Shigure Kōsaka/History

==Early Background==
====Early Childhood====
Shigure was raised deep in the mountains along with her father, who was a master at both crafting and Shigure as a child wielding weapons. During this time, she met Kagerō Kii, who retrieved Setsunamaru from her father and tested it on a swallow, Shigure's "first friend". On one of Akisame's travels, he discovered the then nameless Shigure and who was her father. Because her father was suffering from a terminal illness, he requested Akisame to take his life away in a duel so that he could die as a warrior's death. Akisame initially refused, but eventually had to throw him off a cliff after a forced confrontation. Before dying, her father admitted he did not really want to die in battle but was trying to be a bad example so his daughter would avoid repeating his own mistakes. as Shigure, seeing her father's death, quietly sheds a tear while holding the final sword her father crafted, the only thing to remember her late father by. as Akisame then gave Shigure her name (her father never gave her one) after seeing the rain and took her to be raised by Akisame's old friend, the late master of the Kōsaka style weapon's combat. While under Hachirobe's tutoring, Shigure would at some point meet with Rin Tachibana, a former disciple of Hachirobe. He complimented her skills and following a short scuffle with the two, they considered themselves disciple siblings as Rin promised her, they would fight again one day when she was strong enough. After the old man passed away, Akisame brought Shigure into Ryōzanpaku. Shigure goes on missions to locate swords crafted by her late father and takes them out of circulation, keeping her exact need for this was kept secret.
==Plot==
==Ragnarök Saga==
===Introduction Arc===
Shigure is first introduced when Miu brings Kenichi to Ryōzanpaku to train. At first, Shigure didn't think much of him and continued to be a loner from everyone else. Eventually, Kenichi asked her to train him, and she agreed (she pumped her fist in happiness). She trained him to fight unarmed without weapons and how to use them if needed.
===Disciple Plans Arc===
On the beach trip, Shigure decided to teach Kenichi to swim since he didn't know-how. She also briefly smiled at his progress as noted by Kenichi. She later helped save his sister, Honoka from getting killed by sharks. Shigure would develop, with Apachai, a friendly relationship with Honoka and teach the two how to act more normal, such as teaching them how to make tea, shocking both of them. Shigure would be asked by Miu to act as her Step-Mother and be paired with Sakaki as her Step-father. Unfortunately, the two screwed up due to their lack of people skills and how they are the worst at lying, but Miu was left alright. Despite being a loner, Shigure, like Miu, considers everyone at Ryōzanpaku as her family.
===Final Clash Arc===
Later, when Kenichi is attacked by The Valkyries, Tōchūmaru signals her (due to him having followed Kenichi) and she arrives to fight and easily defeat them with just a wooden spoon and tears their clothes to almost nothing. When Kenichi fights the leader of the Eight Fist League of Ragnarök, Ryūto, Shigure gives a happy expression when Kenichi mimics her fighting style with the other masters.
==Yami/YOMI Saga==
===Snow Summit Arc===
After Ragnarök is defeated, the master's now must deal with Yami. When the Elder mentions to Shigure alone that Miu's mother was killed in a snowstorm, Shigure is shocked. At some points, Shigure would go on trips to find valuable swords and try to find her late father's sword, and when she returns home, she would usually go to bed from traveling all night. Shigure would allow Akisame to tell Kenichi about her past stating if it's him, it's alright.
===D of D Tournament Arc===
Around the time of the D of D tournament, Shigure would fight the Female Weapon Guard and win easily. She would even want to take a tank home and call it a "pet" while grabbing it. She would accompany Sakaki to save Jenny Grey and would act surprised when Jenny asked if Sakaki and Shigure were a couple. They all eventually defeated the enemies and saved Kenichi from getting killed by the soldiers. Shigure would congratulate the Shinpaku members for defeating Fortuna and they all went home.
===Yomi in School Arc===
After Kenichi's near-death experience at the hands of Tirawit Kokin, Shigure takes him on a trip to remove the seed of fear in his heart. Shigure goes to a resort with him and even be in the same bath with him, greatly flustering him and wishing not to bathe with her. They are ambushed and, despite not having clothes on her, Shigure defeats all of them. Afterward, Shigure gives Kenichi a present from the Elder, which is Miu's father's battle gloves. Kagerō Kii runs into Shigure and Kenichi, remembering that this is the man that killed her childhood animal friend, fought, and easily won. Both of them run into Kagerō Kii again and Shigure would convince him to trade sides for her late father's sword and help defeat the enemies and he agreed. Since then, he's mellowed out. After returning home, Shigure acts depressed due to the others not having any faith in her skills muttering "How...rude". After telling Kenichi about the lesson of using Shinto Gōrenzan the trip and how fun it was to bathe with him (shocking Miu and Kensei), she wishes to train him sometime again. Miu is angry about the bathing moment and walks away from it despite Kenichi trying to explain, and then, Shigure for the first-time smiles at Kenichi stating his and Miu's relationship is really good and special, surprising him. Miu returned and said she was just kidding and noted Kenichi had a reason and knew Shigure did what she did for a reason. Miu then noted how Shigure having changed since Kenichi entered Ryōzanpaku, suggesting she views Kenichi more than just a disciple, believing she may have feelings for him.
