♦ APPLICATION ♦
CHARACTER NAME: Yukishiro 'Himura' Tomoe
FANDOM: Rurouni Kenshin
CANON: When she dies in Kenshin's arms.
WHAT THEY LOST: Her ability to be alone for more than twelve hours. If she remains by herself for longer than this, she'll start hearing voices -- specifically that of Kiyosato's or Kenshin's. This will make it easier for me to make her socialize with others to keep her from going craycray.
ABOUT THE CHARACTER:
Tomoe is a rather complicated woman, though you couldn't tell at first glance. She is a huge contrast to the more blatantly strong-willed women of today's world, and at first look, she embodies the perfect ideal of what a Japanese woman should be. Yamato Nadeshiko. She is very quiet, usually not speaking unless spoken to if she doesn't know you well, and never speaks of her own problems or past. Because of this, she can come off as very enigmatic to those not paying attention. The only Yamato Nadeshiko trait she does not follow at all is the willingness to do as her family wills. Of course this is only an issue after her fiancé is murdered, when she shut everyone out, including herself.
There are many oddities to her, though, that hint at her bizarre nature if anyone cares to actually pay attention. When she does choose to speak, she is not always proper. Her wit can be incredibly dry, and she is not above making jokes. One just has to listen to appreciate them. She also does not react to things the way a normal woman should. Even a quiet woman would scream when her life is put in danger, or when she witnesses a murder, but Tomoe never does. She does not raise her voice even when Kenshin catches her off guard and nearly slices her in two. She merely stares at him silently, looking nothing more than a little shocked. The same goes for when she witnesses him brutally slaughtering the enemy. Tomoe is an observer, through and through, only interjecting her opinion or ideals when she feels it's necessary or poignant.
Her complexity is subtle in nature, much like everything else about her. She is initially a kind woman, going out of her way to take care of those that she cares for, and always doing her best at any chore she can. When growing a garden with Kenshin, she looks almost heartbroken when some of the crops don't make it, stroking the leaves. When she finds him sleeping in the cold, she attempts to cover him with a blanket, despite knowing his true nature. Kenshin has even said she was one of the kindest people he'd ever known, even though some people in her family had thought she was cold-hearted because of how she failed to convey her emotions. They claimed that was what got Kiyosato killed, because he wanted to prove himself to her to earn her love, not realizing that she already did love him.
But she is not just a woman who has difficulty expressing the kindness in her heart. She is also capable of a deep bitterness. There is a dangerous edge to her, despite being used in a metaphor as the sheath to Kenshin's sword (in the manner of cooling his violent nature). When it comes to something she loves greatly, she can be a very selfish woman, and in turn that can make her dark and spiteful. When she found out that her fiancé had been killed by an assassin, she became closed off from her family, not even responding when her younger brother pleaded with her to talk to him. After that, she left behind her own family and worked with the Shogunate as a spy to find and dispose of the very assassin that had killed her husband-to-be. This assassin was Himura Kenshin. Of course, her true intentions weren’t revealed to him until it was too late, as her already quiet and private nature made her the perfect actress.
Even though she tried her hardest to hate him for destroying her life, she grew to care for Kenshin the more she got to know him, tentatively embracing the new-found life she had with him despite knowing where it would eventually lead. She knew she would eventually have to betray him to the Shogunate, but their situation became even more complex when they were forced to hide as husband and wife in Otsu after the Hamaguri rebellion put the entire Choshu clan in danger. Her loyalties felt very divided at that point, but in the end her kindness and in a way her selfishness overrode her own spite, as she gave her life protecting Kenshin's while her brother Enishi watched from a distance.
Though her death was tragic and incredibly traumatizing for Kenshin, she was somewhat fortunate in that she had eventually discovered a peace of sorts. She accepted that Kiyosato would have forgiven her sins, and that Kenshin was indeed her second love. To die for him was her own atonement, and it changed him forever.
THIRD-PERSON WRITING SAMPLE:
It was never easy to dig yourself out of your own grave, but that's what it had felt like she was doing. She was stuck between a rock and a hard place, not even having the room to flail about as she wondered how she could possibly get out of this one.
