SOUL SOCIETY CHARACTERS
NOBORU SHIHOIN: Son of Yoruichi Shihoin and Byakuya Kuchiki. Current heir to the Shihoin clan. Zanpakuto: Hanuman – The Monkey King.
Born soon after his mother's self-imposed exile from Soul Society, Noboru is kept secret from both her colleagues at the Urahara Shoten and the Vaizard. He is raised by South American spirits indebted to Yoruichi, with frequent visits from her for training. After reaching a certain age he begins to live on his own without supervision. Following the Autumn War, Noboru becomes a target of the Wild Hunt and is rescued by Soifon and his maternal great-uncle Chojiro Sasakibe. They escort him to his mother, who delivers him into the care of his paternal aunt Rukia Kuchiki. While living with her at the Urahara Shoten, Noboru trains with Soifon.
Noboru quickly befriends many spirits in Soul Society, including Saijin Komamura. He infiltrates the cult of Barragan and aids in the rescue of the human teenagers they captured. When his parents finally marry, Noboru meets his father Byakuya for the first time, who recognizes him as the heir of the Kuchiki. After she becomes pregnant, he makes frequent attempts to get his Aunt Rukia betrothed to prospective grooms other than Ichigo Kurosaki.
The Wild Hunt attacks Rukia, and Noboru joins forces with Saijin and Ryuken Ishida to stop them. Since they are both survivors of previous Hunts, neither Noboru nor the Quincy can be targeted by any Hunt members other than Cernunnos. They use this to their advantage and ultimately triumph, slaying the Hunt Master and banishing the Hunt. Noboru formally takes the name of Shihoin before gleefully welcoming his new cousin into the world.
While Noboru and Kiyone Kotetsu are being considered for prospective marriage to each other, the two of them stumble upon an old hideout of Unohana's in the mortal realm. They lead an investigation during which both shinigami do battle with the remnants of Grimmjow's pack and the lingering influence of Unohana/Aizen to emerge unscathed.
Gin Ichimaru has hinted that some suspect Noboru might be destined to destroy the Wild Hunt permanently.
YUDAI SHIBA: Previous Lord of the Shiba and Captain of the Seventh Division; father of Kaien, Kukaku and Ganju, and father-in-law to Miyako.
Executes Lady Manami Takuiyoku at the end of the Manor Wars to avenge his clan's losses, and mutilates her brother Lord Katsurou Arashi in a duel to avenge her death. Presides over the gradual decline of his clan and their banishment from the ranks of nobility. After being stripped of his captaincy, while attempting ritual suicide he is murdered by Katsurou and Kyoraku Shunsui.
MANAMI TAKUIYOKU: Younger sister of Katsurou Arashi, and mother to Aizen Sosuke.
Wed to Kaito, Lord of the Takuiyoku. With the fall of her clan following the Manor Wars, she entrusts her infant son Sosuke to the care of Unohana Retsu moments before being killed by Yudai Shiba. Her death is witnessed by both Ukitake Jushiro and a hidden Kyoraku Shunsui. Manami's spirit and that of her unborn child were accepted into Sogyo no Kotowari. Years later, she would grant the life of her unborn child to a mortally wounded Toshiro Hitsugaya in the hopes that he might rescue her only remaining son.
KATSUROU ARASHI: Current Lord of the Arashi. Brother to Manami Takuiyoku, and maternal uncle to Aizen Sosuke. Zanpakuto: Jurogumo – The Spider Queen.
Former Captain of the Fifth Division. After losing his sister in the Manor Wars, Katsurou barred his entire clan from service in the Gotei 13 and challenged her killer, Yudai Shiba, to a duel in which he lost his right hand. Approached by Kyoraku Shunsui with a plan, the two of them covertly arranged the Shiba clan's collapse over several centuries, culminating in their murder of Yudai himself.
In modern times, with the fall of Yamamoto and the Gotei 13, the Arashi make major contributions to Soul Society's revival. Katsurou sees a chance to take his vengeance on the Kuchiki clan as well, whom he blames for indirectly implicating his sister in her husband's rebellion. He approaches Byakuya Kuchiki with an offer of marriage for his sister Rukia. Byakuya is forced to accept, unaware that Katsurou has drawn on archaic laws and rules of the Seireitei to make the Kuchiki a vassal to his own clan through this wedding.
