Hiruko Yebisu

h i r u k o y e b i s u

AGE

AFFILIATION

RACE

POSITION

ALIAS

DIFFICULTY

appearance

This little creature stands a whopping fifty-one or so inches. While his height bolsters his inconspicuousness, everything else only intensifies his blatant conspicuousness. For example, is skin is blue and his aphrodisiacal underbelly is white. His eyes are large and adorable and the irises shine a lustrous emerald green. He's bipedal and possesses a human-esque form for the most part; though, the shape of his head is certain non-standard for a human. He comes equipped with absolutely no hair. Seemingly in place of hair, on his head droops six tentacles to about shoulder length. That's right. He has a full head of tentacles, ladies (and gentlemen?). He has exactly three toes and three fingers; no more, no less and on that obviously desirous rump is a small tail that comes to a point. The hide he wears is sleek, seemingly polished from the very ocean he was born in. What spills over his fishy contours are the fabrics anybody might expect. He wears, like many, a standard shihakushō and overtop, a white haori; though, he does wear a red kimono overtop with various, white patterns decorating it and a sakkat on top of his head, which amounts to his unique brand of customization.

personality

Out of the four temperaments, Yebisu would most definitely be Sanguine. He's social, forthcoming, and possesses no anxiety when approaching faces both familiar and unfamiliar. It proves to be more invigorating than not and becomes a method of 'recharging.' Everyone needs a little time to themselves, but he finds himself becoming bored quickly if he does so too much. He's curious and prying and seemingly forever possesses a gleeful disposition. Yebisu is expressive and ultimately attention seeking. His unorthodox appearance acts as a hint to his unorthodox behaviour.

Yebisu seeks entertainment to stave off boredom. Indulging in silly behaviour is not simply something he does for attention, but to amuse himself. The laughter of others is something he seeks as well. He will even offer himself as the butt of a joke to see others laugh. If there's a party, it is likely he would be, or at the very least would be trying to be, at the centre of it. He has a seemingly unshakable resolve and he derives the power to uphold a strong state of mind with a flux of optimism and self confidence. It is no wonder for he believes that negative thought begets negativity, tragedy and failure while positive thought begets positivity, success and prosperity.

history

More souls of perplexing appearance exists within Soul Society outside of the lycanthropic Sajin family. There is another 'species of soul,' if you will.

They are referred to as the Kawako (川子, "river-child").

They are nigh mythology even amidst a world of souls. Kawako have, ostensibly, forever resided far beyond The West Districts and within Hateshiganai Umi, the Fathomless Sea. They dwell in structures forged of muck and mire that appear to sprout out from the sea walls and floor. These beings possess child-like statures, sleek hides or scaly skin, even tentacles and other "furnishings" that brand them 'souls of the sea' more so than anything else. In the distant past, such was far from the truth. Emerging from their watery abode and moving into the nearby districts of the west, it was their impish, mischievous natures coupled with their unfamiliar and bizarre appearances that grew within the souls living there an inevitable detest for their kind. They broke into homes, thieved the shiny objects that stole both their interest and attention, devised slapstick pranks and even grouped together to bully the fearful who found themselves alone. One really would not want to meet them in a dark alley.

Even so, they were hardly a match for those they had mistakenly made into their "play things" when they were taken seriously. The nuisance was remedied by a healthy dose of violence from the residents of The West Districts. The generally weak species was subdued, even injured to the point of death and ultimately driven back from whence they came. Since then, sightings of the Kawako were so rare due to the fear that had been driven into them, that their existence became mere myth. Many of the households of those eighty districts to the west recited stories of these creatures to scare children and deter them from lurking in places their guardians wished them not to.

So, you could imagine how one of the Kawako might hesitate, even after such a long time had passed, to move to land where they might be spotted by the typical, human-looking populace of Rukongai. While it was likely nobody would know what, exactly, they were looking at, the fear was still there; carried down from generation to generation through tall tales woven as dire warnings. Why might one bother to leave the perceived safety of their watery abode?

