Kusanagi, Kyoko | Shinigami

Kyoko or Kyo isn't what you would call the normal in terms of appearance, however that doesn't mean she does not take pride in her appearance. Standing at a decent 5'9, Kyo is by no means tiny but not to tall either and as she describes it "A perfect height for keeping out of sight". Averaging at around 120-130lbs, which for someone of her height is lightweight and thus best suited for quick movement at a moments notice. Although her body structure does not fully show it, there are some signs of her upbringing as well as training. Both her arms and back ever so slightly toned, but not enough that anyone would notice unless taking a closer look. Which isn't recommended. Her skin is fair, and very soft to the touch like a feather; despite this she does tan although not very easily which Kyo considers a good thing.

The most noticeable and definable feature about Kyo, is her hair. A brilliant snowy white color, and when in certain lights taking on a color similar to a very dark dirty blonde as well. Her hair reaching half way down her neck, cut in a short and rather precises manner to avoid it going into her eyes. Her fringe at the front of her face, parted, lands just above the start of her eyebrows; a few strands going just past that. Most of the time she is seen wearing her hair down, but on the odd occasion or special outing. Her hair is tied back into a small and simple ponytail, done so by a small red hairband; which appears to be like string from a distance. The second defining feature would be her eye color, that of a rare light gold. When reflected in sun or moonlight, they appear to almost be glowing in some faint way, of course Kyo hasn't said if this is actually true or not. 

In terms of clothing, it varies quite a bit depending on the world she is within at the time. While within the Soul Society, Kyo unlike most does not wear the standard Shihakushō. Instead of this she wears the uniform given to her thanks to her former post within the Onmitsukidō as the former commander of the Executive Militia. This consists of the same clothing as a Shihakushō for the bottom half of her body, the top half however is backless and sleeveless which is unique only to the commander of said Onmitsukidō corps, this uniform is design specifically for the use of Shunkō. On her left arm she wears a plain red armband that covers from the back of her left hand, to just below her elbow. Secured on by a red strap that keeps the armband in place even when fighting, many assume that there is something underneath that armband. They would be correct, underneath said armband is a tattoo of a snake, if you ask Kyo would tell you that she has no idea how she got such a thing. It having been on her arm since she arrived in this world, she doesn't mind it being there; but she would much more prefer to keep it hidden. This tattoo appears on both her normal appearance as well as within her Gigai when within the human world, also seen in her Gigai appearance is the red armband she normally wears on her left arm as well.

Chapter One: ~This Human Life~
Kyoko's former life as a human wasn't all that different from others. She grew up within a kind and loving family, a mother, a father and a younger sister as well. Life started out happily, although her family were not the richest of people. They got by, doing what they could to bring up their two lovely daughters as best as possible. The Hinomiya Family. Yes, that was their name. Kyoko or rather Haruka at the time never seemed to ask for anything as she grew from a small toddler into a young girl. Quite content with the life she had, and with her sister only two years younger than she, as long as she had her family with her. This young girl didn't mind what she did, of course. Every young girl does want something, right? Every human has a passion in life that they cannot deny, or something they yearn to learn or simply want it because they do not have it. Haruka's passion in life? Music. Plain and elegant. She would listen to all types, anything she could get her hands on. Or even asking to listen to her mother and fathers own collections of music they had bought over the many years together.

They soon found when Haruka turned six, that she had a natural talent for anything musical, especially musical instruments. The one she seemed to take a liking to the most, was a piano. Starting to learn how to play as soon as she saw one for the first time, the music just seemed to make others smile. Being the little girl that she was, that was all Haruka wanted. To see her parents happy, not only that but she loved it. The sway of the music calmed her, almost as if to see things in a much more clear light then before. And if music could make those around her happy, Haruka at the time could not have asked for anything more. As her life continued at a peaceful rate, it would appear that nothing would ever be wrong, or so she had felt at that time. After turning eight, it was soon to be her last year of true happiness.

