Chinda Kiriko [Finished]

Shinigami

For the Record

"That which I have done cannot be purged from my soul and it stands as a mark on my face so that whoever I come across will know my sins. I fell to arrogance and the worst of lies and promises. The honeyed nectar was poisoned, but that does not make it anyone's fault but my own. For what I have done, am I a Monster? For what exists within, can I ever escape that title? Is redemption even possible?" 

Name: Chinda Kiriko
Age: 116
Appearance Age: Late twenties
Gender: Female
Loyalties: For a very long time Kiriko was loyal only to herself. She liked to tell herself that her reason for being a Shinigami was familial duty, and that she was serving her Otousama by working for the Gotei, but eventually this turned out to be a lie she made to herself to feel better about what she was doing. As time went on Kiriko put her faith in her Captain, Tsukimiya Kyousuke, the one man who had picked her out of the rubble and set her up at his side as his Lieutenant. Watching his efficiency and his ability to lead the Nibantai where they needed to go, Kiriko devoted herself to this man, to the ideal he represented. When again life changed, she never wavered in her loyalty towards Tsukimiya-taichou, but slowly and surely Kiriko grew confident of her own self again. Confident of some of her comrades. And eventually she began to consider herself motivated not by personal greed, not solely by ambition or safety, but instead by that ideal view of Seireitei she had once held as a soul in Rukongai. Kiriko had gone through the roles of the bad Shinigami, of the rule-breaker, the self-obsessed, and she has come out the other side with a feeling of pride in her race. In the duties and goals of the Gotei to protect and serve. For now Seireitei holds her loyalty, and one man in particular is the path she sees towards perfection for the Shinigami. Above all Kiriko holds a few threads of honor together at her core. Dedication, hard work, and perseverance. These are the things she feels should sum up the Shinigami, and it is to these principles that she is loyal above and beyond the state of affairs or current laws. She has finally come full circle, giving her loyalty to herself once more. But not to her darkest urges as before but instead to the noble ideals she holds so precious to the continuance and betterment of her world. Kiriko is still fiercely embroiled in her own survival. Therefore it is when she puts another cause or life over her own that she is at her most dangerous.

Character Parameters



A butterfly came along and tried its best to follow the dragonfly, but it was impossible.

Height: 5'5
Weight:  170 lbs
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Charcoal Black
Reiatsu: Kiriko's reiatsu is a dark purple nearing on black. Instead of expanding and crushing like so many other highly spiritual souls her reiatsu is focused and laser sharp. It creates a sense of danger, a sense of being honed in on, a sense of narrowed eyes. Physically it is never very visible unless she releases Shunko, in which case the reiatsu pours out around her body and flickers in the air like flames eating up the sky. The sound of crackling and snapping is very loud in the first few seconds but soon calms down as the reaitsu itself relaxes into softer undulations around her body. The technique isn't flashy and it has been called beautiful by some, but to Kiriko the main flaw is that you cannot use it in a stealth situation. 
Noticable Difference: Kiriko has a sturdy build, with her feet planted firmly on the ground. Symmetrical, her arms are always doing the same thing at the same time, giving her a sense of flowing movement in all that she does. With broad shoulders and a square stance Kiriko stands as if she was facing a marching army, her body locked into rigid preparation as if she were a rock in the middle of a path. Kiriko is very firm in her appearance and this seriousness and no-nonsense attitude is something easily conveyed by her tall posture and collected gestures. In essence Kiriko appears to give off the impression of competence and professionalism, and of one who does things well. In times of trouble, she is often approached by sight alone as someone who would know what to do, and this sort of innate responsibility weighs on her heavily.

Her skin is cream colored, never pale but not exactly tan either Kiriko makes an effort to stay out of the sun because she doesn't want to burn and ruin her complexion which is the one thing she is vain about. A hidden nuance that Kiriko tries to hide, because of its connotation with femininity which she associates with weakness, but nonetheless, it is her one personal trait that brings a true sort of happiness to Kiriko's perspective – something that makes her feel pretty. The rest of Kiriko's body is somewhat androgynous, as if by honing her body to be a tool she has lost the part of herself that is female or even gendered at all. Flat-chested and straight as a reed, she lacks womanly curves or even the normal fat distribution that one could infer to be female. Instead, Kiriko is lithe and wiry, with muscles that don't so much bulge as they add to her solid framework.

Without the appearance of an obvious “tough” or the slender body of a runner, Kiriko has the trouble of just looking average. Too much mass to be considered thin, and yet too small to be a true muscle-bound fighter, she has to rely on her own tactics to maneuver the battlefield. As of yet she is an unmarked warrior, having never sustained an injury of any note – Kiriko is secretly pleased that she has no scars to show when the fighters get into their old battle story times, even though it often gets her nothing but derision as the general image of a fighter is one who has something to show for their battles.

Her hair is black like the night sky, not so much a lack of pigment but a swirl of grays and darker tones. She used to only wear it back and up, in a tight bun, but ever since Tsukimiya-taichou returned Kiriko has taken to letting her hair hang loose around her shoulders. Glossy and with a feathered texture she nonetheless maintains a short enough haircut that it cannot be used as a hold against her in battle. The loose hair has done something to soften her facial features and while Kiriko is not what anyone would call traditionally "beautiful" she at least does not look as severe as she used to. Kiriko no longer commands respect simply by nature of her appearance, although her face has yet to lose its narrowed scowl.
 
Her features are unremarkable, with almond shaped eyes and short lashes. The only thing anyone ever notices is that her narrow eyes give her an almost snake-like glare. Rumor has it that she has killed by scowl alone and in the Second there are still people who fondly recall her ability to stare at someone and intimidate them into giving up right then and there without a finger being raised. Indeed, Kiriko's glare is her most well known feature and something people associate with her name just as easily as they think up her amazing track record or skill in hand to hand combat. It isn't so much her eyes which intimidate, as it is Kiriko's well honed ability to release just enough reiatsu when she stares to shake an opponent. And perhaps the rumors of her utterly destroying those who dare attempt insubordination in her presence have spread quite a long ways as well.

Despite her glare being legendary Kiriko's face is almost always bland and blank. She has learned in her own deep study of facial expressions and body language how to mask herself to a grand scale. It takes someone with true skill, usually with reiatsu perception, to read past her impassive look. It doesn't help that her repertoire of "believable" expressions still lacks the ability to fake smile and even when she tries to smile the expression is so foreign to the overly serious Shinigami that it comes out looking wan or pained in defiance of her effort to appear otherwise. Of late she has been "re-learning" emotional depth, exploring the range that was for so long locked away. This has made Kiriko feel incredibly awkward, facially, and she still feels best with total composure. 
 
