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Synopsis[]
Past[]
Hakuri was born 17 years ago on the 27th of March, and was raised as a member of the Sazanami Clan, expected to learn how to use spirit energy at a young age. As a blood relative of Kyora, he was viewed as 'special' by Kyora alongside Soya and Tenri in particular. Following the death of Hakuri's grandfather Sora nine years ago a few months after Hakuri turned 8, Kyora (who Sora had passed down Storehouse authority to) told Hakuri, Tenri and Soya that he would one day pass down clan leadership and governance of the Storehouse to one of them.[1] At the time, Hakuri told his father that he would one day become an even better leader to him, prompting Kyora to praise his ambition.[2]
However, when Hakuri was 12 years old, he was unable to do what most clan members could accomplish at the age of 8, and so was barred from training and viewed unfavourably by the family, with Kyora in particular dismayed by Hakuri's lack of talent. As a result, he was often beat up by his siblings, especially his older brother Soya, who cared for Hakuri in a twisted way, only wanting Hakuri to be obedient and subservient to the family. Soya often brutalised Hakuri's limbs using several tools, but always ended up losing them. Although Kyora saw the bullying on multiple occasions, Kyora did nothing to help Hakuri.
Unbeknownst to anyone, these tools had disappeared into a subspace of Hakuri's creation, as Hakuri had inherited the same two types of sorcery that the first clan head wielded, space-manipulation and Isou, causing him to subconsciously develop a Storehouse of his own. Due to his lack of conscious spirit energy control, the majority of Hakuri's spirit energy was inefficiently used to maintain the Storehouse, which was the cause of Hakuri's apparent ineptitude in sorcery.[3]
Hakuri knew of the human and item trafficking the clan dealt with but did not find it unusual due to his upbringing. As with the rest of his family, he would refer to individuals due to be auctioned as 'merchandise'.[4]
During August on the year of the 208th Rakuzaichi, when Hakuri was 17 years old, Hakuri was put on feeding duty for a woman with freezing-cold skin that was due to be auctioned, who was held in a warehouse near the Sazanami estate. The woman had not eaten any food for two days in an attempt to starve herself to death, rather than be sold off. After some dialogue where the woman attempted to manipulate Hakuri into freeing her, the woman agreed to eat if Hakuri accompanied her during mealtimes. Over the course of Hakuri's repeated visits, the two opened up to each other, and the woman learned of Hakuri's regular bullying at the hands of his siblings.
The day before the woman was scheduled to be transferred to the Storehouse, Hakuri was beaten more heavily than normal and broke down in tears during his talk with the icy-skin woman, believing himself worthless to the clan. The woman comforted him, telling Hakuri that he held value to her for their conversations, and because of that she had enjoyed her meals.
On the transfer day, Hakuri unlocked the woman's cell and offered for them to have a meal outside; essentially offering her freedom. As Hakuri opened the warehouse door, the woman picked up a knife she had found and held it to her neck, explaining that the reason she had wanted to escape was to die, unwilling to live with the cold skin she had. She elaborated that someone she had loved had sold her off, and stated she would always be abandoned, with worth only as a curiosity or tool, and had never held any hopes whether inside a cage or outside. As the woman sliced her neck with the knife, Hakuri broke down in distress, realising how the depraved side of the Rakuzaichi had ruined the woman's life, and lamenting his own role in facilitating her death.[5]
Sometime after this encounter, due to his lacking talent in sorcery and growing rebellion against the family's policies, Kyora disowned Hakuri from the family.
Vs. Sojo Arc[]
On the 7th of October, Hakuri witnessed Chihiro and Sojo's battle in the streets of Tokyo and was moved by Chihiro's bravery after seeing him take the entirety of one of Sojo's charged Mei attacks.
Rakuzaichi Arc[]
Later, on the 1st of November, Hakuri was kidnapped by a Yakuza gang after rescuing a girl and attempted to use his family's technique Isou against his assailants, but it failed. Chihiro would then intervene, defeating the gang. Hakuri, recognising Chihiro from his battle against Sojo and impressed by his heroism, revealed his identity. Chihiro, seeking information about the Sazanami clan, listened intently as Hakuri explained the clan's involvement with Shinuchi. Realizing the significance of what would happen if Shinuchi disappeared, being that the Sazanami clan's reputation would crumble and the Rakuzaichi would likely be finished, Hakuri agreed to share all he knew with Chihiro.
