Post by Yuudai Takeshi on Jun 2, 2017 13:50:14 GMT -5
Takeshi, Yuudai
雄大武
Unseated Officer of the Fifth Division
[ AT A GLANCE ]
Age: 153 (25 years as a human, 2 weeks as a Plus, 12 years in the Rukongai, 6 years in the Academy, 110 years in the Gotei)
Apparent Age: Early 30's
Nickname: "Tarzan"
Name While Human: Jonathan Stuart Brantley
Gender: Male
Height & Weight: 6'5" & 270 lbs.
Hair Color: Naturally brown; dyed purple
Eye Color: Greenish-Blue
Skin Tone: Fair
Positive Traits
Negative Traits
Loyalties
Snapshots
[ ON THE SURFACE ]
The Face
Yuudai's hair is short on the sides, but the top of his head is kept long so it can be sculpted into a flat top. His hair is a natural brown color; however, Yuudai has taken to dyeing it different colors, with the most recent color being deep purple. The same goes for Yuudai's facial hair, which consists of a purple lumberjack beard that connects with both the purple mustache and with his purple sideburns that go all the way up to his hair on the sides. This makes it seem as though the facial hair is one seamless mass. His eyebrows are thick but are never unkempt, kept combed and neat like the rest of his hair. His eyes seem to be a sea-blue to anyone that doesn't stand close enough, but in actuality he has a thin ring of green that encircles his pupil, with some flecks of green throughout the rest of the iris. His skin tone is fair, with no blemishes on his face save for one small vertical scar underneath his right eye, which was sustained during "The Great Seireitei Massacre".
The Body
Yuudai's body could be considered a muscled masterpiece: his arms and legs are toned so that every muscle pops out, and nothing on his body is wasted fat. Since it is impossible for even a spiritual body to survive with no fat, Yuudai's body fat is approximately around 2.0-3.0%. Standing at 6'5" and coming in at a hefty 270 pounds, Yuudai is an imposing and intimidating figure. His shoulders are very broad and high, allowing for a barreled chest that tapers like an hourglass into his waist. His abdomen consists of a six-pack of abs, further enforcing the idea of the amount of physical training he has endured to obtain this Adonis-like body. Wherever Yuudai goes, he draws attention to himself solely on his physical presence.
The Mannerisms
Some of Yuudai's mannerisms are almost counter-intuitive to his massive body size: his demeanor is very laid back and thoughtful, while his voice is a deep baritone that is soothing to hear instead of grating on the ear. Yuudai lives up to his physical appearance, however, in his other mannerisms. His posture is always straight up and down while walking and never sags, even when sitting. This gives the impression of authority and can be very intimidating for anyone to look at. He is always fairly loud, however his Inner Spirit has taught him to lower his voice while inside, and he has trouble with filtering what he says; but, he is able to control himself when around authority or someone in need of help, with the former being a learned control form his Inner Spirit and the latter being a natural expression for Yuudai.
The Clothes
As a Shinigami, Yuudai is required to wear the uniform, the Shihakushō, while on duty. While he's off duty, he tends to wear a plain, white, short sleeve t-shirt and a pair of black pants that look almost too small for his bulging legs. A gold watch with inlaid silver in the face is also a part of his wardrobe when he's off duty, not just for style reasons but also for the practical application of the watch. His shoes usually consist of white Converse shoes with black trim around the edge, though he has been seen wearing solid red Converse with white trim.
The Spirit
Yuudai's Reiatsu takes on a grey color with blue tint around the edges when released. Should he find himself in a battle where he has released his Reiatsu, his Reiatsu forms almost jagged edges, spiking upwards towards the sky from all different body parts. When this happens, a sharp pain can be felt by lower beings across their body, though most Shinigami only feel a slight discomfort due to Yuudai's Reiatsu being about average. When absolutely pushed to his limits, Yuudai's Reiatsu changes completely. It becomes thicker, more fog-like, and turns jet black. The pain experienced at the earlier stages changes into one of fear and dread.
[ BEHIND THE EYES ]
Personality
Yuudai is what could be considered a gentle giant. If someone is in need of help, Yuudai is the first to not only understand their plight, but to also help them. He would move mountains for them, even if they turn out to be different then what they appear. This is where Yuudai's stubbornness comes in. If Yuudai decides that something is right, he is unwilling to accept many other viewpoints. This comes from his time in the Rukongai, where even a split second of doubt on your part could lead to either you being mugged or you winding up dead. Thankfully, however, his time in the Rukongai allowed him to gather some positive traits as well.
A family, whether it be one of blood or a hodgepodge of different people, must stick together. They must be loyal to one another and trust one another. This was the main rule by which Yuudai lived by in the Rukongai since meeting his "family". They weren't blood, but they needed him and he needed them. He protected them, and they gave him the missing piece he had searched for his entire life up to that point: love. Love had been torn from him at an early age, but thankfully it was given back to him during this time. And he would do anything to protect and serve whatever his family happened to be, even if it meant losing a little self control every once in a while.
Anger has always been an issue with Yuudai. Since manifesting his Spirit World and meeting his Inner Spirit, Yuudai has learned to calm his temper better, but when something goes against what he stands up for and what he believes is right, there is nothing to contain the fire that Yuudai becomes. He loses most of his self control when angry, leading to some very near death experiences for both him and his opponents. This is especially true for Yuudai, who has a penchant for picking fights with people stronger than him due to his self-confidence. Yuudai believes he is stronger than he actually is, and is constantly trying to prove himself stronger. This stems from a self doubt that Yuudai has always had about not being strong enough to save anyone.
A big part of what makes Yuudai Yuudai is his sense of humor. He is able to find the humor in every situation, even if it is the darkest situation possible. There are exceptions to this rule, such as the slaughter of hundreds of his comrades during "The Great Seireitei Massacre", but he usually able to find a joke for every occasion. This is not always a good thing, since Yuudai also tends to have a bit of a pottymouth. He is vulgar and very explicit, not believing that human speech is supposed to be limited to certain words or phrases. This can make Yuudai's sense of humor come off as crude, when it is really a combination of all types of humor.
All in all, Yuudai tries to be as laid back as possible. He believes that every situation can be fixed without violence, unless the situation goes against his belief system. Each new person can be a potential ally, and potentialy allies can become friends. The weak need protection and help, while the strong must strive to help the weak and not abuse their power.
Achievements
Goals
[ GUARDIAN ANGEL ]
Zanpakutō Name: Museihei (Rough translation: silent warrior)
Release Phrase: Silence my enemy, Museihei (Japanese: Watashi no teki o chinmoku sa seru, Museihei)
Zanpakuto Spirit
Museihei takes the form of a Shaolin monk who does not speak. He only communicates through non-vocal methods, such as a sign language that Yuudai is able to understand even without prior knowledge of the language, or through manifested spirit messages that appear in the air and then slowly dissipate. Unlike Yuudai, the monk spends his days in quietly within his spirit world, constantly bettering his mind with meditation as well as his body through physical exercise. Despite Museihei's silence however, Yuudai has found out that Museihei is actually a warrior monk, specializing in hand to hand fighting.
Museihei's personality is one of discipline and contemplation, which is in line with his Shaolin monk persona. Museihei does not come off as distant when with Yuudai however. In fact, Museihei is rather genial, always having a fresh pot of tea ready for Yuudai whenever Yuudai decides to enter his Inner World and converse with Museihei. It is not uncommon to see a wisened smile on the Zanpakuto's face, a trait that is mirrored by Yuudai. Museihei likes to teach Yuudai new things, such as how to fight more effectively or to meditate so as to enter his Inner World more easily.
Museihei typically dresses in his yellow Shaolin monk gi, which has white trim and a red undershirt. His outfit differs from other Shaolin monks in that he always wears full body Buddhism beads, a testament to the Zanpakuto's personal belief system. The one thing that sticks out in terms of Museihei's physical appearance is his golden gauntlet that he wears on his left hand that stretches all the way up to his elbow. When once asked about it by Yuudai, Museihei simply smiled and signed a simple answer: "All in due time".
Inner World:
An odd place to see a Shaolin monk, this is actually a piece of coastline of Ireland that Yuudai went to with his parents when he was alive and young. It is an exact replica of the actual coastline as it was, however due to time it has since eroded enough so that Yuudai would be unable to recognize it should he ever return to that spot.
