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Yukine (雪音; lit. sound of snow) is one of the three main characters and one of Yato's Shinki. When the name Sekki is called, he transforms into a silver Ōdachi, the handle of which is loosely wrapped in bandages. After becoming a Hafuri Vessel (Blessed Regalia), his new Shinki form is that of two twin katanas, shorter than the original, but with the same design.

In Chapter 84, he becomes a Nora after having Father make him his own Shinki, obtaining his second name, Hagusa. His true name, when he was alive, is Haruki Tajima.

Appearance

In his human form, Yukine appears as a youthful teenager with short, messy hair. His hair is colored gold both in the anime and manga colorations. However, his eyes are reddish-orange in the anime and a yellow-amber in the manga.

He is shorter than both Yato and Hiyori. His height is 147.4cm (or 4'10") according to the Animation Visual Book released for the anime. Upon his first summoning, Yukine wears a simple white robe, resembling a Japanese shinishozoku. He is later depicted with a blue hoodie, loose grey jeans, and teal patterned knit cap.

In Episode 5 of the anime, he changes his attire to a white T-shirt, dark blue jeans, and a green knee-length jacket with a fur-trimmed hood. While as the manga progresses, his outfits are not always consistent and vary to all sorts given to whatever he is depicted with.

As of Chapter 88.2, Yukine's hair becomes black and he grows black claws while in his new form as Hagusa.

Personality

Yukine is first portrayed as being a bit cold and cruel. He is clearly upset and annoyed at the fact that he died, and became Yato's weapon, complaining about staying with someone like him. As a result of this and the fact that people cannot see him well, Yukine takes advantage of this and other people, stealing money, clothes, and even betraying Hiyori. Yukine though seems to feel jealous of others who are alive, upset about the fact that he is dead, and cannot make friends and learn what other students do. By then, he felt entitled to the pleasures of existing more-so than the living. He is also apparently afraid of the dark. When Yato is forced to punish Yukine through Ablution, Yukine confesses all of his sins and apologizes sincerely, and escapes the temptation that hurts Yato as his Shinki. Yukine is visibly more upbeat after his punishment, befriending Hiyori more and requesting to learn what she does in school. Yukine also is more diligent in his work as Yato's Shinki, working part-time for Daikoku to earn money for the two of them.

Despite this, Yukine is still a bit sarcastic and occasionally yells at Yato when he is upset, especially after one of his few friends, Suzuha, dies. When Yato was missing, Yukine started to be more reserved, refusing to worry about Yato, as to suppress his feelings so he wouldn't hurt Yato via negative feelings. He instead busied himself learning how to be a better Shinki from Kazuma and tutoring from Hiyori. This shows that although Yukine still holds true to his sarcastic and edgy personality, he remains incredibly compassionate for those he forms bonds with. It has been shown many times how insecure Yukine truly is especially when the subject of Nora comes up. Despite being Yato's Blessed Shinki, he felt inferior to Nora and was jealous of her because she had been Yato's Shinki for much longer than him and even knew Yato's real name before he learned of it. He was relieved when he saw Yato release Nora as his Shinki. As his Lead Shinki, Yukine has shown to be very strict with Yato especially after Yato's declared his resolve to change his ways. Yukine's methods of dealing with Yato came off as harsh but it was for Yato's future that he treated Yato in such ways.

Yukine also shows a great concern towards Yato as when he knew that the sorcerer is Yato's father and he is his lifeline, he told Yato not to kill him and told him not to meet Kazuma again and he is now their enemy as he got information about the sorcerer from Yukine by force. He also urged him to fight Bishamonten and stop her when she was fighting with Fujisaki. Yukine is somehow so jealous, as he was shocked when he saw Yato with Kazuma and didn't accept that Yato used another shinki and mentioned that he is the only Yato's shinki while talking to Nora. He also was foolish and an easy victim to manipulate, This was shown when Fujisaki told him to come and he will take care of him and he won't abandon him like Yato did, Deceived by these words he went to Fujisaki and asked him to make him his shinki.

After becoming Fujisaki's shinki, Yukine became so determined that he wanted to know everything about his life before death, but he was terrified and shocked when he knew he hadn't a life nor a family as he imagined and he was abandoned by his mother and sister, and he was killed by his father. This lead Yukine to be disappointed. On the other hand, Yukine becomes so determined that he wants to meet his father again to know why he killed him. He also shows no more interest in Yato and attacked him without any lenience believing that he abandoned him even when Yato apologized to him for doing that and he was his only shinki.

History

Human: As a child, Yukine had lived with his sister, his mother, and his father. Yukine's family was dysfunctional due largely in part to his father's alcoholic and violent tendencies. These habits worsened to such a point that Yukine's mother made the decision to leave with Yukine's sister, leaving Yukine to live with his father alone. As a child, Yukine would show up to his friends with bruises, and became ostracized by his friends by their parents' orders. As the years went by, he appeared to only grow smaller.[4] Throughout this abuse, Yukine still managed to send letters to his sister, promising her that he would escape. Yukine's father, however, discovered these letters at some undisclosed point in time, and as punishment beat Yukine senseless. Yukine's father proceeded to abandon a maimed Yukined trapped in a refrigerator in the mountains, leaving him to suffocate to death at the age of 14. After his demise, Yukine wandered aimlessly for decades as an uncorrupted spirit, until he was ultimately found by Yato.

