Katen Kyōkotsu (Zanpakutō spirit)

This article is about the manifested spirit of Shunsui Kyōraku's Zanpakutō. For his Zanpakutō and its abilities, see Katen Kyōkotsu.

is the manifested spirit of Shunsui Kyōraku's Zanpakutō, and takes the form of two separate individuals.

Katen
, also nicknamed, is one half of the manifested spirit of Shunsui Kyōraku's Zanpakutō.

Appearance
Katen's manifested spirit is a tall, violet-haired woman with a red ribbon around her neck and a black eye patch covering her right eye. Her left eye is turquoise, and her hair is worn in two corkscrew pigtails with bangs framing her face. She wears an indigo cape with an imprint of a large skull and the two blades of Katen Kyōkotsu on it, and a long, dark dress with a significantly low-cut neckline, exposing her large breasts. She wears a golden bone headdress.

Personality
Katen can be somewhat abrasive and mean toward her master, Shunsui Kyōraku, claiming that he gets injured because he is wearing the clothing of another woman. However, as his Zanpakutō Spirit, she is still loyal to him and readily admits that they are alike, though she reacts violently when Shunsui acts perverted toward her. When Lille Barro attacked Shunsui after having survived his Bankai, Katen showed great concern, and pleaded with Shunsui to flee from such a powerful opponent. Katen even offered to let her carry him away, claiming nobody would blame him for retreating.

Katen does seem to have a certain confidence in her power, as she expressed her belief that anyone who can survive her Bankai's abilities could simply not be defeated by any means. Shunsui has also stated that Katen is rather moody and does not allow Shunsui to use all of her abilities until she herself is in the mood for battle.

History
At some point in the past, Nanao Ise's mother gave the Ise family's Zanpakutō, Shinken Hakkyōken, to Shunsui for safekeeping, so Katen created Kyōkotsu in order to hide it away.

The Thousand-Year Blood War arc
Katen appears behind Shunsui when he activates his Bankai during his battle against Lille Barro and disappears soon afterward before reappearing after Shunsui badly wounds Lille. When Shunsui affectionately calls her Ohana, Katen claims he is acting too familiar for someone who only plays with her when he feels like it before noting that his kimono is torn up because it belongs to another woman. Shunsui remarks that she is mean as usual, prompting Katen to state that she is still sworn to remain by his side until the end. After Shunsui seemingly defeats Lille, Katen catches him as he falls back, only to jab at his eye when Shunsui acts perverted toward her. As Katen notes that they are still very similar and have won, she is shocked to see Shunsui being shot through the chest by a large blast of energy from above.

After Shunsui manages to escape, Katen pleads with him to run away because she does not believe they can beat Lille if he survived Shunsui's Bankai before asking him to let her take him away. Shortly afterward, when Shunsui decides to return Nanao's Zanpakutō to her, Katen looks on as Kyōkotsu also manifests herself.

Quotes

 * "It is the way of a woman to take mercy upon her man’s shamefulness by not leaving him behind."


 * (To Shunsui Kyōraku) "Tease you I may, but as master and blade... Have we not sworn to put love and hate behind us and fall together like the autumn leaves?"


 * (To Shunsui Kyōraku) "Why, just look at your kimono. It’s all torn up. You bring it upon yourself, I must say, by always wearing the kimono of another woman. Look where it’s got you now."


 * (To Shunsui Kyōraku) "Sakuranosuke... Let us run away. This enemy could not even be killed by our Karamatsu Shinjū. There is nothing more I can do. You have fought to the best of your ability. Precious little breath remains in your body. None could blame you if you chose to flee now. Come... Let the embrace of sleep take you. As you slumber, I shall carry you away in my arms."

Kyōkotsu
, also nicknamed, is one half of the manifested spirit of Shunsui Kyōraku's Zanpakutō.

Appearance
Kyōkotsu's manifested spirit is shorter and younger in appearance than Katen. She has turquoise eyes and chin-length violet hair, which is styled so only her right eye is visible, with a skull decorating it. She wears a dark top which covers her lower face, her neck, and her arms, close-fitting shorts, and knee length socks. Over this, she wears a purple, hip-length coat fastened at the front by a dark purple sash. The tops of her thighs and the middle of her torso are left exposed.

Personality
Shunsui notes that she is very fond of the game hide-and-seek.

History
At some point in the past, Kyōkotsu was split off from Katen on Shunsui's request to hide Nanao Ise's Zanpakutō.

The Thousand-Year Blood War arc
During Shunsui's battle against Lille Barro, Shunsui decides to return Nanao's Zanpakutō to her, causing Kyōkotsu to appear behind Nanao holding her sword. After Shunsui explains the history behind Nanao's Zanpakutō, Kyōkotsu pulls it out of her mask.

Trivia

 * Katen Kyōkotsu made her debut in the anime-only Zanpakutō Rebellion arc long before she first appeared in the manga, in Chapter 649. Read more...