Ayumu Yamazaki [ 山崎 歩 ]

Peace Maker Kurogane is a historical manga covering the Bakumatsu period of 19th century Japan, just before the Meiji Revolution. Most of the characters are based on historical figures. Ayumu Yamazaki, on the other hand, is fictional and a minor character at that. Her brother, Susumu Yamazaki, is loosely based on the actual Shinsengumi spy of the same name though many details have been changed for this story.

Very little about Ayumu's background is directly addressed but much can be inferred from historical context and information disclosed about Susumu. The Yamazaki family were from Osaka and members of the Oniwaban, a group of undercover agents employed by the shogunate. The father was a ninja working under the cover of a doctor and the children were presumably born and raised to follow in the family tradition. Given that the Oniwaban had very strict regulations about interacting with the common public and kunoichi traditionally began their training at a very young age, it can be assumed that most of Ayumu's childhood consisted of training to become a spy with little room for anything else.

Judging from brief flashbacks of Susumu's training throughout the series and the fact, it appears that the training the Yamazakis underwent was harsh and demanded that they throw away all 'useless' emotions that might interfere in their work. The series shows that Ayumu was responsible for a substantial part of her brother's training and that she was a harsh instructor, demanding that he not look upon her as a big sister and insisting that she didn't think of him as her little brother. As a result, it seems that for much of their lives, Ayumu treated Susumu as a student or subordinate, never as a sibling.

However, it's implied that Ayumu continued to care for her brother despite her words and overt actions. When Susumu was still young, she taught him to disguise himself as her and presumably passed on some of her own training as a kunoichi so that when he was older, he could do jobs disguised as her. The overt reason was to increase the likelihood of success but Ayumu's later behavior suggests that it was also an indirect attempt to protect Susumu on missions at the risk of her own life.

At an unspecified point before the start of the prequel manga, the Yamazaki siblings are assigned to work with the Shinsengumi under Hijikata's command. While Susumu's occupation as a spy seems to be somewhat common knowledge among the group, Ayumu's status as a kunoichi appears to be known only to a select few. She is introduced in Act 3 as the Shinsengumi's cook and housekeeper and throughout most chapters, this is all she appears to be. Ayumu doesn't seem to leave the compound very much.

Early in the series, Ayumu develops a bond with Tetsunosuke Ichimura, often called simply 'Tetsu', a new recruit to the Shinsengumi. Rather quickly, he comes to view her as a big sister, much to her surprise. Despite the fact that Ayumu actually does have a little brother and he also lives at the compound, she grows fond of Tetsu and comes to see him as a little brother figure. She also appears to be on friendly terms with Tetsu's older brother, Tatsunosuke, as well, aiding him whenever Tetsu's behavior becomes too rambunctious for him to handle alone such as when Tetsu is caught spying on a late night meeting Susumu and Hijikata. Ayumu soothes the distressed brothers and informs them that Susumu is a spy that works with many 'mysterious people'. When Tatsu points out that Ayumu seems to know a lot about 'mysterious people', she laughs it off and insists that she knows very little beyond cooking and chores. She also keeps quiet about her relation to Susumu though Tatsu observes that Ayumu seems to get a little mad whenever he's criticized.

Around the same point in the series, the Shinsengumi become suspicious of a man named Kiemon Masuya, the owner of a secondhand shop in Kyoto suspected of harboring and allying with their enemies, and begin an covert spying campaign. At first, Susumu is assigned the mission, during which he works under the cover of "Sen", a young maiko designed to bear a close resemblance to Ayumu, under Hijikata's orders. As the surveillance continues, the Shinsengumi learn of the arrival of a dangerous enemy, Toshimaru Yoshida, a fire-setting imperialist madman and a conspiracy to burn Kyoto to ashes. During the course of the campaign, Yoshida learns of Susumu and hires a kunoichi named the Wind Demon to be his bodyguard as a countermeasure. Shortly after, Susumu is wounded by the Wind Demon during a battle on Kyoto's rooftops, resulting in Hijikata pulling him from the mission and assigning Ayumu to pick up where he left off.

In Act 10, Ayumu comes across Susumu considering seppuku, and harshly reprimands him for it. While treating his wound, she reminds him that he is a ninja, not a samurai, and that the warrior's code the Shinsengumi follow doesn't apply to him. Ayumu also states that if Susumu kills himself, he'll be betraying Hijikata's trust and that if he wants to redeem himself, he should finish more jobs.

Shortly after, Ayumu accepts her mission from Hijikata and leaves her role as the Shinsengumi's cook and housekeeper behind to investigate Masuya's shop. She doesn't reappear until Act 16 where she is seen resuming her job as cook to make one last dinner for the Shinsengumi, deeming it her masterpiece and that she wants everyone to eat it together. When she learns that Tetsu has not been acting like himself lately, Ayumu worries about him visibly, even disregarding her own personal rule that people who don't show up for mealtimes don't eat to set aside a meal for him.

Later in the chapter, Ayumu comes across Tetsu as she is leaving headquarters in disguise to continue her mission. At first, Tetsu mistakes her for Susumu but Ayumu corrects him teasingly. She decides to spend a little time with Tetsu, giving him the meal she'd saved for him earlier. During the course of their conversation, Ayumu gives him some sisterly advice and tells Tetsu not to worry too much about heavy issues when he's young. Tetsu tells her that she really is like a big sister and he wishes she could stay and cook for everyone instead of the work she's been doing. This causes Ayumu to break down and tearfully embrace Tetsu. She begs him to befriend Susumu and look after him in her place, implying that she believes her survival chances to be low. Eventually, the two part ways and Ayumu leaves him to his meal to carry on with her mission.

In Act 17, Ayumu, disguised as Yumi the Hairdresser, is seen seducing an enemy samurai for information. After sleeping with her source, Ayumu asks him to call on her again the next time he needs his hair done but is rebuffed. The samurai tells "Yumi" that he has been warned against "dangerous women" and that Masuya has been complaining lately about a woman matching Ayumu's description snooping around for information. During their interaction, more samurai close in on the pair, surrounding the naked Ayumu and cutting off her escape.