===Ethan Stanley Arc===
When Rachel Stanley is taken by Junazard, Shigure helps with the other master to save her and defeat the guards there.
===Weapon Fighters Arc===
Afterward, when the Yami weapons group would try to steal valuable weapons, Shigure, Sakaki, and Kenichi would guard the weapons at their location. They would eventually engage with the enemy and meet Kagerō Kii again and tell him that she destroyed the sword he wanted back, leaving him depressed and unable to fight. When Mikumo Kushinada would try to attack Sakaki, Shigure would step in and fight her and only be able to give her a cut on her shirt. Mikumo left but stated they'll fight again someday. When Kenichi had to defend the sword, they came to protect, Shigure would convince Sai to trade sides for her late father's sword and help defeat the enemies and he agreed. Afterward, they met again and gave him the sword. Since then, he's mellowed out.
When the weapons division comes again but with more danger and having taken Freya's grandfather, Shigure leads the Shinpaku Alliance to save him. She would run into Agaard Jum Sai and fight him, however, even Shigure was no match for him and would have lost and been severely injured if not for her guard vest. She later took Kenichi to watch the other masters praising him for fighting a master class opponent and when he smiled tears of joy, Shigure also smiled.
===Yami Transport Data Arc===
After heading to Okinawa for Apachai to fight Aagaard, Shigure would fight Lance of the West and won. After returning home, Shigure and the other masters had to disband until the police left their home. They eventually returned home after catching Miu kissing Kenichi on the cheek. Shigure and Apachai would later follow Kenichi and Miu when they want to find out more about Miu's past but would lose track of them due to them stopping for bento. Thanks to Tōchūmaru, they made it in time for Shigure to fight Akira Hongō, but he refused to fight a woman (though Shigure was flattered that someone thought of her as a woman). After the Elder told Miu about her parents, they returned home.
===Titan Arc===
Following the discovery of a Yami base, Shigure and the other masters head out to the base with Kenichi and the rest of the Shinpaku Alliance. However, they have youngsters to stay for their safety. They arrive fighting Ogata's men and Shigure comments she can't detect him and for everyone to be on their guard as they split up to find him. They all search and find nothing and regroup noting he's not there. Shigure then goes back to check on the Shinpaku Alliance telling them about not finding Ogata and that she came back to check on them sensing a strong presence. Later at night, she listens to the elders talk with Akisame and is left shocked discovering of Tanaka's wife also being killed by Ogata along with his unborn child.
===The Eternal Sunset Arc===
After the battle between the Shinpaku Alliance and Yomi, the masters begin to worry about how Kenichi was affected by Tanaka's death at the hands of Ogata, but Kenichi returns ready to begin his training, which surprises them all. A couple of days later, the masters talk about the subject of how Tanaka's fight with Ogata was unavoidable, and how they need to find a way to help Kenichi and his friends with their fight against the weapon users of Yami. They all agreed that they would eventually fight the weapon division on a frequent basis, which is when Shigure comes up with a plan for helping the Shinpaku Alliance, a plan which she calls the "Shigure-chan Special". Shigure takes Apachai, Kenichi, and Miu with her on a trip to the beach to collect sand, something that confuses Kenchi and Miu completely. As they continue to ask what her plan is, she continues to ignore them and pays a little visit to Kagerō Kii, who gives her bags of dirt and a device for extracting iron sand from the dirt and sand that she gathered. It was then revealed that the reason for this was for her to forge the iron sand into metal, which she can use to provide arms for the alliance. She states that she's really forging armor for protection and says it will take a week to make and that Miu and Kenichi should leave. When Kenichi says he'll stay, Shigure, though touched, says the best he can do is train less he chooses to fight with Apachai and Kii. After the week is up, a sleeping Shigure and Apachai arrive at the Shinpaku Alliance headquarters and Shigure slashes Miu's outfit up out of self-defense. She awakens and reveals her new arm guard for everyone and tests them by attacking them all, to which they're amazed that they are uninjured by her attacks.
