Kazuma Atsuhake

"Life is too short to waste any amount of time on wondering what other people think about you. In the first place, if they had better things going on in their lives, they wouldn't have the time to sit around and talk about you. What's important to me has never been others' opinions of me, but rather my opinion of myself. I live by this not because it is admirable to do so, but because it is rewarding to do so; cease to dwell on what others' think of you and you shall have the heaviest of burdens lifted from your shoulders... Now, pour me another drink will you?"

- Kazuma Atsuhake to his Lieutenant, Jun Asahara

Kazuma is currently the laid-back, art-loving captain of the Eighth Division of the Gotei 13. Despite his high-ranking status, Kazuma apparently has an intense loathing for "dull and menial" tasks such as paperwork and has been reported to doodle in the corners of such documents on the rare occasions that he actually sits down to fill them out. His love for artwork is rivaled only by his love for non-electronic games and as such he is oft found engaging in various activities, whether it be tic-tac-toe, shogi, or hide-and-go-seek and at times will place large wagers on the outcomes of the game, quickly turning a relatively simple game into an interesting gamble. Kazuma is praised as the "Best Captain" in Gotei 13 largely due to his treatment of all in his division as equals as opposed to lowly subordinates and the apparent unwavering loyalty he seems to have inspired within his ranks.

Appearance
With a firm jawline, a solidly muscled body seemingly chiseled from the side of Mount Olympus itself, and towering over the vast majority of people he encounters at nearly 6'5" Kazuma is, in every sense of the term, an extremely "well-endowed" man. Even with disregard to his body, he is easily deemed attractive by his symmetric features, "scruffy" brown hair typically kept in an unkempt manner, and strikingly charming warm honey brown eyes. Kazuma carries himself with an undeniable air of strength and security despite his down-to-earth demeanor and it is surely this same strength that gives him the freedom to act, to do as he pleases without much care for how others' perceive him, as such he never garbs himself in the stiff vestiments of a figure of authority, rather he fits himself in the casual garbs of one that is both comfortable and friendly.

Kazuma naturally gravitates towards clothing that is comfortable, this often means he will be found wearing a kimono open at the chest with a light shawl like garment worn loosely thrown over his shoulders. This, of course, is only his choice of garb while in the Soul Society. On the occasions when he ventures into the World of the Living, he takes a more modern approach to comfortable clothing and is likely to be found in slightly baggy jeans and a loose or open light button down shirt. Both his kimono and shirts tend to have some sort of pattern on them, whether it is subtle waves or a more flamboyant floral pattern it always seems to fit him perfectly no matter the design.

He has been known to wander about his barracks with his chest completely out or the sleeves of his kimono removed him his shoulders, exposing his entire torso, both during the day and at night, it should be noted that neither the men nor the women in his division have raised a single complaint in this matter and seem to welcome him to do as he pleases, and on several occasions has actually attending captains' meetings in this same manner.

Personality
"There are two kinds of people I don't trust: people who don't drink and people who collect stickers."

- Kazuma Atsuhake to a drinking companion

While decidedly laid-back, Kazuma is by no means a completely "relaxed" person; he openly seeks to enjoy himself without giving much care to what others think of him, this leads to Kazuma being deliciously mischievous at times as he simply wants "to have fun", oft leading to him pulling pranks or joking around altogether when others would be completely serious. While his behavior may be deemed somewhat "inappropriate" for a Captain Kazuma has been shown to slip into a serious demeanor more "fitting" for a man of his rank, albeit on an extremely rare basis, that has been reported to send chills rushing down the spines of Lieutenants and fellow Captains alike as his demeanor swings to one that is the very manifestation of killing intent and no longer cares for entertaining those around him as his mind is focused solely on the task at hand. This "transformation" is both rarely seen and relatively short lived, not to mention being immensely difficult to provoke, as his typically jovial nature will almost certainly eventually win out.

Kazuma is a honest man with a both a wild and prideful streak, while he openly states that he doesn't care in the least for what others think of him the way he lives is extremely admirable if given the proper scrutiny. Often the "light" in any situation he brings joy to others on a consistent basis while being extremely loyal to those around him, if you manage to get into his good graces it is safe to say you will be protected from any harm while in his presence. That being said, this doesn't prevent him from being "lax" in his captainly duties and he often designates the bulk of his official paperwork and such to his 3rd Seat while he goes to sun bathe in the nude on top of the Eighth Division barracks or some other equally enjoyable activity. Kazuma is openly fond of those around him and his relationships with many can be considered decidedly of the "older-brother" nature as he sees to it that they are both taking care of themselves and that they enjoy themselves in the vast majority they do. To this end he has no issues in "kidnapping" those around him in order to relieve them of their mundane duties so that they may relax even for a brief moment. This same attitude is seen when Kazuma employs his devious teasing tactics, albeit it is for his own enjoyment as opposed to theirs, as he has no trouble with using sexuality to "tease" both male and females although his current favored targets would appear to be Kazuya Kuchiki and his own 3rd seat.

