In which I abuse semicolons; comma splices.
Don't worry about it too much, mun. Get me icons and that stuff first. Then maybe re-read the manga. Take your time, I'm supposed to be your second anyway.
[ CHARACTER INFO ]
Name: Kazuhiko Yukimi
Canon/Series: Nabari no Ou
Age: 27 (28 now)
Occupation: Part-time journalist, full-time ninja. Though he recently abandoned his clan and got his right arm chopped off so… that’s a bit up in the air.
Time Pulled: Chapter 63 (recent and before any of what happened 10 years ago is revealed)
Personality: Yukimi holds what he believes to be a strong moral standing as "an adult." He views things critically, logically, and knows when to give up on a hopeless situation. Or at least that's what he'd like to think. Recently, with his world changing around him and his memories full of blank spaces, Yukimi has had to learn to deal with things using a little more faith, a little more hope and a little more acceptance. He considers this change to be "the influence of children," making him go soft after years of being a good ninja, mercilessly killing and following orders.
While it takes him a while to warm up to people, Yukimi can be extremely caring. Rather than express his feelings outwardly, Yukimi prefers to care for things (cats) and people (Yoite and Miharu) subtly; doing what he can to make them comfortable and attempting to confront their problems rather than give them false hope or kindness. He won't admit it outwardly, but once someone becomes important to him, he will do anything to protect them and make sure they are happy.
But those kinds of feelings aren't easy to express for him. He's an adult, and they don't talk like that, dammit. Yukimi therefore can't stand children. And by "children" he basically means anyone younger than him who can act immaturely without needing an excuse. It's not that Yukimi doesn't act immaturely himself, on the contrary, he's quick to anger and can be petty when arguing to the brats he claims he hates so much. He believes that children don't consider the consequences of their actions before they do anything, and to be honest, he's jealous of that innocence.
Skills/Special Abilities/Powers: Yukimi is skilled at wielding pistols and can perform several Earth-based ninja skills (mostly smokescreens and the like). Otherwise, he is a skilled fighter with ninja training, so his reflexes are sharp and he is skilled at stealth, wielding shuriken, etc.
Skills/Special Abilities/Power REDUCED: Yukimi is already recovering from his arm injury, but with his powers at weakened, there's no doubt that he won't be fighting on the front lines any time soon. His limbs will feel more sluggish and his feet will seem a bit heavier if he tries to engage in a fight. Initially he'll feel as though he woke up from surgery days ago, not weeks ago.
History:
The way he sees it, Kazuhiko Yukimi was a normal highschooler. He and his sister, Kazuho, had an unremarkable life with an abusive father and a mother who walked out on them. When Yukimi was fifteen and his father was having particularly brutal drunken fit, the police became involved and their father was placed behind bars. Lacking any other family members or the money to fend for themselves, Yukimi and Kazuho were looking at a life scraping by in foster care. This is where Toujou Hattori, the Kairoushuu and the world of Nabari entered Yukimi's life.
Compared to their father, Hattori's proud demeanor and cool head were a breath of fresh air to the siblings. Hattori offered to take them both in and pay for their studies; all he asked for in return was for Yukimi to join Kairoushuu, his ninja clan that operates in a world hidden from the view of people on the 'surface'; the world of Nabari.
Naturally, it was a stressful time in Yukimi's life. He was mad at the world; training in ninjutsu, performing "missions," and killing were a perfect way to pass the time. For twelve years, Yukimi murdered, silenced, and erased; all without batting an eye. It took a breath of fresh air to make him realize how messed up he'd become. A breath of night air; Yoite. (The kanji in Yoite's name are "night" and "breeze" /pun't)
An outcast much like Yukimi was, Yoite was sixteen when Hattori put him into Yukimi's care. Despite his age, Yoite was tiny and malnourished; anyone would have thought he was twelve. Under the belief that he should never have been born, he joined Kairoushuu and gained ability called 'Kira' that would increasingly drain his life force as he used it. He was Kairoushuu's ultimate weapon, and over time as he grew closer to death, he grew closer to Yukimi's heart.
Yukimi watched over and cared for Yoite like a parent to a child.**Though your mileage may vary on that perspective. Yoite, who was always reclusive and silent, and Yukimi who had never cared for anything more than a cat; they made an odd pair, but over time they grew to trust each other. Yoite reminded Yukimi what it was like to be needed and gave him a reason to be human again, while Yukimi showed Yoite kindness unlike any he had ever known by giving him freedom and a home to return to. The two needed each other, and it was a feeling Yukimi had been avoiding for a long time.
Lots of plot happened. (which is to say, the next part is gonna be a super-detailed plot summary, sorry.)
Things took on a sense of normalcy after a while. Yoite and Yukimi would go on missions, they'd come back, enjoy each other's company, and wonder how long they had left together. That is, until the Shinrabanshou, a collection of all the knowledge in the world, awakened within a boy called Miharu Rokujou.
This power has the ability to rewrite reality and go against the laws of creation. It was to be the ultimate tool in the war between the ninja clans Kairoushuu and Fuuma; obtaining it was their highest priority. Yukimi and Yoite, as part of Kairoushuu's attack force, were tasked with stealing several ninja scrolls that held the power to unlock Miharu's power, before the rival ninjas could obtain them.
Unknown to Yukimi, Yoite secretly deviated from his orders, confronted Miharu and asked that he use the Shinrabanshou to erase his existence from the world. In exchange, by wielding that power, Miharu would become the Ruler of Nabari; the strongest in the ninja world. Miharu was faced with little choice, as Yoite also claimed he could kill all his friends if he refused. Miharu, who felt a connection to Yoite's loneliness, eventually joined Kairoushuu to help him and by association, fell under Yukimi's care.
As the war to control Shinrabanshou (and thereby, Miharu) raged on and Yoite sought to be erased, Yukimi did all he could to make sure he enjoyed his final moments. He made it his mission to understand what Yoite's life was before they met and why he would choose to die. "You really were alive." Yukimi wanted to say it him; he wanted to mean it when he did, but... he never got the chance in the end.
After finding out Yoite's past and discovering that he had been labeled a traitor by Kairoushuu, Yukimi could no longer choose loyalty toward his clan over loyalty toward Yoite. Yukimi soon learned that Yoite had defied Shinrabanshou's orders and had saved Miharu, whom Hattori had kidnapped. As Yoite and Miharu attempted to escape, Miharu must drag Yoite with him, as his life energy had deteriorated to the point where he could no longer walk. As the two tried to escape unguarded, Yukimi swept in and intervened, creating a diversion and giving them time to momentarily escape the assassins.
Despite the fact that Yoite was in his final moments, Yukimi could still find time to scold him. Yoite, having experienced Yukimi's kindness, knew Miharu would be in good hands, so in his dying breaths he asked Yukimi to take care of him when he was gone. If not for Miharu (who Yukimi had already grown a bit attached to), then for Yoite's sake. Yukimi naturally agreed.
With the promise aside, Yoite and Miharu made their escape as Yukimi held off their opponents. It was a pointless fight, protecting someone who was about to die. Yukimi knew this, but was still willing to give his life to protect Yoite's wishes. In the midst of fighting and killing their pursuer, Yukimi lost his arm and was left bleeding to death in the cold snow. Despite this, he was smiling. It was only a moment, but he finally got to see Yoite living his life properly.
...A bit after that, Yoite died. Using the Shinrabanshou in his despair, Miharu granted Yoite's wish; he erased him. Now go back to that monolith amount of text and delete every "Yoite" with a blank; that's what Yukimi's memories suddenly became.
Anything Yukimi did for Yoite that person's sake suddenly vanished from his mind, leaving him armless and with a whirlwind of emotions he could no longer explain. There was a hole in his soul, and it was only after discussing it with Miharu a month later that he was able to understand it. Someone had been erased, but the feelings of attachment were still there. Miharu and Yukimi shared an emptiness only they could understand, and Yukimi knew he had to fulfill a promise; he didn't know why anymore, but he knew it was important that he did.
