Saturday, October 31, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
13th Division
Shiba Kaien (dead)
Rank: Vice-Captain
Zanpakutou info:
Shi-Kai: Nejibana
Release command: Reverse Swirl
Ban-Kai: None
Biography:
Shiba Kaien served as vice captain of the Thirteenth Division under Ukitake Jyuushiro. When he was alive he often took over Ukitake’s duties because of the captain’s illness. He wears the standard shinigami robes and has a tattoo of the Shiba family’s symbol on his arm. Kaien looks almost identical to Ichigo. The only differences are Kaien’s slightly longer black hair and the bottom eyelashes that seem to run in the Shiba family.
Kaien was the oldest of the Shiba siblings, and grew up in Rukongai, though the Shiba house was once one of the great noble houses. His sister Kuukaku and their younger brother Ganju don’t like shinigami very much, and they are still baffled by their older brother’s desire to become one. However, Kaien was very talented as a shinigami. He completed the six year curriculum of the Shinigami Academy after only two years, and went on to become vice captain of the Thirteenth.
He was the first person in Seireitei to treat Rukia like an ordinary person since her adoption into the Kuchiki family. Until he came along, she was treated with careful respect to her face and talked about and bashed behind her back. She was grateful for that, and eventually fell in love with him. She didn’t pursue him because Kaien was already married to the third seat of the Thirteenth. However, Kaien did appear to take a special interest in Rukia, probably because of her detached and slightly depressed manner. Rukia tended to jump when she saw him, much to his irritation. She also followed him like a puppy following its master.
When Kaien’s wife died at the hands of a hollow, Kaien swore revenge. Ukitake and Rukia accompanied him in his search. They found the hollow in its lair, and Kaien asked for permission to fight it alone. Ukitake granted permission, and Rukia watched in horror as the hollow’s abilities became apparent. Kaien’s zanpakutou was broken as soon as he touched the hollow.
Kaien continued to fight it alone. It obviously pained him to not help his vice captain, but when Rukia asked why they could help Kaien, he told her that it would kill his pride. Rukia yells at her captain, saying that pride isn’t important compared to life. He answers her calmly:
“Rukia, remember this. There are two types of fights. Whenever we are in battle, we must be one of the two. The fight for life or…the fight for pride! Right now…He is fighting for his pride! His wife’s pride…his men’s pride…Most importantly…his own personal pride. Dismiss this as his stubbornness…and let him fight alone like this…”
Those words haunt Rukia later in Ichigo’s fight against Grand Fisher.
Kaien held his own against the hollow for several minutes before the hollow revealed its true ability. It merged itself with Kaien, and when Ukitake stepped in, the hollow laughed maliciously and told him that he and Kaien were now the same being, because they were both spirits. It wasn’t the same as possession.
Rukia, who had been Hollow-Kaien’s first target, was told to run while Ukitake held it off, returned because she was afraid to face that cowardice. Ukitake was struck by his illness at that moment, and the Hollow-Kaien attacked her again. Ukitake yelled at her to kill it because it wasn’t Kaien anymore. She stabbed him through the heart. Kaien’s consciousness surfaced before he died and he thanked Ukitake for letting him fight alone. He thanked Rukia, and then apologized to her.
She took Kaien’s body back to the Shiba house to give to Kuukaku and Ganju. From that stemmed Ganju’s absolute hatred of all shinigami. Ukitake went to the Shiba house to explain to Kuukaku what had happened, and she accepted it and decided to forgive Rukia if she apologized. It took Rukia many years to work up the courage to do so.
Kuukaku and Ganju still make many of their own decisions based on what their brother would have done. That’s why Kuukaku agreed to help the Ichigo and Yoruichi. It’s also why Ganju eventually came around to helping them.
Ichigo is very close to Kaien in both looks and personality, which is probably why Rukia trusted him completely in chapter 001. At the moment, there is speculation on whether or not Ichigo is Kaien’s reincarnation based on them being very similar persons. If that is the case, there is further speculation on whether or not the hollow that merged with Kaien’s soul is still a part of that soul, and and if that is the reason for Ichigo’s strength as a Vaizard – the standing theory is that the shattered shaft merely released a hidden part of Ichigo’s soul that is being personified by Shirosaki.
Kaien was a good man and a good shinigami. He is sorely missed by the people who cared about him, but they find strength in remembering him and trying to do what he would do in times of trouble.
Rank: Vice-Captain
Zanpakutou info:
Shi-Kai: Nejibana
Release command: Reverse Swirl
Ban-Kai: None
Biography:
Shiba Kaien served as vice captain of the Thirteenth Division under Ukitake Jyuushiro. When he was alive he often took over Ukitake’s duties because of the captain’s illness. He wears the standard shinigami robes and has a tattoo of the Shiba family’s symbol on his arm. Kaien looks almost identical to Ichigo. The only differences are Kaien’s slightly longer black hair and the bottom eyelashes that seem to run in the Shiba family.
Kaien was the oldest of the Shiba siblings, and grew up in Rukongai, though the Shiba house was once one of the great noble houses. His sister Kuukaku and their younger brother Ganju don’t like shinigami very much, and they are still baffled by their older brother’s desire to become one. However, Kaien was very talented as a shinigami. He completed the six year curriculum of the Shinigami Academy after only two years, and went on to become vice captain of the Thirteenth.
