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Kurogane

Name: Kurogane (You-ou)
"Real" Name: Aiden Cross
Room: M67
Age: Unknown, appears to be about 23
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Red
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 224lbs
Birthday: Unknown
Nationality: Japanese
Language: Old Japanese, but very gruff
Other notable characteristics: Currently has a large bite mark on his right shoulder where Agni tried to eat it.

Background History:
Kurogane was born and raised in a feudal parallel of Japan – the province of Suwa. His father, a skilled swordsman, protected Suwa against threats as did his mother, a Miko (Priestess), with her magical abilities. Protecting Suwa was basically the main responsibility of Kurogane’s family. Because of this position, Kurogane developed a strong desire to protect at a very young age. This naturally led to his idolization of his father’s swordsman skills. Kurogane wanted to be as strong as his father so he could protect. His father understood that desire and, after asking his son for his reasons, decided to take a direct part in his son’s training.

Kurogane matured as a swordsman under his father’s watch, vowing each day to become stronger. He believed that when he became strong enough, his mother would no longer be needed to protect Suwa. He would be the one keeping threats at bay, so she would not have to use her strength to uphold the country’s barrier. Upholding the barrier left her constantly weak (though it’s never stated specifically, she seemed to have tuberculosis), and it tore at Kurogane’s heart to see her suffering so. To help his mother most of all, he had to get stronger.

His abilities improved to the point where he could perform his father’s signature move, but Kurogane was still not allowed to go with his father to battle. Even when his father was forced to use the family heirloom, the sword Ginryu, as a last resort against invading monsters, Kurogane was still told to remain home and protect his mother.

Kurogane did as told and kept guard outside the Inoriba (place of prayer) while his mother prayed and enforced the barrier. As he stood guard, a commotion from inside alerted Kurogane. He ran in to find his mother impaled by a sword jutting out of a dimensional rift. The sword withdrew, leaving the priestess bleeding on the floor. Despite Kurogane’s attempts to save her, his mother died before his eyes.

With the Miko dead, the barrier protecting the province failed, and the monsters were able to enter without magical resistance. Terror ensued as the monsters raged through the province, killing many before eventually getting to Kurogane’s house. Kurogane cradled his mother’s lifeless body as the monsters loomed over him. He would have moved to fight, but could not bring himself to once he caught sight of what was held in the monster’s mouth: a severed arm with the sword Ginryu clenched tight in the hand. Kurogane could only listen in horror while the demon chomped down the last of his father’s remains. The sword fell to the ground before him.

The trauma was too much. Kurogane snapped and went on a rampage with his father’s sword, killing everything around. When the battle was over, only Kurogane, still holding his mother’s body, remained. He was consumed by rage at this point, and not even the Empress of the country was able to subdue the grieving boy. It was her little sister who managed to pin him long enough to reason that he should let his mother rest. Calmed by her reverence, Kurogane broke down in tears over the loss of his parents.

Kurogane became a Ninja in service to the girl who had calmed his rage, the Princess Tomoyo. Ginryu was buried with his mother in place of his father, and Tomoyo had a new sword fashioned for Kurogane in the same make. This new sword he treats as if it were his father’s.

Storyline History:
Kurogane’s introduction in the actual Tsubasa storyline comes after some years of serving under Tomoyo. Since he has been in her service, Tomoyo has asked him time and again to keep from unnecessary killing, but Kurogane has not followed her request. He believes that killing is required to protect her and that he can only become stronger by continuing to fight and kill. One day, after Kurogane has slaughtered a group of assassins, Tomoyo determines that he should be sent elsewhere – there is no longer anyone in Japan who can match his strength. Tomoyo sends him away but not before branding him with a curse. This curse is to keep him from unnecessary killing as, if he does kill, his strength will be reduced by the curse’s power. She tells him to find the true meaning of strength before sending him through a dimensional portal.

The portal lands him before the Dimensional Time Witch, Yuko. Three others are also there with him – Sakura, Syaoran, and Fai D. Flourite – these others having come of their own will. Kurogane was the only one forced into coming. Though he does not understand what is going on, he does answer when Yuko asks the three for their wishes. Kurogane wishes to go back to his own world. Fai, on the other hand, wishes not to return to his own world, and Syaoran wishes to retrieve the memories of Sakura that were scattered across time.