When his scheme is revealed, Katsurou is challenged to an honor duel for Rukia's hand by Ichigo Kurosaki. Upon Ichigo's disqualification the gauntlet is taken up by Kon, who has been accepted into the Shiba clan. Enraged, Katsurou accepts his challenge, and the two of them wind up fighting an internal war of spirits in which Kon's grief for his lost siblings awakens Katsurou's own, resulting in him nearly abandoning his life. Kon prevents this by urging him to live for the sake of his departed loved ones, and Katsurou concedes his loss. He visits the Shiba and confesses to his crimes against them, offering his life in exchange only to be forgiven by Kukaku.
Katsurou begins to court Kukaku, much to her annoyance. Aizen Sosuke visits him in a dream and reveals their relationship, prompting Katsurou to officially declare Aizen his heir as a means of protecting Manami's son. He is approached by Rukia Kuchiki, who offers him a spell courtesy of Unohana Retsu that can heal the sick and injured of the mortal realm. Katsurou agrees to have his personal forces, the Mashō, distribute the panacea worldwide, something forbidden to official shinigami.
After a protracted courtship, Katsurou and Kukaku finally wed.
THE MASHO: 'Demon Generals'. Military arm of the Arashi clan; utilize a personalized brand of kido based around the rules of card games.
KENTA ARAKAKI: Former Second Seat of Division Ten. Lover to Sachiko Fugunushi, Third Seat of that division. Killed by Ulquiorra Schiffer in a demonstration of his strength for Aizen's benefit.
SACHIKO FUGUNUSHI: Former Third Seat of Division Ten, loyal follower of the previous captain Hiroko Shoumen.
After losing her lover Lieutenant Arakaki, she volunteers to take his place by participating in the next Lieutenants' trials, only to be severely beaten and dismembered by Gin Ichimaru such that she was consigned to only administrative affairs from that point on.
During the Autumn War, Sachiko recognizes the reiatsu of Ulquiorra Schiffer and goes to confront the Espada in a suicidal attempt at recompense for her dead lover. Unknowingly accompanied by a severely injured Gin, she reaches the battle in time to see Ulquiorra about to exterminate the shinigami. Sachiko realizes she can do nothing to stop him and instead casts a spell showing Kenta before the Espada killed him, unwittingly distracting the maddened Hollow to such an extent that he shoots at her and leaves himself open to a fatal assault. Sachiko is overwhelmed by the vasto lorde's poisonous reiatsu and dies after having saved her captain's life. Years later, when Toshiro almost dies fighting Tatsuki Arisawa and Ulquiorra Schiffer in the Deadly Trials, the remnants of Sachiko's spirit intervene to give him a chance at victory.
HIROKO SHOUMEN: Captain of Squad Ten before Toshiro Hitsugaya; promoted to the Central 46. Gruesomely murdered by Gin during Aizen's Rebellion as payback for disparaging Rangiku Matsumoto.
YUMA OGA: Modern-day lieutenant of the Kido Corps. Killed by Enfain Tezima during the theft of the Sokyoku halberd.
RYUKO RYUHIME: Officer of the Tenth Division, now current Fifth Seat of Leopard Company under Captain Hitsugaya. Survivor of the battle of Hollow's Bog and a sort of personal assistant to Toshiro.
AKIO SAKEZUKI: Husband to the unnamed shinigami friend of Kaname Tosen, and father of Momo Hinamori; minor member of the Omaeda clan.
After murdering his wife and another shinigami in a fit of rage, he loses his rank in the Gotei 13 but manages to use his remaining connections to retain an administrative position at the Shinigami Academy. Pressured by Aizen to admit Kaname to the academy, he is ultimately mutilated and killed by Tosen. The murder is covered up by Aizen.
DAICHI YAMADA: Father of Hanataro; officer in the Fourth Division. Kills and subsequently killed by the Hollow Rip Tease, who was then reincarnated in Soul Society as Gin Ichimaru.
DAO FENG: Brother to Soifon; killed by Rip Tease.
ZHEN FENG: Brother to Soifon; killed by Benihime while saving the lives of Yoruichi Shihoin and Kisuke Urahara.
SHIRABE: Former servant of the Takuiyoku and nursemaid to Aizen Sosuke. Known as 'Granny' to both Momo Hinamori and Hitsugaya Toshiro, who is in actuality her son.
