Yoruichi Shihouin

Overview

Yoruichi Shihōin is the former captain of the 2nd Division of the Gotei 13, as well as the former commander of the Onmitsukidō. Having abandoned her command of both, she works with Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi, based out of the Urahara Shop in the Human World.

Appearance

Yoruichi Shihōin is a dark-skinned woman with golden-colored eyes and long purple hair, which she keeps up in a ponytail. Her standard attire consists of a backless, black sleeveless undershirt, an orange over-shirt with two white straps on each shoulder, a large beige sash around her waist, black stretch pants and long beige wrist warmers, secured by bands, and long beige leg warmers with brown light shoes, allowing for stealth and easy use of Shunpo. She previously wore a beige neck warmer, which she pulled up to cover her face in order to hide her identity, but seems to have forgone its use. She, unlike any known Shinigami, is able to transform into a black cat for long periods of time. In this form, she has a distinctive male voice and golden eyes.

110 years ago when she was a captain, she wore the same sleeveless and backless Onmitsukidō uniform, with long black wrist guards that Suì-Fēng wears now, but had a black ribbon tied around her neck. She also wore a long-sleeved captain's haori. Her hair was also much shorter and cut in a style similar to Suì-Fēng's current hair-style but without the braids. At some point prior to this she wore the white Onmitsukidō uniform of the correction corps.   

Personality

Yoruichi is intelligent and witty, holding an intimate knowledge of the Soul Society and its workings, as she was the former leader of the Onmitsukidō and the Second Division's captain. Although of noble birth, she acts differently from most other nobles, very much like Kaien Shiba. For instance, she instructed Suì-Fēng to refer to her without using honorific suffixes, but reluctantly settled for being called "Yoruichi-sama" ("Lady Yoruichi" in the dub). She also transforms into her human form directly in front of Ichigo on several occasions just to see his reaction to seeing her naked, which she even teases him about. Another note of her eccentricity is that she speaks in a dialect that elders use, such as identifying herself as"washi" (a term that usually old men define themselves with) instead of more feminine terms like "watashi" in both her human and animal forms.

Although relatively calm and mature when a situation calls for it, Yoruichi is quite laid-back and playful, often teasing or flirting with those younger than her, such as Ichigo Kurosaki at the underground hot spring, a younger and hot-headed Byakuya Kuchiki, Suì-Fēng before her time as a captain and Kisuke Urahara, childhood friend, former underling and fellow ex-captain. Yoruichi prefers to drink milk, which fits with her practice of transforming into a cat.  

History

  Yoruichi Shihōin was born the princess of the Tenshiheisōban (or House of Godly Gears), The Shihōin family, one of the four noble families. Yoruichi grew up at the Shihōin Mansion in the Seireitei of Soul Society, with her childhood friends Kisuke Urahara and Tessai Tsukabishi. During this time they played together daily under the Sōkyoku hill training space, which Urahara built when they were children. 
 

Later Yoruichi became the Corps Commander of the Executive Militia of the Onmitsukidō while serving as the 22nd generational head of the Shihōin family, the first woman to ever hold the position. Some time later she would serve as Commander-in-Chief of the Onmitsukidō as the position is traditionally held by the heads of the Shihōin family. She eventually rose to the position of Captain of the 2nd Division of the Gotei 13 further uniting the former separate military arms together as this was also traditionally done by her family. 
 
Sometime later she decided to change her direct role in the Onmitsukidō from being the Corps Commander of the Executive Militia, which is the position traditionally held by the Commander-in-Chief, to being the Corps Commander of the Corrections Corps.   While Yoruichi was Onmitsukidō Commander, she took in Suì-Fēng as a personal bodyguard. Recognizing her talent she became a mentor and friend. She taught Suì-Fēng most of the techniques she knew. During her time in Soul Society, she created many techniques that involved Shunpo , as well as teaching some of them to Byakuya.  
 
