$$ \color{#D44C47}\LARGE\textbf{˗ˏˋ ꒰ Captain of the 4th Division ꒱ ˎˊ˗ } $$
$$ \color{#D44C47}\large\textbf{ Previously the Lieutenant of the 4th and 13th Division} $$
$$ \color{#D44C47}\normalsize\textbf{ Formerly a member of the 1st Division} $$
Aizu is the heir and eldest daughter of the Erigawa clan—an old, prestigious and high-ranking aristocratic family with a long line of Kido users. Despite that, she has always been more interested in fighting with the sword. She convinced her mother to allow her to enroll in the Shinigami Academy once it was renamed the Spiritual Arts Academy when Kidō was finally incorporated into the curriculum—but on the condition that Aizu would join the Kidō Corps afterwards. However, around the time she would graduate, her mother went on a long mission and Aizu took that chance to join the Gotei 13.
At the start of the story, Aizu is the lieutenant of the 4th Division—having no interest in becoming a captain nor the extra responsibilities the position came with. However, after the death of Unohana during the TYBW arc, Aizu would accept the promotion and become the Captain of the 4th Division.
Race: Soul
Birthday: January 11
Gender: Female
Orientation: Pansexual
Height: 165 cm (5ft 5 in)
Weight: 60 kg (132 lbs)
Sometimes there are clouds of gloom, But these are transient all; If the shower will make the roses bloom, O why lament its fall
赤 — Red
糸 — Thread; yarn; string
繋 — Tie, fasten, chain, tether, connect
AIZU [ 赤糸繋 ] — Red Thread Connection
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training, making tea, zanjutsu, kaidō, pulling pranks, braiding hair, making dirty jokes/innuendos, drinking
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desserts, flowers, card games, delicious meals, physical touch, the sound made from the rain
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<aside> <img src="/icons/close_red.svg" alt="/icons/close_red.svg" width="40px" />
strong aromas/smells, loud noises, paperwork, taking naps, overthinking, paperwork
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The oldest children of the Erigawa family, a wealthy and high aristocratic family that has a long line of Kidō masters coming from this house. She has two younger siblings (twins) who were born 7 years after her. Aizu was expected to join the Kidō Corps, like her mother had, but she was more interested in the Zanpakutōs that the Shinigamis wielded and wanted to learn to use a sword. With the Shinigami Academy becoming an institute to develop future generations of the Kidō Corps and the Onmitsukidō—along with the Gotei 13, Aizu was allowed to attend the academy on the condition that she would join the Kidō Corps when she graduated.
Drawn by Celestine
At first, Aizu complied—grateful to be able to have her own Zanpakutō, but Aizu’s yearning to join the Gotei 13 grew and grew as the deadline drew near. Luckily, a few months before she would graduate, her mother went on a long mission. Aizu took the chance to join the Gotei 13 instead with a race against time so that by the time her mother would return, she would make a name for herself and would be indispensable to the Gotei 13. Then, she wouldn’t be forced to join the Kidō Corps.
Upon graduation, Aizu joined the 1st Division—only because she liked its division flowers (chrysanthemums) the best compared to the other Divisions (and also because it could give her more credibility and she would be directly under the Captain-Commander Yamamoto). Kyoraku and Ukitake, at that time, were both apart of the 1st Division as well and she would befriend them during her time there—often going out to eat and drink with the two. She would eventually became a granddaughter figure to Yamamoto. When her mother came back and tried to get her to withdraw from the Gotei 13 and join the Kidō Corps, Aizu convinced Yamamoto to persuade her mother otherwise and eventually she was allowed to stay.
When Kyoraku and Ukitake transfer to different divisions, Aizu stays in the 1st Division. With this new found loneliness, she realizes her feelings for Ukitake—often finding excuses to visit him which Kyoraku teases her for.
[wip inbetween for how they get together]
After marrying Ukitake, she transferred to the 13th Division and was promoted as the Lieutenant—taking up most of his administrative work. Though, most people still refer to her as Erigawa to not confuse either of the two.
However, after witnessing a particularly bad episode of Ukitake’s illness flaring up, Aizu decided to transfer to the 4th Division to learn Kaidō directly under Unohana so she wouldn’t be as useless when he’s sick. Originally, she transferred over to stay as 3rd Seat of the 4th Division, but after some time, Seinosuke Yamada—the Lieutenant of the 4th Division at that time and the older brother of Hanataro—withdrew from the Gotei 13 and Aizu would be promoted to replace him. She would help Ukitake convince Kaien to take her place as the Lieutenant of the 13th Division when she left.