As the two left, Hakuri and Chihiro encountered Hiyuki Kagari and her subordinate Tafuku, and Hiyuki immediately engaged Chihiro. Realising Chihiro was hesitating to attack, Hakuri rushed in and blocked an attack that would've hit Chihiro using his face, reminding Chihiro of how he saved him twice and telling Chihiro his blade suited him. Due to his injury, Hakuri lied on the floor and watched Chihiro gain motivation in fighting Hiyuki, but eventually passed out, causing Tafuku's pocket dimension to dissipate. Chihiro took the opportunity to grab Hakuri and quickly escape, Hakuri later waking up and the two preparing to head to the Rakuzaichi.[6]
Hakuri would later be informed of Chihiro's situation and mission, sympathising with Chihiro's cause and swearing to help out in any way he can. He informed Chihiro and Shiba of the Sazanami Estate's barriers as well as the Tou, four especially powerful sorcerers of the Sazanami clan.[7] After they left, Hakuri volunteered to run an errand for Hinao but ran into his older brother Soya, who greeted him warmly. Hakuri was terrified and immediately tried to jump off the apartment stairwell ledge, but Soya saved him and dragged him back up. Hakuri voiced that he'd rather die than be killed for 'ruining the merchandise', but Soya brushed that off, claiming it was the icy-skinned woman's fault for 'influencing' Hakuri.
Soya asked Hakuri to return, but Hakuri declined again, refusing to return to his family. Soya was shocked, thinking Hakuri was not the kind of person to talk back. Hinao then walked out with an umbrella, planning to give it to Hakuri since it was going to rain soon. Soya immediately decided she was also 'influencing' Hakuri, and decided to kill her. Hakuri tried to hold him back, yelling at Hinao to run, but Soya punched him into the ground. Hakuri tried to reach out to stop Soya, but Shiba then arrived, confirming Soya's hostility with Hinao before striking Soya's face and teleporting the two of them high up into the sky.[8] Hakuri was confused why Shiba was there, and Hinao explained she had signalled Shiba to come by dialling him and immediately hanging up.
Hakuri would later be teleported by Kyora into the Sazanami Estate, where his father then took him hostage. Chihiro decided to trade Enten to the Sazanami in exchange for Hakuri's life.[9] While initially distraught that his weakness had caused Chihiro to lose his enchanted blade, Hakuri was reassured slightly when Chihiro explained his plans to conduct reconnaissance on the Storehouse. During this period of recon before the Rakuzaichi, Hakuri would answer several of Chihiro's questions involving the Storehouse to the best of his ability, allowing Chihiro and Shiba to confirm several key aspects of the Storehouse, including its method of authority transfer and its emergency door.[10]
On the day of the Rakuzaichi, the 8th of November, Hakuri waited in a car alongside Hinao and Char. Around noon, Shiba teleported in to drop off Yuu, and teleported back into the building with Hakuri. The two waited outside the corridor that led to the Naginojoen doors guarded by the Tou, and Hakuri distracted Soya and ran upstairs as Shiba confronted the remaining Tou members.[11]
Hakuri made it into the same corridor as Chihiro but his path was blocked by a wall of vines summoned by the Hishaku Leader. Soya caught up to him, maniacally questioning why Hakuri kept betraying the family, blaming it on the influence of Chihiro.[12] Hakuri internally wondered if he should run back to seek Shiba's help, but decided to confront Soya, slipping from his grasp and landing a successful Isou shockwave on him, though it was weak and only pushed Soya back several metres to the wall of trees. Immediately after, Chihiro blasted through the wall using Mei: Shred and sliced into Soya's back.[13]
Soya managed to recover and as Chihiro prepared to confront him, Hakuri urged him to continue downwards to the Naginojoen, and leave himself to delay Soya. Chihiro reluctantly agreed while Soya's previous belief in his brother dropped to zero, Soya now deciding to kill Hakuri before his disobedience could continue any further.[14] The two blasted simultaneous shockwaves at each other, but Soya's was much stronger, blasting Hakuri into a wall and crushing the wall, leaving Hakuri as a bloodied mess on the ground. Soya walked over to Hakuri and blasted him again at near point-blank range, damaging the ground and Hakuri's body even further. Believing him dead, a teary-eyed Soya turned to walk away, but then heard a noise and turned around. Lying near Hakuri was a pair of familiar pliers, while the discolouration on Hakuri's eye had intensified into a larger flare than before.[15]
Soya noticed numerous tools he once used to torture Hakuri had started to reappear one by one, akin to items being summoned from the Storehouse. On the ground, Hakuri once again focused on Shiba's teachings, and as he attempted to grasp the full extent of his spirit energy he discovered another power other than Isou within him; a Storehouse-like subspace, where much of Hakuri's spirit energy had been subconsciously allocated to in his youth, thus preventing Hakuri from properly using Isou. As Hakuri stood up, a white eyepiece identical to that of the guardian of the Storehouse emerged over his left eye, alongside the black flare of Isou.
