#Shinōreijutsuin

[derekscorner]

Differences in Zanpakuto

I've been on a Bleach kick thanks to the Klub Outside facts I've been learning. Some of the things Kubo reveals on that website of his is incredibly interesting. (some other things are just funny)

But one about Arrancar's and their Zanpakuto got me thinking so I thought it'd be fun to give a very brief rundown of the types of Zanpakuto used by Soul Reapers, Arrancars, and Vizards.

Despite appearances there is a stark difference between them and how they function.

The Asauchi & the Soul Reapers

We learned a lot about how these Zanpakuto worked in the final arc of Bleach years ago and now so too have the anime-only fans thanks to the 'Thousand Year Blood War' anime.

As explained by Nimaya Oetsu, creator of the Zanpakutos, all Soul Reaper Zanpakuto's begin as an Asauchi. (Shallow Hilt)

Oetsu forges these Asauchi from the souls of Reapers and every Shinōreijutsuin student or rookie Soul Reaper are given one. And before you ask, yes, "Shinōreijutsuin" is the name of a Soul Reaper school.

All Asauchi are nameless with a standard katana form and two general abilities;

The "Soul Burial" which sends ghosts to the Soul Society.

And Hollow purification which turns them back into a soul.

What turns an Asauchi into a Zanpakuto is nothing more than time and training. As they train with and use the sword their soul will imprint upon it and turn it into a true Zanpakuto.

From here it just opens up into a variety of unique Zanpakuto and exceptions to the rules such as "dual blade types" or "ancestral" Zanpakuto which you'll see toward the end of the TYBW anime.

The Hollow's Zanpkauto

Despite the parallels between Arrancar and Soul Reapers their Zanpakuto actually originate and work rather differently. This process was further refined and paralleled to the Soul Reapers after Aizen began to alter existing Arrancar and mas produce new ones with his Hogyoku.

The first key difference is origin. When an Arrancar is born they rip off their mask and their spiritual powers as a hollow are then sealed inside a sword.

And according to Kubo on his 'Klub Outside' site the actual sword itself is formed from the pieces of the mask they tore away:

This is rather interesting to me due to what Ginjo said about a hollow's mask in the Fullbring Arc. According to him the mask is formed from the "heart" the hollow lost which leaves the hole on their body.

For an Arrancar to form their Zanpakuto from their mask, knowing this, feels a little poetic. They're wearing their hearts on their waist.

Other notable differences between an Arrancar & Soul Reaper's Zanpkauto include:

The Arrancar's Zanpakuto have no personality or spirit.

As far as we know, they do not have the 'Soul Burial' and "hollow purification" abilities.

Most Arrancar only have one release known as a "Resurreccion" but they can develop a second release known as "Segunda Etapa".

There are a few smaller details but I'll let you discover those on your own~

Vizards & Resurreccion

Now the Vizards are a bit unique here because they begin life as Soul Reapers and so their Zanpakuto's are just that, the Zanpakuto of a Soul Reaper.

However, Kaname Tosen showed that it's possible for Vizards to develop a Resurreccion. It is easy to assume that was unique to Tosen due to him being Aizen's subordinate but Kubo confirmed otherwise.

Of course, this is a hypothetical. The Vizards would have to put in the work to use their masks during Bankai or awaken a Resurreccion like the Arrancar.

Edit::::::::::::::::::

Recently learned that the Zanpakuto of the Soul Reapers are actually recycled. In the rare case they retire or (I presume) just die peacefully their Zanpakuto is stored before Oetsu reforges it ack into an Asauchi.

Now this doesn't necessarily constitute as a "type" of Zanpakuto but it is relevant enough for me to edit into both Parts 1 & 2 of these three part posts I've made.

More in part because it means that a Zanpakuto can be turned back into an Asauchi. This may be the core reason that Oetsu could reforge Ichigo and Renji's Zanpakuto.

Although, I would argue there's likely a difference between reforging a Zanpakuto and reforging it back into an Asauchi. Why? Because Asauchi have no defined spirit, they're blank.

Somehow Oetsu wipes away the Zanpakuto's sentience.

And We're Done

Technically could go on by adding Ichigo & Zangetsu to this topic but their origin is so convoluted that both the manga and the anime had to dedicate a flashback arc just to explain it.

Although, one thing to take note of here is that Aizen made "White" out of multiple Soul Reaper souls. A process that Oetsu purposely points out as similar to how he forges Asauchi.