The coastline is simple, with gently crashing waves billowing into sea foam on the rocks that comprise the coastline. There is a small cave where Museihei lives, though he has been known to be meditating on top of the hill, letting the sea breeze waft over him. The hill provides an excellent spot for meditation and physical training since the air is cold but never overly strong. On the horizon is always a set of grey clouds, but the sun never pokes through. This is actually calming to Yuudai, though he does not know why. A mist sometimes appears on top of the hill overlooking the coastline, almost as though a light drizzle had cooled the Earth and had created steam.
There are no other beings that have been seen by Yuudai besides Museihei, making it almost seem like a vacation getaway.
Power
Museihei's power is to silence the enemy, preventing them from using Kaido/Hado/Bakudo or to release Shikai, allowing for Yuudai to gain an advantage since he is able to use everything at his disposal. His powers only affect verbal casting and releases however, so ongoing powers like Hollow or Mortal powers and non-verbal casting are not prevented.
Sealed Zanpakutō
Unreleased, it looks no different than a normal Asauchi, but is actually a little heftier in weight due to Yuudai's immense physical strength. It's about 73 cm in length and weighs about 2.23 kg, which is due to the blade being thicker than usual. The hand guard is a black square that is big enough to protect Yuudai's meaty hand and the hilt is black silk with some white silk forming three diamonds.
Released Zanpakuto
Released, his Zanpakuto transforms into a golden bronze fitting that interlaces in a zigzag pattern over his right hand. It's lightweight, weighing less than a kilogram; however, two long, thin blades that are about 6 cm in length are embedded in the top of the gauntlet, allowing for precision strikes. This gauntlet is actually a part of a pair of gauntlets, with the other being the one that Museihei wears. Each gauntlet, while a manifestation of Museihei, actually has it's own name. The name of the gauntlet Yuudai uses for his Shikai is named Gikō, which roughly translates to finesse. This gauntlet complements his fighting style, allowing him to apply his raw physical strength into two precision strikes.
[ LEGACY CREATED ]
Origin, Mortal Life and Plus Form
Origin, Life in the Rukongai
Rise to Power
Call to Action
雄大武
Unseated Officer of the Fifth Division
[ AT A GLANCE ]
Age: 153 (25 years as a human, 2 weeks as a Plus, 12 years in the Rukongai, 6 years in the Academy, 110 years in the Gotei)
Apparent Age: Early 30's
Nickname: "Tarzan"
Name While Human: Jonathan Stuart Brantley
Gender: Male
Height & Weight: 6'5" & 270 lbs.
Hair Color: Naturally brown; dyed purple
Eye Color: Greenish-Blue
Skin Tone: Fair
Positive Traits
- Loyal
- Compassionate
- Humorous
- Respectful
Negative Traits
- Fiery Temper
- Stubborn
- Self-Confident
- Vulgar and Explicit
Loyalties
- Seiretei
- His friends (loyalties to the Seireitei come first however)
Snapshots
- 1864: Birth of Jonathan Stuart Brantley to Charles Brantley and Moirin Macey-Brantley
- 1871: Jonathan's parents are killed; he is taken by the killers and forced to work in a gang
- 1879: Jonathan is trained as a brawler and general enforcer for the gang; is forced to fight in fight rings
- 1889: Jonathan challenges the gang leader for the right to lead; is killed by the leader, Seamus O'Flannery
- 1889 (2 weeks after death): After wandering listlessly around as a Plus, Jonathan is purified by a Shinigami
- 1890: After taking the name Yuudai Takeshi, Yuudai finds a group of younger children/teenagers; becomes an adopted older brother
- 1902: Yuudai attempts to destroy a gang that had been tormenting the populace for "protection money"; is stopped by a Shinigami, wherein his potential is seen and is given the chance to become a Shinigami
- 1905: Yuudai's Sealed Zanpakuto manifests from his Asauchi
- 1908: Yuudai graduates from the Academy
- 1939: Yuudai achieves Shikai
- 2013: Yuudai survives "The Great Seireitei Massacre"
- Current: Yuudai currently serves as an unseated officer of the Fifth Division
[ ON THE SURFACE ]
The Face
Yuudai's hair is short on the sides, but the top of his head is kept long so it can be sculpted into a flat top. His hair is a natural brown color; however, Yuudai has taken to dyeing it different colors, with the most recent color being deep purple. The same goes for Yuudai's facial hair, which consists of a purple lumberjack beard that connects with both the purple mustache and with his purple sideburns that go all the way up to his hair on the sides. This makes it seem as though the facial hair is one seamless mass. His eyebrows are thick but are never unkempt, kept combed and neat like the rest of his hair. His eyes seem to be a sea-blue to anyone that doesn't stand close enough, but in actuality he has a thin ring of green that encircles his pupil, with some flecks of green throughout the rest of the iris. His skin tone is fair, with no blemishes on his face save for one small vertical scar underneath his right eye, which was sustained during "The Great Seireitei Massacre".
The Body
Yuudai's body could be considered a muscled masterpiece: his arms and legs are toned so that every muscle pops out, and nothing on his body is wasted fat. Since it is impossible for even a spiritual body to survive with no fat, Yuudai's body fat is approximately around 2.0-3.0%. Standing at 6'5" and coming in at a hefty 270 pounds, Yuudai is an imposing and intimidating figure. His shoulders are very broad and high, allowing for a barreled chest that tapers like an hourglass into his waist. His abdomen consists of a six-pack of abs, further enforcing the idea of the amount of physical training he has endured to obtain this Adonis-like body. Wherever Yuudai goes, he draws attention to himself solely on his physical presence.
The Mannerisms
Some of Yuudai's mannerisms are almost counter-intuitive to his massive body size: his demeanor is very laid back and thoughtful, while his voice is a deep baritone that is soothing to hear instead of grating on the ear. Yuudai lives up to his physical appearance, however, in his other mannerisms. His posture is always straight up and down while walking and never sags, even when sitting. This gives the impression of authority and can be very intimidating for anyone to look at. He is always fairly loud, however his Inner Spirit has taught him to lower his voice while inside, and he has trouble with filtering what he says; but, he is able to control himself when around authority or someone in need of help, with the former being a learned control form his Inner Spirit and the latter being a natural expression for Yuudai.
The Clothes
As a Shinigami, Yuudai is required to wear the uniform, the Shihakushō, while on duty. While he's off duty, he tends to wear a plain, white, short sleeve t-shirt and a pair of black pants that look almost too small for his bulging legs. A gold watch with inlaid silver in the face is also a part of his wardrobe when he's off duty, not just for style reasons but also for the practical application of the watch. His shoes usually consist of white Converse shoes with black trim around the edge, though he has been seen wearing solid red Converse with white trim.
The Spirit
Yuudai's Reiatsu takes on a grey color with blue tint around the edges when released. Should he find himself in a battle where he has released his Reiatsu, his Reiatsu forms almost jagged edges, spiking upwards towards the sky from all different body parts. When this happens, a sharp pain can be felt by lower beings across their body, though most Shinigami only feel a slight discomfort due to Yuudai's Reiatsu being about average. When absolutely pushed to his limits, Yuudai's Reiatsu changes completely. It becomes thicker, more fog-like, and turns jet black. The pain experienced at the earlier stages changes into one of fear and dread.
[ BEHIND THE EYES ]
Personality
Yuudai is what could be considered a gentle giant. If someone is in need of help, Yuudai is the first to not only understand their plight, but to also help them. He would move mountains for them, even if they turn out to be different then what they appear. This is where Yuudai's stubbornness comes in. If Yuudai decides that something is right, he is unwilling to accept many other viewpoints. This comes from his time in the Rukongai, where even a split second of doubt on your part could lead to either you being mugged or you winding up dead. Thankfully, however, his time in the Rukongai allowed him to gather some positive traits as well.
A family, whether it be one of blood or a hodgepodge of different people, must stick together. They must be loyal to one another and trust one another. This was the main rule by which Yuudai lived by in the Rukongai since meeting his "family". They weren't blood, but they needed him and he needed them. He protected them, and they gave him the missing piece he had searched for his entire life up to that point: love. Love had been torn from him at an early age, but thankfully it was given back to him during this time. And he would do anything to protect and serve whatever his family happened to be, even if it meant losing a little self control every once in a while.
Anger has always been an issue with Yuudai. Since manifesting his Spirit World and meeting his Inner Spirit, Yuudai has learned to calm his temper better, but when something goes against what he stands up for and what he believes is right, there is nothing to contain the fire that Yuudai becomes. He loses most of his self control when angry, leading to some very near death experiences for both him and his opponents. This is especially true for Yuudai, who has a penchant for picking fights with people stronger than him due to his self-confidence. Yuudai believes he is stronger than he actually is, and is constantly trying to prove himself stronger. This stems from a self doubt that Yuudai has always had about not being strong enough to save anyone.
