Otono-Tachibana, Makie
Summary
Makie Otono-Tachibana is a highly skilled swordswoman deeply devoted to Anotsu, who is regarded as her equal. In their childhood, she utilized her lethal prowess to save his life. Born into a samurai lineage, her family dynamic shifted drastically when her older brother performed seppuku after failing to defeat Makie, who had inherited the family's renowned combat talent. Her father, Harukawa, subsequently disowned Makie and her mother, casting them out. Although Makie initially sought the sword to avenge her mother's humiliation, her path diverged. Lacking the resolve to kill when her focus wavered, and unwilling to follow her mother's path into prostitution, she became a geisha after Anotsu purchased her freedom. Despite her skills, she ultimately defeated Manji without killing him, a decision that seemingly marked her departure from Anotsu's side. Following her father's disgraceful death, she lived in isolation, binding her hand to deliberately ruin her fighting abilities. She resurfaced in Last Blood, tracking Anotsu since his departure from Shirakawa upon noticing his physical decline. She intervened to eliminate Iriya's men who were hunting Anotsu, and after Iriya's demise, she departed with both Anotsu and Magatsu. Anotsu confirms she is the sole individual capable of defeating him. Her weapon, Haru-no-Okina, is a double-bladed three-section-staff concealed within a hollowed-out shamisen. Makie makes her first appearance in Dreamsong Part 1.