Soya was aghast, recalling his father's words that the first Sazanami clan head held the unprecedented status of wielding two unique types of sorcery; Isou and space manipulation. Soya thought it impossible that Hakuri was the same, slamming Hakuri into the cracked wall. He angrily screamed why Hakuri had inherited the two types of sorcery, when Hakuri had been unable to do anything for the longest time, yelling at him to die. Internally, Hakuri reflected on his time and words with the icy-skinned woman, appreciating their chats which had helped him so much, and apologising for not being able to show her the hope in the world.
As Soya stepped back, thinking Hakuri to be finished, Hakuri fell but landed on one leg; identically to how Chihiro had steadied himself in his first battle against Sojo. Hakuri blasted a shockwave much stronger than his last at Soya, which was enough to knock him out. Hakuri then descended the staircase and reconvened with Chihiro, who had just defeated Tenri, before preparing to enter the Naginojoen and end the Rakuzaichi for good.[16]
The group entered, but abruptly found the emergency door had already been destroyed by Kyora beforehand. The two conscious Tou members also saw it, before preparing to re-engage. Shiba prepared to teleport the group to safety, but Hakuri instructed him to send himself and Chihiro to the auction hall. Once there, Hakuri confronted Kyora face-to-face as the latter was still conducting auction proceedings. Hakuri morosely notes even during Kyora's neglect of Hakuri's abuse over the years, he had still wished for his father to praise him, before attempting to send pliers from his Storehouse into Kyora's. Successful, Hakuri then relayed this info to Chihiro and begged him to kill his father before sending him into Kyora's Storehouse.[17]
During Chihiro's battle against Kyora, Hakuri focused on assisting Chihiro, using his degree of awareness around Chihiro's surroundings. As Chihiro tagged several captive people within Kyora's Storehouse with his spirit energy, Hakuri teleported them outside the Rakuzaichi building, and Hakuri also teleported several grenades launched by Kyora into the auction hall, which exploded and caused chaos.
As the battle continued, Hakuri's body began deteriorating as a result of his continued connection to the Storehouse, blood spurting from his nose and a headache emerging. Despite this, Hakuri continued to assist Chihiro by projecting an image of Chihiro to distract Kyora so that the real Chihiro could land a fatal blow. Hakuri was then shocked as Kyora descended into the earth before re-ascending with Shinuchi in hand. Hiyuki then walked down to him in the real world, asking about the situation.[18]
Hakuri agreed to register Hiyuki temporarily so she could enter the Storehouse, but threatened to not let her out if she acted against Chihiro. Hakuri then watched anxiously as Chihiro and Hiyuki battled Kyora,[19] and was surprised when the three were abruptly forced out of the Storehouse, Kyora using Centipede to blast Chihiro and Hiyuki away from the stage. Shiba then arrived, surprised to see Kyora was capable of using Shinuchi. Hiyuki then prepared to kill Kyora, but Hakuri quickly stopped her, as killing Kyora in his state would cause the Storehouse to disintegrate, killing the prisoners inside.
He voiced that someone needed to go in and infuse each prisoner with spirit energy so he could transport them out, but Shiba disagreed with his plan, thinking it impossible for Kyora to stay alive for long enough. The group were then interrupted by the sight of Chihiro on the other side of the auction hall, who declared he would rescue every last prisoner.[20] Hakuri sent him back into the Storehouse and Chihiro used Nishiki, rapidly speeding by every prisoner and tagging them with his spirit energy, allowing Hakuri to transport them out of the Storehouse onto the front yard outside.
