Post by Rei Takagi on Feb 27, 2021 1:30:01 GMT -5
-Opening-
Discord/Chatango Username (include nicknames): Windy#9629 (Some people call me Bass but either is okay, tbh.)
Password 1: Black Hole
Password 2: Moon Pray
Type: Nontyped.
Squad: Squad 3
Rank: Academy Student (Squad 3, Hopefully! - Class 8)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Basic Information-
Name: Takagi Rei
Age of Death: 19
Real Age/Age of Appearance: 215/20
Birthday (Month/Day): 8-23
Blood Type: B
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Appearance-
Height/Weight: 5'5 and 122 lbs.
Physical Description:
{Spoiler}Takagi Rei is described by many to be someone lacking in several aspects, though the specificity as to what he lacks is subjective. There are many hallmarks and distinctions alike in telling a person's appearance, and Rei is no different. He is a small, scrawny young man appearing to be in his late teens to early twenties. He stands at five foot five, a touch under the average height of men in Japan, and weighs in at 122 pounds, skirting just above being considered underweight, and carrying an androgynous bent to his overall appearance. On a day-to-day basis, one will likely catch him carrying himself as a fly on the wall, someone that does not really wish to make themselves known but will if they must. Curiously, he has no scars on his body or face, which otherwise carries no blemishes.
The most striking feature on Rei's face would definitely have to be his eyes, purple is not necessarily the most common color you would find in the world, and yet...It seems to work well on the man's face. However, Rei is notoriously expressionless, the point that it would be easier to count the times he does not hold a poker face upon his visage on one hand than to count the number of situations where he is otherwise cliff-faced. Yet, at the same time, those times where emotion does allow itself to bleed through are made all the more impactful as a result, especially when he's struck by something as significant as being surprised, or anger, or elation. He has a full head of short, almost ghostly-white hair that he usually keeps short to prevent it from impeding him in the overall day-to-day.
You can also tell a lot about someone just by their posture, and this is something that Rei is rather keenly aware of. He always maintains an upright stance, and never tries to slouch if he can help it. He doesn't really see the need to mask how tall he really is, or anything. He just does that to be about as 'transparent' as one can be. The only time one can see Rei's posture shifting is if he's tired, or in moments of extreme duress.
To speak about Rei's choice in clothing, one must first make a distinction between Shinigami, and the world of the humans. One of these is normal to the Shinigami, and the other is less so--foreign. Regardless, like any other Shinigami with a modicum of self-respect, Rei will usually be found wearing the black shihakusho, with a white obi to tie everything together, and the Zanpakuto in it's sheathe at the man's side. Rei notably wears a purple scarf to add some distinction to his overall attire, claiming it to be a memento as to what once was. Whenever he's in a gigai, and in the world of the humans, he will usually wear a gray button up shirt, and black slacks. Nobody ever said you needed to dress to impress anyone in the Human World, sure, but you may as well try your best in order to look your best.
Formal occasions are what prompt Rei to actually start trying harder with his appearance, as he'll actually start wearing jackets to go along with his usual casualwear if he needs to. Otherwise he'll do his best to match whatever occasion there may be that calls for something 'formal.' It's such a nebulous concept that it may well mean anything vaguely fancy, which is something that he does at least appreciate. Just know that unless specified otherwise, his default is usually just going to be a suit. Which leads to one final thing when it comes to that, actually, in that Rei will always, ALWAYS ensure that his clothing fits him to a T.
Despite looking like a stray wind can blow him away, he is at least beginning to exercise more, to his credit. The work of a Soul Reaper requires one to hone themselves on both a physical and spiritual level, so he at least bears the beginnings of athleticism on him. Sure, one might only find him exercising in the dead of morning, but one does have to at least give a little credit for trying. This is something that Rei keeps on the down low for...reasons of pride, mostly. That and he also doesn't really talk about his hobbies much, since this would definitely fall under that.
Shedding away the veneer of physical appearance, Rei's spiritual pressure takes the form of a mist that you would likely see in the morning within a forest. It's a calm phenomenon that doesn't really suffocate or overtake anything, but it does end up obfuscating Rei when exerted enough, wrapping 'round him like a blanket. When Dokusesshi is released, the mist takes on the color of gold, the same color as the Zanpakuto's manifestation's eyes. When in Bankai, the mist takes on the same purple as Rei's eyes, and rolls into the same gas that Muon no Dokusesshi releases--it has to come from somewhere, after all. When either making use of Vizard-based abilities, or when under the control of [REDACTED], Rei's spiritual pressure shifts from a mist, to a black, smoky fog. One can swear they see flashes of white and red within the wisps of the fog, too, but those wisps tend to flare out with technique usage.
Rei's physical appearance might deteriorate over time, though that's an inevitability for anyone if they're made to keep on without rest. The thing is, despite Rei's paying close attention
to his appearance, down to his clothing, he tends to lose awareness of it's condition over time. Which tends to lead to a look of surprise when someone inevitably tells him that his shihakusho's torn, or that he got a cut somewhere that he has zero memory of. He'll oft endeavor to fix that as soon as he's made aware of it. But, there are points in time where that's going to inevitably be impossible.
A visual reference lies below--the Faceclaim is Honebami Toushiro from Touken Ranbu! It is admittedly a good reference for how Rei's default facial expression would appear.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The most striking feature on Rei's face would definitely have to be his eyes, purple is not necessarily the most common color you would find in the world, and yet...It seems to work well on the man's face. However, Rei is notoriously expressionless, the point that it would be easier to count the times he does not hold a poker face upon his visage on one hand than to count the number of situations where he is otherwise cliff-faced. Yet, at the same time, those times where emotion does allow itself to bleed through are made all the more impactful as a result, especially when he's struck by something as significant as being surprised, or anger, or elation. He has a full head of short, almost ghostly-white hair that he usually keeps short to prevent it from impeding him in the overall day-to-day.
You can also tell a lot about someone just by their posture, and this is something that Rei is rather keenly aware of. He always maintains an upright stance, and never tries to slouch if he can help it. He doesn't really see the need to mask how tall he really is, or anything. He just does that to be about as 'transparent' as one can be. The only time one can see Rei's posture shifting is if he's tired, or in moments of extreme duress.
To speak about Rei's choice in clothing, one must first make a distinction between Shinigami, and the world of the humans. One of these is normal to the Shinigami, and the other is less so--foreign. Regardless, like any other Shinigami with a modicum of self-respect, Rei will usually be found wearing the black shihakusho, with a white obi to tie everything together, and the Zanpakuto in it's sheathe at the man's side. Rei notably wears a purple scarf to add some distinction to his overall attire, claiming it to be a memento as to what once was. Whenever he's in a gigai, and in the world of the humans, he will usually wear a gray button up shirt, and black slacks. Nobody ever said you needed to dress to impress anyone in the Human World, sure, but you may as well try your best in order to look your best.
