Rukia and Orihime

Description of Orihime

Appearance Orihime is a teenager of average height. She has brown eyes[4] and long, waist-length, burnt orange hair with short bangs framing the top of her forehead. Her most noticeable physical trait is her slender yet very curvaceous figure for a teenager, especially in terms of her large breasts. She wears her hair in bangs tucked behind her ears with hairpins, which she only removes to sleep,[5] as they are worn in the memory of her brother.[6] Orihime initially wears her hair with a full but parted fringe before pulling most of her bangs behind her ears as she was ready to leave for Soul Society.[7]

Seventeen months after Aizen's defeat, Orihime's hair becomes fuller and wavier. Her bangs naturally frame her face without her hair clips and also hang over her ears.[8] She stops wearing her hair clips and instead keeps them clipped onto the left collar of her school

Personality Orihime is independent, friendly, humorous, optimistic, sensitive, caring and kind. She comes off as naive and rather clueless, which contradicts her exceptionally high marks as third highest in her grade.[11] She studies hard because when her grades drop, she receives less financial support from her relatives.[12] She is a member of the Handicrafts Club[13] and likes to invent very ridiculous sports to play with Tatsuki (such as "base-cer," a combination of baseball and soccer).[14] She tends to zone out with her mouth open and loses track of what she was thinking or dreaming about. She has an over-active imagination and gets carried away thinking of implausible scenarios, such as portraying herself as a futuristic and highly destructive robot in an assignment asking a student "How do you see yourself in the future?".[15]

Orihime likes Asian flower print clothing and comedies. While she does eat some normal food, Orihime cooks and eats unusual meals, which other people often find unappetizing. Her favorite food is red bean paste and she likes putting butter on sweet potatoes.[1] She enjoys cheese and butter most of the time.

Orihime has demonstrated that she is perceptive when it comes to people's mental and emotional state, especially in regards to Ichigo, as she is able to tell what kind of driving force is pushing someone. She additionally has a crush on Ichigo and later falls in love with him.[16] She has exhibited traits that appear to have some connection with Ichigo, such as the ability to detect Ichigo by scent, [17] sense his Spiritual Pressure even when masked by the Visored, and an awareness of what mood Ichigo is in, sensing his feelings of anguish, disappointment, or worry, even feeling pain herself when she sees Ichigo getting hurt.[18]

17 months after Aizen's defeat, Orihime has gained a much firmer resolve in combat; when Ichigo was training with Kūgo Ginjō, Orihime was entirely willing to injure Ginjō if he attacked without her permission. She and Sado have sworn that they would be strong enough to not burden Ichigo when he finally regains his power to fight, which is reflected in her development of a technique that acts as both offense and defense

Powers & Abilities

Natural Abilities High Spiritual Power: Orihime is able to get close to several battles between powerful opponents without being overwhelmed, such as the battles between Ulquiorra Cifer and Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez,[258] Ichigo Kurosaki and Ulquiorra[259], and most impressively, Ichigo and Yhwach after the latter had absorbed the Soul King.[260] During her basic training in Reiryoku control with Kūkaku Shiba, Orihime demonstrated a natural talent for precise control, as she quickly mastered the Reishukaku.[261] Her Reiatsu is golden-yellow.[262] Franceska Mila Rose even compares Orihime's Reiryoku to that of Yasutora Sado, and notes that it would be problematic if Quilge Opie managed absorb both of their power during his assault on them.[263]

Spiritual Awareness: Orihime has a good amount of skill in detecting spiritual energy, as she can sense Hollows and ongoing battles at a significant distance. If she concentrates, she can even sense the Reiatsu of people within protective barriers.[264]

Expert Hand-to-Hand Combatant: While a pacifist by nature, Orihime has a natural talent for martial arts. According to Tatsuki, who trained Orihime herself, Orihime has the fighting skill of a 1st-dan.[265] Orihime is skillful enough to incapacitate two unseated Shinigami soldiers when she surprise attacked them.[266]

Durability: Orihime has withstood separate assaults by Loly Aivirrne and Menoly Mallia, which involved physical attacks and the use of Bala, with only moderate bruising and swelling.[267]

Memory Chikan Resistance: Orihime was able to recall the event of her brother fighting Ichigo, even though the memory chikan has been used on her by Rukia.

Shun Shun Rikka

Shun Shun Rikka (盾舜六花, Six Flowers of the Hibiscus Shield; Viz "Six Princess Shielding Flowers"): Orihime's spirit energy is harbored in the pair of six-petal flower-shaped hairpins that her brother gave her. Shun Shun Rikka is composed of six spirits that reside within the hairpins, each of which is two petals on the clip when inactive.[269] Only spiritually aware beings can see them.[270] They reside in her hair-clips, which are shaped like six-petaled flowers. Through various combinations of the six fairies, Orihime has the power to reject phenomena by denying or undoing events in various forms.[271][272] This power can be used for attack, defense, or healing (depending on the combination).

