Munashi Tanaka
From Inga no Kusari wiki
| Tanaka, Munashi ♂ | |
|---|---|
 Unseated, 7th Division | |
| Date of Birth | 7th May, 512 BC (2524) |
| Place of Birth | Place, Country |
| Zanpakutō | Asauchi |
| Player | Munashi |
| Shinigami | |
Contents |
Appearance
Personality
Such a long life has a way of muting personality traits, powerful characteristics which might have defined a soul in earlier stages. To describe someone who has lived for so long in one dimension or with just one facet of his psychology and use blanket terms such as “lazy”, “violent”, or “funny as all balls” (note; all of these apply to the Shinigami in one way or another) would not do him justice and would rob an interesting soul of his due.
The first dimension, and perhaps the most prevalent aspect of his persona, is the Munashi that you are likely to encounter on a boring or uneventful day is a drowsy, despondent individual. When at rest the Shinigami lounges like no other, his form spilling over the seat, or shelf, or wall, post, hell or even a person with an unaffected air of cool. His eye roves sleepily from behind a heavy lid, mouth droopy with boredom and the threat of a yawn; his entire expression that of a man who has seen it all, experienced too much, and would rather be left at home resting than dragged along to whatever you are offering, thanks. Munashi is just as likely to greet the uninspired, your cliched and your ho-hum with an extensive sigh, although if something does catch his interest, well it's like flicking a switch and the difference between a well lit room and one layered in darkness.
When Munashi's interest is piqued he is a man possessed, frenetic energy courses through him, and the dull facial expression which might have occupied his face only seconds before is gone, replaced with a sharp, analytical countenance. In this state it is as if Munashi has just now come awake, complete with a grin that he seems powerless to quell, an excited smirk which serves as a clear marker of his enthusiasm. In this state Munashi is more an anxious predator than a lounging pet, the languid and lackadaisical movements transformed to an excited pacing, straightened posture, tension and enthusiasm accentuated by his every movement. When seated there is a nervous energy, displayed by anything from a rapid tapping of his foot, to an impatient tempo that underscores his demeanor, words or thoughts.
In fact this thinly veiled pretense of Munashi as a man of very little emotion is one of the least accurate descriptions of his personality there is despite the wide range of topics that this facade of disinterest greets. In any given situation Munashi's reaction, temperament and attitude are liable to change. Perhaps a better term for the Shinigami would be capricious, a steady study in hot then cold; mean and nice. His various responses to certain stimuli and company constantly keep those who do not know him on edge perhaps waiting for something neither shiftless or apathetic to spring forth. Save for the late Heideki Shunshou of course, whose own reliance and support for Munashi through the centuries gave their partnership a more intimate angle than anything either had ever experienced with anyone else. Starting with his relationship with Shunshou might be a good place to begin, as the two spent so much time together. When able to rely on the proximity of the other, both were decidedly more lazy; their disposition directly tied into understanding of just what it meant to have a partner so equal to them in ability and temperament. Knowing that only half of their full effort should've been enough for any situation came at the price of making both seem laid back, detached, and cool. In his eyes there was no reason for him to be excited or even all that worried so long as Shunshou was nearby, and for his slightly other side the same could've been said. Team chemistry did not suffer because of this borderline complacency that each harbored, in fact the complacent attitude was only possible due to the frightening way they complemented each other. Towards each other there was a quiet understanding, usually the two not needing to exchange words in order to reach an understanding. When they did speak directly to each other the conversation was wild and irreverent, two spirits lost in their own channels of communication. More was said in the cryptic way they spoke to each other within a snippet of dialogue than could be stressed, and the sideways glances that made up their communication when in battle held enough information for them to accurately play off each other. Summed up: they were on the same page in an almost abnormal way... until Munashi lost Shunshou. And since that horrible day, Munashi has never found such perfect companionship and fulfillment in the company of another person.