It was mentioned in Chapter 11 by Yato that Yukine had issues with his own father, especially since during Yukine's ablution Hiyori stated Yato acted like a father to Yukine to which Yukine reacted to and Yato mentioned he wouldn't let him go because he had potential and had his own father issues (which may be why Yato relates well to Yukine since like Yukine, he also has father issues of his own).

Shinki: While fighting phantoms, Yato realized that with the absence of a Shinki, he would not be able to fight. Later though, Yato is able to retrieve Yukine, give him a name, and defeat the gloom. Yukine materializes into his human form and is given a name by Yato. Yukine realizes that he's dead and continues to berate Yato as being a terrible owner. Yukine manages to hate Yato to the point of wanting to separate from him, asking Tenjin if he could work for him instead. Tenjin explains the actions that would cause Yukine to become a stray, so Yukine is forced to continue to work for Yato. Yukine gives into temptation many times, the action of doing things wanted that becomes a sin (stealing for example), and the temptation hurts Yato physically, creating warts and cuts around his body. Yukine continues to steal and exploit until Yato finally collapses. Hiyori, furious at Yukine's actions, takes Yato and forces Yukine to come to Kofuku's home where they commence the punishment. Yukine, now in acceptance of his actions and sins, becomes noticeably more upbeat. He works for Daikoku part-time in an effort to raise money for him and Yato, and begins his tutoring with Hiyori, learning the material that she does in school. His loyalty towards Yato is heightened and willingly does what he asks. He later learns of his good friend Suzuha's death and it sends him into depression, but he suppresses it enough so Yato won't feel it too much. When Hiyori was kidnapped, he quickly follows Yato to help rescue her. Yato runs into Bishamon and a fight commences between the two, with Yukine become a katana once again. Despite his loyalty to Yato, he still is hesitant to hurt other Shinki since they were flesh and blood like him and dulls his blade, but Yato manages to convince him to sharpen himself so he could help save Hiyori. At one point during the fight, Yukine is knocked out of Yato's hand and Bishamon goes in to kill Yato after he is restrained by corrupted Shinki's. At the last second, Yukine appears in front of Yato to take the blow for him and is sliced in half, the attack appears to kill him. After noticing that his name hasn't faded, Yato calls him back. He returns, his form has changed because of his devotion and loyalty to Yato. His new form takes that of a long and short sword combination referred to as a daishō. With renewed strength, he continues to aid Yato in the fight against Bishamon.

Skills and Abilities

Episode 02

Yukine is a very powerful Shinki. He was able to create a Boundary on his first try which Yato commented was unheard of. Even Kazuma had to practice for a long time before he was able to create a decent Boundary. He's strong enough to warrant Ebisu and Yato's father's attention and praise to the point where they've both announced their desire to claim Yukine as their own Shinki. Yato becomes worried about the latter's intentions and suggests that he and Yukine move to his small plot of land in Takamagahara.

  • Rend (Zan): is a skill he obtains as Yato's sacred weapon Sekki. When Yato uses Rend, he is able to slay and exterminate phantoms.
  • Severance (Zetsu): is a skill he obtains as Yato's sacred weapon Sekki. When Yato uses Severance, he is able to cut off the bonds between a human and things/other people. He uses this skill to sever the bonds between Yusuke Urasawa and Kofuku.
  • Boundary (Kyoukai 境界): is an ability Shinki are available to use. Using his fingers, Yukine can draw a line and create a "boundary line" that prevents any gloom from coming past it, which is one of his only defensive mechanisms.
  • Restraint (Baku 縛): Yukine has the ability to cast a binding restraint on a target. This ability appears to take the form of invisible chains. According to Daikoku, only Hafuri Vessels (such as Yukine and Kazuma) can use this ability. This ability greatly affects the other Shinkis that are not Hafuri Vessels because of superiority. Nevertheless, when a Hafuri Vessel loses his confidence and has much insecurity; like when Yukine was almost defeated by Kugaha, they can also be defeated in a boundary battle.
  • Spell/Chant/Song: A skill that he obtained from his training with Kazuma. It enables him to cast spells that can be used as a protection or to attack; for example, a song Yukine used in dousing the flames in the manga. It can also summon spirits like Nora used in the manga.

Relationships

Yato

Yukine is Yato's regalia. Yukine finds that Yato is creepy, annoying, and too self-centered. But when Yato praised and became very surprised for Yukine's skills, he became very happy even though he didn't show it, and he later started becoming a little friendlier with Yato. However, after meeting Nora, Yukine felt that he wasn't really special to Yato, so this caused him to do bad things, etc stealing things; stinging Yato several times. At one point, Yukine didn't want to be Yato's shinki anymore and wanted to work for Tenjin, but he refused, saying that Yukine would turn into a Nora if he gave Yukine a name.

