Kurome Kuchiki

"*I swear on my pride as a Kuchiki...I will not allow another needless death on my hands.*"

**Kurome Kuchiki** (朽木黒芽, *Kuchiki Kurome*) is the current Captain and former 3rd Seat of the Sixth Division and a member of the illustrious Kuchiki Clan.

## Personality

"*There won't be a moment reprieve. In the world of Shinigami, failure results in death. That is a cardinal rule that all of you have yet to understand.*"

Kurome Kuchiki is a strong, independent, elegant woman who carries the name and reputation of the Kuchiki Clan highly. She is a woman who gives respect to all who encounter her, but expects the same level of respect in return. Although willing to respect others, like most nobles of Soul Society, she believes herself to be greater than others due to her birth, and demands the proper code of conduct be taken when those of inferior birth or stature speak to her. In saying this, Kurome appears to keep friendly relationships with very unusual characters, as she is on friendly enough terms with Shizuka Kurogane to refer to her merely by her first name despite her flippant attitude. Her respect extends to those within her family, honoring those who are older than her with appropriate suffixes. She may be flexible when she needs to be, as seen when she honored Minamoto Kuchiki's casual manner of speaking to her by reciprocating it herself.

Kurome is unusually passionate for a noblewoman, her passion extending towards others in the Gotei 13. As opposed to pursuing strength for her own sake, or for the sake of her family, Kurome seeks to acquire strength for a single purpose: to protect Soul Society. Contrary to Kamui Shihōin, Kurome's definition of Soul Society also includes the other members of the Gotei 13. As a noblewoman, Kurome believes she is indebted to elevate those who are not born with the same privileges, even if it means throwing herself into disgrace.

## Relationships

### Kamui Shihōin

Kurome and Kamui possess an antagonistic relationship and have fought so much during their careers as Shinigami that even Captain Commander Tsunayoshi Nishikawa has had to break up their more intense disputes. In the past, the two were great friends and seemed to patch the constant rivalry between the Shihōin and Kuchiki Clans, but an event in recent years has caused rifts between them at every turn. Their conflicts stem from their opposing ideals. Kurome cannot stand Kamui's willingness to step over the corpses of his weaker comrades, refusing to believe those actions demonstrate strength, while Kamui considers Kurome weak for daring to protect and strengthen those who cannot adequately defend themselves. Although they both wish to defend the Seireitei whole-heartedly, because their approaches differ so wildly, they never see eye-to-eye.

It is unknown exactly what caused this feud between the two nobles, but it is implied Kaguya Moritori's death had a role.

### Kaima Kuchiki

Kaima Kuchiki was Kurome's older brother and someone she respected and looked up to immensely as a child. Kaima also used to get along well with Kurome as a child, encouraging her to grow stronger. Their relationship became slightly sour when Kurome entered the Shin'ō Academy and first sparred with Kaima, where Kurome's spiritual pressure, even as a younger student, briefly overwhelmed Kaima enough for her to land a solid hit on him despite Kaima's own talent. In response to this disgrace, Kaima did not return to the Kuchiki estate for several months, saddening Kurome. When Kaima returned from his extended period in the Gotei 13, Kurome was once more eager to meet her older brother. However, she was exposed to Kaima's plot to sabotage her spiritual growth by targeting her Saketsu and Hakusui *accidentally* through training, which traumatized the younger Kurome. Kurome tried her best not to believe what she heard and sparred with her brother later, only to figure out that what Kaima spoke that night was absolutely true. In self defense, Kurome wound up killing her older brother in an accident that was covered by a Kuchiki Clan elder who initially conspired against Kurome.

Kurome could not withstand the sheer trauma that occurred from this event, to the degree that she wholeheartedly believed the Kuchiki Clan elder's words regarding how the situation occurred, and used those events to change the course of her career as a Shinigami. She pursued the path of Kidō in order to atone for her brother's death; her zanpakutō manifested defensive abilities to protect others. These, and so many other choices made by Kurome lead her to almost *forget* she had an older brother, until she observed his memorial picture while passing through the Kuchiki grounds one day, and remembered something very important. The sheer trauma of the event left her so scarred that her spiritual powers had, in fact, closed themselves deep within Kikka Monshō's spirit, who remarked that if Kurome turned back on the truth, she would no longer be capable of harnessing her true strength.

Although Kurome still holds herself accountable for Kaima's death, she realizes that what occurred was not completely her fault, and many factors would need to change in order for the outcome to change. Where she once suppressed her power to atone for Kaima's death, she instead wields it completely so that no other incident like that may happen to her again.

