Kohara, Hi-to [PRESTIGE SHINIGAMI]

Shinigami

The Gods of Death

"I never go to sleep, but I keep waking up."

Name: Hi-to (given name) Kohara (family name)
Nick Names: Toto
Age: Entering Soul Society after 23 years in the world of the living, Hi-to has physically only gained a couple years since then, and has been in soul society for 385 years.
Gender: Male
Loyalties: Soul Society, Seireitei; The Second Division
Birthday: 10th of March, 1629 AD.
Languages: Japanese (native, spoken in the old dialect), English (no accent), Spanish (Catalan), German (standard), Latin.
Blood Type: HH
Sexuality: Hetrosexual
Ethnicity: Uncertain, mixed race.
Current Rank: Vice Captain of the Second Division
Previous Ranks: Acting Captain of the Sixth Division, Head of Interrogation of the Sixth Division, Spy for the Second Division.
Theme Song

Shinigami reference number: TM5086
Date of graduation: September 3rd, 1641 AD.
 
Loyalties: The massacre, The incursion, The occupation, Kirishi. So many things have come and gone in the space of a few short years, and although having since been perverted and warped, Hi-to's loyalty remains the same at its core. Having been a spy for the Second and a Right Hand to Kiriko for the majority of his career, that burning dedication will never change, even when the rest of their faceless leaders lose their lustre.
 

 
Height:  6'0" (183cm)
Weight:170 lbs (77kg)
Hair: Crimson
Eyes: Amber (Blue in bankai)
Tattoos: None
Scars: None

With exotic colouring and the odd piercing here and there, Hi-to is a man that stands out from the crowd. A shock of thick, blood red hair comes to rest just above his shoulder blades, forever in a volcanic and barely tamed disarray over his crown with side swept bangs. Coupled with his caramel, creamed coffee completion his eyes are a sharp contrast with their almost feline pigment, bright and bold like the color of polished brass. While in bankai, Hi-to's eyes are the color of the centre of a burning flame, a bright azure blue that carry an iridescent glow that contrasts widly with his windswept hair, keeping only a few stray flecks of their original amber towards the pupil.

Despite growing out of his rebellious stage a few hundred years prior, Hi-to still maintains his tongue and eyebrow piercing, as well as the studs in his ears. Yet his body is completely free of any tattoo or mark, something almost unheard of for a shinigami of his experience and rank. Being the God Father of Kaido, his body is always in a state of constant upgrading, smoothing out every blemish as if created rather than born organically, and despite his wayward hair and sharp, thick lashed eyes gives him an oddly polished appearance. With straight, white teeth and the posture of a dancer, kaido has become an aspect of his being that he represents with little deliberation.

Because of this his presence can be somewhat unsettling for some, his straight back allowing him to stand comfortably at his full 6'0 height. Through rigorous training within both the Sixth and Second Divisions, each breath, step and movement are handled with as much subtlety as possible, giving him the impression of a shinobi in practice. With a body built for delivering accurate and swift strikes, Hi-to boasts a slender build that is yet lean and strong, the epitome of vitality and life.

Due to his elemental nature of fire, Hi-to's body temperature naturally runs a lot higher than most. Regularly sitting at around 43 degrees Celsius, the cold is something he has never truly had the luxury of knowing, Hyperion's warmth always enclosing him like a security blanket. He naturally carries the scent of freshly cut grass, sea salt and the smallest hint of smoky bonfires, the smell naturally clinging to his skin from years spent during covert operations out in the field.

Despite his exotic colouring and looming height, Hi-to is more than capable of carrying himself as part of a crowd by blending in with ease when required, another skill learned from his years undercover. And although his eyes are as piercing as his blade, when around those he deems friendly they can carry a subdued softness to them, gentle whenever he cares to act as such. 
 

Positive Traits

Broken, twisted and angry with the world as he is, there is some good traits to the man too. Somewhere deep down he’s capable of great love and emotion, his passion as powerful as his elemental nature. There’s a flip side to every coin, and for Hi-to once that tender side has been unlocked it can match his malevolent nature in spades.

