⌈ PLAYER SECTION ⌉
Player: Meowzy
Contact: madonnya | Meowzy
Age: 27
Current Characters: Bobby Fulbright, Rose Quartz


⌈ CHARACTER SECTION ⌉
Character: Kurogane
Age: Unknown, estimated around 25.
Canon: Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle
Canon Point: The start of Tsubasa World Chronicle.

Background:
Wikia page!

Personality:

The main characters from Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle are a varied bunch and it becomes obvious right from his first appearance: Kurogane is the grumpy one. Often distant, rude or downright hostile, he's the one who balances out Fai's bubble personality (and vice versa).

One of the recurring themes of the series, applying mostly to Kurogane, is strength. He's always picking fights and delights at facing a challenge. At the very start of the series, power is Kurogane's top priority. “I want to be stronger than anyone else. That's why I fight. I don't care who lives or dies.” He believes strength is something physical- that it's determined by how many people you can defeat in battle. No doubt, this notion stems from his childhood. When he was growing up, his father, the Lord of the Land, was deemed to be the strongest warrior in the region. Kurogane idolized him and believed that if he could be just as strong as his father, that would be all he would ever need to protect the people of Suwa. However, after his mother was murdered and his father defeated by the demons that immediately invaded the region, he was hit with the realization that being as strong as his father would not be enough. He would need to be stronger, stronger and stronger still, or he would be unable to protect the one dear to him. That person being Princess Tomoyo (also known as Tsukuyomi), who saved him from his mad grief and rage. (Not that the incident ever really left him, of course. In Outo country, Kurogane suffers a very strong reaction to the notion of people being eaten by the local demons, hinting at his past trauma long before this plot was revealed.)

After so many years, Kurogane lost track of what mattered and his reckless pursuit of strength led to him having a disregard for other peoples' lives. It's emphasized by both Amaterasu (Tomoyo's sister) and Souma that he was quite the troublemaker growing up, to the point where they had to imprison him in a kekkai (a sort of barrier) whenever he misbehaved. By the time the series starts, he even goes so far as to make up his own ninja rules to justify killing his opponents. Because of this (and also because she's in cahoots with Yuuko), Princess Tomoyo ends up sending Kurogane to another world. 'There is no one stronger than you in Nihon, therefore you must find stronger opponents elsewhere' is her reasoning. She bestows a curse upon him, claiming his power will diminish whenever he takes a life (though it later turns out her words had a different meaning), then tells him to find 'the true meaning of strength'.

Another notion that's made very clear at the start of the series is that he's usually a loner. He liked to undertake missions by himself back in Nihon and the moment he starts his journey across the dimensions, he makes a point of saying that he's only traveling with them to get back home. He believes finding the feathers has nothing to do with him. He's forced to change his tune soon after, when Mokona explains that they can't move on to the next world until the feather(s) in the current one is/are found, but he still complains about it for a while longer. In that very same world, he's asked by some gang leader whether he's joined Syaoran's 'gang'. His reply is that he fights alone, and he only fights for Princess Tomoyo. It takes a while for him to warm up to the rest of the group and truly accept them as companions rather than people who happen to be traveling with him.

Kurogane is a very prideful man and as such, he doesn't like to show any kind of weakness. Or rather, what he perceives to be weakness. For one, whenever he's injured, he will either attempt to hide it (as he did when they finally arrived in Clow Country and his artificial arm was causing him trouble), or downplay it as if it isn't a big deal (as he did in Pfiffle Country after taking the hit from the geyser). This is something he continues to do even in the first chapters of World Chronicle, when it's stated that his new artificial arm is still a bit of an ill fit that can't take too much strain. He's grown to the point where he'll confide in the people he trusts, but only when they call him out on his pain. Another way for him to put up a front is an emotional one. He doesn't like being called out on acts of kindness. In fact, if someone does that, he'll lose his temper and tell them to “stop saying disgusting things”.

