Makie Otono-Tachibana (乙橘槇絵, Otono-Tachibana Makie) is an on-off member of the Itto-ryu in Blade of the Immortal.
Biography
Past
Born into a samurai family, Makie and her mother Fuki Otono-Tachibana (乙橘吹, Otono-Tachibana Fuki) were disowned and cast away from the family by her father, Yoshiaki Harukawa when Makie's older brother committed seppuku after Makie was revealed to have inherited the family's famed talent and he was unable to defeat her in combat.
Though initially training to avenge her mother's disgrace, she became a geisha after Kagehisa Anotsu purchased her freedom from a brothel because she neither had the nerve to become a prostitute, like her mother nor commit to becoming a swordfighter, lacking the nerve to kill when her concentration in battle is broken.
Abilities
She is a master swordswoman whose exceptional skill equals Kagehisa Anotsu's. As said by Anotsu, she is the only one that can beat him other than Manji, and even Habaki immediately recognizes and fears her skill.
Weapons
Her signature weapon, the double-bladed Haru-no-Okina ("Old Man of Spring") three-section-staff, remains concealed within a shamisen.
Gallery
Quotes
- "Excuse me - I should have introduced myself before. I am Makie Otono-Tachibana. By pledge of honor with Anotsu Kagehisa... swordswoman of the Itto-ryu."
- "I understand. I guess I've been... a child. Just now... I finally understood."
- "It's just like you said... O-hatsu... Once a woman lets herself fall... she can't have dreams like other people. It was hopeless from the beginning. Right, my friend? Right..?"
- "Let's live this moment together. And this time, I'll be serious."
- "Oh, Kagehisa-sama! I..I've failed at everything! Living... dying... killing... sparing... hating, forgiving... EVERYTHING!"