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The Kagetai Home

Name: Shirakawa Takashi,"Kitsune"
Birthdate: March 6, 1852
Height: 1.75 m
Weight: 58kg
BloodType: O
Zodiac Sign: Pisces


Appearance:

Hair: (now) Deep black, long, running down loose past his waist, with long bangs over his face. (Bakumatsu) Slim samurai ponytail reaching his butt.

Eyes: Deep blue-green.

Other Distinguishing Features: Pale and slim, he haves broad but thin shoulders and a elegant aspect - at least until he opens his mouth.

Background:

Takashi was born in 1852, as the second child and first male in the Shirakawa family, an old and very well known clan. His parents were a famous warrior and an upper class lady, who died in 1854 giving birth to his younger brother, Yuta. He was trained from a very early age to be a warrior like his father, but he looks more like his mother, slim, frail and with an artist's soul. Thus, it was by sheer force of will that he managed to become a good swordsman, and he still clearly prefers calmer passtimes.

It was during his years of training that he met Aoshi Shinomori, a young boy from the Oniwabanshuu clan. They become close friends, and his relation grew stronger throughout the long years.In 1864, Takashi managed to master the Yoko Nagi technique, and, in the same year the Hana Midare Izuna, taught to him by Okina. In March, he inherited the entire Shirakawa Estate, becoming the head of the clan at 12 years of age. He met Tokio too, since the Takagi family was friends with his own, and Tokio Takagi friends of Gemyo, his older sister. They have a great bond of sympathy.

In 1866 the war erupted, and Takashi decided to keep the clan in the Bakufu fold, in a pacifist way, against the opinion of his older sister. In September of 1867, Aoshi, now Okashira, urged Takashi to go to war, and fight, but Takashi refused and they argued, parting ways painfully after that. The next year, in march, Takashi was betrayed by his siblings, who poisoned him and attacked him. Managing to escape by luck, he had an encounter with the Battousai - instructed to kill him. Fortunately, Saitou intervened and, recognizing the boy as one of his wife's old friends, he saved him. Takashi took months to recover, and then joined the Kagetai on the 16 of June, furious and frustrated, almost like a killing machine. Tokio's work and help kept him sane, but wasn't until 1872, when Takashi finds Ninko, a distant cousin, living in Kyoto, that he began a new life. Ninko, originally a upper class lady named Nimyo Shirakawa, now a classic hairstyler was taking care of abandoned orphans. She helped to heal him - an orphan of sorts, himself - and offered him a place to live. Ninko - 35 years old in 1878 - was a very vital and happy person, and also totally seduced by the West, and Takashi found it impossible to be sad with her around.

Currently, he lives with her and five orphans in a old house in Kyoto, taking care of the housework, and selling special teas and ikebana. He also assists Ninko with her hairstyling work, takes Zen classes often, and of course, reports daily to Saitou's home, where he and the rest of the Kagetai seems to gravitate for the free meal and company.

He has never seen his sister again, though she now is married to a high ranking military officer. He fought his brother in the war, but they haven't finished their duel; Yuta feels deep hatred of his older brother, so surely they will meet again.

But for now, Takashi enjoys the company of his Kagetai friends and taking loooong naps at the sun in Saitou's garden.

Personality:

In fact the young Kitsune has two personalities, one almost excluding the other. The first is what he was raised to be: a distingued, imperturbable, and honorable high-class heir for one of the older clans in the country; a family head in the Bakufu age. He is an artist of ikebana, a cha no yu and Zen master and a flawlessly polite gentleman.

With the bakufu his family divided: his younger brother and older sister went to the Ishin side and betrayed him, so all of sudden he found himself without more than his beloved tea box, his katana and his old, long, bluish green over-kimono. The Kagetai filled his void and pain with the fire of revenge, and he was demonstrated to be a very deadly opponent,especially with his signature attack, the Yoko Nagi.

Task-oriented, soft and silent, Takashi (called Kitsune for his silence and mocking laugh)is best as a partner for combat and spy work. His most distintinve and personal habit, outside of swordplay, is searching for clues and lost objets. He can be a very clever detective, and no secret door or lost key can be hidden from him. Rarely does he lose his composure or calm bearing, but he prefers for someone else to take the lead.