Oddly enough, in chapter 13 of the manga (as the Hanshin Republic arc is being rounded up), it's Kurogane who claims that “anyone who doesn't cry can't be strong”. He doesn't judge Syaoran for crying over the fact that Sakura can't remember him. Instead, he explains that Syaoran should cry, because “no matter what happens, after you cry you can face the problem better.” This is long before any proper character development happens in regards to Kurogane's views of strength. As they prepare to leave the Hanshin Republic, he even gives Syaoran some helpful advice: “Don't look down. If you have something you must do, then look forward.”

And here we have another crux of Kurogane's character. As the series progresses, he starts to take on a fatherly role. It's even canonically joked about. He claims early on that he's no good with kids, to which Fai points out that it's because he's easily embarrassed. Still, by the time they reach Pfiffle Country, he's officially designated the 'daddy' of the group. He does all the chores he's asked to do (such as fix the roof or pick up flour at the marketplace) and keeps a watchful eye on them. Despite earlier claims that he's only devoted to Tomoyo, he ends up growing protective of his companions and goes out of his way for them. This isn't something he would openly admit- in fact, he would outright deny it, but actions speak louder than words. He pushes Sakura out of the way during the Dragonfly race to take a hit from a geyser for her. When she ventures out alone in Tokyo, he purposely doesn't have his wounds treated because he knows the country is low on medication and he wants to leave some for her. He trains (the first) Syaoran not only how to fight with a sword, but also how to 'see' without relying on his eyesight. On rare occasions, he'll even ruffle Syaoran's hair in the same manner that Kurogane's father used to ruffle his.

It isn't just that he wants to be a father figure, though. It's about protection. The reason Kurogane seeks to be strong is so that he can protect his loved ones, which is a wish instilled deeply inside him by the lessons that his parents would teach him. Even the last words they spoke to him revolved around protecting Suwa and its people. This is something he never forgot. In Outo Country, he outright says he will 'kill anyone who wants to take away those he wants to protect'. Not long after that claim, he challenges Seishirou while under the mistaken assumption that that man killed both Fai and Syaoran. At that point, it isn't just about the challenge of the battle anymore. It's about vengeance.

Once the first Syaoran's betrayal of sorts happens in Tokyo, things get complicated. Kurogane makes a loud proclamation later on that he will 'punch the kid', referring to the clone who'd been traveling with them up till that point. He wants to meet that Syaoran again, just to take out his frustration of being betrayed. However, even after it's revealed that the clone did indeed have a heart of his own and vanishes shortly after, Kurogane continues to insist that he wishes to meet him again so he can punch him. The same for the clone version of Sakura who'd been traveling them for an even longer amount of time. At the series' conclusion, the vow isn't about the punching, rather the meeting itself. He does want to see those versions of Syaoran and Sakura again, which is part of the reason why he continues his travels across other worlds.

Meanwhile, at first he perceives the real Syaoran as an enemy, but his opinion is changed almost immediately when Yuuko interferes. Knowing that the original was being held captive by the same person who murdered his mother, Kurogane decides to give this 'new' Syaoran a chance. The dynamic between the two of them isn't quite the same, as the original Syaoran seems a bit more hardened and experienced than the clone who'd been traveling with them, but Kurogane plays the daddy card a few times nonetheless. In fact, in Infinity Country, he outright tells the original that because the two of them are so different, Syaoran doesn't need to take responsibility for the clone's crimes and instead just focus on being himself. A bit later on, when Syaoran seems especially troubled, Kurogane joins him with a bottle of sake so they can drink in peace. Near the end of the series, the original Syaoran explains that he may have been indirectly responsible for the death of Kurogane's parents, as well as Fai's torrid past, giving his companions the option to abandon him. Sure enough, Kurogane gets mad and bops him upside the head- not because Syaoran broke a taboo that set a terrible chain of events in motion, but because the boy thought that would be enough for Kurogane to leave him. He's mad because his care for Syaoran was doubted and he's mad because the kid is trying to shoulder all the blame. He also claims that 'he'd make the same decision that Syaoran had made in that position, if it meant he could protect what he'd sworn to protect'.