A big part of what makes Yuudai Yuudai is his sense of humor. He is able to find the humor in every situation, even if it is the darkest situation possible. There are exceptions to this rule, such as the slaughter of hundreds of his comrades during "The Great Seireitei Massacre", but he usually able to find a joke for every occasion. This is not always a good thing, since Yuudai also tends to have a bit of a pottymouth. He is vulgar and very explicit, not believing that human speech is supposed to be limited to certain words or phrases. This can make Yuudai's sense of humor come off as crude, when it is really a combination of all types of humor.
All in all, Yuudai tries to be as laid back as possible. He believes that every situation can be fixed without violence, unless the situation goes against his belief system. Each new person can be a potential ally, and potentialy allies can become friends. The weak need protection and help, while the strong must strive to help the weak and not abuse their power.
Achievements
- Unlocked Shikai
- Became an unseated officer of the Fifth Division
- Survived "The Great Seireitei Massacre" (but not without serious mental problems ensuing)
- Nearing Bankai rapidly
Goals
- Become stronger daily, to reach a point where almost no one can touch him
- Become Captain of the Fifth Division
- Make many allies
[ GUARDIAN ANGEL ]
Zanpakutō Name: Museihei (Rough translation: silent warrior)
Release Phrase: Silence my enemy, Museihei (Japanese: Watashi no teki o chinmoku sa seru, Museihei)
Museihei takes the form of a Shaolin monk who does not speak. He only communicates through non-vocal methods, such as a sign language that Yuudai is able to understand even without prior knowledge of the language, or through manifested spirit messages that appear in the air and then slowly dissipate. Unlike Yuudai, the monk spends his days in quietly within his spirit world, constantly bettering his mind with meditation as well as his body through physical exercise. Despite Museihei's silence however, Yuudai has found out that Museihei is actually a warrior monk, specializing in hand to hand fighting.
Museihei's personality is one of discipline and contemplation, which is in line with his Shaolin monk persona. Museihei does not come off as distant when with Yuudai however. In fact, Museihei is rather genial, always having a fresh pot of tea ready for Yuudai whenever Yuudai decides to enter his Inner World and converse with Museihei. It is not uncommon to see a wisened smile on the Zanpakuto's face, a trait that is mirrored by Yuudai. Museihei likes to teach Yuudai new things, such as how to fight more effectively or to meditate so as to enter his Inner World more easily.
Museihei typically dresses in his yellow Shaolin monk gi, which has white trim and a red undershirt. His outfit differs from other Shaolin monks in that he always wears full body Buddhism beads, a testament to the Zanpakuto's personal belief system. The one thing that sticks out in terms of Museihei's physical appearance is his golden gauntlet that he wears on his left hand that stretches all the way up to his elbow. When once asked about it by Yuudai, Museihei simply smiled and signed a simple answer: "All in due time".
Inner World:
An odd place to see a Shaolin monk, this is actually a piece of coastline of Ireland that Yuudai went to with his parents when he was alive and young. It is an exact replica of the actual coastline as it was, however due to time it has since eroded enough so that Yuudai would be unable to recognize it should he ever return to that spot.
The coastline is simple, with gently crashing waves billowing into sea foam on the rocks that comprise the coastline. There is a small cave where Museihei lives, though he has been known to be meditating on top of the hill, letting the sea breeze waft over him. The hill provides an excellent spot for meditation and physical training since the air is cold but never overly strong. On the horizon is always a set of grey clouds, but the sun never pokes through. This is actually calming to Yuudai, though he does not know why. A mist sometimes appears on top of the hill overlooking the coastline, almost as though a light drizzle had cooled the Earth and had created steam.
There are no other beings that have been seen by Yuudai besides Museihei, making it almost seem like a vacation getaway.
Power
Museihei's power is to silence the enemy, preventing them from using Kaido/Hado/Bakudo or to release Shikai, allowing for Yuudai to gain an advantage since he is able to use everything at his disposal. His powers only affect verbal casting and releases however, so ongoing powers like Hollow or Mortal powers and non-verbal casting are not prevented.
Sealed Zanpakutō
Unreleased, it looks no different than a normal Asauchi, but is actually a little heftier in weight due to Yuudai's immense physical strength. It's about 73 cm in length and weighs about 2.23 kg, which is due to the blade being thicker than usual. The hand guard is a black square that is big enough to protect Yuudai's meaty hand and the hilt is black silk with some white silk forming three diamonds.
Released Zanpakuto
Released, his Zanpakuto transforms into a golden bronze fitting that interlaces in a zigzag pattern over his right hand. It's lightweight, weighing less than a kilogram; however, two long, thin blades that are about 6 cm in length are embedded in the top of the gauntlet, allowing for precision strikes. This gauntlet is actually a part of a pair of gauntlets, with the other being the one that Museihei wears. Each gauntlet, while a manifestation of Museihei, actually has it's own name. The name of the gauntlet Yuudai uses for his Shikai is named Gikō, which roughly translates to finesse. This gauntlet complements his fighting style, allowing him to apply his raw physical strength into two precision strikes.
[ LEGACY CREATED ]
Origin, Mortal Life and Plus Form
On May 18th, 1864, Jonathan Stuart Brantley was born to Charles Brantley and Moirin Macey-Brantley. He was their first and only child, a fact that didn't really bother Jonathan as he grew up since he didn't know what it was like to have brothers and sisters. Because of this, his father, a wealthy English merchant, showered Jonathan with gifts throughout his childhood. This would have caused Jonathan to grow up spoiled had it not been for his mother. Moirin Macey-Brantley was a stern woman, born from a poor Irish family who knew the meaning of hardship. Moirin passed down these lessons to her son, mostly in the form of punishments; however, this did not mean Jonathan did not love his mother. She would always put him to bed with an Irish bedtime song and took care of him when he got sick.
The Brantley's were what would be considered high-middle class. Jonathan's father came over to Ireland when he was young and made a nice profit from the booming trade business, and because of this was able to afford a nice two story house on a few acres of land in the Irish countryside. Sometimes, he would take his family by carriage to see the Irish coast. There was one spot that they loved to visit in particular where it never seemed to be sunny, only cloudy grey. The sea breeze felt good against the skin however, and Jonathan did love to run through the grass above the rocky coast below. These were some of his happiest moments: his mother and father laughing as Jonathan rolled through the green Irish grass, wet from the sea spray that sometimes splashed onto him; however, this was not to last.
It was a sunny day. The Brantley family had decided to take a carriage ride to one of the big Irish cities. Jonathan's father had some business there that would last a while, so he decided to take his family with him and make it like a vacation. Jonathan didn't care; he was too excited to see all the new things. The clock tower in the middle of the city, the tightly packed buildings with sooty chimney stacks,
the people walking by the carriage on the street. It was all so wonderful to him, the perfect day. Then the carriage stopped. Jonathan saw a group of men standing around the carriage. The other people on the street slowly started to dissipate around the men and eventually moved away. He was confused, wondering what this group of men wanted. His father knew what was going on and told the family to let him take care of it. He opened the carriage doors and was immediately grabbed by one of the men. Chaos erupted from there. Jonathan didn't see much, but all he saw before he was taken from the carriage was his father face down in the dirt, a pool of blood beneath him, and his mother face up next to him, arms and legs sprawled with eyes wide open, a gash from her head bleeding profusely. The, darkness came as his head was bagged.
From then on, his life was one of 20 hour days, working as a runner and other odd jobs for the big local gang in the city. He was constantly working, barely slept, and was given just enough food to keep him hungry but alive. It was hell on Earth, and often Jonathan would cry himself to sleep alongside the other kidnapped children in the filthy room they called home. But no matter what, Jonathan tried his best never to show weakness to the overseers, for weakness got you killed. Jonathan became harder and harder, until eventually it seemed like there was no heart left to him at all. His eyes betrayed nothing,
an emotionless lake in which those who peered saw the soul of a husk. As he aged, his body morphed into that of a strong, muscular young man. The overseers took notice, and soon set him up as a fighter in an underground cock fighting ring. This gave Jonathan the few bits of joy he received during the day, because once the life has been sucked from you, the only thing that gives you pleasure is the pain and suffering of others. Jonathan turned out to be an excellent fighter, excelling in his own brand of drunken Irish boxing, which allowed him to easily defeat bigger opponents.
