Reiki (Tenjho Tenge)
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Reiki (零毀 Reiki?) is a character/object in the manga and anime series Tenjho Tenge.
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[edit] Overview
Reiki is actually a ceremonial Nodachi, and the heirloom of the Natsume Family. Despite its length classifying it as a nodachi, the characters tend to refer to it as a katana. It is very long, with a red sheath and hilt wrap. It has no cross-guard, and the sheath typically has a tattered cloth spiraling down it. In the past it was used to entrap all the power of evil Buddhist ceremonies. Reiki has the ability to enable people with Red Feather Powers to use their powers more freely and enhance them. Reiki is vastly influenced by the nature of the wielder, its’ powers can vary from making it rain to causing the wielder to go on killing sprees[1].
It was given to Maya Natsume by her father at the age of eight to acts as its guardian, since she only current member of the Natsume Family with no powers. However, Reiki spirit told Aya Natsume that eventually the two will merge and together for the first time and be the katana for the person who will break the chains of fate[2]. This seems to indicate the possession of Reiki will switch to Aya.
Reiki actually has a spirit of its own and can manifest itself to those have the power of the Dragon's Eye. Reiki is generally blamed for Shin Natsume's insanity and although the sword is typically considered evil by the characters, its spirit is not depicted as having malice. Reiki only makes awakening the power more effortless and it was Shin’s lack of control over the Dragon’s eye that is the real cause. According to Fu Chi'en, Reiki had actually been helping Shin suppress his powers [3].
Reiki’s power has even Sōhaku Kago apprehensive of it, as Tetsuhito Kagiroi states no one is a threat to Sohaku if they don't have Reiki[4]. Mitsuomi Takayanagi also dislikes it and wants to destroy it because he feels it brings death[5].
[edit] Abilities & the Blade
Reiki can only be activated by those with special powers, and has even awakened powers in some cases. When wielded by someone without special powers it is nothing more than a very long katana. If the wielder establishes a good enough relationship with Reiki, it can even be activated while the user is not in possession of it.
When activated the blade allows the user to control and regulate their power better. The sword gains a visible aura around it and emits a piercing sound usually written as a "RIIIIIIII" in the manga. While activated the blade also becomes encircled with energy rings with kanji on them, strange symbols appear on the blade as well[6]. While activated Reiki becomes more powerful, even if it can’t cut the opponent, they can be burned by the energy it emits. When Reiki is completely activated, it uses an excessive amount of ki, and can wear out most users out in a short period of time.
For most of the series, Reiki was incased in gold and that functioned as its' blade. Not until this casing was shattered by Tetsuhito was Reiki's “true blade” was finally recognized [7].
[edit] Synopsis
[edit] Anime and OVA's
[edit] Flashback Arc
Reiki was in the possession of Kaima Natsume (Shin, Aya, and Maya's father); since Shin and Aya both had Dragon's Eyes he feared it would awaken their powers that they were too young to control. So he entrusted the blade to the eight year old Maya, who did not have any unusual power. Both her parents gave her strict orders to not let anyone touch it[8]. Not realizing its' importance she allowed Shin to touch it; the touch awakened Shin's power of the Dragon's Eye. As Shin was only 10 years old at the time, Kaima feared the other members of the 12 Founding Families would kill him out of fear he couldn't handle it. Kaima also feared the Red Wing Resonance Effect might awaken Aya's powers as well.
To prevent those things from happening, he locked Shin in an underground dungeon where no one, particularly Aya, would go. Given the abilities of the Dragon's Eye Shin was tormented by the ghosts he saw in the dungeon, and the only human contact he had was with Maya. Naturally he became very attached to her. His father made plans to move him to a relative's house, thus separating him from Maya. To prevent this, when he was being transported out of his cell he escaped and used Reiki to slaughter his parents. Subsequently, Reiki was in Shin possession most of the time.
As Shin entered Todou, he started a motorcycle gang that he named "katana". Shin was constantly bothered by his power, hearing several people's thoughts all at once and seeing things he didn't want to see. To get a "distraction" from all the noise in his head he tended to use Reiki to kill innocent people. Once Bunshichi Tawara found out, he goes to beat sense into Shin. Bunshichi actually lets Shin stab him with Reiki many times; he waits until Reiki is taken away by Shin’s girlfriend, Mana Kuzunoha, to start another attack. Without Reiki Shin has difficulty controlling his power, Bunshichi even believes he can't use his power at all without Reiki (which is proven false shortly afterward). In the end Bunshichi defeats Shin and he loses possession of Reiki.
Dōgen Takayanagi attempts to return it to Shin later, trying to get him to slaughter innocents so he will have to fight Mitsuomi. Shin rejects the offer but the actions of Fu Chi'en, on Dogen's orders, enrages Shin. Shin activates his Dragon's Eyes and Reiki, even though Dogen still has possesion of it. As Reiki emits its usual piercing sound Dogen claims it's because Reiki is excited at its' master's awakening[9]. Given that Shin can now connect with the Reiki without actually holding it, he maintains his insanity just like before even though the Reiki sits in Dogen's office.
