Giles the Death-Bringer

[madimpossibledreamer]

 

Maki-san (Giles) Mṛtyu-māra

As it is highly illegal for a man to have an irezumi, much less an irezumi youkai, Maki-san rarely pulls out his power and only in two conditions: a) he trusts the person with his life, which is no euphemism; showing his power to the wrong person could get him killed, or b) he’s not planning on leaving anyone alive.  Given that it is Giles, the second option happens more often than you think.  In the end, he’s probably closest to Kazama.  Deadly when crossed, an impressive planner who seems to know everyone and have almost precognitive abilities, and fiercely loyal to his chosen children.

His only real reason for living at this point is to serve the Natsukawa daughters.  (He also doesn’t try to pick up further abandoned children but they’re all so young—worthy yakuza all and yet sometimes still so naïve.)  He feels like he failed Kimiko (still haven’t worked out whether she died of natural causes or something like poison—if the latter it wasn’t proven) but this is the version that has completely integrated the Ripper and the unassuming Maki-san under the same butler-ish tailored suits or well-made kimonos.  You could also think of him like Majima in Yakuza 0: He might seem polite and well-mannered but he will bash your skull in with glee if he feels it’s necessary.

His irezumi isn’t flashy like some.  It doesn’t cause earthquakes or avalanches.  It’s OP but if he’s fighting he’s usually just going for a one-hit kill with sword or gun anyway.

The Mṛtyu-māra stands, glaring, holding a severed head, crown of skulls, and a snake’s curled up at its feet.  His isn’t as elaborate as others, i.e. is smaller on his back, does not extend to sleeves/butt/legs/front, as he has a much smaller space to work with, since, again, he needs to hide it more than everyone else on this list.

*I’d almost go Enma/Yama (hey there Kuze) as Maki-san styles himself judge and jury, but it’s a little too…neat, for that.  Too authoritarian.  He’s part of the yakuza, whether or not he’s actually an insider, so he acknowledges he’s not an impartial or even a good judge.  He just is one.  He still gets Oath of Enma as a theme, though, because it’s related if not tied to it.

*It’s Shinigami or one of the terrifying lesser known ones.

*Actually, given that Shinigami could be a word applied to Mṛtyu-māra, a Buddhist mara (demon), he definitely has a Shinigami (in the form of that mara).  Particularly since a glance at him can cause some to wish for death.  The images I’m getting are red, vaguely oni-like, but with a crown of skulls, crazy flame-Yugi hair, and armor.  Just to drive in the complete and utter lack of mercy, the mara’s going to be holding a severed head (like one of the ladies he considers a daughter, Akeru.  He might respect you but if he’s pulled the invoking card he’ll still take your head at the end of the day.)

*namakubi-severed head, courage, fearlessness, respect for a foe, “don’t mess with me”

*chaos

*snake-intellectual, philosophical, healing, regeneration, good health, immortality

*skulls-cycle of life, tribute to ancestors, warning