Yuko deems these three wishes one and the same as they all require a method of dimensional time-travel. In order to fulfill their wishes, a payment must be presented. Yuuko demands of Kurogane his sword. Though it is only a replica of his father’s sword, Kurogane is loathed to give it up. He does consent once Yuko threatens him with having to stay in her version of Japan, but he swears he will return for it one day. From Fai, she takes a tattoo from his back that had been used to seal his magic. As for Syaoran, his relationship with Sakura is forfeited as payment.

All prices paid, the four are sent to the first world with the help of Mokona, a small bunny-looking animal with the power to cross dimensions. Here, their journey begins.

At their first stop, Kurogane immediately tells Syaoran that he has no intention of aiding the search for Sakura’s feathers (her memories have taken the form of white feathers). All he wants to do is return to his own world, so that little venture has nothing to do with him. Syaoran understands and promises not to cause too much trouble for Kurogane. This makes Kurogane turn his head away out of both annoyance and embarrassment. He hadn’t expected such a mature response. When he asks if Fai is going to help, Fai decides he will so long as it won’t endanger his life or wind up with him returning to his own world.

During their travels, the group faces many dangers linked with Sakura’s feathers. The power each feather contains is substantial and in the wrong hands can cause terrible destruction. Not even during the early portion of their travels was there an easily retrieved feather save for one. With other feathers they had to win a race, enter a twister, steal from a library, get involved in a gang war, challenge the power of an evil overlord, and so on. Their journey to retrieve Sakura’s feathers proved to be a dangerous one indeed. Kurogane ends up aiding their search despite his earlier refusal. Since he is stuck as a part of the “group”, he has to wait until they find a feather before Mokona will transport them to another world. That little problem makes helping to find the feathers necessary for him to return home. Though his participation is all but completely forced, Kurogane takes some level of enjoyment in being able to battle along the way. Tomoyo did send him away so that he could find others to fight and become stronger.

He goes a step beyond simply helping to find the feathers by agreeing to train Syaoran to use a sword. Kurogane justifies the action by believing that, with a sword, Syaoran will become stronger, and they will be able to move through worlds much faster. Before agreeing to train Syaoran though, Kurogane takes a moment to ask if Syaoran is up for fighting in their current world. Kurogane had realized upon first seeing Syaoran fight that the kid was completely blind in his right eye. Syaoran’s fighting style and reactions had made this handicap easily noticeable. Kurogane is scolding with his questioning, but he eventually consents to the training despite Syaoran’s handicap. He remains a bit reluctant afterwards, but never once lets up. Syaoran’s determination in wanting to save Sakura is something Kurogane understands well; he knows that desire to protect.

Kurogane continues Syaoran’s training even after the few set lessons he manages to give while they have a break. At various points, Kurogane sees a different side of Syaoran that he is not familiar with. During these instances, it seems that Syaoran is a completely different person with about ten times the strength and experience compared with the normal Syaoran. The first time Kurogane sees this, he asks Syaoran who he is, being able to recognize immediately that the person is not the boy he knows. He is very careful around Syaoran whenever the boy gets like this, and he finds out later that he was correct in knowing that it was not the Syaoran he knew.

He never manages to confront this other Syaoran one-on-one. With Fai, it is another story. Kurogane confronts Fai at certain points, asking him about the person he is so determined to get away from. During these conversations Fai is shown breaking from his exterior mask of happiness to be serious. The most Kurogane is ever able to get from the magician are a few serious words and a desire for others not to be hurt on his account. Kurogane can’t stand his half-assed answers. He couldn’t care less for Fai’s past, but seeing Fai only doing “just enough” to keep going is something he cannot overlook. He tells Fai to clear his head and face the present rather than dwell on the past.

This is about where the series takes a turn towards a darker side. ((Kurogane comes from right before this point and there are A LOT of spoilers for the series beyond this point))

The carefree atmosphere that prevailed in the beginning is stripped away upon the group’s entering of Tokyo. (CLAMP rule: /everything/ happens in Tokyo) The Syaoran they knew turns out to be a clone of the real Syaoran manufactured by Fei Wong Reed, the main antagonist of Tsubasa. The clone meets with Fai and proceeds to rip out the other’s eye and eat it like it were candy, gaining its magical abilities. Kurogane takes the bleeding Fai back from the clone to keep it from consuming the other of Fai’s eyes.

The real Syaoran shows up and claims the part of his soul that the clone had received from him. Fai had risked himself to return the soul to the clone, but had failed in doing so because of the clone’s actions towards him. Kurogane is unable to do anything else except see to Fai while the real and clone Syaorans engage in battle. While watching the two fight, he recognizes the crest on the real Syaoran’s outfit as having been on the sword that pierced his mother. He had been told by the clone Syaoran of the crest before, and finds later that it is the crest of Fei Wong Reed.

