Higen Kyōbashi

**“If something’s in your way, knock it down; better yet, go straight through it!”**

## History

Higen wasn’t always a Shinigami, or even soul-born; He was a Japanese seafarer in the late 1800s. The proper terminology would be a pirate. He spent most of his time doing mercenary work and defending the Japanese waters
from the ever-so-innovate Americans and Englishmen. He attended multiple voyages that included skirmishes, pillaging, and raiding. His time as a boy and through his teens allowed him to be molded into a rather rash and hardened individual. He picked up the ability to fight somewhat naturally, and soon became renown for his prowess in battle over the violent seas. By his early twenties, he was captaining his own ship, a plethora of men to both respect and fear him, with even more so spread across the waters that he ruled with an iron fist. His ruling was quite literally, with an **iron fist**. Any time he was challenged for his captaincy or even when fighting his true enemies, he preferred to use his fists, and refused the usage of a
weapon entirely.

His voyages often took him far out to sea, a realm of ferocious waves and endless swells that could swallow any man completely. One specific voyage, however, Higen had the opportunity to turn his ship around at the cost
of losing a merchant vessel he had been tailing for weeks, but instead, he
plunged into a massive storm. They fought is as long as they could, but when
the boat capsized and was plunged deep into the ocean for by a massive wave, Higen along with the rest of his crew plummeting into its depths and ultimately drowning. As his soul traveled through the conflux that was the realm of spirits he found himself ferried into Soul Society. When receiving his ticket, he was sent to East Rukongai In the *Sabitsura District*. It wasn’t long before he found a “Family”, which wasn’t uncommon for souls lost to the confines of the massive maze that was Rukongai. They were
nothing special to Higen, but he had a great deal of respect for them and maybe
even some form of trivial love.

As his life shifted from that of vibrant sailor with
boatloads of charisma to that of a lifeless soul floating around in a cesspool
of the dead, he found difficulty “feeling”. The only thing close he could get
to this was drowning himself in sake, which he did often. He quickly became a
habitual drinker, which made his days short and his nights long, that is, until
he was so drunk one night that he didn’t return home to his “family”. When he
woke midday afterwards, he limped back to his kraal to find the slaughtered
bodies of those who sheltered him, murdered for their meals. If only he had
been here, if only he had been there to protect them. His sorrow caused him to
forsake alcohol, at least temporarily, and attempt to receive admission into
the Shin’o Academy.

Upon graduating, Higen took solemn his role as a Shinigami
in the Gotei 13. He joined the Third Division and throughout the decades, rose
to the rank of Fourth Seat. Now, he spends a majority of his days at the bar, able
to find solace in the comfort of alcohol once more.

## Personality

Naturally, as a previous Captain of a ship, Higen has a
profound leader-like and assertive personality. He is very stern while simultaneously
retaining his charisma. Although his previous life was full of mischief and skullduggery,
he has since adapted at least some form of honor code during his time as a Shinigami.
He can be described as rambunctious, physical, and violent. If he has a problem
his usual go-to course of action is to punch it. Despite his outlandish and belligerent
nature, he still has the ability to focus in a given situation. He is also greatly
respected by those around him, who have learned to look past his somewhat
untamed ways and appreciate his combative abilities and leadership skills.

## Appearance

Higen is a man of towering figure. He stands an even six feet
three inches tall, his body rippling with chiseled muscles accumulating to one
hundred and ninety-five pounds. He trains and exercises daily, leaving his
physicality practically unmatched. Along the base of his chest and bake you can
see a collection of scars and burns tainting the surface of his skin. His hair
is short and spiky, often slicked back down his neck in an easily noticeable
dark green color. He has fair skin, which allows for his dark blue orbs to
shine through. He often switches between the standard choices of long sleeve
and short sleeve Shikashuhou, the matching hakama tied to his waist with a sash
holding his zanpakuto to his lower back. On his feet are a pair of modern geta
that lift him another inch off of the ground.

## Battle Stats

Offense: 20

Defense: 30

Offense

E

Defense

E

Mobility

E

Reiryoku

D

Intelligence

E

Physical Strength

D

100
80
60
40
20

Mobility: 20

Reiryoku: 40

Intelligence: 10

Physical Strength: 40