While he is rather easy to get along with, Kazuma is not the most trusting individual in the world. If one were to refuse to drink with him they would instantly be deemed untrustworthy as he sees it as they have something to hide that may be divulged over a few drinks, interestingly enough this is Kazuma's chosen method of interrogation as he uses both well-chosen words and the influence of "liquid fire" in order to steadily eke more information from those who may have raised his suspicions. To this end he may act like a typical drunk, spewing false secrets as he steadily makes his target drop their guard with each drink they consume while he himself is able to drink the vast majority of the Soul Society under the table. Kazuma is a recreational smoker and as such is often seen with an ornate pipe filled with aromatic mixtures of herbs and tobacco, suggesting that he smokes not for any addiction or taste but rather as another thing he simply enjoys due to the smell off his mixtures.

History
"You never forget who you really are... No matter how many sleepless nights you spend trying to, no matter how many bottles you try to drown yourself at the bottom of, no matter what you do... Your past is still with you and you must have the strength not to crumble... It is that strength, that strength is my curse. For when I wish for nothing more than to break down and fade away, there is always some part of me that refuses to comply"

- Kazuma Atsuhake

Childhood
"No young man believes he shall ever die"

Kazuma was born to a farming family that was the epitome of poverty on September 22 of 1688 in Genroku era Japan. His family was far removed from the prosperity that categorized the era and despite being theoretically ranked above the artisans and merchants had neither their prosperity nor their influence. Kazuma was born a nameless child and hidden away from the government in an effort to avoid the higher tax that would be levied upon them, further lessening the amount of their meager harvest they were able to keep. As such he was treated much as an abandoned child, living with his parents yet regarded as an unwanted presence that did naught but bring increased hardship upon the family. Nevertheless he grew up as a strong child, steadily gaining in muscle and physical health as he spent increasingly long hours working the fields in an attempt to relieve the burden his birth had levied upon his family. Despite constant work he put into both the fields and attempting to become accepted within his own family, matters continued to grow worse as he was on the receiving end of any and all hostility within the family.

At the age of 7 he had grown increasingly at odds with the both the loveless environment and the stifling poverty which defined his very existence, he fled from his "home" on a moonless night in 1695; entirely abandoning the "family law" that governed the time period.

He fled to the growing urban sprawl that was Edo, finding more opportunity in begging than he ever possessed on the farm as many were more willing to give to a child than a seasoned beggar and far less likely to drive him off. Despite the increased likelihood of a "donation" being made, the pickings were still desperately meager as those who could truly afford to dole out small portions of their wealth were never those to do so; it was in this light that he turned to thievery, making use of the blooming physique he'd built up during the harsh labor on the farm to snatch coin purses, food, and drink and break off at a full sprint in the opposite direction. In this manner his stamina and general health was on a steady yet slow rise, at the age of 8 he had unintentionally conditioned himself to the point of being able to run for elongated periods of time.

His life in the following months leading up to 1697 were filled with monotonous cycles of begging, thievery, and the cruelty he oft found himself on the receiving end of; it was during the Great Fire of 1697 that seemingly marked a change for the better in his life. He experienced an epiphany of sorts as he witnessed beggars being trampled in the panicked effort to flee from the flames, realizing just how little he was truly worth to society, and in the same moment realized the goods that had always been outside his reach within the shops were his for the taking, he bore as much as his 9 year old frame could carry and fled only to return to risk his life at the flames for the material salvation that could twist his circumstance for the better.

Death
"It hath been often said, that it is not death, but dying, which is terrible."

It was within this flames that had called to him much like a harbinger of good fortune that he met his early end, his hands tightly wrapped around the solid gold he'd expected to send his life down the path away from the injustices of poverty. The final sight his dying eyes bore witness to was a depicting Father and Son, Beast and Man, the Heavens and the Earth joined together around a single point that read "一真 圧刷毛", "One Reality Painted with the Force of a Brush". With his dying thoughts focused upon the art, his life was consumed by the raging flames around him.

Afterlife
"Death is the greatest illusion of all"

Plus
The woodcut survived, it would seem that the sheer will behind his dying thoughts were shielding it from the hungry flames even as his own body was consumed. It was to this art, that he was bound as a Plus. From then on it seemed that the woodcut possessed mystical properties, no harm would be done to it no matter the disaster that went against it. The striking art survived not only the second Great Fire the following year but both the Great Genroku Earthquake and the subsequent fire that struck the crippled city the next day that marked the end of the Genroku era. The woodcut was well sought after, in fact changing hands frequently due to the high death tolls wrought by the natural disasters, and it was certain that wherever it was found good fortune and generosity followed as if in death Kazuma's very presence brought about the warmth of prosperity. The beggars in the area would be recipients of increasingly generous donations, the abandoned youth found themselves with shockingly good fortune as the favor of the divine seemed to shine upon them. Most of all, the family ties within the household the woodcut was found were strengthened and they themselves began to prosper no matter their previous status. It was during this period that he adopted "一真 圧刷毛", "Kazuma Atsuhake", as his name, achieving an identity only in death. His time as a plus continued in this manner for the following three years until he was finally put to rest by a Shinigami who's final words to him were as follows "We have no reliable guarantee that the afterlife will be any less exasperating than this one, have we?"