As her life continued, things went from happy and cheerful to not nice in less than four months. Her father lost his job, and so half of their income stopped coming in. But even without that, they still somehow managed her father finding a part time job to tide the family over for the time being, Haruka and her sister now doing odd jobs over the neighborhood to help out, even when they had been told not to. They pair had wanted to help, help to make sure their parents did have a sad look on their faces anymore. To make life happy again, were they could simply be with one another, without a worry for money or anything that seemed to trivial to the two young girls at the time.

The family continued like this for two more years, until Haruka was eleven and her younger sister had just turned nine when strange things started to happen to this young girl. She began to be able to see spirits, wandering children, adults, every kind of person she could think of. As well as these strange figures that she couldn't entirely make out, telling her parents this. Like any would, they dismissed it as just a girl's youthful imagination. But how wrong they were to dismiss it, little did any of this family knew. That little girl's imagination would be their undoing, in ways they would never even dream of. Still, after such an event, even when Haruka kept seeing this same things. Being able to see these spirits better with each day that passed by, however from her parents dismissal she had learned to ignore them and carry on with her daily life.

Flying by, or at least her years as a child seemed to be. Five years had passed since her encounter with the supernatural, Haruka at sixteen was now able to see spirits, hollows which she had named simply evil beings for lack of a better word. As well as having seen some strange people in all black robes, with freaking blades, real blades! She had no idea what it all meant, and judging by her family's last reaction to it, Haruka kept quiet about her little discoveries over the years. Even when asking her sister about it, she said she could not see a thing and that she was just muttering nonsense again. Over these years, her father had gotten them a job, their mother now staying at home all the time due to the good money they were getting thanks to their father. And thanks to the said money they were getting, Haruka was being taught by her mother how to do everything she would need for life with her still taking a very keen interest in music, having wanted to keep up her love of such a thing over the years. Her younger sister was the same, being taught by their mother in the normal things such as reading and writing, but also arts such as tea ceremony's and calligraphy to name but a few. Despite some of these boring Haruka, she still somehow managed to enjoy them, even if it was only a little; although her sister hated the extra lessons that she said they didn't need. They were sisters, but it didn't meant they weren't different. Far from it actually.

As the years went by again now within learning for her last year with both her mother and younger sister, Haruka now eighteen, her sister having turned sixteen. It happened not long after that, and it would be something that Haruka would never be able to forget, well in her human lifetime she wouldn't.

One day after arriving home from a short walk out, after finishing lessons with her mother earlier that day, the entire family now sitting down to dinner. Everything seemed perfectly fine, until Haruka decided to get an early night for the following morning. Midway through that same night, she was woken up with a sudden start. A loud screeching sound going through her entire body, which seemed to be coming from downstairs. Putting on some decent clothing after all she didn't want to go down there in her pajamas, Haruka then rushed downstairs worried by the sound that kept getting louder and louder the further she went forward. Coming to a sudden stop she soon saw, one of those evil beings within her home, everything destroyed within it, her father and mother already dead on the floor. Pools of blood surrounding them. Her younger sister hidden in a corner with that.... thing coming towards her. Letting out a scream towards the monster, Haruka before realizing what had happened had darted forward as fast as her legs would carry her. Getting to her sister and holding out her arms in front of her, in a attempt to save her. But it was already too late. Time seemed to speed up, one moment she was standing the next she was lying on the floor. And with that Haruka Hinomiya's life came to an abrupt and rather quick end. She was now dead.

Chapter Two: ~Reborn & Rukongai~
The next time this young female woke up, it was in a place she had never been in before, everything looked strange and foreign to her, something she didn't like at all. Where this young soul had woken up was in fact the 64th district of North Rukongai. Not that she knew that, this girl now just a soul remembered nothing about her past life. All she had appeared to be some kind of ticket that showed her time of death, which was a shock in itself. She was... dead? Well it did explain why she was in a place she didn't know of, or didn't really like for that matter. Still, that didn't explain the loss of her entire memory.

