Kuusho Zukku- Shinigami

World of the Living
Kuusho led a rather average, dull life. Save for his ability to see and interact with spirits. As a boy, he was often unable to differentiate between a spirit and an actual person. To cope, he began to develop his open personality. His parents, both wealthy actors, spoiled him, but as is the case with many children exposed to fame, Kuu often times hid his face and his lineage. He strove to be normal, and for people to like him for whoever HE was, not who his parents were. This is how he grew up, so many different facets coming together to shape one life. He started school, and made many friends, and lost many as well. He came to be better able to establish a clear difference between those that were spirits, and those of flesh and blood. However, nothing is ever perfect.

Often times, Kuu was picked on. He was a smart kid, and generally stayed away from trouble. But as is the way of the world, trouble found him. When Kuusho was in his sixth year of school, he made his first enemy, a boy named Kataki. There was nothing Kuu had done to anger the boy, Kuu was just an easy target, in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Through the duration of the year, Kuu was exposed to verbal taunts, and little things, paper balls being thrown at him in the halls, rude things etched into his desk and locker. Kataki finally worked his way up to threats, and minor physicality, little things like shoving him in the hall, or forcefully brushing past.

Kuusho had been taking gymnastics, something he found he excelled at and loved, and was on his way to the gym when Kataki decided he'd had enough of the little things, and confronted Kuu for the first time, with his two most loyal lackeys. Cornered, Kuu had no choice but to stand up for himself. It didn't do much good. For five minutes, an eternity as it was taking place, Kuu was beaten. However, when the boys backed away, he stood, slowly, and on shaky legs, but faced them again, nonetheless. This time, however, something was different. Kuu could see another face, sitting atop the lockers in the far side, half shrouded in darkness. When he saw the face, a smirk slid across its unseen visage, and with a flash, it was gone.

Kuu drew something from this. He didn't know what, but something within him changed that day. No more pain could be felt from the injury that had just been inflicted upon him, and a fire, white-hot and liquid, burned through his veins. He stood up straight, and his piercing eyes locked onto each of the boy's individually. For a moment, they all faltered. Their sense of confidence came back when they decided three on one were good odds. The first one fell to Kuu's heel, firmly planted in his face with a well timed split-kick. Letting his body take complete control, he slipped off into himself, much like he did doing a gymnastics routine. He used the leverage from the first boy's face to spin off to his right, coming down full force, fist raised, on the second thug, who crumpled like paper. When Kuu stood again, Kataki had stopped, his jaw hanging loosely. Kuusho took a step forward, and Kataki took a step back. Kuu smirked, and Kataki whimpered. Kuu twitched himself forward, and Kataki yelped, and scrambled away, falling over himself as he went. Kuu looked down at the two boys groaning on the floor, and continued on his way to practice.

Several years later, Kuusho had become an entirely new person. At 17, he was done with school, and set to go to a prestigious academy, by his own merit, not the influence of his parents. He had loved, had lost, had felt victory, and defeat. He was well rounded in most everything, though his passion and talent still remained in the realm of gymnastics, and his small, well-toned body spoke the truth for him. He easily identified with people, and generally kept out of trouble. However, just like before, if one seeks to avoid trouble, trouble will find them.

Kuu was walking home one night, mind wandering as it usually did, when disaster struck. He looked up, and swore he saw a face, a familiar smirk he had never been able to forget from that day, perched on top of a street lamp. However, he blinked, and it was gone. He shook it from his head, and aimed his gaze back down. A little ways in front of him, he saw a person walking in the opposite direction, head hung low. Not wanting to draw the attention of the stranger, he mimicked the motion, and angled his face down. He kept walking, anxious for the awkward moment to pass. For some reason, he felt threatened, as if he were in imminent danger, but surely this man wouldn't do him any harm. His instincts proved to be right.

As they drew almost even, the man slowed and stepped immediately into Kuu's path, arm extended. Kuu stopped cold, the biting metal of an open barrel pressed firmly against the center of his forehead.

"You... took everything from me..." a sobbing voice said, gruff and through gritted teeth. "My friends... they all left after you beat me... My chance to go to Academy... The only girl I ever loved... YOU STOLE IT ALL!"

Kuu was in shock. Horribly confused, and his brain a puddle of goo under the pressure of the gun, he could only succeed in making unintelligible noises from the back of his throat. Finally, he managed a few words.

"I-I'm sorry, I never-"

"DON'T! Just don't! You don't even know who I am, do you?!" the voice yelled, desperation and anger mulling the actual tones of the voice.

Kuu shook his head silently. Slowly, the stranger's free hand reached up and pulled back a hood. Underneath was a shockingly recognizable face.

"Ka...Kataki...? I'm sorry, but, I-" he asked, puzzled and stunned simultaneously.

"JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP!" screamed Kataki, anger flaring up above the desperation. "You... You stole everything from me. So I'm going to take everything from you."

Kuusho said nothing as he gazed into the eyes of the man he had unwittingly robbed. He felt no fear now, only sorrow. As if in slow motion, the hammer was cocked back. Kuu nodded, and placed his hands on Kataki's, steadying the shaking hand. He knew there was nothing left for a man robbed of his honor and pride as Kataki now was. If a simple bullet could help mend the damage he had done, so be it.