Jonathan was growing up quickly, but no thoughts of escaping were in his head. He figured that if he was the boss, he could make the rules and never have to endure this hell again. He would sit in the lap of luxury as the kingpin of one of the most notorious gangs in all of Ireland. But only one problem stood in his way: Seamus O'Flannery. A middle sized man, he was the perfect balance between strength and skill. He used a combination of wrestling and martial arts to overwhelm his opponents, then crush them. Jonathan had faced him a few times during his training as a fighter, and he always walked away with either some broken ribs or a broken hand. Jonathan was determined, however, to beat him. He trained himself, every day and every night, past curfew and even when he had free time. He needed to be stronger, he wanted to be stronger. His muscles grew more and more defined by the day, until at age 25, Jonathan decided he was ready. He challenged Seamus for his seat as leader, to which Seamus agreed. The rules were simple: you win, you become the new leader, and if you lose, then you were killed. This was to prevent any conflict between the gang leader and his subordinates.
The stage was set. The ring was prepped for battle, a roar growing from the crowd of gang members. Jonathan got himself set up in one corner as Seamus set up in the other. No holds barred, anything was legal. This was a gang fight after all. The second in command stood in the middle, looked both ways, and signaled the start of the match. What happened during that fight could only be described as a blood bath. Punches were traded, blow for blow. Blood and spittle came spewing forth each mouth. Eyes were clawed at, jaws busted and fractured. Jonathan was even winning at one point, forcing Seamus into a corner and slamming his fists as wildly as he could into the other man's chest and sides. A snap echoed through the tiny room, as Jonathan cracked one of Seamus' ribs. Another snap, as that rib broke and punctured his lung. A hush fell over the room. Jonathan seemed to have won. He turned his back on Seamus, which was possibly the worst mistake anyone could have made. Seamus got up from the ground,
grabbed a beer bottle from someones hand, and smashed it hard over Jonathan's head. The bottle hit him so hard that it fractured part of his skull, and immediately Jonathan went down. The piercing edge of the broken beer bottle sank into Jonathan's back, was pulled out, and immediately sent back in again. Over and over, Seamus stabbed Jonathan, all the while panting and cackling with glee. Blood spewed from the wounds, and from Jonathan's mouth. He regained consciousness for a few moments as he died. The last thought Jonathan had before the darkness took him was that this was a fitting end for him;
he would die as his father did: facedown, in a pool of his own blood.
Jonathan held no resentment for Seamus during his time as a Plus. He had known what could happen, and so he was willing to accept his fate. The fact that he didn't go to any sort of heaven didn't surprise him, since living for 18 years as a glorified slave tends to make one view God as a cruel entity, if he even exists. He wandered about the gang hall aimlessly, watching the men who had abducted him and watched him die go about their business as though nothing had happened. This didn't anger Jonathan. For some reason, he didn't feel anything at all. He felt as hollow as he did in life, devoid of emotion or happiness. His chain started to erode much quicker because of this, but luckily a Shinigami appeared quickly, performing the Konso to purify Jonathan's soul. As the hilt of the Shinigami's blade came down upon his head, he thought about the fact that there are spiritual beings beyond humans and chuckled, thinking that they really were useless.
The Brantley's were what would be considered high-middle class. Jonathan's father came over to Ireland when he was young and made a nice profit from the booming trade business, and because of this was able to afford a nice two story house on a few acres of land in the Irish countryside. Sometimes, he would take his family by carriage to see the Irish coast. There was one spot that they loved to visit in particular where it never seemed to be sunny, only cloudy grey. The sea breeze felt good against the skin however, and Jonathan did love to run through the grass above the rocky coast below. These were some of his happiest moments: his mother and father laughing as Jonathan rolled through the green Irish grass, wet from the sea spray that sometimes splashed onto him; however, this was not to last.
It was a sunny day. The Brantley family had decided to take a carriage ride to one of the big Irish cities. Jonathan's father had some business there that would last a while, so he decided to take his family with him and make it like a vacation. Jonathan didn't care; he was too excited to see all the new things. The clock tower in the middle of the city, the tightly packed buildings with sooty chimney stacks,
the people walking by the carriage on the street. It was all so wonderful to him, the perfect day. Then the carriage stopped. Jonathan saw a group of men standing around the carriage. The other people on the street slowly started to dissipate around the men and eventually moved away. He was confused, wondering what this group of men wanted. His father knew what was going on and told the family to let him take care of it. He opened the carriage doors and was immediately grabbed by one of the men. Chaos erupted from there. Jonathan didn't see much, but all he saw before he was taken from the carriage was his father face down in the dirt, a pool of blood beneath him, and his mother face up next to him, arms and legs sprawled with eyes wide open, a gash from her head bleeding profusely. The, darkness came as his head was bagged.
From then on, his life was one of 20 hour days, working as a runner and other odd jobs for the big local gang in the city. He was constantly working, barely slept, and was given just enough food to keep him hungry but alive. It was hell on Earth, and often Jonathan would cry himself to sleep alongside the other kidnapped children in the filthy room they called home. But no matter what, Jonathan tried his best never to show weakness to the overseers, for weakness got you killed. Jonathan became harder and harder, until eventually it seemed like there was no heart left to him at all. His eyes betrayed nothing,
an emotionless lake in which those who peered saw the soul of a husk. As he aged, his body morphed into that of a strong, muscular young man. The overseers took notice, and soon set him up as a fighter in an underground cock fighting ring. This gave Jonathan the few bits of joy he received during the day, because once the life has been sucked from you, the only thing that gives you pleasure is the pain and suffering of others. Jonathan turned out to be an excellent fighter, excelling in his own brand of drunken Irish boxing, which allowed him to easily defeat bigger opponents.
Jonathan was growing up quickly, but no thoughts of escaping were in his head. He figured that if he was the boss, he could make the rules and never have to endure this hell again. He would sit in the lap of luxury as the kingpin of one of the most notorious gangs in all of Ireland. But only one problem stood in his way: Seamus O'Flannery. A middle sized man, he was the perfect balance between strength and skill. He used a combination of wrestling and martial arts to overwhelm his opponents, then crush them. Jonathan had faced him a few times during his training as a fighter, and he always walked away with either some broken ribs or a broken hand. Jonathan was determined, however, to beat him. He trained himself, every day and every night, past curfew and even when he had free time. He needed to be stronger, he wanted to be stronger. His muscles grew more and more defined by the day, until at age 25, Jonathan decided he was ready. He challenged Seamus for his seat as leader, to which Seamus agreed. The rules were simple: you win, you become the new leader, and if you lose, then you were killed. This was to prevent any conflict between the gang leader and his subordinates.
The stage was set. The ring was prepped for battle, a roar growing from the crowd of gang members. Jonathan got himself set up in one corner as Seamus set up in the other. No holds barred, anything was legal. This was a gang fight after all. The second in command stood in the middle, looked both ways, and signaled the start of the match. What happened during that fight could only be described as a blood bath. Punches were traded, blow for blow. Blood and spittle came spewing forth each mouth. Eyes were clawed at, jaws busted and fractured. Jonathan was even winning at one point, forcing Seamus into a corner and slamming his fists as wildly as he could into the other man's chest and sides. A snap echoed through the tiny room, as Jonathan cracked one of Seamus' ribs. Another snap, as that rib broke and punctured his lung. A hush fell over the room. Jonathan seemed to have won. He turned his back on Seamus, which was possibly the worst mistake anyone could have made. Seamus got up from the ground,
grabbed a beer bottle from someones hand, and smashed it hard over Jonathan's head. The bottle hit him so hard that it fractured part of his skull, and immediately Jonathan went down. The piercing edge of the broken beer bottle sank into Jonathan's back, was pulled out, and immediately sent back in again. Over and over, Seamus stabbed Jonathan, all the while panting and cackling with glee. Blood spewed from the wounds, and from Jonathan's mouth. He regained consciousness for a few moments as he died. The last thought Jonathan had before the darkness took him was that this was a fitting end for him;
he would die as his father did: facedown, in a pool of his own blood.
