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This article, Kazuki Matsushita, is property of Zf6hellion
"I know there's something out there that only I can do. Something that can change the world, for the better. I'm a weak, good for nothing, idiot. But, there is something only I can do, and I'm going to find it. I'll become strong. I'll become a Shinigami."
Kazuki Matsushita (松下和希, Matsushita Kazuki) is a Shinigami and once-holder of the position of Lieutenant, where he served in the Eighth Division under Captain Hanashi Saika.
Kazuki Matsushita is a young looking man of Asian descent, with an above average stature and rather scrawny physique. His body is thing and stringy, lacking muscular prominence and coming across as somewhat anorexic. He has a pale and sickly complexion. His hair is a messy crop of black that stretches down to his neck, framing either side of his face with several strands lying over the front of it. He has short, brushed out eyebrows and flat, curved eyes that give off a strained impression as if exhausted. He has cyan coloured pupils. His nose is broad and prominent in contrast to his thin and compact lips. His head appears square-ish at the top though it rounds out clearly around his chin. He wears a highly customized version of the Shinigami Shihakushō, consisting of a unique one piece kosode with long sleeves that run into gloves to cover Kazuki's hands. Beneath it he wears a high collared shitagi, both of which are worn in a tighter fashion than is common among the Gotei. Atop these robes, his chest is further covered by a leather cuirass known as a dō (胴 (仏胴). Attached to the top part of the dō are leather spaulders known as sode (袖 (当世袖) which cover either of his shoulders with two extra layers folding out below each other over the outer parts of his upper arm. Covering his forearms and back of his hands are a pair of white iron kote (籠手 (篠籠手) vambraces with a ribbed design to their top and a series of lace straps fastening them down. Around his waist he wears a simple large black sash that is tied over by a white obi. His legs are covered by a black hakama, though both it is folded into a shape resembling poofy trousers as they become tightly restricted behind a pair of Western-style greaves and sabatons.
Personality[]
History[]
Kazuki hails from the Rureigai (流霊界, Wandering Spirit World), with no memory from before he suddenly awoke in Soul Society.
An amnesiac, he wandered the cities of the Rukongai, lost and confused until he was presented to Central 46 by a helpful Plus. They treated him as they did any new arrival into Soul Society and assigned him a ticket imprinted with the details of where he would live from now on. He had been assigned to the 38th Eastern District of Rukongai, Konpekikugi (紺碧釘, Azure Nail) to live in a household ran by a woman known to the local populace as Auntie Chiyo, a monicker Kazuki would apply to as well given time. At some point they were joined by Shū, whom Kazuki took to treating as an adoptive sister.
Kigetsu (傷月, Wounding Moon) is the name of Kazuki's Zanpakutō. Its sealed form takes the appearance of a pair of chokutō, a type of Japanese straight sword, maintaining a single edged blade with no curvature, and a total length of 62.1cm (24.4 inches). Their blades are marked by a red line running down the centre of their lengths before fading into three small red dots at the bottom of either blade. Each sword has a simple, small ringed tsuba and a red hilt that is wrapped in leather straps, creating a ribbed grip design. Their pommels are flat, though the hilt is indented just above it and a grey string is tied around that point attached to a simple adornment that is shaped like the kanji 多 (Ōi, many). Despite manifesting as twin swords, Kigetsu exists as a single spirit though he is known to jokingly speak of having a brother whom he refers to as Shōgetsu (少月, Little Moon). It is a Time-type Zanpakutō.
Shikai: There is a strong bond between Kigetsu and Kazuki, a mutual relationship where they treat each other as equal, and inseparable, partners. One does not exist without the other, they each acknowledge that neither of them overcomes an obstacle alone, that their accomplishments are met by mutual participation. Though some may prize only Kazuki's skill as a Shinigami or Kigetsu's power as a Zanpakutō, they each thrive on the silent acceptance that their strength comes from their reliance on one another. It is fitting then, that the release command for Kigetsu is "Together" (一緒に, issho ni). When activated, there is a visible build up spiritual energy around Kazuki, cloaking him in a black and red aura that grows and expands before violently exploding, dealing damage to the surrounding area in the process. The Zanpakutō copies this process, with its own build up energy before the blades explodes into their released form. They are transformed into two large oversized cleaver with slight curves to it. The blade is a relatively simple affair, with a single edge made up of a gleaming red beam and the rest of it being black in colouration, the body of the blade is clear apart from three lines running close by the blunt side of the blade. It has a long rectangular hilt stemming from below the blade that ends in a crooked, grip-like pommel.