Life in the Rukongai
"I'm the Monster within the Snake Pit, the beast that rules the Nest. All become equal under my gaze and none but survival may impose their will upon me... These hands and this blade have bathed in the blood of many, can you smell it? Can you smell the remnants of the lives around me? I am the beast... And when a beast gets a taste of your blood, he can't help but crave more.... So "Captain", tell me... Do you still want me for this "Academy"?"

- A Young Kazuma Atsuhake

For Kazuma, it would seem that one's past life held no bearing in where they were born into the Seireitei as he was heaved head first into an existence of violence, conflict, and poverty in which a mere moment was exponentially worse than his suffering during his time as a human. He remembered nearly nothing from his life as a human, only his name, an apparent love for art, and pain remained in the back of his mind. Born into the crime saturated 80th district of West Rukongai, known only as Nest of Serpents (nagamushi no su, 長虫の巣), the inhabitants were known to utter the phrase “Far from royalty” while spitting the words like the concept of royalty passing over their tongue burned their skin. Filled to the brim with murderers, thieves, and other “undesirables” the Nest of Serpents was and still is regarded as one of four of the most dangerous locations within Soul Society; rivaled by the 80th districts in the North, East, and South Rukongai. It was in this environment that Kazuma simmered, that he prospered as both his spiritual energy and pressure steadily grew after day in and day out of killing to survive; sharpening his Zanpakutō against the lives of those around him. He was renowned within the Nest of Serpents as a man one would never trifle with lest you lose your life, a man to never steal from lest you be force to bear more than you can carry, and a monster that would cut a man down in cold blood before smiling invitingly at his corpse; the Nest of Serpents was his domain and he was its “ruler”, the few that rose to challenge him were quickly cut down with brute force. It was during his time within the Nest of Serpents that his spiritual energy underwent a sudden spike, increasing the pressure that he exerted upon those around him drastically, the inhabitants of Nest of Serpents began to die due to his mere presence and a young Kazuma wasn’t phased in the least for in his eyes the numbers he had to kill himself had simply been lowered; the lower the number of inhabitants, the easier his own life would become. No one quite knows why he was recruited for the Gotei 13; it is only known that Kenpachi Zaraki displayed a highly personal interest in the young man and outside Zaraki, no one truly knows his reasoning behind his actions. It should be noted however that upon Zaraki’s arrival to his domain Kazuma instantly labeled him as a threat, quickly attempting to kill the man in question. It was then that Kazuma was met with a ferocity that mirrored his own, an intensity that spoke to the beast that he was, and a strength that surpassed his own by far. Kazuma scored a single hit upon him before the fight was ended with a strike from Kenpachi that leveled Kazuma, forcing him to the ground in a display of raw power that both interested and terrified the man. In the conversation that followed Kazuma was recruited for the Academy, still managing to hurl insults and use his title as “Captain” as if the word itself should burn his flesh upon being spoken. The two made their way to the Seireitei, engaged in heated conversation and their combined presence “putting down” any who would dare to think of an attempt to attack the beasts.

Academy Days
Kenpachi Zaraki quite literally pushed him through the door of the Academy, both by means of ensuring his admission through his influence as a Captain and physically hurling him through the door. Kazuma was viewed as the beast he portrayed himself to be, many of the students from long lines of royalty turning up their noses at him as if shunning his very existence. Things continued in this manner, with few venturing near him due to the ferocity he had displayed in sparring and training; Kazuma had been introduced into a different environment, but he remained largely the same, it was as if they sought to equip a monster with increasingly dangerous skills and expect him to keep himself in line. He began to retaliate to the “shunning” of the royals and was often found muttering the phrase “This place reeks of blue blood…” and this seemed to serve as an instant popularity boost as those of less than royal descent flocked to Kazuma as if he were some sort of idol. His sudden popularity began to mellow Kazuma outwardly, he steadily formed a more lighthearted personality yet the same ferocity rose to the surface once a blade graced his hands and it was this that held him back, the beast that would quickly claw its way to the surface kept Kazuma from progressing, prevented him from further refining his skill. To this end his newfound friends and Kenpachi began to teach him to reign himself in, to impose his own will over what he had been to move forward yet it was Kenpachi that instructed him to never discard who he had been, to keep the beast within yet keep it chained for that ferocity may be the determining factor in an otherwise fatal encounter. Kazuma’s skill flourished, his ability in fields of physical prowess stood out above all as he viewed it as his opportunity to dominate, to surge forward, to prove his worth. And with his skill, the less uptight of the “blue bloods” began to recognize him as a capable combatant and he found that his popularity was on the rise once more, he seemed to know anyone and everyone within the Academy. On the opposite end of the spectrum, his interest in Kido quickly dwindled once he’d obtained a grasp upon the basics; his skill never went beyond the rudimentary spells taught in the Academy and to this end he found himself on the receiving end of pranks, many done in jest while others were malicious in nature. Upon graduation Kenpachi once more pushed him through the door into the 11th Division, both literally and metaphorically as he requested he be placed in his division and bodily tossed him into the barracks upon his admission.

