Name: Takashi Kaito
Role in Story: Hero or Party Member. Either is fine with me.
Race: Human, aged 17.
Appearance: Kaito has a squared appearance, the look of a warrior. He is handsome. After his first, and only, battle, his top knot came undone, and he hair was free. He would never put into a knot again. He is short, and lean with muscle. He stands always with a strong stance and good posture, giving the air of confidence, but he carries himself with a warrior's sense of modesty.
He stands around 1.68 meters tall (5 feet 6 inches, Imperial)
Racial Traits: N/A
Magic: He is a Samurai(Or was a samurai...)! Magic is for monks and witches.
Equipment: Ancestral Daisho consisting of the katana Chinamagusai Sunō(Bloodstained Snow) and wakizashi Akinokaze (Autumn Wind). These swords have been passed down for generations, and are said to have been blessed by a kami when they were forged. He is also currently wearing a set of Gusoku type armor in the colors of Clan Okami.
Skills: His is trained in the traditional martial arts of the Samurai, those being: Kenjutsu(Sword fighting), Battojutsu(combat sword drawing), Kyujutsu(Bow fighting), Jujutsu(Unarmed combat), Bojutsu(Staff fighting) and Bajutsu(Horse riding). Besides the martial skills, he is also trained in calligraphy, poetry and and etiquette.
History: Kaito was born the ninth son of a samurai in service to the Akiyama clan. Like his older brothers, he was trained from youth to become a samurai, and carry on the martial tradition of his ancestors. Being the youngest in a family, it was common for him to be hazed into doing many of the more menial chores. However, he proved to be skilled in the martial arts, and quickly became the ire of many of his brothers.
When he was 14, he was challenged to a duel by one of his older brothers, and was forced to kill him. It just as his other brothers had planned, for they had set it up for it look like murder. For this shameful act, he was banished from the household, and was not allowed to redeem his honor through Harakiri. He wandered as a Ronin for a short time, before, as luck would have it, he was accepted into the service of Lord Hashimoto, who was sympathetic to Kaito's story. Kaito was eternally greatful for this opportunity, and to Lord Hashimoto, and served him diligently. Hashimoto came to show him great favor, and so, when the time came that Lord Hashimoto's clan Okami was called to war, Kaito was appointed to his personal guard at the age of 17.
Unfortunately, the battle did not go well, and Clan Okami was destroyed on in the field of battle. Kaito was unable to protect Lord Hashimoto from mortal wound, and on his dying breath, urged Kaito to take his swords, and live; to go against what was expected of him this once.
With Lord Hashimoto's death poem eternally etched into Kaito's mind, and his swords on his belt, he stumbles away from the battlefield and enters a bamboo forest. While gathering his bearings, he happens upon a spring, and thinks how refreshing the water would be. It was only after a moment of being lost in thought on the coolness of the water, did he notice a beautiful maiden...
Personality: Kaito is generally polite, and holds to etiquette. However, he can also be unconventional(for a samurai). He is not afraid to be brash and rude to those he feels are deserving. He holds loyalty to be above all else, and will place himself fully on the line in defense of those he gives his loyalty to. Due to his past, he doesn't necessarily hold true to all the tenants of Bushido(there's that unconventional bit). He see's victory as more important than honor, but still holds honor as important. Lord Hashimoto taught him that honor is in living, so that he can continue to protect those that matter(Not exactly conventional for Feudal Japan). He is not above breaking etiquette if it means giving himself an advantage in combat. He is an avid player of the Chinese strategy game of Go, through which Lord Hachimoto used to teach Kaito strategy and the Art of War.
