Byakuya Kuchiki

General Information

• Birthday: January 31
• Height: 5'11"
• Weight: 141lbs
• Eyes: Gray
• Hair: Black
• Race: Shinigami

General Appearance

Byakuya Kuchiki is a captain in the Gotei 13 and the son of the noble Kuchiki family. Being as such he wears the traditional Captains dress uniform and jacket as well as a scarf that has been handed down throughout his family as the Son assumes the head of the Kuchiki family. Aside from his uniform Byakuya wears the head dress pieces, called kenseikan, that symbolize his being ranked as nobility. The Kenseinkan look like short metal tubes that are holding his hair in place and serve no real function in battle. Byakuya has black hair and an icy gaze that he often uses to intimidate those who have lesser will power than he does. Also Byakuya wears hand guards on the backs of his hands, something few of the other captains of the Gotei 13 do.

Personality

Byakuya often behaves coldly towards others, especially if that person has offended or provoked him. Being born of a noble family has not helped Byakuya to develop into a very friendly person. Byakuya takes everything serious and often finishes everything he can as quickly and effectively as he possibly can. Besides that Byakuya is a very honorable man who does everything in his power to keep his word once he makes a promise. Byakuya is a very confident person and has good reason to be so.

History

Byakuya was born into the Kuchiki family, one of the four noble families. Byakuya grew up in the Kuchiki mansion in the Seireitei of Soul Society. He would spend many hours training, so he could take over the leadership of the Kuchiki family and the 6th Division from his grandfather, Ginrei.

Yoruichi seemed to be on good terms with the members of the Kuchiki noble family, so she would often visit the Kuchiki manor to play tag with Byakuya. On one visit, about 110 years ago, she is presented to train Byakuya by his grandfather Ginrei Kuchiki, the head of the Kuchiki family and the 6th Division captain. Upon seeing the arrival of Yoruichi, he swung his sword at her and called her a demon cat. Yoruichi laughed and playfully began to tease him, calling him "Little Byakuya," complaining about why she received such a greeting after she came all the way there to see him. Byakuya yelled at her that he would never want to see the likes of her and that he will be the head of the Kuchiki clan soon enough so he has no time to waste on her. This prompted Yoruichi to steal the ribbon holding his hair back, Byakuya reacted by quickly turning and swinging his sword at her, but she used Shunpo to move to the roof of a nearby building. Yoruichi laughed at him and exclaimed that if the head of clan Kuchiki could get his hair tie stolen by a girl at play, then she would worry about the future of the clan. Not to be defeated so easily, Byakuya told her not to move an inch, but before he could finish speaking, she told him that he couldn't catch her just as she used Shunpo again to begin the chase. Byakuya plainly stated that he could see that she wanted him to get mad, and he promised to make her see the error of her ways, even claiming that his flash steps are far superior to the likes of hers.

Fifty-five years ago, Byakuya married Hisana, who was a commoner from Rukongai and the sister of Rukia; therefore, he broke the rules by accepting her into the noble Kuchiki family. Five years later, she became sick and was near death. Shortly before her death, Hisana asked Byakuya to find and adopt her biological sister, whom she had abandoned as a baby. She also made him promise that he would not tell Rukia about her real family, for she believed that by abandoning Rukia when she was younger, she was not worthy to be called her sister.

One year later, Byakuya found Rukia at the Academy and immediately adopted her into the Kuchiki clan. By adopting her, Byakuya respected his late wife's final wish, but had broken the rules of his clan again. He later swore upon his parents' graves that he would never break the rules again, no matter what. As a result, he, though entirely apathetic on the surface, is actually deeply conflicted with the matter of Rukia's execution; should he intervene, it would require breaking the promise to his parents and the rules again, but should he do nothing, he would fail to fulfill the last promise he made to his dying wife to protect Rukia as his own sister.

Less than 49 years ago and not long before Rukia joined the Gotei 13, Byakuya became the captain of the 6th Division.

Battle of the Rubicon/ The Death Trilogy Overture

After Ichigo Kurosaki and Uryu Ishida have finished their battle race by joining each other to defeat a greater threat, the Menos Grande, the Gotei 13 get info that a human has Soul Reaper powers. Ichigo's abilities are then linked to the disappearance of the Soul Reaper Rukia Kuchiki. Byakuya and his lieutenant Renji Abarai are sent out to retrieve Rukia and if necessary kill the human who is using her powers. The two first run into Rukia not paying attention and are ready to apprehend her when they are interrupted by Uryu Ishida. Byakuya simply allows Renji to fight and watches while Renji defeats Uryu.Again Renji and Byakuya go to arrest and capture Rukia, but this time Ichigo shows up and tries to save Rukia. Renji begins to fight Ichigo and starts off doing well. After wounding Ichigo ,though, Renji finds out Ichigo's powers are increasing as he is wounded. Byakuya finally steps in to keep Ichigo from killing Renji as they fight. Byakuya breaks Ichigo's Zanpakuto and stabs him through his Soul Power and Soul Sleep cores. After the short and unseen battle where Byakuya wins in two strikes, Renji and Rukia join him in returning to the Soul Society.

