Event Asuka's Defection

Asuka before disappearing

The **Asuka's Defection**, was the result of Koukawa Asuka rushing into a mission without support and being almost killed by Edwin Black, only to be saved by the Masked Taimanin of the DSO. Asuka lost her limbs in this event.

An event relevant in all canon, the dates and ages of Asuka are moved around in both Taimanin RPGX and Action Taimanin. It has been shown in a flashback in Taimanin Asagi 3 but no portrait of a younger Asuka existed at the time.

## Event Timeline

### Pre Event

13–14 years before Taimanin Asagi 3, the Koukawa Massacre took place. Edwin Black attacked the Koukawa village, which at that time still was only near Gosha Village but not in it. Most clan members were killed but Koukawa Oboro leader of the side branch of the Koukawa clan defended the last heir, the young Koukawa Asuka. As part of a deal, Oboro agreed to a dual with Black, in exchange to leave child Asuka alone, which could only watch the fight and burned it into her mind. Oboro, was killed (sort of) and her body was taken, Asuka remained back in the village and was left alone as promised.

The body of Oboro was revived, but the real Oboro's soul had left it with her Ninja Art, taking over another host, which took her form. This "soul" or original Oboro became part of the DSO, while her now demonic body joined Nomad. The evil Oboro, started the ONT Conflict, in which many Taimanin died. Nobody knew about the body exchange, and people assumed that the Koukawa clan had been betrayed by Oboro, as she joined Black. That Oboro, fought and lost to Igawa Asagi many times afterward and also forced Asagi to kill her lover Sawaki Kyousuke.

Asuka was later found by Gosha Taimanin after the massacre and rescued, she grew up her early years (probably in an orphanage), until Igawa Asagi adopted her, after her return to Gosha after her lover's death. Asagi also adopted the young Sawaki Kosuke, the brother of her now dead lover.

Around the age of 14, Asuka had become rather famous as a Taimanin and went on missions together with Asagi, Murasaki and Sakura. More or less than two or three years pass further with her going on many missions, even with some people mistrusting the Koukawa clan still. Asuka also falls in love with Kosuke and grows frustrated, as Kosuke is more in love with Asagi than her, which she thinks is rather foolish puppy love.

* In RPGX, Black or more so Teutates is the one that performs the raid/attack on Koukawa village but Asuka does see him in a transformed stage, revealing what he calls the true "Black", somebody which still looks like Edwin Black. Which once more kills Koukawa Oboro. As Asuka is too young to understand that this is a different faction, Nomad and Black are still blamed for these events.

### Event

At some point, after having gained fame, Asuka learns about a mission around the location of Edwin Black. Pushing Asagi and the others to go, as she is driven by a strong desire to get revenge for her lost family. However, Asagi thinks the mission is too dangerous, specially for somebody yet so inexperienced and also family. Knowing more about Black, she forbids action.

Asuka does not care and moves out alone on her own, without support she tries to assassinate Edwin Black. Black is surprised by the young Taimanin, and wonders if Asagi had gone insane sending her. Asuka introduces herself, with Black somewhat remembering leaving her alive as a child. However, before she can even reach him with a wind art strike, her limbs are cut by the dark mist blades of Black. Within seconds, Asuka falls to the floor with dull pain, but more frustrated she could not even hurt black and would die here. Black deemed her too unimportant to kill and ordered Oboro, to do it. Asuka, which saw Oboro for the first time in years and had not been convinced that she had turned evil, tried to reach out to her as she was her guardian in the past, but "this" Oboro did not even recognize her name as important. Before dying to Oboro's claws in despair, the Masked Taimanin arrived, as the Rogue Taimanin of the DSO. The Masked Taimanin (true Oboro) blocked Oboro's strike and picked up Asuka, escaping with her before both Black and Oboro could react.

Asuka afterward, learned the truth of the "body exchange" and that the Masked Taimanin was the Koukawa Oboro, her guardian, which had saved her in the past and now did so again. Stabilized before she could bleed out, Asuka was given a Prosthesis for her lost limbs not long after. It is unknown what topics both Asuka and Oboro talked about, but at some point, Asuka became convinced that staying with the Gosha Taimanin would be a mistake.

Agreeing that Gosha had been too inactive in their hunt for Nomad, as it required much more improvement for the Japanese government, which could be corrupt. Asuka also grew a grudge towards Asagi, which in her opinion could have attacked Black in the first place, and together they would have won. Feeling less valued as a powerful fighter, which she needed to be to defeat Black, she grew almost annoyed by the idea that Asagi viewed her as family first and second as a Taimanin.

For these reasons, Asuka defected into the UFS's DSO. Her new Prosthesis, giving her multiple new abilities, she combined with her ninja art. She spent now the next two years attacking demonic research of Nomad, Task Force G or parts of the Chinese Union. Asuka gained the title "Steel Reaper" by her enemies after years. The Taimanin and Asagi assumed the worst and that Asuka just had died in her exchange with Black or had been kidnapped and brainwashed like he did Oboro.

Asuka only allowed one person from the outside to know, she was still alive and that was Sawaki Kosuke, which she contacted in secret.

### Post Event

Asuka comes into conflict with Igawa Asagi multiple times, though she is very aggressive against Asagi, her mother only learns to also view her as a strong Taimanin. Both the Masked Taimanin and Oboro are killed. Asuka is unable to stop the Occupation and Raid of the Kanda Brigade on Gosha Village and also cannot save Kousuke from being transformed into a meatball.

However, in her route she is able to save, almost everybody including Igawa Sakura, Yatsu Murasaki and Igawa Asagi as well as Sawaki Kosuke. On top of that, Asagi and Asuka are able to defeat Edwin Black together. This marks one of the last event in the still existing Canon Timeline. Both Asuka and Asagi, say their farewell and promise to find a way to heal Kosuke from his "meatball" state, as he has only been restored in mind and can talk again without pain.

* In AT and RPGX, Asuka and Asagi meet at some point before the normal game and have built up a far better relationship already. Though, Asuka still at times feels awkward and both do not really talk about the current state of things. Sawaki Kosuke seems to either not exist or has no plot relevance with Fuuma Kotaro, acting as a love interest for Asuka. The Masked Taimanin, is still alive even after the years pass in AT and RPGX. In TABA, which happens instead of TA3, it is possible that the first encounter with Yamazaki Shin did occur, but otherwise no other encounter is seen. Asuka is often teamed up with Fuuma Kotaro (TABA) and his Fuuma Organization, which creates a love hate relationship between the two. The Masked Taimanin again, remains alive for TABA and supports Kotaro on multiple points.

## Trivia

* Asuka never abandons the ideals of the Taimanins and though considered rogue is not an evil criminal.