As Shin fights Mitsuomi to determine who will be President of the Enforcement Group, Shin refuses to use his Dragon's Eye. As Shin is losing the Reiki activates in Dogen's office; Dogen claims the sword is actually crying[10]. Reiki activates Shin's Dragon's Eye against his will and Shin subsequently beats up Mitsuomi and everyone else in the room. After he regains himself, he takes his own life with the assistance of Mana. At somepoint after that Reiki was returned to Maya, where she kept it in a case in a locked room that only she had a key to.
[edit] Aya and Reiki Arc
In the present, Aya looks for a new sword as hers was shattered by Tsutomu Ryuuzaki. She finds Reiki and "borrows" it, not realizing its' importance. When Maya realizes Aya has taken it, it causes quite the uproar. Everyone becomes terrified that she will end up like Shin. Even Mitsuomi assists the Juuken Club to help find her.
Aya believes her sister is just being mean to her and hides out at Masataka Takayanagi's house, who knows nothing about what is going on. As she sleeps Shin's ghost appears and attempts to take Reiki away. Aya awakes and pleads with him to let her keep it. Shin insists it will only bring her suffering, and will eventually destroy her like it did him[11]. In the end Shin leaves it. Later however Aya is found by Maya and Mitsuomi; Mitsuomi plans to "kill" Reiki as he believes it only brings death. He is stopped by Souichiro Nagi and Bob Makihara, and the blade is again returned to Maya. Maya now carries it with her almost everywhere to prevent a repeat of that incident.
[edit] Manga
[edit] Sohaku Arc
As Maya, Souichiro, Mitsuomi, and Madoka Mawari go to confront Sohaku, Reiki makes an embodiment of its' spirit that appears to Aya in the form of a naked woman. Reiki takes her away to show her events of the past. It shows her Makiko Nagi as one of Sohaku's experiments and the events leading to the creation of Tetsuhito's powers. The vision is interupted by Reiki calling Aya to assist her sister[12].
Maya is being attacked by Tetsuhito. Maya quickly discovers that given Tetsuhito's Iron body, Reiki is incapable of cutting him. Every strike just bounces off of Tetsuhito, and Maya is nearly beaten to death. Suddenly she pops back up, claiming Shin kicked her back from the River Styx [13]. Maya soon realizes the ki is not Shin’s, but Aya’s. Using her Dragon’s Eye Aya was able to astral project herself and activate Reiki. Even with Reiki activated, Tetsuhito is able to stop the blade, however the energy of the blade does burn his skin.
As Tetsuhito loses control of his power, Maya struggles to stay alive. She blocks as much as she can with Reiki (Aya actually takes the brunt of it) but it appears to be cracking. Maya goes so far as to offer Reiki her life if it will help her to defeat Tetsuhito. Eventually it appears to shatter all together, but in reality only its protective casing shattered. With Reiki's "true blade" revealed[14], it slices through Tetsuhito's Iron body with ease killing him.
Afterward Mitsuomi gives Reiki to Madoka Mawari and sends her back to assist Tessen Ishiyumi and Shizuru Kamura.
[edit] Feudal Japan Arc
With Maya's fight now concluded, Reiki resumes its' "trip" with Aya. Aya doesn't want to continue, but Reiki insists that once she knows everything the two will merge and break the chains of fate. She takes Aya to Feudal Japan, to see her ancestor of the same name. Reiki says the Aya of the past was her master at the time, and the Reiki looks much different in the past. Reiki actually had a cross-guard, the end of the handle had a tassle, and the sheath had a rope spiraling down it instead of the cloth.
Reiki reveals Sohaku has the power to control death and is in fact centuries old. In the past he attempted to use the Red Wing Resonance Effect to awaken powers in people worldwide. Aya's ancestor was one of many people in the 12 Founding Families to attempt to stop Sohaku at the time. With the assitance of Tokuan Shōjō's shape shifting, they attempt to attack Sohaku in Osaka Castle. The death of Myouun Kabane, throws a wrench into their plans and they have to do a more direct attack. During that attack Reiki was wielded by Tokuan, in the end Aya's ancestor kills Sohaku, but dies herself in the process. Reiki shows how Sohaku manages to survive by taking over Tokuan's body, and forcing Ichiyo Nagi into a truce.
The "trip" sucks up the majority of Aya's ki and she can no longer sustain the visions. She is forced back into the present. Reiki hasn't made an appearance since.
[edit] References
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; volume 4 tankōbon (Chapter 25, Page 183).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; volume 15 tankōbon (Chapter 89, Page 56).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; volume 7 tankōbon (Chapter 41, Page 61).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; (Chapter 84, Page 15).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; volume 8 tankōbon (Chapter 47, Page 61).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; (Chapter 86, Page 3).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; volume 14 tankōbon (Chapter 86, Page 19-20).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; volume 7 tankōbon (Chapter 41, Page 47).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; volume 7 tankōbon (Page 58-59).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; volume 7 tankōbon (Page 207).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; volume 5 tankōbon (Chapter 28, Page 53).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; (Chapter 86, Page 04).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; (Chapter 85, Page 26-27).
- ^ "Tenjho Tenge" Manga; (Chapter 86, Page 20).
