The Shinigami

[Vereaux]

The Shinigami - Guardians of Souls

Shinigami aren't just people: they are spirits who have gained vast amounts of power and strength through their high levels of reiryoku, or spiritual energy. Formally, they are known as the Gods of Death. Their ranks form the basis of Soul Society's military might, the Gotei 13, who live within Seireitei. A Shinigami is more of a title and occupation than to be another species. There is no difference between a Shinigami and a citizen of Soul Society, except for the amounts of reiryoku they possess. All beings in Soul Society are Souls, beings who come from the world of the Living or were born in Soul Society. Souls live within two main areas: Rukongai and Seireitei. Rukongai is the largest area of Soul Society, separated into 320 districts, 80 in each cardinal directions, and together, they surround the area of Seireitei at the heart of Soul Society. The districts closest to Seireitei, known for their peaceful streets, and often the housing for wealthy Souls, start from District 1 and count up as one moves further outward from Seireitei. District 80 is the polar opposite of District 1, unlawful and violent with crime. This trend exists throughout all of Rukongai, for the farther one moves from Seireitei, the worse it get. Most Shinigami though come from all over Rukongai and not from within Seireitei itself, where the Shinigami live. Beyond Rukongai are vast forests and mountains that stretch on without end.

Seireitei is the center of Soul Society, with four main gates, and each guarded by a Gate Guardian, each of them a Giant in their own right, to keep out who should not enter Seireitei. In the North is the Kokuryomon, the Shoryumon lies in the East, the Shuwaimon in the South, and in the West is the Hakutomon. It is difficult for any one person to get through a gate, not because of its Guardian, but because each gate is so heavy, it takes all of the strength of one Giant to lift it open. The walls of Seireitei are made of Sekkiseki, a spirit stone that negates all reiryoku from passing through by forming a spherical barrier around all of Seireitei, both above and below. Very difficult to get through even for Captain level Shinigami. The residents of Seireitei don't always interact with people from Rukongai, and for those within the poorest districts, the only way to get into Seireitei is to apply at the Shino Academy, known as the Shinigami Academy, where they train Souls to become future Shinigami, and be apart of one of the three military arms of Soul Society.

The entrance exam to be accepted into the Academy consists of demonstrating that one has reiryoku. Once admitted, people are taught over a period of six or more years, the areas of study and extended study varying between the students who attend. Gifted students are known to graduate earlier than six years, but such occurrences are rare. Those who attend are taught a general education, but with more of a focus on what a Shinigami does: how to use their reiryoku, and what their Saketsu and Hakusui are. The Saketsu of a Shinigami is where the Chain of Fate (explained in the Hollow and Human Information threads) of a pulse would be, as they were once a pulse themselves. Though there is no chain, it acts as a boost to their reiryoku, and the Hakusui is the source of their reiryoku. Both act as pressure points, and if both should be pierced, their power would be sealed away, losing them permanently with no hope of becoming a Shinigami, at least through normal means.

At the academy, they are taught how to preform Soul Burials or a ritual for cleansing a soul of past sins. This is very central to the duty of a Shinigami, and very frequently, they must preform this by touching the forehead of a soul with the bottom of their Zanpakutou's hilt. This causes the soul to flash briefly in bright light, transforming them into a butterfly made of light, shades of color varying, and send them off to Soul Society. As Shinigami, this is their duty: to guide spirits to Soul Society that remain behind in the Living World. Their other duty, and just as important, is to fight Hollows. By killing a Hollow, they cleanse the soul of all sins committed as a Hollow, sending it to Soul Society. Those who have committed great sins before becoming a Hollow, however, are sent to Hell. Among the other teachings they must learn is how to communicate with the spirit of their Zanpakutou, among the other general duties of a Shinigami, and the four major Shinigami combat forms: Hakuda, Hoho, Kido, and Zanjutsu. Upon graduation, they may choose to join the Gotei 13, choosing a Division within it, or join the Kido Corps, or the Onmitsukido. Talented Shinigami admitted into the Gotei 13 may even acquire a seated position, ranging from 20th Seat, to 3rd Seat.

The four forms of Shinigami combat are universal amongst them, and vary little in applied situations. Hakuda is the martial arts of Shinigami, and is composed of several different styles of fighting. Often a Hakuda master is more deadly without their Zanpakutou than another who has it. Hoho is the agility and speed of a Shinigami, a combination of footwork, grace, and speed to become faster in their movements. While a very general category, it is sometimes not always focused on, and can be difficult to master. Shunpo is the most widely recognized of Hoho techniques, called a Flash Step, a burst of movement that propels the Shinigami at tremendous speeds for a short amount of time. Even then, there are many variations of Shunpo and Hoho. Kido is one of the most commonly taught styles of combat, and teaches how to focus their reiryoku into different spells, be it defense, offense, or healing. Separated into Bakudo (defensive spells), Hado (offensive spells), and others, they are numbered from 1 to 99, and each number higher is stronger than the last. Zanjutsu is the most common form of combat along with Kido, as it is the form of combat using one's Zanpakutou, and can be a measure of their relationship with their Zanpakutou's spirit.