But her concerns had not been for herself... They had been for Kenshin. He was headed here now, and it was all her fault. Here she had been trying to distract the Shogun spies, thinking of ways to sidetrack them in her panic. She couldn't let him be killed now. He was the second person to steal her heart, and she couldn't let him die because of her as well.
After all, that was why Kiyosato had perished, because she had failed to convey her true feelings to him and he felt he needed to prove something to her. If only she had been a better woman to him, he could have still lived. But even now, as she mourned that loss, she couldn't regret meeting Kenshin. Was she really betraying Kiyosato by loving Kenshin? By fighting for him? Was it because she was a weak woman?
No. She could see Kiyosato now, and he was smiling. Kiyosato had always been too selfless for his own good. Such a kind man. She had never been worthy of him, and she certainly hadn't been worthy of Himura Kenshin. She was a selfish and cruel woman, but she wouldn't let another man in her life die because of that.
Her jaw set as she pushed herself back up from the floorboards, turning to look towards the door that was cracked open. The snowflakes were making their way in, but Tomoe had long since forgotten how to feel cold. Her body was numb, but her heart was warm. It was such a pleasant feeling. There wasn't a second thought in her mind as she darted from the shed, knowing she had to move quickly. Those men were warriors after all, and her kimono restricted her movements.
She could see a familiar face in the distance as she moved. Enishi. ...Oh. I'm so sorry, little brother. Don't look. She didn't plan to die, of course. But she was not foolish enough to think it couldn't happen. After all, that man was brandishing her kodachi. She wouldn't let Kenshin be struck with her own weapon.
Yukishiro... No. Himura Tomoe would stop this, one way or another.
FIRST-PERSON WRITING SAMPLE:
...Mm? What is this? It's so warm. The sun is out? But clouds should be in the sky, and snow everywhere. Is this...?
[ a pause; the gentle shuffle of fabric ]
Then I suppose that means I...
[ the already quiet voice drops to a whisper ]
Oh, my dear. I hope you aren't shedding tears over me. You made a promise, didn't you? I'll hold you to it.
FANDOM: Rurouni Kenshin
CANON: When she dies in Kenshin's arms.
WHAT THEY LOST: Her ability to be alone for more than twelve hours. If she remains by herself for longer than this, she'll start hearing voices -- specifically that of Kiyosato's or Kenshin's. This will make it easier for me to make her socialize with others to keep her from going craycray.
ABOUT THE CHARACTER:
Tomoe is a rather complicated woman, though you couldn't tell at first glance. She is a huge contrast to the more blatantly strong-willed women of today's world, and at first look, she embodies the perfect ideal of what a Japanese woman should be. Yamato Nadeshiko. She is very quiet, usually not speaking unless spoken to if she doesn't know you well, and never speaks of her own problems or past. Because of this, she can come off as very enigmatic to those not paying attention. The only Yamato Nadeshiko trait she does not follow at all is the willingness to do as her family wills. Of course this is only an issue after her fiancé is murdered, when she shut everyone out, including herself.
There are many oddities to her, though, that hint at her bizarre nature if anyone cares to actually pay attention. When she does choose to speak, she is not always proper. Her wit can be incredibly dry, and she is not above making jokes. One just has to listen to appreciate them. She also does not react to things the way a normal woman should. Even a quiet woman would scream when her life is put in danger, or when she witnesses a murder, but Tomoe never does. She does not raise her voice even when Kenshin catches her off guard and nearly slices her in two. She merely stares at him silently, looking nothing more than a little shocked. The same goes for when she witnesses him brutally slaughtering the enemy. Tomoe is an observer, through and through, only interjecting her opinion or ideals when she feels it's necessary or poignant.
Her complexity is subtle in nature, much like everything else about her. She is initially a kind woman, going out of her way to take care of those that she cares for, and always doing her best at any chore she can. When growing a garden with Kenshin, she looks almost heartbroken when some of the crops don't make it, stroking the leaves. When she finds him sleeping in the cold, she attempts to cover him with a blanket, despite knowing his true nature. Kenshin has even said she was one of the kindest people he'd ever known, even though some people in her family had thought she was cold-hearted because of how she failed to convey her emotions. They claimed that was what got Kiyosato killed, because he wanted to prove himself to her to earn her love, not realizing that she already did love him.