History
Tanaka Munashi is a man divorced of his past, an unwitting continuation of a past that he does not recall, one that shapes and shades his present though he is clueless. Munashi does not recall how he was born or who he was born to, nor anything about his days as a slave in the lawless lands of Rukongai's District 72, or his brother's vicious death that he witnessed. Oh those? Memories from an eventful and difficult life that most might recall due to the sheer power of them? Nah, the Tanaka Munashi that was salvaged by his eventual friend Heideki Shunshou comes down to as a virtual clean slate, a blank canvas that the roughneck would slather with his own images and likeness, until the Munashi we know today emerged. Though before we can understand the boy as a whole, perhaps a step back to understand how he came to be in the place where he was eventually going to end up is in order?
“And your name is?” With a contemptuous glare that took in the faces of his captors the pale, gangly boy who stood before the two stern older men looked away. In the here and now there was no comfort for the imminent slave, and so he had no reason to answer their comments. Whatever name Munashi had carried throughout his childhood and teen years would do him no good here. His reasoning, that it would be far better to go into these years ahead of him with a new identity and loss of his old persona was as logical as he could get at the moment; critical thinking tended to escape him when ensnared in such rudimentary bonds as he now found himself.
There was no second inquiry into his moniker, and the slap that bit into his cheek certainly put an end to the mini moral mutiny had had conceived on the spot. The man who had decided he would by this defiant lad grinned in spite of himself, a begrudging respect already blossoming for the arrogance displayed even in this defeated state. It was young "men" that he intended to purchase anyways, and not obedient butlers. And the gangly sprout that clung to this futile stance while the rest of the world swept him up and away from all he knew was just the sort of youth he came to buy.
“How about a compromise then?” With one claw-like hand the man seized the cheek he had just offended, lifting his new possession's face rather roughly so that the master and the never-mastered were now eye-to-eye. “I give you one name and you give me another? I shall call you Hadir. Now you.”
This development caught the bound teen off guard, rocking him to his core in a way that even the slap that had preceded it had failed to do. Blinks passed in timing with seconds as the brightly hued irises of Hadir (now that we have a name for him, this gets a whole lot easier) locked onto the kindly brown ones which crinkled benevolently at the corners.
“Asad.” Lion. It had been the one word he had learned during his time here amidst the African-heavy clusters of souls that claimed district 72 as their turf and eternal war-zone, a term that had been whispered quite worriedly as they trudged through the stalking grounds of a "pride". He had even seen one proud "lioness" stare out from a collapsed hut as they moved through her feeble territory, a Queen biding her time as she plotted the best course of action. He was not a slow fellow and the connection had been painfully obvious from the way those he had been with skirted the area and how the group instinctively pulled close together. The name seemed almost mocking for our young hero.
“Asad huh? You don't settle for anything but the best I see. Come along then Asad Hadir, you work for me now.”
So began the last chapter of Munashi's life, a lowly and bitter prologue to an existence that began with promise of greatness, and would end in bondage. Though to clarify the last leg of his life in Rukongai as a slave could have been worse, and there were worse places than the Slaver house that he found himself serving in. His life was cushioned and his lessons strict; he was more of a bodyguard, confidante, and son to Khalil, the man who claimed him and dubbed him Hadir Asad, than a servant. Countless times it was Hadir's hand that stayed a blade that swung for his master and teacher, his father and leader; and it seemed that those last few days were a blur of violence along shady streets and alleys that would harden the soul for its later service in Seireitei, even if these days were memories that would be lost forever one day.
With a life so rife in combat his, it was of the saddest irony that death was no more fitting for a knight than a slave. From his naval to his brow, a jagged and horrible gash that took a chunk of his lip and his left eye for having the misfortune of overhearing a plot to kill the man who had done so much for him and was as kind to a slave as is possible for a slave owner to be. No memorial was raised for the fallen once-prince and the life of possibly the only person who wondered where his bodyguard had gone continued on in eventful fashion until the plot for which Hadir had been murdered was seen through. Khalil's death is not the concern of this history nor are the political reasons for why he had to be done away with, but the cowardly murder of the Hadir and the events that followed his death have very a real impact on Munashi's history, the two being one in the same and all.