However for the time being, she put the matter to one side. This wasn't the time to be trying to think about the past and regain her memory. She was hungry for god's sake! And so leaving the dark and horrid alley she had arrived in. This now nameless girl went in the search for food, water and maybe somewhere to call home. Boy was it harder than she ever expected it to be. The streets and people were ruthless! Fights breaking out daily before her eyes, having to steal and snatch what she could to keep on living. Although she was quickly finding that having long hair in a place like this, was not very helpful at all. So after just a week or what she considering a week there, the young girl had cut her hair short. Allowing for a better chance to grab things and not trip up on her own hair, or get it caught in something either. The days continued endless, seemingly never ending. This young soul fighting for everything she had, food, water, the clothes on her currently small stature, but throughout it all she kept going. Getting into various fights in the process, but that was how Rukongai worked. She would get used to it, or so she hoped.

The streets of Rukongai took their toll on her, however she managed to make it through, spending thirteen long years fending for herself. By this point used to the life of the district, avoiding fights when and where she could, although that wasn't always possible. However, this young souls's luck was about to change drastically and for the better too. After a rather successful grab of food and a bottle of water, she was feeling got. It meant she had food for at least a few days at least. A few hours after this event, alone within one of the side streets of the district, right near the edge and thus close to the main street. She was soon found by a kind woman, who seemed to want to help her. At first she was quite weary of the woman, however the woman in question showing she wasn't armed and that she did really want to help. The young soul followed the woman, into a small house that wasn't that far away. It was a few days after living with the woman alone, that this young girl managed to recall her own name. It would seem that in the company of another, she had remembered that if nothing else. - Kyoko. Kyoko, Kusanagi.

It wasn't longer after that, a few weeks maybe. That a strange man arrived within the small home that Kyoko, or Kyo for short and as she had learned the kind lady Yoko had lived in. At first she was very defensive trying to punch the rather tall male straight in the gut for daring to come in here, but she was quickly assured by Yoko that this man meant no harm and that he in fact was her husband. It did take a little while, but like with Yoko. Kyo had slowly learnt how to trust the pair of them, coming to see them as something similar to parents in a way. All in all, at the moment. Kyo as a soul could not ask for much more. Yet once again fate was about to cause this happy scene to come to a tragic end, one no would would expect. And an event that would change young Kyoko's life, forever.

Chapter Three: ~Three Become One Three More Join~
It had been a long eleven years with the couple, with Kyo feeling right at home and just happy to be there. Helping out when she could, doing what she could to protect them both. Slowly building up strength as she still fought every so often, although both Yoko and her husband advised Kyoko against it, then again no young girl like her never listened. Did they? No child ever listened, but the event that was yet to come was not even the small girl's fault. No, it was no one's fault. Just something that happened, something that never should to anyone, and yet it did.

It was just like any other day when it happened, Yoko rushing around the small house to get dinner ready. Kyoko also doing the same, now trying to help her mother as best she could. Which wasn't great, but it was better than nothing at the very least. While Yoko had forbid her husband from entering or going anywhere near the kitchen, having told Kyo that he was a terrible cook which only made her giggle at the little fact. But this fun was short lived, sadly. As they all sat down for dinner, one moment it was peaceful the next? BAM! An explosion blowing away the front part of their small house, turning their few small rooms into ruin within seconds. The only room left, being the one they all sat in, although now Yoko and her husband stood, looking terrified. While Kyoko seemed to huddle up against the wall, very afraid of what was going on, or about to happen rather.

Emerging through the smoke was a single male, dressed in black robes, a single katana in his right hand. A shinigami. Yoko had told Kyoko about them before, powerful people who lived in the Seireitei and protected this world with powers no one in Rukongai could ever even dream of having. But that wasn't the point right now, what none of them knew, was the small fact that this shinigami was a rouge, being hunted down by others and on what many would consider a rampage. Kyo simply huddled up within that corner, eyes wide open. Ebony black hair falling into her face, Yoko's husband someone she counted as a father over the years. Ran forward, grabbing the nearest thing that could be considered a weapon and aiming to strike down the shinigami. Both Kyoko and Yoko screaming at him to stop, but like normal the man didn't listen. The shinigami in question however seeing this only seemed to grin, batting away the pathetic wooden weapon with the backside of his blade. Before anything else could even be done, the shinigami had stabbed her father through the heart, twisting the blade in the most painful manner possible. Kyo covered her ears, not wanting to hear this but not being able to look away either, after doing something similar to Yoko, she continuously shook her head. Willing it to just be a dream, a terrible, horrible nightmare. But it wasn't, no it was real.

