[Spirit Class 8] Fuurinji Wakaba

When Fuurinji Wakaba was first conceived, her family lived in the first district of the Rukongai, the Junrinan district. It was a quiet little shack where she lived, and in the beginning, everything seemed to be going great. In her family, it was her mother, Otawa, her Father, Junni, and her Sister, Ikiba. They lived a simple yet fun life in the Junrinan district and as the years passed and Fuurinji got older they began to notice that she was... different from the rest. She possessed what the Shinigami called 'Reiatsu' and had the ability to control it, though she didn't realize it herself at first it wasn't until she was around the age of 43 that she realized they were speaking the truth. It was a quiet day, and she was out playing with her sister, Ikiba, near the edge of the first and second districts. This was where they normally played, though when the sky began to darken, they feared a storm was about to set in and decided to return home as quickly as they could. Unfortunately, the storm began before they could even get halfway home... And that's when she heard it, a terrifying and deafening roar. When she looked back, she'd seen Ikiba had fallen so she ran back to help. By the time she got her to her feet, she looked up and saw it... A massive, towering creature right in front of them. As she looked up, her eyes got locked in with the monsters red glowing eyes and she felt herself choke up for but a moment. That's when she pushed her sister back and stood in front of her, she raised her hands up in a wide cross shape as she shouted at the monstrosity that she'd die before she let this thing harm her sister. That's when its mouth opened and she saw a large red energy being pulled towards it to create a massive red sphere. As it fired, the only thing that went through Fuurinji's mind was that no matter how strong this was... She would not back down, she wouldn't die here. This thing couldn't even touch her! As it got closer and closer, she saw it, something raced in front of it. It was much smaller than the creature, and wore some kind of black garb… It was a Shinigami. As the red sphere smashed against the sheathe of his Zanpakuto she couldn't help but see this in slow motion... Shock, Surprise, Admiration... Nothing could describe how she saw that moment.

As the mystery person spun around, their movement seemed to flow with the wind as he pulled his Zanpakuto from its sheath just as the red mass of energy vanished. She watched as he said something... Too fast for her to comprehend but she watched as their Zanpakuto was pulled and sliced straight through the head of the creature. For her, it seemed like minutes had passed but despite this, it had all happened so fast that by the time she'd realized the man had left it'd been almost 5 minutes later... And he was only there for a few seconds in reality. She hadn't even really realized what'd happened... But she knew that her feeling, that this thing wouldn't get past her... Wouldn't even touch her... Was it because she knew this man was coming to save her? No... This'd been the first time she'd ever seen him... It couldn't have been that. But then why? How did she know she wouldn't be killed? That's when she noticed the wind was blowing at a surprisingly calm pace past her despite it being storming almost everywhere else. It was from then on, that she had sworn to herself and her family, that she'd become a Shinigami, she'd find that mysterious man... And she'd pledge her very life to him. She would repay him for saving the life of herself, but most importantly her sister’s life. From that day forward, she practiced trying to manifest this 'Reiatsu' so she could attempt to join the Shinigami Academy and hopefully become a Shinigami.

It was some time before she was finally accepted into the Academy to begin her training as a Shinigami, tragedy would rear its ugly head once more, while none save for Fuurinji was in any way a Shinigami it didn't take one to find things by mistake. Otawa was the more explorative of her and Junni, and finding odds and ends of all kinds was something of a specialty of hers. One such relic that she found was a half broken cross, a cross that bore a striking resemblance to that of the Quincy's Kuinshī Kurosu. Otawa had discussed with Junni about keeping or selling it, though truth be told they knew of nobody would would want to buy such a thing. Junni insisted that she get rid of it, whether it be selling it or simply tossing it, believing that having something of the Quincies did naught but invite bad omens. However Otawa refused, wanting to keep it like she had many other random trinkets she found in her time.

Perhaps it might've been wise to listen to Junni. Otawa fell ill a few weeks after finding the relic, and though Fuurinji was training to become a Shinigami it afforded them no additional help in diagnosing the illness or determining its true cause. Otawa eventually succumbed to her illness a few weeks later, the cause still unknown. Junnin and Ikiba blamed the illness on the relic and Junnin wanted desperately to simply discard the relic far from their shack, and while he did bury it far away one couldn't truly call it being discarded.

He placed it within a silver lined box on the edge of the district as close to the the Seireitei as he could, hoping that the powers of the Shinigami would prevent whatever malignant curse remained on the object from harming others. At the very least, he managed to get word to Fuurinji about Otawa's death, blaming it entirely on the Quincies and the broken cross her Mother had found.