Kurogane - The Wiki @ Landel's Damned

After the clone leaves and everyone injured is being seen to, they find that Fai won’t survive from having his eye gouged out. Fai is all right with dying because if he dies, then his magic will fade. That includes that magic that now resided with the clone Syaoran. Kurogane punches a wall out of frustration, unable to accept it. He asks Yuko if Fai can be saved, not caring for Fai’s protests in the matter. Fai is saved by being transformed into a vampire (there were two vampires there in Tokyo) with Kurogane becoming his “bait”. This means that Fai can only drink blood from Kurogane and is thus linked to Kurogane for his own survival. If Kurogane dies, and Fai is no longer able to drink from his blood, then Fai will also die. The burden for keeping Fai alive falls to Kurogane from here on out.

Kurogane takes a lot of resentment from Fai after having saved the man’s life, but he never once protests this. He made the decision to save the other’s life and accepts how cold Fai becomes towards him in the aftermath. During this time, Kurogane “allows” Fai to be far more secretive because of the distance that has formed between them. He no longer confronts Fai directly. He knows that both Fai and Sakura are up to something, but is unaware of what that something is. As there’s nothing he can do, he resigns himself to dealing with the real Syaoran who has joined them in the clone Syaoran’s stead. Just as with Kurogane and Fai, the relationship between the real Syaoran and Sakura has turned very distant. To Sakura, he is not the Syaoran she knows, and Kurogane has to remind this Syaoran of that so he does not step out of line. The group is basically split down the center now – “6 of a dozen”, as Kurogane puts it.

When the Princess’s plan follows through, she ends up activating a curse placed on Fai – to kill anyone with a magic power greater than his own. A vision of hers (Sakura having been able to see bits of the future) had shown Fai stabbing Syaoran with Syaoran’s own sword. She could not stand for this to happen and forced the future to change by increasing her own magic and having Fai stab her instead. Her soul separates from her body after he stabs her, and each part of her travels to two different worlds. As she is leaving, Fai breaks down and is nearly about to take his own life, but Kurogane stops him.

With the Princess’s body and soul divided, the group makes the move to go rescue her body in Celes, the place where Fai comes from. Fai first explains that he’s been lying about many things, then requests of Yuko the transport to Celes for the price of his remaining magic – his right eye. Kurogane hits him, and finally demands that they do what he wants this time instead of just letting Fai and Sakura plan and plot. After a very touching speech from everyone, they all decide to pay one-fourth of the price each to travel.

In Celes, Fai confronts his past and the person who raised him, Ashura. Ashura raised Fai with the intent of having Fai kill him to break the curse placed upon Fai (the one he’d just carried out in stabbing Sakura). Ashura uses his magic to show Fai’s past to Kurogane and Syaoran, and Fai, having to relive this, is reminded of the promise he made to Ashura, a promise that he would stop any threat made to the country of Celes. The emotionally unstable Fai begins attacking Kurogane to keep his promise, but he is clearly torn in doing so. A big mess ensues and only ends when Kurogane kills Ashura in Fai’s stead.

This, unfortunately, activates a second curse placed upon Fai. This curse held that, were anyone other than Fai to kill Ashura, Celes would collapse in on itself, destroying everyone within the world. Fai uses his magic to get Syaoran and Sakura’s body (which Ashura had been in possession of) out of the collapsing world, but he does not have enough magic to finish the task. Mokona has a device that opens the barrier on the world enough for Kurogane to escape, but the magic is not strong enough to release Fai as well. Fai tells Kurogane to leave him. It seems as though Kurogane is about to leave Fai, but in an instant, he slices off his arm and drops both it and his sword into the collapsing world, exchanging them both for pulling Fai from the curse.

They get to a safe world, Kurogane’s home, and are allowed to rest for a change. Fai ends up punching the now one-armed Kurogane in the head and calls the hit payback. Kurogane just smiles and says he’s going to beat Fai up. In this way, Fai has finally forgiven Kurogane for having saved his life, and the two are closer than ever.

