Kaien Shiba
Captain of the 13th Divsion
Biography
Name: Kaien Shiba
Age: Unknown
Gender: Male
Race: Soul
Birthday: October 27
Height: 183 cm (6'0")
Weight: 68 kg (150 lbs)
Affiliation: Shiba Clan, Gotei 13, Soul Society
Occupation: Shinigami
Title: Captain of the 13th Division
Kaien has a youthful appearance and is a fairly tall person with aqua green eyes and spiky raven black hair. Apart from the usual black shinigami uniform, he wears a short sleeved white haori that loosely hangs from his shoulders and proudly bears his division number on the Gotei 13 insignia on his back. He also has a tattoo of the Shiba family crest on his arm. Some Shinigami, such as Byakuya Kuchiki, have stated that Kaien bears a strong resemblance to Ichigo Kurosaki.
Kaien, a very ethical man, is adored by many members of the 13th Division. He is outspoken and bores a rough disposition, with a down-to-earth attitude. Kaien treats his fellow squad members indiscriminately, regardless of their social standing or rank, and has a strong sense of duty. Because of this, he's popular among aristocrats and commoners alike within his division.
Kaien believes that one's "heart" is determined based on the prospects of fighting and protecting. He is a firm believer in Captain Ukitake's philosophy on fighting, which consists of two types of combat: the fight to protect life, and the fight to protect honor. Kaien took it a step further and believes that they both ended up being the same thing: "Heart." He believes that every time someone connects with another, a little bit of "heart" is born between them. He thinks of "heart" as not something inside an individual, but rather what is born whenever one thinks of or remembers someone else. He believes that one's "heart" exists in others, and that it remains with his or her comrades even after death. Holding on to such views, he firmly believes that people should never die alone.
On a side note, Kaien's favorite food is ohagi and he has a tendency to take afternoon naps when he has the time.
HISTORY
Kaien was a member of the Shiba Clan when it was one of the Great Noble Houses. Together with his siblings, Kūkkaku and Ganju, he grew up in Rukongai. While in a mountain area in Rukongai, Kaien found an injured piglet and looked after it. He gave the piglet, Bonnie, a ribbon and she became very fond of him. The door guards of the Shiba family - Koganehiko and Shiroganehiko - were previously the educators of Kaien and his siblings. Kaien later decided to become a Shinigami and he passed the entrance exam on his first try. He was shortly recognized as a prodigy, as he completed the six-year curriculum of the Shin'ō Academy after only two years, and became a member of the 13th Division.
110 years before the Ryoka Invasion, Kaien was approached by Ukitake, who tried to persuade a reluctant Kaien to become his lieutenant. After Kaien declined, Ukitake mentioned Gin Ichimaru's graduation from the Academy and noted that he was the first genius since Kaien. Kaien denied being a genius and Ukitake told him that Gin graduated in a single year, which impressed Kaien. Ukitake compared his age to Byakuya Kuchiki, whom Kaien started to curse before saying that Gin sounded quite fearsome. He noted that he was even further from being a lieutenant and asked which division Gin joined. Five years after graduating from the Shin'ō Academy, Kaien became the 13th Division's lieutenant.
When Rukia Kuchiki joined the division, he scolded other members of the division who were watching the newly arrived noble. He introduced himself to Rukia and scolded her over her meek reply, treating her like any other Shinigami. He explained that due to Ukitake's illness, he was usually in charge and told her she could call him "Captain Kaien" if she wished. One day, Kaien brought Rukia a drink and asked her why she looked so troubled. He told her that as long as she was in his division, he would stand by her even if he died. They were interrupted by Kiyone Kotetsu and Sentarō Kotsubaki, both whom praised Kaien's coolness. Kaien asked them if they were drunk and sent them back to their posts.
Kaien trained Rukia in Mt. Koifushi in western Rukongai on a number of occasions. One day while training there, Rukia asked Kaien why she was in the Gotei 13. He told her that it was to fight and protect. He explained Ukitake's philosophy about there being two types of battle to Rukia, but then told her that he thought that both meant to protect the "heart". He explained about his beliefs of the "heart" to Rukia and told her not to die alone, as when one dies, the heart is left with one's companions, where they would live on.
Kaien was married to the third seat of the 13th Division, Miyako Shiba. When Miyako was killed by the Hollow, Metastacia, her body was brought back. Despite not knowing the name, appearance or powers of the Hollow, Kaien insisted upon going after it rather than waiting for an assault squad to be formed. Ukitake and Rukia accompanied him to the Hollow's lair.
Upon seeing the Hollow, Kaien asked for permission to fight it alone, which Ukitake granted. Kaien asked the Hollow how many Shinigami it had eaten and if it had ever felt sadness or regret about killing. When the Hollow replied that it had regretted not eating the head or torso of a female Shinigami the previous night, Kaien calmly attacked it. However, after Kaien touched one of the Hollow's tentacles, his Zanpakutō disintegrated when he tried to activate his Shikai. Kaien wonders how such a thing is possible, but continued to fight with his bare hands until Metastacia used its Spirit Body Fusion ability to take control of Kaien's body.
The Hollow then used Kaien's body to attack Rukia, but Ukitake stepped in and fought it. When Ukitake realized that the Hollow could not be separated from Kaien, he attacked the Hollow. However, Ukitake was struck by his illness at that moment and the Hollow attacked Rukia again. Rukia stabbed Kaien as he leapt at her. Kaien’s consciousness resurfaced and as his body began to disintegrate, he thanked Ukitake for letting him fight alone. He also thanked Rukia and apologized to her for dragging her into the fight. He said that she must be torn apart by this and told her that it is thanks to her that his heart could stay here.