However before his esteemed stint as a Shinigami, a Shield, or a anything else, the dying soul was naught but a confused and memory stripped boy, lying in a pool of his own flowing life's blood from a wound he could not feel. That is until the moon above his blood-stained ground was blotted out, replaced instead by the shaggy black mane of an olive complexioned man with a sword at his hip and a taken aback whistle on his lips. His golden eyes narrowed even as he took in the sight of the bloody mess, a somber recognition that there was work to be done here. Before the broken essence of Tanaka could even reach towards his would be savior, before anything resembling response could be garnered; he passed out from blood loss.
With the soul's inability to relinquish the Hadir of the past and the healing process administered by the young Shinigami Shunshou, there is a definite line which slices Munashi's history into two parts. The former being the past that set the foundation for the Shinigami that is now, and the latter being what Munashi himself can recall, a constructed life that sprung out of the cleansing ability of the Shinigami and spans the centuries of exploits and and conquests that are known not at all by all and extensively by those who lived them.
The Hadir that has been narrated here was a man taken from the perch of privilege and plunged into slavery in an terrible land, a hardy individual who was able to salvage enough of his humanity even in those strenuous circumstances and make a bearable life for himself. The plus soul incumbent who adopted the name of Tanaka Munashi at the insistence of his new found guardian angel was if anything a continuation of Hadir in more exaggerated circumstances, a man not only stripped of all things comforting and luxurious but a soul stripped of its memories of who and what it was, and forced to salvage individuality from nothing at all. The divorce of Munashi from the very life that had brought him this far and sudden immersion into yet another new environment might have been overwhelming if it there wasn't another opportunity for him to create a new identity of himself as a warrior. His body was favorable to the Shinigami Academy and resulting tasks of soul reapers, so his success as such due to his adeptness and obsessive focus are not completely shocking. If this was all too philosophical for you: Munashi excelled at the early stages of being a Shinigami simply because he had nothing else going for him at the time, coupled with his own natural skill that was already inclined to a life of fighting).
His path through the Academy was anything but simple, as the undertaking of a career as a Shinigami is anything but a walk through a park. What he had going that most others could not boast was a tutor who was slightly ahead of him in terms of years and career. Heideki Shunshou was not only the fledgling Shinigami that had been dispatched to salvage any promising souls he could find in the regions of District 70+ and subsequently saved him, but he would soon become his sole ally, mentor, and friend in the after-life. With the help of his friend, Munashi's progress was accelerated though not altogether instantaneous, his knowledge serving to bring Munashi to his level faster, so that before either of them were even fully accustomed with the other, Munashi was immersed into battle alongside his companion when Munashi found himself graduated and assigned to Shunshou's 3rd Division. I'm sorry, did I say alongside? They became inseparable, two attached reapers dispatched to settle missions as a tandem rather than solo, a duo that began of their own choosing was soon affirmed by the view of the two as one in the same; two heads to one body. As they improved, stride for stride along the same arc of development it became custom to assign them one job rather than two, a nod to their own indistinguishable separate identities and equality; as it had become difficult to discern which was the stronger of the two.
Though they had built a reputation as two together (they were most commonly referred to with a mash-up of their forenames, the combination depending upon which Shinigami you were engaged with), it was only within Seireitei and on missions that they were inseparable. At times even two souls that were so in synch had their moments of isolation, where singular wishes and goals were sought and fulfilled. Munashi's favored pastime involved human warfare though not as a spectator to the bloodshed; no whenever he could, the Shinigami would sharpen his skill and practice war games amongst those still living. Through most of the wars that mankind found themselves immersed in, Munashi made it his mission to take part, always as a foot soldier, the games of officers not yet of any interest to him. What did catch his attention was the clash of combatants on the front lines, and the willingness of men to be bent to the goals of others in the name of an ideal that could not be seen, felt, or possessed. He looked on with a detached sort of curiosity as thousands fell in the Civil War of the United States, analyzed the resolve of those Greek soldiers who bravely fought off the invading forces of multiple nations (and even squabbled endlessly amongst themselves). Even as the Shinigami continued deployment upon dangerous missions and with no real progression through the ranks of their Division, this fascination Munashi had with the struggles of humans amongst each other persisted.