## Powers and Abilities

**Great Spiritual Power**: Kurome is a member of the Kuchiki Clan and, like most nobles, naturally possesses a high level of spiritual power. Although she is a 3rd Seat in position, it is claimed that she could become a Lieutenant, but chooses not to. This is proven by her consistent rivalry against Kamui Shihōin, a Lieutenant and a fellow noble. Kurome has consistently demonstrated exceptional control over her reiryoku and a large quantity of it to boot. She is able to chain high-level Kidō in succession with minimal exertion and has managed to perform Kidō combinations on such a vast scale that Minamoto Kuchiki, a skilled prodigy of Kidō himself, compared her feats to that of a Captain. After obtaining Bankai, Kurome's quantity of spiritual power increased by a magnitude of ten.

**Keen Reflexes**: While little is known about Kurome's ability in Hohō, she quickly foresaw Kamui's entrance into the Sixth Division barracks and began to speak with him, even though the man wasn't in her sight. Kurome has demonstrated the ability to make decisions in very short periods of time, as demonstrated by her consistently parrying Kikka Monshō's Hirake techniques with her own.

**Keen Intellect**: Kurome is a perceptive individual who understands the world around her with great clarity. She was able to easily see through countless profiles of Shinigami who needed to be trained and narrowed them down to a certain few in order to greatly enhance their potential. While training to obtain her Bankai, Kurome swiftly understood the nature of the puzzle Kikka Monshō was throwing against her and managed to overcome it with her wit. As a member of the Kuchiki Clan, Kurome has the ability to access, to some degree, all the known records of Soul Society's history. Although she is not privy to the Soul Society's secrets, Kurome does possess a much greater knowledge of the overall structure of the realms and its races compared to novice Shinigami. She is well versed in the differences between a Shinigami, Hollow and Arrancar and how these differences in acquiring spiritual energy change their methods of combat. Similarly, as a Kidō user, Kurome has a surprising level of ingenuity. She used various combinations, such as Tenteikūra and Raikōhō to replicate the feeling of overwhelming spiritual pressure to her trainees, specifically through an augmented sonic attack directly targeting their senses.

**Swordswoman**: Although the depths of her skill aren't known, she was able to combat her older brother, Kaima Kuchiki, at an almost equal level despite having greater experience and training than she had. Kurome has demonstrated adequate skill in swordsmanship, being able to parry Kikka Monshō's attacks from numerous angles with little difficulty. The Kuchiki clanswoman performs swordsmanship at a very technical level, executing appropriate stances for different combat situations. Kurome's greatest ability in swordsmanship is demonstrated when employing her Shikai abilities. Kurome is able to seamlessly combine the defensive and offensive utility of her zanpakutō and transform her fighting style into a counter-attacking style that leaves reckless opponents quickly overwhelmed by their lack of understanding.

**Kidō Master**: Kurome is considered to be among the greatest masters of Kidō in Soul Society currently. Her skills are acknowledged widely, both by fellow Shinigami, as well as greater authorities. Kurome was, in fact, a premier contender for the Lieutenant of the Fifth Division before refusing to take the position due to her status as a Kuchiki clanswoman. Kurome's technique was acknowledged by fellow Kuchiki clansman and Kidō Corps member Minamoto Kuchiki, who pursued Kurome in order to see her skills for himself.

At a basic level, Kurome shows an in-depth theoretical understanding of Kidō, identifying and being able to cast lower, medium and high-level spells without incantation in rapid succession with little impact on its power. Kurome's greatest skill is not simply churning out spells, but rather, being able to deftly string spells in sequences to overwhelm singular or groups of enemies with extreme ease. She can perform direct attacks on their senses, chain spells into a finely tuned, highly volatile Kidō net, or grasp an opponent's spell and rebound it with additional properties and power. Kurome has also demonstrated the willingness to combine her Kidō with her Shikai abilities, granting her greater scope and methods of attack through the generated barriers.

Although her spells haven't demonstrated exorbitant power without an incantation, by Kurome's own admission, a spell like Sōren Sōkatsui completed with an incantation could prove to incinerate an entire forest if left unchecked. This fact is corroborated by Lieutenant Tenma's urgency to prevent the spell from completion. Later, she demonstrated that her spells, with incantations, boast enough power to single-handedly thwart an ensuing spiritual disaster. She was capable of conjuring the earth in four distinct pillars using Daichi Tenyō, split apart Tenran into multiple smaller tornadoes and even conjure mighty gravitational forces in Kuyō Shibari that were strong enough to rip the surface layer of the ground despite being poised significantly higher in the sky.