Rescued from the Manor Wars massacre by Kyoraku Shunsui. After helping him in his plot to overthrow the Shiba, Shirabe became aware that her young lord Sosuke Takuiyoku still lived. Devastated by this and her actions that night, she and Jushiro Ukitake slept together after both consumed the same enchanted brew which caused Kaien Shiba and Miyako Mori to fall in love. Shirabe leaves the household the next morning but soon realizes she is carrying Jushiro's child. After a difficult pregnancy that ages her prematurely, she gives birth to Toshiro Hitsugaya and proceeds to raise him without any knowledge of their true relationship along with Momo Hinamori, who was left in her care as well. Initially supportive of their joining the Shinigami Academy, Shirabe is horrified when both her children are nearly killed by the man she was sworn to serve. Years later, after Toshiro survives the Deadly Trials, Shirabe confesses their true relationship. When her time comes, she reunites with Momo and dies peacefully with Toshiro by her side.
HUECO MUNDO CHARACTERS
CERNUNNOS: Eternal if inconstant leader of the Wild Hunt, an ancient horror predating the formation of the Gotei 13 and the Seireitei itself. Former ally of Barragan Luisenbarn. Codename: Hunt Master.
Theoretical head of the mythic force of crazed destruction called the Wild Hunt, a roaming pack of insane Menos Grande. Only recently confirmed to exist, Cernunnos is a title granted to whichever member currently leads the group. It is the only one who can be killed, the rest proving indestructible until the Master falls. Scouring both Hueco Mundo and the human world by night, the Wild Hunt can only manifest during the day if they possess the bodies of beasts. Should their prey manage to elude them until the coming of dusk or dawn, the Hunt will break off pursuit and never be able to track that particular target again. Confirmed past Masters of the Hunt include Saijin Komamura and most recently Berrinholtz.
After massacring the Quincy, including the family of Ryuken Ishida, Cernunnos and its pack were sealed away by Barragan so that Aizen could not benefit from their strength. Freed by Ichigo's Hollow at the behest of Rose Otoribashi, they roamed free while accepting certain previously identified targets. Following the destruction of Berrinholtz-Cernunnos by Ryuken, the Wild Hunt was not sighted in any dimension for many years. This changed when Kaname Tosen was forced to become a Hollow and sent out of Nirvana, at which point Cernunnos seized this opportunity to possess him. Now Kaname Cernunnos, the new Hunt Master leads a revived Wild Hunt against the forces of Soul Society.
NATELLA CONTRACORRIENTE: Former Tercera Espada; one of the vasto lorde Tia Halibel's leavings. Zanpakuto: Lambton Yrm.
Able to mask Hollow soul signatures completely, she is employed by Aizen in clandestine work such as surreptitiously overseeing the massacre of Shinigami Academy students that led to Aizen and Gin rescuing Momo, Hisagi, Renji and Kira. Sent by Gin to assassinate Jushiro Ukitake during the Battle of Hollow's Bog, only to be killed by him and Renji. Studies of her cloaking power eventually led to the creation of sombras, which mimic the effect.
ENFAIN TEZIMA: Arrancar scout and spy in Aizen's army. Codename: Tone Death. Zanpakuto: Ciao Roscuro.
During the Autumn War, she provides surveillance reports and oversees troop disposition for the Numeros. Following the Hollows' rout she asks to accompany Grimmjow as part of his new pack, eventually proving herself sufficiently to act as his lieutenant. Infiltrates the cult of Barragan and betrays Lagrima to Grimmjow. Assists in the retrieval of the Sokyoku halberd. After Grimmjow is lost, she sets out to avenge him by killing Rukia Kuchiki, corralling Loly and Menoly to help her. When the duo are killed, Enfain is struck down but manages to escape with a fragment of their resurreccion. She is later recruited by Gin Ichimaru into his cabal and fights Toshiro Hitsugaya during the Deadly Trials.
LAGRIMA: Slave of Barragan Luisenbarn.
Able to track and injure her victims provided she has a sample of their hair strung on her harp. After the Hollow King's death in Nirvana, she is tricked into believing he still lives by Tia Halibel, who masquerades as him through a sending across dimensions. At her master's direction Lagrima locates the resurrected but weakened Ulquiorra Schiffer and begins collecting the essence of vasto lorde from living humans to sustain him. When Siamese Company learns of their location and invades, Lagrima attempts to escape with the collected essence, but is betrayed and ambushed by Grimmjow's party, who rob her of it. Shortly after this a wounded Lagrima is eaten by a hungry Captain Neliel tu Odelschvank.
