Ise, Nanao

Ise Nanao

Rank: Vice-Captain
Zanpakutou info:

Description: Ise Nanao has never once released her Zanpakutou, seemingly more dependent on her demon arts.

Shi-Kai: None

Ban-Kai: None

Biography:
The standard teacher stereotype female character, Ise is a rather uptight, bespectacled and always serious girl. Despite her slender and demure appearance, the fact that she has made it to the rank of Fukutaicho and has never once seen fit to release her Zanpakutou (though this could be due to the fact that Kyouraku Shunsui has always protected her) during all this time proves that she is not one to be trifled with.

She first appears in the Fukutaicho meeting, but does not make an actual appearance till Sado Yasutora (Chad) makes his way to the 8th Squad’s offices. She is seen in a conversation with her Taicho, who delights in teasing her, often calling her “Nanao-chan!” much to her dislike.

During the course of the conversation she is seen as a serious and able assistant to Kyouraku, though having to put up with his teasing all the time. However her expression at the end of it shows that she does care about him, although one may question what kind of care this is.

Later she is seen to be helping Kyouraku by scattering flower petals as he makes his grand entrance. Unfortunately she is not inclined to stop even when he asks her to, and when he goes into his usual irritating routine of calling her Nanao-chan, she drops the entire petal basket onto him, creating a comical sight.

During the fight between Kyouraku and Chad she stays out of the picture, and then receives a message from the Covert Forward Corps, informing her of the murder of Aizen Sousuke. She runs to Kyouraku to tell him, and then as they turn to leave, she notices that Chad, who has been cut by Kyouraku, is not dead. She asks permission to deliver the finishing blow, but is denied it by Kyouraku who talks her out of it and asks her to bring the 4th Squad to save Chad. Much later, during the day of Kuchiki Rukia’s execution, she finds her Taicho as usual up on a roof. She puts up once again with his teasing as she tries to hurry him to the Soukyoku Stands. As he asks her what he should do, she tells him that no matter what she thinks or advises, he would still do what he wanted to. “Don’t worry,” she also said, “I will stay several steps behind you, so as not to get caught in trouble, but I will follow.”

After the failed execution, Nanao-chan follows Kyouraku and Ukitake Juushirou to place where they could battle Yamamoto without getting anyone else implicated. She then describes the power that is Yamamoto, but while trying to do something, she is caught in Yamamoto’s stare and suffocated by his power. Kyouraku breaks the eye contact to save her, and brings her to a safer spot. She then realizes that it is not only difficult to win Yamamoto even with two Taicho on their side, it is next to impossible.

Ise does not make any appearance after this and seems to have been pushed to the background for the time being, even in the filler arc.

Character:
An able and serious person, Ise is always ready to follow the rules but also to stand up for justice if necessary, such as the help she provided to Kyouraku to stop Rukia’s execution. She also is almost never seen without a book, and despite her irritation at her Taicho’s teasing, she cares a lot for him and just shows it in different ways. Despite her being uptight, this just makes her, and her coldness all the more wonderful.