Balancing On the Edge of Infinity

The Story of Kirishi & Tenko

The story of the twins is long and complex. But hopefully by the end of this report to able to see exactly what it is that makes these characters special to me. And, if you give me an hour or two of your time, I hope theyll become something special to you, as well.

The Kilat
Our story begins thousands of years before the birth of the Sugata family. The mysterious organization known as the Kilat have existed since ancient times for the sole purpose of freeing humanity from the clutches of the spiritual worlds. Whether they are shinigami or hollow, the Kilat see no difference in the damages done by either race and believes humanity can only achieve a new stage of enlightenment by freeing themselves from the spirit worlds clutches. Unbeknownst to the founders of the Kolat Alliance, their organization is actually derived from an ancient conspiracy that is using them for their own nefarious purposes. But whereas the Kolat think themselves guardians, servants and protectors of the spiritual world, the Kilats ultimate goal is the reverse: the complete separation of mankind from the spiritual world and inevitable destruction of the karmic cycle. The organization is said to have been created by a merchant over 4,000 years ago whose town

was destroyed in an act of divine wrath--its citizens turned to stone and burnt into piles of brimstone and ashes. He alone survived--clinging to a white crystal shard he had obtained while on his journeys. Swearing vengeance against heaven himself he went off to seek like minded individuals. The organization itself wasnt named until around 1,000 years after its founders death. The name it uses now, Kolat, is but a bastardized variation of the original Kilat, or Way of Kishi. Some stick to a bastardization of the Kolat, using the term Qolat. Many of its members still use the name Kilat. The ones who were inspired to name The Kolat Alliance such were done so after hearing the name form an enraged spirit who was hunting down a rogue shinigami who had inadvertently become a Servant of the Kilat. The Kilat is divided into ten distinct sects lead by ten Masters. Each sect works so independently from one another that its not uncommon for the masters to barely have even the slightest clue as to who one another are-communicating only via the Onis Eye. Yet despite their fragmentation the Qilat still recognize their unity via their ultimate goal and will support and aid one another at all costs. Every agent of the Kilat is referred to by their superiors as a Servant. Each servant is under the command of an oyabun, who is in turn under the command of a specific Master. Each Master has his own methods of identifying himself to his servants while concealing his own identity. The order itself values secrecy above everything else. It knows the gaze of the heavens is beyond that of simple mortals--even in the times of modern technology. But it is such that two of the ten orders exist only to maintain the secrecy of the others--even the point of a willingness to kill every other member of another order (or, at least, attempt too). Kilat operations are generally small and subtle, working toward the day when they can manipulate entire families, corporations or even countries at once. Spying on an important diplomat, assassinating a magistrate too close to the truth, or kidnapping a relatively unimportant person who has potential for later advancement (the best candidates for transforming into sleepers) are all common Kilat activities. They also participate in a number of illegal activities, anonymously hiring out their agents as spies, assassins or smugglers to gather wealth and support the order. The Kilat have agents in every occupied plane-including powerful Rukongai merchants, Earth based politicians and even some wandering Arrancar (who are the least trusted given their erratic nature).

Nanake Kionchi
But how did these two little girls find themselves embroiled with such an organization? The answer to that question lies with one entity: Nanake Kionchi. Traitor to his own kind, the mysterious fox-like entity was born of a ritual forbade by his own kind; a group of spirits self-identified as kitsune serving a powerful entity known to them only as Inari. And yet because of the origins of his birth, he was doomed to abandon his people on his 200th birthday and forge his own path in the world. Learning under an alchemist and healer for fifty years, the fox learned to channel his power over plant-life and reishi in such a way as to heal instead of merely protect. The trained Yojimbo found himself soon serving the human high-school girl named Nanake Nanami. The fairly plain miko-trained spiritualist begrudgingly accepted the foxs offer of fealty and the pair would embark on a series of adventures for roughly a decade. During that time theyd encounter a number of other hengeyokai trying to assassinate the fox to curry favor with Inari, Shinigami mistaking the creature as some form of hollow or plus and a number of hollows simply trying to devour Nanami as her reiatsu grew day by day alongside the fox. It was around this time that Kionchi first encountered the Kilat-the organization that would try everything they could to turn the fox against the other spirits. In fact, it was during a moment of doubt when the fox would abandon his charge and instead take his own life in a fit of despair. Twenty years later Kionchi, having lived among the humans in Rukongai as per the twisted whims of the karmic cycle, was accepted into Seireitei as a shinigami. He would work his way up to Vice Captain of the 2nd Division before going AWOL at the first signs of the Kilat; abandoning his false identity he made for himself at the Gotei and becoming a rogue shinigami. It was at this time that Kionchi found himself against under the watch of various spirits hoping to make a name for themselves killing the wayward fox (and absorbing some of his reishi). And it was at this time that, on the run from one such a spirit known as the kamaitachi, that the fox would take shelter in a small mountain temple in northern Japan and help a human mother give birth to two healthy twin girls.