Formal occasions are what prompt Rei to actually start trying harder with his appearance, as he'll actually start wearing jackets to go along with his usual casualwear if he needs to. Otherwise he'll do his best to match whatever occasion there may be that calls for something 'formal.' It's such a nebulous concept that it may well mean anything vaguely fancy, which is something that he does at least appreciate. Just know that unless specified otherwise, his default is usually just going to be a suit. Which leads to one final thing when it comes to that, actually, in that Rei will always, ALWAYS ensure that his clothing fits him to a T.
Despite looking like a stray wind can blow him away, he is at least beginning to exercise more, to his credit. The work of a Soul Reaper requires one to hone themselves on both a physical and spiritual level, so he at least bears the beginnings of athleticism on him. Sure, one might only find him exercising in the dead of morning, but one does have to at least give a little credit for trying. This is something that Rei keeps on the down low for...reasons of pride, mostly. That and he also doesn't really talk about his hobbies much, since this would definitely fall under that.
Shedding away the veneer of physical appearance, Rei's spiritual pressure takes the form of a mist that you would likely see in the morning within a forest. It's a calm phenomenon that doesn't really suffocate or overtake anything, but it does end up obfuscating Rei when exerted enough, wrapping 'round him like a blanket. When Dokusesshi is released, the mist takes on the color of gold, the same color as the Zanpakuto's manifestation's eyes. When in Bankai, the mist takes on the same purple as Rei's eyes, and rolls into the same gas that Muon no Dokusesshi releases--it has to come from somewhere, after all. When either making use of Vizard-based abilities, or when under the control of [REDACTED], Rei's spiritual pressure shifts from a mist, to a black, smoky fog. One can swear they see flashes of white and red within the wisps of the fog, too, but those wisps tend to flare out with technique usage.
Rei's physical appearance might deteriorate over time, though that's an inevitability for anyone if they're made to keep on without rest. The thing is, despite Rei's paying close attention
to his appearance, down to his clothing, he tends to lose awareness of it's condition over time. Which tends to lead to a look of surprise when someone inevitably tells him that his shihakusho's torn, or that he got a cut somewhere that he has zero memory of. He'll oft endeavor to fix that as soon as he's made aware of it. But, there are points in time where that's going to inevitably be impossible.
A visual reference lies below--the Faceclaim is Honebami Toushiro from Touken Ranbu! It is admittedly a good reference for how Rei's default facial expression would appear.
-Personality-
Dislikes:
- Non-Shinigami - This one is a bit generic, truth be told. Rei only knows the races that aren't the spirits of Soul Society can be exceedingly violent to those who don't really deserve it. It's a subject that, while he wishes to educate himself further on, is not something he's going to DEDICATE himself to anytime soon. Thankfully the dislike only goes to hollows. Rei does not have any opinions on Quincy, for the moment, as he has only been TOLD of them. He has never MET one, and his opinions on them will likely range from sour to a blistering hate on the same levels as Hollows.
- Stagnation - Alright, so, if you hold the desire to improve yourself, and the desire to help others, then naturally, you're going to hate the concept of stagnation. The idea of being stuck in one place with no way to advance is one of the few things that actually can elicit any amount of ire from Rei, and he usually does his best to avoid the people he deems as such even if he's one to give the benefit of the doubt. Or second chances.
- Technology - It's foreign to him. Exceedingly so. Trying to understand it is a headache in and of itself, and quite frankly he prefers it when things are more simple than anything!
- Derision - There lies a difference between constructive criticism between allies and being pointlessly derisive. Poking fun at non-Shinigami, however, is fair game. Just not -too- much.
- The Unknown - This one is likely the strangest one to put here. This is not a fear, not by any means. It is more of a desire to unravel the mystery behind the unknown, to see what lies beyond the proverbial veil. If you were to assign a nonspecific quote from a philosophy, Rei would absolutely stare into the abyss solely to spite it when it inevitably stares back.
- Loud Noises - A genuine peeve that carried over from life, sudden loud noises cause no small amount of discomfort in Rei. He's able to at least handle being around people he'd consider loud, but sudden noises such as a vase shattering unprompted, an explosion without warning, or even someone yelling in his ear can and will throw him off of his rhythm.
- Alcohol - This one requires specifics, once more. It's not like Rei dislikes alcohol itself, at least not entirely. He can drink in polite company, but it will not be something that he goes out of his way to pursue. He more dislikes the STENCH of alcohol, thanks to associating it with a number of unpleasant memories.
- Darkness - A literal dislike of the dark, rather than scotophobia/lygophobia. Much like the above dislike of alcohol's stench, it brings a sense of unease to Rei, though he is usually able to suppress this in favor of concluding whatever he has to do in there and then getting the hell out.
- Bureaucratic Work - Paperwork does not necessarily resonate very well with someone from the countryside who can barely read. Really, does paperwork resonate well with anyone?
- Parties - This is EXTREMELY silly, yes, but it is a dislike. Rei thinks parties exemplify a lot of the above dislikes to the point where he would rather not really attend one if he could help it. It's a waste of everyone's time that could be spent elsewheeere!
Likes:
- Silence - A calm atmosphere invites focus, and with focus comes willpower. With willpower, comes the ability to DO. That's the justification Rei gives when asked why specifically he likes a quiet room above a chatty one.
- Sour Foods - When they're an option, Rei will gravitate towards sour/citrusy flavors. He notably does not have a dislike of any particular flavors of food, but he will always go right for the most bitter or sour thing one can think of.
- Efficiency - In a very literal sense, Rei lives to optimize his routines. So, efficiency is pretty much what he values when deciding how he wants to approach something. Quick, decisive, done! Simple!
- Lavender - Both as a color and as a flower, there is a strange comfort taken in both wearing the color, or being around the flower. There exist a variety of meanings to the flower for him, but three in particular stick out. Silence, loyalty, and serenity. It is a flower that is rooted in peace to him.
- Small Animals - Is it strange to say that Takagi Rei likes mice? Perhaps it might be, but he finds them to be rather pleasant animals. This like, however, does not remain exclusive to rodents. All small animals are treated equivalently well when Rei can afford it. This isn't super important, hence why this is so short.
- Books - Repositories of knowledge that Rei lacked in life, admittedly. He does not have any particular genre he likes, but if you hand him a book and tell him to read it, he'll likely go ahead and do it.
- Paintings - To those who would question this, answer this simple question--who would not appreciate a good piece of artwork? A degenerate, that's who!
- Out of the Way - Rei prefers being a wallflower because it means an equivalent exchange takes place--he is unbothered. And others remain unbothered. Simple.
- Woodcarving - Fun fact, did you know Rei actually enjoys whittling on his off time? It is quite literally one of the only hobbies he's dedicated himself to for more than a few moons.
- The Finer Things ™ - A guilty pleasure, truth be told. Rei does not like admitting this but whenever he gets the chance to, he will spoil himself and whoever's with him. Especially if it's to do with fancy food, that, in and of itself is always nice.
Flaws:
- Overeager - When Rei gets to work on something, he throws himself at it with little regard for himself. In all essentiality, it is easy for him to lose himself in the art of being a Soul Reaper, which is something that some may consider a good thing, except it's really not. This tendency also extends to his daily life, as he tends to quite literally devote 100% to whatever catches his fancy at the time, be it actually important work or something interesting that he found on the side.