1. Calm (adjective): “Not showing or feeling nervousness, anger, or other strong emotions.”
“If I couldn’t control myself, I wouldn’t be nearly as useful a tool as I am now.”

If there’s one thing Hi-to excels in above all others, it’s in keeping his emotions under a tight lock and key. Having been faced with a great many conflicts over the years, the only way he’s been able to survive is through his keen aptitude for keeping a level head. As a man often responsible for the chaos that surrounds him, each and every eventuality and casualty is taken into account, none more so than his own.

2. Loyal (adjective): “Giving or showing firm and constant support or allegiance to a person or institution.”
“You needn’t ask; just give me the order.”

A man married to his duty, Hi-to will never waver from it. Once he has put his trust and loyalty towards a cause he is more than willing to die for it if need be, his one grip to reality when he can’t even remain loyal to himself. A soldier through and through, all personal involvement and feelings waste away when in competition to that which he has pledged his allegiances.

3. Decisive (adjective): having or showing the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.
“Don’t be afraid to make the wrong decision; be afraid not to make one at all.”

Nobody has the luxury of taking their time anymore, and with it, Hi-to has had to keep his mind as fast as his ever purporting lifestyle. Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and none of them good if he doesn’t take action now. Too many fatalities have happened in the past as a result of inconsistent leadership and decision making, and that’s a habit Hi-to will never allow himself to partake in.

4. Patient (adjective): “Able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.”
“I will wait for what I deserve.”

As head of interrogation and the godfather of kaido and medical science, for Hi-to, patience truly is a virtue. He is more than willing to wait for however it long it takes him to get his desired results, even if that means he has to sacrifice other tasks for the greater gain. ‘Cure the disease by killing the patient’ simple isn’t a rule of thumb he can abide by; you can run from him, but you can never hide.

5. Fluid, Adaptable (adjective): “Able to adjust to new conditions.”
“Maybe it’s a type of schizophrenia that just works for me.”

There aren’t very many people that Hi-to hasn’t been able to figure out from one conversation. Mannerisms, your sense of humour, beliefs and morals, he’ll take them all into himself and project the parts of himself that will appeal to the people around him the most. As a soldier this isn’t a trait that he gets to use very often, but as a previous detective of the Sixth it wasn’t uncommon for him to go on undercover operations where false personas were a part of everyday life. Blank and more than a little rotten inside, hiding himself behind a mask of humanity is his one link to those around him when all else seems lost.

Negative Traits

 
The flip side to the coin, Hi-to is a man possessed by his demons more so than any Vaizard. Often times he has anything but the best intentions at heart, and has long since thrown away any desire for redemption. Carved and moulded by the people he’s met, he’s come to embrace the darker side of himself as who he is, using that darker nature to fuel his actions when love has let him down.

1. Deceptive (adjective): “giving an appearance or impression different from the true one; misleading.”
“You’re no philanthropist; stop pretending to be one!”

As fluid and adaptable as he is, the problem lies therein of losing yourself behind the mask, often with little deliberation or thought. Hi-to is not above manipulating how others perceive him, especially during such a time that he needs to hide his true intentions. And in that regard he is a master.

2. Manipulative (adjective): “Exercising unscrupulous control or influence over a person or situation.”
“I can break your resolve as easy as I can break your heart.”

There's a ladder to success, with a great many individuals making up that ladder. Hi-to has come to realise through the politics and hierarchy of Soul Society that it’s not what you know, but who you know that counts. They’re all just pieces of a chess board, but even a pawn can move across the field to become a queen. He wants to become the hand that guides those pieces, the one responsible for their ascent into something great.

3. Obsessive | to obsess (verb): “To Preoccupy or fill the mind of (someone) continually and to a troubling extent.”
“I’ll never let this go. I’ll tear it apart if I have to.”