Shortly after the forgiveness, a character met in their earlier travels arrives with a bio-arm for Kurogane to use in place of the one he’d removed. Kurogane’s Tomoyo, having seen in a dream that Kurogane would lose his arm, conversed in dreams with another world’s Tomoyo to set up this arrival. Fai pays the price for the arm, but, as he won’t give his life for anything anymore, he trades what remains of his magic as the price. Kurogane does not stop him. Syaoran took claim of the feather during the fight and entered the dream of Sakura. Inside the dream, he engaged the clone version of himself who also entered the dream in combat. Kurogane and Fai were unable to enter the dream themselves and remained stuck on the sidelines, unable to even watch. They were able to see the effects of the dream leaking out into their reality through a giant rift in space-time around the body of Sakura (who was having the dream). Syaoran and his clone emerged from the dream, still fighting, and when they were about to land their finishing blows, the soul of Sakura threw herself between them and took both blows.

We find here that Sakura, the one that was just stabbed, is not the real Sakura. She is only a replica of the real Princess Sakura's soul. Just as with Syaoran, Fei Wang Reed had cloned Sakura as well, but instead of cloning just her body, he cloned both her body and her heart. The clonedSakura was sent travelling to reclaim parts of the real Sakura's memories, the soul. This way, even if the cloned Sakura's body were to be destroyed, the memories would return to where he was and to the real Princess he still had. The clone Sakura had realized that she was a clone, thus explaining her distance with the real Syaoran she'd been traveling with, and as she is dying, she tells the clone Syaoran, "her" Syaoran, that since they are creations, things won't end so long as they are alive. She dies halfway through telling him that she loves him. What died was the cloned heart of Sakura, so the cloned body containing all of the real Sakura's memories was still present after the heart's death. Dr Kyle, an underling of Fei Wang Reed's, shows up and steals the cloned body before anyone can stop him. The real Syaoran, Fai, and Kurogane realize that the cloned Syaoran is no longer with them. Yuko explains what has happened with the Princess's body, soul, and memories, then Syaoran asks where both Sakuras are. Kurogane and Fai show that they also want to find the captured Princesses, so Yuko says that she will allow them to travel to where they are. When they are about to be given a price for this wish, Yuko says that the price has already been paid. Watanuki (of xxxHolic origin) paid the price long ago by giving up the memories of his parents and of having ever made the wish. This still has yet to be explained in full detail, but many things between the Tsubasa and xxxHolic worlds are still mysteries in the current storyline.
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Taking a moment to rest, the group reflects over their travels, minds focusing specifically on their interactions with the cloned Sakura. While he is alone in thought, Princess Tomoyo approaches Kurogane and speaks to him about what has happened. He asks her if grave-robbing is a crime, and when she answers that it is, he comments about how he needs his father's sword. The replica he left with Yuko, even if he could reclaim it, that sword would not be enough. He needs the true Ginryu for the upcoming battle. Tomoy pauses a moment, then presents him with the original Ginryu. She explains to him that she did not bury it with his mother as requested. Instead, she followed the first request made to her by Kurogane's mother. Tomoyo's dreamseer ability had allowed her to communicate with Kurogane's mother in the moments of her death, and she had asked the the sword not be buried, but given to Kurogane. Kurogane accepts the sword and swears by it that he will return to Nihon once again. He one again makes a vow (presumably the same one he took upon first entering her service) that he will only ever serve her, swearing here by the name that only he and Tomoyo know. Tomoyo wishes him well, blessing his sword and calling him by that name: You-ou.

After donning their original clothes from when they began their journey, Yuko sends the three to the "halted time" where Fei Wang Reed has been hiding - a place in Clow Country. They arrive safely, but find the kingdom to be completely normal. They interact with the townsfolk and are invited to an inn for the night. Noneof them can figure that anything is wrong. The next day though, when they begin having the exact same interactions and conversations with the town folk who don't seem to recognize them, they realize that the same day is beginning to repeat. Being careful, they play out the day again and end up at the inn once more.

One difference they make this time is that Fai has him and Kurogane in a room separated from Syaoran. When Kurogane asks Fai about it, Fai begins calling him about hiding things from him. Fai pulls back the mantle over Kurogane's left shoulder to reveal blood where his mechanical arm is connecting to his shoulder. Fai says that Kurogane's been leaving his mantle and headdress on indoors because of the arm not fitting right - he didn't want either the injury or any expression of pain on his face to show. Kurogane himself remains mostly silent while Fai speaks, only saying that so long as the arm works, things are fine. Fai demands that Kurogane say if it hurts more than yesterday so they can know if their time is moving forward even when the town's is not. Kurogane says that it does, and Fai hits him. He then scolds Kurogane some more for not saying. Annoyed, Kurogane growls about how Fai is one to say such a thing. Fai smiles and says that, yes, he is one to say such things, and that's why he can. Suddenly, they are forced into falling asleep and wake up the next day confused for how it happened. The day is still repeating itself outside though.

