Adstringendum - Kurogane

[bigdogninja]

Name: Xae
Personal Journal: xaetel
Contact: AIM = skyofreverie, Plurk = Tsukeru
Other Characters Played: None
Are you 18 or over? Yes

Canon: Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle
Character: Kurogane (Real Name: Youou)
Timeline: Chapter 153: The Most Painful Thing - After leaving Infinity for Celes
Personality:

At first appearance the ninja usually looks frightening to most people and Kurogane doesn’t do much to change that. As the stoic fighter of the group, some would call Kurogane cold and distant unless you truly know where to look or have lived with him for a period of time. Often a man of few words, it’s not hard to get a one syllable response from the warrior, although there are times when he feels chatty and speaks in length. Some of the time he won’t even introduce himself and leaves it to the more people-friendly individuals of the group.

To anyone who does find themselves having a conversation with Kurogane they’ll learn that he’s actually pretty rude. Not to mention that he has a foul mouth and curses quite a bit. Kurogane is a man who’d rather be blunt about something than try to think of a kinder way of saying something; he doesn’t care who he might offend or how abrasive he is. Generally this is balanced by his companions that will either wave off his words or apologize on his behalf and he doesn’t always bother to stop them as if he realizes how he must sound to someone.

From the very beginning Kurogane began to notice things about his new traveling companions. This is thanks to how perceptive he is. He knew that both Fai and Syaoran had some fighting abilities and eventually realized that Syaoran was blind in one eye. His perception has helped in battle as he uses it to sense what’s around him and predict moves before they even happen. Kurogane could fight or even just move around completely blinded and he’s taught this to Syaoran. Outside of battling this perception allows him to see through people’s masks or notice when something is off about someone. Most of the time this is focused on Fai as the magician has the most to hide from them. In Infinity he knew that the princess was hiding things and that Fai was helping her to do it and he didn’t seem all too surprised when Fai told them about all the things he was lying about from the start.

Ever since the death of his parents Kurogane has been very goal-oriented and allows nothing to stand in his way. He had several to start with and gained more along the way. To help him with achieving his goals is his strong will. Until he finds his mother’s killer and returns to his home, Kurogane won’t allow himself to die. And he hates people who don’t seem to give a damn about throwing their own life away, though Kurogane seems to believe that sacrificing a life for another’s who they truly care about would be a good death. Though while he wouldn’t necessarily lay down his own life down (since he’s so damn sure of his fighting abilities) there are other things Kurogane would give up in order to obtain his goals.

When Fai tried to convince Kurogane to let him die just so clone!Syaoran wouldn’t be able to use his stolen magic the ninja took matters into his own hands and forced the magician to live. It didn’t matter what the price would be, or that it was against Fai’s wishes, or even that Kurogane would now be responsible for another’s life – he still did it. While in Infinity he forced Fai to drink his blood even though it was against the other’s wishes which says that Kurogane takes responsibility for his own actions, no matter what the cost.

This man is easily riled, especially when subjugated to the childish acts of his companions. It’s not strange to hear him raise his voice, insult people or even see him try to make his “bite” as bad as his “bark” is. Not that his short-temper helps in any of these situations. All it stems from low-tolerance to shenanigans and underlying anger depending on the situation. Most of the time it’s harmless and can even be ignored but the situation gets serious then so does Kurogane.

Ever since he witnessed his mother’s death and realized his father’s Kurogane has been battle-hungry. It was actually the reason he got sent away in the first place as he would seek out the supposedly strongest fighters in order to defeat them. He enjoys it so much that most of the time it’s not unusual to see him fighting with a bit of a smirk on his face. This hasn’t changed all that much as he still enjoys a good fight although he has stopped killing people unless he feels they deserve to die for what they’ve done.

Going hand-in-hand with his desire to be the strongest Kurogane is also very protective of those he cares about. He would fight to defend them and sacrifice, without hesitation, what he can in order to stay with them. There are few people he would lay down his life for but Kurogane doesn’t want to lose anyone who’s important to him and he would cross thousands of worlds just to find them. He can also be very loyal to those he cares about or has sworn to protect. Absolutely nothing can shake that loyalty, not even if they did something to have wronged him.

