The following is a character file to go
along with my fanfic, "Fushigi Yuugi - The Fabulous Adventure", which
is a crossover with a ton of CLAMP's stories. I decided to create
character files since many people said they liked FY or CLAMP, but
didn't necessarily know all of the characters in my fanfiction.
Hopefully the character files will allow you a "feel" for the
character's background, their possible motives, etc. I believe this
will help you in getting a more accurate picture of the fanfiction
story as a whole.
My character files are seperated into three parts:
1. The first part contains the original CLAMP version of the character
& their background (***WARNING***: There are MAJOR spoilers to the
original CLAMP manga in here. If you haven't read the manga that
corresponds to the character yet, you are forewarned of the spoilers).
This section is concise (to save space & time), and is basically a
small synopsis. Many events/aspects are left out, but I think I nailed
the most important ones.
2. The second part are my fanfiction character statistics (keeping true
_wherever possible_ to the original CLAMP's stats for the character).
Age, date of birth, blood type, etc. are all a part of it.
3. The third part is the actual background of the character in my
fanfiction before PART 1. I invented the backgrounds, taking large
portions of the CLAMP's original concepts and adapting them to fit into
my world. Call it creative licensing.
I hope you enjoy these. Let me know what you think. Look for more to
follow, as well as part 3 to come soon!
- Jennifer Mondazzi (Rena/Maigrey)
CHARACTER FILE: ASHURA
1. CLAMP BACKGROUND:
In RG Veda, Ashura is the androgynous child of Ashura-Oh and Shashi,
but is usually referred to as a 'she'. She is the only surviving, legal
heir to her father's titles as clan leader and as Protector (or
Ten-Tai) of the Heavenly Kingdom (Ten-Kai), although she does have one
half-brother, who is named Ten-Oh (see his character file for more
info.).
When she was young, the prophetess Kuyoh predicted that Ashura would
lead the 'Six Stars' against the might of the Ten-Kai and destroy it.
Because of this, her father's most loyal general and friend, Taishaku,
rebelled against Ashura-Oh, killing him, and sealed Ashura away into a
"mystical sleep" that kept her from fulfilling her destiny, but also
that kept her from aging. Taishaku then took the throne of the Ten-Kai
for himself and married Shashi to legitimize his claim to rulership.
Years later, the still-young Ashura was released by the sympathetic
Yasha, then leader of the Yasha Clan, and because of it, his clan was
severely punished (see Yasha's character file for more info.). The two
spend their time trying to gather the other four 'Stars' to them, in
order to fulfill their destiny, and avoid Taishaku-ten's troops
whenever possible.
Ashura dotes on Yasha, and vice-versa. She relies upon his strength to
see her through the sadness and pain she carries with her. He had
promised to always protect her, no matter what, and he often goes to
great lengths to do so in the anime and manga. As she ages, Ashura
becomes more and more desirable to Yasha, and eventually, he falls in
love with her. However, she bears a double personality because of her
terrible fate - she becomes the vindictive and evil "Black Ashura" when
she uses her powers to destroy. Subsequently, each time she calls upon
that side for strength to defeat her enemies, more of the wicked "Black
Ashura" personality emerges, killing the good, loving Ashura's true
nature.
She possesses the mystic blade, Shura-toh, which is bespelled against
any but the rightful heir from wielding it. The sword is sheathed
inside Ashura's body and she calls it forth when needed (it appears in
her hand). It is an odd sword in that it is made of a clear substance
(like glass), but is infinitely strong. It's opposite, Yama-toh,
belongs to Yasha, and the two resonate when near each other.
In the last two volumes of the manga, Black Ashura emerges fully,
turning on her companions and killing one of them (Ryu-Oh), but she
stops short of killing Yasha (as Kuyoh prophetized that she must do).
Instead, she stabs herself with Shura-toh, and banishes herself to
eternal sleep. She is released from this prison by the sacrifice of
her friend, Kujaku, who willing gives his special life to her (see
Kujaku's character file for more info.). She and Yasha then begin a new
life together.
2. FANFICTION CHARACTER STATISTICS:
Seishi Name: Ashura
Real Name: Asura
Age: 21
Servant to: Genbu
Seishi Identifier: Protector of Genbu's Second Miko
Seishi Symbol: MEIYO ("glory")
Symbol Location: Center of forehead
Skills Powers: Controls fire
Weapons: Mystical Sword, Shura-Toh
Birthday: October 31st
Sign: Scorpio
Blood Type: B
Likes/Hobbies: Chess; Astronomy; Horseback riding; Political debates
Dislikes: Yasha's perceived betrayal; Taishaku-ten (Raijin); "Black
Ashura"
Eyes: Gold
Hair: Long, black, straight
Body Peculiarities/Scars/Markings: The tips of her ears are pointed
upwards, like an elf's.