Like many in Soul Society, the Kawako have their own families. The inarguable oddity of these souls carries over into their birthing of new ones. Their rabbit-like libido churns out a plethora of offspring. Amongst them, there are rare instances of souls of great Reiryoku density; ones that those who birthed them are typically not even able to withstand. Just as random as their existence appears to be was just as random as how their existence can be expunged, seemingly. Some families are more likely to produce the phenomena than others, some are unable to produce it at all. The latter was considered a blessing while the former was considered a curse.

The Kawako's Hiruko family has been considered one of these cursed families. Throughout their history, yet by no means frequent, they and those around them underwent mysterious deaths. Those infrequent happenings were very alike what befell Hiruko Kazaori and Eboshi, Yebisu's mother and father respectively. Indeed, Yebisu was born in Soul Society beyond the coastal region of The West District. He has eleven brothers and eleven sisters and rarely does he ever get to see them. Why? Because Yebisu justified the superstition of 'the curse.'

Yebisu had a grand time swimming about and acting, despite his perspicacity, like an idiot during his childhood. It was during his puerility that something strange started to happen. If he grew too existed, those around him would appear to have difficulty breathing. It was asinine to think that a Kawako would drown just for being underwater. It was so very easy to find the source of the phenomena. After all, Yebisu was the only one that did not appear to be suffocating. In fact, he was either smiling, enticed by whatever it was enticing him and because of that, oblivious to everyone around him or sleeping. That's right, sleeping. Whenever he had that reoccurring nightmare of being trapped in a giant aquarium, those around him suffered.

It was obvious to anybody knowledgeable of Reiryoku what was happening. They were not, however; thus, the curse assumption; but he was leaking Reiatsu, a kind that mimicked the very ocean he resided in and its devastating tendency to asphyxiate those who did not belong there. Kazaori and Eboshi are resilient individuals. While Eboshi survived his birthing just fine, most likely because she was a strong, independent, Kawako woman who certainly don't need no man, Kazaori confronted angry neighbours and at times, fought them off bravely. Despite that resilience, their other sons and daughters were not so lucky. Something had to be done, especially since at times, even Yebisu's parents were being affecting by his leaked Reiatsu.

Yebisu was told the circumstances. He was devastated, but such went without saying to somebody so freewheeling and happy. He was hurting his family and others around him? It was depressing and hurt to think about. So, when they sympathetically explained they were going to move to the coastal region, Yebisu did not even think about protesting against it. In fact, he passionately proposed he live on land alone. Of course, they would not have that - at least, not in its entirety. Yebisu received visits from his family, but more often than not, they were visits from his mother and father bearing interesting happenings from "down under," seafoods for they knew at times, he actually grew hungry (usually after his 'episodes'), and just plain ol' company to lift his spirits.

Being cursed wasn't so bad. He even lived in some variety of hut molded from the coast's sands.

"Is that you leaking Reiatsu all over the place?"

That was what Yebisu heard one day. He will never forget the approach of the one who asked him such a question. It was a large, blue, imposing figure that was likely double his own height. Two small tusks rose up from his mouth and he wore a kimono and sandals. Really, it wasn't his appearance that made the encounter unforgettable. It was the fact he could feel a presence he had never experienced before. It was different than that of his siblings or parents. It was something new, unfamiliar, and such things easily enticed Yebisu. An expected, "who are you?" was Yebisu's response and everything started from that point on.

Daiko was his name, who turned out to be somebody that was just returning to the portion of coastal region Yebisu had taken up. He lived there, like Yebisu then, only leaving to attend the Shinōreijutsuin. Daiko both was and was not like Yebisu. He was a Kawako, albeit most definitely a mutation; yet, while boasting some spiritual power, possessed absolutely no talent in becoming a Shinigami. In fact, he was an academy dropout and had just returned. For whatever reason, he still touted an unprinted Asauchi; a souvenir, perhaps. In actuality, if he progressed in his training on his own and manifested a true Zanpakutō, he would return. Even so, he only had a certain amount of time to hand onto his Asauchi before having to return it.

