Anika Shihōin (FC)

This article, Anika Shihōin (FC), is property of Kenji-Taichō. Permission is required to alter its content. Use of this page's contents is determined by the author of this page, unless otherwise specified.

This article, Anika Shihōin (FC), is part of Bleach: War for the King's Seal, which continues on from the opening segments of the site's former Fanon Canon project. Use of this page's contents is determined by the author of this page, unless otherwise specified.

"I have only one grandchild, boy, and what she lacks, makes her worth ten of you."

—Anika to Akira, in reference to her granddaughter Rin.^[src]

Template:Shinigami Infobox (Second Division) Anika Shihōin (アニーカ四楓) is a noblewoman of the Shihōin clan, regarded as one of the clan's elders, and the grandmother of Rin Shihōin. She is a former Shinigami of the 2nd Division and Onmitsukidō, one of the original Captains of the Gotei 13, as well as the former keeper of the fabled red Kyūtai. Additionally, she was Head of a Branch of the Shihōin clan in the time the Shinigami were still referred to as "The Balancers", and held this post during the Reikon-Kyuuban-Shinigami War. Alongside Yachiru Unohana, Anika was one of only six Captains to fight in and survive Averian's first invasion of the Soul Society, and was the one who sealed him within the depths of the Forest of Menos.

Appearance

Due to the ageless immortality imparted on her by being the keeper of the red Kyūtai, Anika retains the appearance of a young woman, similar in physical age to her granddaughter, Rin, despite being of similar age to Yamamoto. Additionally, she prefers western-style clothing, in the form of jeans and open jackets, and is the source of Rin's own preference in this area. Anika is a frequent collaborator on her granddaughters Western Fashion serialization. According to Akira Hiroshi, Anika is a tall woman, athletically built, with a toned stomach and just noticeable muscles, a generous bust wrapped up in bandages, and a severe look on her face. He further described her as being very beautiful.

Personality

Anika is highly complex. She presents an interesting case in contradiction, for she often expresses two beliefs -- both opposite in every way -- simultaneously. She was a peacekeeper in a time when "The Balancers" were reputed as little more than butchers, yet assassination and espionage were her tools of trade. She was a potent fighter, even amongst her barbarous colleagues and bloodthirsty contemporaries, but completely rejected the concept of war. These traits, coupled with her noble intentions, earned her the trust of Vlad, who at the time was her enemy.

Although peaceful by nature, Anika could never be called a pacifist. Whilst she avoided battle in general and sued for peace during war, she was always prepared for trouble, and was very forceful in her opinions and actions. When faced with Hotaru, she attempted immediately to kill him with her Shunkō. Together with her allies, Shunsui Kyōraku described Anika's generation to be the strongest iteration of the Gotei 13 ever assembled. Anika, in particular, was strong even amongst her colleagues. Of the six who challenged Averian, she was one of only two who managed to survive the effort.

Contradictory nature aside, Anika was quite quick-witted and possessed a barbed tongue. After meeting Akira, and overhearing him mention that she was his grandmother in his native world, she pointedly told him that she had only one grandchild and what she lacked between her legs made her worth ten of Akira.

Literary works

• Western Fashion -- a serialization published by Rin, inspired by Anika's personal clothing preferences, shortly after Rin transferred to the 9th Division. It proved to be quite popular with young women and academy students.

History

Anika was a contemporary of Genryūsai Shigekuni Yamamoto, Yachiru Unohana, and Ginrei Kuchiki, and led a branch of the Shihōin clan. She was a follower of Yamamoto's prior to his founding of the Gotei 13. It was during this time that the Reikon Kyuuban-Shinigami War broke out. Following the abdication of Katsumi Scarlet as Queen of the Reikon Kyuuban, but prior to the ascension of Myst Kagekyo as her successor, a sect of The Balancers targeted the Reikon Kyuuban in what could best be described as "blood sport". With Fushichō in-hand, they ritualistically burnt captured Reikon Kyuuban alive, in the misguided notion that this 'cleansing' would cure them of their 'curse'. Anika, working alongside Vlad and the Elders, took Fushichō into the safekeeping of the Shihōin clan in what Vlad called an "ancient covenant", in keeping with their role as the Tenshiheisōban.

