Ryu Mihara
From Condemnations
| |
| Ryu Mihara | |
| Character Journal: | tatakaikata |
| Nationality: | Eurasian (Japanese-British) |
| Occupation: | —
Force Group Member |
| Powers: | —
Superhuman Capability |
| Portrayed by: | Daniel Kenji Matsunaga |
| Writer: | Carlo Angelo |
The road we're supposed to take
We should eventually reach
That promised place
'Awaking Emotion 8/5' - Eiji Wentz
Contents |
Personality & Basics
On The Surface
• Full Name: Ryu Mihara (三原 竜 Mihara Ryu)
• Age: 24 years old
• Date of Birth: March 31st, 1986
• Height: 194cm (6'4")
• Weight: 83kg (183lbs)
• C/W/H: 117/91/97 (46/36/38)
• BMI: 22.0
• Blood Type: AB (Rh+)
• Hair Colour: Dark Brown
• Eye Colour: Chestnut Brown
• Ethnicity: Eurasian (Japanese British)
• Languages: Japanese (native), English (fluent)
• Image Songs:
- →Awaking Emotion 8/5 by Eiji Wentz
- →Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls
- →Utakata by Kagrra,
- →I'm Still Here by John Rzeznik
- →We Are by Vertical Horizon
In Depth
Ryu used to be a rebellious delinquent, but recent times had transformed him into a hardened man with his heart and head in the right place, although he still remains to be hot-tempered and somewhat unreasonable. Often described as combative, unapproachable, and rebellious, Ryu makes for a less than stellar first impression because of his being uncouth and brusque, even to the point of being rude and foul-mouthed. It's been something of an old habit that refuses to break, but Ryu eventually learned to take a few steps back and make amends rather than leaving a cold social barrier he had kept before, if one could overlook a few gruff apologies and curt nods of acknowledgments. Ryu just doesn't have the right chemistry for the makings of a social butterfly. More of a lone wolf, Ryu much preferred to keep to himself as well as a select few of close friends. This has stemmed from a past history of his troubled childhood, as both a Eurasian by ethnicity and an overly sensitive brat- a run in with Kaoru and his martial arts instructor of a father taught him to channel that energy into martial arts, which became a life-long passion. And eventually, this also taught him to be one track minded, although he became a physically able and formidable martial artist. Though able to rein in his feelings much better than he did before, he was still at heart an emotional person, albeit a covert one with an steely seal masking a fiery temperament beneath.
Though stoical, he indeed has a sense of humour, although dry and sarcastic it may seem. Subtle barbs usually attached to his wry words, Ryu seems to enjoy poking fun at a few people- some are even his favourite targets. But mean as he may be, he almost always doesn't mean any harm and threats are usually empty. Ryu simply likes the idea of scaring people off, and if they managed to stay despite then, they are just simply welcome to, so long as they do not invade his private space. At his expense, he's easily flustered when cajoled with. Used to the reality of harsh words and a strict, cold upbringing, he finds it odd to be spoken to so intimately. It's then he tries to retreat back into his personal space, never to bother with that sort of social interaction for the time being.
At his worst, Ryu is cruel, sadistic, and vindictive when crossed. The alternative is his habit of shutting everyone out and not bothering to communicate, which sometimes results in a lot of misunderstandings which could have been easily avoided. Uncooperative, and locked in a world where only he exists, Ryu can be easily accused of being self-interested. He is also an arrogant young man- charity doesn't sway him and acts of pity are a huge blow to his pride. But still, underneath that seemingly impenetrable armour of iron wills and fiery belligerence lies something of an idealist tied down with the gravity of reality. Ryu will lend a hand if he sees that the situation is very much in need of it. Ryu can be gentle, but only when the times call for it. Other than that, if the going gets tough, Ryu would be the first to reprimand the sorry complaint with a severe "get over it" attitude.
History
The Life Before...
Ryu Mihara, having denounced his father's surname, was one half of twins born to a British businessman and a Japanese woman named Kaede Mihara. Parents having separated at a young age, each taking one of the two away with them- the other twin went to live with his father, while Ryu stayed with his mother. It had the effect on him for being a rather troubled child. The annual visits to London, in which Ryu was to spend time with his father, were received with little warmth, while his brother was exchanged over to Japan to stay with his mother. Rarely had they ever interacted and at a young age, Ryu wanted to befriend the boy, but was unable to because of the constant distance apart- their only means of communication was by the occasional phone call or even a letter or two. Ryu continued to despise his father for tearing their family apart and not getting to know his brother as most brothers should.