Which is a dark parallel to leave this post on. Bye~

[foremyth]

aizen teaching at the shinōreijutsuin stirs a peculiar part of my brain that specifically looks like this

[nelsbels]

Well Behaved Shinigami Never Made History

Summary:

She entered the Shinōreijutsuin, Spiritual Arts, academy with a clear goal in mind. Get stronger, get a job, save up and get out. Never expecting how complicated her life would become nor how meeting a certain carrot head noble would put a spin in the works and her life. ... She gorged herself on the high quality food the academy provided and relished in the new dishes and tastes she never had before. That’s how Kuchiki Byakuya, her so called brother in law, found her. Adoption? Being pulled out of the academy and straight into a squad?! What the fuck was he playing at? There was no way in hell! Neither would she ever let her training be tarnished like that! Just how corrupt was this system by the bloody nobles? She had a word or two to say to him alright. 1. Fuck 2. Off.

[syvlanas-writes]

closer - bleach, kuchiki byakuya/oc series

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, settings, or plots canon to Bleach, as noted above. They are copyrighted to Kubo Tite. I only own characters, settings, and plots not canon to Bleach.

Summary: Over a hundred years ago, Nomiya Kazue was chosen to be the wife of the future 28th head of the Kuchiki clan, Kuchiki Byakuya. After graduating from the Shinōreijutsuin, a diabolical plan emerged that threatened the lifestyle Kazue knew and her relationship with Byakuya. After all is said and done, will they be able to get closer, or is the distance between them too great to cross?

Content contains the following: arranged marriage, mutual pining, rekindled love, heartbreak, drama & romance, childhood friends to lovers, slow burn, medical procedures, some mild language, and canon-typical violence.

I do plan to have smut, but for right now there's suggestive sexual themes.

Note: I don't actually know how many chapters will be in this series, though I do expect to cross the 100k word count. I know that tumblr limits the number of links in a post, but luckily I have split this series into 3 parts.

Part 1 is mostly pre-canon stuff (aka Turn Back the Pendulum). Part 2 will start with the Rukia Rescue arc and will end with the Arrancar/Winter War arc. The final part is Thousand Year Blood War.

Because this is a long series, I won't be publishing individual chapters on here. I will provide links to my AO3 instead.

Part 1 (Pre-canon, Turn Back the Pendulum)

Chapter 1: Like A Camellia, Unnoticed

Chapter 2: Like An Iris, Inspired

Chapter 3: Like a Peony, Spontaneous

Chapter 4: Like a Gladiolus, Resilient

Chapter 5: Like a Hollyhock, Ambitious

Chapter 6: Like a Hydrangea, Proud

Chapter 7: Like a Cornflower, A Blessing

Chapter 8: Like an Azalea, Patient

Chapter 9: coming soon

Chapter 10: coming soon

divider credit: @/saradika-graphics, fic banner made by me in canva

byakuya render credit

[burdenedreverance]

Timeline

2003: Hayden returns to the Soul Society to assist in the TYBW. 

1946: Hayden leaves Hueco Mundo frequently to visit the Human world. 

1935: Hayden’s time in Hueco Mundo begins to adversely affect his soul.

1905: Hayden leaves the Gotei, goes rogue. Ends up in Hueco Mundo.

1900: Hayden achieves a rudimentary Bankai.

1889: Hayden becomes fourth seat of 1st Division. Begins to teach Hakuda supplementary. Begins to document conditions of the Rukongai, pushes for more extensive programs. Denied at every turn.

1882: Hayden achieves Shikai. Begins to ascend up the seated ranks.

1880: Hayden is transferred to 1st Division, per recommendation and request.

1878: Hayden graduates the Shinōreijutsuin. Assigned to 11th division.

1872: Hayden joins the Shinōreijutsuin.

1869: Hayden suffers a mortal wound during the last battle of the war. Is buried in the Karakura Mountains per final wishes. Spends a number of months as a plus before being Konso’d. Arrives into the Rukongai dazed and confused.

1867: Hayden becomes an unofficial military advisor during the Boshin War.

1865: Hayden accepts an offer to act as guard for the USA’s Diplomat to Japan.

1861: Hayden volunteers for the American Civil War.

1845: Desmond Hayden was born on June 10th in Vermont, USA.

[burdenedreverence]

Timeline

2003: Hayden returns to the Soul Society to assist in the TYBW. 

1946: Hayden leaves Hueco Mundo frequently to visit the Human world. 

1935: Hayden’s time in Hueco Mundo begins to adversely affect his soul.

1905: Hayden leaves the Gotei, goes rogue. Ends up in Hueco Mundo.

1900: Hayden achieves a rudimentary Bankai.

