Author's Note: I call this story my "fake anime fanfic." It's a story based on an anime that exists only in my mind. However, because of this, there are some of the rhythms of an episode of a TV show. Each story, or "arc," will be (in theory) divided into "episode" chapters. The only thing lacking is an opening theme. ^_~
These are the descriptions of the characters in my story. You don't have to read them to be able to enjoy it, they're just here in case you want to. Also, there's a cheat sheet at the bottom for my friends on the web, if you'd like to look at that. Please note that I own all of the characters here and that you may not use them without my permission!
Karube Ai:
If someone just looked at her name, they might well get the impression that Ai was a sweet, flowery girl. This, though not wholly inaccurate, is very different from the opinion that would be gained by looking at her. Her face is beautiful, but severe. The black hair touching on her shoulders emphasizes the clarity and defiance of her bright red eyes and the paleness of her skin. The deep red shirt and black skirt she wears do little to off-set her severity. Ai's sole concession to jewelry is an emerald green teardrop stone in her left ear.
At 17 years old, she is surer of herself and enjoys greater belief in her convictions than many of the others her age. It is quite possible that is part of what makes her seem so tall and stately.
Mashita Kenjiro:
Kenjiro is often seen as quite a joker. He's normally called "Kenji" by his friends -- rumor has it that they're withholding the extra syllable until he settles down. One of his hobbies is thinking up dice games to play, and then using them to win all sorts of money and favors from his friends. His preferred pastime, however, is working on his teasing insults and sly humor. He does his best to stay in good form, often practicing them many times a day.
Yet behind his playful facade, Kenjiro can be very serious. He's very thoughtful, and can often pick up on key facts. It can be hard for others to tell when he's joking and when he's insightful, though, so he's often disregarded. The fact that he jokes to cover his nerves doesn't help him out on that score. Some say that he took up humor as an escape from (or retaliation to) being picked on for being short for his age.
Kenji's outfit might be described as "purposefully careless." He wears a rumpled green T-shirt and black pants. Friends say that his purply-black hair has never once been combed in all of his 16 years. He wears a gaudy yellow ring on his right index finger, set in gold, and nobody's ever been able to determine if it was glass, plastic, or even some real gem. Kenji certainly isn't about to say.
Akimoto Satoshi:
Satoshi has to be one of the stranger people of the world. He's ruled by an extreme sense of justice, even surpassing fairness. He can be very harsh with those that get in his way, friend and foe alike. He follows the Truth that only he knows with an almost religious devotion, brushing aside all but the most compatible beliefs as the foolish daydreams of the fallen.
Knowing Satoshi's personality, one might think that the tall 18 year old boy would look foreboding and dark. Yet his exterior does not give too great a sign of this. He has sandy-blonde hair and blue eyes that give little indication of the fires within. The blue jeans and dusky yellow shirt he wears help to add to his playful appearance. And who would expect one with thoughts so dark to be wearing an ornate silver necklace set with such a shining sapphire around his neck?
Hashimoto Tara:
If you gave a normal person two dozen candy bars, five sodas, and a sharp bonk on the head, you wouldn't even be close to the high-energy weirdness that's Tara's constant state. Active, fun-loving, and just plain hyper, there are few that can keep up with her. Her constant goal seems to be "to surprise and to irritate -- or at least drive mad," but that's (probably) wrong. The universe she lives in is very much her own, and the consequences of an action are quite logical there, but likely seem completely random elsewhere. Her explanations ("But you said 'pumpernickel!'") do little to help.
Most of her friends are either hyper like she, or irritated or patronizing about her antics. Kenji occasionally takes it upon himself to teach her the tricks of the trade, remarking that she shows considerable promise until someone points out that she's the same age as he, at which point he retreats, disappointed. Naomi, surprisingly, will occasionally gang up with Tara to pull some master prank, but must of the rest of the time stays separate. They share a good relationship, though -- as Naomi jokes, "somebody's got to lead her wrong."
Tara's appearance matches her personality wonderfully. Her long, coppery-orangey red (depending on the light) hair is kept back in a furry braid tied with an elastic decorated with an orange (why not?) fish. A few curly strands, having succeeded in breaking free, dance around playfully. Her green eyes are almost always twinkling with a laughter barely kept below the surface. She wears a light green tank top decorated with -- you guessed it -- orange fish, and a bright blue, shortish skirt with flowers. One wonders if she even cares that fish (orange or otherwise) swim in the blue sea while flowers grow in the fields above.
Ota Chikako:
At 15 years old, Chikako is one of the younger members of the group. Without a doubt, she is also the shyest. As gentle as a lamb, she simultaneously holds a sense of innocence and great maturity. Little surprises her, and she is very accepting about change.
