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The Kagetai Home

Name: Kibagami Tenrou
Birthdate: February 26, 1844
Height: 7' 3"
Weight: 185lbs.

Appearance:

Tenrou is a tall, slender man with tanned skin and deep brown eyes behind thin framed, round glasses. His hair is crew-cut, with a peppering of dark brown and silver. His slim frame disguises an enormous amount of strength and power.

Background:

Although Kibagami's birthname has been lost in the sands of time, much is still known about this member of the shadow squad known as "Miburou's Pack." Tenrou was born in the small village of Misawa in 1844. At the age of three, his family, a farming household, perished during a raid on the village by a group of bandits. Tenrou was the sole survivor, being rescued by a ronin by the name of Kibagami Heisuke.
Heisuke had found the child trying to ward away the bandits with nothing more than a broken broom handle. So ferociously and bravely had the child fought, that after Heisuke had saved him, he renamed the child "Tenrou," meaning "Heaven's Wolf," both for the child's ferocious nature, and the divine luck he must have had to survive the raid.

As the boy grew, the ronin discovered a latent talent for swordplay in the young Tenrou. He taught the boy everything he could, from basic defenses and strikes to meditation to advanced techniques. By the age of ten, Tenrou had mastered all that Heisuke could teach him. The two shared a tremendously close bond: master to student, father to adopted son, and friend to friend. Alas, tragedy struck a mere two years later, when Heisuke contracted pneumonia and died at the age of 47.

Having lost a "second" family, Tenrou was shaken and shocked. In order not to be hurt again, he adopted a "lone wolf" persona, shunning the company of others when in cities, and sticking to the forests rather than roads when travelling. He continued the ronin lifestyle, wandering from village to village looking for new fighting techniques to learn.

By 1864, Kibagami Tenrou had become a master of various techniques, both with and without a katana. But, in June of 1864, Tenrou, who was now 20, faced his greatest challenge. Near the city of Kyoto, Tenrou faced a swordsman by the name of Hiko Seijuurou, and challenged him to a duel. The battle ensued for nearly a half-hour before Tenrou was forced to flee within inches of his life, his sword broken in two.

This battle, along with witnessing the fighting styles of Okita and Saitou, left a huge impression upon the young Tenrou. He took a six month respite in Mt. Hiei, where he meditated and practiced sword technique. The result: a new sword style blending Battoujutsu and Hiratetsuki which he called "Ryukoshinken."

He returned to Kyoto and petitioned to become a member of the Shinsengumi. Publically, he was refused due to his "overly slender frame and weak demeanor." In reality, he was recruited by Saitou Hajime as the third member of the secret Shinsengumi Kagetai. His duties: track and report the movements of the Hitokiri Battousai to Saitou.

Personality:

Tenrou is a very aloof individual. Due to the tragedies he experienced earlier in life, he tends to distance himself from people, even other members of the Kagetai. He is fiercely loyal, and holds to a strict personal code of honor. And above all else, he has absolute faith in the words "Aku Soku Zan."

Likes:

Worthy adversaries, silent moments, a good cup of sake, katsudon, and a fine blade.

Dislikes:

Dishonorable people, and seeing people lose their families (whether they be friend or foe, it still affects him).

Rivals:

Although he has no actual rivals, he has wanted to challenge Hiko Seijuurou to one more battle.

Current sketch:

Kibagami Tenrou currently resides in Kyoto. He has a small kendo dojo near the Shijou-Kawaramachi neighborhood, next to a confectionary shop on one side, and a tea shop on the other. He works publically as an instructor, and privately as an informant to Fujita Gorou (aka.-Saitou Hajime).
Tenrou was instrumental in informing the government about Shishio's plans, and also helped Saitou develop the Gatotsu Zero manuvuer. Since the defeat of Shishio, however, Tenrou has returned to being a kendo instructor.