This shinigami had hurt them, the only people she could have ever trusted. The only people she considered parents to her, this couldn't be happening, it just couldn't be. Could it? No, NO! That was what Kyo screamed at the shinigami, scrambling to her feet and darting forward towards him, an anger overtaken her that she had never felt before. An unknown power surging within her body and expanding outwards, in a blinding white aura, that power was reiatsu/reiyoku and quite a bit of it by the feeling. Just by that power alone the shinigami fled, as Kyo would later find out he was found and captured again, but escaping once more shortly after this. Yet after such a power being released, she blacked out, rubble falling and covering her from view. The life she knew now gone, her parents dead. Her world was about to change.

She didn't know how much time had passed, and she didn't think to care either. Waking up in a whole with very little light, apart from a few small parts when it sneaked through Kyo was in darkness otherwise. But from a small piece of broken glass to her right, she didn't fail to see the change. Her hair.... had changed color? What in the world. Kyoko over a few hours slowly came to the conclusion that the strange feeling she felt before was the cause of it. It had to be. However, everything looked different, the world was black and white, there was no color. Looking again she found very eyes to be the color of blood, very quickly moving away. What on earth!? But as if a veil had been lifted from her vision, she could see fully again. The light still appeared the same, only with a blue tint around it. The color of hatred. An inner voice told her. Just what was gong on here?

Little did the young white haired female know, there were people nearby. Although she could not sense them, or their color, yet. However soon Kyo would find light flooding around her, as the wood she was kept trapped in now destroyed by what appeared to be someone running off quickly. She blinked, light golden eyes slowly adjusting to the new light. Without thinking, Kyo slowly began to shift and stand up. Her body bruised and beaten, she looked terrible, but her eyes could only focus on one thing at that moment. It was only then looking around briefly, she saw that the entire small village like area in a small part of the 64th district of North Rukongai. Had been totally wiped out, there was nothing left... but ruin.

It wasn't long after this horrible event, Kyoko knew she had to find someway to fight back and get out of this place many called home, To her, it was just a dump. Despite her difficulties, Kyo slowly regained her energy a few weeks later; with food, water and now money. Only then did Kyo begin to feel like herself again. Once having worked honestly for a few more months, things were certainly looking up. After such an event, Kyoko knew she now had a drive, to find who hurt those closest to her. Yet she also knew that for now at least, the young female would rather not go by her old name. She didn't want others finding out about her past, for that moment however, she'd far rather just continue on living.

And live she did, now with new determination - to find her parents killer and destroy him. But to do that, she needed power. Once again fortune seemed to be in her favor, as she soon then found a small hut to live in. It wasn't long after she began to live from there, did others find her. Being taken in by a woman who seemed nice enough to her, telling the young girl that she had always wanted a daughter. With that woman now almost like a second mother to her, Kyoko was granted a new name. Canaan. The Promised Land. Not only that, but new clothing too.

Over the next year, Kyo or rather Canaan grew used to life in Rukongai with her now 'mother' as she called her. It wasn't long after that, that the woman she knew as her mother, met up with someone, a young man and his daughter who had been travelling through the various districts of North Rukongai; only to arrive here. With needing more money for he both of them, the two joined Canaan and her 'mother'. The man soon coming to explain that he was a former Shinigami, and as payment to show his thanks. He could teach everything he knew to the pair. Of course the woman denied the chance, saying she was happy here. 

Canaan on the other hand, although at first unsure, agreed after thinking about it for a while. She did want to find a way to fight back after all, so what did she have to loose? Even if it wasn't the best idea in the world to learn from a former Shinigami. Not having many others choices (or rather no other choice), Canaan only then began training under this man.