Ayumu makes her final appearance in Act 18. The next time she's seen, it's after she's been raped and tortured by the enemies holding her captive. In one scene, she briefly manages to break free of their grasps, arming herself with a blade, and attempting a final desperate attack against Masuya Kiemon. It fails and she is quickly overpowered. Moments before being knocked unconscious, Ayumu hears Masuya instructing his men to do whatever they like with her but be careful in disposing of her. Her final thoughts are of Tetsu and Susumu. Later in the chapter, Susumu discovers his sister's brutally beaten corpse in the street.

Player Information

Name: Alice
Contact: mimarin @ plurk
Age: 37
Other Characters: Yaone

Character Information

Name: Ayumu Yamazaki
Canon: Shinsengumi Imon Peace Maker/Peace Maker Kurogane
Canon Point: Act 18, post-death.
Age: Unstated. Estimated to be about 23.
History: Peace Maker Kurogane is a historical manga covering the Bakumatsu period of 19th century Japan, just before the Meiji Revolution. Most of the characters are based on historical figures. Ayumu Yamazaki, on the other hand, is fictional and a minor character at that. Her brother, Susumu Yamazaki, is loosely based on the actual Shinsengumi spy of the same name though many details have been changed for this story.

Very little about Ayumu's background is directly addressed but much can be inferred from historical context and information disclosed about Susumu. The Yamazaki family were from Osaka and members of the Oniwaban, a group of undercover agents employed by the shogunate. The father was a ninja working under the cover of a doctor and the children were presumably born and raised to follow in the family tradition. Given that the Oniwaban had very strict regulations about interacting with the common public and kunoichi traditionally began their training at a very young age, it can be assumed that most of Ayumu's childhood consisted of training to become a spy with little room for anything else.

Judging from brief flashbacks of Susumu's training throughout the series and the fact, it appears that the training the Yamazakis underwent was harsh and demanded that they throw away all 'useless' emotions that might interfere in their work. The series shows that Ayumu was responsible for a substantial part of her brother's training and that she was a harsh instructor, demanding that he not look upon her as a big sister and insisting that she didn't think of him as her little brother. As a result, it seems that for much of their lives, Ayumu treated Susumu as a student or subordinate, never as a sibling.

However, it's implied that Ayumu continued to care for her brother despite her words and overt actions. When Susumu was still young, she taught him to disguise himself as her and presumably passed on some of her own training as a kunoichi so that when he was older, he could do jobs disguised as her. The overt reason was to increase the likelihood of success but Ayumu's later behavior suggests that it was also an indirect attempt to protect Susumu on missions at the risk of her own life.

At an unspecified point before the start of the prequel manga, the Yamazaki siblings are assigned to work with the Shinsengumi under Hijikata's command. While Susumu's occupation as a spy seems to be somewhat common knowledge among the group, Ayumu's status as a kunoichi appears to be known only to a select few. She is introduced in Act 3 as the Shinsengumi's cook and housekeeper and throughout most chapters, this is all she appears to be. Ayumu doesn't seem to leave the compound very much.

Early in the series, Ayumu develops a bond with Tetsunosuke Ichimura, often called simply 'Tetsu', a new recruit to the Shinsengumi. Rather quickly, he comes to view her as a big sister, much to her surprise. Despite the fact that Ayumu actually does have a little brother and he also lives at the compound, she grows fond of Tetsu and comes to see him as a little brother figure. She also appears to be on friendly terms with Tetsu's older brother, Tatsunosuke, as well, aiding him whenever Tetsu's behavior becomes too rambunctious for him to handle alone such as when Tetsu is caught spying on a late night meeting Susumu and Hijikata. Ayumu soothes the distressed brothers and informs them that Susumu is a spy that works with many 'mysterious people'. When Tatsu points out that Ayumu seems to know a lot about 'mysterious people', she laughs it off and insists that she knows very little beyond cooking and chores. She also keeps quiet about her relation to Susumu though Tatsu observes that Ayumu seems to get a little mad whenever he's criticized.

Around the same point in the series, the Shinsengumi become suspicious of a man named Kiemon Masuya, the owner of a secondhand shop in Kyoto suspected of harboring and allying with their enemies, and begin an covert spying campaign. At first, Susumu is assigned the mission, during which he works under the cover of "Sen", a young maiko designed to bear a close resemblance to Ayumu, under Hijikata's orders. As the surveillance continues, the Shinsengumi learn of the arrival of a dangerous enemy, Toshimaru Yoshida, a fire-setting imperialist madman and a conspiracy to burn Kyoto to ashes. During the course of the campaign, Yoshida learns of Susumu and hires a kunoichi named the Wind Demon to be his bodyguard as a countermeasure. Shortly after, Susumu is wounded by the Wind Demon during a battle on Kyoto's rooftops, resulting in Hijikata pulling him from the mission and assigning Ayumu to pick up where he left off.

In Act 10, Ayumu comes across Susumu considering seppuku, and harshly reprimands him for it. While treating his wound, she reminds him that he is a ninja, not a samurai, and that the warrior's code the Shinsengumi follow doesn't apply to him. Ayumu also states that if Susumu kills himself, he'll be betraying Hijikata's trust and that if he wants to redeem himself, he should finish more jobs.

Shortly after, Ayumu accepts her mission from Hijikata and leaves her role as the Shinsengumi's cook and housekeeper behind to investigate Masuya's shop. She doesn't reappear until Act 16 where she is seen resuming her job as cook to make one last dinner for the Shinsengumi, deeming it her masterpiece and that she wants everyone to eat it together. When she learns that Tetsu has not been acting like himself lately, Ayumu worries about him visibly, even disregarding her own personal rule that people who don't show up for mealtimes don't eat to set aside a meal for him.

Later in the chapter, Ayumu comes across Tetsu as she is leaving headquarters in disguise to continue her mission. At first, Tetsu mistakes her for Susumu but Ayumu corrects him teasingly. She decides to spend a little time with Tetsu, giving him the meal she'd saved for him earlier. During the course of their conversation, Ayumu gives him some sisterly advice and tells Tetsu not to worry too much about heavy issues when he's young. Tetsu tells her that she really is like a big sister and he wishes she could stay and cook for everyone instead of the work she's been doing. This causes Ayumu to break down and tearfully embrace Tetsu. She begs him to befriend Susumu and look after him in her place, implying that she believes her survival chances to be low. Eventually, the two part ways and Ayumu leaves him to his meal to carry on with her mission.

