 Rank: Former Supreme Commander of the Secret Mobile Corps || D. o. B: January 1st Biography: Yoruichi first appears as a male talking cat, and a close friend of Urahara Kisuke’s as Tsukabishi Tessai notes while speaking with Hanakari Jinta. Little is then further established about Yoruichi’s identity, aside from the fact that “he” knew a lot, both about Soul Society and the ways of others (for example, Inoue Orihime learns from Yoruichi that Quincys gather spirit force from their surroundings). Yoruichi then leads them into Soul Society, acting as the guide through the journey in the Dagai, the space between Soul Society and the living world. When they arrive in an ungainly manner, Yoruichi then proceeds to inform the others that they are in Rukongai, and that the Shinigami live within the Sereitai. When Kurosaki Ichigo first runs towards the Sereitai and meets with the guard, it is Yoruichi who mentions the guard’s name, Jidanbou, and the fact that no one has defeated him for the past three hundred years. When they meet with Ichimaru Gin, it is again Yoruichi who identifies him, and asks Ichigo to retreat whilst thinking of a plan. Bringing all to meet with Shiba Kuukaku, Yoruichi decided that they would enter the Sereitai with the Kakaku Cannon. When they succeed, Yoruichi is separated from the rest but promptly decides that it would be for the better. Running around in cat form, Yoruichi keeps track of the progress of all of the others, rescuing Ichigo after his fight with Zaraki Kenpachi. Right after that, Yoruichi reveals the most amazing secret of all – that “he” is in fact, a female when in her original form. The ability to change from cat to human, and to be able to heal wounds and her knowledge of Soul Society, along with the flying object that she alone possesses and which she used to bring Ichigo to safety, all make Ichigo wonder who she really is. As she is being asked that question, Kuchiki Byakuya’s appearance makes Ichigo leave immediately using the flying object for the Senzaikyuu, and Yoruichi is forced to follow on foot. Yoruichi arrives in time to stop Byakuya from releasing his Shi Kai of Senbonzakura, and this is when Yoruichi’s real identity is revealed for the first time. Referring to her as his “senpai”, Byakuya then proceeds to state that Yoruichi was once the fomer Supreme Commander of the Secret Mobile Corps, and also the former Corps Commander of the 1st Squad of the Correction Corps. When Ichigo asks her to step aside, she directly implants some anesthetic right into him, thus knocking him out. As Byakuya tries to stop her from escaping, she mentions that he has never beaten her in onigoto, and proceeds to beat him in a match of Shunpo’s, culminating in her standing on his outstretched arm, Ichigo and all. As she leaves, she mentions her nickname, Shunshin Yoruichi. Yoruichi then proceeds to engage in Ban Kai training with Ichigo, and at the end of the first day she reveals the true identity of Urahara. Despite her initial misgivings about Ichigo achieving Ban Kai within three days, the appearance of Abarai Renji and the emergence of the situation forces Ichigo to bring up his level of skill and makes Yoruichi gain confidence in his ability to achieve Ban Kai. In order to assure that Ichigo stops the execution, she lends him the Tentouken, a cape that is capable of allowing its user to fly by injecting some spirit power into it. Soi Fong, her former student and subordinate, recognizes this when she and Yoruichi face off. Mentioning more of Yoruichi’s background, Soi Fong expresses her bitterness through fighting Yoruichi, believing that the hundred years of staying away from combat would dull Yoruichi’s combat ability and thus allow her the victory she wanted. Unfortunately, Yoruichi still had one trick up her sleeve, Shunko. Soi Fong had only managed to gain a basic mastery of the art, while Yoruichi had far more control when compared to Soi Fong. In the ensuing battle, Yoruichi stops Soi Fong’s attacks easily, and it is during this time that Soi Fong flashes back to the history between her and Yoruichi. Yoruichi was the former princess of the Tenshi Houban, Shihouin noble House, one of the four Great Noble Houses. Destined to become the commander of the Secret Mobile Corps and the Correction Corps, Yoruichi thus learnt to fight well. Though she is shown wielding a sealed Zanpakutou in some scenes, there is no evidence at the moment that suggests she still possesses one. Soi Fong, being one of the lesser noble houses, was destined to serve as her subordinate and to give her “everything” to Yoruichi. Admiring her intensely, to the point of worship, Soi Fong is shattered when Yoruichi leaves one day without so much as a word. Soi Fong is thus bitter over the fact that Yoruichi never took her to leave together, and that she had broken their promise that they would be there to protect each other always. After the battle, Yoruichi and Soi Fong are amongst the first to arrive on the scene to stop Aizen, with Yoruichi stopping Aizen’s Zanpakutou from being released, and Soi Fong holding her Zanpakutou to his neck. The overall attempt to stop him, however, was then thwarted by the Gillians’ Negashion, and Yoruichi later returns to the living world with the others. Character: A rough and tough woman who has seen much throughout her lifetime describes Yoruichi best. She has no qualms about even revealing herself, as is shown by the hilarious scene where she first reveals her true form to Ichigo. She also hates formality, as seen by the flashbacks of Soi Fong, where she refuses to allow Soi Fong to address her by the correct “Your Excellency”. Though of noble blood, she displays no dignified air, and remains one of the strongest characters in the storyline, capable of being Taicho level. She also has a heart of gold, and of course, where her abilities are concerned, it need only be said that, to this day, no one has yet taken from her the title of “Shunshin”. Former Corps Commander of the 1st Squad, Correction Corps Former Princess of the Tenshi Houban Shihouin Noble House |