Life was an emotional turmoil for Ryu's mother due to his rebelliousness and carelessness, without the discipline his absent father could have instilled in him. Ryu was quite an outsider, and children his age had picked on him, not because he wasn't fully Japanese, but also for his short, small stature back then. One tiring day, at the tender age of eight, Ryu, tattered and dirty from a recent fist fight, had taken shelter away from the rest of the school children. A young boy one year his junior spotted him and decided to befriend him, practically a first for Ryu. That boy, Kaoru Shirogane, in his childlike honesty, asked him what happened to him and why. Being the son of a martial arts instructor, Kaoru offered Ryu to take lessons with him. Ryu was reluctant to associate with anyone at first, but Kaoru remained with him and the option was left open for Ryu to decide. Accepting Kaoru's offer in time, Ryu then undertook strict training in martial arts, and eventually, it became his passion and life long hobby.
The years rolled by and Ryu had outgrown most teenagers his age into a very tall and well-built boy. No longer one to be ridiculed, he was instead avoided. Stories of Ryu having beaten those who dare to pick a fight with him had spread and Ryu still remained a lone wolf by nature, although Kaoru stayed by his side loyally, being the one friend he had opened himself up to fully. Ryu was by far one of the best martial artists and athletes in the school- having at least a first degree black belt in three fighting styles- Judo, Ninjutsu, and the Shotokan branch of Karate. Ryu continued to train vigorously. Even the thought of college was not of his interest. All he wanted to do was fight and train, using Kaoru as a sparring partner whenever he got the chance.
The Outbreak...
The outbreak occurred one fateful day while Ryu was away on his forced annual visits to London, to see his father, whom he despises for leaving him and his mother. Coming back just as it happened, Ryu watched in horror as the airborne virus continued to spread, turning people into monsters. Ryu stayed alive, fighting tooth and nail to keep them away. His mother had already been dead by then, much to Ryu's regret. Worse still, the one person who remained by his side, Kaoru was no where to be seen. Staying behind to continue searching for his best friend's whereabouts proved fruitless. Wandering around the ravaged city aimlessly, it was then the Revival Project had stumbled upon him. His powers having not yet manifest themselves, they mistook him for an infected, and tried to get rid of him. Ryu, in his attempts to make good his escape, felt his knuckles glow as he punched one of the members off, the painful blow emitting a blast of white hot light upon impact. The Revival Project member was hospitalised at their base as Ryu was captured and examined. Proven that he was a survivor and not one of the doomed infected, the tests had shown an irregular pulse of energy throughout Ryu's body- every forceful contact, like a punch or a kick, ended with an extra blast of friction for a burning result. Test dummies were set on fire. Burn marks were left on the walls of his cell where they contained him as he punched the walls in frustration.
Having at last released Ryu when they thought it safe to, they gave him one condition- that he would become one of their self-defence instructors. The times were desperate and they were impressed with his prowess as a martial artist. They gave him a special training uniform he had to wear as he was teaching the students so as not to cause them severe searing harm. Things remained uncertain in his mind when it came to Kaoru and his twin brother. For Kaoru, he was unsure of his whereabouts. Ryu hoped to find Kaoru again, preferably alive rather than dead, but most of all, he wanted to be certain to put his wonderings to rest. As in the case of his brother, hopefully the good had came from the mass disaster, finally having the possible chance to be able to communicate with someone who was supposed to be close to him... if he was still alive and well.
And Beyond... The Year 2009
- • February 3rd, 2009: First contact with Edward Lancaster, his twin, over the online commune.
- • February 17th, 2009: Rei paid him a visit.
- • March 1st, 2009: Superhuman abilities, specifically the Aurora, evolved.
- • March 26th, 2009: Flew to London in search of his brother.
- • March 31st, 2009: Ryu turned twenty-three years old.
- • May 12th, 2009: Arrived from London to Tokyo. Learnt of his twin's and coworker's disappearance. Ryu went insane, ran away, and was captured.
- • May 13th, 2009: The Reunion. Kaoru Shirogane returned from the missing list, restoring Ryu's sanity.
- • May 14th, 2009: Ryu finally heard from Rei, they then talked and made sure each other was all right.
- • May 15th, 2009: Ryu was released after three days of test runs. Regained his sanity long before, however. Ryu was told to rest to ease his stress levels.
- • August 10th, 2009: Ryu’s covert attack on the Revival Project Tokyo Base and sudden self-imposed banishment.
The Disappearing Act of 2009
Before his disappearance in August 2009, it was one fateful evening that Ryu's powers began to overtake him, somehow managing to become possessed by them before losing himself completely. It was a dangerous night when several lives within the Tokyo Base of the Revival Project had been put at stake. Ryu had almost killed Kaoru Shirogane in the process, along with several of his students. This piece of information was kept away from public attention, as well as not to stir up anymore trouble in their ranks. Ryu, however, couldn’t seem to get a better grip on his powers and unable to forgive himself for attacking Kaoru with intent to kill, he retreated to the mountains and out of safe boundaries. In an explosion of flames and a cry of terror, Ryu vanished from the base and outside the city walls, a human fireball blazing into the distance where the infected roamed freely.