Obsession is like a seed, and once planted it will continue to grow like an infestation, not stopping until it’s allowed to fully flourish or is cut at the root. Once Hi-to has dedicated himself to a cause, whether personal or business, he won’t stop until he’s torn the objective apart down to its most simple foundation. Often times he will lose himself to a project until he’s all but dragged away from it, the mental addiction becoming a real problem if he doesn’t stop himself.

4. Emotionally unstable (noun): “A condition characterized by rapid mood shift, impulsivity, hostility and chaotic social relationships.”
“I need to cut this weakness out of me. I can’t live like this.”

The hard fact remains that due to these personality traits, deep down Hi-to is a damaged and very broken man. Emotions are terrifying to a man who has bended them to his will his entire life, and the realization that he can’t control his own emotions as well as those of others is simply terrifying. His worst mistakes have been made with the best intentions at heart, and knowing how easily he can break somebody else’s means that giving his heart away leaves him feeling incredibly vulnerable. Without the proper coping mechanisms to handle them, each relationship Hi-to makes has to be handled with care, lest it turn to tears and bloodshed.

5. Grudging (adjective): “Given or allowed only reluctantly or resentfully."
“Have you ever given me any reason to trust you?”

Just like his love and loyalty, once that bond has been made, it’s virtually impossible to break with few exceptions. Your past shapes the foundations of your future, and Hi-to is a man who learns from his mistakes. If you fuck up you are a fuck up, and you’re going to have to the extra nine miles to make up for it before he thinks any differently.
 

Prominent Relationships

Kiriko Chinda Theme Song
"We're God's unwanted children? So be it."
Having been together from the very beginning of their descent into sin, Hi-to and Kiriko have a bond that transcends even that of the closest of comrades. Kiriko is the only woman alive who knows Hi-to's true face behind the mask, and the only one who he can trust to show his back to. Originally being forced to her side through blackmail and acting as a spy for the Second Division, years of missions and shared turmoil have played their part on bringing them to where they are today; with Hi-to finally taking his place as her Vice Captain. His loyalty to her unwavering, the one person he knows will have his back at times where even his closest friend's can't bear to look him in the eye.
 
Sekai Fujimura Theme Song
"And suddenly, I felt everything."
A spiritually powerful shrine girl from the world of the living, Hi-to met Sekai whilst Hollow hunting in Japan. Both having great expertise in their own skill sets of healing, they immediately hit it off. Sekai was something different to all the others that Hi-to had met, so genuinely kind and not afraid of the things he'd seen that he was instantly drawn to her as his polar opposite. She was something simple and refreshing, somebody whose mind had never been worried by The Massacre, Arrancar and Hollows alike.
 
Yet somehow, somewhere, that simple bond warped and changed. Upon being dragged to Seireitei with others in an incident of confusion and chaos, Hi-to realizes that she's incredibly naive and has a penchant for trouble. Vowing himself to make sure she remains as carefree as she is, he enters the role of a brotherly figure, only to have that bond torn apart by his own hands. With the intention of cutting out his weakness he attempts to murder her, only to see she's a lot stronger than he had first thought. Regret and melancholy stains their current relationship, and he hasn't seen her since.
 
Ayumi Takasugi 
Ayumi Takasugi is a name Hi-to loathes to remember; not because she's hurt him, but because he's hurt her, irreparably so. First encountering the young woman some 20 years prior, the two met behind the bars of Sixth Division interrogation cell 2B. Having evidence that points to her having murdered a comrade, Hi-to is tasked with getting the confession through any means necessary. Pressured and blackmailed by his superior officer he tortures her, brutally, scarring her as thoroughly inside as he does out. 
 
Afterwards she's thrown the the Maggots Nest, and that was the last he heard from her, though the trauma of what he'd done still lingered. Since having been released into the Second as a seated officer and Hi-to now being the Lieutenant, he is aware of her presence, but hasn't confronted her about their past as of yet.

