Soul Reapers tend to have calm, reserved personalities, conscious as they are of the seriousness of their work and the consequences involved. Then there’s Renji Abarai, who runs contrary to the type. He’s loud, rude, crude, profane, arrogant, and other adjectives that generally describe an angry, violent bastard.
In the Soul Society’s hierarchy, he’s the second in command of the 6th Division, serving underneath Byakuya Kuchiki. The division’s commander and lieutenant couldn’t be more polar opposites, Byakuya being the calm, collected soul of probity.
Renji does have something like a softer side, although you’d never get him to come out and admit it. While Rukia Kuchiki is under guard awaiting her execution for treason (after Renji and Byakuya personally visited the human world to arrest her) he can’t help coming by to check up on her often, concealing his concern with his usual torrent of verbal abuse.
His feelings for Rukia go back to when the two were children – they both grew up orphans, without a family or a purpose before joining the Soul Society. Though their work has kept them apart since then, he still cares deeply for her.
Renji’s zanpakuto, a broad-bladed weapon with several long “fangs” along the cutting edge, is named Zabimaru. At his command, it can stretch out into a long, whip-like form, entangling a target and digging in with each of its protruding fangs.