| “ | All this talk of how you can't feel anything...or how you must hurt others, simply is not true. If it was, I would have lost my hand already. Utsuro is but a facade you hide behind... Your heart is not empty. That is because you are human. That's why you lied, to protect your warm, fragile heart. | ” |
— Tokimaru to Utsuro Karakururi in "Outstretched Hand and Chains of Sin" | ||
Tokimaru (
Appearance
Tokimaru's real form.
Tokimaru is a young boy of average height with short, dark hair and black eyes. He has a toned physique, and many scars across his body–which mostly came from his training as a shinobi. He wears shozoku, an utility belt and jika-tabi, alongside an old scarf, which was given to him by Ai.
His original appearance is that of a big bird. He supposedly is a white crane or heron.
Personality
Tokimaru is serious and devoted to his village, especially Ai herself. He is quite stubborn about leaving Ai's side and is absolutely willing to give up his own life for her sake.[2]
History
Tokimaru was found as an injured bird by Ai and Mai Tennoji, who took care of him until he was finally able to fly again. After his village was incinerated, Tokimaru came to Soga Village so he could directly serve under Ai and Mai. After saving Ai from falling off a tree, he became her "apprentice" and the link between Ai and Mai. The three of them would become friends, until Mai stole Nihil, killed many villagers, and attacked Ai on the heart with the heartblade. Tokimaru was able to find Ai and save her, but Mai had disappeared.
Synopsis
Volume 5
Tokimaru finds Ai.
Tokimaru follows Ai through the city with the sole objective of taking her back to the village. When he finally finds her with other two girls, he is taken aback by one of her techniques, so they run away from him, going to a nearby temple. When she was about to fall down the stairs, Tokimaru saves her and introduces himself to the other two girls. They momentarily argue over torii, and as soon as they get down, Tokimaru stays nearby listening to them talking, refusing to leave.
When Ai asks for Teru's help to erase the evil, Tokimaru is immediately against it, and questions her to whether she even had somewhere to stay overnight. Ai decides on the spot she would be staying in Teru's house, surprising him. Iko leaves them to take care of her brother and Tokimaru is told to stay outside. However, after a while, Ai makes some food to him and tells him again to leave. He doesn't leave and stays at Teru's house's roof, noticing someone's menacingly presence in the distance.
Tokimaru tells Ai how important his scarf is to him.
Tokimaru was bathing by the river before Ai, alongside Iko and Teru, came. He is found by Ai at the top of a tree, observing the surroundings, and she tells him she was playing rock skipping with the other two. They briefly reminiscence over the time they trained together, until she finally notices he is half-naked, and he explains that he was washing his clothes before she came. Ai asks why he didn't take his scarf off, too, to which he replies that it is something important to him and he doesn't want to lose it.
Ai tries to provoke him by saying that it was something that a girl he likes gave him, and he bluntly says it was Ai herself who gave it to him, but she doesn't appear to remember this fact. Tokimaru brushes it off and shows his worries over the path Ai is taking, however, she tells him that only she is able to rescue "her" soul. She then takes his hand and asks him to accompany her. While Ai comes back to Shy and Iko, Tokimaru receives a bird's message and thinks to himself that he will protect Ai even if it costs him his life. After a little while, Tokimaru notices some birds flying away from something.
Volume 7
As things get complicated in Tokyo, Tokimaru approaches Stardust offering help.
Volume 8
Tokimaru tries to convince Utsuro to stop her plan.
Tokimaru arrives at the tower to try and convince Utsuro Karakururi to stop fighting. Ai is able to do so, but as the Amarariruku appear to continue the plan, Tokimaru alongside the others stop Holy Mother Bear from destroying the dome. This makes Keheheh Kekerakera decide to use the bear as a bomb and she successfuly blows up the dome. He gets heavily injured in the back in an attempt to protect the sisters.
