32. Kūkaku Shiba

Kūkaku Shiba (志波 空鶴 Shiba Kūkaku) is an ill-tempered fireworks expert and the somewhat authoritative older sister of Ganju. She lives with her family in flamboyant, ridiculously themed houses (which she changes in design and location regularly) on the outskirts of Soul Society. For some unknown reason, Kūkaku is missing her right arm which in the anime is replaced with aprosthetic.  Kūkaku is the head of the Shiba family, which fell from the status of nobility after her brother Kaien, died. Because they knew only that Kaien was killed by a Soul Reaper, both Kūkaku and Ganju are distrustful of Soul Reapers when first introduced. After Kaien's killer Rukia Kuchiki explains how he died and apologizes, the Shibas make amends. Kūkaku seems to have some kind of relationship with the Urahara Shop, knowing Yoruichi Shihōin and claiming to have worked with Kisuke Urahara in the past. She can perform high level kidō spells, and carries akodachi tied around the remaining portion of her right arm. After the Vandenreich's attack, she helps Ichigo and Bonze return to the Royal Palace. She mentions that they must let Ichigo go to the palace even if it saddens "uncle," before commanding Ganju to continue his training with the three members of Xcution that had been sent to Soul Society, in preparation for the second assault by the Vandenreich