No longer pursued by Kairoushuu, Yukimi did his best to stay by Miharu's side. Believing that it was what that person would have wanted, he allowed Miharu to come to terms with his feelings and finally resolve to seal the Shinrabanshou.
And that's where Yukimi stands now, waiting for the unspecified date when the seal can be completed. Since he no longer has a ninja clan to report to, he's getting back into the swing of things with his "surface job" as a freelance writer/photographer and adjusting to living on his own (not that he remembers what he's adjusting from.) He's also got a cat named Yoite. Yeah.
Third Person Sample:
When Yukimi stepped into his apartment, he didn't bother stripping his jacket off; doing that one-handed was too much of a pain. "Tadaima," he said, kicking off his boots and stepping onto the empty living room. No one was there to reply, he knew, but it became a habit before he had a chance to think otherwise. It was stupid. No one had ever been here to answer him. No one he could remember, at least.
He walked slowly to the kitchen and set some water to boil for lemon tea. As he gathered a mug and waited for the teapot to do its thing, he could hear Yoite, his newly acquired cat, pawing at the door from across the room. Setting the mug down, he sighed and opened the door, letting the little guy out.
Yukimi had to make sure to keep an eye on Yoite despite his harmless appearance. Last time he left him by himself, the cat managed to singlehandedly break his only new coffee mug and collapse a shelf (bringing with it several empty vases and a can of spare pens.) The mug could be replaced, but the shelf was gone for good. Another casualty to a one-armed owner and his tiny black cat. Yukimi sighed at the memory. "Honestly, I have no idea how you manage to wreak so much havoc, Yoite." The cat merely meowed.
Suddenly, the teapot began to beep, causing Yoite to perk his ears up at the sound. The cat remained calm, but was still alert, like he was used to it, but still hadn't decided whether the sound was good or bad. It reminded Yukimi of someone, but he couldn't remember who.
He gave Yoite a quick pat on the head and moved to the kitchen, where the boiling teapot beeped away. Carefully, he poured the boiling water into a mug. He'd gotten used to doing things with one arm at this point, but because it was his left hand, he had to be extra careful. He'd burnt himself a few times, but it was usually if the phone rang or if Yoite started clawing at his ankles. That done, he grabbed a tea bag from a jar and and dropped it into the water.
As he grabbed his tea and sat on the couch, Yukimi began to notice how quickly normalcy was returning to his flat. The emptiness was fading. Maybe it was Yoite's presence, or knowing that Miharu wanted to keep helping him with his surface job... If he had to admit it, he supposed it was because he started to enjoy feeling needed. With Yoite purring at his side, Yukimi murmured to himself with an inch of a smile. "It's not so lonely anymore."
Soon, he'd have to meet up with Kumohira and the rest to try to seal the Shinrabanshou once and for all but, for now, things weren't so bad.
First Person Sample:
[Although he's supposed to be taking notes and waiting for his interviewee to arrive, it doesn't take long for Yumkimi to see a red, almost glowing butterfly in the midst of an otherwise normal park. It's beautiful; almost eerie, and Yukimi wishes he could grab his camera to take a picture of it. Before he can even think twice, he finds himself following the butterfly. He doesn't even trip when it flies into the trees and over fallen stones.]
[and then, just as suddenly as it appeared, it vanishes, snapping Yukimi out of his trance. A familiar feeling runs through him, though he can't quite place where he recognizes it from.]
"What the hell...? How did it get so dark all of a sudden?" [Yukimi gives his surroundings a quick glance. He definitely isn't at the same park he was ten minutes (ten seconds?) ago. It's too dark to see beyond the woods, and taking a step back causes him to bump into a pair of bizarre looking idols. The sudden contact is enough to make Yukimi jump.]
"Dammit, who puts statues in the middle of a forest!?" [notices he's basically talking to himself and heaves a sigh.] "Ah-- never mind." [between the idols, he catches a glimpse of a muddied yellow flashlight, which he picks up.] "I bet it doesn't even work..."
[With a few quick taps, the flashlight flickers to life and illuminates... a dense, foggy forest.] "Tch. A lot of good that did me. Still can't see anything... Damn fog." [All he can see is a dirt trail leading further into the darkness, and the encroaching grasp of the fog-filled woods. It sends a chill down his spine. That feeling earlier; it's like when the world was rewritten, only this time it's different. He just doesn't know how yet.]
[Yukimi lets out an irritated grumble as he sets out on the trail] "Better than being stuck here, I guess."
Notes/Questions: Yukimi suffers from phantom limb pains, which means he can often feel pain in his right arm as though it were still attached. The pain fluctuates from minimal to immobilizing, however it is constant and unequivocally connected to his missing memories and coming to terms with why he lost his arm. In any case, the term "phantom limb" kind of makes me want there to be a supernatural angle to it. Can his lost memories be strong enough to curse him? (please say yes or help me brainstorm...)
You may have stuff planned for my "phantom limb" problem and the place you're sending me to, but please don't screw with me. I'll hate you, I swear.
...Sh-shut up about the cat posters, okay?
OOC:
Name: Polly
Are you over 16?: Yah
Personal LJ: ermazing
Email: poooer[at]hotmail[dot]com
Timezone: EST (-5, or -4)
Other contact: aim: eatsurnaan
Characters already in the game: none
How did you find us?: Miharu coasted me over from dear_mun.
IC:
Character name: Kazuhiko Yukimi (or Yukimi Kazuhiko, whatever Miharu set up as the norm)
Fandom: Nabari no Ou
Timeline: Recent, Chapter 63
Age: 27 (28 now)
~*Magical*~ abilities and strengths: Yukimi is a ninja, so he's got ~*~superior~*~ stealth/speed/fighting skills. He can perform a few jutsus and whatnot, but it’s mostly earth-stuff like smokescreens, etc. He's more of a modern ninja in that sense. (He'll gladly choose a gun over a shuriken any day.)
Appearance: Yukimi has an air about him that's way older than it should be. He walks tall, drives slowly and carries himself in a way that'd almost be admirable if it weren't so stubborn. Otherwise, whenever he's not wearing one of his black headbands (each a different design each time), he leaves his scruffy blond hair loose, making him look way less intimidating. He isn't particularly bothered by appearances, as he is unashamed of his one-armedness to the point where he doesn't even attempt to hide it,(despite the fact that his right sleeves look sorta creepy just dangling by his side.) Also due to that, he's been having carry things in in his mouth these days whenever he's doing something. Who knew opening doors could be so difficult?
Personality: Yukimi holds what he believes to be a strong moral standing as "an adult." He views things critically, logically, and knows when to give up on a hopeless situation. Or at least that's what he'd like to think. Recently, with his world changing around him and his memories full of blank spaces, Yukimi has had to learn to deal with things using a little more faith, a little more hope and a little more acceptance. He considers this change to be "the influence of children," making him go soft after years of being a good ninja, mercilessly killing and following orders.
While it takes him a while to warm up to people, Yukimi can be extremely caring. Rather than express his feelings outwardly, Yukimi prefers to care for things (cats) and people (Yoite and Miharu) subtly; doing what he can to make them comfortable and attempting to confront their problems rather than give them false hope or kindness. He won't admit it outwardly, but once someone becomes important to him, he will do anything to protect them and make sure they are happy.
But those kinds of feelings aren't easy to express for him. He's an adult, and they don't talk like that, dammit. Yukimi therefore can't stand children. And by "children" he basically means anyone younger than him who can act immaturely without needing an excuse. It's not that Yukimi doesn't act immaturely himself, on the contrary, he's quick to anger and can be petty when arguing to the brats he claims he hates so much. He believes that children don't consider the consequences of their actions before they do anything, and to be honest, he's jealous of that innocence.
Background: (I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LENGTH OF THIS. It's epic and used to be a plot-summary. It basically still is.)
The way he sees it, Kazuhiko Yukimi was a normal highschooler. He and his sister, Kazuho, had an unremarkable life with an abusive father and a mother who walked out on them. When Yukimi was fifteen and his father was having particularly brutal drunken fit, the police became involved and their father was placed behind bars. Lacking any other family members or the money to fend for themselves, Yukimi and Kazuho were looking at a life scraping by in foster care. This is where Toujou Hattori, the Kairoushuu and the world of Nabari entered Yukimi's life.