3. FANFICTION BACKGROUND:
Ashura is the Protector of the second Genbu Miko.
She only child of Ashura-Oh the Fourth, one-time Emperor of Hokkan
Country, and Shashi, first Princess of the Larkspur Tribe, hailing from
Southeastern Hokkan country.
When her Seishi symbol appeared upon her forehead at her birth, her
father rejoiced - his little girl was to be the Genbu Miko's Protector!
Because she had been born with the destiny of the Heavens, she had
always been treated with the greatest care, and her father spoiled her
mercilessly with his love. Her mother, however, often went out of her
way to avoid Ashura, and this was never lost on the girl.
A very intelligent child with an overactive imagination, she would
oftentimes be found creating some sort of havoc about the palace
grounds. Despite this, she was beloved of almost every member of the
household, including the servants. Witty and brilliant, she dazzled
guests; charming and graceful, she delighted royal visitors alike.
However, she had no friends to run with her own age, and this made her
very lonely. Her only other relative was her father's younger brother,
Raijin, and he was much too old to play with - being fourteen years her
senior. Since his wife had died in childbirth long ago, and her son had
been stillborn, Raijin had no family of his own for Ashura to engage in
fun with.
So, instead, she had imaginary friends to keep her busy.
When Ashura was four years old, a strange boy was brought before her
father, and presented as Raijin's new servant. He was a tan-skinned
boy, with long, raven-colored hair and dark, brooding eyes. Raijin
introduced the boy as Yama, the only surviving child of the Yasha Clan,
and bade him bow to his new emperor (he had purposefully neglected to
mention Yama's alternate Seishi identity as Yasha). Yasha refused to
bow down to the emperor of the land that had murderered his family, and
in that one act of rebellion, Ashura was enchanted. Raijin forced the
boy to his knees with physical force, but Yasha looked directly into
Ashura-Oh's face, refusing to be cowered. Apparently Ashura-Oh was
impressed, for he greeted Yasha to the service of Raijin. When the
boy's hate-filled eyes rested on hers, Ashura felt her tiny heart speed
up to almost bursting. In that moment, she could feel his pain, and
understood his sorrow; it was the dawning recognition of one's own
other half, and she knew he had felt it as well, for his eyes widened
in surprise.
Yasha was quickly taken away to be trained in the arts of war by
Raijin after that, and for years, Ashura did not see him again, yet,
she never stopped thinking of him.
When she was ten years old, her uncle and his loyal Generals led a
coup against Ashura-Oh, betraying and killing him. Raijin then took the
throne of Hokkan for himself, and changed his name to Taishaku-ten.
When he was settled in his new position, he ordered that the surviving
servants and court members be rounded up and brought to the throne room
by force. Those who opposed his reign were beheaded on the spot. The
others were allowed to go back to their regular duties and lives only
after they swore their undying loyalty to Taishaku-ten.
Sometime during that night, the loving, carefree child Ashura had been
died.
When the soldiers had come to her room that night, she was frightened,
and ducked under the bed. The assassins found her, however, and drug
her out, kicking and screaming from her hiding spot. Out in the
hallway, Ashura's nursemaid, Mara, ran to her door, trying to rescue
the child she had so lovingly helped raise. She was swiftly thrown back
by one of the soldiers, then he cut her down before she could take two
steps. Ashura watched in horror as the woman who had been like a mother
to her fell to the ground, her blood staining the cream colored carpet
a deep scarlet in the flickering torchlight. She screamed inhumanly and
ran to the woman's side in the hopes of saving her, but when she saw
the blankness in Mara's eyes, Ashura knew that her friend was gone
forever.
Something snapped.
When she regained conscious, the room was on fire, and the men who had
tried to kill her, who had killed Mara, lie in a puddle of ooze that
had once been their skin and clothes. White bone gleamed at her, and
the stench of burned flesh filled her nostrils making her gag. She ran
into the corner, curling up in a ball, tucking her head into her arms
and cried.
What seemed hours later, a boy's voice called out her name, and when
she looked up, Yasha was there. Reaching out, she clung to him, numb
and shaking. He soothed her with his now-deep, mature voice, and
wrapped his arms about her. Their respite was brief, however. Voices
echoed from down the hall, coming closer, and Yasha disentangled them
hurriedly. Taking her hand, he led Ashura out the window and into the
dark. She didn't know where they went, or how long they scurried
around, but she trusted Yasha implicitly, even though they had only met
just that one time, so long ago.
They hid out in the upper, unused portion of the stable loft. For
days, Yasha cared for her, bringing her food and water, forcing her to
sustain herself. At night, when she awoke in tears, Yasha was there to
hold and rock her back to sleep. The gaping hole that had been her
heart was still there, however, and no amount of care he could give
would take it away entirely. Eventually, they were discovered, and
taken to Taishaku-ten, to stand before him for punishment. Ashura was
unafraid, even believing her death to be at hand. Her only consolation
was that she had been able to see Yasha again.