He was the first person in Seireitei to treat Rukia like an ordinary person since her adoption into the Kuchiki family. Until he came along, she was treated with careful respect to her face and talked about and bashed behind her back. She was grateful for that, and eventually fell in love with him. She didn’t pursue him because Kaien was already married to the third seat of the Thirteenth. However, Kaien did appear to take a special interest in Rukia, probably because of her detached and slightly depressed manner. Rukia tended to jump when she saw him, much to his irritation. She also followed him like a puppy following its master.
When Kaien’s wife died at the hands of a hollow, Kaien swore revenge. Ukitake and Rukia accompanied him in his search. They found the hollow in its lair, and Kaien asked for permission to fight it alone. Ukitake granted permission, and Rukia watched in horror as the hollow’s abilities became apparent. Kaien’s zanpakutou was broken as soon as he touched the hollow.
Kaien continued to fight it alone. It obviously pained him to not help his vice captain, but when Rukia asked why they could help Kaien, he told her that it would kill his pride. Rukia yells at her captain, saying that pride isn’t important compared to life. He answers her calmly:
“Rukia, remember this. There are two types of fights. Whenever we are in battle, we must be one of the two. The fight for life or…the fight for pride! Right now…He is fighting for his pride! His wife’s pride…his men’s pride…Most importantly…his own personal pride. Dismiss this as his stubbornness…and let him fight alone like this…”
Those words haunt Rukia later in Ichigo’s fight against Grand Fisher.
Kaien held his own against the hollow for several minutes before the hollow revealed its true ability. It merged itself with Kaien, and when Ukitake stepped in, the hollow laughed maliciously and told him that he and Kaien were now the same being, because they were both spirits. It wasn’t the same as possession.
Rukia, who had been Hollow-Kaien’s first target, was told to run while Ukitake held it off, returned because she was afraid to face that cowardice. Ukitake was struck by his illness at that moment, and the Hollow-Kaien attacked her again. Ukitake yelled at her to kill it because it wasn’t Kaien anymore. She stabbed him through the heart. Kaien’s consciousness surfaced before he died and he thanked Ukitake for letting him fight alone. He thanked Rukia, and then apologized to her.
She took Kaien’s body back to the Shiba house to give to Kuukaku and Ganju. From that stemmed Ganju’s absolute hatred of all shinigami. Ukitake went to the Shiba house to explain to Kuukaku what had happened, and she accepted it and decided to forgive Rukia if she apologized. It took Rukia many years to work up the courage to do so.
Kuukaku and Ganju still make many of their own decisions based on what their brother would have done. That’s why Kuukaku agreed to help the Ichigo and Yoruichi. It’s also why Ganju eventually came around to helping them.
Ichigo is very close to Kaien in both looks and personality, which is probably why Rukia trusted him completely in chapter 001. At the moment, there is speculation on whether or not Ichigo is Kaien’s reincarnation based on them being very similar persons. If that is the case, there is further speculation on whether or not the hollow that merged with Kaien’s soul is still a part of that soul, and and if that is the reason for Ichigo’s strength as a Vaizard – the standing theory is that the shattered shaft merely released a hidden part of Ichigo’s soul that is being personified by Shirosaki.
Kaien was a good man and a good shinigami. He is sorely missed by the people who cared about him, but they find strength in remembering him and trying to do what he would do in times of trouble.
12th Division
Kurotshuchi Nemu
Rank: Vice-Captain
Zanpakutou info:
Description: It is not known if she even has a Zanpakutou, having been created by Kurotsuchi Mayuri, her direct Taicho and so-called father. Because she is also nearly constantly around him, she probably has no need to call one into combat either unless he commands her to.
Shi-Kai: None
Ban-Kai: None
Biography:
Nemu was created by Mayuri, from his own blood and other sources. Thus she is intensely loyal to him and feels only respect and affection for him even though he does not treat her as a person, or even his daughter, but more a slave. Despite her suffering she appears to be highly adept at demon arts, and is also immune to his poison created by his Zanpakutou, Ashisogi Jizou.
Nemu appears with Mayuri during the first day or so of the ryoka invasion, receiving a hell butterfly with an update on the situation. Informing Mayuri of the proceedings, she then follows him to the 4th Squad Medical Relief Station, where Mayuri tries to use force to get information out of Madarame Ikkaku about the ryoka. When Nemu tries to stop him from using his power, she is silenced and threatened. Madarame, seeing this, responds that he has no information whatsoever about the ryoka, risking his life. Mayuri is stopped in time by Zaraki Kenpachi and is forced to leave, bringing Nemu with him and telling her not to dawdle. As she leaves she gives an apologetic glance to Zaraki.
Nemu was also present at the Fukutaicho meeting regarding the situational update, but makes no comment. The next time she appears is when Mayuri fails to get both Ishida Uryuu and Inoue Orihime in a bomb trap. When Mayuri starts fighting with Ishida, Ishida deems that she is of no threat but is surprised when she tries to hold him down he attempts to shoot Mayuri after he releases his Zanpakutou. Despite that however, Mayuri slashes both of them together, and then proceeds to beat Nemu for letting go of Ishida and for asking him for life regeneration medicine, saying that she makes a fool out of him for making her so weak. Ishida manages to stop him from stabbing her on the spot.