In Act 17, Ayumu, disguised as Yumi the Hairdresser, is seen seducing an enemy samurai for information. After sleeping with her source, Ayumu asks him to call on her again the next time he needs his hair done but is rebuffed. The samurai tells "Yumi" that he has been warned against "dangerous women" and that Masuya has been complaining lately about a woman matching Ayumu's description snooping around for information. During their interaction, more samurai close in on the pair, surrounding the naked Ayumu and cutting off her escape.

Ayumu makes her final appearance in Act 18. The next time she's seen, it's after she's been raped and tortured by the enemies holding her captive. In one scene, she briefly manages to break free of their grasps, arming herself with a blade, and attempting a final desperate attack against Masuya Kiemon. It fails and she is quickly overpowered. Moments before being knocked unconscious, Ayumu hears Masuya instructing his men to do whatever they like with her but be careful in disposing of her. Her final thoughts are of Tetsu and Susumu. Later in the chapter, Susumu discovers his sister's brutally beaten corpse in the street.
Personality: On the surface, Ayumu seems like a domestic, maternal soul. In her role as the Shinsengumi's den mother, she's cheerful and hardworking, diligently attending to all the cooking and cleaning that needs to be done. Often referred to as "Ayu-nee" within the compound for her sisterly demeanor, Ayumu is caring but strict. While perfectly aware of what the men she lives with do for a living, she doesn't hesitate to take a firm hand with them when they get out of line. At times she can be irritable, usually when people are being loud or interrupting her work, and during these moments she can be quite outspoken. On rare occasions, Ayumu displays a rather fierce temper when provoked such as when she shouts an order at Harada and Nagakura to back off while threatening them with a meat cleaver. The kitchen is her comfort zone, cooking is her love, and disrupting her orderly peace is a good way to incur her displeasure.

Most of the time, Ayumu's on the reserved side, even to the point of coming across as a little socially awkward or shy. In canon, she has a tendency to lurk in the background while others are talking and when she speaks, it's usually fairly brief in a casual style of speech. Due to her upbringing as a spy and the Oniwaban's strict regulations on their agents interacting with the general public, Ayumu has limited experience with genuine relationships with others. It isn't until she and her brother are placed under Hijikata's command that Ayumu has an opportunity to regularly interact with others as herself instead of under whatever cover her work requires of her. For this reason, Ayumu is extremely loyal and devoted to the Shinsengumi though she tends to express this in small, practical ways such as quietly tending to their needs than open displays of affection.

In general, Ayumu keeps a tight lid on her true thoughts and feelings around others. At one point in canon, she describes Susumu as a person who could never truly unmask, even among his allies, and this statement applies to her as well. Despite her strong feelings for the Shinsengumi, most of them didn't appear to know of her true occupation as a shinobi until after her death. When Tatsunosuke, a man she appears to be on friendly terms with, points out that she seems to know a lot about spies, Ayumu doesn't hesitate to lie to his face and insist she's simply the cook. In Ayumu's mind, she's a shinobi before all else - sister, friend, lover, etc.

After being permitted so few genuine personal relationships with others throughout her life, much of Ayumu's personal identity and self-image is built around the perfect shinobi ideal. In flashbacks, she's seen berating her brother for laughing, crying, and other displays of emotion as well as telling him repeatedly that he can only rely on himself. Maintaining a tough, independent front is very important to Ayumu and she's quite adept at hiding her true thoughts and feelings from others. Early in their relationship, Tetsu makes her mad by criticizing her brother in front of her but Ayumu's placid front doesn't waver in the slightest. After Tetsu leaves the scene, Tatsunosuke calls her on it but she doesn't confirm or deny his observation as true.

In general, Ayumu approaches emotions very practically, whether they're hers or someone else's. When she comes across Susumu contemplating ritual suicide after a failed mission, she lectures him harshly about being a shinobi, not a samurai, and reminds him that the warrior's code doesn't apply to them. She takes him to task for letting Hijikata down by leaving his work unfinished and tells him that if he wants to truly atone, he'll complete more jobs. She tends to show tenderness more through deeds than words, such as by quietly checking up on her brother and personally treating his wounds. Ayumu's subtle displays of caring are also evident in the way she trained her brother to impersonate her specifically so if he failed, it would mean her death instead of his.

There are instances when Ayumu's mask of strength cracks in a major way, revealing a major flaw in her personality - her hypocrisy. Despite teaching her brother to rid himself of all useless emotions, there's substantial evidence throughout the series that suggests that she doesn't practice what she preaches. She displays warmth and kindness toward Tetsu far more often than not, loses her temper with the comedy trio when they pester her too much, even displays a moment of tender concern for Hijikata when she goes to accept her final mission from him. The most dramatic display is when Ayumu's mask shatters completely during her final encounter with Tetsu prior to her death, when she tearfully begs him to be friends with her brother and teach him all about the good things in life she never could. Even prior to this scene, there's a lot to suggest that Ayumu's harbors a lot of repressed love and remorse for the state of her relationship with her brother and it subconsciously influences her behavior. It's not a coincidence that the people Ayumu warms up to the most in the series are those who look up to her as a big sister.

In spite of her efforts and training, Ayumu is far from emotionless. Underneath her tough exterior and harsh, strict demeanor, she's motivated strongly by love. Ironically, it's her dedication to her job and choices she makes as a shinobi that betray her true nature. She doesn't just teach Susumu to impersonate a woman; she teaches him to impersonate her specifically so she could protect him in death as the older sister she could never be to him in life. During her imprisonment, Ayumu silently endured the physical abuse and cruelty inflicted on her person. She didn't break under torture or beg for her life. I n the end, instead choosing to die with honor rather than betray Hijikata's trust by selling out the Shinsengumi. Once she's committed herself, Ayumu's tenacity and loyalty are absolute.

