Name: Ryoichi Yasu (First Name, 安, meaning "Peaceful")
Affiliation: Shinigami
Rank: Unseated
Gender: Male
Reatsu/Speech Color: Blue Ash
Appearance: Yasu is a bookish, but distinctly handsome Specimen of a Reaper; he stands at just below average height, but has a Presence of Personality that makes up for his nonthreatening stature. Though Shinigami age can be somewhat subjective considering their long lifespans, Yasu has a sense of Mature Youthfulness matched evenly by inner Experience (particularly in his eyes) that can only be born from Centuries of life. His wrinkled, dirty Blonde hair usually grows a little long from neglect, but he wears it with a roguish charm to match his inquisitive, dark Blue eyes and subtly delicate features. His hands are steady and dexterous, a sign of his expertise in the various Gestures and hand Arrays that he has mastered over his centuries. Though he seldom gives attention to his personal appearance, it takes several weeks for even the faintest glimmer of facial hair to begin appearing on his chin; this is one sign to those more familiar with him that he's been obsessing with some project for longer than is healthy, if he begins to display any sort of chin scruff.
Yasu carries his Zanpaktou standardly on his Left side, and can also at times be seen carrying any of a variety of Walking Staffs that have only enhanced his reputation as a 'Reclusive Wizard' type. These can range from simple Wooden creations all the way to more refined pieces set with colored Gems at the crown, but are universally Thin and lightweight. Though he has perfect eyesight, he can sometimes be seen wearing a pair of silver spectacles as he goes about his work. Other similar devices or bits of jewelry have been known to appear and vanish from his wardrobe from time to time, but these are the exception to the rule.
Personality: Yasu is pleasant and peaceful in nature, but is instilled with a ferocious drive and Focus that can rub those with thin skin the wrong way, if they see the wrong side of it. Yasu's primary Passion is in his Research and pursuit of Knowledge in the Demon Arts, and all other pursuits take back seat to this Driving motivation.
Yasu often sequesters himself away from the world so he can be alone to think; most often this means closing himself in his Private Study, but multiple times this need to be alone has expressed itself as setting out on wandering journeys throughout the furthest reaches of the world that surrounds Soul Society, and even the Mortal World and beyond, taking time to himself to organize his thoughts and experiment with his Kidou. He does not brag nor is attention brought to the fact, but he is likely the most well-traveled Shinigami currently alive, and his extensive experience (essentially 'been there, done that') is nothing to gloss over. Though Yori is naturally very peaceful in disposition, he can be irritable if he is interrupted or called away from his research. Despite this he is always willing to help, so long as there is something in it for him. In seemingly direct contradiction to his preference for solitude, Yori is often called on for Personal favors (and even, at rare times, asked to assist his Division, though they usually tend to leave him to himself), but always looks to turn a Profit in some way. A few people in particular have learned what to bribe him with, and sometimes even get Return Customer discounts.
The thing that can be counted on most reliably to distract Yasu from his work are the Charms pf the Fairer sex. Yasu treats women like Fine Wine; they are valuable, delicate, refined... and he samples as many of them as he can. Yasu treats the few women he regularly works with with Respect and Dignity, but does not deny the Intoxicating effect that they can have on him... especially with increasing quantities. Females will receive unabashed preference and special attention from him, as well as being the first that he will jump to save or hesitate to put in harm's way. He is immediately attracted to the hurting and vulnerable, loving nothing more than to offer his support and comfort in time of need in any way he can. However, Yasu will never,
never cross the line with any woman who is not fully willing to, and, young or otherwise, he will, under no circumstances take advantage of anyone.
Background: Yasu started as an upstart Academy student with Big Ideas about the way things
really worked, and was always willing to gush said ideas on anyone who would listen... much to the chagrin of his classmates and teachers, who all knew him to be completely wrong. Since those early days he himself has discovered that back then, yes, he was in fact Completely Wrong. However, the courage to challenge the dogma of the Established, along with the foundations upon which his further understanding built upon, are valuable traits that Yasu took with him out of the Academy and straight into the Kidou corps. In the intervening decades and centuries, Yasu has built his functional understanding of Kidou to a level rivaling Specialist Captains in its advancement. While Yasu is technically of an overall level equal (and in some ways far surpassing) established Vice-Captain level, he has refused to involve himself in Division-baseed Politics in any way, and politely refuses nearly all forms of Responsibility requested of him. He explains this as being because any such responsibility would only detract from his personal studies, which is impermissible in his mind, but there may be a deeper reason for his refusal to accept ranking or recognition within his division. Whatever his motivations, he is technically an Unseated in his Division, and likes it that way.
Once, a long time ago, Yasu accepted a position in the Academy teaching Kidou Practice and Theory to students there. However, in addition to detracting from his Research freedoms, this eventually landed him in some sticky situations concerning underage female students, and while he unabashedly enjoyed said situations at first, could not continue in good Conscience and left.