Jonathan held no resentment for Seamus during his time as a Plus. He had known what could happen, and so he was willing to accept his fate. The fact that he didn't go to any sort of heaven didn't surprise him, since living for 18 years as a glorified slave tends to make one view God as a cruel entity, if he even exists. He wandered about the gang hall aimlessly, watching the men who had abducted him and watched him die go about their business as though nothing had happened. This didn't anger Jonathan. For some reason, he didn't feel anything at all. He felt as hollow as he did in life, devoid of emotion or happiness. His chain started to erode much quicker because of this, but luckily a Shinigami appeared quickly, performing the Konso to purify Jonathan's soul. As the hilt of the Shinigami's blade came down upon his head, he thought about the fact that there are spiritual beings beyond humans and chuckled, thinking that they really were useless.
Origin, Life in the Rukongai
Jonathan awoke to find himself within one of the outer rings of the Rukongai. He stood, looking at the various people walking by on the street. He had never seen anything like it before, which wasn't saying much because he couldn't remember anything from before. He couldn't even remember his name, a fact that should have startled him but for some odd reason it didn't. He watched the people as they bought various things for food, and even watched as a couple of young thieves stole from a food cart and quickly ran off. He felt right at home strangely enough, as though he had seen this kind of setting many times before. He walked towards the nearest food cart, and asked where he was. The clerk looked him up and down, realizing that he was a new soul, and proceeded to tell him about the Rukongai.
After the clerk's story finished, Jonathan nodded in understanding. He had died and his spirit had been sent to live in this Rukongai. He figured that that was ok, cause a spirit couldn't really die could it?
The clerk again looked him up and down, sizing the strong man up. He smirked, and proceeded to offer Jonathan a job. Jonathan would work as a general farmhand, planting and harvesting the different foods that the clerk needed. The clerk technically didn't have any land that he owned, but there was a small, out of the way plot of land that the clerk used to grow his food. Jonathan pondered this. A job would allow him to get money to pay for food, but what if a spirit didn't really need food? What if all this clerk was trying to do was get some free labor out of him? Jonathan eventually decided to work for the man because, at the very least, it gave him something to do. The clerk grinned, and asked for the young mans name. Jonathan stopped at this question. What was his name? He didn't even know where he came from, much less his name. The clerk looked at him thoughtfully, chuckled again and asked if he didn't know his name. Jonathan looked at the hunched man, startled for a moment, then proceeded to nod solemnly. The clerk laughed and planted a hand on the man's shoulder. The clerk said that that was normal for a new soul, and offered up a name for him to use: Yuudai Takeshi. The sound of it pleased Jonathan's ear, so much so that it didn't even take a moment of hesitation for him to agree to the name. Jonathan (from here on called Yuudai) felt as though the name fit him, like a new glove that wasn't too big or too small on the first wear, but was just right.
His first year there was uneventful. He worked the fields every day, planting and harvesting. It wasn't particularly hard either. In fact the weather was quite enjoyable, and the clerk, whose name Yuudai found out was Ginsei, would often come to where Yuudai was working and make small talk with him. Yuudai found a place to stay, a small room with his bed and cooking utensils that he rented from a family that "owned" the room. It was a pretty good life, but a little mundane. He woke up, went to work, came back and bought his food he needed, and went back to his room. Yuudai didn't mind; he had something to do every day and a way to buy things he needed. Yuudai did feel as though something was missing, but he never let it bother him too much.
One day, as Yuudai and Ginsei were talking at the food cart, a little kid sneaked up to the side of it. Yuudai and Ginsei didn't notice this, until Yuudai spotted a tiny arm grabbing two things of lettuce. He yelled, and the boy ran away as fast as he could. Yuudai quickly gave chase, yelling at the kid in the meanwhile to stop. The little thief was quicker than he thought, and seemed to have a knack for finding places in which he could slip past while Yuudai had to find a way around. Yuudai continued to follow the kid for a little ways, eventually leading him to a back alleyway with a small doorway on the side of one of the buildings. The kid disappeared into this doorway as Yuudai came down the alleyway, which made Yuudai glad because there was no way for the kid to run now. He stepped through the doorway,
weary of anything coming, and stopped dead in his tracks. A group of six kids, all ranging from what looked like 8 years old to 16 years old, were sitting around and hungrily eating the lettuce that the little kid had brought. Yuudai watched this scene as the kids payed no attention to him, absolutely engrossed in their "meal". Yuudai sat down on his haunches, looking at the various assortment of kids. The one who had stolen the lettuce looked at Yuudai with hardened eyes, and looked back at his lettuce. Yuudai could not let this happen to these kids. He slowly got up and walked towards them. The kids saw this and backed away quickly, all of them ready for a fight. Yuudai put up his hands, signaling that there was no harm intended. He asked each of them their names, and then asked if they needed a place to stay.
They looked at each other, wary. The youngest kid, a young girl named Lucy about 8 years old, nodded yes enthusiastically. Her "brothers" smacked her gently over the head; they didn't know this stanger or what he wanted. Yuudai smiled, and started to walk out the door, looking back and telling them that they could come live with him if they wanted. Nobody got up to leave with Yuudai. He sighed and started out the door, when Lucy ran up and gave Yuudai a hug and started walking side by side with him. The other's looked at each other, wary of this, but one by one started to follow too. This was the beginning of one of the happiest times in Yuudai's life.
Yuudai became like a big brother to this misfit group of kids. He would work to get money for them and buy them food, and in return they spent a lot of time together, laughing and crying like a normal family.
It allowed Yuudai to feel needed, and to him, that felt good. He was there for them every time they got hurt, and he showed no mercy to those who hurt them. They were his family, and nobody was going to destroy it. As the years went by, Yuudai became more and more comfortable with his life. He continued working for Ginsei, which allowed him to stay in shape, but he was able to purchase a slightly bigger place for him and his six other brothers and sisters. Life was good, and Yuudai was happy. But with every day comes night, and the night came in the form of a ruthless gang that patrolled the streets of where Yuudai lived. They forced everyone to pay protection money, and if someone didn't they beat them to within an inch of their life or even killed them. They also harassed the younger people, always trying to persuade them into the gang, either using money or simple violence to pressgang them into it. Yuudai didn't deal with them much, but he wasn't particularly happy about what they did. Something inside him raged at the gang, something that Yuudai could never quite place but knew was every bit a part of him as his name was.
The gang eventually came to Ginsei for protection money. When he refused to pay, they beat him up and trashed his food cart, making it unusable. They left Ginsei in the street, unconscious. Yuudai returned from the field to this scene, and immediately rushed Ginsei to a healer. He knew exactly who did this because they had never asked for protection money before, meaning Ginsei was a target in the future.
Apparently, Ginsei was the catch of the day, and he had refused to bite on the hook. Yuudai stood over this generous man, who gave him food, a job, and became his first ever friend in the Rukongai, and Yuudai watched as the healer bandaged Ginsei's wounds. Yuudai's fists clenched in anger,
and he stormed out of there, leaving Ginsei in the healers care as he prepared for a fight. He knew what he was going to do, and he knew that no matter what, they were going to pay for what happened.
Yuudai knew where the gang's headquarters was; practically everyone knew. They just never went there in fear of the gang. Yuudai walked towards the guards at the door, and without warning punched them both, knocking them out instantly. His body surged with power, anger fueling him as he smashed the wooden door to smithereens. Everybody in this semi-dark hole sprang up at lunged at Yuudai, but they were o match for him. The fight was easy for Yuudai, a feeling as though this was a part of him almost as much as his arm or leg. He ducked and dodged quickly and efficiently, waiting for the time to strike the knockout punch. The leader, a scrawny man, knelt down in terror as Yuudai finished off his men, eventually getting to the leader. Yuudai dragged him out to the street by his hair, where everyone could see him. Yuudai punched, and punched, and punched again, blood spraying over the street. He was too furious to even think, as people ran away from him in horror. He continued until this man was almost nothing but a senseless, mashed up piece of meat. Yuudai wound up for the killing blow, when a sword suddenly came down next to his throat. A Shinigami, who was patrolling this part of the Rukongai,
looked down at Yuudai. The anger in Yuudai's eyes did not faze this man, who immediately placed Yuudai under arrest for attempted murder.
Yuudai found himself in an interrogation room, chained to a desk across from another chair. He knew that what he had done had consequences, but he didn't care. He had gotten his revenge and prevented the gang from doing anymore harm. That was the most important thing. The one thing he did regret was that he would be unable to take care of his family, but they knew how to handle themselves, and he had prevented any more harm from the gang towards them, so he was at peace with this regret. He sat patiently, wondering when they would finally come in and hand him his sentence. At one point he fell asleep, tired of waiting. The door slammed, jolting Yuudai awake. The man who had arrested him walked over to the chair across from Yuudai, sat down, and cleared his throat. The man continued by listing the charges being brought on to Yuudai: attempted murder, assault and battery, disturbing the peace, etc. etc. Yuudai remained silent; nothing would get under his skin. The man continued with the charges,
until he had come to the end and was about to proclaim Yuudai's sentence. A little part of Yuudai braced for it, knowing that he could go to jail for a very long time. The man looked at Yuudai once more,
then looked at the paper in his hand, proclaiming Yuudai's sentence to be that of joining the Shinigami Academy and learning to be a Shinigami to help others for the rest of his life. Yuudai was stunned.
