Faust, 4th Squad Captain

Faust, in Life, was a very successful and well loved man. He was the typical kid having a rather normal and untragic life. He did come from a wealthy family. Butt his never got to his head or affected how he acted towards certain people. In fact, it just made him more generous because he had more to give. did community service from time to time, and was just your all around, caring, run of the mill, ordinary guy who wanted to make at least some difference in the world.

The only severe difference in him was his brain. He got outstanding grades and graduated at ten years old. He was an anomilie. No one could figure it out, but it just seemed that he was able to digest information and process it much quicker then other people, and his level of understanding was unparalleled. He could understand anything no matter how tired he was or what age he was. It all made sense and clicked in his head like a jig saw falling into place from the sky. Still he wanted to help people.

This led him to start looking into medicine. He certainly had the money saved up and his parents assets, so he certainly had the means to do it. What better way to go and help people then by extending life and increasing its quality by eliminating unpleasant diseases. He could not ignore a blatantly open door that he was meant to walk through. He enrolled right of high school and prepared for the arduous learning process that was required for becoming a doctor. It was anything but fun, but he stuck it out. He graduated at the top of his class, his ambition carrying him through. As it was, it only took him five years to complete the required program, piling on extra work and classes when ever he could He was only 15, and already a licensed doctor. He was approved to do any kind of work in a hospital, and was not required to take internship.

About six months into a so far very successful career. He got a very difficult assignment. A patient was enrolled who was having a child, but the birth was going very, very bad. It appeared to be draining the mother of all her life energy, and no matter what he tried, Faust was not able to stop it, the only thing he could do was make sure the baby was fine, which it was. However, the husband was overly distraught and had to be escorted home because he was to emotionally distraught to drive.

That night Faust went home, overly exhausted and collapsed on his bed, wanting to fall alseep and get past his first failure in the ER. That thought was cast aside however, when he felt a cold knife on his skin. It was the father of the new born, not able to cope with the loss of his wife, and creating irational ways to blame it on Faust, even though he tried everything he could. He took Faust's life and then his own. The man became a hollow. Faust went onto Rukongai.

His time in the Rukon district was highly short lived. He at first had trouble accepting that he had died for a reason that was purely unjustified. However, his nature and personality soon over threw that and he became the jubilent young man he had been before. As it was, he did not wish to remain in dire self pitty for eternity. If he had, he may have wound up turning into a hollow and being executed upon transformation by one of the Gotei 13. He lived many years past his death, so this is obviously not what happened.

Once he regained his true personality and was able to act like himself again, his spiritual pressure became hard to not notice as he had a good amount of it. However, it created a warm feeling, and did not suffocate people as other large spiritual pressures do when they go unchecked. Instead it livened the place up even more then it use to be, creating a stronger ambiance in the Rukon district.

It went noticed by the soul society, and he was approached by a few lesser ranked shinigami with an extensive offer into the academy to one day becomes soul reaper. Faust though back to how he always wished to help people and as it was, he was wasting himself away in the afterlife. When the offer came, it had been 100 years past since his death, and not once had he done anything to truly benefit anyone, not in the grand scheme. He accepted the offer, hell bent on continuing his work as a doctor and helping people, though not necessarily in a medical way. He would learn the ways of a a soul reaper, and so his journey would begin.

It was one of the hardest things he had ever done, at first any way. Though his mind and soul were extremely well developed, hence the large spiritual pressure, his body was not. The training exercises were brutal to his frail frame, but the effects of them began to show quickly. He was able to get the concepts of sword play down fairly easily, but in sparring, he just wasnt fast enough, or strong enough to match up to the others. It was noted that as time went however, that he showed the most progress out of any of his classmates.

He first began to shine through the second half of his second year. The first year was just all basics so they were all being taught the same way about the same exact things. At the start of year two however, the began to receive a personalized regime to what would suit them best when they became full fledged soul reapers. Faust's was focused around building his speed with less emphasis on strength. They also helped him build up endurance. This was so he could out last opponents. Finally they taught him how to use his head in battle more then others and the unveiling of strategy became very important to him. By the end of his second year, he was on par with some of his students, and better the others. He still lost some times, but was now showing a great promise.

In the third year is when a long term rivalry would start. The mans name was Grato. He was one of the ones that Faust had grown to the same level as, and he did not like it one bit. From the start of their academy days, he had always looked down upon Faust, as inferior. He viewed his stunning growth as a man trying to step out of place. So he decided to put him back in his place. The two sparred, and Grato won. It wasnt by much, but he used it as a chance to gloat and flaunt it, rubbing it into Faust's face so he would not forget who was better.