Equipment and Inventions
Kazuma carries little to no physical equipment on his person, with the exception of his Zanpakutō, choosing to create the specific items he may need through the use of his painting abilities. The exceptions to this are two items that are kept on his person at all times, a small deck of blank playing cards that serve as a sort of indicator of his luck at any present time and numerous sheets of paper kept in an ornate scroll container kept at his left hip. By shuffling the cards and drawing the top card he is able to view his luck on a basis starting from the 2 of Hearts (lowest ranked card) up to the Ace of Spades, the lower the card the worse his luck is. In truth these cards have no affect on the outcome of a battle or day to day occurrences, it simply tells Kazuma the likelihood of something undesirable happening such as a Captain he doesn't like stopping by or him getting stuck with a weak opponent. The paper serves simply to provide him with easy access to surfaces to draw upon in battle.

Powers and Abilities
Mischievous and Perceptive Tactician: Kazuma is, in all honesty, playful in battle unless he is forced to be otherwise. While in this state he is just as highly perceptive as ever but is rather mischievous as well, what may appear to be simple pranks or jokes on the battlefield actually turn out to be solid strategy; as such his approach to the fields of tactics and strategy is best labeled as unconventional, largely consisting of simple yet effective "tricks" one would never expect to see in a combat situation. When forced to fight seriously, Kazuma's approach differs in that his tactics take a more serious tone while they are still focused on keeping an opponent off-balance and forcing them far outside their "comfort zone" when it comes to responding to his actions. Despite his skill as a tactician, Kazuma has no issues with abandoning all strategy if challenged to a brutal "fist fight" or a trading of blows.

Relaxed Intelligence: While Kazuma is a highly intelligent individual who's level of perception is on par with some of the greatest tacticians of his time, he isn't the type to "flaunt" said intelligence and much rather take things as they come. This simply means that despite his ability to be a "braniac" when it comes down to the meat of things, Kazuma much rather relax and not think too far ahead, claiming that doing so quickly "takes the fun out of things". "Where's the rush of combat if I've thought ahead 50 moves of my opponent? How much can I truly enjoy myself if I've planned out not only my actions, but also calculated my opponent's possible responses into these as well? Quite frankly, that turns a bout into a mundane, tasteless, act that I myself would rather not engage in; so if any action would cause me to lose my desire to fight, I openly discard any such actions in the interest of enjoying myself."

Immense Spiritual Energy: Kazuma possesses a terrifyingly large amounts of Spiritual Energy that, despite it's tremendous volume, is kept under a tight leash when not in use yet given his status this comes as no surprise to those around him. When at ease, Kazuma generally lets an extremely small fraction of his Reiryoku leak from his person, surrounding himself in a barely visible pinkish aura and giving the very air around him a distinctly "warm and fuzzy" feel that makes his presence quite welcomed by others. However when fully exerted the very nature of his Reiryoku changes drastically, no longer caressing those around him in a warm and fuzzy manner but rather appearing to rage around him with a blazing fury that seems ill-contained within his body, it is in this state that the full extent of his Spiritual Pressure becomes apparent as it may easily crush weaker individuals with its sheer weight while having a rather destructive effect upon the immediate environment and making it increasingly difficult for even those of equal strength, unless they themselves have a notably strong Spiritual Pressure as well, to draw a breath as if the previous warmth his presence held is now burning the very air they breathe. The control he exerts over his spiritual energy, while not perfect, is rather high and he oft exerts near the minimum amount of energy needed to perform his desired actions allowing him to fight for extended periods of time while hounding his opponents so as to attempt to force them to tire in a drastically advanced rate. When his dogged pursuit of opponents is taken into account alongside his own stamina and the stifling effects of his Spiritual Pressure on others then it becomes clear that very few can stand to bear the onslaught brought against them while in serious combat by Kazuma.

Master Swordsman: Kazuma is praised for his level skill with a blade and is recognized as one of the most skilled wielders of any bladed weapon within all of Soul Society, while his mastery lies almost exclusively with swords he has displayed amazing feats of skill when it comes to besting those who's weapons grant them far greater reach or versatility in their choice of weaponry using only his sealed Zanpakutō. Kazuma takes pride in the fact that he practices "the style of no style", an approach that allows him to not only minimize his weaknesses by not adhering to a rigid form but also allows him to tailor both his offense and his defense to the current opponent he is facing. Despite his accredited Mastery in the art of Swordplay Kazuma still subjects himself to an intense training regime, believing that no matter the amount of skill one possesses there is always something that can be improved and something that must be changed. To this end his training is both executed with such rigor that a man of lesser endurance would tire in less than a quarter of the duration of the session and in an unorthodox manner that speaks volumes about his personality; Kazuma pits himself against multiple combatants of both Lieutenant and Captain levels in order to consistently push himself beyond what he's dubbed "so called 'limitations'" and force himself to refine his reflexes and senses to the point that parrying and keeping track of multiple threats comes as second nature, being done largely on a subconscious level. In addition to the already intense training sessions, he imposes limits upon himself that are meant to force his mind to branch out and find a means of overcoming the self-imposed gap without resorting to Bankai or other such means of besting an opponent, such as placing himself against a multitude of skilled opponents wielding nothing but a frying pan in each hand or deeming it illegal for him to do anything but dodge the opponents' assaults while he bears monstrous levels of weight upon his person. Such measures force not only an increase in actual skill and physical prowess but makes it mandatory to think "outside the box" in order to merely survive. At the conclusion of these training sessions Kazuma oft emerges battered and bloody yet grinning, knowing that merely surviving such exercises on a regular basis is a testament to his skill. Due to the extremely unorthodox methods in which he trains himself, or as others would say "subjects himself to brutal punishments", Kazuma's skill continues to steadily rise and in truth he is considered to be among the best, if not the best, currently in the Soul Society.