Why didn't he go to jail? Why was he being ordered to be a Shinigami? What made him so special anyways? The man chuckled, seeing the shock on Yuudai's face. He said Yuudai had a lot of potential,
it just had to be tempered with discipline. The man continued to say that he had no doubt Yuudai would be a great Shinigami. Yuudai, mouth open, suddenly grit his teeth and cried. He wasn't going to jail,
and he wasn't going to be leaving his family alone. He would become a strong Shinigami, and prevent people like the gang from ever hurting anyone again. Needless to say, Yuudai accepted this gracious sentence, and thus began his time in the Academy.
After the clerk's story finished, Jonathan nodded in understanding. He had died and his spirit had been sent to live in this Rukongai. He figured that that was ok, cause a spirit couldn't really die could it?
The clerk again looked him up and down, sizing the strong man up. He smirked, and proceeded to offer Jonathan a job. Jonathan would work as a general farmhand, planting and harvesting the different foods that the clerk needed. The clerk technically didn't have any land that he owned, but there was a small, out of the way plot of land that the clerk used to grow his food. Jonathan pondered this. A job would allow him to get money to pay for food, but what if a spirit didn't really need food? What if all this clerk was trying to do was get some free labor out of him? Jonathan eventually decided to work for the man because, at the very least, it gave him something to do. The clerk grinned, and asked for the young mans name. Jonathan stopped at this question. What was his name? He didn't even know where he came from, much less his name. The clerk looked at him thoughtfully, chuckled again and asked if he didn't know his name. Jonathan looked at the hunched man, startled for a moment, then proceeded to nod solemnly. The clerk laughed and planted a hand on the man's shoulder. The clerk said that that was normal for a new soul, and offered up a name for him to use: Yuudai Takeshi. The sound of it pleased Jonathan's ear, so much so that it didn't even take a moment of hesitation for him to agree to the name. Jonathan (from here on called Yuudai) felt as though the name fit him, like a new glove that wasn't too big or too small on the first wear, but was just right.
His first year there was uneventful. He worked the fields every day, planting and harvesting. It wasn't particularly hard either. In fact the weather was quite enjoyable, and the clerk, whose name Yuudai found out was Ginsei, would often come to where Yuudai was working and make small talk with him. Yuudai found a place to stay, a small room with his bed and cooking utensils that he rented from a family that "owned" the room. It was a pretty good life, but a little mundane. He woke up, went to work, came back and bought his food he needed, and went back to his room. Yuudai didn't mind; he had something to do every day and a way to buy things he needed. Yuudai did feel as though something was missing, but he never let it bother him too much.
One day, as Yuudai and Ginsei were talking at the food cart, a little kid sneaked up to the side of it. Yuudai and Ginsei didn't notice this, until Yuudai spotted a tiny arm grabbing two things of lettuce. He yelled, and the boy ran away as fast as he could. Yuudai quickly gave chase, yelling at the kid in the meanwhile to stop. The little thief was quicker than he thought, and seemed to have a knack for finding places in which he could slip past while Yuudai had to find a way around. Yuudai continued to follow the kid for a little ways, eventually leading him to a back alleyway with a small doorway on the side of one of the buildings. The kid disappeared into this doorway as Yuudai came down the alleyway, which made Yuudai glad because there was no way for the kid to run now. He stepped through the doorway,
weary of anything coming, and stopped dead in his tracks. A group of six kids, all ranging from what looked like 8 years old to 16 years old, were sitting around and hungrily eating the lettuce that the little kid had brought. Yuudai watched this scene as the kids payed no attention to him, absolutely engrossed in their "meal". Yuudai sat down on his haunches, looking at the various assortment of kids. The one who had stolen the lettuce looked at Yuudai with hardened eyes, and looked back at his lettuce. Yuudai could not let this happen to these kids. He slowly got up and walked towards them. The kids saw this and backed away quickly, all of them ready for a fight. Yuudai put up his hands, signaling that there was no harm intended. He asked each of them their names, and then asked if they needed a place to stay.
They looked at each other, wary. The youngest kid, a young girl named Lucy about 8 years old, nodded yes enthusiastically. Her "brothers" smacked her gently over the head; they didn't know this stanger or what he wanted. Yuudai smiled, and started to walk out the door, looking back and telling them that they could come live with him if they wanted. Nobody got up to leave with Yuudai. He sighed and started out the door, when Lucy ran up and gave Yuudai a hug and started walking side by side with him. The other's looked at each other, wary of this, but one by one started to follow too. This was the beginning of one of the happiest times in Yuudai's life.
Yuudai became like a big brother to this misfit group of kids. He would work to get money for them and buy them food, and in return they spent a lot of time together, laughing and crying like a normal family.
It allowed Yuudai to feel needed, and to him, that felt good. He was there for them every time they got hurt, and he showed no mercy to those who hurt them. They were his family, and nobody was going to destroy it. As the years went by, Yuudai became more and more comfortable with his life. He continued working for Ginsei, which allowed him to stay in shape, but he was able to purchase a slightly bigger place for him and his six other brothers and sisters. Life was good, and Yuudai was happy. But with every day comes night, and the night came in the form of a ruthless gang that patrolled the streets of where Yuudai lived. They forced everyone to pay protection money, and if someone didn't they beat them to within an inch of their life or even killed them. They also harassed the younger people, always trying to persuade them into the gang, either using money or simple violence to pressgang them into it. Yuudai didn't deal with them much, but he wasn't particularly happy about what they did. Something inside him raged at the gang, something that Yuudai could never quite place but knew was every bit a part of him as his name was.
The gang eventually came to Ginsei for protection money. When he refused to pay, they beat him up and trashed his food cart, making it unusable. They left Ginsei in the street, unconscious. Yuudai returned from the field to this scene, and immediately rushed Ginsei to a healer. He knew exactly who did this because they had never asked for protection money before, meaning Ginsei was a target in the future.
Apparently, Ginsei was the catch of the day, and he had refused to bite on the hook. Yuudai stood over this generous man, who gave him food, a job, and became his first ever friend in the Rukongai, and Yuudai watched as the healer bandaged Ginsei's wounds. Yuudai's fists clenched in anger,
and he stormed out of there, leaving Ginsei in the healers care as he prepared for a fight. He knew what he was going to do, and he knew that no matter what, they were going to pay for what happened.
Yuudai knew where the gang's headquarters was; practically everyone knew. They just never went there in fear of the gang. Yuudai walked towards the guards at the door, and without warning punched them both, knocking them out instantly. His body surged with power, anger fueling him as he smashed the wooden door to smithereens. Everybody in this semi-dark hole sprang up at lunged at Yuudai, but they were o match for him. The fight was easy for Yuudai, a feeling as though this was a part of him almost as much as his arm or leg. He ducked and dodged quickly and efficiently, waiting for the time to strike the knockout punch. The leader, a scrawny man, knelt down in terror as Yuudai finished off his men, eventually getting to the leader. Yuudai dragged him out to the street by his hair, where everyone could see him. Yuudai punched, and punched, and punched again, blood spraying over the street. He was too furious to even think, as people ran away from him in horror. He continued until this man was almost nothing but a senseless, mashed up piece of meat. Yuudai wound up for the killing blow, when a sword suddenly came down next to his throat. A Shinigami, who was patrolling this part of the Rukongai,
looked down at Yuudai. The anger in Yuudai's eyes did not faze this man, who immediately placed Yuudai under arrest for attempted murder.