- Sore Loser - This is no exaggeration, Rei does not take loss of any kind well. It's akin to a mental black book for him, a reminder of constant failures that he can and will beat himself up about. Not exactly something to disclose to others, but something that can haunt the Soul Reaper at times.
- Explosive - This may have been better to put into personality, but if one actually manages to test Rei's patience to a certain point, the chance of him (figuratively) exploding exists. Have you ever had a moment where someone had said or done something so irreconcilably stupid or offensive to you that you just go nuts? Think of this flaw as that. Everyone's got a proverbial temper, Rei's is just...worse to have come up.
Habits:
- Watchful - One does not describe themselves as a wallflower without having a knack for observing people. Little details and bigger ones alike rarely ever escape Rei's eyes, and in truth, the observation of such details can be considered fascinating to him. It also means he's -great- at keeping his guard up on missions! In theory, obviously, execution is different. This absolutely is not a habit that was developed from his life, at all.
- Menial Work - Small adjustments to everything if he can help it. You can usually find Rei trying to figure something out to keep himself busy--be it through small crafts or small jobs.
- Routines - Rei has a general sort of schedule he attempts to adhere to as much as he can when it comes to how he operates on the day to day. Wake up, tidy up, get to work, deal with all the rigors that brings, THEN there's free time. Simple.
- Explorer - Rei likes to poke around new places a lot--especially if it seems like there's something neat to be had by doing so. It's like second-nature to him!
Fears:
- Loneliness - Takagi Rei's life ended as a result of him being left alone. Whether it be subconscious or not, this fear has extended into the afterlife. While there are certain exceptions to this fear, Rei generally has a literal fear of being alone. However, there exists the figurative sort--also a result of the end of his life. He was left entirely alone in the world, no family, no friends. This cannot be allowed to repeat itself, can it? No...
- Being Forgotten - A fear that stems from the above, something that can be constituted as...humorous from the standpoint of a reader, possibly. It's said that a true death comes when nobody remembers who you were, and that thought, while obviously intended as a figure of speech to help remember the dead, terrifies Rei. If one is forgotten, how are they to be celebrated, how are they to keep going through others? It's silly, but...this man overthinks things sometimes. It cannot be helped.
- Restraints - Rei has an irrational fear of being captured or put into anything that fit the general idea of physical 'restraints.' It's enough to cause panic and an irrational sort of anger, which leads into the second part of this fear. To allow oneself to be put into something like that is to court death. Such is how Takagi Rei views it.
Goals:
- Find Your True Companions - When you're alone in life, the usual response is to try mitigating that in any way you can, and for Rei this attempt at mitigation comes in the form of striving to find people he can well and truly call allies. People he can help without a second thought, and people he can trust to have his back when he needs it the most. Hopefully less of the latter, though, that'd be a little embarrassing.
- Master The Zanpakuto - The idea of another self as dictated to him by the Academy is something that legitimately piques Rei's curiosity. The way he views it, if he is able to commune with and speak to the spirit, and grow along with it, it is a betterment of oneself, a honing of the self to a point. He's not doing this for any status, either, this is entirely because the possibility exists and he wants to see where that road leads.
- Prosper - As somebody who came from nothing, in his own eyes, to prosper is the ultimate goal of life. To create a life where you can sit down and say 'yes, this is all I was seeking to attain' and go and do more. Of all the goals on this list this may well be the most vague, because prosperity is something that ultimately can be subjective. To Takagi Rei, it is stability.
- Do Not Allow Yourself To Be Forgotten - The ultimate way to overcome the fear of being forgotten by the passage of time is to simply not allow yourself to be forgotten. Yet, how does one go about such a lofty task? Through others, funnily enough. Through the first, and third goal, Rei seeks to at least leave some semblance of a mark on history. Not because he sought status, or anything, but because he wants at least someone to know that he was here. That he existed.
Alignment: Lawful Neutral--Subject to Change.
Overall Personality: The dictionary's definition of the phrase cognizant goes as follows, 'having knowledge or being aware of.' Rei frequently attempts to stay as aware of the world around him as he can, something that leads to a very keen eye. He's otherwise relatively pleasant when it comes down to his demeanor. He is rarely ever one to raise his voice unless needed, and he regards almost everybody he meets with a smile and an almost annoyingly polite demeanor. The reasoning behind such is pretty simple, truth be told. Kindness can disarm, and it makes it all the easier to proceed with what you wish to do as a result.
Surprisingly enough, despite holding a rather cliff-faced demeanor, Rei is not an uncaring slate of rock or anything of the kinds, in fact he is quite the opposite! He is willing to drop everything to follow some orders or go on a mission if he's told to by the appropriate superior, and he's even more willing to try his damnedest to save his fellow reaper if need be. He wants to assume that they would do the same for him, but he isn't so sure about it. He hasn't had to put anyone to that test just yet, and he sincerely hopes that he never has to, given how much trust he would in theory need to allot that person. Rei is the kind of person who will try to give something the benefit of the doubt, but, this is where his flaws come into play.
Rei holds a loathing of that which he cannot understand. That loathing is what drives him to learn more, and it can lead him to acting in ways that can plainly be described as stupid. He does not fancy himself a scientist, more a scholar than anything in that front. There is a small chance he may attempt to poke the proverbial hornet's nest for this wish for understanding, and whether that is good or bad is entirely subjective. However, beneath all of that is a desire to try to improve himself, a genuine desire to help himself and others.
Ultimately, Rei's doubts from that second paragraph come from an inability to form lasting connections. He's fine with it, ultimately, but it doesn't stop things from bothering him just a little bit, not like he'd make it known towards others. It also leads to him holding the people he knows to a high regard that might be considered ridiculous by some. Mayhaps. He can't really be too sure, if that makes sense. Rei is not one to outwardly display any inkling of a grudge, as a final warning of sorts, so if one does something to warrant Rei's ire in that regard, it will be an equivalent of a cold war, for he is not one to actively seek conflict, with actively being the operative term--he will make quips if he sees the chance of getting away with it.
Another aspect of Rei's personality to take note of is something that was actually touched on a little above. This individual does not take loss well in a general sense, though that was probably already obvious with the fact that was a flaw. Clinging to a dwindling number of connections in life taught that making such connections was rarely ever fruitful. It's that LACK of those that causes defeat to sting so badly. Kick Rei over, and he will get back up and attempt to figure out just how to spite whoever did it. Unless they're a friend, they get...a little bit of slack cut for them.
......
......
The monster that lurks within Rei's psyche without the knowledge of anyone relishes that. For it does not need anyone to know about it to be able to exert influence, to gain what it needs to gain. It is a hunter, spurred on by the need to be the most vile beast of all, the most dangerous game, all to spite those who had done the one it lives within wrong. It bears no love for the world around it, as a result. It merely lives, and it merely watches, exerting it's influence ever quietly.