But the "other" Takashi is the one he really is; He loves puppies, flowers and poetry. And he is unbelievably shy. His other problem is women. He likes them a lot. He dreams everyday about falling in love with some Lovely Lady From La La Land. He writes poems to her and sing songs to "her" and is trying to understand the ways of sex, housekeeping and love.

Weaknesses:

He really can't attack women. Even being nasty to one is a strain. So, watching his female teammates fighting makes him very uneasy. Also when it is called for to give some speech to an opponent, he usually messes up, so he prefers to stay quiet, something that earned to him the alias of the "Silent Kitsune"

He has another problem as well; A bit impulsive, and a bit too fast in his judgements make him the Kitsune, always stepping his own tail. He is too quick with his hands as well, frequently grasping shiny things with his "paws" ...and getting himself into trouble...

Fighting Style:

Takashi is not a blood thirsty person. Usually he'll let his teammates take the better part of the killing, preferring to seach for clues, study papers and decide strategies, but if the fight is inevitable he is fast, and using his version of the Giratsuki, he usually ends up killing his opponent before they're done with their usual speech. His first worry, however, is always his companions, especialy the women. The Miburo always hunt together, he says.

Weapon:

Katana Japanese sword (and Japanese Tea cups!!).

Attacks:

"Hana Midare Izuna"(Ligthing bloosom Random): Consists of suddenly dissapearing into the shadows and a leaping over his enemy as he twists in the air...a old Oniwabanshuu technique.

"Yoko Nagi!" (Horizontal cut): Fast and clean, consist of a forceful stroke with both hands. Derived from the Giratsuki.

(And yes..."Kitsune's throwing tea cups!!!")

Likes:

A nap. A Zen Book. A nap with a Zen book. Tea. And the Cha no yu. A nap with a Zen book after a godd tea ceremony. Staring at the blue sky. Staring at a starry sky. Staring at anything (he can sleep with his eyes open) Flowers. A honorable (and nasty, bloody and loud) fight with some poor bastard Ishishinshi. The women. Every one of them. Hanging out with Soushi and the other Kagetai members: he is't the lonely type. To be petted. In particular someone caressing his hair... ("agaaainnn....pleeaseee...")

Dislikes:

Smoking people. Screaming people. Rude people. People. To be awakened. To stain his bed with the blood of someone who awakens him. An adversary who likes to give speeches. A woman who mocks him (everyone...) His older sister. Dressing like a Geisha. ^_^" The Ishinshinshi. The sake. (In particular, the things he does when he is drunk...)

Allies/Friends:

He is too shy and timid to have many friends. But he likes to fight back to back with Jinko, and he really respects and regards Saitoh since he gave him a purpose in life, from the Bakumatsu to today. And he specially loves dear Tokio-san - the one woman who never laughs at him and make him nervous. In fact, she has taken care of him sometimes and Takashi has not forgotten...

Soushi is his closest friend in the Kagetai, even if the loves to tease the shy Kitsune. Mikeru is his best companion in battle, since they, along with Mariko, are the clue-seekers and puzzle solvers of the group. He feels strangly attracted to Midori, surely due to her silence and kindness to the shy Kitsune. Lastly Kazuo always seems to be the man who's powerful stroke saves the Kitsune from having his 'tail' cut.

Usually, since he dislikes the fights and he prefers the 'ninja work,' he reports to Tokio his advances.

Ninko is his cousin, a Western loving hairstyler and babysitter who runs an orphanage, where Takashi usually lives and earns his meal. Vital, joyful, Ninko sometimes helps with her sharp ears, since she works for high class ladies listening to gossip. She also usually takes care of the Kagetai's children when their parents have...work.

Aoshi Shinomori was his closest non-kagetai acquaintance, since they trained together when they were younger. The Shirakawa family was in very good standing with the Oniwabanshuu clan and the young boys spent a lot of time together. They enjoys the same things, but life has drawn them apart. However, they still sit together to talk from time to time, and feel very strongly tied one to another.