Yuudai found himself in an interrogation room, chained to a desk across from another chair. He knew that what he had done had consequences, but he didn't care. He had gotten his revenge and prevented the gang from doing anymore harm. That was the most important thing. The one thing he did regret was that he would be unable to take care of his family, but they knew how to handle themselves, and he had prevented any more harm from the gang towards them, so he was at peace with this regret. He sat patiently, wondering when they would finally come in and hand him his sentence. At one point he fell asleep, tired of waiting. The door slammed, jolting Yuudai awake. The man who had arrested him walked over to the chair across from Yuudai, sat down, and cleared his throat. The man continued by listing the charges being brought on to Yuudai: attempted murder, assault and battery, disturbing the peace, etc. etc. Yuudai remained silent; nothing would get under his skin. The man continued with the charges,
until he had come to the end and was about to proclaim Yuudai's sentence. A little part of Yuudai braced for it, knowing that he could go to jail for a very long time. The man looked at Yuudai once more,
then looked at the paper in his hand, proclaiming Yuudai's sentence to be that of joining the Shinigami Academy and learning to be a Shinigami to help others for the rest of his life. Yuudai was stunned.
Why didn't he go to jail? Why was he being ordered to be a Shinigami? What made him so special anyways? The man chuckled, seeing the shock on Yuudai's face. He said Yuudai had a lot of potential,
it just had to be tempered with discipline. The man continued to say that he had no doubt Yuudai would be a great Shinigami. Yuudai, mouth open, suddenly grit his teeth and cried. He wasn't going to jail,
and he wasn't going to be leaving his family alone. He would become a strong Shinigami, and prevent people like the gang from ever hurting anyone again. Needless to say, Yuudai accepted this gracious sentence, and thus began his time in the Academy.
Rise to Power
Not much can be said for Yuudai's time in the Academy. He went to class diligently, walked around with his Asauchi constantly, and continued on with every day life. Yuudai excelled in Hakuda and Zanjutsu, but lacked in Kido. This was alright by him though; more room to improve. During his third year at the Academy, about midway through the year, his Sealed Zanpakuto manifested. This was an exciting moment for Yuudai, as now he could begin working on his Shikai. But this wouldn't happen for many years to come. Eventually it came to his last year at the Academy. Yuudai was ready to enter the Gotei 6 as a working Shinigami. His dream of preventing harm would come true, and he would be the hero. He graduated in the top 10 of his class, a feat Yuudai is still proud of to this day. He was assigned to the Fifth Division, the frontline soldiers of the Gotei. This was Yuudai's dream division. He didn't want to be in research, nor did he think he was particularly suited for stealth. He also wasn't too keen on being a glorified police force; sure that would be a nice fit for him, but it didn't help save everyone. Yuudai was content with his assignment, and he was itching to go.
Flash forward to 1939. Yuudai has been a member of the Fifth for close to 31 years now. He's created so many new friends and is now reaching that point to where he's almost considered a veteran of the Fifth. But he still has yet to achieve Shikai. This doesn't necessarily worry Yuudai so much as it irritates him. You'd think after all this time he'd be able to enter his Inner World right? Well, not quite. It wasn't uncommon for Shinigami to go many years without achieving Shikai, but that didn't matter to Yuudai. He couldn't see himself as a veteran unless he obtained Shikai.
One night, Yuudai sat down for his nightly meditation. He had started this routine some odd years ago as a way to achieve Shikai, but now he mostly used it as a way to relax. It was soothing, focusing your mind on one specific thing and letting everything else dissolve away. Yuudai sat down, legs criss-crossed. He slowed his breathing; one... two... three... He let his body go limp, his mind focused on his breathing as it slowed down more and more. His mind focused more and more, as his body became less and less tense. Yuudai thought about what his Inner World would be like. Would it be snowy? Would it be rainy? Would it be a city, or a small village perhaps? He heard something that didn't sound quite right to him. He opened his eyes, and immediately stood up in shock. He was no longer in his room in the Fifth Division barracks. Rather, he was on the top of what seemed to be a rocky cliff, overlooking the ocean. The sky was grey, but there was no rain. The sea spray hit Yuudai in the face, and he sputtered a little, the taste of salt now in his mouth. He looked around, bewildered at the sight. Was this his Inner World? It looked familiar to him, somehow. He gazed around in awe, a feeling of success washing over him. Eventually he stopped looking around aimlessly and started to look around for his Zanpakuto. He wondered where he/she/it could be, when he suddenly felt a finger upon his shoulder. As a reflex, Yuudai spun away from the person that had touched him and sliced. The unknown intruder easily sidestepped the swipe, and raised his hands in the universal gesture of "I mean you no harm". Yuudai saw this and put his sword down, sizing up this unknown man. He appeared to be a monk of some sort, though Yuudai couldn't discern anything else. The monk smiled and slowly wrote in the air; as if by magic, the words he wrote in the air became a bright blue outline, almost as if the man was writing on paper with electric blue ink. Yuudai watched in amazement as the monk greeted him with hello. Yuudai tentatively said hello back. The man smiled and turned, waving for Yuudai to follow him. Yuudai complied, wondering if this was his Zanpakuto, or an intruder.
The monk led him to a lit cave, where there seemed to be various living arrangements. A simple bed took up the left side of the cave, and a fire was made in the center, crackling and spitting. The monk gestured for Yuudai to sit next to the fire as the monk himself sat down close to where he had gestured. Yuudai maintained eye contact with the monk as he sat, questions brimming in his head. The monk smiled once more and signed to Yuudai, saying that Yuudai probably had many questions. Yuudai nodded, and asked how he could understand the monk. The monk replied that it was because he was Yuudai's Zanpakuto, and Yuudai could understand him because he was a part of Yuudai's soul. Yuudai grinned, happy at the fact that this had finally happened. The monk looked at him and smiled, knowing why Yuudai was happy. Yuudai cleared his throat, and asked for the spirits name. The spirit grinned and looked towards the fire, signing that it would come in due time. Yuudai sat there, silent and stunned. He had finally achieved this, and now his own Zanpakuto was telling him to wait? It wasn't fair, Yuudai thought angrily. He stood up, but did not leave. His Zanpakuto looked at him curiously. Yuudai told him about how hard he had worked to achieve this, and he wasn't going to go without learning the monk's name. The monk smiled again and stood up. He looked Yuudai in the eyes, studying him. Yuudai maintained his gaze, no sign of wavering in his resolve. The monk smiled again and signed that it was time for Yuudai to go, but that they could now talk anytime they liked. He pressed his pointer finger on the middle of Yuudai's forehead, and with that Yuudai's world slowly faded to black. Before it overtook him, his Zanpakuto signed something that looked like a name: Museihei. Yuudai awoke in a sweat. It was morning, and Yuudai had fallen asleep face down while meditating. He pulled himself off the floor and rubbed his eyes. His hands fell back to his sides, and he smiled. Museihei... The name brought back old memories of a glove that fit perfectly on the first wear, much like his own name. He had found his Zanpakuto's name. He looked down to see not his sword, but a gauntlet with two thin blades on his right arm. He chuckled, and put it up to the dim light of morning, watching the metal reflect it over the room.
After this, the years blurred together for Yuudai. A Hollow here, a Hollow ther;, saving people here, saving people there. It wasn't that it became boring for Yuudai, just that it was much the same everyday. He rose from being just a foot soldier in the Fifth Division to becoming an unseated officer. He hasn't been able to overcome that yet, however, and this aggravtes Yuudai. As time went on, Yuudai spent more and more time with Museihei to perfect his Shikai. They became close friends, working together almost in perfect synchrony as more time passed. But Yuudai has not been able to manifest Museihei in the real world to try and achieve Bankai yet. Yuudai has not given up on that though, and feels that he is getting very close to it.
Flash forward to 1939. Yuudai has been a member of the Fifth for close to 31 years now. He's created so many new friends and is now reaching that point to where he's almost considered a veteran of the Fifth. But he still has yet to achieve Shikai. This doesn't necessarily worry Yuudai so much as it irritates him. You'd think after all this time he'd be able to enter his Inner World right? Well, not quite. It wasn't uncommon for Shinigami to go many years without achieving Shikai, but that didn't matter to Yuudai. He couldn't see himself as a veteran unless he obtained Shikai.