Maya Tanaka  Theme Song
Previous Lieutenant of the Fifth Mayumi Tanaka is an ex lover of some 80 years ago, a time long before Hi-to became as mentally fractured as he is now. The two's relationship was more like a never ending fling than a real relationship, and it wasn't until she disappeared that Hi-to realized he truly did love her. They were never boring and always at each other throats, through either passion or some silly argument, and taught each other what it was to live life day and day in the present, instead of obsessing over the past.
 
Upon finding out that she was alive and trapped inside her mortal prison of flesh and blood, Hi-to didn't know what to think. Hurt that she'd do this to him, to them, he holds it against her until she's in tears and wanting him to just understand what she'd been through. They've had a few encounters along the way that have been everything from bittersweet to tragic, and now that she's back in Soul Society he has found closure on all that they were, and all that they have the potential to be. Although nothing like what they were before, he's proud to know that she'll always be there to have his back if need be.

Kenshou Ine 
Current Captain Commander, Kenshou is a man Hi-to has been wary of since the beginning. Upon learning that the man is one of the illusive Vaizard that unease evolves further, pushing him to further question the man's decisions. The only thing he does trust is that he does indeed carry Soul Society's best intentions at heart, though the means in which he controls his men leaves him at ends. Allowing a previous Espada to take other the Sixth Division and cause his own breed of havoc, the resulting consequences is something he just can't forgive. Through a series of events and his lack of care for those under him, Hi-to places a lot of blame on the man that he is struggling to overcome.

Takua Megiddo 
Primera Espada Takua Megiddo, the man Hi-to loves to hate. Having initially met when Hi-to was a Captain and him a Fraccion, the two got off to a rocky start that has since escalated into a landslide. With Sekai as a mutual friend the two are at ends with their feelings towards her, Takua's hollow nature something Hi-to can't trust in regards to her safety. After his final encounter with Sekai Takua hunts him down demanding answers, and Hi-to allows himself to indulge in the distrust and animosity he feels towards the other, unhindered by Sekai's concerns. 

Kionchi Tsukiyo
Having been incarcerated in the Maggots Nest for some time, Hi-to's first impression of the man upon his release is that of a raised eyebrow. Interrupting their captain's meeting with more bark than bite, Hi-to wonders what Kiriko has planned for him, and what potential she finds there. Hi-to finds out first hand upon encountering the man at a shrine in the First Division courtyards, shattered in the face of his broken Zanpakuto after being imprisoned for so long. Using the beat from his bankai to reforge the man's sword, the two men end up linked in a way they couldn't have imagined. 

Nazomi
His saving grace, and ever his downfall. Hi-to first learned of Nazomi from the torture he put Sekai through, and since that day swore that if they ever crossed paths, he would return the favor in kind tenfold. Upon falsely learning that Sekai was killed during The Incursion and with nowhere the channel his hurt and anguish, Hi-to seeks the Arrancar out as an outlet for all of his built up emotion. Hating him instantly Hi-to loses himself the the anger, only to be penetrated mind deep with the same ability Nazomi used to torture Sekai.
 
He could have killed him; would have killed him easily, if Maya hadn't shown up and stolen his chance. Should their paths ever cross again, Hi-to plans to rectify his mistake.

Jomyaku Umi
The hollow breed that infiltrated the Gotei like a sickness, and Hi-to's main reason for resentment towards Kenshou for allowing it to happen. Jomyaku Umi is the man once known as Garra, a previous Espada changed Shinigami by Tova Diablo, yet despite this, was allowed to take over the Sixth Division as Captain. After ascending to the Broken Royal known as Hatred, Hi-to can't stand to watch the Gotei becoming what it is, the man's hatred infesting even him the longer he tries to fight it.
 
Since his defeat at the hands of Kiriko that ghost still lingers, and one Hi-to to this day struggles to overcome.

