Taketa Ashitaka

Created by Toby, despairforme.tumblr.com

### Previous Occupation

3rd seat 10th Division, 10th Division Captain, Commander of Aizen's Arrancar Army

## Zanpakutō

### Reiatsu Color

Brown

❝ How regrettable, that I'll witness no more summer days. ❞ - Ashitaka
**Taketa Ashitaka** ( 竹田 愛鷹, *Taketa Ashitaka* ) is the previous captain of the 10th Division. He served as a captain for a brief time after the disappearance of Kurosaki Isshin.

## Appearance

      Ashitaka has orange, slightly narrow eyes that are upturned to give him a “sad” expression, amplified by his barely visible eyebrows. He also has age-lines beneath his eyes. His ombre hair color goes from sienna, to orange, to golden. It’s cut quite messy into what resembles a bob, but in addition he wears intricate braids. One large on the top of his head, and two smaller parallel ones, and a small one above each ear. His braids all meet in the back and are secured by a large hair-clip made of gold. The hair-clip looks like three large golden leaves, and a cluster of small, red berries at the bottom. Both of his ears are pierced, but after becoming a captain, he no longer wears piercings. Due to his reluctance to use his Shikai, he has several battle-scars on his body. He is a thin, almost frail man who stands at 178cm. He wears a standard uniform (depending on time period), and a pair of black gloves with orange details. The gloves are made by Kurotsuchi Mayuri and the Shinigami Research and Development Institute. He carries two Zanpakutō, the hilt of one being a faded brown, and the other a dark gray.

## Personality

Ashitaka is a quiet and peaceful person. He speaks in a calm, sorrowful voice that he almost never raises. He absolutely detests fighting, and thinks it should be the last resort. He is a little withdrawn, and doesn’t easily make friends. He has a tendency to be kind and friendly towards younger Shinigami and children. He believes in second chances, giving people the benefit of the doubt, and fairness.

Despite his fiery hair, he is an easy person to overlook. He doesn’t “stand out” in a crowd, and rather likes it that way. He doesn’t crave attention or recognition. He is a slow-paced individual who likes to take his time to enjoy the small things in life.

## History

110 years ago, Ashitaka was a fairly unknown Shinigami. He served as the co-lieutenant in the 10th Division, under Kurosaki Isshin. People had a tendency to forget, or not really notice, that the 10th Division had two lieutenants. Ashitaka was almost invisible. He was focused on taking care of younger, and newer members of the squad, as well as take care of anything relating to paperwork. He was known to be hard-working, but because of his reluctance to join battle, he was referred to as a bit of a coward.

When Kurosaki Isshin left Soul Soceity, forfeiting his position as a captain, the 10th Division was in a turbulent state. There was uncertainty about who should take over as captain. Hitsugaya Tōshirō was a strong candidate. Ashitaka had taken care of the young Shinigami ever since he came to the division, and though he was proud of him for the progress he had made, he didn't think it was right for such a young person to have to take on the responsibility of being a captain. This caused Ashitaka to reveal that he had mastered Bankai.

    Him revealing that he had mastered Bankai came as a shock, since there weren't many who had even seen his Shikai. Ashitaka was put forward for the Captain Proficiency Test, and passed it. The ones who witnessed the test, and thus learned of Ashitaka's powers were Yamamoto Genryūsai, Unohana Retsu and Kuchiki Ginrei. After his examination, Ashitaka got the position as captain of the 10th Division.

## Plot

#### Soul Society arc

About 10 years before Kurosaki Ichigo's invasion of Soul Society, a prophesy was presented before Central 46. The exact words of the prophesy are unknown, and the creator of the prophesy is also unknown. The prophesy spoke of the absolute dangers of Ashitaka's Zanpakutō, and it referred to a fate-altering future battle between Ashitaka and Zaraki Kenpachi. It was expressed that the very survival of Soul Society could depend on preventing the two of them from ever battling.

Ashitaka learned from Kurotsuchi Mayuri that he was going to be arrested, and that his Zanpakutō would be destroyed. Ashitaka didn't understand what he had done wrong. He refused to put up a fight. Despite knowing that Soul Society would be safer if his Zanpakuto was destroyed, Ashitaka couldn't betray his blade. In desperation, he turned to Kurotsuchi Mayuri, and asked him if he would conceal and hide the blade. Mayuri, who had always been fascinated by Ashitaka's Zanpakutō powers, agreed to hide the weapon within his lab.

After his arrest, Ashitaka was prompted to give away the location of his Zanpakuto, but he refused. Because of his unwillingness to cooperate (even if he had not put up a fight at the moment of his arrest), he was placed in Central Great Underground Prison.

Aizen Sōsuke had learned of Ashitaka's powers. After Aizen faked his own death, he ventured down to the Central Great Underground Prison. He asked Ashitaka if he wanted to join him in creating a new Soul Society. Ashitaka immediately suspected that he was simply interested in his powers, but accepted the proposal. He thought that if he could somehow use his powers, then perhaps members of the Gotei 13 would surrender, and their lives would be spared. He considered some of the Gotei 13 members his friends, but when he decided to follow Aizen, his title as a traitor of Soul Society was sealed.

#### Arrancar arc

After leaving Soul Society together with Aizen Sosuke, Ichimaru Gin and Tousen Kaname, Ashitaka was appointed a position as Commander in Aizen's Arrancar army. He had always been of the opinion that Hollow could have human traits, and working so closely with Arrancar proved this to him.

## Powers & Abilities

### Zanpakutō

Ashitaka’s Zanpakutō, Kōka ( red song ), has the ability of decay. In its Shikai state, it can decay other Zanpakutō, making them disappear completely. This happens when an enemy Zanpakutō touches the rusty side of Kōka. The enemy Zanpakutō will begin to rust, and eventually disappear. In its Bankai state, Kōka shrinks into a single tiny ring. The ring emits an aura of autumn, and anything within the aura will begin to decay.

Ashitaka never uses his Bankai, because he doesn’t want anyone to fall victim to its powers. He also rarely uses his Shikai, out of fear of erasing someone’s Zanpakutō. A Zanpakutō decayed by Ashitaka’s powers cannot be restored. It is not only the blade that decays, it’s the very part of a Shinigami’s soul that makes up a Zanpakutō. Ashitaka doesn’t want anyone to have to become incomplete because of him.

The Zanpakutō spirit takes the form of a female child, with a frilly dress and long, curly hair that falls into her face. She’s always dancing, her hair blowing in the wind. She, just like Ashitaka, can’t help the nature of her powers. Like autumn, she is inevitable, and simply a part of life. Decay and rot happens to all things. She is childish and playful, dancing to a quiet song while the world around her rots away.

## Trivia

* Ashitaka favorite food is mushrooms.
* He is nicknamed "Shiitake" by his friends, which is a type of mushrooms.
* Kusajishi Yachiru calls him "Take-Taka".