After the fight, Nemu thanks Ishida for his actions and for not killing Mayuri, giving him the antidote to Mayuri’s poison. When Ishida asks why she could feel that way about someone like Mayuri, she answers that she does not understand it herself, but when she saw that Mayuri was still alive, she was a bit relieved.
Later Nemu’s is seen asking Mayuri after he revives in human form on the day of Rukia’s execution about Kotetsu Isane’s message. He answers that he has no interest, and so far, nothing else has been really seen of her.
Character:
The quintessential demure and petite lady, Nemu’s quiet disposition and her timid attitude can be directly attributed to Mayuri’s treatment. Despite this, she does have a sense of justice as evidenced by her trying to stop Mayuri from committing certain crimes if possible.
Rank: Vice-Captain
Zanpakutou info:
Description: It is not known if she even has a Zanpakutou, having been created by Kurotsuchi Mayuri, her direct Taicho and so-called father. Because she is also nearly constantly around him, she probably has no need to call one into combat either unless he commands her to.
Shi-Kai: None
Ban-Kai: None
Biography:
Nemu was created by Mayuri, from his own blood and other sources. Thus she is intensely loyal to him and feels only respect and affection for him even though he does not treat her as a person, or even his daughter, but more a slave. Despite her suffering she appears to be highly adept at demon arts, and is also immune to his poison created by his Zanpakutou, Ashisogi Jizou.
Nemu appears with Mayuri during the first day or so of the ryoka invasion, receiving a hell butterfly with an update on the situation. Informing Mayuri of the proceedings, she then follows him to the 4th Squad Medical Relief Station, where Mayuri tries to use force to get information out of Madarame Ikkaku about the ryoka. When Nemu tries to stop him from using his power, she is silenced and threatened. Madarame, seeing this, responds that he has no information whatsoever about the ryoka, risking his life. Mayuri is stopped in time by Zaraki Kenpachi and is forced to leave, bringing Nemu with him and telling her not to dawdle. As she leaves she gives an apologetic glance to Zaraki.
Nemu was also present at the Fukutaicho meeting regarding the situational update, but makes no comment. The next time she appears is when Mayuri fails to get both Ishida Uryuu and Inoue Orihime in a bomb trap. When Mayuri starts fighting with Ishida, Ishida deems that she is of no threat but is surprised when she tries to hold him down he attempts to shoot Mayuri after he releases his Zanpakutou. Despite that however, Mayuri slashes both of them together, and then proceeds to beat Nemu for letting go of Ishida and for asking him for life regeneration medicine, saying that she makes a fool out of him for making her so weak. Ishida manages to stop him from stabbing her on the spot.
After the fight, Nemu thanks Ishida for his actions and for not killing Mayuri, giving him the antidote to Mayuri’s poison. When Ishida asks why she could feel that way about someone like Mayuri, she answers that she does not understand it herself, but when she saw that Mayuri was still alive, she was a bit relieved.
Later Nemu’s is seen asking Mayuri after he revives in human form on the day of Rukia’s execution about Kotetsu Isane’s message. He answers that he has no interest, and so far, nothing else has been really seen of her.
Character:
The quintessential demure and petite lady, Nemu’s quiet disposition and her timid attitude can be directly attributed to Mayuri’s treatment. Despite this, she does have a sense of justice as evidenced by her trying to stop Mayuri from committing certain crimes if possible.
11th Division
Kusajika Yachiru
Rank: Vice-Captain
Zanpakutou info:
Unknown? We have yet to see Yachiru in action with her zanpakutou. However, it is appropriately short to match her height with a flower shaped guard.
Biography:
Eleventh Division Vice-Captain Kusajika Yachiru is very tiny, and very adorable with her bubblegum pink hair. She wears the normal shinigami robes, and thus far we have only seen her with the vice-captain insignia on her arm. She appears to be the youngest, as well as the smallest, among the captains and vice-captains, but she is respected throughout her division. Generally she’s seen hanging on to Zaraki Kenpachi’s shoulder. Yachiru makes up nicknames for the people she knows, including “Ichi” for Ichigo, “Big Boobies” for Orihime, and “Ken-chan” for Kenpachi.
Yachiru first appears in volume ten, hopping from the roof of a building onto Kenpachi’s shoulder as he makes his way to find and fight Ichigo. She has a horrible sense of direction, but despite that Kenpachi listens to her directions, which get him lost every time. Even though she and her captain appear to be polar opposites, she is utterly devoted to Kenpachi, and he to her. When Yachiru’s hyper-activity and Kenpachi’s constantly serious and power hungry demeanor are combined, a comically sweet relationship becomes evident.
She first met Kenpachi in one of the worst districts of Rukongai, the 79th district of the North Alley, Kusajika, as a nameless baby. She crawled over to him after he had killed several other men with his unnamed zanpakutou, and was completely unphased by the violence she had just witnessed or the blood on the sword. Even as Kenpachi warned her that the sword was dangerous, she reached out and touched it, giggling as her hand was covered in the blood of dead men. He adopted her after that, saving her from certain death in Rukongai. He named her Yachiru – “The name of the only person I ever cared about…I’ll give it to you.”