It was because of his untapped energy that Ryu had bottled up that he managed to keep the infected at bay, forming a sort of fiery force field which protected him for months. Ryu felt trapped in a way that because of being unable to restrain his abilities, isolation seemed like the only possible solution then, especially if it was to keep Kaoru safe. Before he could return to society again, Ryu had to figure out a way to harness and channel his energy some other way. It had taken weeks to figure out- meditating, over exertion, but nothing seemed to work. Ryu sought refuge in a battered and abandoned temple. There, Ryu felt an aura of comfort befall him, in spite of the initial cynicism he held for seeking a hallowed place for guidance. A few days passed and Ryu felt his limbs grow lighter. Bemused, started to train, merely out of boredom. Training became part of the daily agenda- shadow boxing, practicing kata, anything to keep moving. Ryu felt his powers slowly tapping off to a more productive direction. Eventually, other forms of martial arts came into his mind easily, becoming uncannily adept with any punch or kick he could throw. It was then he learnt a new ability- Combat Styles. Fittingly, the temple where Ryu stayed was dedicated to Hachiman, the Shinto God of War.
Satisfied that he had his powers under his control again, Ryu set off back to Tokyo.
And Beyond... The Year 2010
- • January 9th, 2010: Found refuge in an abandoned and run-down Shinto temple to war god, Hachiman.
- • March 21st, 2010: Gained a new ability (Combat Styles) after controlling his rampant powers over Pure Energy/Aurora through training.
- • March 31st, 2010: Ryu turned twenty-four years old- the day went by without much notice.
- • April 30th, 2010: Ryu's reemergence. Ryu visited the Shirogane Dojo first, and found a raccoon-dog, which became a pet later on.
- • May 22nd, 2010: Ryu joined the Force Groups so he could keep a close eye on Kaoru, much to the younger martial artist's displeasure.
- • July 5th, 2010: Arrived in Naha. Death Anniversary of his grandfather, visited his grave.
- • July 7th, 2010: Went on a date with Momoko. Much flailing ensued from Ryu's behalf.
- • July 9th, 2010: Grandmother's death anniversary- same week, convenient. Visited her grave which of course is right beside his grandfather's.
- • July 12th, 2010: Saw Genkaku in concert while on duty as a Force Group member. Had a reputation to keep up, really.
- • October 1st, 2010: Halloween Hell ensued and Ryu took on the job as a demon hunter and exorcist, killing demons and vanquishing evil spirits.
- • October 13th, 2010: Had to fend off an army of vampires when supernatural activity was higher than usual.
- • October 17th, 2010: Gremlins stole all his clothes. Ryu refused to come out of his home to work since he has nothing to cover himself.
- • October 23rd, 2010: Ryu got his clothes back after days of inactivity. His clothes were switched with someone who's smaller. Promptly went to New York.
- • October 24th, 2010: Worked as a security guard at the Beautiful World Concert.
Superhuman Abilities
• Superhuman Capability: A basic power which gives Ryu super strength, speed, agility, heightened senses, and faster recovery.
• Pure Energy/Aurora: The highest form of Ryu's special abilities. It is a form of pyrokinetics. The fiery glow from his attacks becomes a physical form of power which he can blast enemies or conjure up a sword entirely made of raw burning energy. Unlike the aurorae seen in the polar regions, Ryu's aurora is not green, but rather appears white verging on gold and red, like fire. However, in spite of colour, it takes on a decidedly similar look to the polar aurorae.
- GOUNENKEN (豪燃拳) / Great Burning Fist - One of Ryu's primary abilities, so named that every physical hit leaves a burning blast of power on impact, increasing damage. Typically, the strength of the impact depends on the strength behind every move. In every fight, outside of training, Ryu manages to fight in the midst of lights, fire, and auras- although the nature of his attacks burns and sears whatever it may touch, Ryu himself remains unharmed as the wielder.
- HIKARU (光) / Shine - Ryu writes the kanji for light in mid air, which briefly illuminates in front of him before a fiery ball of light appears. Suspended in mid air, it remains before Ryu there wherever he goes- obviously useful for dark areas. He can also use this to summon outside sources of light and fire to where he stands, plunging a target area into darkness.
- KOUKEN (光剣) / Light Sword - Ryu brandishes a sword with the kanji etched upon the glowing blade entirely made of light, burning through anything it cuts. Ryu holds out his hand and the sword manifests itself flaringly at will.
- KAKYUU (火球) / Fireball - Self explanatory. The kanji briefly appears in Ryu’s palm before he fires a burning ball of light, setting the target on fire.
