Yasha

**Yasha** is a Samurai said to be the creator of the Kongo-Yasha style and the master of Daruma. She sent Daruma on a quest to find the keys to open Pandora's Box while she focuses on slowing the efforts of Kala and Ususuma.

## Synopsis

After Daruma was trapped inside his cat body, Yasha tasked him with locating Pandora's Box and the seven Samurais whose Keys could open it while she held back Kala, leader of those who wished to destroy the galaxy and wants to open the Mandala's Box. She also gifted him with a fragment of her Samurai Soul to use in emergencies. Daruma was unsure that he could carry out Yasha's instructions in his new body, but Yasha assured him that his change of appearance may have its own meaning. She then continued with her lessons and inspiring words and let Daruma go on his new journey.

## Abilities and Powers

### General Abilities

* **Samurai Gravity**: As a Samurai, Yasha has a limited degree of control over the molecules that form matter and the gravity H-Particles emit. She can reshape matter and gravity at will to use the universal powers of all Samurai.
	+ **Healing Factor**: Yasha possess a regenerative factor that lets her heal from any injury.
	+ **Gravitational Pull**: Like all samurai, Yasha has a gravity that can inadvertently draw other samurai keys to her and lead her to other Samurai.

### Key Licenses

* **Kongo-Yasha School**: Yasha has a **Full Master License** from Kongo-Yasha School. This License gives to her the first generation head of the school title.

### Weapons

* **Samurai Soul Blade**: Yasha possesses a Samurai Soul, an orb of energy that - when connected to a Handle Bone - can turn into an energy blade stronger than any metal blade. She is able to control her Soul well enough to break off small fragments of it and gift them to others.

* **Katana**: Yasha carries two standard katanas on her person.

## Relationships

### Daruma

As her student, Yasha cares about Daruma a great deal, though her composed nature often hides it. Even though her student often dismisses her long-winded lessons, she continues to use indirect messages to both teach her student and strengthen their bond.

## Trivia

* **Ya** (夜 (や) , ***Ya***?) means *evening; night* and **Sha** (叉 (しゃ) , ***Sha***?) means *fork*(in a tree, road, river, etc.).
* **Yasha** (夜 (や) 叉 (しゃ) , ***Yasha***?), Japanese name for the yakshas, powerful nature spirits in Buddhist mythology.
	+ The **Yakshas** (यक्ष Sanskrit: yakṣa; Pali: yakkha) are a broad class of nature-spirits, usually benevolent, but sometimes mischievous or capricious, connected with water, fertility, trees, the forest, treasure and wilderness. They appear in Hindu, Jain and Buddhist texts, as well as ancient and medieval era temples of South Asia and Southeast Asia as guardian deities. The feminine form of the word is yakṣī[7] or yakshini (यक्षिणी Sanskrit: yakṣiṇī; Pali: yakkhinī).
	+ In Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist texts, the yakṣa has a dual personality. On the one hand, a yakṣa may be an inoffensive nature-fairy, associated with woods and mountains; but there is also a darker version of the yakṣa, which is a kind of ghost (bhuta) that haunts the wilderness and waylays and devours travellers, similar to the rakṣasas.
* **Yasha** name can be from **Vajrayakṣa** (ch: 金剛夜叉明王, Jīngāng Yèchā Míngwáng; ja: 金剛夜叉明王, Kongōyasha Myō-ō) "The Devourer of Demons" - Wrathful manifestation of Buddha Amoghasiddhi is one of the five major Wisdom Kings in Buddhism.

## References

*Samurai Eight: Hachimaruden* Manga; Chapter 1, page 1
*Samurai Eight: Hachimaruden* Manga; Chapter 27, page 17
*Samurai Eight: Hachimaruden* Manga; Chapter 1, page 1-3