"Sharp thorns produce delicate roses."
Name: Hiroshi Masumata, "Hiro"
Appearance: Standing at six foot one and weighing in at a hundred and seventy three pounds, Hiro possesses a well defined musculature and an athletic built. His eyes which generally appear to be light brown, are tinted with a hue of red. The likes of which only shows when his irises are hit by moonlight or a light of similar spectral consistency. He has a tri-pronged vertical scar upon his left cheek running over his eye; received by Seiki Arashi during their duel, moderate length brown hair, and ears that are slightly pointed at their tips. Masumata wears his custom captain's haori over his black Shihakusho.
Age:269
Class: Shinigami - Lieutenant, Seventh Division
History: Having become an orphan following his parents' deaths; Hiro, born Rein Tokiwa, was adopted into the Masumata family at age three. Thus, as Hiro Masumata, grew up in the Masumata mansion in Seireitei. Being the only child of Kiri and Genjeiru Masumata, Hiro's youth was consumed by countless hours of training. An attempt by Genjeiru to prepare his son for the day he would become the head of the Clan. Thus, Hiro was home schooled and never attended the Shino academy.
Approximately One-hundred years ago, Hiro got his first taste of real battle when an small group of traitorous shinigami attempted to assassinate his family. Although he was able to fend off and even kill a few of the attackers, it was his adoptive father who ultimately drove them back. Albiet at the expense of his life. Leaving a widowed Kiri in command of the small yet wealthy clan. Sadly, Genjeiru's loss eventually proved to much for the woman. Hence, on the thirty-third anniversary of his death, Kiri forfeited her life. Leaving the fate of the Masumata Clan in young Hiro's hands.
Approx. A Sixty-five years ago, Hiro fell in love with a shinigami by the name of Ai Tashimoto, who was a commoner from Rukongai. Five years later, when she had graduated from the Shino Academy, Hiro proposed to Ai. Whom agreed to marry him. Outraged by his actions, Hiro's uncle, Junta, took immediate action to prevent 'further tainting of the Masumata bloodline'. As an result, Hiro was challenged - or rather ambushed by Junta and his loyalists to a duel to the death. However, as he was about to deliver the finishing blow, one of Junta's henchmen threw Ai between the two. Causing Hiro's blade to strike her instead, ending her life. In a blind rage, he slaughtered his uncle as well as his three companions.
While he was not persecuted for their deaths, killing them had lost him the favor of the other Noble families. Soon after, on the graves of his parents and lover, he swore that he would never let someone he cared for fall ever again.
Roughly thirty years ago, Hiro became a Lieutenant and was placed in Nanabantai, the Seventh Division.
Details: Hiro wears an small silver medallion which bears the symbol of the Masumata Clan upon it. It is kept hidden beneath his clothing (Refer to third symbol after quote).
- Immense Reiryoku: Hiro has been noted to possess an enormous amount of inherent spiritual power, the likes of which he is capable of finely controlling. Although Hiro's reiryoku level is not overly spectacular, it is considered to be above the usual level of the average captain-class shinigami.[/*]
- Incredible Reiatsu: Despite only possessing an above average degree of reiryoku for some one of his rank, Hiro's reiryoku, when exerted, is his highly concentrated. As an result, his reiatsu levels are far superior to that of the average lieutenant's. Hence, while those whom possess an exceptional level of reiatsu themselves are often spared its effects, most shinigami of lower caliber are susceptible to his reiatsu's side effects. Which situationally include, parylization, fear induction, and phantom pain affliction. However, the severity of these conditions can vary depending on the individual affected, as well as in accordance to the size of the gap in power between Hiro and themselves.[/*]
- Pathetic Kido Ability: Hiro is incapable of casting even the simplest of kido spells. While this is due mostly to a general lack of interest in the aforementioned. Thus is, in theory, remediable, Hiro currently shows no interest in doing so.[/*]
- Zanjutsu Grandmaster: Like most members of the Masumata Clan, Hiro specializes in swordsmanship. Trained since he could walk in the art of Zanjutsu, Hiro's talent with a sword is one of excedingly rare quality. Despite his relatively young age, Hiro is capable of effectively fighting ambidextrously with anything which even remotely resembles a sword. Both when dual and single wielding. While he does not yet consider himself to be at his peak, there are currently very few individuals in the Soul Society whose skill with a blade equals, or surpasses his own.
Hiro's preferred method of combat is the Masumata Clan Zanjutsu centered style Known as Warutsu. Warutsu, also known as the Extirpating waltz, is a combative form that simultaneously utilizes elements of hakuda, and hoho to improve the effectiveness of one's zanjutsu. It forces the practitioner to view their zanpakuto as an extension of their physical being. Both by encouraging movements that wouldn't normally be applied while using zanjutsu, as well as movements that are frequently used, in order to keep the opponent on their toes.
