Post by Nakajima Kimiko on Aug 22, 2022 18:30:42 GMT -5
[ B A S I C I N F O R M A T I O N ]
[ R E A S O N S F O R A P P L I C A T I O N ]
With Kimiko nearing the end of the Path to Hollowfication, it is needless to say that she has witnessed a lot of things occur throughout her Shinigami career. In fact, one could say that it was quite turbulent. She hunted multiple Hollows, was a notable participant in a few of the invasions that recently rocked the Soul Society as a whole, and at the very end of her current story arc, she will witness the Gotei 13 outright turn on her as she deals with the darkness within her. It is needless to say that so many events occurring in such a dramatic succession is going to have a pretty substantial impact on some aspects of the character, and so the need to write those changes down has eventually arisen.
This CIU contains several additions to Kimiko's sheet that are meant to take into effect only after a successful conclusion of her battle with Yume, meaning only if she becomes a true Vizard. They were written down in order to better represent how she is going to look like following her exile from the Soul Society, as well as show how her powers are going to develop as she deals with her Inner Hollow and eventually shifts from a simple Vizard Hopeful to a full-fledged Vizard. Though the majority of this CIU's additions are descriptive in nature, some changes to both her Shikai blades and her Bankai have been made alongside several modifications to their respective techniques. These abilities are to be reviewed and regraded within this rework.
[ S H E E T M O D I F I C A T I O N S ]
{Additions and Changes Found Here}
[ N E W B A S I C I N F O R M A T I O N ]
Through the study of various warriors recorded across the most recent historical events by those of the Gotei 13, those of the Soul Society's intellectual elite were able to decipher the existence of a new type of being. Previously unnamed, these beings - hybrids of Shinigami and Hollow - were eventually granted a specific term that would forever mark them from time immemorial: Vizard. It is unclear how they specifically came to be, given that the process tied to their transformation involves the direct transferring of corrupted spiritual energy into their soul, but they nevertheless began to be considered as individuals who are ultimately dangerous to the existence of the heavenly realm. Many even demand that they be immediately executed upon their discovery, no matter their past, current or future allegiances. The reason for this decision? They fear that the Vizards grow out of control and fully succumb to their darkness to become Hollow Wraiths, the equivalent of Vasto Lordes of pseudo-apocalyptic power.
With her soul corrupted by the beast known as Sonadora upon her murder, Kimiko was unfortunately fated to follow the path to Hollowfication. The task had not been given to her by choice, but rather by design, for she was meant to act as the ancient's pawn in a game beyond her understanding. The creature wanted her to become a Wraith, an instrument of destruction with no free will of her own. In so doing, she suffered a most grueling journey as her soul was affected by the dark power. What she was would be corrupted, mutated. Rapidly, she could no longer be called a Human, and eventually, she could not even be called a proper Shinigami. She was granted unparalleled strength that still persists to this day, bringing her shocking spiritual energy that brings many to their knees, yet she was also brought great pain and misery due to the actions of her Inner Hollow. She suffered conjuring after conjuring, dream after dream, all of which more painful than the other, and once the dreams ended, she even sometimes began to lose control of her body.
It is needless to say that these events were part of a most difficult time, and the woman would not fault anyone for thinking of them as such. It was a time during which she believed herself to be condemned to fight an eternal battle that she was eventually bound to lose, one that would require her to battle a foe that was far more nefarious than anything else that she has ever fought thus far. But as she learned of Yume's true nature, of her ambitions, and of her purpose, Kimiko understood that this was not an entity who was entirely malicious. The Inner Hollow cared for her, albeit in her own twisted fashion, and so it seemed pointless to forever deny her her right to belong in her soul. It was not easy to accept her, especially after everything she had done to her, and it was also not something that the Gotei 13 wanted out of her; after all, she was a Captain, and many still believe to this day that to harbor Hollow powers is nothing short of an act of treason. Even so, she held on, striving to become strong in both mind and body.
This great effort eventually bloomed into one final confrontation between the woman and her darker side. There was no crossings of blades, not even an ounce of violence, and together alongside Taishokukane, they reshaped what made Kimiko herself. The younger Zanpakuto spirit became Zanzaifude, successor to the fallen Shizukakane, and Yume inherited his previous position as Manzenfude. The Inner Worlds were rebuilt from scratch as they both made their domain, and as a gift to Kimiko for finally approving her existence as her primordial Zanpakuto, the Inner Hollow granted her a mask with no distinguishable features. She described it as the container to all of the Vizard's dark powers, something that she could conjure to call upon the corruption and allow it to empower her. Of course, this power would not be permanent. It was only temporary, a boost, and Kimiko would have to work hard in order to fully understand it. That, however, was more than enough for the Vizard. For the sake of the Soul Society, her soldiers and her students, she seeks to shape this mask into something of her making that will act as the heavenly realm's demon. Then, perhaps, it will continue to stand forever more, until the end of times.
The mask, as previously described, is originally meant to be nothing more than a plate of white harboring three holes. The first two, larger in size, are for the eyes, while the remaining hole is a smaller one for the mouth. It was a crude thing, a creation that could barely be described as a face despite its perfect circumference and the presence of many small teeth near the edges of the mouth. Really, it was like a mere slab of white to put on one's face in order to hide one's self, something that represented the visage of a nameless, silver-eyed beast who refused to reveal themselves to the masses for fear of being accused or reprimanded for something it could not control. Perhaps it was a message of sort from the Inner Hollow, one last reminder to Kimiko - or maybe even a warning - to never go back to the meek, yet excitable warrior she once was whose goals were meager and her ambitions too simple for their own good.
With mastery, this mask will change. The features will become less vague and more distinct, unique, as it shapes itself around Kimiko's identity. What would once appear hesitant would turn confident, and what would once be meek would become strong. In time, the mere slab of white with no features to speak will become the visage of a fearless demon in the shape of a feline dragon stuck to her from the top of her head to the bottom of her neck. The upper holes for silver eyes will turn into pits leading into reptilian slits of glowing ruby, and the lower hole, so timid and quiet, will turn into a snout lined with great fangs. At times, even in the hottest of environments, steam will even find itself breaching out from behind the fangs, causing Kimiko to be surrounded by an aura of great danger. Concluding this demonic display is the presence of a mane of unnatural, stark-white fur. It find itself growing on the back of its top, with it covering Kimiko's head and mingling with her hair, with it only vanishing in the wake of her Bankai.
Considering its great power, Kimiko will find herself wearing this mask occasionally. She will train with it, bring it to its furthest evolution, and solidify it as a weapon that the Soul Society will not fear and condemn, but rather revere and respect. In other words, shall shall transform it into not a symbol of mindless destruction and slaughter, but rather of ultimate offense and power before all who stands against those who challenge Humanity. Though even if she wants it to be seen as such, she will not find herself using it in battles that do not deserve its presence. She does not believe that it has any right to be present in simple spars, honest duels with fellow warriors or her students, or during training sessions that do not revolve around the willing use of Hollowfication. To do so would be to not think of it as a weapon, but rather as a crutch, and she will not permit herself to fall to such a low. She may be willing to become the Soul Society's demon, but she is a swordswoman first and foremost, nothing more, nothing less.
When she was first granted Shizukakane's name and gained the ability to use his powers, Kimiko never really took even the briefest of moments to ponder upon what these aforementioned powers really meant. To her, they were somewhat nonsensical, a strange ability which seemingly did not make much sense. This opinion was only compounded once she formed Taishokukane from her second Asauchi, as he had a similar ability. It was difficult to blame her for thinking of it all in such a way; after all, ignoring the fact that she had many other things on her mind at the time, the abilities themselves were indeed confusing. Their names were related to bells, but there was no real correlation between them and the weapons' abilities. They both expelled a form of ink-like energy, but the use of this ink was unconventional and not like how a painter or an artistic sort would use it for. They were opposites in nature, with one being white and the other black, but at the time, she believed that this had no bearing at all on her abilities and was only a matter of cosmetics.
But after Shizukakane's passing and the reveal of her true Bankai, the Vizard found herself finally pondering upon this very matter. She would think about it all quite extensively as she scouted the Canvas, erased the ruins of the old Inner World, and drew the new. Once her work was completed, she gave one final thought to it all and found herself reaching a conclusion. All this time, unbeknownst to her for many decades, her blades bore a most-specific meaning. No, not just a meaning: a purpose. That purpose was to make her an icon of balance. Indeed, all along, the theme of the blades was never about "focus". Unfortunately, at this time, Shizukakane's presence prevented them from acting as they were designed, and so their forms were limited. Their previous combined form, Tsūkakane, is a testament to that. Now that the older spirit is gone, the blades can finally accomplish their intended goal unencumbered, hopefully forever more.
This understanding has allowed the woman to give a more accurate general description of her blades that she believes will allow her to eventually reach even greater heights in time. Under this new description, the swords' main ability is to empower their wielder by causing the battlefield to appear to revolve around themselves. Both light and dark, and noise of both high and low frequencies are brought to Kimiko as black or white "ink", and cause her to appear as an embodiment of the taijitu. As a result of this empowerment, both her body and her blades begin to exhume "ink", causing them both to appear less as physical manifestations and more so as though they were drawn in motion. The sounds that are generated by her person, such as her voice and her footsteps, are also amplified due to this empowerment, as they themselves become beacons around which nearby sounds revolve.
[ N E W B A S I C I N F O R M A T I O N ]
Real Age/Age of Appearance (Old/New): 48/20 ----> 65/20
Blood Type:B+ ----> AB+
Theme Changes
Blood Type:
Theme Changes
- Shikai (Zanzaifude): Street Fighter V - Ryu Theme
- Shikai (Manzenfude): Tekken 7 - Heat Haze Shadow
- Dual Shikai:
Street Fighter V - Main Menu Theme----> Black Tide - Honest Eyes - Bankai:
Super Paper Mario - World of Nothing----> Guilty Gear Strive - Necessary Discrepancy - Mask:
Black Tide - Honest Eyes----> Guilty Gear Strive - Crawl
[ N E W A P P E A R A N C E ]
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 150 lbs
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Red
Physical Description
Weight: 150 lbs
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Red
Physical Description
{Initial}
Kimiko appears much as how she has appeared within the Human World before her death: a young and fit Asian woman who was just starting her twenties. Thanks to all the Kendo practice that she has done while she was still alive, she sports a toned body designed for swordplay, thus gifting her with impressive physical strength residing within her arms. For one of Japanese descent, she is a notably tall person with a long pair of legs. Paired with her slender hourglass figure, this can make her appear as a rather intimidating figure depending on the circumstances, but most of the time, it only attracts attention, which is unfortunately not something that Kimiko always want to have to deal with. This matter worsens whenever she gets the attention of people that only care about her other sizes, which could be described as ample and generous for her age.
Even if one would ignore her sizes, however, it could be said that Kimiko would have attracted attention anyway due to her looks. In the past, she used to possess a long and feminine hair style which she made sure to maintain very well during the course of her childhood. However, as she reached her teenage years and grew more rebellious, she decided to instead adopt a shorter, more unkempt style which fitted her new tomboyish side. Although it definitely makes her look slightly scarier especially in battle, the hair fitted well with her scarlet eyes, giving them a curious gaze as they pierce through the bits of hair that would at times pass in front of them. It certainly makes her look more alluring and noteworthy than most.
Usually, Kimiko's posture fits her personality rather well. Most often than not, it will take a slouched appearance with a laid back tone even though she will at times try her damnedest so stand as straight as she possibly can in front of her superiors. This extends to the way she moves and speak, which is more often reserved with her arms positioned near her sides or crossed underneath her chest. It is while she sits on a surface that things start becoming more complicated. She will at times cross her legs on a chair, push her foot against the nearest wall, press her chin against the table with her arm positioned right underneath it. No one can really tell how she is going to sit on something until she, well, is simply told to sit normally, which is why she will typically instead adopt a more traditional posture.
Within battle, however, Kimiko tends to appear far more focused and intimidating. Her eyes become wider, colder, almost as if frozen within an eternal glare, and a light smile breaks through her usually-relaxed visage. Her posture becomes more tense, with an arm always nearing her blade and an almost-malicious atmosphere seemingly surrounding her being. It was what made her appear so superior while fighting people in Kendo or playing against other players at the arcades, and it is what is probably going to make a few Hollows - and also perhaps a few sparring partners - question what kind of Shinigami they are exactly facing.
When it comes to the matter of clothing, it all boils down to where Kimiko really is. Before her time as a Shinigami, she was used to wearing a very simple and perhaps lazy style consisting of a shirt and pants which were both rather unfitting for a woman to wear among the crowds of Rukongai. Now that she is a Shinigami, this has slightly changed. When residing within Soul Society or heading out for missions in the Human World, she typically wears a sleeveless version of her Shihakushō robes over a white shirt, black trousers and a wooden pair of geta sandals. Attached to her obi sash is the scabbard of her blade, Shizukakane, and later on her second blade, Taishokukane, though Kimiko sometimes will casually detach them from the sash to instead hold them in her hands. The whole get-up is still slightly masculine, but it is perhaps a little bit less aggravating now for some.
In contrast, whenever she is in the Human World while using a gigai, she tends to stick to the same trends she once followed, meaning a t-shirt, a pair of jeans and sports shoes. Yes, that is arguably a masculine trend and no, Kimiko doesn't care that it is. Most of the time, she will change her top so as to make sure she never wears the same one twice in a row. At times, it will display a single word with bright, bold characteristics, but at other times, it will instead portray a more defined design. The jeans, whoever, will never change. Ever. And neither will the sports shoes. If she finds a favorite pair of either of them, it will be instantly noticeable. Around her right wrist will always rest a modern digital watch for her to take notice of the time, though she mostly wears of style rather than necessity.-
Kimiko appears much as how she has appeared within the Human World before her death: a young and fit Asian woman who was just starting her twenties. Thanks to all the Kendo practice that she has done while she was still alive, she sports a toned body designed for swordplay, thus gifting her with impressive physical strength residing within her arms. For one of Japanese descent, she is a notably tall person with a long pair of legs. Paired with her slender hourglass figure, this can make her appear as a rather intimidating figure depending on the circumstances, but most of the time, it only attracts attention, which is unfortunately not something that Kimiko always want to have to deal with. This matter worsens whenever she gets the attention of people that only care about her other sizes, which could be described as ample and generous for her age.
Even if one would ignore her sizes, however, it could be said that Kimiko would have attracted attention anyway due to her looks. In the past, she used to possess a long and feminine hair style which she made sure to maintain very well during the course of her childhood. However, as she reached her teenage years and grew more rebellious, she decided to instead adopt a shorter, more unkempt style which fitted her new tomboyish side. Although it definitely makes her look slightly scarier especially in battle, the hair fitted well with her scarlet eyes, giving them a curious gaze as they pierce through the bits of hair that would at times pass in front of them. It certainly makes her look more alluring and noteworthy than most.
Usually, Kimiko's posture fits her personality rather well. Most often than not, it will take a slouched appearance with a laid back tone even though she will at times try her damnedest so stand as straight as she possibly can in front of her superiors. This extends to the way she moves and speak, which is more often reserved with her arms positioned near her sides or crossed underneath her chest. It is while she sits on a surface that things start becoming more complicated. She will at times cross her legs on a chair, push her foot against the nearest wall, press her chin against the table with her arm positioned right underneath it. No one can really tell how she is going to sit on something until she, well, is simply told to sit normally, which is why she will typically instead adopt a more traditional posture.
Within battle, however, Kimiko tends to appear far more focused and intimidating. Her eyes become wider, colder, almost as if frozen within an eternal glare, and a light smile breaks through her usually-relaxed visage. Her posture becomes more tense, with an arm always nearing her blade and an almost-malicious atmosphere seemingly surrounding her being. It was what made her appear so superior while fighting people in Kendo or playing against other players at the arcades, and it is what is probably going to make a few Hollows - and also perhaps a few sparring partners - question what kind of Shinigami they are exactly facing.
When it comes to the matter of clothing, it all boils down to where Kimiko really is. Before her time as a Shinigami, she was used to wearing a very simple and perhaps lazy style consisting of a shirt and pants which were both rather unfitting for a woman to wear among the crowds of Rukongai. Now that she is a Shinigami, this has slightly changed. When residing within Soul Society or heading out for missions in the Human World, she typically wears a sleeveless version of her Shihakushō robes over a white shirt, black trousers and a wooden pair of geta sandals. Attached to her obi sash is the scabbard of her blade, Shizukakane, and later on her second blade, Taishokukane, though Kimiko sometimes will casually detach them from the sash to instead hold them in her hands. The whole get-up is still slightly masculine, but it is perhaps a little bit less aggravating now for some.
In contrast, whenever she is in the Human World while using a gigai, she tends to stick to the same trends she once followed, meaning a t-shirt, a pair of jeans and sports shoes. Yes, that is arguably a masculine trend and no, Kimiko doesn't care that it is. Most of the time, she will change her top so as to make sure she never wears the same one twice in a row. At times, it will display a single word with bright, bold characteristics, but at other times, it will instead portray a more defined design. The jeans, whoever, will never change. Ever. And neither will the sports shoes. If she finds a favorite pair of either of them, it will be instantly noticeable. Around her right wrist will always rest a modern digital watch for her to take notice of the time, though she mostly wears of style rather than necessity.-
{Drawn Together}
The years that Kimiko has passed within the Soul Society has changed her quite significantly in a multitude of ways. Many facets of herself have changed, differentiating themselves in a drastic fashion compared to what they were before, and for the most part, the woman has almost not even noticed the extent of these changes. Of course, the majority of these changes were psychological and even philosophical in nature. That was to be expected, especially given that she no longer possesses the inexperienced mind of a young Human adult, and that she also has spent several decades now serving the Gotei 13 as an officer of the Eleventh Division. Such history would have changed literally anyone, even the most stubborn and sempiternal of Shinigami officers. But surprisingly, despite the fact that her body yet to even age at least a single year since her Human death, among these changes were also quite a number of physical changes.
In comparison to the Human body she once possessed long ago, this body she now wields is most clearly one owned by a Captain of the Eleventh Division. Still appearing as the one of a young woman of about twenty years of age, it now appears much more fit in nature due to the intense training it goes through on a daily basis. Her slender arms are toned with visible muscle leading into solid fingers that almost appear downright supernaturally manufactured for the wielding of the sword, and her chest is more muscular, maybe even slightly bulkier due to all the hits that it has endured over the years. Meanwhile, the constant Hohō training that she undergoes every day alongside other exercises has turned her long legs into what could only be described as great fortresses of inhuman endurance, with large muscly thighs that have slightly widened her hips and powerful calves that both push her to reach intense speeds without any notable difficulties. In addition to all of this, many scars are now displayed on many parts of her body despite the fact that she could have easily have them all healed away during her time in the Gotei 13. Bite marks, claw wounds, and several cuts are on full display, with even a small scratch being visible on her neck.
A time ago, the officer would have attempted to somewhat hide this body of hers with clothing or by merely keeping away from others. She simply did not want the attention, so to speak. However, after having both served a Captain of the Gotei 13 and a teacher of a vast dojo, she does not attempt to hide her appearance from others any longer. Perhaps it is because she does not believe being shy has any use to her anymore, or perhaps it is because of her time spent with the soldiers of the Eleventh. Whatever the reason, this steady elimination of her more timid self has reflected in many aspects of herself. The most notable aspect that has changed to better suit her new self is her hair. Whereas her hair has once appeared rebellious yet ultimately still somewhat subdued, it now appears as a much less quaint, if not beastly mess with further-unkempt bangs and a longer end which reaches the bottom of her back. At a glance, it almost looks like a mane in the making.
Another aspect that has changed is how the girl now composes herself. There is no more slouching, no more means to appear laid back. She does not attempt to appear extremely straight before her superiors anymore. Her posture is now straighter and more energized, enough so that it almost commands attention on its own, with her arms resting to the side and her legs slightly positioned away from one another. At times, she will find herself pushing her chest forward and her hips back all the while resting her left hand on the handle of her white blade and gripping the black blade's with the other, though this is often done when combat nears rather than outside of it. This unique way to handle herself is witnessed even while she is merely sitting on a surface, as she will tend to position her blades around herself so as to prevent them from awkwardly colliding with the ground as the rest in her obi sash. Sometimes, she will sit cross-legged, and at other times, she will instead be sitting with her right leg raising upward all the while holding onto one of her sheathed blades passing over her shoulder.
This new vigor that has enraptured her does not limit itself solely to the way she positions herself, as it is also very present during serious battles. Her intimidating side from the many years before is still there, with her eyes beaming with beastly excitement and her mouth slowly showcasing a thrilled smirk, but alongside it comes a new side of her that once simply did not exist within her: energy. Not just spiritual energy, but also emotional energy. The both of those things are expelled from her at a record rate, giving her a monstrously-intimidating visage as she fights her opponents. She lets out war cries, she screams and roars with every powerful hit, and every time she does, it is almost as if the area itself is afraid of her, quaking and cracking with her every move. Perhaps this is the dark power within her that is causing her to act this way... or perhaps this was the true beast that Kimiko has ever wanted to be all along.
The Shinigami has also witnessed a change in her wardrobe over the course of time. What has been done to her main officer outfit over the years is a testament to that. Still sleeveless, her Shihakushō are now slimmer and better suited for faster velocities. The white shirt that was underneath her robes is gone, instead replaced with bandages over her upper chest, and her trousers have been made tighter and less baggy. Her haori, it too as sleeveless as her darker robes, is settled around around her shoulders and is dragged down to her legs until it stops around her ankles. The only thing that doesn't seem to have changed in the slightest is the wooden pair of geta sandals - something which has long since become a main part of her accoutrements at this point - and her obi sash. Unsurprisingly, this outfit could be considered as still being vastly masculine, much like every bit of clothing the woman has preferred to wear over her lifetime.
This has not changed in regards to what she prefers to wear in the Living World either. Continuing the trend of changing her top every now and then and pairing it with jeans and sports shoes, Kimiko nevertheless now tends to wear what could be considered as bolder outfits with more expressive shirts and sometimes other upper wears, such as tank tops and jerseys, depending on the time of day and the season. These tops will more often than not still contain various expressions and writings that may be considered as being very energetic in nature, with big bright letters and various drawings. In fact, many of these tend to be sporting the titles or art of fighting games, be they of the more classic genres or the more modern installments. Though rare, she will also sometimes wear various accessories either around her neck or her wrists, such as necklaces and bracelets, and even small sports hats like caps.