One night, Yuudai sat down for his nightly meditation. He had started this routine some odd years ago as a way to achieve Shikai, but now he mostly used it as a way to relax. It was soothing, focusing your mind on one specific thing and letting everything else dissolve away. Yuudai sat down, legs criss-crossed. He slowed his breathing; one... two... three... He let his body go limp, his mind focused on his breathing as it slowed down more and more. His mind focused more and more, as his body became less and less tense. Yuudai thought about what his Inner World would be like. Would it be snowy? Would it be rainy? Would it be a city, or a small village perhaps? He heard something that didn't sound quite right to him. He opened his eyes, and immediately stood up in shock. He was no longer in his room in the Fifth Division barracks. Rather, he was on the top of what seemed to be a rocky cliff, overlooking the ocean. The sky was grey, but there was no rain. The sea spray hit Yuudai in the face, and he sputtered a little, the taste of salt now in his mouth. He looked around, bewildered at the sight. Was this his Inner World? It looked familiar to him, somehow. He gazed around in awe, a feeling of success washing over him. Eventually he stopped looking around aimlessly and started to look around for his Zanpakuto. He wondered where he/she/it could be, when he suddenly felt a finger upon his shoulder. As a reflex, Yuudai spun away from the person that had touched him and sliced. The unknown intruder easily sidestepped the swipe, and raised his hands in the universal gesture of "I mean you no harm". Yuudai saw this and put his sword down, sizing up this unknown man. He appeared to be a monk of some sort, though Yuudai couldn't discern anything else. The monk smiled and slowly wrote in the air; as if by magic, the words he wrote in the air became a bright blue outline, almost as if the man was writing on paper with electric blue ink. Yuudai watched in amazement as the monk greeted him with hello. Yuudai tentatively said hello back. The man smiled and turned, waving for Yuudai to follow him. Yuudai complied, wondering if this was his Zanpakuto, or an intruder.
The monk led him to a lit cave, where there seemed to be various living arrangements. A simple bed took up the left side of the cave, and a fire was made in the center, crackling and spitting. The monk gestured for Yuudai to sit next to the fire as the monk himself sat down close to where he had gestured. Yuudai maintained eye contact with the monk as he sat, questions brimming in his head. The monk smiled once more and signed to Yuudai, saying that Yuudai probably had many questions. Yuudai nodded, and asked how he could understand the monk. The monk replied that it was because he was Yuudai's Zanpakuto, and Yuudai could understand him because he was a part of Yuudai's soul. Yuudai grinned, happy at the fact that this had finally happened. The monk looked at him and smiled, knowing why Yuudai was happy. Yuudai cleared his throat, and asked for the spirits name. The spirit grinned and looked towards the fire, signing that it would come in due time. Yuudai sat there, silent and stunned. He had finally achieved this, and now his own Zanpakuto was telling him to wait? It wasn't fair, Yuudai thought angrily. He stood up, but did not leave. His Zanpakuto looked at him curiously. Yuudai told him about how hard he had worked to achieve this, and he wasn't going to go without learning the monk's name. The monk smiled again and stood up. He looked Yuudai in the eyes, studying him. Yuudai maintained his gaze, no sign of wavering in his resolve. The monk smiled again and signed that it was time for Yuudai to go, but that they could now talk anytime they liked. He pressed his pointer finger on the middle of Yuudai's forehead, and with that Yuudai's world slowly faded to black. Before it overtook him, his Zanpakuto signed something that looked like a name: Museihei. Yuudai awoke in a sweat. It was morning, and Yuudai had fallen asleep face down while meditating. He pulled himself off the floor and rubbed his eyes. His hands fell back to his sides, and he smiled. Museihei... The name brought back old memories of a glove that fit perfectly on the first wear, much like his own name. He had found his Zanpakuto's name. He looked down to see not his sword, but a gauntlet with two thin blades on his right arm. He chuckled, and put it up to the dim light of morning, watching the metal reflect it over the room.
After this, the years blurred together for Yuudai. A Hollow here, a Hollow ther;, saving people here, saving people there. It wasn't that it became boring for Yuudai, just that it was much the same everyday. He rose from being just a foot soldier in the Fifth Division to becoming an unseated officer. He hasn't been able to overcome that yet, however, and this aggravtes Yuudai. As time went on, Yuudai spent more and more time with Museihei to perfect his Shikai. They became close friends, working together almost in perfect synchrony as more time passed. But Yuudai has not been able to manifest Museihei in the real world to try and achieve Bankai yet. Yuudai has not given up on that though, and feels that he is getting very close to it.
Call to Action
The first event that really changed Yuudai was the entirety of World War II. Yuudai saw thousands of Hollows feasting on soldiers, and those soldiers becoming Hollows almost as quickly as the other Hollows were eating soldiers. This vicious cycle continued, and Yuudai tried his best to save them all, but he never could. He also could not save the soldiers from themselves. Not everyone could be saved, and this tore at Yuudai. He felt as though if maybe he had done better, he could possibly have saved them all. If only he was a little stronger he kept telling himself, then nobody had to die. He kept these thoughts to himself, not even revealing them to his Rukongai family. He became distant and secluded. Museihei constantly reminded Yuudai that not everyone could be saved, but Yuudai didn't listen. He focused all of his torment on himself, accusing himself of not being strong enough. Yuudai had to press on though, reminding himself constantly that he still had to follow orders. But that depression still lingered, until one day, a dying soldier saw Yuudai. The soldier was lying on his back, as the chaos around him subsided. The battle had ended in a draw, as each side tended to their wounded. No one was around the soldier, and his injuries were severe enough that he wouldn't live even with immediate help. Yuudai could see this much, and so he stood on standby for when the soldier died so as to pass his soul on as quick as possible. The soldier looked over and saw Yuudai standing there. The soldier called out to Yuudai, asking him what was happening. Yuudai paused, not knowing what to say or if he even should respond. Eventually, he told the soldier that he was a Shinigami, a person who helped transition souls into the afterlife. The soldier smiled and looked up at the sky. A thank you came from his lips as the soldier closed his eyes. The soldier thanked Yuudai, and asked if he wouldn't stay and talk to the soldier. Yuudai stared at the man. The soldier coughed and talked about his girl back home. They were going to get an apartment after he got out of the army he said. They would have two children, a boy and a girl. They would live in a white house with white trim, and a big wraparound porch. Yuudai silently listened to the man, watching him strain with every word. The soldier stopped and looked again at Yuudai, telling him that he knew Yuudai couldn't save him from dying, but he could make sure he passed on safely. That made all the difference to him the soldier said. The man's breathing stopped right after that last phrase, and he died, his eyes open and looking at Yuudai. Yuudai waited for the soldier's soul to appear before making his way over. As he walked, his eyes filled up with tears. This was just one man, and yet the fact that Yuudai could help this one person made this whole situation somehow better. The man's soul smiled as Yuudai performed the Konso, and Yuudai couldn't help but smile back at him.
The other event that shaped him was "The Great Seireitei Massacre". It was similar to World War II, but it differed in the fact that these were his comrades. His brethren, slain and powerless against an unstoppable force. Yuudai couldn't save all of them, and he was powerless to do anything. That didn't mean he wouldn't try though. He rushed aTova with several other of his comrades, and was immediately blown away by the overwhelming force of aTova's power. Some of the Shinigami immediately died from that, while others were injured so badly that they couldn't move. Yuudai was among that latter group. He couldn't move, his arms and legs seemingly stuck to the wall. He could feel darkness closing in fast as his mind started to go unconscious. He couldn't let that happen he told himself, but it was to no avail. The last thing he remembered before blackness was the back of aTova as he strolled towards the Seireitei, looking no more concerned as though he had just squashed some bugs. Yuudai awoke to his body bandaged and in the Third Division's emergency room. He couldn't lift his appendages, but that didn't even matter to Yuudai. He didn't care. He had watched his friends die. He himself was powerless. How could he ever hope to save anyone if he was so weak? Yuudai determined that day to become even stronger. He would never let anyone overcome him ever again. He would become the best, and he would save himself and everyone else.
The other event that shaped him was "The Great Seireitei Massacre". It was similar to World War II, but it differed in the fact that these were his comrades. His brethren, slain and powerless against an unstoppable force. Yuudai couldn't save all of them, and he was powerless to do anything. That didn't mean he wouldn't try though. He rushed aTova with several other of his comrades, and was immediately blown away by the overwhelming force of aTova's power. Some of the Shinigami immediately died from that, while others were injured so badly that they couldn't move. Yuudai was among that latter group. He couldn't move, his arms and legs seemingly stuck to the wall. He could feel darkness closing in fast as his mind started to go unconscious. He couldn't let that happen he told himself, but it was to no avail. The last thing he remembered before blackness was the back of aTova as he strolled towards the Seireitei, looking no more concerned as though he had just squashed some bugs. Yuudai awoke to his body bandaged and in the Third Division's emergency room. He couldn't lift his appendages, but that didn't even matter to Yuudai. He didn't care. He had watched his friends die. He himself was powerless. How could he ever hope to save anyone if he was so weak? Yuudai determined that day to become even stronger. He would never let anyone overcome him ever again. He would become the best, and he would save himself and everyone else.