- HANABI (花火) / Fireworks - A variation of the attack above. The kanji appears on the Ryu’s palm which faces upward to the sky before he summons a damaging rain of fireballs, searing the landscape and setting things alight, devastating the premises in his location.
- FUSHICHOU (不死鳥) / Phoenix - The kanji for Phoenix flares up in mid air atop his fingertip, which summons a mythical bird of fire from its smoke. It then zooms towards any series of targeted opponents, flying through them and causing them to ignite.
- SENNEN HONOO (千年炎) / A Thousand Year Flare - The kanji for ‘Thousand’, ‘Year’, and ‘Flame’ flare up successively on Ryu’s forehead before light and fire surrounds him, emitting a powerful blast of energy until he casts it out like a cosmic supernova- its remnants shooting in all directions as a coup de grâce.
- FIRE DANCER - Floating balls of white-hot light flare about Ryu as he fights while commanding the these balls of pure energy about his body and onto is target. Positions of the fiery lights depend on Ryu's mental control, as well as his movement, almost similar to an actual fire dancer.
- AURORAL CHORUS - Taken from the name of the actual phenomenon associated with the aurorae, Ryu summons a vast amount of fiery aurora, suspending him far above in mid air as he directs parts of the summoned aurora to set fire to appointed targets, movements somewhat similar to how a conductor conducts his choir.
- SERAPHIM - One of Ryu's strongest abilities in which he summons aurora to form wings on his back, giving him the ability to fly and move rapidly in the air, while he wields the light sword from Kouken and uses the fireballs of the Fire Dancer.
- RYU (竜) / Dragon - One of the final attacks which Ryu uses- Ryu writes the kanji in mid air, the character flaring up only to disappear as a huge dragon made purely out of fire comes out of a quaking earth. Ryu could merely hop on top of the dragon, surfing the skies as he launches a volley of any other attack while the dragon himself could wreak his own share of havoc.
• Combat Styles: A new addition to Ryu’s list of abilities, born from his innate ability to defend himself, Ryu can switch between any of these loosely named forms of martial arts to suit whatever pressing situation it calls for. Currently, only seven forms are available, but the list would grow as he is exposed to more styles.
- KARATE - A style Ryu is used to, it is the most natural form of combat for him and feels at his most invincible in this angular martial art in which Ryu’s hands, elbows, knees, and feet, as well as his skull, are hardened and become as unbreakable as diamonds. Ryu’s reflexes are as quick as the speed of sound.
- NINJUTSU - Emphasis is on stealth, precision, accuracy, and effectiveness of every move. Ryu gains the ability to disappear and reappear in a fiery puff of smoke. Ryu gains complete mastery over the 18 Skills, more so before he gained Combat Styles.
- JUDO - This grappling martial art which Ryu had studied prior gives him almost Herculean strength. For example, could grab an opponent as heavy as a three tonne boulder and hurl it effortlessly.
- TAE KWON DO - The way of hand and foot, this Korean martial art Ryu had gained mastery over gives his legs extra flexibility, strength, and a powerful swipe, even if the kicks don’t exactly touch. Momentarily, should Ryu time his kicks right, he would be able to stay suspended in air for a time.
- WING CHUN - A practical form which focuses on conserving energy Ryu would need for using big attacks, Ryu’s punches and kicks become lightning fast- those unfortunate to get in line of fire fall prey to a seemingly endless volley of rapid strikes.
- MUAY THAI - A boxing martial art which Ryu gained mastery over- Ryu uses the old style of Muay Thai, which includes the head, as well as the ‘Eight Limbs’ which are the hands, elbows, knees, and shins. Taking from Karate, these limbs are hardened to match the toughness of diamonds.
- CAPOEIRA - Having gained mastery over this Afro-Brazilian style, Ryu begins with a ginga before he uses sweeping kicks to back flipping to attack his pursuers in this dance-like martial art. Variety of moves could be used to confuse an opponent.
Relationships
Familial
• Kaoru Shirogane: NPC. Ryu considers him family, rather than just a friend. Ryu's closest friend and sparring partner in martial arts- they were best friends as children all through to the present. Ryu would do anything for him. One year his junior, Ryu considers Kaoru as a younger brother figure. At times, Ryu does find Kaoru to be a little strange and sometimes even unpredictable, and he does not know why, as Kaoru remained rather cold and unfeeling through years of stoic living. Ryu vowed to never let Kaoru out of his sight as much as he is able to. Kaoru's initial stint in the Force Groups had worried Ryu, if only because he doesn't want Kaoru to disappear again. But deep down, Ryu knows that Kaoru can defend himself. It was recently that Ryu decided to join the Force Groups and both he and Kaoru seem to operate as a unit.
