Tsukiumi is one of the heroines of the story and Minato's fourth Sekirei. She first appears to Minato in a dream saying that she would kill him; this was due to her desire to be the strongest Sekirei without being winged by an Ashikabi as well as her misunderstanding how a Sekirei emerges (she was under the impression that she would have to sleep with the Ashikabi.)[1] When they finally met, she was persuaded into becoming his Sekirei. She refers to herself as Minato's 'legal wife' and is very possessive of him. Tsukiumi had a one-sided rivalry with Homura, whom Tsukiumi considers her rival (she was apparently defeated by Homura on their very first confrontation; he then advised Tsukiumi to find her Ashikabi instead of wasting time fighting, and Tsukiumi has been looking forward to settling the score ever since). Tsukiumi once confided to Asama Miya that she still wants to be the strongest, but it is so she can be with Minato forever.[2] Her name (Tsuki + umi) literally means "moon sea" (not to be confused with "lunar mare" - 月の海).
Appearance
Tsukiumi has long blonde hair and blue eyes. She is dressed in a black dress with a white underdress which shows her cleavage, a black and white choker, and long brown boots with black stockings. Because of her short skirt her panties are often exposed which led to her being given the nickname "Panties Flasher" by Homura and Kazehana. She wears a light blue nightgown when she going to bed. At Izumo Inn she is often dressed in a maid outfit she got from Uzume to do chores.[3]
Personality
Tsukiumi is a Sekirei with a prominent tsundere personality. She is the most aggressive of Minato's party and has a very short temper; she rarely smiles. She was introduced as the first Sekirei that wanted to become the strongest without the help of an Ashikabi. She even stated that she was willing to kill her future Ashikabi if she would ever react to him/her, due to her hate towards Ashikabi.[4] She changed a great deal after getting winged by Minato and easily gets jealous when Minato comes in contact with other women, due to her feelings for her Ashikabi. She proclaims herself to be Minato's only legal wife which sometimes causes confrontations between her and Minato's other Sekirei. She often competes with Musubi, attempting to gain the sole right to be called 'Minato's legal wife'. This is because she stated after kissing Minato for the first time that he was not only her Ashikabi but her husband. Aside from this, she gets along well with Minato's other Sekirei; especially those she considers her direct rivals, Homura and Musubi.
She also has an honorable side, in that she seems to adhere to the fundamental rule of Sekirei one-on-one combat. Tsukiumi also seems to despise involving innocent civilians or bystanders in such confrontations, as seen when she canceled her attack on the veiled Uzume when Kazehana came by (Tsukiumi was unaware that Kazehana was Sekirei Number 3 at the time). Furthermore, she has a tendency to show a softer nature around Minato and has stated in a private conversation with Miya that she wants to become the strongest in order to stay with Minato forever.
Tsukiumi doesn't like to be touched by anyone except Minato. She gets mad when Musubi grabs her breast in the bath or while undressed. Minato is the only one allowed to touch her body and once she went so far as to place Minato's hand to her exposed breast; even so, shortly afterward she considered this a "brief moment of weakness."
Tsukiumi's most notable character trait is her pride. She sometimes undertakes actions she knows are foolish simply because her pride won't let her back down. Fortunately it is a trait she is learning to overcome, such as when Kusano managed to convince her to help #95 Kuno and her Ashikabi escape even though it went against Tsukiumi's principles.
Her speech pattern is different from others, as she speaks in the Old Japanese Language. (To reflect this in the English dub, she speaks in Shakespearean English using words such as "Thou" or "Thee" in place of typical pronouns.)
In the epilogue (Sekirei: 365 Days Without Her), she expresses a desire to bear Minato's children after learning about Hibiki and Hikari's pregnancies from Miyajima, however, her prideful attitude prevents her from directly admitting this.
Abilities and Powers
Tsukiumi has the ability to control and manipulate water and is capable of generating large quantities of it directly from her person or the surrounding air.
Attacks:
- Yamata no Orochi (ヤマタノオロチ, Eight-Headed Snake (also translated as Eight-Forked Serpent))[5]
- Mizu no Ya (水の矢, Water Arrow)[6]
- Hydra Blast[7]
- Mizu no Tsurugi (水ノ劔, Water Blade)[7]
- Mizu Matsuri/Iwai (水祝, Water Festival (also translated as Water Celebration))
- Suiryū (水龍, Water Dragon)[8]
- Jōki Bakuryū (蒸爆龍, Steam Burst Dragon (with Homura))[8]
- Kaijin no Utage (Sea Gods' Banquet)[9]
- Gyakusui (Reverse Water)[10]
Norito:
- Shiomitsu Tama (潮満珠, Tide-Flowing Jewel)[11]
The incantation for Tsukiumi's Norito is:
"This Water Represents My Pledge, Purify The Evil Residing In My Ashikabi!"