When it comes to Fai, their relationship gets a bit trickier. It's made clear right from the start that the two of them are complete opposites in every way, right down to their color schemes. Where Kurogane comes off as rude and surly, Fai comes off as polite and cheerful. This is why, when the series starts off, Kurogane can't stand the other man. They're constantly bickering, as Fai's teasing always sets off Kurogane's anger. They become a great team when they need to work together in battle, but outside of that there's a lot of tension. As the series progresses, we find out there's even more to it. Rather, the dynamic as we saw it at first glance is the other way around. It was actually Fai who purposely attempted to keep a safe distance between himself and the others, while Kurogane really had no qualms whatsoever with befriending them. In Outo country, Kurogane first begins to point out Fai's suicidal tendencies. “I've lost count of how many people I've killed, so I'm not going to say pretty words, but... The ones I hate most are those who give up their lives before all hope is gone.” Sure enough, those words are simply laughed off by Fai and Kurogane gives up for a while. Two countries later, in Shara, he says that Fai's lies are none of his business because it's obvious he doesn't plan to speak honestly either way. What proves his point is that when he asks what the name of Ashura means to Fai, the answer is not given. Not even a day after this conversation, the two of them are sucked into the world of Shura (Shara's past) and are forced to spend six months in each other's company as they wait for Sakura and Syaoran to arrive. During this time, they can't speak to each other because Mokona isn't there to translate and they can't read one another's way of writing. That leaves them with no choice but to watch each other's backs and establish a non-verbal communication.

You'd think their relationship would've improved after that arc, but the moment their journey continues, they go right back to bickering. In Pfiffle, Kurogane points out that Fai has 'changed', which seems to strike a chord with the man. Furthermore, the fact that their mage companion is clearly hiding something to do with his past and his magic is brought up more and more as they proceed onward to LeCourt Country. Then, when they arrive in the ruins of Tokyo, Kurogane once again attempts to have a serious talk with Fai. This time, he points out that the only reason magic was used was to protect the rest of the group, not Fai himself. Despite the man attempting to once again flee the conversation through a convenient distraction, Kurogane still manages to make his view on the matter perfectly clear: “I'm not concerned about your past, so quit playing around and focus on the present.” In other words, he demands that Fai stops being held back by his past and instead gives battles his all, for everyone's sakes.

Despite all the reason to be suspicious of Fai up to that point, Kurogane's care still shines through the moment his words come back to bite him the ass. When Fai becomes lethally wounded in a battle that follows soon after in Tokyo (Syaoran ripped out his left eye, amongst other injuries), he acknowledges that the man changed for the sake of having their two young companions smile more often. That's why he's prepared to do whatever it takes to save Fai, making a deal with Yuuko before even hearing the actual technical details. He chooses to believe in Yuuko's solution, which is funny considering he made a very big deal about not trusting the chocolate cakes she sent them way back in Outo Country. By forcing Fai to become a vampire who can only drink his blood against his will, Kurogane becomes responsible for his life in both the literal and the figurative sense. That's a burden he's prepared to bear. When Fai has recovered to some degree and addresses him as “Kurogane” for the first time, he isn't relieved that the nicknames are finally being dropped. If anything, Kurogane seems almost saddened by that turn of events. With their relationship more strained than ever before, he forces Fai to keep on living with the promise that 'if he really wants to die that badly, Kurogane will eventually kill him himself'. It's no surprise that in the next country, which is Infinity, their interactions have become incredibly cold. With Fai no longer teasing him, their conversations have reached a bare minimum of only discussing what needs to be discussed. Still, after Fai's first 'curse' is activated, causing him to lose control and almost kill Sakura, the one who attempts to calm him down and stop him from causing any more damage (mostly to himself) is Kurogane.