Hattori offered to take them both in and pay for their studies; all he asked for in return was for Yukimi to join Kairoushuu, his ninja clan that operated in a world hidden from the view of people on the 'surface'; the world of Nabari.
Naturally, it was a stressful time in Yukimi's life. He was mad at the world; training in ninjutsu, performing "missions," and killing were a perfect way to pass the time. For twelve years, Yukimi murdered, silenced, and erased; all without batting an eye. It took a breath of fresh air to make him realize how messed up he'd become. A breath of night air; Yoite. (The kanji in Yoite's name are "night" and "breeze" /pun't)
An outcast much like Yukimi was, Yoite was sixteen when Hattori put him into Yukimi's care. Tiny and malnourished, Yoite Kairoushuu and gained ability called 'Kira' that would increasingly drain his life force as he used it. He was Kairoushuu's ultimate weapon, and over time as he grew closer to death, he grew closer to Yukimi's heart.
Yukimi watched over and cared for Yoite like a parent to a child.**Though your mileage may vary on that perspective. Yoite, who was always reclusive and silent, and Yukimi who had never cared for anything more than a cat; they made an odd pair, but over time they grew to trust each other. Yoite reminded Yukimi what it was like to be needed and gave him a reason to be human again, while Yukimi showed Yoite kindness unlike any he had ever known by giving him freedom and a home to return to. The two needed each other, and it was a feeling Yukimi had been avoiding for a long time.
Lots of plot happened. (which is to say, the next part is gonna be a super-detailed plot summary, sorry.)
Things took on a sense of normalcy after a while. Yoite and Yukimi would go on missions, they'd come back, enjoy each other's company, and wonder how long they had left together. That is, until the Shinrabanshou, a collection of all the knowledge in the world, awakened within a boy called Miharu Rokujou.
Unknown to Yukimi, Yoite sought out Miharu and asked that he erase him from the world. Miharu was faced with little choice, as Yoite also claimed he could kill all his friends if he refused. Joining Yoite on the side of Kairoushuu, Miharu inevitably fell under Yukimi's care as well. Ahh, another brat to take care of.
As the war to control Shinrabanshou (and thereby, Miharu) raged on and Yoite's life drew closer to its conclusion, Yukimi did all he could to make sure he enjoyed his final moments. He became obsessed with understanding what Yoite's life was before they met and why he would choose to die. "You really were alive." Yukimi wanted to say it him; he wanted to mean it when he did, but... he never got the chance in the end.
After finding out Yoite's past and discovering that he had been labeled a traitor by Kairoushuu, Yukimi could no longer choose loyalty toward his clan over loyalty toward Yoite. As Yoite and Miharu attempted to escape Kairousuu's clutches, Yukimi swept in and intervened, providing a proper diversion for them to escape.
In a brief moment of calm and although Yoite was in his final moments, Yukimi could still find time to scold him. Yoite, having experienced Yukimi's kindness, he placed Miharu in his hands. If not for Miharu (who Yukimi had already grown a bit attached to), then for Yoite's sake. Yukimi naturally agreed.
With the promise aside, Yoite and Miharu made their escape as Yukimi held off their opponents. It was a pointless fight, protecting someone who was about to die. Yukimi knew this, but was still willing to give his life to protect Yoite's wishes. In the midst of fighting and killing their pursuer, Yukimi lost his arm and was left bleeding to death in the cold snow. Strangely, as he laid dying in the snow, Yukimi was smiling. It was only a moment, but he finally got to see Yoite living his life properly.
...A bit after that, Yoite died. Using the Shinrabanshou in his despair, Miharu granted Yoite's wish; he erased him. Now go back to that monolith amount of text and delete every "Yoite" with a blank; that's what Yukimi's memories suddenly became.
Anything Yukimi did for Yoite that person's sake suddenly vanished from his mind, leaving him armless and with a whirlwind of emotions he could no longer explain. There was a hole in his soul, and it was only after discussing it with Miharu a month later that he was able to understand it. Someone had been erased, but the feelings of attachment were still there. Miharu and Yukimi shared an emptiness only they could understand, and Yukimi knew he had to fulfill a promise; he didn't know why anymore, but he knew it was important that he did.
No longer pursued by Kairoushuu, Yukimi did his best to stay by Miharu's side. Believing that it was what that person would have wanted, he allowed Miharu to come to terms with his feelings and finally resolve to seal the Shinrabanshou.
And that's where Yukimi stands now, waiting for the unspecified date when the seal can be completed. Since he no longer has a ninja clan to report to, he's getting back into the swing of things with his "surface job" as a freelance writer/photographer and adjusting to living on his own (not that he remembers what he's adjusting from.) He's also got a cat named Yoite. Yeah.
1st person sample:Yukimi doesn't normally curse this much, buuut... this is kind of a nervous breakdown reaction, I suppose
..."Don't panic"? Is this supposed to be some sort of joke!? We're facing the end of the world and this bullshit book tells me to not panic!?
That's sick. Bullshit. Kazuho, Miharu, Raikou, even Kumohira and Hattori-san... they're all dead? You've gotta be shittin' me. They can't be gone, can they?
[his frustration transitions to anguish as he grips his empty sleeve by his side.] Gahhh, I know ninja aren't supposed to have attachments, but dammit! My sister, too? They couldn't even save her as well? She wasn't supposed to die like this; it's why I kept her out of the front lines in the first place! I'm her older brother, I was supposed to die before her...
And Miharu. Did he make it out? Shit, after I promised and everything, I couldn't even keep my eye on one brat... Dammit, I just keep losing everything, don't I?! [defeated laugh]
"Don't panic," huh? What a joke.
3rd person sample:
When Yukimi stepped into his apartment, he didn't bother stripping his jacket off; doing that one-handed was too much of a pain. "Tadaima," he said, kicking off his boots and stepping onto the empty living room. No one was there to reply, he knew, but it became a habit before he had a chance to think otherwise. It was stupid. No one had ever been here to answer him. No one he could remember, at least.
He walked slowly to the kitchen and set some water to boil for lemon tea. As he gathered a mug and waited for the teapot to do its thing, he could hear Yoite, his newly acquired cat, pawing at the door from across the room. Setting the mug down, he sighed and opened the door, letting the little guy out.
Yukimi had to make sure to keep an eye on Yoite despite his harmless appearance. Last time he left him by himself, the cat managed to singlehandedly break his only new coffee mug and collapse a shelf (bringing with it several empty vases and a can of spare pens.) The mug could be replaced, but the shelf was gone for good. Another casualty to a one-armed owner and his tiny black cat. Yukimi sighed at the memory. "Honestly, I have no idea how you manage to wreak so much havoc, Yoite." The cat merely meowed.
Suddenly, the teapot began to beep, causing Yoite to perk his ears up at the sound. The cat remained calm, but was still alert, like he was used to it, but still hadn't decided whether the sound was good or bad. It reminded Yukimi of someone, but he couldn't remember who.
He gave Yoite a quick pat on the head and moved to the kitchen, where the boiling teapot beeped away. Carefully, he poured the boiling water into a mug. He'd gotten used to doing things with one arm at this point, but because it was his left hand, he had to be extra careful. He'd burnt himself a few times, but it was usually if the phone rang or if Yoite started clawing at his ankles. That done, he grabbed a tea bag from a jar and and dropped it into the water.
As he grabbed his tea and sat on the couch, Yukimi began to notice how quickly normalcy was returning to his flat. The emptiness was fading. Maybe it was Yoite's presence, or knowing that Miharu wanted to keep helping him with his surface job... If he had to admit it, he supposed it was because he started to enjoy feeling needed. With Yoite purring at his side, Yukimi murmured to himself with an inch of a smile. "It's not so lonely anymore."
Soon, he'd have to meet up with Kumohira and the rest to try to seal the Shinrabanshou once and for all but, for now, things weren't so bad.