Hakuda Master: Much like his skill as a Swordsman, his skill in Hakuda results from rigorous training regimes and his unorthodox methods of going about these sessions. Kazuya has displayed monstrous levels of ability and talent when it comes to empty-hand combat, forsaking a bladed edge at times for the seamless assault that may be provided by one's own body. As in Swordplay, Kazuya makes use of "the style of no style" to best his opponents while never adhering to a set form of combat, preferring to "pay my opponents their due respects by providing them a combatant who tailors his actions to their specific strengths and weaknesses". His training takes on the same extreme tone as his regime with swordplay, placing highly restrictive limits upon himself while forcing him to push himself against highly skilled opponents. Kazuma has been known to attempt train with the, notably being a part of both the Detention Unit and Executive Militia during his stint with the organization in his youth, from time to time with varying degrees of success. Due to his time within the organization his skill in Hakudo far surpasses that of most within the Gotei 13 and his ability is met or surpassed by few in turn, with hand to hand combat being one of two fields he dedicates extensive amounts of time and effort into fine tuning.

Extreme Natural Physical Prowess: As a direct result of his exuberantly difficult training regime, Kazuma's physical prowess is a force to be reckoned with; he carefully maintains a difficult balance between speed, strength, and agility as he places no emphasis on one over the other, considering each factor to be of equal importance. This build grants Kazuma a physical build that can perform in nearly any role he is forced into, a clear reflection of his "style of no style" in regards to combat; whether he is forced to be the destructive powerhouse, the speed demon, a wily opponent meant to weave in and out of an opponent's attempts to land a hit, or the bruiser sent in to absorb and trade blows Kazuma has shown not only skill in doing so but also the will to do it all. His body could be considered a work of art in of itself; powerful yet supple, solid yet not rigid, devilishly handsome yet not overly manly. The level of strength Kazuma possesses is claimed to be monstrous by those who are fond of gossip within the Soul Society, it should be noted however that he himself has not denied these rumors and while his true strength does not ascend to "monstrous" levels it is extremely potent and may be considered among the ranks of those who possess lower levels of Enhanced Strength. The speed he possesses is of equal potency as his strength, able to sprint at high speeds for elongated periods of time and apply natural bursts of speed that last only seconds but are akin to lower tier Shunpo in terms of traveling speed, this natural speed leads many opponents and allies alike to simply believe that he is unskilled when it comes to Shunpo as opposed to this being his top speed without the aid of high-speed movement techniques. His body is agile to the point of being able to somewhat successfully weave between and dodge the attacks of multiple opponents with massive amounts of weight bearing down on his body, also serving as a dual display of enormous strength and a determination to succeed. Kazuma is, in essence, one of the most "balanced" members of the Gotei 13 when it comes to their physical build and this is shown in spades while in combat.