• Edward Lancaster: NPC. Ryu's younger twin brother. Although distances apart, Ryu would have liked to have a brother around, but since his father had taken that away, Ryu felt angry and alone. Ryu hoped one day that he would be able to make a more profound direct contact with his twin. That came after the outbreak. As the two got to know more of each other, Ryu was rather taken aback that to learn that Edward was vastly dissimiliar to himself due to being raised differently. Just as Ryu is sheltered and introverted, he sees Edward as more social, street-wise, and daring.
• Kaede Mihara: Deceased. Ryu's mother who raised and nurtured him, she was his only family member growing up. Ryu now feels regretful that he had not been a better son, as she had feed him, clothed him, and kept a roof over their heads despite his arrogance and rebelliousness. Ryu visits her grave every now and then.
• Grandfather Mihara: Deceased. He spent his last years in Naha, Okinawa. He died a few years after Kaede migrated to Tokyo, Japan as a young woman.
• Grandmother Mihara: Deceased. She died when Kaede was only a little girl. Her husband raised Kaede as a single parent.
• Ichiro Shirogane: Deceased. Kaoru's father and a strict and wise martial arts teacher. Ryu considers him to be a sort of surrogate father that he never had. He had taught both Ryu and Kaoru well, considering their top-notch abilities.
• Edmund Lancaster: NPC. Alive. Biological Father. Ryu does not call him family at all. Ryu's biological father, even though he doesn't see him as a father at all. Ryu despises him for leaving and tearing their family apart. Ryu often times calls him 'kusojiji' (disgusting old man) and would refuse to speak in English for him, much less even in polite Japanese. Ryu wants nothing to do with him or his side of the family, apart from his twin, Edward Lancaster.
• Tristan Thadius Lancaster: NPC. Distant cousin whom Ryu had little contact with.
• Xavier Cassidy Lancaster: Another of Ryu's distant cousins he had never meet nor talked to.
Friends
• Airi Maruyama: NPC. A sweet, cute, young schoolgirl Ryu defended against a group of vicious street thugs who harrassed her while she was on her way home. Ryu won out and he beat them single-handedly in a street fight. A friendship was then formed between Airi and Ryu, although the young man was adamant to keep the girl around for company. Initially, he treats her very coldly, but Airi's sweet and happy-go-lucky charm had worked its magic on Ryu- to the point he would feel like a monster and start being more compassionate. She visits him every now and then, much to Ryu's chagrin- but he had forced himself to keep quiet about it since she knows his weakness: his stomach.
• Kenta Maruyama: NPC. The eldest brother of Airi's family. He is a student from the same high school Ryu and Yumiko went to. Ryu and Kenta had never spoken much of even a sentence to each other, possibly because of Ryu's delinquent and antisocial manner. Now older and wiser, Ryu, out of respect for Airi, aims to keep in contact with Kenta- whether the lines of the communication between them would develop into something less aloof and distant depends on future circumstances.
• Takumi Matsumoto: An old almost-friend Ryu knew from his childhood. While Takumi was this firecracker of a boy, Ryu found him rather intriguing- there was something behind that face Ryu could never put his finger on, even up to the present moment. Then came a period of separation which barred Ryu from seeing Takumi grow up into the young man he is today. It was just some time before the Outbreak when Ryu was in a fight with a street gang nearby a shady club did he finally see Takumi for the first time in years, almost a decade, even. Takumi took to fighting alongside with Ryu and as soon as the dust settled, Ryu's suspicions were correct after he had talked with the young man. The Outbreak tore them apart again briefly, as there were times of not seeing each other, but even to this day, Ryu considers Takumi as a friend.
• Odette von Mayer: Someone he first met on the community before he realised he met her before through the Revival Project as fellow colleagues. They essentially have the same temperament, which is why they got along without much trouble. Ryu knows Odette could never let herself be beaten easily, and thinks quite highly of her skills as a martial artist. He wondered where she had disappeared off to, but a brief word from her recently put his anxieties at ease.
• Destiny Mercer: A young woman who's working alongside with the Revival Project, and was on occasion an assistant with the Force Groups. Ryu bumped into her a few times, and she seemed like the type not to be spoken harshly with, so Ryu let that slide and continued to maintain his distance. It's been a while since he last seen her because of his disappearance and he has little idea that she now has access to the internet until recently. During the recent times, Destiny and Ryu formed a friendship because of their close ties to work. Destiny's affable manner also couldn't keep Ryu aloof for too long.
• Rukia "Squirt" Nakashima: Ryu was walking home from the Revival Project base, minding his own business, when Rukia so happened to come falling down from the tree tops before crashing on top of him. Although miffed, Ryu thought Rukia was just a kid- she was such a wee little thing! Ryu likes to tease her, usually about her height and stature, and she's one of the very few to bring out his slightly mischievous side. He understands about her search for her folks, though- he's been there and done that. She's one to keep track of, even to stir her up a little.