Human life

 
Around 300 years ago, Hi-to was born in the world of the living to a small family in southern Okinawa, Edo Japan. A Spanish mother and a Japanese father, back in those days such a thing was unheard of, and growing up Hi-to and his siblings were rather well known around the island and among their peers. But despite having to deal with the occasional bout of bullying because of his unusual coloring and heritage, Hi-to generally grew up quite loved, close with his friends and family in their sheltered community. His family owned a small, modest home by the beach, where Hi-to and his siblings spent their younger years swimming and capturing tropical fish for the family pond, or helping out in the family tea house.
 
Upon turning 18, he left Okinawa for Edo in an attempt to find a master to teach him how to become a sword smith, desiring to create weaponry for the samurai and start a name in the small industry. Although, unlike growing up in the small but sheltered community of southern Okinawa, Edo was a much bigger metropolis, where he wasn't used to the formality of the people and the proper way they spoke, or the stares he would receive on the street. Discrimination was legal, and anybody out of the norm were just asking for trouble by existing. Because of this, life was generally very difficult, and it took him over 2 years to find somebody willing to teach him. A blind old master who traded the art of the sword for fishing in his retirement, decided he would like to pass on his knowledge before he died, having no children of his own and Hi-to being eager to learn, they came to an agreement.
 
Until meeting his death at 23 years old, Hi-to spent a total of 5 years in Edo, using his strength to work in the tatara furace, building the heat for master sword makers to smelt their steel. 
 

Mortal death

 
Hi-to died in an accident while working. Being a clay vessel containing extremely high temperatures of up to 750 degrees Celsius, many in his field had died before him from doing the same job, from injury, exhaustion, or even heat stroke. Hi-to himself found his death while after spending days of working, the time finally came to break the clay furnace apart, and the sword smiths themselves would come in to select the harvested metals.
 
Being to the east, near the mountains, earthquakes weren't uncommon. Hi-to and the other workers had been finishing their blasting of air into the furnace, making preparations for the clay to be broken apart for the masters. But after being hit by a 7.8 earthquake in the middle of the night, many were injured and killed from the extremely heated clay and hot steel strewn around in the aftermath, or the collapsing of one of the ceiling frames. Hi-to himself died by trying to help one of the master sword smiths out of  the way, trying to protect the masters above him so they could continue on to supply the finest of swords to the finest of men. Because of the violent quake, ash and coal were everywhere in the air, and breathing it in Hi-to fell over, hitting his knee on the frame and falling into the remains of the furnace from the waist up.
 

Wandering soul

 
Like many who have died, Hi-to was extremely confused, as when he awoke there was nobody to be found to explain anything. The moments leading up to his death were a blur of adrenaline, and there was no flashing of his life before his eyes, or any emotional epiphany to give him and idea that he was dead, other than the fact he remembered being burned  but not having any visible injury. The only thing he had to show from the experience was a long, thick chain stuck to his chest, that no matter how hard he pulled wouldn't budge.
 
Looking for somebody, anybody, he tried looking for somebody to help and to find out what happened to the others. When realizing that he couldn't move further than a meter or two from the furnace, he noticed the chain was attached to something. After pulling on the chain, and finding the source of it's anchor, he realized horrifically that it was his own body, and it became apparent what had obviously happened. In shock and a need to get away, he snapped the chain and ran for central Edo in an attempt to find somebody who could help him.
 
It soon became obvious that he wasn't on the same level of existence as everybody else when nobody could see him or hear him. Spending days in the city trying to look for any one who would acknowledge his existence  he returned to the temple and workshop of the sword smiths, hoping to find some answers where it all began. But upon arriving and feeling nothing but the ground shaking, it became obvious what had happened a few days prior wasn't an earthquake, but rather, a huge hollow had been up the mountain, drawn to the souls of those who die while working up there.
 
It was then that Hi-to met his first god of death, a shinigami, sent to the area to purify the hollow and send it to the after life. Overwhelmed and a little apprehensive, but after being told about the hollows and what they do, he gratefully accepted the konso, awe struck by the shinigami's power, and wishing he had such a strength himself.
 