Questions?: What are your opinions on bringing cats aboard? Also, are there any two-handed things that Yukimi would be unable to operate in the SS Thor? I mean, I imagine he can get hooked up with some sort of prosthetic, but for now I'd rather just keep his one-armed status (and all the fun complications that come with it.)
PLAYER
NAME: Polly
AGE: 19
PERSONAL LJ: ermazing
EMAIL ADDRESS: kakashilvr[at]gmail[dot]com
AIM SCREENAME: eatsurnaan
EXPERIENCE RPing: As in, years? I suppose maybe three or four now.
ARE YOU A RETURNING APPLICANT? IF SO, HOW MANY CHARACTERS DO YOU CURRENT PLAY?: Nope.
CHARACTER
NAME: Kazuhiko Yukimi
CANON SOURCE: Nabari no Ou
TIMELINE: Chapter 63
CANON ABILITIES: Yukimi is a ninja, so aside from being skilled at wielding pistols, he can perform several Earth-based ninja skills (mostly smokescreens and the like). Otherwise, he is a skilled fighter with ninja training, so his reflexes are sharp and he is skilled at stealth, wielding shuriken, etc.
PERSONALITY: Yukimi holds what he believes to be a strong moral standing as "an adult." He views things critically, logically, and knows when to give up on a hopeless situation. Or at least that's what he'd like to think. Recently, with his world changing around him and his memories full of blank spaces, Yukimi has had to learn to deal with things using a little more faith, a little more hope and a little more acceptance. He considers this change to be "the influence of children," making him go soft after years of being a good ninja, mercilessly killing and following orders.
While it takes him a while to warm up to people, Yukimi can be extremely caring. Rather than express his feelings outwardly, Yukimi prefers to care for things (cats) and people (Yoite and Miharu) subtly; doing what he can to make them comfortable and attempting to confront their problems rather than give them false hope or kindness. He won't admit it outwardly, but once someone becomes important to him, he will do anything to protect them and make sure they are happy.
But those kinds of feelings aren't easy to express for him. He's an adult, and they don't talk like that, dammit. Yukimi therefore can't stand children. And by "children" he basically means anyone younger than him who can act immaturely without needing an excuse. It's not that Yukimi doesn't act immaturely himself, on the contrary, he's quick to anger and can be petty when arguing to the brats he claims he hates so much. He believes that children don't consider the consequences of their actions before they do anything, and to be honest, he's jealous of that innocence.
CANON HISTORY: (I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LENGTH OF THIS. It's an obscure canon, so I went overboard with the detail.)
The way he sees it, Kazuhiko Yukimi was a normal highschooler. He and his sister, Kazuho, had an unremarkable life with an abusive father and a mother who walked out on them. When Yukimi was fifteen and his father was having particularly brutal drunken fit, the police became involved and their father was placed behind bars. Lacking any other family members or the money to fend for themselves, Yukimi and Kazuho were looking at a life scraping by in foster care. This is where Tojuurou Hattori, the Kairoushuu and the world of Nabari entered Yukimi's life.
Hattori offered to take them both in and pay for their studies; all he asked for in return was for Yukimi to join Kairoushuu, his ninja clan that operated in a world hidden from the view of people on the 'surface'; the world of Nabari.
Naturally, it was a stressful time in Yukimi's life. He was mad at the world; training in ninjutsu, performing "missions," and killing were a perfect way to pass the time. For twelve years, Yukimi murdered, silenced, and erased; all without batting an eye. It took a breath of fresh air to make him realize how messed up he'd become. That breath of air came in form of a child called Yoite.
An outcast much like Yukimi was, Yoite was sixteen when Hattori put him into Yukimi's care. Tiny and malnourished, Yoite entered the Kairoushuu and gained ability called 'Kira' that would increasingly drain his life as he used it. He was Kairoushuu's ultimate weapon, and over time, as he grew closer to death, he grew closer to Yukimi's heart.
Yukimi watched over and cared for Yoite like a parent to a child. Yoite, who was always reclusive and silent, and Yukimi who had never cared for anything more than a cat; they made an odd pair, but over time they grew to trust each other. Yoite reminded Yukimi what it was like to be needed and gave him a reason to be human again, while Yukimi showed Yoite kindness unlike any he had ever known by giving him freedom and a home to return to. The two needed each other, and it was a feeling Yukimi had been avoiding for a long time.
Lots of plot happened. (which is to say, the next part is gonna be a super-detailed plot summary, sorry.)
Things took on a sense of normalcy after a while. Yoite and Yukimi would go on missions, they'd come back, enjoy each other's company and wonder how long they had left together. That is, until the Shinrabanshou, a collection of all the knowledge in the world, awakened within a boy called Miharu Rokujou.
Unknown to Yukimi, Yoite sought out Miharu and asked that he erase him from the world. Miharu was faced with little choice, as Yoite also claimed he could kill all his friends if he refused. Joining Yoite on the side of Kairoushuu, Miharu inevitably fell under Yukimi's care as well. Well, it was just another brat to take care of.
As the war to control Shinrabanshou (and thereby, Miharu) raged on and Yoite's life drew closer to its conclusion, Yukimi did all he could to make sure he enjoyed his final moments. He became obsessed with understanding what Yoite's life was before they met and why he would choose to die. "You really were alive." Yukimi wanted to say it him; he wanted to mean it when he did, but... he wouldn't get the chance to, unfortunately.
After finding out Yoite's past and discovering that he had been labeled a traitor by Kairoushuu, Yukimi could no longer choose loyalty toward his clan over loyalty toward Yoite. As Yoite and Miharu attempted to escape Kairousuu's clutches, Yukimi swept in and intervened, providing a proper diversion for them to escape.
In a brief moment of calm and although Yoite was in his final moments, Yukimi could still find time to scold him. Yoite, having experienced Yukimi's kindness, placed Miharu in his hands. If not for Miharu (who Yukimi had already grown a bit attached to), then for Yoite's sake. Yukimi naturally agreed.
With the promise aside, Yoite and Miharu made their escape as Yukimi held off their opponents. It was a pointless fight, protecting someone who was about to die. Yukimi knew this, but was still willing to give his life to protect Yoite's wishes. In the midst of fighting and killing their pursuer, Yukimi lost his arm and was left bleeding to death in the cold snow. Strangely, as he laid dying in the snow, Yukimi was smiling. It was only a moment, but he finally got to see Yoite living his life properly.
...A bit after that, Yoite died. Using the Shinrabanshou in his despair, Miharu granted Yoite's wish; he erased him and made it so that the world forgot he existed. Now go back to that monolith amount of text and delete every "Yoite" with a blank; that's what Yukimi's memories suddenly became.
Anything Yukimi did for Yoite that person's sake suddenly vanished from his mind, leaving him armless and with a whirlwind of emotions he could no longer explain. There was a hole in his soul, and it was only after discussing it with Miharu a month later that he was able to understand it. Someone had been erased, but the feelings of attachment were still there. Miharu and Yukimi shared an emptiness only they could understand, and Yukimi knew he had to fulfill a promise; he didn't know why anymore, but he knew it was important that he did.
And that's where Yukimi stands now. Since he no longer has a ninja clan to report to, he's getting back into the swing of things with his "surface job" as a freelance writer/photographer and adjusting to living on his own (not that he remembers what he's adjusting from.) He also has a cat named Yoite. Yeah.
HOW DIFFERENT DO YOU WANT THE MEMORIES TO BE FROM THEIR CANON? Replace "ninjas" with "mob" and you've basically got the same guy. However, unlike in his original verse, Yukimi's noir memories would include Yoite.
PLANS FOR YOUR CHARACTER: Have him come to terms with the loss of his surrogate son. Take in stragglers. Go about his daily life while attempting to avoid getting mixed up with the wrong crowd. Once he regains his memories, he'll have to deal with the doubt of whether or not Yoite existed in the first place. He may not even want to believe his original memories are true, given that in Noir his memories aren't filled with holes.