There is some speculation that Yachiru’s post as vice-captain of the eleventh squad is based on nepotism. However, in the brief appearances of Yachiru’s serious side, we have seen that she is extremely fast and strong enough to carry Kenpachi, who is twice her height and more than six times her weight. Also, no one appears to harbor feelings of ill will against her, even though the seated shinigami of the eleventh division seem to be vice-captain or captain level.
In serious situations, Yachiru will take control when Kenpachi is indisposed. For example, she took over leading Orihime, Ishida, Chad, and Ganju to the Soukyoku when Kenpachi was faced with the prospect of fighting Komamura and Tousen. When the execution proceedings began, Yachiru used her super speed to go ahead and try to delay the execution as a favor to Orihime, who she seems to have taken a particular liking to, perhaps because of their similar innocent natures.
Most of Yachiru’s appearances are for comic relief, though her serious side is pretty scary. She is an intimidating figure when she wants to be. She is cute and quirky, and the president of the Shinigami Women’s Association. It seems that Ikkaku takes care of most of the vice-captain paperwork, probably because Yachiru doesn’t think it’s worth her time. From what we’ve seen in the color omake, her weakness is candy and one of her favorite things to do appears to be to run around like crazy and drive Ikkaku crazy.
For all her faults, Yachiru appears to be a competent leader, and the one of the cutest characters in Bleach. When she decides she likes someone she’ll go to any means to help them when they need it.
Rank: Vice-Captain
Zanpakutou info:
Unknown? We have yet to see Yachiru in action with her zanpakutou. However, it is appropriately short to match her height with a flower shaped guard.
Biography:
Eleventh Division Vice-Captain Kusajika Yachiru is very tiny, and very adorable with her bubblegum pink hair. She wears the normal shinigami robes, and thus far we have only seen her with the vice-captain insignia on her arm. She appears to be the youngest, as well as the smallest, among the captains and vice-captains, but she is respected throughout her division. Generally she’s seen hanging on to Zaraki Kenpachi’s shoulder. Yachiru makes up nicknames for the people she knows, including “Ichi” for Ichigo, “Big Boobies” for Orihime, and “Ken-chan” for Kenpachi.
Yachiru first appears in volume ten, hopping from the roof of a building onto Kenpachi’s shoulder as he makes his way to find and fight Ichigo. She has a horrible sense of direction, but despite that Kenpachi listens to her directions, which get him lost every time. Even though she and her captain appear to be polar opposites, she is utterly devoted to Kenpachi, and he to her. When Yachiru’s hyper-activity and Kenpachi’s constantly serious and power hungry demeanor are combined, a comically sweet relationship becomes evident.
She first met Kenpachi in one of the worst districts of Rukongai, the 79th district of the North Alley, Kusajika, as a nameless baby. She crawled over to him after he had killed several other men with his unnamed zanpakutou, and was completely unphased by the violence she had just witnessed or the blood on the sword. Even as Kenpachi warned her that the sword was dangerous, she reached out and touched it, giggling as her hand was covered in the blood of dead men. He adopted her after that, saving her from certain death in Rukongai. He named her Yachiru – “The name of the only person I ever cared about…I’ll give it to you.”
There is some speculation that Yachiru’s post as vice-captain of the eleventh squad is based on nepotism. However, in the brief appearances of Yachiru’s serious side, we have seen that she is extremely fast and strong enough to carry Kenpachi, who is twice her height and more than six times her weight. Also, no one appears to harbor feelings of ill will against her, even though the seated shinigami of the eleventh division seem to be vice-captain or captain level.
In serious situations, Yachiru will take control when Kenpachi is indisposed. For example, she took over leading Orihime, Ishida, Chad, and Ganju to the Soukyoku when Kenpachi was faced with the prospect of fighting Komamura and Tousen. When the execution proceedings began, Yachiru used her super speed to go ahead and try to delay the execution as a favor to Orihime, who she seems to have taken a particular liking to, perhaps because of their similar innocent natures.
Most of Yachiru’s appearances are for comic relief, though her serious side is pretty scary. She is an intimidating figure when she wants to be. She is cute and quirky, and the president of the Shinigami Women’s Association. It seems that Ikkaku takes care of most of the vice-captain paperwork, probably because Yachiru doesn’t think it’s worth her time. From what we’ve seen in the color omake, her weakness is candy and one of her favorite things to do appears to be to run around like crazy and drive Ikkaku crazy.
For all her faults, Yachiru appears to be a competent leader, and the one of the cutest characters in Bleach. When she decides she likes someone she’ll go to any means to help them when they need it.
10th Division
Matsumoto Rangiku
Rank: Vice-Captain
Zanpakutou info:
Shi-Kai → Shi-Kai: Hai Neko (Ash Cat) - release command → "Roar!" Ban-Kai → None
Biography:
Making her first appearance as a very bothered Vice-Captain in the meeting called for all Vice-Captains, Rangiku may strike many males as one of the better looking females of Soul Society’s top echelons, even if the major reason being her cleavage.
Nevertheless, during the report, she gains an attitude of seriousness that immediately sets the record straight – she will do her duty whenever needed, and back it up with a serious attitude and her combat skills if need be.