Hohō Expert: While Kazuma's skill in Shunpō may not match that of many of the other captains, a combination of his natural speed and his skill in Hohō overall allows him to keep up with the majority of the Captains with ease. While the speed achieved by typical users of Shunpō is a result of reducing one's steps to compensate for the lack of such natural speed, Kazuma's speed is a result of natural ability simply enhanced by reducing the number of steps; this is in truth a small but significant difference that allows Kazuma to achieve traveling speeds comparable to that of masters of Shunpō. His knowledge of Hohō as a whole has lead to the creation of several techniques that are often made to be more useful than simple Shunpō during combat.
 * Yoko Yure Hakanai (Ephemeral Swaying, 横揺れ儚い): A strange technique developed by Kazuma that is used for high speed movement while remaining stationary. This technique is used entirely for dodging attacks at close-range, appearing to lazily "sway" under, away, and to the sides of opponents' blows. Kazuma incorporates this technique into his training regime with such frequency that he is able to perform this technique on a subconscious level, instinctively resorting to this technique to dodge an opponent's attack. Much to his opponents' chagrin this may be used in rapid succession without much thought or any apparent strain upon his stamina.
 * Shunshin no Jutsu (Body Flicker Technique, 瞬身の術): A technique who's name Kazuma took straight from the Naruto manga found within the World of the Living, yet aside from the name the techniques bear almost no similarities. The use of this technique has been shown to essentially vitalize a part of the user's body to provide instant acceleration as opposed to having to build speed over a distance, the use of this technique has been shown to having devastating effects when used to throw punches or deliver a slash from his sword leading to sizable sections of the opponent's chest being torn out from the sheer force of the blow and cutting through stone as if it were butter. When used at close ranges to deliver a blow to an opponent this technique of proves to turn an already powerful blow into a force of death itself, enabling the rapid acceleration to lend the strike drastically increased impact damage. The speed at which these blows travel causes them to be perceived as a simple flicker, presenting even the most trained of eyes a challenge in tracking its movement. While this technique is rather simple in its application, Kazuma rarely uses it in this manner as a blow enhanced by the use of this technique is almost guaranteed to end the battle then and there if it connects. This technique may also be used as a mode of high speed movement, providing him with a travel time that is arguably similar to Shunpo. Although this technique may be used as a stand-alone mode of high-speed travel, its best use is seen when it is combined with Shunpo, making use of the latter to lower the number of required steps and the former to drastically increase the speed of said steps. When used in this manner Kazuma surpasses the vast majority of simple Shunpo users, his movement bordering upon the instantaneous.
 * Yuri (Vibration, 揺り): A technique that is invaluable in both his teasing and during combat, Yuri grants Kazuma the ability to cause his body to vibrate at will. Aside from the obvious applications during his teasings this technique can be used to both break free of restraining techniques or grapples and to add damage to physical blows. By causing his body to vibrate at high frequencies Kazuma may make himself impossible to hold on to, quickly forcing the opponent to release him due to a series of rapid and painful muscle contractions caused by the vibrations. When used in an offensive manner each blow that connects essentially causes muscles to shred during the blow, placing great amounts of strain upon them by the force of the impact while simultaneously forcing the vibrations into the tissues; the more rigid the object in question, the greater damage that is inflicted. This means that individuals with muscled or armored bodies will receive exponentially greater damage than those with softer bodies, due to the softer body's ability to more effectively absorb the vibrations. The intensities and locations of these vibrations are completely under Kazuma's control, allowing him to range anywhere from light tickles to destructive quakes within the target's body and enabling this technique to be used for more therapeutic applications such as massages.

Kidō Practitioner: Kazuma's skill in Kidō is notably lacking for one of his rank, able to only use lower tier spells with reliability, although he is particularly able to use Bakudō to a greater degree than the Hadō or healing spells. His general absence of skill in this field is largely due to his initial, and current, lack of interest when it comes to the Kidō arts. An apparent running gag within his division is to push new members to pester Kazuma to perform outstanding feats of magic by telling them that Kidō is his specialty. The following moments usually conclude themselves with a sputtering, blushing new recruit who's clearly embarrassed and raucous laughter from the majority of the division.

Immense Endurance/Persistence: The level of stamina Kazuma possesses borders on the tremendous, having displayed the ability to exert himself for extremely extended periods of time without much, if any, sign of fatigue on numerous occasions. This has typically lead to Kazuma developing a reputation as a monster of sorts when it comes to combat, the majority of those around him believing that he is one who will never tire. These feats of great endurance are seen in, and possibly a direct result of, his intense training regimes which have been known to last hours on end only to stop when either he or his training partners can endure no more. Along with his endurance Kazuma possesses a strong persistence, a stubbornness even, during combat; it does not matter to him if he's knocked to the ground and battered by an opponent, he will continue to rise simply due to his vast enjoyment of the rush he experiences during combat, even more so should he encounter an opponent capable of "putting him on his ass".

Immense Durability: When taken into account alongside his tremendous levels of stamina and endurance, his durability considered a major factor in the development of his reputation as a monster in combat. His durability is, as with the rest of his physical prowess, a direct result of the grueling training regimes he subjects himself to that are openly viewed as torture by many of his fellow Shinigami. This can be seen in spades at the conclusions of his training sessions, Kazuma battered and bloody yet still standing as if the many injuries he'd sustained were nothing more than scratches. Due the dangerous mixture of his stubbornness and his durability, those proficient in healing spells typically have their work cut out for them in attempting to get him to sit still long enough for them to actually get somewhere, his reply often being "I can walk, so I'm fine" or simply refusing treatment until the vast majority, aka all, of the other patients have been treated.