To put things simply, it views anyone Rei speaks to as a threat, and as something that may need to be put down later, for fear of it either disappearing, or stabbing him in the back. While one can argue that this is looking out for Rei, this is far more akin to wanting absolute control over who he's around than anything. To the monster, violence is the final shred of honesty left in the world, and to the monster, giving into that truth is as good a victory as giving into it. Whenever the monster surfaces, Rei's demeanor changes to something more akin to a feral animal, yet retains an element of precision, willing to do whatever must be done in order to ensure something meets the bloody end it deserves.
It lacks a name, though...Eir seems to be a good fit, a title befitting a king.
It should go without saying that at the moment, Rei is completely unaware of Eir's existence. So, Rei himself is simply put, a Shinigami with ambition. Ambition that, while it is mostly aimed towards himself, can prove to be either the biggest boon, or the greatest of downfalls. He's ultimately a swell young man in his own honest opinion, but he isn't about to vocalize that--saying that you definitely are something is the prime indicator of that being inherently false! Yet, like any person, he isn't perfect, nobody is. Nobody should hold themselves above anyone without good reason...He isn't sure what that reason is, though.
Better to find out on his own.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-Powers-
Fighting Style: This section bears a small forewarning--Rei at present is an academy student, so as a result this is all hypothetical and based upon how he may grow as a fighter and a Shinigami. Needless to say, this may change and evolve over time like a character well should. As such, take all of this with a grain of salt. It's fairly standard as far as anything may go, Rei usually fights with a combination of his sword and techniques employed by Shinigami. However, it's more accurate to call this fighting style an attempt to keep one step ahead of an opponent, and an attempt to just survive as a whole. Despite there being techniques involved, there isn't an overall...rhyme or reason to Rei's fighting style, if that makes sense.
As a fighter, Rei relies on being swift on his feet, and starving out his foes in a strictly proverbial sense, thanks to what his Zanpakuto's capability is. The basic principle is that with how small he is, he may not last very long against any opponents that may outclass him in size, so he has to keep up with them--outpace them in every way so that they hold no chance of catching up. With a Zanpakuto who's entire purpose is based around ebbing the strength away from a foe with each strike, it becomes a matter of how many licks he can get into a foe while staying untouched. For a single stroke can mean death in the world he lives in, can it not?
Range is always something that you need to consider in combat, and for Rei, remaining in close quarters for long periods of time is ultimately not something he would not enjoy. He relies on quick attacks to try getting the opponent to exert themselves in trying to deflect. Utilize any mixture of Zanpakuto and Kido/Bakudo/Hado in order to maintain control over the fight and take advantage of any holes or gaps in the foe's defense that may pop up. Notably, if Rei suffers a hit he'll do everything he can to cover the injury and keep fighting. Now, bear in mind this is just how he generally approaches close combat while his blade is sealed.
When it comes to the magical capabilities a Shinigami may display, Rei has a lot of mixed feelings about Kido. He generally will shy away from Bakudo, as there is a level of discomfort involved with the connotations of restraint--at least with foes during spars, foes encountered in other contexts may prompt him to forego that discomfort out of sheer necessity. Plus, knowing how to use it also means you may know how to escape it if it's ever used against you. Hoho is fair game, however, given it largely plays into his overall style up above! Hado, meanwhile, is something that fascinates him, and something he will GLADLY employ whenever he has fair reason to, especially if it allows for displacing his foe to a degree.
Rei's shikai is when he starts to become a touch less hands off with a fight--he knows he has to utilize it in close combat in order to use it's full effect, that of the 'poison,' so there's no sense in continuing to play keepaway for very long. He also rarely ever opts to waste time, usually preferring to act rather than speak, and when he does speak, it isn't for long--such is inviting a foe to cut your throat. It's when the Shikai comes into play that he starts to utilize Hoho more often than not, as supplementing movement with precise strikes, as well as the kind of swordplay that one would expect from a wakizashi like Dokusesshi. The more cuts landed with his blade, the better, in theory, as if all goes according to plan? Then it will ideally end with him standing in the end. Of course, this is simply theory, hypothesis and all of that, so it will absolutely never go his way entirely.
The Bankai is a far away dream that if realized actively introduces something to the fray that Rei hardly ever considers--The idea of a silent approach. The Bankai adds a silent property to the poison of Dokusesshi by turning it into a hazardous gas that also can obscure the field, so it makes figuring out what Rei is going to do next by sight an extremely laborious task, potentially. It is overall seen as a tool to continue to overwhelm the enemy while Rei is hopefully keeping ahead of them. Chances are that he's playing for keeps if the Bankai has come out, as he otherwise would see such a thing as a last resort, something to not use lightly even with all the theoretical power it could bring. If it is allowed to be used, then Rei's approach to a battle becomes far more aggressive, as he has much more room to act.
Of course, nobody is perfect. Rei even less than that, really. He puts too much effort into staying on his toes that a skilled enough opponent can ultimately lure him into a trap and dispatch him easily. To say nothing of how he can just shut down whenever he ends up with his movements impeded or restrained. Either shuts down, or panics immensely and ends up shifting his entire style for the worst, to put it lightly. Frantic movements, attempts to flee and more line this.
Now, everything above has been how Rei approaches battles that take place during missions, expeditions and whatnot, quests. At least when he's alone. Spars are different, spars require rules that need to be adhered to strictly, so he will usually adjust his fighting style to suit whatever the spar would demand. After all, you aren't really supposed to go all out with a spar, are you? His strikes are more testing friendlier waters than anything with spars. Nothing too serious, yet not downplaying whoever he's with.
It's when the subject shifts to such a thing like deathmatches or battles with circumstances that require one to bring everything they have to the table that Rei decides to do away with the concept of restraint. If all is on the line, then it would be a disservice to not bring all to bear. Naturally this means that he will use anything and everything in his arsenal to bring victory to whatever side he's on, be it his own, his friends, or his enemies. Maximum aggression, minimal mercy, and enough tactical knowhow to try turning the tide if he can. Really, nothing that wasn't already obvious, truth be told!
Rei, shockingly enough, is able to hold his own with a group too, usually adjusting his tactics and his approach to try complementing his peers as best as he can. He's notably more precise with his actions, aiming for a minimal amount of danger to whoever he's with while allowing them to perform as they would. Essentially, he attempts to support them offensively. Admittedly, he uses less proverbial firepower thanks to the need for precision, but to him? It's a worthwhile sacrifice to ensure a smoother victory.
Zanpakutou Spirit Appearance: Dokusesshi's manifestation within the inner world is contrary to their master's appearance, for instead of a silver-haired, purple eyed male of the androgynous variety, the blade instead takes the form of a similarly androgynous individual that stands at the exact same height that Rei himself does. They're seen with a dark blue fur coat and a scarf worn over a white shirt, a furred sash, and black pants. However, what may well be their most striking feature, similar to the wielder, is the eyes--Doku's are bright golden, seeming to be able to stare through someone and know their precise weakness.
They're rarely ever seen without their sword, sheathed or otherwise, in hand, and are a fair bit more boisterous than Rei. They will declare what must be done, and they will ensure that Rei sees why it must be done without a second thought.