The Kido Corps are a group excelling in the art of Kido, and are surrounded in secrecy, though their various tasks require them to open Senkaimons between the Living World and Soul Society. Though their tasks limited, ranging from creating shields to being apart of an invasion force, they are closely connected with the Fifth Division, and its Captain is the Kido Corps Commander, or Grand Kido Chief. The Onmitsukido, on the other hand, operates outside of normal duties and executes special missions directly from Central 46, the ruling body of Soul Society, and in recent times, has become part of the Second Division. The one who is Captain of the Second Division is the Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukido. Central 46 may be the ruling body of Soul Society, but the only two forces who do not answer to them are the Shino Academy, and the Royal Guard, known as the Zero Division. Little is known about them, and very rarely mentioned. Composed of many former Captains of the Gotei 13, all that is known about them is that they guard the Royal Family, and the Spirit King.

The Gotei 13 are the main military arm of Soul Society, and have the greatest power over it other, second only to the judgment of Central 46, composed of 13 Divisions (not including the Zero Division, a secret Division beyond the Gotei 13). Their main tasks are to defend Seireitei, their own members, and to kill the Hollows they come across, be it in Soul Society or the Living World. Under normal circumstances, the duties and command of each Division are left to the decisions of the Captains, but their general areas of expertise are the same. To become a Captain of a Division, one must go through one of three tests: an examination by at least three Captains to see if one can preform Bankai; personal recommendations from at least six Captains and three approvals from the other seven; or by killing a Captain in one-on-one combat in front of at least 200 witnesses from that Captain's Division. The form of dress amongst all Shinigami is the Shihakusho, composed of a white shitagi, black kosode, black hakama, white hakama-himo, white tabi, and waraji. The black hakama commonly has the owner's division insignia emblazoned on the inside, and Lieutenants have their division on an armband around either arm, or both arms. Captains wear a white haori over their Shikahusho, the number of their division on the back, though the haori varies in appearance, using long sleeves or short, amongst other things. Both Lieutenants and Captains are able to customize their clothing however they wish, Captains with greater choice and sometimes more obvious than their Lieutenants.

The First Division is known for being the Elite Shinigami of all of Soul Society, excelling as Commanders, and leaders. The Captain of the First Division is also named the Captain-Commander of the entire Gotei 13. Second Division specializes in Stealth Ops, having direct ties with the Onmitsukido, and its Captain is known for mastery over Hakuda and Shunpo. The Second Division Captain is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukido, or Corps Commander. Third Division is known for its "Division Intelligence" between each Division of the Gotei 13. While each Captain commands their own unit, the Third Division sends intelligence to each Captain and their division, informing them of various situations, sometimes directing groups in them. The Captain of Third Division is one of the most renown strategists of the Gotei 13, and likely at one point a Seated First Division Officer. The Fourth Division is most well known for its medical skills, and healing abilities, unrivaled by any Shinigami. While they might not be the fastest, or the most powerful, their healing is second to none, and their Captain can use the most powerful healing spells of any century. The Fifth Division is well versed in Kido of all spells, and many members are also apart of the Kido Corps. Their Captain is the most versed in every Kido, excelling in many categories, and is the Kido Corps Commander.

The Sixth Division handles mainly law enforcement, knowing the rules, ins and outs, of every and any law one could think of, and they specialize in carrying out any rulings from Central 46. While the Third Division handles organization as a whole, the Sixth Division handles internal organization of their own Division to perfection, and their Captain is able to carry out any order at any instant, likely a Seated member of the Third Division at one point in their life. The Seventh Division is known for its hard work motto and code of honor, and excelling in Hakuda to harden their bodies for self-defense. The Seventh Division Captain is one awed not for the blade he wields but by the subtle movements of his fist. The Eighth Division is a very open group, very varied as well, and the most unique of all the Gotei 13, for every person is different because of their unique connection with their Zanpakutou, allowing them to attain mastery in Zanjutsu. Their Captain is well known for the most varied of Zanjutsu techniques, as well as the most deadliest.

While the Sixth Division handles the enforcement of the law, the Ninth Division handles the security of Seireitei, becoming the Gotei 13 Security Force, and handling the every day occurrences of the people. Its Captain learns and studies everything, inside and out, of the minds of the people, to best learn how to stop rebellion in its tracks, and is the most versed in human psychology. Somehow along the way, the Captain is also the most versed in literature, and the Ninth Division is assigned to handle most, if not almost all, of the paper work that goes through Soul Society, and the Seireitei News Magazine. The Tenth Division does not have a central duty in Soul Society, but its skills are towards the affairs of the Living World, keeping in check the amount of souls coming in and out of Soul Society to the Living World, and the Hollow populations in both worlds. In Hollow extermination, there is none better than the Tenth Division Captain.

The Eleventh Division is the most powerful division of all the Gotei 13 for it's the only division whose sole duty is combat. An unofficial rule exists within it that a true member of this division must have a melee-type Zanpakutou, and to become the next Captain, one must kill the previous Captain for the title of Kenpachi. Taking the title of Kenpachi makes the Captain of the Eleventh Division among the most powerful Captains of the Gotei 13, and often the strongest, second only to the Captain-Commander, who is even stronger still. The Twelfth Division specializes in reiryoku technology, using computers, machines, and other instruments, and its members are the smartest scientists of the Gotei 13. Its Captain is by far the most technological keen and precise in their studies, knowing every working, in and out, and is the most focused in using their reiryoku. The Thirteenth Division has the least amount of duties of the Gotei 13, assigned simply to help with various tasks around Seireitei, but because of its few duties, it allows for a great amount of time for its members. Known as a very informal and lad back group, they are also known primarily for being the fastest of any Division with their mastery of Hoho, their Captain capable of outclassing any other Captain in terms of speed, except for of course the Captain-Commander.