The years that Kimiko has passed within the Soul Society has changed her quite significantly in a multitude of ways. Many facets of herself have changed, differentiating themselves in a drastic fashion compared to what they were before, and for the most part, the woman has almost not even noticed the extent of these changes. Of course, the majority of these changes were psychological and even philosophical in nature. That was to be expected, especially given that she no longer possesses the inexperienced mind of a young Human adult, and that she also has spent several decades now serving the Gotei 13 as an officer of the Eleventh Division. Such history would have changed literally anyone, even the most stubborn and sempiternal of Shinigami officers. But surprisingly, despite the fact that her body yet to even age at least a single year since her Human death, among these changes were also quite a number of physical changes.
In comparison to the Human body she once possessed long ago, this body she now wields is most clearly one owned by a Captain of the Eleventh Division. Still appearing as the one of a young woman of about twenty years of age, it now appears much more fit in nature due to the intense training it goes through on a daily basis. Her slender arms are toned with visible muscle leading into solid fingers that almost appear downright supernaturally manufactured for the wielding of the sword, and her chest is more muscular, maybe even slightly bulkier due to all the hits that it has endured over the years. Meanwhile, the constant Hohō training that she undergoes every day alongside other exercises has turned her long legs into what could only be described as great fortresses of inhuman endurance, with large muscly thighs that have slightly widened her hips and powerful calves that both push her to reach intense speeds without any notable difficulties. In addition to all of this, many scars are now displayed on many parts of her body despite the fact that she could have easily have them all healed away during her time in the Gotei 13. Bite marks, claw wounds, and several cuts are on full display, with even a small scratch being visible on her neck.
A time ago, the officer would have attempted to somewhat hide this body of hers with clothing or by merely keeping away from others. She simply did not want the attention, so to speak. However, after having both served a Captain of the Gotei 13 and a teacher of a vast dojo, she does not attempt to hide her appearance from others any longer. Perhaps it is because she does not believe being shy has any use to her anymore, or perhaps it is because of her time spent with the soldiers of the Eleventh. Whatever the reason, this steady elimination of her more timid self has reflected in many aspects of herself. The most notable aspect that has changed to better suit her new self is her hair. Whereas her hair has once appeared rebellious yet ultimately still somewhat subdued, it now appears as a much less quaint, if not beastly mess with further-unkempt bangs and a longer end which reaches the bottom of her back. At a glance, it almost looks like a mane in the making.
Another aspect that has changed is how the girl now composes herself. There is no more slouching, no more means to appear laid back. She does not attempt to appear extremely straight before her superiors anymore. Her posture is now straighter and more energized, enough so that it almost commands attention on its own, with her arms resting to the side and her legs slightly positioned away from one another. At times, she will find herself pushing her chest forward and her hips back all the while resting her left hand on the handle of her white blade and gripping the black blade's with the other, though this is often done when combat nears rather than outside of it. This unique way to handle herself is witnessed even while she is merely sitting on a surface, as she will tend to position her blades around herself so as to prevent them from awkwardly colliding with the ground as the rest in her obi sash. Sometimes, she will sit cross-legged, and at other times, she will instead be sitting with her right leg raising upward all the while holding onto one of her sheathed blades passing over her shoulder.
This new vigor that has enraptured her does not limit itself solely to the way she positions herself, as it is also very present during serious battles. Her intimidating side from the many years before is still there, with her eyes beaming with beastly excitement and her mouth slowly showcasing a thrilled smirk, but alongside it comes a new side of her that once simply did not exist within her: energy. Not just spiritual energy, but also emotional energy. The both of those things are expelled from her at a record rate, giving her a monstrously-intimidating visage as she fights her opponents. She lets out war cries, she screams and roars with every powerful hit, and every time she does, it is almost as if the area itself is afraid of her, quaking and cracking with her every move. Perhaps this is the dark power within her that is causing her to act this way... or perhaps this was the true beast that Kimiko has ever wanted to be all along.
The Shinigami has also witnessed a change in her wardrobe over the course of time. What has been done to her main officer outfit over the years is a testament to that. Still sleeveless, her Shihakushō are now slimmer and better suited for faster velocities. The white shirt that was underneath her robes is gone, instead replaced with bandages over her upper chest, and her trousers have been made tighter and less baggy. Her haori, it too as sleeveless as her darker robes, is settled around around her shoulders and is dragged down to her legs until it stops around her ankles. The only thing that doesn't seem to have changed in the slightest is the wooden pair of geta sandals - something which has long since become a main part of her accoutrements at this point - and her obi sash. Unsurprisingly, this outfit could be considered as still being vastly masculine, much like every bit of clothing the woman has preferred to wear over her lifetime.
This has not changed in regards to what she prefers to wear in the Living World either. Continuing the trend of changing her top every now and then and pairing it with jeans and sports shoes, Kimiko nevertheless now tends to wear what could be considered as bolder outfits with more expressive shirts and sometimes other upper wears, such as tank tops and jerseys, depending on the time of day and the season. These tops will more often than not still contain various expressions and writings that may be considered as being very energetic in nature, with big bright letters and various drawings. In fact, many of these tend to be sporting the titles or art of fighting games, be they of the more classic genres or the more modern installments. Though rare, she will also sometimes wear various accessories either around her neck or her wrists, such as necklaces and bracelets, and even small sports hats like caps.
[ N E W P E R S O N A L I T Y ]
Character Traits
{New Likes}
- Her Bankai: When she had developed her Bankai, Kimiko greatly detested it. She loathed what it was meant to be as a warrior of the sword, and she hated what it represented as nothing more than a means to defend herself against Yume. With that said, now that Yume is no longer a threat and has now become Manzenfude, she can now see her old Bankai as what it was: an incomplete form which could have never represented her full potential. Having now achieved the truest body her Bankai could have potentially reached, she is now much prouder of the existence of her ultimate weapon, and so she is no more afraid of showing it to her peers. She shall wield it with the power that it now fully deserves from her, and use it as a symbol of the Eleventh Division from then onward.
{New Dislikes}
Her Bankai: Achieving Bankai is considered by many Shinigami to be a very notable accomplishment. It identifies the one officer who was able to do such a thing as being not only a warrior who is innately superior to the majority of their brethren, but also a person who is worthy of wielding the mantle of Captain of one of the many divisions of the Gotei 13. However, though she certainly recognizes the accomplishment as what it is, Kimiko does not appreciate her Bankai. If anything, she thoroughly detests it. She finds its existence to be an error, a mistake, something that does not respect her core beliefs and instead attempts to apply its own demands onto her all so that it can be used for its own greater good. In so doing, she prefers not to wield it before others, and prefers to keep it as what it was supposedly designed to ever be: a final weapon to use against her Inner Hollow should things go awry.- Central 46: The experience that Kimiko has gone through since her misadventures with her Inner Hollow have been discovered was nothing short of miserable. That was one way to put it. She had to deal with the wrath of the Gotei 13 as many officers attempted to chase her down and kill her for something that was beyond her control at the time. However, this experience has not made her hate the Gotei 13. Far from it. Although it is true that there is a good number of Shinigami who hate her for even possessing such powers, she is aware that an equal number are only following orders from above. This above is ancient, conservative, and decrepit, a stain on the Soul Society. This above is Central 46. Needless to say, whereas she was once simply apathetic to the existence of the political group, she now believes the group to be spiteful and unfair, something that must be erased in order for the Soul Society to move on and become a greater realm. For now, she shall tolerate them... but if they ever attempt to do something to her again or, worse, her dojo... she will make them pay.
{New Flaw}
Lacking Self-Confidence: Quite unfortunately, this obsession with success has also led Kimiko on a path of constant self-deprecation. No matter how many times she may succeed, she will most often believe that her victories were the fabric of a stroke of luck more so than skill unless she was more or less already declared the winner from the very start. Additionally, this has also led her to even criticize some of the aspects of the more mundane parts of her daily life, such as the amount of time taken to read a book or the level of exhaustion she feels after training.Socially Awkward: Talking and socializing has never been Kimiko's forte. Although she is capable of making friends and can be part of a conversation, she typically prefers to remain quiet as she is afraid of saying something by accident that she might either regret or be ridiculed by. As such, she often talks in an almost-mumbling fashion and could perhaps be considered to be a little bit evasive depending on the subject of the gossip.- Proud of her Work: Some may believe pride in one's accomplishments is not a bad thing at all, and it would be right to assume as such. To find greatness in your achievements and to think of them as being ultimately positive is always something that people must do in their lives in order to be happy. Unfortunately, Kimiko tends to be a bit too... sensitive when someone tells her that her achievements are not as bright as she believes them to be. Though she remains quite humble in many places and doesn't often express it, she tends to delve too much onto the criticism that is being given to her to an almost-detrimental point. This is most often noticed whenever she witnesses someone deny the benefits of her swordsmanship or the work of her dojo. Perhaps it is simply better not to criticize her in front of her, for better or worse.
{New Goal}
- Master the Dark: Kimiko has always seen the dark spiritual energy within her and the being associated with it as something that was overly negative. She didn't think it would grant her any advantages in life nor would it help her in the long run. However, after having settled things with Yume and witnessed her succession as her third and supposedly-final Zanpakuto spirit, her views on these corrupted powers have changed dramatically. Though they may have once been incredibly dangerous due to their volatility under the control of her Inner Hollow, they now could serve the officer proper and therefore be paired with her current skills to achieve penultimate swordsmanship. If she is fated to possess these abilities for as long as she lives on this earth... then she may as well take hold of them, master them as much as she possibly can, and thus bind them to the service of the Soul Society rather than its destruction.
Overall Personality (Current/New)
{Initial}
Kimiko is what one could consider to be a woman of many faces.
Usually, at a first glance, one could easily see her as a focused individual who is ready to complete any goal given to her. Outside of a conversation, she is typically calm, quiet, with her concentration entirely set onto the activity that she is pursuing at the time. It does not matter whether it is reading a book or pursuing training: she will always maintain her full focus onto it until she is interrupted by either outside interference, a sudden need to stop or the absolute completion of her goal. In a way, it is what helped her reach success in the Human World and it is also unfortunately what has led her to her death. As such, she is aware that the control of this hyper-focused state of hers should be achieved over the course of time, as it leaves her slightly off-guard.
Within a conversation, the young woman will appear friendly and supportive despite how much her quietness tends to follow her around. Although she seems to almost speak in mumbles and hums with a penchant of preferring to limit the number of words coming out of her mouth, she at least attempts to participate in conversations the most she possibly can to further her admittedly-poor social skills, and that is even if she is definitely not the best talker around. Additionally, her mumbling does not dictate a wish for conversations to end, for she will always try to find more subjects to talk about if the talk appears to reach its end.
As such, if we take into account the last two paragraphs, one could say that Kimiko fits the typical stereotype of the awkward loner girl who prefers to remain alone unless talked to. However, this could not very much be said at all; after all, if that was really the case, then she would not have decided to go into Squad 11 or even join the Shinigami Corps. Oh no, if she really would have been just a normal girl who preferred to remain in her little world, she would have just remained within Rukongai as a typical villager uninterested in the likes of becoming a soldier for Soul Society, and in hindsight, the realm of souls abound. She would have stayed there in peace, with her only goal being to find books to read.
It is hard to normally see it, but Kimiko loves fighting. In fact, she adores it. Every day, she awaits her next battle with utmost anticipation. Whether it is a spar or an actual fight against a Hollow does not matter to her; instead, what does is the emotions she will feel during it. The excitement, the sensation of danger, the pulse of competition beating powerfully within her chest. It is what fueled her being then where she had to fight in the virtual machines that lied within the arcade machines of Akihabara and the dojo of her school, and it is what drives her forward now where she can now accomplish those virtual realities with her own corporeal form.
Of course, Kimiko's love for battle does not mean that she is an unethical fighter, as she makes sure to follow the guidelines dictated by the the collection of rules residing within the Bushido Code of samurai past. With each battle foreseen, she looks upon its virtues: Justice, Courage, Compassion, Respect, Integrity, Honor, Loyalty and Self-Control. Although she may not always fully respect each and every single one of them, the girl follows them nonetheless and applies them to every individual fated to meet her blade. It does not matter if the opponent is a mere Hollow devoid of personality or a fellow Shinigami: all is equal to the Bushido Code, whether they be willing to follow it themselves or not.
This admiration for the virtues of feudal Japanese warriors also extends to their main weapon, the katana, which Kimiko admires greatly. She sees the blade as an extension of herself, an additional arm whose sole purpose is to bring victory to the one who wields it. As such, she has a particular connection to her Zanpakuto which she always keeps close to her at all times and often makes sure to conduct Jinzen almost every day. It is up to a point that she almost feels naked whenever she is within her gigai in the Human World where she cannot see nor feel it near her being. Without her sword, she is unworthy of any future victories, and without victory, she is unworthy of happiness and the sharing of the dreams that have yet to become reality.
Considering all of this, Kimiko thus could not have possibly fit in any squad but the Eleventh. She may not like everyone there and they too might not necessarily like her, but the simple fact is that her love for combat is just as immense as theirs, and so she believes that the other squads would have simply been unable to tolerate it in comparison. Nevertheless, despite all of these things, the young woman still aspires to become a symbol of righteousness for the inhabitants of Rukongai and the rest of the world's Souls alike. Hopefully, that liking for battle and obsession over success won't eventually make her stray away from that ultimate goal.
Kimiko is what one could consider to be a woman of many faces.
Usually, at a first glance, one could easily see her as a focused individual who is ready to complete any goal given to her. Outside of a conversation, she is typically calm, quiet, with her concentration entirely set onto the activity that she is pursuing at the time. It does not matter whether it is reading a book or pursuing training: she will always maintain her full focus onto it until she is interrupted by either outside interference, a sudden need to stop or the absolute completion of her goal. In a way, it is what helped her reach success in the Human World and it is also unfortunately what has led her to her death. As such, she is aware that the control of this hyper-focused state of hers should be achieved over the course of time, as it leaves her slightly off-guard.
Within a conversation, the young woman will appear friendly and supportive despite how much her quietness tends to follow her around. Although she seems to almost speak in mumbles and hums with a penchant of preferring to limit the number of words coming out of her mouth, she at least attempts to participate in conversations the most she possibly can to further her admittedly-poor social skills, and that is even if she is definitely not the best talker around. Additionally, her mumbling does not dictate a wish for conversations to end, for she will always try to find more subjects to talk about if the talk appears to reach its end.
As such, if we take into account the last two paragraphs, one could say that Kimiko fits the typical stereotype of the awkward loner girl who prefers to remain alone unless talked to. However, this could not very much be said at all; after all, if that was really the case, then she would not have decided to go into Squad 11 or even join the Shinigami Corps. Oh no, if she really would have been just a normal girl who preferred to remain in her little world, she would have just remained within Rukongai as a typical villager uninterested in the likes of becoming a soldier for Soul Society, and in hindsight, the realm of souls abound. She would have stayed there in peace, with her only goal being to find books to read.
It is hard to normally see it, but Kimiko loves fighting. In fact, she adores it. Every day, she awaits her next battle with utmost anticipation. Whether it is a spar or an actual fight against a Hollow does not matter to her; instead, what does is the emotions she will feel during it. The excitement, the sensation of danger, the pulse of competition beating powerfully within her chest. It is what fueled her being then where she had to fight in the virtual machines that lied within the arcade machines of Akihabara and the dojo of her school, and it is what drives her forward now where she can now accomplish those virtual realities with her own corporeal form.
Of course, Kimiko's love for battle does not mean that she is an unethical fighter, as she makes sure to follow the guidelines dictated by the the collection of rules residing within the Bushido Code of samurai past. With each battle foreseen, she looks upon its virtues: Justice, Courage, Compassion, Respect, Integrity, Honor, Loyalty and Self-Control. Although she may not always fully respect each and every single one of them, the girl follows them nonetheless and applies them to every individual fated to meet her blade. It does not matter if the opponent is a mere Hollow devoid of personality or a fellow Shinigami: all is equal to the Bushido Code, whether they be willing to follow it themselves or not.
This admiration for the virtues of feudal Japanese warriors also extends to their main weapon, the katana, which Kimiko admires greatly. She sees the blade as an extension of herself, an additional arm whose sole purpose is to bring victory to the one who wields it. As such, she has a particular connection to her Zanpakuto which she always keeps close to her at all times and often makes sure to conduct Jinzen almost every day. It is up to a point that she almost feels naked whenever she is within her gigai in the Human World where she cannot see nor feel it near her being. Without her sword, she is unworthy of any future victories, and without victory, she is unworthy of happiness and the sharing of the dreams that have yet to become reality.
Considering all of this, Kimiko thus could not have possibly fit in any squad but the Eleventh. She may not like everyone there and they too might not necessarily like her, but the simple fact is that her love for combat is just as immense as theirs, and so she believes that the other squads would have simply been unable to tolerate it in comparison. Nevertheless, despite all of these things, the young woman still aspires to become a symbol of righteousness for the inhabitants of Rukongai and the rest of the world's Souls alike. Hopefully, that liking for battle and obsession over success won't eventually make her stray away from that ultimate goal.
{Dreams of Ink}
Although she now believes herself to ultimately be a strong warrior thanks to the support of her mentor Celes Shindazu and her peers, Kimiko is partly aware that the downright-prodigal power that she has shown to the Academy and therefore the Gotei 13 is not quite normal for a Shinigami of her caliber. Considering that she was a younger Soul in comparison to most other figures, the sheer speed at which her strength grows was unprecedented even among other prodigies of the Academy. That awareness had grown to such an extent that she was by then suspecting that a being beyond her understanding was influencing her physical capabilities in some way or another, possibly by fueling her body with more spiritual energy than necessary. For what purpose, she could not say at the time, but it had certainly made her grow uncertain and perhaps even a bit reluctant to admit that she was strong, instead still preferring to maintain a humble approach to any praise or criticism she may have received.
After a time, she was eventually made aware of the fact that her suspicions were correct. All along, there had been a being inside of her that was responsible for her rise in strength, and it had decided to remain in her dreams specifically to torment her during her sleep. Being unable to understand what this being was supposed to be coupled with both the mental and physical torture suffered from the nightmares she experienced almost every night led Kimiko down a path of utter exhaustion. She became less caring and patient, pushing herself away from others all to completely consecrate herself to things that kept her whole, such as training with Shizukakane - something which unfortunately was broken by the emergence of Taishokukane - and going to the Rukongai to eat food during the evening. Eventually, she became something almost akin to a sword-wielding recluse who was trying her best to remain active within a community that she did not believe she fitted in.
This tiredness of hers became much more visible during battle. While faced with various threats of variable strength, the young woman found herself become much more susceptible to the many dozes of adrenaline she believed the being to be supplying to her, which led her to often hold irrational thoughts that almost seemed incomprehensible in hindsight. She would behave without care for anyone or anything that surrounded her or perhaps even herself to a degree, instead acting like a wild animal acting purely by instinct who simply wished to slaughter all that stood in her way for the sake of bloodshed alone. This observation was at its peak during the latest demonic invasion of the Soul Society where she slaughtered so many Hellions that, for the briefest of moments before they were sent back to Hell by her own blades, the creatures began to believe that her behavior was almost as demonic as theirs, if not more so.
At a certain point shortly after her very briefly learning about the existence of Inner Hollows and the acquiring of her Bankai, the girl began to recognize this behavior as her being led down towards a darker path that she did not wish to follow, and so she began to act more dispassionately. If it were not for the cry for help she threw towards Celes, it would have been easy to assume that the officer would have perhaps not been the person she is today.
Although she now believes herself to ultimately be a strong warrior thanks to the support of her mentor Celes Shindazu and her peers, Kimiko is partly aware that the downright-prodigal power that she has shown to the Academy and therefore the Gotei 13 is not quite normal for a Shinigami of her caliber. Considering that she was a younger Soul in comparison to most other figures, the sheer speed at which her strength grows was unprecedented even among other prodigies of the Academy. That awareness had grown to such an extent that she was by then suspecting that a being beyond her understanding was influencing her physical capabilities in some way or another, possibly by fueling her body with more spiritual energy than necessary. For what purpose, she could not say at the time, but it had certainly made her grow uncertain and perhaps even a bit reluctant to admit that she was strong, instead still preferring to maintain a humble approach to any praise or criticism she may have received.
After a time, she was eventually made aware of the fact that her suspicions were correct. All along, there had been a being inside of her that was responsible for her rise in strength, and it had decided to remain in her dreams specifically to torment her during her sleep. Being unable to understand what this being was supposed to be coupled with both the mental and physical torture suffered from the nightmares she experienced almost every night led Kimiko down a path of utter exhaustion. She became less caring and patient, pushing herself away from others all to completely consecrate herself to things that kept her whole, such as training with Shizukakane - something which unfortunately was broken by the emergence of Taishokukane - and going to the Rukongai to eat food during the evening. Eventually, she became something almost akin to a sword-wielding recluse who was trying her best to remain active within a community that she did not believe she fitted in.
This tiredness of hers became much more visible during battle. While faced with various threats of variable strength, the young woman found herself become much more susceptible to the many dozes of adrenaline she believed the being to be supplying to her, which led her to often hold irrational thoughts that almost seemed incomprehensible in hindsight. She would behave without care for anyone or anything that surrounded her or perhaps even herself to a degree, instead acting like a wild animal acting purely by instinct who simply wished to slaughter all that stood in her way for the sake of bloodshed alone. This observation was at its peak during the latest demonic invasion of the Soul Society where she slaughtered so many Hellions that, for the briefest of moments before they were sent back to Hell by her own blades, the creatures began to believe that her behavior was almost as demonic as theirs, if not more so.
At a certain point shortly after her very briefly learning about the existence of Inner Hollows and the acquiring of her Bankai, the girl began to recognize this behavior as her being led down towards a darker path that she did not wish to follow, and so she began to act more dispassionately. If it were not for the cry for help she threw towards Celes, it would have been easy to assume that the officer would have perhaps not been the person she is today.
