Shūsoku is a spirit that takes the form of a young woman, appearing to be no older than twenty five years old. She is slightly shorter than Ryoichi himself and has a smaller frame than the young soul, but this does not mean she is any weaker than him; quite the contrary, her mastery over the blade far surpasses his own.
As far as her appearance goes, she has pristine, pale skin that remains mostly hidden by her modest attire, wearing a brown haori over a burgundy kimono. Her features are soft, her gaze and smile, warm and inviting. Shūsoku prefers to tie her long, chestnut brown hair into two loose buns, specifically during battle lessons, yet there are times when she has let it loose as well. Regardless of that choice, a few locks always end up falling on her face. As a side note, she does not wear any sandals, but Ryoichi is rarely aware of this due to the mist in his inner world covering anything below the knees.
When it comes to personality, Shūsoku Hassan is a gentle, caring spirit. Her good manners resemble those of a young lady from the nobility as well, and she takes great pride in her dignified behavior. She also finds Ryoichi adorable, as despite his status as a man, he is also quite the innocent boy. Thus, she has made teaching him to behave more naturally a hobby of hers. Unfortunately, although he is quite the adept pupil when it comes to learning her combat techniques, the same cannot be said for these lifestyle lessons she attempts to give him.
This does not mean that she is a pushover, not by a long shot. During any and all lessons pertaining the powers of the Zanpakuto, she becomes a strict, stern teacher. Her usually soothing voice turns into a sharp drill, and she will not accept anything short of outstanding results from her Shinigami. She is well aware of how complex the power she embodies is, and just how dangerous it may be for Ryoichi if wielded incorrectly.
Inner World:
{Picture}
Ryoichi's inner world, much like its owner, also holds a dichotomy. It is an empty space, governed only by a single, gigantic sakura tree. The ground, covered by thick white mist that reaches slightly above the knee, and seems to span endlessly in every direction, with only a waterfall becoming visible in the distance. Above, a beautiful, starry sky completes the full picture. Needless to say, this type of landscape fits the quiet Shinigami.
Wherein lies the disparity, then?
Well, just like Ryoichi himself, this seemingly calm space holds a metaphorical... and literal storm. Despite a lack of clouds above, lightning whirls above at times, menacing, at times crashing down to smite the ground, disipating the mist for a moment to reveal the blood-stained grass. As Ryoichi's state of mind changes, the lightning strikes with more or less frequency, being far more common when agitated, to fully disappearing when he is in a complete state of stillness, a symbol of his mastery over his inner turmoil.
{Sealed}
While in its sealed state, Ryoichi's Zanpakuto takes the shape of a classic katana of average size and weight; nothing overly flashy, but it is the type of weapon he finds himself most comfortable wielding. When not in use, he keeps it encased in a blackish, gray scabbard. The blade itself is reliable and well-sharpened, and despite its use, its owner's constant care and polish cause it to still reflect the light as if it was newly forged, even after years have gone by. It also boasts a black hilt with a proper guard for the hands, with different symbols engraved in the metal as decoration, and a metal tip that allows him to use a pommel bash whenever he needs to "gently" stun someone with a swift blow to the head, although Ryoichi barely needs to use such a move.
Overall Ability:
In both the physical and spiritual realms, there are those who come together, and those who come apart. Lives that intertwine, others that separate, never to meet again. The sun and the moon may be separate, but join during an eclipse only to drift apart once more. Timelines can branch, only to rejoin again. Ryoichi's special ability encompasses the concepts of "convergence" and "divergence". Convergence deals with coming together, reaching a common limit, evolving into the very same: unification. Divergence, on the other hand, deals with the opposite: departure from the norm, following a different path, in other words, separation. Harboring these contradictory ability further cement Ryoichi's status as an embodiment of disparity.
The way in which both abilities work in their most basic expression goes as follows: convergence brings things together into a focal point, while diverging causes something to scatter from said focal point. Although Ryoichi may alternate between them at will, they can never be used simultaneously due to their opposite nature.
These concepts may seem abstract at first, but there are quite a few ways to weaponize them.
Now, it is important to note that every single one of his abilities requires physical contact with his blade to be effective, meaning that more often than not, Ryoichi is going to be putting himself at risk by going melee. Also, medical techniques are out of his reach. If his arm were to be severed, just bringing it together with the rest of his body would not make it magically heal, the same way that putting together two pieces of bread after you cut them does not make them become a singular entity again. It could, however, be used for things such as stopping the bleeding by sticking the arm in position in order to block the flow.
Shikai: Shūsoku.
Join to scatter... Shūsoku.
{Appearance}
{Overall Ability}
Shūsoku's first level of release allows him to apply convergence and divergence to physical/spiritual entities.
