Rukia Kuchiki (朽木 ルキア)

Rukia Kuchiki (朽木 ルキア, Kuchiki Rukia^?) is a fictional character and protagonist in the anime and manga series Bleach created by Tite Kubo. Rukia is an unseated shinigami in the 13th Division under Jūshirō Ukitake. She meets Ichigo Kurosaki, a high school student, and through a set of circumstances, he obtains her powers, forcing her to take up residence in his home and him to take her place as a shinigami. Although Tōshirō Hitsugaya recently usurped her position, Rukia had been consistently the second most popular Bleach character in Shonen Jump’s polls. Currently, she is the 3rd most-popular character.

^Rinciannya:

Rukia Kuchiki
Bleach character
Rukia Kuchiki by Tite Kubo
Created by	Tite Kubo
Voiced by	Fumiko Orikasa (Japanese) Michelle Ruff (English)
Profile
Gender	Female
Species	Shinigami
Date of birth	January 14[1]
Occupation	Shinigami in the 13th Division
Known relatives	Hisana Kuchiki (sister, deceased), Byakuya Kuchiki (brother-in-law, adoptive brother)
Zanpakutō	Sode no Shirayuki

Character outline

Initially born into a lower class, Rukia retains her modesty even as an adopted member of the nobility: she is graceful and “clean”, yet chooses to talk to ordinary people. However, her cool and reserved demeanor often forces her to hide her personal troubles even from her friends. Although she tells Ichigo that she is nearly ten times older than he, she is endearingly clueless about the ways of the modern living world (since Soul Society resembles Japan’s Edo period). She is initially unable to figure out how to drink from a simple juice box, and learns to speak modern Japanese through the manga she reads. According to Tite Kubo, when (in book five) the semester final exam scores were announced, Rukia’s rank was 302 out of 322. With the exception of Japanese, she failed most of her exams.^[4]

Short and petite, Rukia is among the shortest characters in Bleach easily being towered over by people of Chad’s height. Rukia is also an accomplished actress, being able to act her way through a number of tough situations, such as getting out of trouble with school teachers or managing to get a room at Ichigo’s house much to his embarrassment that his own family would fall for such a lame act. Ichigo seems to be the only one to always pick up on it and accuse her of pretending. She also seems to enjoy drawing (albeit horribly); her drawings of people and hollows seem to resemble rabbits and teddy bears, respectively. Rukia’s inability to draw well (and her taking offense when told as much) is a running gag in the series. Rukia loves Chappy the Rabbit (and basically anything rabbit-themed) and is rather put out when she is unable to obtain Chappy Soul Candy because of its popularity in Soul Society (although she is able to obtain it during the Arrancar arc). She also likes to climb to high places and her favorite foods are cucumbers and shira-tama (but the list could get longer).^[1]

In the Bount arc, Ririn, one of the modsouls that Urahara invented, is jealous of Rukia’s familiarity with Ichigo, while Rukia instantly takes a liking to Kuroud, who resembles Chappy the Rabbit in his plushie form. This makes Kon break down and start crying, as he believes that no one, meaning Rukia, likes him anymore.

Her attitude towards Ichigo varies throughout the series. At times, she is a bickering adversary, and at other times, she worries about him and dispatches advice like a wise old sage. Most of their scenes together have them yelling and making faces at each other. Despite these quarrels, the two have a deep understanding of each other, often being the only ones able to talk each other out of a funk.

There is a deeply serious side to Rukia as well, best shown during the time she was taken back to Soul Society for giving her powers to Ichigo. In her time in Soul Society, which she spent in various holding cells, she is constantly seen resigned to her fate or in deep thought. She and Ichigo also have similar feelings of loss and guilt. Ichigo thought he was responsible for his mother’s death and Rukia’s near execution. Rukia thought she was responsible for the death of one of her commanding officers, Kaien Shiba, and considered Ichigo’s apparent death her fault.

 Residence

Due to her circumstances during the early story and the anime Bount arc, Rukia lives in Ichigo’s closet with Kon; she uses the bedroom window as an entryway into the Kurosaki household. Additionally, she has obtained casual clothing and school uniforms for her day-to-day activities, some of which were stolen from Ichigo’s sister Yuzu, and the rest of which were supplied by Urahara on credit.^[5]

Several months after the incidents at the Soul Society (and at least several weeks after the incidents of the Bount arc in the anime), Rukia returns to the living world with five other shinigami to combat the rising arrancar threat. She appears to convince the Kurosaki family to let her stay with them, using a fake, sympathetic story that seems to instantly convince Yuzu and Isshin (though Isshin was actually aware of her true identity at the time), and ends up sharing a crowded room with Ichigo’s sisters.

 History

Young Rukia and Renji during their early years in the Rukongai.