She is also the one who holds Hinamori Momo after her little skirmish with Kira Izuru, when her Captain, Hitsugaya Toushirou orders them arrested. She then had a little conversation with Hinamori while the latter was being kept in the 5th Squad cells and handed her a letter addressed to her by Aizen, that Hitsugaya had found in Aizen’s room.
A scene before the escape of the three Vice-Captains, Hinamori, Kira and Abarai Renji, tells us a little about Rangiku’s history. When young, she was about to die of starvation when a boy hands her something to eat. That boy, Ichimaru Gin, saved her life, and for that she is forever grateful to him, even going so far as to like him.
Later, when Hitsugaya faces off with Ichimaru Gin, she stops Ichimaru’s blade from killing an unconscious Hinamori, thus saving Hinamori’s life. It is then that she wonders where Ichimaru will go from there. While thus occupied with their own thoughts, a message comes via a hell butterfly for them stating that the execution of Kuchiki Rukia was being pushed forward. Hitsugaya, determined to get to the bottom of the matter, realizes that the only way to do so would be to stop the execution. He thus orders Rangiku to follow him to Center 46, where they make the shocking discovery later that the entire Center 46 has been massacred.
Following Kira’s bait, Hitsugaya later returns to Center 46 upon being told that Hinamori had been following them. When Hitsugaya leaves, Kira releases his own Zanpakutou to fight against Rangiku who had been ordered to continue the chase. Despite blocking Kira’s attacks, the ability of Kira’s Zanpakutou doubles her weapon’s weight seven times, forcing her to release her own Zanpakutou. She defeats him and then learns of the truth behind Center 46.
When she arrives at the Sougyoku, she holds Ichimaru’s arm and places her Zanpakutou on his neck, asking him not to move and effectively placing him under arrest. When the Gillian’s Negashion comes down to save Ichimaru however, she releases her hold upon him. Ichimaru then expresses his regret that she could have held onto him a little longer, and that he was sorry. He then bids her a farewell.
Later, Rangiku is dismayed over this turn of events, but when Kira turns up to apologize to her, she asks him to forget everything, and to join her in a revelry of sake which ends up with all of them being drunk.
Rangiku is now in the living world, having just fought off an Arrancar by lifting the limit that is placed upon all Vice-Captains and Captains and their spirit power when they enter the living world. She currently resides with Inoue Orihime.
Character:
Rangiku is a fun woman at heart, and this shows when she is not embarrassed to talk about her cleavage openly, especially in the scene where Hitsugaya brings Kira to her for the latter’s apology. Her serious side for duty and work also shows through her dedication to follow her Captain and solve the mystery behind Rukia’s execution, and also to attempt to stop Ichimaru despite her liking for him. Truly a good mix of the fun and the serious, Rangiku also loves looking pretty, and, of course, she has the beauty deserving of praise, even aside from her cleavage.
Rank: Vice-Captain
Zanpakutou info:
Shi-Kai → Shi-Kai: Hai Neko (Ash Cat) - release command → "Roar!" Ban-Kai → None
Biography:
Making her first appearance as a very bothered Vice-Captain in the meeting called for all Vice-Captains, Rangiku may strike many males as one of the better looking females of Soul Society’s top echelons, even if the major reason being her cleavage.
Nevertheless, during the report, she gains an attitude of seriousness that immediately sets the record straight – she will do her duty whenever needed, and back it up with a serious attitude and her combat skills if need be.
She is also the one who holds Hinamori Momo after her little skirmish with Kira Izuru, when her Captain, Hitsugaya Toushirou orders them arrested. She then had a little conversation with Hinamori while the latter was being kept in the 5th Squad cells and handed her a letter addressed to her by Aizen, that Hitsugaya had found in Aizen’s room.
A scene before the escape of the three Vice-Captains, Hinamori, Kira and Abarai Renji, tells us a little about Rangiku’s history. When young, she was about to die of starvation when a boy hands her something to eat. That boy, Ichimaru Gin, saved her life, and for that she is forever grateful to him, even going so far as to like him.
Later, when Hitsugaya faces off with Ichimaru Gin, she stops Ichimaru’s blade from killing an unconscious Hinamori, thus saving Hinamori’s life. It is then that she wonders where Ichimaru will go from there. While thus occupied with their own thoughts, a message comes via a hell butterfly for them stating that the execution of Kuchiki Rukia was being pushed forward. Hitsugaya, determined to get to the bottom of the matter, realizes that the only way to do so would be to stop the execution. He thus orders Rangiku to follow him to Center 46, where they make the shocking discovery later that the entire Center 46 has been massacred.
Following Kira’s bait, Hitsugaya later returns to Center 46 upon being told that Hinamori had been following them. When Hitsugaya leaves, Kira releases his own Zanpakutou to fight against Rangiku who had been ordered to continue the chase. Despite blocking Kira’s attacks, the ability of Kira’s Zanpakutou doubles her weapon’s weight seven times, forcing her to release her own Zanpakutou. She defeats him and then learns of the truth behind Center 46.