About 110 years prior to the current time Yoruichi recommended that Kisuke Urahara, her 3rd Seat, be appointed to the recently opened position of Captain of the 12th Division after the former Captain Kirio Hikifune was promoted. Prior to presenting Urahara with the news of the open position, Yoruichi had a sparring session with Urahara at the Sōkyoku Hill training space. Before retiring back to the 2nd Division barracks, Yoruichi informed Urahara that she had recommended him for the position. Suì-Fēng confronted Yoruichi, concerned that she was overestimating Urahara's capabilities and proceeded to explain that she believed it had been a mistake to appoint him as Corps Commander of the Detention Unit. Suì-Fēng continued by stating that he was undeserving of such a position. While Yoruichi readily admitted to the fact that Urahara was not really a hard worker, she dismissed Suì-Fēng's criticisms and playfully insinuated that her focus on him must have romantic connotations, which Suì-Fēng denied. 
 
After spending the day following Urahara around Soul Society taking notes, Suì-Fēng returned to the 2nd Division barracks to show Yoruichi her evidence of Urahara's lack of competence in his position. Suì-Fēng arrived only to find Urahara already there talking with Yoruichi, she is then told that Urahara would be taking the captain proficiency exam, to which Suì-Fēng stands in disbelief. Yoruichi confirmed it and further requested that Suì-Fēng attend the exam as well. She explains that normally only captains are allowed to attend but that she has asked special permission to allow Suì-Fēng to attend. Suì-Fēng was at first confused about why she should attend but Yoruichi told her there was no need to keep secrets as she knew she was attracted to Urahara, which Suì-Fēng again denied. Yoruichi explained that she knew all about how Suì-Fēng had been following Urahara around all day. 
 
Suì-Fēng admitted that she was following Urahara around but told her it was to prove that he was lazy, incompetent, and not worthy of Yoruichi's praise. Suì-Fēng handed her notes to Yoruichi who read them and commented on how detailed they were. When Urahara didn't deny any of the information in the report Suì-Fēng was shocked that he would be so truthful to his seemingly unprofessional actions. Yoruichi, unsurprised, quipped that Urahara never changes and praised Suì-Fēng for her intelligence gathering skills. At first, Suì-Fēng was happy until she realized that Yoruichi regarded the notes not as intelligence information but rather as a love letter. 
 
Suì-Fēng was reasonably distressed and Yoruichi laughed it off and told her to loosen up as she wasn't serious. They were then interrupted by the arrival of a squad member who delivered a message that the people Urahara had been looking for had been found. Suì-Fēng replied that if he didn't return in time it would put a strain of the 2nd Divisions reputation as well as Yoruichi; which Yoruichi simply dismissed telling Urahara to hurry off to his duty and telling Suì-Fēng to come along to help prepare for Urahara's Captain's Proficiency Test. Yoruichi is later seen among the other captains awaiting the start of the ceremony. Upon Urahara's arrival to the 1st Division barracks where he was formerly introduced to the other captains; he was chastised by Yoruichi for being so reluctant, as she told him that he was already a captain, so he should stand tall. 
 
A day or so after Urahara took over the 12th Division, Yoruichi was told by a Onmitsukidō member that Urahara had entered into the Detention Unit property with claims that he was previously given approval to go. Yoruichi couldn't seem to recall when or even if he asked for permission or whether she granted it; but when asked if she wanted him removed, she nonchalantly told her division members not to bother and to allow him to go where he liked. When asked if she had remembered the incident in question, Yoruichi plainly said no. Suì-Fēng became distressed and prepared to voice her disapproval, though Yoruichi told her to calm down as it was Kisuke they were talking about, stating he must have had an idea of some kind. 
 