1889: Hayden becomes fourth seat of 1st Division. Begins to teach Hakuda supplementary. Begins to document conditions of the Rukongai, pushes for more extensive programs. Denied at every turn.

1882: Hayden achieves Shikai. Begins to ascend up the seated ranks.

1880: Hayden is transferred to 1st Division, per recommendation and request.

1878: Hayden graduates the Shinōreijutsuin. Assigned to 11th division.

1872: Hayden joins the Shinōreijutsuin.

1869: Hayden suffers a mortal wound during the last battle of the war. Is buried in the Karakura Mountains per final wishes. Spends a number of months as a plus before being Konso’d. Arrives into the Rukongai dazed and confused.

1867: Hayden becomes an unofficial military advisor during the Boshin War.

1865: Hayden accepts an offer to act as guard for the USA’s Diplomat to Japan.

1861: Hayden volunteers for the American Civil War.

1845: Desmond Hayden was born on June 10th in Vermont, USA.

[sunniestshark-ocs]

(for Fuu) If you weren't commanding over the Gotei what would you be doing? Is there any other job you could see yourself doing? What about hobbies?

Asks from here! (still open)

"I was once an instructor at the Shinōreijutsuin and found the position enjoyable. Ensuring the future generations have the skills they need to survive their duties is as important as any leadership role. As for hobbies, outside of training. I am a blacksmith. I enjoy forging blades, especially for my students. I like to hike, particularly in foul weather. Horseback riding is also something I like to try and find the time for."

From the distance, you hear, "She also writes poetry!! It's really good!!" and the sound of someone heavy sprinting away.

[ryusxnka]

bazz-b​ :

Bromancing @ryusxnka​

“I don’t understand how your academies work.”

A direct question, too brazen to be any sort of spy work. Too direct, too brash in it’s demand for an answer, for attention. The Quincy had snagged a syllabus, a student somewhere lamenting their loss, and thumbed through the pages with alternating scowls and scoffs. “I know some of you losers end up with swords that, like, turn into mildew. Why the hell do you spend so much time on kenjutsu before you even know what you can do?” He’d not really figured out the distinction from zanjutsu just yet.

“And you practice on each other?” Tossing the book onto the Captain’s desk, moving to rummage for anything interesting in nearby drawers, his critique continues. “You guys are supposed to hunt Hollows and murder sweet, innocent, baby Quincy. How often do you fight people with swords!?”

He pauses a moment. “I guess there was Aizen, but how much did your academy really help with that? Had to outsource your problem to a kid who didn’t even attend!”

                          “  -  Keep your grubby hands out of my desk drawers!! “ The coarse, intonation snapping akin to rupturing Ice, vocalizations of a youth erupts authoritatively with the objective of discontinuing further movements the instant he strides through ajar doors.  -----  Registering yet seemingly disregarding what had been inquired beforehand. The outright impertinence that this bastardized man, a quincy, exhibited in a locality he was the furthest of being welcomed to loaf around as if naught, remnants of a cutthroat warfare still ever-present, had transpired ‘tween the two militaristic combatants. --  Irritated wouldn’t remotely characterize the Ire scorching, thawing the calm frigidity habitually epitomized, faithfully. He was weary, famished, after finalizing hours of workload, in fact, he was in the midst of getting some dumplings afore being interrupted by an unease officer reporting of a visitant within the confinements of his office that had come directly from the direction of the Shinōreijutsuin. - An individual which forthwith riddled his subordinates with conspicuous disquietude, understandably so. Generating the adolescent to expeditiously retrace his course sans first tending to his abdomen’s aching demand. - And thus, was his temperament one of tempestuous.

                                Their fundamental reasoning being affiliated to criticizing interest in regards to their Academic teachings and the main functionality of their Zanpaku-to; a disclosing matter which wrought a grimace to adorn ‘pon Hitsugaya’s countenance. “ As if I'll reveal our training regimes and fighting techniques to a still-potential enemy. It goes without saying, Bazz-B, that I do not trust you. “ he curtly answers, taking the abandoned Syllabus amongst his extremity, mentally inserting a new, and involuntary, task within his immaterial schedule to return the book to whoever it originally belonged to, and forwarding it somewhere momentarily secure.  --  The impromptu comment implicating Aizen grits teeth and furrow brows, but he refrains to indulge the utterance. Notwithstanding the fragments of truthful actuality that protruded through the words. “ You certainly have a lot to say for someone who hates Shinigami. “ He scoffs, realizing that perhaps if he, in reality, offered the information they wanted, the latter would soon depart from his barracks. Exasperated, he directs to his desk anew whilst exhaling a breath.“ I’ll be forthright with you. “ he yields. “  ---  You're speaking with someone who graduated from the academy after only one year. There wasn't much I needed to learn. Everything just came naturally for me. “ A prodigal child who had known how to utilize his Bankai long before being officially robed in a Shinigami’s attire. “ In comparison  to someone who has spent the necessary years  --   I do not have very much to divulge. “

[bleachbleachbleach]

Do you think the soul reaper academy followed boarding school traditions like school dances? Also possibly could the captains have chaperones at these dances?