When the news came to Fuurinji, she'd be in the Academy for but a month and... truth be told she nearly gave up, the news of her Mothers death alone shattered her to her core. That she hadn't known that she was even ill before she passed alone left a deep guilt within her, to feel that she should've known somehow. But the more she thought about what her Father said, and how he said it... Her grief quickly turned to almost pure rage. The Quincies, thought to be unable to touch them within the sanctity of Soul Society... had taken her Mother from her without her even knowing until it had already happened.

As the rage bubbled within her it nearly consumed her entirely, while Hollows were terrible monsters... Quincies were something wholly different, and no matter what... they needed to be wiped out. With her mind set, and the fire of determination rekindled, she strove forth within the Academy with renewed vigor. With this rekindled flame, She seemed to always have a calm breeze both follow her, come before her, and remain for seemingly hours at a time. Even in a raging storm, the wind around her seemed to simply refuse to change. In her studies, she learned that there were 2 things about Zanpakuto that were supposedly almost nigh impossible to witness. A Zanpakuto without a sealed form, that is to say, the Shinigami's Reiatsu was so massive for their body they simply could not seal their Zanpakuto without killing themselves, and that a Zanpakuto which is a set of two, or a Dual Zanpakuto. They came in both sealed and unsealed forms as she read up on Kyoraku and Ukitake. For Fumiri’s part, these Zanpakuto’s represented a level of power beyond what most could dream of. To say that hearing a Zanpakuto’s voice was an easy task, or even a moderately difficult one would be an understatement. While most of her time spent with her Asauchi was easy enough, just having it with her was generally enough. However, there were a few things she did different than normal, such as in combat. Rather than striking with the blade, she would more often than not use the hilt as a blunt object, and for meditation? Well, that was rare for her to do willingly, as her formative years were spent as restless as the wind itself. She knew it was needed however, to form a true bond with it required balance in more aspects than just the ones she was comfortable with. To facilitate her meditation, she began to do so wherever she could be free of surroundings. Whether that be in a park, or atop a pillar that put her above the surrounding buildings it didn’t matter to her. For her, it seemed she just needed to be somewhere that she could feel the breeze. It was then that she found herself finally calm during her meditation and no longer restless. While she’d finally found a way to meditate without restlessness, it still took her longer than she’d like to admit before she finally heard the voice of her Zanpakuto, or rather voices. For much like wind there were two sides, a gentle breeze and a tempestuous storm.

After hearing her Zanpakuto’s voices for the first time, her eagerness to get stronger only grew in its intensity, some might even say she became a bit… too eager. This manifested itself during the middle of an intense and extensive training session with a fellow Shinigami. The two of them had been sparring for hours, and Fuurinji was determined to prove herself as a skilled and powerful fighter.

As the training session wore on, Fuurinji began to tire but refused to simply yield. She felt her energy waning, and her focus slipping. Nevertheless, she refuses to back down. She wanted to show her fellow Shinigami that she's capable of pushing herself to the limit and beyond. As they continue to spar, Fuurinji decided to try using the Kido Enkosen, one that was beyond her proficiency but not excessively so, to deflect one of her opponent's attacks. While she hadn’t ever used it before, she was confident in her ability to control the Kido.

However, in her over eagerness to impress her opponent, she made a crucial mistake. She focused too much of her spiritual energy into the Kido, causing it to become more powerful than she intended. The shield shimmers into existence in front of her, but instead of deflecting the attack, it backfires. The Reiatsu that make up the shield suddenly explode outward, slicing through the air and slicing through everything nearby including herself.

At first, she didn’t realize what happened. She felt a sharp pain in her eyes, but assumed it was just a momentary discomfort. However, as the seconds tick by and the pain intensifies, she began to realize the extent of the damage. She felt a sense of panic and fear rising in her chest. Her eyes weren’t closed, yet all she could truly see at first was a black void around her. She could hear her fellow Shinigami rushing to her side, helping her to a nearby medical facility where she could receive treatment. However, despite the best efforts of the medical staff, her eyes are too damaged to be healed completely. She was left permanently blind, her dreams of becoming a powerful Shinigami forever altered by her over eagerness to impress those around her.

After this experience it took her awhile before she began to train again with any hint of fervor that she once did, while she still stayed in the academy to become a true Shinigami she learned a powerful lesson right then and there… moderation in everything and while it didn’t cause a permanent rift between the fledgling Shinigami and her Zanpakuto’s it did take awhile for either of them to be willing to actively speak to her without an enormous effort from Fuurinji.

