Saniwa Number #022
Given name: Aru Creation date: 3 years before becoming Saniwa. Active duty: 5 years. Pronouns: They/Them Creation Notes: Working Failure Starting Sword: Yamanbagiri Kunihiro Artificially created - Reinforced biological body with metal structure. Carries Saniwa [REDACTED] power. Current Apprentice: Missing Status: Active Risk Marker: High
APPRENTICE
Name: Zeo Age: 21 Active duty: 1 year Pronouns: He/Him Status: Missing Starting Sword: Kashuu Kiyomitsu Human - Descended from Saniwa bloodline. Specialisation: Healing and Barriers. Risk Marker: Low
Appearance Notes
Left arm is a metal prosthetic, cut off at the bicep. White-silver in colour.
Scars on face, around bicep, and hand. Some are from their creation, others are from them pushing their powers too hard and fast when training. Ones on hand are burn marks.
Has ceremonial robes, white and black, that they keep only for important government events. Otherwise they wear loose shirts, and tight trousers, along with heeled boots.
Sleeves on shirts are always tied above the elbow on their left arm, to allow full movement of prosthetic joints.
Choker around the neck hides the port at the back of it, for emergency maintenance.
Right eye is light blue, like Yamanbagiri Kunihiro's.
White eye has a hazy pupil, in bright light they struggle to see through it. Good dark vision though.
Wears glasses with specialised lenses to help block out light for sensitive eyes.
Has a chipped canine, from biting at the metal keeping them in stasis when they first woke up, before they were given commands.
Backstory Notes
Was awoken in a Time Government facility. Very little memory of the beginning of their life, but underwent many tests for their powers, capabilities, and inclination to follow orders. After three years of testing, they were finally sent to choose their starting sword, and build their citadel.
They get deja vu often, and will experience fragmented memories of the Saniwa whose powers they were given, but those memories often scattered before they could grasp them.
Once was sent to investigate a lost citadel, and it brought back so many conflicted memories they collapsed and were brought home. (Lost powers for 4 months following this.)
Despite their power, their instability (and rebellious nature) have them labelled as a failure. While originally a success story, they are too personable to be a real tool now.
Originally emotionless, reacting to very little, they used to hold a heavy loyalty to the Time Government. Following orders without question. Due to their interactions with the Touken Danshi, emotion has been awakened in them, which led to their personality beginning to take shape.
Originally believes the memories are proof they were a person, before they were made into a weapon for the Time Government. They requested access to their history many times, and never got it approved, or was told there were no files, and that they were simply 'found alone'. They tried to hide how much that information hurt.
They help others to distract from their feeling of otherness. Until it just becomes something they enjoy.
When they learn the truth, they are crushed by it. As it meant no one was looking for them, or would miss them.
Touken Danshi help them come to terms with their reality, and find a common thread of existence with them.
Unknown if they are the only one of their kind, there were many failures prior that did not take.
Information is not available to the Time Government Investigators.
Is monitored closely, their citadel receives monthly inspections. To keep an eye on their actions, as well as their threat level. (Deemed too useful to remove from power)
Is unskilled in healing, and in protection magic. Their skills lie in combat. Ability to use weapons, and teleportation. They overuse their powers, and are often starving. Calorie intake is very high.
Can track when the swords are injured or in danger from a distance, using their golden thread connection. This also allows them to give orders that can't be ignored (only used once during Invasion). Can be severed.
Are effectively immortal, provided they can be returned to the Time Government to repair damage. The more they need repairs, the more their biological body is replaced. This results in fragmentation of the Saniwa power. Highly ill advised. They have been warned many times for throwing themselves into danger.
Despite the warning, they attempt to go on as many missions with the Touken Danshi as they can, is only able to go on shorter missions. Special Investigations are out of the question, and are their least favourite orders from the Time Government due to the length of time the swords are away.
They have been sent many apprentices in the hopes that it will get them to calm down and behave, as well as potentially pass on their capabilities to others.
They have scared off all apprentices but Zeo, who stubbornly stuck around, and refused to quit.
They have grown quite attached to Zeo, thanks to his stubbornness and his kindness.
Due to having no name upon their creation, and only bearing a number from the Time Government, they adopted 'Aru' from Aruji, as a surrogate name, suggested by Yamanbagiri Kunihiro.