Of the two shinobi under his command, Hijikata entrusted the more dangerous mission to Ayumu and rightfully so. She knew how dangerous her mission was and that her chances of survival were low but accepted it anyway. Her capture also showcases how patient, determined, and brave she can be. Despite being a lone, naked woman outnumbered by enemy samurai and having little chance of escape, Ayumu didn't panic or show weakness. Instead, she kept a cool head and waited patiently for an opportunity to strike back. And she nearly succeeded, armed only with a kunai. Once she realized she couldn't escape, instead of lamenting her fate or giving into fear, her thoughts were of those she would leave behind, displaying her capacity for devotion.

(cw: sexual violence issues)

While all of the above still exists in Ayumu's personality, more or less, it's important to note that the traumatic ordeal and violent death she experienced has left a lasting imprint. In general, she tends to be a little more outwardly serious and a little less cheerful. Her demeanor is slightly more subdued and defensive. She's wary and mistrustful around men, particularly when she's left alone with a group of them, and intimacy of any kind is difficult for her to cope with. The cracks in her facade are more frequent, displaying more genuine emotion, and while she remains a masterful liar and actress, she can't sustain her charades quite as long or thoroughly as she used to. Ayumu's sense of self was essentially shattered during the rape and torture she endured under enemy hands, leaving her more emotionally volatile and unstable. The physical scars and impairment she endured have essentially retired her as a shinobi in her own mind which in turn has deeply damaged her self-worth on top of other sexual violence issues. All of this inner turmoil has also weakened her impulse control, causing her to be a little less self-disciplined and more prone to extreme violence, most often in self-defense or defense of those she perceives as weaker than her. More often than not, Ayumu exists in a state of heightened emotion, barely suppressed by a veneer of rational thought that's quickly dispelled if a traumatic memory from her life is triggered in any way. That said, while she's still a logical pragmatist, the foundation behind it can be faulty or irrational. For the most part, Ayumu simply comes across as somewhat quieter and more tempermental while trying maintain face the best that she can.

Abilities: Ayumu is a kunoichi, highly skilled in ninjutsu and close combat. While very little of Ayumu's skills are displayed in canon, much can be inferred from the details given in addition to how she's regarded by others. Since she's shown to be Susumu's teacher, it can be assumed that they share similar skills though hers are honed to a much higher level. (It's also worth noting that the arrogant Wind Demon calls Susumu "worthless" in comparison to his sister.) Like her brother, Ayumu is a proficient wielder of wakizashi, kunai, and shuriken but unlike her brother, she is also versed with weapons used most frequently by kunoichi such as neko-te, kaiken, kogai hairpins, and poison.

Historically, a kunoichi's primary function was espionage and assassination of difficult targets inaccessible to her male counterpart and Ayumu's role in the series supports this, implying that she likely focuses on the same ninjutsu skills common to most kunoichi:

Boryaku- Strategy involving both orthodox and unorthodox tactics. Examples include political manipulation and exploiting present events in order to apply pressure or weaken an opponent.
Hensojutsu - Disguise, impersonation, and infiltration. Ayumu demonstrates this skill in canon by infiltrating Masuya's shop as "Yumi", a role designed to seem harmless and win the enemy's trust through seduction. Her brother, Susumu also demonstrates this skill.
Shinobi-iri - Stealth techniques for silent movement, covert climbing, concealment, evasion and escape, pinpointing weak points in an enemy or their stronghold, and information gathering. Hensojutsu is a subcategory of this.
Shinobi-aruki - "Ninja walking". These are walking techniques used by ninja to move silently and effectively across a variety of surfaces, including unstable surfaces and gaps, as well through water. They are also used to quickly hide or take down opponents. Both Susumu and the Wind Demon display these during their rooftop excursions, suggesting that Ayumu has these skills as well.

Her training aside, Ayumu is lightly built and lacks the physical strength of her male counterpart. Like most shinobi, she's an expert at targeting vulnerable parts of the human anatomy in order to quickly dispatch or disable opponents through manipulation of joints and pressure points. In most fights, she relies on her wits, agility, precision, and technique. While in captivity, Ayumu waits until the last possible moment, despite being in mortal danger, before striking back against the men holding her prisoner or attempting to escape. Even though she failed in canon, it's a reflection of her thoughts and actions as a kunoichi.

Ayumu's more mundane skills include cooking and domestic housekeeping though since she is from the 19th century, she will be unfamiliar with modern appliances and how they work. Judging from the way she treated Susumu's wound, Ayumu also appears to have some basic medical knowledge or first aid skills.

Outside her occupation, Ayumu is an ordinary human without any supernatural or superhuman advantages.

Strengths: Tenacious, hard-working, loyal, brave, maternal
Weaknesses: Hypocritical, stubborn, repressed, dishonest, ruthless

God/Shinki: God
Why?: I've played her as a shinki with this canon point before and it ended pretty badly for her. She'd just switched back to god during her last run here after regaining all her in-game memories and I'd like to pick up where I left off with her story and see what happens next.
Top 3 Choices: Vesta (Roman), Kamuy Fuchi (Ainu), Kojin (Japanese)
God Type: During her time in game, Ayumu's felt progressively more removed from the human life she'd lived prior to coming to the Far Shore. She no longer sees herself as human even though she's not sure about her own divinity, especially her powerlessness over her own comings and goings to the Far Shore. By this point, she's adopted this world as her own home and the new gods and shinki as her people and views them as a separate group wih their own interests within the Heavens. For this reason, Ayumu's always been content to remain in the Western District where Amaterasu's influence is the weakest, maintain a low profile, and blend in with the new, obscure gods. For the most part, Ayumu will be focused on her own interests like building up her own influence and carving out her own permanent place in the Heavens. She'd continue to work as a hearth goddess, viewing it as an occupation and her god name as her title but live up to both on her own terms and redefine old traditions according to her own liking and find ways to incorporate her native culture into Vesta's sphere. In regards to prayers, Ayumu will take great interest in all matters concerning home and family, including found families, marriage, and the protection of children and teenagers. She'd also take on prayers from apartment complexes, communes, neighborhoods, and villages.
Power: Fire Generation - Ayumu has the ability to spontaneously ignite, causing flames to burst directly from any part of her body. She can also wreathe her entire body in flame, Human Torch style. Even though the fire requires some oxygen in order to burn, it doesn't require fuel, drawing its sustenance from Ayumu's own stamina. The fire's heat levels and intensity are influenced by Ayumu's emotional state, particularly passionate feelings like love, anger, hate, etc. While Ayumu herself is immune to the heat or burning effects of her flames, non-magical clothing or objects are not. She's also not able to directly control or manipulate the fires she creates aside from simple activation and deactivation. Even though Ayumu can't throw fireballs or cause anything besides herself to spontaneously ignite, she can set flammable materials ablaze by simply lighting it with herself. In this event, the spreading fire functions as an ordinary fire would, falling under the same natural laws and restrictions.