On that fateful day, Ashura received some very disturbing news, which
further pushed her over the brink. To legitimize his claim to the
throne, Taishaku-ten had married Ashura's mother only three days after
her father's murder, and had bedded her immediately, in the hopes of
creating an heir for ascendancy. When she begged her mother for an
explanation, the woman snubbed the girl, calling her a fool.
Contemptuously, Shashi verbally denounced Ashura in front of the court,
all in a visible attempt to better her position in Taishaku-ten's eyes.
She may have been young, but Ashura was absolutely brilliant, and
understood politicking well. She saw through her mother immediately,
and the knife in her heart twisted even further. Shashi had never loved
her, she realized, and had only put up with her because of Ashura-Oh's
influence. Now that the man was dead, she no longer had a reason to be
tolerant.
Ashura refused to cry; she simply waited for her sentence to be
declared in silence.
She felt more than heard Yasha's cry of anger after her mother
finished her tirade, and watched, strangely detached, as he had knelt
before Taishaku-ten and had offered his life in exchange for hers. To
everyone's surprise, Taishaku-ten decreed that they would both be
allowed to live. He sentenced Yasha to a bout of light whippings,
reduced his rations to half what they had been, and increased his
training regiment proportionally. As for Ashura, what he decreed for
her was as good as a death sentence - she would never again be allowed
outside the palace walls, and would have an armed escort wherever she
went. Worse, she was now his personal property; he would decide her
future and her fate - including a husband for her.
After that, Yasha was taken away, and Ashura didn't see him again for
another three years.
Nine months after her audience with Taishaku-ten, Shashi gave birth to
a good-natured boy, whom she named Ten. That same day, Taishaku-ten
proclaimed Ten his legal heir, forever removing Ashura from the line of
ascendancy. Using secretive dark magic on his son, Ten was instantly
aged, until he overtook Ashura by a good four years both physically and
mentally. The members of court took this mystical growth as a sign from
the Heavens that Ten was legitimate, and so rejected Ashura for good.
Betrayal upon betrayal built up, and Ashura grew more and more
withdrawn. Her hatred had become a bitter seed within her heart. She
began having dreams, and hearing a voice speak to her, whispering
poisonous words in her mind, taunting her with her misfortunes. She
tried to shut them away, but they continued to return, and each day,
she yearned to see Yasha, just once more.
On the night of her thirteenth birthday, she had been allowed to
stroll about the gardens without an escort, and there she ran into
Yasha again. No words were necessary between them; both understood the
other perfectly in that moment. There, under the protection of the
giant trees, with the moonlight floating about them lazily, Yasha gave
Ashura her first kiss.
It was something she would never be able to forget.
Occasionally, over the years, the two saw each other. Yasha came to
the palace more frequently, since he had gained notoriety in important
circles and on the field of battle. They'd exchanged silent messages in
their gazes, or an occasional rare word or two to each other. Despite
the fact that every lady at court wanted him, he seemed to only have
eyes for Ashura. Meanwhile, she had grown into an incredibly beautiful
young woman, and had her share of suitors - all of which she turned
down flatly, for she only wanted Yasha.
Of course, none of their flirtations or the rumors about them escaped
Taishaku-ten's notice either. Several times, he had tried to arrange
marriages for her, and each time, she made sure the interested party
begged-off all on his own. Her waspish tongue and scornful visage was
enough to accomplish this task easily. All of this angered Taishaku-ten
greatly, and that absolutely thrilled Ashura to no end.
Eventually, the men stopped coming to woo her, and began avoiding her
entirely.
When she was seventeen, she and Yasha became lovers in the truest
sense of the word. A chance encounter at her bedroom window ended in
them spending the night in each other's arms. Yet, despite the fact
that she had finally given herself to him, a part of her remained
untouched deep inside her soul. The poison that had lived there for so
many years had not gone away at his touch, as she had hoped for so many
years that it might.
During the next few months, doubts crept into her mind, distancing
them further. She had discovered that Yasha was fated to be the
protector of the Miko of Byakko, while she was fated to be protector of
the Miko of Genbu. The dark whispering in her mind late at night
continued, taunting her with 'what-ifs'. Would Yasha abandon her to go
off and find his Miko eventually? Would his promise of undying loyalty
to their love be true if they stood on the opposite sides of the
battlefield? With Hokkan and Sairou constantly nagging at each other's
borders, the possibility existed that the two countries would someday
go to war against each other. Would Yasha defend his Miko's country -
the country of his birth? No matter how she looked at it, Ashura just
couldn't believe that Yasha would simply abandon his duty to his God -
he was much too spiritual for that.
Which meant, that in the end, they would lose each other.