Yasu does enjoy explaining his findings and Theorems to those who are eager to gain more understanding in Kidou, but has long since come to understand that most people grow bored or confused with his more thorough explanations. Usually he refrains from discussion of Kidou at all, for various reasons, and when he is dragged into any level of explanation, he resorts to 'nutshell' analogies to get the basic, basic,
basic point across.
Through his travels through the Seireitei, the Mortal World, and even perhaps to Other lands to which Shinigami Do Not Travel (including at least one that the majority of Shinigami do not know
exists), Yasu has taken an interest in the capabilities and powers of a variety of creatures, including Quincies, Spiritually Aware humans, and even Hollows, all the way up to Arrancar level (though he has not seen many of the latter in action). A few or more of his own developed abilities were designed to mimic or duplicate effects he has witnessed being used by members of these other factions, to diversify and strengthen his powerset.
Abilities:
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Kidou Master: As an Advanced member of the Gotai 13's Kidou Corps, Yasu is extremely proficient with Kidou, and uses it even more than his Zanpaktou when it comes to direct combat. He believes Kidou to be much more versatile and efficient than most Shinigami's Zanpaktou in most respects, but also recognizes the times when his Soul Cutter is the better choice. Through his Self-training and advances in understanding, Yasu has discovered various Short-cuts and Energy-saving techniques that allow him to create a Kidou of equal strength for less energy. This, combined with a great capacity for Kidou to begin with, lets him use many, many Kidou before getting fatigued. Yasu does not claim to have mastered every single known Kidou, nor has he even learned to cast them all quickly enough to be combat applicable, but through his Centuries Yasu has successfully cast every single Hado and Bakudou from 1 to 99 at least once.
Advanced Kidou Theory: This has been Yasu's primary focus for nearly the entirety of his time with the Kidou Corps. He believes that Kidou on the whole is much stronger and has much more potential than the majority of the Gotai 13 understands yet. Yasu has been developing his understanding of Kidou for many years, and the results of this understanding and Practice are wide and far-reaching. In addition to making radical and hugely beneficial alterations to existing kidou on the fly without power reduction, Yasu has learned a startling variety of applications for Advanced Kidou Theory, including the ability to Counter-Kidou in a manner remotely similar to the Legendarily rare Hanki (Reverse Demon) technique-- a Kidou technique he claims to have improved upon.
Shunpo Practitioner: Yasu's Shunpo is rather Average in speed and distance, but as a side-effect of his great Control in Kidou, he has a very efficient Shunpo and can execute a very high number back to back before getting tired.
Basic Hand-to-Hand: Yasu has a very basic skill in Hand-to-Hand combat, but is very easily overwhelmed by anyone with even average skill.
Stoneskin: In an attempt to mimic the Arrancar Hierro, Yasu has discovered an (admittedly less effective, but still quite useful) Shinigami variant that protects him from physical damage. Yasu has learned how to maintain this technique subconsciously, meaning it is always active, but can be enhanced with conscious concentration.
Teitoushu (Razor Paw)
Release Phrase: "Listen: Teitoushu!"
Shikai: Yasu is nearly always seen with a simple, standard-looking Zanpaktou on his left hip, the only thing to set it apart from the nameless Zanpaktou carried by Unseated is its reduced length; in all other respects it is a standard Katana, save that the length of its blade is reduced to just over a foot instead of the standard 3 1/2 - 4 foot range most occupy, leaving the handle at least as long as the blade itself. What most people fail to realize is that this simple form
is Yasu's Shikai.
Shikai Special Abilities: Yasu's shikai largely lacks combat ability, instead almost entirely focusing on Tertiary Utility capabilities and augmenting Yasu's Kidou versatility. The primary ability is something Yasu describes as being able to 'hear' Kidou happening-- similar to a Dolphin's Sonar or a Bat's Echolocation, Teitoushu's blade reverberates subtly in reaction to Kidou in the area, giving Yasu an instant instinctive understanding of the general direction and distance, nature, and strength of any Kidou used in its area of effect. Teitoushu also acts as a focus for certain Kidou, allowing Yasu to 'anchor' Kidou requiring constant concentration on the Zanpaktou instead, freeing his own attention span to concentrate on other things, allowing him to maintain multiple ongoing effects at once.
Yasu has achieved a level of Mastery over Teitoushu that far surpasses the standard 'Sealed, Shikai, Bankai' tiered release system in terms of control and efficiency. His exact methods of doing so are known only to himself, but he maintains Shikai at all times without strain or even conscious effort.
Sealed Form: In its fully sealed form, which it seldom if ever reverts to, is a completely standard Zanpaktou.
Sealed Abilities: None.
Bankai: Not achieved.