Soul Society

 
Hi-to arrived in Soul Society's 3rd Western district, Hokutan, with no memory of anything prior to his arrival. Confused, he was welcomed to the small town with open arms and the friendly faces of it's citizens, and it wasn't long before an old woman named Yuko invited him into her home, offering him her spare room, and explaining soul society and the Rukongai. With a lot to think over about his new life, and that heaven was nothing like he imagined it would be, he turned down the offer of staying, wishing to explore the afterlife a little more to put his curious and suspicious nature at ease.
 
He walked between villages for years, trying to find some sort of purpose, some kind of focus in his new life. It was all very anticlimactic, something felt like it was missing. As time went by however, he felt himself becoming sick, tired and fatigued. It wasn't until he noticed somebody carrying what looked like bags of rice that he realized he was starving. Years and years without seeing people eat with no consequence, he wondered why he was slowly finding himself needing it.
 
It would be another few years later before he saw his first Shinigami. At the time he'd been in the east 24th district, and a group of citizens were gathered at the square, all bidding farewell to gods of death, soul reapers. Men and women clad in black with swords and an air about them that held purpose, walking with footsteps so light they couldn't belong to a normal soul, H-to naturally found himself drawn to it, wanting to know about them and where they came from, and what they do. He dedicated some time after that to finding out as much as he could from the limited knowledge of Rukongai's citizens, and what lay beyond the Rukongai.
 
He eventually returned to Hokutan to take up Yuko's offer, after years and years of wandering, wanting a place to call home. He'd learned that Hokutan was one of the closest districts to Seireitei, and it would be the best place to be if he wer to find out anything substantial. He moved in and helped with the village duties, more often than not making all the fires for food and making tools, naturally drawn to it. It was commented on that to desire food meant you had spiritual energy, and that he was a natural at working with fire. It was then he was recommended to try and find Seireitei, and see if it was possible to better himself and put his potential to use for something better than village life.
 

Shino Academy

 
Hi-to enrolled in the Shino academy a year or so later, after searching for Seireitei, hoping to find answers. Fascinated by soul society's history and politics, he spent a lot of time studying diligently to be the top of his class, working with his natural talents and aiming to increase his skill in the things he didn't excel in.
 
Being a little taller than his other classmates, Hi-to excelled in Zanjutsu, the extra reach because of his height and speed making it his primary fighting style. He learned how to wield a sword in both a normal and reverse grip, how to block various moves, the art of kendo, and practiced using his sword ambidextrously. He learned from his teachers that the way of the sword was something to be respected and never underestimated, that it was an extension of your body and not simply a tool. 
 
He learned of Hakuda, and the importance of not only relying on the sword in times where it's not viable, and surviving in close combat, and perfecting your own strength. That hakuda was quieter than the sword and perfect for assassination, and made no mess. He learned that even without a sword you should never underestimate the enemy, because shinigami are more than just their weapons. Although keeping Zanjutsu his preferred method, he never once forgot about the importance of hand to hand combat, a powerful skill to keep up your sleeve.
 
Next, the importance of the flow of your reiatsu, and those around you. Sensing people, the way it flows around your body, and then using it in more substantial moves such as shunpo and kido. These were all things Hi-to took very seriously, especially the art of fash steps. Already one of the fastest in his class, Shunpo came as the easier part of controlling your reiatsu as compared to Kido. Going with the flow of his own momentum and advancing it, along with Zanjutsu was something Hi-to had a natural affinity for, and has kept it part of his main fighting style since, putting his utmost into mastering it.
 
Kido was something more tricky than the forwardness of zanjutsu and hakuda, or the finesse of Shunpo. Truly a tricky thing to remember, Hi-to swore to only use it as a last resort. Learning all the incantations, the exact application of spiritual energy, it didn't come as easily as the others did. Not liking how much time the incantations took or the noise they made, Bakudo was the only form of Kido he could pass at as above average. He ended up passing his Kido examinations with average grades, rather in-extraordinary compared to some of his peers.
 
After graduating, Hi-to took straight away to applying for divisions within the Gotei 6.
 

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