Ten years passed the four by, Canaan knew this feeling, it felt like her real family. She knew that would never be the case, but she could hope couldn't she? While being trained over those ten years, despite protests from her 'mother' and now ''younger sister' as well. Canaan now explored the whole of the 64th district, having quite a lot of fun doing so. Not only learning about the Shinigami ways and how they fought, as well as how some humans worked as well.  

It wasn't long after they returned to their home, did Canaan and her 'father' find both her 'mother' and 'younger sister' dead within their own home. Left behind were their beaten and bloody bodies, as well as a single note, with only four words written. 

I'm coming for you.

The note seemed to be a warning to both of them, but even more so to Canaan. She had seen destruction and death before, and even that had nearly killed her. With seeing such a sight before, both her and her 'father' knew it was best to move on, and they did quite quickly. It was shortly after that, her training increased. Canaan was taught not only how to grow and control her ever-changing spiritual pressure. But how to wield and use daggers and firearms from the world of the living, or simply the human world to her.  And once prepared enough, her 'father' gave her first firearm to train with and keep, the male having said to have found it on a trip to the Human World when he was a Shinigami. To be honest? For once, Canaan felt both happy.. and safe. In so very long, although it would see seem strange to anyone else. She didn't care. 

"I love them. Weapons I mean I love them, they have no color..."

Once gaining this, with only the two of them left, years passed by as they both explored Rukongai together always. Canaan was now growing stronger daily, becoming a mercenary, or a gun for hire, despite her 'father' saying she shouldn't, Canaan still kept going. Getting rid of anyone who did evil or bad deeds within the district, never think to leave such a place; and she never did. Until she remembered about that day, her parents and what now seemed to her an almost second family all now dead, apart from one. Her 'father' had told her she had been making good progress with her training, better than he even expected. With that good word in mind, although normally never the type to seek for revenge against others, for once Canaan did. Against that shinigami who tortured and killed her parents!

Chapter Four: ~Retribution~
Not long after making such a choice within her own mind, Canaan did get her chance one afternoon, near the edges of the district itself in fact. Although her 'father' had highly advised against it, Kyo didn't for once to seem to listen to him. By this point having killed far to many to even remember. Despite his own complaints and advise about the matter, he had still gone with her, watching from a distance. Wanting no real part in this, but simply to keep an eye on the girl, she was still young after all.

The shinigami rouge in question, over the years he seemed quite different to Kyo/Canaan maybe weaker in a sense. Without waiting to speak of who she was, why she was here. Or even to announce her arrival here. She attacked, darting forward but keeping on the balls of her feet to be ready for any incoming attack, whenever the time. The shinigami seemed to remember the girl from all those years ago, the two engaging in a fierce battle. Kyoko using only a small black dagger, of a similar length to a wakizashi blade. The rouge shinigami using his own katana to fight back. This fight in question lasting for a good twenty minutes, the two by this point growing tired. She wasn't used to long drawn out battles like this. After a while, it didn't seem to matter much anymore. The rouge shinigami becoming desperate, very suddenly disappearing with some kind of fast movement technique. Eyes flashing red, Canaan did manage to catch the movement or the start of it very briefly. Before either her, her 'father', or anyone else could react. The shinigami had his blade in hand, standing to the right of her 'father', said katana blade at his neck. Ready to kill him at a moment's notice.

Anger had flared with Canaan at that moment, not again. She didn't want to loose him, she had lost loved ones before, and she didn't want that to happen a third time! Darting forward, while at the same time shouting his name, it was already too late. The blade had been pushed straight through her 'father's' neck, letting his body fall to the ground. The attack too fast for him to do anything about it. Even if she was still only a child, with eyes glowing a bright crimson. Canaan for the first time in her life as a soul, attacked this shinigami with untold fury like never before. Raining down blow upon blow at the being, while leaving the final shot for her gun. One that her 'father' had only given her to complete her training a few weeks back. Shooting the male straight through the heart, her as Siam had once said deadly aim paying off one last time. All Kyo could do was watch as the rouge shinigami fell to the ground, his lifeless body hitting the hard ground with little sound to be heard. Her eyes still a dark crimson red, like a backdrop for the now slowly setting sun.