When the Gotei 13 was eventually conceptualized, Anika reigned as the founding Captain of the 2nd Division, with Yamamoto leading the organization. Even before this, her colleagues were regarded as little more than butchers, and it was only after the conflict involving the Quincy that the group mellowed out and gained a sense of justice, having found something to protect. Additionally, Anika was one of six Captains, and one of only two including Yachiru, who fought against and subsequently sealed Averian in the Forest of Menos. which is the reason Vlad would later send the young Akira to her. Anika's seal kept Averian in-check for centuries and even after it eroded to the point of failure, it had sapped his monumental strength to the point that he required decades to return to his prime.

Synopsis

Renascence Beginning

Main article -- Renascence Beginning.

Bleach: War for the King's Seal

Main article -- Bleach: War for the King's Seal.

Hunger and Greed arc

• Hunger and Greed: Doubling Down (mentioned)
• Hunger and Greed: Rallying Ants (first appearance)
• Hunger and Greed: On the Run (mentioned)

Equipment

Former Equipment

Fushichō

• Fushichō (不死鳥, Phoenix): an artefact, one of seven referred to collectively as "Kyūtai", that was safeguarded by the Shihōin clan in their capacity as guardians of the Hōgu and Bugu, said to have been bestowed upon them by the gods. In reality, they safeguarded Fushichō to help bring an end to a destructive conflict between The Balancers and the Reikon Kyuuban, described by Vlad as an "ancient covenant", until it was stolen by Hotaru in mid-January 2019. According to Hotaru and Akira, the Kyūtai on a whole hold tremendous destructive potential, though this is gated behind an obscure requirement that must first be met, such as requiring Bankai to wield the Ōin.

Kyūtai Special Ability: Vlad revealed to Myst Kagekyo that Fushichō had once been wielded by The Balancers to ritualistically burn Reikon Kyuuban alive, as a means of 'cleansing' them of their curse. Additionally, it possesses the power to nullify other flame-based powers, amongst them Zanpakutō.

• Immortality: An obscure trait of the Kyūtai seldom spoken of by their wielders. Fushichō imparted on Anika a form of ageless immortality. According to Vlad, he knew both Anika and Yamamoto when the latter was young. Yet centuries had passed between Anika gaining the Kyūtai and subsequently losing it to Hotaru, and she remained unchanged, whilst Yamamoto became an elderly man. Her ageing process only began resuming in 2019.

Powers and Abilities

Immense Spiritual Energy: As one of the founding Captains of the Gotei, whom Kyōraku described as the strongest generation ever assembled, Anika is remarkably strong. In addition, out of six Captains total, she was one of only two who survived the previous battle with Averian, managing to seal him. Together with Yachiru Unohana, who likewise survived the battle, the two were capable of stalemating Averian at the height of his power.

Hakuda Mastery: As the founding Captain of the 2nd Division, as well as the founder of the Onmitsukidō, Anika specialized in Hakuda, with the ability to strike swiftly and in deadly silence. She quickly incapacitated Akira, with Asuka remarking that she could snap his neck or break his back with ease. Furthermore, as a user of Shunkō, which is described as the highest form of Hakuda technique, Anika is a masterful Hakuda practitioner.

Enhanced Speed: Even without Shunpo, Anika moved so swiftly that Akira couldn't discern her movements at all.

Kidō Mastery: Anika is proficient enough in Kidō to further her natural capacities in battle, culminating in the use of the Shunkō technique. During her battle with Averian, Anika led the effort to seal him, once it became clear that he couldn't be killed conventionally. Her seal lasted centuries before eroding to the point of failure, with the after-effects forcing Averian to slowly rebuild his vast strength over decades.

Shunkō: When she attacked Hotaru during the Theft of Fushichō, Anika used Shunkō. Hotaru needed to don his Hollow Mask just to nullify one of her punches in this state, with Hotaru himself doubting his ability to stand against her in a protracted battle.