When she arrives at the Sougyoku, she holds Ichimaru’s arm and places her Zanpakutou on his neck, asking him not to move and effectively placing him under arrest. When the Gillian’s Negashion comes down to save Ichimaru however, she releases her hold upon him. Ichimaru then expresses his regret that she could have held onto him a little longer, and that he was sorry. He then bids her a farewell.
Later, Rangiku is dismayed over this turn of events, but when Kira turns up to apologize to her, she asks him to forget everything, and to join her in a revelry of sake which ends up with all of them being drunk.
Rangiku is now in the living world, having just fought off an Arrancar by lifting the limit that is placed upon all Vice-Captains and Captains and their spirit power when they enter the living world. She currently resides with Inoue Orihime.
Character:
Rangiku is a fun woman at heart, and this shows when she is not embarrassed to talk about her cleavage openly, especially in the scene where Hitsugaya brings Kira to her for the latter’s apology. Her serious side for duty and work also shows through her dedication to follow her Captain and solve the mystery behind Rukia’s execution, and also to attempt to stop Ichimaru despite her liking for him. Truly a good mix of the fun and the serious, Rangiku also loves looking pretty, and, of course, she has the beauty deserving of praise, even aside from her cleavage.
9th Division
Hisagi Shuuhei
Rank: Vice-Captain
Zanpakutou info:
Nothing is known about Shuuhei’s zanpakutou. It appears that when he was winning against Yumichika, he didn’t even bother releasing it. However, he was taken by surprise by Yumichika’s shikai, and defeated before he had a chance to do anything.
Ban-Kai: None
Biography:
Hisagi Shuuhei served as vice captain to Tousen Kaname in the Ninth Division. Since Tousen’s betrayal with Aizen, the current status of the Ninth Division’s captainship is unknown, so it could be assumed that Shuuhei is acting captain until a new captain is chosen.
Shuuhei has short, dark hair and wears sleeveless shinigami robes, and has the number 69 tattooed to his left cheek and has a set of three scars straight over his eye and down his right cheek. He also has a blue, stripe tattoo running across his left cheek and over the bridge of his nose over the 69. He wears what appears to be a jeweled choker around his throat, and a matching armband on his right arm. He has his vice captain insignia tied to his left arm.
Hisagi Shuuhei was a famous shinigami even before he was officially a shinigami. In the omake chapter directly preceding chapter 173, we learn from Kira Izuru that Shuuhei was already taking missions from the Gotei 13 even though he was still a student of the Shinigami Academy. In that same chapter, Shuuhei is assigned, along with two of his classmates, to lead a field lesson on performing the konso with Freshman Class One, Kira, Renji, and Hinamori’s class. All went well until the end of the lesson, when the class was taken by surprise by a group of giant hollows.
Both of Shuuhei’s classmates are killed, and he orders all the freshmen to run as he tries to hold off the hollows until help arrives. However, he is quickly overpowered, and if Hinamori, Kira, and Renji hadn’t turned back, Shuuhei would have died then and there. Backup arrives in the form of Captain Aizen and his then Vice Captain Ichimaru Gin. The scars on Shuuhei’s face were acquired in that incident.
Before Rukia’s execution, Shuuhei accompanies his captain Tousen and the captain and vice captain of the Seventh Division, Komamura Sajin and Iba Tetsuzaemon, to confront Captain Zaraki Kenpachi of the Eleventh Division because Kenpachi is assisting the ryoka. Though Kenpachi claims that he can take on all four and assumes the others have gone ahead. However, he is surprised to discover his third and fifth seat officers have remained behind to challenge the two vice captains. Kenpachi grants permission for Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika to fight Iba and Shuuhei. They lead their opponents away from the captains in order to avoid getting in the way. Ikkaku takes Iba and Yumichika takes Shuuhei.
In the beginning of the fight, Shuuhei is winning, and chides Yumichika for thinking a fifth seat shinigami could defeat a vice captain. However, Yumichika turns the tables by releasing his zanpakutou, which, until that point, was all but unknown. The next time we see Shuuhei, he’s collapsed in exhaustion and disbelief. To quote him directly: “I didn’t know a zanpakutou like that even existed...” Yumichika rejoins Kenpachi after his captain is done battling, and he looks more full of energy than when he began.
Shuuhei is devastated by the news that Tousen is a traitor to Soul Society. In the aftermath of Aizen’s retreat into Hueco Mundo he visits the grave of Tousen’s friend, and encounters Komamura, one of Tousen’s best friends. They swear to each other that they will save Tousen from himself and his crazed sense of justice.
After that the Tenth Division Vice Captain Matsumoto Rangiku sees him and invites him to drink with her and Kira, who is already passed out. Shuuhei accepts the invitation only to find that Kira needs some serious attention and Rangiku is just ignoring him so she can keep drinking.
From the few other times we’ve seen Shuuhei, he’s generally been in the company of Kira or Renji. He apparently comes from the lower class, but when he’s pressed for cash, he’ll rely on any free food source available, including one provided by someone as obtuse and snotty as the vice captain of the Second Division, Oomaeda Marechiyo. He’s also just as perverted as the other male shinigami, and has a crush on Matsumoto.
Shuuhei is a loyal shinigami whose ideals have been thrown for a minor loop by the betrayal of his captain. He is currently still in Seireitei, and it is yet unknown whether or not he’ll show up on Earth with Renji, Matsumoto, Hitsugaya, Ikkaku, and Yumichika. However, it is a sure thing that we’ll see him again sooner or later, because of his vow to save Tousen.