Underneath all of the layers that Kurogane readily shows is a compassion that would surprise anyone who doesn’t look closely enough at him. While he may not be the type to sit and hold someone while saying something sappy, he does care for people in his own way. It’s generally gruff and even sometimes comes out abrasive but he does want what’s best for the ones he cares about. In Acid Tokyo, he confronts Fai about living in the present with the rest of them rather than looking back and while in Infinity he looked after real!Syaoran, not to mention all he does for the other two. Also, it must be noted that Kurogane isn’t exactly going out of his way to touch people but he’s gotten very used to people being inside of his personal bubble. Any affectionate touches from him are brief and may not seem all that affectionate at all.

Background:

Born in the province of Suwa, Kurogane’s father was a warrior and a lord who protected their people from the monsters known as demons who roam their land with his sword, Ginryu. His mother was a miko who protected the people with a magical barrier in order to keep the demons out, although she was sick with tuberculosis. In those days he was energetic and outgoing, always eager to please his mother and wanted to be just like his father. To help protect the people like his parents did, he began his training with a sword and mastered his father’s technique. It wasn’t until his teenage years that the trouble began.

While his father was off fighting a powerful demon, his mother was praying in the Inoriba. Moments later Kurogane entered the room just in time to see a hand appear from a void, stabbing her through with a sword. Unable to stop the blood flow, she died and with her death the barrier protecting their lands broke allowing the demons to attack them. One of those demons had his father’s arm and their family heirloom, Ginryu, hanging from his mouth. The arm crumbled into a pile of dust the sword now within Kurogane’s reach. With it he began a killing rampage that only stopped when all of the demons lay dead at his feet.

Hours later he is found by the Empress of Japan and taken into the care of Princess Tomoyo where he served her until the age of twenty-five in Nihon. Shortly after arriving he asked the princess to bury his father’s sword with his mother and Tomoyo had a replica made so he could use it to protect the ones he cared about and has been carrying it ever since. Over the years Kurogane became the strongest ninja he could, striking down any foes who dared to think they could attack the princess. One fateful night when he had slain a group of intruders against the princesses wishes she decided to send him on a journey to find what real strength meant. As he was being sucked into the portal that would take him to another world Tomoyo put a curse on him. If he were to kill an enemy then Kurogane would lose a bit of his strength.

On the other end of the portal Kurogane arrived in the yard of the Time Witch Yuko’s shop along with another male. Already present was a young teenage boy and an unconscious girl. When it was revealed that they all wanted to travel between worlds and that they had to pay a price Kurogane had to offer up his replicated sword but vowed to get it back one day. Now armed with a “white thing” that was capable of transporting them through different dimensions and three other traveling companions, Kurogane was ready to go to a new world.

Their first world is the Hanshin Republic where the three of them receive a power known as kudan. The group is offered a place to stay by a couple who owed Yuko a favor and they explain the world to them. Although at first Kurogane said he wouldn’t help look for the feathers that held Sakura’s memories, eventually he gave in, knowing that finding them is the fastest way to move on to another world. While searching they ran into several obstacles along the way, all of them using their kudan in order to defeat those who would stand in their way. During one of these battles they finally locate the feather in a friend’s kudan but the power is too much for it to handle and it started attacking the buildings. Syaoran reached inside of it and even though it hurt both him and their friend neither of them gave up until it was in the kid’s possession. With the feather in hand they rushed back to the still sleeping Sakura in order to return it. When she woke Syaoran was by her side but she didn’t remember him at all due to the price he had paid in order to travel between worlds. He explained who she was, that they were on a journey to recover her feathers and that they were her friends even though it hurt to do so. After a celebration they left Hanshin behind and moved on to the next world.