The Visored Hachigen Ushōda comments that her hair pins, being the physical manifestation of her powers, is very much like the Zanpakutō of a Shinigami, and that her powers resemble his own powers.[273] Sousuke Aizen, in his explanation of the Hōgyoku, states that Orihime's powers were actually awakened by the Hōgyoku; when she cursed her powerlessness with all her heart, the Hōgyoku answered her desire.[274]

The spirits are separate manifestations of Orihime's spirit, each with its own unique appearance and personality. Each are named after a flower:

Ayame has a quiet personality. She wears a dress larger than her body. She, along with Shun'ō, is in charge of Shun Shun Rikka's healing ability.[275]

Baigon is a bald male spirit. He is brawny, and has a large body. He wears a mask that covers the bottom of his face. Baigon is part of Shun Shun Rikka's defense.[275]

Hinagiku is a highly energetic male spirit. He wears a large eye patch that ends in a horn. Hinagiku is part of Shun Shun Rikka's defense.[275]

Lily is a female spirit with bright pink hair, transparent yellow goggles, and a blue bathing suit. She has a tattoo on her backside. Lily is part of Shun Shun Rikka's defense. She has a futuristic style.[275]

Shun'ō is a friendly young male spirit with a topknot. He and Tsubaki are usually the ones who talk to Orihime. He, along with Ayame, is in charge of Shun Shun Rikka's healing ability.[275]

Tsubaki is a fiery male spirit. He is the only Shun Shun Rikka spirit capable of direct attack. He often strikes anyone who gets on his nerves (including Orihime). Because he is primarily focused on attacking, he is vulnerable to counter-attacks, and has been injured several times. The stronger Orihime's anger and killing intent, the more powerful he becomes. However, Orihime's timid nature limits his overall power, and has contributed to his injuries in the past.

Techniques Orihime's techniques involve incantations and manipulating the Shun Shun Rikka into different groups. Though Orihime initially needed to recite their kotodama to use her techniques, further training has rendered this unnecessary. Her kotodama consists of voicing the names of the members involved, followed by the technique name and the phrase "I reject" (私は拒絶する, watashi wa kyozetsu suru), a reference to the nature of her powers.[277]

Santen Kesshun (三天結盾, Three Sacred Links Shield; Viz "Three-God Shield"): is Orihime's defensive technique. It repels attacks by placing a shield between the enemy and target.[275] The incantation arranges Hinagiku, Lily, and Baigon into a triangle which has the ability to repel the "outer shield".[278] Because the barrier rejects negative events, it can also function as an airbag of sorts, allowing Orihime and anyone else nearby to survive a potentially lethal fall unharmed.[279] Orihime is later able to shape Santen Kesshun into a dome-shaped barrier large enough to easily hold herself and other individuals.

Sōten Kisshun (双天帰盾, Twin Sacred Return Shield; Viz "Twin-God Reflection Shield"): is Orihime's "healing" technique. It surrounds something to return it to its former, complete state.[275] It rejects, reverses, and reconstructs phenomena that have occurred, even phenomena that Orihime hasn't witnessed.[281] The incantation summons Ayame and Shun'ō to form a half-oval barrier around whatever or whomever Orihime wishes. Their ability is to repel the "inner shield." The shield placed inside means that they repel the damage within a limited area. In other words, they return a subject covered by the shield to the state that they were in before taking damage.[282] Orihime fully restored Grimmjow's destroyed arm from nothing. Sousuke Aizen describes this as "The Rejection of Events". Her ability is to limit, reject, and negate any kind of event that has happened to her target.Yasochika Iemura comments that the technique's healing speed is potentially faster than Isane Kotetsu's and his own.[283] Far more powerful than "Temporal Regression" or "Spatial Regression", it is a power that trespasses into God's territory.[284] Originally, Orihime wasn't able to restore a destroyed Tsubaki, but Hachigen Ushōda states that since she has powers very close to his own, she should be able to restore him to his original form, even without a shattered fragment.[285] Later, she can fully resurrect the dead.[286] While Orihime can heal wounds quickly, it takes longer for her to replenish the patient's Reiatsu.[287] Large amounts of foreign spiritual pressure around a wound makes her power to reject ineffective.[288]