...
Eir is a monster. You are forgiven for assuming that this is a mere generalization of the hollow within, but, dear reader, be assured that this individual bears no concept of humanity left in appearance and demeanor. The monster stands tall, far taller than either Rei or Doku, and is hunched over akin to a silent, baying beast. Coarse black fur seems to line it's entire body, yet at certain points is interrupted by bony growths akin to plates of armor, with the most prominent being a secondary ribcage encasing Eir's chest. The beast is notably completely silent in how it moves, and a blackened haze always seems to accompany it, as well as hug him like an odd combination of a robe and a coat. White fur lines Eir's neck like the collar of a monarch, and the creature's 'mask,' as it were, takes the form of a wolf's skull mixed with the horns of a ram, with two eyes, one gold and one purple, staring from beneath the 'eye holes' of the mask. Unblinking.
Wherever he may be in the Inner World, it always darkens as a warning. The only warning many may get, truth be told. They grip a sword just like Dokusesshi's, yet there is no veneer to be had--the blade is cracked, chipped in many places. A representation of the truth behind the inner well.
Inner World(Optional): The Inner World is meant to be a reflection of one's very soul, a manifestation of who they are in the form of a tangible place for them and their Spirit. For Takagi Rei, it is a vast, rural expanse surrounding a foggy forest--the center of which houses a seemingly labyrinthine house. It is always the twilight hour, and the fog never seems to clear no matter what. There lays a river that runs through the section of the forest with the house, and if one were to stare into it, they would see a reflection of past and present. What has happened, and what is currently happening both in tandem. One shouldn't look in there for long. Strangely, everything seems to slowly move back into place if it's disturbed.Wherever he may be in the Inner World, it always darkens as a warning. The only warning many may get, truth be told. They grip a sword just like Dokusesshi's, yet there is no veneer to be had--the blade is cracked, chipped in many places. A representation of the truth behind the inner well.
Zanpakutou Appearances:
Sealed: A sealed Zanpakutou rarely ever stands out from the rest, and Dokusesshi is no different. A simple Wakizashi, with a black and gold hilt, accented by a guard of the same color. It's sheathe is made of a dark lacquered wood, and is otherwise well cared for. It is not left wanting. A charm hangs from the hilt, and a sash is tied around the sheathe.
Shikai: A blade evolves when it's allowed to run wild. Dokusesshi's changes in it's Shikai are largely centered around the blade. The charm turns a lavender shade, as Dokusesshi's blade chips to reveal a number of engravings along the length. They do not do a thing for the blade, but they signify a warning that to allow it to cut, is to allow it to wither oneself away. Despite the engravings, the blade still cuts as it normally would in it's sealed form.
Bankai: Muon no Dokusesshi is when Rei's appearance takes a dramatic shift that goes along with the shift of the Zanpakuto itself. The blade becomes enveloped in a haze of lavender clinging around the steel, while that same haze trails off from the hilt and guard in thinner lines. Rei's right arm, the hand that he primarily uses his sword with, becomes encased in a black armor that ultimately does not cover his entire body, simply that arm, and his leg too. It leads to a rather odd appearance when paired with his shihakusho.
Mask Appearance: The mask associated with this individual takes the form of the skull of a wolf, with the horns of a ram, something a little unique among masks of this variety given most are flat. The mask itself is a pale white, and the 'teeth' of the mask seem to be sharp like razors, despite the 'mouth' of the mask seeming to never open. There is a perpetual blackness in any holes in the mask, with only the eyes of the wearer being visible when donned.
Overall Ability: Dokusesshi's ability, as it were, is a poison. It is meant to be a fang akin to that of a venomous beast, and like a beast, it's ability is best seen with it's bite. It inflicts a poison with each cut it makes, and that poison weakens a foe spiritually, making their movements all the more taxing the longer the battle goes on. The venom is made from Rei's spiritual pressure, so so long as he has some to spare, Dokusesshi's bite will still do it's thing.
Shikai Overall Ability: The venom of Dokusesshi is most naturally applied when the blade is in the state of Shikai. Here, it gathers within the blade, to be used to effectively poison and cripple an opponent on hit to an extent. The poison itself saps away Reiatsu, 8% with each 'stack' of Dokusesshi's poison inflicted. Essentially, for four rounds of posting, that 8% (or more!) of the afflicted's overall Reiatsu pool will not be accessible, and it can and will stack up if the poison is allowed to either be continued to be inflicted, or if the foe remains in the 'gas' of the Bankai. Of course, if the foe manages to elude being inflicted with the poison further, then the body will do away with it, easy peasy! It also is counteracted by resistances to poison, too, each rank in Poison Resistance cutting the duration of the poison down by a round! Rei can only inflict five stacks of this on an opponent at a time, however.
Bankai Overall Ability: So, you know how Dokusesshi's venom was only really a danger if the blade ever landed a cut? Muon no Dokusesshi breaks that mold by converting the poison into a gas that is being CONSTANTLY emitted by the sword in this state. Of course, it's a gas, and that needs time to spread, though it won't ever really go away so long as Rei has his Bankai active. The gas will spread from around Rei, gaining ten feet of ground every post before it hits a hundred, and promptly begins gaining fifteen feet instead. Rei is not subject to the effects of his own poison, but for others, the gas is a strengthened form of the poison, upping the proverbial tax to a whooping 10%. Inhaling the gas prompts the stack from the Shikai as well as getting cut by the blade, so be very wary. It -can- be dispersed, to note, and the previous clause regarding poison resistance still applies when it comes to duration, which is unchanged. Yet, the number of maximum stacks increases to seven.
Zanpakuto Techniques:
Shikai
Numbing Crescent - This ability is a painfully simple application of a poisonous blade. By funneling more Reiatsu into his sword, Rei is able to make it 'drip,' and by doing this? He gains a ranged method of attack. He flicks the blade to send a crescent of his reiatsu towards a foe, the attack threatening to cut whatever may lay in it's path as well as apply Dokusesshi's venom to all with a pulse that it hits. Sadly it's only limited to a single target. This attack uses Rei's highest spiritual stat to determine the force it cuts at, and flies at a speed of 650. At higher releases such as Bankai, this technique can potentially overpower weaker abilities and convert them into gas after going through a Class and OS clash with the opposing ability. 150 Reiatsu cost.
Salted Hide - Rei brings Dokusesshi close, as a sheen of his Reiatsu covers him like a really thin sheet. The Reiatsu is the poison--and it makes coming into melee with unarmed attacks, or without any sort of protection an ill advised attempt, for laying a hand on him with this technique active inflicts a stack of the blade's poison! This ability costs 200 Reiatsu to use, and Rei will pay an additional 100 for each post this is active. It's main drawback is that it does NOTHING for Rei's defense outside of make him both venomous and poisonous for a bit. It will not protect him from anything, but it will at least leave something for the opponent to deal with.
