Ichika Abarai (阿散井 苺花, Abarai Ichika) is a Shinigami apprentice in the Gotei 13. She is the daughter of Rukia Kuchiki and Renji Abarai.[2][3]
Appearance[]
Ichika is a young girl with bright red hair inherited from her father, which is bound with a white ribbon in a high spiky ponytail at the back. Her face resembles that of her mother, most notably her large violet eyes. She wears a standard black Shinigami uniform.[3]
Personality[]
Ichika is a confident child, willing to wander off without her parents' knowledge. Her mother indicated that she was prone to getting into fights. She greets Kazui Kurosaki by pointing her Zanpakutō at him while introducing herself. Ichika is easily shocked when something unexpected occurs, such as when Kazui reveals himself to be a Shinigami.[3] Ichika is fond of her father, but dislikes monsters.[4] Ikkaku Madarame suggest that Ichika is close friends with Kazui, but this is something a flustered Ichika denies.[5] She also idolizes 12th Division Captain Mayuri Kurotsuchi.[6] Despite her usual bravado, Ichika is still a young child at heart, and was utterly terrified and trembling when confronted by Szayelaporro Granz after the Arrancar broke out of Hell.[7]
Plot[]
The Thousand-Year Blood War Arc[]
Ichika meets Kazui Kurosaki.
Ichika is born to Renji Abarai and Rukia Kuchiki less than ten years after Yhwach's defeat. She later becomes a Shinigami apprentice and is given permission to visit the Human World with her parents during the Bon Festival.[2] However, Ichika abandons her parents as they come to Ichigo Kurosaki's house, and transports herself to a dark orb in front of Kazui Kurosaki. Ichika introduces herself to Kazui and asks who he is, and Kazui reveals that he is also a Shinigami, to her shock.[3]
Echoing Jaws of Hell arc[]
Ichika spars with Ikkaku Madarame.
Three hours before Jūshirō Ukitake's Konsō Reisai ceremony begins, Ichika shows up late to her training session with an irate 11th Division Lieutenant Ikkaku Madarame and begins fiercely sparring with him, though Ikkaku effortlessly blocks all her strikes and forces her onto a nearby rooftop. After attempting and failing to land a sneak attack on Ikkaku by pretending to fall from the roof, Ichika furiously denies wanting to see Kazui when Ikkaku inquires about her visiting him before greeting 3rd Seat Yumichika Ayasegawa in a flustered state when he arrives. When Ikkaku is reminded of the Jogimen Reibaku he must attend and ends their session early, Ichika returns to her parents and learns about the ceremony being performed in the Human World, which she decides to covertly join them for.[8]
Ichika hides after finding the lieutenants and Ichigo Kurosaki in the Human World.
That night, Ichika enters the Human World at the site of the Jogimen Reibaku, where the lieutenants and Ichigo have gathered, and hides behind a fence as she rejoices in her stealthy entrance. However, Ichika is shocked to see a Jigoku no Gaki appearing behind Renji and frantically tries to warn him about this, only for Renji to be smashed into the ground by it. Once Renji emerges from the rubble bloodied but alive, Ichika rushes to his side and apologizes when he chastises her for coming here. Before Renji can join the fight against the Jigoku no Gaki, he and Ichika are confronted by Szayelaporro Granz, who reveals he was cast into Hell and was transformed in the process as he begins attacking Renji with the intention of killing Ichika. Suddenly, Ichigo intervenes so Renji can take Ichika to safety.[9]
Powers and Abilities[]
Ichika trains with Ikkaku.
Swordsmanship: Ichika has some skill in Zanjutsu, having begun training at a young age under Ikkaku Madarame.[10]
Zanpakutō[]
Ichika wields a Zanpakutō shaped like a katana with a large tsuba in the shape of a lightning bolt.[3]
Trivia[]
- The theme song that Kubo chose for Ichika is "Typhoon" by the band →Pia-no-jaC←.[4]
References[]
- ↑ Bleach JET Artbook - Kubo Tite Interview - Q&A#6
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bleach manga; Chapter 686, page 12
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Bleach manga; Chapter 686; pages 17-19
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bleach JET, Tite Kubo Talk Vol. 1-1
- ↑ Bleach manga; NO BREATHES FROM HELL, page 18
- ↑ Bleach manga; NO BREATHES FROM HELL, page 26
- ↑ Bleach manga; NO BREATHES FROM HELL, pages 56-57
- ↑ Bleach manga; NO BREATHES FROM HELL, pages 14-19, 26, & 29
- ↑ Bleach manga; NO BREATHES FROM HELL, pages 33-36, 39-40, & 50-58
- ↑ Bleach manga; NO BREATHES FROM HELL, pages 14-18