Hakuri reported that they were on a ticking clock, as if Shinuchi were to overpower Kyora's will the Storehouse would be destroyed for good. Shiba again voiced his concerns whether Kyora could last long enough, but the expanding flower field on the stage created by Magatsumi was suddenly eradicated as Kyora stood up and demanded for people to kill the intruders, Shiba flabbergasted at Kyora's sheer dedication as well as Hakuri's belief in his father's commitment to the Rakuzaichi. As various auction-goers began approaching Hakuri, Hiyuki effortlessly took them down, urging Hakuri to concentrate on his task. Not long after, Hakuri reported every last prisoner had been saved, and he transported Chihiro out of the Storehouse onto the stage where Kyora was kneeling.
In a moment of clarity, Kyora noted that Chihiro had been right, and that he himself had been the only one to fail in his duty, his dedication to the auction having ruined his children's lives. Kyora locked eyes with an emotional Hakuri for a moment before setting Magatsumi down and dying.[21] Hakuri continued watching morosely at his father's corpse, as various yakuza around them realised Kyora was dead and started running down to grab Magatsumi. Shiba quickly shouldered Hakuri and grabbed Chihiro, teleporting out of the building, but Shiba then realised Chihiro was missing, having been pulled into Tafuku's dimension right before Shiba had teleported out.
Shiba quickly turned to go back in, but Hakuri stopped him, as the building collapsed and Hiyuki, Tafuku and Chihiro strode out. Hakuri asked what Chihiro had talked about, and Chihiro replied they had discussed what would happen next. Chihiro asked what Hakuri would do now, and he responded that he didn't know, as life with the Sazanami Clan had been everything he knew. However, after seeing Yuu reunite with his sister he remembered how he had wanted to prove hope existed in the world, and asked to keep fighting with him, in order to prove the value Chihiro had seen in him back at the estate. Hakuri then asked what they would do next.[22]
Sword Bearer Assassination Arc[]
Chihiro and Hakuri fell unconscious almost immediately after Hakuri asked his question, and Shiba took them back to the apartment building they were using a base, Hiyuki and Tafuku joining him to discuss with Chihiro once he woke up. At 11:00 am the next day, on the 9th of November, Hakuri woke up, as did Chihiro. Chihiro and Shiba immediately began discussing their plan of action with Hiyuki and Tafuku, Hiyuki thanking Chihiro, Shiba and Hakuri for their help during their auction. Shiba briefly remarked how worried he was for Chihiro and Hakuri given how much they risked their lives, which the two briefly apologised for.
Chihiro then revealed his plan to break the deadlock between the Kamunabi and the Hishaku; using Hakuri's Storehouse registration to register the Enchanted Blade wielders and by proxy their blades, thus allowing for easy retrieval of the blades into the Storehouse and from there wherever Hakuri desired. Tafuku explained the wielders were located in heavily guarded locations across the country known as Sanso, where most of the Kamunabi's manpower were stationed. Hakuri spoke up, asking if the world would be made safer with the Enchanted Blades out of the Hishaku's hands, which Hiyuki affirmed. Hakuri was quick to agree to the plan afterwards. Hiyuki acknowledged the plan's merit, but revealed they would have to convince the Kamunabi leadership first, as the group minus Shiba headed to Kamunabi headquarters.[23]
Along the way, Tafuku and Hakuri attempted to send a book to the Storehouse, but Hakuri quickly began bleeding violently from his nose and fell unconscious, the group quickly concluding based on how soon Hakuri had unlocked his power and the degree to which he had used it that Hakuri was exhausted in terms of spirit energy usage. The group then arrived at the meeting room, Hiyuki, Hakuri and Tafuku sitting to the side while Chihiro stood in the centre of the meeting room. As discussion began, the diminutive leader then asked about Hakuri's role, inviting Hakuri to demonstrate his power. Hiyuki and Tafuku explained Hakuri's exhaustion, their standing by Hakuri and Chihiro surprising several of the leaders.