But as swiftly and brilliantly had their careers flourished and blossomed so too would it be shattered in bloody and dismay floundering. Shunshou's death was entirely their own fault. So taken with the idea of glory and their own drunken belief in their unstoppable combination in spite of neither having even a proper Shikai, they foolishly decided to fly into the sun with wings made of wax and hubris. Yes they were romantic Icari, so taken by their own potential that they didn't even get a moment's reprise or mercy as they were struck down by the Tyrant King's power in the moments it took to challenge him. And yes their wings were predictably melted and their descent from the glory they filled their heads with swift. In the end their own broken bodies had laid amongst the rubble of the 3rd Division, Munashi once more hanging by a thread to his life with plenty of new, bloody wounds and shattered bones while his friend and closest thing he had to family died beside him, his shattered body cleaved clean in two and badly mauled beyond that during what couldn't even have been called a battle. No, it was slaughter. Slaughter Munashi would hold in his heart for the rest of his life.
And so he stood before a panel of the Central 46, life now forfeit to a process of old lords and out-of-touch lawmakers. Impetuous brats. That's all they were, one half the pair that knelt defeated before his seniors and betters, while the other half lay dead for disobeying orders and pursuing too much too soon, two souls that had raced forwards for unattainable heights before it was time for them to even consider looking upwards. Now here he sat, a chastised child with his lip poked out and the freshly-mended wounds garnered from their vain assault only now beginning to stay closed. And so there it was decided, before a court of his betters. Munashi was to be stripped of a position in the 3rd Division and ostracized to the 7th Division, a decision meant to punish him for his disobedience and strip him of his ability to leave Seireitei and pursue his own hobbies and follies. But even that didn't matter. He was a soul out of his element, what had been a study in co-dependence was snuffed out, a partnership that not only served as a beneficial alliance but also integral to their continued existence and well being was gone. And that was how Munashi found himself, abandoned but for his own insolence and arrogant folly and in a foreign Division that rank of a nostalgic taste even as he took the first steps toward the 7th's Pagoda to take his place as a new Unseated member of Seireitei's "shield-bearers".
Combat
Strengths
Congenital Insensitivity to Pain with Anhidrosis;; Both a strength and a weakness by rights, since his birth Tanaka Munashi couldn't feel any sensation of pain, heat, cold, or ANY real nerve-related sensations (not even the touch of another person or feeling the need to urinate) with the exception of pressure. He does not even have the ability to sweat because of this, his body unable to tell when it's getting too hot. But despite all this, it also grants him the foolish bravado to be unafraid of being injured, unflinching and unaffected in the face of torture, and the ability to effortlessly shrug off his wounds and fight until he's immobilized or dead.
Fantastic Zanjutsu Skill;; Such as the next Shinigami or even the predecessor before him, Munashi is ever a deft hand with his blade. And while a good portion of his skill comes from experience, equal part is owed to his tireless study and meditation with the sword he calls his own. In fact, if it weren't for his talent and preference for flashy Kidou-laced combat some say he might've make a grand addition to the 11th Division's troops.
Kidou Affinity;; Munashi discovered very early in his career that he had a natural talent for the Shinigami Artes of Kidou and quickly adapted them to his fighting style to suit his needs. Granted, he makes a bad habit of going for flashy over practical in it's application even in serious bouts.
Physical Capacity;; While numb to most any sensation, Munashi still possesses the body of a lithe, solid warrior and is not unwise to it and how to best make use of his body in a fight. Thus while he may not be the most mobile and dodgy person around or a quintessential brick house, he is built tough enough to hold his own in a quarrel.