"I'm sorry, Kata- BANG"

Death through Present

Kuu had known there was some form of afterlife. For all the spirits he had grown up seeing, there was no doubt. He was not prepared for the entire realm he would be exposed to. He began his afterlife waking up in a run-down house, close to the outskirts of Rukongai. A plate of food had been set up for him, and a note left on top that read- "The best is at the center." It was cryptic, but Kuu had no time to think it over- he was ravenous. He ate heartily, and then stood when every last morsel had been consumed. Slowly, he opened the door, not that it took much effort, as it hung off a single hinge, and stepped out into the blazing sun. The buzz of people immediately filled his ears, as well as the sight of ramshackle housing and poverty-stricken population. Ragged clothes were a norm, dirty children were in abundance, but everything seemed to have order to it, and, for some reason, everyone seemed content. Not happy, or sad in general, but content.

It Kuu about a week to realize there were a few things that were different between himself and the people he shared his housing and life with. For starters, no one ate. Ever. They said there was no need, they never got hungry. So, Kuu did what he thought was best, and never mentioned his hunger to anyone. However, from time time to time, he'd venture further to steal some food, since there were no vendors this far out.

Almost a century later, Kuu had moved much further towards the center of Rukongai. He made friends with those that could best take care of themselves, and he taught them and in return, they taught him. They learned the best places to gather food, the best places to hide at, and most of all, they learned the truth about themselves from an old man that currently stayed in their house. Forgetting he was there, they carelessly entered the home, laughing and joking, a good haul of food in their arms. They stopped cold when the old man cleared his throat from a corner of the room. They looked amongst themselves, then at the man, and then the food. Instead of calling them out, the man chuckled, and motioned for them to sit. Once they had done so, he began to speak, spinning out a history of Rukongai, Seireitei, and the Shinigami.

By the end of it, Kuu was full- both with questions, and from the food they had all just inhaled. Night had fallen by the time the old man was done, and the sun had risen by the time they had all exhausted their questions. Kuu was in awe. His hunger meant that he possessed capability as a Soul Reaper, which gave him an idea, and, for the first time in almost a century, a purpose other than to survive. When the old man retired to bed, they sat around talking excitedly. By the end of it, Kuusho was set- He was going to enroll in the Shinigami Academy. However, the others were wary of it, despite their excitement at the possibility. They decided they'd wait, that they'd all go together, but Kuu had other plans. When everyone else went to sleep, he set off. After a few days of traveling inward, he eventually came to the gates of Seireitei. Eventually, he made it inside, and to the gates of the Shinigami Academy. Here, the blank canvas that is Kuusho is given the first brush-stroke of a masterpiece.

Broken fingers of wind passed through the branches of the surrounding trees, bending them with a strong grip, and easing gently away. Kuu's small frame stood out in sharp contrast to the environment in drastic manner. Where natural colors blended seamlessly, with dull greens, hearty browns, and an array of vivid flowers, he was an imp among the scenery, with his dark hair and piercing blue eyes. Even more so, his lithe step as he danced about the clearing would have convinced any person there was some form of magic that played before their eyes.

However, the dance was a deadly one. A swift pirouette on the right foot, body leaning forward, and a soft swish as his left arm came down, a blur of silver, and reached across his body. The momentum carried up and he pushed off the ground and inverted in the air, whirling upside down for a moment before inertia righted him and gravity brought him back to earth in a puff of dirt, and he slid into the next form.

It would continue like this for hours, the daily grind of training, practicing, and perfecting his skills. Still, it eventually had to end. Kuusho came down from a high-vaulted somersault, panting heavily, sweat drenching his bare-chested form, making his battle scars visible with the sheen. The too-sweet smell of night-blossoming flowers began to permeate the air in the waning sunlight. Donning his clothes, Kuu made his way through the forestry, his body knowing the path, despite the lack of a clear one.

So engrossed was he in his own world, thinking up new combinations and styles, he failed to notice the presence near him as he came out onto the actual trail. Overhanging trees made a sort of sheltered covering, their thick branches woven together by nature. A few figures wandered either way, and the occasional couple could be seen holding hands and mooning over one another. A fellow Shinigami, Cato, fell in step beside him as he made his way.

"Whoa, you smell!" he said in greeting, wafting a hand in front of his nose and pulling a playful face.

Kuu's lips spread into a smirk as he responded with a quick hook around the younger one's neck, and twisted his fist into the top of his brown-headed scalp. When Cato managed to pull away, he scowled childishly at Kuusho and tried to mend his now messy hair.

"So, tell me Cato, what's going on these days?" he asked, both wanting to know of any news, and to catch up, since his friend was usually busy these days, being a courier and all. Always one to have something fresh, Cato did not disappoint.

"Well, most part, nothin' really. Normal stuff, 'cept the message I'm taking up to Captain Commander now. Real urgent like, didn't even know who it was from. Prob'ly just some kind of request for permission for somethin', another one of Twelve's experiments."[/color]

At the mention of 12th squad, the usually chipper individual shuddered, Kuu almost wanted to laugh, but refrained.

"Anyways, gotta head off. See ya 'round, Kuu, take care!"[/color] and with that, he was gone, Flash Stepping away down the now deserted lane. Kuu looked at the broken fragments of sky visible through the branches, and drew a deep breath, his mood matching the the shades of blue mixing with the bright reds and golds- mellow. It wouldn't last for long, he could feel in the air. Something was stirring. The world was holding it's breath. Everything was going to change...