{Awakening from Slumber}
To be told of the existence of an Inner Hollow within one's soul is most often quite the traumatic experience for most Vizards. This is not really surprising; after all, it would be a shock for anyone to learn that there is a malevolent being that remains inside of them and that there is no easy way to purge it out of them. However, to finally learn the truth about the condition that has been hidden away from her for so long by both her own Zanpakuto spirits and the Captain of the Tenth was not a shock for Kimiko, but rather a liberation. Though she did not find it pleasant to learn of the dangers the Inner Hollow presented to her well-being, she was glad that the lies would finally cease and that she could finally strive to fight an enemy that was by then no more unknown than whatever threat remains in Hueco Mundo or Hell. It was something that she, at the time, felt that she could at worse identify with at least a nebulous term, fight with both her will and her weapons, and eventually conquer through sheer might.
Unsurprisingly, this liberation has thus allowed the officer's behavior to take a step towards a more positive direction. Her attitude had become more positive, energetic, and motivated, enough so that she now almost appeared radiant whereas she once instead appeared as the complete contrary. Not only had this allowed her to become slightly more receptive with her friends and squadmates, but it also permitted her to pursue a field that she had not once ever considered as something she would have found herself being apart of: the realm of teaching. Her burning will had finally found the strength to burn the insecurities that she had been holding all this time within her heart, and turned every questions she once had about herself and the world around her to ash.
Nevertheless, though this positivity of hers was to be commended, Kimiko remained vigilant of her Inner Hollow and the activities she conducted. The spirit within her had proven over the course of the last few years that she had decided to progressively act with less and less restraint. The nightmares had ceased, but the officer felt as though the malevolent entity could take over her body at any given moment simply because she wanted to. She remained hopeful that the Soul Society would remain unaware of her condition as well as Celes', and she had made sure to steel her will against the negative thoughts the existence of the spirit alone conjured within her. Even so, she sometimes couldn't deny that it appeared as though it was only a matter of time before their Inner Hollows are revealed to the other officers of the Gotei 13.
Unfortunately, when the time came, these officers were not able to understand her predicament.
To be told of the existence of an Inner Hollow within one's soul is most often quite the traumatic experience for most Vizards. This is not really surprising; after all, it would be a shock for anyone to learn that there is a malevolent being that remains inside of them and that there is no easy way to purge it out of them. However, to finally learn the truth about the condition that has been hidden away from her for so long by both her own Zanpakuto spirits and the Captain of the Tenth was not a shock for Kimiko, but rather a liberation. Though she did not find it pleasant to learn of the dangers the Inner Hollow presented to her well-being, she was glad that the lies would finally cease and that she could finally strive to fight an enemy that was by then no more unknown than whatever threat remains in Hueco Mundo or Hell. It was something that she, at the time, felt that she could at worse identify with at least a nebulous term, fight with both her will and her weapons, and eventually conquer through sheer might.
Unsurprisingly, this liberation has thus allowed the officer's behavior to take a step towards a more positive direction. Her attitude had become more positive, energetic, and motivated, enough so that she now almost appeared radiant whereas she once instead appeared as the complete contrary. Not only had this allowed her to become slightly more receptive with her friends and squadmates, but it also permitted her to pursue a field that she had not once ever considered as something she would have found herself being apart of: the realm of teaching. Her burning will had finally found the strength to burn the insecurities that she had been holding all this time within her heart, and turned every questions she once had about herself and the world around her to ash.
Nevertheless, though this positivity of hers was to be commended, Kimiko remained vigilant of her Inner Hollow and the activities she conducted. The spirit within her had proven over the course of the last few years that she had decided to progressively act with less and less restraint. The nightmares had ceased, but the officer felt as though the malevolent entity could take over her body at any given moment simply because she wanted to. She remained hopeful that the Soul Society would remain unaware of her condition as well as Celes', and she had made sure to steel her will against the negative thoughts the existence of the spirit alone conjured within her. Even so, she sometimes couldn't deny that it appeared as though it was only a matter of time before their Inner Hollows are revealed to the other officers of the Gotei 13.
Unfortunately, when the time came, these officers were not able to understand her predicament.
{Drawn Together}
The Gotei 13's reaction upon their discovery of her dark energy was much more damaging to Kimiko than she believed it would have been. One day, she was seen as both leader and teacher, a person who could bring thousands to train themselves with the sword, and bring thousands more to the battlefield with an unfathomable spirit. Then, during the next day, she was a fugitive, a criminal, a traitor. It was like her image had been stripped away altogether and replaced with the depiction of a wild, frothing animal that needed to be caught and put down before it could spread whatever afflicted it. To see this image be created so suddenly and without warning, and worse, to witness it be created by none other than one of her closest allies who had apparently been a spy for Central 46 for all this time... It was perhaps one of the most painful moments that she had found herself experiencing, and it was not something that she needed to see after the reveal of Shizukakane's withering self. Together, these two events left this up-and-coming teacher - this greater warrior who was becoming ever-so-brighter before her Inner Hollow - feeling empty and disheveled once again.
For the first few moments following her exile from the Soul Society, the woman allowed these things to bring her down to their terrible level. Once again, much like before the conception of her dojo, she was disheveled and unfocused, empty yet angry. Her frustrations were calling for revenge against this injustice, requesting that all who referred to her as a creature be reduced to nothingness. But as she found herself condemned to remain in the Living World in a place she believed herself to ultimately not fit in, she realized that to do so would be exactly what those who submitted her to this fate would want from her. They wanted her to be a beast, to prove to them that she was indeed a creature built for mindless hunger and infinite devastation. Well, she was not going to allow them to represent her as such. She was not going to let them think of her as this monster in their heads. Instead, she was going to be better and prove to them that she was still the sword of the Soul Society she made herself out to be, no matter how dark she may be. It was this resolve that sparked the flame within her soul anew, and with this strength, she entered her broken Inner World and confronted the being who referred to herself as Yume once again.
By the end of this confrontation, Shizukakane had moved on and the aforementioned Inner World was left unsuitable for any further use. Kimiko had been explained his purpose and the true reason behind his presence as the spirit of her white blade, but his passing nevertheless hurt her then and it still does so now. He was the closest to a father she had in her life, and he was amongst the people she could truly describe as being family, in a way. Yet, as he passed away, her resolve did not wane. If anything, it was strengthened. She knew that he had died proud despite his weakening body, and that he wished for the officer to continue living not as the woman she was then, but rather as the woman she was now. To succumb to despair following the confrontation would have been to betray this wish of his and to, in turn, become something unworthy of the mantle she had decided to carry. In so doing, she decided to become stronger still and take full control of what she should have been a master of all along.
After the relearning of her Bankai, the reconstruction of her Inner World, and the rebirth of her Zanpakuto spirits, the Vizard now stands as a more powerful woman than she ever was. She conducts herself with resolute confidence that is uncharacteristic in comparison to the feeble girl she once was, and is now not at all afraid to speak her mind about things. In fact, really, she could now almost barely be called quiet or even reserved. It is quite the evolution, to say the least. Though she still very much wants to return to the Soul Society in time in order to show her new strength to the Gotei 13 and her unshakeable willingness to continue sharing her skills in swordsmanship, she intends to do so not only powerfully, but also gracefully without unnecessary bloodshed. This blade is not designed for the slaying of the innocent or the undeserving, and it shall not be driven to do so even by the most stubborn of individuals.
It is to be said, however, that this wish of hers to return peacefully to the heavenly realm does not mean that she fully agrees with the decision that was made towards her regard. In fact, this experience has taught her one thing: that one cannot trust the members of Central 46 or the people of the First Division. Even if she is allowed to return to the Soul Society eventually, these new opinions of hers will not change, or at least they will not do so immediately. Whereas she was once simply apathetic towards their regard, she now sees them the first as a tyrannical government in disguise and the other as slaves wearing the greatest colors of the Gotei 13. Depending on the actions they will commit in the following times, her respect for them will perhaps return. Hell, she might even find themselves appreciating them someday. For now, however, she shall see them as they are and treat them as they have treated her: with constant vigilance.
The Gotei 13's reaction upon their discovery of her dark energy was much more damaging to Kimiko than she believed it would have been. One day, she was seen as both leader and teacher, a person who could bring thousands to train themselves with the sword, and bring thousands more to the battlefield with an unfathomable spirit. Then, during the next day, she was a fugitive, a criminal, a traitor. It was like her image had been stripped away altogether and replaced with the depiction of a wild, frothing animal that needed to be caught and put down before it could spread whatever afflicted it. To see this image be created so suddenly and without warning, and worse, to witness it be created by none other than one of her closest allies who had apparently been a spy for Central 46 for all this time... It was perhaps one of the most painful moments that she had found herself experiencing, and it was not something that she needed to see after the reveal of Shizukakane's withering self. Together, these two events left this up-and-coming teacher - this greater warrior who was becoming ever-so-brighter before her Inner Hollow - feeling empty and disheveled once again.
For the first few moments following her exile from the Soul Society, the woman allowed these things to bring her down to their terrible level. Once again, much like before the conception of her dojo, she was disheveled and unfocused, empty yet angry. Her frustrations were calling for revenge against this injustice, requesting that all who referred to her as a creature be reduced to nothingness. But as she found herself condemned to remain in the Living World in a place she believed herself to ultimately not fit in, she realized that to do so would be exactly what those who submitted her to this fate would want from her. They wanted her to be a beast, to prove to them that she was indeed a creature built for mindless hunger and infinite devastation. Well, she was not going to allow them to represent her as such. She was not going to let them think of her as this monster in their heads. Instead, she was going to be better and prove to them that she was still the sword of the Soul Society she made herself out to be, no matter how dark she may be. It was this resolve that sparked the flame within her soul anew, and with this strength, she entered her broken Inner World and confronted the being who referred to herself as Yume once again.
By the end of this confrontation, Shizukakane had moved on and the aforementioned Inner World was left unsuitable for any further use. Kimiko had been explained his purpose and the true reason behind his presence as the spirit of her white blade, but his passing nevertheless hurt her then and it still does so now. He was the closest to a father she had in her life, and he was amongst the people she could truly describe as being family, in a way. Yet, as he passed away, her resolve did not wane. If anything, it was strengthened. She knew that he had died proud despite his weakening body, and that he wished for the officer to continue living not as the woman she was then, but rather as the woman she was now. To succumb to despair following the confrontation would have been to betray this wish of his and to, in turn, become something unworthy of the mantle she had decided to carry. In so doing, she decided to become stronger still and take full control of what she should have been a master of all along.
After the relearning of her Bankai, the reconstruction of her Inner World, and the rebirth of her Zanpakuto spirits, the Vizard now stands as a more powerful woman than she ever was. She conducts herself with resolute confidence that is uncharacteristic in comparison to the feeble girl she once was, and is now not at all afraid to speak her mind about things. In fact, really, she could now almost barely be called quiet or even reserved. It is quite the evolution, to say the least. Though she still very much wants to return to the Soul Society in time in order to show her new strength to the Gotei 13 and her unshakeable willingness to continue sharing her skills in swordsmanship, she intends to do so not only powerfully, but also gracefully without unnecessary bloodshed. This blade is not designed for the slaying of the innocent or the undeserving, and it shall not be driven to do so even by the most stubborn of individuals.
It is to be said, however, that this wish of hers to return peacefully to the heavenly realm does not mean that she fully agrees with the decision that was made towards her regard. In fact, this experience has taught her one thing: that one cannot trust the members of Central 46 or the people of the First Division. Even if she is allowed to return to the Soul Society eventually, these new opinions of hers will not change, or at least they will not do so immediately. Whereas she was once simply apathetic towards their regard, she now sees them the first as a tyrannical government in disguise and the other as slaves wearing the greatest colors of the Gotei 13. Depending on the actions they will commit in the following times, her respect for them will perhaps return. Hell, she might even find themselves appreciating them someday. For now, however, she shall see them as they are and treat them as they have treated her: with constant vigilance.
[ N E W F I G H T I N G S T Y L E ]
{Initial}
Kimiko shares a particular love for battle. She awaits every possibilities of a fight with anticipation, and once she finally gets the chance to participate in a battle, she will do so without any hesitation. As such, it is thus not shocking to believe that the young woman could be considered to be a rather-intense opponent.
The swordswoman's main fighting style revolves around the use of Iaijutsu, a technique that is meant to be used as a counter-attacking maneuver rather than one of pure aggression. Traditionally, it is an old technique favored by samurai past who trained in the translation of the art of unsheathing one's blade from its scabbard during battle. It requires good posture, precision, and most importantly, speed, seeing as the technique is not really the most subtle and therefore will usually be instantly recognizable to most opponents. Due to this latter fact, most feudal warriors preferred to maintain the act of unsheathing their blade as nothing more than an act of introduction due to the armor they wore in battle rendering this technique quite difficult to perform. Thankfully, Shinigami do not posses armor for the most part, and so Kimiko has decided to turn this technique into the very center of her form. Twisting a counter-attacking maneuver into one of pure aggression, thus turning it into its complete opposite, is not an easy thing to do, and yet Kimiko somehow relatively achieves that goal very well.
At the beginning of a fight, Kimiko will at first declare her name, rank and squad to appropriately introduce herself to her opponent. This is at times accompanied with a standing bow, or better known by martial artists as the Ritsurei, but it all depends on how respectful her opponent is to her for that to occur. Otherwise, she will personally never offer a bow to a Hollow who were left devoid of any personality but a savage need to satiate their hunger, and neither will she offer it to a Denizen of Hell out of sheer disrespect for their existence. In that case, or should there be too many opponents for her to fight at once while she is part of a squad, she will instead loudly declare those titles. In either case, the excitement this act gives to her is enough to break her usual calmness and instead bring about a slightly-more bloodthirsty personality beneath her cool exterior.
Upon finishing her first introduction, she would then go on to immediately first attempt to rush towards her opponent to unsheathe her blade and instantly cut at them. It is a sudden move, one that usually follows a boost of Spiritual Pressure caused by the woman's excitement for battle which, later on in her life, will cause even the gravity surrounding an enemy to be affected. However, despite this, it typically lacks any will to kill and it could be considered to be the weakest attack among her collection. The reason why that is is that the swordswoman considers this first attack to be her second introduction to a fight, her "proper entrance" after the battle has officially begun, and she uses it to gauge her opponent's skill. "I wanna fight people that I can call strong. If you can't survive something like that, then I'm sorry, but I can't call you anything but lame," so she would explain in her own words.
Once this attack has been delivered, Kimiko then starts fighting more seriously. She fights quickly and without mercy, not even giving so much of a chance for her opponent to take their breath, and will often think during battle of how to beat her opponent. With every single unsheathing of her blade, she becomes more focused and driven by the experience of the fight. The sounds, the tension, the killing intent... It all boils down to something that she will never forget, no matter what kind of adversary she is fighting against. It is thus why, although she most often cannot resist the urge to fight at full power, she always wants every single one of her battle to last at least a decent amount of time, especially if she considers whoever she fights to be a worthy opponent.
Should she feel at a disadvantage, Kimiko will continue to attempt fighting at her best even if it would be best for her to retreat. Due to her belief in the Bushido Code, she cannot allow herself to flee battle before its end, even if it may cost her life. However, she is not a fool: even she knows her limits, and once she is close to reaching them, she will typically start understanding that she may die. This is especially the case when she fights a Hollow or a being that is very intent on killing her. Once that happens, her ultimate fear of death mixed with her natural instincts start overwhelming her and she finds herself unconsciously forced to flee. This, however, never occurs during spars or while fighting an opponent who has no wish to kill her, as the creeping shadow of death does not loom over either of these contexts.
Later on, as she grows stronger as a Shinigami, the swordswoman will unlock the true potential of her blades, Shizukakane & Taishokukane, and even much later on, the very essence of her weapon, Tsūkakane. However, due to the distaste of her own weapons' use against weaklings, their Releases will be sparse, especially the latter Kimiko herself personally dislikes relying on it to defeat an opponent. Most of the time, she will attempt to only call upon their abilities in times of absolute need when she faces an opponent that she deems to be stronger than her or large groups of enemies who have no meaning of honor. For a few adversaries, this may occur at the very start of a fight against them, but it is a rare occurrence due to Kimiko's aforementioned liking for longer battles.
Should Kimiko ever somehow lose the ability to use her swords in combat, be it because of them being broken during battle or simply taken away from her grasp, she will attempt to switch her fighting style into a more brutal and vicious karate. Fueled by the temporary loss of her sword, the young woman becomes less forgiving and slightly more desperate to deliver acrobatics punches and kicks of shocking speed, though never desperate enough to ever employ the use of ranged combat such as Kido. Even at her lowest point, she will never employ techniques that require her to stray away from physical contact, no matter how good of an option it may be to use them. What good can a fireball do if a punch can't do it better? So she says.
Kimiko shares a particular love for battle. She awaits every possibilities of a fight with anticipation, and once she finally gets the chance to participate in a battle, she will do so without any hesitation. As such, it is thus not shocking to believe that the young woman could be considered to be a rather-intense opponent.
The swordswoman's main fighting style revolves around the use of Iaijutsu, a technique that is meant to be used as a counter-attacking maneuver rather than one of pure aggression. Traditionally, it is an old technique favored by samurai past who trained in the translation of the art of unsheathing one's blade from its scabbard during battle. It requires good posture, precision, and most importantly, speed, seeing as the technique is not really the most subtle and therefore will usually be instantly recognizable to most opponents. Due to this latter fact, most feudal warriors preferred to maintain the act of unsheathing their blade as nothing more than an act of introduction due to the armor they wore in battle rendering this technique quite difficult to perform. Thankfully, Shinigami do not posses armor for the most part, and so Kimiko has decided to turn this technique into the very center of her form. Twisting a counter-attacking maneuver into one of pure aggression, thus turning it into its complete opposite, is not an easy thing to do, and yet Kimiko somehow relatively achieves that goal very well.
At the beginning of a fight, Kimiko will at first declare her name, rank and squad to appropriately introduce herself to her opponent. This is at times accompanied with a standing bow, or better known by martial artists as the Ritsurei, but it all depends on how respectful her opponent is to her for that to occur. Otherwise, she will personally never offer a bow to a Hollow who were left devoid of any personality but a savage need to satiate their hunger, and neither will she offer it to a Denizen of Hell out of sheer disrespect for their existence. In that case, or should there be too many opponents for her to fight at once while she is part of a squad, she will instead loudly declare those titles. In either case, the excitement this act gives to her is enough to break her usual calmness and instead bring about a slightly-more bloodthirsty personality beneath her cool exterior.
Upon finishing her first introduction, she would then go on to immediately first attempt to rush towards her opponent to unsheathe her blade and instantly cut at them. It is a sudden move, one that usually follows a boost of Spiritual Pressure caused by the woman's excitement for battle which, later on in her life, will cause even the gravity surrounding an enemy to be affected. However, despite this, it typically lacks any will to kill and it could be considered to be the weakest attack among her collection. The reason why that is is that the swordswoman considers this first attack to be her second introduction to a fight, her "proper entrance" after the battle has officially begun, and she uses it to gauge her opponent's skill. "I wanna fight people that I can call strong. If you can't survive something like that, then I'm sorry, but I can't call you anything but lame," so she would explain in her own words.
Once this attack has been delivered, Kimiko then starts fighting more seriously. She fights quickly and without mercy, not even giving so much of a chance for her opponent to take their breath, and will often think during battle of how to beat her opponent. With every single unsheathing of her blade, she becomes more focused and driven by the experience of the fight. The sounds, the tension, the killing intent... It all boils down to something that she will never forget, no matter what kind of adversary she is fighting against. It is thus why, although she most often cannot resist the urge to fight at full power, she always wants every single one of her battle to last at least a decent amount of time, especially if she considers whoever she fights to be a worthy opponent.
Should she feel at a disadvantage, Kimiko will continue to attempt fighting at her best even if it would be best for her to retreat. Due to her belief in the Bushido Code, she cannot allow herself to flee battle before its end, even if it may cost her life. However, she is not a fool: even she knows her limits, and once she is close to reaching them, she will typically start understanding that she may die. This is especially the case when she fights a Hollow or a being that is very intent on killing her. Once that happens, her ultimate fear of death mixed with her natural instincts start overwhelming her and she finds herself unconsciously forced to flee. This, however, never occurs during spars or while fighting an opponent who has no wish to kill her, as the creeping shadow of death does not loom over either of these contexts.
Later on, as she grows stronger as a Shinigami, the swordswoman will unlock the true potential of her blades, Shizukakane & Taishokukane, and even much later on, the very essence of her weapon, Tsūkakane. However, due to the distaste of her own weapons' use against weaklings, their Releases will be sparse, especially the latter Kimiko herself personally dislikes relying on it to defeat an opponent. Most of the time, she will attempt to only call upon their abilities in times of absolute need when she faces an opponent that she deems to be stronger than her or large groups of enemies who have no meaning of honor. For a few adversaries, this may occur at the very start of a fight against them, but it is a rare occurrence due to Kimiko's aforementioned liking for longer battles.
Should Kimiko ever somehow lose the ability to use her swords in combat, be it because of them being broken during battle or simply taken away from her grasp, she will attempt to switch her fighting style into a more brutal and vicious karate. Fueled by the temporary loss of her sword, the young woman becomes less forgiving and slightly more desperate to deliver acrobatics punches and kicks of shocking speed, though never desperate enough to ever employ the use of ranged combat such as Kido. Even at her lowest point, she will never employ techniques that require her to stray away from physical contact, no matter how good of an option it may be to use them. What good can a fireball do if a punch can't do it better? So she says.
{Drawn Together}
A warrior's main form of communication is the way they do battle. That is a principle that has been recognized over many centuries, perhaps even the beginning of time itself. The weapon they wield, the way they swing it, the techniques that they employ... All of those things represent words and phrases. The only difference is the manner in which they are spoken, and so, in a way, one could consider it all as a sort of language. In so doing, it is not uncommon for warriors to find themselves speaking of many things as they fight. "I am a proud warrior, forged in the greatest fires, and I will not hesitate to crush you with my bare hands," proclaims the one who wields cruel fists. "I am an intellectual, seeker of knowledge, and so I yearn to show you the extent of what I have learned over the course of our battle," explains the magician who raises spell after spell. "I am conniving, shadow-born, and our eyes shall never cross each other's sight," ushers the dagger-flourishing assassin.
