Shura Kirigakure

**Shura Kirigakure** (霧隠 シュラ, *Kirigakure Shura*) is an Upper-First class Exorcist and Rin Okumura's mentor. She trained under the guidance of Shiro Fujimoto to obtain the title Meister as a Knight. She officially works as an Inspector for the Vatican, but has infiltrated True Cross Academy, first as a student under the name **Yamada** (山田, *Yamada*), and later as a teacher for the Exwires.

## Description

### Appearance

Shura has long and faded red dyed hair (which can appear as hot pink) with blonde ends that resemble flames which she keeps up in a high ponytail, pink eyes and full lips. She has a curvaceous figure with large breasts which Rin Okumura considers larger than Shiemi Moriyama’s and a marking on her chest and abdomen which act as seals for various items. She is usually seen wearing a very revealing bikini top, along with shorts and sometimes with stockings as the bottom part of her outfit or also wearing a denim jacket. After she is assigned to become a teacher at the Exorcist Cram School, Shura starts wearing an unbuttoned school jacket and a tie. She also carries a license that states her name and position, as well as a key with a coat of arms on it, which symbolizes her position.

### Personality

When she first appears as **Yamada**, Shura appears to be very quiet and socially-withdrawn, preferring to spend time playing on her PSP instead of paying attention to the lesson. She does not get along with the others, refusing to help them during the Ghoul incident In truth, this personality is just a facade- being an Exorcist already, there is no need for her to pay attention to lessons.

Shura has a rather laid-back personality and uses slang; such as using *yer* instead of *your*, *you're*, or *you*. She is also noted to be rather blunt, speaking freely about sensitive topics, as well as not being hesitant in pointing out others' flaws. Even with her superiors, she is not afraid to challenge them, which on a few occasions resulted in a physical conflict. Like Rin, she often slacks off, and would rather drink and let others do work. Nevertheless, she is a very competent Exorcist and, when needed, Shura can be serious and focused, as seen when she duels Amaimon and being able to depict the fact that Rin's flames take over him because of his fear.

Despite Shura's fierce loyalty to Shiro Fujimoto, she isn't above insulting him at times; this is shown when she casually calls him a coward for sacrificing his life to save Rin, something that immediately makes Rin angry as he takes any insult against his adopted father very seriously. She even contemplates killing Rin just for being connected to Satan, despite the promise she made to Shiro to mentor him, though she ultimately reconsiders after seeing Rin's resolve.

Shura seems to be rather self-conscious about her true age, as she states to everyone that she is 18, when Yukio has alluded to the fact that she is 26. The Aomori arc implies this is due to the curse that would kill her at 30; Shura's denial of her age was out of a fear of acknowledging that she only had a few years left.

After the incident in Aomori, she becomes more open about her feelings, such as threatening Mephisto should Rin and Yukio get hurt because of him, which surprises even her.

## Powers and Abilities

### Knight

Shura is a powerful Upper First Exorcist and is noted to be an excellent wielder of the sword, especially demon swords. She fights using Kirigakure Ryū - Makengi (Kirigakure Style - Demon Blade Technique) with her Maken, Fang. After the defeat of Hachirotaro Okami, her sword lost its divine protection, functioning now as a common sword but thanks to Lightning, it was temporarily blessed by a General Frost because of its compatiblity with the water and air elements.

#### Kirigakure Ryū - Makengi:

* **Serpent Fang**: Shura launch projectiles made of air slices at the opponent.
* **Rattle**: This technique causes the enemy to lose its demonic power, as used against Rin in the Great Cell. When the snakes pass over the enemy, the enemy loses its demonic power and traits like regeneration.
* **Snake Belly**: This technique transforms Shura's Demon sword into a longer form with a wavy edge, much like the curves of a snake. In addition, the area near the tip of the blade gains an eye. This technique requires blood to be spread along the blade of the sword.
* **Snake Lance**: This technique is only used when Shura's sword is in its Snake Belly form. Slashing the sword through the air, it created a zigzagged wave in the air that flies forward, causing massive destruction to whatever it hits.

### Doctor

Shura is also noted to have a Meister as a Doctor, but she states that she is not a conventional doctor. It is unknown what she means by this.

### Aria

Shura is capable of suppressing Demons effectively by chanting mantras such as the 'Rokuji Myouou' which she uses to calm down Rin when he gets enraged during the Impure King incident.

* **Fire Enhancement**: By reciting "On shuri shuri mamari mari shushuri sowaka," Shura can enhance fire to help summon Ucchusma or to burn away miasma.

### Tamer

Shura's familiar is a Naga, which she uses to create barriers and to track people or things.

**Sealing**: Shura has some talent in sealing, as she was able to seal Rin's Demon stage by chanting. Additionally, she is able to seal both Kurikara and her own blade in her abdomen and chest, respectively.

**Spectral Awareness**: As she is an Exorcist, Shura had to perform the Mashō Rite, thereby allowing her to see Demons.

## Etymology

* Her name in Japanese means carnage or fighting.

## Trivia

* Though being an Exorcist affiliated with the Vatican, she states that she never once prayed to God.
* Her pastimes and talents are foot massages, hot stone spas, and bothering animals.
* She gets 8 hours of sleep a night on average.
	+ How this can be when the curse of her family line prevented her ever meeting her grandmother is unclear. Likely a goof on the author's part.
* Her favorite genre of manga is romance.
* Her favorite type of guy is a strong and collected one.
* She is a descendant of the female ninja clan, Kirigakure.
* Her breasts are much bigger in the manga - her cup size is an F.
* Her tattoo (prior to its removal) contains the characters 俣遠呂, this is the middle section of Yamata no Orochi (八俣遠呂智) the legendary creature on which her abilities and her patron demon are based.