Writing Sample

Sample: 4th Wall appearance!

Other

Anything Else?: Since Ayumu was previously Vesta, I'd like for her to remain in the role. Her power used to be fire manipulation but since there's another god with that power now, I opted to change it up a bit to differentiate them.

Since Plurk often acts up for me (lagging during conversations, hiding replies, etc), here's a post for plotting purposes. Please use this post to inform me of any plotting question or concern you have about an ongoing thread so I'm aware of them and can promptly attend to any issues at hand. This is mainly for discussing threads involving sexual activity or violence so we can be on the same page and work them out as we go but can be used for any thread.

This post will be public but if there's a matter that you wish to address privately, you're welcome to contact me via PM as well.

Player Information

Name: Alice
Contact: mimarin @ plurk
Age: 35
Other Characters: None currently.

Character Information

Name: Ayumu Yamazaki
Canon: Shinsengumi Imon Peace Maker/Peace Maker Kurogane
Canon Point: Act 18, post-death.
Age: Unstated. Estimated to be about 23.
History: Peace Maker Kurogane is a historical manga covering the Bakumatsu period of 19th century Japan, just before the Meiji Revolution. Most of the characters are based on historical figures. Ayumu Yamazaki, on the other hand, is fictional and a minor character at that. Her brother, Susumu Yamazaki, is loosely based on the actual Shinsengumi spy of the same name though many details have been changed for this story.

Very little about Ayumu's background is directly addressed but much can be inferred from historical context and information disclosed about Susumu. The Yamazaki family were from Osaka and members of the Oniwaban, a group of undercover agents employed by the shogunate. The father was a ninja working under the cover of a doctor and the children were presumably born and raised to follow in the family tradition. Given that the Oniwaban had very strict regulations about interacting with the common public and kunoichi traditionally began their training at a very young age, it can be assumed that most of Ayumu's childhood consisted of training to become a spy with little room for anything else.

Judging from brief flashbacks of Susumu's training throughout the series and the fact, it appears that the training the Yamazakis underwent was harsh and demanded that they throw away all 'useless' emotions that might interfere in their work. The series shows that Ayumu was responsible for a substantial part of her brother's training and that she was a harsh instructor, demanding that he not look upon her as a big sister and insisting that she didn't think of him as her little brother. As a result, it seems that for much of their lives, Ayumu treated Susumu as a student or subordinate, never as a sibling.

However, it's implied that Ayumu continued to care for her brother despite her words and overt actions. When Susumu was still young, she taught him to disguise himself as her and presumably passed on some of her own training as a kunoichi so that when he was older, he could do jobs disguised as her. The overt reason was to increase the likelihood of success but Ayumu's later behavior suggests that it was also an indirect attempt to protect Susumu on missions at the risk of her own life.

At an unspecified point before the start of the prequel manga, the Yamazaki siblings are assigned to work with the Shinsengumi under Hijikata's command. While Susumu's occupation as a spy seems to be somewhat common knowledge among the group, Ayumu's status as a kunoichi appears to be known only to a select few. She is introduced in Act 3 as the Shinsengumi's cook and housekeeper and throughout most chapters, this is all she appears to be. Ayumu doesn't seem to leave the compound very much.

Early in the series, Ayumu develops a bond with Tetsunosuke Ichimura, often called simply 'Tetsu', a new recruit to the Shinsengumi. Rather quickly, he comes to view her as a big sister, much to her surprise. Despite the fact that Ayumu actually does have a little brother and he also lives at the compound, she grows fond of Tetsu and comes to see him as a little brother figure. She also appears to be on friendly terms with Tetsu's older brother, Tatsunosuke, as well, aiding him whenever Tetsu's behavior becomes too rambunctious for him to handle alone such as when Tetsu is caught spying on a late night meeting Susumu and Hijikata. Ayumu soothes the distressed brothers and informs them that Susumu is a spy that works with many 'mysterious people'. When Tatsu points out that Ayumu seems to know a lot about 'mysterious people', she laughs it off and insists that she knows very little beyond cooking and chores. She also keeps quiet about her relation to Susumu though Tatsu observes that Ayumu seems to get a little mad whenever he's criticized.

Around the same point in the series, the Shinsengumi become suspicious of a man named Kiemon Masuya, the owner of a secondhand shop in Kyoto suspected of harboring and allying with their enemies, and begin an covert spying campaign. At first, Susumu is assigned the mission, during which he works under the cover of "Sen", a young maiko designed to bear a close resemblance to Ayumu, under Hijikata's orders. As the surveillance continues, the Shinsengumi learn of the arrival of a dangerous enemy, Toshimaru Yoshida, a fire-setting imperialist madman and a conspiracy to burn Kyoto to ashes. During the course of the campaign, Yoshida learns of Susumu and hires a kunoichi named the Wind Demon to be his bodyguard as a countermeasure. Shortly after, Susumu is wounded by the Wind Demon during a battle on Kyoto's rooftops, resulting in Hijikata pulling him from the mission and assigning Ayumu to pick up where he left off.

In Act 10, Ayumu comes across Susumu considering seppuku, and harshly reprimands him for it. While treating his wound, she reminds him that he is a ninja, not a samurai, and that the warrior's code the Shinsengumi follow doesn't apply to him. Ayumu also states that if Susumu kills himself, he'll be betraying Hijikata's trust and that if he wants to redeem himself, he should finish more jobs.

Shortly after, Ayumu accepts her mission from Hijikata and leaves her role as the Shinsengumi's cook and housekeeper behind to investigate Masuya's shop. She doesn't reappear until Act 16 where she is seen resuming her job as cook to make one last dinner for the Shinsengumi, deeming it her masterpiece and that she wants everyone to eat it together. When she learns that Tetsu has not been acting like himself lately, Ayumu worries about him visibly, even disregarding her own personal rule that people who don't show up for mealtimes don't eat to set aside a meal for him.