Poison Focus - A technique that requires the foe to already be suffering from the poison. Rei raises his sword in a clockwise manner, before he attempts to slash for a specific portion of the opponent's body, typically one of their limbs with the blade as it shines. If this is successful, the poison within the opponent's body is forcibly focused into that specific -region- of their body, effectively disabling that part given it's basically asleep--the severity of which is determined by how many stacks of the Shikai's ability are on the opponent. 1/3/5 stacks dealing 33%/67%/100%. It is also usable in Bankai. This lasts for 3 rounds of posting, with the technique costing 200 Reiatsu.
Bankai
Condense - A technique that only becomes usable at 100 feet of gas or above. Rei brings Muon no Dokusesshi in close as he essentially halves the overall diameter of the gas released in order to condense it at that radius. Less ground covered, but more focused Reishi. At that radius, Muon no Dokusesshi's stacks apply two at a time rather than one, and actually begins to burn and suffocate at opponents caught within. This costs 500 Reiatsu to perform, and halves the overall spread of the gas Rei's Bankai created. More can still be created, sure, and the gas can still be dispersed, still. And it still obeys the prior clause regarding resistances. This specific technique can only be utilized three times per thread, given the sheer focus it requires.
The Viper Awaiting - Rei wills his gas to briefly 'dissipate' for two rounds of posting, the poisonous vapor seeming to vanish completely, when in truth...it's actually sealed beneath the ground. At the end of the second round, the gas bursts back out, a violent surge of Rei's spirital pressure damaging foes within the gas--this technique's range is based upon how much ground the gas used by the Bankai's overall ability is covering at that moment. This can only be utilized twice per thread, and for the two round countdown, Muon no Dokusesshi's gas is considered 'frozen.' It does not increase or decrease for that time. This technique costs 550 Reiatsu.
Fading Struggle - Most of Rei's techniques involve either bringing in more poison, or moving it. This one involves forcibly getting RID of it, though at a price that Rei does not have to pay, because that's just not his style. By gathering spiritual pressure at the very tip of Muon no Dokusesshi, and stabbing at his target (again, a terrible use of a wakizashi, likely,) Rei then wills the poison to purge itself from an opponent. By making it forcibly tear itself out of them. This will reset the number of poison stacks that his opponent has accrued, while dealing damage based upon how much stacks they had before this ability was used. 1/3/5 stacks dealing 33%/67%/100% of Rei's O.S. The stacks are added to the overall cloud that Rei's Bankai produces, though the opponent cannot start gaining stacks again until two rounds have passed. This technique costs 600 Reiatsu to perform.
Other Techniques:
Technique Name: Shunpo (Flash Steps) - Proficient
Class: 7
Technique Type: Kidō
Technique Element: None
Technique Description and Effects:
A movement technique that allows the user to move faster than the eye can follow. The focal point that determines the basis of this technique is speed. As speed is the main point of the technique, the method is best characterized by how fast one can get from Point A to Point B in the least amount of steps. Training and skill are what determines how fast a user of Shunpo can move. Those of little skill in the technique or those who haven't used it for an extended amount of time would obviously be out of practice, causing those individuals to be considerably slower. This requires the use of more steps to move the same distance and become tired more easily in a shorter amount of time. A single step magnifies speed for that step by ten times. Shunpo uses fifty Reiatsu per step. This one is automatically learned in the academy. All Shinigami know this when created. This technique does not take up a technique slot.
How to use technique:
Focus of Reishi around the feet area and launch off into a single blurring step. It is not unlike teleportation in appearance, but it is simply extremely fast movement. It is often used to gain an edge in a single moment of combat or to dodge incoming attacks.
[/b][/div]
Birthplace: Japan
Current Residence: Seireitei
Memorable Figures: Parents, Morikawa siblings--closest friends, Takagi Kyo--brother.
History:
This story doesn't really begin with anything explicit. Instead, it begins with some background for the sake of it. The Takagi were a rather principled family in the nineteenth century that were brought together by extenuating circumstances that were long forgotten. The branch of the family that spawned Rei, however, was anything but. They were a couple that met, fell in love swiftly, eloped even swifter, and moved to a rural town to spend the rest of their days together.
They had two children, two boys named Rei and Kyo that ultimately did not care much for each other as they grew, yet found that they only had each other as the truth of such a hastily made bond revealed itself. The Takagi did not love each other in the end. Such a swift decision did not afford them the time to get to know each other, and both mother and father came to resent that, and soon enough? That ire boiled over. To put it into perspective, it was like a kettle that was poised to burst, and when it did, as delicate subjects like this tend to, it led to all within the household being scalded.
Drinking, unfaithful behavior, yelling...There was a whole laundry list of awful things that Rei can recall both of his parents engaging in, yet the child had hope that they still cared about him and his brother, right? A lot of solace was had outside of home--for Rei was the kind of kid who knew every nook and cranny of his town. He came to befriend a pair of sisters who he slowly learned came from similar circumstances to him, only that the Morikawas were a lot closer than Rei and Kyo had been. Admittedly, he was jealous of that, but sometimes people were just like that. It didn't really matter when you valued more than that, what mattered was the bond, the friendship, for it was something that kept Rei going even if he figured tomorrow might be hell.
However, they were ultimately just friends. Friends can only really do so much to dull whatever it was that went on outside of that, and truth be told, the longer Rei and Kyo remained at home, and the older they got, the worse off their parents became. Despite how distant the brothers were at first, one eventually came to the other with a truth that both knew, yet never sought to speak of until that very moment. This could not continue--they needed to go before they ultimately lost themselves to this, before they became LIKE the people that were once their parents. For once in their lives, the brothers actually did agree on something, and they decided to hold onto that in a way, and try to work their way out.
Such was life for a good while, weathering the troubles of a broken household, spending time with friends, and trying to work up the courage and resources to leave. It was a long, and arduous process but the brothers did genuinely feel as if they could do it if they put enough time and effort into it. The problem was, they didn't know how much until enough was enough, they didn't know when they should go. Moreover, this was on top of mounting responsibilities, and a simple fact of how life moved even when they had their own agenda. At this point, the reader would be forgiven if they thought this was going to be a happy ending.
For they would not be entirely correct--this is a story set in a world that revolved around death. And death was no hunter, even if unknown to it's prey. It began with one person--one of the sisters that Rei befriended, going missing suddenly and with no word. Many assumed that she had left, and abandoned her family and friends, yet at the same time, two had thought otherwise. The one who remained, Shiori, had decided to try finding answers.
The brothers had two different responses, Rei naturally wanted to help one of his only friends, whereas Kyo thought this was none of their business. A simple disagreement between the brothers, at first, yet...something felt different about this one. The brothers had usually held themselves back whenever they had one of their disagreements, yet...Kyo was angry this time. Actually angry, to note, namely because he felt as though if one were to investigate WHY someone just left or disappeared, they'd only invite more strife. A simple question was asked, 'why poke the hornet's nest if there is no promise but suffering?'