Once, Kimiko's style spoke many things, though none of them were clear. It was all bestial nonsense, guttural cries and screams sprinkled with a modicum of restraint, and when it was not so, it was all contradictions. She mainly presented herself as a warrior who used a defensive style only to use it solely for pure offense, which was impressive, if not somewhat admirable. However, this usage was strange, unpredictable. It held no words or meaning, used in ways that could only be described as being random. At times, she was calm and in-control, and at other times, she was downright monstrously not at all in control, succumbing to her emotions to such an extent that the way she does battle would henceforth lose all meaning. She was overwhelming, yes, and that was in a way good; after all, to fight such a thing is terrifying. The way she scared plenty of Hollows and even Hellions in the past was a testament to this. But to be just overwhelming is not right. For it all to simply mean "I will beat you" is not right. It needed to be more.
To correct this mistake, the officer reviewed her swordsmanship in great length. As she prepared her classes for the day at Nijūkan, she studied her previous opponents and how she fought them. The aforementioned Hollows and Hellions were amongst those she considered, but she also considered the rogue officers of the Seventh that she battled in the Living World, the enemy Fullbringers she encountered, and everything else that wanted to see her dead. The spars that were set between herself and her comrades, her students, and her Zanpakuto spirits were also all noted in this study. From this analysis was thus formed many conclusions. They all differed from one another, though she was eventually able to summarize them in order to form a description of her combat style. Impulsive, aggressive, emotional, prone to anger. Unsurprisingly, these terms were rather unflattering, but unfortunately, they were all truer than the other.
Yet, as unflattering as these terms may be, the Vizard does not see them all as being overly negative. It was true that they could become disadvantageous and that they had become as such in the past, though she believed that there was something that could be shaped from them, something that would befitting of the title she had decided to wield upon then after she became Captain of the Eleventh Division, and the title she has decided to wield since the acquiring of her Hollow Mask. She felt that she could turn the beastly nonsense that they all once represented, and that together, they could represent a new, yet familiar being. As such, with the aid of her Zanpakuto spirits, she meditated upon this matter until they were all finally able to form a true sentence from it all. It would be one of strength, of power, of monstrous, yet controlled dominance. This sentence would be the one that her style would declare from now on.
There was no point in denying her newfound anger. Kimiko has understood that now, and so she now strides to use it not as something that can take control of her senses, but rather something that she herself can use to her advantage. In so doing, many of what formed her previous monstrous style remains as it was before. Much of it still revolves around the use of Iaijutsu, and it is still very much preceded by a honorous bow in the form of the Ritsurei and a loud introduction listing all of her titles, depending on the amount of respect her opponent is ready to show to her. However, unlike before, she now fights not as a mindless beast who simply fuels herself with the madness of battle, but rather as she has set herself out to be: a devil in the service of the Soul Society who shall do anything to achieve victory. Each powerful swing thrown towards her enemies are controlled with great killing intent, with every one of them accomplished with mercilessness speeds, and though they are often accompanied by shouting, none of them feel wild or lost. Meanwhile, her body exhumes an aura of both strength and defiance, ready to crush anything that dares challenge it as all that it touches crumbles to dust.
Almost always, her blades at her disposal will be put to use during her battles. Their sealed states shall slay enemy after enemy, reducing them all to corpses who should never have once harbored the thought of destroying the Soul Society, and their released steel shall submit all who are worthy of their sight to ultimate defeat. And as for those who believe themselves to be powerful enough to brave her Bankai? They shall be disappeared, eradicated, and from their nothingness shall be born a lesson for those who made the mistake of underestimating it. Some may believe these words make Kimiko ultimately subservient to and dependent of her blades' existence, and in a way, this would be somewhat of a true statement to declare. However, even if the blades are taken away from her, she shall fight with the very last blades on her person: herself, and the spiritual energy that she can use to conjure blades around her limbs.
Though rare are the moments during which she will have to use it, Kimiko will not hesitate to use her Hollow Mask if pitted against an opponent that she personally believes to be strong enough to survive her Bankai. As a demon of the Soul Society, she is always ready to accept the darkness within her heart and allow it to empower her if that darkness is going to bring her towards victory; after all, it is safest to say that the enemy - no matter what they may be or where they come from - would do the same if they ever have the chance to confront the same decision to make. With that said, should she ever believe that its use has come to an end, she will personally see that it be ripped off of her, be it by destroying it with the pommel of one of her Zanpakuto, or by outright ripping it off of her face, no matter how painful the process may be. There is no point in being a demon in times where a demon is not needed any longer, after all.
With all of this said, it is to be remembered that Kimiko does not always necessarily fight to harm, for there are many times in which she will instead wish to teach something to the other. These times will mostly be found in friendly spars or lessons personally taught by her at her dojo, though there will also be times during which she will act in such a way before an opponent that she believes is much, much weaker than her. During these times, she acts much less aggressively and instead more so almost nonchalantly. She allows her opponent to express herself and attempt to fight her to the best of their ability, dodging or repelling most of their attacks with her blades, before then swiftly showcasing both their weaknesses and their mistakes. In so doing, she shows them the advantages of their fighting style and the results of their training, but also what must be corrected before they have to fight a more powerful enemy who will not be as merciful as she. Even if she proclaims herself a demon, she will remain a teacher at heart.
A warrior's main form of communication is the way they do battle. That is a principle that has been recognized over many centuries, perhaps even the beginning of time itself. The weapon they wield, the way they swing it, the techniques that they employ... All of those things represent words and phrases. The only difference is the manner in which they are spoken, and so, in a way, one could consider it all as a sort of language. In so doing, it is not uncommon for warriors to find themselves speaking of many things as they fight. "I am a proud warrior, forged in the greatest fires, and I will not hesitate to crush you with my bare hands," proclaims the one who wields cruel fists. "I am an intellectual, seeker of knowledge, and so I yearn to show you the extent of what I have learned over the course of our battle," explains the magician who raises spell after spell. "I am conniving, shadow-born, and our eyes shall never cross each other's sight," ushers the dagger-flourishing assassin.
Once, Kimiko's style spoke many things, though none of them were clear. It was all bestial nonsense, guttural cries and screams sprinkled with a modicum of restraint, and when it was not so, it was all contradictions. She mainly presented herself as a warrior who used a defensive style only to use it solely for pure offense, which was impressive, if not somewhat admirable. However, this usage was strange, unpredictable. It held no words or meaning, used in ways that could only be described as being random. At times, she was calm and in-control, and at other times, she was downright monstrously not at all in control, succumbing to her emotions to such an extent that the way she does battle would henceforth lose all meaning. She was overwhelming, yes, and that was in a way good; after all, to fight such a thing is terrifying. The way she scared plenty of Hollows and even Hellions in the past was a testament to this. But to be just overwhelming is not right. For it all to simply mean "I will beat you" is not right. It needed to be more.
To correct this mistake, the officer reviewed her swordsmanship in great length. As she prepared her classes for the day at Nijūkan, she studied her previous opponents and how she fought them. The aforementioned Hollows and Hellions were amongst those she considered, but she also considered the rogue officers of the Seventh that she battled in the Living World, the enemy Fullbringers she encountered, and everything else that wanted to see her dead. The spars that were set between herself and her comrades, her students, and her Zanpakuto spirits were also all noted in this study. From this analysis was thus formed many conclusions. They all differed from one another, though she was eventually able to summarize them in order to form a description of her combat style. Impulsive, aggressive, emotional, prone to anger. Unsurprisingly, these terms were rather unflattering, but unfortunately, they were all truer than the other.
Yet, as unflattering as these terms may be, the Vizard does not see them all as being overly negative. It was true that they could become disadvantageous and that they had become as such in the past, though she believed that there was something that could be shaped from them, something that would befitting of the title she had decided to wield upon then after she became Captain of the Eleventh Division, and the title she has decided to wield since the acquiring of her Hollow Mask. She felt that she could turn the beastly nonsense that they all once represented, and that together, they could represent a new, yet familiar being. As such, with the aid of her Zanpakuto spirits, she meditated upon this matter until they were all finally able to form a true sentence from it all. It would be one of strength, of power, of monstrous, yet controlled dominance. This sentence would be the one that her style would declare from now on.
"I am a demon, creature of light and dark, and my wrath shall lead us to victory."
There was no point in denying her newfound anger. Kimiko has understood that now, and so she now strides to use it not as something that can take control of her senses, but rather something that she herself can use to her advantage. In so doing, many of what formed her previous monstrous style remains as it was before. Much of it still revolves around the use of Iaijutsu, and it is still very much preceded by a honorous bow in the form of the Ritsurei and a loud introduction listing all of her titles, depending on the amount of respect her opponent is ready to show to her. However, unlike before, she now fights not as a mindless beast who simply fuels herself with the madness of battle, but rather as she has set herself out to be: a devil in the service of the Soul Society who shall do anything to achieve victory. Each powerful swing thrown towards her enemies are controlled with great killing intent, with every one of them accomplished with mercilessness speeds, and though they are often accompanied by shouting, none of them feel wild or lost. Meanwhile, her body exhumes an aura of both strength and defiance, ready to crush anything that dares challenge it as all that it touches crumbles to dust.
Almost always, her blades at her disposal will be put to use during her battles. Their sealed states shall slay enemy after enemy, reducing them all to corpses who should never have once harbored the thought of destroying the Soul Society, and their released steel shall submit all who are worthy of their sight to ultimate defeat. And as for those who believe themselves to be powerful enough to brave her Bankai? They shall be disappeared, eradicated, and from their nothingness shall be born a lesson for those who made the mistake of underestimating it. Some may believe these words make Kimiko ultimately subservient to and dependent of her blades' existence, and in a way, this would be somewhat of a true statement to declare. However, even if the blades are taken away from her, she shall fight with the very last blades on her person: herself, and the spiritual energy that she can use to conjure blades around her limbs.
Though rare are the moments during which she will have to use it, Kimiko will not hesitate to use her Hollow Mask if pitted against an opponent that she personally believes to be strong enough to survive her Bankai. As a demon of the Soul Society, she is always ready to accept the darkness within her heart and allow it to empower her if that darkness is going to bring her towards victory; after all, it is safest to say that the enemy - no matter what they may be or where they come from - would do the same if they ever have the chance to confront the same decision to make. With that said, should she ever believe that its use has come to an end, she will personally see that it be ripped off of her, be it by destroying it with the pommel of one of her Zanpakuto, or by outright ripping it off of her face, no matter how painful the process may be. There is no point in being a demon in times where a demon is not needed any longer, after all.
With all of this said, it is to be remembered that Kimiko does not always necessarily fight to harm, for there are many times in which she will instead wish to teach something to the other. These times will mostly be found in friendly spars or lessons personally taught by her at her dojo, though there will also be times during which she will act in such a way before an opponent that she believes is much, much weaker than her. During these times, she acts much less aggressively and instead more so almost nonchalantly. She allows her opponent to express herself and attempt to fight her to the best of their ability, dodging or repelling most of their attacks with her blades, before then swiftly showcasing both their weaknesses and their mistakes. In so doing, she shows them the advantages of their fighting style and the results of their training, but also what must be corrected before they have to fight a more powerful enemy who will not be as merciful as she. Even if she proclaims herself a demon, she will remain a teacher at heart.
[ R E W O R K E D H O L L O W M A S K ]
Through the study of various warriors recorded across the most recent historical events by those of the Gotei 13, those of the Soul Society's intellectual elite were able to decipher the existence of a new type of being. Previously unnamed, these beings - hybrids of Shinigami and Hollow - were eventually granted a specific term that would forever mark them from time immemorial: Vizard. It is unclear how they specifically came to be, given that the process tied to their transformation involves the direct transferring of corrupted spiritual energy into their soul, but they nevertheless began to be considered as individuals who are ultimately dangerous to the existence of the heavenly realm. Many even demand that they be immediately executed upon their discovery, no matter their past, current or future allegiances. The reason for this decision? They fear that the Vizards grow out of control and fully succumb to their darkness to become Hollow Wraiths, the equivalent of Vasto Lordes of pseudo-apocalyptic power.
With her soul corrupted by the beast known as Sonadora upon her murder, Kimiko was unfortunately fated to follow the path to Hollowfication. The task had not been given to her by choice, but rather by design, for she was meant to act as the ancient's pawn in a game beyond her understanding. The creature wanted her to become a Wraith, an instrument of destruction with no free will of her own. In so doing, she suffered a most grueling journey as her soul was affected by the dark power. What she was would be corrupted, mutated. Rapidly, she could no longer be called a Human, and eventually, she could not even be called a proper Shinigami. She was granted unparalleled strength that still persists to this day, bringing her shocking spiritual energy that brings many to their knees, yet she was also brought great pain and misery due to the actions of her Inner Hollow. She suffered conjuring after conjuring, dream after dream, all of which more painful than the other, and once the dreams ended, she even sometimes began to lose control of her body.
It is needless to say that these events were part of a most difficult time, and the woman would not fault anyone for thinking of them as such. It was a time during which she believed herself to be condemned to fight an eternal battle that she was eventually bound to lose, one that would require her to battle a foe that was far more nefarious than anything else that she has ever fought thus far. But as she learned of Yume's true nature, of her ambitions, and of her purpose, Kimiko understood that this was not an entity who was entirely malicious. The Inner Hollow cared for her, albeit in her own twisted fashion, and so it seemed pointless to forever deny her her right to belong in her soul. It was not easy to accept her, especially after everything she had done to her, and it was also not something that the Gotei 13 wanted out of her; after all, she was a Captain, and many still believe to this day that to harbor Hollow powers is nothing short of an act of treason. Even so, she held on, striving to become strong in both mind and body.
This great effort eventually bloomed into one final confrontation between the woman and her darker side. There was no crossings of blades, not even an ounce of violence, and together alongside Taishokukane, they reshaped what made Kimiko herself. The younger Zanpakuto spirit became Zanzaifude, successor to the fallen Shizukakane, and Yume inherited his previous position as Manzenfude. The Inner Worlds were rebuilt from scratch as they both made their domain, and as a gift to Kimiko for finally approving her existence as her primordial Zanpakuto, the Inner Hollow granted her a mask with no distinguishable features. She described it as the container to all of the Vizard's dark powers, something that she could conjure to call upon the corruption and allow it to empower her. Of course, this power would not be permanent. It was only temporary, a boost, and Kimiko would have to work hard in order to fully understand it. That, however, was more than enough for the Vizard. For the sake of the Soul Society, her soldiers and her students, she seeks to shape this mask into something of her making that will act as the heavenly realm's demon. Then, perhaps, it will continue to stand forever more, until the end of times.
The mask, as previously described, is originally meant to be nothing more than a plate of white harboring three holes. The first two, larger in size, are for the eyes, while the remaining hole is a smaller one for the mouth. It was a crude thing, a creation that could barely be described as a face despite its perfect circumference and the presence of many small teeth near the edges of the mouth. Really, it was like a mere slab of white to put on one's face in order to hide one's self, something that represented the visage of a nameless, silver-eyed beast who refused to reveal themselves to the masses for fear of being accused or reprimanded for something it could not control. Perhaps it was a message of sort from the Inner Hollow, one last reminder to Kimiko - or maybe even a warning - to never go back to the meek, yet excitable warrior she once was whose goals were meager and her ambitions too simple for their own good.
With mastery, this mask will change. The features will become less vague and more distinct, unique, as it shapes itself around Kimiko's identity. What would once appear hesitant would turn confident, and what would once be meek would become strong. In time, the mere slab of white with no features to speak will become the visage of a fearless demon in the shape of a feline dragon stuck to her from the top of her head to the bottom of her neck. The upper holes for silver eyes will turn into pits leading into reptilian slits of glowing ruby, and the lower hole, so timid and quiet, will turn into a snout lined with great fangs. At times, even in the hottest of environments, steam will even find itself breaching out from behind the fangs, causing Kimiko to be surrounded by an aura of great danger. Concluding this demonic display is the presence of a mane of unnatural, stark-white fur. It find itself growing on the back of its top, with it covering Kimiko's head and mingling with her hair, with it only vanishing in the wake of her Bankai.
Considering its great power, Kimiko will find herself wearing this mask occasionally. She will train with it, bring it to its furthest evolution, and solidify it as a weapon that the Soul Society will not fear and condemn, but rather revere and respect. In other words, shall shall transform it into not a symbol of mindless destruction and slaughter, but rather of ultimate offense and power before all who stands against those who challenge Humanity. Though even if she wants it to be seen as such, she will not find herself using it in battles that do not deserve its presence. She does not believe that it has any right to be present in simple spars, honest duels with fellow warriors or her students, or during training sessions that do not revolve around the willing use of Hollowfication. To do so would be to not think of it as a weapon, but rather as a crutch, and she will not permit herself to fall to such a low. She may be willing to become the Soul Society's demon, but she is a swordswoman first and foremost, nothing more, nothing less.
[ N E W Z A N P A K U T O ]
When she was first granted Shizukakane's name and gained the ability to use his powers, Kimiko never really took even the briefest of moments to ponder upon what these aforementioned powers really meant. To her, they were somewhat nonsensical, a strange ability which seemingly did not make much sense. This opinion was only compounded once she formed Taishokukane from her second Asauchi, as he had a similar ability. It was difficult to blame her for thinking of it all in such a way; after all, ignoring the fact that she had many other things on her mind at the time, the abilities themselves were indeed confusing. Their names were related to bells, but there was no real correlation between them and the weapons' abilities. They both expelled a form of ink-like energy, but the use of this ink was unconventional and not like how a painter or an artistic sort would use it for. They were opposites in nature, with one being white and the other black, but at the time, she believed that this had no bearing at all on her abilities and was only a matter of cosmetics.
But after Shizukakane's passing and the reveal of her true Bankai, the Vizard found herself finally pondering upon this very matter. She would think about it all quite extensively as she scouted the Canvas, erased the ruins of the old Inner World, and drew the new. Once her work was completed, she gave one final thought to it all and found herself reaching a conclusion. All this time, unbeknownst to her for many decades, her blades bore a most-specific meaning. No, not just a meaning: a purpose. That purpose was to make her an icon of balance. Indeed, all along, the theme of the blades was never about "focus". Unfortunately, at this time, Shizukakane's presence prevented them from acting as they were designed, and so their forms were limited. Their previous combined form, Tsūkakane, is a testament to that. Now that the older spirit is gone, the blades can finally accomplish their intended goal unencumbered, hopefully forever more.
This understanding has allowed the woman to give a more accurate general description of her blades that she believes will allow her to eventually reach even greater heights in time. Under this new description, the swords' main ability is to empower their wielder by causing the battlefield to appear to revolve around themselves. Both light and dark, and noise of both high and low frequencies are brought to Kimiko as black or white "ink", and cause her to appear as an embodiment of the taijitu. As a result of this empowerment, both her body and her blades begin to exhume "ink", causing them both to appear less as physical manifestations and more so as though they were drawn in motion. The sounds that are generated by her person, such as her voice and her footsteps, are also amplified due to this empowerment, as they themselves become beacons around which nearby sounds revolve.
{Zanzaifude (残在筆, "Remaining Brush")}
Zanzaifude, the white sword, is the first Zanpakuto that Kimiko has gained throughout her Shinigami career. Previously home to the spirit known as Shizukakane, it was then the weapon that she cherished the most between the two she owned. Nowadays, however, the blade houses the elderly one's replacement, and so Kimiko's favoritism has ended. In so doing, the blade now brandishes a new form. While sealed, it appears as a katana stripped of its guard resting in a white scabbard. This particular sheath appears to be made of aged wood unlike its predecessor, and it is marked by a single black dot reminiscent of the yang. When released, the blade takes a sharper, rougher look as it becomes a major container for the white "ink" and a minor container of the black "ink", which itself is contained not within the sword's very being, but rather in a small dot-shaped hole formed within the center of its blade. This hole is visible within the scabbard as well, as a landscape of mountains and forests drawn with black ink now surrounds its dot marking.
As a personification of the yin, the white sword is responsible for the empowerment of Kimiko through the act of balancing the light which is contained within a certain area. What is included in this light is namely colors edging towards brighter shades, and sounds that are to be considered as being high-pitched in nature. To be affected by Zanzaifude's effects, this light must be selectively considered by the Vizard for balancing, and must be contained within a malleable field that is generated by the blade around her person. It covers a maximal distance of 25 meters in diameter which can be decreased if necessary, follows Kimiko's every move, and is mainly identified by the way the world's light bends around and flows within her body as streams of white "ink". Four posts must pass in order for this balancing process to fully deplete the light of the elements chosen by Kimiko, after which these elements are left completely devoid of both brightness and any high-pitched noise they generated for as long as they remain in the field. After being removed from the field, the light which was removed from these elements is returned to them over the course of the next two posts.
For as long as the aforementioned balancing process is active, the light which flows within Kimiko's body grows. This growth is represented by a Light Gauge, which fills up at a pace of around 15% per post in areas that still contain light. If both it and Manzenfude's fields are active in an area, however, this growth will instead be increased to 20% per post in an attempt to properly achieve a balance of energy. The further the light of an area is redirected towards and balanced within Kimiko, the longer the blade becomes, expanding into a bright sheen of white "ink" almost akin to a void separate from this reality. The length of the blade is depicted as follows depending on how filled the Light Gauge is:
The energy contained by the Light Gauge can also be used by Kimiko to perform techniques that cannot be achieved through normal means. These techniques are meant to be more so supportive in nature, as the light - beacon of life and representative of the world's order - ultimately wishes not for the other's death.