When Tsukiumi uses her Norito for the first time, she also chants an extra piece:
"As a storm approaches, whitecaps grow, and tides rise suddenly, The Final Wave!"
Major Battles
- Tsukiumi vs. Homura (several times)
- Tsukiumi vs. Hikari and Hibiki
- Tsukiumi vs. Uzume
- Tsukiumi vs. Miya (several times) (Only for training)
- Tsukiumi vs. Haihane (several times)
- Tsukiumi vs. Benitsubasa
- Tsukiumi vs. Kazehana
- Tsukiumi vs. Oriha (two times)
- Tsukiumi vs. Kujou (with Homura)
- Tsukiumi vs. Two Unnamed Sekirei of Higa's (Sekirei No 79 and Sekirei unnamed 01)
- Tsukiumi vs. Ichiya
History
Tsukiumi was living together with her tuner Miyajima before she was released, was winged by Minato, and moved to Izumo Inn. According to her she was a very strict person and made Tsukiumi tremble in fear everyday.[12]
Tsukiumi remembered parts of her childhood once she was exposed to a Jinki; she remembered being told to become strong by Miya while still an infant.[13]
Synopsis
After a previous encounter with Homura, Hibiki and Hikari confront Tsukiumi, however she is able to fend them off.[4] Matsu searches for Sekirei matching the description Minato gives of the woman from his nightmare who threatened to kill him (blonde hair, black dress, etc.). Matsu explains that Sekirei have telepathic abilities, especially with Ashikabi; and the stronger an Ashikabi gets (due to winging multiple Sekirei) the more likely a strong Sekirei will establish an unconscious telepathic link with them. In Minato's case, the fact he dreamed about a Sekirei means she most likely has begun to react to him. Matsu narrows the possible Sekirei down to Tsukiumi, #9, a very powerful Single Number Sekirei; but infamous for hating Ashikabi. After being reassured by Musubi (who has returned from her training), Minato decides to search for Tsukiumi even though it will be dangerous for him. During their search for Tsukiumi, Minato meets Seo, who is chasing down a cat for the reward money; Seo notices that Minato has acquired more Sekirei.[14] Hibiki and Hikari soon arrive, pursued by Tsukiumi. Tsukiumi then falls from the sky, landing on Minato; she immediately feels that her body reacts to him. She realizes that Minato is her Ashikabi and (just like in Minato's dream) announces she will kill him. After Tsukiumi sees Kusano and realizes that she is Minato's Sekirei, Tsukiumi is revolted, as she incorrectly believes that sex is required for a Sekirei to be winged by an Ashikabi.[15] Tsukiumi is interrupted by the twins who activate their Norito and attack with God Song, however Minato takes the blow for her. Tsukiumi uses Water Celebration to retaliate while reconsidering her initial option of Minato's character. Seo grabs Tsukiumi after nullifying her powers, but Minato declares for him to let her go, as she's his Sekirei, something that causes Tsukiumi to react to Minato more intensely. Minato eventually wings Tsukiumi and all the aforementioned misunderstandings are cleared up.[16]
When the group arrives back at Izumo Inn, Tsukiumi, Ku, and Musubi butt heads over who is Minato's "legal/real wife", but Miya puts her foot down, nipping the conflict in the bud.[3] After Minato informs Tsukiumi of the Sekirei that has terminated multiple Sekirei before fleeing the scene of the fights, Tsukiumi and Musubi are both inspired to track down and pay back the myserious Sekirei.[17] After a bath and a spar, Tsukiumi and Musubi head out the following day to begin the hunt.[18] They encounter a disguised (veiled) Uzume, who is attacking Haruka and Kuno, an Ashikabi-Sekirei pair. Musubi and Tsukiumi engage Uzume in combat, unaware that it is her they are fighting.[19] However, Kazehana interrupts stating that it is not a fair fight. Tsukiumi tells Musubi to go fight Kuno, then attempts to resume the fight with Uzume; but Kazehana declares she doesn't like Tsukiumi's tone and takes Uzume away from the site altogether. After hearing of Haruka and Kuno's desire to escape the city, Matsu and Tsukiumi quarrel over the basis of the escape being smart (Matsu) or cowardly (Tsukiumi), leading to Tsukiumi insulting Matsu's lack of combat prowess.[20] Miya and Tsukiumi later converse about the escape, with the latter resolving to train with the former to better protect Minato, leading to a one-sided fight that Miya wins easily.[21] Tsukiumi refuses to aid Haruka and Kuno once again when Minato speaks with her at their going-away party, before taking a cold bath to cope with her arousal.[22]
