hyakurin

A female assassin and a lieutenant in the Mugai-ryū, Hyakurin was married to Hayakawa Kakōsai Genkei, an abusive samurai obsessed with gaining fame by training their sickly son, Matsuhiko, to become a strong swordsman. She eventually kills her husband to avenge her son's death, which was caused by his father's actions. Following this, she is arrested and sentenced to death. Her case catches the attention of Kagimura, who recruits her into the Mugai-ryū. Hyakurin's most distinctive physical trait is her blonde hair, often concealed under a wig. She maintains its color through a compulsive bleaching process using strong chemicals, driven by a desire to remove bloodstains from it. While her sword skills are not exceptional, she has extensive knowledge of poisons. This expertise extends to her choice of weaponry: a collapsible wrist-mounted crossbow named Burafuma (Little Steps), which fires poisoned bolts. The crossbow also features two blades, allowing Hyakurin to use it for stabbing when collapsed. After volume 11, "Beasts," her abilities are hindered following a broken arm. She later becomes pregnant and is effectively "retired" from the Mugai-ryū due to a deal between Habaki and Giichi, granting Giichi his freedom. Hyakurin has no desire to keep the child, fearing it will remind her of Shinriji's death and the Ittō-ryū men who raped her. She first appears in Dark Shadows part 1.