But Yato refused to let go of Yukine until Daikoku stepped up. Yukine had stung Yato so much that he was almost about to die, and an ablution was needed. Yukine was given his "punishment", where he committed all the things he had done. When Yukine was about to turn into an Ayakashi, Hiyori commented that Yato had told things to Yukine, like a father would, which deeply touched Yukine.

After the ablution and after Hiyori tells Yato to treat Yukine like a human being with feelings, their relationship strengthens, despite Yukine still finding Yato to be annoying. Later in the series, it is shown that Yukine cares deeply about Yato, which is seen that he sacrificed himself from Bishamon's attack (which turned him into a hafuri, the most loyal shinki). He has also said that he is willing to sacrifice his name for Yato anytime and he is also willing to get stronger, so he can protect Yato. Yato also said that they are quite alike, with both of them having their "father issues".

After Yato told him to light his way to becoming a God of Fortune, Yukine agreed and said that as his exemplary, he's there for him and would make sure that he would never kill anyone again. When Kazuma betrays Yukine's trust and becomes an enemy in his eyes, he also doesn't want Yato to see Kazuma, saying that his master comes first, which indicates that he worries about Yato's safety.

Yato has also said that he fell for Yukine "at first sight", which is why he didn't want to give up on Yukine. He sees Yukine as "his one and only" as well as his pride.

Hiyori Iki

At first, it seemed like Hiyori is a possible love-interest for Yukine but later simmers down into a close friendship. Yukine views Hiyori as a valuable friend and someone he can rely on. Yukine also borrows Hiyori's old textbooks and workbooks from time to time and Hiyori enjoys teaching Yukine about various subjects. However, when it comes down to school work Yukine thinks that Hiyori is a little strict.

Although it is shown less in Noragami Aragato, there may be a possible chance his crush on Hiyori may be still there or least a small attraction for her. This is shown when Hiyori remembers Yato and the others after a month again, she immediately hugs Yukine, in which he blushes and nosebleeds.

Hiyori also played a big role in his ablution, giving Yukine words of encouragement which stopped him turning into an Ayakashi, and Yukine is deeply grateful to her for this. After this, Yukine started viewing her as a much closer and more important person to him. Yukine is shown to worry about Hiyori's well being since she is very important to him and Yato. Yukine is seen to worry about her well-being and doesn't want her to do dangerous things since she is very important to Yato and him, and he is also seen to worry that she will forget about him and Yato one day.

Kazuma

While Yato was away on his father's orders, Yukine used that time to be trained by Kazuma on Regalia skills. During this time the two grew to be rather close, more like friends than mentor and apprentice. Their relationship helped to calm the last resentment between Bishamon and Yato. However, when Kazuma attempted to force the Sorcerer's location out of Yukine, it made Yukine very angry, causing him to act much colder towards Kazuma and ultimately destroying their friendship. He even went as far as to tell Yato to stay away from Kazuma.

Nora

From the beginning, Yukine was jealous of Nora. He felt as though, since she was Yato's regalia for a longer period of time, and knew more things about him, that Yato needed her more than he needed Yukine. This caused some strife between him and Yato at first, however, soon the resentment was only directed towards Nora and not Yato. When Yato released Nora, Yukine felt very relieved. He was shocked when she kissed him in Chapter 74 seeming that she may be developed feelings for him. In Chapter 75, it was revealed that Yukine accidentally stung Yato from Nora's kiss and was given an ablution for it. After confessing his sin, Yato forbid Yukine to reciprocate any feelings. After Father throws her away, she turns to Yukine for help, has also had her name revoked from all the other gods. Currently, Yukine is providing her shelter in the home of Kofuku and Daikoku, without their knowledge. During this time, things have softened up a bit between the two, with Yukine getting upset when Nora says learning is pointless, and Nora getting upset about Yukine wanting to learn history, (because she knew the history of her death) and that history was dangerous to learn. Yukine also gets mad at, and confronted Fujisaki, telling him off for throwing her away.

Suzuha

When Yukine first met Suzuha, they became friends almost immediately, even though their masters were an adversary. Within the days after Yukine would run to visit his friend as soon as he was done working with Yato. When Suzuha died, Yukine was extremely depressed for a few days after that, nearly reverting back to his original personality.

Trivia

  • Yukine's names, Yuki (?) means "snow" while Yukine (雪音?) means "the sound of the snow".
  • Yukine has a phobia of night and dark rooms, possibly because of something that happened to him in his human life.
  • It is possible that the reason as Sekki, the bandages on the hilt are associated with his past life. There is a single frame in Yukine's memories where an arm is seen with bandages all over the place.
  • Both Yukine and Kazuma are the only known Hafuri Vessels. In this case, Yukine changed from being an Ōdachi to a katana and wakizashi.
  • His character song is Catch Ball which was sung by his voice actor.
  • Hiyori guesses in Chapter 13 and Episode 1 of Noragami Aragoto, judging by his education level, that he died in his second year of middle school.
  • He is very sensitive to his short height.

References

  1. Chapter 90
  2. Chapter 55
  3. Chapter 74
  4. Chapter 87
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