Rukia and her older sister, Hisana, were brought together to 78th District of Rukongai after they died in the human world. Hisana abandoned Rukia when she was still a baby since she could not continue to support both herself and Rukia. Rukia grew up on her own until she met Renji Abarai and other children her age. They worked together to steal food in order to survive and became a makeshift family. During this time, Rukia and Renji showed signs of having spiritual power. While they initially opted against becoming shinigami, the death of all their friends prompted Rukia to suggest joining the academy for a better life.

At the shinigami academy, Renji was admitted into the top class and Rukia into the second ranked one. Renji and Rukia started growing further apart as Renji got further ahead in his training. The emotional distance continued until Rukia was asked to join the Kuchiki family. Renji expressed happiness for Rukia’s opportunity but both did not admit that they disagreed with the arrangement since they would likely never see each other again. Rukia reluctantly joined the family and was immediately inducted into the 13th Division without having to graduate or take a squad entrance exam. Unknown to Rukia, Byakuya had adopted her in order to fulfill the dying wish of Rukia’s sister, Hisana, whom Byakuya had taken as his wife.

In the 13th Division, Rukia was not given a seat position, due to Byakuya Kuchiki’s influence, since he did not want her sent on dangerous missions. She became friends with the division lieutenant, Kaien Shiba, who trained and mentored her. Their first training location was Mount Koifushi of Hokutan, the 3rd district of West Rukongai.^[6]

Rukia greatly admired Kaien’s wife, 3rd Seat Miyako Shiba. When Miyako was killed by a hollow, Rukia, Kaien, and the division’s captain, Jūshirō Ukitake hunted the hollow down. Kaien faced the hollow alone but the hollow’s special ability destroyed his zanpakutō. Rukia attempted to draw her sword and help but was stopped by Ukitake. He told her that Kaien’s fight was one of pride rather than a fight for his life. If Rukia helped, Kaien would be saved but his pride would be damaged forever. Meanwhile, the hollow entered Kaien and possessed him. Ukitake faced the hollow but his illness allowed the hollow the opportunity to attack Rukia. Kaien momentarily regained control and thrust himself through Rukia’s zanpakutō. He thanked Rukia and Ukitake for letting him fight for his pride and died in Rukia’s arms. Rukia brought the corpse to the Shiba family but was afraid to apologize since she felt guilty about her role in Kaien’s death.

 Synopsis

While patrolling Karakura Town, Rukia enters Ichigo’s room during the course of a standard soul burial, though is surprised to find that Ichigo can see and interact with a shinigami such as herself. As Rukia tries to explain what shinigami are, they are attacked by a hollow drawn to their spiritual pressure. Once Rukia is left injured during the battle, she is forced to transfer her spiritual powers to Ichigo in order to save them. Although they are saved, Rukia is left unable to return to Soul Society and is forced to live in a gigai given to her by Kisuke Urahara until she can restore her powers. In the meantime she forces Ichigo to carry out her shinigami duties, and enjoys her time with those she meets in the human world.

Rukia is eventually tracked down by two shinigami from Soul Society, her childhood friend Renji and her adopted brother Byakuya. The two arrest her and she goes with them quietly, hoping to save Ichigo’s life by not getting him involved. Upon her return to Soul Society she is sentenced to death, though as she awaits her date of execution she learns that Ichigo and her human friends have come to Soul Society to rescue her. In addition to going against her wishes by coming to Soul Society, Ichigo’s presence gradually results in Rukia’s execution being moved to an increasingly earlier date. Once that day arrives, Rukia is taken to the Sōkyoku, and as her last wish asks for Ichigo and the others to be sent back to the living world unharmed. The Sōkyoku is released and is about to kill her before Ichigo appears to block it with his zanpakutō. Renji, dissatisfied with Rukia’s sentence, tries to take her from Soul Society while Ichigo deals with the other shinigami.

As the two flee, they are met by Sōsuke Aizen and his accomplices who quickly dispose of Renji and, upon his eventual arrival, Ichigo. With her protectors unable to fight, Aizen reveals that he arranged Rukia’s execution in order to retrieve the Orb of Distortion from Rukia’s soul that was placed there by Urahara at an earlier point in time. The gigai Urahara had given her in the human world had been designed to drain spiritual power rather than restore it, effectively making Rukia untraceable by Soul Society. Had things gone as planned, Rukia would have simply become human, making the Orb impossible to retrieve. Aizen had planned to retrieve the Orb after Rukia’s execution, but Ichigo’s interference forced him to use a less harmful method devised by Urahara, which keeps Rukia alive after removing the Orb. Once acquiring the Orb, Aizen instructs Gin Ichimaru to kill Rukia, Byakuya arrives to save her from the attack. The remaining shinigami arrive to deal with Aizen and the others, but they are able to escape into Hueco Mundo. Ichigo and his fellow humans prepare to return to the world of the living. Rukia, however, remains in Soul Society, and bids farewell to her friends.