Her forehead slopes back at a delicate angle, and her eyebrows are thin and arched, giving her face an oblong and sparse appearance. Pale lips, usually clenched tight, are almost never with color instead remaining a tense white. She has learned to relax slightly, appreciating time with a cup of hot tea or quiet moments with the select few she calls friends. But nonetheless Kiriko's face never quite thaws out as her obsessive attention to detail and inability to set aside work keep her keyed up at all times. With narrow cheekbones, Kiriko doesn't so much as look sophisticated as she looks angular. An awkward appearance considering she isn't as tall as one might have hoped. 

Kiriko wears black. Even when left free to choose her own clothing, she never deviates from that color. It is something of her view of herself, that she must clothe herself in the most formal of colors so as never to forget her place in society. Despite this lack of change in her wardrobe, Kiriko actually has the habit of always buying new clothing when she sees it. Her perpetual fear that she will run out of clothing or be left cold and without attire is something that would seem irrational if only anyone had actually noticed it. Because of this annoying weakness she actually has quite a lot of clothing in her closet, although she never deviates from the staid and true uniform of a Shinigami if she has any say in the matter. Her uniform is a reminder of her pride, of her duty, and of her accomplishments. She never wants to be viewed as anything less then what she has achieved and truly despises "dressing down" or wearing casual clothing because it reminds her too much of her painful childhood in the Rukongai. For Kiriko her clothes are her armor, the things that keep her safe and mobile and powerful. 
 
Recently she has realized that if she is going to spend any time in the human world at all she needed to buy mortal clothes. It was an exercise in futility to find things that matched her traditional aesthetics and eventually Kiriko found a set of clothes that she prefers above all others on a mission with Kohara. A thin long dark blue coat with many pockets both inside and outside. It buttons down the front and hangs at thigh length. Beneath it she wears an ordinary grey turtleneck and either dark slacks or a dark blue pleated skirt. Long lace up combat books and a pair of leather gloves complete the look, although she is prone to wearing a black scarf as well to better conceal her face. 

A Captain's haori is the newest addition to her wardrobe, a stark clash with her black attire. For a very long time she clung to Tsukimiya-taichou's blood soaked haori, but when the time came she accepted a fresh and unmarked article for her own reign as Captain of the Second Division. 
 
Positive Traits

• Loyal - Kiriko can be defined by that one word; loyal. She rarely gives out her fidelity but once given there is no stepping back. She will do anything for those who she believes deserve her faith. Loyalty is granted based mainly on patriotism. Her first true loyalty was to Tsukimiya-taichou, a man she knew could fix all that was wrong with society, and especially the Nibantai. His effortless ability to lead, and his amazing efficiency were enough to garner her undying fealty. He later proved himself again and again, but at no time could she question his ability to make and shift the world they lived in, and his propensity for improving the world. These are the types of people she gives her faith to, those who will make things better, whom she can trust to do their best in all endeavors. But on a personal level she also gives her loyalty to friends, few though they number these people earn her respect through more human trials. To be considered a friend, it is a great concession from the always business-like Kiriko, and she cherishes those loyalties often above and beyond her professional ones. 
• Professional - Kiriko lives and breaths the job. She exists to personify her title and rank. Her entire center of being is based upon successfully completing the tasks before her, and not just getting it done but doing it right. Some might call her stuffy, unfeeling, recalcitrant, but to Kiriko none of that matters if there is a mission at stake. She has learned the importance of human relationships but still struggles to balance the very real need with her absolute desire to be perfect. Her ideal of the Nibantai is such that she strives each and every day to give them her best, no matter what personal sacrifices she has to make to do that. 
• Efficient - The mindset of a leader requires professionalism, but the mind of a follower is filled with efficiency. Kiriko has yet to let go of her life as a Lieutenant, and still prides herself on her amazing record of competency. Quite simply put, Kiriko gets things done. Always has and always will. This kind of dependability is a hallmark of her tenure as a Shinigami, and is directly related to her promotion to Lieutenant and finally Captain. It is this trait that most of all allows her subordinates to trust her with their lives, despite her recent dark history. 
• Kindhearted - For a very long time Kiriko anguished in her kind heart. She did her duty, always, but went home bleeding quietly after completing tasks that did not agree with her conscious despite their necessity. Having now committed grave crimes of her own free will, Kiriko cherishes her heart even more so then she ever did before. Instead of ignoring it, she tries to listen to what it tells her, though this is often difficult with the mantle of responsibility still upon her shoulders. As Captain of the Second she has to command and commit many acts that are ignoble and even wrong for the betterment of society, and yet Kiriko has resolved to keep hold of her heart despite the pain felt when she is torn in two by the requirements of her job and her history. For now, she views this painful heart as her penance for her wrongs. It is the least she can bear in recompense. 
• Far-Sighted - Coming into her own amongst the Nibantai has taught Kiriko to plan for the future and stage the longer game. Originally haste was part of her nature, it had to be because she desired so fiercely that waiting didn't seem possible. But more and more she has begun to appreciate planning and waiting and watching things come to fruition. Caution has crept back into her life, not the terror of her earlier years but the wisdom of someone who has lived through many fights and only come out alive because of that knowledge. Kiriko has an eye for the future of the Shinigami race, and perhaps even the world, and she is willing to sit on those thoughts and see what will unfurl now. 

Negative Traits

• Damned - Kiriko is a damned soul. She has committed atrocitous and crimes against humanity, so many that her hands are forever tainted with the blood of innocents. Some of those crimes were committed for the greater good, but many were done when she was under the influence of Tova’s words. None of that removes her own responsibility for the actions though, because they were her choice to commit. No one pushed her, no one forced her. Kiriko did those things because she wanted to, or because she could justify it. That it why she is damned instead of being a victim. And that is why she feels such guilt and horror over her past. So much so that she will have to learn how to carry her crimes and live on before she is crushed under the weight.

• Prideful - If Kiriko has one flaw, it is pride. She works so hard, tries her best, and yet even still some people prick at her pride with their insults and their claims. If you want to anger Kiriko, all you need to do is insult her accomplishments, or those of her Division. She tries to control herself on this subject, but it is incredibly touchy. After all, Kiriko built her whole persona on her professionalism and to have someone step on that is the worst of crimes. She has tried to temper pride with humility, but it very often doesn’t work for too long. The very real reality is that Kiriko cares too much about what other people think about her, that is success after all, other people’s opinions of events.

• Jealous - Kiriko loves but few and expects them to love her back. Her friendship is given out rarely, and her loyalty even rarer. But to those that she offers these bonds too, she cannot stand for them to ever slight her. To be replaced in a relationship is her worst fear, and it ignites in her a deep jealousy. For Kiriko, she must be the best, and that means the highest in someone else’s esteem. When she isn’t… She cannot be happy, nor will she make life happy for the person who has replaced her with someone else.

• Loner - She has never been described as a social butterfly. In fact, Kiriko has a bit of a problem with social interaction. She feels at home in the martial heriarchy of the military, but totally out of her element when interacting with people on a personal level. Some might claim she has an attitude, or doesn’t want to talk, but in reality Kiriko is just totally absorbed with her job and doesn’t know how to turn it off. She lives for her title, plain and simple, and that can make smalltalk rather harsh.