Koten Zanshun (孤天斬盾, Solitary Sacred Cutting Shield; Viz "Lone-God Slicing Shield"): is Orihime's offensive technique. It rejects the fusion of matter and splits it.[275] The incantation summons Tsubaki, who has the ability to repel "both sides of the shield." He breaks through the enemy, puts up a shield inside, and repels the combined substance, splitting the enemy in two.[289] While Tsubaki can cut through basically anything, Orihime's general dislike of combat and hesitance to use lethal force degrades the effectiveness of the technique, making him easy to counter and equally easy to injure.[290]

Shiten Kōshun (四天抗盾, Shield of Four Heavens' Resistance; Viz "Four-God Resistance Shield"): is one of Orihime's techniques. It combines Shun Shun Rikka's offensive and defensive properties. The incantation integrates Tsubaki into the center of her Santen Kesshun ability, creating a triangular shield which, at the very instant of receiving an attack, disperses the resultant force as a concentrated explosion which is automatically returned along the attack's opposing trajectory.

Description of Rukia

Appearance Short and petite, Rukia has light skin and big purple eyes. Her hair is black, reaching her shoulders, with several strands of hair always hanging between her eyes. Byakuya has stated she strongly resembles her sister, Hisana Kuchiki.[2] As a Shinigami of the Gotei 13, Rukia wears a standard shihakushō. 17 months after Aizen's defeat, Rukia wears her hair cropped into a bob which hangs about her face. She wears a fingerless white tekkō, similar to Byakuya's, which extend above her elbows. As a lieutenant, she wears her Division Badge around her uniform's left sleeve, which has been shortened to just reach her upper arm

Personality Initially born into a lower class, Rukia retains her modesty, even as an adopted member of the nobility. She is graceful and "clean", yet chooses to talk to ordinary people. However, her cool and lone demeanor often forces her to hide her personal troubles, even from her friends. According to Ukitake, Rukia never opens up her heart, and has difficulty making friends.[6] Rukia is clueless about the ways of the modern Human World.[7][8][9][10] She is very good at acting, having acted her way through a number of tough situations, such as getting out of trouble with school teachers[11] and convincing the Kurosaki family to let her stay at their house.[12]ㅤ

Rukia always has trouble finding clothes that fit her, especially when inhabiting a Gigai in the Human World,[1] leading to her stealing clothes from Ichigo's sister, Yuzu.[13] She likes to climb to high places.[1] Rukia likes everything rabbit-themed,[14] and becomes quite sensitive when someone insults her obsession with them.[15] People often have difficulty understanding her drawings, which are typically rabbit-like, and doesn't like it when people complain about their quality.[16][17][18] Rukia's favorite foods are cucumber, eggs, and rice dumplings.[1][19]

Quite often when Rukia is annoyed with a situation or when conversing with people that exasperate her, her common tic/phrase in reaction is either "nonsense!" ("たわけ!", "tawake!") or "nonsensical fool!" ("たわけども!", "tawakedomo!")

Powers & Abilities Immense Spiritual Power: While initially remaining an unranked Shinigami for the majority of her career, Rukia's Reiryoku was already on the level of a Seated Officer even before her first promotion,[251] as proven by her effortless defeat of the Arrancar Di Roy Rinker[252] and her rapid promotion to Lieutenant.[253] After her training with the Royal Guard, Rukia's Reiryoku increased dramatically,[254] which she demonstrated by easily overpowering Äs Nödt, a captain-level Sternritter who previously defeated Byakuya Kuchiki,[255] and forced him to use his Quincy: Vollständig to even the odds;[256][257] eventually, it allowed her to replace Jūshirō Ukitake as the Captain of the 13th Division.[258]

Expert Reiatsu Control: Even prior to her promotions and training, Rukia proved capable of exerting large amounts of Reiatsu when needed.[259] Her Reiatsu is white.[260] Expert Swordsman: Rukia initially only had rudimentary skills of Zanjutsu,[261] but after much training by her former mentor, Kaien Shiba, her skill drastically improved, able to hold her own against the 9th Espada, Aaroniero Arruruerie, who possessed the expert swordsmanship skill of Kaien himself.[262] Rukia has also demonstrated enough skill in swordsmanship to cut down multiple of Rudbornn Chelute's attacking Calaveras.[263]

Hakuda Combatant: While seldom relying on it, Rukia is proficient in hand-to-hand combat, using it as her main method of combat when she was in a depowering Gigai.[264][265]

Shunpo Expert: Renji says Rukia is helpful and effective because of her high speed. During her battle against the Adjuchas of the Menos Forest, she skillfully dodged multiple attacks from several enemies.[266] After her training in the Soul King Palace, Rukia is able to move fast enough to surprise and cut Äs Nödt.[267]