Reiatsu Control;; Munashi has always put stock in the need to be a master of himself, and his Reiatsu control is just another facet of himself he seeks to master. Besides, controlling the flow of his Reiatsu is the closest thing he has to physical sensations and the only way he can know when he's injured beyond manually checking himself for a bloody wound in the middle of combat, sad as it is to say.
Highly Perceptive Combatant;; There isn't much to say here that isn't already understandable in just the title. Munashi is not a simpleton when it comes to a fight, he knows how to work his opponent, analyze them, and work them to his advantage if they prove workable. While he makes no claims to being some military genius, he's seen enough to know how to put up and handle a good fight.
Slow to Anger;; mayhaps because of his long life, or just because of who he is Munashi has never been quick to anger. Some could suggest that the loss of his friend Shunshou would be the easiest way to making a hair-trigger out of the Shinigami's temperament but nobody has ever personally tried. Nevertheless, Munashi remains to be a stalwart of self-control in the face of japes and baiting.
Weaknesses
Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis;; Both a strength and a weakness by rights, since his birth Tanaka Munashi couldn't feel any sensation of pain, heat, cold, or ANY real nerve-related sensations (not even the touch of another person or feeling the need to urinate) with the exception of pressure. He does not even have the ability to sweat because of this, his body unable to tell when it's getting too hot. Because of this he is forced to manually monitor his every action and keep cold fluids on hand to keep himself both hydrated and below a hazardous temperature. It is also the source of much of his day to day injuries, trivial things to others but all the more risky to him as each unnoticed bite of his tongue or cheeks, broken nails, burst blister and raw rash is a new chance for infection and fever. Nevermind that he constantly causes injury to his joints because he can't tell if he's jolting or twisting them awkwardly, and has to take care not to rub his eye wrong lest he scratch the cornea or put too much pressure on the orb and make himself blind.
Depth Perception;; If it wasn't blatantly obvious by the fact the man lacks an eye, it can be stated here that the man is half blind, possessing of a clearly noticeable visual blind-spot that Munashi must constantly make up for and be aware of lest he allows an enemy to get the jump on him. But beyond the blind-spot there is also the issue of his depth perception that has been affected by the loss of his eye and not makes it harder for him to gauge the distance or position of something/someone, especially when they're moving about swiftly.
Adverse Mobility;; Because of a mishap that occurred sometime during his term at the Academy, Munashi is the owner of a gimp knee that makes it difficult for him to move at high speeds beyond a jog. Now, that isn't to say that he can't move at greater speeds or use such techniques as Shunpou. It's just that if he does he's almost certain to tear the muscle and ligament in his knee and cripple himself further and reduce his mobility to standing still faster than you can shout his name. And so he has adapted himself to fighting within his sphere of comfort, aware of his limits to make it harder for them to be exploited.
Adverse Hakuda;; Due to his being numb to physical sensations, the lack of one of his eyes, and his gimp knee, it should come as no surprise that Munashi has talent or wish to be involved in close-quarters combat that gets any closer than the length of his blade. As such, this is perhaps his biggest combative flaw and weakness should it ever be discovered and abused.
Can't Hold his Liquor;; What more can be said of this topic beyond the fact that the man just can't hold his liquor very well and is a lightweight to boot, being able to get sufficiently drunk off just three or four pinks of his preferred beverage, sake. Thankfully, by some miracle after getting wasted and being all silly-nilly the man has the odd and miracle-worthy talent of never getting a hangover.
Substance Addict;; As the title suggests, Munashi suffers from a psychological addiction to what is known in the mortal world as Cannibis. This addiction is fueled both by the lack of any real knowledge of what the drug is amongst the Shinigami of Seireitei's upper echelon and the fact that Munashi knows how to acquire the substance whenever he has need between contacts he has within the 12th Division and Rukongai. As such, more often than not you can sometimes find the Shinigami hidden in some tree or on a hill with his mask off (a feat few have ever been able to witness happen) and a pipe between his lips as he relaxes and watches the moon cross the skies.
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