• Obsessed - To be the best, at all times. Kiriko is obsessed with reaching new and higher goals. She is never satisfied with alright, or even good. She wants better. Stronger, faster, harder, better. Kiriko can never give herself rest, or even satisfaction, because she has to always be working harder to make tomorrow better than today. Her obsession used to be driven by fear, but with that removed she has found that it is simply a part of her demanding personality. Kiriko could never sleep at night if she didn’t know she had given her all that day, and that hasn’t faded any with her newest changes.

TMI?: Kiriko once was ruled by fear, and she sought to excise all cowardliness from her soul but failed again and again. Similarly braveness was an act in all but a few occasions. Through trial and error and a lot of conscious thought she has realized that neither side of herself need rule her life. Kiriko knows the reasons for fear, and understands the necessity of fear for keeping one alive. She also has found what was needed within herself to stand firm and upright, even when her heart is beating too fast. Control and precision have allowed her to take both sides of the coin without forgoing one completely.

With all of her traits Kiriko endeavors to find a middle ground, a balance. Hahaue has begun to teach her the merits of such control, and her own penance against the vagaries of her prideful anger has caused her to take a good long hard look at truly controlling her own desires. She has learned that no trait is wholly positive, or negative. That she is not good, or evil, but instead somewhere in between. And that is exactly where she needs to be as a person. Not letting any one part of her control the whole, but instead picking and choosing the right emotion for the right situation. Efficiency at its best.

Zanpakutou Spirit:
 

Zanpakuto Spirit: Gaikotsu Aneue or known simply as Aneue (Older Sister). A spirit shrouded in mystery, at first the reviled enemy and then a respected older sister, Aneue and her relationship with Kiriko has transformed from the depths of hatred to the peaks of true love and finally into crystallized understanding and each shift has only revealed that Kiriko knew very little about her Zanpakutou spirit. 

The physical appearance of Aneue is the clearest fact, and something that has never changed unlike other traits. Aneue is the perfect copy of Kiriko in form when looking at the spirit form the side. However, once you glance at Aneue from the front, you begin to realize what horror this spirit contains. Her entire right side of the body has been melted away, leaving behind only bones that grind and shift as they seek the same mobility as the other half of the "normal" body. A line goes straight down Aneue's skull, bisecting her in half. The living side is to the left and the deceased to the right, severed flesh and all. This makes it all the more terrifying when half the face is so very expressive and mobile, and that the factors of life and death seem so literal. For one, the living side gives off heat and seems to breath, whereas the skeletal parts are freezing cold and rasp together when Aneue moves as if functioning without sinew or ligature. 

For Kiriko this appearance is the predominant indicator of the state of her Zanpakutou spirit. Aneue represents death, both the beauty and the desiccation. Both the rational and the immoral. She holds the terrifying grace of a tsunami and the childish innocence of someone lacking in all senses of right or wrong. Aneue is not an evil spirit, though she thirsts for blood and damage, but instead a heavily vengeful representation of death itself. Personifying Kiriko's worst traits, those ugly desires she suppressed her entire life, Aneue has taken on the damage of Kiriko's soul and turned it into strength. Into beauty. Into power. Aneue looks at life with clear eyes, seeing only the strong and the weak. She is everything Kiriko could have been, if she had chosen differently along the steps in her life. But most of all, Aneue is the reality that Kiriko used to hide from. The grounded truth of her life. For years her fascination with death bordered on a phobia, it took Aneue's thrall for Kiriko to realize the power of death and of life. To fully come to understand what it meant that Aneue represented that transition, and to respect it. 

Aneue is an extremely high strung spirit. Her emotions fly off the handle at the twitch of a hat. She takes all of Kiriko's bad traits and turns them into extremes. Violent, angry, jealous, greedy. Aneue wants the world and feels that she is the King of the land. The only person even close to her is Kiriko, but she has to always keep Kiriko under her thumb. Her "landlord" is Aneue's beloved possession, her apparent younger sister, and yet the sword will forcefully claim that without her power Kiriko is nothing but a weakling. She has to be the one in charge and the one with all the glory. Like a vain megalomaniac she lies and schemes and manipulates as easy as breathing. She knows all of Kiriko's weak points and is happy to attack them if it gives her power over her landlord.

Her defining traits, above her inability not to be in control, are the intense rages she falls into filled with blood lust and desirous of any sort of violence and her obsession with Kiriko as something of hers that no one else can touch. If Aneue had her way Kiriko would be killing and torturing people left and right. She enjoys blood being spilled, so much so that she seems to crave it. Like a banshee she predicts people's deaths, being the person to chose when and if they die. When Kiriko doesn't listen to her about her choices she grows incredibly irate. Her irrational anger spreads to envelope Kiriko as well as Aneue firmly believes her landlord is hers and no one else can do so much as breath the same air without deserving to die. 

Immensely childish Aneue really just wants Kiriko to love her back, to give her her utmost attention, and to lavish Aneue with respect and follow her every word. However, after great strife Kiriko has come to recognize Aneue for what she is. The dark side of her own soul, not necessarily bad because these traits are just as much hers as they are Aneue's, and in realizing that Aneue represented her need for love the two have come to the beginnings of an understanding. Only time will tell if Aneue's antics will lessen with the love of her bearer, and if Kiriko will be able to temper the desires of her shadowy half. 

Inner World: Kiriko's first inner world turned out to be a falsehood, and after coming to grips with her own power she torn down that unhappy place and found herself in the true realm of her mind. A sea of blood, going for as far as the eye can see. Beneath those murky waters are struggling plants obscured by the frothing waves. If you walk a ways through this blank ecspanse you come across a lone island. Upon the rocky outcropping are a field of tombstones. Some tall, some short. All granite and engraved with different names. There are the people Kiriko has killed, the people she regrets and the names she honors. There are a multitude of gravestones, but she knows each name by heart.

The weather of her Inner World is commonly controlled by Aneue, and more often than not it is a stormy squall. Only once has Kiriko seen Aneue calm and happy enough to reveal a sunny sky.

Sealed Zanpakuto: Aneue is an unassuming katana in her sealed form. A normal katana by all judgement including the saya which is made totally from a hard wood but lacquered black and then sanded so as not to give off a gleaming texture. Being of average size Aneue's sealed state is a length of seventy centimeters and somewhat thicker in the grip so as to allow for two-handed and therefor steadier usage. The tsuba is an unadorned black square guard, though if you touch it you can feel a pattern carved very lightly into the material - it is impossible to tell exactly what sort of pattern, and it actually seems to shift from time to time. The tsuba is also larger than average, enough to protect the modified two-fisted grip. The rayskin used for the handle is died a luscious black, leaving the entire katana lacking in color until you draw the blade itself. Somehow the metal tang does appear darker than the normal katana, as if the metal has been rubbed with some sort of agent to dull its shine and produce a cloudy blade. The blade is always ice cold despite the actual weather or temperature nearby. It is an insidious note to Kiriko that such a blank facade hides the evil spirit of her Zanpakutou, although in her line of work she appreciates the fact that the nondescript appearance makes it easier to ignore both for herself and for others when judging her strength. Kiriko often finds herself rubbing the sheath, a new habit she has yet to break herself of. 