At Ryōzanpaku, Shigure and the others are visited by Inspector Honmaki and are shocked to hear how he and the entire police must guard Yami at a governmental institution prompting Shigure to note they don't need protection, and something is wrong. Regardless, she and the other masters are all determined to put them away in Big Lock. As all the masters prepare for their battle against Yami and the government, Shigure prepares by sharpening her sword then dulling it again to make it more battle-ready. The other masters decide to leave Shigure with Kenichi and Miu in case the armed members of Yami decide to move. Kenichi begins to complain about how reckless their actions are, to which they say that as martial artists they have to stand by their beliefs to the very end, with Sakaki even saying that one day Kenichi would be standing side by side with them. When Miu tells Kenichi that he'll have to protect her first before that day comes, Shigure jokingly says that he'll have to protect her too.
Later as Kenichi trains, she watches the news and is shocked as she sees someone she recognizes. When Kenichi asks who he is, she states he's a murderer and that he's likely using one of her late father's weapons and that he's used them the most to kill people. As she questions whether she should go after him or not, Kenichi and Miu encourage her to go, which prompts Shigure to bring both of them along. She states that if she leaves them behind the Yami masters will likely go after them stating her solution is brilliant.
At the Tokyo docks, Shigure and the others arrive in secret from the guards and tell Kenichi and Miu to stay close no matter what. As she smells blood, they find bodies noting they're still breathing. She notes that since they're still breathing it has to be his work and states that the person leaving them alive to make the stage grander is the work of Mihai Știrbey. Once they find the boat, he's on, Shigure and the others board it with her weapons just in time. Just then, she's shocked to sense not one, but seven Kis on the boat, realizing all of them belong to the Hachiō Danzaiba members.
While Kenichi wonders if they should still hide, Shigure notes there is no point in doing so since the armed members have likely sensed them. She then shouts out Știrbey's name noting he's watching them. She introduces herself to Știrbey and apologizes to Kenichi and Miu that her plan to protect them backfired and will have to fight the armed group with her life on the line. However, as Kenichi refuses to do so being her disciple, and Miu agrees with him, Shigure is moved noting his growth, but orders him as her master that he finds a way to escape. As she faces Știrbey, she asks if she can trust that he won't go after Miu and Kenichi. While Știrbey says his friends won't, but he will gladly kill them both, Shigure notes she just has to make sure he can't fight anymore and will put her life on the line as she faces Mihai Știrbey alone.
Shigure begins to do battle with the Hachiō Danzaiba, powering up her ki and getting commended by Mihai Știrbey. Shigure begins her attack with Shinto Gōrenzan and proceeds to attack all the members of the Hachiō Danzaiba at the same time. Seitarō Raigō insults Shigure's decision of taking them on all at once while Kenichi and Miu seek to escape, understanding that Shigure is distracting the opponents away from them. However, Mihai Știrbey appears behind them unscathed due to protective clothing made by Shigure's Father. Știrbey warns Shigure not to move and says that today is an important day for them, and a black flag appears on the ship, signaling the Eternal Sunset. Shigure then questions what they are carrying on the ship and slashes it to find gold bars for their military fund.
Shigure and Mildred Lawrence are battling. The female archer attacks Shigure with her arrows but Shigure manages to dodge them using her immense speed. The bow master dodges Shigure's counterattack (mocking the Katsujin-ken in the process) and shoots an arrow at Shigure, who catches the arrow with her fingers. Shigure then takes hold of her opponent's bow and shoots an arrow in the archer's stomach using Kōsaka-Ryū Kagamibanare.
The bow master catches the arrow before it hits but is visibly angry at the fact that she was attacked with her own weapon. As Kenichi and Miu attempt to escape, Michael again blocks their path and decides to kill them, to which Shigure begs him not to and attempts to save them. However, they are saved by the arrival of Christopher Eclair and Mycroft. When Christopher calls Sakaki over how he wants to be paid, Shigure hands him a gold bar and he and Mycroft assist in fighting the armed users. Christopher, Mycroft, and Shigure group together and Shigure requests that the other two escape with Kenichi and Miu. Christopher asks what she is planning to do against the powerful enemies if they run and Shigure responds with "Please." prompting serious looks from Christopher, Kenichi, and Miu.
She uses the Kōsaka style final technique, Sōto Kyōrenzan which helps her keep all 7 Hachiō fighters at bay by controlling their weapons, with that Christopher, Mycroft, Kenichi and Miu escape the ship but Shigure is defeated by the seven masters, when she is about to get killed by Edeltraft von Schiller Rin Tachibana stops him revealing that Shigure father is Yami´s missing blacksmith and that they need her alive.
