Bleach OC - Ryuukaji

 "You are my master and I am your zanpakuto. I will always be behind you."

Appearance
Ryuukaji is a tall, slim man with raven black hair that reaches his mid-back, kept in a low ponytail. His eyes are bright red, his nails are sharp and black, and he has red markings beneath both eyes. There's also a scar across his nose and horns sprouting from either side of his head. His ears are pointed, his teeth sharp, and he wears a purple samue. His tail is covered with black scales and he keeps it wrapped around his waist like a belt.

Personality
Ryuukaji is quiet, reserved, and polite, though his tone is only warm when speaking to his master. He has a strong desire to help others and he enjoys reading and learning as much as he can about any and every subject. He is very protective of his master and won't hesitate to attack anyone that tries to hurt her. Though he tries to hide it behind a blank expression, he often feels insecure and he's afraid of losing his master again, of being alone. He has a weakness for cats just like his master and his favorite drink is lemonade. He prefers to be the voice of reason, informing his master of the possible consequences of their actions. Even if he doesn't agree, he will follow the will of his master without hesitation.

History
Ryuukaji is not like the typical zanpakuto. He has lived for thousands of years and has had dozens of different masters that he has served faithfully. He has forgotten exactly when he came into being because it's been such a long time. Unlike other zanpakuto, he does not die when his master's life comes to an end which leaves him searching for a new master to wield him. Most of the time, his master chooses a successor to take him upon their death, but there have been several occasions where a successor was not chosen. When this happens, he must find a suitable master himself which can be quite a difficult task. However, with his heart sight ability which lets him see into the hearts of others, he is less afraid of finding a master that may turn out to be a terrible person.

Before becoming Jen's zanpakuto, his master was a shinigami named Hinata Takumi who he served for nearly 200 years before the man's death. Together, they were working on a way to protect the ningamis from Division 8 by having them protected by the Soul Society, a task which proved to be far too difficult for them to accomplish together. Now, Ryuukaji is hopeful that he can continue Hinata's work with his new master and that he may protect her better than he did Hinata.

Powers & Abilities

 * Enhanced Strength: Even in his unreleased form, he is insanely strong and can easily carry ten times his own body weight.
 * Heart Sight: His enhanced senses allow him to see into a person's heart to learn the nature of that person. The darker a person's heart is, the more dangerous they are and the higher the chance that they will be corrupted by evil.
 * Regeneration: When seriously injured, he can reverse the damage and even regrow his limbs should they be severed from his body.
 * Fire Resistance: He cannot be injured by fire.
 * Fire Creation & Manipulation: He is able to manipulate and create fire. The amount of fire he can create is increased when he uses his released form or bankai.

Manifester Forms
Outside of combat, Ryuu can manifest himself as a black fox with red paws, red fur at the tips of his ears, and a black bandana around his neck. As he is a zanpakuto spirit, only those who can see spirits can see him so he is generally free to roam around as he pleases. His speed and stealth are drastically increased but he cannot use any of his abilities and his defense is greatly reduced. He is also able to speak in this form and feels quite comfortable as a fox.

Inner World
Ryuukaji's inner world is a small clearing surrounded by tall trees. Inside this clearing is a waterfall that drains into a small stream filled with koi fish.

Trivia

 * Ryuukaji is obsessed with lemonade and, just like his master, he can be persuaded to do things he'd rather not do if he's promised some.
 * He does not like dogs because they make him feel uneasy and their barks hurt his sensitive ears.
 * His favorite color is green.
 * His favorite book is The Bobbit.
 * His favorite genres are history, fantasy, and adventure.

Image Credit
The image of Ryuukaji was made by yunomoto over on Picrew -> https://picrew.me/image_maker/695783 The image of Ryuukaji as a fox was made by Hanamuguri over on Picrew -> https://picrew.me/image_maker/79981 The image of Ryuukaji's inner world was made by an AI generator -> https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/6wt6I6J6BaihMmlyBZ5I