Shikai Appearance: Gatagata Gaikotsu-Aneue are the keywords to a most horrifying shikai release, and also the words that unleash the full brunt of Aneue's personality. In extremely formal cases, the shikai's release can be started by placing the katana blade into the ground about half-way down, leaving a piece of dark metal and the hilt protruding from the soil. This is all an image, since in reality the blade does not pierce the ground but instead dissembles into small specks of light that float on the air currents around Kiriko. When the specks of illumination gather, they begin to form tiny baubles of glowing light that dance and stir as if in a wind. At this point, the entire blade dissolved into larger orbs of fluorescence that race to encircle Kiriko until the area seems to glow faintly with motes of radiance. The larger particles come together in Kiriko's hands, smoothing out and slenderizing until they form a long and elegant naginata made from a human spinal cord. The aspect of light does not disappear and instead spreads outward and the naginata, which appears upon close inspection to be formed of fused bones, has an unearthly white glow to it. The light is the true power of her Shikai, and whatever it touches falls prey to Aneue's ability. In her folly Kiriko learned a great deal about her sword and was finally able to achieve her Shikai's effect without relying on people around for the light to touch. When used without fodder the motes of light float around her and spread out evenly as they coalesce into skeletal forms. Specifically the skeletal remains of others she has killed using her Shikai. A sea of skeletons, her army as she used to call them, stand ready and waiting for Kiriko's command. The less complete forms with only mismatched bones seem to float in mid-air in their general formation, and the chattering of dry bone rubbing where a joint should be is somewhat cacophonous.
 

Shikai Abilities:

Aneue's ability is simple but horrifying. Awoken under duress when Tova attacked Seireitei, a time referred to now as the Massacre, Kiriko originally believed that Aneue would give her a powerful ability that could save the lives of herself and her subordinates. What was revealed beneath the shiny wrapping paper was something that she could never forget. A present that could not be given back or traded in. When the light from her Shikai touches another body of weaker composition then her own it tears the flesh from the body until there is nothing but bone left behind. This is not a pretty process, or a quick one, as layer after layer of skin and then muscle and then blood are peeled away and tossed into the air. When only glistening bone remains the skeletons rise up as a living army that answer Kiriko's command. Numbering quite usually in the thousands her Shikai is truly a fearful sight and even the most battle hardened find it disturbing at best. Kiriko's unique obsession with her Shikai at one point caused her to use it quite liberally, and when she realized she could summon old bodies instead of killing anew she found her usage rising rapidly. Because of this many people have seen or heard of her shikai now, especially since it was used during both the invasion of human world and the Massacre. It is a dark ugly rumor that she cannot shed, the mistakes of her past and her glee there in every whispering recruit and every haughty glance. To be a Shinigami and claim such an evil ability as your own, this is a taint that lingers far longer then the rumors about the Second Division. Because as Shinigami innately understand the Shikai is an expression of your soul. To have such a murderous and depraved ability reflects directly back upon her. 
 

Inner Hollow:

Inner Hollow Personality:

"Aneue is the sword at your side, and I am the Hollow in your mind. But I am far more then that. I am your growth, I am your maturity, I am your womanhood, I am your security, I am your love. What you lacked before, was an awareness of the goodness in your soul. I am those hidden parts, come anew so that you can embrace them instead of destroy them.”

Hahaue is incredibly wise, or perhaps she speaks to the things that Kiriko already knows but is unwilling to realize and give voice to. With the maturity of adulthood, Hahaue gives off the aura of a mother but would prefer to be viewed as an example of what Kiriko might grow into with time. She is focused entirely on the good, on what Kiriko can do to improve, and to become happy. For Hahaue, the end result is peace within herself, whatever it takes. As the paragon of all that Kiriko has suppressed Hahaue takes the form of an almost noble woman, honorable, smart, loyal, loving, kind. She does not seem to have a fierce side, and instead focuses her energy on Kiriko's enlightenment. A smarter soul is always the best for any scenario.

Her most defining trait, is perhaps her selflessness. A facet of Kiriko's soul, Hahaue prefers to be unnamed and unnoticed. She maintains whenever asked that she is simply a part of Kiriko, and therefore needs no recognition or adulation as she is merely the other side of the coin. Deigning, a bit unhappily, to be referred to as Hahaue, she does her best to remain unobtrusive and keep the balance.

Inner Hollow Appearance: Hahaue takes on the appearance of a womanly spirit. Tall and slender, she lacks callouses or any martial marks at all. Instead her willowy build is draped in the finest of silks, wearing what appears to be Heian era court attire, that is many layers of different colored kimonos with draping sleeves and elaborate obi. Her skin is pale and incredibly soft, her touch comforting and cool. Hahaue moves with incredible grace, as if she is a princess stepped off a rice paper drawing. Her eyes are black with white irises, the only real determining factor of her Hollow blood. A beautiful woman by all accounts, her long luscious black hair hangs freely down her back to the floor, held only at the end by a narrow strip of silk.

Mask Appearance:

Kiriko's mask is a white stage mask, blank and expressionless it perfectly hides her face from forehead to chin. There are no markings on the mask, either color or adornment, and this represents Hahaue's lack of defining status apart from Kiriko. Smooth and rounded the mask gives the impression of a whole face, with no vying attributes to imply confrontation or conflict between Kiriko and her Inner Hollow. In this manner, it represents the ability to heal. The unmarked surface flows and melds. Because it is blank and featureless it can take on the aura of any friend, any healer, any mother, which is expressly the purpose of this mask.

Mask Ability:

Mask | Healing Aura | Direct Power

Kiriko's Hollow ability is in direct opposition to her Shikai. Aneue's ability rips the flesh from bodies to turn them into skeletal minions in battle. Conversely Hahaue's power instead accomplishes a similar effect through a completely different avenue. Instead of harming this ability heals, providing soothing aid to allies in battle to strengthen them as well as Kiriko herself. This power has two direct functions, one is the ability to heal anything her aura touches and the other is to provide a passive boost to allies in battle.