Ryoichi can cause wounds to converge together. This is one of the most obvious, yet potentially one of the most dangerous applications of his Shikai. Normally, one would pay no heed to a small cut or bruise, but when facing against him, you should better watch out against those. Imagine you've suffered a small cut on your shoulder and another on your leg. If Ryoichi strikes you again, he could cause them to converge into a large gash spanning all the way from point A to point B: the previous wounds grow and extend to join together at the focal point. Note that they do not necessarily have to turn into a straight line: angles are possible with the focal point as a vertex. Note that this does not make any of them deeper: two superficial cuts would only be turned into a superficial large one; if one was deeper than the other, then each half of the newly formed wound would have different depths.
In the same way that he could join wounds, he could also do the same for his attacks, for example. By choosing a focal point on the opponent's body, Ryoichi can cause that specific area to suffer the damage from his next strikes if he so wishes, instead of the part that suffers the hit. This is usually utilized to punish those areas that the foe makes most use, as a multiple tap of sorts.
The drawbacks for convergence are quite simple to understand, moreso than the ability itself.
First, if Shūsoku does not make contact with something, he cannot apply any convergence or divergence. No staying afar after midly cutting his foe and swing his blade while causing the strikes to converge. Second, since it needs to make contact with the same entity: blocking the blade is more than enough to prevent the application of any of its effects on your body. Third, a single wound cannot be caused to converge more than once. Fourth, choosing a focal point for his abilities (other than the natural center of the entity), can only be done so through yet another blade strike.
Divergence is more limited in the damage dealing department, but still has its uses. Ryoichi could vastly improve his parries by making attacks diverge from his blade on impact, further destabilizing his opponent. He could cause poison to spread faster by making it diverge from the point where it was applied. Its main usage, however, is as a means to counter Kido and Bakudo.
Shūsoku's first level of release allows him to apply convergence and divergence to physical/spiritual entities.
Ryoichi can cause wounds to converge together. This is one of the most obvious, yet potentially one of the most dangerous applications of his Shikai. Normally, one would pay no heed to a small cut or bruise, but when facing against him, you should better watch out against those. Imagine you've suffered a small cut on your shoulder and another on your leg. If Ryoichi strikes you again, he could cause them to converge into a large gash spanning all the way from point A to point B: the previous wounds grow and extend to join together at the focal point. Note that they do not necessarily have to turn into a straight line: angles are possible with the focal point as a vertex. Note that this does not make any of them deeper: two superficial cuts would only be turned into a superficial large one; if one was deeper than the other, then each half of the newly formed wound would have different depths.
In the same way that he could join wounds, he could also do the same for his attacks, for example. By choosing a focal point on the opponent's body, Ryoichi can cause that specific area to suffer the damage from his next strikes if he so wishes, instead of the part that suffers the hit. This is usually utilized to punish those areas that the foe makes most use, as a multiple tap of sorts.
The drawbacks for convergence are quite simple to understand, moreso than the ability itself.
First, if Shūsoku does not make contact with something, he cannot apply any convergence or divergence. No staying afar after midly cutting his foe and swing his blade while causing the strikes to converge. Second, since it needs to make contact with the same entity: blocking the blade is more than enough to prevent the application of any of its effects on your body. Third, a single wound cannot be caused to converge more than once. Fourth, choosing a focal point for his abilities (other than the natural center of the entity), can only be done so through yet another blade strike.
Divergence is more limited in the damage dealing department, but still has its uses. Ryoichi could vastly improve his parries by making attacks diverge from his blade on impact, further destabilizing his opponent. He could cause poison to spread faster by making it diverge from the point where it was applied. Its main usage, however, is as a means to counter Kido and Bakudo.
Bankai: Shūsoku Hassan
Bring together, part forever... Shūsoku Hassan
{Appearance}
{Overall Ability}
During his Bankai, Ryoichi's retains his previous convergence and divergence manipulation abilities. However, they are brought to their absolute apex during his full release: through Bankai, they now transcend the physical/spiritual realm and are capable of tampering with space, as well as his own existance in the timeline.
Through swinging his blade, Ryoichi can create divergences of space. These remain in place as if they were wounds, motionless, but able to cut whatever comes in contact with them. Ryoichi could create many instances of said slashes, only to make them converge at a specific point through one last strike, damaging whatever stands in their trajectory towards the focal point. Instead of divergene, convergence of space could also be utilized to draw long range attacks such as Kido towards a specific focal point.