Unlike traditional styles, Warutsu also uses Hakuda as a means of reinforcing and empowering each of the weapon's movements. Much in the same way it uses Hoho to increase the speed at which the practitioner is capable of acting and reacting. Both with and without a weapon. Due to this, the practitioner is capable of utilizing an unorthodox and wildly unpredictable style to maximize damage while simultaneously minimizing potential risks. Warutsu also allows Hiro to switch between traditional and non-traditional styles on the fly. Allowing him to be widely versatile.[/*] - Hakuda Master: Due to the nature of his training growing up, as well as personal efforts on his part, Hiro's skill in Hakuda is noted to be formidable. While he isn't physically stronger than an active shinigami of his size and build, his intimacy with hand to hand combat makes him a difficult foe in a brawl. Skilled in many forms of martial arts, Hiro is a very well rounded fighter whom is just as capable of dishing damage out, as he is of withstanding it. [/*]
- Impressively Intellictual: Hiro has always possessed the inherent ability to adapt to and learn things fairly quickly. Thus, has never struggled to understand an new or unfamiliar phenomenon. Because it is also in his nature to think somewhat analytically, Hiro has proven himself capable of effectively dissecting and evaluating situations with minimal effort. A trait which he best exemplifies during combat.[/*]
- Incredibly Knowledge: Hiro has taken it upon himself to be as well informed about the world as is feasibly possible. Hence can often appear to be a know it all when it comes to general facts about most things. However, his area of mental expertise is in what he calls 'battle strategics'. Which involves knowing specific information about possible combative inquiries. Involving things such as weaponry, combative shinigami and hollow techniques (passive and aggressive), the combative abilities of both shinigami and hollows (passive and aggressive), various locations within the Soul Society, the capabilities of his fellow shinigami (within reason), and the relationships between them. [/*]
- Hoho Master: Hiro has long been noted as being one of the Soul Society's most proficient Hoho users. While he is not the fastest by far in his normal state. He is capable of easily out pacing the average high caliber shinigami. More notably though, is his high level of inherent flexibility, maneuverability and reflexes. As he has been seen executing physical maneuvers which most shinigami would struggle to perform with relative ease. [/*]
It should also be noted that although generally discreet about it, Hiro possesses a strong degree of hate towards Hollows and Hollow-kind. This hate is especially strong when dealing with Arrancar. Although it is publicly unknown exactly why he developed such a hate for them, said hate is so vivid that he will often attack any being in possession of hollow-esque reiatsu immediately and without hesitation.
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---Zanpakuto/Powers---
Name: Kagirinai / That which never ends
Type:Unclassified
Sealed appearance: In it's sealed state, Kagirinai appears as an silver wedding band embedded with rubys and diamonds. A form which mimics the wedding band Hiro was to receive from Ai.
Inner world: Hiroshi's Inner world is his mental depiction of the end of the universe, or it's heat death. It consists only of the last star in the Universe, which he refers to as the Cold Star, sitting on the edge of a Time dilating Vortex that prevents the Universe from actually ending. It represents the constant inner struggle within Hiro. Who is frequently torn between his desire to protect those he loves and destroy those he hates. According to Kagirinai, his reluctance to forget Ai is also reflected in this depiction as well.
Spirit appearance: Kagirinai often appears as an human-like female figure with long red hair. She wears an seductively form-fitting attire constructed from leaves and vines, and possesses palely fair skin. Kagirinai's eyes are a luminous green color with white sclerae in this form. Alternatively, when angered, Kagirinai will sometimes appear as an enormous black scaled dragon adorned with crimson rose petals as fur, and vines as tails. Her eyes glow a solid and scorching yellow in this state. Which is her true form.
Shikai apperance: During Shikai Kagirinai's appearance becomes that of an rose hilted sword. The handle of which of comprised of hard, bark-like vines. The wrist guard is made up of a large fully bloomed red rose, while the blade is composed of a braided shaft of intertwined vines which bear hundreds of sharp thorns upon its surface. Despite its appearance, the entire weapon is sturdy enough to survive blows from even the sharpest of swords. Although it does sustain aesthetic damage, Kagirinai is able to constantly and rapidly repair itself. The blade tears away at its target as opposed to cutting through it.
Shikai command: Root yourself, Kagirinai.
Shikai Special Ability: Kagirinai has the ability to absorb reiatsu and convert it into physical matter. Primarily photosynthetic organisms. Although these constructs take on the likeness of various plants, because they are made entirely of reiryoku, they operate as many kido spells do. Thus are highly resistant to most physical confrontations, yet susceptible to reiatsu based attacks and interruptions.
Passive Abilities:
- Kyuujin: (Absorption) - Kagirinai allows Hiro to use Photokinetic Regeneration. Allowing him to absorb light and use it to heal himself in a process similar to photosynthesis. The rate at which he heals is determined by both the severity of the wound as well as the available amount of external light. As Hiro is not able to absorb any light produced by another shinigami or an zanpakuto. It should be noted that the proficiency of this ability is greatly increased when Kagirinai is exposed to direct sunlight. As well as nullified when no external light source is present. I.E. when he is within complete and utter darkness.
[/*]
Active Abilities:
- Moyasu: (Burn) - Hiro aims the tip of his zanpakuto at his target and slashes the space before him. As he does this, reiatsu is channeled along the blade, which strongly vibrates during the motion. This lets each slash launch a torrent of acid towards the desired target. This acid possesses strong penetrating properties, thus is capable of eating through most inanimate objects. Said acid also inflicts severe burns upon contact with the target's skin. Prolonged or excessive exposure can result in dismemberment and/or death.[/*]
Evolution: Bankai (Preview available upon request)
