Aiki (manga)

Infobox animanga/Header
name = Aiki


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genre = Martial artsInfobox animanga/Manga
author = Isutoshi
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demographic = Seinen
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volumes = 4
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Aiki is a Japanese seinen martial arts manga created by Isutoshi.

=Synopsis=

A dispute arises on a local high school due to the absence of the director. The principal is rumored of overtaking control of the school with the help of his daughter. Kizuki, the granddaughter of the director with the help of her two loyal teachers seek to fight the regime but in the process they need the help of Kunitoshi, a local bad boy. It is later revealed that there never were any plans to take over the school, it was just a cover for Karasumaru to attempt to take control of the world of martial arts.

=Major Characters=

Joukyuu Kunitoshi

Despite his seemingly normal appearance, Kunitoshi is actually a martial-arts prodigy. He specializes in Aikido and possesses extensive knowledge of many other fighting-styles. His father, believing Kunitoshi had grown complacent due to his natural talent, drugged his son and dislocated every joint in his body, effectively cutting his power by 50%. Since that time, Kunitoshi has avoided battle and instead spends his time seducing random women. Though generally cool and level-headed, at times Kunitoshi displays a darker, brutal side when angered. His personality also shows that he does not care to get emotionally involved with anyone and says he has no friends when asked. This can be traced to his mother as he grew up to be the cause of this and his brutal side.

Kizuki Rin

Being the granddaughter of Juuzenji High's director, Kizuki retains a considerably high standing within the school. A formidable fighter in her own right, she is able to throw opponents many times her size with relative ease. Though usually calm and collected, Kizuki enthusiastically jumps at the chance to improve her skills. She is currently under the tutelage of the reluctant Kunitoshi. According to Daiki Karasamaru, Kizuki possesses a "seriousness" in her that makes her a potentially dangerous opponent as she tends to learn techniques and skills quickly. Sometimes she even surprises her own companions as well as make Joukyuu curious.

Homei & Metara

Homei is a teacher at Juuzenji High, but also serves as a loyal subordinate to Kizuki (whom she like Metara affectionately refer to as Mistress). She has a large muscle build with long black hair tied into a single ponytail. Once considered a child prodigy, Homei specializes in Chinese kempo and grappling. However, she now relies solely on physical strength and as a a result drastically diminished her own ability as a practitioner too much, thus causing her skill to become dull and broad. Later when she was loosing a battle she heard Joukyuu teasing her until she eventually was beaten. Later as others were mad that Joukyuu stood by and watched her loose she told them that while he was teasing her he was also trying to tell her how she could improve and win. Like Homei, Metara is also a teacher at Juuzenji High. She is Caucasian with long blonde hair and a voluptuous body. At one point to coax Joukyuu to teach their mistress she let him sleep with her but found he wouldn't take the deal saying she shouldn't try to sell her body for it. She also serves as a loyal subordinate to Kizuki (whom she like Homai affectionately refer to as Mistress) Unlike her partner, Metara prefers long-range combat, using a pair of six-shooter air guns with a .45 modified caliber said to possess the destructive capabilities of a baseball pitched at 150km/h. She uses them since she actually has no martial arts training. When she kept losing and in a moment of self pity of no really being able to help her mistress Joukyuu mentioned that even she could get stronger if she wanted too if she incorporated martial arts with her guns.

Takatori Miu

As the daughter of the school principal, Takatori holds commands a substantial amount of power inside Juuzenji High. Thought by many to be the school's top fighter, she not only controls the Ten Knights, but many of the clubs and organizations on campus. Though not a malicious person by nature, Takatori's ambition and selfishness often put her at odds with Kizuki, her primary opposition and later ally. Despite their blood relation, Takatori seems to be infatuated with her cousin Joukyuu never missing an opportunity to try and seduce him when she isn't asking for a fight to see his skills.

Karasumaru Daiki

Daiki is reputed to be the top student at Ryoubu University and the story's primary antagonist. He enjoys testing his skill against other fighters, often taking on multiple combatants at once. His younger brother, Kosuke, is the captain of the Ten Knights. Daiki possesses a "reading" ability, allowing him to anticipate and evade his opponents' attacks with ease, despite being blind. He is capable of taking on the combined efforts of Miu, Kizuki and Kageyasu with apparaent ease which is a great indication of his strength. When he and Joukyuu meet for the first time he made the obvious statement that he'd win if they fought then and there.

Kageyasu Akemi

Formerly a student of Kunitoshi, Kageyasu now attends Ryoubu University. She is an extremely skilled fighter, able to fend off Takatori's attacks with little effort. At one point she trained with Kunitoshi under the identity "Joan the Shadow" in hopes that he wiould regain enough of his former strength to defeat her boyfriend, Daiki Karasumaru. Aside form hand-to-hand combat, Kageyasu is also very proficient with truncheons.

=Minor Characters=

Ten Knights

The Ten Knights are an essembly of enforcers that serve the top fighter at Juuzenji High. The organization itself is loosely knit with the members caring little for the well-being of their comrades.