In Koryo Country, they discover that an evil sorcerer, Ryanban, was holding her feather and using it against the townspeople. Determined to get the feather back, they join up with a girl named Chunyan, who lost her mother to the sorcerer. Here they discover Sakura’s luck for the first time, when she wins a street game several times. Before the group can even think of finding the feather in the sorcerer’s castle they must first break the barrier and call about the Witch Yuko once again. Once inside the male trio find themselves up against a sorceress who fights with an acidic liquid. Fai and Kurogane send Syaoran ahead to find the feather while they deal with the woman. Eventually they free her from the sorcerer’s control and are finally able to join the kid who seemed to be surrounded by controlled townspeople. It was Chunyan who freed them with the help of a magic mirror left by her mother and the sorceress Kiishimu who took her revenge by bringing Ryanban to her world. As there were no more feathers in the world the group left after saying their goodbyes.

While Fog Country seemed to be nothing but wildlife and a big lake but Mokona did sense something inside the lake. Syaoran went in to look while Fai, Mokona and Kurogane went to check out the forest and Sakura slept by the lake. While separated a bright light shown drawing them all back to the lake and at the bottom Syaoran found that there was a tiny city and a huge glowing fish that acted as the sun. Mokona determined that the fish was the source of power he was feeling and they left.

Next was Jade Country, a cold and snowy place, where there was a tale of a feather possessed by a princess who was said to have kidnapped all the children, and when they returned they were no longer the same. By entering the village as writers, they were able to stay, but the villagers were suspicious of them, all but the town’s Doctor Kyle, who let them stay with him. Late one night, Sakura awoke to see a long blonde haired woman walking through the village, along with several of the children. Climbing down from her window, Sakura followed the princess, but fell asleep before managing to tell anyone, only to wake up inside the Princess’s castle chained to a bed. By breaking the bed, she managed to escape and followed the children to where they were attempting to dig out one of her feathers. Princess Emeraude, who was nothing more than a ghost which only Sakura can see, appeared, telling her the true story behind the legend. It is then revealed that Doctor Kyle was behind the whole thing, and he attempted to get the feather from her only to be stopped by Syaoran. With the children free, and Syaoran coming to save her, they got separated from the rest of the group, and water came down around them. Princess Emeraude appeared to Sakura, helping them to escape just before the entire castle is brought down on them. She revealed that the group was being watched by someone else, before she’s gone.

After that was Oto Country, a world of demons/oni and much too careful meticulous planning. In order to make money, Syaoran and Kurogane became demons hunters, while Fai signed the others up to run a café. It is here, where the children have their first drink of alcohol ever, resulting in a bout of meowing, brought on by the names they put down on first arrival, Big Doggy and Little Doggy, and Big Kitty and Little Kitty. Not long after they arrive, that their café is attacked by a demon, and when going to collect the money for it, they discover that for some reason, the demons are only drawn to certain areas. After Kurogane and Syaoran are both signed up to be Oni Hunters, the ninja points out that he knew Syaoran can’t see out of his right eye. It’s here in this world where Syaoran began his training to learn how to fight with a sword and sense the enemies around him rather than seeing them by Kurogane. With Fai’s supposed death protecting a sleeping Sakura, they discovered that Oto was not a real country, but an advanced virtual reality game. Meanwhile, Syaoran went to face off against the man controlling the demons who was someone from his past but ended up “dying”. Kurogane followed, sleeping princess and Mokona in tow, to take revenge against him, eager to fight a worthy opponent. Before he could fight Seishirou the game dissolved into real life.

The real world is Edonis Country, in which the group first arrived, only to be instantly sucked into the game. As he doesn’t realize that Fai and Syaoran are still alive Kurogane passed the princess off to a comrade and went to fight Seishirou. Eventually the two make their presence known to him as the strongest oni appeared before them. Since Seishirou didn’t find what he was searching for he left the world with one of Sakura’s feathers in tow. Before the game and real world separated Mokona transported the group away allowing both boys to keep their new weapons.

The Country of Idols is where they ended up next, a jungle world filled with little creatures, which fear a mighty demon. Sakura, Syaoran, Kurogane and Mokona all set off to find this demon only to reach an area where the wind blows so hard it’s near impossible to get close. Hearing the voice of the wind, Sakura communicated with the tornado learning that it couldn’t move on due to a powerful force, getting it to slow the wind down. Returning to where they creatures were they found Fai celebrating with them as they had the feather all along. Once her feather is returned the tornado presented Sakura with a gift of flowers for freeing it.