Shikai Special Ability: Kigetsu wields an ability called Sōzo Setsuzoku Sōsa (相互接続操作, Interconnection and Manipulation). As a Time-type Zanpakutō, Kigetsu holds a physical connection to the Dangai, allowing it to draw power from aspects of the realm, the flow of time that has layered up around it in particular. By absorbing large quantities of Kazuki's spiritual energy Kigetsu can then manipulate the very fabric of time and space, a profound ability with innumerable applications. The primary means of achieving its effects are through the manifestation and use of crescent-like blades of energy that can carve into space itself and act as a springboard for Kigetsu's other powers. Though they have a typical shape, Kazuki can alter them to fit his needs at any given time, even reflecting them on himself as a pulse to utilize the effects of his powers on his own body. Though these powers can be fought against, they cannot be resisted by ordinary means, preventing them from going ignored. The only way to resist, or outright negate Kigetsu is to wield a Time-type Zanpakutō of their own, as its powers do not work on something that stems from the same source.
Jitsuga Tensai (日牙天殺, Sun-Fang Heaven Slayer): Focusing his Reiryoku across the cutting edge of his Zanpakutō, Kazuki can unleash large crescent shaped blades of red and black energy that project outwards according to the motions of his sword, matching each arc that his sword is swung through. The projectiles can be loosed as soon as they are ready, but Kazuki maintains the ability to hold them back to further empower them before firing. Originally, Kazuki made use of the technique without knowing its name which drastically weakened its power, misunderstanding the concept that names held power, gave it the name "Jiato" (史痕, Chronicle Scar) though he would learn its true name soon after. Jitsuga Tensai boasts a great deal of strength and though its shape is set, its size can be easily altered to fit a given situation. It is a powerful projectile all its own, capable of cutting through most objects with impeccable ease even managing to cut into space itself. To the naked eye, this leaves a given Jitsuga suspended in the air or leashed to whatever surface they had struck. This effect is a means of using Jitsuga Tensai as a springboard for other attacks as the true purpose of each blade is not to defeat an opponent but to connect to each iteration of the technique that lies across the battlefield. As Kigetsu manipulates space and time, the purpose of Jitsuga Tensai is to eliminate the concept of distance and travel in relation to time. Kazuki can fire one technique at a single blade, and the effects would manifest from all of the other blades simultaneously, allowing for a greater effect and the means to unleash devastating combinations from multiple directions. This power is one shared with Satō Shingen and his Zanpakutō Seishijō Sakumori though they are applied somewhat differently. Satō can form several Jitsuga Tensai at once while Kazuki is restricted to one at a time though this is made up for by the fact that Kazuki's are more powerful than those used by Satō.
Jikangire (時間切れ, Timeout; Lit. "Being Out of Time"): Focusing his Reiryoku into his Zanpakutō only to reflect it back upon himself is a secondary means of creating a Jitsuga Tensai blade. In doing so, Kazuki essentially envelopes himself in his own technique, but as a result it does not create an interconnection between Kazuki and his environment but instead creates a disconnect between him and the world. He is cast outside of time, causing the world to appear as if it has been frozen still. This allows Kazuki to move and act freely without any outside interference, though anything he casts off of himself such as abilities or equipment become frozen as soon as they stop touching him. The disconnect created by the use of this effect is temporary and lasts little more than a handful of seconds, thus its primary use is making escaping an opponent easier, it also retains the purpose of the Jitsuga Tensai through its application, that of being a springboard for other attacks and abilities. Those affected by the technique are, at first, completely unaware of the brief pause in the battle hat had occurred though they are capable of adjusting to it. While they cannot break through its effect, they can realize what is occurring, allowing them to prevent the combinations that Kazuki may setup as they happen.
Bankai: Hatsuhinode Yugetsu (初日の出癒月, First Rising of the Sun Healing Moon): The true name of Kazuki's Bankai. While previous growths surrounding Kazuki appeared to only affect the form of Kigetsu's Bankai, unlocking its true potential saw marked alterations through out all of its forms, the most obvious being the switch from a single sword to two in all instances. According to Kigetsu this represents the connection between Kazuki and himself, the duality that they have created for themselves. Hatsuhinode Yugetsu is made up of two swords, the hilts of which match the appearance of its sealed form though the blades have been completely replaced by two beams of red and black energy that copy the shape of blades. This form carries an eerie similarity to that of Satō Shingen's own Bankai. When Kazuki first confronted the Royal Guardsman responsible for the War of Days, Kigetsu constructed a haori for him made out of Kazuki's own Reiatsu. Its form is only somewhat corporeal, appearing to be made out of flames rather than a solid material, otherwise it matches the trappings of a normal Captain's haori, bearing long sleeves and the Tenth Division's insignia emblazoned on the back.