Later in the chapter, Ayumu comes across Tetsu as she is leaving headquarters in disguise to continue her mission. At first, Tetsu mistakes her for Susumu but Ayumu corrects him teasingly. She decides to spend a little time with Tetsu, giving him the meal she'd saved for him earlier. During the course of their conversation, Ayumu gives him some sisterly advice and tells Tetsu not to worry too much about heavy issues when he's young. Tetsu tells her that she really is like a big sister and he wishes she could stay and cook for everyone instead of the work she's been doing. This causes Ayumu to break down and tearfully embrace Tetsu. She begs him to befriend Susumu and look after him in her place, implying that she believes her survival chances to be low. Eventually, the two part ways and Ayumu leaves him to his meal to carry on with her mission.

In Act 17, Ayumu, disguised as Yumi the Hairdresser, is seen seducing an enemy samurai for information. After sleeping with her source, Ayumu asks him to call on her again the next time he needs his hair done but is rebuffed. The samurai tells "Yumi" that he has been warned against "dangerous women" and that Masuya has been complaining lately about a woman matching Ayumu's description snooping around for information. During their interaction, more samurai close in on the pair, surrounding the naked Ayumu and cutting off her escape.

Ayumu makes her final appearance in Act 18. The next time she's seen, it's after she's been raped and tortured by the enemies holding her captive. In one scene, she briefly manages to break free of their grasps, arming herself with a blade, and attempting a final desperate attack against Masuya Kiemon. It fails and she is quickly overpowered. Moments before being knocked unconscious, Ayumu hears Masuya instructing his men to do whatever they like with her but be careful in disposing of her. Her final thoughts are of Tetsu and Susumu. Later in the chapter, Susumu discovers his sister's brutally beaten corpse in the street.
Personality: On the surface, Ayumu seems like a domestic, maternal soul. In her role as the Shinsengumi's den mother, she's cheerful and hardworking, diligently attending to all the cooking and cleaning that needs to be done. Often referred to as "Ayu-nee" within the compound for her sisterly demeanor, Ayumu is caring but strict. While perfectly aware of what the men she lives with do for a living, she doesn't hesitate to take a firm hand with them when they get out of line. At times she can be irritable, usually when people are being loud or interrupting her work, and during these moments she can be quite outspoken. On rare occasions, Ayumu displays a rather fierce temper when provoked such as when she shouts an order at Harada and Nagakura to back off while threatening them with a meat cleaver. The kitchen is her comfort zone, cooking is her love, and disrupting her orderly peace is a good way to incur her displeasure.

Most of the time, Ayumu's on the reserved side, even to the point of coming across as a little socially awkward or shy. In canon, she has a tendency to lurk in the background while others are talking and when she speaks, it's usually fairly brief in a casual style of speech. Due to her upbringing as a spy and the Oniwaban's strict regulations on their agents interacting with the general public, Ayumu has limited experience with genuine relationships with others. It isn't until she and her brother are placed under Hijikata's command that Ayumu has an opportunity to regularly interact with others as herself instead of under whatever cover her work requires of her. For this reason, Ayumu is extremely loyal and devoted to the Shinsengumi though she tends to express this in small, practical ways such as quietly tending to their needs than open displays of affection.

In general, Ayumu keeps a tight lid on her true thoughts and feelings around others. At one point in canon, she describes Susumu as a person who could never truly unmask, even among his allies, and this statement applies to her as well. Despite her strong feelings for the Shinsengumi, most of them didn't appear to know of her true occupation as a shinobi until after her death. When Tatsunosuke, a man she appears to be on friendly terms with, points out that she seems to know a lot about spies, Ayumu doesn't hesitate to lie to his face and insist she's simply the cook. In Ayumu's mind, she's a shinobi before all else - sister, friend, lover, etc.

After being permitted so few genuine personal relationships with others throughout her life, much of Ayumu's personal identity and self-image is built around the perfect shinobi ideal. In flashbacks, she's seen berating her brother for laughing, crying, and other displays of emotion as well as telling him repeatedly that he can only rely on himself. Maintaining a tough, independent front is very important to Ayumu and she's quite adept at hiding her true thoughts and feelings from others. Early in their relationship, Tetsu makes her mad by criticizing her brother in front of her but Ayumu's placid front doesn't waver in the slightest. After Tetsu leaves the scene, Tatsunosuke calls her on it but she doesn't confirm or deny his observation as true.

In general, Ayumu approaches emotions very practically, whether they're hers or someone else's. When she comes across Susumu contemplating ritual suicide after a failed mission, she lectures him harshly about being a shinobi, not a samurai, and reminds him that the warrior's code doesn't apply to them. She takes him to task for letting Hijikata down by leaving his work unfinished and tells him that if he wants to truly atone, he'll complete more jobs. She tends to show tenderness more through deeds than words, such as by quietly checking up on her brother and personally treating his wounds. Ayumu's subtle displays of caring are also evident in the way she trained her brother to impersonate her specifically so if he failed, it would mean her death instead of his.

There are instances when Ayumu's mask of strength cracks in a major way, revealing a major flaw in her personality - her hypocrisy. Despite teaching her brother to rid himself of all useless emotions, there's substantial evidence throughout the series that suggests that she doesn't practice what she preaches. She displays warmth and kindness toward Tetsu far more often than not, loses her temper with the comedy trio when they pester her too much, even displays a moment of tender concern for Hijikata when she goes to accept her final mission from him. The most dramatic display is when Ayumu's mask shatters completely during her final encounter with Tetsu prior to her death, when she tearfully begs him to be friends with her brother and teach him all about the good things in life she never could. Even prior to this scene, there's a lot to suggest that Ayumu's harbors a lot of repressed love and remorse for the state of her relationship with her brother and it subconsciously influences her behavior. It's not a coincidence that the people Ayumu warms up to the most in the series are those who look up to her as a big sister.

