Fujiwara Murasaki Ningyō, 16
The beautiful Murasaki has had the
advantage of growing up with ningyō on both sides of her family. Her mother, Rumiko, was ningyō of the
Urushihara of Kyōto before marrying her father. Her father’s youngest sister, Kei, had also been a ningyō
before marrying Rumiko’s twin brother Hiroyuki. The youngest of a brood of five and the only girl, the
stipulation that Murasaki be brought up a boy has never been a problem for her
or anyone else in her family. Indeed,
Murasaki is actually tougher, braver, stronger, and smarter than her four older
brothers (Mamoru, Masahiro, Masakazu, and Masami) and her twin brother Mitsuru
combined. An expert swordswoman and
gunslinger with an extremely short temper, Murasaki strikes fear in the hearts
of all her adversaries and those of her master, Crown Prince Kunihiko. The Crown Prince calls her Violet (the
literal translation of her name) and she works for him at his studios in
Tokushima and New York as scriptwriter and editor. She loves her master, chocolates, good books, Royal Milk Tea,
nice swords, great guns, and fat, fluffy Persian cats.
Kunihiko Ōjisama, 28
Crown Prince Kunihiko is living proof
that looks can be deceiving – and, in his case, they can be very
deceiving! Slender and willowy with
soft, blond-streaked hair and androgynously pretty features, people honestly
think that he probably can’t hurt a fly and that he’s probably, well, gay. They’re wrong on both counts. A political genius who has been advising his
father as soon as he could speak coherently, he keeps his silence and stays
vigilant for any unusual events that may prove either beneficial and/or
detrimental for the good of the Empire.
He’s the sort of person for whom duty comes first before his own
personal needs and whims. People are
also unaware of the fact that he is every bit as good a fighter as his ningyō
and was actually the one who trained her in fighting and statecraft. Kuni is also a gifted artist who runs his
own animation company FlashPro from studios in Japan and America and
sings. He has every intention of
marrying Murasaki and making her his empress someday – even if, outwardly, he
appears to be a regular flirt of the worst kind! He loves cats, bright colors, Royal Milk Tea, classic films, and
novels.
Urushihara Midori Ningyō, 16
Midori is Murasaki’s favorite cousin
and best friend. Heck, they even look
alike: similar facial features,
curvaceous figures, and well-proportioned bodies in general. There are differences, though: Midori’s hair falls to her waist while
Murasaki’s is in an ear-length bob and Midori’s disposition is sunnier. Midori, however, is the goddess of overkill
– she believes in mass carnage to get rid of all those who come between her and
her master, Kuni’s cousin Prince Fumihiko Andrew Saavedra. The graceful Midori works as a choreographer
and ballet instructor in Manila where her master lives. She obviously loves to dance and adds grace
to any given classical martial art. She
plays the piano whenever she gets pissed off and takes care of a very big
pair of cats named Cream and Puff. Need
we add that she’s dating her master?
Fumihiko Andrew Saavedra Ōjisan, 16
Prince Fumi is Kuni’s closest friend and favorite cousin. They’re more like brothers because both of them are lonely onlies. Playful and sweet-tempered compared to his somber cousin, Fumi is a recording artist and full-time senior at an exclusive Manila high school. An expert in ballistics and martial arts, he will opt to become an Imperial Defender like Murasaki and Midori’s brothers. Cheerful and playful, he is a regular perky sixteen-year-old and looks absolutely like his cousin Kuni making him – along with Murasaki’s twin Mitsuru - the Crown Prince’s kagemusha or impersonator. His closest companion is, quite obviously, his ningyō.
Yamato Rei Ningyō-hime, 22
Ningyō-hime. That’s the term best used to describe this Imperial Princess who has chosen to become an Imperial Defender. Rei is Kuni’s kid sister but there are times when she behaves as though she’s older than he is because of her status. She decided to become ningyō at the age of eleven – the time when potential ningyō are taken from their parents to study abroad – when her brother figured in a violent confrontation with potential abductors. He was wounded in her defense and Rei believes that it is but fair that she must defend him in return. After all, wasn’t their mother a ningyō herself? As much as Rei adores her brother, they often quarrel because she can’t stand his numerous eccentricities and he can’t stand the fact that she looks so delicate and yet she packs one of the meanest punches ever to slam on anybody. Rei works as a mangaka at her brother’s studio.
Haruhiko Hamilton Hayes, Lord Tremaine Ōjisan, 20
Harry Tremaine. Least favorite cousin to both Kuni and Fumi because of his absolutely egoistic attitude, Harry is studying to become a barrister but has his sights set on a higher plane: that of the Chrysanthemum Throne. Unfortunately, Harry is a long way from either the British throne (to which he’s related on his father’s side of the family) or the Chrysanthemum Throne. Extremely good looking with the sort of savoir-faire found in much older gentlemen, Harry is a regular on the global party circuit and has graced the covers of many high-class magazines. However, for all the winning ways of this bon vivant, he has a secret that will blow the minds of the people around him if it ever comes out – of the closet!
Taira Aoi Ningyō, 20
With her quintessentially Oriental features, Aoi has the distinction of being called Lady Jade in Europe where she serves in the defense of Harry Tremaine – whom she really can’t stand! The truth of the matter is that Aoi is not the true ningyō of the Taira Clan: it’s actually her older sister Maria Taira. But Maria has opted to work as a network monitor in the defense of the Throne and cannot be removed from her position unless it’s really important and if it’s in the defense of the Emperor himself. She and Murasaki are very good friends and share a very violent, rather suspicious disposition and a love for real action. Normally, ningyō marry their masters: Aoi would rather die than marry hers. Coincidentally, the Taira ningyō are first cousins to the Crown Prince and Princess Rei.
Ang Sorayama Ōjisan, 18
Hong Kong-born Sora Ang is an all-around nice guy – or so he wants people to believe. Unlike his cousins who are all babe-magnets in one way or another, Sora is chubby and baby-faced and is rather stocky. A too-fervent Pentecostal who believes in converting people whether they like it or not, he spends his time helping out charitable institutions or spreading the Good News to the less fortunate. However, all this is nothing more but a front to hide the fact that he’s out to steal both throne and ningyō from his cousin Kuni. For all his charm and cheer, Sora is actually the most conniving son-of-a-bitch to ever try and usurp a given position.
Minamoto Maruka Ningyō, 17
Although Ruka looks every bit as Oriental as Aoi, she looks more like a baby doll than a femme fatale. But don’t let those innocent looks fool you: beneath that angelic smile is a truly ruthless mind. Unfortunately, most people see Ruka as a bungling incompetent and wonder how in blazes did she ever get to be a ningyō. (Hey, can she help it if she’s the only daughter of the Minamoto Clan Patriarch?) She is desperately in love with Sora, but her love will prove unrequited as her master’s lust for power is coupled by his lust for the ningyō of the Fujiwara Clan.
Empress Naoko, 53
When the former ningyō of the Taira Clan finds herself widowed by the brutal murder of her husband, she immediately steps into action and shows the world that the fierceness she displayed as the Crown Prince’s defender was never diminished by her years as both Crown Princess and Empress. Sharp and acerbic, she is aware of her son’s talents and knows that he is the only one fit to inherit the throne. She will die defending her son during the 40 days of mourning for her husband Emperor Junichi.
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