What answer was there to be had to that? To make an already long story within a story a touch shorter, Kyo departed the town that night. He departed in the night, without a word to anyone. It was...shocking, to say the least, yet Rei knew he had to at least stick to his word. To his credit, he tried his best to help Shiori find any trace of Kaede, although his help was...not really anything he could call up to snuff. At best he was moral support for something that had minimal progress...,Yet what good was that when Shiori herself eventually disappeared?
There wasn't any need to answer that. Rei was left alone in his eyes, for there was not much else to return to. Home was never really home in the first place, and his one friend in the world had seemingly vanished just like her sister did. One would assume Rei did anything reasonable and not try to look for her too, right? That he would at least try to keep away from whatever in the world got to the Morikawas? That he would be as reasonable as Kyo was and stay FAR away? No, not at all, for Rei kept searching, and searching.
Takagi Rei searched too much, and found far more than he bargained for, to put it lightly. His friends had been kidnapped, or rather, WERE kidnapped, and died in captivity. He found this out because he too had gotten kidnapped, and ultimately? Takagi Rei died in captivity, far away from home or far away from anyone, period. The experiences had there were nothing that the faint of heart would want to read, really.
Yet, beyond the mortal coil, there lay an existence of watching the world go by after getting away from that place. He called for help, he called for help many times, and nobody came for a time, with the hole in his chest growing. But...In time, a stranger garbed in black and white came by--a grim reaper, a shinigami. They noted that the lad had met with a terrible fate, and...all things considered, he had to agree.
He looked like a beaten up husk, according to the first person he had spoken to in weeks since...everything. And this person was the first individual that was able to see or hear them. Naturally, the Plus opted to make the most of it, badgering the shinigami with questions about why he was like he was. They responded in kind, telling Rei that he had ultimately perished and that there were two routes from here on out. One, become a monster far worse than whatever killed him, or two, move on. It seemed like a no-brainer that Rei did not wish to be anything like the people responsible for his end, so the shinigami noted his choice, and performed a ritual that was unknown to him at the time, Konso.
Such was when the life of the human known as Takagi Rei came to an end. The place he wound up at reminded him a lot of his village, yet...it was a lot bigger, and he had a place he got assigned to live at, which was in and of itself rather odd. Completely unlike how things were back in Japan itself, truth be told! He was accepted with open arms by those around him there, and given the rundown of what...specifically was what within what he came to learn was the Soul Society. The individual who had sent him there was a Shinigami, and the monster he had initially been in danger of becoming was a Hollow. Not that he...really knew what the latter would've been.
It admittedly took a few years for Rei to figure out what exactly he wanted to do with the new 'lease' he had. In fact, it took a bit more than a few years, actually. Much of it was spent trying to reacclimate himself to a much bigger 'home' than he ever had when he was alive. All within a far bigger city than when he had been alive, too. There were admittedly a few things to get in order, namely something akin to a job in order to help support the home he had been given, and more information on the people who had delivered him here.
He was curious about them in a number of ways, what did they do, why did they do what they did? As much as he wanted answers, he didn't really think himself in any sort of condition to try and get them himself. Plus, would they even be the answers he wanted? No, he wasn't exactly sure why he wanted to know more about his savior, but it was unlikely that he'd ever run into them again here in the Rukongai. This wasn't the best of lives, yet it wasn't the worst--he had seen the worst, had he not?
Perhaps he had, but it was no reason to sit idle within the Rukongai. He actually did get to see the Shinigami in action a few times, too--be it on patrol, or whenever a Hollow had struck, rare as it was. Seeing the monsters for the first time had sort of caused a realization of '...that could have been me' to dawn. He could've just been one of those things being cut down, but...like a good many others within the Rukongai? He was not.
Yet, in spite of all of that, he sat idle. This would be something later viewed as naught more than a waste of a theoretical second chance granted by the mysterious savior. A second chance that may never come about again, no less. A second chance that one had to weigh very carefully what they would do with--for if they had the capability to, would they not wish to be more than what they used to be? Rei opted to ask around regarding the Shinigami. Who were they, where do they usually come from, what do they do?
Ask, and ye shall find answers. That was likely something that was said at some point in time, but here, it is exactly what happened. Granted, not at first, Rei actually had to ask around quite a bit to even begin to find people who had a coherent answer about the Shinigami. Guardians of a cycle garbed in black, protecting the afterlife from the monsters like the Hollows. Of course, there was the question of why he was asking that eventually came up. Yet, that question had brought Rei pause--he knew why, but he was rather reluctant to voice it, as simple an answer as it was.
"I wanted to know if one can become like them." That was really all he had to say to answer that. And finally, he was told they came from a place called Seireitei. Where was that, one may ask? Why, the very center of Soul Society, of course, and a rather long way from where they were in the Rukongai, yet all the time in the world was allotted to him, was it not?
A rhetorical question, but Rei would set out in the direction of the center--granted, he didn't do so without informing his roommates first and packing up accordingly. Leaving them without a word would be a sincere disservice to them. From there, it was just journeying ever onwards towards Seireitei--and truth be told, for everything Rei had been through both in life and in death? He had never thought to travel before. And journeying through the Rukongai showed a gradual shift in how each district looked and functioned the closer he got to the center, which in and of itself was interesting.
But, ultimately, he got ever closer to his destination, asking and asking for information as he did--how does one enroll into the academy? From there, it was pretty much a no-brainer as to what happened next. Takagi Rei enlisted in the Academy, and has been a student ever since. He has not awakened his Zanpakuto spirit yet, but he knows why he went there, and he is very much willing to do what it takes to achieve what he seeks. Even if it were to take centuries. Even if he has to die trying.
*PLEASE CLICK THE SETTINGS BUTTON AND REPORT THE POST WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE APPLICATION. PUT "GRADING" FOR THE REASON*[/ul]They had two children, two boys named Rei and Kyo that ultimately did not care much for each other as they grew, yet found that they only had each other as the truth of such a hastily made bond revealed itself. The Takagi did not love each other in the end. Such a swift decision did not afford them the time to get to know each other, and both mother and father came to resent that, and soon enough? That ire boiled over. To put it into perspective, it was like a kettle that was poised to burst, and when it did, as delicate subjects like this tend to, it led to all within the household being scalded.
Drinking, unfaithful behavior, yelling...There was a whole laundry list of awful things that Rei can recall both of his parents engaging in, yet the child had hope that they still cared about him and his brother, right? A lot of solace was had outside of home--for Rei was the kind of kid who knew every nook and cranny of his town. He came to befriend a pair of sisters who he slowly learned came from similar circumstances to him, only that the Morikawas were a lot closer than Rei and Kyo had been. Admittedly, he was jealous of that, but sometimes people were just like that. It didn't really matter when you valued more than that, what mattered was the bond, the friendship, for it was something that kept Rei going even if he figured tomorrow might be hell.
However, they were ultimately just friends. Friends can only really do so much to dull whatever it was that went on outside of that, and truth be told, the longer Rei and Kyo remained at home, and the older they got, the worse off their parents became. Despite how distant the brothers were at first, one eventually came to the other with a truth that both knew, yet never sought to speak of until that very moment. This could not continue--they needed to go before they ultimately lost themselves to this, before they became LIKE the people that were once their parents. For once in their lives, the brothers actually did agree on something, and they decided to hold onto that in a way, and try to work their way out.
