Hotohori - the great Emperor

November 17, 2009

         

 

        

Hotohori

Hotohori (星宿^?), the fourth Emperor of Kōnan, Emperor Cai Pi (彩賁帝, Saihitei^?) has a reputation for his beauty and his narcissism. He is eighteen years old and was born in Eiyou (Rong-Yang), the capital city of the Konan Empire. As one of the Celestial Warriors of Suzaku, he is able to summon a sword; as such he is a powerful swordsman and has been additionally trained in martial arts since childhood. His true name is Seishuku Shu (朱 星宿, Shu Seishuku^?) based on the star Brightance (星).

Hotohori first hears of the Priestess of Suzaku at a young age and comes to believe that the priestess would become his true love and the one who would love him for himself instead of his title. Upon meeting Miaka, he falls in love with her and becomes willing to do anything for her sake. As such, he becomes a rival to Tamahome for Miaka’s affection, but eventually concedes when he realizes that Miaka will only ever love Tamahome. Hotohori eventually marries a woman Houki, who bears a striking resemblance to Nuriko. He is killed by Nakago during the battle between Konan and Kutō, leaving Houki pregnant with his son Boushin.

Raised with little warmth, Hotohori appears cold, reserved, and harsh, particularly when acting as the Emperor of Konan, but actually shows himself as a warm, peace-loving and gentle person. Known as a responsible ruler and capable of dealing with political affairs, Hotohori often places the well-being of his subjects first and forgets his own needs in the process. However, Hotohori has limited understanding of the world as a result of being raised in a sheltered environment. After meeting Miaka and the other Celestial Warriors of Suzaku, he is gradually able to act as himself and finds true friends.

In Fushigi Yūgi Eikoden, a young boy named Shu Eian (who often visits a local cemetery) revives Hotohori. During the assembly of the Suzaku Celestial Warriors, he returns last, despite Nuriko’s threat to kill him with his sword when he doesn’t come out.

Sesshoumaru - the amazing one

          

  

Sesshomaru

Sesshomaru (殺生丸, Sesshōmaru^?) is InuYasha’s older half-brother. Like their father, he is the Lord of the Western Lands, although Sesshomaru maintains no permanent home. As a full-blooded Inu-yokai, he is a very powerful demon and nearly unequalled in raw power, but is unable to defeat Naraku in volume twenty-three of the manga. He has no interest in possessing even one shard of the Shikon Jewel to enhance his powers, since he is already supremely confident of his own strength.

He is initially ruthless in dealing with InuYasha, whom he despises as a half-demon who consorts with humans, and attempts to take the sword Tetsusaiga from him. However, Sesshoumaru gradually changes after using Tenseiga, another sword made from one of their father’s fangs, to revive the human child Rin. His growing compassion prompts the master swordsmith Totosai to reforge Tenseiga, enabling the Meidou Zangetsuha (”dark path of the dawn’s moon blast”) attack. After Naraku attempts to manipulate him by using Rin as a hostage, Sesshomaru becomes determined to destroy Naraku.

In the anime adaptation, he is voiced by Ken Narita. In the English dub, he is voiced by David Kaye.