As she struggled to restore the bond with her Zanpakuto Spirits, she turned to the ancient practice of Tai Chi for guidance. Tai Chi being a martial art that emphasizes balance, harmony, and fluidity of movement she hoped to find a way to bring balance to her soul and reconnect with her Zanpakuto Spirits.

The first step in this process was to learn the basic movements of Tai Chi. Fuurinji spent hours studying and practicing the different postures and forms, carefully observing the fluidity and grace of the movements. She took her time, focusing on each movement and breathing deeply as she goes.

As she became more comfortable with the basics, Fuurinji began to incorporate her Zanpakuto into her Tai Chi practice. She visualizes her Zanpakuto as an extension of herself, moving in harmony with her body and breath. This was the first way for her to begin reconnecting with her Spirits and to begin the process of restoring the bond between them.

Over time, her Tai Chi practice became more advanced. She begins to incorporate more complex forms and movements, pushing herself to new levels of physical and mental strength. As she does, she felt a growing sense of harmony and balance within herself, as well as a deepening connection with her Zanpakuto Spirits.

At first, the bond with her Zanpakuto Spirits is still tenuous. But as she continued to practice and to focus on bringing balance to her soul, she began to feel a renewed sense of connection with her Spirits. They speak to her more clearly, and she is able to communicate with them in a way she never could before.

In the end, through her practice, she realizes that Tai Chi was the key to restoring the bond with her Zanpakuto Spirits. Through the practice of this ancient martial art, she was able to find balance and harmony within herself, and to reconnect with the Zanpakuto Spirits that are so crucial to her role as a Shinigami.

With their connection restored, she knew her next step was that of achieving Shikai which requires her to harmonize with her Zanpakuto Spirits and communicate with them on a much deeper, spiritual level. She spent days meditating and practicing, seeking to establish a powerful bond with her Zanpakuto. Finally, after much effort, she feels a powerful resonance building between them.

As the bond deepens, your character begins to hear whispers of her Zanpakuto Spirits' true nature and desires. She listens carefully, seeking to understand them fully. She begins to communicate with them, offering words of encouragement and support, and sharing her own fears and hopes.

As she spends more time with her Zanpakuto Spirits, she began to earn their trust. They sense her sincerity and dedication, and they begin to open up to her. After she finally earned their trust, she was granted access to the Inner World of her Zanpakuto’s, a surreal landscape that reflected the essence of their being.

In the Inner World, she continued to harmonize and communicate with her Zanpakuto Spirits. She explored the world, seeking to understand its many mysteries, and to unravel the secrets of her Zanpakuto's true power. It was strange for her however, as the world at first seemed to shift and change seemingly at random. But as she learned more of her Zanpakuto Spirits, she learned that its shape was influenced by not just who her Zanpakuto Spirits were, but that of her very soul.

As she continued to communicate and harmonize with her Zanpakuto Spirits, she began to hear the faintest whispers of her Shikai. As her curiosity continued to drive her, her interactions became more… natural. While words were more readily exchanged with Soyokaze, Kamikaze took a more engaging approach in the form of battle. While Soyokaze sought to ensure she understood mentally and spiritually, Kamikaze sought to ensure she was physically ready to handle that which she and all Shinigami at the academy desired. With the rift cleared and their trust and her sincerity solidified, it was only then that they had taught her not only the motions to release her Shikai, but its release phrase as well “Whirl and Howl”.

"Heroes are made by the path they choose, not by the power they're graced with."
"When you dodge, don't let them hit you! When you protect, don't let them die! And when you attack, Kill!"
"You should learn this well. Admiration, is the emotion farthest from comprehension."
"Fight! It doesn't matter how terrifying the world is! Fight! It doesn't matter how cruel the world is! Fight! Fight! Fight!"
But the most important thing she ever taught him was; "People truly become strong when they wish to protect something they cherish."

Those words that her mother told her, those few important lessons. If she should remember her by nothing else, she asked that these be the thing she's remembered for. While Fuurinji would never forget her mother, she swore to her that she'd always remember those stories and words. As she advanced through the Shinigami Academy, she could notice the fluctuations in her own Reiatsu and learned to control it to some extent though she knew she'd never have full control over it, so she often wore a limiter for herself simply to stabilize the fluctuations in her Reiatsu. It wasn't until one of her patrols in the World of the Living that she realized the true extent of her powers. Fuurinji and her patrol were on the outskirts of one of the outlying Japanese towns when a massive Menos Gillian had appeared, they knew backup wouldn't arrive in time to stop this thing, but they sent someone off regardless. All they had to do was wait for backup and stall this thing until then. They had to keep it away from the city, so that was their plan. Their plan? Distractions!

