Description

Personality

With the rarity of a smile and his severe expression, Shirai looks like the kind of guy who takes life too seriously and in some ways he is. He takes the safety of those in his squad very seriously and is quite willing to throw himself in the line of danger to protect them. When it comes to things outside of the protection of his squad members, however, he is about as laid back as one could get.

He dislikes paperwork and anything resembling it, and will often try (and fail) to pass it off to his Lieutenant to do. Captain meetings as well tend to be passed down whenever possible as he prefers to sleep through them. If something that he considers unimportant comes up, Shirai will often simply make sure he can't be found. He prefers to not wear his captain's cloak, believing that the best way to lead a squad is to be one of them.

In battle, he tends to to use the least amount of force possible, preferring to talk his way out of a situation whenever possible. If talking doesn't work he will still hesitate to make full use of his abilities, a trait which has landed him in trouble a few times.

Shirai often visits the poorer areas of rukongai, spending time amongst the people there. He usually brings candy of some sort for the children and has more than once has provided some of the elderly with a bit of the care they need.

Drinking is one of the things he enjoys, and with his high tolerance for alcohol he can drink most anyone under the table. He enjoys drinking tea-English style- and folding paper planes as well.

Equipment

Zanpakuto appearance:

Zanpakuto spirit appearance: The spirit appears as a two headed panther chameleon, hence the reason Shirai calls it by two different names. While the color of the spirit shifts, each head stays with a set color patter. Blues, greens, and pale colors are what the right head, Bakuhatsu, shifts through. Kayouhen, the left head, shifts through bright shades, as well as reds, and yellows.

Zanpakuto Shikai appearance: Once shikai has been evoked, the rapier splits into two different blades. One of the blades, Kayouhen, has a wide, razor thin blade. The other, Bakuhatsu, is much shorter, a mere foot and a half in length, with a dull edged blade that looks almost too thick to be useful.

Zanpakuto Shikai ability/abilities: When the phrase 'Tsuku, Bakuhatsu' (Breathe, Bakuhatsu) is spoken, the prongs give off an ultra fine powder. By itself, this powder does nothing, though it's tendency to stick to everything can be annoying. However, when Kayouhen is struck or 'rung' with Bakuhatsu, the chemical composition of the powder changes, turning it into an explosive, a poison, or even a healing powder. There are eight different things the powder can become, each invoked by ringing a different spot on the flattened blade.

The first spot is just beneath the hilt, and makes a sound close to the lowest C in music, and is duller than the other sounds.. Striking this spot gives the powder basic healing qualities, whereupon it can be used to quickly heal minor cuts and speed up the healing process some for major wounds.

Just a few inches past the first spot lies the second. When struck, it sounds like the lowest F. This spot causes the powder to become a numbing poison. This form of powder is best used in increments, as it does not entirely numb a body with one application. This can be used as an anesthetic on wounds, and can also be used against an enemy so that they can not feel any wounds being inflicted upon them.

An inch or so away from the second spot, and on the edge of the blade, lies the third tone. This one rings a low A, and turns the powder into a poison that causes sensory deprivation. Partial blindness is the main effect, though if the powder is inhaled it can cause a partial loss of smell and hearing.

On the opposite side of the blade lies another spot. Ringing in a low A sharp, it causes the powder to change into a poison that slowly paralyzes the lungs when inhaled. This is a slow acting poison, and is used to cause breathing difficulties for an opponent, not to kill them.

Halfway between hilt and tip is where the fifth point resides. It rings in middle C, and gives the powder the ability to heighten senses. It increases hearing, smell, and vision. This increase is not major in any way, and is best used on oneself or an ally when a particular object or sound is being searched for. On an enemy, it is best used in particularly bright or noisy environments.

The sixth and seventh points are twins of a sort, and are placed between the fifth point and the sword tip. The sixth rings in a middle B flat, a causes the powder to slow down reflexes slightly, while the seventh rings in middle B and works to speed up reflexes by a small percentage. Neither the increase nor decrease is significant enough to change the outcome of a battle by itself, though it can be used to even the playing field in a match against a faster opponent, or give oneself an advantage in an even fight. It can, of course, further the advantage in speed an already quick ally would have against a slower opponent as well.

The tip of the sword is the eight point. This one rings in the highest C. It turns the powder into a stimulant, and can be used most effectively in longer battles. The strength of the stimulant is close to that of caffeine.

None of these effects are significant enough to push a battle one way or the other, though they can give the wielder a decent advantage over an opponent if used in combinations. However, it must be kept in mind that the powder, once airborne, is not controllable. Therefore, it will affect whomever it touches in the same way, with no regard for friend or foe.

In order to facilitate some level of control over where the powder's trajectory, Shirai developed a variation on a kido barrier. When used, it keeps the powder contained in a specified area. Anything else within the barrier is able to move around freely, as the barrier is specifically tuned to the various powders.

Shirai is, himself, all but immune to the various powders in his arsenal.

History

Shirai's history is a bit fragmented. He grew up in one of the lower-middle realmss of rukongai, where food wasn't easy to come by norimpossible.. An in-between place, in a sense, where people seemed to be lazier than those in other parts most days. He was raised by an older man who instilled in him both his sense of responsibility and his love of drinking. As he had no name himself (the old man simply called him 'boy'), Shirai took on his 'father's' name after the man had passed on. Soon after he entered the academy to train to be a soul reaper. He made his way up through the ranks in the 4th division before transferring to the 13th where he soon made lieutenant. He made captain when the previous captain, Ichiro, became captain of 1st division after the battle with the arrancar.. No one challenged his right to the captain's chair, so he has remained there since.