Rukia Kuchiki

from wikipedia

**Rukia Kuchiki** (Japanese: 朽木 ルキア, Hepburn: *Kuchiki Rukia*) is a fictional character in the anime and manga series *Bleach* created by Tite Kubo. In the series, Rukia is a Soul Reaper, (死神, Shinigami, literally 'Death God'), in charge of slaying evil spirits known as Hollows. At the beginning, after a brief meeting with the protagonist of the series, Ichigo Kurosaki, who can see supernatural beings such as Soul Reapers, she is forced to give him her powers in order to fulfill her duties as a Soul Reaper. Rukia has appeared in several other pieces of *Bleach* media, including the four featured films in the series, the two original video animations and several video games.

Rukia was the first character of the series created by Kubo, her design being the one he decided to use for all the other Soul Reapers. Reaction to her character is generally positive. Her differences from typical *shōnen* heroines is praised, as is her interaction with other characters. Additionally, she usually ranks second in *Weekly Shōnen Jump'*s *Bleach* popularity polls, and is consistently the most popular female character in those polls. Several pieces of merchandise have been released in Rukia's likeness, including a plush doll and several figurines.[*citation needed*]

*leach* was first conceived from Tite Kubo's desire to draw a *shinigami* in a kimono, which formed the basis for the design of the Soul Reapers. Because of this, Kuchiki was one of the first characters of the series to be created. Before deciding that every Soul Reaper had swords, Kubo thought that they all should use guns, while only Rukia used a scythe. However, this was changed as he created the Soul Reaper kimono. Kubo also mentioned that Rukia did not seem like a lead character, so he created Ichigo Kurosaki to be the series protagonist, with Rukia being the first female lead. Ichigo's initial design had black hair like Rukia; Kubo had to modify Ichigo's appearance to contrast with hers, giving Ichigo orange hair and a trademark scowl.

As for her name, Kubo stated that, because Kuchiki "looks like a *shinigami*", he wanted her name to sound like something a *shinigami* would have as a name. When deciding upon her family name he considered using "Kuchiru" (朽ちる, lit. "to rot") because it sounded like a name a *shinigami* would have, and then decided to use "Kuchiki" (朽木, lit. "rotten wood"). He adds that he once heard something that sounded like "Kuchiki Rukia" on Japanese television, and liked it enough to use it as a name. Her first name was conceived as a result of Kubo hearing the Latin name for cosmos on television, and later decided that the name really suited her since the Latin word from which her name is derived means "light" and Kubo sees her as "a ray of light for Ichigo." *Shonen Jump* asked in an interview if Kubo had any plans to make Ichigo and Rukia a couple, but Kubo chose neither to confirm nor deny it. After designing Rukia's *zanpakutō*, Kubo noted he liked it a lot and made it to be the most beautiful one from the series.

When Kubo was asked to make a cover with a female character during Christmas, Kubo initially thought of using Rukia; he later changed to use Orihime Inoue as he thought Orihime was more suitable for such role. Additionally, after the second anime season/manga arc, Orihime replaced Rukia as the true female lead for the rest of the series. However, Kubo commented he previously made a Christmas illustration with Rukia, and that he received request by several fans wanting to see the image. In contrast to this, Kubo has found he liked Rukia more in the illustrations in which her face expresses pain such as when she is going to be executed in the manga.

## Appearances[edit]

### In *Bleach*[edit]

Rukia meets Ichigo in the midst of a hollow attack. After suffering her injuries, Rukia transfers her powers to Ichigo in order to save themselves. While he succeeds, Kuchiki is left too weak to return to Soul Society, and lives with Ichigo in the human world, intending to stay until her powers are restored. Therefore, her only ability then is her *kidō* spells, which are severely limited in strength and variety. She uses her *kidō* for such purposes as restraining, healing and attacking others. Because of the amount of time she spends with Ichigo, Rukia has been able to gain a keen understanding of his inner workings. Rukia's relationship with Ichigo is unique, for despite the relatively short amount of time they have known each other, Ichigo can easily confide in her and considers her a true friend because she is encouraging and understands what he is feeling. During her time in the human world, Rukia remains unaccounted for in Soul Society, so Byakuya Kuchiki and Renji Abarai are sent to find her and return her to the Soul Society. They succeed, and upon their return Rukia is sentenced to death for giving her Soul Reaper powers to a human. Kurosaki ultimately arrives in Soul Society in time to stop her execution, and tries to get her to safety.

During the arc, Rukia's past is explored. She died as an infant and was sent to Soul Society with her older sister, Hisana. Though Hisana initially tried to protect and provide for Rukia, she could not ensure her own survival while caring for a baby as well, and thus abandoned Rukia. As Rukia grew up, she befriended Renji Abarai, and entered the Soul Reaper academy, where she was adopted into the Kuchiki family. One year prior to the adoption, Hisana died after asking her husband, Byakuya, to find and adopt Rukia as his sister. This remains unknown to Rukia until Byakuya confesses it to her. When she was accepted into the 13th Division, Rukia befriended the lieutenant of her division, Kaien Shiba, and trained under him. During the course of a mission, Kaien was irreversibly possessed by a hollow and Rukia inadvertently kills him.
Rukia using the "first dance, white moon" ability of Sode no Shirayuki's *shikai*.