Rank: Vice-Captain
Zanpakutou info:
Nothing is known about Shuuhei’s zanpakutou. It appears that when he was winning against Yumichika, he didn’t even bother releasing it. However, he was taken by surprise by Yumichika’s shikai, and defeated before he had a chance to do anything.
Ban-Kai: None
Biography:
Hisagi Shuuhei served as vice captain to Tousen Kaname in the Ninth Division. Since Tousen’s betrayal with Aizen, the current status of the Ninth Division’s captainship is unknown, so it could be assumed that Shuuhei is acting captain until a new captain is chosen.
Shuuhei has short, dark hair and wears sleeveless shinigami robes, and has the number 69 tattooed to his left cheek and has a set of three scars straight over his eye and down his right cheek. He also has a blue, stripe tattoo running across his left cheek and over the bridge of his nose over the 69. He wears what appears to be a jeweled choker around his throat, and a matching armband on his right arm. He has his vice captain insignia tied to his left arm.
Hisagi Shuuhei was a famous shinigami even before he was officially a shinigami. In the omake chapter directly preceding chapter 173, we learn from Kira Izuru that Shuuhei was already taking missions from the Gotei 13 even though he was still a student of the Shinigami Academy. In that same chapter, Shuuhei is assigned, along with two of his classmates, to lead a field lesson on performing the konso with Freshman Class One, Kira, Renji, and Hinamori’s class. All went well until the end of the lesson, when the class was taken by surprise by a group of giant hollows.
Both of Shuuhei’s classmates are killed, and he orders all the freshmen to run as he tries to hold off the hollows until help arrives. However, he is quickly overpowered, and if Hinamori, Kira, and Renji hadn’t turned back, Shuuhei would have died then and there. Backup arrives in the form of Captain Aizen and his then Vice Captain Ichimaru Gin. The scars on Shuuhei’s face were acquired in that incident.
Before Rukia’s execution, Shuuhei accompanies his captain Tousen and the captain and vice captain of the Seventh Division, Komamura Sajin and Iba Tetsuzaemon, to confront Captain Zaraki Kenpachi of the Eleventh Division because Kenpachi is assisting the ryoka. Though Kenpachi claims that he can take on all four and assumes the others have gone ahead. However, he is surprised to discover his third and fifth seat officers have remained behind to challenge the two vice captains. Kenpachi grants permission for Madarame Ikkaku and Ayasegawa Yumichika to fight Iba and Shuuhei. They lead their opponents away from the captains in order to avoid getting in the way. Ikkaku takes Iba and Yumichika takes Shuuhei.
In the beginning of the fight, Shuuhei is winning, and chides Yumichika for thinking a fifth seat shinigami could defeat a vice captain. However, Yumichika turns the tables by releasing his zanpakutou, which, until that point, was all but unknown. The next time we see Shuuhei, he’s collapsed in exhaustion and disbelief. To quote him directly: “I didn’t know a zanpakutou like that even existed...” Yumichika rejoins Kenpachi after his captain is done battling, and he looks more full of energy than when he began.
Shuuhei is devastated by the news that Tousen is a traitor to Soul Society. In the aftermath of Aizen’s retreat into Hueco Mundo he visits the grave of Tousen’s friend, and encounters Komamura, one of Tousen’s best friends. They swear to each other that they will save Tousen from himself and his crazed sense of justice.
After that the Tenth Division Vice Captain Matsumoto Rangiku sees him and invites him to drink with her and Kira, who is already passed out. Shuuhei accepts the invitation only to find that Kira needs some serious attention and Rangiku is just ignoring him so she can keep drinking.
From the few other times we’ve seen Shuuhei, he’s generally been in the company of Kira or Renji. He apparently comes from the lower class, but when he’s pressed for cash, he’ll rely on any free food source available, including one provided by someone as obtuse and snotty as the vice captain of the Second Division, Oomaeda Marechiyo. He’s also just as perverted as the other male shinigami, and has a crush on Matsumoto.
Shuuhei is a loyal shinigami whose ideals have been thrown for a minor loop by the betrayal of his captain. He is currently still in Seireitei, and it is yet unknown whether or not he’ll show up on Earth with Renji, Matsumoto, Hitsugaya, Ikkaku, and Yumichika. However, it is a sure thing that we’ll see him again sooner or later, because of his vow to save Tousen.
8th Division
Ise Nanao
Rank: Vice-Captain
Zanpakutou info:
Description: Ise Nanao has never once released her Zanpakutou, seemingly more dependent on her demon arts.
Shi-Kai: None
Ban-Kai: None
Biography:
The standard teacher stereotype female character, Ise is a rather uptight, bespectacled and always serious girl. Despite her slender and demure appearance, the fact that she has made it to the rank of Fukutaicho and has never once seen fit to release her Zanpakutou (though this could be due to the fact that Kyouraku Shunsui has always protected her) during all this time proves that she is not one to be trifled with.
She first appears in the Fukutaicho meeting, but does not make an actual appearance till Sado Yasutora (Chad) makes his way to the 8th Squad’s offices. She is seen in a conversation with her Taicho, who delights in teasing her, often calling her “Nanao-chan!” much to her dislike.