When they first came to the citadel to serve, they avoided getting close to anyone. Gave everyone nicknames, and stayed in their office unless they were required to leave.
Yamanbagiri was originally the only sword who would visit them personally, due to his role as their serving sword. He once tried to bring them tea that was stewed so horribly it was unbearable to drink. His frustration over letting them down, made them feel SOMETHING, so they drank the whole thing.
They didn't know how to explain to him why they teared up after that, they didn't know why themselves.
Personality Notes
Powerful but rebellious, they get irritated with procedure and rules.
Not popular amongst the Time Government due to the nature of personality, has been labelled a short fuse and a risk, but their powers and progress are enough to keep them working. Unknown when they will cross the line to useless, however.
Despite their distrust of the Government, surrounding the secrets about their creation, and the way they are treated, they follow orders well, because it is all they know. (As of right now they have not been given any orders they truly do not agree with, though they do send some rude responses back to the Time Government when irritated with choices taken.)
Despite how capable they are, others are prone to stepping in to help them. Especially the Touken Danshi. This might be because they can resemble a wet cat when upset or stressed.
Despises being called 'Master', and despite constant attempts to have it stopped, have learned they're fighting a losing battle.
Very vocal about the Touken Danshi being people, can and will fight anyone who says differently. Especially implying their Touken Danshi are tools only.
They love the Touken Danshi, or as much as they are capable of, but they find the arguments in the citadel exhaustive. Often tries to play mediator, until their patience snaps, when they yell at everyone to shut up.
They don't sleep a lot, at all. Still mostly biological, they require it, but can run on less.
They get around an hour every four days. They struggle with nightmares.
Nightmares are of being trapped in a dark, cold room, all alone. All they can hear is crying, and screaming. When they call out, no one ever answers. They wake up shaking and choking on air.
Can be a bit of a showboat when comfortable. They like showing off their skills, especially when others look down on them. Can be reckless in this regard.
Not physically strong at all, they are lean, and toned, but not capable of great feats of strength. Can summon swords to fight, but not lift anything bigger than tantou or dagger reliably.
They are terrified of water, paralysingly so. Will panic and hyperventilate if submerged. (Is similar in cold, dark spaces as well.)
Despises relying on others, and even though they hate paperwork, would rather struggle alone than request assistance. Despite having multiple Touken Danshi who would willingly assist them.
Due to their need to be useful, and capable, (partially out of fear of being removed, and also because they truly care about their citadel), they have overdone it many times, and had to be carried to their bed.
They enjoy working on the veranda most, due to the fact they get to see the swords enjoying their daily life from there, despite how chaotic and loud it can be. Finds it comforting. As long as no one is arguing.
Gokotai's tigers have run off with their paperwork more than once, due to their inability to get a work-life balance.
Has often tried to help cook, and while they are good at it, very good at following a recipe especially, they are a chaotic creature in the kitchen. The mess is unbearable, and stresses everyone out. They have also injured themselves multiple times. The food is great, the injuries are terrible.
Would rather fail a mission and be pulled up by the Time Government than permanently hurt any of the Touken Danshi. They try to plan their teams based around the environment, and the knowledge of the swords, but is often very conflicted on who is best to send where, especially if there is personal trauma. Will often approach the swords personally to see what they wish to do. Has 'accidentally' forgotten to send someone where they were ordered, due to this.
Would easily and happily die for any single one of the Touken Danshi.
Hates admitting weakness, but they are massively touchstarved and incredibly lonely by nature. Ever since the emergence of their personality they have craved things that the original holder of their powers had as commonplace. They are not soft by nature, however, and struggle to reign in their sharp edges, and prone to lashing out.
Their touchstarved state is often helped by the tantous who have taken to sitting next to them, or lying heads in their lap, while they are doing something. It is easier for them to accept contact, if they believe it is in service of others.
They try not to force their presence on the Touken Danshi, especially at the start of their personality emergence. Fearful that they would be unwelcome, unwanted, or that the swords would feel obligated to be around them.
While they never admitted this outright, the swords have realised, and thus pull them out into events, and meals if they do not come willingly.
They are terrible with expenses, it's so dreadful they now let Hasebe and Hakata handle them… It hasn't fully stopped them from buying each and every little thing that they think the Touken Danshi would like, however. (Time Govt are tempted to file a court order, but the little shit Saniwa is effective, so they're swallowing the irritation).