Ichigo and his friends’ time away from with Rukia is short lived, as Rukia is soon sent back to the human world to fight the Bount. During a battle with Mabashi, Rukia is possessed by the doll Ritz, though is ultimately saved by Orihime Inoue. After returning to Soul Society, Rukia is attacked once again by the Bount Yoshi, who beats her up until Byakuya arrives to help. The injuries she sustained force her to remain in Soul Society after the Bount are vanquished, and she is once again separated from Ichigo.

After recuperating, Rukia joins a group of shinigami in returning to the human world to help defend against the arrancar. She kills the arrancar Di Roy during the second arrancar attack using one of her zanpakutō’s shikai abilities. During the third arrancar attack, Rukia helps Ichigo battle Grimmjow Jeagerjaques, though she is brought to the verge of death before Grimmjow is driven off. Grimmjow’s reasons for leaving are soon discovered to be a result of Orihime’s capture. Although Rukia wishes to help rescue Orihime, she is forced to return to Soul Society.

Unwilling to leave Orihime behind, Rukia and Renji go to Hueco Mundo to join Ichigo in the rescue effort. After the group splits up, Rukia encounters the 9th Espada, Aaroniero Arruruerie, who reveals himself to have the face of Kaien Shiba. Although she is momentarily led to believe that it is the real Kaien, she realizes that her former mentor would never ask her to kill her friends as this Kaien is doing. She is able to dissolve the illusion and reveal the true Aaroniero, giving her a chance to kill him. While successful, Aaroniero’s last attack leaves her heavily injured and she passes out. As she lies unconscious, Zommari Leroux, the 7th Espada, arrives to finish her but he is interrupted by the arrival of Byakuya. Zommari tries to take control of Rukia’s body to use her as a hostage, but Byakuya restrains her long enough to kill the Espada. She is then healed and revived by Isane Kotetsu, but she isn’t still fully recovered and Byakuya tells her not to talk.

 Powers

Rukia, as a shinigami of the 13th Division, has a standard array of skills required of shinigami troops. Upon her introduction, she has the basic-level zanpakutō, of which she seemed to have only mastered the rudimentary skills. Rukia’s greatest strength is her knowledge of the kidō, a set of magic spells she can use in the performance of her duties; amongst her known skills are those for binding, healing, purifying, and destruction. Renji says that Rukia is also useful because of her speed. By her own admission, she has less talent in swordsmanship than kidō.^[7]

After losing her powers, Rukia is able to use kidō spells in a limited fashion, but they are so weak that they have almost no effect on their targets. The anime’s Bount arc, in contrast, shows her using at least one spell on a level similar to Renji (this difference can be attributed to the different gigai used in each situation). Since the events at the Soul Society, Rukia’s shinigami powers have made a near complete recovery.

Though Rukia is an unseated officer in the 13th Division, she is actually powerful and skilled enough to qualify as a seated officer. As this would require her to accomplish much more dangerous missions, Byakuya pulled some strings to keep her name off the list of qualified officers.

 Sode no Shirayuki

Sode no Shirayuki’s shikai

Rukia’s zanpakutō is named Sode no Shirayuki (袖の白雪 or 袖白雪, lit. “Sleeve’s White Snow”). It goes unnamed until after the Soul Society arc in the manga, since she initially gave her shinigami powers to Ichigo. Its shikai command is “dance” (舞え, mae^?).^[8]

In its shikai, the entirety of Sode no Shirayuki, including the blade, hilt, and handle, becomes white. The tsuba turns to a circle and a white ribbon forms from the pommel. Sode no Shirayuki is regarded as the most beautiful snow and ice type zanpakutō in Soul Society.^[9] The weapon has control over ice, much like Tōshirō Hitsugaya’s Hyōrinmaru, but it is used in a different manner. Like Kaname Tōsen’s Suzumushi and Kisuke Urahara’s Benihime, Sode no Shirayuki possesses more than one ability.

Sode no Shirayuki’s abilities are labeled as “dances” by Rukia. With the command “first dance, white moon” (初の舞、月白, some no mai, tsukishiro^?),^[10] Rukia can create a circle of influence around her intended target and freeze everything within the circle from the ground upwards until it reaches the sky. The command “next dance, white ripple” (次の舞、白漣, tsugi no mai, hakuren^?)^[11] fires a massive wave of ice from Sode no Shirayuki’s blade. Finally, the command “third dance, white sword” (参の舞、白刀, san no mai, shirafune^?)^[12] allows Rukia to reforge her zanpakutō with ice particles if it is broken, piercing through objects in its path. After piercing its target, it continues to freeze any surrounding objects, including the battlefield.