Line #68 FanFic/DualPendulums


1	Hirako Nariko never goes anywhere without her scroll. It's tucked within her kimono, just above her heart, and no one, not even her younger brother Shinji, has ever read it. Which is probably a good thing, since it's filled with everything she can remember about the future.
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3	You see, before she was Nariko, she was someone else. And that someone, officially charged with helping her brother mature into a clan leader and a captain, has given herself a mission: to keep her world canon. But with all the time in the world until canon rolls around, it's all too tempting to throw memory to the wind and follow her own dreams...
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5	''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/1759573/chapters/3762125 Dual Pendulums]]'' is a ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' fanfic which centers around Hirako Nariko, a Self-Insert character reborn as the older sister of Hirako Shinji. As she is born well before even Turn Back the Pendulum, from which the fic takes its name, the story thus far is original, centered around Nariko's journey to become a Shinigami.
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7	Has a supplementary fic, ''[[http://archiveofourown.org/works/5405156/chapters/12487310 Clockwork]]''.
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9	----
10	!!This fanfiction series contains examples of:
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12	* AcademyOfAdventure Shin'ou Academy is shaping up to be this. All plots to date, from a crazed Zanpakutou cannibalizing Shinigami to putting down a Quincy-led uprising, have taken place in or been facilitated by it. Even the current plot, a tournament, is unofficially promoted by and staffed by students from the school.
13	* AchievementsInIgnorance Nariko assumes her classmates have fallen asleep after she has her reiatsu tested, though it's clear to the reader that she's knocked them out. Later, she uses a high-level technique (spirit ribbons) without thinking about it.
14	* AnimalMotifs Nariko has been repeatedly associated with snakes, while Aizen is occasionally compared to a bird of prey.
15	* ArmorPiercingQuestion Nariko tells Aizen that he can share his burdens with her and their [[TrueCompanions friends.]] He asks her who she truly trusts. She can't answer.
16	--> '''Aizen:''' Who adds their strength to yours, when you're too burdened to continue?
17	* {{Asexuality}} Nariko and Minoru are this. Aizen may be, but is so socially awkward it's difficult to tell.
18	* BadassBoast Nariko gives a pretty good one to a Yakuza member.
19	--> '''Nariko:''' I am the left hand of Inari, who wields and forges blades. Work for me and I will remake you into a tool with meaning. Refuse again and I will see you broken.
20	* BigBadFriend Barely recognizable as this, but Aizen does fit it.
21	* BringMyBrownPants or, Bring My Yellow Hakama. After being blown up by Mari[[spoiler:/Mira]], Nariko's dignity is further tarnished by this.
22	* BodyguardingABadass [[spoiler:Hiyori]] [[PintsizedPowerhouse of all people]] was to be this to Nariko, but Nariko's choice to go to [[ExtranormalInstitute Shin'ou Academy]] spoiled it.
23	* CannibalismSuperpower [[spoiler:Mari]]
24	* CassandraTruth Nariko outright tells Shinju her origins early on, only to have Shinju brush it off as a joke.
25	* CentralTheme:
26	** Are our hard choices necessary or self-serving?
27	** Is truth worth the consequences of telling it?
28	** How do you find balance between cooperation and independence?
29	* CombatHandFan Nariko wields a pair of these as the released form of her Zanpakutou.
30	* CombatPragmatist Nariko is shaping up to be this. Not only does she repeatedly [[GroinAttack go for the groin,]] she's played dead, pretended to switch allegiances until she could shove enemies down a hill, and ''impaled'' an enemy after electrocuting him.
31	* CreepyCrossdreser [[spoiler:Momohiko.]]
32	* DarkSkinnedBlond Shinji and Nariko qualify, being tan and blond. However, they may just tan easily.
33	* DebtDetester Minoru.
34	* DualWielding Of course.
35	* EmpathicWeapon/ TalkingWeapon Par for the course, but Nariko has a specific fascination with them.
36	* ExactWords Nariko employs this technique heavily.
37	* FantasticRacism Against Quincy.
38	* FlowerMotifs Left and right, to the point that each arc has its own symbolic flower. In addition, Nariko is associated with clematis as their name in Japanese is homophonous with her Shikai form and irises, while her roommate Shinju is associated with wisteria.
39	* {{Foreshadowing}}
40	** In chapter 12, Minoru warns Nariko that when Shinji finds out about [[{{Jerkass}} Seinosuke Yamada]] and company beating her up, he'll go after them, including the [[ExtremeDoormat one]] she took under her wing. Six chapters later, [[BigBrotherInstinct he]] does just that upon learning the truth.
41	** Throughout the Kinsawa arc, Nariko has severe deja-vu when it comes to her commander, comparing him to Ryuuken and noting that he doesn't look entirely Japanese. [[spoiler:In fact, he's a Quincy, who are prime examples of GratuitousGerman and PuttingOnTheReich.]]
42	** At the beginning of chapter 29, Momohiko says Nariko and the gang's 'insolence' will end that day. By the end of the chapter, Nariko's been arrested for poisoning her opponent in a Frameup.
43	* GiverOfLameNames The Hirako name their kids for virtues... those they want the kids to contrast. Shinji is supposed to be a liar and Nariko lazy. Their father isn't named for a virtue, but he's noted as the opposite of a swordsman.
44	* HairContrastDuo Platonic, inverted variant with the Hirako siblings.
