Kakita
What is the clan name?: Kakita
Who founded the clan?: Kakita Shingen “The Blade Emperor”
How was the clan founded?: The Kakita family started off long ago in the hands of Shingen, a Shinigami who had no promise what so ever. He was a man of high ideals, and great honor, but he was also hopeless when it came to Kido, and Hakudo. His abilities without his sword were pathetic, so much so that he wasn’t seen by his peers as anything more than an annoyance. Shingen however, understood that when a man lacked in one energy, they could make up for with another. So he trained his Zanjutsu to the ends of the world, until his body ached, and bled from his exertions. He forged ahead, creating the techniques that would one day become the iconic sword style of his clan, and with his dedication, he became the first of the Kakita Kensai, though the name would not be used until long after his passing. The moment when Shingen’s sword was tested was when a group of Shinigami rose up believing themselves to be gods, and using an amazing power they’d stolen from the depths of hell itself, were able to negate the special skills and powers of the Shinigami that faced them, they also used this gem to control a host of hollows, whom descended upon the Seireitei in a massive wave of destruction.
It seemed hopeless, as the opposition could easily prevent resistance of any kind with their own Zanpakuto’s powers, while they negated the powers of those around them. It would be then that a single unseated, unknown warrior would begin to turn back the tide. Utilizing a style unknown to the world around him, he cut through the monsters who surrounded his fellows, sheathing his blade before the first monster fell, he strode forwards, his blade like a bolt of lightning, cutting through every hollow he faced as if they were nothing more than a puppet. Following his example, many who once were in despair, fought back, finally pushing the lines back upon the Godkings. It was when the first of them descended upon Shingen that many thought the offensive was finally brought to an end, as each of the Godkings possessed an incredibly powerful Zanpakuto. The first Godking to face the Blade Emperor was one who turned the sword spirit against the master, and caused them to kill themselves against him. Shingen however, had long since communed with his sword, and learned its heart, and its secrets, thus the man fell in shock as Shingen told him of the first tenant of the Kakita: ‘Know thy blade, as you know thy soul’
The Captains at the time had been hard pressed, as the Godkings had removed their ability to use many skills they’d relied on, and many fell early when their swords betrayed them. Shingen heard of an attack on the few remaining Captains, who were recovering in the hospital, thus he charged forwards, receiving terrible wounds as he barreled through the Seireitei. He arrived just in the nick of time to meet the second of the Godkings, a monster who drank the energy of those before him like most would breath. When they first clashed however, the man was shocked to find that there was nothing left for him to drink, as Shingen took the signature stance of his family, he told the monster the second tenant: ‘waste no strength, for every action is precious.’ The movement that cut the monster down was smooth as silk, and quick like a flash. He greeted his Captain and several others with a curt nod. None recognized him, but he didn’t allow that to bother him, as he explained that glory was a luxury of peace. Thus Shingen and the wounded Captains began to plan in earnest to push the invaders out, as two of the Godkings had fallen to Shingen alone, and another had fallen in the initial combat, leaving only two more to defeat, but they were the strongest. Shingen considered this, as he too was treated and proposed a way to draw out their forces, and he would go for the head alone, thus if his attack failed, the Captains could kill the bulk of their forces and hopefully rout them anyway.
Despite their trepidation, they eventually relented, and Kakita walked on towards the stage of his greatest fight. Two Godkings waited for him, but the leader was too arrogant to face one soldier alongside his strongest warrior, a grave mistake indeed, and one that Shingen had predicted. The battle with the second of the Godkings was incredible, and some say it caused the damage to the Sokyoku hill that created the tapering of the hill that now makes it so iconic. The two men fought until both had become winded, Shingen gathered himself and looked to the sword he held, and then glanced at the edge before taking a traditional battojutsu stance. The man he face mocked him as he had broken every move that he’d faced so far, but Shingen was undeterred as he gathered his strength, and told the man the final tenant of the Kakita: ‘The Empire rests on the edge of a blade, so keep it sharp.’ Then Shingen walked away, having covered the distance between them in an instant and using a feint with the draw until a second too late, and cutting the man down from the side and rear rather than a traditional frontal assault. The man fell silently.