After that they ended up in Shara Country, separated from each other. Fai and Kurogane ended up in a shrine where they were attacked by the men running it before they were allowed to stay. They learned about Yasha, their god, whom they protect and worship and the strange things happening surrounding the Ashura and the Yasha statue. After one such earthquake Fai and Kurogane learn that the men of the shrine blame all of the events on the Suzuran troupe who come back to the land once a year

They were sent to Shura Country even though they weren’t near Mokona, where they ended up in the care of Yasha six months earlier than Sakura and Syaoran. Since Kurogane could sort of speak the language, they joined up with Yasha’s group where they began battling with the Ashura clan for control of the moon castle. In order to better train Syaoran, Kurogane didn’t acknowledge that he knew the boy when the others showed, fighting all out against him. After a few nights of fighting, Ashura finally put an end to the battle, killing Yasha’s spirit that had lived on long after his death with the help of Sakura’s feather. Being transported back to Shara, they learn that they hadn’t really jumped to another world but instead moved backs through time and their presence there had changed the future. Now the people are living in harmony as they never separated their gods

Their next world was Piffle World, the most advanced world they have visited yet. They didn’t have to look hard for the feather, as it’s was being offered up in a race as the first place prize. They met Tomoyo, who looks just like someone from Kurogane’s home world, and also the one sponsoring the race. All four entered the race, and make it through the first stage, Sakura merely by her sheer good luck. Between races Syaoran and Sakura are questioned by some men who work for Piffle Company and are alerted to the fact that someone sabotaged the race. During the second and final stage, all other contestants are eliminated, first Fai, then Syaoran and Kurogane pushed Sakura out of the way of an unexpected geyser only to eliminate himself from the race. With a little help from her powers, and good luck, she won the race, and the prize. While at the after party, they were attacked by Doctor Kyle from Jade Country and almost lost the feather but Mokona saved it. They also discovered that Tomoyo was the one who sabotaged the race (although Kurogane suspected it was her), in order to help Sakura win her feather back. She told them that a priestess who had looked exactly like her visited her in a dream and told her that the rightful travelers would come seeking the feather but so would enemies. With that they drank the night away and left Piffle the very next day.

Now they are off on an adventure in LeCourt Country, where they visit one of the many libraries. While there Kurogane picked up a seemingly empty book only to have Syaoran take a look at it next. It’s here where the kid saw Kurogane’s past and as they talk about it, others learned all about the book and that it’s called The Book of Memories, which was a copy and the original contained Sakura’s feather. However, the book is not allowed to be checked out or even looked at, so Syaoran planned to steal it. During they day, the group went in, and faced challenges just to get at the book. Somehow it seemed that they end back in Clow Country, but it was all just an illusion created by Sakura’s feather. While the kid was fighting one of the guardian beasts, Kurogane took notice that for several minutes Syaoran is not the same as the one he had been traveling with. The spell is broken when the kid has the feather in his grasp and suddenly they were standing with Fai and Sakura once more. The kid came back to his senses and they tried to leave the world but Mokona’s magic so they’re forced to go back through the library to find somewhere it did. Fleeing the library was no easy escape, but they managed with a little magic from Fai.

They end up in Tokyo, although the acid rain forced them to seek shelter where they are attacked by a group of people, one of the only groups of people left alive. Their leader is a strong man named Kamui who Kurogane fought and even injured slightly but they were interrupted by the people from the Tower arriving. Kamui and Fuuma fought but it was put on hold as the Tower dwellers were forced to return to their home as it was under attack. Fai convinced the people to allow them to stay in order to treat Syaoran’s wound since Mokona sensed a feather beneath them. It’s then they learn that the only water suitable for living is only found in two places, and the people of the country are always fighting over what is good enough to drink. Meanwhile the Princess still slept on, her soul drawn to the sleeping presence beneath the water and in an entirely different world the original!Syaoran awoke from his slumber. He began the travel to Yuuko’s world in order to have his wish granted.

