Matsu Akechi

Matsu Akechi (松 明智) is a member of the Legion of Two Thousand. He also serves as a vanguard for the venerable Class III, often placing much more emphasis on the destruction of his enemies over protecting himself. Friendly, jovial, and honorable to a fault, Akechi serves as both the offensive and the moral bedrock for the Class.

## Matsu Akechi

### Relatives

**Sister:** Akodo Ichiru (*relationship unknown*)
**Father:** Matsu Genbu (*deceased*)
**Mother:** Matsu Kouyou (*deceased, relationship unknown*)
**Maternal Uncle:** Matsu Natsu (*relationship unknown*)
**Fiance:** Matsu Makoto

## Appearance and Personality

Akechi stands at 6 foot tall and has a lithe, muscular build. Rarely seen without his armor, he often wears browns, yellows, and copper shades. He usually keeps his long, brown hair loose, but when combat is expected he manages it with a headband and a low-set ponytail.

One notable trait of his that he generally keeps hidden is a tattoo that covers the entirety of his left shoulder. The styling is an attempt at a gaijin style, though applied with Rokugani technique. It depicts a gaijin creature of myth called the manticore, a giant lion with the face of a man and a scorpion's tail and stinger. It seems to be clinging to his shoulder, and would easily be shaken off except for the tail that curls around his arm, ending just before the elbow.

Akechi adheres to the code of Bushido more than most, though he does recognize that the theory behind it and actually applying the code to one's life can be contradictory at times.

### Other Weapons

Katana, Wakizashi, Jiujitsu, Improvised Weapons, Yumi

### Notable Techniques

Matsu Fury, Full Attack-Full Throttle, Wall-go-bye-bye-charge

## Death and Resurrection

During Class III's assignment to the Crablands, Akechi wound up in the custody of the 8th Imperial Legion, after he and Yogo Rensuke were found aboard a ship belonging to the local Yakuza family. Akechi engages the Legion commander in a duel, but lost and was taken to Yasuki Yashiki as a means to lure his classmates into a trap.

With the help of Matsu Makoto, Akechi managed to escape just as the rest of Class III arrives. They are joined by the Indigo Shells, and together the two forces laid siege to the corrupt Yasuki's estate along with the 8th Imperial Legion, led by Matsu Takamine, who was bolstering its forces. The Shells kept the Legion forces at bay as the students ascended the winding corridors of the estate.

Nearing the Yasuki daimyo's chambers, the group was stopped by a group of Crab samurai. Akechi, as he had often done before, charged into the fray, swinging his bisento with the fury of a Matsu. However, this time he received a tetsubo blow to the back of the head and combined with the wounds he had received from his duel he was killed instantly. The Lion was dead before he hit the lacquered wood floor.

When Akechi next awoke it would be with contentment, standing in the halls of Meido awaiting his turn to be judged. No sense of time, or impatience, or even boredom fell upon him. Despite the many, many souls both before him, and stretching to the left and right of his position, he was happy to wait his allotted time to speak to Emma-O and receive his judgment.

After the battle, Takamine went to take possession of the body in order to give him proper funeral rites in Matsu lands, however Akodo Ichiru argued instead for Legion of Two Thousand to see to their fallen. The group had heard of an uncorrupted road into the Shadowlands that, at the end of it, had a way of reviving one who had died. Ichiru along with Yogo Rensuke, Shinjo Hirose, and Shinjo Hotaro rode to its end, where they met a woman by the name of Kimei.

As Akechi waited, a bright light suddenly shone upon him, burning away the listlessness that was Meido's influence upon the man. Through the light, a voice spoke that asked him if he had any regrets. It was the voice of Kimei, who in actuality was the hidden Celestial Dragon. She offered him a second chance at life, albeit with certain constraints attached. He would become even more beholden to the Celestial Order, and his eyes would take on a golden glow. Akechi accepted the offer, and awoke to find himself back in Yasuki Yashiki. His memory of his time in Meido, and the offer from Kimei, was gone.

The Celestial Dragon was able to revive Akechi, though this favor did not come without a price. The group made a pact to give aid in helping her to restore the balance in Tengoku by rallying powerful supernatural creatures to her side. After reviving Akechi, she then also removed from all of their memories the meeting.

Upon resurrection, Akechi was looked over by the Crab for any signs of maho, Taint, or other malaise. Takamine was informed of this change in Akechi's condition, and he was cleared to return to his duties with the Legion of Two Thousand.

## Gallery

Akechi PortraitAkechi in one of his first fights of the semester against Yogo Rensuke.Every morning Akechi puts himself through a strenuous training regimen.