But she is not just a woman who has difficulty expressing the kindness in her heart. She is also capable of a deep bitterness. There is a dangerous edge to her, despite being used in a metaphor as the sheath to Kenshin's sword (in the manner of cooling his violent nature). When it comes to something she loves greatly, she can be a very selfish woman, and in turn that can make her dark and spiteful. When she found out that her fiancé had been killed by an assassin, she became closed off from her family, not even responding when her younger brother pleaded with her to talk to him. After that, she left behind her own family and worked with the Shogunate as a spy to find and dispose of the very assassin that had killed her husband-to-be. This assassin was Himura Kenshin. Of course, her true intentions weren’t revealed to him until it was too late, as her already quiet and private nature made her the perfect actress.
Even though she tried her hardest to hate him for destroying her life, she grew to care for Kenshin the more she got to know him, tentatively embracing the new-found life she had with him despite knowing where it would eventually lead. She knew she would eventually have to betray him to the Shogunate, but their situation became even more complex when they were forced to hide as husband and wife in Otsu after the Hamaguri rebellion put the entire Choshu clan in danger. Her loyalties felt very divided at that point, but in the end her kindness and in a way her selfishness overrode her own spite, as she gave her life protecting Kenshin's while her brother Enishi watched from a distance.
Though her death was tragic and incredibly traumatizing for Kenshin, she was somewhat fortunate in that she had eventually discovered a peace of sorts. She accepted that Kiyosato would have forgiven her sins, and that Kenshin was indeed her second love. To die for him was her own atonement, and it changed him forever.
THIRD-PERSON WRITING SAMPLE:
It was never easy to dig yourself out of your own grave, but that's what it had felt like she was doing. She was stuck between a rock and a hard place, not even having the room to flail about as she wondered how she could possibly get out of this one.
But her concerns had not been for herself... They had been for Kenshin. He was headed here now, and it was all her fault. Here she had been trying to distract the Shogun spies, thinking of ways to sidetrack them in her panic. She couldn't let him be killed now. He was the second person to steal her heart, and she couldn't let him die because of her as well.
After all, that was why Kiyosato had perished, because she had failed to convey her true feelings to him and he felt he needed to prove something to her. If only she had been a better woman to him, he could have still lived. But even now, as she mourned that loss, she couldn't regret meeting Kenshin. Was she really betraying Kiyosato by loving Kenshin? By fighting for him? Was it because she was a weak woman?
No. She could see Kiyosato now, and he was smiling. Kiyosato had always been too selfless for his own good. Such a kind man. She had never been worthy of him, and she certainly hadn't been worthy of Himura Kenshin. She was a selfish and cruel woman, but she wouldn't let another man in her life die because of that.
Her jaw set as she pushed herself back up from the floorboards, turning to look towards the door that was cracked open. The snowflakes were making their way in, but Tomoe had long since forgotten how to feel cold. Her body was numb, but her heart was warm. It was such a pleasant feeling. There wasn't a second thought in her mind as she darted from the shed, knowing she had to move quickly. Those men were warriors after all, and her kimono restricted her movements.
She could see a familiar face in the distance as she moved. Enishi. ...Oh. I'm so sorry, little brother. Don't look. She didn't plan to die, of course. But she was not foolish enough to think it couldn't happen. After all, that man was brandishing her kodachi. She wouldn't let Kenshin be struck with her own weapon.
Yukishiro... No. Himura Tomoe would stop this, one way or another.
FIRST-PERSON WRITING SAMPLE:
...Mm? What is this? It's so warm. The sun is out? But clouds should be in the sky, and snow everywhere. Is this...?
[ a pause; the gentle shuffle of fabric ]
Then I suppose that means I...
[ the already quiet voice drops to a whisper ]
Oh, my dear. I hope you aren't shedding tears over me. You made a promise, didn't you? I'll hold you to it.