Ryoichi also becomes capable of causing a divergence in his timeline, with various projections emerging from him and going for an attack of their own from a different angle. Said projections, as alternate presents of the user, can also utilize divergence of space. If Ryoichi can manage to strike his foe, these projections inevitably and flawlessly rejoin the main body through convergence at the point where damage is dealt. Since they are not physically present until the exact moment they deal damage, your best bet is, again, to block, dodge or parry his attack. Plus, the fact that Ryoichi keeps splitting and rejoining is harrowing, to say the least, although you can easily know which one is the main body through energy sensing... if you can keep up with them, that is.
As far as drawbacks go, some of them are retained from his Shikai form: his blade remains the only way in which he can apply any of these abilities, the same section of space cannot converge more than once, and he can only choose a spot he has managed to cut with his Zanpakuto as a focal point for both convergence and divergence. What are the new ones, however?
Well, most notably, Ryoichi himself is not immune to space divergence: if he comes in contact with one of them, he's getting cut too. The divergences of space are not invisible by any means; on the contrary, they give off a blue light and you don't need improved senses to detect them. The convergences on the other hand also bring in the light, so you can easily see the distorsion too.
When it comes to time divergence, he cannot maintain it for long. Although consecutive uses are possible, Ryoichi's present only diverges for a few seconds before the timeline is brought back together. Thus, these projections will rarely be able to take more than two or three actions before rejoining the original.
During his Bankai, Ryoichi's retains his previous convergence and divergence manipulation abilities. However, they are brought to their absolute apex during his full release: through Bankai, they now transcend the physical/spiritual realm and are capable of tampering with space, as well as his own existance in the timeline.
Through swinging his blade, Ryoichi can create divergences of space. These remain in place as if they were wounds, motionless, but able to cut whatever comes in contact with them. Ryoichi could create many instances of said slashes, only to make them converge at a specific point through one last strike, damaging whatever stands in their trajectory towards the focal point. Instead of divergene, convergence of space could also be utilized to draw long range attacks such as Kido towards a specific focal point.
Ryoichi also becomes capable of causing a divergence in his timeline, with various projections emerging from him and going for an attack of their own from a different angle. Said projections, as alternate presents of the user, can also utilize divergence of space. If Ryoichi can manage to strike his foe, these projections inevitably and flawlessly rejoin the main body through convergence at the point where damage is dealt. Since they are not physically present until the exact moment they deal damage, your best bet is, again, to block, dodge or parry his attack. Plus, the fact that Ryoichi keeps splitting and rejoining is harrowing, to say the least, although you can easily know which one is the main body through energy sensing... if you can keep up with them, that is.
As far as drawbacks go, some of them are retained from his Shikai form: his blade remains the only way in which he can apply any of these abilities, the same section of space cannot converge more than once, and he can only choose a spot he has managed to cut with his Zanpakuto as a focal point for both convergence and divergence. What are the new ones, however?
Well, most notably, Ryoichi himself is not immune to space divergence: if he comes in contact with one of them, he's getting cut too. The divergences of space are not invisible by any means; on the contrary, they give off a blue light and you don't need improved senses to detect them. The convergences on the other hand also bring in the light, so you can easily see the distorsion too.
When it comes to time divergence, he cannot maintain it for long. Although consecutive uses are possible, Ryoichi's present only diverges for a few seconds before the timeline is brought back together. Thus, these projections will rarely be able to take more than two or three actions before rejoining the original.
Zanpakuto Techniques:
{Vizard Powers}
Hollow Mask:
Going from the bottom to the top, Ryoichi's mask features a rather strange mouth, as if the lower fangs were biting into the skin above. It has two small obertures on the side, giving it a vague resemblance to the jaw of a skull in that skin seems to be missing to cover those gaps. The mask has no visible nose, presenting a flat surface instead. However, it is the top of the mask that makes it more noticeable. Red motifs surround the small holes through which Ryoichi is able to see, and above them, the mask splits and divides in two horn-like extensions that curve slightly backwards, following the shape of his head. Lastly, his forehead is covered by two smaller horns that seem to resemble frowning eyebrows.
Ressurection:
Hollow Mask:
{Picture}
Going from the bottom to the top, Ryoichi's mask features a rather strange mouth, as if the lower fangs were biting into the skin above. It has two small obertures on the side, giving it a vague resemblance to the jaw of a skull in that skin seems to be missing to cover those gaps. The mask has no visible nose, presenting a flat surface instead. However, it is the top of the mask that makes it more noticeable. Red motifs surround the small holes through which Ryoichi is able to see, and above them, the mask splits and divides in two horn-like extensions that curve slightly backwards, following the shape of his head. Lastly, his forehead is covered by two smaller horns that seem to resemble frowning eyebrows.
Ressurection:
{Appearance}
{Powers:}
{Other Techniques:}