SAMPLES
LOG SAMPLE:
JOURNAL SAMPLE:
NOTES: Yukimi has canon memory-loss, so his reactions to all that should be fun to deal with~
[ CHARACTER INFO ]
Name: Kazuhiko Yukimi
Canon/Series: Nabari no Ou
Age: 27 (28 now)
Occupation: Part-time journalist, full-time ninja. Though he recently abandoned his clan and got his right arm chopped off so… that’s a bit up in the air.
Time Pulled: Chapter 63 (recent and before any of what happened 10 years ago is revealed)
Personality: Yukimi holds what he believes to be a strong moral standing as "an adult." He views things critically, logically, and knows when to give up on a hopeless situation. Or at least that's what he'd like to think. Recently, with his world changing around him and his memories full of blank spaces, Yukimi has had to learn to deal with things using a little more faith, a little more hope and a little more acceptance. He considers this change to be "the influence of children," making him go soft after years of being a good ninja, mercilessly killing and following orders.
While it takes him a while to warm up to people, Yukimi can be extremely caring. Rather than express his feelings outwardly, Yukimi prefers to care for things (cats) and people (Yoite and Miharu) subtly; doing what he can to make them comfortable and attempting to confront their problems rather than give them false hope or kindness. He won't admit it outwardly, but once someone becomes important to him, he will do anything to protect them and make sure they are happy.
But those kinds of feelings aren't easy to express for him. He's an adult, and they don't talk like that, dammit. Yukimi therefore can't stand children. And by "children" he basically means anyone younger than him who can act immaturely without needing an excuse. It's not that Yukimi doesn't act immaturely himself, on the contrary, he's quick to anger and can be petty when arguing to the brats he claims he hates so much. He believes that children don't consider the consequences of their actions before they do anything, and to be honest, he's jealous of that innocence.
Skills/Special Abilities/Powers: Yukimi is skilled at wielding pistols and can perform several Earth-based ninja skills (mostly smokescreens and the like). Otherwise, he is a skilled fighter with ninja training, so his reflexes are sharp and he is skilled at stealth, wielding shuriken, etc.
Skills/Special Abilities/Power REDUCED: Yukimi is already recovering from his arm injury, but with his powers at weakened, there's no doubt that he won't be fighting on the front lines any time soon. His limbs will feel more sluggish and his feet will seem a bit heavier if he tries to engage in a fight. Initially he'll feel as though he woke up from surgery days ago, not weeks ago.
History:
The way he sees it, Kazuhiko Yukimi was a normal highschooler. He and his sister, Kazuho, had an unremarkable life with an abusive father and a mother who walked out on them. When Yukimi was fifteen and his father was having particularly brutal drunken fit, the police became involved and their father was placed behind bars. Lacking any other family members or the money to fend for themselves, Yukimi and Kazuho were looking at a life scraping by in foster care. This is where Toujou Hattori, the Kairoushuu and the world of Nabari entered Yukimi's life.
Compared to their father, Hattori's proud demeanor and cool head were a breath of fresh air to the siblings. Hattori offered to take them both in and pay for their studies; all he asked for in return was for Yukimi to join Kairoushuu, his ninja clan that operates in a world hidden from the view of people on the 'surface'; the world of Nabari.
Naturally, it was a stressful time in Yukimi's life. He was mad at the world; training in ninjutsu, performing "missions," and killing were a perfect way to pass the time. For twelve years, Yukimi murdered, silenced, and erased; all without batting an eye. It took a breath of fresh air to make him realize how messed up he'd become. A breath of night air; Yoite. (The kanji in Yoite's name are "night" and "breeze" /pun't)
An outcast much like Yukimi was, Yoite was sixteen when Hattori put him into Yukimi's care. Despite his age, Yoite was tiny and malnourished; anyone would have thought he was twelve. Under the belief that he should never have been born, he joined Kairoushuu and gained ability called 'Kira' that would increasingly drain his life force as he used it. He was Kairoushuu's ultimate weapon, and over time as he grew closer to death, he grew closer to Yukimi's heart.
Yukimi watched over and cared for Yoite like a parent to a child.**Though your mileage may vary on that perspective. Yoite, who was always reclusive and silent, and Yukimi who had never cared for anything more than a cat; they made an odd pair, but over time they grew to trust each other. Yoite reminded Yukimi what it was like to be needed and gave him a reason to be human again, while Yukimi showed Yoite kindness unlike any he had ever known by giving him freedom and a home to return to. The two needed each other, and it was a feeling Yukimi had been avoiding for a long time.
Lots of plot happened. (which is to say, the next part is gonna be a super-detailed plot summary, sorry.)
Things took on a sense of normalcy after a while. Yoite and Yukimi would go on missions, they'd come back, enjoy each other's company, and wonder how long they had left together. That is, until the Shinrabanshou, a collection of all the knowledge in the world, awakened within a boy called Miharu Rokujou.
This power has the ability to rewrite reality and go against the laws of creation. It was to be the ultimate tool in the war between the ninja clans Kairoushuu and Fuuma; obtaining it was their highest priority. Yukimi and Yoite, as part of Kairoushuu's attack force, were tasked with stealing several ninja scrolls that held the power to unlock Miharu's power, before the rival ninjas could obtain them.
Unknown to Yukimi, Yoite secretly deviated from his orders, confronted Miharu and asked that he use the Shinrabanshou to erase his existence from the world. In exchange, by wielding that power, Miharu would become the Ruler of Nabari; the strongest in the ninja world. Miharu was faced with little choice, as Yoite also claimed he could kill all his friends if he refused. Miharu, who felt a connection to Yoite's loneliness, eventually joined Kairoushuu to help him and by association, fell under Yukimi's care.
As the war to control Shinrabanshou (and thereby, Miharu) raged on and Yoite sought to be erased, Yukimi did all he could to make sure he enjoyed his final moments. He made it his mission to understand what Yoite's life was before they met and why he would choose to die. "You really were alive." Yukimi wanted to say it him; he wanted to mean it when he did, but... he never got the chance in the end.
After finding out Yoite's past and discovering that he had been labeled a traitor by Kairoushuu, Yukimi could no longer choose loyalty toward his clan over loyalty toward Yoite. Yukimi soon learned that Yoite had defied Shinrabanshou's orders and had saved Miharu, whom Hattori had kidnapped. As Yoite and Miharu attempted to escape, Miharu must drag Yoite with him, as his life energy had deteriorated to the point where he could no longer walk. As the two tried to escape unguarded, Yukimi swept in and intervened, creating a diversion and giving them time to momentarily escape the assassins.
Despite the fact that Yoite was in his final moments, Yukimi could still find time to scold him. Yoite, having experienced Yukimi's kindness, knew Miharu would be in good hands, so in his dying breaths he asked Yukimi to take care of him when he was gone. If not for Miharu (who Yukimi had already grown a bit attached to), then for Yoite's sake. Yukimi naturally agreed.
With the promise aside, Yoite and Miharu made their escape as Yukimi held off their opponents. It was a pointless fight, protecting someone who was about to die. Yukimi knew this, but was still willing to give his life to protect Yoite's wishes. In the midst of fighting and killing their pursuer, Yukimi lost his arm and was left bleeding to death in the cold snow. Despite this, he was smiling. It was only a moment, but he finally got to see Yoite living his life properly.
...A bit after that, Yoite died. Using the Shinrabanshou in his despair, Miharu granted Yoite's wish; he erased him. Now go back to that monolith amount of text and delete every "Yoite" with a blank; that's what Yukimi's memories suddenly became.
Anything Yukimi did for Yoite that person's sake suddenly vanished from his mind, leaving him armless and with a whirlwind of emotions he could no longer explain. There was a hole in his soul, and it was only after discussing it with Miharu a month later that he was able to understand it. Someone had been erased, but the feelings of attachment were still there. Miharu and Yukimi shared an emptiness only they could understand, and Yukimi knew he had to fulfill a promise; he didn't know why anymore, but he knew it was important that he did.
No longer pursued by Kairoushuu, Yukimi did his best to stay by Miharu's side. Believing that it was what that person would have wanted, he allowed Miharu to come to terms with his feelings and finally resolve to seal the Shinrabanshou.