The final enemy however was one that Shingen knew was going to be beyond difficult, the man’s sword had a defensive power that none had conquered before, a perfect defensive barrier that could only be pierced by Kido and other spiritual attacks, but as the stone he’d held negated those he was invulnerable. He gloated and taunted Shingen, even as the would-be Blade Emperor merely stood there in the iconic Kakita sword stance, gathering himself, hoping his enemy would continue to be a fool, and gloat. It would be that the greatest of the Godkings proved his own ego, and his own power as all eyes fell upon the hill in a moment as a massive light gathered there at the mighty previous Captain prepared a spell of incredibly powerful proportions, and asked what hope, a man who never had anything other than a sword could have. As the spell flash blinded all around, there was a distinct sound of the air being cut, and blood falling to the ground, the massive spell fired off into the air before dissipating harmlessly. The Godking looked up in shock, as he felt his life leave him, all Shingen said to him in response to his final goad was: ‘A Perfect Strike.’ Then he calmly took the stone, and left the Godking to die, wallowing in his own sins.
Shingen’s honor, humble nature, and unwillingness to watch his fellows die, inspired many, even outside of the Clan. He was granted a Noble title for his services, but also because he represented something, he represented the will to surpass one’s self, and become not the man who you believe you can be, or that you want to be, but the man the Seireitei needs you to be. The Kakita family was tasked with keeping the secrets of the Sword style of the then christened Blade Emperor alive, as well as to protect the art of Zanjutsu within the Soul Society, thus the clan has extensive records of every sword style they had ever encountered. They also have a name catalogue of every sword name they have seen in the past. They are popular teachers of sword theory, and many are artists as well as warriors. There is one other secret of the family, but it is held only by the leader of the Clan, and no one else. The location of the stone that the Godkings long ago used to try and conquer the Soul Society, and it is a secret that any true master will keep unto death.
Does your clan possess a special power of sorts?: There are two ‘special’ traits of the Kakita, the most common is their unique style of swordplay, and their uncanny ability to remember sword styles they’ve seen. This has helped them catalog and continue the great library of swordsmanship they have collected. The second, much, much rarer trait of the family is the Kensei (Or Kensai) [Sword Saints]. It is a powerful skill, that is the ability to learn, adapt, and master sword techniques like no other, the massive library tends to be only a starting point, as the Kensai learn best through experience, and it is said that one day, the True Kensei will return, and again use a perfect strike when it is needed most. The power of the Kensei is considerable, and the title not given lightly, even many Clan heads never earn the title, and never can two Kensei exist in the same generation.
Who is the Current Head of the Clan?: Kakita Noburo
Notable Members: Kakita Yojimbo [Son of Noburo, Vice Captain of Squad One]
Kakita Nagani [Wife of Noburo, Mother of Yojimbo, Master Artist]
Kakita Hatume [Sword Trainer]
Kakita Wei [Younger brother to Yojimbo]
Kakita Nanani [Sword Smith] (The Kakita Asuachi have been uniquely forged since the first Blade Emperor.)
What is the House's influence in the Seireitei?: The Kakita family are well known throughout the Seireitei, and at one time there was no house considered more important than them, but as time went on the legends dwindled and the amazing warriors of the clan began to fade into the background. Though they are still principal masters of the sword, it has been centuries since one served in any outstanding manner, the last being Kakita Hanto, the father of the current head, who retired from active service five hundred years ago, and died shortly after the Ash War. The Family is still respected especially as they are the principal teachers, and warrior poets, but only time will tell if they will rise back to top like a phoenix, or fade away into the background of the engine that is the Soul Society.