They notice that something has changed this time though. The people outside are fewer in number, and ones they have spoken with prior are missing too. Suddenly, they see the mother of the boy Syaoran is talking to begin to melt before their eyes. This starts happening to others as well. Kurogane says that the people are still living, and that what is happening is probably because their group came and changed how things were going in the repeating day.

((No more releases are out yet))

Personality:
Though his outward appearance makes Kurogane seem to be merely an anti-social loner, there is actually much more to the black-clad ninja from Suwa than meets the eye. Managing to see past his appearance comes as a feat though. Kurogane does not let his emotions show readily. Hiding emotions comes with his ninja profession after all.

Beneath his aloof exterior, Kurogane hides an unusually strict type of kindness. This kinder side shows the strongest in his dealings with Syaoran. Kurogane cares enough to warn Syaoran of the dangers involved with fighting and swordsmanship, but only shows that concern through his warnings. Even with his concerns, Kurogane still manages to respect Syaoran’s desire to protect Sakura and pushes the boy with his instruction.

Syaoran basically mirrors Kurogane’s younger self, and this makes for an odd relationship between the two. Syaoran’s determination brings out the kinder side of Kurogane whereas Kurogane’s roughness manages to encourage the depressed Syaoran. Kurogane’s cold words of telling Syaoran to become stronger if he doesn’t wish to cry actually strengthen the boy, and so lose their harsh edge. Syaoran recognizes the kindness in Kurogane’s actions and actually calls Kurogane kind at one point. At this, Kurogane blushes over and calls Syaoran crazy for making such assumptions.

Whenever something either embarrasses or aggravates him, Kurogane will take to shouting angrily or turning his head away. He takes embarrassment much like a child would, either blowing up over it or completely ignoring it while still being aggravated. The discomfort of embarrassment is something that he, as a Ninja, just cannot afford for others to see. He is a warrior, and therefore prideful of his abilities. For him to be embarrassed degrades his standing as a trained Ninja seemingly without emotions.
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His short-temperament in the matter makes him incredibly easy to tease. Fai intentionally antagonizes him in order to produce these explosive reactions. Kurogane will ends up chasing Fai with his sword drawn for things such as name-calling, teasing, putting food in his mouth, making him do all the work, and basically anything else Fai does to tease him. Most of Kurogane’s tantrums revolve around either Fai or Mokona, who is usually assisting Fai.

He is unable to ignore even the slightest of teasings since he notices everything. Kurogane is always watching his surroundings. Even when he’s sleeping he seems to be on guard (he sleeps without moving an inch), and, since the very beginning, he has been able to sense that someone was watching their movements. He was trained to be this way – always prepared. Because of his observant nature, he is easily able to see through Fai’s constant lies. He notices everything about Fai, from the small details – the inconsistent drinking habits, his comfort in fighting, how he pales at the mention of “Ashura” – to the blatantly obvious – the lies and near suicidal tendencies.

Kurogane generally ignores what he notices at first, contemplating what he sees to himself, but as the story progresses he begins questioning Fai about his honesty. Fai is a very guarded individual, so Kurogane is unable to get any clear answers from him without forcing the conversation, and even then the answers are still vague. The man becomes even more careful when around Kurogane, having to even watch his words. Kurogane remembers everything he’s told, whereas Fai tends to forget, or more repress some things he mentions. One conversation Kurogane continuously brings up Fai finds difficult to run away from.

Fai and Kurogane’s views of life vary considerably. Kurogane founds his way of thinking on an if/then scenario. “If you don’t want to cry, then get stronger”… “If you want to go somewhere, then go”… “If you’re going to carry a weapon, then don’t complain if you die”. He meets things head on, determined to press forward no matter what comes his way. By his way of thinking, people make their own way in life, so, as long as they are alive to do so, people should at least make an effort to live. The type of person Kurogane hates most is the one who will not make this effort. Fai happens to be one of those hated types.

Kurogane sees in Fai’s fighting that, while Fai is not willing to take his own life, he seems all too ready to let something else have that honor, as though that would be the proper punishment. He does not know Fai’s reasoning for seeking punishment, but it is of little concern. No matter what happened to Fai in his past, the magician should not be so dismissive of the life he has. Kurogane has let go of his past to live in the present and knows how pointless it is to dwell on unchangeable events. This trait of Kurogane’s is the hardest for Fai to deal with as he is unable to move on.