During the course of the conversation she is seen as a serious and able assistant to Kyouraku, though having to put up with his teasing all the time. However her expression at the end of it shows that she does care about him, although one may question what kind of care this is.
Later she is seen to be helping Kyouraku by scattering flower petals as he makes his grand entrance. Unfortunately she is not inclined to stop even when he asks her to, and when he goes into his usual irritating routine of calling her Nanao-chan, she drops the entire petal basket onto him, creating a comical sight.
During the fight between Kyouraku and Chad she stays out of the picture, and then receives a message from the Covert Forward Corps, informing her of the murder of Aizen Sousuke. She runs to Kyouraku to tell him, and then as they turn to leave, she notices that Chad, who has been cut by Kyouraku, is not dead. She asks permission to deliver the finishing blow, but is denied it by Kyouraku who talks her out of it and asks her to bring the 4th Squad to save Chad. Much later, during the day of Kuchiki Rukia’s execution, she finds her Taicho as usual up on a roof. She puts up once again with his teasing as she tries to hurry him to the Soukyoku Stands. As he asks her what he should do, she tells him that no matter what she thinks or advises, he would still do what he wanted to. “Don’t worry,” she also said, “I will stay several steps behind you, so as not to get caught in trouble, but I will follow.”
After the failed execution, Nanao-chan follows Kyouraku and Ukitake Juushirou to place where they could battle Yamamoto without getting anyone else implicated. She then describes the power that is Yamamoto, but while trying to do something, she is caught in Yamamoto’s stare and suffocated by his power. Kyouraku breaks the eye contact to save her, and brings her to a safer spot. She then realizes that it is not only difficult to win Yamamoto even with two Taicho on their side, it is next to impossible.
Ise does not make any appearance after this and seems to have been pushed to the background for the time being, even in the filler arc.
Character:
An able and serious person, Ise is always ready to follow the rules but also to stand up for justice if necessary, such as the help she provided to Kyouraku to stop Rukia’s execution. She also is almost never seen without a book, and despite her irritation at her Taicho’s teasing, she cares a lot for him and just shows it in different ways. Despite her being uptight, this just makes her, and her coldness all the more wonderful.
Rank: Vice-Captain
Zanpakutou info:
Description: Ise Nanao has never once released her Zanpakutou, seemingly more dependent on her demon arts.
Shi-Kai: None
Ban-Kai: None
Biography:
The standard teacher stereotype female character, Ise is a rather uptight, bespectacled and always serious girl. Despite her slender and demure appearance, the fact that she has made it to the rank of Fukutaicho and has never once seen fit to release her Zanpakutou (though this could be due to the fact that Kyouraku Shunsui has always protected her) during all this time proves that she is not one to be trifled with.
She first appears in the Fukutaicho meeting, but does not make an actual appearance till Sado Yasutora (Chad) makes his way to the 8th Squad’s offices. She is seen in a conversation with her Taicho, who delights in teasing her, often calling her “Nanao-chan!” much to her dislike.
During the course of the conversation she is seen as a serious and able assistant to Kyouraku, though having to put up with his teasing all the time. However her expression at the end of it shows that she does care about him, although one may question what kind of care this is.
Later she is seen to be helping Kyouraku by scattering flower petals as he makes his grand entrance. Unfortunately she is not inclined to stop even when he asks her to, and when he goes into his usual irritating routine of calling her Nanao-chan, she drops the entire petal basket onto him, creating a comical sight.
During the fight between Kyouraku and Chad she stays out of the picture, and then receives a message from the Covert Forward Corps, informing her of the murder of Aizen Sousuke. She runs to Kyouraku to tell him, and then as they turn to leave, she notices that Chad, who has been cut by Kyouraku, is not dead. She asks permission to deliver the finishing blow, but is denied it by Kyouraku who talks her out of it and asks her to bring the 4th Squad to save Chad. Much later, during the day of Kuchiki Rukia’s execution, she finds her Taicho as usual up on a roof. She puts up once again with his teasing as she tries to hurry him to the Soukyoku Stands. As he asks her what he should do, she tells him that no matter what she thinks or advises, he would still do what he wanted to. “Don’t worry,” she also said, “I will stay several steps behind you, so as not to get caught in trouble, but I will follow.”
After the failed execution, Nanao-chan follows Kyouraku and Ukitake Juushirou to place where they could battle Yamamoto without getting anyone else implicated. She then describes the power that is Yamamoto, but while trying to do something, she is caught in Yamamoto’s stare and suffocated by his power. Kyouraku breaks the eye contact to save her, and brings her to a safer spot. She then realizes that it is not only difficult to win Yamamoto even with two Taicho on their side, it is next to impossible.
Ise does not make any appearance after this and seems to have been pushed to the background for the time being, even in the filler arc.
Character:
An able and serious person, Ise is always ready to follow the rules but also to stand up for justice if necessary, such as the help she provided to Kyouraku to stop Rukia’s execution. She also is almost never seen without a book, and despite her irritation at her Taicho’s teasing, she cares a lot for him and just shows it in different ways. Despite her being uptight, this just makes her, and her coldness all the more wonderful.
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