The meeting continued and as one of the leaders proposed killing Chihiro, Hakuri immediately readied his sorcery, as did Azami, but the action turned out unnecessary as a Kamunabi sorcerer entered the room with the news that Yoji Uruha's Sanso, Kokugoku Hot Spring, had been attacked by Datenseki-wielding sorcerers and a member of the Hishaku. The bearded leader declared Chihiro and Hakuri would be deployed to safeguard Uruha, though he noted the Kamunabi would not let Chihiro do as he pleased with the Enchanted Blades.[24]
8 kilometres away from Kokugoku Hot Spring, at Atago station, Hakuri met with Uruha as several sorcerers approached their location. Hakuri attempted to use Isou but due to his spirit energy exhaustion was unable to activate it, Uruha skillfully dispatching the group. The two boarded a train and faced several more sorcerers, but Chihiro swiftly cut through them, Uruha ecstatic once he recognised Kunishige's son.[25] Chihiro revealed their plan to head to Senkutsuji Temple to meet with the blade wielder there, Seiichi Samura, in order to recover two blades at once. Hakuri watched as Chihiro and Uruha briefly reminisced on Kunishige before discussing the Hishaku and their use of the Datenseki, Hakuri viewing the current power balance as skewed against their favour given the Hishaku's quantity of Datenseki.
Uruha dismissed the notion as he had gotten away alive, and he believed the Kamunabi guard force at Kokugoku, the Kokugoku Steam Squad, were more than capable of opposing even Datenseki-wielders; a correct belief, as the squad was able to handily deal with the enemy sorcerers, but were ultimately killed by Hiruhiko. As the train the group were on entered a station, the trio spotted Hiruhiko, who had propped the bodies of some of the Steam Squad on a nearby bench in an attempt to goad Uruha into attacking. Uruha held his cool, an action that greatly impressed Hakuri, as Hiruhiko boarded the train with several sorcerers.[26]
Uruha began slashing at the sorcerers approaching him while Chihiro faced Hiruhiko, who used Blood Crane to send forth paper cranes, brazenly crashing the body of one of the sorcerers and momentarily disrupting Chihiro's vision long enough for Hiruhiko to transform them into shuriken and impale Uruha, though the damage was superficial. Chihiro then called 'Centipede' and readied Kuro, Hakuri recognising the attack and yanking Uruha down just as Chihiro sent a circular slash through the room. Recognising Chihiro's struggle to both defend himself and fight Hiruhiko, Uruha yelled at Chihiro not to worry about himself, and Chihiro stabbed Hiruhiko, throwing the two of them off the train.[27]
With no more attackers present, Hakuri and Uruha safely arrived at Senkutsuji, where two sorcerers Uruha recognised as being from Masumi used a mandala to send the group directly to the temple. The four entered the temple as Samura arrived, grabbing Hakuri's face. Samura was confused, as he had expected Chihiro based on Hakuri's similar scent to him, but Hakuri's facial structure was different. Uruha and the Masumi sorcerers explained Hakuri's identity and role as well as the plan to teleport the Enchanted Blades. Samura let go of Hakuri and Hakuri introduced himself, revealing Chihiro had talked about Samura. Samura moved to ask more about Chihiro but a nearby monk suddenly alerted him to the presence of enemy sorcerers with Datenseki, and Samura began marshalling the forces.
Hakuri was ushered by one of the Masumi sorcerers to a treatment room, Uruha following him. The Masumi sorcerer explained the treatment would help ensure Hakuri recovered his sorcery faster, but as Hakuri lied down he saw an explosion outside, beginning to worry about the situation. Uruha told him not to worry as Samura's swordsmanship was of an extremely high level, such that Senkutsuji could be considered invincible. The Masumi sorcerer told Samura she would need 30 minutes to recover Hakuri's sorcery, and Samura remarked it would not be a problem.[28]
Hakuri asked whether Samura used smell to detect his enemies, and Uruha explained he only used smell to detect allies, relying on hearing instead in combat. Not only could he detect enemy positions by sound, Samura could also rapidly unsheathe and sheathe his swords as part of his Iai style and use the reverberations to gather information regarding the enemy's size and position; a form of echolocation.[29]
References[]
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 34.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 39 (Pages 17-18).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 36 (Pages 3-14).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 20.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 35.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 21 (Page 14).
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 22.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 24.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 25.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapters 26-28.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 28.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 30.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 32.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 33.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapters 34-35.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 36.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 37.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapters 38-40.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 41.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 42.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 43.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 44.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 45.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 46.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 47.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 48.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 49.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 50.
- ↑ Kagurabachi Manga: Chapter 51.