It is suffice to say that the death of Shizukakane has had a very profound impact on Kimiko. Though it was an inherently negative moment that anyone would have preferred to avoid, even Yume herself, no one could deny that some positives were able to be noted from his passing. For one, the pseudo-dependency to the old spirit that the Vizard once held is finally gone alongside her longing for a father figure, causing her to become a much more powerful individual than she ever was before. Without this burden, she is finally free to become the one true warrior that she has always been fated to become. Then, for two, the removal of Shizukakane from the white blade has allowed for both it and its darker counterpart to no longer act in spite of his presence, and instead act as their true selves in proper unison. Unsurprisingly, this has turned them both into stronger blades, both functionally and personally.
But this removal of the spirit had left the white blade emptied of its spirit. Indeed, without Shizukakane, all that remained was an empty Zanpakuto, something that could not really differentiate itself from a normal Asauchi. Kimiko, of course, did not wish for this to occur, and so after all was said and done with Yume, she consulted she and the one spirit that remained from their great conflict: Taishokukane. Having been present during the battle between the officer and her Inner Hollow, the silver shade acted then not as a warrior, but as an observer, mainly due to the unconventional ways which were undertaken to resolve it all. This moment of peace where he was not demanded to shed blood in a moment that he had awaited ever since his inception within the second Asauchi brought him confusion. He was bewildered then, and frankly, he is still somewhat taken aback by it today. Nevertheless, it was in this moment that he allowed himself to reflect upon the words Shizukakane had delivered to him, and to consider becoming something that was less so what he was at the time.
By the end of his pondering, the shade proposed that he become the successor to Shizukakane and that the Inner Hollow take his place within the black blade. It was not an easy decision to make, but he believed it to be sensical, for there was no doubt that the heart of Kimiko's opposite was darker than his in every single way. Both Kimiko and Yume made no objections to his suggestion, with the latter even going as far as to describe his descriptions of her as being quite amusing, and so the Vizard went on to make her decision. From then on, the silver shade known as Taishokukane was never again going to be referred to as such by Kimiko, her Inner Hollow, or anybody else for that matter. Instead, he was going to be recognized as Zanzaifude, the one whose light was able to remain whole during the battle against the dark. He approved this title hesitantly, yet eventually, and with that, he would show Kimiko how to use her true Bankai and have it rewrite his long lost forest into something new.
Nowadays, the spirit mostly spends his time admiring what populates the base of the Mountains Eternal. With Shizukakane gone and unable to showcase Kimiko's lighter side any longer, he now has taken this responsibility, and so represents Kimiko's grown ambitions and warrior spirit. Once a young man in appearance who appeared to be roughly around the woman's age, the many events that he has witnessed has caused him to gain experience and appear to visibly age. He now appears as a man in his early-to-mid thirties with small wrinkles and fine lines being present namely around his eyes and on his forehead, and his eyes appear to have been made sharper by time. His body has also slightly grown, though not by much, with his stature still being somewhat reminiscent of Shizukakane's. Though his coat too appeared to have aged alongside him, it now takes on a darker color on top of his pale skin, which itself appears to have become slightly more natural and less ghost-like. It is needless to say that these features have truly stripped him of his older title of silver shade.
The newfound experiences the spirit has gone through has greatly lessened his once-arrogant attitude. As he considered Shizukakane's hidden teachings and attempted to understand them as much as he possibly can, he realized that his past self was not acceptable and therefore needed to be corrected. Many of these negative elements are still being worked on, of course. There are times in which he cannot stop himself from commenting on a specific matter with the typical sense of superiority he once wielded, and he still believes victory as being more important than anything else. Light still bothers him ever-so-slightly too as he much prefers the cover of darkness, and he still oh-so not at all fond of mercy. Despite this, he currently seeks to become a person that Kimiko may better appreciate in time despite the many differences they have had between one another. It will take time, but it will done, even if it will take him centuries of meditation for him to do so.
With that said, the man still possesses a strong opinion of Yume, better now known as Manzenfude. Though he has accepted her new position as the spirit of the black sword, he has done rather begrudgingly and primarily because Kimiko herself has decided to tolerate her presence. He does not wish for her slaying any longer, but he remains cautious of her and what she may plan for the near future. Perhaps she truly does not have anything in mind and really does wish to simply remain as she is now until the end times. However, in his eyes, that is not fact nor certainty, but rather simply a slim possibility. He will be sure to still remain prepared for the day she will attempt to take over Kimiko, even if that is bound to happen much, much later.
Zanzaifude, the white sword, is the first Zanpakuto that Kimiko has gained throughout her Shinigami career. Previously home to the spirit known as Shizukakane, it was then the weapon that she cherished the most between the two she owned. Nowadays, however, the blade houses the elderly one's replacement, and so Kimiko's favoritism has ended. In so doing, the blade now brandishes a new form. While sealed, it appears as a katana stripped of its guard resting in a white scabbard. This particular sheath appears to be made of aged wood unlike its predecessor, and it is marked by a single black dot reminiscent of the yang. When released, the blade takes a sharper, rougher look as it becomes a major container for the white "ink" and a minor container of the black "ink", which itself is contained not within the sword's very being, but rather in a small dot-shaped hole formed within the center of its blade. This hole is visible within the scabbard as well, as a landscape of mountains and forests drawn with black ink now surrounds its dot marking.
Shikai
"Endure, Zanzaifude!"
As a personification of the yin, the white sword is responsible for the empowerment of Kimiko through the act of balancing the light which is contained within a certain area. What is included in this light is namely colors edging towards brighter shades, and sounds that are to be considered as being high-pitched in nature. To be affected by Zanzaifude's effects, this light must be selectively considered by the Vizard for balancing, and must be contained within a malleable field that is generated by the blade around her person. It covers a maximal distance of 25 meters in diameter which can be decreased if necessary, follows Kimiko's every move, and is mainly identified by the way the world's light bends around and flows within her body as streams of white "ink". Four posts must pass in order for this balancing process to fully deplete the light of the elements chosen by Kimiko, after which these elements are left completely devoid of both brightness and any high-pitched noise they generated for as long as they remain in the field. After being removed from the field, the light which was removed from these elements is returned to them over the course of the next two posts.
For as long as the aforementioned balancing process is active, the light which flows within Kimiko's body grows. This growth is represented by a Light Gauge, which fills up at a pace of around 15% per post in areas that still contain light. If both it and Manzenfude's fields are active in an area, however, this growth will instead be increased to 20% per post in an attempt to properly achieve a balance of energy. The further the light of an area is redirected towards and balanced within Kimiko, the longer the blade becomes, expanding into a bright sheen of white "ink" almost akin to a void separate from this reality. The length of the blade is depicted as follows depending on how filled the Light Gauge is:
- 0-20%: 0.6m. No change in base size.
- 21-40%: 1m
- 41-60%: 1.5m
- 61-80%: 2m
- 81-99%: 2.5m
- 100%: 4m
The energy contained by the Light Gauge can also be used by Kimiko to perform techniques that cannot be achieved through normal means. These techniques are meant to be more so supportive in nature, as the light - beacon of life and representative of the world's order - ultimately wishes not for the other's death.
Zanpakuto Spirit
It is suffice to say that the death of Shizukakane has had a very profound impact on Kimiko. Though it was an inherently negative moment that anyone would have preferred to avoid, even Yume herself, no one could deny that some positives were able to be noted from his passing. For one, the pseudo-dependency to the old spirit that the Vizard once held is finally gone alongside her longing for a father figure, causing her to become a much more powerful individual than she ever was before. Without this burden, she is finally free to become the one true warrior that she has always been fated to become. Then, for two, the removal of Shizukakane from the white blade has allowed for both it and its darker counterpart to no longer act in spite of his presence, and instead act as their true selves in proper unison. Unsurprisingly, this has turned them both into stronger blades, both functionally and personally.
But this removal of the spirit had left the white blade emptied of its spirit. Indeed, without Shizukakane, all that remained was an empty Zanpakuto, something that could not really differentiate itself from a normal Asauchi. Kimiko, of course, did not wish for this to occur, and so after all was said and done with Yume, she consulted she and the one spirit that remained from their great conflict: Taishokukane. Having been present during the battle between the officer and her Inner Hollow, the silver shade acted then not as a warrior, but as an observer, mainly due to the unconventional ways which were undertaken to resolve it all. This moment of peace where he was not demanded to shed blood in a moment that he had awaited ever since his inception within the second Asauchi brought him confusion. He was bewildered then, and frankly, he is still somewhat taken aback by it today. Nevertheless, it was in this moment that he allowed himself to reflect upon the words Shizukakane had delivered to him, and to consider becoming something that was less so what he was at the time.
By the end of his pondering, the shade proposed that he become the successor to Shizukakane and that the Inner Hollow take his place within the black blade. It was not an easy decision to make, but he believed it to be sensical, for there was no doubt that the heart of Kimiko's opposite was darker than his in every single way. Both Kimiko and Yume made no objections to his suggestion, with the latter even going as far as to describe his descriptions of her as being quite amusing, and so the Vizard went on to make her decision. From then on, the silver shade known as Taishokukane was never again going to be referred to as such by Kimiko, her Inner Hollow, or anybody else for that matter. Instead, he was going to be recognized as Zanzaifude, the one whose light was able to remain whole during the battle against the dark. He approved this title hesitantly, yet eventually, and with that, he would show Kimiko how to use her true Bankai and have it rewrite his long lost forest into something new.
Nowadays, the spirit mostly spends his time admiring what populates the base of the Mountains Eternal. With Shizukakane gone and unable to showcase Kimiko's lighter side any longer, he now has taken this responsibility, and so represents Kimiko's grown ambitions and warrior spirit. Once a young man in appearance who appeared to be roughly around the woman's age, the many events that he has witnessed has caused him to gain experience and appear to visibly age. He now appears as a man in his early-to-mid thirties with small wrinkles and fine lines being present namely around his eyes and on his forehead, and his eyes appear to have been made sharper by time. His body has also slightly grown, though not by much, with his stature still being somewhat reminiscent of Shizukakane's. Though his coat too appeared to have aged alongside him, it now takes on a darker color on top of his pale skin, which itself appears to have become slightly more natural and less ghost-like. It is needless to say that these features have truly stripped him of his older title of silver shade.
The newfound experiences the spirit has gone through has greatly lessened his once-arrogant attitude. As he considered Shizukakane's hidden teachings and attempted to understand them as much as he possibly can, he realized that his past self was not acceptable and therefore needed to be corrected. Many of these negative elements are still being worked on, of course. There are times in which he cannot stop himself from commenting on a specific matter with the typical sense of superiority he once wielded, and he still believes victory as being more important than anything else. Light still bothers him ever-so-slightly too as he much prefers the cover of darkness, and he still oh-so not at all fond of mercy. Despite this, he currently seeks to become a person that Kimiko may better appreciate in time despite the many differences they have had between one another. It will take time, but it will done, even if it will take him centuries of meditation for him to do so.
With that said, the man still possesses a strong opinion of Yume, better now known as Manzenfude. Though he has accepted her new position as the spirit of the black sword, he has done rather begrudgingly and primarily because Kimiko herself has decided to tolerate her presence. He does not wish for her slaying any longer, but he remains cautious of her and what she may plan for the near future. Perhaps she truly does not have anything in mind and really does wish to simply remain as she is now until the end times. However, in his eyes, that is not fact nor certainty, but rather simply a slim possibility. He will be sure to still remain prepared for the day she will attempt to take over Kimiko, even if that is bound to happen much, much later.
{Manzenfude (漫然筆, "Wandering Brush")}
Manzenfude, the black sword, is the second Zanpakuto that Kimiko has gained throughout her Shinigami career. An anomaly in nature due to its conception from a second Asauchi by the same officer, it was the blade that the Vizard loathed between the two she owned as it once housed Taishokukane. With that said, now that Taishokukane has undergone his rebirth as Zanzaifude and has moved to the white sword, the blade now instead acts as the unconventional residence of her Inner Hollow turned "spirit". As such, much like its brighter brethren, the weapon currently also possesses a different appearance when compared to its earlier iteration. While sealed, it resembles katana with a missing guard much like Zanzaifude, and rests within a black scabbard. Unlike Zanzaifude's sheath, however, Manzenfude's appears to be composed of wet coral and is marked with a white dot reminiscent of the yin. When released, the blade takes on a more unorthodox look with a curvier blade and a wet hilt, though essentially becomes much like its sibling: a container for the black "ink" and a minor container of the white "ink", which itself is contained within a hole that is encrusted into the center of the blade and is visible within the scabbard. Great ocean waves of white appears to surround the hole, calm yet powerful, seemingly waiting the swallow the hole whole.
As a personification of the yang, the black sword is responsible for the empowerment of Kimiko through the act of balancing the dark which is contained within a certain area. What is included in this dark is namely colors edging towards more-tenebrous shades, and sounds that are to be considered as being low-pitched in nature. As to be expected, the way this balancing is achieved is very similar to how it is achieved by the sword's lighter brethren. To be affected by Manzaifude's effects, this dark must also be selectively considered by the Vizard for balancing, and it must be contained within a malleable field that is generated by the blade. It also follows Kimiko's every move, and its distance can be decreased if necessary. However, unlike Zanzaifude's field, this field covers a maximal distance of 30 meters in diameter, and is mainly identified by the way the world's darkness bends around and flows within her body as streams of black "ink". Three posts must pass in order for this balancing process to fully deplete the dark of the elements chosen by Kimiko, after which these elements are left completely devoid of both darkness and any low-pitched noise they generated for as long as they remain in the field. After being removed from the field, the dark which was removed from these elements is returned to them over the course of the next two posts.
For as long as the aforementioned balancing process is active, the dark which flows within Kimiko's body grows. This growth is represented by another delimiter: the Dark Gauge. Unlike the Light Gauge, the Dark Gauge fills up at a quicker pace of around 20% per post in areas that still contain darkness. The further the darkness of an area is redirected towards and balanced within Kimiko, the longer the blade becomes, expanding into an abyssal bolt of black "ink" almost akin to a void separate from this reality. The length of the blade is depicted as follows depending on how filled the Dark Gauge is:
The energy contained by the Dark Gauge can naturally also be used by Kimiko to perform techniques. These techniques, however, have a more sinister and aggressive stance behind their supportive ways, as the dark - harbinger of death and bringer of chaos - ultimately cares not for the other's life.
Shizukakane's death, while tragic, was inevitable. At the very least, that was what Yume had explained to Kimiko after they witnessed him crumble before their eyes. As an irregularity within the white blade and subsequently the Vizard's soul itself, his existence was finite and it was going to end the moment he would not be needed any longer. That was the cold hard truth behind his presence, and quite unfortunately, the officer needed to understand that, even if this understanding had to occur by her witnessing his decay and eventual demise from "old age". No one deserved that fate, not even what could only be summarized as a figment of one's imagination personified, and the Inner Hollow was not going to mock that right in front of her opposite. But there was something she noticed in Kimiko that caught her eye. Somehow, despite her great grief, the once-Captain stood unbroken. Somehow, her lovable pet remained strong. It was then that the trickster believed it best that they confront each other one last time. They would do so not with swords, but rather with what Shizukakane would have perhaps wished for them to settle it out: a game of shogi.
When this unconventional battle of wits ended with Kimiko's victory, the Inner Hollow realized that she had been outplayed, and that her opposite was stronger than her. At the very least, she was for the time being. Once, she had her doubts about her, but the witnessing of all that has occurred then followed by the officer's evolution was enough to convince her that she was the one true individual worthy of controlling this body. Considering this, the Inner Hollow decided to play a new game, and decided that she was going to play it straight by giving the controls to Kimiko. The decision was going to be hers to make, regardless of what Yume thought in the moment, and that was fine: she wanted to experience something new, to see how far the officer could go until she no longer could. In short, it was one final evaluation. Against all odds, however, the Shinigami did something that the Inner Hollow never thought she would have in her lifetime. Somehow, she found the strength to accept her, and decided that she was going to stay.
Initially, the opposite believed this to be a joke, and so she laughed. After all these years of endless torture and misery, her pet was going to accept her? Just like that? That was hilarious. But after she laughed, she would soon come to realize that Kimiko was telling the truth. The woman had no intention of killing her and confine her to the deepest parts her soul contained. Instead, she wished to cooperate with her, and to allow each other to become the most powerful weapon for the Soul Society as one. Upon hearing this, Yume was at first as confused as the observing Taishokukane, but eventually, she laughed even harder. That wasn't just hilarious. At that point, this was perhaps one of the funniest, most awesome things she had heard in a while. She couldn't mock this. No, not at all. She could only admire it and the perseverance that Kimiko required in order to speak of such things so powerfully. There was truly not a better pet in this world than this little girl.
The three of them - she, Kimiko, and Taishokukane - would then go on to speak of what would be done now that that decision had been made, and eventually, a conclusion would be reached. Taishokukane would become Shizukakane's successor within the white blade, while she would instead become a spirit of her own that would remain within the black blade. No more would she be solely an Inner Hollow; now, she was going to be a Zanpakuto spirit, as she should have been all along. But to become this spirit, she needed a name. Taishokukane was reborn as Zanzaifude, but she too needed a rebirth of sort, something that would mark her new purpose from now on. Eventually, a name would be granted to her: Manzenfude, the one whose darkness shall wander forever by the light's side. She found the name to be strange at first, especially given that she liked the previous name she had found for herself. However, much like Zanzaifude, she would eventually accept it, and as a reward for Kimiko's own acceptance of her existence, she would grant her access to the Mask.
And so, this Inner Hollow - or rather, this pseudo-Zanpakuto spirit - now roams the shallow ocean of the Restless Stars. Being Kimiko's opposite, she represents the darkest side of the warrior, or rather the things that she prefers to hide from the world. She is her hidden playfulness, her liking for games, her charm and joviality combined into a being of spiritual flesh and bone. Physically, she has not changed very much even with her rebirth. She still appears as a more mature version of the Kimiko that would have been should she had not died on that faithful day in the Living World. Her student blouse is still just as assorted as it ever has been, and so are her office trousers, glasses, and ponytail. Not even her gaze as changed, with it being still as powerful, yet as mischievous as ever. Or perhaps it has changed, if not at least minimally? Perhaps it has just become a bit softer? It is hard to say... though then again, understanding this being has never been a simple task.
Though she has lost her appetite for the game she once played with Kimiko back when she acted solely as her Inner Hollow, the being still very much acts whimsically and independently. She is one who lives to tease and to play, often still very much being cruel whenever she wishes herself to be. She will be unfair, unjust, and unreasonable whenever the chance is there for her to take. In a way, her actions are feline in nature, predatory, frightful. Yet she now acts in such a way with much more restraint than before. Despite being still very passionate about Kimiko's strength due to their shared survival, she no longer attempts to seek her within her dreams during the night, and she does not want to harm her any longer; after all, there is nothing to be gained from it all anymore. She does not even attempt to constantly berate Kimiko whenever she can. However, she will ask her to play games with her. Oddly enough, she does seem to have a lot of ideas for various board games as of late.
She is very much aware that Zanzaifude still hates her to a degree. The two of them have started their relationship on the wrong foot, and it has clearly tarnished the spirit's view of the Inner Hollow. With that said, Manzenfude does not wish for them to forever be at odds against one another, and so she at times goes to visit him within the Mountains Eternal. She converses with him, sometimes spars with him, and even brings him to play games with her from time to time. Of course, the man's acceptance and willingness are all begrudging and hesitant, but there is nothing they can do about it. The sooner they all learn to live with one another, the better. Isn't that right? At the very least, she thinks it is, and for the sake of her pet, she shall continue to think of it as such until time immemorial.
Well, until she gets bored once again, that is.
Manzenfude, the black sword, is the second Zanpakuto that Kimiko has gained throughout her Shinigami career. An anomaly in nature due to its conception from a second Asauchi by the same officer, it was the blade that the Vizard loathed between the two she owned as it once housed Taishokukane. With that said, now that Taishokukane has undergone his rebirth as Zanzaifude and has moved to the white sword, the blade now instead acts as the unconventional residence of her Inner Hollow turned "spirit". As such, much like its brighter brethren, the weapon currently also possesses a different appearance when compared to its earlier iteration. While sealed, it resembles katana with a missing guard much like Zanzaifude, and rests within a black scabbard. Unlike Zanzaifude's sheath, however, Manzenfude's appears to be composed of wet coral and is marked with a white dot reminiscent of the yin. When released, the blade takes on a more unorthodox look with a curvier blade and a wet hilt, though essentially becomes much like its sibling: a container for the black "ink" and a minor container of the white "ink", which itself is contained within a hole that is encrusted into the center of the blade and is visible within the scabbard. Great ocean waves of white appears to surround the hole, calm yet powerful, seemingly waiting the swallow the hole whole.
Shikai
"Roam, Manzenfude!"
As a personification of the yang, the black sword is responsible for the empowerment of Kimiko through the act of balancing the dark which is contained within a certain area. What is included in this dark is namely colors edging towards more-tenebrous shades, and sounds that are to be considered as being low-pitched in nature. As to be expected, the way this balancing is achieved is very similar to how it is achieved by the sword's lighter brethren. To be affected by Manzaifude's effects, this dark must also be selectively considered by the Vizard for balancing, and it must be contained within a malleable field that is generated by the blade. It also follows Kimiko's every move, and its distance can be decreased if necessary. However, unlike Zanzaifude's field, this field covers a maximal distance of 30 meters in diameter, and is mainly identified by the way the world's darkness bends around and flows within her body as streams of black "ink". Three posts must pass in order for this balancing process to fully deplete the dark of the elements chosen by Kimiko, after which these elements are left completely devoid of both darkness and any low-pitched noise they generated for as long as they remain in the field. After being removed from the field, the dark which was removed from these elements is returned to them over the course of the next two posts.
For as long as the aforementioned balancing process is active, the dark which flows within Kimiko's body grows. This growth is represented by another delimiter: the Dark Gauge. Unlike the Light Gauge, the Dark Gauge fills up at a quicker pace of around 20% per post in areas that still contain darkness. The further the darkness of an area is redirected towards and balanced within Kimiko, the longer the blade becomes, expanding into an abyssal bolt of black "ink" almost akin to a void separate from this reality. The length of the blade is depicted as follows depending on how filled the Dark Gauge is:
- 0-20%: 1m. No change in base size.