• Yong Moon Shin: NPC. Tokyo, Japan. It happened at one point that one of Yong's boyfriends were becoming very aggressive towards him, and worse still, said boyfriend's buddies were in on it with him. Ryu was not sure what it was about, but as he was walking home, something inside of his snapped as punches were starting to fly. All he knew was four or five against one wasn't fair, so Ryu pretty much teamed up with Yong and took them down. Ryu threatened the ex to never bother Yong again. Ryu doesn't seem to mind him, but he hasn't word from the Korean in a while.
• Momoko Takahashi: NPC. A happy-go-lucky and sweet girl Ryu always seems to have the soft-spot for. Initially, Ryu had little idea that she is Moriko's twin, but after he found out, he began to relax himself around her and included her in his virtually exclusive cricle of friends (although, it's not as hard to get in as it used to be). Despite being almost the same age, Ryu sees her as a sort of a younger sister-figure. Momoko seems to have that sort of influence where she can pretty much drag Ryu around with so much as a smile or a pout, because one, Ryu is really a huge softie, and two, she pretty much has him wrapped around her little, cute pinkie.
• Moriko Takahashi: Ryu remembers this girl, but it's been a very long time since he heard from her. His mother, Kaede, had parents who spent the last years of their lives in Naha- died and buried there. They make the annual trip to pay their respects. Ryu was just a young teenager when he met Moriko whilst in the city. How, Ryu does not remember, but he was probably a huge jerk then, so he figured it might have sprung from that- but eventually the lines of communication became amiable enough to know each other's names.
• Suzume Wakahisa: Young schoolgirl who could get away with attacking Ryu and not even flinch in the midst of his shouting, back when they were younger and Suzume was still in Tokyo. Back then, Ryu had built up a reputation for being a misfit and anti-social punk- only to have Suzume ruin it and turn him into a staggering fountain of awkward protests and stunned stuttering. Over the years, he managed to hear from her every now and then. She's definitely one to watch out for.
• Yumiko Watanabe: NPC. An artistic girl Ryu knew from his years in high school. Although they were not within the same friendship group, Ryu respects Yumiko enough to consider her an acquaintance, despite his younger years as a lone wolf, separating Yumiko from the masses he never got along with. For that, they remained in contact. After the outbreak, Ryu naturally assumed that Yumiko and the rest of the students were goners. But that was until Yumiko appeared out of nowhere- since then, Yumiko and Ryu had become closer as friends because of the familiarity already there. Occasionally, Ryu's dry humour surfaces, and the two of them exchange lighthearted teasing. He is able to keep up with her poetic discourse.
• Yuan Zheng: Another important figure as of recently. Yuan is a young girl he had bumped into on the rare occasion shopping for much needed clothes. He couldn't recognise her as an acclaimed triple-threat celebrity, being out of touch with the media. He continued to stay in contact with her, something he wondered how and why, but nonetheless, Ryu still allows her to associate with him- even though he's rather brusque with her.
Acquaintances
• Sora Amano: An annoying boy who spends a lot of his time drawing and sketching. There have been times Ryu found Sora following him, which had kind of creeped him out. And the stuff Sora would say even warrants a few double takes to see if the boy was really sane- "Mihara-sempai, is it okay if I can touch your hair? It reminds me of the stray cat from across the street. Mihara-sempai, have you ever felt a woman's breasts? They're funny. Mihara-sempai, why do boys get nocturnal emissions? Because I haven't been getting any." Weirdo!
• Michelle Desmarais: NPC. Ryu was in a furious mood with his so-called father when he bumped into Michelle one day in London. He's unsure, but a swift bump into her as he stormed away knocked a bouquet or plant out of hands and into the mud and thus began a barrage of a tense conversation. Grudgingly, and because her sweetness won him over as well as the fact that Ryu has no backbone in him to stay an arsehole forever, he paid for a replacement and apologised (albeit awkwardly) and both went their separate ways.
• Yuuta Fujii: NPC. An interesting acquaintance Ryu met while he was in London, when he was still a teenager and even then didn't really know London all that well. A run in with Yuuta helped him out. Like most beginnings of friendship, term being used fairly loosely, Ryu was rather defensive at first, but when his crass sarcasm and rudeness seemed to roll off Yuuta easily and are countered with dry, uninterested remarks of his own, Ryu really didn't mind the company at all.
• Daiki Inoue: Ryu thought a kid like him was weird for believing in the existence of curses so readily, but a couple of inquisitive probing got Ryu further into better understanding him, although not completely. Ryu still maintains his scepticism, though, and talk of his own personal beliefs almost put him off. But while Daiki seemed like he was a strange one, Ryu doesn't seem to have much trouble with him, surprisingly enough- possibly because his strong beliefs in the intangible was something Ryu was curious about.