Zanpakutō
Geijutsu-kai (World of Art, 芸術界): While sealed Geijutsu-kai takes on the appearance of an elegant pair of Dao, manifesting itself as two separate swords. The shining silver surface of the curved blade appears dazzling when swung, ripping glistening arcs through the air with ease. On the end of each Dao is an extremely durable cloth of roughly 3 feet in length, one a deep red and the other ink black, and these have been shown to catch an opponent’s blade without the slightest hint of a tear. In addition to the ornamental use these cloths serve as a way to distract opponents with additional movements as well as extending the range of the blades, allowing them to be swung by the cloth in a screaming arc. These blades possess a unique ability, they may be connected at the ends and freely rotate the full 360 degrees or locking the ends together to create an efficient double-bladed polearm type weapon. This unique feature allows for not only beautifully furious assaults but attacks that curve around the opponent’s guard, the opponent blocking one strike only to cause the other blade to rotate and deliver an additional slash that digs deep into the opening caused the opponent’s block. Geijutsu-kai is simple yet beautiful in appearance, the silver blades traveling down to a golden circular guard and a slightly curved hilt darker than obsidian. Geijutsu-kai is worn on his person at all times, one blade remaining strapped between his shoulder blades while the other rests on his right hip. He possesses a strong bond with his Zanpakutō and as such is able to use the majority of his Shikai abilities while in a sealed state with ease, albeit in a weaker form. Despite his ability to do so this is rarely done as he rarely encounters an opponent that he deems it necessary to do so. This can been seen on a regular basis, albeit on a much smaller scale, when he casually creates a black ink at the tip of his index finger in order to sign or doodle upon official documents in the absence of a pen or “proper” writing utensil without being in direct contact with his Zanpakutō.

Shikai Special Abilities:
 * In truth Geijutsu-kai needs no verbal release command and is able to quickly be released through saying the release command mentally, despite this the command “Let this art serve as my guide, to lose myself and find those who raise a hand against me. Surge forth, Geijutsu-kai” is oft spoken aloud. Once the release is achieved, the cloths attached to the ends of the blades transform into a liquid-like state and coat their respective blades; this coating will prove to be deadlier than the cutting edge of the blades themselves in combat. While in this state each swing results in an arc of red or black ink, depending on the blade that was swung, and has the ability to drastically alter the course of a battle. The properties of this ink are able to be freely controlled and as such it becomes nearly impossible to defend against the colored arcs lest one avoids it entirely. The properties which are altered the most often are the weight/density of the inks, the acidity, and the sharpness although Kazuma has shown he is virtually limitless when it comes to his creative applications of his inks in battle.
 * Ink Clone: A clone composed entirely of Kazuma’s ink(s) that has nearly limitless combinations that may be used to “program” how it will behave. With the red ink causing aggressive behaviors and the black ink causing defensive behaviors, any alteration of the shade or hue of these colors results in varied behaviors. When composed entirely of red or black the clones will appear exactly as he does but as if he were composed entirely of the respective color and will behave in either a purely offensive or purely defensive manner. When the inks are combined, this results in mixtures of defensive and aggressive behavior allowing for an immense amount of tactical applications along with the creation of clones that use specific fighting styles by measuring out precise amounts of red and black ink. When the inks are mixed in an exact 50-50 ratio, a “perfect” warrior is created that remains perfectly balanced between offense and defense in addition to looking like a mirror-copy of him at the time of creation. When a clone takes sufficient damage it will immediately burst, coating everything in the immediate area in the ink it was composed of. These clones may also be reverted to ink at anytime, creating additional uses for getting the clones close to an opponent, and may be created from preexisting ink on the battlefield which allows the ink from previous techniques to quickly be reused without further burning his energy stores.


 * Shibuki SumiKazuma_Prettified.jpg (Ink Splash, 飛沫墨): The only named technique within his Shikai, Shibuki Sumi is meant to quickly and effectively provide Kazuma with a means of changing his and other’s appearance should the need arise. By essentially “painting” his self with his own ink, Kazuma may quickly create an entirely believable disguise that not only looks but feels as if it were real. If he were to need to change his appearance to match one of a different body type Kazuma may alter his inks, giving them a consistency much like that of molding clay and apply this substance to his body, effectively enabling him to conceal himself as one who possesses any body type whether it be male or female or even inanimate objects. While changes in physical appearance are useful, Kazuma has displayed a variation of this technique that renders him invisible by covering himself in ink and shifting the properties of said ink to only reflect light beyond the visible spectrum effectively rendering him invisible without distorting the environment around him. While this technique has more practical applications, such as stealth and infiltration or even seduction to cause one to drop their guard, Kazuma in all honesty makes use of this technique most often for pranks, his favored victim in this case being his 3rd Seat. The original technique is seen in use rather often without having to ascend to Shikai and there is apparently no loss in the “power” of this technique.


 * Limited Creation: By altering the shape of the inks along with various physical and molecular properties Kazuma is able to essentially “create” any object he wishes by forming it from his inks. This ability alone can prove deadly when used on a battlefield saturated with his ink. While in Shikai he is limited to creation through shaping his inks into different forms and as such what he can do is limited to things which have a physical manifestation only, in addition to the amount of ink present. Whatever is created in this way will be either black or red in its entirety and as such this cannot be used for deception based tactics.