The loss only drove him harder, and he increased his training ten fold, pushing himself to the limits. He wasnt the type to let loss control him and over take him. He would use it to better himself. His speed increased drastically, as well as his ability to outlast opponents. By the end of his fifth year, still having the fact that Grato was "better then him"," Faust challenged him to a rematch.

The battle was no contest in Faust's favor. He had grown much to fast and his endurance left Grato gasping for air with in minutes. There was no way for him to watch Faust. He had simply become too good. He mastered the little things, and it was clear that he was the surperior fighter in every way.

Not long after this happening, graduation came. There was a lot less students then had originally started. Faust was among them, as well as Grato. They were all given their unique zanpakuto. When Faust recieved his, it altered slightly in design, making it more unique then any of them. An eyebrow was raised at it, but it was not an unheard of event, so it was overlooked.

He was placed in squad four, due to his background and still adept skill as a doctor. One of the very first things he did as a now full fledged soul reaper was to perform Jinzen to get to know his zanpakuto better and form a bond, and also to unlock his shikai, or so he hoped. With his great mental capacity, it was not hard to force himself to become one with the zanpakuto, and it only too him a couple of tries for the attempt at entering the domain of his zanpaktuo's spirit to be successful.

His meditative state brought him to what looked like what had once been a monastery of sorts. It was mostly green grass with lush shrubs and trees. A few stone walls and other structures jutted up from the ground here and there. It was a truly beautiful place. While captivated by the scenery, he had failed to notice the blade that now rested upon his neck. It was his zanpatkuo spirit, Kyanseru, and he was ready to make sure the one he had chosen was really ready to handle the zanpakuto.

He challenged Faust, stating he would not allow him to benefit from his powers unless he could defeat him and truly prove he was worthy of using his Zanpakuto to its potential. Faust eagerly accepted, ready to obtain the right of Shikai. This was, as was fighting Grato for the first time, a complete and total failure. He was not able to keep up with Kyanseru at all, who displayed even greater speed then Faust could hope to muster.

After his defeat, Faust was all to prepared to break Jinzen and train for many years before trying again, as his zanpakuto obviously held true power. JInzen had other plans though. He revealed that once Faust had used Jinzen on him, Kyanseru used the process to trap him in the zanpakuto world. The only way out, was to rightfully achieve shikai. If he could not, then he would stay locked here forever, trying his heart out.

The battles ensued, but it was the same virtually every time, Kyanseru was just to skilled for him. Kyanseru however, decided he had showed enough heart. He revealed the only way to beat him would be to train under him. And learn the ways of the assassin. Faust at last understood why he couldnt match Kyanseru, he was one of the most feared types of warriors in existence. He thought back to the type of training he had received in the academy. It all lined up and made perfect sense. The two began to train non stop for days, albeit and hour or two here and there. Fausts stamina pulling through for him.

After seven days of this vigurous training, Kyanseru still seemed rather unphased, but the effects of wear were starting to show on Faust. It was decided that he had been taught all he could learn, and was challenged once more. He said even if he lost he would be permited to leave, but losing this time would have his zanpakuto sealed forever, never allowing Faust to access Shikai or Bankai so long as he lived.

Faust had no choice but to accept and the battle that would decide his fate began. The two seemed on equal footing for hours, for they fought for a long time. However, Faust knew most of Kyanseru's tricks, while he had new knowledge which he could apply in new ways that Kyanseru would not expect. He used this to his advantage and wound up defeating Kyanseru. The zanpakuto spirit submitted and informed him he could now use his shikai when he wished. With that, Faust was reawakened from Jinzen at long last, many concerned for him and relieved when he awoke. It was time to show them his Shikai.

Its power was astonishing to his peers. At first it seemed a simple mele type. But at one point he used it in a gathering of captains who had their bankai out for a "show and tell" type event. When it was used, it instantly stopped all the bankai, and bumped them back down to shikai. It was also discovered that the higher level kido could not be used in his presence. The ability was astonishing. He was sent to research and development to discover how exactly this was possible. It was revealed that his zanpakuto actually put a cap on the amount of rieatsu that could be released int the surrounding area. As he was able to hold toe with most other soul reapers and was capable of doing such thing as blocking captains and some lieutenants from accessing their bankai, he was made lieutenant. .