• Miu Ishida: NPC. She goes in this section incredibly loosely since Ryu has known of her before the outbreak, but they never have been at all friendly towards each other. Both snark at each other, and on Ryu's end, he got the impression of a very irritable and annoying young girl. But Ryu was not hostile enough to exchange blows with her- she was just a nuisance that he can deal with. If push comes to shove, though, he's willing to help her out... but only if she's not brazen about it.
• Min-ki Kang: NPC. A young man whom Ryu seems to be a little wary of, due to Min-ki's extroverted and open personality. Unsure whether if Min-ki was stalking him or it is simply part of his nature, Ryu tends to be terribly alert whenever he would be around- Ryu just isn't much for the attention.
• Ayaka Komura: Ryu went to the same high school as Ayaka, the quiet and mild-mannered girl with a creative soul, and one of the few fellow students he did not mind at all. However, the both of them barely spoke a word to each other during this time, since Ryu and Ayaka share similar aloof temperaments. He managed to see her every now and then since the Outbreak, and since that familiar link between them is there, they managed to talk more then, than the times before. She seemed to be doing better since Ryu last saw her.
• Kye Sang Lee: NPC. As a young man exiting his teen years, Ryu encountered this cop-to-be in a fairly dangerous urban area of London. Ryu, being the trash-talking and smart-mouth that he was, provoked a street fight with the local gang and Lee happened to be nearby. Ryu almost got his arse handed to him when Lee stepped in to intervene and break up the fight. Lee talked some sense into Ryu afterwards, in which the younger martial artist accepted, although quite grudgingly. He's one Ryu's sure to remember.
• Anzu Miyagi: NPC. A veteran teacher who challenged Ryu's way of teaching. Ryu disliked being in the wrong, but was able to try Miyagi's perspective after much coaxing. Ryu had at one point thought that that may be this is what a father could have been like if things had went well. Ryu just seems to equate being nice with being overly lenient and weak.
• Ronan ó Murchadha: NPC. Ryu decided to lend a sort of helping hand when Ronan mentioned about getting a job- at least one of them wouldn't be strapped for cash, and Ryu had little interest with the current vacancies, because customer service irks him. Ronan seemed more suitable than he was. Ryu has little opinion on him, since they just met, but Ronan seems to be the type who wouldn't pry into his business.
• Katsuo Oonishi: Ryu met him by way of Rei Suzuki. He heard about her disappearance and his search led to one of the people she knew, and that was Katsuo. His rather off-hand manner doesn't phase Ryu much, since he is guilty of it himself, but Ryu will keep a watch for Rei for him, and he's certain it's the same likewise. Getting Katsuo's best friend back isn't going to be easy...
• Haruto Suou: NPC. A former homeform teacher of his, Ryu addresses him as Suou-sensei, even to this day. But, Ryu has been one of the more difficult students Suou had dealt with- not exactly among the worst, but Ryu was uncooperative and unwilling to play the good student, especially since he usually was late for roll-call. Ryu holds no poor opinion on the teacher otherwise, but it didn't stop him in his younger years to take out his problems on the poor man with a bad attitude. Definitely one to make up to at a later time.
• Evelyn Wang: Online contact which eventually became prominent in Ryu's book, they certainly share similar temperaments, if only because both are rather cynical in their way. The man-hate doesn't phase Ryu much, and a lot of the times, Evelyn would be right in many of the assumptions. He's fine with her, just so long as she doesn't take her anger on him. Then, he gets rather prickly.
Missing/Deceased
• Jordan Dyer: Missing. Acquaintance. Met online and so happened to be in the same city. He offered her to take possible martial arts classes in that case. Ryu thinks Jordan is a nice enough girl- but nonetheless, he still prefers to keep people at arm's length distance, her included. Ryu acknowledges that the young girl has been giving her best efforts and considers her one of his top students. Noticed her disappearance, disliking the fact he lost one of his best students.
• Annette-Marie Klien: Missing. Acquaintance. Ryu knew her by way of his occasional stops at her bakery while he was in London every year. She was very polite and friendly enough despite her unorthodox manner of dress, but Ryu simply let that slide. He isn't sure if she remembers him, and he has a vague recollection, especially after the Outbreak as another fellow survivor. He's still careful on what he says and keeps his distance, as with most other people, though.
• Rei Suzuki: Missing. Good Friend. A fellow coworker within the Revival Project force groups. A prominent figure in Ryu's life since her reappearance. Initially, Ryu was reminded of his mother because of the fact Rei could read him well. But as time went on, Ryu grew closer and saw Rei Suzuki as her own person. As much as Ryu tells Rei not to blame herself for his brief tirade of madness, the disappearance did contribute as he felt all those around him being taken away. As soon as he regained his senses, Ryu remained determined on keeping her safe from harm. Although he still remains aloof and quiet, he receives Rei's visits with a bit more receptivity... But ever since he heard of her second disappearance, his mission is to scout out for her. He does not want to admit this, but he misses her like crazy.
