Saito Hiroshi
From Inga no Kusari wiki
| Hiroshi, Saito ♂ | |
|---|---|
 Unseated, 10th Division | |
| Date of Birth | 25th September, 1970 (41) |
| Place of Birth | Tokyo, Japan |
| Zanpakutō | Asauchi |
| Player | Vex |
| Shinigami | |
Contents |
Appearance
Coming in at an even height of six foot and weighing a hundred and seventy-four pounds, Hiroshi is a solid built male with a rock hard frame. Charming good looks match his personality well and he’s quite popular with the ladies. He takes in the world through a pair of bright, mesmerizing emerald-hued orbs that always have an amused glint to them while his hair color is reminiscent of a beach bum. Almost as if it were soaked by the sun gods themselves, Saito’s hair is a vibrant dark, dirty blonde; bright and cheerful, yet mixed with strands of dark, chocolaty brown. Loose and spiky hair that nearly qualifies as unkempt and wild falls down over a face that would be severe if it wasn’t always so bright and cheerful. Tough and muscular, Hiroshi doesn’t so much walk as saunters. His gait is easy and relaxed and the young Shinigami carries himself with an air of confidence.
Like several other Shinigami in the Gotei 13, Saito wears his kosude without sleeves. Due to the rough and tumble lifestyle he has, his uniform is shredded and tattered at the bottom while the area around his shoulders where sleeves should be is jagged. The standard Shinigami sash is tied comfortably around his waist. Thin, black fingerless gloves cover his hands; the gloves also expose a portion of Saito's hands, letting others see the Japanese zen circle tattoo he has on the back of his left hand. The symbol can be interpreted in several ways. Some call it, “The Circle of Enlightenment” while others refer to it as the “Infinity Circle” or “Mutual Circle”. Saito bears it as a mark of balance, a theme of his.
Hiroshi is also an avid fan of water sports and on his trips to the world of the living, has picked up several souvenirs from shops at the beach’s boardwalk. A shark toothed hemp necklace hugs his neck closely while a matching anklet adorns his right ankle respectively. Being someone who's out in the sun consistently, Saito has amassed a respectable collection of sunglasses of various makes and styles. His favorite pair is a fashionable pair of jet-black aviators with a double bridge that he constantly has on, even while indoors.
Personality
There are those people that seem to rub others around them the wrong way on a constant basis. The words they say and action they take are a constant source of aggravation and annoyance, to say the least. Tending to be pessimistic grouches, their ability at connecting with their fellow peers leaves much to be desired. On the flip side of the perpetual coin, there are individuals that possess an almost mythical ability to connect with anyone they meet. A charming smile, a humorous quip or a genuinely heartfelt compliment are easily part of their repertoire and they wield each one as comfortably as a fifth or sixth limb. If anyone needs a shoulder to cry on or perhaps someone to lend them money, this type of person is always quick to offer their services. Saito Hiroshi’s personality is certainly the latter of these two types.
Ready with an ever present smile that is rarely seen in a frown, Hiroshi is always glad to help, whatever the situation may be. Friend to all and enemy to none, he could be considered a modern day remix on the classic gentleman. Opening doors for women, showing respecting to superiors and subordinates alike and generous with the less fortunate in the Rukongai, his mere presence is nearly always a herald for good things to come. Even when he may scold another, he does it out of kindness and with an obviously earnest goal to in fact, help inspire them towards self-improvement. Quite often optimistic to a fault, his demeanor suits him well in heated situations where a calm, collected head prevails over the doom-awaits-personality of others.
A fan of sports – especially challenging, extreme variations – his penchant for inspiring others and inviting them to come along with him oft results in his companions suffering multiple injuries when they try to keep up with the punishing pace that Saito sets. Still, he continues to drag them along with a cheery smile and laid-back attitude that others are always glad to be around. If he resided in the golden state of California in the United States rather than in the Soul Society, he would be the picture perfect blonde surfer bum with a perpetual twinkle in his eyes, sand-caked feet and the salty sea air wrinkling his crazed just-rolled-out-of-bed hair.
Not the least bit shy, Hiroshi is certainly not above shaking hands and meeting new people whenever the opportunity may present itself. Notorious for having a face that women are attracted to, he gets along surprisingly well with the opposite sex; in fact, to the chagrin of his male friends, he claims that several of his closest friends are female. Sometimes a bit shocking to others is the realization that Saito has no qualms about killing, despite his happy go-lucky attitude. Should the need arise, he’s more than willing to grab his Zanpakutō and go toe to toe with any opponent that truly requires to be fought. Always offering a diplomatic resolution first to any conflict, he won’t hesitate to deliver a fatal blow should that fail.
