More Nura Foils I Was Thinking About
Aotabou & Shoukera
Ao is a monk who gave up his humanity to protect orphans and is compared to the raging god Shoumen Kongou, while Shoukera is a creature supposedly sent from heaven to report the sins of those on earth, with the only way to avoid this being to pray to the aforementioned Shoumen Kongou. Whether the heaven thing is literal or metaphorical isn’t entirely expanded upon, but it seems they have a sort of chaotic good vs. lawful evil dynamic going on.
Kurotabou & Yanagida
The only two members of the Hyaku Monogatari Clan who weren’t created by Sanmoto’s stories or wrought from his flesh, with one arising naturally from children’s folktales about a spirit who would protect them, and the other originally being Sanmoto’s human assistant. Kuro had to be brainwashed into joining the clan, but during his time there was a favorite of Sanmoto’s, while Yanagida was his most avid supporter for centuries yet still wasn’t recognized, not even being re-absorbed into his second demon form like the others. At least, that’s how Yanagida sees it for most of the series, it’s implied at the end that Sanmoto did this not as an act of disrespect but as wanting Yanagida to stick around as his most reliable supporter in case the second revival went south, which it did. The Nose on the other hand is implied to be a traitor who never showed up to this fight, whose power Sanmoto absorbed and then gave to Yanagida.
Kubinashi & Yuiyui
Kubinashi’s arc centers around the idea that true strength comes not in having nothing to lose and being free from obligation, but in protecting what one cares truly about, that being his clan. Yuiyui’s main battle tactic is an ability that causes allies to attack and kill each other, thus defiling the nature of what he stands for. Also, she destroyed Jorogumo’s clan who is implied to be one of his closest confidantes, who (along with Kejourou) helped weave his strings.
Ryuji & Tenkai
Both are considered untalented onmyouji who have to employ extra measures to get ahead, with Ryuji being a shrewd trickster who wins through deceit, and Tenkai being a rigorous scholar who with enough time was able to surpass a prodigy like Hidemoto. Tenkai is also someone Ryuji greatly admired in his youth, and was kind of disappointed that he ended being on the wrong side of history… but also glad to get the catharsis of finally surpassing him.
Kiyotsugu & Enchou
They both love youkai and ghost stories, but the way they express this passion is completely different. Kiyotsugu is initially just infatuated and mystified by Night Rikuo like the other human characters, but later comes to understand his ideals of creating a harmonious world and uses his own influence to help carry that out. Enchou is just kind of an agent of chaos who goes anywhere and does whatever so long as it’ll make an interesting tale. You think he’s with the Hyaki Monogatari Clan, but nah, he doesn’t really give a fuck, he’s just using them to create Ao Andon so… he and Rikuo can fight, I guess? His actions are pretty evil, but they’re not even evil in a normal villain sort of way, he has very little attachment to anything besides the thrill of ghost stories and in a weird way that’s respectable. Kinda like Big News Morgans.
Setsura & “The Nura Brides” (including her own daughter)
Setsura herself is the one who hints at this during one of her interactions with Otome, but it makes more sense the more you ponder it. She’s passionate, brooding, and outwardly intimidating, while they’re cheerful, unassuming, and carry their strength on the inside. Sure they have their own personalities within that archetype - Youhime is shy but also the angriest, Otome is the most subdued, Wakana is the most energetic, Tsurara is the most overprotective - but there’s still a general trend. This outward weakness is something Setsura initially looks down on, but comes to understand their hidden capabilities: Youhime has healing powers and an unexpected assertive side, Otome helps out at the school and the clan despite not needing to as well as having to deal with a husband who’s constantly away, Wakana was able to bring Rihan’s smile back, and Tsurara became Rikuo’s head aide. That’s not to say that they’re *superior* to best girl, but they have a lot they can bring to the table as well, and she had to realize that.
