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Player's Name: Lucy
Contact info: AIM | divinascomedias
DW: red_queen

Character: (Tensa) Zangetsu *** Tensa denotes he is in 'bankai' mode
Canon: Bleach
Version: Anime version (since there are more arcs with his personality available there but there aren't many changes)
Canon Point: End of the fake Karakura Town arc where he accepts his own destruction for Ichigo.
Age: He looks around 15-16. Chronologically, he's been in 'existance' since Ichigo was alive.
Gender: Male


History:

Every single important detail where Zangetsu was physically present can be found HERE

The life through the eyes of his master since he is his trusted sword can be found HERE

Personality:

They say the spirits of swords reflect their masters and Zangetsu is no exception, even down to the same frown they both seem to carry on a daily basis.

At first glance, Zangetsu might come off as a bit intimidating. Being cooped up in the mind of a teenage boy with only himself and a Hollow for company, it's easy see why he lacks most (if not any) socializing skills. He's cool and collected, reserved in emotion and speech, yet just like Ichigo, Zangetsu is very curious. This curiosity is what would probably motivate him to speak to others since he's never had anyone else to interact with. Because he's never had to worry about the things he says Zangetsu might come of as very blunt. He's always spoken his mind and tends not to hide his true emotions. This can more than likely get him into trouble but Zangetsu is very versatile and a quick learner. With some good positive reinforcement and an explanation, he might learn how to handle such situations. When meeting someone new, Zangetsu will more than likely stare at an individual or follow them around trying to learn a thing or two about them before mustering the urge to actually ask them a question. Lack of courage wouldn't be why he hesitates, it's mostly due to the fact that anyone outside of Hollow and Ichigo will strike alert and caution. He doesn't trust very easily. He might also ghost around them and if confronted, his words might take a dive towards the offensive but he's not a threat. It comes with being used to never being seen since he's more of a guardian spirit than a companion.

He's always alert and carries himself in an almost too-serious front that might come off as threatening. That being said, he's not exactly a threat to anyone unless they prove themselves to be. As a soul of a sword for a shinigami, he's supposed to protect humans so he won't exactly kill someone unless provoked. Zangetsu is, however, protective in the things he cares about. Ichigo, for example, is his priority so anything that so much as bears a slight threat to him he won't hesitate to handle with extreme prejudice. In a sense he shares that with Ichigo because both will do anything for what they want to protect. Unfortunately for Ichigo, Zangetsu is a lot more down-to-earth. He doesn't take rash decisions, he calculates every situation and at times is the voice of guidance and reason for Ichigo. He is good with defining limits and because of this, he can very easily pinpoint weakness's and limits. He is also very good at calculating his own and Ichigo's. Hollow's is a given considering the creature is a part of him. He's a very intelligent spirit.

Like Ichigo, Zangetsu's main attribute is his undying loyalty. From the instant he was born and before Ichigo could use him, Zangetsu was ever watchful of his master. During an arc where the souls of the swords were manifested into tangible bodies and placed under the control of a ring master, Zangetsu stayed loyal to Ichigo surprising many. This undying bond is Zangetsu's purpose, he feels. This loyalty can probably pass on to those he meets and befriends because he hardly ever has anything to call his own, it would show on his relationship with people, he can become very protective of them.

In contrast, Zangetsu's personality is a little calmer than Ichigo's. He always comes off as cool and collected even in situations of high stress. Where Ichigo would be shouting in battle, Zangetsu is calm and reserved keeping his words short and speaking with his actions. It's also seen that Zangetsu had a short fuse in regards to temper. He can even throw tantrums when he wants. What sparks this tends to be confrontation or agitation but it's only a personality trait that he picks up in his bankai state (which is what I'll be apping.) In other words, he can be a brat if he wants.

Fears:

Fears towards being consumed by 'evil'
Because of Zangetsu's undying loyalty to Ichigo, his worst fear is that someday Ichigo will stop fighting and give into the hollow portion of his soul inevitably turning Zangetsu into essentially an evil being.Zangetsu wouldn't be able to protect Ichigo if that ever happened because he would essentially become consumed himself, his will would disappear and he would only be under the complete control of his counterpart. He doesn't particularly fear dying as he canonly proved, but enduring this end is what haunts him the most. It's not so much that Zangetsu is possibly weaker than his other half but his master is prone to losing his faith in his sword from time to time. Zangetsu can only do so much guidance before Ichigo chooses his own path. Being consumed by the darker portion of his abilities, the 'Hollow', is one of Zangetsu's fears.

