Akira Hiroshi

Akira Hiroshi (晃洋, Akihiro), full name Akira Meian Hiroshi, is the son of Kenji and Ino Hiroshi, the younger brother of Kentaro, twins with Hotaru and a -in-training under Lieutenant Zero Ukitake. He is aligned with the Ryū Order and a member of the Second Division. Akira is named for his uncle Rosuto's deceased friend Akira Nakamura at the formers request, as well as his uncle, Meian. He was born roughly a year following Averian's defeat and is active mostly on patrols within combating the splintered Hollow army.

Appearance
Short and petite, Akira, like his twin, shares his fathers lean-built appearance and is a naturally pale young man; though Kentaro is quick to note that he takes to the sun like a duck to water and tans quickly without actually burning. He has neck length dark brown hair which he wears in a spiked fashion after his older brother, with a prominent fringe that frames his forehead, bangs on either side of his head and the back styled into lesser spikes. He is also constantly seen wearing a pair of orange headphones behind or on his ears which doubles as a hair band to keep his hair in its usual style, which happened to be a gift from his mother.

He normally wears dark green pants, sandals and a dress shirt after the style favored by Kusaka Kori, though he has also been known to favor both a more lax uniform and a more battle-oriented outfit. The former is a yukata-style kimono, which is a blue robe tied together with an orange sash around the waist. Over his shoulders he also wears a black cape and carries his trademark headphones around his neck. The latter uniform, being his usual battle gear, consists of a black vest with black trimmed shorts with an orange lining, and wrap-up sandals minus the tabi.

Synopsis

 * Main Article - Bleach (Kenji Hiroshi).

Part II

 * Liberation Saga

Impostor arc

 * Kenji gone Mad?
 * Betrayal!?

Powers and Abilities
Growth Rate: Much like his parents and brother before him, Akira is naturally attuned to the Shinigami arts, though not to the same degree as his elder sibling or parents are. While he does learn surprisingly quickly, especially in regards to Kidō usage, he doesn't learn at the same rate as Kentaro did in other fields, an example being swordsmanship technique, though he is still noted to outshine others when it comes to learning new tricks or concepts. An example of his growth rate was the speed in which he achieved his Shikai, as he'd already manifested it before he apprenticed himself under Zero.

At present however he can only tap the smallest portion of that vast torrent, making him no stronger than an academy student. His parents, amongst others, have however hinted at his potential, claiming he'll one day surpass them all. Even at his early stage of development, Ino has found her son's spiritual output is aligned with light, with Kusaka joking about him being a light-bulb.

Already he has gained an intimacy in regards to the unorthodox reverse-grip style his mentor taught him in, as well as the more traditional ceremonial swordsmanship taught within the Academy, including the Wan'nesu.

As such his standard leg strength is enough for him to clear large distances quickly, while this same leg strength allows him to travel from A to B quickly by jumping and thus using momentum to accelerate the steps of his Shunpo. When both are used in union, however, Akira quickly finds himself tired; simply because he has yet to fully acquaint himself with the rigorous training required. This is one field Akira does surpass his twin in however.

Zanpakutō
Harusame (春雨, Sword of Light). Harusame is sealed in the form of a beautiful katana with red hilt wrapping and a golden guard shaped like a square with inward curving corners. The sheath is a light shade of black, while the blade has a noticeable silver jagged line running down its outside cutting edge. In addition, there's a cloth seal wrapped around the base of the sheath and the guard, which rips and repairs itself indefinitely when drawn and sheathed. Akira often carries Harusame strapped to his back, so to mimic his older brother. It should be noted that Harusame bears the same appearance as Hotaru's Higurekira (日暮れきら, Twilight's Gleam).


 * : Harusame is released with the command "Illuminate the Far Heavens". The only indication that the blade is being released is the sudden influx of white spiritual energy which shrouds Akira's entire body, especially around Harusame.


 * Shikai Special Ability: Akira's Harusame is the complete opposite of his elder brothers Tenchikaimei, while being very similar to his twin brothers Higurekira. Instead of shadow-based form, or manipulating twilight, Harusame reigns over the light present all around when the sun is around and at its peak. Reaching out and manipulating that light is as easy to Akira as breathing, allowing him to manipulate an opponents sense of sight by blinding them, binding their shadow, or burning away everything in his path with a massive light array. However, the one downside is that the sun is required for Harusame's true power to be achieved. Without it, Harusame makes do by reigning over that light which exudes from Akira's light-based spiritual output, though it is not as powerful as full sunlight.


 * Shōmei no Sakebi (照明の叫び, Light's Roar): a versatile technique which releases a large-scale wave-like blast of light which is also considered the inverse of Hotaru's Higurekirā (日暮れキラー, Twilight Killer). The energy originates from the blade, cloaks it momentarily, and is then released all at once as a linear beam. However, while usable as an attack, Shōmei no Sakebi is not damaging at all, which is the reason that Zero urged Akira to "use his loaf a little" when performing it. In fact, it's strongest when the energy first forms, meaning reflexive defense is its main strength, over damage output, which is Akira's main use of the skill. Also Akira often uses it as a means of high-speed linear movement. By placing Harusame in his often-used reverse-grip style, Akira releases Shōmei no Sakebi and uses the recoil to propel him into the air at speed; either to attack, pierce through other attacks, or simply as an evasionary movement. The one weakness of this use is obvious: it's linear motion. Changing direction is quite difficult for him, as is slowing down, which led Kusaka to curtly ask him if he "intended to hump the bridge" he had just collided with.


 * : Not yet Achieved.

Behind the Scenes

 * Akira's appearance is based on Yoh Asakura from Shaman King.