Karasumaru Kosuke

Kosuke Karasumaru is the younger brother of Daiki and the captain of the Ten Knights though he is often mistaken for a grade-schooler due to his appearance. While not a very skilled fighter, his limited "reading" ability allows him to anticipate his opponent's next move based on their facial expressions. In spite of his status, the Ten Knight's captain is noted for being a coward with little interest in combat and frequently calls his older brother for back-up. Kosuke spends most of his time on the Juuzenji High rooftop eating ramen.

Ozeki Nancy & Ryogoku Santana

Hailing from the school Wrestling Team, these two work exclusively as a team. Their most notable technique is a joint attack the Ground Tornado: by scurrying around their opponent in a circle, they are able to stir up strong winds.

Keichou Kiku & Ouei Chie

Though currently new members of the Kickboxing and Karate Clubs respectively, Kiku and Chie's experience in gymnastics make them experts in mid-air combat. Between Kiku's punching techniques and Chie's kicks, their combined strengths make them a formidable duo.

Wado Akifumi

Wado, one of the few male students at Juuzenji High, is a member of the Swordfighting club and a practitioner of the Katori Shinto Style. To maximize the speed of his swing, he uses a titanium katana instead of standard steel.

Eishou*

Eishou, the only member of the Sumo Club, can generally be found in the company of Kangen and two unnamed female fighters. Like Kangen, Eishou has no sense of honor and views the other Ten Knights as little more than tools. His cruel outlook, hot temper and 170kg girth make him a particularly dangerous opponent.

Kangen*

Though generally seen with Eishou's group, Kangen often acts independently of the Ten Knights, especially when doing so can further his own goals. A prominent member of the Ninjutsu Club, Kangan prefers to fight from a distance with kunai. Despite his skill and agility, he is not above employing underhanded tactics. He has a tendency to be vulgar.

Meitoku*

She is one of the Ten Knights, usually seen along side Kangen and Eishou. Soon after her introduction, she seduced Kunitoshi in hopes of gathering information. In combat she uses a three-sectioned bo staff.

Unnamed Member*

She is one of the Ten Knights and usually sen along side Kangen and Eishou. Her child-like appearance and tomboyish mannerisms suggest she is younger than the other Knights. Her name and martial-arts style are never identified.

Joukyuu Tatsukuni

Tatsukuni, a chiropractor of unsurpassed skill, is the father of Kunitoshi. Believing his son had grown complacent due to his natural talent, Tatsukuni drugged Kunitoshi and dislocated every joint in his body, effectively cutting his power by 50%.

Shinonome Ayaka

Ayaka is Kunitoshi's cold, stern and extremely violent mother. She works as a high profile orthepedic surgeon that is well known on television which allows her to pay her son's bills and living expenses. When he was a child, Ayaka used in her own words continually thrashed him psychologically to keep him in line but in reality to make sure he couldn't lay a hand on her in the future. Some of the methods she divulged were abandonment, starvation, and her most cruel method to show him the actual insides of the human body (More specifically to hold the entrails of the person she operated on in her hands.) while teaching him about the human body when he was young an innocent. This may explain Kunitoshi's own evil streak making her the only person he truly fears.

Tenhou Kanemoto

Tenhou is a late transfers student who somehow managed to become a candidate for Ryoubu without arousing the attention of any of the other students. He has yet to be seen.

Road of Talent

The Road of Talent is a group of skilled fighters from Ryoubu University led by Daiki. Unlike other organizations, the Road of Talent supports neither the government nor the criminal underground; they use their abilities solely to advance their own ambitions.

awatari Seiji & Kanisaki Rei

Seiji is the first member of the Road of Talent to be identified by name. Despite his childish facade, he is skilled in Chinese Kempo. Unlike Homei, a fellow practicioner, Seiji does not rely on physical strength and seems to have perfected his form. This in conjunction with the machete he carries on his back make him a dangerous opponent. Though largerly uninentional, he has a habit of making homoerotic double-entendres and mishearing things. He is usually seen in the company of fellow member Kanisaki Rei, the second of the group to be formally introduced. She is a Bendou master, specializing in a variety of whip-like weapons. Though a very powerful fighter (able to fend off both Kizuki and Miu simultaneously) Rei seems to limit the use of violence to missions and self defense. Her key physical attribute is her "twister-like" hair-style which is often refenced by other characters. She is almost always seen with Sawatari Seiji with whom she shares a sibling-like relationship. She got upset at Joukyuu after he ran by her and comically waved her stolen bra for her to see.

Inoguchi & Shikae

Shikae is a large, muscular fighter who takes teamwork very seriously. He's almost always seen in the company of his partner, Inoguchi, a female martial-artist who uses a red sickle. They may be holding back their true strength as Kunitoshi noted when he fought them.

Kujirai & Habu

Kujirai is a tall attractive girl with pointed ears and a patch over her right eye. Her primary weapons are a pair of gauntlets which she uses to maximize the damage inflicted by her melee attacks. Habu is a small, child-like poison-user who wears in tradition garbs and a deadpan expression. They are normally seen in the company of French exchange student called Harmony.