[hider=Kikumi Mori][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/1aeDKj1.png[/img]
[h2][color=fad7c3][sup]Kikumi Mori   |   森菊美[/sup][/color][/h2][/center]
[b][u]A g e[/u] :[/b] 20
[b][u]G e n d e r[/u] :[/b] Female
[b][u]B r i e f   B i o[/u] :[/b] Kikumi grew up as one of the many children of a fairly wealthy family. The middle child of five, and the only girl, from birth, it was clear she would not be the heir to anything. Still, she lived a comfortable childhood, with little ambition and watching from the sidelines as her brothers were pitted against each other, wondering what they desired so greatly. She had no need for swordsmanship nor power. Then, inevitably, to break down the wonderland she has been brought up in, came the attack. The Mori family hadn't ended so badly affected, compared to what could have happened at the very least. Of Kikumi's siblings, three were dead, but her eldest brother and parents were still intact. The only thing that saved them was the blade of a stranger, who had appeared too late to prevent the tragedy but left to early for Kikumi to ask for his name. She regarded the event with a morbid interest, a wrench thrown into her life that had spiralled it off course.

"It was demons," people said. They were called ridiculous, but though she did not know the whole story of what had happened that night, Kikumi found this perfectly reasonable. After much deliberation, she left her comfortable home in search of the man who had saved her life. Hell in the form of months of wandering in an unfamiliar world, researching the horrors she had been put through, progressing into a deep desire to slay the creatures called demons. Upon the discovery of those called demon slayers, she proceeded to throw herself on the doorstep of anyone who would listen, anyone who could teach her.

Kikumi found someone eventually, who taught her, and did well, though perhaps it was her own newfound drive to succeed that bolstered her progress so much. Soon, she had transitioned from a girl whose existence was blissful yet meaningless to a gifted demon slayer, who was so small and delicate, yet like her breathing style, fought viciously, as if every battle was her last. Not to mention the ever-growing list of demons she had slain. So it was not too much of a surprise to her when she was chosen as a tsuguko by the former Water Pillar. Despite this, she strove for higher greatness, which she received upon the retirement of the Pillar, at which point she had been selected to inherit the position. She did so with pride, yet she still works hard to hone her skills to perfection. She never did find her saviour, but perhaps one day, she will.
[b][u]P e r s o n a l i t y[/u][/b]
[color=limegreen][+] Tenacious
[+] Driven
[+] Courageous[/color]
[color=tomato][-] Reserved
[-] Self-assured
[-] Perfectionist[/color]
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[center][h3][sub]B r e a t h i n g   S t y l e[/sub][/h3][/center]
[b][u][sup]B r e a t h   o f   t h e   S e a[/sup][/u] :[/b] Derivative of the Breath of Water. Though similar, rather than simply embracing the flow of the liquid itself, this style encompasses the behaviour and nature of the sea itself. Elegant at times, but ultimately violent, erratic, and relentless. The Breath of the Sea is almost entirely offensive, utilising sudden movements and flurries of attacks, unrestrained as the waves wearing away at the base of a cliff. The Breath of the Sea is designed to complement a fighting style similar to its namesake while also allowing for greater agility and an escape.

❀ [b]First Form : Thrashing Waves[/b] - A flurry of attacks, usually in one direction. Imprecise, but unpredictable and numerous. At best, they will pierce and cut most in their way, but unless Kikumi puts in significant force, will not be going through anyone anytime soon.

❀ [b]Second Form : Tidal Pool[/b] - In order to use this form, Kikumi must be in the air. The path of her descent becomes a spiral, narrower at the bottom than at the top, and the speed increases. By holding her sword with her inner or outer hand, this form can be used in two different ways. However, she is right-handed, so she is at a disadvantage if she chooses to use her left hand, and cannot change direction mid-fall.

❀ [b]Third Form : Rippling Surface[/b] - A dance-like move in which Kikumi leaps from point to point, never touching the ground for more than a second. Each descent is marked by a swift downwards slice, then by Kikumi making contact with the ground. At present, she can make four consecutive jumps at most, though five if she moves in one direction (for example, if every jump is to the right of the previous one).

❀ [b]Fourth Form : Tide In | Tide Out[/b] - A simple horizontal slash, followed by a quick leap to the side, backwards, or a combination of the two. On occasion, Kikumi will use her enemy as a springboard, to push them backwards or to the ground, as well as making her jump more powerful.

❀ [b]Fifth Form : Tsunami [/b] - A great jump into the air, much higher than should be possible, followed by a quick descent. Kikumi angles herself downwards, looking at her target. The place where she will land is slightly in front of them, and once she is in range, she begins with a horizontal slash, usually across the neck, though she may target other areas too. From there, she can roll in the air, ending up with her feet to the opponent, where she can then kick them hard, sending her and them in opposite directions. Alternatively, she can follow up with a powerful vertical slash, which can cut through all but the bulkiest of opponents.