- 21-40%: 1.5m
- 41-60%: 2m
- 61-80%: 2.5m
- 81-99%: 3m
- 100%: 5m
The energy contained by the Dark Gauge can naturally also be used by Kimiko to perform techniques. These techniques, however, have a more sinister and aggressive stance behind their supportive ways, as the dark - harbinger of death and bringer of chaos - ultimately cares not for the other's life.
Zanpakuto Spirit
Shizukakane's death, while tragic, was inevitable. At the very least, that was what Yume had explained to Kimiko after they witnessed him crumble before their eyes. As an irregularity within the white blade and subsequently the Vizard's soul itself, his existence was finite and it was going to end the moment he would not be needed any longer. That was the cold hard truth behind his presence, and quite unfortunately, the officer needed to understand that, even if this understanding had to occur by her witnessing his decay and eventual demise from "old age". No one deserved that fate, not even what could only be summarized as a figment of one's imagination personified, and the Inner Hollow was not going to mock that right in front of her opposite. But there was something she noticed in Kimiko that caught her eye. Somehow, despite her great grief, the once-Captain stood unbroken. Somehow, her lovable pet remained strong. It was then that the trickster believed it best that they confront each other one last time. They would do so not with swords, but rather with what Shizukakane would have perhaps wished for them to settle it out: a game of shogi.
When this unconventional battle of wits ended with Kimiko's victory, the Inner Hollow realized that she had been outplayed, and that her opposite was stronger than her. At the very least, she was for the time being. Once, she had her doubts about her, but the witnessing of all that has occurred then followed by the officer's evolution was enough to convince her that she was the one true individual worthy of controlling this body. Considering this, the Inner Hollow decided to play a new game, and decided that she was going to play it straight by giving the controls to Kimiko. The decision was going to be hers to make, regardless of what Yume thought in the moment, and that was fine: she wanted to experience something new, to see how far the officer could go until she no longer could. In short, it was one final evaluation. Against all odds, however, the Shinigami did something that the Inner Hollow never thought she would have in her lifetime. Somehow, she found the strength to accept her, and decided that she was going to stay.
Initially, the opposite believed this to be a joke, and so she laughed. After all these years of endless torture and misery, her pet was going to accept her? Just like that? That was hilarious. But after she laughed, she would soon come to realize that Kimiko was telling the truth. The woman had no intention of killing her and confine her to the deepest parts her soul contained. Instead, she wished to cooperate with her, and to allow each other to become the most powerful weapon for the Soul Society as one. Upon hearing this, Yume was at first as confused as the observing Taishokukane, but eventually, she laughed even harder. That wasn't just hilarious. At that point, this was perhaps one of the funniest, most awesome things she had heard in a while. She couldn't mock this. No, not at all. She could only admire it and the perseverance that Kimiko required in order to speak of such things so powerfully. There was truly not a better pet in this world than this little girl.
The three of them - she, Kimiko, and Taishokukane - would then go on to speak of what would be done now that that decision had been made, and eventually, a conclusion would be reached. Taishokukane would become Shizukakane's successor within the white blade, while she would instead become a spirit of her own that would remain within the black blade. No more would she be solely an Inner Hollow; now, she was going to be a Zanpakuto spirit, as she should have been all along. But to become this spirit, she needed a name. Taishokukane was reborn as Zanzaifude, but she too needed a rebirth of sort, something that would mark her new purpose from now on. Eventually, a name would be granted to her: Manzenfude, the one whose darkness shall wander forever by the light's side. She found the name to be strange at first, especially given that she liked the previous name she had found for herself. However, much like Zanzaifude, she would eventually accept it, and as a reward for Kimiko's own acceptance of her existence, she would grant her access to the Mask.
And so, this Inner Hollow - or rather, this pseudo-Zanpakuto spirit - now roams the shallow ocean of the Restless Stars. Being Kimiko's opposite, she represents the darkest side of the warrior, or rather the things that she prefers to hide from the world. She is her hidden playfulness, her liking for games, her charm and joviality combined into a being of spiritual flesh and bone. Physically, she has not changed very much even with her rebirth. She still appears as a more mature version of the Kimiko that would have been should she had not died on that faithful day in the Living World. Her student blouse is still just as assorted as it ever has been, and so are her office trousers, glasses, and ponytail. Not even her gaze as changed, with it being still as powerful, yet as mischievous as ever. Or perhaps it has changed, if not at least minimally? Perhaps it has just become a bit softer? It is hard to say... though then again, understanding this being has never been a simple task.
Though she has lost her appetite for the game she once played with Kimiko back when she acted solely as her Inner Hollow, the being still very much acts whimsically and independently. She is one who lives to tease and to play, often still very much being cruel whenever she wishes herself to be. She will be unfair, unjust, and unreasonable whenever the chance is there for her to take. In a way, her actions are feline in nature, predatory, frightful. Yet she now acts in such a way with much more restraint than before. Despite being still very passionate about Kimiko's strength due to their shared survival, she no longer attempts to seek her within her dreams during the night, and she does not want to harm her any longer; after all, there is nothing to be gained from it all anymore. She does not even attempt to constantly berate Kimiko whenever she can. However, she will ask her to play games with her. Oddly enough, she does seem to have a lot of ideas for various board games as of late.
She is very much aware that Zanzaifude still hates her to a degree. The two of them have started their relationship on the wrong foot, and it has clearly tarnished the spirit's view of the Inner Hollow. With that said, Manzenfude does not wish for them to forever be at odds against one another, and so she at times goes to visit him within the Mountains Eternal. She converses with him, sometimes spars with him, and even brings him to play games with her from time to time. Of course, the man's acceptance and willingness are all begrudging and hesitant, but there is nothing they can do about it. The sooner they all learn to live with one another, the better. Isn't that right? At the very least, she thinks it is, and for the sake of her pet, she shall continue to think of it as such until time immemorial.
Well, until she gets bored once again, that is.
{Saibankan no Fude: Yamanote (裁判官 の 筆 : やまの手, "Judge's Brush: Hand of Yama")}
The matter of Bankai has always been a touchy subject for Kimiko. There were many reasons behind why she hated speaking of it, but the greatest of them all was that she simply hated it. She hated its power, its strength, and what it was meant to be, and for all intents and purposes, she would have preferred to never have learned how to use it. In other words, it was a total failure, and she wished that it had never been born. However, shortly after Yume's defeat, she learned that it was so not because it was meant to be as such, but rather because it was a fusion between a fabricated light and an uncooperative dark. For as long as Shizukakane remained, she was to forever be stuck with Tsūkakane, for you cannot combine an anomaly with a spirit. Now that the anomaly that was Shizukakane has been removed, the white sword and the black sword can now act in proper unison. They are truly life and death, order and chaos, peace and destruction.
Considering this, what happens now when these two fundamentals are combined? One may assume that it would simply create another Tsūkakane, nothing more than a second abomination. But now, as the blades reach ultimate balance, they can properly achieve what could not be done before. No more would they act selfishly, no more would they behave in spite of Kimiko's existence. From this moment onward, they shall act in service to Kimiko proper, and make her the true avatar of balance she was always meant to be. In so doing, when the two blades are combined, they no longer attempt to destroy everything in their path as an ultimate error. Instead, the world begins to expel white and black "ink" all around the Vizard, and sends it towards her, causing her to be engulfed by the energy. As she becomes the epicenter of the yin and yang, the surge of "ink" eventually ceases to be, and by then, all that remains is a being carrying the duties of the celestial judge: the Hand of Yama.
Saibankan no Fude: Yamanote is what the Vizard's Bankai should have been all along. It is the ultimate combination of the white sword and the black sword, the true union of a being of light (yang) and a creature of dark (yin), and the power that is generated from their merging is all bestowed to Kimiko in a flow of immense spiritual energy. As a result of this, the woman's appearance changes to better suit her duty as an avatar of equilibrium. Her hair grows longer, enough so that it begins reaching the back of her knees, and their color takes on a predominantly white tone with black highlights on the underside. Meanwhile, her clothes change to take on a look reminiscent of the warring ages of Japan, with a mixture of both armor and cloth designed for unrivaled offense against all odds. The only things that are seemingly devoid of modification are her eyes which retain their original red, though given the tinctures of her new form... perhaps they did not require any changes.
For as long as she remains in this form, the Hand of Yama carries the blade of balance. At a glance, it appears as an indistinct streak of black and white "ink" in the vague shape of a sword. It remains steady as a perfect flow of controlled spiritual energy, undisturbed by even the greatest violence. Somehow, despite it being made of what could only be assumed to be non-corporeal material, Kimiko is able to hold it with ease and even return it to a sheath that she can manifest within her hand at any given time, thus allowing her to still use Iaijutsu despite having no physical scabbard. However, the weapon is otherwise unable to be held by even those who are most endowed with spiritual power for more than a few seconds, for their fingers will then find themselves simply passing through it. This renders it only connected to the Vizard proper, which is made apparent from the fact that she can regenerate the sword at any time within the palm of her hand whenever it is somehow lost.
Much like Zanzaifude and Manzenfude on their own, Saibankan no Fude generates a malleable field around Kimiko that follows her every move. This field can cover a maximal distance of 50m of diameter, and it is made noticeable to others by the way the world appears to bend around her as an "inky" version of itself until the paths of all that composes it - its form, shape, color, noise, etc - are fully redirected within Kimiko, leaving nothing behind but an empty washi beige. This process is accomplished over the course of two posts to specific entities that the Vizard selects, though what they are is not entirely absorbed by Kimiko or Saibankan no Fude unless she specifically chooses to have it do so. No more shall a weapon of hers consume indiscriminately. She is not a Hollow, and in so doing, she shall not allow something as personal as a Zanpakuto to represent her as such. Instead, it shall only consume selectively and passionately, as any weapon of balance should.
While active, Saibankan no Fude possesses its own gauge referred to as the Harmony Gauge. This gauge grows quicker than the Light Gauge and the Dark Gauge at a pace of 35% per post, but it also delimits how longer Saibankan no Fude can become, as can be observed with the numbers below:
Much like these other gauges, percentages of the Harmony Gauge can be exchanged for greater power, though the main way this power is acquired could be considered as being quite unorthodox. At any given moment, the Hand of Yama may unshackle herself from perfect equilibrium to instead completely dedicate her being to either the light or the dark. This process is referred to by Kimiko as Nagare (流れ, "Flow"), which mainly revolves around either the complete purification of the black and white "ink" surrounding her being until all that remains is a white sheen, or its complete corruption until what is left is only but a dark abyss. Though the way this process is described may make it appear as a harmful procedure that will only do more harm than good, the Hand of Yama nevertheless remains in control throughout it, which allows her to manifest herself and her powers through two different shapes. These shapes are respectively the Sun and the Moon.
As the Sun, Kimiko appears as a devil of white. Her hair becomes a long mane of bright "ink" that appears to be drawn on the spot by an invisible painter, causing it to leave trails behind its wake that eventually dissipates into nothingness. The cloth that she adorned has been replaced by more armor, causing her to appear as a warrior of times further forgotten by the people of Japan, and with this new abundance of spiritual steel is also formed horns at the top of her forehead, the both of which are tall and formed from the "ink". The horns may physically only be for show, seeing as they are not at all corporeal and therefore could not harm even the weakest of flies. However, in Kimiko's eyes, they are symbolic to her wish to become the devil at the service of the Soul Society, its ultimate weapon that shall survive every attack in order to return it all to the sender with the greatest might. As such, she is thankful that her Bankai showcases them to the world, even if they are only delimited to this particular form.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, as the Moon, she instead appears as what could be considered as a more modern devil of darkness. Her head is suddenly covered by the hat of a military officer as her hair becomes a sprawl of black "ink" which floats aimlessly around her being, as though it itself is submerged in deep waters. Her armor is completely stripped away from her person, leaving behind only but the cloth of what appears to be an exaggerated rendition of an outfit that would typically be worn by a long-standing admiral of the Japanese's Imperial Navy during the likes of World War II and slightly onward. This, at first, appears to be a rather unfitting pick, and even Kimiko believed it to be a rather strange appearance for her to take once she first manifested herself as such. However, she eventually began to express it as a personification of her wish to eliminate all who stands against the Soul Society as powerfully and as mercilessly as possible, even if it may one day lead her to her demise.
For as long as Kimiko remains as the Sun or the Moon, she limits herself to the use of either Zanzaifude or Manzenfude respectively. However, this limitation allows the Vizard to use a more powerful version of either of the blades that possesses more potent techniques in exchange for percentages of the Discord Gauge, a substitute for the Light Gauge or the Dark Gauge. This replacement grows at a pace of 25% per post, and mainly does so by boosting the effectiveness of the other gauges' main source of energy. More explicitly, a heightened Zanzaifude redirects light within Kimiko to such a degree that it would leave behind only darkness and low-pitched noise in the area that it has affected in the matter of 4 posts, while a heightened Manzenfude instead leaves only light and high-pitched noise in the area after the same period of time has passed.
Considering this, what happens now when these two fundamentals are combined? One may assume that it would simply create another Tsūkakane, nothing more than a second abomination. But now, as the blades reach ultimate balance, they can properly achieve what could not be done before. No more would they act selfishly, no more would they behave in spite of Kimiko's existence. From this moment onward, they shall act in service to Kimiko proper, and make her the true avatar of balance she was always meant to be. In so doing, when the two blades are combined, they no longer attempt to destroy everything in their path as an ultimate error. Instead, the world begins to expel white and black "ink" all around the Vizard, and sends it towards her, causing her to be engulfed by the energy. As she becomes the epicenter of the yin and yang, the surge of "ink" eventually ceases to be, and by then, all that remains is a being carrying the duties of the celestial judge: the Hand of Yama.
Saibankan no Fude: Yamanote is what the Vizard's Bankai should have been all along. It is the ultimate combination of the white sword and the black sword, the true union of a being of light (yang) and a creature of dark (yin), and the power that is generated from their merging is all bestowed to Kimiko in a flow of immense spiritual energy. As a result of this, the woman's appearance changes to better suit her duty as an avatar of equilibrium. Her hair grows longer, enough so that it begins reaching the back of her knees, and their color takes on a predominantly white tone with black highlights on the underside. Meanwhile, her clothes change to take on a look reminiscent of the warring ages of Japan, with a mixture of both armor and cloth designed for unrivaled offense against all odds. The only things that are seemingly devoid of modification are her eyes which retain their original red, though given the tinctures of her new form... perhaps they did not require any changes.
For as long as she remains in this form, the Hand of Yama carries the blade of balance. At a glance, it appears as an indistinct streak of black and white "ink" in the vague shape of a sword. It remains steady as a perfect flow of controlled spiritual energy, undisturbed by even the greatest violence. Somehow, despite it being made of what could only be assumed to be non-corporeal material, Kimiko is able to hold it with ease and even return it to a sheath that she can manifest within her hand at any given time, thus allowing her to still use Iaijutsu despite having no physical scabbard. However, the weapon is otherwise unable to be held by even those who are most endowed with spiritual power for more than a few seconds, for their fingers will then find themselves simply passing through it. This renders it only connected to the Vizard proper, which is made apparent from the fact that she can regenerate the sword at any time within the palm of her hand whenever it is somehow lost.
Much like Zanzaifude and Manzenfude on their own, Saibankan no Fude generates a malleable field around Kimiko that follows her every move. This field can cover a maximal distance of 50m of diameter, and it is made noticeable to others by the way the world appears to bend around her as an "inky" version of itself until the paths of all that composes it - its form, shape, color, noise, etc - are fully redirected within Kimiko, leaving nothing behind but an empty washi beige. This process is accomplished over the course of two posts to specific entities that the Vizard selects, though what they are is not entirely absorbed by Kimiko or Saibankan no Fude unless she specifically chooses to have it do so. No more shall a weapon of hers consume indiscriminately. She is not a Hollow, and in so doing, she shall not allow something as personal as a Zanpakuto to represent her as such. Instead, it shall only consume selectively and passionately, as any weapon of balance should.
While active, Saibankan no Fude possesses its own gauge referred to as the Harmony Gauge. This gauge grows quicker than the Light Gauge and the Dark Gauge at a pace of 35% per post, but it also delimits how longer Saibankan no Fude can become, as can be observed with the numbers below:
- 0-20%: 2m. No change in base size.
- 21-40%: 3m
- 41-60%: 4m
- 61-80%: 5m
- 81-99%: 6m
- 100%: 8m
Much like these other gauges, percentages of the Harmony Gauge can be exchanged for greater power, though the main way this power is acquired could be considered as being quite unorthodox. At any given moment, the Hand of Yama may unshackle herself from perfect equilibrium to instead completely dedicate her being to either the light or the dark. This process is referred to by Kimiko as Nagare (流れ, "Flow"), which mainly revolves around either the complete purification of the black and white "ink" surrounding her being until all that remains is a white sheen, or its complete corruption until what is left is only but a dark abyss. Though the way this process is described may make it appear as a harmful procedure that will only do more harm than good, the Hand of Yama nevertheless remains in control throughout it, which allows her to manifest herself and her powers through two different shapes. These shapes are respectively the Sun and the Moon.
As the Sun, Kimiko appears as a devil of white. Her hair becomes a long mane of bright "ink" that appears to be drawn on the spot by an invisible painter, causing it to leave trails behind its wake that eventually dissipates into nothingness. The cloth that she adorned has been replaced by more armor, causing her to appear as a warrior of times further forgotten by the people of Japan, and with this new abundance of spiritual steel is also formed horns at the top of her forehead, the both of which are tall and formed from the "ink". The horns may physically only be for show, seeing as they are not at all corporeal and therefore could not harm even the weakest of flies. However, in Kimiko's eyes, they are symbolic to her wish to become the devil at the service of the Soul Society, its ultimate weapon that shall survive every attack in order to return it all to the sender with the greatest might. As such, she is thankful that her Bankai showcases them to the world, even if they are only delimited to this particular form.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, as the Moon, she instead appears as what could be considered as a more modern devil of darkness. Her head is suddenly covered by the hat of a military officer as her hair becomes a sprawl of black "ink" which floats aimlessly around her being, as though it itself is submerged in deep waters. Her armor is completely stripped away from her person, leaving behind only but the cloth of what appears to be an exaggerated rendition of an outfit that would typically be worn by a long-standing admiral of the Japanese's Imperial Navy during the likes of World War II and slightly onward. This, at first, appears to be a rather unfitting pick, and even Kimiko believed it to be a rather strange appearance for her to take once she first manifested herself as such. However, she eventually began to express it as a personification of her wish to eliminate all who stands against the Soul Society as powerfully and as mercilessly as possible, even if it may one day lead her to her demise.
For as long as Kimiko remains as the Sun or the Moon, she limits herself to the use of either Zanzaifude or Manzenfude respectively. However, this limitation allows the Vizard to use a more powerful version of either of the blades that possesses more potent techniques in exchange for percentages of the Discord Gauge, a substitute for the Light Gauge or the Dark Gauge. This replacement grows at a pace of 25% per post, and mainly does so by boosting the effectiveness of the other gauges' main source of energy. More explicitly, a heightened Zanzaifude redirects light within Kimiko to such a degree that it would leave behind only darkness and low-pitched noise in the area that it has affected in the matter of 4 posts, while a heightened Manzenfude instead leaves only light and high-pitched noise in the area after the same period of time has passed.
[ N E W I N N E R W O R L D ]
Kimiko's Inner World has experienced many events over the course of its existence. For years, the unruly climate of the Fields of Tranquility and the deafening noise of the Fading Forest made for both a serene and challenging environment for the Shinigami officer to experience, and in their disconnected existence, they represented what was ultimately a separation between what Kimiko believed she should be and what she really was meant to be all along. Eventually, and perhaps ironically, Yume's influence on these two areas would bring an end to this separation as they found themselves both drowned in a sea of endless white. They were immediately left destroyed, with only but the ruins below the misty waves proving that they once stood where they had fallen.
Upon Yume's defeat, however, Kimiko herself saw a need for this to change. She enjoyed her Inner World and did not appreciate what the Inner Hollow had done to it, even if she understood her reasons behind her actions. However, she also believed that it could not be returned to what it once was. The previous world was, after all, not perfect. Its two main regions were representations of her past self and not what she was now. As such, after Zanzaifude the successor and Manzenfude the reborn granted Kimiko access to what would become her truest Bankai, the Vizard became the Hand of Yama and erased all which once stood within the Inner World. The white sea was eliminated, but so were the great trees of the forest which protruded from the misty waves and whatever remained of the fields below. All would be returned to a blank washi-beige state where both life and death remained indistinct. Then, once all that was once existent became non-existent, she raised her blade and constructed a new Inner World.
From this event was born what can now be reached within the deepest part of Kimiko's soul. These three areas - the first two being homes to the spirits within her blades - are all interconnected between one another and can be accessed at any given moment either by moving upward or downward, or by activating her Bankai. Their appearances can also change depending on either the spirits' or Kimiko's emotional state.
Upon Yume's defeat, however, Kimiko herself saw a need for this to change. She enjoyed her Inner World and did not appreciate what the Inner Hollow had done to it, even if she understood her reasons behind her actions. However, she also believed that it could not be returned to what it once was. The previous world was, after all, not perfect. Its two main regions were representations of her past self and not what she was now. As such, after Zanzaifude the successor and Manzenfude the reborn granted Kimiko access to what would become her truest Bankai, the Vizard became the Hand of Yama and erased all which once stood within the Inner World. The white sea was eliminated, but so were the great trees of the forest which protruded from the misty waves and whatever remained of the fields below. All would be returned to a blank washi-beige state where both life and death remained indistinct. Then, once all that was once existent became non-existent, she raised her blade and constructed a new Inner World.
From this event was born what can now be reached within the deepest part of Kimiko's soul. These three areas - the first two being homes to the spirits within her blades - are all interconnected between one another and can be accessed at any given moment either by moving upward or downward, or by activating her Bankai. Their appearances can also change depending on either the spirits' or Kimiko's emotional state.
