[constellation-filled] night sky

ZANPAKUTOU: Yozora [夜空; lit. night sky] 

Yozora was once considered to be the most beautiful zanpakutou, and was said to be a weapon of the highest calibre. It was one of the original thirteen blades crafted for the first shinigami, and as such is considered one of the oldest and strongest zanpakutou in existence. Though most details of it have been destroyed due to the Hohlreich’s initial invasion one thousand years ago, information of its shape and tales of its power still exist in the Central Forty-Six’s database. 

At first glance, Yozora takes the form of a katana. It’s tsuka is wrapped in a violet ito and is as soft as silk. Despite having seen two-thousand years of use, it has not faded over time and has not grown loose or lost its texture. Underneath this wrapping is a mahogany hilt so dark that it appears to be nearly black. Due to the spiritual power that flows into it, breaking this weapon is nigh impossible. 

Yozora’s hilt is capped on both ends by amethyst. The pommel almost glows in the line, and a thick tassel of black horsehair falls unceremoniously from the end. Much like the hilt, the guard is forged of the same material. Circular in shape, it has a constellation engraved in sapphire that surrounds the blade. This constellation changes daily. Kazuya has long since given up on trying to understand why. Yozora herself admits that it only does so because it is one of her many whims. 

The most magnificent facet of Yozora is the blade. As mentioned earlier, it appears to be of a katana’s normal length at first glance. This is because when sheathed, one can not tell the difference; however, through use of space/time kidou, Kazuya has been able to hide the true length of the weapon. When fully drawn, Yozora’s silver blade is measured to be a monstrous five feet. A delicate curve bends her spine, making it a sword best suited to move in arcs and not direct slashes. Due to the length of the blade, the tsuka comes in at a foot and three inches in length. In legends it is said that Yozora’s blade is so long and bright that it can cut stars with ease. 

The inner world of Kazuya’s zanpakutou is as mystifying as the weapon itself. It is a world with no division between heaven and earth. The sky surrounds Kazuya, though this is just an illusion. In reality, the land is impossibly flat and covered in a few centimeters of water that reflect the billions of stars above. There is no moon in this world, and so the only light is from the constellations, supernovas, and meteors that streak the sky. 

Yozora herself hides in between the water and the soil beneath. In order to talk to her, Kazuya must find the constellation that she represents in the sky, then discover its reflection. From there a kimono will rise, wet, and with no body within it. This is because her body is in the reflection. There, she takes the form of a dark-skinned beauty with long indigo box braids. She speaks little, as her thoughts are directly linked with Kazuya after two-thousand years of partnership. As such, he rarely visits the world to speak with her, as he already knows what she is thinking. 

SHIKAI: “Burn black the midnight sky, Yozora.” 

Yozora’s shikai is something considered holy in the few remaining books that speak of it. It is the oldest and strongest fire-type zanpakutou, though it manifests in a way that many do not expect. It is a weapon considered to be so beautiful in appearance and terrible in power that it earned the name “the Blade of the Star God”, for it is said to create stars with its slashes and to split them in the same stroke. Needless to say, Kazuya only unleashes his shikai against targets who he finds to be a challenge. If he thinks he can handle an opponent without resorting to it, he generally will. 

In order to release Yozora, Kazuya raises the blade above his head. Spiritual power wraps around the blade, giving it a purple hue that reflects from the silver. He will then whisper the phrase “Burn black the midnight sky, Yozora.” while swinging the blade downwards. In that same moment, the steal combusts with splendid white flames. 

These flames do not fade away. Yozora remains wreathed in them for the duration of the shikai. Rising from the flames is purple and black smoke, creating trails and billowing clouds as the sword swings and comes to rest. Because of the brilliance of the fire and the contrast it has with the smoke, Yozora was considered the most beautiful sword release within the Goteijuusantai during Kazuya’s tenure. 

ABILITIES| 

HOSHIHONOU “Star Blaze” is the primary ability in Yozora’s released form. The flames it is wreathed in burn in a unique way. Whenever they strike a target, instead of singing the flesh they directly attack the nerves. Not only does this remove the sense of pain when Kazuya slashes someone, it creates catastrophic damage to the location that it hits. Arms are deadened with even a grazing slash, and a strike to the stomach or liver shuts the organ down completely. There have been many times where Kazuya has killed his target by simply cutting deep enough to scratch their lung, killing their ability to breath. Additionally, the Star Blaze has never meant an object it couldn’t reduce to ash. Even other zanpakutou, though they don’t easily melt, will turn into slag after crossing blades with Yozora enough times. This is the source of Yozora’s second moniker, “the Sword that Melts All.” 

KOKYUU NO SEIUN “Breath of the Nebula” is an ability born from the purple and black smoke of Kazuya’s shikai. Inside of the smoke, small lights resembling stars are constantly twinkling. By swinging Yozora through the air, these stars are expelled. Not only do they travel as fast as an arrancar’s bala, but when they land they deal catastrophic damage. Each one explodes similar to a grenade, spreading the Hoshihonou beyond the confines of Kazuya’s blade. The speed and amount at which they can be fired is tremendous; armies have fallen to this technique. 

GINGA ROKKU “Galaxy Lock” is a technique meant to imprison targets who need to be dealt with later, or whom need to be given a time out. Stabbing his blade forward or slashing it down, Kazuya will cause the smoke to exploded from Yozora so that it surrounds a massive area. It covers the ground, the sky, and everything else, creating a prison that could seal away even large buildings and complexes. The twinkling stars from Kokyuu no Seiun form swirling galaxies and constellations in this prison. Touching one of these moving mines causes one to be bathed completely in the Hoshihonou, making it incredibly dangerous to walk across or through the prison. 

BANKAI: Seizaban no Yozora [星座満の夜空; lit. constellation-filled night sky] 

Seizaban no Yozora is a weapon so secretive and unique that few have ever laid eyes on it. Only Kazuya’s peers in the Zerobantai still live to this day to speak of the miracles that this weapon can create. No evidence points to what the weapon does save for its shikai. Rumors and tales tell of a captain whose zanpakutou could cleave galaxies apart, and that could burn even stars to ash. Whether these tall tales are true or not, and whether they speak of Kazuya’s bankai, is unknown.