As she left the area away from the battlefield, now alone once more. Kyo didn't regret what she did, far from it, but she simply had this lingering thought all the time now. Having set Siam properly down and closed his eyes before she left, she had wanted him to have at least a little bit of peace, even if she knew he would have scolded her for it.

"Who's fault was it that I lost them all?"

She had muttered that the day after his death, over and over the thought repeated within her mind. One she couldn't quite answer, and she doubted she would ever be able to either. But after some time, she had recalled about her 'father' telling her about a place where they trained people, people with the kind of power that, that rouge shinigami had and like he had once held as well. Only stronger and that not everyone in life was out to get you, or a bad person either. Shino Academy that was the name of the place. She had heard about it previously of course, so from both former encouragement from her 'father' and her own desire to better herself and in turn help others; Kyoko headed... for Shino Academy.

Chapter Five: ~Shino Academy & Shinigami~
Having headed there, of course not knowing the time schedule they had she did have to wait a few weeks before she could take the entrance exam. A week later she had taken the exam, and passed first time! It was a surprise to her, but Kyoko felt quite good about herself for being able to pass so quickly. Thus the start of her journey began.. to finally becoming a shinigami.

Training with her 'father' was easier than... this! After joining the academy as a student, Canaan had begun to reuse her actual name of Kyoko, simply choosing to not use it while she was here. But regardless of that, she hadn't expected such a workload! There was so much to take in, after her first day. Kyo was exhausted, and they hadn't even begun proper training yet. Geez, it looked like she was going to have to work overtime just to keep up with everyone else here, most of which she had discovered were children from noble houses or lower ranking noble homes. All of which seemingly looked down on her as a 'Rukongai Scum', or that she didn't belong here. Kyoko ignored it all for the most part, determined to pass through these six years and prove them all wrong!

Prove them wrong? She certainly did that. Kyoko finished her time in the academy within five years, a year less than was normal for any trainee shinigami. However thanks to her hard-work, determination, and general prowess with the ways of the shinigami, it allowed her to graduate a year prior before others in her class did. She excelled in her Hakuda and Hoho exams, passing with full marks. While easily passing both Zanjustu and Kido with a slightly lower score than her other two. Her reiatsu/reiyoku control however still needed some work, but that was to be expected. No one became a Captain or Lieutenant straight after graduating now did they? No of they didn't, it would be weird if someone did.

Now having finally graduated the academy after five long years, Kyo knew it would only get harder from here but she was ready for that much. She knew of hard work, that was something she was comfortable with and knew she could do well. Now wearing full shinigami robes, her Asauchi (Shadow Hilt) blade strapped to her back. Kyoko now only looking forward to what her future would bring, and what a fun time it would be.

Chapter Six: ~Yonbantai~
After a few weeks of looking as well as wanting to hone her skills with kido, as she knew they lacked more than others. Plus, for the time being, she would rather not fight on the front lines. At least for a little while anyhow. After waiting a few days afterwards, like many other academy graduates they were placed into divisions if good enough. Due to her own request, and as it was granted. Kyoko was placed into the fourth division, many saying it was a waste of talent and that she should be with the second. The young shinigami knew the forth were the least respected squad within the Goteijūsantai, however such a small thing wasn't going to stop this young female from doing what she thought was best.

Kyoko joined the squad as an unseated member, regardless even without having her own zanpakuto yet and just her asauchi blade, that didn't stop her from wanting to learn all she could. Slowly gaining the skills needed, and eventually learning some basic healing kido that she knew that would serve her well, even if she didn't stay here. The forth helping her improve on both her kido and spiritual control, which to Kyo was a godsend. Soon learning on how to finely control and hide her reiatsu/reiyoku as and when she wished such a thing to happen. Of course from the benefits there were downsides to being with the forth, the eleventh seemed to pick on her no end. Although once getting into a fight with a few of the unseated members of the division and managing to kick their sorry butts, Kyo from that point onwards was mostly left alone by them, just not all of them.