{The Mountains Eternal}
The origin of Kimiko's new Inner World - or rather what was first reconstructed upon her erasure of the old - lies at its very bottom. There, should one somehow find themselves wandering aimlessly in this personal realm, they will find what could only be described as a paradise. Functionally, it is where Zanzaifude resides. Sakura trees grow innocently on top of solid grounds beside a lake, and surrounding them all are rocky walls stretching high above the ground. Together, they coexist peacefully, with the many sounds of nature flowing by the ears of all who stand within it, allowing for endless meditation and conversation, yet also relaxation. Standing above this vibrant collection of natural elements are the Mountains Eternal, immense enclaves of snowy rock that appear to be so tall that they touch the sky.
Weather within this particular space of the Inner World is to be considered as being quite comfortable much like how it once was within the Fields of Tranquility. The wind is calm and cool, and the skies above are vibrant yet also subdued by clouds, allowing for both stimulating and relaxing experiences if need be. The temperature is also surprisingly constant even at the highest summit of the Mountains Eternal, with it being situated around twenty to twenty-five degrees Celsius. Depending on Kimiko's or Zanzaifude's mood, however, these elements can find themselves changing. Joy brings about the presence of a brighter sun alongside tranquiler gusts, while sadness summons clouds and then rain. These rains are then accentuated by frustration, and turned into a violent storm by anger.
As Shizukakane's successor, Zanzaifude has made it his mission to remain in this space to better understand what the older spirit once attempted to inadvertently teach him despite their differences. As such, he can often be found sitting near the lake's shores, awaiting Kimiko's arrival. Though he was once merely sticking to short conversations which could barely be referred to as such, his mission and witnessing of the Vizard's newfound strength has made him more receptive to her and more communicative. At times, he will invite her to the summit of the Mountains Eternal. At its very top stands a single table which supports two cups of tea, a teapot, and two shogi boards, with one of the two being designed for sannin shōgi. Over there, they play, often welcoming a third player despite Zanzaifude's begrudging attitude towards said player.
The origin of Kimiko's new Inner World - or rather what was first reconstructed upon her erasure of the old - lies at its very bottom. There, should one somehow find themselves wandering aimlessly in this personal realm, they will find what could only be described as a paradise. Functionally, it is where Zanzaifude resides. Sakura trees grow innocently on top of solid grounds beside a lake, and surrounding them all are rocky walls stretching high above the ground. Together, they coexist peacefully, with the many sounds of nature flowing by the ears of all who stand within it, allowing for endless meditation and conversation, yet also relaxation. Standing above this vibrant collection of natural elements are the Mountains Eternal, immense enclaves of snowy rock that appear to be so tall that they touch the sky.
Weather within this particular space of the Inner World is to be considered as being quite comfortable much like how it once was within the Fields of Tranquility. The wind is calm and cool, and the skies above are vibrant yet also subdued by clouds, allowing for both stimulating and relaxing experiences if need be. The temperature is also surprisingly constant even at the highest summit of the Mountains Eternal, with it being situated around twenty to twenty-five degrees Celsius. Depending on Kimiko's or Zanzaifude's mood, however, these elements can find themselves changing. Joy brings about the presence of a brighter sun alongside tranquiler gusts, while sadness summons clouds and then rain. These rains are then accentuated by frustration, and turned into a violent storm by anger.
As Shizukakane's successor, Zanzaifude has made it his mission to remain in this space to better understand what the older spirit once attempted to inadvertently teach him despite their differences. As such, he can often be found sitting near the lake's shores, awaiting Kimiko's arrival. Though he was once merely sticking to short conversations which could barely be referred to as such, his mission and witnessing of the Vizard's newfound strength has made him more receptive to her and more communicative. At times, he will invite her to the summit of the Mountains Eternal. At its very top stands a single table which supports two cups of tea, a teapot, and two shogi boards, with one of the two being designed for sannin shōgi. Over there, they play, often welcoming a third player despite Zanzaifude's begrudging attitude towards said player.
{The Restless Stars}
Above the Mountains Eternal, the sky remains, stretching far and wide across the endless horizon. At a first glance, one may consider it to be located far above. This is to be expected; after all, it is abnormal for a sky to be located close to the ground, even if the science related to it cannot quite be applied to something as mystical as one's Inner World. However, should a hand be raised upward towards this particular sky, they will soon begin to realize that it is in fact located far closer to the summit than it appears to be. It is not a solid thing such as the ceiling of a room, but it is also not quite a true sky, almost as if it was a mist whose purpose is to hide what is located over it. With a light push, the hand reach through this sky and grab onto what appears to be a solid surface. Then, following an upward pull, Manzenfude's residence may then be accessed.
What Kimiko personally refers to as the Restless Stars is the second thing that she has sought to create after the erasure of the old. It is, in hindsight, an infinite azure, an ocean of transparent waters set underneath a truer, more definite sky. Fortunately, the ocean is not as deep as one may believe as it is actually quite shallow. One can simply stand on it without any difficulties whatsoever, safe for a wet sensation underneath their feet. Although much of these waters reflect the skies above, a section of it instead allow one to perceive the Mountains Eternal below. Strangely, this section can almost be accessed from anywhere within this "region", almost as if it is meant to always be available if need be. There, the visitor of this area can decide to exit it by plunging into the waters and landing on the aforementioned summit.
It would be generous to consider the endless sprawl of water as being, well, anything but empty. There is not much here beside the shallow ocean and the skies above, not even a fair bit of wind or temperatures that differ from the ones showcased by the other main area of the Inner World. However, though this emptiness can be somewhat daunting at first, it eventually becomes a place where one can simply wander aimlessly and admire the view. This is accentuated by the way the sky changes depending on Kimiko's or Manzenfude's mood, displaying various times of day. Happiness brings about morning's serenity or starry night skies, while sadness instead causes the sky to darken and anger reddens it. Oddly enough, though, unlike the Mountains Eternal, the time of day can change regardless of Manzenfude's mood, as she can personally change it to whatever she pleases.
The being once known as Yume remains in this space as an eternal wanderer. She understands that her presence here and the fact that she was allotted her very own area within Kimiko's Inner World was somewhat of an unique predicament not often associated to Inner Hollows. Usually, after all, Inner Hollows tend to be simply driven away by true Vizards or even imprisoned, not accepted in such a way. Even so, she understands the officer's acceptance as what it is, and so she has set herself out to enjoy it for as long as she possibly can. In so doing, the opposite wanders eternally, admiring the sky seemingly forever more. That is, until Kimiko either joins her in this space to converse or train with her, or she simply grows bored. When the latter conclusion occurs, she tends to visit the Mountains Eternal to visit Zanzaifude, even if her presence often tends to bother him.
Above the Mountains Eternal, the sky remains, stretching far and wide across the endless horizon. At a first glance, one may consider it to be located far above. This is to be expected; after all, it is abnormal for a sky to be located close to the ground, even if the science related to it cannot quite be applied to something as mystical as one's Inner World. However, should a hand be raised upward towards this particular sky, they will soon begin to realize that it is in fact located far closer to the summit than it appears to be. It is not a solid thing such as the ceiling of a room, but it is also not quite a true sky, almost as if it was a mist whose purpose is to hide what is located over it. With a light push, the hand reach through this sky and grab onto what appears to be a solid surface. Then, following an upward pull, Manzenfude's residence may then be accessed.
What Kimiko personally refers to as the Restless Stars is the second thing that she has sought to create after the erasure of the old. It is, in hindsight, an infinite azure, an ocean of transparent waters set underneath a truer, more definite sky. Fortunately, the ocean is not as deep as one may believe as it is actually quite shallow. One can simply stand on it without any difficulties whatsoever, safe for a wet sensation underneath their feet. Although much of these waters reflect the skies above, a section of it instead allow one to perceive the Mountains Eternal below. Strangely, this section can almost be accessed from anywhere within this "region", almost as if it is meant to always be available if need be. There, the visitor of this area can decide to exit it by plunging into the waters and landing on the aforementioned summit.
It would be generous to consider the endless sprawl of water as being, well, anything but empty. There is not much here beside the shallow ocean and the skies above, not even a fair bit of wind or temperatures that differ from the ones showcased by the other main area of the Inner World. However, though this emptiness can be somewhat daunting at first, it eventually becomes a place where one can simply wander aimlessly and admire the view. This is accentuated by the way the sky changes depending on Kimiko's or Manzenfude's mood, displaying various times of day. Happiness brings about morning's serenity or starry night skies, while sadness instead causes the sky to darken and anger reddens it. Oddly enough, though, unlike the Mountains Eternal, the time of day can change regardless of Manzenfude's mood, as she can personally change it to whatever she pleases.
The being once known as Yume remains in this space as an eternal wanderer. She understands that her presence here and the fact that she was allotted her very own area within Kimiko's Inner World was somewhat of an unique predicament not often associated to Inner Hollows. Usually, after all, Inner Hollows tend to be simply driven away by true Vizards or even imprisoned, not accepted in such a way. Even so, she understands the officer's acceptance as what it is, and so she has set herself out to enjoy it for as long as she possibly can. In so doing, the opposite wanders eternally, admiring the sky seemingly forever more. That is, until Kimiko either joins her in this space to converse or train with her, or she simply grows bored. When the latter conclusion occurs, she tends to visit the Mountains Eternal to visit Zanzaifude, even if her presence often tends to bother him.
{The Canvas}
The Mountains Eternal and the Restless Stars are what ultimately Kimiko perceives when entering the Inner World. They are both bound to eternally remain as they are, and they are not subject to change. However, they themselves have no power over what the Inner World is. From them will never be felt a great change that will mutate the both of them into something else entirely, such as the ocean Yume had conjured while influencing it. The reason why this is is because they are themselves creations of Kimiko, and therefore can only be affected by her. Not Shizukakane who is gone from this world, not Zanzaifude whose nature as a Zanpakuto spirit will simply prevent him from doing so, and not even Manzenfude who simply does not aim to do such things any longer, for such games now bore her. These aforementioned creations, however, were not created just like that. No, they were created in a specific place from which only she can go to. That place is the Canvas.
The Canvas has always been present within Kimiko's Inner World. Once, it remained as a simple divide between the Fields of Tranquility and the Fading Forest, a line of beige earth which was manifested by Shizukakane's problematic existence. However, it was not until the Vizard developed her true Bankai and thus gained the ability to become the Hand of Yama that she became fully capable of accessing the Canvas not as a simple wisp, but rather as its proper master. Here, she was able to discover a featureless realm from which all is created. There is no grass, no trees, no mountains, no oceans or even a sky. There is not a simple gust of wind for anyone to feel, nothing that could be considered as being hot or cold. All there is is what it is: a canvas of infinite potential whose painter is Kimiko's mind and body, and the brush that forms what it shall display as part of the Inner World her very own blade.
From here, the Vizard can use her blade to form many worlds. She can form lands out of black and white, create cities, and bring about their end if she ever wishes it so. She can even create wind and decide whether the place is hot or cold, albeit not without feeling those things herself. In other words, she can act here as a sort of deity, much like how a painter is a deity to what is part of their paintings. Considering its nature, it is thus easy to assume it as being the universal architecture of the Inner World, where all sides of the Inner World can be modified. It is from this realm that the Mountains Eternal and the Restless Stars were created, and it is here that they can be erased if Kimiko decides to transform them into something else. Unfortunately, these decisions may only be taken alone, for both Zanzaifude and Manzenfude are not permitted to access this realm. Well, so does Manzenfude herself proclaims, at the very least.
The Mountains Eternal and the Restless Stars are what ultimately Kimiko perceives when entering the Inner World. They are both bound to eternally remain as they are, and they are not subject to change. However, they themselves have no power over what the Inner World is. From them will never be felt a great change that will mutate the both of them into something else entirely, such as the ocean Yume had conjured while influencing it. The reason why this is is because they are themselves creations of Kimiko, and therefore can only be affected by her. Not Shizukakane who is gone from this world, not Zanzaifude whose nature as a Zanpakuto spirit will simply prevent him from doing so, and not even Manzenfude who simply does not aim to do such things any longer, for such games now bore her. These aforementioned creations, however, were not created just like that. No, they were created in a specific place from which only she can go to. That place is the Canvas.
The Canvas has always been present within Kimiko's Inner World. Once, it remained as a simple divide between the Fields of Tranquility and the Fading Forest, a line of beige earth which was manifested by Shizukakane's problematic existence. However, it was not until the Vizard developed her true Bankai and thus gained the ability to become the Hand of Yama that she became fully capable of accessing the Canvas not as a simple wisp, but rather as its proper master. Here, she was able to discover a featureless realm from which all is created. There is no grass, no trees, no mountains, no oceans or even a sky. There is not a simple gust of wind for anyone to feel, nothing that could be considered as being hot or cold. All there is is what it is: a canvas of infinite potential whose painter is Kimiko's mind and body, and the brush that forms what it shall display as part of the Inner World her very own blade.
From here, the Vizard can use her blade to form many worlds. She can form lands out of black and white, create cities, and bring about their end if she ever wishes it so. She can even create wind and decide whether the place is hot or cold, albeit not without feeling those things herself. In other words, she can act here as a sort of deity, much like how a painter is a deity to what is part of their paintings. Considering its nature, it is thus easy to assume it as being the universal architecture of the Inner World, where all sides of the Inner World can be modified. It is from this realm that the Mountains Eternal and the Restless Stars were created, and it is here that they can be erased if Kimiko decides to transform them into something else. Unfortunately, these decisions may only be taken alone, for both Zanzaifude and Manzenfude are not permitted to access this realm. Well, so does Manzenfude herself proclaims, at the very least.
[ R E W O R K E D T E C H N I Q U E S ]
{Zanpakuto}
{Zanzaifude, the One Who Prevails}
{Hikaru Shinki (光る振起, "Luminous Stimulation")}
Technique Name: Hikaru Shinki (光る振起, "Luminous Stimulation")
Technique Type: Shikai | Stat Buff
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 300, 600 (Sun)
Technique Description and Effects
A boost of Speed which can be exchanged for 10-50% of Zanzaifude's Light Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko raises her left forearm before sliding the flat side of her blade against it, causing the white "ink" covering it to be absorbed by her body. This causes trails of the strange supernatural substance to appear on her akin to drawn mist emanating from her being. In response to this absorption, the swordswoman's physical being gains a drastic boost of Speed, allowing her to dodge her adversaries more efficiently. Depending on how much of the available "ink" is used during this process, the boost will provide Kimiko with an effect of variable power and time that does not cause her physical exhaustion:
Technique Name: Hikaru Shinki (光る振起, "Luminous Stimulation")
Technique Type: Shikai | Stat Buff
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 300, 600 (Sun)
Technique Description and Effects
A boost of Speed which can be exchanged for 10-50% of Zanzaifude's Light Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko raises her left forearm before sliding the flat side of her blade against it, causing the white "ink" covering it to be absorbed by her body. This causes trails of the strange supernatural substance to appear on her akin to drawn mist emanating from her being. In response to this absorption, the swordswoman's physical being gains a drastic boost of Speed, allowing her to dodge her adversaries more efficiently. Depending on how much of the available "ink" is used during this process, the boost will provide Kimiko with an effect of variable power and time that does not cause her physical exhaustion:
- 50%: 50% Speed increase for 2 posts
- 40%: 40% Speed increase for 3 posts
- 30%: 30% Speed increase for 4 posts
- 20%: 20% Speed increase for 5 posts
- 10%: 10% Speed increase for 6 posts
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Sun, the white "ink" absorbed within Kimiko's body becomes much more potent, causing the boost of Speed tied to this absorption to be doubled and for it to last two more posts. The trails become more akin to drawn clouds of bright white, and at a glance, it almost seems as though her form is becoming a source of condensation. If it were not for their transparency, these trails would be almost akin to fog.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
In exchange for additional percentages of the Light Gauge, Kimiko can reuse this technique to raise the boost of energy she has gained up to a maximum of 50% and, consequently, reset its effect's timer. However, doing so will reduce the timer in question depending on the increment of ten that has been reached. Any further use of this technique beyond 50% will only reset the maxed effect's timer.
Additionally, due to its nature as a new source of energy dedicated to increasing one's velocity, this buff's effects are to be considered not as a multiplicative source, but rather as an additive one. For example, should Kimiko decide to wear the Vizard Mask and therefore double the effectiveness of the Speed she can reach on the field, the execution of Hikaru Shinki will only be capable of adding the result of the buff's effects on her base Speed to the Speed increased by the Mask.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
In exchange for additional percentages of the Light Gauge, Kimiko can reuse this technique to raise the boost of energy she has gained up to a maximum of 50% and, consequently, reset its effect's timer. However, doing so will reduce the timer in question depending on the increment of ten that has been reached. Any further use of this technique beyond 50% will only reset the maxed effect's timer.
Additionally, due to its nature as a new source of energy dedicated to increasing one's velocity, this buff's effects are to be considered not as a multiplicative source, but rather as an additive one. For example, should Kimiko decide to wear the Vizard Mask and therefore double the effectiveness of the Speed she can reach on the field, the execution of Hikaru Shinki will only be capable of adding the result of the buff's effects on her base Speed to the Speed increased by the Mask.
{Hikaru Yōsai (光る加速, "Luminous Fortification")}
Technique Name: Hikaru Yōsai (光る加速, "Luminous Fortification")
Technique Type: Shikai | Armor Creation
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 250, 500 (Sun)
Technique Description and Effects
The formation of armor around parts of the body which can be exchanged for 30-50% of Zanzaifude's Light Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko balls her hands into fists before slamming her feet down onto the ground (or air) below and letting out a loud cry, causing the white "ink" surrounding her blade to immediately attempt to cover her body as a response. Once done, the substance then hardens into a fabric as hard as steel, drastically raising the swordswoman's defenses. Depending on how much of the available "ink" is used during this process, the fabric will cover a variable amount of Kimiko's body starting with her right arm:
Technique Name: Hikaru Yōsai (光る加速, "Luminous Fortification")
Technique Type: Shikai | Armor Creation
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 250, 500 (Sun)
Technique Description and Effects
The formation of armor around parts of the body which can be exchanged for 30-50% of Zanzaifude's Light Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko balls her hands into fists before slamming her feet down onto the ground (or air) below and letting out a loud cry, causing the white "ink" surrounding her blade to immediately attempt to cover her body as a response. Once done, the substance then hardens into a fabric as hard as steel, drastically raising the swordswoman's defenses. Depending on how much of the available "ink" is used during this process, the fabric will cover a variable amount of Kimiko's body starting with her right arm:
- 50%: Full Body
- 40%: Upper Body + Helmet
- 30%: Right Arm
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Sun, the white "ink" surrounding Kimiko's body becomes much more potent, causing the armor it produces to completely ignore the knockback effect of every attack which hits it. Due to its sheer potency, the hardened "ink" appears to almost shine brightly as it surrounds the Vizard, with it even appearing misty as though it is composed of a higher material beyond the realm of even spiritual chemistry. A fitting suit of armor for an avatar of the distant star.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
The armor's durability is dependent of Kimiko's Offensive Stat - meaning her Spiritual Pressure - upon its creation. For as long as it remains active, it cannot be strengthened by a technique which grants additional Spiritual Pressure to her, and it cannot be stacked on top of itself by an additional execution of the technique. Moreover, in the case that it finds itself damaged or broken by an opponent who possesses a higher Offensive Stat, it cannot be repaired by conventional means, as it instead requires Kimiko to use the technique again in order to do so.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
The armor's durability is dependent of Kimiko's Offensive Stat - meaning her Spiritual Pressure - upon its creation. For as long as it remains active, it cannot be strengthened by a technique which grants additional Spiritual Pressure to her, and it cannot be stacked on top of itself by an additional execution of the technique. Moreover, in the case that it finds itself damaged or broken by an opponent who possesses a higher Offensive Stat, it cannot be repaired by conventional means, as it instead requires Kimiko to use the technique again in order to do so.
{Hikaru Keigen (光る軽減, "Luminous Alleviation")}
Technique Name: Hikaru Keigen (光る軽減, "Luminous Alleviation")
Technique Type: Shikai | Self-Heal
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 300, 600 (Sun)
Technique Description and Effects
A technique which cleanses the body of harm for 50-100% of Zanzaifude's Light Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko stand still for a brief moment of time before taking a deep breath, absorbing the white "ink" of her blade in the process to ease her pain. As this process is completed, the substance enters her body to cleanse the mind and soul, ridding the swordswoman of wounds, poisons and diseases. Depending on how much of the available "ink" is used during this process, Kimiko will be healed up to a certain extent, cleansing the following:
Technique Name: Hikaru Keigen (光る軽減, "Luminous Alleviation")
Technique Type: Shikai | Self-Heal
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 300, 600 (Sun)
Technique Description and Effects
A technique which cleanses the body of harm for 50-100% of Zanzaifude's Light Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko stand still for a brief moment of time before taking a deep breath, absorbing the white "ink" of her blade in the process to ease her pain. As this process is completed, the substance enters her body to cleanse the mind and soul, ridding the swordswoman of wounds, poisons and diseases. Depending on how much of the available "ink" is used during this process, Kimiko will be healed up to a certain extent, cleansing the following:
- 100%: Major injuries and debuffs. Ex: Heavy sword wounds, shattered bones, destroyed muscle tissue and organs, third and fourth degree burns, fatal poisons and diseases, etc.
- 75%: Average injuries and debuffs. Ex: sword wounds, broken bones, damaged muscle tissue, second-degree burns, common poisons and rarer diseases, etc.
- 50%: Minor injuries and debuffs. Ex: scratches, scars, light bite marks, effects of weak tranquilizers and common diseases, etc.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Sun, the white "ink" absorbed by Kimiko becomes much more potent, causing the absorption process itself to require half as much "ink" as usual and for a new path to be opened to the Vizard. This new path takes the form of a more gradual process which slowly restores Kimiko to health, cleansing her of one wound per post for 10% of the Discord Gauge. Should this path be followed, Kimiko can eventually begin to regrow lost limbs and a damaged heart.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Despite its effectiveness, there is only so much pain and suffering that can be cleansed by Hikaru Keigen. After all, its purpose is not necessarily to heal, but rather to alleviate. Outside of the gradual process, extreme wounds such as the loss of limbs, the destruction of the heart, and the obliteration of the Saketsu and Hakusui are all beyond this technique's ability to take care of, especially in the obvious case of the latter, and so must be treated by a specialized medical expert or scientist. Even if the healing process is gradual, only wounds that have been recently created can be healed, and not new ones. Nevertheless, the technique can be used as a means to cut off both pain and blood loss provided by the first two of these specific wounds, allowing Kimiko to fight just a little bit longer before collapsing.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Despite its effectiveness, there is only so much pain and suffering that can be cleansed by Hikaru Keigen. After all, its purpose is not necessarily to heal, but rather to alleviate. Outside of the gradual process, extreme wounds such as the loss of limbs, the destruction of the heart, and the obliteration of the Saketsu and Hakusui are all beyond this technique's ability to take care of, especially in the obvious case of the latter, and so must be treated by a specialized medical expert or scientist. Even if the healing process is gradual, only wounds that have been recently created can be healed, and not new ones. Nevertheless, the technique can be used as a means to cut off both pain and blood loss provided by the first two of these specific wounds, allowing Kimiko to fight just a little bit longer before collapsing.