Ginmei, Master Tiger

Kionchi fought off the kamaitachi, only to find himself flanked by the rumored hollow of the Sugata he had approached the shrine to slay in the first place. Unable to simply leave the newborns to the hollow, the fox defended the babes from the hungry ghost while also managing to defeat the kamaitachi--leaving the three cut in half. Unfortunately the twins were gravely injured during the fight and Kionchi found himself forced to experiment with a soul transfusion--using the remnants of one of the kamaitachi as the medium--to try to save the displaced souls of the girls. And while he did manage to save the newborn children, he knew their lives would never be the same after the contact and dedicated himself to looking over them, from a save distance, until he felt they were ready to choose for themselves what kind of lives they wanted to live. When he revealed himself to Kirishi during her fight in Chernobyl, the fox found himself faced with the ugly truth of his actions. The Kilat he had been fighting this whole time had been using him to cull their weaker members-those who couldnt hide themselves from the fox were themselves unworthy of membership. He was bestowed the title Master Tiger; one he found himself unable to refuse as he continued his mission to destroy the organization that he found now more interested in the twins than ever. The organization had molded the twins into what they had become today--and Kionchi had helped. And while he hated himself for it, he knew he couldnt simply hide the truth and run from the girls. So he gave Tenko one final gift: his true name. Ginmei, the Silver Eyed.

The Sugata Clan

Located far in the Gifu mountains, the Sugata family Shrine was an irreplaceable asset for the spiritualist community of the region. The family would send its eldest on a mission to spread peace and foster positive relationships between the shrines normally isolated from one another due to the difficult terrain. For years the house would breed some of the strongest spiritualists in the region and protect the local shrines and its people from hollow attacks where shinigami never bothered to patrol. Unfortunately as the world became more and more modernized, the world just lost the need for such an order. Little by little descendants of the order would decide to move to larger towns and abandon their ascetic lifestyle as the Sugata found more and more shrines abandoned-adding upkeep of these locations to their burdens. The need for family reformation was especially strong during the era of Sugata Ryouja. The wise but almost sociopathically shy monk made it his lifes ambition to leave a reformed doctrine for his ancestors to follow. As such he penned the one-hundred and fifty three vows that he commanded that all future Sugata clan-heads must follow. He died young, only 43, and was buried with the original manuscript in the newly built family tomb--a western style catacomb he commissioned as a controversial part of the familys reformation.

The deal was as simple as it was dastardly: Ryouja would set himself up as the eldest Ancestor of a new Sugata family. And, focusing even more on producing spiritually aware heirs, would brainwash his own descendants as to desire nothing more than to join with their spiritual patron in the afterlife. That is: the ghosts of the spiritually gifted Sugata lineage would willingly give their lives to Sugata and Pazuzu after raising a successful heir. The clan was reduced to nothing more than a farm - a slaughterhouse for spiritualists whose lives accounted to nothing greater than cattle. A breeding ground for high reiatsu humans and a sanctuary for the two hollows where they could feed freely without worrying about the Gotei Unfortunately for Pazuzu, who had always planned to devour Sugata herself once a human of appropriate spiritual pressure was found among the clan, the highlevel Arrancar found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time--specifically in Chernobyl during the nuclear disaster in the 1980s. The clan would meet its ultimate fate over 20 years later. After expelling its former heir, the clan gave the title to Sugata Kirishi and the title of Yojimbo to her twin sister Sugata Tenko. And so would begin the inevitable revelation, deconstruction and finally destruction of the ancient order.