FLASHBACK

Pre-Story:

Chinda Kiriko was born to a nomadic tribe in Rukongai. With many members and few resources, this group was constantly moving around in search of opportunities. The tribe was close-knit, with familial ties being very important. Thus it was lucky that Kiriko was one of the children of the leader of the group. But even as a young child, Kiriko was never satisfied with her share of the resources. She felt it so keenly – the hunger from never getting enough food, the chill from never having enough clothing, the rain when there wasn't enough shelter for everyone, the loneliness when there were too many siblings to receive what she deserved from her parents. These were little cuts at her soul, and as they began to build up, Kiriko became deeply resentful and jealous of what other people had that she didn't.

It wasn't fair, since she was just as good as anyone else why didn't she have the things she needed? No one else expressed these sorts of feelings though, and Kiriko had to hide them from her family who took such happiness from their struggles together – as if that was truly enough to keep someone going! From the very beginning, Kiriko wanted to escape this family of hers. As a child, she loved her parents and siblings, but couldn't quite forgive them for taking up the things that she needed and wanted. They didn't love her enough to provide, so Kiriko harbored this deep hatred that warred with her desire to be loved and taken care of.

The one bright spot in her childhood was the presence of her Oneesama. Kiriko was not the oldest child in her family, and in fact had a handful of elder siblings that were like satellite figures, rotating around for various responsibilities but never quite being there. A few of them hardly even knew anything about Kiriko as a person, forgetting her birthdays and ignoring her desires and wants. But throughout this all, there was her Oneesama. Three years older than Kiriko, the age difference wasn't a mountain between them but instead a small hill. Kiriko could look up to the top where her Oneesama resided and wish with all her heart that she was there, gazing up in abject awe and amazement. Because if there was one thing about her Oneesama that Kiriko felt, it was love. Her Oneesama was a blessing in spirit form, she was older and more experienced, but she never forgot about Kiriko. They had a special bond, one fostered from a promise long ago when both were little, to take care of each other through thick and thin.

It was Kiriko's Oneesama who saved food for her from her own plate knowing that Kiriko was always hungry, or her Oneesama who would share her own bed with Kiriko even when Kiriko was wet from working outside all day. They were as close as siblings could be, and Kiriko's Oneesama looked out for her. Because of that she had won Kiriko's total and utter devotion. Kiriko loved her with all her heart, but it still was not enough. The seed of darkness and greed was deeply planted in Kiriko's mind, and despite the good things she had she was constantly wanting more and more. Never satisfied with what her Oneesama struggled to give her, she wanted to have enough at all times.

Kiriko's Father was not a mean man, but he was very proud. Sometimes this pride gave him a nasty temper, because he had to always be right about everything and all of his family had better bow to that as a fact. Kiriko didn't mind this so much, since she was young, but her Oneesama chafed at the needled comments sent her way whenever she tried to give her opinion on something or recommend a new track. Kiriko's Oneesama was so very kind, that despite their Father's irritable tirades, she continually fought to give the younger children more freedom, less chores, and more shares of food. This was a meddlesome matter, because their Father wanted obedience not some young girl questioning his ways. And sometimes it got violent, but Kiriko was always bundled away in her room at those times, plugging her ears with blankets so that she could barely hear the noises.

Her Oneesama would come back to the room silently, but Kiriko knew that when her Oneesama slept facing the wall instead of her that she was secretly crying. Kiriko respected her Oneesama even more for those times, learning a valuable lesson that emotions should be kept from others in order to appear strong. Her Oneesama knew that Kiriko needed a protector, so she became that person. And Kiriko understood that her Oneesama was suffering, but ignored it due to her own needs. In her mind, her Oneesama was magical. She never showed signs of sadness or strife, only great cheer and kindness. And it was a special kindness, because while her Oneesama loved all the little siblings, she had told Kiriko that she was her favorite. It was a glowing secret that Kiriko hugged to her chest at all times. She was someone's favorite! That had to mean that she was something after all.

Kiriko's Oneesama struggled more and more with their Father as they grew up. The arguments got louder, and it was harder to block them out so Kiriko had to run off into the streets during their fights. She felt panicky when she heard them start yelling, because the one time she'd heard the noise of a slap, it'd been too much to almost admit that her Oneesama wasn't happy and that she wasn't the strongest or the most perfect either. Kiriko couldn't hate her Father, because she had filial duty towards him, but she could still run away when they were fighting so that when she got back everyone would pretend nothing had ever happened.

It happened though that one day, events exploded. Kiriko's Oneesama had asked her several weeks before if she had ever thought of living somewhere else. But Kiriko was a child, and she had explained ardently that she loved her Mother and Father and their family, and that of course she'd never want to live anywhere else. Her Oneesama had turned away at that, and they'd never discussed it again. But on a fresh day nearly a month later, Kiriko realized that something had gone wrong. When she came home from the market to show her Oneesama what she'd found for a bargain, Kiriko couldn't find her. She wasn't in their room, and she wasn't in the field, and she wasn't at the market or in the alleyways they most frequented.

Kiriko was just beginning to panic when she spotted her Mother and Father talking in low voices in the kitchen. Approaching them, she asked fervently, where was her older sister? Her Mother coughed and looked away, but it was her Father shifting in annoyance that caught her attention. He was mad, she noticed this really quickly, and decided to back off. But before she could depart, he told her in a no-nonsense voice, that her beloved Oneesama had gone off and gotten herself killed. Kiriko could only cry in shock, and her Father took on an ugly look as he yelled at her not to cry over an idiot. He proceeded to regale her with the story of her Oneesama's death, as if to teach Kiriko how very stupid her big sister had been. It wasn't even anything important, just a scuffle in the streets - something common and everyday in the current part of Rukongai they lived in. But her Oneesama was dead, and after that destroying conversation with her Father, Kiriko knew never to bring up the subject again.

But she didn't have the chance to ever do so because it only took one night for her life to take on an entirely new focus. The harsh flames of a fire took everyone by surprise, but in the middle of the night someone had set a fire and it spread to the area where everyone of the tribe was sleeping for the night. The thick smoke was deadly, and in the end many people died. Filled with fear at her own mortality, Kiriko had a close encounter herself when her mother was trapped beneath a falling beam that should have caught Kiriko if her mother hadn't pushed her out of the way and been hit instead. Unable to help her pinned mother, Kiriko had to run to save herself, and once she got outside it seemed that a group was gathering with angry faces.

The entire fire was blamed on Shinjo, another member of the tribe who'd joined a while back instead of being born into it. He had always been a flippant and irresponsible person, and Kiriko listened to her father espouse these ugly views with wide eyes. It was Shinjo's fault that Kiriko had nearly died, and his fault that everyone else including her mother had died! When he was cast out of the group, this didn't seem enough to Kiriko. Watching her father's slow descent into grief when he was supposed to be such a strong and powerful individual, it was something she couldn't bear. As if all of his anger and strength during her childhood was being mocked now, as if her Oneesama's struggles were weak and paltry when the man responsible was brought so low. So Kiriko made her decision... She was going to go after Shinjo and avenge her tribe. And when that was done, she would be a hero, and everyone would love her and she would want for nothing. Maybe, maybe she'd even become her Father's favorite by then, and save herself from her Oneesama's fate.