Daiko and Yabisu spoke often. It was where he learned about the Shinigami and many beliefs and theories of Reiryoku. Yebisu shared his own stories as well. Imagine his face when his newfound friend suggested that he enroll in the academy. There, he would learn to control his sporadic, seemingly emotion-triggered releases of Reiatsu. Was it absent-mindedness? Maybe, or maybe since he was nothing but a hindrance all of his life, he could simply not have thought somebody like him could do such a thing. It was an easy thing for Daiko to catch sight of his waning self confidence. In fact, if it were not for Daiko, he might not have never considered enrolling at all.

The next visit was fateful. Yebisu's entire, bombastic family visited the next day. It was as if fate itself intervened. It was the perfect opportunity to introduce them to his newfound friend, Daiko, as well as tell them all that he was planning on becoming a Shinigami and, at the same time, quell the so-called curse of the family that was him. Yebisu was so excited that all of them had to leave shortly after, which only hastened when he would attempt his enrollment. Before he could completely run off, Daiko tossed him his Asauchi.

"Take that with you."

Daiko had to return it. What better chance to do so was there without traveling there himself? Besides, when he had done that small action, he had never seen eyes brighten up with such intensity before. He was glad he'd given his small friend the blade and the smile on his face that proved such persisted as he watched Yebisu run off. Of course, he had no idea where he was going. The both of them realized it too late, but Daiko was too far away to ask and he wasn't about to turn and head all the way back.

His initial encounter with Shinigami was less than ideal. From another's perspective, there was a little blue creature running around with a sword spilling a thick, asphyxiating spiritual pressure everywhere. So, after being sighted by some Shinigami in the area at the time, he was quickly subdued and, essentially, taken into captivity until his story was fully explained and his actions justified in a satisfactory manner. He wanted to enroll in the academy, become a Shinigami and help uphold balance. There was hardly anything wrong with that, was there?

Expectedly, Yebisu was a quick study. What he was most interested in was what grew quickest. Prying into others without their permission was a favorite pastime of his, stemmed from his first meeting with Daiko. Everybody around him was, to him, infinitely interested in both ability and presence. He was there to control and hide his Reiatsu and the Asauchi that was given to him was something precious.

Yebisu was never particularly popular. Some recalled his nuisance-of-an ancestry, others simply did not take a liking to his unfitting, slap-happy persona. But, he did what any respectable Shinigami would do. He trained his little blue ass off. His training allowed him to visit and stay with his family at times without fear of anybody suffering any ill effects. Clearly, his journey could have ended there. However, after successful Jinzen sessions, he bore the fruit of a Shikai and thus, was recognized as an official Shinigami within the typical six years the academy lasted for. He joined the Eighth Division a little less than two-hundred years ago and after spending time within their ranks, attained an additional family (in his eyes, anyway) and a greater sense of purpose. Also, stabbing Hollow in the face was fun and there was no point in feeling guilty. You were literally sending them to a better place.

The little blue soul remained, pretty much, a nobody - a trained, competent nobody, but a nobody all the same. He didn't exactly flaunt his power. He was not one to. After all, the primary reason he was there was to keep his power within opposed to without. His resolve and unshakable attitude was what led him to such respectable success within his Inner World. Nobody was the wiser for inner training was not exactly conspicuous, but during the six years he spent learning and training in the Shinōreijutsuin, Bankai was achieved as well.

All there was to do from then on is enjoy himself and continue his training for literally hundreds of years. There is a certain personality that does now allow for much progression status wise regardless of the skill such personas display; but then again, Yebisu was not attempting to show off any great power or skill. Really, the most he amounted to was, perhaps, become a bit of a mascot for the Shinigami.

Well, until they needed a new captain as of recent. It was time for a Captain Proficiency Test. Yebisu was completely and utterly convinced that, after so much times spent staring at them in awe, that it would be amazingly fun to become a captain. It was laughable. Well, it was until the Captain Commander and three other Captains witnessed a successful Bankai attempt. Well, maybe they weren't surprised. The little critter had been all about Seireitei for quite a while. Maybe they were thinking, "About time..."

With a lack of dispute for the position, it was given to Yebisu about a month ago. Now all the fresh captain had to do now was somehow acquire the respect of his division to properly lead it. He was at a minor disadvantage with his size and appearance and despite so many aware of the fact such trivial details matter not, it's a difficult thing to take in something like him and completely accept that he's the one in charge.

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