• Snow Swept Crane •

I. AZUMA-GUMI

Chuuya is a child of unfortunate parentage. Poor workers within Kugane that couldn’t pay their debts, he was sold as a young child to the Azuma-gumi yakuza syndicate. He was marked with their trademark red ink and was to be sold on the slave market.

Fortunately his skills as an artist, even as a child, were noted by chance by the oyabun. There was more money to be made through Chuuya’s art than the one-time sale of the child. He was pushed to improve his skills as he aged and truly became a prodigy working with ink.

He was put ‘in charge’ of Suzume, a calligraphy shop that made wall scrolls, postcards, fans, and many other paper goods. It is merely a cover for all his profits go to his parents’, and now his own, debt. Azuma-gumi would visit frequently the Raen for their irezumi work.

As an infant, he never cried. He never uttered a word and was dubbed mute.. It had been ideal for the Azuma-gumi, of course. His submissive nature combined with this condition made him a perfect soul to be exploited. He’s learned to sign to communicate with customers, most that have no idea that the shop was a commercial front for yakuza.

Chuuya was occasionally visited by the Duskwight monk, An Yeung, who usually stole the quiet shop for a nap. Though the Raen was first confused by the man’s actions, this became a familiar and comforting thing. Left alone at all hours besides with customers, Chuuya enjoyed the company in its short bouts. An Yeung even saved the artist from unwanted advances from his customers more than once.

II. SUIREN SHRINE

Though life seemed to remain forever the same routines within Suzume, there was unrest in the criminal underworld. A rival group to the Azuma-gumi were suddenly empowered with new weapons and new numbers by an outsider influence and rose up. Suzume became a target, the art shop being set up in flames in the middle of the night.

Chuuya was dragged from his bed and assaulted, a vicious sign to the Azuma-gumi that their days were over. Somehow the Raen managed to stumble his way to Suiren Shrine which he’d visited once before with An Yeung and found medical help.

The trauma has remained with him of that night, Chuuya having to rely on a nocturnal dose of somnus to sleep and reduce anxiety. Fortunately, physically, he made a full recovery but the memories remain. Despite this, slowly his friendship with An Yeung turned to something warmer and, though it will be a long road, perhaps both will find peace.

III. DISCIPLESHIP

Thing has vastly improved for the once-slave. Once he recovered (though somnus usage is still a point of concern), he was accepted to practice within Suiren Shrine as a disciple. He took to it exceedingly well, studying and taking on all chores and duties with zero complaint. His voice, in all this healing, returned, enabling him to fully integrate with society once more. 

Nowadays he happily wears the mantle of a senior disciple that specialized in purification, shikigami, and warding. He continues his irezumi and paper crafts, giving all money back to the shrine’s coffers and even studies traditional medicine in the shrine’s clinic alongside Mitsue, Mashuel, and Sari. He also has found acceptance and love with An Yeung as they’ve been happily bonded.

Recently while out visiting the Shirogane Night Market, he met Haru, a lost komainu that instantly bonded to him, calling him ‘brother.’ It was found that komainu blood was weaved far back in Chuuya’s bloodline, likely a result of a pact long forgotten. It explained the Raen’s natural tendency towards protective magicks. The large liondog now resides on shrine grounds, happy to have a place to guard and many many people to lick.

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