With these burning thoughts in her mind, Kiriko informed her unresponsive father as to her desires and slipped away one night into the darkness. It took a lot of work to track Shinjo's path, but somehow she managed to find herself at the gates of Soul Society. Her ambition never dampening, Kiriko entered the Academy and pushed herself past all of the tests and trials. She made no connections in school, her plan consuming all of her focus until one day she was ready to graduate and become a true Shinigami. Spending several years as an unseated member of various Divisions, Kiriko's plan seemed to waver as her life marched onward. For one, she hasn't been able to find Shinjo here, there were so many Shinigami and she didn't even know if he'd actually passed through the Academy. But also... Life was better in Soul Society. She was provided for... And if she wasn't the strongest, she could work towards that, but her material needs were met, and for once Kiriko wasn't hungry or cold or wet.

Her zanpakuto revealed itself in bits and pieces. Aneue was insidious, materializing only to push thoughts into Kiriko's head. Eventually it got to the point where these mysterious thoughts would formalize so randomly that Kiriko started to fear she was going insane. When she awoke to find herself covered in blood, Kiriko had absolutely no clue as to what had transpired except when other Shinigami would congratulate her on her performance during the last mission. These lapses in memory continued, and Kiriko was utterly terrified as to her mental state at this point but valiantly trying to ignore it all. When the dreams started, Kiriko was too far lost to defend herself. Aneue appeared in the night, infiltrating Kiriko's dreams and running amok. When an introduction finally occurred, Kiriko was in no way relieved to realize that all of these effects had been from her zanpakuto, and one that was demented as well!

Time as a Lieutenant:

The Second Division was in disarray when Tsukimiya Kyousuke was appointed Captain. Their previous Captain had been an absent leader and many talented individuals had floundered at their posts. Kiriko was chosen, a diamond in the ruff, from that mess of a Second. When she first met with Tsukimiya-taichou, it was a meeting of fate, as he told her that he was giving her the Lieutenant’s badge to help him fix the Nibantai. She had been eager for the recognition, but unready for the position. With his help though, Kiriko swore an oath of fealty to her new Captain and embarked on a promise to mold her body and mind into the perfect Lieutenant. The Summons

With the weight of leadership on her shoulders Kiriko proved to be a fast learner and a natural leader. As the Shinigami geared up for war against Hueco Mundo she led her subordinates into battle against the Hollow-breeds as Tsukimiya-taichou went off to fight the Espada. Seeing war first hand changed her, as she realized just how closed death could be. And just how vital her position was. And perhaps even, just how crazy Gilgamesh was to want all of this. Siege of Los Noches: Warzone

Kiriko found herself naturally running the day to day affairs of the Nibantai, her professional mein a quick fit for her position. There were only a few times that she was challenged on a personal level as a Lieutenant, challenged to interact with her peers as one of them. The most important was when Tsukimiya-taichou brought home Takasugi Ayumi, a scarred and hurt woman from the Maggot’s Nest and thrust her into Kiriko’s care. She was stilted at first, but soon put aside her reservations to help Takasugi. In doing so Kiriko made a promise to herself, that she would protect the innocent people like Takasugi. That whatever dark path she had to walk upon, whatever she had to do in the Second, she would do it to keep the innocent like Takasugi from having to do those things. Sweet Air, Sweet Freedom

With Tsukimiya-taichou as Occupational Commander of Hueco Mundo, Kiriko had a lot more responsibility on her shoulders. When a promising recruit went missing it turned into a fiasco as she personally went to find him, only to find herself paired with a pink haired Third Seat who had unwittingly enriched a Hollow population. Their battle to find the truth and kill the Hollow hoards left both of them drained and nearly dead, and Kiriko’s pride sorely bruised. She determined then and there that she would find a way of making a name for herself. I Need an Adult

After realizing that she has neither the strength to make her Hakuda stand out above the rest nor the aptitude with Kido to use it properly Kiriko decides to invent her own form of combat to show the whole world just how worthy she is of her position. Approaching Sakamoto Miki, the previous leader of the Kido Corps before they were disbanded, she confides in her the idea of a Kido aura that would enhance physical strikes. The two agree to help each other develop this technique, and Sakamoto takes Kiriko down into the hidden Kido Library where they research the subject for several days. Finding a brief reference to a similar ability Kiriko is able to create Shunko, her personal masterpiece. The Inquiry

The Massacre occurs without warning, and Kiriko is caught up in the battle. With Tsukimiya-taichou away in Hueco Mundo it is left to her to muster the Nibantai forces. Cornered and attacked by Tova, she finds herself in a desperate situation. Kiriko isn’t strong enough to fight him, as he continues to taunt her weakness, and when Aneue offers up a honeyed lie she grabs at it without thinking. Why should everyone else have an amazing Shikai when she can’t even talk to her Zanpakutou Spirit after all? Deciding to trust Aneue for once, Kiriko learns the sword’s name; Gaikotsu Aneue, and unleashes her Shikai for the first time.

The ensuing damage engulfs her comrades nearby, and Kiriko is forced to watch as their skin peels from their bodies and an army of skeletons comes to her call. Horrified by her own power she tries to throw her Shikai away, but Tova enrages her with his comments about Tsukimiya-taichou, spurring her into a one-sided battle where she tried her best to destroy him.

Seeing her own utter weakness Kiriko collapses, hating the Arrancar King to the depths of her soul. But most of all, hating herself, for not being strong enough to protect her comrades. Her subordinates. For not being the best Lieutenant ever. Unable to cope with her loss, she dissolves into tears and is only released when Tova accepts her weakness and tells her that she can be strong. Find solace in her darkest enemy, Kiriko does the unthinkable when Tova embraces her, she hugs him back.

Tova, enthralled by her power and her mental confusion, instills in the young woman one of his “truths.” Injecting into her mind a new reality where she loves her Shikai, and Aneue as well. Where she is her true older sister instead of a horrifying denizen. He leaves her with Tsukimiya-taichou’s bloodied haori, telling her to take care of the Second until her Captain can return. When the Stars Fall Down

Time as an Acting Captain:

Kiriko, irrevocably changed from that encounter, returns to find a Seireitei in utter ruins and many Captains missing. She is forced to take the Acting Captain position of the Second, and does so with some small amount of relish as her newfound companion, Aneue, remarks upon the rank she should have always held claim to. The two of them are a fit couple, and Kiriko apologizes for ever ignoring her kindred spirit. In duo companionship Aneue convinces Kiriko of her entirely new persona. Of Pride, and Arrogance, and Unlimited Power. This goes to her head rather quickly, and she descends into flights of fancy, lulled by Aneue’s desire for blood and death that seems all too convincing. It is during this time that Kiriko commits her worst crimes, travelling frequently to the human world to vent her frustration out on defenseless humans and Quincy.

