Akio Moriyama

## Portrayal

**Akio Moriyama** is a supporting character in Demon Slayer: Blade of the Night. He is also the Wind Tsuguko under Sanemi Shinazugawa.

## **Appearance:**

Akio is a tall, muscular boy with a light skin tone, and ashy tan colored hair, which is kept relatively short, with sharp tips. His skin is notably unblemished, and he often looks to be quite angry.

Akio wears the traditional Tsuguko uniform, alongside a plain white haori. He keeps the uniform tightly buttoned, unlike his master, and both his haori and his uniform are said to be entirely straight, without wrinkles of any sort.

## **Personality:**

Akio is a staunch perfectionist, with a grumpy personality and general lack of regard for others' lives. He also seemingly ignores or actively dislikes most sorts of hierarchy, going as far as insulting his master Sanemi and claiming that he is going to kill him repeatedly. While Sanemi takes these in good faith, it remains unknown how much Akio is bluffing.

Akio often goes straight to the point when he's required to, and even when speaking casually, he comes across as rude and unpleasant, bothering people like Kotori Hashibira and Gikuro Tomioka with his crass, grumpy personality. Furthermore, he's shown to be quite inquisitive, wanting to understand Tsukuro and Obanai's relationship for no reason aside from curiosity, and his need to understand where Ryo Yorunoha's (relatively pathetic) strength comes from.

His lack of regard over others' wellbeing is shown first during his brief bout against Ryo and Taro, where he repeatedly and mercilessly beat them down without even giving them a fighting chance, also claiming that they had to put effort in order to not die. Regardless, he was at least holding back, so it can be assumed he dislikes senseless murder.

Akio is also very defensive, usually taking anything and everything said at his expense as a sort of insult or joke, and only in very specific occasions he actually takes a compliment without thinking it's some backwards way of making fun of him.

Despite all of this, Akio does not tolerate slander towards his master, and despite the claims that he is going to eventually kill Sanemi, Akio is shown to be quite close to his master, being one to theorize and even gossip with him. In fact, the two have the tightest bond of Pillar/Tsuguko until now, where it becomes hard to discern where their work relationship ends and their personal relationship begins. Akio, for all his insults, seems to look up at Sanemi, and even felt quite sad seeing his master's reaction at Kanae's return to the afterlife

## **Abilities:**

**Monumental Strength:** While Akio has yet to display it, he is said to be at least in the level of a Pillar, indicating that he is just as formidable as his master.

**Monumental Speed:** Akio has yet to fight seriously, but in the short bouts he's had with different fighters, he's displayed immense speeds while not even moving at his maximum, being able to outmaneuver strong foes like Hajime Kazekami and Murata Suiten, even if they were weakened.

**Monumental Durability:** Akio has yet to display this, but it can be assumed he is quite durable.

**Total Concentration Breathing:** Akio, as a master of the Wind Breathing, has mastered it in its entirety, also gaining access to Total Concentration Breathing.

**Demon Slayer Mark:** Yet to be shown, it is heavily implied that Akio has access to the Demon Slayer Mark, as it is a requirement for becoming a Pillar, and the story states that the only thing preventing Akio from the promotion is Sanemi's unwillingness to retire.

## **Fighting Style:**

**Master Swordsman:** Akio has trained under Sanemi Shinazugawa's direct instruction, and furthermore, is stated to be at his master's level in terms of strength. Akio has displayed his mastery by being capable of fending off two masters simultaneously, who, while weakened, maintained all their raw skill.

### **Breathing Style:**

**Wind Breathing** *(Kaze no Kokyu)*: Akio, as the successor to Sanemi Shinazugawa, and debatably his equal in terms of power, is potentially tied for the best Wind Breathing user of all time, having mastered all of its techniques. Akio, however, has yet to add a self-made technique to his arsenal

#### **Techniques:**

* **First Form: Dust Whirlwind Cutter** *(Ichi no Kata: Jin Senpu - Sogi)* - The user dashes forward at blinding speeds and slashes continuously in a horizontal cyclone pattern, causing immense damage where they pass, generating a current of destruction.

* **Second Form: Claws-Purifying Wind** *(Ni no Kata: Soso - Shinato Kaze)* - The user lifts the sword upwards towards the right, above their head and unleashes four vertical slashes at once down on the enemy resembling claws. This attack is incredibly confusing for someone inexperienced.

