Mekuru Ijuuin

Mekuru Ijuuin (伊集院 めくる) is one of the three main protags of Youkai Meitantei Tsubasa. He was adopted by Tamako prior to the events of said novel after his parents' death in a forest fire caused by a Youma. His previous name was Mekuru Kujo (九条 めくる).

## Appearance

Mekuru is a Bake-danuki boy with a youthful appearance, a pair of rounded raccoon dog ears, dark brown ears, violet eyes and a thick yet fluffy rounded tail. He dons a reddish brown gakuran, a pastel blue scarf and a pair of black glasses. Mekuru's species is a Japanese Raccoon Dog (*Nyctereutes viverrinus*).

## Personality

Mekuru is a down-to-earth and modest person, and he always does his best to be as good as his twin brothers. Mekuru can be playful and kind towards others, yet he's very protective when it comes to his beloved Mio. His loyalty to Mio is unparalleled and he won't hesitate to kill or attack anyone who dares to harm her.

## Family and relatives

* Mr. and Mrs. Kujo (parents, perished in a forest fire)
* Tamako Ijuuin (adoptive mother, gone missing during the events of Youkai Meitantei Tsubasa)
* Daisuke Ijuuin (adoptive father)
* Natsuki Ijuuin (elder sister)
* Kyousuke Ijuuin (elder brother)
* Mitsuki Ijuuin (twin brother)
* Mekuru Ijuuin, formerly Mekuru Kujo (adoptive twin brother)
* Natsumi Ijuuin (younger sister)
* Riku Ijuuin (adoptive younger brother)
* Mio Rouyama (fiancée)

## Abilities

* Youjutsu: Mekuru is skilled in using Youjutsu (Youkai magic and/or ninjutsu), and he's a Wind elemental. He can use his Youjutsu to send his enemies flying or slash them with
* Byakko's Fangs: a pair of wakizashis used by Mekuru as his main weapon. It is able to slice enemies into chunks or cut down several Youmas. The weapon is blessed upon by Mekuru's Guardian Beast, the Byakko (White Tiger).
* Magatamas: jewel-like artifacts that can be used as his auxillary weapons and elemental powers. Each combination of Magatamas grants Mekuru new powers and new weapons which he can use at his own disposal.
* Byakko/Bai Hu (白虎): a Guardian Beast bestowed upon Mekuru alongside its three accomplices. Taking form of a fierce yet majestic Siberian Tiger with white fur, black stripes and Smilodon-like fangs, it serves as Mekuru's own guardian spirit. Its disguise form is an adorable white tiger cub.

## Trivia

* Mekuru is inspired by Keiwa Sakurai from Kamen Rider Geats, Hant Jo from Engine Sentai Go-Onger, Sima Zhao from Dynasty Warriors series, Mamizou Futatsuiwa from Touhou Project, Tom Nook from Animal Crossing and Banri Watanuki from Inu x Boku SS.
* Mekuru was supposed to be designed back in 2013, but lack of resources makes him unable to be designed. He was then made into a female Kitsune for Mahou Shoujo Spica back in 2019, but that design was scrapped and forgotten.
* Mekuru loves to read and play his shamisen during free time, and he really loves to eat tanuki soba, tempura and baked sweet potatoes. He also loves to drink green tea at the Rouyama family's tea house and eatery.
* Unlike Tsubasa, Mekuru cannot ascend. Bake-danukis lack the special property that Kitsunes has that are needed to ascend. Instead, Mekuru is able to obtain a much powerful form with the usage of a certain Magatama, supposedly containing the spirit of a legendary hero from ancient Japan.