Shigure is later taken prisoner by Yami then isolated in a room with her hands and feet bound by an unknown material while stripped of her clothing and rendered completely naked. A scientist from Yami is talking to Shigure and asks her to help them make weapons. The scientist understands that pain would not make Shigure cooperate (she has been calling the scientist a "pervert" and a "sicko" throughout his speech) but when he threatens to harm Kenichi and Miu she grows quiet. The scientist notices a choker around Shigure's neck and rips it away, revealing needles hidden in the fabric. Shigure takes the needles in her mouth and shoots them at the scientist and his colleague, who fall unconscious because of poison in the needles. She shoots needles at the restraints on her feet and manages to break them to the surprise of the guards. They shoot at her, but she dodges, and her hand restraints are freed from the floor. She grabs the broken Yami-crafted blade in her mouth and defeats the guards.
A guard is about to shoot at Shigure but he is disarmed by a tiny spear thrown by Tōchūmaru, who Shigure is happy to see. Tōchūmaru uses the machine gun against the other guards (to their surprise) and Shigure charges at them, slicing their guns in half and pulling off the pins from a guard's grenades using her toes. She cuts a pipe and runs away from the explosion, causing the soldiers to exclaim Shigure is like a "witch" as she destroys the base. A guard shoots at Shigure but she is able to use the bullets to break the restraint connecting her hands and punch the guard to free her fist. She uses the stolen blade to free her other hand and asks Tōchūmaru how he found her and ties up her hair with the ribbon from Tōchūmaru's tail (which she gave him when they first met). Someone from behind Shigure asks if the mouse is indeed Tōchūmaru, and the Hachiō Samurai appears covering Shigure with clothing. Shigure is surprised and questions how he knows Tōchūmaru.
The Hachiō Samurai does not answer, telling her to surrender because it is impossible to escape. Shigure takes a fighting stance with the broken Yami blade she has stolen and the samurai states that he would have to hurt her to subdue her. Shigure charges in towards the samurai and they exchange a flurry of strikes. The samurai compliments Shigure on being able to do so much with only a broken blade, as she is able to jump over him and prepare to escape. They continue to fight as Shigure uses her Kōsaka-Ryū Tsumujikaze. As the attack is about to hit the samurai, he is able to parry the blow using a technique from the Kōsaka School as well, Kōsaka-Ryū Yoroigaeshi. The samurai is able to break Shigure's sword, but she grabs a weapon from the samurai's quiver, using it to break down a wall.
The samurai is surprised that she was able to steal a weapon from him and Shigure asks the samurai to reveal himself. He says that she has gotten stronger than he had expected, and he takes off his helmet. Shigure is surprised as the samurai's face is revealed as Shigure is shocked to see he is her own disciple brother. Rin then takes advantage of Shigure's shock and begins attacking. He reminds Shigure that in the past he had told her if she became extremely skilled with weapons that they one day meet again. They continue to fight till they reach outside as Shigure sees a large number of military forces for Yami as Rin explains that Yami has gathered power from all over the world and asks that she joins them, but she remains unresponsive.
She is later imprisoned again forced to make weapons; however, her blades break after being touched in a certain area. She has guns all around her but smirks saying it was an "accident". She's thrown into another prison and hopes the others at Ryōzanpaku are safe. Later, she is seen building various metal items from a dumbbell, a piggy bank, and a spork. The Yami scientists are angered because she is not making weapons and all the tools are blunt (including a blade that was soft and wilted). Although she is mocking them, they are astounded with her crafting ability, and they are unable to analyze her technique. During this conversation Shigure attempts another escape, using a flail and a soft iron blade that she was tempering. The head Yami scientist notices an item around Shigure's waist and remembers that one of the guards had their watch stolen earlier. They realize that Shigure has assembled a sextant using the watch and she jumps out the window and uses the sextant to locate her position. Shigure throws away the sextant just before a plane appears to capture her, but as she surrenders, she hides a smile. She is once again stripped naked and bound in the special resin to hold her down until she feels like cooperating.
The next day Shigure is seen instructing the scientists of the weapon team. The head scientist asks what is going on and a scientist responds that they have failed to make weapons despite perfectly copying her procedure, concluding that they need to train their spirits to learn the secret of the truth of steel. The head scientist reacts that the others are suffering reverse Stockholm syndrome: the scientists are indeed improving their technique in making weapons, but they are also beginning to think that making killing weapons is wrong. At nighttime a guard passes through Shigure's cell and confirms everything is normal. Shigure's bonds are shown to be cut in half as she escapes from them and goes through a hatch that has been cut through her cell. As she continues her escape it is announced that the Hachiō Danzaiba has returned, and the soldiers are assembling to report to them. Tōchūmaru beckons Shigure as he has found a satellite phone, which seems to be the one that Rin uses to contact Kiyoi Kidō, while a confused Shigure wonders how to use the satellite phone.