Volume 9
As Utsuro Karakururi attempts to take all the fear by herself, Shy through Purity states that she would be unable to do it alone. Tokimaru takes action by transforming partially into his bird form and takes both of them to Utsuro. Shy connects them with her Heart-Shift Bracelets and unleashes a bright light into Utsuro's moon, which dispels the darkness. As they observe the sky, Tokimaru gets back on ground with the rest of them.
Ai immediately hugs Utsuro out of longing, and Tokimaru apologizes to her for leaving her alone when she needed him most. However, Utsuro reveals she wouldn't be able to stay with them. She gives Shy her ring and blurts out her feelings of loneliness. To this, Tokimaru appears as a bird and tells her they have always been with her, which makes her cry. Mai makes Tokimaru promise to take care of Ai in her stead and disappears while her sword is taken by him to the moon.
He supposedly returns to Soga Village alongside Ai after everything is over.
Abilities
Overall Abilities: Just like Ai, Tokimaru was trained as a Shinobi. He has immense durability, which made him able to easily resist one of Ai's sword techniques, as well as come out unscathed from a high fall.[3] He can easily get on top of constructions such as a torii[4] and Teru's house's roof.[5]
Pain Tolerance: Tokimaru is very resilient and doesn't react easily to pain. This may be due to his rigid training as a shinobi, as he didn't appear to mind being stabbed by Utsuro's blade.[6]
Techniques
- Bestial Transformation Art: Fly (
鳥 獣 変 化 の術 解 Chōjū, Henka no Jutsu: Kai?): Tokimaru partially transforms into his bird form, which allows him to fly.[7]
Manga Appearances
Anime Appearances
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Quotes
- (To Utsuro Karakururi) "All this talk of how you can't feel anything...or how you must hurt others, simply is not true. If it was, I would have lost my hand already. Utsuro is but a facade you hide behind... Your heart is not empty. That is because you are human. That's why you lied, to protect your warm, fragile heart."[8]
Trivia
- His name has the kanji for "vermillion" (朱?), "heron" (鷺?) and "circle" (丸?).
- He likes Ai, Mai, playing in the river, and loaches.[1]
- In regards to his character, Hiro Shimono commented:
| “ | The character I play, Tokimaru, is a ninja from the same Soga Village as Ai Tennoji, who appears in season 2. He is a boy who has been watching over the princess Ai as her attendant since he was a child. However, he is calm and loyal to his duties, and sometimes scolds Ai, which gives him an air that is somewhat unbecoming of a boy, making him a mysterious character. I hope you will watch to see what kind of activities Tokimaru will show us! Please look forward to SHY!! |
” |
Key Visuals
Ending Illustrations
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Episode 23 Characters File
- ↑ SHY Manga: Chapter 37, page 20.
- ↑ SHY Manga: Chapter 33
- ↑ SHY Manga: Chapter 34, page 1
- ↑ SHY Manga: Chapter 35, page 19
- ↑ SHY Manga: Chapter 65, page 1-3
- ↑ SHY Manga: Chapter 70
- ↑ SHY Manga: Chapter 65, page 4
- ↑ STAFF&CAST
| v • e | |
|---|---|
| Heroes | Doctor Schwartz • La Voile • Lady Black • Leader Century • Mian Long • Shine • Shining Six (Nirvana • Indra • Juggernaut • Pavoreal • Pulse • Rampage) • Shy • Spirit • Stardust |
| Amarariruku | Stigma • Doki Baragaki • Inori Hallelujah • Keheheh Kekerakera • Quabala Quabala • Ruiz Ice-Walker • Sekirara Lovesong • Talmu Mendoza (Anlet) • Tzveta Kooriskaya • Utsuro Karakururi • Weepy Tearnight |
| Shinobi | Ai Tennoji • Tokimaru |
| Civilians | Beni Hanawa • Chihiro Nagata • Daigo Koishikawa • Hiromi Seki • Iko Koishikawa • Isaak • Nagi Watatsumi • Natalia • Teru's grandfather • Tojiko Asuka |
| Others | N. Villio • Unilord |
For minor characters, see: Minor characters
| |