Ritsuko Shinko

**Ritsuko Shinko** (心鼓律子 *Shinko Ritsuko*) is one of the deuteragonists in the Claire: Chronicles of the Carmine Blood series. Originally a *tsukumogami* of a tambourine and an atheistic rebel, she is called the "Embodiment of Pure Freedom". After she experiences a vision of Megumi Kiyono, Yoshika Hakata, God and His angels in a dream, telling her that her love for freedom can "liberate" His followers from "false prophets" who try to imprison His followers in false beliefs, she is taken to Heaven and became an Angel, as well as became the personal musician of the Messengers of Love and Peace.

## Personal information

### Age

Physically 14-16; Chronologically more than 100 (counting her existence as an inanimate object)

### Ability (ies)

Manipulating energy waves (usually sound waves)

### Occupation

Personal musician of the Messengers of Love and PeaceAtheist (formerly)

Rebel (formerly)

## Appearance

Like most Angels depicted within the Carmine Blood universe, Ritsuko appears to be a teen-aged girl aged 14-16 with fair skin, short dark reddish-brown hair that points outward and hot pink eyes. Their expression is always seen energetic, unlike Megumi and Yoshika. They wear a beige jacket over a reddish-orange shirt with a gold-colored Holy Cross symbol on it, and pinkish-red pants with darker red lightning bolt shapes that points inwards and outwards following the pattern (from top to bottom): inwards, outwards, inwards, and magenta platform shoes with brighter pink platform heels. They wear an orange sash, and like most Angels, they have shorter wings than Megumi.

## Personality

Generally, they are a laid-back person who simply wants freedom for all. Despite they are formerly a rebel who rejects all religious beliefs, they adapted to the belief in one true God as soon as they ascended to Heaven and become an Angel. They are straightfoward and dilligent, and excels at mighty force and concentration power.

Despite they have the ability to manipulate heartbeat and (to a lesser extent) emotions and feelings (which includes insanity), they are a thoughtful individual. They appear to be anxious all times and worry about the pain that Earthlings have to bear as part of their submission to what they call "tyrants", and fear that they, as well as the Earthlings who they believes to be under the domination of "tyrants", will be punished by those who dominate them. This can be linked to their history as a tool being used by humans and are "beaten" a lot of times, which can be interpreted as they were being submissive in a BDSM-like relationship with the humans that used to use them as a musical instrument.

## Origins

She is based on Raiko Horikawa of *Touhou Project*, whose appearance and motifs influenced that of Ritsuko. Both are tsukumogami who are born from a percussion musical instrument, both have a laid-back personality, both have the desire for being free, and both have the appearance that made an allusion to musical celebrities (in Raiko's case, she's referencing Michael Jackson, and there are numerous fan theories stated that she is based on the said musician and performer; while that Ritsuko alludes to figures in the Glam Rock movement, especially David Bowie and members of the band Kiss (despite that the "musical celebrity" that Ritsuko alludes to is in fact Piers, a character from *Pokemon Sword and Shield* who is also a rock music performer, and despite Piers is fictional, CaraPrincess still treats him as a musical celebrity)). Also, in both of their official artwork, they are shown holding drumsticks. Furthermore, their musical instrument (s) have motifs that alludes to a deity (or in Ritsuko's case, alluding to the Christian God Himself) (Also, Raiko's tie also contain the image of a Holy Cross, but upside-down). Both of their names ended with the syllable "ko", despite that the kanji used for the syllable in their names are different: Raiko's name use the kanji 鼓, means "drum", while that Ritsuko's name use the kanji 子, means "child". Furthermore, both of their names contain the kanji 鼓, means "drum", as stated above, but the location of that kanji in their names is different: In Raiko's name, the kanji is located in her given name (Raiko), while that Ritsuko's name contains the said kanji in their surname (Shinko).

### Etymology

*Shinko* (心鼓) consists of the kanji for "heart" (心) and the kanji for "drum" (鼓), and its meaning can be interpreted as "heartbeat", alluding to her ability to synchronize others' heatbeat to her drum beats. *Ritsuko* (律子) consists of a part of the kanji for "rhythm" (律, 律動 being the kanji for "rhythm"), and the kanji for "child" (子), alluding to the fact that she is young, and young people are often percieved to be rebellious. Together, Ritsuko means "child of the rhythm". Also, in the series *Neon Genesis Evangelion*, the series that the *Carmine Blood* universe take much inspiration from, there is a character named Ritsuko Akagi. However, the Ritsuko in NGE has her name written in katakana, as opposed to *Carmine Blood*'s Ritsuko, whose name is written in kanji, and the relation between the two Ritsukos is purely a coincidence.

## Trivia

Her birthday is on April 8.

* Her star sign is Aries.
	+ The meaning of her birthdate can be interpreted as: 8 can be interpreted as the addition of 3; 2; and 3. These three numbers, when combined together, reads "tsusumi", and adding a *dakuten* in the syllable "su" in the word results in "tsuzumi" (鼓), means "drum", which alludes to her association with drums.