She calls various people, but no one who she can give her location to. Luckily, she contacts Kiyoi Kidō, Rin's younger sister. Kiyoi informs the Ryōzanpaku masters along with Kenichi, Miu, and Niijima who are present, surprising Shigure. Just as she gives her location, she is ambushed by Știrbey, Mildred, and Raki who attempt to destroy the phone. Shigure gives her coordination to the others and tells Kenichi to become strong just as the phone is destroyed. Shigure is then promptly captured again afterward. She is then later visited by Satomi Kajima, who is embarrassed as seeing Shigure naked and places his coat over her. When Shigure asks who he is, Kajima formally introduces himself having stated his master allowed him to speak with her and asks about Kenichi being the "strongest disciple" of Ryōzanpaku, to which Shigure says that's wrong and he has no talent at all. Kajima smiles and states he's happy to hear this due to him being the same as he to have no talent and worked hard in numerous battles to reach his level of skills. Just then, Shigure notices a key in his jacket and asks why he is helping her escape, to which Kajima replies he's following the orders of one of his masters, and how it would be a waste to kill someone who won over the weapon research division (who agreed to spar her due to a petition). As he walks away, Shigure notes how he reminds her a lot of Kenichi.
She later escapes thanks to Kajima and manages to find her sword during the confusion. Shigure later appears to rescue Niijima from armed guards. A man within the control room orders the entrance to be sealed off but Shigure blocks the closure with her sword and knocks out the people inside the control room. Niijima goes to a computer and prepares to install the virus and Shigure senses an opponent approaching, just as Saiga arrives and sees that the control room has been breached. Shigure removes her sword so that the wall can close before Saiga reaches them.
It is announced that there are five minutes left until the missiles launch and Shigure is listlessly waiting in the computer room while Niijima is uploading the virus. Shigure asks if the virus worked but Niijima shouts at her and says not to distract him (as she is still half-naked) so Shigure and Tōchūmaru sit quietly against a wall. She stands up as she senses powerful ki on the other side of the wall, wondering what may be happening on the other side. After Saiga and Senzui break through the wall, Kenichi finally sees Shigure and is overjoyed at their reunion, but Shigure warns him to not lose focus as he is still fighting Kajima. Shigure remembers how Kajima helped her escape and so she respects his duel with Kenichi and encourages her disciple to fight proudly.
As she watches her disciple fight, Shigure asks if Kajima is worried about his two masters fighting. Kajima dismisses Shigure's concern and expresses his delight in that his masters' battle will result in the further development of martial arts.
An announcement says that there are two minutes left until the missiles launch and Niijima has found a computer to complete the virus upload. Shigure tells him to hurry as they have been discovered by the enemy and she is seen fighting off a wave of enemy troops. As she continues to fend off the enemy troops, she watches Kenichi's fight with Kajima progress and reacts shocked to see Kajima use Shinogidachi throughout his whole body.
As Kenichi is struck by Kajima's Kia Shinogidachi, Shigure notes that his move cut off all his ki as she calls out to her disciple. Luckily, Kenichi regains consciousness and successfully blocked Kajima's Shinogidachi as Miu and Shigure are amazed by Kenichi's progress, who managed to surpass the "releasing" of ki and reach the level of "holding" ki. She then tries to stop Kajima from using Kai Shinogidachi again stating it will kill him if he uses it again.
After Kenichi defeats Kajima, Senzui and Saiga's battle reaches them as Shigure tells Miu to not interfere and she would die if she tried to get involved. Just as Saiga reveals he stole Senzui's remote detonator for the missile launch, Știrbey arrives and attempts to kill Saiga and take the detonator despite Saiga's pleas that it will bring nothing but chaos. Shigure saves Saiga and defeats Știrbey with her Shinto Gōrenzan while destroying the scythe her late father made that Știrbey used to kill so many people.
After the elder shows up to destroy the missile, Shigure stares in horror. Luckily, he survives as she and the other alliance members celebrate the defeat of Yami. She is also shown looking at Kii's broken hoe, possibly saddened by his death.
===Epilogue===
In the Epilogue, Shigure continues her daily activities training Kenichi as she later learns that Kenichi's novel, he wrote became a best seller and won an award to which Shigure realizes he used the adventures of Ryōzanpaku in the story, to which other people believe non-fiction.
Category:Character histories