45	* HarpingOnAboutHarpies Nariko's Zanpakutou spirit, a tennyou.
46	* HeroicSelfDeprecation ''Nariko.'' Shinji tries to talk her out of it, but hasn't shown much luck. Minoru also thinks little of himself, at least around [[BlueBlood Nariko and other nobles.]]
47	* HimeCut Nariko calls this the mandatory hairstyle of the Hirako clan, though she draws hers back into a ponytail.
48	* IllGirl Rare male variant with Soujun Kuchiki.
49	* IncurableCoughOfDeath Aizen appears to have one of these, in sharp contrast to canon. [[spoiler:Turns out he's SecretlyDying.]]
50	* InformedAttribute Shinji and Shinju are repeatedly said to be more social than our hero, but as most scenes involve Nariko, their social circle appears to be far smaller than stated.
51	* LateArrivalSpoiler It's kinda hard to hide Nariko's Zanpakutou, or how she gets it.
52	* MakingASplash Nariko's Shikai produces a spray of water upon release. No powers have come of it, however. Averted as of chapter 29, where she gets water blades.
53	* MetallicMotifs The Hirako clan colors include gold, and much is made of Shinji's golden hair. In contrast, utilizing the 'second best' association, Nariko prefers silver.
54	* MundaneUtility The Shinigami specifically select proctors with ice affinities to proctor Shin'ou Academy's entrance exams, since they take place in the heat of summer.
55	* MyGodWhatHaveIDone Nariko, after she kills Oshiro in self-defense. [[ItGetsEasier She gets over it.]]
56	* NoSocialSkills Aizen. Everyone, including and especially his roommate, indicates he's incredibly creepy when not around Nariko.
57	* NotSoAboveItAll [[ProperLady Shinju]] squees at the chance to makeover her friends.
58	* OneSteveLimit Averted. Several names, first and last, are shared.
59	* PastLifeMemories By way of [[{{Reincarnation}} reincarnation.]] Unusually, [[CrazyPrepared Nariko]] preserves them by writing everything she can remember down at the beginning of the story.
60	* PragmaticHero At her best, Nariko is this, ranging into UnscrupulousHero. At her worst, she verges on being a KnightTemplar.
61	* PsychicPowers Nariko develops them, being able to see and hear Zanpakutou spirits, although she has them sealed by Unohana. In a side-story, Nimaiya indicates they're related to the age of her soul.
62	* {{Reincarnation}} Normal for [[MundaneAfterlife Soul Society]], although as a noble Nariko isn't supposed to be this, not that anyone's caught on.
63	* RoyalBrat Momohiko. [[spoiler:Actually a RichBitch.]]
64	* SelfInsert The premise.
65	* ShipTease Between [[TheHero Nariko]] and [[BigBad Aizen]], as well as Shinji and Shinju.
66	* ShockAndAwe Nariko's Shikai power. Notably, it's also the only type of Kidou she's managed to work just far.
67	* ShoutOut To ''{{Theatre/Macbeth}}'' and ''{{Series/Luke Cage\|2016}}''.
68	-->'''Nariko:''' Look like the innocent flower, but be the serpent underneath.
69	-->'''Nariko:''' Forward, always.
70	** To [[{{WebAnimation/RWBY}} Yang]] with the character Shouron Asahiya. Apart from a name extremely similar in sound (Shouron=Xiao Long) and meaning (both contain the words little, sun, and dragon), both are blonde, long-haired, and aggressive, fighting with fiery gauntlets.
71	* SolarAndLunar [[EveryoneLovesBlondes Shinji]] and Nariko.
72	* StepfordSmiler Despite her emphasis on truthfulness, Nariko herself has been hinted to be this as a result of the enormity of her [[TheStationsOfTheCanon mission]] and the uniqueness of her [[SelfInsert situation.]]
73	* TheLeader Nariko is mostly Levelheaded with a dash of Mastermind. The times she cedes the spot to Shinji, he displays traits of both Charismatic and Headstrong types.
74	* TournamentArc Currently in one, though it's taking some time to get going.
75	* TrueCompanions Nariko specifically befriends Minoru to gain this trope.
76	* TheUnfavorite Nariko. Shinji's not too happy to learn this.
77	* VerbalTic Shinju frequently ends her sentences with 'you know.'
78	* {{Yakuza}} Pop up in the Rukongai, and the Hirako are reputed to have dealings with them.
79	* YouAreNotAlone Invoked between Nariko and Aizen multiple times.
80	* YouCanBarelyStand Nariko takes on [[spoiler:Kurotsuchi and Mari]] concussed, paralyzed in one arm, and missing half her Shikai. She only defeats the former with teamwork and the latter because [[spoiler:she's]] gone off the deep end.
81	* YouMonster Nariko loathes Kurotsuchi even more than the creature that tried to devour her soul.
82	* WhatTheHellHero Aizen of all people calls Nariko out like this in chapter 30, pointing out that Momohiko wouldn't have poisoned [[spoiler:Soujun]] if Nariko hadn't continued to push him and that for all her ranting about how awful he is, the worst outcome would be her rival winning the tournament. On the other hand, if she succeeds, a major clan will be destabilized and Momohiko's abusive father will probably be ''very'' displeased. YMMV depending on how you view Momohiko and Nariko's refusal to cut him any slack.

Context FanFic / DualPendulums