Unable to take the torment of not knowing any longer, she confronted
him about it. When he didn't reply for many minutes, Ashura mistook his
silence for guilt. Deeply hurt, she fled from him, and spent the
remainder of the day in tears. It was then that the voice finally spoke
one-on-one with her. The man, whoever he was, offered her a way out of
her situation - he would help her escape the palace, and in exchange,
she would guarantee him one of the Genbu Miko's wishes. Sharp as a
razor, Ashura's instincts warned her that the voice was up to
something. Considering her options, however, she replied that she would
simply deliberate over his proposal, and give him an answer later. The
voice accepted that and vanished from her mind.
That night, at dinner, she was forced to listen to the gossip of the
royals. They spoke of the border skirmishes, and of the young Emperor
of Konan, and how well he was doing for his country despite his age.
Many of the ministers eyes, as well as Taishaku-ten's, strayed to hers
throughout the conversation, obviously contemplating a match-up between
the Emperor of Konan and the Princess of Hokkan. Their combined
landmass would split the western and eastern trade routes effectively,
forcing Sairou and Kutou Countries to pay tolls and taxes on
transporting goods from one end of the continent to the other. Ashura
could almost hear the chink and clang of gold in everyone's heads.
Their intentions were so obvious that she was sickened, and excused
herself, feigning a headache, and returned to her chambers.
Wanting out of the prison-like existence she lived in, she mentally
called out her acceptance of the voice's offer. The voice took on a
reflection in her mirror, and for the first time, Ashura looked upon
the mien of her mysterious tormentor/savior. He gave her instructions
and promised to grant her the power to remain unseen by others. She
quickly gathered only the most important things to her - including her
father's sword, Shura-Toh, which she stole off of the wall above
Taishaku-ten's throne (when she touched the weapon, it became one with
her, entering her body in a shimmering golden light), then, she made
her way out of the palace, and didn't look back, heading north.
Weeks went by in the desolate mountains, and eventually, Ashura's
strength began to give out. Her limbs were nearly frozen from the cold,
and her food supply had dwindled to basically nothing, yet she forced
herself to continue onward, sure that her new 'Master' wouldn't have
directed her in the wrong direction.
While climbing a narrow path, she came upon a dark cave, and entered
it, thinking she would rest for a while. Inside, she saw the flickering
light from a fire, and, since she had nothing left to lose, she headed
for it. As she rounded the corner, she saw a coweled man sitting in
front of the warm flames. At first, she though he might have been dead,
since he didn't stir at her presence, but as she neared, he finally
looked up, capturing her with his gaze. Ashura froze in place, unsure
of what to do. For long moments, neither said a word, but finally the
man smiled and gestured for her to join him with a nod of his head. She
lay her pack down, took off her wet coat and gloves, and sat on the
opposite side of the fire, proceeding to thaw herself out.
All the while, she never took her eyes off of the man.
The next morning, he was gone. The fire was still lit, however, so she
waited for him to return, and rested periodically. She awoke again that
night, to the smell of roasting meat, and as they sat to eat, the man
finally spoke to her. She discovered that his name was Nataku, and he
showed her his Genbu Seishi symbol. They spoke for a while, and Ashura
began to understand that the voice had sent her in this direction for
the specific purpose of meeting up with Nataku, whom, it seemed, had
been waiting for her.
By the next morning, the duo had decided to become traveling partners
in search of the rest of the Seishi and their Miko. This pursuit would
occupy many years of their lives...
In the meantime, Ashura's 'Master' continued to speak with her,
guiding her along, and encouraging her to use the negative emotions
within her to further their cause. Occasionally, she'd experience
fainting spells and headaches, which would always make her disoriented
and tired afterwards, and sometimes, they would even leave empty gaps
of time in her memory, where she could remember nothing of what she had
done or said for those hours or days that had passed. At first she
thought that the nausea and dizziness were because she had gotten
pregnant from her last affair with Yasha, but as time went by, and her
body did not change, she ruled out that possibility. The nightmares
returned full-force as well, and Ashura would wake up screaming and
crying often.
Sleep deprivation, reduced food intake, and her inward resentments
were beginning to tell on her, and slowly, she began to change without
realizing it. By the time she was twenty, the young girl that had lived
in the palace with her imaginary friends, that had loved the rebellious
and kind Yasha, and that had believed in the hope for something better
was gone. "Black Ashura" was now the dominant personality, and Ashura
was buried inside the recesses of her mind, unable to escape.
Unforgiving, harsh, cruel, and cold, "Black Ashura" is the epitome of
the darkness found within the human spirit. Her ultimate aim is to
fulfill her end of Kuyoh's prophecy and kill Yasha - a task she looks
forward to. When that is complete, she plans to turn her attention to
Taishaku-ten.
Little does she know, but the voice whispering in her head has its own
agenda planned for her...