Soul Society Storyline

Once Byakuya and Renji return to the Soul Society with Rukia as their prisoner Byakuya is given orders that Rukia will be executed for her crimes against the Soul Society. When Byakuya leaves the prison after passing the sentence on to Rukia he is greeted by the taunts of Kenpachi, another Capatin in the Gotei 13. Byakuya is challenged by Kenpachi to a fight, but Gin Ichimaru, again an other Captain, steps in to stop Kenpachi from getting into the fight. Byakuya isn't seen very often after that until he tries to stop Ganju Shiba and Hanataro Yamada's attempt to free Rukia from the tower she is held in. Byakuya uses his Zanpakuto's released form on Ganju, nearly killing Ganju. Ichigo shows up at the last second and attempts to save Rukia by fighting Byakuya. Byakuya is ready to cut down Ichigo when Yoruichi Shihouin arrives and knocks Ichigo unconscious so that she can escape from Byakuya with Ichigo still alive. Byakuya tries to stop and capture Yoruichi using Flash Steps to track her and if he could catch her. Yoruichi proves to be too quick and escapes with Ichigo. Byakuya continues to enforce the laws of the Soul Society during the ensuing chaos of the invasion. During this time Byakuya has to face off against his own lieutenant, Renji Abarai.

Renji approaches Byakuya and reveals that he too can now perform Bankai and releases Zabimaru on Baykuya. Byakuya tries to fight without using his release form or his bankai but ends up using Senbonzakura, Byakuya's Zanpakuto's released form's name, to bring Renji to his knees. Before leaving Renji Byakuya decides out of respect for how much Renji has improved by learning his Bankai Byakuya uses his own Bankai, Senbonzakura Kageyoshi, to finish their duel.

After his battle with Renji Byakuya joins the remaining Captains and their Lieutenants that are waiting for the execution at the site for which is to host Rukia's demise. As the execution is about to begin two of the senior captains stand in the way and almost stop the execution before Ichigo finally shows up and puts an end to the ceremony. Once Byakuya and Ichigo have the execution grounds to themselves they begin their battle. Byakuya looks like he is the early favorite in the fight catching and injurying Ichigo with his Senbonzakura. Byakuya is surprised, though, when Ichigo unleashes his Bankai and forces Byakuya to press him with his release form and eventually use his own Bankai to wear down Ichigo. Again Byakuya looks like he has the fight going his way, but his chances are cut down when Ichigo's Inner Hollow unveils itself to level the playing field. After Ichigo overcomes his Inner Hollow Byakuya and Ichigo decide to settle the battle with the last of their powers in one attack. Byakuya is left defeated.

After the battle for Rukia's life is thought over it is finally revealed to all the characters that Captain Aizen is actually been pulling the strings behind Rukia's execution so that he could get a hold of the Orb of Distortion. After Renji and Ichigo are thwarted in their efforts to save Rukia Aizen removes the Orb and tells Gin Ichimaru to kill Rukia. As Gin begins his attack Rukia is saved by her adoptive brother Byakuya.

Aizen and his followers, Tozen and Gin, leave the Soul Society for Hueco Mundo, Byakuya and his new comrades begin the healing process. It is here that Byakuya reveals that he was so supportive of killing Rukia because of an oath he had made to his parents when they had died. Byakuya promised them that he would never break a law. Byakuya reveals that he has had several secrets that he has been keeping when he also reveals to Rukia that she is in all actuality his sister- in- law. Byakuya reveals that he had a wife Hisana whom he had once been happily married to. While Hisana was alive she revealed to Byakuya that she had once had a little baby sister that she couldn't take care of so she had to hide her and let her raise herself. Hisana was lucky that Byakuya had fallen in love with and brought her into his family, saving her from the starvation and murder that most of the districts of the Soul Society were plagued with. As Hisana was dying she revealed her tragic secret to Byakuya and asked him to adopt Rukia and never tell her the truth. Byakuya decided that as he had fought so hard to kill Rukia that she deserved to know about his promises. Byakuya asks for forgiveness and Rukia gives him her pardon.

Arrancar Storyline

In the Arrnacar storyline Byakuya is only seen when he and Captain Kenpachi Zaraki are sent to the human realm to retrieve all the Soul Reapers that are fighting and return them to the Soul Society. Byakuya does overlook the fact that Renji and Rukia leave to follow Ichigo into Hueco Mundo.

Zanpakuto

Name and appearance

Byakuya's Zanpkauto is named Senbonzakura. It resembles a regular katana with a simple cross guard. The cross guard is a simple open frame and resembles a four pane window. The hilt of the sword and it's sheathe are both white.

Shikai

In it's initial release Senonzakura breaks itself into a cloud of blades that resemble cherry blossoms. When in it's initial release Senbonzakura moves by Byakuya's thoughts alone, however if an enemy is proving very fast and bothersome Byakuya can use his hands to more easily guide Senbonzakura. When using his hands as guides for the blades Byakuya's attack accuracy and speed almost double.

Bankai

When Byakuya uses his Bankai, Senbonzakura evolves again, this time becoming Senbonzakura Kageyoshi. In this release the Zanpakuto can attack from either of two forms. The first form is several swords that Byakuya can grab and use to attack with. He can also use all the sword to attack at once. In the second form Byakuya's spirit powers condense themselves into one sword and give Byakuya angel-like wings and a halo. The second form allows Byakuya to put all the power of his Senbonzakura Kageyoshi into it's cutting and speed, giving him his strongest attack.

Powers and Abilities

As a captain of the Soul Society and a member of the noble blood of the Soul Society, Byakuya possesses a large amount of powers and skills.

These include:

• Master Swordsmanship.
• Shunpo or Flash Steps Master: Byakuya is one of the most proficient users of shunpo in all of Soul Society. He was taught by Yoruichi Shihoin, "The Goddess of Flash". He is also able to perform various shunpo techniques, such as Senka and Utsusemi.
• Kido Master.
• Immense Spiritual Power.
• Enhanced Durability.
• Master Strategist and Tactician.
• Hakuda expert.