Name: Kusano Gashira
Age: 350
Visual Age: 25
Years since Entrance into the Gotei 13: 290
Gender: male
Division: 11
Rank: Captain
Appearance:
http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/038/b/f/Commission___Kanzaki_by_Geofffffff.jpgPersonality: Kusano has a rather cold and emotionless personality. Ever since his former Captain died a 115 years ago. He was the 3rd seat back then and Captain Zeno Hiraken was one of his best friends. After Zeno's death Kusano became a calm and indifferent person. All he really cares about is the destruction of his enemies. As his former captain was, he is a perfectionist. Doing what he needs to do perfectly, nothing less, nothing more. He trusts his subordinates to do the same. They should be able to take care of themselves. So he spends a lot of time training them and getting to know their strengths and weaknesses. Then he can help them improve themselves and become better and better.
He thinks he shouldn't always have his subordinates' backs. He's clever and thinks things through, just as Zeno has taught him to.
Fighting Style: He's a fighting specialist. He's fast, strong and can endure a lot. He's as good in close combat as he is ranged. Kusano is a good improviser, though he prefers to fight with certain tricks and tactics to trap his enemies so he can deal maximum damage.
Background:
Human
Kusano was born on October 10th 1660, in a rather poor family. He lived in a small village in Japan, near Sapporo. As he grew up he had to work a lot so he could buy food for his family. He had two sisters and a mother, since his father had died two months before his birth. His mother never talked about his father, as if she was ashamed for him. After a few years Kusano stopped about him. A month and a half after he had become 12, his oldest sister died. She had been a whore in order to earn money, but a drunken costumer killed her when she asked for money. Kusano had enough of that miserable life of his and left his home. He went into the mountains in order to find a new life, it couldn't be much worse than his old life.
He passed out somewhere in the mountains because he didn't have anything to drink or eat for two days. Luckily for him, a monk found him.
The monk lived in a monastery in the mountains.
The monks there were peaceful martial artists. They tested the boy and found that Kusano was very gifted. They found Kusano a gift from the heavens.
So they educated him and taught him martial arts.
When he became 25 years old he became very ill.
After a month or two he could no longer move or feel his legs.
After three months he was completely paralyzed and a month later he died.
Before Konso.
He opened his eyes and he found himself close to the monastery. He returned to the monastery but when he saw his friends and went over to talk to them he realized nobody could see or hear him. He then noticed a strange chain was attached to his chest, though it was corroding. A mysterious man appeared next to him as he was trying to pull out the chain. The man was clothed in a black kimono and carried a sword. Before he could ask anything the man explained who and what he was. A Soul Reaper to send him to the afterlife.
Though the man quickly added that his Chain of Fate was almost gone and that he had to perform Konso before he became some sort of monster.
Kusano didn't ask any questions, he only nodded and let the Shinigami do what he had to do.
In Rukongai.
He lived in Rukongai for a few months like all the others did. Though it started remembering him to his former, poor life. He didn't like it one bit.
So once again he left his 'family', without even saying goodbye, and entered the Academy.
In Seireitei.
He was already a very good fighter when he entered the Academy and after 10 years he was already allowed to enter the Gotei 13. He didn't even have Shikai yet.
He became 7th seat of the 11th Division. He thought about trying to join the 2nd Division, but he was so obsessed with fighting. So he joined the 11th Division because it shared his way of thinking. After 24 years of extremely intensive training he mastered Shikai. His Shikai was overwhelming and he challenged the Lieutenant for a fight. If he won, he would become the new second seat. He won easily and became the lieutenant of the 11th under Zafaron Uriuc, a man who he practically worshiped. Years passed and a new guy became third seat. It was Zeno Hiraken. The man was a lot older than him, though Kusano was stronger. They fought countless times and became very good friends.
Though his Captain, liked Zeno better than he liked Kusano. Proof of this was that one day his Captain decided to train Zeno so he could achieve Bankai. Kusano was ordered to bring Zeno food four times a day as Zeno trained. Kusano was extremely jealous and started training harder and harder, though he didn't succeed in manifesting his Zanpakutõ out of his body.
When Zeno finally achieved Bankai, Kusano hoped he was still able to defeat Zeno. Since he had fully mastered Shikai, and his Shikai was stronger than Zeno's.
Unfortunately, this was not the case. Zeno had challenged him to a fight to test his bankai but Kusano had lost after only a few minutes. He even had to recover in the hospital for a few days. Fully recovered, he asked Zeno to help him achieve Bankai.
Zeno was now the new lieutenant, because Zafaron was still stronger than him.
Using the same methods as his Captain, Zeno helped Kusano manifest his Zanpakutõ out of his body. And eventually after quite some time, Kusano achieved Bankai.
When he went back to Seireitei to show Zeno his new amazing powers he learned that his friend had died in a fight with a Vasto Lorde.
It felt as if his world collapsed. His best friend and lieutenant was no more.
He replaced his best friend and ran around like a frustrated, depressed and fighting obsessed fool. Eventually, his Captain became the Sotaicho and had to be replaced.
It was but logical that Kusano would follow up Zafaron.
He became the new Captain of the 11th Division and it was as if Zeno had never existed at all.
Kusano never talked about him again and forbade his subordinates to even mention Zeno.
12/3/2013, 6:23 am by 