In spite of her efforts and training, Ayumu is far from emotionless. Underneath her tough exterior and harsh, strict demeanor, she's motivated strongly by love. Ironically, it's her dedication to her job and choices she makes as a shinobi that betray her true nature. She doesn't just teach Susumu to impersonate a woman; she teaches him to impersonate her specifically so she could protect him in death as the older sister she could never be to him in life. During her imprisonment, Ayumu silently endured the physical abuse and cruelty inflicted on her person. She didn't break under torture or beg for her life. I n the end, instead choosing to die with honor rather than betray Hijikata's trust by selling out the Shinsengumi. Once she's committed herself, Ayumu's tenacity and loyalty are absolute.

Of the two shinobi under his command, Hijikata entrusted the more dangerous mission to Ayumu and rightfully so. She knew how dangerous her mission was and that her chances of survival were low but accepted it anyway. Her capture also showcases how patient, determined, and brave she can be. Despite being a lone, naked woman outnumbered by enemy samurai and having little chance of escape, Ayumu didn't panic or show weakness. Instead, she kept a cool head and waited patiently for an opportunity to strike back. And she nearly succeeded, armed only with a kunai. Once she realized she couldn't escape, instead of lamenting her fate or giving into fear, her thoughts were of those she would leave behind, displaying her capacity for devotion.

The memory loss shinki experience will have a significant impact on how Ayumu relates to herself and presents herself to others. As stated above, she identifies herself as a shinobi and molds herself into what she believes a shinobi needs to be: cold, independent, practical, ruthless, without strong emotions or ties to others that may impede her work. However, without memories of being a shinobi, Ayumu will see little reason to close herself off from others or deceive them so she's more likely to be genuine in most of her interactions with others. In canon, her loyalties - while strong - are fundamentally divided between her brother, the Oniwaban, and Hijikata. As a shinki, it'll all be diverted toward her god who will likely become her first loyalty in most situations.

It's also important to note that Ayumu went through significant traumatic experiences before her death and while she doesn't remember them, they've left lingering psychological damage that will manifest primarily as being very uncomfortable in situations where she's the lone woman among multiple men, more so if they're physically imposing or warrior types. She'll also experience a degree of emotional numbness toward violence directed at her person and dissociate at aggressive, physical advances from men without understanding why it's happening.

Abilities: Ayumu is a kunoichi, highly skilled in ninjutsu and close combat. While very little of Ayumu's skills are displayed in canon, much can be inferred from the details given in addition to how she's regarded by others. Since she's shown to be Susumu's teacher, it can be assumed that they share similar skills though hers are honed to a much higher level. (It's also worth noting that the arrogant Wind Demon calls Susumu "worthless" in comparison to his sister.) Like her brother, Ayumu is a proficient wielder of wakizashi, kunai, and shuriken but unlike her brother, she is also versed with weapons used most frequently by kunoichi such as neko-te, kaiken, kogai hairpins, and poison.

Historically, a kunoichi's primary function was espionage and assassination of difficult targets inaccessible to her male counterpart and Ayumu's role in the series supports this, implying that she likely focuses on the same ninjutsu skills common to most kunoichi:

Boryaku- Strategy involving both orthodox and unorthodox tactics. Examples include political manipulation and exploiting present events in order to apply pressure or weaken an opponent.
Hensojutsu - Disguise, impersonation, and infiltration. Ayumu demonstrates this skill in canon by infiltrating Masuya's shop as "Yumi", a role designed to seem harmless and win the enemy's trust through seduction. Her brother, Susumu also demonstrates this skill.
Shinobi-iri - Stealth techniques for silent movement, covert climbing, concealment, evasion and escape, pinpointing weak points in an enemy or their stronghold, and information gathering. Hensojutsu is a subcategory of this.
Shinobi-aruki - "Ninja walking". These are walking techniques used by ninja to move silently and effectively across a variety of surfaces, including unstable surfaces and gaps, as well through water. They are also used to quickly hide or take down opponents. Both Susumu and the Wind Demon display these during their rooftop excursions, suggesting that Ayumu has these skills as well.

Her training aside, Ayumu is lightly built and lacks the physical strength of her male counterpart. Like most shinobi, she's an expert at targeting vulnerable parts of the human anatomy in order to quickly dispatch or disable opponents through manipulation of joints and pressure points. In most fights, she relies on her wits, agility, precision, and technique. While in captivity, Ayumu waits until the last possible moment, despite being in mortal danger, before striking back against the men holding her prisoner or attempting to escape. Even though she failed in canon, it's a reflection of her thoughts and actions as a kunoichi.

Ayumu's more mundane skills include cooking and domestic housekeeping though since she is from the 19th century, she will be unfamiliar with modern appliances and how they work. Judging from the way she treated Susumu's wound, Ayumu also appears to have some basic medical knowledge or first aid skills.

Outside her occupation, Ayumu is an ordinary human without any supernatural or superhuman advantages.

Strengths: Tenacious, hard-working, loyal, brave, maternal
Weaknesses: Hypocritical, stubborn, repressed, dishonest, ruthless

God/Shinki: Shinki
Why?: The last time I played Ayumu here, she was a god so I wanted to try something different with her this time around. In her canon, she's a servant and protector of others, though it involves more subterfuge, covert activities, and strategy than an overt approach. Her knowledgebase, even if she doesn't remember anything about her past, would be an interesting base to explore shinki from, I think. It's a role she's comfortable with.
Cause Of Death: Died of blood loss after being raped, tortured, and beaten by Masuya's men in captivity.
Vessel: A dark blue woman's kimono with lavender obi.
Name Location: On top of her left breast.
Power: Illusive Shapeshifting. With her power, her god will be able to alter their appearance via an illusionary disguise. Not only does the illusion fool the eyes, it affects the other senses such as smell, touch, taste, and hearing, to better impersonate others. As she gains more experience, information, and imagination, she'll be able to create more expansive, elaborate illusions such as cloaking her god as large beasts of various sizes or even as ayakashi. As stated, this is all simply illusion deceiving the senses, and not actual shapeshifting.

Writing Sample

Sample: TDM samples!