Rukia took Kaien’s body back to the Shiba house to entrust him to Kūkaku and Ganju, saying that she killed him. Kaien's body, with Metastacia still inside it, decayed and returned to Hueco Mundo, where it was devoured and became a part of Aaroniero Arruruerie.
Shortly following the demise of Aaroniero Arruruerie, by the hands of none other than Rukia Kuchiki herself, Urahara arrived to the scene via garganta and retrieved the remains of the fallen espada before returning to the world from which he came. Whether it was through sheer luck or intellect, noone may ever know, but Urahara had managed to successfully separate Kaien's soul from Aaroniero's and Metastacia's to bring about a miraculous rebirth to one who was thought to be long lost for the rest of eternity. However, as fate would have it, nothing came without a price. For that reason, Kaien remained in a coma as his spiritual body slowly but surely recovered from the massive strain it had been dealt with from it's prior use.
It wasn't until a month after the events of the Thousand-Year Blood War that he finally regained consciousness. With the continued aid of Urahara, Kaien was caught up to speed with everything that had happened since his death and was set on making an immediate return to the Soul Society. But not before undergoing a special training regiment at Urahara's own suggestion. Achieving his bankai within the allocated three days, Kaien ultimately made his highly anticipated return to the Seireitei before quickly cementing his place as the Captain of the 13th Division.
Abilities
Genius Intellect: Kaien was a prodigy when he was younger, although he was modest about the level of intellect and skill he possessed. He entered the Shinigami Academy on his first try where he received high marks and showed an innate aptitude in the Shinigami skills. These talents allowed him to graduate at the top of his class in two years.
Zanjutsu Master: Kaien was a skilled swordsman, evident from when he trained Rukia, and somewhat shown by Aaroniero when he was fighting Rukia based on Kaien's memories. Kaien's techniques and form are revealed during the battle, and are described by Rukia as "His upper-body stance. Spear technique reminiscent of a dance, using one wrist as the center of its rotation. Then crushing the opponent between the spears thrust and the rising waves." Since his return to Soul Society, however, he has shown himself to be more than worthy of being labeled as a master of zanjutsu.
Kidō Master: Even when disarmed in combat, Kaien can still fight via the use of kidō. He is able to use high-level spells to great effect even without incantation, and can use multiple spells in rapid succession. Additionally, Kaien's prowess allows him to create his own spells and modify existing ones to suit his own purposes.
Shunpo Master: As a captain, Kaien is exceptional in the art of Shunpo. Even before his death, he was shown to be more than able to effectively use shunpo by dismembering several of Metastacia's arms, taking the Hollow by surprise.
Immense Spiritual Power: According to Ganju, even by the standards of the Noble Clans, Kaien had naturally high spiritual energy. By the time he entered the Shinigami Academy, his spiritual energy was already comparable to a lieutenant. As a captain, it's only obvious as to how much greater it grew over time. Also, courtesy of the nature of his bankai, he has masterful control of his reiatsu.
Zanpakutō
Nejibana (捩花): Kaien's zanpakutō is sealed in an average katana with a rectangular cross guard with smooth rounded edges and a dark blue hilt.
Shikai: It's shikai command is Surge, Water and Heaven (水天逆巻け). Kaien holds Nejibana upside down and begins to twirl it in his hands as it glows, transforming it into a cross between a trident, a bishamon-yari (a Japanese spear), and a ji (a Chinese halberd) with a crystalline appearance. Like the ji, it bears a horsehair tassel, although it is blue instead of the traditional red; similarly the two side blades are straight with concave edges as opposed to the usual crescent blades of the bishamon yari. The end of Nejibana turns into a corkscrew/drill shape. Water flows freely from both the trident and the end.
Shikai Special Ability: Nejibana's ability lies in the manipulation of water. Being hit with it is reminiscent of being hit by crashing waves, as water constantly flows from it and the surrounding area. Nejibana's tip is constantly flowing with water with every arc and slash, and each crushing blow creates large waves. At this point of his development, Kaien is able to deal each and every blow with the strength, momentum, and weight of a tsunami in it's entirety.
Bankai: Jigoku Saishū (Last Hell 地獄最終): Kaien's bankai takes the form of a pocket dimension containing the aged and underwater ruins of what seemed to be a truly grand kingdom. Upon activation, Kaien raises his trident and slams the end of it's shaft against the earth to instantaneously envelope himself and anyone within his immediate vicinity. In this dimension, there are no means of escape. Even abilities relating to the distortion of space and time have no effect. The only way to find one's way out is by either obtaining Kaien's permission or defeating him. As means of preventing the hindering of his own movements and drowning himself within his own bankai, he developed a safety measure that is nothing more than a needle thin layer of air continuously encasing his body. This is only possible due to the fact that every last particle within this dimension is purely composed of Kaien's reiatsu. Which, in essence, means that he has complete and utter control of every last bit of it.
Bankai Special Ability: Jigoku Saishū quite literally entraps his adversary within an inescapable hell that Kaien naturally wouldn't wish upon anyone. However, for the sake of those who he wishes to protect, he would even become the devil himself if need be. Never again would he allow anyone he cherished to perish within his reach. This was the resolve it took to achieve his bankai. With the capability to manipulate nearly everything within the dimension to his very will, including the water his foe may unfortunately find within their body, Kaien can alter and shape his surrounding reiatsu to create projectiles or weapons of all shapes and sizes. All while still being able to keep his shikai around for good measure. As long as the dimension is the battlefield, his reach extends anywhere and everywhere. Even if his intended target managed to escape the range of his bankai, prior to activation, he can still utilize it to his advantage in an endless list of possibilities.