And that's where Yukimi stands now, waiting for the unspecified date when the seal can be completed. Since he no longer has a ninja clan to report to, he's getting back into the swing of things with his "surface job" as a freelance writer/photographer and adjusting to living on his own (not that he remembers what he's adjusting from.) He's also got a cat named Yoite. Yeah.
Third Person Sample:
When Yukimi stepped into his apartment, he didn't bother stripping his jacket off; doing that one-handed was too much of a pain. "Tadaima," he said, kicking off his boots and stepping onto the empty living room. No one was there to reply, he knew, but it became a habit before he had a chance to think otherwise. It was stupid. No one had ever been here to answer him. No one he could remember, at least.
He walked slowly to the kitchen and set some water to boil for lemon tea. As he gathered a mug and waited for the teapot to do its thing, he could hear Yoite, his newly acquired cat, pawing at the door from across the room. Setting the mug down, he sighed and opened the door, letting the little guy out.
Yukimi had to make sure to keep an eye on Yoite despite his harmless appearance. Last time he left him by himself, the cat managed to singlehandedly break his only new coffee mug and collapse a shelf (bringing with it several empty vases and a can of spare pens.) The mug could be replaced, but the shelf was gone for good. Another casualty to a one-armed owner and his tiny black cat. Yukimi sighed at the memory. "Honestly, I have no idea how you manage to wreak so much havoc, Yoite." The cat merely meowed.
Suddenly, the teapot began to beep, causing Yoite to perk his ears up at the sound. The cat remained calm, but was still alert, like he was used to it, but still hadn't decided whether the sound was good or bad. It reminded Yukimi of someone, but he couldn't remember who.
He gave Yoite a quick pat on the head and moved to the kitchen, where the boiling teapot beeped away. Carefully, he poured the boiling water into a mug. He'd gotten used to doing things with one arm at this point, but because it was his left hand, he had to be extra careful. He'd burnt himself a few times, but it was usually if the phone rang or if Yoite started clawing at his ankles. That done, he grabbed a tea bag from a jar and and dropped it into the water.
As he grabbed his tea and sat on the couch, Yukimi began to notice how quickly normalcy was returning to his flat. The emptiness was fading. Maybe it was Yoite's presence, or knowing that Miharu wanted to keep helping him with his surface job... If he had to admit it, he supposed it was because he started to enjoy feeling needed. With Yoite purring at his side, Yukimi murmured to himself with an inch of a smile. "It's not so lonely anymore."
Soon, he'd have to meet up with Kumohira and the rest to try to seal the Shinrabanshou once and for all but, for now, things weren't so bad.
First Person Sample:
[Although he's supposed to be taking notes and waiting for his interviewee to arrive, it doesn't take long for Yumkimi to see a red, almost glowing butterfly in the midst of an otherwise normal park. It's beautiful; almost eerie, and Yukimi wishes he could grab his camera to take a picture of it. Before he can even think twice, he finds himself following the butterfly. He doesn't even trip when it flies into the trees and over fallen stones.]
[and then, just as suddenly as it appeared, it vanishes, snapping Yukimi out of his trance. A familiar feeling runs through him, though he can't quite place where he recognizes it from.]
"What the hell...? How did it get so dark all of a sudden?" [Yukimi gives his surroundings a quick glance. He definitely isn't at the same park he was ten minutes (ten seconds?) ago. It's too dark to see beyond the woods, and taking a step back causes him to bump into a pair of bizarre looking idols. The sudden contact is enough to make Yukimi jump.]
"Dammit, who puts statues in the middle of a forest!?" [notices he's basically talking to himself and heaves a sigh.] "Ah-- never mind." [between the idols, he catches a glimpse of a muddied yellow flashlight, which he picks up.] "I bet it doesn't even work..."
[With a few quick taps, the flashlight flickers to life and illuminates... a dense, foggy forest.] "Tch. A lot of good that did me. Still can't see anything... Damn fog." [All he can see is a dirt trail leading further into the darkness, and the encroaching grasp of the fog-filled woods. It sends a chill down his spine. That feeling earlier; it's like when the world was rewritten, only this time it's different. He just doesn't know how yet.]
[Yukimi lets out an irritated grumble as he sets out on the trail] "Better than being stuck here, I guess."
Notes/Questions: Yukimi suffers from phantom limb pains, which means he can often feel pain in his right arm as though it were still attached. The pain fluctuates from minimal to immobilizing, however it is constant and unequivocally connected to his missing memories and coming to terms with why he lost his arm. In any case, the term "phantom limb" kind of makes me want there to be a supernatural angle to it. Can his lost memories be strong enough to curse him? (please say yes or help me brainstorm...)
You may have stuff planned for my "phantom limb" problem and the place you're sending me to, but please don't screw with me. I'll hate you, I swear.
...Sh-shut up about the cat posters, okay?
OOC:
Name: Polly
Are you over 16?: Yah
Personal LJ: ermazing
Email: poooer[at]hotmail[dot]com
Timezone: EST (-5, or -4)
Other contact: aim: eatsurnaan
Characters already in the game: none
How did you find us?: Miharu coasted me over from dear_mun.
IC:
Character name: Kazuhiko Yukimi (or Yukimi Kazuhiko, whatever Miharu set up as the norm)
Fandom: Nabari no Ou
Timeline: Recent, Chapter 63
Age: 27 (28 now)
~*Magical*~ abilities and strengths: Yukimi is a ninja, so he's got ~*~superior~*~ stealth/speed/fighting skills. He can perform a few jutsus and whatnot, but it’s mostly earth-stuff like smokescreens, etc. He's more of a modern ninja in that sense. (He'll gladly choose a gun over a shuriken any day.)
Appearance: Yukimi has an air about him that's way older than it should be. He walks tall, drives slowly and carries himself in a way that'd almost be admirable if it weren't so stubborn. Otherwise, whenever he's not wearing one of his black headbands (each a different design each time), he leaves his scruffy blond hair loose, making him look way less intimidating. He isn't particularly bothered by appearances, as he is unashamed of his one-armedness to the point where he doesn't even attempt to hide it,(despite the fact that his right sleeves look sorta creepy just dangling by his side.) Also due to that, he's been having carry things in in his mouth these days whenever he's doing something. Who knew opening doors could be so difficult?
Personality: Yukimi holds what he believes to be a strong moral standing as "an adult." He views things critically, logically, and knows when to give up on a hopeless situation. Or at least that's what he'd like to think. Recently, with his world changing around him and his memories full of blank spaces, Yukimi has had to learn to deal with things using a little more faith, a little more hope and a little more acceptance. He considers this change to be "the influence of children," making him go soft after years of being a good ninja, mercilessly killing and following orders.
While it takes him a while to warm up to people, Yukimi can be extremely caring. Rather than express his feelings outwardly, Yukimi prefers to care for things (cats) and people (Yoite and Miharu) subtly; doing what he can to make them comfortable and attempting to confront their problems rather than give them false hope or kindness. He won't admit it outwardly, but once someone becomes important to him, he will do anything to protect them and make sure they are happy.
But those kinds of feelings aren't easy to express for him. He's an adult, and they don't talk like that, dammit. Yukimi therefore can't stand children. And by "children" he basically means anyone younger than him who can act immaturely without needing an excuse. It's not that Yukimi doesn't act immaturely himself, on the contrary, he's quick to anger and can be petty when arguing to the brats he claims he hates so much. He believes that children don't consider the consequences of their actions before they do anything, and to be honest, he's jealous of that innocence.
Background: (I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LENGTH OF THIS. It's epic and used to be a plot-summary. It basically still is.)
The way he sees it, Kazuhiko Yukimi was a normal highschooler. He and his sister, Kazuho, had an unremarkable life with an abusive father and a mother who walked out on them. When Yukimi was fifteen and his father was having particularly brutal drunken fit, the police became involved and their father was placed behind bars. Lacking any other family members or the money to fend for themselves, Yukimi and Kazuho were looking at a life scraping by in foster care. This is where Toujou Hattori, the Kairoushuu and the world of Nabari entered Yukimi's life.