If ever there was a laid-back Shinigami that was easy to share a drink with or just pal around with, Hiroshi is that person. When the chips are down and it looks like life has kicked you in you-know-where, he’ll come sauntering around the corner with his patented slightly goofy grin that still seems somehow, cool. With hands in his pockets and head bobbing along to some tune that he’s playing in his head, he’ll pop up next to you and pat you on the back, simply saying, “Let’s go have some fun, buddy.”
History
An archipelago of 6,852 islands, the “Land of the Rising Sun” is an island nation in East Asia with a checkered past. Having endured two brutal World Wars in the first half of the century and having two of its major cities evaporated by nuclear weapons caused the small country to halt in its tracks, as if taking a haymaker from a heavy-weight boxer. But like the ancient avian that is reborn from the ashes of defeat, Japan collected itself as a nation and shouldered on, rebuilding the shattered remains of its once mighty country. Even under Allied occupation, the recovery process proceeded steadily and in 1952, Japan regained its sovereignty after the Treaty of San Francisco went into effect. It was during this tumultuous era that Saito Hiroshi's parents first met as young children.
Eventually his father became an engineer working for the increasingly successful and blossoming motor company known as Honda. His fiance – Saito's mother – was a home maker and private tutor in the study of mathematics. As Honda grew and their first production automobiles began to roll off the assembly line in August 1963, opportunities opened up abroad as assembly plants opened around the globe. Promotions, transfers and a change of scenery lured away many native Japanese from their homeland as they sought to repair their image from the wreckage of World War II. Saito's parents followed suit and when given the chance, moved to America in 1967. His father continued his job as a mechanical engineer for Honda's American branch headquartered in the heart of Torrance in sunny Southern California. In time, his wife became pregnant and on September 25, 1970, they gave birth to Saito Hiroshi, a bright-eyed baby with a pleasant disposition.
Growing up in America was a far cry from the disciplined and oftentimes regimental Japanese way of doing things. As a second-generation immigrant, Saito quickly took advantage of the myriad opportunities that his parents never had. Extremely active even from an early age, it was clear that he had a knack for sports – notably swimming. In time, his love of the water led him to surfing, a sport that had only invaded the sun-drenched Pacific Coast of Southern California a decade earlier. His hobby turned into an obsession and Saito soon lived and breathed the salty air, spending every day after class hitting the waves with his friends in the summer. During the cold months, he took up snowboarding as a replacement, visiting such iconic locations around California such as Big Bear and Lake Tahoe.
Around school, he was well-received by most everyone. With a cheerful smile and natural sincerity, it was easy for him to befriend others, becoming a hub around which others rotated. He swam for his high school's varsity team, had passable grades and kept his nose out of trouble. Upon graduation in 1987, he choose to attend Pepperdine University right off of Pacific Coast Highway. With the beach literally across the highway, it was a dream campus for Saito; of course, he didn't pick the university solely for its location. Boasting respectable colleges in the fields of business, law and liberal arts, Pepperdine served to nurture Saito's sharp, albeit lazy, mind. What free time he had was spent in, on or underneath the water. Surfers such as Kelly Slater were his idol and he endeavored to continuously improve himself.
Graduating in four years with a degree in International Business, Saito found himself working for a local firm. His excellent interpersonal skills served him well when meeting clients and diffusing volatile situations. The future looked bright and he was content where he was. The years passed. He rented an apartment. He had a girlfriend. He continued to surf. He continued to snowboard. He had many friends and was never alone. Life was simple and life was good. He had just turned 26.
The next day, he died.
It had been a routine arrangement. Saturday mornings were surf time for Saito and his closest friends. They would wake up early, grab coffee and a bite to eat and head to the beach where they began to get sessions in. Each one had close to a decade of surfing experience under their belt and collectively, it never occurred to them that any of them would be in trouble. They were as comfortable in the water as they were on dry land. But Mother Nature cares little for the thoughts of humans and with one intense gust of wind, ended Saito's life. Knocked from his board, Hiroshi relaxed, waiting for the inevitable battering of the wave. Unfortunately, he was closer to the beach break than he thought and with a sickening crunch, his body collided with the seabed. The amount of force exerted on his body shattered his spine before causing internal bleeding.
As the wave he had been riding petered out, his friends waited for him to appear. When he didn't show, they knew something was wrong. Hours later, they finally accepted the fact that had been staring them in the face all along. Saito was dead. His body was never found.
As a soul, Hiroshi was surprisingly at peace with his fate. Bemoaning his death wouldn't bring him back to life and bitterness would serve no purpose, either. Connected as he was with the ocean, he found himself with his Chain of Fate connected to a rock on the beach, binding him to the location. It didn't take long for a Shinigami from the 3rd Division to come across Saito and perform a soul burial. Having been sent to the Soul Society, he woke up to find himself in Hokutan, the 3rd district of Rukongai. Part of West Rukongai, Hokutan's defining trait was perhaps Mt. Koifushi where shinigami often went to train and it was on the slopes of this mountain that he first ran into the inhabitants of the Soul Society who explained to Saito where he was, how he had gotten here and they also expressed their opinions concerning the Gotei 13. Absorbing the information as best he could, Hiroshi merely put a smile on, nodded and wandered into town.
