Ume

**Ume**, born **Ume Kikuchi**, is a major viewpoint character within the story. Born to the Kikuchi family, yet abandoned at childhood, Ume has since had to struggle on the streets of the Jungle, unsure if she'd live to make it through the day, let alone amount to anything.

## Appearance

A young, yet unmistakably adult lady with frilly black hair tied together with a colored assortment of scarfs and trinkets. She has pale skin, like most Issho, and has a face scarred and painted over to hide the worst of it. Ultimately, there's only so much she could cover up without becoming even more of a target to the desperate and cruel pleasure seekers.

Across her right shoulder, the visage of a hideous monster is etched into her skin, its eyes mad as it reaches for more flesh.

## Personality

The years Ume has spent on the streets have dominated her personality. Sure, underneath it all, she’s passionate and kinder than she lets on, but she’s drowning in a need to be heartless and selfish, so as to not let others take advantage of her, or disappoint herself. This is the root of her personality, something that she can't easily move away from, even as her life gets a little better.

Still, Ume has also shown a particular fondness towards those who can’t really protect themselves, like the young and infirm. This likely stems from her own experiences, being abandoned and barely hanging on to life.

## History

Ume was born within the Three Vices to kin of the Kikuchi family, one of the cities most influential forces. For reasons unknown, she was abandoned as a child, forced to defend for herself. For years the reason why she was abandoned has haunted her. Even now, although she won't easily admit it, the question is always at the back of her mind.

Most of her life has been spent in the Underslums, one of the worst districts within the city. It's not been easy, but she figures at least she won't be kidnapped and sold, as no gang has total control over the province, though some would claim otherwise. In order to survive, she's done just about everything, most of which 'criminal', if such a word means anything within the city anymore. In recent years, she has taken up the production of a drug of her own design, gaining a bit of wealth and security.

## Abilities

### Physical skills

* Avoiding danger. Since youth, Ume has faced all sorts of situations. She's since learned how to deal with them, to an extent. For one, she knows the signs to look for, those little cues that appear before things turn violent. Could be a nervous twitch of a pocketed hand, or maybe one man signalling to another. For another, she's capable of physically escaping quite a bit of danger. It’s nothing all that impressive, but she has plenty experience running, jumping and hiding.

* Accepting danger. Ume has learned that some things can be avoided, while others cant. Sometimes, you just can't escape, and in those times, you have to adapt if you want to survive. Sure, she could kick, bite and scream in a futile situation, but she’s seen what's happened to the people who have done things like that. Besides, she could handle a bit of pain. How else could she survive in the slums?

### Mantra

Ume has no useful proficiency in mantra, but as an Issho, she does have a breathing soul; a type of in-born mantra that etches into the skin and comes alive in various form, depending on one’s personality. Her particular soul is an ugly, vicious and selfish creature with a visibly, yet barely beating heart. (An allegory for her underlying yet dwindling kindness.).

Not having been taught how to control and bring forth her soul, her use of it is almost completely non-existent. The creature has its own consciousness that is, and isn’t Ume. It is only willingly appear when she, and in turn, its life is severely threatened. This is a selfish creature mirroring Ume herself.