Even while learning various kido and healing kido, Kyo still managed to keep up with her skills. Honing her zanjustu, hakuda and hoho by daily training, that continued throughout her time within the forth squad. She kept this up as well as being within the forth for another twenty three years, which seemed quite a while to her, although to a soul those years were so few. However after being spoken to by her Captain, saying that she would be transferred to a division of her choosing, saying that she had learnt all she could here. And that she could do so much more somewhere else, although this young shinigami wasn't keen on the idea of leaving so quickly. She soon came to accept it as simply moving onwards and upwards, coming to a choice of division - the third.

Chapter Seven: ~Front Lines & Sanbantai~
While she was still within the unseated ranks of the forth, still not having had any contact with her zanpakuto, therefore she was still put in the unseated ranks of the third division. However through her continued determination and hard work through the job, she gained the rank of the 20th seat, the lowest seat in a division from pure work and as the Captain commented skill alone. Regardless of this, as ever Kyo continued to work to the best of her own ability, her own skills slowly growing as time passed her by, after all what was time to a single soul? But within that time she spent growing, she began to hear a voice within her head - a man's. At least she thought it was, but for the time being she was too focused on training and thus had ignored it.

Through the work she was given and quickly completed, Kyoko was soon put on the reserve forces within the third division, as well as patrolling Rukongai on a weekly basis with other higher ranking members of the third. All of which mostly went quite well, only encountering a few hollows and thugs every so often. Other than that, there was little trouble to be found within Rukongai and even the furthest districts seemed to have little trouble, at least while she was there anyhow. Thanks to various members seemingly taking a liking to this young shinigami, her zanjustu improved leaps and bounds from her academy days, and thus after spending forty years with the sanbantai. Kyoko soon found it time to move on, and this time it was her own choice. Where would she go, the answer was obvious, wasn't it? The Nibantai.

Chapter Eight: ~Shikai & Nibantai~
Transferring to the nibantai wasn't as easy as Kyoko had thought, while not all members were with the Onmitsukidō as well as the division, she fully intended to be. In her test to join the Onmitsukidō, Kyoko was put against fifty members, having to defeat all of them to even get in. Although with the second division she was easily accepted without much of a test, besides a few questions from the Captain of course, and a letter of recommendation from both the third and forth divisions. As for the test? Well she managed it, just about anyways. Everyone always had things to learn and improve on, right?

Over the years within the nibantai, on a certain mission. Kyoko had gone with two other members of the second, looking to capture a shinigami that had gone rouge and bring him in. It was within that mission that this young shinigami gained her Shikai, nearly dying as a result. Before a bright white/golden light had surrounded her and the rouge shinigami, badly injuring him enough to be quickly captured afterwards. It wasn't long after that, that Kyo began to move up the ranks faster than most. Being promoted to the 14th seat of the division, and twenty years later moving up again to the 10th seat.

Time passed, and Kyo grew going from strength to strength over the next hundred years. She would become better at controlling her zanpakuto, her hakuda was improving in leaps and bounds, as well as her hoho and shunpo skills as well. Her kido was gaining progress slowly, as was her spiritual control; although that still needed work. Within the next ten years, Kyoko was promoted again to the 6th seat. Now gaining good respect among the division members, continuous training, paperwork, and determination as well as a few lucky missions. Then seventy long years later, all of her hard work had paid off. Now having mastered her shikai, Kyoko gained the position of Lieutenant/Vice-Captain within the second division and onmitsukidō. And thus we reach the present day, thirty years later Kyo still retains that post to this day, and has no intention of giving it up. Working daily to keep the Soul Society safe, with both respect and support this young shinigami knows there isn't a place she would rather be but here.

Chapter Nine: ~Build Up, Bankai & Gone~
As the years passed by, things weren't going as well as the white haired Lieutenant would have liked at that moment. Tensions were growing between everyone within the Goteijūsantai. From one division versus another, to fighting breaking out between members of the same division. But as usual that was mostly just the eleventh division causing chaos. However, unlike before, this time something far more dangerous was in store. 