Despises pet names, they originally would not stop glaring at Sanchoumou whenever he used kotori, but they have since relaxed around the Touken Danshi's use of nicknames. Primarily due to their lack of name, they now consider the more nicknames they acquire from their citadel, to be a collection of puzzle pieces of them. One government official once called them 'sweetheart' though, and they held a dagger to his throat.
Struggles greatly to communicate properly, their voice is often monotone, or can sound sarcastic or flat. They cannot regulate it well. They show their concern, affection and care through actions.
Has thirteen escape routes at any given time, they are… somewhat paranoid.
When fighting they are feral, they will fight dirty, and they will claw and scratch and bite if needed. If someone they love (the swords) has been threatened, they will make you feel it.
Before learning that they were artificially made, part of them wanted all their memories back, and another part was glad they were gone.
Is very good at reading others, insightful and capable of understanding people if they're given enough time to puzzle them out.
They are very competitive, and while not a sore loser, they are quite a sore winner. Afterall, their role as Saniwa is all they were made for. If they weren't good… well they'd be removed from active duty.
Not particularly sensitive about their scars, but they do not like people calling attention to them. If it's someone they don't know or don't like, they will threaten to 'give them scars of their own', if they don't mind their business.
Despite having a lot of energy, they are not sporty in the slightest, and will normally keep out of any sport-related activities the swords get involved in. Happy to watch, but will not participate. (Which is for the best as they can teleport and they are prone to cheating.)
When they are really angry, they go cold and sharp as a knife. When they're frustrated, they are loud, with lots of cursing. At this point it's still possible to calm them down, get them some food, and have them sit down and breathe. If you're brave, and fast. They will go to punch something in a quiet place or exhaust their powers in training when they're frustrated.
The swords have tried to pull them into sparring matches to get out some of their frustrations, but they have less control over their powers during these episodes, and have summoned… some interesting things.
Genuinely tries to be a good person, and is more inclined to kindness than cruelty. They are very rough around the edges, however, and between intense trust issues, a lost identity, and being a weapon for the Time Government, they tend to lean towards 'once you've earned my loyalty, I'll die for you, but until you've earned it, you can perish'.
Citadel Kon
Their Kon has taken to curling up in their arms when they have fallen asleep, this became so commonplace that they have begun seeking him out to cuddle. The only time their fox is not found in their room is because he is helping a Touken Danshi, or reporting to the Time Government on their behalf.
Sword Notes
The Time Government tested the citadel's bonds with the Touken Danshi, primarily after the Invasion. The result was a very angry Aru, and a very unhappy citadel. It has been added to their risk sheet.
Manba takes care of them predominantly, due to the two having the strongest bond in their citadel. Though Sanchoumou, Tomoegata Naginata and Hakusan Yoshimitsu are predominant figures seen around their office.
Silly Notes
Specialisation: 'The solution is to hit it hard.'
Has been heard saying 'What are you going to do? Stab me?' This is followed closely by whichever sword is closest, dragging them away to safety.
Has tried to fight the Kebiishi before now, it ended with them bleeding out over the floor and a lot of really freaked out sword trying to get help.
After the incident they were given a short sword to keep on them at all times, just in case. (They are still prone to forgetting about this and trying to fist fight.)
Ridiculously unlucky. The Touken Danshi joke their luck being bad enough to bring down the citadel (less so after Invasion), and while they're offended it is very true. Not even Monoyoshi Sadamune can help with it.
Threw hands with Chougi when he first joined, viciously protective of Manba. After two weeks the two finally reached some level of accord, and Aru apologised for hitting him. The two are now somewhat partners in chaotic crime now, as they have a similar level of sharp intelligence.
They still 'play' fight occasionally, however.
They no longer expect any level of personal space, while the swords try, it's just not possible with over 100 men (116 as of writing these notes), running around. There's always something that needs their help, even though the Touken Danshi try to manage it themselves when they can.
'What do you mean cake isn't a viable breakfast? I'm healthy, it's fine.'
Shokudaikiri Mitsutada's stress levels are immense.
Has been found sleeping under the massive cherry tree in the courtyard, curled up like a cat before. If they sleep out there too long, they will get carried into the citadel and back into their room.
They need an intervention for their atrocious work-life balance.
Artist