Given that the goal of the Shinigami Academy is to train shinigami for the Gotei 13, Onmitsukidou, and Kidou Corps, I think it’s unlikely that they have any kind of fun, coming-of-age, school traditions. It’s probably more of a professional school, and there probably isn’t all that much interest in things like chaperoned school dances, since all the attendees are practically already (functionally) adults. However, there are probably a couple of things that operate more like a “regular” school that we would recognize.

If shoujo anime is any indication, youth wouldn’t be complete without at least an episode on the Class Trip. The same goes for shinigami students. Advanced classes get to do cool things like go to the Living World (akin to going to Hawaii). Maybe other classes take domestic trips, like visiting the archives at the Kuchiki manor or maybe having a pottery weekend at Ugendou (these very trips tend to be boring and no one actually enjoys them).

However, if there’s one time-honored tradition that the Shinigami Academy holds onto, it’s the bunkasai (culture festival). But, it has a propagandistic spin on it, because well, this is a military school.

Unohana Shen Yun: Is Shen Yun a meme outside of the Asian American community? I don't know, but making this poster felt very necessary.

Hanbantai Players poster: I had to take this opportunity to bring back the Hanbantai Players, AKA the Half Division, the Gotei 13's finest division, the shinigami troubadours who entertain while also affirming the Soul Society world order (and the expected roles of souls and shinigami). There's a representative from every division, chosen via surprisingly competitive auditions.

The plays themselves are more "local Renaissance Faire" than Broadway, but the true talent of the Hanbantai Players lies in the fact that they act as histrionic chameleons, bringing in the local flavor of wherever they are performing to make their nationalist message feel as organic and "native" to the place as possible.

For example, this poster was made specifically for their Junrinan show, which integrates into Junrinan's extant puppet festival. (Not all Hanbantai shows are puppet shows.) The bronzy background elements reflect a map of Junrinan, with mountains and valleys (山, 谷) in the top left, then a river (川) flowing to a pond (池) through woods/forest (林, 森) before transitioning into a space for souls (魂魄) and, importantly (and in boldface), shinigami (死神).

The Hanbantai's Academy shows all open with the pledge (see below), and tend to be allegorical morality plays about why serving as a shinigami is important–but conveyed through hijinks. One of the playwrights did pitch a scene from a play about the Quincy Genocide, but to date it's never been performed, and the full play has never been ordered.

During the bunkasai, there's probably also some kind of horrible Rukongai World’s Faire type deal that describes the "culture of Rukongai" but it’s very colonial and also just generalizes the entirety of Rukongai to either being the 1st or the 80th (in one particular sector). Imagine visiting an “Inuzuri cafe” in lieu of a maid cafe, where the only drink you can get is water and also you have to fight for it.

Shinigami Oath: If you grew up in the US during a certain time period or were ever a member of any Scouting organization, you’re familiar with reciting a pledge/oath/promise at the start of every meeting. The Academy operates in a similar way. At the beginning of each day, all the students have to line up and recite the Shinigami Oath in front of the flag, and pledge their commitment to the cause. It’s something every shinigami can recite in their sleep, which makes it all the more insulting when Aizen insinuates Soi Fon doesn’t know it. The Academy might not teach much, but it certainly knows how to indoctrinate.

[niicevibe]

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐓𝐨𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐨 + 𝐘/𝐍 𝐇𝐂𝐬

Hello, hello! I have returned. And with my first requested realistic HC collection! Y'all have been too sweet; I'm so happy you've been liking them. This time around, the collection is for Tōshirō!

Oh my god. Did you guys watch the Jump Festa 2022 show? I was up until 5 in the morning to see Bleach's and I was in tears. This was my first animanga I ever saw!! It means so much that we're finally getting the last season animated and then all of this other content? I'm losing my mind.

Anyway! I feel like this one is a little long, but I have no regrets. He's such a cutie.

𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 @aztecbrujeria 🥰

𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: contains some manga-only information; just softy/hardass 'Shirō.

𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

When you found out Tōshirō had grown up in one of the safer, richer districts of Rukongai, it suddenly all made sense. And it's not that you're calling him spoiled! Yet, you are...

It's a little easy to tell, from the way he carries himself, that he'd been as comfortable and well-off as his era of growth permitted him to be. Even Momo could confirm things for you.

But he's not spoiled in the materialistic sense. No, he's very modest like that; he's probably as far left from materialistic as possible, the complete opposite of his Lieutenant. It's only showed in his perfectionism, his great attention to detail, and the desire to please authority.

It was more mellowed out and less obvious when he was younger, when he'd first joined the Gōtei. He'd been a prodigy, too, after all, so it's expected. It consistently shines in his work and in his mannerisms in the present, the pride he has for his position and his home.

No -- he's spoiled in the sense that he's literally almost perfect? Intelligent, generous, powerful, handsome -- as the World of the Living call it, he's the "total package".

And when you tell him this, he only snorts, avoiding using any words to respond for the risk of him blurting something out embarrassing. From your place on the couch, chin propped up in your hand, you revel in the pink spreading across his cheeks and into his ears, his bottom lip bitten down on so hard you fear he might tear it off.

Tōshirō is so easy to tease, but it's not his fault. It's so easy to blame his childhood friend and Rangiku, innocently antagonizing him his whole life, but when you do it, it's so much different.

He'll stiffen, letting the words you spouted at him slowly sink in. Some days, it's so distracting that he'll banish you from his office so he can finish the day's work, and you oblige, laughing on the way out because you love his reactions. Hands folded against his face, he'll sigh into them, taking steady breaths to try and clear his complexion and his mind.

Tōshirō always does his work in his office now, having learnt better from the attempts he'd made on bringing them back to his quarters to find you inside already, waiting for his arrival. It doesn't matter where you and your presence takes you, whether it be in his office, his quarters, or even a Captain's meeting. It becomes difficult to focus on much else if you decide to take centre stage.

He would be a big believer in the phrase "it's the little things that count". Whether being the giver or receiver, there's nothing more in a relationship that Tōshirō would appreciate more than small gestures. Minding his sometimes-short temper and his quick-to-be-embarrassed nature, larger and more extravagant gestures will make him short-circuit on you. Please take it easy on him; he's a busy man. While he appreciates the thought, it's just another distraction that he can't handle with his already massive schedule.

As I think most Soul Reapers would be, Tōshirō is fond of nostalgia. He thinks as far back as he can remember, back to when he lived in Junrinan with his grandmother and Momo and back to when he'd met Rangiku; back when he'd first joined the Shinōreijutsuin to become a Soul Reaper and when he'd soon been recruited into the Tenth Division; back when he had to deal with Isshin Shiba being his Captain, and when he'd later replaced him as the Captain when he'd disappeared from the Soul Society.

Back when he'd met you.

You'd never been afraid to stick your neck out, not even as a new division member, in order to make your name known; you held no ego nor malice in your efforts for which Tōshirō quickly noticed. Your strength you held and your confidence to match was something he was in awe of, something you used solely to help others and not use to flaunt or taunt your peers and comrades.

His interactions with you were rare and few, as in only when he was called into active duty within the Soul Society did the two of you meet; you, one of the team leaders of the Tenth Division who would report directly to him as you handled a portion of his division members through the crisis. Business was first, as always, easily taken care of despite his emotional curiosities. He had time for that after, especially when you remained at his side while your capable men began wrapping up the situation.

Never was he able to strike up a casual conversation with you. You understood his limitations and made it easy on him to begin one first, something he appreciated so immensely, because that simply made it easy for him to realize that it hadn't been only awe that he felt of you.

Because of his emotional shortcomings, Tōshirō becomes a very "blushy" person when he has to address them. It's not something he's used to nor wanted to get used to; it's all so inconvenient and overwhelming to think about, yet he won't want to just brush it aside -- it seems almost too cruel to do so.

He looks forward to meetings, updates and assignments that he's able to personally attend to because it means that you'll be there.

He won't go out of his way to make things too obvious; with any luck, the hope he has that you'll possibly make the first move is a strong one. He'd abhor anything less than professionalism between you, but god, just say something. The stress will eat at him forever.

But when you finally do address how increasingly different his behaviour has been whenever you're around him, his entire face pinks up and his hands will do this little twitchy thing when he tries speaking.

"B-Breathe, sir," you tell him, feigning amusement by offering a small pat to his shoulder.

But that literally just makes it worse. It stuns him into a dizzy silence. He just stands there, eyes trained at his feet in his struggle to come up with something to respond with. He's not usually so uncouth and it's concerning to him.