BERRINHOLTZ: Powerful brute Hollow employed by Lagrima. Became Hunt Master of the Wild Hunt after her death, only to be killed by Noboru Shihoin and Ryuken Ishida.
EIN VOGEL: Former potential Espada and loyal follower of Aizen Sosuke. Later a member of Grimmjow Jaguerjaques' pack. Zanpakuto: Bohda.
Arrogant, dangerous and self-important (if lacking in raw power), Vogel hoped to be named an Espada but never got the chance. The closest he could come was serving reluctantly under Grimmjow after the Autumn War, where he headed up one of the more pro-Aizen factions. While willing to cooperate, Vogel seized the opportunity to try and abandon Grimmjow to his death when Soul Society laid waste to their camp. He spent several years in their mountain holdout in Peru, where he fell under the spell of Triumph Irate and set about trying to kill his former packmates. Kept in a stalemate by the superior raw power of Albion Diega and unwilling to leave behind Grimmjow's accumulated vasto lorde essence, Vogel eventually found himself faced by Kiyone Kotetsu, whose shikai proved able to pierce his resurreccion's defenses. Vogel managed to finally retrieve and consume the essence, however his escape was thwarted by the reappearance of Grimmjow, who ate him to regain it.
ALBION DIEGA: Former potential Espada and loyal follower of Aizen Sosuke. Later a member of Grimmjow Jaguerjaques' pack. Zanpakuto: Estomago.
A brutal and powerful arrancar, he failed to gain Aizen's attention sufficiently to earn the rank of Espada, and ultimately wound up following Grimmjow, the last Espada in Hueco Mundo he could find. Diega disdained the outright rebelliousness characterized by Ein Vogel, although concerning loyalty to Aizen they could agree on that much. When the pack became trapped in Unohana's mountain, he was able to maintain his free will and brought the vast majority of the other Hollows under his control, with his superior attack power and the ensorcelled Vogel's superior defense making them an even match for one another. When the shinigami invaded, Diega succeeded in capturing them, only to be beaten by the arrival of Tatsuki Arisawa and absorbed by her. Years later he is utilized as a stock fighter in her duel with Toshiro Hitsugaya, only to be contemptuously killed by her after his defeat.
MORTAL REALM
KUJAKU KUCHIKI: firstborn son of Rukia and Ichigo, legally named Shotoku Kurosaki. Born during the attack of the Wild Hunt, he has displayed the ability to enter the dreams of both humans and spirits.
HIRUKO KUROSAKI: Kujaku's younger sister; she possesses no discernible spiritual strength, but has been trained in karate by Tatsuki Arisawa. Like her brother, Hiruko possesses a dream-based power that allows her soul to visit other spiritual realms, even restricted ones like Nirvana.
SUZUKI DENBEI: Struggling actor at a Japanese amusement park, he is a favorite target of the sadistic local silversmith Gato Izanagi (Gin Ichimaru).
MARI-RIN KANONJI: Deceased head priestess at Kioshimura Temple, grandmother to Don Kanonji. Despite dying several years ago, her spirit was captured by Gin and transplanted into a golem he created from various fruits and vegetables, disguising her appearance through Hollow sorcery. Unaware of any of this, Mari-Rin continues to serve the public and the spirits… BWA-HA-HA-HA-HAH!
CHIKAMOTO AZUMA: Owner of the Zoematsu Dojo, where Ichigo is employed as a kendo instructor.
"WANDERER IN SHADOWS"
Michiru Ohgawa's popular vampire adventure/romance cellphone novel (later turned into a manga and anime), featuring characters based on people she knows. To wit:
Rania – Rukia Kuchiki
Graff Radu von Totholtz – Byakuya Kuchiki
Inglebert – Ichigo Kurosaki
Ulric Sterne – Uryu Ishida
Lohengrin – Gin Ichimaru
Xiomara – Yoruichi Shihoin
Aschen – Isshin Kurosaki
Adelaide – Orihime Inoue
Rajnee – Renji Abarai
Semele – Rangiku Matsumoto
Richter Sterne – Ryuken Ishida