During the night Kurogane noticed that Syaoran had once again become someone different from what he knew, telling the mage this. When they are called upon to help out in return for staying both the kid and Fai go, leaving Kurogane to baby-sit the sleeping Princess. While watching over her Sakura stopped breathing and he was told that her soul was sleeping, probably down where the water was kept. Elsewhere Syaoran convinced their hosts to allow him downstairs in order to search for the feather and found himself facing off against Kamui. Little-by-little the clone lost his sense of self – his heart that had been placed inside by the original during his creation. When Fai attempted to stop it from happening the clone got the upper hand and ripped one of the mage’s blue eyes and ate it to gain the magic it possessed.

As Kurogane descended the stairs Sakura’s body disappeared in order to join the soul and shortly after he joined the others the water cleared to reveal what had happened. Before the clone could consume Fai’s other eye, which would kill the mage, Kurogane intervened by tossing aside the clone resulting in breaking Syaoran’s arm. Shortly after the original Syaoran turned up as his wish had been to reunite with his other eye and the two Syaoran’s battle. Just when the original was about to kill off his clone Sakura begged him not to and instead got injured instead. The clone then proceeded to take the feathers from the other person sleeping and returned it to the Princess before leaving the world. This allowed Kamui’s brother to waken from his three year slumber.

With Fai dying, the Princess sleeping and the world’s water source gone a deal was formed. Kurogane would ask for the water that Subaru wanted and Fai would become a vampire at the ninja’s request. Even though it was against Fai’s will he still went through it and became the mage’s bait so that only Kurogane’s blood could be had. He also became responsible for Fai’s life and would live longer than an average human. Shortly after the change the people from the Tower arrived to strike a deal – they would hand over their feather in order to live there and share the water as theirs was running out. Sakura awoke declaring that it was her feather and she wanted to leave it in Tokyo so they could survive. She also took on the payment for the water, leaving the others behind to wait for her. While she was gone Fai awoke and when he realized that they had let her go, Fai nearly went after her but they didn’t have to wait long before she showed up.

Reunited once again Yuuko revealed that their enemy was a man named Fei Wong Reed and that he had designed everything so that they would take this journey together. Fei Wong had a wish that required the ruins in Clow and for Sakura to go to different worlds. Despite the fact that strings had been pulled they decided to continue on their journey and after being bandaged up and dropping the feather into the newly acquired water they move on to the next world.

Next is a world with no name, as they don’t stay there long enough to find it out. But it had been devastated in clone!Syaoran’s wake, and the people blame Syaoran as they don’t realize the difference. They throw stones at him only to have Sakura step in the way before quickly moving on. Both Sakura and Syaoran felt a responsibility to help them, which they try to accomplish in the next world.

Infinity was a strange world, a game where chess is the source of entertainment, using humans as pawns. They all wish to collect the prize money in order to help the last world repair what had been destroyed, but Sakura also has another plan in mind. For three months they worked towards their goal, participating in battles in order to win the prize. However at the end of their last battle, Sakura received two feathers, making her stronger then Fai and activating his curse. Unable to stop himself, Fai ran her through, and her body and soul separated into two different worlds. Her body was taken to Fai’s world while the soul entered the dream world.

It’s here where several truths come out including that Fai was the one who placed the feather on Syaoran’s coat back in the very first world and that he can move through worlds without Mokona’s aid. Fai alone offered to pay the price to ensure that their next world would be his in order to retrieve Sakura’s body by offering up his remaining eye. Finally fed up with doing things the way the mage and Princess wanted Kurogane said that they were all going so they would all pay the price. When they’re ready to face the cold weather of Fai’s world they gather again and this is where Fai magically embedded Sōhi into his arm so that Kurogane would have it without needing Mokona. As the price Yuuko asked for the prize money they won during the chess battle and by combining Fai’s magic and Mokona’s they leave Infinity, heading straight for Fai’s world.