### Zanpakutō

*Main article: Kikka Monshō (Spirit)*
**Kikka Monshō** (菊花紋章, *Chrysanthemum Flower Seal*) takes the appearance of a standard katana with a bright yellow hilt and guard, which is flower-shaped, distinguished by sixteen distinct sides.

* **Shikai**: Kikka Monshō is released with the command **"Bloom from bloodshed."** (血の雨から咲く, *Chinoame kara saku*; lit. "Bloom from Blood Rain"). The blade is immediately enveloped in Kurome's spiritual energy before transforming into a longsword with distinct petals across the length of the blade's edge. These petals glow purple, much like Kurome's reiatsu. This blade is later revealed to be an incomplete Shikai that Kurome formed in order to hide the true scope of her ability. The true shape of Kurome's shikai is a purple katana, slightly longer than its sealed state, brimming with bright purple reiatsu across the entire length of the sword.

* ***Shikai Special Ability***: Kikka Monshō's ability is to project the purple reiatsu emitting from the petals on its blade and transform it into barriers. These barriers can vary in shape and size, but each petal can only transform into a single barrier. These barriers are very durable, for they can handle multiple rebounding Shakkahō with little strain. These barriers, or the blade itself, are capable of absorbing excess reiatsu emitted by the opponent upon striking her blade until the gauge becomes completely white, at which point she can release this spiritual pressure with the command **Hirake** (開け, *Bloom*). The resulting release of spiritual pressure is a mixture of her own and the opponent's spiritual pressure, often causing this attack to be more powerful than the attack that was initially sent against Kurome. Although it is thought she can only fill one petal at a time, she can seemingly fill up to seven petals at a time.

It is later revealed that the ability to generate barriers is a product of Kurome's Kidō prowess and wish to hide the true scope of her abilities. In fact, even the necessity to fill up the petals was merely because the shape and abilities of the Shikai had been unconsciously limited by Kurome's own desires. Kurome's abilities, while functionally the same with her true Shikai, have a much greater degree of flexibility and potential power, as she can release the stored reiatsu within the blade at any moment using the *Hirake* command. Whether it is quarter or completely full makes no difference, for the power exerted by the technique adjusts according to the reiatsu absorbed into it in the first place. According to Kurome, Kikka Monshō's ability to deal with the reiatsu of herself and her opponents greatly resembles an Arrancar's abilities, and she uses this fact to train other Shinigami who are inexperienced with Arrancar themselves.
* **Bankai**: **Kikka Monshō: Hasuike Shirabana** (菊花紋章蓮池白花, *Chrysanthemum Flower Seal: Lotus Pond's White Petals*):

* ***Bankai Special Ability***:

## Trivia

* Kurome's appearance is based off Lu'Cia from *War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius*.
* **Spirit Points**:

* Third Seat - 2 points. (166180f3d8)
* Kidō (#50-#78) - 1 point.
* Kidō (#79+) - 3 points. (1d44c48811)
* Bankai - 4 points. (a78a68732)
* Captain - 4 points. (c4d5e23f20)

## Quotes

* *"I swear on my pride as a Kuchiki...I will not allow another needless death on my hands."*
* *"There won't be a moment reprieve. In the world of Shinigami, failure results in death. That is a cardinal rule that all of you have yet to understand."*