Hattori offered to take them both in and pay for their studies; all he asked for in return was for Yukimi to join Kairoushuu, his ninja clan that operated in a world hidden from the view of people on the 'surface'; the world of Nabari.
Naturally, it was a stressful time in Yukimi's life. He was mad at the world; training in ninjutsu, performing "missions," and killing were a perfect way to pass the time. For twelve years, Yukimi murdered, silenced, and erased; all without batting an eye. It took a breath of fresh air to make him realize how messed up he'd become. A breath of night air; Yoite. (The kanji in Yoite's name are "night" and "breeze" /pun't)
An outcast much like Yukimi was, Yoite was sixteen when Hattori put him into Yukimi's care. Tiny and malnourished, Yoite Kairoushuu and gained ability called 'Kira' that would increasingly drain his life force as he used it. He was Kairoushuu's ultimate weapon, and over time as he grew closer to death, he grew closer to Yukimi's heart.
Yukimi watched over and cared for Yoite like a parent to a child.**Though your mileage may vary on that perspective. Yoite, who was always reclusive and silent, and Yukimi who had never cared for anything more than a cat; they made an odd pair, but over time they grew to trust each other. Yoite reminded Yukimi what it was like to be needed and gave him a reason to be human again, while Yukimi showed Yoite kindness unlike any he had ever known by giving him freedom and a home to return to. The two needed each other, and it was a feeling Yukimi had been avoiding for a long time.
Lots of plot happened. (which is to say, the next part is gonna be a super-detailed plot summary, sorry.)
Things took on a sense of normalcy after a while. Yoite and Yukimi would go on missions, they'd come back, enjoy each other's company, and wonder how long they had left together. That is, until the Shinrabanshou, a collection of all the knowledge in the world, awakened within a boy called Miharu Rokujou.
Unknown to Yukimi, Yoite sought out Miharu and asked that he erase him from the world. Miharu was faced with little choice, as Yoite also claimed he could kill all his friends if he refused. Joining Yoite on the side of Kairoushuu, Miharu inevitably fell under Yukimi's care as well. Ahh, another brat to take care of.
As the war to control Shinrabanshou (and thereby, Miharu) raged on and Yoite's life drew closer to its conclusion, Yukimi did all he could to make sure he enjoyed his final moments. He became obsessed with understanding what Yoite's life was before they met and why he would choose to die. "You really were alive." Yukimi wanted to say it him; he wanted to mean it when he did, but... he never got the chance in the end.
After finding out Yoite's past and discovering that he had been labeled a traitor by Kairoushuu, Yukimi could no longer choose loyalty toward his clan over loyalty toward Yoite. As Yoite and Miharu attempted to escape Kairousuu's clutches, Yukimi swept in and intervened, providing a proper diversion for them to escape.
In a brief moment of calm and although Yoite was in his final moments, Yukimi could still find time to scold him. Yoite, having experienced Yukimi's kindness, he placed Miharu in his hands. If not for Miharu (who Yukimi had already grown a bit attached to), then for Yoite's sake. Yukimi naturally agreed.
With the promise aside, Yoite and Miharu made their escape as Yukimi held off their opponents. It was a pointless fight, protecting someone who was about to die. Yukimi knew this, but was still willing to give his life to protect Yoite's wishes. In the midst of fighting and killing their pursuer, Yukimi lost his arm and was left bleeding to death in the cold snow. Strangely, as he laid dying in the snow, Yukimi was smiling. It was only a moment, but he finally got to see Yoite living his life properly.
...A bit after that, Yoite died. Using the Shinrabanshou in his despair, Miharu granted Yoite's wish; he erased him. Now go back to that monolith amount of text and delete every "Yoite" with a blank; that's what Yukimi's memories suddenly became.
Anything Yukimi did for Yoite that person's sake suddenly vanished from his mind, leaving him armless and with a whirlwind of emotions he could no longer explain. There was a hole in his soul, and it was only after discussing it with Miharu a month later that he was able to understand it. Someone had been erased, but the feelings of attachment were still there. Miharu and Yukimi shared an emptiness only they could understand, and Yukimi knew he had to fulfill a promise; he didn't know why anymore, but he knew it was important that he did.
No longer pursued by Kairoushuu, Yukimi did his best to stay by Miharu's side. Believing that it was what that person would have wanted, he allowed Miharu to come to terms with his feelings and finally resolve to seal the Shinrabanshou.
And that's where Yukimi stands now, waiting for the unspecified date when the seal can be completed. Since he no longer has a ninja clan to report to, he's getting back into the swing of things with his "surface job" as a freelance writer/photographer and adjusting to living on his own (not that he remembers what he's adjusting from.) He's also got a cat named Yoite. Yeah.
1st person sample:Yukimi doesn't normally curse this much, buuut... this is kind of a nervous breakdown reaction, I suppose
..."Don't panic"? Is this supposed to be some sort of joke!? We're facing the end of the world and this bullshit book tells me to not panic!?
That's sick. Bullshit. Kazuho, Miharu, Raikou, even Kumohira and Hattori-san... they're all dead? You've gotta be shittin' me. They can't be gone, can they?
[his frustration transitions to anguish as he grips his empty sleeve by his side.] Gahhh, I know ninja aren't supposed to have attachments, but dammit! My sister, too? They couldn't even save her as well? She wasn't supposed to die like this; it's why I kept her out of the front lines in the first place! I'm her older brother, I was supposed to die before her...
And Miharu. Did he make it out? Shit, after I promised and everything, I couldn't even keep my eye on one brat... Dammit, I just keep losing everything, don't I?! [defeated laugh]
"Don't panic," huh? What a joke.
3rd person sample:
When Yukimi stepped into his apartment, he didn't bother stripping his jacket off; doing that one-handed was too much of a pain. "Tadaima," he said, kicking off his boots and stepping onto the empty living room. No one was there to reply, he knew, but it became a habit before he had a chance to think otherwise. It was stupid. No one had ever been here to answer him. No one he could remember, at least.
He walked slowly to the kitchen and set some water to boil for lemon tea. As he gathered a mug and waited for the teapot to do its thing, he could hear Yoite, his newly acquired cat, pawing at the door from across the room. Setting the mug down, he sighed and opened the door, letting the little guy out.
Yukimi had to make sure to keep an eye on Yoite despite his harmless appearance. Last time he left him by himself, the cat managed to singlehandedly break his only new coffee mug and collapse a shelf (bringing with it several empty vases and a can of spare pens.) The mug could be replaced, but the shelf was gone for good. Another casualty to a one-armed owner and his tiny black cat. Yukimi sighed at the memory. "Honestly, I have no idea how you manage to wreak so much havoc, Yoite." The cat merely meowed.
Suddenly, the teapot began to beep, causing Yoite to perk his ears up at the sound. The cat remained calm, but was still alert, like he was used to it, but still hadn't decided whether the sound was good or bad. It reminded Yukimi of someone, but he couldn't remember who.
He gave Yoite a quick pat on the head and moved to the kitchen, where the boiling teapot beeped away. Carefully, he poured the boiling water into a mug. He'd gotten used to doing things with one arm at this point, but because it was his left hand, he had to be extra careful. He'd burnt himself a few times, but it was usually if the phone rang or if Yoite started clawing at his ankles. That done, he grabbed a tea bag from a jar and and dropped it into the water.
As he grabbed his tea and sat on the couch, Yukimi began to notice how quickly normalcy was returning to his flat. The emptiness was fading. Maybe it was Yoite's presence, or knowing that Miharu wanted to keep helping him with his surface job... If he had to admit it, he supposed it was because he started to enjoy feeling needed. With Yoite purring at his side, Yukimi murmured to himself with an inch of a smile. "It's not so lonely anymore."
Soon, he'd have to meet up with Kumohira and the rest to try to seal the Shinrabanshou once and for all but, for now, things weren't so bad.