Abilities/Additional Notes:

Ever since he was little Kurogane has been training to use a sword so his skills at handling one are excellent. His preference is a long sword and current one is named Sōhi. To go along with his training he also learned a technique from his father called Hama Ryuuou-jin which has been his trademark move. It's combined with energy and allows him to defeat several enemies in one blow. He also has inhuman-like strength and has been shown to shatter walls, snap metal light poles, and move huge bookshelves still filled with books. Whether he's on the battlefield or not he has this uncanny ability to perceive things about people that they'd prefer to keep hidden. This has helped in battles as he doesn't need to see in order to move or fight, he can just sense what's around him. Not to mention how sturdy Kurogane is. No matter how many injuries he seems to get Kurogane can still keep moving until his task is done at least. As of recently he became the only food source for a vampire-turned Fai known as "E" or "bait". Since he's become bait Kurogane's life has also been lengthened beyond that of an average humans, but it doesn't make him immortal or invulnerable to death. With a bit of Fai’s magic, his sword is now housed in his left hand so as to be closer should he need it.

Also, it must be noted that Kurogane is cursed. This curse has made it so that if he was to take a life needlessly then his own strength would diminish.

His native tongue is Japanese and he prefers Japanese food over anything - because he sucks at using utensils. Alcohol doesn't seem to have much effect on him as proven when they're surrounded by at least a dozen bottles in Shara. Thanks to his journeys, Kurogane has learned a few other things such as how to drive a car-like vehicle and even some mechanics.

Sample Journal Post:

[Video]

[The video flickers to life to show nothing but a sea of black. That's hardly the interesting part.]

-hell is this thing? You can't just hand this to someone and walk away! OI! I'm talking to you! Get back here, bastard!

[After a moment of silence it seems the owner of the PCD has resigned himself to accepting the device. The video finally moves to reveal Kurogane's irritated and angry-looking face. He seems rather toasty in his long black fur-lined coat.]

Tch, no good idiot.

[Silent fuming from the grouchy new arrival as he focuses in on his surroundings.]

Where'd they get off to now? That damn manjuu better not have screwed up again. [With his free hand Kurogane sticks his pinkie in his ear and scowls fiercely.] This is annoying.

[Finally those red look down at the PCD and notice the little light glaring back at him. He knows what that means and his eyebrow twitches.]

DAMMIT ALL! [His hand comes down on the device and manages to shut it off in a couple of tries.]

Sample RP:

The moment he had become aware of his surroundings in this new world, Kurogane could already tell that something was off. It was no where near cold enough for him to need this coat or for the mage to need layers while living here. Once he'd been caught by the stupid little recording device all the ninja could do was wait for them to come get him. This world was crumbling just like Tokyo had so it wasn't anything he hadn't seen before. Though for a very brief moment he had thought he was back in that world.

Yet the world wasn't the only thing off about this place, though that realization had come after seeing the two people he'd almost been expecting. Fai had come as a shock. Two blue eyes, that faked cheerful smile and the nicknames that had stopped after Kurogane forced the magician to live. If he was honest with himself - since he'd never, ever say it out loud - having the nicknames back, no matter how stupid or irritated they made him, was good. It mean Fai wasn't angry with him anymore. Or was it more accurate to say that Fai wasn't yet angry with him. Either way the last three months had been long enough for him.

Moving to lean against a still standing wall, Kurogane undid the buckles on his coat before folding his arms over his chest. It was still held together at the waist due to the belted pouch that hung there. Ending up in the wrong world and even Fai wasn't the strangest thing about this place. That would have to go to Syaoran. It wasn't the one he'd last saw - the one who had joined them in Tokyo. No, this was the one who had left them there. This was the Syaoran who would injure Fai and eat the mage's eye in order to gain the magic it possessed and think of nothing else but getting the feathers back. As soon as Kurogane had realized the difference (and it hadn't taken long) he vowed to never utter a word to the kid about what was coming.

While he might have this discussion with Fai there was no way in hell neither of them would tell Syaoran. Kurogane wasn't even sure how much to say to the mage about what was coming. How could he possibly say that the Princess would grow stronger than Fai, activating his curse and causing him to stab her? There just wasn't any good way to tell someone news like that. Not to mention that if he said anything then there was always the chance that the mage would try to change history - or the future - whatever the hell it was.

"This is why I hate time-traveling crap," he said to the empty space around him. "One wrong move can screw everything up."