❀ [b]Sixth Form : Maelstrom[/b] - One of the simplest, yet most difficult of moves. Remaining in one place, the swordsman spins continuously, keeping their blade at a constant height. Anything that comes in contact with the blade is cut. This form comes with a whole slew of vulnerabilities if it is not performed perfectly or if the spin is too slow. Kikumi herself is not completely capable of maintaining more than a single rotation.
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[center][h3][sub]N i c h i r i n   B l a d e[/sub][/h3][/center]
[b][u][sup]B l a d e   D e s c r i p t i o n[/sup][/u] :[/b] Kikumi's katana is a delicate lavender colour. The more neutral mid-ground between the sorrowful blue and the passionate red, this gentle hue represents grace and elegance, as well as ambition, which fits her particularly well. Oddly enough, also associated with the colour is nostalgia. The sword is mostly regular otherwise, bearing a flower-like golden guard. It is the first sword she ever received, and she hopes to make it the last too.
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[b][u][sup]O t h e r   U n i q u e   T r a i t s[/sup][/u] :[/b]
❀ [b]Clear Sight :[/b] Other than having 20-20 vision, Kikumi has excellent eyesight and attention to detail. No matter whether it's noticing an opponent's vulnerabilities to ruining magic tricks for other people, she can do it. Perhaps it stems from her perfectionism, or maybe she is just more attentive than most, but either way, it is an asset to her.

❀ [b]Odd Attachment :[/b] Kikumi is always seen wearing a hairpin of cherry blossom flowers. Even in battle, despite how delicate those sorts of things can be. Still, it is perfectly intact. People say that she sleeps in it too (she will neither confirm nor deny these rumours).[/hider]

[hider=Sea Estate NPCs]
[table][row][/row]
[row][cell][color=2E2C2D]hellohellohellohellohell[/color][/cell][cell]s ᴇ ᴀ   ᴇ s ᴛ ᴀ ᴛ ᴇ   ɴ ᴘ ᴄ s[/cell][/row]
[row][cell][img]https://i.imgur.com/lMB07Zm.jpg?1[/img][/cell][cell][sup][h3]Ryōta Tsurugi   |   剣亮大[/h3][/sup][sub]age: 24 ❀ gender: M ❀ breath: Thunder [/sub]
[i][color=fad7c3]"That man. That useless, useless man."[/color]
[/i]

While he doesn't have a job at the estate, it doesn't seem like Tsurugi is ever at the estate to train either. He appears, stays for a bit, then vanishes for days or weeks. He's quite well known for just wandering around aimlessly, and attracting the scorn of the Sea Pillar for distracting her students. Somehow he never gets told off for doing nothing. Perhaps he has just wasted so much time at the estate that she has given up on asking him to be productive. Though his brother is at the estate too, they don't spend much time together.

He is quite friendly and happy to help anyone who needs him, but there is a hidden layer of arrogance in him somewhere that comes out from time to time. When asked what he was there for, Kikumi gave no response.[/cell][/row]
[row][cell][img]https://i.imgur.com/tfUs3VR.jpg?1[/img][/cell][cell][sup][h3]Yūki Tsurugi   |   剣勇生[/h3][/sup][sub]age: 15 ❀ gender: M ❀ breath: Thunder[/sub]
[i][color=fad7c3]"A child. But if I were to reject him, he would find someone worse to look after him, so I do what I can."[/color][/i]

There is a saying at the Sea Pillar estate: "Mori-san has no favourites because she hates all of us equally." This is a lie. She does have a favourite, and it is Yūki Tsurugi. The younger brother of Ryōta, he excels at the art of demon slaying, and manages to keep up with everything that Kikumi throws at him. Despite this, she adamantly refuses to make him her Tsuguko and makes sure he is rarely alone on missions.

Tsurugi is a little shy and awkward in conversation, but it is clear that he puts his all into his training and tries his best at everything he does. This effort rarely pays off. He is awful at pretty much everything except demon slaying.[/cell][/row]
[row][cell][img]https://i.imgur.com/cDEOJbN.jpg?1[/img][/cell][cell][sup][h3]Emi Sakao   |   坂尾英美[/h3][/sup][sub]age: 27 ❀ gender: F ❀ breath: Water[/sub]
[i][color=fad7c3]"A wonderful woman. She does enjoy her gossip, though..."[/color][/i]

When Kikumi cannot trust Tatsuo Isao to handle something, she passes that task down to Sakao. She isn't the greatest at demon slaying, but is an incredibly intelligent woman. Plus, with her own (most likely better) separate reputation to Kikumi, there are some things that Sakao is just more suited to doing. If Kikumi decides to leave for anything over a day, a very regular occurrence, she will hold down the estate in her absence.

Hidden behind her bubbly personality, Sakao is a massive gossip. To confide in her is to confide in the entire female population of the estate. Yet, she has a way with words that still gets people to spill their secrets to her. Times like these are the ones where Kikumi's knack for saying as little as possible comes in handy.[/cell][/row]
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