Questions?: What are your opinions on bringing cats aboard? Also, are there any two-handed things that Yukimi would be unable to operate in the SS Thor? I mean, I imagine he can get hooked up with some sort of prosthetic, but for now I'd rather just keep his one-armed status (and all the fun complications that come with it.)
PLAYER
NAME: Polly
AGE: 19
PERSONAL LJ: ermazing
EMAIL ADDRESS: kakashilvr[at]gmail[dot]com
AIM SCREENAME: eatsurnaan
EXPERIENCE RPing: As in, years? I suppose maybe three or four now.
ARE YOU A RETURNING APPLICANT? IF SO, HOW MANY CHARACTERS DO YOU CURRENT PLAY?: Nope.
CHARACTER
NAME: Kazuhiko Yukimi
CANON SOURCE: Nabari no Ou
TIMELINE: Chapter 63
CANON ABILITIES: Yukimi is a ninja, so aside from being skilled at wielding pistols, he can perform several Earth-based ninja skills (mostly smokescreens and the like). Otherwise, he is a skilled fighter with ninja training, so his reflexes are sharp and he is skilled at stealth, wielding shuriken, etc.
PERSONALITY: Yukimi holds what he believes to be a strong moral standing as "an adult." He views things critically, logically, and knows when to give up on a hopeless situation. Or at least that's what he'd like to think. Recently, with his world changing around him and his memories full of blank spaces, Yukimi has had to learn to deal with things using a little more faith, a little more hope and a little more acceptance. He considers this change to be "the influence of children," making him go soft after years of being a good ninja, mercilessly killing and following orders.
While it takes him a while to warm up to people, Yukimi can be extremely caring. Rather than express his feelings outwardly, Yukimi prefers to care for things (cats) and people (Yoite and Miharu) subtly; doing what he can to make them comfortable and attempting to confront their problems rather than give them false hope or kindness. He won't admit it outwardly, but once someone becomes important to him, he will do anything to protect them and make sure they are happy.
But those kinds of feelings aren't easy to express for him. He's an adult, and they don't talk like that, dammit. Yukimi therefore can't stand children. And by "children" he basically means anyone younger than him who can act immaturely without needing an excuse. It's not that Yukimi doesn't act immaturely himself, on the contrary, he's quick to anger and can be petty when arguing to the brats he claims he hates so much. He believes that children don't consider the consequences of their actions before they do anything, and to be honest, he's jealous of that innocence.
CANON HISTORY: (I APOLOGIZE FOR THE LENGTH OF THIS. It's an obscure canon, so I went overboard with the detail.)
The way he sees it, Kazuhiko Yukimi was a normal highschooler. He and his sister, Kazuho, had an unremarkable life with an abusive father and a mother who walked out on them. When Yukimi was fifteen and his father was having particularly brutal drunken fit, the police became involved and their father was placed behind bars. Lacking any other family members or the money to fend for themselves, Yukimi and Kazuho were looking at a life scraping by in foster care. This is where Tojuurou Hattori, the Kairoushuu and the world of Nabari entered Yukimi's life.
Hattori offered to take them both in and pay for their studies; all he asked for in return was for Yukimi to join Kairoushuu, his ninja clan that operated in a world hidden from the view of people on the 'surface'; the world of Nabari.
Naturally, it was a stressful time in Yukimi's life. He was mad at the world; training in ninjutsu, performing "missions," and killing were a perfect way to pass the time. For twelve years, Yukimi murdered, silenced, and erased; all without batting an eye. It took a breath of fresh air to make him realize how messed up he'd become. That breath of air came in form of a child called Yoite.
An outcast much like Yukimi was, Yoite was sixteen when Hattori put him into Yukimi's care. Tiny and malnourished, Yoite entered the Kairoushuu and gained ability called 'Kira' that would increasingly drain his life as he used it. He was Kairoushuu's ultimate weapon, and over time, as he grew closer to death, he grew closer to Yukimi's heart.
Yukimi watched over and cared for Yoite like a parent to a child. Yoite, who was always reclusive and silent, and Yukimi who had never cared for anything more than a cat; they made an odd pair, but over time they grew to trust each other. Yoite reminded Yukimi what it was like to be needed and gave him a reason to be human again, while Yukimi showed Yoite kindness unlike any he had ever known by giving him freedom and a home to return to. The two needed each other, and it was a feeling Yukimi had been avoiding for a long time.
Lots of plot happened. (which is to say, the next part is gonna be a super-detailed plot summary, sorry.)
Things took on a sense of normalcy after a while. Yoite and Yukimi would go on missions, they'd come back, enjoy each other's company and wonder how long they had left together. That is, until the Shinrabanshou, a collection of all the knowledge in the world, awakened within a boy called Miharu Rokujou.
Unknown to Yukimi, Yoite sought out Miharu and asked that he erase him from the world. Miharu was faced with little choice, as Yoite also claimed he could kill all his friends if he refused. Joining Yoite on the side of Kairoushuu, Miharu inevitably fell under Yukimi's care as well. Well, it was just another brat to take care of.
As the war to control Shinrabanshou (and thereby, Miharu) raged on and Yoite's life drew closer to its conclusion, Yukimi did all he could to make sure he enjoyed his final moments. He became obsessed with understanding what Yoite's life was before they met and why he would choose to die. "You really were alive." Yukimi wanted to say it him; he wanted to mean it when he did, but... he wouldn't get the chance to, unfortunately.
After finding out Yoite's past and discovering that he had been labeled a traitor by Kairoushuu, Yukimi could no longer choose loyalty toward his clan over loyalty toward Yoite. As Yoite and Miharu attempted to escape Kairousuu's clutches, Yukimi swept in and intervened, providing a proper diversion for them to escape.
In a brief moment of calm and although Yoite was in his final moments, Yukimi could still find time to scold him. Yoite, having experienced Yukimi's kindness, placed Miharu in his hands. If not for Miharu (who Yukimi had already grown a bit attached to), then for Yoite's sake. Yukimi naturally agreed.
With the promise aside, Yoite and Miharu made their escape as Yukimi held off their opponents. It was a pointless fight, protecting someone who was about to die. Yukimi knew this, but was still willing to give his life to protect Yoite's wishes. In the midst of fighting and killing their pursuer, Yukimi lost his arm and was left bleeding to death in the cold snow. Strangely, as he laid dying in the snow, Yukimi was smiling. It was only a moment, but he finally got to see Yoite living his life properly.
...A bit after that, Yoite died. Using the Shinrabanshou in his despair, Miharu granted Yoite's wish; he erased him and made it so that the world forgot he existed. Now go back to that monolith amount of text and delete every "Yoite" with a blank; that's what Yukimi's memories suddenly became.
Anything Yukimi did for Yoite that person's sake suddenly vanished from his mind, leaving him armless and with a whirlwind of emotions he could no longer explain. There was a hole in his soul, and it was only after discussing it with Miharu a month later that he was able to understand it. Someone had been erased, but the feelings of attachment were still there. Miharu and Yukimi shared an emptiness only they could understand, and Yukimi knew he had to fulfill a promise; he didn't know why anymore, but he knew it was important that he did.
And that's where Yukimi stands now. Since he no longer has a ninja clan to report to, he's getting back into the swing of things with his "surface job" as a freelance writer/photographer and adjusting to living on his own (not that he remembers what he's adjusting from.) He also has a cat named Yoite. Yeah.
HOW DIFFERENT DO YOU WANT THE MEMORIES TO BE FROM THEIR CANON? Replace "ninjas" with "mob" and you've basically got the same guy. However, unlike in his original verse, Yukimi's noir memories would include Yoite.
PLANS FOR YOUR CHARACTER: Have him come to terms with the loss of his surrogate son. Take in stragglers. Go about his daily life while attempting to avoid getting mixed up with the wrong crowd. Once he regains his memories, he'll have to deal with the doubt of whether or not Yoite existed in the first place. He may not even want to believe his original memories are true, given that in Noir his memories aren't filled with holes.
SAMPLES
LOG SAMPLE:
JOURNAL SAMPLE:
NOTES: Yukimi has canon memory-loss, so his reactions to all that should be fun to deal with~