The Celes Country arc is where the character development in this regard reaches its climax. As they face King Ashura himself, Fai's painful past is shown for everyone to see. They learn that not only has their friend been lying about his identity and just how much he knew about their journey, it's revealed that he was one of Fei Wang Reed's pawns all along. Fai was ordered to watch out for Kurogane in particular and dispose of him if necessary, because 'that youngster from Nihon Country' would be one of Yuuko's pawns. This knowledge still isn't enough for Kurogane to give up on Fai. On the contrary; he starts poking holes in the supposed memories that they were shown, revealing that there was more to the story than even Fai himself realized. After that, he aids in the fight against Ashura and despite being mortally wounded, he's ultimately the one to kill their opponent, saving Fai's life. As the final nail in the proverbial coffin of development, when the second 'curse' kicks in and it seems as if they have no choice but to leave Fai behind in a Celes that would soon be destroyed, Kurogane makes an enormous sacrifice. He slices off his own arm (which was imbued with some of Fai's magic) and leaves it behind along with his sword Souhi, which triggers a sort of equivalent exchange that allows him to free Fai from the trap. Princess Tomoyo later paraphrases that Kurogane 'wished to take Fai with him with all his heart'.

From that decision on, their relationship goes back to what it used to be around the first half of the series. ...At first glance, anyway. Fai returns to nicknames and merciless teasing, while Kurogane returns to grumbling about it. Even so, the feel of it is different now. They seem to have reached a sort of understanding about one another and compromised to some degree. Kurogane still calls Fai out on occasional hypocrisy and vice versa, but it's because they've grown to care about one another. They watch out for each other and compliment one another.

When they arrive in Nihon Country after a long journey, Tomoyo asks if Kurogane has learned the true meaning of strength yet, to which he originally replies with “who knows?” Further on in the conversation, he elaborates that he's always wanted strength in order to prevent losing more loved ones. However, over the course of the journey, he learned something else. “Having strength can also bring about catastrophes. Besides, there are things that strength alone can't protect.” Once she hears that, Tomoyo ascertains that Kurogane has learned the true meaning of strength. Later on, when Syaoran and Seishirou are fighting, Amaterasu voices her surprise that Kurogane is content to just watch. He explains that 'this is the kid's fight' and he won't butt in if he's not wanted. Amaterasu smiles and notes that he really has grown.

Another one of Kurogane's strengths is that he's perceptive. He was the very first to notice that Syaoran is blind in his right eye, after only witnessing a few battles. Then he figures out that because Syaoran relies on sight for attacks from the left side instead of intuition, his reaction time is actually delayed then. He's also the one who constantly notices when Fai is hiding something. Then there's the time he realized that Tomoyo herself was the one sabotaging the Dragonfly races in Pfiffle Country before the finals even took place. He isn't afraid to point these things out when he needs to, either. If someone has to be confronted with their flaws, he'll be the one to do it, occasionally with some literal force. However, there's also times where he chooses not to divulge his theories. In the country of Shura, when Fai points out that getting the feather in the previous world was a bit too easy and suspicious, Kurogane explains that he's had the feeling they're being watched ever since they started their journey. He didn't tell anyone about it because he felt that until they figured out who their enemy was, there would be no point to it. Or, as Fai paraphrases it, he didn't want to make everyone paranoid.

Kurogane has this sort of attitude that everyone is responsible for their own actions and choices. “If you dare to use force, you shouldn't complain if you were to die” is what he tells a thug who pulled a gun on them and was immediately overpowered. When Sakura decides to be the one to recover the price for the reservoir's new water in Tokyo, he doesn't object because he knows he can't change her mind. Instead, he tells her that they'll be waiting for her return. When Fai later questions that decision, he explains that because there's so many perils out there, staying behind is more painful than going together with her. Likely, this attitude is another reason why Fai rubs him the wrong way. Fai is the sort of person who runs away from trouble, while Kurogane actively seeks it out so he can overcome it. In fact, the moment he finds out that the person who killed his mother is related to the people who invaded Clow Country, he becomes fueled with renewed motivation to 'find the owner of that sword'. He doesn't mind that Syaoran saw his past, either. While it isn't something he would discuss too openly, especially not with strangers, he seems to appreciate that Syaoran saw the 'painful parts' of his past and empathized with them.

Other little tidbits about his character include the fact that he's a fan of saké, but he has a very high alcohol tolerance. While Sakura, Syaoran and even Fai are all shown to get insanely drunk more than once, it never seems to affect their ninja companion. Of course, this means that Kurogane is always the one who ends up having to put the rest of the group to bed. Another thing that he loves to do is read ninja manga. It's a running joke for a short while that he picks up a volume of the same manga series in every world they visit, starting with the Hanshin Republic up until at least Piffle, then kicks back to read it in silence. In Nirai Kanai, the first world of World Chronicle, a volume of the manga series is once again seen lying on Kurogane's bed.


