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Akigawa Masami
Masami grew up during the Revolution. Her family was an important family of the Shogunate. Her father, Akigawa Akira, was one of the most famous Shogunate samurai. Her mother, Akigawa Taka, was forced to raise both Masami and her brother, Hitoko, on her own. Although, at some times, her father would find himself back at home for a few days. Masami grew up believing that her father was fighting for the traditions of the country. She was very proud to be a proud member of the Akigawa family- although she was put at risk sometimes.
She is a free and fiery spirit. Growing up during the Revolution forged her into a warrior who is not afraid of death. She shows more of the typical Akigawa personality which is cool-headed and unruffled. But she does have her "secret side" where she feels that she is a lovable, fun, and outgoing person. It is also this side of her that loves to pull pranks and jokes. She is very intelligent and is very knowledgabe about the Revolution and what all is going on in the underground of Japan. She is fairly tall with dark hair that is pulled into a ponytail. She dresses in darker colors because that is how her father used to dress. She carries her tachi where ever she goes. She does not hang it from her belt because she feels that it is too clumsy to wear and harder to draw quickly.
The Legend of her Father
Akigawa Akira was a Shogunate samurai- or a manslayer. He was known by many names (Grim Akigawa, Ikatsui, and Shiro Akuma). He studied the Shiro Ken, which translates into the White Blade. And his most famous nickname- Shiro Akuma- was derived from the Shiro Ken to mean White Demon. This fit him more than the others due to the fact that he was able to master the Shiro Ken, which enabled one's sword to glow white from the shear speed and his ice blue eyes fixed you with a cold death glare before he killed you.
Many people considered Akigawa to be the Battousai of the Shogunate. Akigawa worked with both the Shinsengumi and the Oniwaban group. Akira was sought after by many warriors. It was no secret that the Shiro Akuma's skill matched the Battousai the Manslayer's skill. But despite being arch-enemies, the two never actually crossed swords. They had crossed paths, but never swords. And everyone knew that because of their skill, the two God-like warriors would have to face each other in combat some time. And when that happened, it would be a battle that decided the war.
But Akigawa Akira was killed before that decesive battle ever came. A young manslayer of the shadows- Shishio Makoto- slayed the aging Shiro Akuma. The Shogunates were devestated. The Shogunates believed that the Imperialists won the war because Akigawa had been killed. The Shogunates also believed that had Akigawa lived, the Imperialists would have never won the Revolution. And to this day, they still believe it.
The Shiro Ken
The Shiro Ken is a sword technique that has been passed down through the Akigawa family. Shiro Ken translates to the White Blade because it focuses on swift blade manipulation. It is said that who ever masters the Shiro Ken, their blade glows white when they attack. It is not certain what causes it- whether it be the power, the speed, or the Swordsman Spirit. The Shiro Ken's main weapon is the tachi or a long sword (although it is possible with other types of swords). The Shiro Ken has an almost impenetrable defense that is manipulated by blocking with the blade more like with a staff than with a sword. Its attacks depend on precise cuts and thrusts, but can be altered to include large, sweeping slashes. But the techniques that truly set the Shiro Ken apart is its ability to use the Swordsman's Spirit. It allows the swordsman to emit an illusion to their opponent to intimidate, trick, or destract. It can also be used to add an extra boost to the attacks.
Sokkenai Shinkirou- Cold Mirage- Imposes an illusion of the user's choosing to an opponent. Usually for destracting and intimidating.
Akuma Metsuki- Demon Eyes- The most common form of the Swordsman's Spirit. Gives the user the unmistakable ice-like stare.
Ken Shinkirou- Blade Mirage- An attack that gives the opponent the illusion that the blade is moving elsewhere. An extremely swift attack.
Shiro Aisu- White Ice- A large, sweeping attack usually meant to throw off the opponent's stance or crush him. Also the attack creates a powerful wind around it.
Ookami Skinkon- Wolf Fang- An arial attack. A very precise thrust downward which is hard to avoid when used right. It uses the pull of gravity to do greater damage.
Aoi Dageki- Blue Strike- A simple thrust or cut that is usually devestating to the opponent. Usually used to break through a small opening in an opponent's stance.
Aisu Aoi- Ice Blue- An anti-arial attack. It uses the length of the sword to engage the opponent that already above your head. It can be changed quickly to a side slash above the head to sweep your opponent away from you.
Shiro Ookami- White Wolf- A direct attack. It is a swift charging attack. You start with the sword pointed towards your enemy, then switch to the hilt pointed first. It looks like you will strike with a slash rather than a thrust. But in reality it is a thrust with the fighter's elbow and a slash with the sword. Very devestating and very fast.
Masami and the Shiro Ken
After the sudden death of Akigawa Akira, the Shiro Ken was thought to be lost. But the Shiro Akuma showed some foresight by working with his young children when they were old enough to weild a sword. He also wrote a manuscript about the Shiro Ken. He figured that anyone who was worthy of the Shiro Ken could and would deciphr his writings and learn the Shiro Ken. This is what Masami and her brother did. But they also learned some of the techniques from the Shiro Ken predecesor, their grandfather, Yoko. The two were able to master the Shiro Ken successfully.
The Fate of the Akigawa Family
Masami's mother was the target of an assination attempt by an group of Imperialists soon after Akigawa Akira's death. Rescued by the Shinsengumi, the two children were sent to live with their grandparents who died of old age after the two Akigawa children left their home. But the fate of Masami's brother was more tragic. Word got out to some idealist left-over Shogunates who wanted to start the Revolution again. They heard that Akira had a successor- his son- who mastered the Shiro Ken. They offered him a spot on their regime, but the young man refused because of what his father did. Since the past Shogunates could not have the man's skills, they decided that no one would have his skills. They defeated and killed one of the successors to the Akigawa family and the Shiro Ken style.
The Fate of Akigawa Masami
After the death of her family, Masami was left alone with nothing but bitter feelings against those that killed her brother. But as the Meji Era went along, the politicians began to bad mouth her father- calling him a traitor and a murderer. Masami planned to assassinate the politicians who were speaking ill of her father. She spent several years perfecting the technique. Then, she went after a man who was running for an office at the Department of the Interior. It was one of the former Imperialists that had hated her father. Then she found out that he had been the one that had ordered the attack on her mother. So, needless to say she made quick work of him, sending the politicians in an uproar about how "Shiro Akuma's Spirit was back to start another Revolution." So she took her father's reputation and continued on the tradition of fighting against the government. All the while she searched desperately for both her father and her brother's killers.
She suspects that she very close to finding the man that killed her father. She has heard that he was considered the strongest of the Imperialists- Battousai the Manslayer. She is now on her way to Tokyo, where she was informed that the Battousai had settled as a wanderer.