Yoruichi appeared to be on good terms with the members of the Kuchiki noble family as she would often visit the Kuchiki manor to play tag with a teenage Byakuya Kuchiki. On one such occasion, she was asked to train Byakuya by his grandfather Ginrei Kuchiki, the head of the Kuchiki family as well as the 6th Division captain. Upon seeing the arrival of Yoruichi, Byakuya swung his sword at her and called her a were-cat. Yoruichi laughed and playfully began to tease him, calling him 'Little Byakuya". She complained about such a greeting after she came all the way there to see him. Byakuya yelled at her saying that he didn't want to see the likes of her and that he would be the head of the Kuchiki clan soon enough, so he had no time to waste on her. While asking if that is the case she stole the ribbon holding his hair back. Byakuya quickly turned and swung his sword at her, but she easily dodged it. 
 
Yoruichi laughed at him and exclaimed that if the head of the Kuchiki clan could get his hair-tie stolen by a girl who is just playing, then the future of the Kuchiki Clan had become bleak, although this was just a ploy in order to entice him into another game of tag. Not to be defeated so easily, Byakuya told her not to move an inch, but before he could finish she told him that he couldn't catch her as she used Shunpo to begin the chase. Byakuya plainly stated that he could see that she wished to incite his wrath and he so promised to make her see the error of her ways, further making the claim that his Shunpo was far superior to the likes of hers. 
 
9 years later Yoruichi is seen at an emergency meeting of the captains of the Gotei 13, where the Captain-Commander was giving an intelligence report on the unknown disappearances of the 9th Division captain Kensei Muguruma and lieutenant Mashiro Kuna as well as the other high ranking members of their division. Yamamoto stated they had previously been sent out to investigate the disappearance of other division members. He then declared he will choose 5 captains to form an investigation team. When a very winded and frantic Urahara showed up to ask that he be allowed to go with the investigation team as he had previously sent his lieutenant Hiyori to the sight of the disappearances, he was summarily told no by Captain-Commander Yamamoto. When he protested he was chastised by Yoruichi, who told him he was acting pathetic and that he should get a grip on himself. She further stated that he sent Hiyori himself, and that for him to lose his composure like that only insulted her. The Captain-Commander continued naming the members of the investigation team and told Yoruichi that she was to standby for further orders.
 
The next day, Urahara and Tessai were arrested under the orders of the Central 46. It immediately became evident that they had been set up by Aizen, but were given no right to defend themselves and prove their innocence. As a result, they were quickly given their sentences. Urahara was sentenced to become human and to be exiled to the Human World for "committing crimes against researching and invoking forbidden phenomenon" as well as "deceiving and inflicting grievous injury to fellow Shinigami". Tessai was sentenced to life imprisonment in a Level 3 detention area for "using forbidden Kidō techniques." Before either of their sentences could be executed a masked Yoruichi entered the building knocking the guards unconscious and rescuing the disgraced former captains. Yoruichi brought them to a secret underground area.  
 

In this secluded area, she berated them on how mad she was at them for excluding her from their plan. She also revealed that she had brought the eight Hollowfied Shinigami, along with the new prototype Gigai that Urahara was working on. With that epiphany, Urahara resolved to make ten reiatsu-blocking Gigai to aid him & Tessai. Tessai then stated his worry about Yoruichi's safety, but she calmly stated that they should not worry about her as she would escape somehow.

When she left Soul Society, she left behind her titles and positions and was thus relieved of her high status. She was succeeded as 2nd Division Captain and Commander of the Onmitsukidō by her protégé, Suì-Fēng, at a later date.    

Zankaputo

As a former captain of the Gotei 13, it is known that Yoruichi possesses a Zanpakutō and has achieved Bankai, but she relies nearly exclusively on Hohō, Shūnpo, and Shunkō. Although she doesn't carry it at all in the current time, she is shown wearing it in the past. It resembles a kodachi or wakizashi which she kept sheathed horizontally behind her on her lower back, similar to how Suì-Fēng carries hers in the present day.

• Shikai: Not Yet Revealed

• Bankai: Not Yet Revealed

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