Other

Anything Else?: I'd like her to be assigned to Hakkai, please! Though it isn't explicitly shown, the canon's description of Ayumu's corpse suggests that the injuries she suffered before death would have led to permanent scarring and disfigurement had she survived. If it's okay, I'd like the state of her body in the game to reflect that. Specifically, Ayumu is blind in her left eye and has a facial disfigurement in that area that shifted it to be slightly lower than her right one. Her left wrist is also stiff, crooked, and prone to aches after having it brutally broken by her captors.

Placemarker.

CHARACTER: Ayumu Yamazaki
CANON: Shinsengumi Imon Peace Maker/Peace Maker Kurogane (Manga)
MYTHOLOGY: Vesta (Roman)
POWER: Fire Generation - Ayumu has the ability to spontaneously ignite, causing flames to burst directly from any part of her body. She can also wreathe her entire body in flame, Human Torch style. Even though the fire requires some oxygen in order to burn, it doesn't require fuel, drawing its sustenance from Ayumu's own stamina. The fire's heat levels and intensity are influenced by Ayumu's emotional state, particularly passionate feelings like love, anger, hate, etc. While Ayumu herself is immune to the heat or burning effects of her flames, non-magical clothing or objects are not. She's also not able to directly control or manipulate the fires she creates aside from simple activation and deactivation. Even though Ayumu can't throw fireballs or cause anything besides herself to spontaneously ignite, she can set flammable materials ablaze by simply lighting it with herself. In this event, the spreading fire functions as an ordinary fire would, falling under the same natural laws and restrictions.

Alternate Form : Fire Elemental - Given that Vesta is often depicted as a living flame, Ayumu's alternate form is the same. She turns into an alternate version of herself, only her body is completely formed out of bright flame that can illuminate her surroundings up to 30ft and shed dimmer light for another 20 ft beyond that. (Approximate visual here.) Since she's made of fire, she's essentially formed of energy and as such, can squeeze through very narrow gaps, as well as she's immune to fire and heat. This body is also extremely light, weighing extremely little and making it more agile. Whatever - or whoever - she touches in his form catches on fire or suffers intense burns. She can't manipulate fire in any way or stop it from spreading, making this form extremely dangerous, unpredictable, and potentially destructive to anyone or anything close by when she takes it.

This form also comes with other limitations. Ayumu can't cross water or any non-flammable liquid that's too large for her to step or jump across. She takes a lot of damage from water and cold in this form. For example, the shinki spell of fire fighting would be both physically painful and cause her injuries that would carry over to her regular form with equal severity. She also can't maintain this form for very long without literally burning herself out and being forced to revert, limiting its use to short durations. After Ayumu does revert, she's utterly exhausted and has to rest for a full 24 hours before she's able to transform again.

Dramatic Lighting - "This is a more specific version of the Extra Power regain. This would grant any player the right to make Rule of Cool work for their character so that they get a dramatic entrance if they really mean business, or right before their big attack, you know - big action hero events. Be it a flash of lightning, wind through the trees, flickering overhead lights, this can be changed up depending on the circumstance."

FOLLOWERS: 1920
SHINKI: Toyo (Soulless) | 朝 (Asaki)
Joscelin Fitzthomas (Nora/Exemplar) | 子 (Suki)
TEMPLE: Vesta's Villa

Vesta's home is a modest, moderately sized Roman villa. The architecture is clearly Roman design but the goddess's current incarnation appears to be remodeling the place into a more traditionally Japanese aesthetic. There's a number of tatami mats and folding screens strewn about the interior of the villa mixed in with Roman urns and statues. The bedding has all been replaced with futons. The kitchen has been the focal point of the current Vesta's remodeling, almost everything has been redone in the style of a traditional Japanese kitchen. Aside from the warring decor, Vesta's home is very clean and tidy. It's large enough to house a goddess, numerous shinki, and guests quite comfortably. More details are available in the floor plan that's been provided. The main bedroom is Vesta's private quarters and off-limits to shinki and visitors alike.

Floor Plan

CHARACTER NAME: Ayumu Yamazaki
CHARACTER SERIES: Shinsengumi Imon Peace Maker / Peace Maker Kurogane (Manga)

[OOC]

Backtagging: Yes!
Threadhopping: Ask first just to make sure! However, threadhopping network threads is totally okay with me!
Fourthwalling: No, please.
Offensive subjects (elaborate): Sexual assault, cannibalism, pedophilia, necrophilia, and extreme gore are all sensitive subjects for me so please warn me in advance if a scene will contain any of these elements.

[IC]

Hugging this character: Sure! She's more comfortable with being hugged by younger or female characters. Hugs from male characters might get an instinctive stiff response from her due to her trauma.
Kissing this character: Innocent cheek, forehead, and hand kisses should be fine but it's advised that male characters approach her with caution due to the sexual assault prior to her death. She might reflexively recoil or respond with violence if the character is too aggressive or takes her off guard. If you're unsure of how she'll take an advance, please don't hesitate to ask!
Flirting with this character: Sure, though keep in mind, she's from the late 19th century Japan, old fashioned, and very traditional when it comes to this kind of stuff. She may interpret it as courtship unless she's working, then she might use it as a recon opportunity. Since Ayumu's very duty focused and has intimacy issues, she may feign ignorance or try to redirect the conversation at first.
Fighting with this character: Sure! Keep in mind that while Ayumu might appear harmless, in reality she is a highly trained shinobi. For the most part, she'll rely on evasion, stealth, and unorthodox tactics. In general, she'll avoid revealing her skills until she absolutely has no other options and if she must, strike back with lethal force. After her death, she's blind in her left eye and has limited mobility in her left wrist but she's far from helpless and still a dangerous opponent to take likely.
Injuring this character (include limits and severity): Minor cuts and injuries are fine. Anything really major that could potentially lay her up for a while, please ask first.
Killing this character: Possibly but ask me first!
Using telepathy/mind reading abilities on this character: Ask me first so we can hash out details!

Warnings: Ayumu's actions don't always reflect her inner thoughts. She has no moral objections to charming, seducing, or manipulating others to gain information. While she is capable of forming some deep, genuine bonds, these are more often the exception rather than the rule for her. For the most part, her understanding of relationships is superficial and deception will most likely be a factor. As far as ships go, she's emotionally unstable so there's likely to be some element of dysfunction to it. She doesn't trust easily or handle close personal loss very well so tread with caution.