A Menos Gillian was far beyond any of them to defeat, and so keeping its attention on them was the top priority. Speed was key in this aspect, attacking it directly was out of the question, as a result she couldn’t leave her limiter on and swiftly took it off and tossed it to the side. Could any of them actually harm it? Unlikely, even for Fuurinji who was the strongest of the lot, so to say it was a difficult task to dodge was an understatement. It began releasing Cero after Cero and one by one they were taken out. They simply weren't fast enough to dodge all of them and definitely not strong enough to block those things more than once and even Fuurinji, could tank maybe one or two before she was done in. The struggle was definitely real as it seemed like an eternity as they waited for the backup to arrive, and even for the Cero’s they did dodge the debris that was sent flying posed a danger all by itself. After only a few minutes all, but Fuurinji were laying on the ground too injured to move or dead. Fuurinji was exhausted and to try and block a Cero directly well, she was definitely dead. That is when she heard it, the dread Cero being charged once more. Time was slow for her it seemed, she was close to death and this Cero would either hit the city or kill her in the process. But she couldn't die to a hollow, she couldn't break her promise and oath to her mother. That's when Fuurinji pulled herself to her feet, raising her arms once more in a cross as she gritted her teeth.

"No! You won't have this City even if I have to die in the process! But I promise you this, I will not die to some Monster like you! Whirl and Howl, Muraki Kitakaze!"

As she spoke, she moved the left one above her head with the blade facing downwards, and the right one near to the ground with the blade facing outwards, she then swings them both in their respective directions, A storm kicked up around Fuurinji and circled her as the Cero was fired. Fuurinji, however, stayed her ground. As the Cero neared, a single taloned gauntlet emerged from the swirling storm, smashing into the Cero directly. As the two Reiatsu’s clashed a massive gust of wind was sent out as a shockwave before being sucked back inwards to the impact site between the talons and the Cero. It took but another moment before the Cero was sliced through from the inside out. Fuurinji, having spent what bit of energy she had left, fell to the ground and lost consciousness, the last thing she heard was the sound of heavy footsteps and voices. She couldn't tell who they were, but what she thought she knew for certain was that... She defended that town, with her life... She'd broken her promise.

From what she was told, she had been unconscious for several days in intensive care, but when she awoke it was with a jolt as she panicked and looked around the room, the respirator covering her face and regulating her breathing for her so that she didn't hyperventilate or injure herself any further. From how it was explained, she'd fallen unconscious just as backup had arrived. Her feat, for those around, saved at least a few of the Shinigami that had been present for the Patrol... And somehow, the wind itself ripped the Gillian’s attack to shreds and defended her. That was when she realized how much power she truly had.

Once she finally graduated from the Academy Fuurinji was placed within the 7th Squad, where she spent a significant amount of her time training seeking to refine her combat skills and develop new techniques. She also participates in missions to the human world, where she assists in eliminating Hollows and protecting innocent people from harm. When the Gotei went to Hueco Mundo, she was tasked with guarding Soul Society and defending it from any potential invaders that tried to slip in while their Captain’s were otherwise preoccupied. While tedious at points, she took pride in her duties and remained ever-vigilant no matter how boring it seemed or felt.

Knowing the threats at stake, being Aizen himself and who knows how many Arrancarr, she couldn’t skimp on any training so even as the False Karakura Town was made as the next battleground afterwards her training was only redoubled and made more intensive and difficult for herself. At this point the threat to Soul Society was beyond anything she’d ever been able to comprehend before but knowing that Captain’s were on the front line she knew she couldn’t simply stay with the training she’d been doing in her prior time within the Gotei.

Peace within Soul Society seemed to only ever be in a constant state of turmoil after those events, from not only World War Three and Four, but Demonic Invasions causing the release of numerous prisoners from the Maggots Nest. During all of which, Fuurinji remained steadfast with her duties of defending Soul Society from invaders foreign and domestic.

One of the more significant events that happened however was the disbanding of the Gotei itself, during which time Fuurinji spent the entirety of her time in the World of the Living, either continuing to train or continuing to hunt down Hollows though she now did so actively in an attempt to continue doing that which she had trained for her entire life. When she heard of the Gotei United being formed as a way to give shelter to lost Shinigami she had to consider whether to return or not. While Soul Society and the Gotei had trained her and gave her much of what she now had, part of her felt that something would always be missing even if she did join the Gotei United movement. Ultimately, she decided not to return, she’d been too long on her own and to now have to worry about other Shinigami while she carried out her duties… She couldn’t risk it.