Chikako often seeks out corners and out-of-the-way places. She doesn't dislike people, but can rarely think of anything interesting to talk about (or so she thinks). She is very self-depreciating, and is actually far more clever and liked than she gives herself credit for. Regardless of reality, though, she prefers to spend her time alone or in silent company with others, listening to classical music or reading. However, she can be very compassionate and caring, as anyone who's ever looked into her soft brown eyes should be able to tell.
Her outfit is one of quiet grace and beauty. She often wears a pale lavender dress, tastefully coordinating with the purple hair that hangs down to just below her shoulders. That hair is held up with a simple silver barrette set with a tasteful amethyst.
Hara Makoto:
Makoto's personality can be read like a book, and that's the just way he likes it. He knows what he wants, and it definitely isn't the company of some light and frivolous soul, like Tara or Kenji. Makoto has slate grey hair and blue eyes as cold as ice. He doesn't even wear fun clothing -- a dusky green shirt and plain tan pants. His whole appearance and demeanor practically scream a desire to be left alone.
Yet that's not always the way it works out. Makoto can be lured into conversation when he feels he needs to correct someone who's wrong (albeit he is far more concerned about moral wrongs than other lacks of knowledge). He can also get lured into having fun with other people, but only rarely.
The boy isn't without other oddities. One of his more noticeable ones is the rootbeer brown stone he keeps on a short chain in his pocket. He swings it back and forth when he's thinking, but twirls it around in circles when he's impatient or irritated. And the latter's more frequently the case.
Watari Naomi:
At 18 years old, Naomi is old enough to know a fair bit about life, herself, and what's going on. Never one for words, she quickly found out that fighting works just as well. Although she claims, and even seems to take it as a matter of pride, that she has no morals or bonds, she won't pick on anyone weaker than her, and (usually) doesn't switch sides. It's the game of life, after all, and that makes it easier to keep score.
Her appearance is amazingly bright. Even aside from her fiery red-orange hair and bright yellow eyes, there's the tight teal shirt she wears over her magenta leggings. The silver chain that holds a black onyx stone against the middle of her forehead adds a strange opulent look that isn't confirmed by anything else about her.
Aside from mercenary affairs, Naomi stays away from human contact a lot of the time. Yet occasionally she goes and surprises everyone with a playful prank or trick (sometimes with the help of Tara). More often, she engages in fierce insulting matches with Kenjiro -- something that is rarely personal, but more to keep in practice.
Terada Koan:
Koan would well be described as an adventurer-born. He's always eager to be climbing over that next hill, not so much because he wants to be the first somewhere as he wants to be there -- he can't stand not knowing what's ahead. He's very high-energy, and frequently gets into fights (but never out of anger -- it's just for fun). However, he isn't playful like Tara or Kenji, and can be moody.
His clothing is chosen for his active life. The red T-shirt he wears over jean-shorts neatly clashing with his green hair -- and also manages to go badly with his brown eyes. The bright bit of string with its garnet pendant hanging out of his pocket adds to the wild look. Koan must be one truly amazing 15 year old boy to care so little about his appearance.
Yakuta Takashi:
This boy is one of the most ordinary of the group. Much about him practically shouts "normal." He's 17, with blonde hair, green eyes, is average height, wears a button-down shirt with jeans.... nothing to really catch your eye. He isn't aggressive or arrogant, leaning more towards the worry end of the spectrum. Even there, though, it isn't really pronounced.
Takashi doesn't like fighting. On the small picture, he doesn't like hurting people, and on the large one, he realizes that evil will just return in one form or another. That doesn't mean he's so pacifist that he can't be provoked.
Even if he doesn't support fighting, Takashi has other uses to a team. A combination of a jack-of-all-trades and a bottomless knapsack, he can be counted on to supply the oddest things. The stash he keeps in his pockets include string, a penknife, matches, a chunk of crystal, a broken watch, a whistle, and countless other things. Some people call the randomness of his loot "the eighth wonder of the world."
Cheat Sheet:
Terada Koan -- Male -- 15 -- Red
Hashimoto Tara -- Female -- 16 -- Orange
Mashita Kenjiro -- Male -- 16 -- Yellow
Karube Ai -- Female -- 17 -- Green
Akimoto Satoshi -- Male -- 18 -- Blue
Ota Chikako -- Female -- 15 -- Purple
Hara Makoto -- Male -- 17 -- Brown
Watari Naomi -- Female -- 18 -- Black
Yakuta Takashi -- Male -- 17 -- White