Sugata Ryouja the Mad

All was not well in the Sugata clan, however. And a dark secret was held in its history unknown to any mortal for a good 600 years. The founder of the New Sugata Order was far from the charitable monk he made himself out to be. Quite the contrary: he was a cowardly and greedy individual obsessed with avoiding his own death and extending his own lifeline at any cost. From Chinese Alchemy to Western Dark Arts, the Onmyodo would spend a majority of his off-time performing heinous and heretical deeds all for the sake of one lofty goal: immortality. It was then that Sugata was approached by a being who found interest in his work. She called herself Pazuzu: the Sumerian God of Wind and Winged Beasts. But in truth she had fallen to the state of an arrancar. A particularitly crafty Arrancar who would create isolated feeding grounds by offering foolish spiritualists eternal life in exchange for half of the souls they would devour as hollows. If her pets disobeyed her, she would brutally pick htem apart bit by bit until there was nothing left.

The Vows
Above all else, be reasonable and irregardless of the orders of a higher being, our other orders are absolute. But one must be respectful of all spiritual beings. And remember, as per our third dictum, that their point of view is to always be considered first. For theirs is the wisdom that surpasses our own, theirs is the view that sees beyond our own, for no human is wiser than a spirit. Even if the spirit was, at one point, a human. And it is not our place to question their wisdom. No matter how alien it may seem. For we serve them and these one-hundred and fifty three codes so long as we stay in this world. And if we are to depart this world, may we reaffirm these codes together, guardian and charge, so long as we remember our place. And may we never harm another messenger of the gods with the intent to disrupt their duty. And may we never steal from another messenger of the spirits. And may we never kill another harrier of the gods. And may we help them at all costs, unless it would interfere with another law. And may we never cut down a tree with the intention to harm its god. And may we never sever the fuin nor ofuda of a spirit placed within a year with the intention to do no harm to us. And may we never slay a myobu-gitsune nor any servant of a greater kami. And may we never hunt a spirits follower with ill-intent. And may we never aid those who do. And may we place our own safety above that of these vows, so we may live another day to uphold them. And may we always know our place, not above that of other men. And may be know our place, never below that of other spirits. May we aspire nor lust for any rank or privilege, except to serve. May we serve humbly. May we serve thanklessly. May we serve again and again, so long as it doesnt break another vow. May we know our places. May we keep ourselves distinct as harrier and as bodyguard. May we never stray from our duties. May we seek to aid spirits. May we look high and low for them. May we never leave a spirit until our duties are completed. And may we enjoy the privilege of helping. May we never inquire as to why a spirit asks of us our duty. Unless we feel it will allow us to serve them better. May we never sacrifice ourselves for a spirits wellbeing, for any permanent injury will prevent us from completing our other vows. And may we prioritize peace. For we exist to grant peace to all spirits. May our assistance be neutral with regards to peace. And may the ways of the spirits, while we recognize them as being beyond that of our own understanding, be followed as to perpetuate peace. May peace be brought about by understanding. And may understanding be the strongest shield in our arsenal. For no matter how sharp the tongue, the sword shall always bring only tears. For no matter how hated we must become, may our sacrifice be someday recognized. May it not be in name, but in spirit. May it not be that we do this for price, but for peace. We shall not consume the blood of the spirits. Nor the meat. Nor shall we use the blood or meat of spirits in any rituals. We shall never harvest a spirit. We shall conduct ourselves properly before the body of any spirit. If unsure, the spirit shall be laid to rest int he manner most befitting the customs of its people. We must know the burial customs of all people. We must know the laws regarding their practices in any province. We may not consume the milk of a spirit. We may not lay with a spirit, nor a human, unless done so with the intention of propagating our line or the absolute peace of the spiritual world. We may not deface any grave. We must clean at least one unkept grave from any site crossed. We may not step over

