Kirsch

Kirsch (), short for Kirschwasser, also called CuminThis is her default name, she can be renamed by the player. () by Shion, is a supporting character in Xenosaga: The Animation and Xenosaga I & II. She is original to the anime and does not appear in Xenosaga Episode I, the material the anime is based on.
==Appearance and personality==
Because she is a Kirschwasser, Kirsch/Cumin has differing features to Sakura Mizrahi, the young girl she was modeled after. She has darker skin, long silver hair, blue lips, and the same yellow eyes that are standard in all Realians. She wears the typical black and white mini dress Kirschwasser uniform as her standard attire. While disguised as a 100-Series Observational Unit, her hair is a light blue tone and she wears the same green mini dress and gloves as the other 100-Series Realians. 
==Story arc==
===Xenosaga: The Animation===
===Xenosaga I & II===
Kirsch, like the other Kirschwassers, was created by Joachim Mizrahi to collect data for the eventual creation of MOMO. Shortly after the death of Joachim Mizrahi during the Miltian Conflict, Kirsch was woken up by Sellers for the sole purpose of lifting the Song of Nephilim into orbit to attach it to Proto Merkabah. When Kirsch learned from Sellers that the 100-Series prototype had been completed, she began to wonder what the point of her and the other Kirschwassers' existence was from that point on. This line of thought was interrupted when she heard the sounds of an altercation between U.R.T.V.s Albedo and Nigredo on the first floor of the structure. After their fight concluded Nigredo, as well as the unconscious Rubedo, were retrieved by the E.S. Asher. Going off of a hunch, Kirsch went down to check the first floor after the Song of Nephilim had lifted off. There, she finds Albedo injured, and tries to help him but gets mistaken for Sakura Mizrahi in the process. From here, Kirsch continues to follow Albedo.
Fast forward to 14 years later, Kirsch has disguised herself as a 100-Series Realian onboard the Woglinde to escape Albedo's abuse. It's here that she meets Shion Uzuki, who gives her the name "Cumin". When the Woglinde is attacked by Gnosis, falling rubble puts Shion in danger. Kirsch pushes Shion out of the way to save her, separating the two from each other. At some point during the ensuing chaos, Kirsch meets up with Albedo and joins up with him once more. When Shion joins up with the crew of the Elsa, she notices a resemblance between Kirsch and MOMO Mizrahi.
Later, when Shion and her friends infiltrate Proto Merkabah to confront Albedo, Kirsch disguises herself as MOMO and is blasted back by Jr.'s Red Dragon ability when she chokes him from behind. She is then shamed by Albedo and the Blue Testament for being unable to fulfill her duty as a 100-Series, outright blaming her for the lives that were lost on the Woglinde. Albedo goes as far as to say that he's the only person who could give her purpose in life, and has her resonate with the E.S. Simeon's Vessel of Anima. When Shion tries to connect with Kirsch, she outright refuses the name Shion gave her, saying her true name is Kirschwasser. Then, hoping it will allow her to fulfill her life's purpose to always be beside Albedo, Kirsch fuses with the Vessel of Anima despite Shion's objections. Shion later remembers Kirsch in the Episode II segment of the game as someone she was unable to save, among others.
==Lore==
* Kirsch has an affinity to the mascot, Bunnie.
** Shion gave her a Bunnie charm and kept it with her up to her death.
* Cumin's Kirschwasser serial number is 097.
* The name "Cumin" was likely chosen by Shion based on the spice by the same name, a spice commonly used in Japanese curry, Shion's specialty dish.
==Trivia==
* Kirsch's role within the anime and Xenosaga I & II replaced the Kirschwasser seen following Albedo around in Episode I.
* Kirsch is the only anime-original character to later appear in one of the games.
* Kirsch's sacrifice has parallels to other events in the series.
* Kirsch's Japanese voice actress, Ryō Hirohashi, also voices Pandoria in Xenoblade Chronicles 2 and Linka in Xenoblade Chronicles 3: Future Redeemed.
==Gallery==
===Xenosaga: The Animation===
Kirsch.png|Kirsch in the anime.
Kirsch disguised as a 100-Series Observational Unit.png|Kirsch disguised as a 100-Series Observational Unit.
===Xenosaga I & II===
====Sprites====
XS1&2 Kirsch Field sprite.png|Kirsch's sprite.
XS1&2 100-Series Field sprite.png|Kirsch's sprite disguised as a 100-Series.
XS1&2 Kirschwasser Corpse Field sprite.png|Kirsch's sprite having fainted from a concussive blast.
====CG images====
XS1&2_scene24.png|Cumin standing atop the E.S. Simeon moments before she fuses with its Vessel of Anima.
====Character portraits====
KirschwasserXSDS01.gif|Kirsch normally.
100-seriesXSDS01.gif|Kirsch disguised as a 100-Series.
100-seriesXSDS03.gif|Kirsch sad as a 100-Series.
100-seriesXSDS04.gif|Kirsch happy as a 100-Series.
100-seriesXSDS06.gif|Kirsch talking as a 100-Series.
100-seriesXSDS07.gif|Kirsch's idle animation as a 100-Series.
==Notes==
Category:Characters (XSTA)Category:Characters (XS1&2)Category:Realians