During their battle, it would be revealed that the form Hatsuhinode Yugetsu had taken was not its true form, but a lesser variant until Kigetsu and Kazuki could acclimate to the new changes they were experiencing. Their acclimation was completed amidst their duel with Satō and came with further alterations to the Bankai that not only differentiated itself from Satō's Sāki Sakumori, but greatly increased their fighting capabilities in the process. The swords shift in shape, becoming curved, though in a manner somewhat different from a katana. The blade is pushed forward and from the back, a tooth-like edge is formed. Unlike previous incarnations, the blade is relatively featureless. It also lacks any sort of guard, instead feeding straight into the hilt, a simple, albeit long, and leather-wrapped black grip with a ringed pommel. The haori of Hatsuhinode Yugetsu's initial form becomes more solid but loses its sleeves. In their place is a pair of blocky pauldrons that are squared off at the top but end in a short pointed tip along the upper arms. Below that, the forearms and hands are covered by embossed silver gauntlets, designed after a pattern that evokes the image of rings and flames with the face of an Oni emblazoned around the wrist.
Bankai Special Ability: The Bankai form is when the connection between a Time-Type Zanpakutō and the Dangai is at its most intimate, and therefore when the deepest affinities that they share can be drawn from. All Time-Type Zanpakutō share an intrinsic bond to the Dangai, and through it they each gain the means to manipulate a select portion of time's current. Hatsuhinode Yugetsu is the ability to move forward. To bring the world into the future. It is a conceptual power that boasts an almost unequaled level of versatility to its wielder. This is because the future is always uncertain, it is not set in stone until it becomes the past. As the future is always in motion, the possibilities remain limitless and any outcome can be brought to fruition. Thus Hatsuhinode Yugetsu's ability could be more aptly be described as potential. On top of this ability, it also boasts more standard boosts to the abilities of its Shikai form and possesses the means of augmenting Kazuki's physical attributes for the duration of its activation.
Jikijin (時期刃, Blade Timing): Though its initial form matched the styling of Satō's Bankai, the true form of Hatsuhinode Yugetsu has fully solid blades. It has access to this previous form, and indeed, this ability to convert its form is used as a springboard to conjure the techniques of its Shikai. By absorbing Kazuki's spiritual power, Hatsuhinode Yugetsu can convert its blade wholesale, or in any manner of increments such that only a portion of the blade changes shape at a time. On top of this, they can cause the blade to "blink", fading out of existence for a split second during the conversion process in order to bypass objects such as an opponents blade.
Shinryū Jitsuga Tensai (真流日牙天殺, Truth-Style Sun-Fang Heaven Slayer): While the previous forms of Kazuki's Bankai emphasized the raw increase in power that he experienced through their usage, his true Bankai places his control over it at the heart of its abilities. His signature technique, the Jitsuga Tensai was forced into more restrictive forms with each progression of his power, but with the unlocking and attainment of his own capabilities it has become something far more fluid. What the previous forms focused on was an increase in raw power, casting aside the ability's trickster nature in favour of making it more straight forward and technically capable. Here, this has changed to an overall boost, such that all of its capabilities are given emphasis to transform the ability into something incredible to behold. Though a Jitsuga Tensai can be molded into numerous shapes, they typically have a default state that is seen when they are first made manifest, the Shinryū Jitsuga Tensai does away with this in favour of being naturally fluid, it has no natural form and lacks a singular requirement to be manifested. To form one requires the focusing of spiritual energy, but how, and in what way, is left entirely up to Kazuki. This allows him a great deal of versatility and makes his attacks largely unpredictable. With a single swing of his sword he can unleash a curtain of energy, that vanishes to reveal a swarm of Shinryū Jitsuga Tensai attacks formed into beaming coils, another might have the energy bursting into life as spirals that encapsulate his sword before a heavy strike and yet another creates a series of animated swords that surround his Zanpakutō before being unleashed as individual attacks of their own. This serves to bring Kazuki's more indirect approach to combat to the fore and gives him veritably unlimited avenues of attack. Unlike those formed in Shikai, a Shinryū Jitsuga Tensai does not need to be charged before firing, however, unlike previous forms of his Bankai, this does not mean they are formed at full power. Instead, the cap has simply been lifted. Instead of an arbitrary limit, Kazuki is free to devote as much energy as he sees fit to any particular attack he makes, allowing him the strength of his previous forms as well as their speed. The shapes with which he can form an attack are virtually limitless, thus the name they have been given. Kigetsu likens the single technique to an entire school or art form and wishes for it to be known as such. With this in mind, this means that Kazuki's attacks may take any form, even those more rigid blades of his previous weapons. Their power and speed noticeably rival that of Satō Shingen, their strikes serving to cancel each other out. The Shinryū Jitsuga Tensai is the most powerful and dominant expression of the technique, and rightfully so. With its power lacking a limit, it is capable of great displays of offensive might, a constant battery of powerful flashes having been shown to hammer down the Hollowfied Royal Guardsman in their duel, and a single swing entirely obliterating the Tengokuhenokaidan.