In the meantime, you've made him a cup of his favourite tea and got him to take a seat on his couch, telling him not to rush or panic. Your patience is appreciated by him, too; giving him time to collect the parts of him that tried floating off without him was just what he needed. But doing so only makes his face pink again, and it finally hits you.

"Oh. R-Really?"

Your presence is reassuring, as are the words that follow his nod of confirmation. You're happy to navigate things together, you essentially tell him, because you liked him, too. Is that what it's called now? he wonders. Just liking someone?

It definitely sounds a lot nicer than him asking to court you. Maybe you'd like his old-fashioned proposal, or maybe you'd laugh a little at him like you do when he says something "his age" -- with his young appearance, it just doesn't seem like it fits.

You'd been grateful that he'd "said something". You weren't desiring to cross any boundaries as a subordinate, not when you'd already come so far with your position within the division. You'd had a feeling, though... that something was on your Captain's mind. He'd made it increasingly obvious when you'd heard from his Lieutenant that he'd been inquiring about you more and more. And him being the kind of reserved you'd known him to be over the years, well, you knew it wouldn't be easy for him to come up with the words.

Tōshirō would not be a fan of public displays of affection. Used to being seen and treated as a child because of his form, others thinking him undeserving of the position because of that and his young age (by Soul Society standards, of course) -- he'd think it adding fuel to the annoyingly persistent fire, and he hates the heat.

This, you wholeheartedly respect. It took a long time for you to gain the same respect he'd desired because of your decision to be so outspoken on your strength. It took years to prove your worthiness. Tōshirō is no different. So, while you are always seen together, either working on reports together, meeting for a lunch break or for a quick cup of tea, or walking around the Soul Society together, you won't be seen holding hands.

With this, he can be quite the hoverer. If both of your times off align, you can bet he'll be at your side.

In private, there are many tender moments and exchanges the two of you have. What he won't do in public, he makes up for when you join each other in the others' quarters. His hands will always be near you in some way, whether it be holding hands and enjoying the peace and quiet, or an arm over your shoulder where you sit side-by-side. You were typically the one to engage in more intimate moments, but Tōshirō's a fast learner; that's why he'd graduated so quickly. Chaste kisses and the occasional, more feverish romanticism... He is enamoured with you.

Tōshirō Hitsugaya, being the man he is, won't realize that the purpose of you speaking about his bedding was to get him to nap. You weren't tired in the slightest, but you'd taken notice of the darkening circles beneath his eyes and recalled how he'd yet to sleep after the massive pile of documents awaiting him since his Lieutenant bailed on her duties once more.

"Your salary must be amazing, Captain," you blurt, eyeing his bedroom with slight disdain. "Your futon is so thick..."

"Give it a try, if you'd like," he says, gesturing you toward it.

"Only if you'll join me?"

The act embarrasses him, despite its innocence. It seems like such a forward thing to engage in so soon in your relationship, but the idea tempted him. Changed into his night robe and you having borrowed a spare, you both lay between the futon and the covers, a respectable distance between each other. But when you both wake up, he finds your arms wrapped loosely around him, your head tucked onto his chest. Seeing you like this, he won't wake you. Even if he has to return to work. The sight is just too domestically pleasing to him.

If it is the winter time, he would have his windows wide open. Owning an elemental Zanpakutō like Hyōrinmaru encourages his weathering disposition. The summer time is hell for him; he'll have a block of non-melting ice sat before a fan whenever he sleeps.

You know how much he doesn't like his mature form, but, he also knows how flustered you get around him if he ever pulls it out. Even if it's in battle, you'll still lose composure -- he's just too pretty to look at.

That flusters him, too. And so, he'll banish you from his presence since you've made things more complicated.

Whoops.

Just try teasing him now that you're together. He's not afraid to toss it and then some back at you. Also, he's still your Captain. Go too far and he's gonna punish you with paperwork and chores. Don't risk it.

I'd like to say that because Tōshirō is one of the more younger Soul Reapers, he'd be more "hip" with early 2000s technology, but no -- he's about as useful as a seventy-year-old man would be. Since you have World of the Living privileges, when you go there, you've purchased a polaroid camera to show him the pictures you've taken when you'd been completing your assignment. The stack of them sit on top of his dresser for him to peruse through when you're gone -- the one of yourself that you'd managed to take with his favourite sunset behind you? It goes where he goes -- on his desk, into his breast pocket, or on display next to the other photos.