Finding herself more at peace with her Zanpakutou Spirit, and looking back at her previous life of fear and pain with such disgust, Kiriko realizes that she doesn’t feel right about her old Inner World. When she goes to it once more, she sees just how fabricated the entire place is. It is simply her home from when she was a little girl, resplendent with all those weak feelings. And it no longer fits her new mood. So she tears down the locked door and enters her true Inner World, a manse of blood and gore. After exploring she comes upon Aneue, who pushes her to her limits to ensure that Kiriko no longer clings to those pesky emotional crutches she had before. During the test Kiriko realizes that she no longer has to be afraid of death, because it is just a part of life. And neither does she have to be afraid of her relationship with Aneue, because they are sisters. Embracing Aneue in the end, Kiriko cries for the first time in her adult life, pleased to have finally found her family. Smoldering Flames

Filled with bliss at her new sense of self,, Kiriko begins her iron rule over the Nibantai. No longer satisfied with hard work, she demands perfection. From both herself and everyone under her. Long hours begin to take their toll on everyone involved. During one of the few breaks in training Kiriko goes out to Rukongai to meet with Sakamoto, one of her rare friends. They decide to battle, to test out Kiriko’s invention of Shunko against Sakamoto’s amazing ability with her Bankai. The battle is fiercer than either could know, but in the end Sakamoto’s taint from Tova reveals itself as an Inner Hollow that takes over her body. When Kiriko finds out that Sakamoto had been holding back the whole time she is furious, but has little ability to react as the Inner Hollow tries her best to kill Kiriko! A deadly battle scores the very ground around them, but somehow Kiriko maintains her life until the very end, when the Inner Hollow grabs her by the neck and tries to choke the life from her. That is when Sakamoto beats the Inner Hollow and regains control of her own body, releasing Kiriko from her plight.

After the battle, Kiriko decides to keep Sakamoto’s secret. For her own gain, blackmail is what she gives as her own excuse, but on some level it is because she wants to keep Sakamoto as her friend. Extracting a promise from the woman to keep her Inner Hollow in check, Kiriko wearily departs with new ideas to perfect her Shunko. Lightning Flashes, Two Giants Clash

After the Captains and Acting Captains of Seireitei meet and discuss their options with Gilgamesh missing, Kiriko has to question her faith in Tsukimiya-taichou. She determines that he was injured somehow, or kept away, even though everyone else believes him dead or AWOL. Keeping her faith strong is a hard task as the days roll on, and Kiriko gives her all to searching for any clue as to his whereabouts. Finally her faith pays off as Tsukimiya-taichou returns.

He senses something wrong with her immediately, or perhaps he always knew. But in talking to Kiriko her Captain brings out the ugly feelings she has been harboring against Aneue, who while her sister and comrade in arms, was far too controlling and obsessive to be a good support. Realizing that there was something wrong with her relationship with Aneue, the two embark on a trip to Kiriko’s Inner World. Buffeted by the rage of her sword, Kiriko cannot control the angry spirit who tries to overpower her and win control. Aneue was not pleased at all to have her say being questioned.

Tsukimiya-taichou gives Kiriko the strength to confront Aneue, but only by giving the spark to the Inner Hollow within her own soul. Hahaue is created then, giving voice to the darkest most suppressed parts of Kiriko. Her pure soul. Hahaue immediately speaks truth to power, helping Kiriko to realize that both Aneue and Hahaue are parts of the one. That she is them in reality, and not entirely different people. When faced with a raging Aneue, Kiriko finally realizes that Aneue wants what she herself wants. Acceptance, love. Once given those things, the Zanpakutou Spirit allowed her Inner World to calm. Though their relationship from thence forth was still not determined.

Awaking in her room where Tsukimiya-taichou had left her, Kiriko receives the present of personal understanding from Hahaue and gains the ability to form a Vaizard’s Mask. Too tired to leave the room and find Tsukimiya-taichou, it isn’t until the next day that she hears about his escapades as Captain Commander and her new role as real Captain of the Second. Faith, Rewarded

Roleplaying Sample: Tsukimiya-taichou had always been a father figure, someone she wanted to impress, someone who held the answer to every question in the world. He protected her. And she did her best to live up to the standards. In so many ways he surpassed and healed over her tragic bond with her real father. It was something she had wished for her whole life, and yet it took this trip into her deepest subconsciousness before Kiriko could look at their relationship for what it was and see the honest truth. Inside of her head it was harder to hide, harder to throw wool over her eyes and live in a murky world.

 

Tsukimiya spoke as he stepped closer, his shadow falling across her and warding off the aura of Aneue's rage. Something missing? Was there really a deficit in her soul? As she had always feared? Something wrong about her that could never be filled in? It was a shameful thought, horrible in its vast implications. Worse still that Tsukimiya-taichou had been the one to tell her about its lack.

 

She dropped her gaze, but glanced up suddenly when he took her hand and she felt something stirring in her chest. Her jumbled emotions began to break free from the iron-clad cage and flow as he wrapped his arms around her. And then, her Captain, her world, leaned down and chastely brushed his lips against her own, and a surge of static electricity raged through her body. It turned her mind to sand as the energy rushed down each strand of DNA and tweaked things just slightly as she felt Tsukimiya-taichou's history filled her head.

 

Her mind awoke several minutes later to silence, a droning white noise that filled up her brain with puffy cotton and slowed her thinking down to a trickle of imagination. Someone, someone was hugging her. Embracing her. It wasn't Tsukimiya, though her body still felt warm from his grasp. And it wasn't Aneue; there were no bones poking into her sides or tightening possessive grip. Whoever it was, their arms were clothed in the softest of flowing fabrics and they smelled faintly of lavender and soap.

 

Kiriko leaned into that hug, feeling tiny and young as she wrapped her arms around this new person. Inhaling deeply as if this scent could preserve her feelings of safety. “Kiriko...” a calming voice called out to her, not quite stern but making it clear that it was time to open her eyes. Making so many things clear. That voice was filled with love, unadulterated love. No expectation, no challenge, no controlling nature.

 

Her eyelashes tickled as they fluttered against her cheeks when Kiriko opened her eyes and tilted her head backwards to stare up into the face of this new person. No intruder in her soul, something about the woman was perfectly fitting. As if she had always been there, and yet fresh faced and new. Soothing in her entirety.

 

It was an older woman, full bodied and cloaked in the most luxurious of court attire. Kimono layer after layer peaked out at her lengthy sleeves and neck, and the elaborate obi gave Kiriko question to how she had hugged this woman so tightly mere moments before. The face was ancient, wise, beautiful. Arching eyebrows and thick lips, dainty pointed eyes and a touch of red. Long black hair flowed down her back like wind, caught only at the tip by a piece of white silk.