With a disposition and personality like his, it wasn't long before Saito was welcomed by most of the population. He settled into a big brother role to the children in the area and made a living for himself by teaching. Those that knew him would often come to him to just talk and enjoy his company. He lived a peaceful life, mostly content with where he was and what he was doing but his inner adrenaline junkie, the spark that had driven him to play sports and to surf for all those years yearned for something, anything to give him that thrill again. Roughly around this same time, hints of latent spiritual energy revealed themselves to Saito. First, it was the odd twinge of sensing the spiritual pressure of others. Then, it was the ability to visibly and physically manifest the spiritual energy in the palm of his hand. Unsure of what to do with these powers, Saito ignored them and concentrated on other tasks such as living from day to day in the Rukongai.
Over time, Hiroshi grew restless and it showed. He craved for some action to fill his now mundane life. His friends and colleagues recognized his needs and they began to suggest that he look into entering the Shinigami Academy. With nothing to lose and much to gain, he decided to take them up on their suggestion and took the entrance exam in order to be admitted. Having scored above average in the entrance exam, Saito was placed into the second class where he did surprisingly well, showing particular profiency with zanjutsu and a lack of skills with kidō. Though, it was the way he interacted with others that caught the attention of his professors, teachers and combat instructors. They noticed his natural magnetism and the way he instinctively supported others, offering them suggestions and tips to improve their own scores – even at the expense of his own ranking in the class.
Finishing his studies, Saito graduated in six years – the norm for most students. Having learned all four major Shinigami combat forms, as well as how to develop and control his spiritual energy, Hiroshi was prepared for the general duties of a Soul Reaper. Upon graduation, he was placed in the 10th Division based on his personality, general rapport with fellow Shinigami and the ease with which he communicates with others. With the primary focus of the 10th being the instruction of students, it seemed like a natural fit for Saito. Not only does he current position fulfill his needs as an adrenaline-junkie, it still allows him to utilize his strongest traits – interacting and befriending others. Only time will tell where he goes from here.
Combat
Strengths
Charismatic – Saito tends to be easy-going and a relaxed individual, making him a natural magnet that others tend to be attracted to. His interpersonal skills at communication and relating information or concepts to others is one of his strongest skills
Calm – Due to his natural demeanor, it takes quite a bit to rile Hiroshi up. Even in stressful situations, he can look at an issue objectively and remain composed throughout the process. Letting things go, taking things as they come and not letting negative emotions get the better of him assist Saito in diffusing arguments and maintaining a positive outlook in life.
Strong Intuition/Perceptive – Over the years, Saito has learned to trust his instincts and even though he may seem a bit too carefree at times, his eyes shine with an intelligence that betray the gears churning away inside his head. Many times, enemies are lulled into a false sense of security while observing his mannerisms and laid-back attitude when in fact, Saito is picking up minute nuances and important details that may help him later.
Swordsmanship - (I recognize I need to level up zanjutsu in the skill shop for this to actually work) While relatively well-rounded in all aspects of combat, Hiroshi's strength lies in swordsmanship and he enjoys going toe to toe with others that share his passion for bladed combat.
Physically Fit – The combination of training, day-to-day patrols, skirmishes and duels coupled with the amount of physically challenging activities Saito participates in in his spare time have given him strong mind and body. He may not be the strongest or the fastest but he's well-conditioned and scores high in all aspects of fitness.
Weaknesses
Stubborn – While being stubborn can be useful, it's a double-edged sword. Often stubborn to a fault, Saito is loathe to give up on something once he starts. At times, continuing even when the outcome is a lose-lose situation for him results in far more trouble than if he had just conceded earlier.
Falls into laziness – Sometimes having such an easy-going personality is an extremely bad thing. Saito would much rather take a nap or have a drink than process paperwork or attend training. At the end of the day, this sometimes gets in the way and he tends to start becoming lazy. Reminders from his friends and superiors snap him out of it.
Unpredictable – At times impulsive, Hiroshi has been known to make rash decisions in the name of fun and adventure. Unfortunately, his unpredictability makes it hard for allies to work with him sometimes. An adrenaline junkie at heart, his adventurous streak can get him in trouble quicker than he thinks.
Kidō – As proficient as he is in the use of his Zanpakutō, he fails equally with kidō. Since it's definitely not one of his areas of expertise, Saito has to work much harder than others to achieve the same results with kidō so he generally relies on other offensive and defensive methods during battles.
| |||||