Kidō Expert: Rukia's greatest strength is her knowledge and skill in Kidō, having been top of her class at the Shin'ō Academy, and able to instantly switch from Zanjutsu to Kidō without delay should she lose her Zanpakutō.[268] While the sheer power of her Kidō was just average when she joined the 13th Division,[261] she continued to develop her skill, now able to use Hadō #73. Sōren Sōkatsui without incantation to considerable effect.[269] She has great skill in using various spells in unique combination, even using multiple spells at the same time. However, she requires incantations when using high-level spells simultaneously.[270]

Kaidō (回道, Turn Way): Like most Captains, Rukia has above-average skills in healing Kidō.[271] Keen Intellect: Rukia has repeatedly demonstrated her keen intellect. She compensated against the power of the 9th Espada with combination attacks.[272][273] During her forced stay in the Human World after losing her powers, Rukia proved herself very useful in assisting Ichigo with his new Shinigami duties. Rukia is very knowledgeable, with a detailed knowledge of Soul Society's history.

Enhanced Strength: Belying her petite stature, Rukia has a surprising amount of physical strength, having lifted and carried two unconscious, full-grown adults throughout a war-torn Seireitei without much effort.[274]

Enhanced Endurance: Rukia is notably resilient. She withstood being impaled by Aaroniero's Nejibana in conjunction with his Glotonería, and finished him off before losing consciousness

Zanpakutō

Sode no Shirayuki (袖白雪, Sleeved White Snow; Viz "Sleeves of White Snow"): In its sealed form, Sode no Shirayuki is a normal katana. It has a rectangular tsuba with a vaguely flame-like pattern on the long sides and a curved line on the short sides, inward-curved corners with curved slits above and below the blade, and a series of curved lines embossed on either side of the blade. It has a reddish-brown hilt.

Shikai: Its Shikai command is "Dance" (舞え, mae).[276] Rukia holds her Zanpakutō out in front of her and turns it in a circle counter-clockwise. While she is turning it, the blade, hilt, and tsuba turn completely white. The tsuba becomes a hollow snowflake-like circle, and a white ribbon forms from the pommel.[277] Sode no Shirayuki is regarded as the most beautiful Zanpakutō in Soul Society.[278] The transformation is accompanied by a rush of cold air in all directions.[276]

Shikai Special Ability: Sode no Shirayuki is an ice-type Zanpakutō.[279] Sode no Shirayuki possesses multiple techniques, labeled as "dances" by Rukia. Besides ice techniques, Sode no Shirayuki's general ability is freezing.[280] Sode no Shirayuki can freeze a target from a distance, or used in a different manner, create a path or platform of ice in midair.[281][282] Rukia can freeze even the Reishi-created Spirit Weapon of a Quincy, causing it to shatter.[283] However, Rukia later found out this was not Sode no Shirayuki's true power; the former manifestation of its powers resulted from Rukia not yet being able to withstand its true power. In reality, Sode no Shirayuki does not spread coldness from its blade; its actual ability is to bring the body temperature of its wielder to a temperature below freezing. As a result, anything its wielder touches freezes, the sword itself merely increasing their reach. Due to this power, Rukia is capable of momentarily "killing" her body by controlling her own Reishi, putting herself in a form of cryostasis. She completely stops all the molecules in her body, preventing any material or substance attempting to affect her from doing so because it cannot enter her body. However, if someone uses an optical attack on her, it will affect her because her nerves are still working.[284] Rukia can lower her body temperature to a point at which the ground below her feet freezes instantly, causing ice quakes, and can even reduce her temperature to absolute zero, though she can only safely maintain this temperature for no more than four seconds.[285]

Bankai: Hakka no Togame (白霞罸, Censure of the White Haze; Viz "White Haze Punishment"): Rukia's Bankai changes both her physical look and the clothing she is wearing dramatically. Rukia wears a white, ankle-length kimono with lined patterns. The robe has an attached ornate collar, edges, and shoulder design made of transparent ice with long, wide sleeves. There are long, flowing ribbons tied at her back that form numerous large loops. She has a small ice flower formation at the center of her chest, and a half crown of ice which extends around the back of her head. Rukia's hair and irises become white, and her blade -which still resembles its Shikai form- is now composed of transparent ice.[290]

Bankai Special Ability: Hakka no Togame increases the area of influence of Rukia's ability to reach the temperature of absolute zero. Upon release, a pillar of cold mist rises up into the air from where Rukia is.[291] Raising her blade towards her opponent, Rukia releases a massive wave of freezing cold (similar to Tsugi no mai, Hakuren) that freezes anything in its path to absolute zero.[292] Physical contact with Rukia herself causes other people to begin freezing solid due to how cold her body is