As it just so happened, Grato had become the lieutenant of his squad as well. Having by now, some fifty years after the academy, achieved his shikai, he challenged Faust to yet another rematch, knowing full well that Faust's Shikai would have no effect on him what so ever and would only be a "lowly mele type." The two proceeded to battle and so it went, that Grato would win in a painful loss for Faust. The shikai was kido type, but his shikai could only cap spiritual pressure enough to block bankai. Shikais were still under his radar. At the end of the battle. Faust admited defeat, but Grato continued, It took the intervening of Grato's captain to stop the fight for good.

Grato would take that victory and forever rub it in Fausts face for the next millenia as they both served as lieutenant in their squads. He woudl never accept a rematch. Ever. He always had an excuse, or merely stated he didnt need to beat an already vanquished foe. It was all bull shit mostly. Just to keep his title as one who had beaten Faust and to keep Faust's status lower then his own. He was a self righteous bastard till the end.

Faust began to suspect Grato of foul play at one point though, and began to investigate. He unearthed that a small group was planing a secret coup with in the gotei 13, lead by Grato himself. He was wishing to take over as captain commande and head of the soul society, even though it was plain he was no match for a captain level shinigami. He went to reveal as much as he had unearthed to the captain comander at the time, but quickly realized that the first target was going to be his own captain based on a coded phrase he had heard them say.

As it turned out, he was too late, and when he arrived, saw only the bloody end of the zanpaktuo which had murdered his captain in his sleep. A pitiful act. Strangely though, Faust was not able to feel rage, though he did hate Grato. He merely asked his zanpakuto for help. He needed to kill Grato, for a just purpose, the righteous kill. Kyanseru obliged, realizing the cause and passing Faust to the final stage, bankai.

The effect was immediate. His assassin blades turned to two scalpels, fit for a doctors hands. Grato tried to release his shikai, realizing the danger he was in. Even if it was mele typed, no sealed zanpakuto could hope to match bankai. But that was just it, the bankai's purpose was to stop Grato from releasing his bankai. And so he had to rely solely on his skill, which as he had though all along, Faust had more of. Just as he had before in the academy, he took back his warriors pride. It was easy. He was too fast. .

It was revealed with in the hour. The rest of Gratos bandits were round up and set to be executed. With no captian left, Faust had to hand select a lietenat and was named the new captain, haivng achieved bankai and been the most suited at the time.

400 years into being a captain, Faust made a very rough call. The hollow population was slowly growing to a larger size then was containable due to increasingly bad circumstances on earth. With no other options as far as the captain comander could tell, he issued a mission for one squad to partake on. Go to the menos forest and exterminate a good deal of the hollows found there and bring back as little casualties as possible, Initially, the second squad was the favored squad to go, but Faust, wanting glory for his under rated team, volunteered before they could be chosen. When asked why he thought it was his squads duty he replied, "as the squad of healing it is not only our duty to heal the sick and injured soul reapers, but also the sick and injured areas of all existence. We heal through fighting." His logic could not be denied in his words and they were given the task.

He took his five best and himself, a team of six to go upon this mission. They entered the forest with ease, having the skill to go undetected for a while. They began eliminating Gillians almost instantly. This drew out the ajdhuchas later on, which proved a greater challenge, but was the true prey. They were doing well, with not a single casualty an hour into the sweep and already nearing the other side of the forest. They were only to go through once and the returen to the soul society as fast as they could. As they neared the edge though, an unexpected arrival appeared, changing everything.

A vaste lordes stood between them and the end of a perfectly executed misoin. The other hollows shrank back into the darkness, to afraid to continue on in the lordes presence. It was a stand off. Faust was not foolish enough to think that he could take the hollow alone, and the others surrounded. The others all had their shikai activated. Faust activated his own, and found it did nothing to block the lordes incredible power. He didnt understand it. He reached for his bankai, and still nothing. With in moments two of his soldiers were already dead. He told the others to back off. HE could at least wear the thing down to wear the others could finish it off.

The battle lated about 20 minutes. IT took a long time, but finally, Faust found an opening and landed a very succesful blow which anhilated the vaste lordes. The other hollows dispersed, more terrified of the shinigami then they had been of the lordes. Returning home, the squad was hailed. two casualties against a vaste when only one of the group was captain level, was a very successful bit of work. Faust has continued to rule the fourth squad with pride, having finally earned them all some respect in the ranks, though some still choose to ignore it.