During Rukia's bid for freedom, she is stopped by Sōsuke Aizen and his accomplices. Aizen, having singlehandedly orchestrated Rukia's execution, reveals to her that within her soul is stored the *Hōgyoku* ("breakdown sphere"), a powerful artifact created and placed there by Kisuke Urahara that gives hollows Soul Reaper powers and vice versa. Wanting the *Hōgyoku* for himself, Aizen hoped that her death would give him access to it, but settles for a nonfatal alternative. The *Hōgyoku* is removed from her body, Aizen and his men flee Soul Society, and Rukia is acquitted of all charges. With the *Hōgyoku*, Aizen is able to create an army of arrancar, which he uses to attack Ichigo and his friends once they return to the human world. Rukia and a group of other Soul Reapers are sent to assist in fighting the arrancar, though after Aizen captures Orihime Inoue they are recalled to Soul Society. Rukia's *zanpakutō*, *Sode no Shirayuki* (袖白雪, literally *"Sleeved white snow"*), is also revealed as a completely white blade, earning it the recognition as the most beautiful *zanpakutō* in Soul Society. *Sode no Shirayuki* utilizes ice to attack, each of its abilities being labeled as "dances" by Rukia. During the anime's 13th season, Sode no Shirayuki manifests in a yukionna-like form, voiced by Mie Sonozaki.

After learning that Aizen kidnapped Orihime, Rukia and friends head for Hueco Mundo to rescue her. While there, Rukia encounters the Espada, Aaroniero Arruruerie, who is revealed to have possession of Kaien's body. Saddened that she had not saved her mentor from the control of a hollow as she had previously thought, Rukia manages to kill Aaroniero. Rukia is badly injured during the battle, and it is not until Soul Society sends reinforcements to Hueco Mundo that she is revived and her wounds are healed. She later assists Ichigo in his rescue to save Orihime from the Espada Ulquiorra Cifer by engaging the remaining Arrancars until requiring support. Following Aizen's defeat and the loss of Ichigo's Soul Reaper powers, Rukia and Ichigo bid one another farewell as Ichigo loses the ability to sense Rukia's presence.[*citation needed*]

Seventeen months later, Rukia, now lieutenant of Squad 13, returns to aid in restoring Ichigo's Soul Reaper powers before engaging the Fullbringer Riruka Dokugamine. When the Soul Society is abruptly invaded by the Wandenreich, an organization made up of Quincy who has survived their genocide one thousand years before, Rukia senses Byakuya being left near dead by Äs Nodt and is knocked out before she can come to her brother's aid. Rukia is taken to the Royal Dimension so she could be healed, and is then taught by Ichibei Hyosube to achieve her *bankai*, *Hakka no Togame* (白霞罸, literally *"Censure of the white haze"*). Returning to the Soul Society when the Wandenreich resume their attack, Rukia utilizes her newly acquired *bankai* to finally kill Äs Nodt. In the subsequent battles against Yhwach's Schutzstaffel Rukia and a large number of high rank Soul Reapers are quickly defeated by the powerful Gerard Valkyrie. In the series epilogue, ten years after Yhwach's defeat, Rukia is revealed to have become the new Squad 13 captain and married Renji with the two having a daughter named Ichika.[*citation needed*]

### In other media[edit]

Rukia has made several appearances outside of the *Bleach* anime and manga. She appears in all of the featured films in the series: she fights the Dark Ones with other Soul Reaper comrades in *Bleach: Memories of Nobody* and aids in the search for Tōshirō Hitsugaya in *Bleach: The DiamondDust Rebellion*. Rukia is also given the main focus role in the third movie, *Bleach: Fade to Black* where she is kidnapped and mind-wiped by two mysterious rogues, and later transformed into 'Dark Rukia'. In the fourth movie, *Bleach: Hell Verse*, Rukia helps Ichigo in rescuing his sister Yuzu from the depths of Hell. She is also present in both of the original video animations produced in the series, helping Ichigo in *Memories in the Rain* and combating the rogue Soul Reaper Baishin in *The Sealed Sword Frenzy*. In *Rock Musical Bleach*, a musical based on the *Bleach* series, she is played by Miki Satō. In the *Bleach* video games, Rukia is a playable character in every game, including the *Heat the Soul* and *Blade Battlers* series. In some games, her human form and Soul Reaper state are available as separate characters, while Dark Rukia is playable in *Heat the Soul 6* and *Heat the Soul 7*.

Rukia is featured in the live-action adaptation of the manga, *Bleach*. The character was portrayed by Hana Sugisaki and the film took place during the Soul Reaper Agent arc, when Rukia had to transfer her powers to Ichigo. The film opened in Japan on July 20, 2018.