 * Instantaneous Transportation: An amazingly simple technique that adds an invaluable skill on the battlefield and in day-to-day life alike. By drawing a simple swirl, akin to childhood depictions of portals, on a sheet of paper or any other non-living surface Kazuma may instantly transport himself and anything else that comes into contact with the mark in question to another location that bears the mark on another surface. For example, by marking two sheets of paper with this design and placing them at opposite ends of the battlefield he may instantly cover great distances by simply stepping on this surface. The travel brought about through the use of this technique far surpasses any use of Shunpo or other high-speed movement techniques due to this not making use of locomotion but rather teleportation. The strategic applications of such a technique are essentially limitless, restricted only by Kazuma’s own imagination. Realizing the dangers of such a technique to himself as well Kazuma may bar individuals from using this technique by either signing their name on the surfaces in question or imbuing it with a small sample of their Spiritual Energy within the paper, both of which are relatively easy to accomplish by either asking or simply having the paper near the opponent before the use of the technique. The “name” in question doesn’t need to be their birthname, the opponent must simply identify their self by the name in question when asked by Kazuma for the barring to be effective. When an individual is “barred” from the technique they, and anything resulting from them, are unable to come into contact with the surface the design is drawn upon, it would appear as if the design was merely an illusion meant to confuse the opponent. A similar technique is used by Kazuma on a daily basis; he is able to teleport himself to any location that he has created a painting of by simply “stepping into” the painting in question. He currently possesses paintings of various locations of interest in the World of the Living (mostly consisting of major cities and towns with notable spiritual activity), each of the districts within the Rukongai, and each of the Barracks of the 13 divisions. This effectively allows Kazuma to quickly deploy himself in the case of a threat to the Soul Society occurring and as such he is often the first on the “scene”. Kazuma has stated that these paintings are “dynamic” and will shift to depict any major changes or threats to the area in question, preventing Kazuma from traveling blindly into a dangerous area. When using this mode of travel Kazuma appears to suddenly be painted in swirling water color before solidifying and completely materializing.

Bankai Special Abilities:
 * Geijutsu no Sōzō: Tan'itsu hissei (誕生の芸術: 単一筆勢, "The Art of Creation: Single Stroke": Achieved by the simple yet chilling command “Wipe them from my canvas and start anew”. Kazuma’s Bankai is unusual in that his Zanpakutō completely disappears in a dazzling display of multicolored light only to reform as a small paintbrush of the sort used for calligraphy. Kazuma is able to use the world around him as his canvas, bringing anything he draws into reality. While in this state he is able to draw upon anything, whether it be his own body, the air around him, water, or the wall of a building as if it were canvas to bring his creations to life. His Bankai is, in essence, the birth of creation through art. Unlike in his Shikai, the creations he brings to life will no longer appear in a solitary color and will rather appear as he depicts them, the ink that flows from both his paintbrush and his body shifting to whatever color he desires in an instant.
 * Rapid Healing: Kazuma is able to use his inks in order to “paint the wounds away”, effectively healing himself and any others that he may choose to. This process, while not instantaneous, heals any wounds at a rather impressive rate and has been noted to cause large gashes to disappear within seconds of being noticed and limbs to be recreated within minutes. This stems from the “creation” aspect of his Bankai but the time delay is a result of safely healing the wound in question, while the creation of the limb or flesh to cover a wound may be done instantly it is the proper integration into the target’s body that takes time, otherwise the healing process will do more damage than it does good. While the healing provided is extensive it can by no means retrieve beings from death's grasp, those who have died are beyond the capabilities of this technique although those who rest on death's doorstep may be plucked away into safety should this be followed by rest and professional care.
 * Self-Ink Conversion: Kazuma gains the ability to convert himself entirely into his own inks at will, allowing him to essentially become invulnerable for an extended period of time. While in this form Kazuma still maintains full control over whatever ink that is present within the battlefield, but he is unable to create additional ink unless he reverts to his actual form. It should be noted, however, that this technique takes a few seconds to convert his entire body to ink although single limbs or sections of his body may be converted to ink near instantly but he is unable to shift his head into ink unless he does so with the rest of his body as sending only his head would result in instant death.
 * Physical Trait Manipulation: By converting himself into his own ink through use of his Bankai, Kazuma may alter his own form by manipulating the inks that he has converted himself to. This allows him to freely alter his own properties and form as he can with any other ink, essentially turning himself into a weapon.
 * Enhanced Instantaneous Transportation: As Kazuma is no longer restricted to painting upon a solid surface, he may simply draw his "portals" upon the air itself and freely manipulate their position and size. This increased maneuverability and ridding himself of the requirement of a solid surface effectively allows this technique singlehandedly turn the tide of a battle should it be applied creatively, with his only limits being his own creativity.

Trivia/Behind The Scenes

 * Due to the Kanji I chose to use for Kazuma's first name (一真) it can be translated to mean "One Reality", reflecting his belief that everything is interconnected in some way. Atsuhake (圧刷毛) means "Painted With the Force of a Brush". This last name was chosen without knowledge of the meaning (I liked the way it sounded) and credit goes to Mister Void for providing me with a translation :D
 * Kazuma is born on September 22nd, making him a Libra. Libras are said to be characterized by their artistic ability, creativity, and charm. Kazuma is the epitome of each of these points.
 * Kazuma is openly bisexual and devious tease to boot.
 * Kazuma is an avid fan of manga, treating it as another form of art.