After returning to the Soul Society, he realized he needed an edge in case he was in a situation where his shikai or bankai or both were unaccessible or his enemy were unaffected by it. Not favoring Bakudo or Hado to much, He began to research into a new type of kido that had been talked about but never tried and was a mere theory. It had no name at the time, but Faust was determined to be the pioneer of it. And thus he began creating a completely new type of kido, Jikodo, the kido which affected the self to have beneficial affects in odd ways. (see kido list for more info). This has become the bulk of his kido arsenal, as well as he has createa few of his own personal Hado and Bakudo, rarely using the ones used by others to keep his title of The Assassin of the Seretei in tact.

Across the rooftops of Kumo Taizen sprinted, making his normal rounds. He did this about twice a week, just to give himself peace of mind. Rarely did he find anything worth his attention, nothing more then petty criminals these days. Of course, that didnt give him security of mind. He knew how swiftly that could change, and probably would. With the recent destruction of the mist village, his vigilante sense had been notched up one or two pegs, and he took his job even more serious. He could feel it. Something was going to happen soon. And he already had plans to stop it. Several rumors flew in and out of the city like fleas upon rats brining the plague. If even one of these stories was true, his plan could be set into motion he just had to find the right people.

He stopped upon a green tiled roof, a bit off setting to the rest of the village. This was also a slanted roof rather then flat, again, against the village norm. It was one of the most famous sit down places in all of Kumo, The Uncorked Winery. A silly name perhaps, but by far the fanciest of the lot, and easily one of the most relaxing places. He still hadnt finished his rounds today, but no matter, he felt the strong urge to have a glass or two and take it easy for a moment. He leaped from the tall building to the ground, only a single story and a half drop. Nothing major to be certain. However, he had landed with his back facing to the restraunt, and so had to turn around before he could take in the true view of it.

It looked just like a sea shore cottage. As he had noticed before when landing on it, the roof was slanted and tiled, colored green for god knows why. The rest of the building was all covered in an off color, all most beige siding. The front had two windows, both with wooden crosses separating the fixture into four smaller glass panes. To the side of each were green shutters, pointed downward, ample for closing time when looking in was only for thieves looking to ransack the place. Below each was a rectangular flower box filled with dirt and some flower that Taizen suspected to be lilacs. Such things were not his expertise. The boxes were also green and wooden, layered with long rectangular shapes. The normal road before entering it had been altered into a brick layered road, and gardens to each side with fences and grape vines flowering upon both. When he was done taking all of that in, he walked forward and into the wooden frame door and found a site much worth looking at.

All in all it had about six or seven tables, all of them circular. All of them with four wooden fold out chairs and giant oversized, white tablecloths covering them. They all had a single candle, lit, and each table had a different color. There was a a row of candles on each wall at about eye level, which was the main source of light. Where he had just walked in was a podium with a woman behind it, very pretty, raven black hair, not pale nor dark skin, and a very friendly smile.

"Hello sir, we have three tables open today, allow me to show you to your seat."

Taizen said nothing at this point and simply followed her soundlessly across the red carpeted floor with random black dots patterning it across the entire length. She laid a menu upon the far seat at the table with the green candle and pulled out a chair for him. He nodded to her, again, soundlessly and took his seat. It was now he chose to finally let words pass his lips with a very soft and gentle tone, almost charismatic, but not quite, obviously showing no inclination towards swoonging the public, or even a single lovely lady.

"Thank you dear miss, all I will require today will be your oldest, most expensive bottle of wine that has an exquisite taste, along with a customary wine glass for me to drink from. A small plate of three pieces of your finest and freshest bread would also be nice. I dont want it cooked now, I have not the time to wait, simply heat it slightly if you would. That will be all."

It was pointless to play the gentlemen. By now she had surely already noticed his permanently activated sharingan eye, three tomoe in all their glory. It was not long before she left and returned with his requested purchase. After the next half hour had passed, Taizen walked back out into the over casted streets of Kumo, a slight buzz going in his head, though nothing impairing, and the sweetest of tastes on his lips, with of course the repercussion of his money wallet being considerably lighter.

With out notice, or even an inclination that he had moved, he returned to the rooftops and began searching the streets once more. As he neared the eastern quadresect of the village, the part that had a lot of abandoned areas, he began to get a slight feeling in his stomach, though he could not place it. He preened his eyes and searched the depths of each street, till he found the source of his slight queasiness. Hanashi Shikyo. The name alone was enough. He knew she was slightly new to the village, but already he did not like her prescience here, especially in such a place. The shikyo, by legend, were one he was not very fond of. He watched her from the rooftop of a building away as she entered one of the many apartment complexes. He knew for a fact that this is NOT where she lived. Suddenly his interest had been peaked. There were no missions for this area either, he was sure of it. Something was afoot, and he did not like it.