Dangai no Masagan: Zenpō: (正強の断崖・前方, True Might of the Precipice: Forward): Kazuki plants his swords into the earth, channeling his Reiryoku through it to create an aura around him. Kigetsu manifests on top of Kazuki as a form of overlay as the two activate the technique with a call out. Zenpō is the height of Kazuki's power, the ultimate use of his Bankai and the concept of potential. Through its connection to the Dangai it manipulates time, but the grasp is tenuous. Zenpō is the power to move forward, to force the world into the future. But, while the past is set in stone, the future is not. It is fluid and unknowable, thus Zenpō is an ability to make things happen according to Kazuki's desires. Perhaps best expressed in his fight against Satō, in response to the latter's use of Arakajime, Kazuki used Zenpō to return the two of them to the stairway of the Royal Palace, negating Satō's ability in the process and manifesting all of the Gotei 13's Captains for a final showdown with the Royal Guardsman. These Captains had previously been locked in their own battles, some victorious while others had been defeated and even slain. Ignoring this Kazuki brought them to his battle as the future had yet to be written, the possibility existed for this event to occur no matter how slim. Zenpō is an incredibly profound but also an altogether extreme power, it absorbs immense quantities of Reiryoku to bring about its effects, leaving Kazuki on the brink of exhaustion. On top of that, it creates an imbalance in the world around them, such that the Dangai was conjured into an all-consuming vortex that nearly destroyed both Kazuki and Satō as well as the dimension where their final battle took place. A miraculous power, but a definite last resort.
Former Powers & Abilities[]
Zanpakutō
Bankai: Kahaku Kigetsu (神縛傷月, God-Bound Wounding Moon): He plunges his Zanpakutō into the ground for the activation, causing an immense burst of energy to explode into a condensed pillar of light that rises into the sky. It is considered unusual for Bankai of the time as most were known to explode into gargantuan weapons or incredibly potent effects, instead Kahaku Kigetsu changes are slight with regards to its mass, actually shrinking to some extent. Altered from its form of an oversized and blocky cleaver, Kahaku Kigetsu slims down to the more regular shape of a sword, though the blade is separated into two forked points leaving a hollow space running down the centre. The two blades close in on each other as they terminate but do not fully close the gap between them. The sword is largely black in appearance with a more grey colouration present on the cutting edges and a series of red trailing lines running down the width of the blades themselves. The hilt is a ribbed affair that ends in a curved spade-like pommel. It has been commented on that Kahaku Kigetsu feels incredibly brittle, that each clash felt like the sword was about to break just from hitting against the weapon of its opposition. Despite this, it proved to be strangely sturdy and served as a perfect implement to stave off enemy attacks, even outright cancelling some of the lesser strikes Kazuki's opponents have made.
Bankai Special Ability:
Mitsumata Jitsuga (三叉日牙, Trigeminal Sun-Fang):
Shimata Jitsuga (四叉日牙, Quadrigeminal Sun-Fang):
Trivia[]
Concept for Kazuki's design.
Kazuki can be rendered as "harmonious hope" (和希), or "one/first shine" (一輝) while Matsushita means "below the pine" (松下). Originally he was to be named Frithigern, a Visigothic name that means "Spear of Peace".
He has been designed as a sort-of counterpart to Satō Shingen.
The colour associated with Kazuki is Olive, a shade of green which, in Japanese colour culture, represents good luck, nature, and, eternity.
In Japanese, Kazuki would refer to himself using adakado (仇家人), it is an old word that, taken literally refers to one's house, but is usually used to refer to the user, it is considered to be a humble term.[1]
Kazuki's design is based upon a piece of artwork that the author found while browsing for imagery of Samurai.
Images on this article were drawn by Luminent-Soul on DeviantArt on commission from the author.