Considering how he acts around his companions, Kurogane is clearly not well suited for social life. His speech is blunt and tactless to the point of seeming cruel at times. He will not, however, take back something once he has said it. Though he may not seem to think before he speaks, he does, and he always means what he says. This makes him appear to have no sense of manners at all, but he is just far too straightforward to bother with formalities. He will address friends and enemies with the same shortness of temper. There is a difference, however, between how he addresses people in the beginning of the series from the more recent chapters. He is no longer so rude in speech though he retains his candor (one of his most defining qualities).

Kurogane is one of the most headstrong people someone could ever meet. At the beginning of his journey, he had the single-minded purpose of becoming stronger. Through fighting and training he continuously seeks that greater strength so he can hold to his strongest belief learned from his father – to protect everything that is precious to him. Once he has determined what is important to him, Kurogane will go to extreme lengths to protect that person or thing.

He had a very dangerous moment once where he believed that both Fai and Syaoran had been murdered. Without even hesitating, he swore that the believed murderer, Seishiro, would feel his sword. He did this knowing that killing Seishiro would reduce his strength because of the curse he was under. Even with Seishiro as a worthy opponent, Kurogane could not hide his motivations. He went into the battle looking to avenge the deaths of his companions. He cared enough to sacrifice some strength in killing their murderer. When he realized that Fai and Syaoran were not dead, his passion for fighting seemed to disappear.

Kurogane will go so far as to sever an arm to save someone from dying and has done so. He would give up additional limbs and ultimately his own life to protect or avenge someone he cares for. He eventually intends to get revenge against Fei Wong Reed for the deaths of his parents. It is his duty as their son to avenge them.

Kurogane - The Wiki @ Landel's Damned

Though his insistence on not getting involved unless absolutely necessary keeps this trait buried, Kurogane is fairly responsible. He will easily take control of a situation when needed – he is the first to rush into a battle, the one to throw the others into bed for being unable to hold their liquor (twice!), and even leads Fai through the country of Shura when they get separated from Sakura and Syaoran for half a year. This side of him keeps his personality balanced - one minute he’s shouting at his companions for being noisy drunks, and the next he’s throwing them into bed. Kurogane is an adult despite his various quirks.

Being responsible also makes him dependable. One will not find a better ally to have in battle. He will always watch his comrades’ backs even if they can take care of themselves. He has saved his comrades many times, usually knocking them from harm’s way and sometimes taking the hits himself. In a flying race, Kurogane took the blow from a water geyser after pushing Sakura’s aircraft out of the way. He protects his own princess Tomoyo in the same way as her bodyguard. He states that she is the only person he will ever serve under. That unfaltering loyalty shows just how reliable an ally he is to have.

In the most recent chapters, Kurogane has come to a realization about himself and his goals. Having lost his arm to save Fai, Kurogane now understands that strength (in the physical sense) is not all one needs in order to protect something precious. Having strength can cause great suffering; it can also help protect. There are, however, some things that strength is unable to protect. Here, Kurogane’s journey comes full circle. Tomoyo had sent him away in order for him to learn the true meaning of the strength he’d sought. His words prove that he has understood that meaning, even though, as he admits, he does not really understand it himself.

He has matured a great deal from the beginning by this point. Kurogane was overly rash before beginning his journey with the others, but by later chapters has calmed. His thirst for violence seems to have faded, and he is much easier to read emotionally (his real emotions).

Abilities:
Kurogane has absolutely no magical abilities to speak of. Were he to have possession of a sword (a good sword), he would be able to channel his own strength into magic through the blade. Magic is beyond Kurogane, but the swords he uses are able to create magical attacks when drawing on his physical abilities. Kurogane can call attacks from swords that seemingly spout flames. Still, Kurogane himself has no magic.

In the first country the group visits, the group gains the special “Kudan” abilities associated with the people of that country. Kudan are magical creatures linked with each person and reflect their strengths. Kurogane’s Kudan took the form of a blue dragon (Celes in Magic Knight RayEarth) that formed into a sword for Kurogane to wield. This is technically Kurogane’s only experience with being able to control a form of magic.

He is a master swordsman and a skilled Ninja. He excels in the art of killing. He is very fit thanks to the training that comes along with such a strict practice and is, appropriately, very strong. He does not need a sword to fight though he prefers one.

The Tsubasa Character Guide lists him as having perfect scores (500/500) for both power and speed, though he is seriously lacking in other areas, such as magic, charm, and intelligence.

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