Miscellaneous Facts
Personal Factoids
• Ryu's starsign is Aries and he was born in the Year of the Fire Tiger.
• According to Colorstrology, his colour is Jacaranda, which means he's "capable, kind, and instinctive". Ryu thinks this is bull.
• Ryu is the elder twin. He's about five minutes older than his brother, Edward.
• His name (surname, given name) written in kanji is 三原 竜. By character, mi (三) means "three", hara (原) means "field", and ryu (竜) means "dragon".
• Ever since his father left, Ryu had taken his mother’s maiden name, as he refused to be referred by his father’s surname.
• Ryu studied these fighting styles in this order: Karate (Shotokan), Ninjutsu, and Judo.
• He has a third degree black belt in Karate, a first degree black belt in Ninjutsu, and a first degree black belt degree in Judo.
• He was taught English at home- his mother admonished that Japanese was for school, and English was to be spoken at home, training him to be bilingual.
• When he does speak in English, Ryu has a British accent. His voice is a deep, husky baritone.
• Ryu's practicing religion is Buddhism, although he's not quite devout. He uses it as an excuse for his asexuality.
• Ryu found a raccoon dog lurking at the Shirogane dojo when he returned. It followed him to his apartment and seems to have settled there.
• Ryu tried getting rid of it, but eventually settled to keep it as a pet. He opted to simply call it 'Tanuki'.
• Ryu has not taken the vaccine created by Aerobios, Inc. due to the fact that he's a little cautious about side-effects.
• Aside from his current residence in Tokyo, Japan, he has been to London, England and Naha, Okinawa.
Habits and Quirks
• Ryu's favourite colour is crimson, favourite gemstone is a red garnet, and his favourite flower is the cherry blossom.
• His favourite food includes takoyaki, fugu, sashimi, ichigo daifuku, and various types of Danish pastries.
• Ryu hates energy drinks. Such thing never passed his lips.
• He doesn't look it, but he's a huge tea drinker.
• Alcohol isn't something he's compatible with- it takes only two cans of beer and he's already smashed.
• When he's drunk, he's a little more friendlier. When it wears off, he denies (half the time vehemently) whatever he did while intoxicated.
• He isn't exactly a bad cook- he knows just enough to look after himself.
• Ryu considers himself more Asian than European.
• When you pronounce his name, if you could, it's said like one syllable- but if you're lost, stick with "REE-yoo".
• Don't ever call him "RAI-yoo" unless you want your arse burnt- he hated that movie so much because of it.
• He often calls people by their surnames- there's that off occasion where he may use a first name, though.
• He refuses to associate with his father's side of the family and wants nothing to do with them. Edward Lancaster is the only exception.
• Ryu prefers to train in martial arts without a shirt on.
• He also likes to sleep in only his boxer-shorts.
• Ryu hates flying- almost every trip on the airplane makes him barf.
• For this reason, he has a barf bag just in case, although he prefers to go to the bathroom if it can be helped.
• As another method, Ryu doesn't consume anything before boarding a flight. Not even a drink.
• Ryu has a softspot for animals in general. This eventually led him to adopt Tanuki.
• Although as fluent with English as a native speaker, Ryu much rather prefers to communicate in Japanese.
• He finds English syntax to be 'illogical'.
• Ryu's known for shortening his sentences, using base forms of verbs, and less use of honorific prefixes- sometimes so to the point of sounding hostile- ('otokorashii' - 男らしい).
• For instance, when referring to himself, he'd use 'ore' (俺), a masculine and vulgar form of the standard 'watashi' (私).
• When referring in second person, he'd use 'omae' (お前) or even 'temee' (てめえ) if confrontational.
• Ryu cannot sing, as he is tone-deaf.
• Ryu has a sadistic streak. Lighting the infected on fire and watching them burn out gives him a twisted sense of satisfaction.
• Ryu is a virgin in practically all areas of sexuality.
• Speculated to be an ambiguously-heterosexual, questionably-homosexual, possibly-bisexual asexual. Go figure.
• Classmates of his often thought he would be most prone to fall asleep during sex because of his disinterest in it.
• Ryu often picked fights with school bullies. Ichiro Shirogane often scolded Ryu for this and although considered one of his best students, was the worst in terms of behaviour.
• Ryu considers Kaoru his only closest friend, adopted little brother, and confidante. Only Edward Lancaster was allowed the same exclusive closeness as Ryu allows Kaoru.
• In the earlier stages, Ryu was adamant to use the aurora because the ability tired him out fairly quickly. However, Ryu had gained so much more control over it.
• He's unsure, but he thinks he's been fired from his post and job ever since he went rogue on the Revival Project's Tokyo base.