* **Third Form: Clean Storm Wind Tree** *(San no Kata: Seiran Fuzu)* - The user unleashes a whirlwind of slashes around their body that can defend them from incoming attacks and slice up their surroundings. The attacks are done based on necessity, making the defences effective, but sparing

* **Fourth Form: Rising Dust Storm** *(Shi no Kata: Shojo Sanjiran)* - The user releases several slashes above them from below their target. This attack naturally descents, making it difficult for an opponent to block every single strike.

* **Fifth Form: Cold Mountain Wind** *(Go no Kata: Kogarashi Oroshi)* - The user creates several circular arched slashes that increase in size from above their target in a circular pattern, being also capable of defending from upwards attacks

* **Sixth Form: Black Wind Mountain Mist** *(Roku no Kata: Kokufu Enran)* - The user rotates their body in an uppercut movement, creating an arcing slash. This attack can also block incoming attacks, while the rotation increases the strength through momentum

* **Seventh Form: Gale, Sudden Gusts** *(Shichi no Kata: Keifu - Tengu Kaze)* - The user leaps into the air while swinging their blade which generates gale-force winds to shred their opponent apart, being effectively an improved First Form, however lacking versatility.

* **Eighth Form: Primary Gale Slash** *(Hachi no Kata: Sho Rekkaza Kiri)* - The user leaps into the air and swings their blade which generates circular torrents of wind that slices up the opponent instantly. This attack provides evasion, as the user slides through the target

* **Ninth Form: Idaten Typhoon** *(Ku no Kata: Idaten Taifu)* - The user backflips into the air and while upside-down, unleashes a powerful gust of circular wind that slashes apart anything below. This attack devastates anything below, so it is quite hard to use without causing friendly fire.

* **Tenth Form: Piercing Tailwind** *(Ju no Kata: Piasu Oikaze)* - The user will wait for an attack, before chopping anything coming in their way. This attack also works when an opponent comes in for a blow, and the user is supposed to aim at their joints.

* **Eleventh Form: Eroding Gust** *(Ju Ichi no Kata: Toppu no Shinshoku)* - The user will spin their body along with their sword, advancing a lot with one dash. This technique is dangerous to perform, as the user may end up in a poor position, and it is supposed to be done as a swift decapitation of a retreating enemy

* **Twelfth Form: Seeding Winds** *(Ju Ni no Kata: Tanemaki-Fu)* - The user will slide across the ground, striking sideways multiple times at increasing speeds, occasionally shifting tempos in the attacks to confuse the opponent's defences

* **Thirteenth Form: Hurricane of Destruction** *(Ju San no Kata: Hakai no Hariken)* - The user will spin around, striking at incredible strength at all opponents around, causing chaos where they pass. This move is to be performed while lunging

* **Fourteenth Form: Rebounding Gusts** *(Ju Shi no Kata: Toppu no Hanekaeri)* - The user will fall back strongly, taking support on anything before dashing again at incredible speeds, slicing anything in their way, and causing immense damage.

* **Fifteenth Form: Wind's Penitence** *(Ju Go no Kata: Kaze no Kuiaratame)* - The user slashes from above, first striking outside the opponent’s main body, be it limbs or tendrils, and after, they will strike the enemy’s neck, aiming to decapitate them

* **Sixteenth Form: Endless Calamity** *(Ju Roku no Kata: Owakinari Yakusai)* - The user advances greatly, slashing all around themselves in a devastating wide attack. Should the attack not reach the opponent, the user will thrust their sword at them

## **Equipment:**

**Standard Nichirin Katana:** Akio carries and wields a regular sized Nichirin Katana. It is colored green with black jaw-like marks, in accordance to the Wind Breathing. His handguard is a black circle with a silver border. It is notably quite plain.

## **Familiars:**

**Funjin:** Funjin is Akio's Crow, and it is said that it used to be lazy, until Akio berated it so much it is now competent out of fear.

## **Battles:**

* Akio vs Ryo and Taro
* Akio vs Murata and Hajime

## **Trivia:**

* Akio's name can be broken down into the former: [Aki], meaning "Bright/Luminous", and [O], which, when represented by the kanji [雄] means "Hero/Manly". His surname, meanwhile, means "Protecting Mountain"
* Akio has no scars because his skin is quite thick. That and he also has diligent skincare.
* His favorite food is ohagi, it is an acquired taste.
* Akio loves romance novels, and he keeps a stash of them hidden under his folded clothes in his wardrobe. It is a secret he will carry to his grave.