It wasn't long before Civil War did break out, and it wasn't pretty. One of the Captains, finding and trying to kill the Captain-Commander, not agreeing with her way of doing things. Kyoko soon finding out, that it was her own Captain, and even with her current power, she was no where near strong enough to even consider fighting. It would be sheer suicide to even try, and she knew it. Instead the Onmitsukidō who Kyoko also worked for at the time, despite being apart from the Nibantai. Then began to plan of how to take out these traitors. But to do that, they all needed Bankai.  

Not having the time to train a full twenty years to gain and master Bankai. Rather than do such a thing all five commanders opted for the shorter, and far more dangerous method. Using the Tenshintai, a device created to forcibly manifest one's zanpakuto spirit and gain Bankai within three days.

Three days later, each Corps Commander had gained Bankai, Kyoko included. Although not mastered, it was enough for what they needed. Still, it didn't mean that this would be easy. Far from it. Little did any of them know, something far worse was coming. And it was only just around the corner.

The plan that they had seemed to fall apart within days, with her own Captain going missing along with another. It wasn't easy that was for sure, but they had all at the very least gained something worth while from their effort. The worst, however, was yet to come.

Chapter Ten: ~Moving On & The Sanbantai~
With the leaving of her Captain and loss of confidence, the white haired Shinigami did something she never had thought of before. She left the ranks of the Goteijūsantai. Leaving and moving into the World of the Living for however long it took. She needed to find why again. Why was she here? Why was she still fighting? Kyoko soon found that answer in her memories, one answer so plain and simple; for others. She did so to protect those who couldn't do so themselves, just like she had been what seemed like so long ago now.

With her resolve and determination back at full power, the young female returned to the Soul Society. Although without a rank, for a while the female simple wandered. Helping out until she found someone. Or maybe, someone found her? At the time, the newly instated Sanbantai Taichou met this young woman. Asking about her, and also asking for a spar. Giving to Kyo the excuse of wanting to see some of the Goteijūsantai's best, or former best when it came to her.

The spar ended nearly as quickly as it began, Kyoko nearly being blinded by a sudden light from the Captain. It was horrible, and it even messed up her senses for the entire week! But that wasn't even the strangest part of it all, as a result of that spar. The then Sanbantai Taichou requested for Kyoko to be his new Lieutenant. Surprised at the request but still elated, the female agreed. Becoming a Fukutaichō once more. And this time, she was staying. For good ... or bad.

Sixty years passed without much events, Kyoko falling nicely into her role within the Third. They were more relaxed than the Second, that was for sure and thus a nice change of pace for her. But it wasn't long before a war once again broke out. But this? Well... it was bigger than anything she would and had ever faced before in her lifetime.

Chapter Eleven: ~The Slashing Opera~
The war came fast and hard, attacks from all sides. For a short while, although knowing she wasn't strong enough to fully help at the time. Kyoko loyally fought as the Fukutaichō of the Third. Despite this, others like here were called in as a last burst of power, and power she used. It wasn't long after she joined the fight, that the former Captain-Commander Jukan Hinaai stepped up. Using her Bankai to not only seal Hell, but wipe out any Hollows left and although wrong to Kyoko. Harm the World of the Living as well. The sheer memory of those days still cause Kyo to become speechless at the sheer amount of power that woman produced. 

Shortly after this time, Kyoko seemed to vanish entirely, although it was just before the war ended. No one ever seemed to find a single trace of this white haired Shinigami.

Chapter Twelve: ~Fast Forward & Future~
So many years passed, too many to count. Fifty years ago to the present time, well. That was when Kyoko finally re-appeared. Only the rare few knowing of her now, and that was how she wanted things. Over the many years hidden, she had trained and trained relentlessly. Gaining not only new power, but new friends, foes, and somewhere to call home.

With having trained, and having mastered Bankai over these many years. Kyoko soon hoped to aid the new generation, applying for a Captain's Proficiency Test. She was soon granted one, and with her power. Was instated as the new Captain of the Sanbantai. Fourty years on and to the present day, she remains as the Captain and continues her work loyally.

But once again something in her subconscious tells Kyo, that trouble is building once again.