After sensing Minato's distress at Benitsubasa thrashing Musubi at the bridge, Tsukiumi rushes to the scene, and rescues Minato from drowning after he falls off of the bridge.[23] Tsukiumi attacks Haihane, and the two battle until Tsukiumi is able to knock the other Sekirei off of the bridge.[7] However, as Haihane is defeated, so is Musubi, whose Sekirei Crest vanishes. Furious, Tsukiumi attacks Benitsubasa, but cannot defeat her.[6] However, Yume awakens and effortlessly deals with the Red Sekirei.[24] After Minato sobs out of relief for Musubi's life being restored, Tsukiumi comforts him, but releases him when her embrace hurts his injured ribs.[25] After Kazehana wings herself to Minato, Tsukiumi and her butt heads until Kazehana blasts a sneak-attacking Haihane.[26] After recovering at an MBI-owned medical facility with aid from Takami, Musubi, Tsukiumi, and Minato return home.[27] Tsukiumi competes with and loses a shopping race to Kazehana, and along with her and Musubi, enters the baths to bathe, only to encounter a frantic Homura, who is in such a state due to reacting to Minato.[28] After reflecting to consider Homura and "Kagari" 's similarities, Tsukiumi brusts into Homura's room to instigate a confrontation before discovering Minato and no Homura.[29] After they all (minus Matsu and Miya) leave to rescue Homura, Tsukiumi douses Homura with her water when they find him close to burning himself to ashes.[30]
Oriha (one of Higa's Sekirei, who is also pursuing Homura, but could not wing him after Minato does) attacks Tsukiumi, manages to elude Tsukiumi's amplified water snakes and frees Kakizaki from Kusano's plants, but before they can renew their battle Higa calls for a retreat.[5] Oriha summons Uzume away from her battle with Kazehana, and Higa's team departs. Minato prevents Tsukiumi from pursuing, and then he and his team head back to Izumo Inn where Matsu and Miya are waiting.[31]
After Minato requests that Matsu inform him and the others who don't know much/anything about the first invasion of Kamikura Island and other key events regarding the Sekirei, Matsu obliges him and tells the group, Tsukiumi included, multiple stories of her past experiences, such as her time as a member of the First Generation Disciplinary Squad, this is later followed by the start of the Third Stage and its matches.[32]
Tsukiumi watches the first and second matches of the Third Stage with the others, after which they eat dinner.[33] As Minato conveys to the others his and Musubi's encounter with Nanami and Himura during a meeting in Matsu's room, Tsukiumi supports his decision not to help or join them.[34] Along with Homura and Musubi, Tsukiumi is one of the three Sekirei that Minato chooses to accompany him for the third match of the Third Stage against Natsuo and Higa.[35] Tsukiumi combines her powers with Homura when the battle begins to create a steam cloud, and then rushes to defend Minato when Oriha attacks him and Natsuo.[8][36] A nearby Haihane attacks Tsukiumi, against whom she holds a grudge for dropping her in the river during the bridge escape.[37] After Homura and Musubi meet up with them, Tsukiumi asks for Minato to activate her Norito so that she can finish Oriha off.[11] Tsukiumi and Oriha attack each other after both activating their Noritos by kissing their Ashikabi, leading to Oriha's termiantion. Minato and co. win the match and are awarded a Jinki by Minaka. Uzume then arrives, restrains Tsukiumi and Musubi and demands the Jinki be handed over to her and thus, to Higa.[38]
After learning of Uzume and Chiho's plight, Tsukiumi, Matsu, Ku, and Musubi go to rescue Chiho (so that MBI can cure her and so Uzume can also be freed from Higa) while Homura, Minato, and Kazehana watch the inn due to the likelihood of Higa attacking. As they run into opposition, Tsukiumi fights Higa's Sekirei off (terminating two) and Ku and Musubi depart with Chiho as Matsu extracts Chiho's medical records from the hospital database.[39] Tsukiumi and Matsu later emerge from a manhole cover (having used the sewers to avoid unnecessary fighting on their way back from the hospital).[40] Minato hugs Musubi and Tsukiumi tightly; as Homura explains to them that Uzume was terminated.