Fear of solitude
Zangetsu plays the role of a guide to his master and he is always trying to guide Ichigo to cast away his own fears in exchange for strength. Ichigo carries the world on his shoulders and that's not particularly an issue to Zangetsu. THe problem is that because he lives inside this boys mind, whatever Ichigo feels Zangetsu feels as well. Most of his knowledge on emotions comes from him. An emotion that seems to be reoccurring is loneliness because Ichigo feels it's his job to fight the troubles of the world alone. Zangetsu openly states he despises feeling this way because he really is alone trapped in a world unlike his master. He understands why he has to live in solitude confined inside Ichigo's world but he doesn't agree with Ichigo and this particular emotion. Zangetsu takes it upon himself to promise Ichigo he will never let him feel sadness again if he trusts in his strength because, essentially, as long he wields him he is never alone in battle. There is no need for solitude. So he would do anything not to feel alone.

Fear of emotions
In a setting like this, detached from his host, he'll be feeling things on his own and the fact he's not accustomed to it, he'll have a lot of self-searching moments where he'll be overwhelmed by things he's feeling. Normally it's Ichigo's bond to him making him feel the way he does and he would know the problems, but things are always a little different if it's just a single person. Not only will these things happen to him specifically and no one else, but he'll have to deal with them. For a guy who has never had to handle this, it could be difficult. Considering his short temper, it might make him unstable for a short while until he learns how to really handle it.

Weaknesses:

The only way Zangetsu can die is if Ichigo absorbs all his power. Considering Ichigo actually did this in canon, his fight for protecting those he cares for makes it possible. He's willing to sacrifice the most loyal counterpart in his being, the strongest arsenal that gives him power. Without Zangetsu, he can't be a shinigami. That being said, his desire to protect Ichigo is a self-hazard, a terrible weakness that can and probably never end well for him. Zangetsu can, unfortunately, be very gullible when it comes to the topic. He can be tricked, for example, in this sort of setting to act or do certain things if Ichigo is mentioned. His temperament pretty much blinds him to putting Ichigo's safety as his main priority so he can easily be manipulated by this.

His social awkwardness from being trapped inside a teenage boys 'inner world' has made him somewhat withdrawn. He's curious and that might get him socializing, but he's not particularly savvy of the outside world. The simple things that most people know, like objects or certain mannerisms, he just doesn't know about. Most of his influences come from Ichigo or the hollow and even then, they're limited so he could easily find himself in trouble because of it.

Mundane Strengths/Abilities:

Expert Swordsmen
A shinigami is known to fight with his heart and his sword. Zengetsu himself is a sword and therefor is a master of the blade. He carries his own self in spiritual form.

Hand-to-hand combat expert
His skills as a shinigami perhaps aren't as grand if he were not a sword but it's canonly proven that he does use physical strength and hand-to-hand combat in his techniques.

Sensitivity/Magical Ability:

Shinigami Zanpaktou
Zangetsu is a spirit, not exactly a living entity, that lives within a sword used to banish spirits (both good and bad). His power comes from his high amount of spiritual energy (reiatsu) that can overpower most. He's sensible to picking up other spiritual pressures or abilities. He is also able to sense and locate spirits.

Supply List:

One Sword

Game Transfers: N/A

Sample RP post:

All hope was lost. Zangetsu didn't have to open his eyes to know the world he lived in was fading. He could feel it, Ichigo's despair, he could feel how this world was slipping from his grasp and he could hear the rushing wind of destruction. Somewhere he knew hollow was raging. It was all his fault in the end, wasn't it? Zangetsu made a decision without another thought.

Truth be told he was angry, he was upset that after everything he had done for Ichigo, this was his payment. He was to be destroyed for the sake of others. What did Ichigo think would happen after that? What would happen once he no longer had his sword to defend the idiots that he sacrificed his own blood and strength for? They had taken everything away from Ichigo and now they were stripping him dry of what made him strong. What would happen to his master once everyone realized he was useless. Would he be alone again like he was before he could hear his voice? Who would protect him? All that power was sure to have given him enemies. If Zangetsu wasn't there to hold them back what would Ichigo do?

"You fool!" A voice called from somewhere forcing Zangetsu to open his eyes. His attention turned on the hollow who seemed enraged by their new predicament. The houses of this fake Karakura town that Ichigo had formed in his head were crumbling. Eventually they both knew they would be next. "Look what you've done!"

Zangetsu never responded, he simply stared at their world tears streaming down his eyes. He wasn't sure if it was because he was going to die or if the treason Ichigo had just rendered. In the end of the day he had no choice and it was coming back to hite him.

"Ichigo was the one I wanted to protect."