He's glad that you had to leave immediately after you brought the photos back to him, as one of them had been of his World of the Living grandmother. The fact that you'd gone to look for her without him asking? He's very touched and needs a moment.

© niicevibe | please don’t repost! reblogs appreciated ♥️

[midnightactual]

Guess who’s back on campus and ready to terrorize Shinōreijutsuin students and Shinigami alike?

[ryusxnka]

  It goes without saying that Toshiro isn’t just an ordinary Shinigami  ---  But one who is born after a few centuries as stated by Gin.  -  A special  case, more or less. Being one of  scarcely  few  whose  Zanpaku-to  spirit   awakens  long   before  he  had  obtained  his Asauchi from the academy. - Whose said spirit invaded his dreams to force the boy to inevitably recognize his existence.- Being a prodigal genius allowed him to graduate after one year at the Shinōreijutsuin.  -- Knowing how to not just awaken his Shikai, but furthermore, his Bankai. In other words, This marvel child could already use his Bankai before entering  the Gotei Thirteen. -  So in the flashback panel where Isshin brings up Bankai training, he  did not mean training to achieve it, but to ameliorate it  -  to hone it. That’s a very grand feat for someone  who was  naught but a wee thing. ----  And in the present, he’s already mastered it. Which  rings  more weight on what Kyoraku had said about  Toshiro  exceeding him  in  a  century or  two; a  future head captain candidate. 

[foremyth]

🎲 (if you’re still accepting Kakyo and Tousen)

kakyō's reiatsu is a gentle pulse. it throbs beneath his skin, against the floor of his mouth, like a steady heartbeat. she is nervous—she sucks her breath in almost in an attempt to hold it, but her hand does not escape his. she gives his fingers a light squeeze, knowing, encouraging. kaname is nervous, too. he can feel the heat rushing to his cheeks, and he curses himself for being such a coward. soon she will be gone, he tells himself. the narrowed spaces of shinōreijutsuin will become her entire world, and after that she will face the endless spirals of danger and death that all shinigami face.

he does not want to consider the possibility of never being together again, but a gaping fear cracks open his pride, pooling in his gut. here she is untouched, peaceful, the wind caught in her hair and the stars shining above their heads. here, she is safe. but her life is not his to control.

kaname's fingers raise, treading the velvety path of her cheekbone to the flat of her temple, pulling a strand of hair behind the shell of her ear. it's a path he knows well. kakyō was the first to allow him to explore the lines of her face without turning down such a direct closeness; and when he reached the corners of her lips, he had been able to feel her smile stretching beneath his touch. he wants to say something—no, not just something, he wants to say it. everything that is physical matter in his soul tilts towards her like a river, but he is a coward, and cannot bring himself to. what if it influenced her decision to become a shinigami? what if it got in the way of her dream?

he leans down to press a kiss on her forehead. if he were any braver, he would claim her lips instead. no, kaname only smiles against her skin. he does not want them to part bitterly. “i will write to you. ”

kiss roulette.

[windstormwielding]

When Kotaro was still a student in the shinigami academy, what was his worst class? What was his best? Are these areas that he still struggles in?

{ ooc } Ooh, a question about eager, bright-eyed, Academy days Kōta! Just gonna shove this one under the cut for length-

The shinigami academy is the foundation where Gotei 13, Onmitsukidō, and Kidō Corps hopefuls learn the four combat arts of soul reapers: Zanjutsu, Kidō, Hohō, and Hakuda. Kōtarō’s time at the Shinōreijutsuin was one heck of an adjustment period for a soul who only ever knew the sticks, but the young spirit did show some combat proficiency right out of the gate.

Zanjutsu, the art of the sword, was the one area where he got a sizeable lead over his peers from the beginning and kept it. Though there was no formal training to be had out in Rukongai, Kōta was taught from young how to swing a weapon around in order to defend himself. After all, Kusajishi, 79th District in Northern Rukon, is no place to raise a child, and try as his bandit mother might to keep him safe, she wanted him to at least stand a fighting chance against other goons should push come to shove. Sure, he learned how to fight and comport himself with honour as an upstanding Gotei 13 soldier, but he can get dirty if that meant scoring a win like in the boonies – you can’t afford to be complacent with your life on the line!