Tsukiumi is later able to see Miya's shared memories of the past through her bond with Minato, which includes a Sekirei that resembles her.[41]
When Sanada, the Ashikabi of the West arrives unannounced before the fourth match, Tsukiumi douses him and nearly starts a fight, but the situation is calmed down by Sanada's infatuation with Miya.[42]
Back at Maison Izumo during the fourth match (Minato only takes Ku with him to battle, after forming an alliance with Seo and Sanada), Musubi and Tsukiumi sense Ku "getting ahead of them" by further bonding with Minato again; Musubi reminisces about Uzume, which leads her to propose everyone make a profound and unique "Sekirei Expression" regarding their futures with Minato.[43] Later, Higa's Sekirei attack the inn again, leading to Tsukiumi clashing with Ichiya while Homura fights Kaiha, Kazehana-Kaie, and Musubi-Toyotama.[44] However, when Higa orders his Sekirei to fall back because of Mikogami's intervention and Toyotama's termination, the fight does not reach a definitive conclusion.[45] After cleaning up the damage done to the inn with the others, Tsukiumi has her Declaration heart-to-heart with Minato.[46]
Tsukiumi accompanies the others to Kamikura when the Fourth Stage begins, taking one of Minato's Jinki to its receptacle alongside Matsu, Musubi, and Minaka.[47] After a brief clash with the Lightning Twins, Tsukiumi and Musubi triumph without terminating them.[48] Tsukiumi almost intervenes in Musubi and Karasuba's final battle after Karasuba slashes Musubi across the torso, but Minato restrains her.[49] Tsukiumi fights with Haihane in the interim, with neither gaining much of an upper hand.[50] . Matsu quickly recovers from using her Norito and announces that Tsukiumi must use her Norito to attack the warships approaching the island.[51] Before a flustered Tsukiumi can summon her composure to kiss Minato, paratroopers begin descending from the remaining enemy helicopters. Meanwhile Minato proceeds to once again ask Tsukiumi to activate her Norito with him. A flustered Tsukiumi delays by asking whether Minato might need to focus on supporting Musubi in her battle with Karasuba instead; this causes some comments from the onlooking Matsu, Homura, and Kusano who all wish she'd get on with it. Minato joins hands with her (establishing a telepathic link just as he had done earlier with Matsu) and shares with her the feelings he's receiving through his psychic link with Musubi. Tsukiumi then realizes the true possibilities of the connection between Ashikabi and Sekirei, and this stiffens her resolve. She kisses Minato, recites her Norito and unleashes her most powerful attack yet, "Sea God's Banquet", the sea suddenly surges around the attacking warships, with massive water dragons appearing to devour and sink them. Matsu confirms that the ship Seo is on was spared from the destruction.[9] Tsukiumi later (following some more fighting and Musubi terminating Karasuba) entrusts Musubi with using some of her power (along with the others) to revive Minato, after which Musubi and Minato defeat Miya on Kouten.[52] The Sekirei then catch Minato when he falls down from Kouten.[53]
During the post-Plan party at the inn, Tsukiumi clashes with Kazehana over her alcohol consumption, but a moment with Minato helps her calm down, as he is finally forthright with how much he cares for and admires her.[54] After Musubi descends from Kouten, plowing over Minato in the process, Tsukiumi and Minato's other Sekirei show up to share the moment.
Tsukiumi appears in the interlude/epilogue, where she plays a key role, and has multiple chapters where her relationship with Minato is highlighted. She later participates in the battle on Kamikura.
Anime and Manga differences
- In the anime Miya is the one who finally convinces Tsukiumi to help out in the escape plan. In the manga Kusano alone convinces her.
References
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 18
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 36
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Sekirei Manga Chapter 24
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Sekirei Manga Chapter 20
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Sekirei Manga Chapter 66
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Sekirei Manga chapter 47
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Sekirei Manga chapter 46
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Sekirei Manga chapter 87
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Sekirei Manga chapter 167
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 176
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Sekirei Manga chapter 94
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Omake 91.5 "The Hair-Rising Tuner"
- ↑ Sekirei Manga chapter 100
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 21
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 22
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 23
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 29
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 31
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 32
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 33
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapters 36-37
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 39
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 45
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 48
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 49
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 51
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 54
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 56
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 60
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 64
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 67
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 70-72, 74
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 80
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 84
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 85
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 90
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 91
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapters 96-97
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapters 105-106
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 110
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapters 111-116
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 117
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 121
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 127
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 134
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 136
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 142
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 151
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 161
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 162
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 166
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 177
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapter 182
- ↑ Sekirei Manga Chapters 185-187