[Spirit Class 5] Mara Hirata (Arc)

Mara is a pretty straightforward woman, she likes what she likes and dislikes what she dislikes. She isn't one to get too caught up in the details, preferring the most direct approach when possible and allowing the chips to fall where they may. When a direct approach isn't possible she can grow impatient and annoyed, and to a lesser degree frustrated, and can be prone to putting herself in difficult situations because of it. An example would be when she was fighting a Hollow with a complex power she couldn't be sure of, she still rushed in fist cocked. Against a stronger enemy she may have found herself dead as a result.

When it comes to other people Mara can be pretty affable. She is usually easy to get along with, though she prefers spending her time with "the boys" rather than more feminine women. This is one of the reasons why she's always loved being in the Combat Division, as many of her peers have been rough around the edges and fun for her to hang out with.

Mara has a lot of respect for Gotei Captains, seeing their strength as something to strive towards. She also respects standout peers like Ikkaku Madarame when they were in the Eleventh Division together. Who she does not respect is Nobles, plain and simple. Mara does not believe there is such a thing as a redeemable Noble, believing they cannot stop themselves from being hateful. She despises the way they look at rough and tumble Rukongai people like herself as lesser. In many ways she is a hypocrite for her views on Nobles, as in her view its their very blood that makes them worth hating.




Born in East Rukongai District 64, Sabitsura, Mara had a difficult life from the get-go. The Hirata family consisted of herself, her parents, and an older brother named Toshinori, or Toshi for short. They managed to eek out a meager existence by her father and Toshi doing odd jobs around the District and, rarely, in other Districts.

From a young age Mara got into fights, brawling with other, bigger kids in alleyways and around the neighborhood. If they were from a more affluent District her parents might have had the freedom to pay more attention or try to raise her as a more respectful girl with manners. Instead, with their attentions focused elsewhere, Mara was the one with freedom, freedom to beat the snot out of kids she didn't like.

Years went by, the Hirata family long since settled into their shameless life, when Toshi announced he had secured a job involving a low caste Noble that would pay better than an entire year's worth of work. Elated for him, they put their support behind him; only, it was not to be. Toshi never returned. Mara went out looking, traveling from District 64 all the way to District 8, asking if anyone had met a Toshinori Hirata or if anyone knew anything about Nobles. Throughout this trek, one sentiment was repeated ad nauseam to her: Stay away from Nobles. Avoid them at all costs.

Having never found out what happened with Toshi, Mara saw the sorry state her parents were left in and decided to seek entrance to the Shin'o Academy. She had never been anything special fighting-wise, certainly better than most outer District kids, but if she could secure a paying job in the Gotei then she could support her family and have the resources necessary to keep searching for Toshi.

In the Academy, Mara struggled at first. She had no experience with Kido or Hakuda or anything Shinigami, and there were growing pains learning them. It wasn't until she came across a supposed "genius", a haughty Noble who supposedly already had a guaranteed officer position in the Gotei, that Mara really spread her wings. A hatred she didn't know she was capable of lit within her, every ounce of her being wanting to pummel that Noble to within an inch of his life and maybe even beyond. It was only a herculean feat of willpower that she did not break his nose any time she saw him.

Channeling her rage and hatred into her studies, Mara began excelling in Hakuda especially. To others she was a natural born martial artist, but Mara knew it was her time honing basic instincts in her home District that gave her a leg up. By the time she graduated Mara could beat down any of her peers in close quarters without breaking a sweat, and because of this she ended up in the 11th Division where she steadily gained some notoriety for sharing a similar penchant for battle as some of the squad's higher ups.

Mara joined the Gotei a few years after the Aizen incident, and fought in World War 3. She began to love the feeling of smashing Demons to bits with her fists, and by the end of the war couldn't wait until the next battle. At some point she learned about Shunko and, seeing it as the pinnacle of Hakuda, began training as much as she could in Kido in private. She was never bad at Kido, but she certainly didn't excel in it either; this was a long uphill battle that took many years before she was able to combine the two into a rudimentary Shunko.

With the dissolution of the Gotei, Mara was left with nothing besides her Division. Her parents still lived in the Rukongai and needed support, which she could no longer provide. She thought maybe she could work odd jobs as hired muscle, but when her Captain spoke about killing Nobles, a long-hidden deep-seated hatred woke back up within her. All she could think about was smashing them with her fists, turning them into bloodied lumps on the ground.


» Bare-knuckle Brawler: Unlike the 5th Division, and the 2nd Division before it, Mara does not use her talents in Hakuda to take down enemies discreetly or with well placed strikes to weak spots. Instead she creates the weak spots herself. Mara is particularly skilled at channeling Rieryoku into her fist and releasing them in explosive bursts, turning each punch into a wrecking ball that can smash defenses to smithereens. She has mastered techniques that allow her to pummel enemies into submission.

• » Kahō Shōtotsu (Cannon Crash): The most powerful application of her Hakuda skill, this technique consists of a punch which she throws her entire body behind. By releasing a dense blast of Reiryoku at the same time, Mara is able to create an outward blast of pressure that can "crack" a person's defenses. As an example, used against an Arrancar's Hierro, it would make followup physical attacks within the same and successive post significantly more effective against them.

» Self Kaido: Preferring to get down and dirty in a brawl, Mara learned what she needed of Hadō and Bakudo to improve and then focused on mastering the art of self healing. She is capable of healing severe non-fatal wounds outside of battle, and more superficial ones in battle. An example of each would be broken bones and moderate lacerations. When necessary she can perform other spells without incantation without losing a significant amount of power.

» Rudimentary Shunko: Right after World War 4 ended Mara set about learning Shunko. It took time, but she has since been able to use it for extended periods, though its exhausting to do so. In addition, her Shunko possesses the burning and explosive power of fire, draping herself in a mantle of flames when used and allowing her to empower punches to dramatically increase their strength. Though her skill in Hakuda allows her to continue improving and developing her Shunko, she hasn't quite mastered it.


» Zanpakuto Name: Sashige Bōsō {Nettle Rampage)

» Spirit Summary: A large violet porcupine spirit. Sashige Bōsō is usually calm and respects Mara to a degree. It speaks to her as a worthy rival, and welcomes her opportunities to fight strong enemies.

» Inner World: A burning field shadowed by the canopy of a gigantic world tree.

» Sealed Appearance: A standard katana without much of a guard, having small spikes there instead.

» Sealed Power: N/A


» Release Phrase: Perforate, Sashige Bōsō

» Shikai Appearance: Mara's Shikai takes the form of a pair of black steel gauntlets with short spikes covering the back of her hands and fingers.

» Shikai Abilities: Being a power-type Zanpakuto, Sashige Bōsō doesn't possess unique abilities outside of its physical transformation. The weapon's spikes are sharp and numerous enough to turn enemies into pin cushions, though with how Mara fights they're likelier to be smashed to be bits. Due to covering her hands completely, she is able to block attacks with them she otherwise couldn't.


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» Character Intent: Mara is meant to be an enemy to Nobles as they try to take control of Soul Society again. She agrees wholeheartedly with Kanae's sentiment of them being the enemy, and was roused to war upon being told Central 46 has nefarious plans for the Gotei remnants and Rukongai. She detests even nobles who are strictly anti-Central 46 like Shishiyuki and Kuukaku as well, and could find herself in opposition to their plot lines too.


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