 

This was a woman who knew life, and who held eternal secrets even still. Her every gesture was filled with immense grace as she lifted one arm and placed the back of her hand against Kiriko's cheek. The softness of her skin was a blessing all on its own and that familiar scent filled Kiriko's nose.

 

“Kiriko... It has been a long time, I feel, and yet you are just as I imagined.”

 

“Who... Who are you?” the words felt scratchy and weak, and yet they had to be said.

 

“It is a little tricky, but just think. You will come to the truth on your own. What did your Captain tell you?”

 

Kiriko wrinkled up her forehead as she tried to remember the details, it all seemed so long ago. “I... I was missing something? Something important...” That sentence jiggled in her head, until the layers of fog seemed to peel away and she stared up at this new figure with a growing sense of understanding. “You... You're that thing, aren't you?”

 

The woman laughed, a cultured radiance of sound as she lifted her free hand to cover her lips from sight. “You were always smart, weren't you Kiriko?” She lowered her hand, both of them, and then wrapped her arms around Kiriko again. “Yes, yes I am what was missing. I am the part of you that was repressed, that was hidden, that was never felt. I am all of those things, given voice. Given life. You should thank your Captain, he knows what he is doing.” Her voice was like liquid, washing away all of the pain and the anger in Kiriko's soul.

 

“But, who are you? You have to have a name? You feel like... My Hahaue. I don't remember her very well sometimes, but... that is what you feel like. Are you my Mother then? Like Aneue is my Sister?”

 

The sides of the woman's lips turned downward faintly as she pressed Kiriko into her chest, stroking the back of her head, “No, it is not that simple. I am you and you are me. Aneue is us as well. We are all the same sides of a coin, but the mind cannot take that complexity so it generalizes. Aneue is the sword at your side, and I am the Hollow in your mind. But I am far more then that. I am your growth, I am your maturity, I am your womanhood, I am your security, I am your love. What you lacked before, was an awareness of the goodness in your soul. I am those hidden parts, come anew so that you can embrace them instead of destroy them.”

 

“If I am all those things, do I really need a name? I am no separate being. I am just a part of you, given voice and form. Do not think of me as you have thought of Aneue, but instead reimagine your mind. We are all three of us one.”

 

Kiriko's mind was a whirl, but despite her confusion she felt a deep and yearning gratitude. As if her heart understood that this was the stepping point, that after this chance she could decide whether to get better or to stay her hurt and bruised self. And it was all up to her. Kiriko's own choice that would dictate her future. No one else could decide for her, and no one else could sway her decision.

 

She realized on an intellectual level what had been done. That Tsukimiya-taichou had made her into what he was as well. What Sakamoto had become. A Shinigami with a Hollow inside of them. And yet... it didn't feel wrong. It didn't feel evil. It didn't feel like a struggle for control. This being, her Hahaue, it all felt... right. Safe. Amazing. Pure. She couldn't take that in quite yet, or assess it, and instead Kiriko's mind shifted gears towards a more easily digestible thought.

 

“All three of us one? Then why does she try to dominate me? Why is she so much stronger then I am?” she felt frustrated for the first time since the woman had appeared, and Kiriko tried to pull back from the hug as she wanted to express her point. Her logic.

 

Hahaue let her move away, folding her arms across her chest and tilting her eyebrows up as if she was a teacher expecting more from her student then a thrown out conclusion. “Why? You already know the answer to these questions. Tova gave her a voice, most certainly, but it was you who provided the why. Think... I am here because of what you have hidden. Why is she here? What purpose does she serve? And what does she want? Like any other part of your mind, what would you want in her place? She is not alone, she is you. And you must understand why she does what she does, and what you can do to change that need.”

 

Kiriko was not a few feet away from the woman, and she took her first glances to both sides. Spotting Tsukimiya a few inches away, she gave him a brilliant smile, wanting to let him know that whatever he had done she was pleased instead of angry. Whatever it meant to have a Hollow inside of her head... whatever the repercussions of today would bring... she was finally whole.

 

And part of that whole, an entire third, was Aneue. Who stood off to the side with a lost expression on her face, at times glaring at Hahaue and at other times digging her toe into the dirt as if she wanted to go cry. The wind had dropped out entirely, and the sky had turned to blue as Aneue hugged herself tightly with both arms, rocking back and forth on her heels. She felt Kiriko's gaze upon her and looked up, startled, her eyes hungry and desperate.

 

Kiriko stepped towards her and felt a bruise form on her heart when Aneue flinched. Why was their relationship so hard? So angry? So bad? She had already known the answer to the woman's questions, the moment they had been asked even. And now, looking back on all the history, this felt like a jolting slap in the face. The fear Aneue and Kiriko held for each other, when in reality they both only wanted one thing in life.

 

She paused a meter before the skeletal woman, hesitant like a young girl but also firm in her stance as she met those wide eyes. “You are me and I am you, right Aneue? You represent my drive, my focus, my professionalism. You represent the danger I hold, the threat I offer. You represent the worst choices, the decisions I have to make for the betterment of society instead of the betterment of my heart. But most of all, you represent my need for love, don't you Aneue?” With those words, she darted forward before the spirit could react, wrapping her arms tightly around the skeletal copy's body and pressing her face into that chest.

 

Tears dripped down her eyes and melted into Aneue's haori as she felt the sword spirit's arms tentatively hug her back, wary at first but then fiercely protective. “My Imoutou, my little one, my Kiriko. You are mine and I am yours, yes, yes,” the Zanpakutou spirit murmured over and over again, elation tinging the words instead of the manic of the past.

 

They held each other for an indeterminate amount of time, Hahaue gliding towards them and wrapping her delicate arms around them both. Finally the three separated, tears drying on Kiriko's cheeks as she turned back towards Tsukimiya-taichou. Suddenly she was on her knees, unsure of when she had fallen, as she stared up at her true savior. Her true world. Tova had played her, and while she would always appreciate the things she had learned, she had much to redeem herself for because of him. All of those deaths, they would never disappear. All of that carnage, the blood would taint her hands for life. It would take a herculean effort to fight for redemption instead of dwelling in damnation, but she was certain now that she had only one choice.

 

Kiriko had one question left for her Captain. One last desire that needed to be answered. “Do you think I can do it? Can I really focus my life on atoning for all that I have done?” It wasn't as simple as desire. He had seen the darkest parts of herself, the weakest. He had seen where she had gone astray in the entirety of her life. And only he would be able to judge if she could keep from doing that again, keep from repeating history. Kiriko could never be absolved from her crimes, that would only dishonor the people she had killed. But she could live her life in the light of redemption, and do everything in her power to right what had been wrong.  

OOC

Player Alias: Paks
Desired starting GP?:
How long have you been roleplaying?: 10 years or so? I don't really know. 
How did you find out about us?: Hage-san (Garra)
Were you referred here by anyone? If so, by whom?: See above. 
Please tell us any other approved characters you have on BG: Yamane Kohaku, Xiaobei Mei