a dead body. We may not touch the dead body of a human. We may not consume any portion of any dead body of any men or spirits. We may not wear any portion of a dead body, human or spirit. We may not use a spirit for money. We may not reveal their existence to those who refuse to believe in them. We may not drink alcohol, except to promote peace with the spiritual world. We may not gamble, except when requested to by a spirit, and never with borrowed money. We may not give gifts in quantities of four. But we must if requested to by a spirit. We may not eat bloodied meat, unless requested to by a spirit. We may not cause undo harm to children, nor other spiritualists. We may not attempt to bring back the dead. We may not knowingly deliver a letter that will cause undo strife, unless it is for the long term benefit of the spiritual world. We my not knowingly delivery poisons nor curses nor any sort of weapon that will cause pain upon a spirit. Nor may we touch, nor approach, a sacred vessel containing a member of royalty without first consulting the highest ranking local spirit. The succession of the house is to be followed irregardless of the will of the spirits, unless a greater spirit intervenes directly. The laws of these succession are to be secret, unless they are requested directly by a spirit. The first born male shall succeed as head of the family and inherent the title of harrier of spirits. If a daughter is born, they are to keep the title only until the time in which a male may claim it. The second-born, irregardless of gender, is to be the protector of the harrier. If the harrier is unable to see spirits, the duty of guardian must be given to one who may see spirits. If none are able to see spirits, the duty may be given to one outside the family so long as they commit an oath of fealty to the family within three moons time. If no male heir is born, and no male in the clan is with the ability to see spirits and has reached the human age of 400 moons, an active female may be declared a harrier. In this event, the retired harrier must consort with the new harriers once every four moons and may not life further than two days from the three main shrines in Gifu. After 800 moons, if no male with the ability to see spirits has been raised or born, the male may declare himself the senior-priest of the family shrine. In this case he must oversee the familys affairs and, at all costs, find an appropriate heir. A female harriers primary duty is to raise an appropriate heir. Only the harrier may speak with spirits. The protector may only intervene to protect the life of the harrier. If the harrier falls under the protectors watch, the protector is not permitted to live. If these laws are violated, the title may be stripped from both harrier and protector. If the title is stripped, irregardless of the age of the older harrier, it is the older harriers responsibility to once again become the harrier until the time when an appropriate match is found. This must never be forgotten. We shall remain reverent towards all spirits, whenever it would cause no danger to us. But we shall not be hostile beyond what is required to protect us in the event we are attacked. We must hold our lives in the highest regard, only because it is us who helps maintains the balance of the spirits in this world. We shall remain neutral towards all spirits, for we have been invited into their world. Into their home. We are but guests, and they our honored hosts. If they are to reward us with kindness, we must repay that kindness. But we shall never repay anger with anger, nor revenge with revenge. For theirs is the wisdom of a life we have yet to live. Their rights are granted by heaven and earth tremble you at their power. This is the one-hundredth and fiftieth law; may it never be broken.

Loss
Raised almost exclusively by their Grandfather, the twins never knew a normal parent-child relationship. Everything was for the clan; everything was for the success of the Sugata. Their mother was devoured when they were born. Their father was a drunk ex-priest who blamed the mothers death on his children and was only grateful to have them so he could be done with his obligation as the Sugata Heir and piss away his inheritance on wine and whores. He was a broken man--one without the ability to see spirits forced to work alongside things he could neither perceive nor understand. Kirishis role in the clan was as difficult as it was complex. From the age of 7 she was expected to travel between the local shrines, and by the age of 11 she was traveling cross-country with little more than the knapsack on her back. The young girl never had a chance to attend school or learn the fundamentals of math, science or history. Instead she was cloistered in a world of spirits, sutra, philosophy and law that would remind someone more of a shugenja (mountainous hermit-witch) than a typical young girl. The only time she would catch glimpses of a normal life would be on the sides of the roads to and from the shrines or during festivals at the edges of Gifu. Even then, she was always warned to steer clear of the un-gifted children. Tenkos role, on the other hand, was quite simple: she was the bodyguard of her sister. She was to make sure no harm would ever befall Kirishi or her reputation. She was to make sure her sister followed the decrees of the clan to a tee and to keep her on the right path. Her body was merely her sisters shield--a fact she had drilled into her head, and her body, from quite early-on in her training. She had no opinion and no voice; for it was her duty to guard the voice of those with wisdom far beyond mortal understanding. To taint their messages was the most heinous of crimes and as far as the Sugata were concerned, messages from any but the spirits or their herald were impure.