{Manzenfude, Wayfarer of the Great Beyond}
{Bakuzen Bairitsu (漠然倍率, "Obscure Magnification")}
Technique Name: Bakuzen Bairitsu (漠然倍率, "Obscure Magnification")
Technique Type: Shikai | Stat Buff
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 300, 600 (Moon)
Technique Description and Effects
A boost of Spiritual Pressure which can be exchanged for 10-50% of Manzenfude's Dark Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko raises her right forearm before sliding the flat side of her blade against it, causing the black "ink" covering it to be absorbed by her body. This causes trails of the strange supernatural substance to appear on her akin to drawn smoke emanating from her being. In response to this absorption, the swordswoman's physical being gains a drastic boost of Spiritual Pressure, allowing her to strike her adversaries with greater power. Depending on how much of the Dark Gauge is used during this process, the boost will provide Kimiko with an effect of variable power and time:
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Moon, the black "ink" absorbed within Kimiko's body becomes much more potent, causing the boost of Spiritual Energy tied to this absorption to be doubled and for it to last two more posts. The trails become more akin to drawn clouds of darkness, and at a glance, it almost seems as though her form is becoming a source of incineration. Compared to Zanzaifude's drawn clouds, those related by Manzenfude tend to be more opaque, causing Kimiko to be slightly harder to see while she is surrounded by them.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
In exchange for additional percentages of the Dark Gauge, Kimiko can reuse this technique to raise the boost of speed she has gained up to a maximum of 50% and, consequently, reset its effect's timer. However, doing so will reduce the timer in question depending on the increment of ten that has been reached. Any further use beyond 50% will only reset the maxed effect's timer.
Additionally, due to its nature as a new source of energy dedicated to increasing one's velocity, this buff's effects are to be considered not as a multiplicative source, but rather as an additive one. For example, should Kimiko decide to wear the Vizard Mask and therefore double the effectiveness of the Spiritual Energy she can reach on the field, the execution of Bakuzen Bairitsu will only be capable of adding the result of the buff's effects on her base Spiritual Energy to the Spiritual Energy increased by the Mask.
Technique Name: Bakuzen Bairitsu (漠然倍率, "Obscure Magnification")
Technique Type: Shikai | Stat Buff
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 300, 600 (Moon)
Technique Description and Effects
A boost of Spiritual Pressure which can be exchanged for 10-50% of Manzenfude's Dark Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko raises her right forearm before sliding the flat side of her blade against it, causing the black "ink" covering it to be absorbed by her body. This causes trails of the strange supernatural substance to appear on her akin to drawn smoke emanating from her being. In response to this absorption, the swordswoman's physical being gains a drastic boost of Spiritual Pressure, allowing her to strike her adversaries with greater power. Depending on how much of the Dark Gauge is used during this process, the boost will provide Kimiko with an effect of variable power and time:
- 50%: 50% Spiritual Pressure increase for 2 posts
- 40%: 40% Spiritual Pressure increase for 3 posts
- 30%: 30% Spiritual Pressure increase for 4 posts
- 20%: 20% Spiritual Pressure increase for 5 posts
- 10%: 10% Spiritual Pressure increase for 6 posts
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Moon, the black "ink" absorbed within Kimiko's body becomes much more potent, causing the boost of Spiritual Energy tied to this absorption to be doubled and for it to last two more posts. The trails become more akin to drawn clouds of darkness, and at a glance, it almost seems as though her form is becoming a source of incineration. Compared to Zanzaifude's drawn clouds, those related by Manzenfude tend to be more opaque, causing Kimiko to be slightly harder to see while she is surrounded by them.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
In exchange for additional percentages of the Dark Gauge, Kimiko can reuse this technique to raise the boost of speed she has gained up to a maximum of 50% and, consequently, reset its effect's timer. However, doing so will reduce the timer in question depending on the increment of ten that has been reached. Any further use beyond 50% will only reset the maxed effect's timer.
Additionally, due to its nature as a new source of energy dedicated to increasing one's velocity, this buff's effects are to be considered not as a multiplicative source, but rather as an additive one. For example, should Kimiko decide to wear the Vizard Mask and therefore double the effectiveness of the Spiritual Energy she can reach on the field, the execution of Bakuzen Bairitsu will only be capable of adding the result of the buff's effects on her base Spiritual Energy to the Spiritual Energy increased by the Mask.
{Bakuzen Keizoku (漠然継続, "Obscure Continuation")}
Technique Name: Bakuzen Kurikaeshi (漠然継続, "Obscure Continuation")
Technique Type: Shikai | Cancel
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 150, 300 (Moon)
Technique Description and Effects
The creation of an endless assault which can be exchanged for 15% per post of Manzenfude's Dark Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko raises her blade above herself with its tip pointed towards her stomach, then plunges it within it. Due to her primordial duty as the Hand of Yama, this causes the "ink" composing the blade to pass through her being and be forcefully rebalanced as small traces floating around the Vizard until it is removed from her stomach. At that point, the traces suddenly take a darkened form of herself for all to see until they separate once again.
After these traces have been generated, Kimiko can use them as a means to overwhelm the enemy by having them adopt their form in combat while she is attacking, thus allowing her to cancel the momentum of an attack she has executed. For example, when she is about to swing her sword towards an enemy, the traces "ink" will suddenly take her form before finishing the attack for her.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Moon, the traces of black "ink" that take her form during her attack leaves an imprint upon the direction of where they've struck, causing a small ball of "ink" to appear. This ball grows larger and larger alongside the Discord Gauge, and after 45% of this gauge has been filled, the ball bursts, causing a release of air to occur. While it is not damaging enough to actually cause pain, the aforementioned release contains enough power to break one's guard and cause those who are more slippery to find themselves tripping accidentally, leaving them wide open to Kimiko.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
A major amount of "ink" must be continuously supplied to the traces left by the rebalancing of the sword's power. If this supply is stopped, the traces will disappear, taking away with them the "ink" that they have consumed. Moreover, due to the fact that much of the technique's nature revolves primarily around the creation of a pseudo-doppelganger, it is impossible for Kimiko to use offensive techniques for as long as Bakuzen Kurikaeshi as active, for the traces of "ink" do not contain spiritual energy themselves. As such, only free form attacks can be used, thus forcing the Vizard to entirely depend on her physical capabilities in the meantime.
Technique Name: Bakuzen Kurikaeshi (漠然継続, "Obscure Continuation")
Technique Type: Shikai | Cancel
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 150, 300 (Moon)
Technique Description and Effects
The creation of an endless assault which can be exchanged for 15% per post of Manzenfude's Dark Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko raises her blade above herself with its tip pointed towards her stomach, then plunges it within it. Due to her primordial duty as the Hand of Yama, this causes the "ink" composing the blade to pass through her being and be forcefully rebalanced as small traces floating around the Vizard until it is removed from her stomach. At that point, the traces suddenly take a darkened form of herself for all to see until they separate once again.
After these traces have been generated, Kimiko can use them as a means to overwhelm the enemy by having them adopt their form in combat while she is attacking, thus allowing her to cancel the momentum of an attack she has executed. For example, when she is about to swing her sword towards an enemy, the traces "ink" will suddenly take her form before finishing the attack for her.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Moon, the traces of black "ink" that take her form during her attack leaves an imprint upon the direction of where they've struck, causing a small ball of "ink" to appear. This ball grows larger and larger alongside the Discord Gauge, and after 45% of this gauge has been filled, the ball bursts, causing a release of air to occur. While it is not damaging enough to actually cause pain, the aforementioned release contains enough power to break one's guard and cause those who are more slippery to find themselves tripping accidentally, leaving them wide open to Kimiko.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
A major amount of "ink" must be continuously supplied to the traces left by the rebalancing of the sword's power. If this supply is stopped, the traces will disappear, taking away with them the "ink" that they have consumed. Moreover, due to the fact that much of the technique's nature revolves primarily around the creation of a pseudo-doppelganger, it is impossible for Kimiko to use offensive techniques for as long as Bakuzen Kurikaeshi as active, for the traces of "ink" do not contain spiritual energy themselves. As such, only free form attacks can be used, thus forcing the Vizard to entirely depend on her physical capabilities in the meantime.
{Bakuzen Funka (漠然噴火, "Obscure Eruption")}
Technique Name: Bakuzen Funka (漠然噴火, "Obscure Eruption")
Technique Type: Shikai | Burst
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 500, 1000 (Moon)
Technique Description and Effects
An abrupt liberation in the form of a violent detonation which can be exchanged for 50% of Manzenfude's Dark Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko takes a deep breath as she collects the spiritual energy contained within her body, letting it build up within her soul at a rapid pace. Once she believes the amount collected to be sufficient, she then begins to mix it with the black "ink" collected by Manzenfude. As the both of them combine, they eventually begin to push against one another, and at the end of their ultimate conflict, they eventually liberate themselves from Kimiko. The release of these energies is so powerful that it is not gradual, but rather instantaneous, which causes it to appear as a literal explosion of dark that can launch everything contained within Manzenfude's field away from it.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Moon, the potency of the black "ink" collected within her soul is such that she can choose to have it immediately surround the spiritual energy contained within her during the mixing process. This causes it not to simply mix with the energy, but downright feed upon it. As it feeds itself, the amount of "ink" multiplies itself, growing substantially to such a degree that it begins to surround Kimiko's being as a cloak of absolute darkness. Eventually, the "ink" contained is so powerful that it requires liberation, and so it is released from the Vizard's body much like before. However, not all of it is liberated from her, for the amount was so great that much of the energy remained within her soul. This, in turn, forces Saibankan no Fude to balance the energy within around Kimiko, and thus causes the Discord Gauge to immediately be filled to its absolute limit.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Due to its function as a sudden burst of energy, Bakuzen Funka requires quite an amount of spiritual energy from Kimiko's reserves in order to be executed properly. This is accentuated when its secondary function is used while she is acting as the Moon. Additionally, the liberation of energy is so powerful that, in some cases, using it against certain opponents may prove to be downright disadvantageous, seeing as it will push them away from Manzenfude's field and, therefore, Kimiko's reach. Allies can also be harmed by this technique. In so doing, no matter how powerful this technique may be, it remains as a very situational maneuver that is generally preferable to only be used in times of need, such as when faced against a great number of opponents or when the Discord Gauge needs to be filled immediately for further use.
Technique Name: Bakuzen Funka (漠然噴火, "Obscure Eruption")
Technique Type: Shikai | Burst
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 500, 1000 (Moon)
Technique Description and Effects
An abrupt liberation in the form of a violent detonation which can be exchanged for 50% of Manzenfude's Dark Gauge or Saibankan no Fude's Discord Gauge. Kimiko takes a deep breath as she collects the spiritual energy contained within her body, letting it build up within her soul at a rapid pace. Once she believes the amount collected to be sufficient, she then begins to mix it with the black "ink" collected by Manzenfude. As the both of them combine, they eventually begin to push against one another, and at the end of their ultimate conflict, they eventually liberate themselves from Kimiko. The release of these energies is so powerful that it is not gradual, but rather instantaneous, which causes it to appear as a literal explosion of dark that can launch everything contained within Manzenfude's field away from it.
If this technique is executed while Kimiko acts as the Moon, the potency of the black "ink" collected within her soul is such that she can choose to have it immediately surround the spiritual energy contained within her during the mixing process. This causes it not to simply mix with the energy, but downright feed upon it. As it feeds itself, the amount of "ink" multiplies itself, growing substantially to such a degree that it begins to surround Kimiko's being as a cloak of absolute darkness. Eventually, the "ink" contained is so powerful that it requires liberation, and so it is released from the Vizard's body much like before. However, not all of it is liberated from her, for the amount was so great that much of the energy remained within her soul. This, in turn, forces Saibankan no Fude to balance the energy within around Kimiko, and thus causes the Discord Gauge to immediately be filled to its absolute limit.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
Due to its function as a sudden burst of energy, Bakuzen Funka requires quite an amount of spiritual energy from Kimiko's reserves in order to be executed properly. This is accentuated when its secondary function is used while she is acting as the Moon. Additionally, the liberation of energy is so powerful that, in some cases, using it against certain opponents may prove to be downright disadvantageous, seeing as it will push them away from Manzenfude's field and, therefore, Kimiko's reach. Allies can also be harmed by this technique. In so doing, no matter how powerful this technique may be, it remains as a very situational maneuver that is generally preferable to only be used in times of need, such as when faced against a great number of opponents or when the Discord Gauge needs to be filled immediately for further use.
{Saibankan no Fude: Yamanote, Judge of All That is Light and Dark}
{Nagare (流れ, "Flow")}
Technique Name: Nagare (流れ, "Flow")
Technique Type: Bankai | Shape Shift
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 250
Technique Description and Effects
The complete purification or corruption of the "ink" in order to become one with the light or the dark, and thus gain further luminous or tenebrous power in exchange for 50% of Saibankan no Fude's Harmony Gauge. Kimiko uses the spiritual energy contained within her body to increase the revolving of either the white or the black "ink" emanated by her surroundings around herself, at the expanse of the other. By accomplishing this, the ultimate balance of the two elements around herself is broken, and so Kimiko's primordial form as the Hand of Yama eventually evaporates in a cloud of "ink", for it is a representation of the two and not only one. However, due to her universal role as an avatar of equilibrium, the Vizard retains control of the "ink" within her and so forcefully stabilizes its flow within her body until it no longer finds itself in a state of evaporation.
Once this stabilization is completed, she reforms the "ink" around her being until she is manifested as either the Sun or the Moon. This manifestation persists until Kimiko reinstates the balance of the "ink" within herself at will. For as long as she remains as either of those manifestations, Kimiko gains access to more powerful versions of the techniques associated with Zanzaifude or Manzenfude respectively. These techniques are to be executed with the aid of the Discord Gauge, which both replaces the Light Gauge or the Dark Gauge, and retains its growth for as long as the Hand of Yama wields Saibankan no Fude.
If necessary, what remains of the Harmony Gauge can be directly granted to the Discord Gauge during Nagare to allow for the immediate execution of certain techniques.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
To become a symbol of light or dark is to subsequently become fundamentally unable to behave as an avatar of equilibrium, for those elements are designed to deny one another. In so doing, until she returns to her primordial form, Kimiko completely loses access to her Harmony Gauge. This prevents her from both executing her Bankai techniques and contributing to the gauge's growth, thus forcing her to forever remain vigilant of its contents. Moreover, though the techniques used with the Discord Gauge are indeed more powerful, they are also more taxing and thus more exhausting to execute, which can become a dangerous hazard in more intense battles.
Technique Name: Nagare (流れ, "Flow")
Technique Type: Bankai | Shape Shift
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 250
Technique Description and Effects
The complete purification or corruption of the "ink" in order to become one with the light or the dark, and thus gain further luminous or tenebrous power in exchange for 50% of Saibankan no Fude's Harmony Gauge. Kimiko uses the spiritual energy contained within her body to increase the revolving of either the white or the black "ink" emanated by her surroundings around herself, at the expanse of the other. By accomplishing this, the ultimate balance of the two elements around herself is broken, and so Kimiko's primordial form as the Hand of Yama eventually evaporates in a cloud of "ink", for it is a representation of the two and not only one. However, due to her universal role as an avatar of equilibrium, the Vizard retains control of the "ink" within her and so forcefully stabilizes its flow within her body until it no longer finds itself in a state of evaporation.
Once this stabilization is completed, she reforms the "ink" around her being until she is manifested as either the Sun or the Moon. This manifestation persists until Kimiko reinstates the balance of the "ink" within herself at will. For as long as she remains as either of those manifestations, Kimiko gains access to more powerful versions of the techniques associated with Zanzaifude or Manzenfude respectively. These techniques are to be executed with the aid of the Discord Gauge, which both replaces the Light Gauge or the Dark Gauge, and retains its growth for as long as the Hand of Yama wields Saibankan no Fude.
If necessary, what remains of the Harmony Gauge can be directly granted to the Discord Gauge during Nagare to allow for the immediate execution of certain techniques.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
To become a symbol of light or dark is to subsequently become fundamentally unable to behave as an avatar of equilibrium, for those elements are designed to deny one another. In so doing, until she returns to her primordial form, Kimiko completely loses access to her Harmony Gauge. This prevents her from both executing her Bankai techniques and contributing to the gauge's growth, thus forcing her to forever remain vigilant of its contents. Moreover, though the techniques used with the Discord Gauge are indeed more powerful, they are also more taxing and thus more exhausting to execute, which can become a dangerous hazard in more intense battles.
{Saiban (裁判, "Trial")}
Technique Name: Saiban (裁判, "Trial")
Technique Type: Bankai | Reiatsu Siphon
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 800, 1000 (No Gap)
Technique Description and Effects
Technique Name: Saiban (裁判, "Trial")
Technique Type: Bankai | Reiatsu Siphon
Technique Element: None
Technique Reiatsu Cost: 800, 1000 (No Gap)
Technique Description and Effects
The bolstering of spiritual energy reserves through the forceful balancing of hostile vitality around one's self in exchange for 100% of Saibankan no Fude's Harmony Gauge. Kimiko unsheathes her sword rather plainly before dashing onward towards a target, then stabbing them with the tip of her enhanced weapon, preferably in the stomach. Should the stabbing have been successful, she then begins to fuel her blade with her spiritual energy in an attempt to connect both she and the target to one another. Due to the blade's nature as an instrument of balance, this maneuver causes it to begin treating the target similarly to Kimiko's surroundings, and so it sets out to balance something from the target around and eventually within the Hand of Yama. In this case, considering that one's soul is both a personification of life and death, this something is the target's spiritual energy. The amount of energy taken from the target is dependent on the gap between their and Kimiko's class, as noted below:
What is taken from the target is retrieved in the form of black and white "ink" similar to what is retrieved from Kimiko's surroundings. It first revolves around the woman, joining what is slowly becoming a void of washi beige, before then becoming absorbed by her being. Unlike what is contained within her surroundings, however, the target's spiritual energy is returned not to them once Kimiko finishes acting as the Hand of Yama, but rather the earth. As such, this process leaves them frailer, weakened.
In certain cases, this weakening is such that the target's soul is completely emptied of its spiritual energy. Should this occur, the soul itself and the physical body which surrounds it both collapse completely and are turned into "ink" for Kimiko to balance around herself and eventually flow throughout her body, granting her a 10% buff to Speed and Spiritual Pressure until the end of the thread. After the battle is over, the rebalanced energy - or rather, the target's soul - is liberated and sent to the Cycle.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
The direct siphoning of one's spiritual energy, be they man or beast, is no easy task. Even the Hand of Yama must consider this as she contemplates executing this technique, for the requirements that must be fulfilled in order to be capable of doing so are substantial:
With the requirements aside, the use of Saiban may also prove to be rather ineffective depending on the target chosen. This is especially apparent when it is executed on a target who possesses a low Spiritual Pressure stat, causing the energy gained from its siphoning to be unfortunately too low due to the amount of spiritual energy Kimiko must spend from her own reserve in order to execute the technique.
- 7-8 Gap: 100%
- 5-6 Gap: 75%
- 3-4 Gap: 40%
- 1-2 Gap: 20%
What is taken from the target is retrieved in the form of black and white "ink" similar to what is retrieved from Kimiko's surroundings. It first revolves around the woman, joining what is slowly becoming a void of washi beige, before then becoming absorbed by her being. Unlike what is contained within her surroundings, however, the target's spiritual energy is returned not to them once Kimiko finishes acting as the Hand of Yama, but rather the earth. As such, this process leaves them frailer, weakened.
In certain cases, this weakening is such that the target's soul is completely emptied of its spiritual energy. Should this occur, the soul itself and the physical body which surrounds it both collapse completely and are turned into "ink" for Kimiko to balance around herself and eventually flow throughout her body, granting her a 10% buff to Speed and Spiritual Pressure until the end of the thread. After the battle is over, the rebalanced energy - or rather, the target's soul - is liberated and sent to the Cycle.
Drawbacks & Weaknesses
The direct siphoning of one's spiritual energy, be they man or beast, is no easy task. Even the Hand of Yama must consider this as she contemplates executing this technique, for the requirements that must be fulfilled in order to be capable of doing so are substantial:
- Kimiko must have completely filled her being with the greatest amount of black and white "ink" she can possibly gain from her surroundings, then decide to remove it all from herself completely. Such a thing requires patience, something which may be sorely difficult to obtain should Kimiko find herself in a situation in which she is required to even consider using this technique.
- The target must not be equal to her in Class. If the technique is attempted against a target of such caliber, no energy will be able to be redirected from the target due to its power. Additional spiritual energy may be used during the process in order to siphon the target's energy even more forcefully, thus allowing Kimiko to gain 10% of their total reserve. However, this may be more of a hindrance than a solution.
- The attack must not be missed. There are numerous ways for it to not reach its intended target, be it because of the target moving out of its way or quite simply blocking it with armor. Regardless, any of these defensive tactics will render the technique useless if they prove to be successful against it.
With the requirements aside, the use of Saiban may also prove to be rather ineffective depending on the target chosen. This is especially apparent when it is executed on a target who possesses a low Spiritual Pressure stat, causing the energy gained from its siphoning to be unfortunately too low due to the amount of spiritual energy Kimiko must spend from her own reserve in order to execute the technique.