Abilities:
Kurogane is one of the strongest characters in the series, both physically and tactically. He was taught how to fight by his father from a very young age and continued to train after joining Tomoyo's army. While the series constantly refers to him as a ninja/shinobi, he oddly enough has very few actual typical ninja traits. He could jump atop a roof if he wanted to, but is only ever shown doing that once. He never hides in the shadows. Considering he proclaims himself to be a warrior, is constantly wielding a katana and has a strong devotion to a noble master, he actually has far more traits that one would attribute to a samurai.

To put his strength into perspective a bit more, he's definitely the strongest person in his own world, but was also considered one of the two strongest warriors in King Yasha's army (the other person being Fai). He can also hold his own against Seishirou and Kamui, who are established to be nigh invincible themselves. With Fai's help, he defeated Kiishimu, a powerful mage from Koryo Country. He's the one who ultimately lands the final blow on King Ashura in Celes, which is quite impressive considering he was on the brink of death at that point. Furthermore, King Ashura was incredibly strong in the magical sense, because he'd purposely 'trained' himself to surpass Fai's original strength (who in turn was surpassed only by exceptional characters like Yuuko). Kurogane had a protective talisman from Tomoyo to shield him to some degree, but to break through Ashura's magic and strike him down was still a virtually impossible feat. During the final battle against Fei Wong Reed, things get so fierce that his artificial arm breaks apart relatively early on, but he just keeps on fighting regardless. Despite only having one arm left and taking an enormous beating, he's still the one to land the final blow on The Big Bad.

Speaking of his artificial arm, it's never stated just how powerful that thing is. We know it came from technologically advanced world, we know it functions as an arm... And that's about it. Considering the insides of it appear to be made of metal, it's reasonable to assume that it's more powerful than the average human arm, though it's also stated at the start of World Chronicle that his new arm has a 'flaw' and that he can't make 'absurd movements' with it. Still, as long as he doesn't push himself with that particular issue, he continues to be the brawn of the group. Whenever something heavy needs to be moved or carried, be it several bags of flour or an unconscious person, Kurogane will be the one to do it. At one point, he gets so aggravated that he slams his fist against what appears to be solid concrete and breaks it, while his hand remains perfectly fine.

Near the start of the series, it's said that Ginryuu is a special katana used to 'cut spirits'. Likely, this is because it received the blessing of Princess Tomoyo, who is a miko. It was tradition in Suwa for Kurogane's mother (who was also a miko) to bless Ginryuu's blade as well. At this point in canon, Kurogane has retrieved the original Ginryuu from Tomoyo, along with her blessing.

Aside from the usual physical aspects that come from wielding a katana, Kurogane has several 'special techniques' up his sleeve. How these work is never really explained, but they seem to involve a bit of elemental magic. World Chronicle confirms that they even work underwater. The known techniques are:
- Hama Ryuu-Ou-Jin. This is the signature move he learned from his father. It causes several sharp bursts of energy to slash at surrounding opponents.
- Hama Kuu-Ryuu-Ha. Causes several bursts of energy shaped like dragons to assault the opponent.
- Zen-Ryuu Shikougeki. This one causes a burst of energy in the shape of a dragon to shoot forward and throw any opponents in its path.
- Tenma Kuu-Ryuu-Sen. It causes energy in the shape of a dragon to swoop down upon the opponent. If opponent dodges, the attack's direction will curve to match, sort of like a homing missile.
- Chi-Ryuu Jin-En-Bu. This one causes a shockwave powerful enough to destroy the ground he's standing on. It's also known to break his katana if it isn't sturdy enough.
- (Tenma) Shou-Ryuu-Sen. It causes a spiral to shoot upwards like a cyclone, forcing all surrounding opponents backwards.


Alignment: Sosyne. He gets angry very easily, but has some rare moments of calm as well.

Other: N/A


⌈ SAMPLE SECTION ⌉

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