Kidō, the art of spellcasting, would pique anyone’s curiosity unless you’re destined for the 11th Division, which Kōta wasn’t. He already knew how to exert his reiryoku during a life-or-death situation once before, so learning how to channel this strange power of his into Kidō proved to be enlightening for him! Incantations and spell books, a wide variety of offensive and support magic, new ideas for sneak attacks to blend into swordplay... there are so many applications for these! As a Lieutenant, he became proficient enough in Hadō and Bakudō that he can cast mid-tier spells without the attached chant, though they are still needed higher up he goes. He also developed some basic Kaidō skills over his career within the 13th Division; he felt it would have probably been a good call—just in case—as a seated officer serving a sickly Captain, though with Kiyone and Sentarō constantly shadowing Ukitake, this was rarely ever needed.

Hohō, the art of movement, made for classes Kōta was especially interested in. Zipping about faster than the untrained eye can follow with Shunpo, learning how to walk up to the same clouds in the skies he wished to fly up to when little, feeling the wind blow right through him with agility he only ever dreamed of... He had a rough time with these classes at first, but he managed to brush up his skills here well enough over the course of the six year curriculum to graduate with considerable competence. In the present, he is fairly agile already, sure, but there’s always room to improve!

Hakuda, the art of close-quarters combat... this definitely made for his weakest classes. True, he had as strong a grasp of the basic pillars in CQC as anyone else did. However, given his preferences for and proficiencies in Kidō and swordplay, Hakuda would become the most neglected facet of the Zankensoki for him while he went on to further hone the other three. This was the case during his academy days and it still is in the present. Fisticuffs were just never his style! So it’s all well and good given his talent with a blade and magic, with enough talent to fight at a range and up close, but if there ever comes a time he can only rely on his fists and legs, he may be in serious trouble against someone far more proficient like an Onmitsukidō member.

As for Kōtarō’s biggest obstacle aside from the combat arts... hands down, by FAR, it would have been general education. Perhaps he could have graduated from the shinigami academy sooner than the full six years through combat potential alone, but he had a lot to learn in extensive reading, writing, language, mathematics, so on and so forth. Compared to pluses who lived closest to the Seireitei, and those who apprenticed as shinigami by virtue of being born and raised within the court of pure souls, his starting line here was set much further back by consequence of his social status at the time, so he had a lot of catching up to do.

As one can imagine, this disparity left Kōta with few he could call friends back in those days... but he still managed to befriend a few people he could rely on.

[karakura]

𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗮   /   𝗯𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀.

the battle statistics of the captains of the goteijūsantai are outlined in   color bleach: bleach official bootleg.   as shown,   byakuya does not have any additional comments on his prowess in combat.   it is only stated that he is extremely adept without shortcomings.   most notably,   however,   is that this information was published during the arrancar arc.   as such,   i am certain that byakuya honed his skills   &   evolved beyond this official data.

the main surge in power   &   his understanding of it is after his royal guard training.   another moment is in chapter 569 in the brief rematch against äs nödt.   the moment is fleeting but poignant.   it took his bankai being stolen for byakuya to reassess senbonzakura   &   grasp a clearer comprehension of it,   all to the point that his shikai took on the power manifested in his bankai.   in short,   the display of power shown with senbonzakura was not the extent of it.

i would argue that arrogance is able to blind him in battle,   a matter that is only strengthened by the innate belief that he is superior to those he faces.   this walks hand in hand with the fact that byakuya is aware of his abilities.   but he is competitive.   it is his pride that sometimes takes precedence over the knowledge on his enemy,   although he is quick to curb this behavior when he notices it.   it is unclear if byakuya attended shinōreijutsuin.   for my portrayal,   i will say no,   not in the traditional way.

[svitia]

fruity     headcanon     prompts     ♡     @karakura​     for     sae.

🍉  :    which of the four seasons suits my muse best, and why?  

spring. 

sae woke up somewhere in rukongai in a grassy field surrounded by sakura trees. it’s sae’s first memory, and their most vivid one. that memory of watching sakura petals dance in the wind are what inspired their name, when they were forced to think of one upon entering the seireitei & joining shinōreijutsuin. 

🍒  :    how much does my muse value companionship?  do they constantly keep people around them,  or do they prefer to be alone often?  do they have or desire to have many friends?  do they see every meeting as an opportunity to make a new friend?  

sae values companionship more than anything which might seem a bit out of character what with their personality being what it is; but sae is actually a very social creature. being alone leads to dark thoughts and a feeling of emptiness, so sae tries to fine any and all reasons to be near someone, even if its just to fall asleep in their presences.

sae doesn’t remember this, but when they were alive and human they grew up in a big, loving family albeit a very poor one. they died alone in the end and the feeling of it followed them into the afterlife. 

wherever sae goes, they seem to pick up strays along the way. sae eventually starts up something of orphanage for kids they take in from rukongai on kuchiki property, so sae gets their wish of having a big happy family.