Such was life for a good while, weathering the troubles of a broken household, spending time with friends, and trying to work up the courage and resources to leave. It was a long, and arduous process but the brothers did genuinely feel as if they could do it if they put enough time and effort into it. The problem was, they didn't know how much until enough was enough, they didn't know when they should go. Moreover, this was on top of mounting responsibilities, and a simple fact of how life moved even when they had their own agenda. At this point, the reader would be forgiven if they thought this was going to be a happy ending.
For they would not be entirely correct--this is a story set in a world that revolved around death. And death was no hunter, even if unknown to it's prey. It began with one person--one of the sisters that Rei befriended, going missing suddenly and with no word. Many assumed that she had left, and abandoned her family and friends, yet at the same time, two had thought otherwise. The one who remained, Shiori, had decided to try finding answers.
The brothers had two different responses, Rei naturally wanted to help one of his only friends, whereas Kyo thought this was none of their business. A simple disagreement between the brothers, at first, yet...something felt different about this one. The brothers had usually held themselves back whenever they had one of their disagreements, yet...Kyo was angry this time. Actually angry, to note, namely because he felt as though if one were to investigate WHY someone just left or disappeared, they'd only invite more strife. A simple question was asked, 'why poke the hornet's nest if there is no promise but suffering?'
What answer was there to be had to that? To make an already long story within a story a touch shorter, Kyo departed the town that night. He departed in the night, without a word to anyone. It was...shocking, to say the least, yet Rei knew he had to at least stick to his word. To his credit, he tried his best to help Shiori find any trace of Kaede, although his help was...not really anything he could call up to snuff. At best he was moral support for something that had minimal progress...,Yet what good was that when Shiori herself eventually disappeared?
There wasn't any need to answer that. Rei was left alone in his eyes, for there was not much else to return to. Home was never really home in the first place, and his one friend in the world had seemingly vanished just like her sister did. One would assume Rei did anything reasonable and not try to look for her too, right? That he would at least try to keep away from whatever in the world got to the Morikawas? That he would be as reasonable as Kyo was and stay FAR away? No, not at all, for Rei kept searching, and searching.
Takagi Rei searched too much, and found far more than he bargained for, to put it lightly. His friends had been kidnapped, or rather, WERE kidnapped, and died in captivity. He found this out because he too had gotten kidnapped, and ultimately? Takagi Rei died in captivity, far away from home or far away from anyone, period. The experiences had there were nothing that the faint of heart would want to read, really.
Yet, beyond the mortal coil, there lay an existence of watching the world go by after getting away from that place. He called for help, he called for help many times, and nobody came for a time, with the hole in his chest growing. But...In time, a stranger garbed in black and white came by--a grim reaper, a shinigami. They noted that the lad had met with a terrible fate, and...all things considered, he had to agree.
He looked like a beaten up husk, according to the first person he had spoken to in weeks since...everything. And this person was the first individual that was able to see or hear them. Naturally, the Plus opted to make the most of it, badgering the shinigami with questions about why he was like he was. They responded in kind, telling Rei that he had ultimately perished and that there were two routes from here on out. One, become a monster far worse than whatever killed him, or two, move on. It seemed like a no-brainer that Rei did not wish to be anything like the people responsible for his end, so the shinigami noted his choice, and performed a ritual that was unknown to him at the time, Konso.
Such was when the life of the human known as Takagi Rei came to an end. The place he wound up at reminded him a lot of his village, yet...it was a lot bigger, and he had a place he got assigned to live at, which was in and of itself rather odd. Completely unlike how things were back in Japan itself, truth be told! He was accepted with open arms by those around him there, and given the rundown of what...specifically was what within what he came to learn was the Soul Society. The individual who had sent him there was a Shinigami, and the monster he had initially been in danger of becoming was a Hollow. Not that he...really knew what the latter would've been.
It admittedly took a few years for Rei to figure out what exactly he wanted to do with the new 'lease' he had. In fact, it took a bit more than a few years, actually. Much of it was spent trying to reacclimate himself to a much bigger 'home' than he ever had when he was alive. All within a far bigger city than when he had been alive, too. There were admittedly a few things to get in order, namely something akin to a job in order to help support the home he had been given, and more information on the people who had delivered him here.
He was curious about them in a number of ways, what did they do, why did they do what they did? As much as he wanted answers, he didn't really think himself in any sort of condition to try and get them himself. Plus, would they even be the answers he wanted? No, he wasn't exactly sure why he wanted to know more about his savior, but it was unlikely that he'd ever run into them again here in the Rukongai. This wasn't the best of lives, yet it wasn't the worst--he had seen the worst, had he not?
Perhaps he had, but it was no reason to sit idle within the Rukongai. He actually did get to see the Shinigami in action a few times, too--be it on patrol, or whenever a Hollow had struck, rare as it was. Seeing the monsters for the first time had sort of caused a realization of '...that could have been me' to dawn. He could've just been one of those things being cut down, but...like a good many others within the Rukongai? He was not.
Yet, in spite of all of that, he sat idle. This would be something later viewed as naught more than a waste of a theoretical second chance granted by the mysterious savior. A second chance that may never come about again, no less. A second chance that one had to weigh very carefully what they would do with--for if they had the capability to, would they not wish to be more than what they used to be? Rei opted to ask around regarding the Shinigami. Who were they, where do they usually come from, what do they do?
Ask, and ye shall find answers. That was likely something that was said at some point in time, but here, it is exactly what happened. Granted, not at first, Rei actually had to ask around quite a bit to even begin to find people who had a coherent answer about the Shinigami. Guardians of a cycle garbed in black, protecting the afterlife from the monsters like the Hollows. Of course, there was the question of why he was asking that eventually came up. Yet, that question had brought Rei pause--he knew why, but he was rather reluctant to voice it, as simple an answer as it was.
"I wanted to know if one can become like them." That was really all he had to say to answer that. And finally, he was told they came from a place called Seireitei. Where was that, one may ask? Why, the very center of Soul Society, of course, and a rather long way from where they were in the Rukongai, yet all the time in the world was allotted to him, was it not?
A rhetorical question, but Rei would set out in the direction of the center--granted, he didn't do so without informing his roommates first and packing up accordingly. Leaving them without a word would be a sincere disservice to them. From there, it was just journeying ever onwards towards Seireitei--and truth be told, for everything Rei had been through both in life and in death? He had never thought to travel before. And journeying through the Rukongai showed a gradual shift in how each district looked and functioned the closer he got to the center, which in and of itself was interesting.
But, ultimately, he got ever closer to his destination, asking and asking for information as he did--how does one enroll into the academy? From there, it was pretty much a no-brainer as to what happened next. Takagi Rei enlisted in the Academy, and has been a student ever since. He has not awakened his Zanpakuto spirit yet, but he knows why he went there, and he is very much willing to do what it takes to achieve what he seeks. Even if it were to take centuries. Even if he has to die trying.