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Thorn in the Heart: Kurome declares her intentions with respect to her deceased friend Kaguya Moritori.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Black Silence: Kurome imparts her teachings to the Shinigami she is training.
3. ↑ Black Silence: Kurome is annoyed by the lack of conduct by the Shinigami.
4. ↑ Black Silence: Kurome refers to Shizuka by her first name and suggests a friendly relationship.
5. ↑ The Mages' Manors: Kurome honors Minamoto's way of speaking.
6. ↑ Thorn in the Heart: Kurome says she will not have a meaningless death on her hands.
7. ↑ Black Silence: Kurome throws herself into battle with several Shinigami despite it being uncharacteristic of a noblewoman.
8. ↑ HELP: Kurome and Kamui fight in the past so intensely that the Captain Commander had to restrain them.
9. ↑ Thorn in the Heart: Kurome and Kamui discuss the meaning of strength.
10. ↑ HELP: Kurome and Kamui both demonstrate their own resolve to protect Seireitei.
11. ↑ Chrysanthemum's Heartbeat: Kurome cheers as her brother came home.
12. ↑ Chrysanthemum's Heartbeat: Kaima was overwhelmed by Kurome's reiatsu and was dealt a single blow, which also damaged his pride.
13. ↑ Chrysanthemum's Heartbeat: Kurome overhears Kaima's intent for Kurome and is traumatized.
14. ↑ Chrysanthemum's Heartbeat: Kurome kills Kaima in self-defense.
15. ↑ Chrysanthemum's Heartbeat: With her enormous trauma, Kurome changed her trajectory as a Shinigami to suppress the memories.
16. ↑ Chrysanthemum's Heartbeat: Kurome passed through the Kuchiki grounds one day and noticed Kaima's picture.
17. ↑ Chrysanthemum's Heartbeat: Kikka Monshō remarks that if Kurome turns back from her fate, she could not access her memories and strength.
18. ↑ Chrysanthemum's Heartbeat: Kurome steels her resolve.
19. ↑ Thorn in the Heart: Kurome is said to be at the level of Lieutenant. She also states she has the greater number of wins, currently, in her duels against Kamui.
20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 Black Silence: Kurome utilizes Tenteikūra and Raikōhō in rapid succession without incantation, while still having enough control to manipulate the basic usage of the spell.
21. ↑ SPELLBOUND: Kurome chains together Daichi Tenyo, Tenran and Kuyo Shibari in order to neutralize an extreme Kidō nuclear-like explosion.
22. ↑ *Bleach* manga; Chapter 120, page 10.
23. ↑ Thorn in the Heart: Kurome foresaw Kamui's entrance and began speaking with him, even though he wasn't physically present.
24. ↑ Chrysanthemum's Heartbeat: Kurome and Kiku use Hirake against each other consistently.
25. ↑ Thorn in the Heart: Kurome selects the people to be trained.
26. ↑ CLIMB THE VINE: Kurome used Tenran on her own body to increase her momentum to a level that Kikka Monshō could not repel it.
27. ↑ Love Hate: Kamui reminds Kurome of a Kuchiki's duty to the Soul Society's history.
28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Twin Lotus, Burn Brightly: Kurome explains the nature of an Arrancar's power and how her zanpakutō reflects those powers.
29. ↑ Chrysanthemum's Heartbeat: Kurome equally fights against her older brother despite his greater experience.
30. ↑ Chrysanthemum's Heartbeat: Kurome and Kiku consistently parry one another's attacks.
31. ↑ Twin Lotus, Burn Brightly: Kurome uses a chūdan stance to confront the Shinigami.
32. ↑ CLIMB THE VINE: Kurome uses the waki-gamae in an attempt to bypass Kikka Monshō's defense.
33. ↑ Twin Lotus, Burn Brightly: Kurome quickly counters Sakata's assault despite her speed and angle, using her Shikai ability.
34. ↑ Black Silence: Tenma and Sakata both praise Kurome's skill, and Tenma acknowledges she was the one originally pursued for the Lieutenant of the 5th Division.
35. ↑ The Mages' Manors: Minamoto acknowledges Kurome's skills as spectacular.
36. ↑ Twin Lotus, Burn Brightly: Kurome combines the loose reiatsu of her previously used Shakkahō along with Fushibi, Tsuzuri Raiden and a Kidō net to trap her opponents.
37. ↑ SPELLBOUND#The Mages' Manors: Kurome rebounds the Shakkahō and Hainawa combination with Tsuriboshi, to evade capture, and Tenran, to enhance the spell and increase its area of effect.
38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 38.2 Black Silence: Kurome utilizes her Shikai, enduring numerous Shakkahō easily.
39. ↑ Twin Lotus, Burn Brightly: Kurome begins chanting an incantation for Soren Sokatsui that proves to be dangerous enough to warrant even Tenma to urgently neutralize the attempt.
40. ↑ SPELLBOUND: Kurome chained Daichi Tenyo, Tenran and Kuyo Shibari, demonstrating great power with each spell enhanced by an incantation.
41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 Chrysanthemum's Heartbeat: Kikka Monshō unveils her true Shikai before Kurome.
42. ↑ Twin Lotus, Burn Brightly: Kurome counters Sakata's strike with her Hirake technique.
43. ↑ Chrysanthemum's Heartbeat: Kurome fills one, three, five and then seven petals simultaneously to counter Kikka Monshō's Hirake.
44. ↑ CLIMB THE VINE: Kurome uses Hirake when the blade is whitened at various degrees, demonstrating her power's flexibility.